A/N: Detective-sweetheart, Cardinal Robbins and Midtown Midnight, thank you for your encouraging feedback. It's greatly appreciated! Havana Brown, I don't care what you say I'm still posting this story. So you would be just wasting your time shouting insults at me and other writers. We're ignoring your stupidity.

Chapter four: Into thin air

--

12:00 P.M. Saturday afternoon.

"Mary?" Frank called to his wife as he walked inside the bedroom. "Are you ready yet?"

Mary Pembleton stood in front of the mirror, putting on one of her diamond stud earrings. "I'm ready for the fourth time."

"I don't mean to ask you for the fourth time. I'm starving and…it's a beautiful day after all that rain last night."

"Frank, we didn't have to go out for lunch."

"Yeah but…you know, I figured we'd do something different."

Frantic knocks on the front door startled the couple. Baffled as to who it could be, Frank hurried out into the living room. When peering through the peephole and he saw that it was a disheveled Tim Bayliss, he quickly opened the door.

"Tim? What?"

"She's gone."

"Who's gone?"

"Ann!" Bayliss yelled, pacing back and forth.

Frank shut the door behind him. When walking up to the frazzled detective, he stopped Tim from pacing and listened.

"I was at her house last night," Bayliss explained. "We, uh--,"

"Go on."

"I stayed with her and--,"

"It wasn't a coffin this time, right?"

"C'mon, Frank! I'm not in the mood for any jokes right now."

"Alright, I'm sorry. You were at her house and…what happened?"

"This morning, someone rang the bell. Ann knew who it was and told me she was coming back. She didn't come back, Frank. I questioned neighbors if they had seen her with anyone and I keep getting the same damn thing, no one saw or heard anything. Someone had to see what happened. What I don't understand is why they're not saying anything!"

"Frank?" Mary interrupted, standing in the doorway. She noted Tim's flustered expression. Concerned, she said, "Hello, Tim."

"Hello, Mrs. Pembleton."

"Everything alright?"

Frank answered, "Everything's okay. I'll only be a second."

Mary had known whatever was going on would be more than a mere second. She nodded silently and shut the door.

Frank turned back to his partner. "When the bell rang, what time was it?"

"Ten O' clock. And she never came back inside. She just vanished. Tell me, Frank, how can a person just vanish into thin air, huh? How can that happen without someone seeing something?" He started pacing again. "She was kidnapped by the killer. I was there. He stopped, squinting his eyes. "I was supposed to be protecting Ann. She trusted me to be there for her." Furious, Tim rolled his hand into a fist and three times he pounded the top of his black Lexus.

Frank let him vent. Frustrated as well, he slid his hand across his head. "Listen, Tim, we've gotta search her apartment. There has to be something about this person she knew."

--

Back to work on a dead end case.

An exhausted Tim longed for some more sleep, a drink at the bar to dull the frustration and now his fear of Ann kidnapped; possibly murdered like the others. He craved to be in her arms again, kissing her soft lips, breathing in Ann's perfume and making love to her. Wherever she was, he knew she had to be afraid, wishing he could rescue the teacher, comfort her and say that everything will be all right. It was now the evening, back in his suit and trench coat, Bayliss, Frank and several officers were in Ann's apartment searching meticulously. During the search, Tim visited Ann's bedroom. He stared gravely at the bed still left undone. Bayliss painfully recalled that morning…

Ann's eyes fluttered open. She looked up into Tim's smiling face.

"Good morning," he said cheerily.

She smiled back. "Good morning."

They snuggled against each other. Ann played with strands of his brown hair that fell onto his forehead. "What do you want for breakfast? Pancakes, eggs and sausages?"

"That sounds de-licious."

Tim squeezed his eyes shut, fighting the tears that persisted in seeping from the corners.

"Tim."

At the sound of Frank's voice behind him, he managed to keep the tears away, breathed deep and looked over his shoulder at Pembleton.

"We searched everywhere. Nothing."

Puzzled and scrunching his eyebrows, he walked up to Frank. "There has to be something."

"Tim, we checked the bathroom to see if there were any meds. Nothing. We checked her mail. Nothing. We checked the answering machine…nothing. If there was evidence, someone didn't want us to find it."

Tim turned away from Frank, thinking, and then he faced his partner again. "We interview the neighbors. They've got to tell us something, right?" He paused, chuckling at what hadn't made sense, and for a moment it seemed his fist was about to target something else.

"Come on," said Frank, hoping Bayliss would calm down.

They entered the living room where numerous officers were scattered. Tim glanced at them irritably. "Keep looking," he ordered despite the fact they searched for hours and finding nothing.

The detectives, after not having any luck had climbed the last flight of stairs leading to the third floor. There they stopped at apartment seven. Tim pounded on the door and when it slowly opened, an elderly black woman stared at them suspiciously.

"Miss Douglass?" Bayliss asked.

"Who are you?" She queried in a weak voice. "What do you want?"

Tim replied authoritatively. "I'm Detective Bayliss and this is Detective Pembleton. We're from the Baltimore police department and we need to ask you questions about Ann Sheldon."

"Who?"

Tim raised his voice. "Ann Sheldon."

"Oh, the twins? It's terrible…what happened to Ann's sister."

"Well now Ann is missing."

"Missing? When?"

"Since this morning. Have you seen her with anyone? Not only today but other times?"

"The Sheldons kept to themselves. They hardly had any company; except every now and then, a woman visited them."

Frank's eyes lit up. "A woman? What does this woman look like?"

"I couldn't see what she looked like."

"What do you mean?"

"I know she was white, that I can tell you. But she always wore a black silk scarf around her face. I could never see her hair. And…she wore dark sunglasses."

Frank continued while writing down notes on his pad. "Was she tall? Average, short?"

"Average."

"Do you remember anything else she was wearing?"

"A long brown coat."

Tim cut in to say, "Like what we're wearing?"

"No. It was leather."

"Did you ever hear Ann or Anita call this woman's name?"

"No. I would hear Anita saying hey, come in…like she was happy to see her, but not Ann."

"Did you happen to see this woman visit Ann today?"

"I heard the bell and when I looked out my window, I thought it was the mailman. Then I saw the woman standing outside. She mumbled something to Ann, I don't know, I couldn't hear. Then they went inside."

"Inside? Inside where?"

"Where else? Back to Ann's apartment. I went out into the hall and heard a door close."

Tim shot a puzzled expression at Frank. He then said to Miss Douglass, "We're done with the questions. Thank you."

After the door had been shut, Tim fell back against the wall. "Frank, the more questions we ask, the more this case makes no sense! Ann didn't come back with any woman. I would have heard voices in the living room. I went out and saw the apartment door open and the door outside."

"Then why would Miss Douglass say she saw them go inside and she heard a door close?"

"I don't know," Tim snapped. "I don't know what to think anymore!" He marched down the stairs with Pembleton behind him. "And this woman," Tim ranted on. "We don't know what she looks like other than she's white and she's an average height. I'm sure Gee will be ecstatic to hear that."

Daylight retreated from the dismal hall that had awakened again when the chandelier flickered on.

They headed back to the apartment. Suddenly Tim froze.

"What?" said Frank.

Tim hadn't answered, lost momentarily in a recall. He turned, walking toward a door beneath the staircase. "Frank, look at this." Bayliss grasped the knob and seeing the door unlocked, both detectives immediately snatched the guns out of their holsters. Bayliss yanked the door open and they barged inside what looked like a basement still slightly visible in twilight sneaking through a small window. Frank saw a light switch on the wall and when he flipped it, a soft pink light disclosed what had been in semi-darkness. Cautiously, they tiptoed down a few steps, keeping their guns upright as they searched the dreary atmosphere around them.

There had been nothing but wood paneled walls. The floor, wooden planks that creaked when they walked and the only thing seen on the floor was a worn chair also wood. Though the air had a dank scent, what you would smell in an old basement, another scent had wafted into Tim's nostrils. He sniffed and his face had gone chalk white. "Ann's perfume. Frank, she was here." Bayliss studied the chair. Noting something on the floor beside it, he knelt down and after picking it up he stood abruptly. Tim fingered pieces of strings. "Rope," he said to Frank. "This woman had a weapon and tied Ann to the chair. That's why she couldn't scream. She couldn't do anything to let me know she was in trouble. If she wanted to kidnap Ann, why come in the morning, keep her here and then leave?"

Frank sighed, puckered his lips and while staring at the chair, he answered, "Ann didn't expect her to come in the morning. When she told you, I know who it is and I'll be back, she was talking about the mailman. This woman knew Ann would open the door for him. Remember what Miss Douglass said, Anita was happy to see the woman, not Ann. She kept Ann here because she knew you were inside. After you left, that's when she kidnapped her."

"That means she was watching us. Wait, the killer we're looking for…it's a woman? The victims were raped. There was evidence of semen--,' Tim halted, shoving back his hair in frustration. "It's not a killer, now they're two people involved in this?" He walked to the wall, collapsing against it and shut his eyes tight. "I should've gone to the door. I knew she was in danger and I let her go to the damn door!" Tim opened his eyes. Lack of sleep and stress had been clearly evident in dark, puffy circles beneath his eyes. He sadly stared at Frank standing beside him. "The other victims, they were missing for a few days and then--," he paused again, shuddering at the thought. "Frank, I can't lose Ann. I love her. And what about her students? When they find out she's missing, they'll be devastated."

Frank stared back at him in silence, but it wasn't a cold silence, which Pembleton had a habit of doing around people. This time he nodded in acknowledgement of Tim's pain. "Tim, we've got to question the women again, including Marissa."

A deep sigh rolled out from his lungs. "Okay," he said, straightening himself. "Let's go."

--

The detectives entered a diner in Upper Fells Point called, 'The Place' Ahead they spotted Marissa in a black sweater coat and before leaving, she chatted with her manager standing behind the counter. Tim and Frank strolled up to her and when Bayliss leaned against the counter, he stared at the waitress with a wry smile. "Marissa Clearwater."

"I hope you're here to tell me you found the killer."

"Actually, we need to ask you more questions."

"What is this?" Marissa rolled her eyes and snorted. "You're harassing me!" She glanced at the customers, lowering her voice. "My friend was murdered and you keep treating me like I'm a suspect!"

"Marissa, it's routine. We have to question everyone again."

"Why? I didn't hear anything about another body found."

"Anita Sheldon…her sister, Ann, she's missing."

"What does that have to do with me?"

Tim ignored her. "Where were you this morning?"

"I was here," she told him through clenched teeth, "working!"

Frank asked, "Can anyone verify that?"

"I can," said the stout manager seemingly annoyed at their presence. Most of his hair was gone except for some curly gray strands on the sides and back. "Marissa came in at nine and was here all day."

"What you're doing…it's ridiculous." She swung a black velvet pocketbook around her shoulder. Tim glimpsed at the bag with a gold 'M' carved into it. "The killer is still out there and you're constantly questioning me. Are you done?"

"Yes," Tim said angrily.

Marissa stormed past them. Stopping suddenly, she spun around. "No suspects yet? And you call yourselves detectives?" Rolling her eyes, she smirked and left the diner.

Furious, Tim muttered, "C'mon, let's get out of here."

--

Inside the squad room, Bayliss sat at his desk. Though his friends sneaked glances at him, Tim had been aware and wondered if they knew about his relationship with Ann. The only person who had known was Frank, and Pembleton wouldn't tell anyone. He stared at the Rubik's cube, holding it in his hand, nothing he could do to avoid another recall of Ann…

"I see you have a Rubik's cube."

"Yes, I do." Tim picked it up.

"Are you able to match the colors?"

"Sometimes."

"I did it once and could never do it again. Anita was the pro."

"Really?"

Flustered, Tim dropped the cube onto the desk. He pushed himself back and as the swivel chair wheels halted, he got up, walking over to the board. Tim gazed somberly at the names in red: Ashkin, Monroe, and…Sheldon. He hoped it wouldn't happen, writing the name a second time.

Gee's door swung open. "Bayliss!"

Startled, Tim looked around.

"I wanna see you."

As Tim started toward Gee's office, he quickly peeked at Frank staring back and when Bayliss stepped inside, he shut the door behind him. Russert sat in the brown leather chair, taking her turn as shift commander. Gee closed the space between himself and Tim. "Lieutenant Russert and I are puzzled about something. Now, before I leave and take some of those jelly donuts with me, we wanna know how you knew Ann was missing? If you called her and didn't get an answer, well, people go out, errands need to be done or whatever else they have to do that day. But the way you reported her missing…she just vanished. Her apartment door was left open and the door to the building. No one else saw this happen, only you. Now, can you explain that to us?"

"I, uh--," His head fell back, rolling his eyes up to the ceiling.

"Tim," said Meagan. "Were you in Ann's apartment?"

Shutting his eyes for a moment, he opened them again. "Yes," he answered Meagan's question while staring into Gee's unsteady gaze.

Gee told him, "At ten in the morning?"

"No, it was Friday night. Ann called me. She was afraid and I came over."

"You mean you spent the night, slept on the couch and made sure she was alright."

Tim cleared his throat. "No, sir, that's not what happened. I didn't sleep on the couch and—okay, okay, I'm in love with Ann."

"Tim!" Gee barked. "You've been through this before with Emma Zoole and look what happened. She needed protection from us."

"She didn't want it!"

"So you decided to protect her and now she's missing."

"You're blaming me?"

"You should've been more careful with her. What were you thinking?"

"You are blaming me."

Gee pointed his finger at Tim's face. "Find her, Bayliss, and close this case!"

Tim stormed out of the office and when grabbing his coat, Frank walked up to him. "What happened with Gee?"

Tim angrily yanked his coat on. "I'm going home."

"What happened?"

"He blames me for Ann's disappearance. You know, I wish I didn't take that call."

"But you did."

"You should've been the primary, not me!"

"Tim, you took the call."

"I know Gee would've wanted you to be the primary. He has more confidence in you. Me? What do I get? The Adena Watson case…unsolved along with more of my failures on that damn board!"

"Tim--,"

"No! I don't wanna hear it. I don't wanna hear don't be hard on myself or I didn't know that was gonna happen. I'm angry, yeah, I'm angry because Gee's right. I should've been more careful. She wanted me to protect her, Frank. That's why she wanted me to come over. I was her lifeboat and I let her sink!"

Everyone watched Tim march out of the squad room, slamming the doors behind him.

--

Monday morning. Tim barely slept again. Ann kept him awake. What if he didn't find her before it was too late…what if? Outside, the early March sun had broken through darkness above Baltimore City. Tim moped toward his car, wearing sunglasses hiding exhaustion beneath his eyes. He suddenly froze and it seemed as if he could not take another breath. His face, flushed and pale as if he had seen something even more horrible than his experiences with dead bodies. Bayliss proceeded cautiously to the Lexus where a white envelope was tucked inside the windshield wiper. He looked around, seeing only a few people strolling by; and then Tim snatched the envelope off the window. Wetting his dry lips, Bayliss stared at the envelope. His chest rose and sank in a frenetic rhythm. Ann was gone, and now he had been part of the sick game of finding her body.

Tim plopped down behind the wheel. Taking off his sunglasses, he lifted the envelope to the sunlight, squinting at it. A necklace was inside. He anxiously tore open the envelope and instead of the gold named one Tim expected to find, it was Ann's diamond heart necklace. He then grabbed the paper. This time it wasn't the usual three-fold note but a letter. His pouty lips fell at what had been written in the same tiny unscripted letters:

Detective Tim Bayliss, you miss Ann, don't you? She misses you, too, she calls your name, she wishes you can help her but she's with me now. I can do whatever I want with her. You had sex with Ann. I know, she told me. When you think about her, what are your fantasies? I have her tied up right now. Is that what you desire to see? She's afraid, her face wet with tears. Is that what you want her to feel? Sometimes she tries to escape and then I have to punish Ann. I hit her, she bleeds. Do you like to inflict pain? Don't be afraid; look through my eyes and watch as if you were here. You, me and Ann. You're watching as I make sweet, passionate love to her, just like you did that night. I can do the same, Tim. I can do the same.

Tim dropped the paper. Feeling as if he would lose the breakfast eaten only moments ago, Bayliss slapped a pale hand against his mouth. Taking slow deep breaths, the nausea passed, but not his anger. "You son of a bitch," he growled and when pounding his fist against the steering wheel, he shouted, "Son of a bitch!"

--

Tim stormed back into the precinct and after settling in, he strode furiously inside the cafeteria where Frank seated himself at a table. Reading the paper, a cigarette dangled from his mouth. Distracted by Tim, he looked up at the tall detective. Lewis, Munch, Bolander, Felton and Howard were sitting at another table. Bayliss desperately needed coffee and hesitated, annoyed by their laughter.

"You're laughing at me?"

They stopped, eyeing Tim in bewilderment. Munch said, "Tim, did anyone tell you you're grumpy in the morning when you don't have caffeine? Not only does it wake you up and get your adrenaline going, it helps you think because you're not grumpy anymore. So, get your coffee and then talk to us."

"This has nothing to do with caffeine, Munch. You guys are laughing at me and don't want to admit it."

Felton remarked, "What are you talking about? We're not laughing at you."

"No? I'm not stupid. You're thinking, Timmy doesn't know what he's doing. He still can't solve the case."

"Hey, Tim," Lewis shouted. "Y'know, I'm getting sick and tired of your damn paranoia!"

"Paranoia, Meldrick? Now you're saying I'm paranoid? Uh-huh." Tim pummeled his fist against the candy machine, startling the detectives and then he had gone back to the squad room where his tantrum continued. The detectives, including Frank watched Bayliss shove files of paperwork spilling onto the floor. He shoved something else, his chair that rolled until it boomed against the file cabinet.

Gee hurried out of his office to see what was going on. "Bayliss!"

Tim, breathless and his eyes wide like a madman had ranted, "They're messing with me. They've got Ann and--," He yanked the letter out from his blazer pocket and tossed it on the floor nearby Gee. "They're messing with me!"

"Tim, get out and cool off."

Tim kicked the file cabinet.

"I said, cool off!"

After Tim breezed out of the squad room, Gee picked up the paper. He read it and appalled at the disturbing letter, he sighed, looking in the direction of where Tim had gone.

Fuming, Bayliss stepped onto the pier and headed toward the gate where he stood. Panting, watching boats momentarily blurred by his tears. Another recall of Ann's voice…

"I like watching the boats and—and sometimes I feel like I can't breathe, like I'm drowning and there's no lifeboat in sight to rescue me. Tim, do you ever feel like that? I imagine you do, so much death you see."

He fingered something in his blazer pocket and took out Ann's necklace. "Ann," Bayliss whispered. Tim's hands gripped the gate and his head fell exhaustedly against it.

TBC