Morning arrived swiftly, bringing with it a light drizzle. Sonny stood outside the warehouse, ignoring the soft rain that coated his hair. His mad eyes stared out across the harbour, focusing on the hundreds of building that lined the horizon.

"Go ahead, Mac Taylor, find me. I'll be ready when you arrive. I hope you bring that fool Messer along for the ride. It's about time both of you learned to never cross Sonny Sassone."

---

Mac waited anxiously as Hawkes typed in the information. A recognizable beep echoed throughout the room, and Mac huddled around the screen to view the results.

"Sonny Sassone. Wanted on two accounts of murder. Served two-year sentence at Arthur Kill Correctional Facility, Staten Island."

Hawkes raised an eyebrow. "Two years?"

Noticing there was more, Mac continued reading. "Released four days ago. Has ties to the Tanglewood gang."

"Why would they let him go after only two years? Doesn't make any sense."

Mac shrugged, almost helplessly. "Sometimes the justice system can be cruel. No matter; we're going after him ourselves."

---

Lindsay's words revolved around Danny's mind as he sat in the bar, waiting for his companion to show. My past is rearing its ugly head again. I will not allow it to interfere with Lindsay and I, nor can I let anything happen to her. I'd rather die than see her hurt.

"Danny!"

He waved as Flack came walking over. "Hey, man."

"You okay?" Flack's voice radiated concern. Danny toyed with his dog tags, obviously nervous about something.

"I don't get it, Don. This case is getting' under my skin like a bug. Sonny is up to somethin', I know it."

"Trust in the system, Danny. We'll nail him for good this time."

"I just…I don't want anything to happen to Lindsay."

Flack nodded, knowing how much his friend loved her. "That's the danger of our job. We put ourselves at risk every day out there. Everything will be fine. Once we get Sonny, this case is finished."

Danny held up his glass, flashing a half-hearted smile. "Cheers."

---

The entire team stood in Mac's office, listening intently as their boss spoke. It was getting down to the tenser moments of the case. Every single person knew they had to catch Sonny before he committed more crimes and endangered more innocent people. All of them could not deny the change of demeanor in Mac; his voice became stronger and stance taller, more confident. They had finally gotten enough evidence to convict the well-known leader, but they had hit a roadblock: no one knew where he was located. Mac had a simple answer to that frustrating question.

"He'll call me."

Stella looked at him curiously. "How do you know?"

"Believe me, Sonny will try and contact us. When he does, we'll have his exact location."

As if on cue, his cell began to ring its familiar tune. Everyone in the room froze. With sheer determination reflecting in his blue eyes, Mac pressed the speaker button so all could hear.

"Sonny."

The voice on the other line laughed mockingly. "Mac Taylor. I hear you haven't changed a bit since the last time we met."

"What do you want?" Mac's tone held a slight grating to it.

"Not much since I've already got it. Where's that Danny Messer of yours? I think I hear him whimpering in the corner."

Danny's temper rose, but before he opened his mouth Mac silenced him with an icy glare.

"We'll find you, Sonny. You can't run forever."

"Bold words. Too bad you can't back them up."

Mac flared his nostrils in anger. "Murderers are never on the loose for very long. This time you'll be gone for good."

"Threats are like grains of sand washed away by the tide. Here one moment, forgotten the next." With his point made, Sonny hung up. Lindsay noticed Danny's chest heaving, and she gently chided him.

"It's okay, Danny," At the sound of her soothing voice, he visibly became calmer. "We've got his number. We can track him, find out where he is, and put an end to this."

Mac nodded in agreement. "Sonny isn't as smart as he thinks. Hawkes, track his number through the system; find out where it came from. Now we can be certain where Sonny is hiding. No more lagging in the dust; this time we'll finish the job and make sure that murderer never sees daylight again."

A/N: And so the angst begins...in the upcoming chapters. I'll give an advanced warning now...THERE WILL BE A CHARACTER DEATH IN THE NEXT FEW CHAPTERS.