"I don't understand." Jill said lifting a shaking hand to her pale face. "What do you mean you don't know where he is?"

"We found his patrol car, but he isn't in it." Ryker explained patiently. "It looks like there was some kind of a struggle, but we can't find Mike."

"Signs of a struggle?" She turned from Ryker's face to Terry's. "Was there blood?"

"No." Terry said quietly. "No." He turned toward Ryker. "Is Liz on her way?"

"She should be here any minute."

"I don't like . . . she's so weak already." Terry said worriedly.

"Don't talk about me like I'm not here!" Jill spat out angrily. "What are you doing sitting here! Go find him!"

"We've got the whole force working on it, Jill." Ryker said.

"Megan's picking up the girls from school so you don't need to worry about . . ."

"Mama? Can I have a Popsicle?" Lizzie Danko came in from the kitchen. Seeing Ryker and Terry, her smile grew huge. "Grandpa! You wanna play dollies with me?" She launched herself at her grandfather, who swallowed hard and then lifted her up into his arms.

"Not right now, honey." He said kissing her cheek.

"Mama, why are you crying?" Lizzie asked looking down at her mother, who ducked her head at her youngest daughters words.

"Terry . . ." She said with strained voice.

"Hey, Lizzie, you wanna go and play with Aunt Bethie and MJ? Come on, I'll take you over." He glanced at Ryker. "I'll be right back." Ryker nodded his head, and gave Lizzie one more kiss before handing her over to her uncle.

"Jill," Terry's gaze was intense. "I"m coming right back, honey."

"Thanks." She said sniffing. "But Terry, don't rush. Beth will be . . .take some time with her, first."

"I'll be back." He repeated.

Jill rose following them to the door. "Be a good girl, Lizzie. I'll see you later." She kissed her daughter absently, and turned back to pace the length of the living room. She could hear Eddie talking on the phone. She paused at the fireplace and the sight of all their family pictures wounded her. The five of them together, Mike and the girls, Mike holding a tiny Kate, she and Mike together, their wedding pictures, and Mike, Terry and Willie looking so young and hopeful. She shuddered gazing into the bright blue eyes of a twenty-five year old William Gillis who would be dead at thirty-four, leaving behind a shattered wife and hundreds of devastated friends. She wiped the tears from her face with shaking fingers.

"Maybe you should sit down." Eddie said coming back into the room.

"I'm okay." She said softly.

"You are shaking. You are still so thin. Sit down. You want something to drink?"

"No." She sat only because she knew he wouldn't leave her alone until she did. "What was the phone call?"

"Just checking in." He said.

"Any leads?"

"They are still assessing the scene. I want to . . . Is there something I could get you?" He asked her.

"Yeah," She said bitterly, her eyes shimmering with tears. "You can get me, Mike."

***R***

Darkness had settled over the quiet neighborhood, but a flurry of people and cars were coming and going from the Danko home. Liz Conners had come to keep an eye on Jill. Everyone was concerned about the stress her already weak body was experiencing. She simply tossed aside their concerns and ignored Liz's pleas to sit down and rest. Megan had picked up Lizzie, as well as MJ and Jenny, so Beth now sat on the couch beside Jill. There were four detectives standing in a small huddle on her front yard talking with Deputy Chief Ryker who kept nodding his head.

"What are they talking about?" Jill asked.

"I don't know." Beth said.

"If he's dead they should just tell me, okay. I don't need anyone to drag it out." She chewed at the corner of her lip.

"He isn't Jill. We don't know what happened." Beth said calmly.

"Beth, you know what I'm talking about. Don't let them lie to me."

"No, I won't. I promise, okay?"

"Okay." Jill sighed. "You should go home, Beth. This stress isn't good for you and if anything happens to that baby . . . "

"Oh, now, hush. I've got two nurses right here. I'm safer here than at home. And I'm fine."

"Why did he have to go on patrol today? Why? He's a Sergeant! He doesn't have to . . .!" She rose and paced again. "He's so goddamn macho! He knew I'd be mad, but he did it anyway! And now . . ."

"Terry's back." Liz said looking out the window. The women turned and saw Ryker take him aside and talk quietly to him. Jill watched in horror as whatever it was that Ryker said, caused Terry to raise a shaking hand and rub his head, clearly distressed.

"Oh God!" Jill said sinking back into the couch. "Please, Beth, go find out. I can't. . .please!"

"I'll be right back." Beth said rising slowly and pushing open the door.

She made her way past the small circle of officers and stood about two feet from her husband and Ryker.

"But it doesn't make any sense? Why weren't we notified?" Terry was saying, his voice revealing that he was clearly stressed.

"It was a departmental slip up. A message that fell through the cracks." Ryker said.

"Oh my God!"

"Listen, Webster, it might just be a coincidence. We don't know and if it is . . ."

"Terry?" Beth stood wringing her hands.

"Baby, hey." Terry glanced self-consciously at Ryker who gave a brief nod.

"Jill's watching you from inside, and she's pretty stressed. Is . . ." She swallowed hard, a half-step from her husband. "Is . . . is he dead?"

"No, sweetheart. No. God, no! It's just." He pulled her tightly against his chest, and kissed her forehead again and again. "No, baby. Shhh." He could feel her trembling as she clung to him. "It's just . . ." He sighed and looked back at Ryker. "We have to tell her."

"I know." Ryker said despondently.

"Tell her what?" Beth asked looking up at Ryker from inside Terry's arms.

"A man broke his parole about eight days ago." Ryker explained.

"Who?" She asked.

"Someone who hates Mike." Terry explained. "Someone who has had ten years to let his hatred fester."

***R***

Silence hung in the living room. No one seemed to even breath; the tension was so thick. They all watched Jill waiting for her reaction. She sat stony-faced staring at the gold band around the ring finger of her left hand.

"But you don't know it is him." She said at last looking up at Ryker who stood before.

"No, we don't."

"But he's missing, and so is Mike." She shook her head. "Why didn't they notify us? They are supposed to notify us."

"People are looking into that."

"We had a right to speak to the board! And now . . ." She rose shakily. "God! That takes me back a hundred years! I was so scared, and Mike was so upset. We were just talking a while back . . . that time is in our top five worst days." She shook her head. "I guess, we've got something new to add to the list."

"Jill, if it is him, we'll find him. We've notified every agency from here to Mexico. He won't get . . ."

"You shouldn't make promises you know you can't keep, Eddie." She said looking at him. "He hates Mike. You saw how he looked at him. You saw him in court. You were sitting beside me, holding my hand!"

"Listen, Jill," He said moving to put his hands on her shoulders. "I'm gonna find him, and he'll be back here in your arms. I swear it. I won't quit."

She let tears fall as she finally accepted his embrace, resting her head against his shoulder. He held her tightly. "Listen to me, honey, I swear to you. I won't let Borden hurt you again."

She said nothing resting against his shoulder, taking comfort that at least she wouldn't be alone; her family would stand beside her, no matter what. But she also knew, that as much as Eddie Ryker might want to keep his promises, sometimes promises just can't be kept. And as for preventing Borden from hurting her, Ryker was already too late.