Authors notes: Hello all. My student's parents apathy is your gain. Having parent-teacher conferences for 6 hours and I have only visited with 22 of the parents. So, this gave me time to finish up this chapter. Please review if you can. I enjoy the encouragement and I do take your suggestions and comments into consideration.

Mac sat at his desk rubbing his eyes. It was late and they still had not found Flack. If anything, having Walker turn up dead put them back to square one. Having found Flack's jacket at the scene indicated that Flack was there and alive, hopefully. However he would have made contact with them if he could. They had to go with the likelihood that someone else had him and the jacket was meant as a message. The detectives were still trying to track down Walker's ex-girlfriend, Stephanie Greene, and hopefully she would be able to shed some light on Walker's friends or business acquaintances; someone or anyone who might have a reason to off him.

Ballistics had shown that the bullet that had gone through Walker's head had been fired from Flack's gun. Again, no proof of who the shooter was because the gun was nowhere to be found. Walker wasn't carrying a license or any money. Mac suspected that someone had taken his wallet to make the identification process more difficult. Luck was with them and because he had been in jail before they had made a positive identification from his fingerprints that were on file.

The Flacks had left earlier in the evening. Mac could see the strain on the couple. Most families with someone on the force try to prepare themselves for the call; a life lost in the line of duty. However, this was territory most never considered. Donald Flack's face was grim when he spoke, demanding a call when any new information surfaced.

Mac had sent the team home. The night crew would run any thing that came in, plus others were working to find the answers. It had taken much persuasion; no, it was a threat that had finally convinced Danny to head home. They had to stay sharp and make sure that no mistakes were made. Looking one last time at the folder on his desk, he laid it aside and rose from his chair. Heading home to catch a few hours of sleep before he would be returning for the next day.

Maurice had headed back to his apartment after taking care of the Walker business. He tossed his suit in the dirty clothes planning to drop it off later at the dry cleaners and showered. The night was still young as he headed out to Nero's, one of the clubs owned by Frankie. A drink and a little feminine company was just what the doctor ordered.

Finding a spot to park, Maurice nodded to the bouncer, making his way past the line of people waiting to get in. Once inside he made his way to the bar and picked up a double of Glen Fiddich and looked around at the crowd. He noticed that Frankie was at his table. Making his way over, he sat when Frankie gave him a nod.

"And?" Frankie raised an eyebrow.

"No problem boss." Maurice took a swallow of his drink, savoring the spicy earthiness of the twelve-year-old scotch.

"Good. I hate unfinished business. I'll call for our next appointment." Frankie was careful to keep the conversation free of specifics. Eyeing a buxom blonde, solo on the dance floor gyrating to the beat, "Now if you'll excuse me." He rose and moved to the dance floor. Falling into the beat, he leaned in to whisper to the dancer. She smiled and moved closer to him; their bodies melding into one.

Picking up his drink, Maurice began his sweep through the club looking for a likely candidate for his attention. Nothing like a night of hot sex to make a person forget the stress of the job.

Ash had walked slowly back to the record store. Going over the information in her head several times, she had decided that she was going to trust her gut. Danny had seemed so genuine, plus there was inability to recall most of his memories. She felt compelled to help and knew that it was more than just appeasing her guilt.

She slipped back into the room, the dim light of the candle throwing shadows on the wall. While kicking her shoes off, Danny rolled over and mumbled in his sleep. It was hard to make out what he was saying but it sounded like he was telling someone, maybe 'Hayden', that it would be all right. The blanket had slipped down and she moved over to pull it back up to cover him.

"Thanks," a very sleepy voice, the blue eyes barely visible beneath the heavy lids. "Where'd you go?" He moved with some difficulty into a position where he could look at her.

"I had to run a few errands," dismissing his question quickly. "How are you doing?" She moved and sat next to him on the bed.

The movement caused a light groan to escape from his lips. He had stiffened up during his sleep and moving was painful.

"What's wrong? Is it your head again?" She was instantly concerned for his welfare.

"My side is killing me, plus I'm just sore all over."

"Let me take a look," Ash indicated for him to relinquish his hold on the blanket. Moving it down, Ash gently pulled the t-shirt up to reveal his side, now colored with purplish bruising. "My God Danny! Why didn't you tell me?" Ash explained as she looked at the marks.

"I don't know. It hurt before, but I just assumed I was sore from lying in the alley." His dark head was bent, looking at his own injury in fascination. "I'm o.k.; I'll just take it easy."

"If I'd known I would have picked up some ice for it. That's a downside of squatting, no electricity." Ash lowered his shirt, "I'll get some tomorrow. I don't like going out this late, the neighborhood isn't the safest for being out late. Close your eyes and go back to sleep."

He contemplated the request but then realized something. "Ash, where are you going to sleep tonight?" There was only the one bed and the chair did not look inviting.

"I'll just pull up a piece of the floor. I've slept in worse spots before." She smiled gamely.

"Ash, there's no reason why you shouldn't have your own bed. I'll take the floor." He started to slowly shift his position to move out of the bed.

"No way. You're the guest around here, so you get the bed." She smiled sweetly at him.

"Ash, that floor has got to be uncomfortable. Please." He looked at her and she shook her head. "Alright, at least share it with me. There's plenty of room and I'll be a gentleman, you can ask any of my friends." He raised his hand in a mock oath.

"Wait a minute, how do you know you're a nice guy?" Ash laughed lightly as he smiled back at her.

"I'm sure of it. Besides, I'm injured." He affixed a pained expression on his face at her feigned reluctance. "Really Ash, please?" His voice had a slight pleading tone.

"Well," she hesitated more for show than anything else. "I guess just this once, but any monkey business and I'll toss you out on your ear." Extinguishing the candle, the room became pitch black. She slide between the sheets and pull the blanket up to cover them both.

They lay silently for a few moments when Danny's voice cut the darkness. "Thanks Ash. Goodnight."

Returning the comment along with the command to "not let the bedbugs bite" Ash laid quietly listening to Danny's breathing evening out back into sleep. A few minutes later she joined him in dreamland.