The moment the three men got off the plane they were escorted through customs and taken to a waiting unmarked police car. McCoy was more than a little surprised to find Detectives Ed Green and Mike Logan in the front seat.
After reassuring McCoy the homicide detectives presence was not due to any tragic new developments, Green helped make the necessary introductions.
As Logan pulled the car into the early morning traffic, Green turned around to face his audience. By the time the car stopped in front of Danielle Melnick's apartment building, Green had updated the group. Although he wanted to continue on to McCoy's office with the others, Prescott knew the time was right to take care of unfinished business at home.
The kitchen clock in the form of a ceramic coffee pot read 7:49 when Prescott's key turned the lock. Melnick glanced at the clock above her stove and set her coffee cup on the counter before meeting him half way across her living room.
Prescott set his suitcase and overnight bag down beside him. The pair stood gazing questioningly at one another for a solid minute before he risked moving to hold her. Melnick buried her face in his chest and returned his embrace.
"It hit the news here this morning," she said at last as she took his hand and lead him to the kitchen counter and handed him the morning paper."I haven't seen The Ledger yet, but The Times is reporting a Suffolk County DA was abducted in Niagara minutes before her wedding. They aren't using Brooke's name yet, but it's just a matter of time before they do."
Prescott nodded as sat on the stool and took the paper from her. Melnick tightened the belt of her robe before pouring and handing him a fresh cup of coffee.
"Have they found any trace of her, Sam?"
"Your friends Ed Green and Mike Logan met us at the airport," he said as he took a long swallow of the dark liquid.
"Green? Detective Green from the 2 7 ? They think this is a hom-"
"No, "Prescott said sharply, as he held up a hand. "Don't even say it. No, when Logan caught the case he was without a partner. I don't know exactly why. Anyway, he asked if he could borrow Green from the 2 7, given their past working relationship. Green and his commanding officer were more than willing, seein' how they both have a long standing professional relationship with Jack."
"Have they come up with anything?"
"Accordin' to Green, the Canadians and Interpol have been very cooperative. Seems someone saw two men, in what we now know was a stolen sedan, leave a hotel near the Canadian boarder a little after midnight. The pair caught this man's attention because they seemed to be unloading a laundry cart into the trunk of their car. The witness reported it to the night desk clerk, who had been listenin' to an all night news station…anyway, the local PD called Interpol. They found strands of hair that matched the sample of Mal's DNA that Jack gave them. They..."
Melnick looked up from her coffee when Prescott stopped short. She frowned, immediately understanding his reason for hesitating.
"I swear, I won't even think about taking on this case Sam. No matter who the defendants are; no matter what the outcome is." "
"Honey, I was just tryin' to avoid puttin' you in an awkward position," Prescott said frankly. "There's no getting' around the fact you're the best defense attorney in the city. When they find the bastards that did this, chances are, you're gonna get a phone call."
"I wouldn't touch this one with a ten foot pole. Even if we weren't involved, Jack and I go too far back for me to even think about taking this case."
Prescott knew he'd done more than ruffle a few feathers when he abandoned Melnick in the middle of a speech she was giving for the Women Trial Lawyers association, to rush to Canada the moment he received Andrew Malinowski's frantic phone call. He knew his lover well enough to know she was making a valiant attempt to take the high road and not provoking the confrontation they both knew would be inevitable.
Prescott lifted her chin, as he gently caressed her cheek.
"I want you to know if Andy hadn't begged me to go to be his eyes and ears in Canada, I would have..."
"Sam, don't lie to yourself," she countered, busying herself with the empty coffee cups. "We both know you would have been on the first flight out the second you heard Brooke was missing. It wouldn't have mattered whether Brooke's brother called or not. One day we will have to deal with that fact, but not this day."
Prescott took the cup from her and held her hand.
"I treated you badly and I hurt you," he said quietly, "for that, I am truly sorry. But Danielle, that doesn't mean what we have isn't..."
"You still haven't told me why the police think the kidnappers are in New York."
Prescott briefly lowered his head, well aware of Melnick's diversionary tactic. Although he very much wanted to clear the air, he knew he was close to losing his internal battle was exhaustion.
"The Canadians found one of the men that was on the surveillance tape from the hotel Jack and Brooke were staying at. They had to make a deal not to send him back to Russia on pending charges, in exchange for him telling them what he knew about the kidnappin', as well for confirming who the intended target really was."