Sam pulled up to the looming gate that stood between her and her sister's house. She had always admired the English mansion, set in a beautiful backdrop that seemed miles away from the bustling city, yet realistically it was just 30 minutes at most. Sam had always been on good terms with her sister. They hadn't gotten into any big argument, they had just parted ways and lost touch. Truly, that morning was the first time Sam had spoken to her older sister in 2 or 3 years maybe.
Sam punched in the gate code, surprised she still remembered. She parked the car in the gravel turnaround, and on impulse headed toward the barn. If Sophie were anywhere, she would be there. Sam didn't know what to expect when she pulled open the heavy oak door, but what she did see did not settle the growing knot in her stomach, a knot that had started growing that morning when she got the call from her sister. Sophie's huge gray gelding stood abandoned and lonely in the wash rack, he was also shaking slightly. Sam walked over to him and stroked him gently, until he calmed down, the led him back to his stall. Once the horse was taken care of, she gravely assessed the situation before her. Cracked and forlorn on the ground was a pink plastic groom box, it contents strewn across the ground haphazardly, only a short distance away, lying upside down, was Sophie's most prized possession. The black leather saddle that seemed designed specifically for her in mind, and coincidentally complemented her mount. Sam bent over and picked it up. She was deep in thought, remembering how excited Sophie had been on her 13th birthday when she had called Sam and told her of the lovely gift she had received…"Guess what Sam!" she had said, "it even has my name on a little gold plate in back!" Samantha didn't even hear the footsteps softly creeping up behind her, and all she felt was a sharp pain that shot from the back of her head throughout her body, then she was out cold.
"Has anyone heard from Sam?" Jack questioned as he entered the bullpen to confront his team on their progress.
"Nope," Danny was the first to respond, "not since she called about the text message.
Grave nods followed from the other team members.
"Well," Martin broke the silence, "all we have so far is this," he held up the plastic bag containing the pieces of the crushed cell phone, they had found in the alley.
No one had a chance to input their opinions on the only evidence they had before the entrance of a woman distracted them. Of course they could have guessed who she was. The golden hair and the prominent brown eyes were a dead giveaway. In fact they were quite surprised by the likeness between Sam and her sister. Besides being slightly taller and narrower in stature, they could pass as twins.
"Hello," she said coolly, "you must be Samantha's colleagues."
"Hi there," Jack replied, "you must be Mrs. Bennett"
"Yes," she responded in the same monotone, "where is my little sister anyway?"
"She is at your house presently," Jack informed her, "by the way, I am Jack Malone." Jack followed by introducing the rest of the team.
"So, now that introductions are out…"
"Wait one minute," Laura Bennett interrupted. "I was just at my house before I came here and my sister was certainly not there, the only thing out of the ordinary, and a visit from Samantha would certainly be out of the ordinary, was a black sedan in my turnaround."
"Well," Martin said tentatively, not wanting to interrupt the woman, "Sam did drive a black sedan over there."
"Well," Laura continued, "there was not a soul around."
"Maybe we should send someone else over there," Vivian suggested casually. She wasn't worried yet, because Laura Bennett may not display her emotions noticeably, but Vivian could tell she was a bit frazzled. She could have easily overlooked her younger sister, if she was not looking for her.
"Alright," Jack said, sounding a bit confused, "Mrs. Bennett, why don't you lead the way, while Vivian and myself follow you back."
Laura Bennett hastily agreed, not wanting to be home alone. Martin and Danny looked a bit disappointed. They would not have minded the trek, if it meant even a glance at their elusive coworker's past. They knew at least something about every team member's childhood. Samantha Spade was another story.