-46-

We're at the airport now, but the flight doesn't leave for another hour," Danny cradled his cell phone between his head and shoulder as he paid the girl at the counter.

"How's Mary taking all of this?"

"Not good, Ed. I'm really worried about her. She's hardly said a word since I told her. She just packed our things and waited for me to make the flight arrangements."

"She'll be alright, Danny. It's just been a bad week."

Danny snorted, "Yeah, more like a bad year."

"Well, it wasn't all bad."

"No, it wasn't," he couldn't help but smile as he thought about all the good things that had happened too.

"What did Davis say about the intern?"

"He was surprised. O'Dell didn't tell him what he was working on, but I know that has to be it, Ed. We had just talked about it at the arraignment. Did you come across anything?"

"Nothing more than what I told you earlier. The kid's really into computers and just happened to be in Monte Carlo last summer at the time of the heist there--pretty big coincidence, huh?"

"No kidding. Have things calmed down there?"

"Yes and no," Ed said cryptically.

"Can we at least get to the house without a media frenzy?" Danny had found his way back to the gate and was headed towards Mary who had not moved from her seat--still staring out at the lights of the airport.

"Yeah, but you still might want to leave the phone off the hook for now."

"Alright. I'm gonna go. We don't get in until 3AM so I'll call you later tomorrow."

Shoving his phone back in his pocket Danny sat down next to his wife, leaning closer to place a kiss to her temple, "Hey, baby. I got you some juice."

"Thanks," Mary took the juice from him, but made no move to open the bottle.

"Ed said things have calmed down a little bit since we left."

Ignoring his comment, Mary asked quietly, "Did he have any family?"

There was no question to whom she was referring and Danny answered with what he knew, "A sister I think."

"This is never going to end, is it? Just when we think it's almost over…it's never going to end." Her voice sounded hollow and it scared him.

"It will, Mary. We're going to find these guys."

"But how many more people are going to die?" She turned to look at him then, tears streaming down her face.

"Mary…"

"No, Danny," she stopped him, swiping at her tears. "Let's run away."

Her eyes had a desperate look now and Danny immediately reached out to her, sliding his hands around her neck and into her hair. "What are you talking about?"

"Let's just sell the house and move away. Maybe if we left Vegas…"

"Hey, I thought you were the one who said we needed our friends more than anything," he said, resting his forehead against hers.

"What good are friends if they're all dead because of you," Mary raised her voice and the few people seated near them turned to look.

"Sweetie, calm down. You're getting too upset." She had pulled away from him and Danny reached out for her hand, hoping to make a connection again. To bring her down from the emotional rollercoaster she seemed to be on at the moment.

"Please don't tell me to calm down. I think I've been more than calm during this whole ordeal…" Mary stood up and started to pace, but Danny stopped her, cradling her face in his hands and pressing soft kisses across her cheek.

"This is going to be over soon, Mary."

"How can you say that?" she asked, pulling away from him again. "You've been saying that for months, Danny, and yet here we are--another person dead. And on top of everything else…my father…," Mary's voice trailed off as more tears fell. "I just feel like I don't have any control anymore. Things are just spinning and I can't catch my breath." Her breathing was ragged now and she was trying desperately to hold back her sobs.

Danny immediately pulled her into his arms and pressed her chest to his–hoping to help her regulate her breathing by matching it to his. "Come on, baby. Deep even breaths–you can do it." It took a few moments, but Danny finally felt her breathing even out and the tension in her spine relax.

"I'm sorry," she said, quietly.

"Don't be. We never should have come here," he told her, reaching into his pocket for a napkin.

Once she had blown her nose, they sat back down and were silent for a few moments before Mary spoke again. "I was having a good time up until tonight."

"Yeah, me too," he smiled, glad she seemed to be relaxing again.

"And if we hadn't come here then you never would have known about the intern. Maybe it's the break they need, Danny."

"Yeah…maybe," he responded, hoping she was right.

"Maybe," Mary whispered again as she snuggled closer to her husband, both of them waiting in silence for their boarding call.

---

"Ryan Burns--son of Elliott Burns, former Ambassador to China and currently rumored to be next in line for Secretary of State," Mike rattled off as he Danny and Ed sat around the conference table.

"Well, that tells me about the father. Tell me more about the son."

"Good grades, graduated summa cum laude from University of Maryland, but according to high school counselors, a bit of a follower."

"No surprise there," Ed snorted, turning to Danny to relay his earlier conversation with Agent Davis, "They took him into custody early this morning and he was surprised to say the least. I'm guessing he thought O'Dell was the only one suspicious of him at that point and thought he hadn't had time to talk to anyone else about it. The just don't give you any credit, do they, kid?"

Danny smiled ruefully as Ed continued, "He probably thought if he took him out no one would even suspect it was him. The kid hadn't even disposed of the gun yet and a car matching the description of the one at the scene was found behind his house."

"Is he talking?" Danny asked, staring at the picture Davis had emailed.

"Not yet, but he will. According to Davis, the kid's an idiot."

Danny tossed the photo across the table, disgusted, "I'm beginning to think that Ford has an endless network of cronies out there doing his bidding."

Sensing the younger man's frustrations, Ed tried to reassure him, "We'll find him, Danny. He's bound to slip up---especially now that he doesn't have his inside man at the FBI anymore. We're pretty sure Burns was the one who planted the bugs and was monitoring the Agents' activities. He was the perfect plant. Good kid, low-level access, respectable background, father in the government…"

"Okay," Danny said, changing the subject for the time being, "what's going on with the Greggs deal?"

"The DA is going to make a deal with Mason Greggs. If he pleads to second degree murder they'll agree to the minimum sentencing. Greggs doesn't want to put anyone through a trial and fortunately the DA's not looking to make an example out of the poor guy."

"Good. What about Jenny?"

"Well, the reporter of the original set of articles won't reveal his source so without proof the chief refuses to reprimand her. He knows it's her, but he's worried about appearing too biased in our favor. I guess she's threatening to make a stink for the department now too so he's letting her do a little more digging as far as you and Mary, but he doesn't think she'll find anything."

"The hell, Ed? He's just giving my ex-girlfriend carte blanch to investigate my life."

"She's on a very short leash, Danny, so I wouldn't worry about it. And what the hell did you ever see in that girl?"

"Believe me, I've asked myself that many times over the last week."

"Alright, let's get back to the daily business. Mike, any news on that group of card counters that hit the Mirage on Friday?"

Danny rubbed his head, feeling the beginnings of a migraine coming on. He felt like they were taking two steps forward in one mess only to take three steps back into another. As soon as Ed finished briefing them on the day he went straight to his office to call Mary. He wanted to fill her in on the situation with Jenny as soon as possible so she wasn't blindsided by his former flame.

---

Mary had just hung up the phone with Danny when the intercom on her phone buzzed.

"Mary, there's a Detective Cho here to see you."

She hesitated a moment, contemplating whether or not she should call Danny before answering the receptionist, "I'll be right up."

She felt like she was taking her last walk before facing the firing squad as she made her way down the long hallway which housed the executive offices. Taking yet another deep breath she steeled herself for the meeting. She could do this. She was a grown woman-- manager of a billion dollar hotel; she could meet with this woman without Danny running interference. So why was her stomach still doing somersaults as she approached the lobby?

Noticing the woman's rigid frame immediately, Mary summoned all her strength and spoke, "Detective Cho, what can I do for you?"

"I have a few more questions."

"Do I need my lawyer?"

"Not unless you have something to hide," Jenny sneered.

Mary rolled her eyes in annoyance as she led Jenny back to her office. This was the perfect start to her day.

"Please have a seat," Mary told her, closing the office door behind them and moving to her desk, shuffling a few things around before taking a seat. "You had some questions?"

"Let's just cut through the crap, Mrs. McCoy," Jenny spat the name as if it burned her tongue. "I know you and Danny are covering something up."

"There's nothing to cover up, Detective. Thanks to you the entire world knows everything there is to know."

"Listen, this meeting is to…"

The detective's callous and condescending tone had helped to settle Mary's nerves and now she was just pissed. She refused to let this woman have the upper hand anymore. "No, you listen to me. I'm tired of you trying to intimidate me. And I'm tired of you trying to pin something on us. Danny and I had nothing to do with my father's death."

"You expect me to believe that? Everything he ever did–even when we were together–was worry about you. I have no doubt that he would do anything for you–even kill."

Jenny's eyes flashed in a challenge and Mary met her gaze with just as much fire, "You're right--I have no doubt that if the circumstances arose, Danny would kill to protect anyone that he loves, but that's not what happened. He went to talk to my father because he had frightened me the day before, but he didn't hurt him and he didn't even know Mason Greggs. End of story. So let's cut the crap as you say, Detective Cho, because I think you've got other issues."

"You're damn right I do. I want justice!" she screamed.

"For who? Frank Connell?" Mary stood from her desk, raising her voice in response, "What about justice for Jessica Greggs or for me or for all those other girls that he hurt? Or is it justice for yourself? Get off your high horse, Detective and find someone else to harass. I'm finished talking to you and I'm extremely close to lodging a complaint against the entire Las Vegas Police Department because of your conduct. Now get the hell out of my office before I have you thrown out."

"Don't threaten me. You don't get to decide when this interrogation is over!"

"Interrogation?" Mary asked in disbelief. "This is a cat fight with my husband in the middle. You can't stand that you lost Danny to me. You think I'm some sniveling, weak-minded little girl who needs Danny to protect her, but you're wrong. If you want to send another officer to interrogate me then go for it, but my dealings with you are over. You're not the only one who can go to the press. I can see the headline now…Police Detective Fabricates Charges Against Former Lover and Wife. I bet that would sell a lot of papers."

Jenny's expression faltered a bit and she tried to defend herself, not realizing how badly she was losing this battle, "I didn't tell them anything that wasn't true."

"You knew you had nothing so you tried to crucify both of us in the press. I'm pretty sure releasing information about abuse victims is against your department policy."

"Screw department policy!" she yelled, slamming her hand down hard on the desk, but Mary didn't flinch. "You had the brass eating out of your hand just like Danny. They wouldn't let me do anything so I had to force the issue. It was the only way."

Mary leaned both her hands on the desk, getting as close as she could to Jenny's face, "And where did it get you? Nowhere, because there's nothing to find."

Mary's look was hard and Jenny realized that she wasn't going to win this time, but when she made no move to leave, Mary took her seat and spoke again, "I believe you know the way out, Detective."

She didn't look up again until she heard the door slam. Taking several deep breaths, Mary brought her now trembling hands to her face. She couldn't believe she'd just said all those things, but the events of the last week, of the last few months really, had pushed her to a point of absolute rage. Once she'd calmed a bit, she reached across her desk and picked up her Dictaphone–hitting stop and popping out the tiny cassette tape. If the Chief of Police needed proof then that's exactly what Mary was going to give him. She was done messing around and it was time for her to start taking back some control.