Chapter 2

Mac and Stella were on a conference call with Chief Sinclair when Lindsay and Danny came in. She was holding a tablet computer, Danny was carrying a fistful of 8x10 photographs, and both looked like they were bearers of bad news.

"Chief, we need to go. I think there's been a development with Adam Ross."

"What kind of development?" Sinclair demanded.

"I'll let you know." Mac hung up.

Lindsey shook her head. "The DNA came back on the hair, Mac. It's from a Charles Ross; it's a match to Adam. His father kidnapped him." Lindsey shook her head. "But I've always been under the impression Adam's father was dead. Anytime he's talked about him, it was always in the past tense."

"He's not dead, unfortunately," Stella told them. "He's been in jail for the last ten years."

The three looked at her.

"Stella is right," Lindsey turned her attention back to Mac. "He was supposed to be in on a forty year sentence, but he got a good lawyer and was paroled after ten years. He's been out for six months. Do you think Adam knew?"

"No," Stella answered. "He didn't know."

"How can you be sure he didn't know?" Mac asked her.

Stella avoided the question. "What was Charles in for?"

"In Florida he was arrested for kidnapping, two counts of assault, and one count of attempted murder. But he has assaults that go way back." Lindsey walked up to Mac's desk, handing him her tablet. "And a long string of child abuse charges – none that ever went to trial – that go back to 1988, when Adam was five."

Mac looked over the charges in silence. He handed the tablet back to Lindsey. "That's where Adam went to college, and he would have been out a couple years when it happened."

Hawkes joined the group, and he didn't look like he had any better news.

"I went over the photographs on the card in Adam's camera." Danny handed Mac the images. "That's the best I could get."

There wasn't a clear picture of Adam's attacker, but in two, there was a clear shot of Adam's terrified face. Mac glanced at Stella when she turned away and stared outside.

"Is the autopsy on the victim at the scene done?" Mac asked Sheldon.

"He'd already had an autopsy done, and he was embalmed."

"What?" Lindsey asked. "The dead victim had already been killed?"

"His name was Roger Keefe. He had died of natural causes and the corpse was stolen from a morgue four nights ago. I also got the results on the blood from the scene. It's not even real. It's corn syrup, some red dye, and chocolate syrup."

"So this entire scene was a setup?" Danny asked them. "Was his dad after Adam or one of us?"

"He couldn't have known Adam would be there," Mac said.

"Actually, that's not entirely true, Mac," Lindsey said. "You've been having him help process scenes for the last five weeks. Especially the morning scenes when we were racing the weather. It was predicted to snow or rain around ten this morning."

"That's why you told me you were calling him," Hawkes reminded him.

Mac didn't like the idea he hadn't noticed the pattern. Normally he wouldn't have cared, but hindsight made him feel guilty.

"Hawkes, why don't you see if you can track down any of Adam's relatives or friends and see if we can find out why his father would want to kidnap him?"

"Adam doesn't have any," Stella told them.

The three looked at her. She was still staring outside.

"He doesn't have any what?" Hawkes asked. "Friends or relatives?"

Quietly she answered, "Both. We're the closest friends he has."

"He doesn't have any friends outside of work?" Mac asked.

"Just people he plays online with. They wouldn't know anything."

"Danny, look into it anyway," Mac said. "Lindsey, call Florida State Patrol and see if they can get us more information on the case. Hawkes, see what you can find out about the ring Adam found."

The CSI left with their assignments.

Mac turned his eyes to Stella. She was still staring outside. "I'm going to go look around his apartment and see there's anything that can help us." Mac stood, grabbing his coat from the back of his chair.

"I'll do that," Stella told him, heading for the door.

"I can do it."

Stella smiled. "You don't even know where he lives, Mac."

"I've been to his apartment a couple times."

"He's moved since you've been to his place."

"So give me the address."

"No. I'll do it."

"Don't you need a warrant?"

"No. I've got it."

"Stella."

She stopped with her hand on the door handle.

"How long, Stella?"

She didn't look back. "How long for what?"

"How long have you had a relationship with Adam?"

She sighed and quietly answered, "A little over a year."

Mac didn't speak. She started to open the door.

Mac told her, "You know this relationship is against policy."

"That's what you're concerned about?"

"No. I could care less. I just don't want you hiding information to protect your relationship; information that could help us find him."

She turned, staring at him. "Mac…"

He waited. It took her a couple minutes but she finally said, "Mac, I love Adam. If I knew something that would find him right now, this very minute, I don't care who found out we were dating, I'd tell it. Please don't think I'd be that foolish."

Mac nodded. "I wanted to make sure we understood each other. Come to me with anything you find. If I can protect you and Adam, I will."

She smiled. "Okay. What are you going to do?"

"I'm going to send Charles Ross a message. I want my lab tech back."

She almost started crying. "Thank you, Mac." She walked out.

Mac sat down and started making calls and using favors.

#

Adam sat stiffly in the arm chair he'd been ordered to sit in. His father sat on the couch watching a re-run of a comedy. If it were physically possible, Adam would have been snorting fire. His father had shaved off his beard and cut his hair shorter than he'd worn it since he was eight.

Then he let Adam leave his room with him. The house they were in was tiny. There was a bedroom and bathroom off the hall. It opened into a kitchen/living room. Only one door entered the house in the living room. Heavy drapes covered all the windows but they didn't block out all the light. A small patch of sunlight came through, hitting the back of the couch.

Adam watched the sunlight move with great interest. It told him that the house was angled southeast. Every clue he could find to his location was one more clue he could give when he finally got the chance to call for help.

"I forgot how quiet you were when we watched television, kiddo," Charles told him.

Adam looked away from the patch of sun to his father. Charles didn't take his eyes off the television screen.

"What kind of T.V. do you like these days?"

Adam looked back at the sun.

"Adam. I asked you a question."

"Nothing," Adam lied.

"You don't watch television? Huh. When you were a kid, we had to tear you away from it."

"Did you?" Adam asked, not that he really cared.

"Yeah. You liked all those really dumb kid shows. Or you did before you mother kidnapped you."

Adam sucked in his lip and bit down on it to keep from lashing out. Last night's punch had left him with a painful black eye and green bruise across his cheek, and reminded him he had to censor everything that came out of his mouth or suffer.

"Who's Stella?" Charles asked.

Adam looked up. Charles glanced at him.

"Hm? Who is she?"

"A girl at from work. Why are you asking about her?"

"You were talking to her in your sleep last night. Sounds like you more than just know her. You told her you loved her."

Adam didn't say anything.

"Maybe we should get her to come with us too. I realized I made a mistake separating you from that bimbo before. What'd'ya say? Should we get Stella too?"

"We just have sex. Haven't you ever told a woman you loved her to get laid?" It killed Adam to say that, but the lie was all he had to protect Stella from his father.

Charles laughed. "Many times. Good boy. You make me proud."

In his mind Adam growled angry obscenities at his father.

Someone knocked on the door. Adam's heart leapt into his throat when his father leapt up. He watched Charles pass him and go to the door, opening it.

"Baby!" a woman cried out.

Adam heard the wet smack of kissing. Charles came back inside with his arm hooked around a short brunette. She was robust with straight brown hair and her smile revealed crooked teeth. It disappeared when she saw Adam.

"So this is your fucking kid?"

"Adam, this is Lillian. Your mother."

"Uh, no, step-mother. I am no one's mom."

"Not even mine?" Charles pulled her close.

She laughed, kissing him again. She pushed her long fingernails and fingers with rings on every one into his hair. The two pulled apart.

"So what's the plan, Dan?" She laughed at her joke.

"Tomorrow, I'll get the blueprints and another car, so you'll need to stay here."

"Why not just take your kid with you?"

"He's a little too old to strap into a car seat." Charles winked at Adam, as if he was supposed to enjoy the jokes at his expense.

She glanced down at Adam. "I suppose I have to stay with him."

"Yes."

She rolled her eyes, pulling away from Charles. "Fine." She walked over to the refrigerator and opened it. "Geeze, Dan. There's no food in here."

"I know. I didn't have any time to get much. There's a store about a mile down the street. Why don't you go pick us up something?"

She walked over to him, holding out her hand. He took out his wallet and put a couple twenties in her hand.

"Pick up some stuff for omelets. Adam makes great omelets."

"You want me to eat something he cooks? He'll probably spike our food with Draino." She looked down at Adam. "If looks could kill, we'd both be dead right now."

Charles looked down at Adam. "Are you glaring at your step-mom?"

"No," Adam said.

"Adam?"

He looked away from them. But that wasn't enough for Charles. He grabbed Adam's arm and yanked him to his feet.

"Apologize to Lillian."

"I'm sorry," Adam said without any hint he meant it.

"Say it like you mean it."

"I'm sorry, Lillian."

Charles looked at her. "Go on. I'll straighten him out before you get back."

She shrugged and left.

Without warning, Charles attacked Adam and beat him until he bled.

"Always something with you, isn't it?" Charles asked as he walked to the sink to wash blood off his hands.

Adam had to fight not to cry. He pulled himself back into the armchair and slouched down in it, closing his eyes. He heard the introduction music for the afternoon news on channel 4. Two reporters appeared on the screen – a man with graying hair, and a pretty brunette in a green business suit.

"We have some breaking news to report this afternoon," the woman told the camera. "Police are seeking this man, Charles Ross."

Adam focused on the television. The picture was a jail photograph of Charles. Charles charged over to stand in front of the television.

"In connection to the kidnapping a NYPD criminalist Adam Ross." A photograph of Adam appeared on the screen. "Adam Ross was taken from a crime scene in Central Park around five-thirty this morning and was last seen wearing jeans, sneakers, and a black shirt. Police warn that Charles Ross is a criminal and is to be considered armed and dangerous. If you have any information on this kidnapping, please contact the NYPD."

The reporter changed to another story but Adam didn't hear it. Either the photographs or the hair had told them who took him. His attention was torn from the television when a hand snapped around his throat, squeezing like a vice. He looked into his father's eyes.

"How did they find out? What did you do?"

"Nothing."

"How do they know you're with me? Why are they calling this a kidnapping?"

"It's a crime to… I don't know, dad. I don't know how they know I'm with you."

Charles grabbed Adam by the ear and pulled. Adam screamed, trying to pull his hand off. Charles's other hand squeezed Adam's throat tighter, slowly cutting of his air.

"How did they know, Adam!"

"I don't know, dad. I swear to God, I don't know!"

Charles let go suddenly and stepped back. He returned to the couch and sat down. For several minutes the drone of the newscast was all that filled the house.

Charles suddenly asked, "What the hell is a criminalist?"

"Someone who studies evidence to solve crimes."

"And they think you're one?"

Adam looked up at him. "I guess."

"So what do you do as a criminalist?"

"Analyze evidence to solve crimes."

"How? How could someone so stupid solve a crime? You can't even tell me how they figured out you're with me."

Adam looked at Charles. "There isn't any evidence to tell me how they know, dad."

Charles shook his head, sitting back on the couch. "Stupid kid."

Adam looked away. Secretly he was overjoyed that Mac and the CSI knew who had him. Now he had to figure out how to tell them where he was.

#

"The ring is from Adam's high school," Hawkes said.

Mac looked up from the microscope. Hawkes was standing next to him holding a bag with the ring from the crime scene.

"It's Adam's?"

"No. It's a 2010 ring, but the school name and mascot are his high school. I think his dad left it there as another lure."

Mac looked down at the microscope. "Sheldon… How well do you know Adam?"

"Not as good as I always thought I did. Lindsey said his dad's abused him for years."

Mac nodded, looking up. "Yeah. It explains some things about Adam's personality, but what's got me stumped is why his father kidnapped Adam. He's wants something and his son is the key, but I can't figure out what."

"I don't know, but there's more to this ring, Mac. I found a partial on it, and it came back as Lillian Flores. She has some prostitution and pandering charges on her record. I also traced it back to the jeweler, Jostens. The credit card used to purchase the ring was stolen, and the ring was shipped to a post office box in Queens."

"Let's me get this evidence put away and we'll go have a talk with the Postmaster," Mac said.

Hawkes nodded.

#

Adam focused on washing the dishes. He hated washing dishes, but it was better than listening to Lillian drone incessantly on her green cell phone. She had been on it since his father had left nine hours ago. He almost made an attempt to run until she pulled a 9 millimeter on him and ordered him to cook her lunch, and then clean the house.

He paused when a key hit the lock on the front door. His father came in.

"Gotta go!" Lillian said.

Adam glanced back. She leapt up and ran to him. Adam's eyes went down to the rolled papers in his father's hand. He looked back down at the dishes.

"Smells good in here. Did you cook?" his father asked.

Adam didn't answer, thinking he was talking to Lillian. His father hit the back of his head with the papers.

"Yes," Adam said. "There isn't any more though."

"He is a good cook," Lillian told Charles. "I didn't really believe you."

"Why don't you make supper, Adam?"

Adam began working on what to make for supper.

"Are those the plans?" Lillian asked.

"Yeah."

Adam glanced at the two. Charles unrolled the papers and he could tell they were blueprints.

"Almost had to kill someone for these."

Lillian pressed against Charles, wrapping her arms around his neck. "You did?"

He smiled, kissing her. "Yes."

"Did you put a gun to his head?"

"Her head."

Adam gritted his teeth. He wanted to slam things around the kitchen, but his past had taught him that was a fast way to get beat. He threw together a casserole and put it in the oven. Adam turned, watching the two making out for a few seconds. He walked over to the table, looking at the blueprints.

Charles noticed and pulled away from Lillian. "What are you staring at?"

"These look like blueprints to a bank."

"Boy's a genius!" Lillian taunted.

"Why do you have blueprints of a bank?"

"Because we're going to rob it?" she asked back.

Adam stared at them, not sure he'd just heard her right. "Wh-What?"

"Wh-what?" Lillian mimicked and then laughed. "We're going to steal your father's money and go Fuji."

"Fiji," Charles corrected her.

"That place too."

"If it's your money, why not just go withdraw the money?" Adam asked. "That would be safer and easier."

"I don't think the person whose name is on the account would be so cooperative," Charles answered, shooting a glare at Adam.

"So it's not really your money?"

Charles didn't answer. Adam took two steps closer to the table. He caught the name of the bank in the corner before his father snatched the blueprints up.

"Dad, this is the oldest bank in New York City. It's protected like Fort Knox. You're never going to get away with it."

"I know how to rob a bank, Adam. How do you think I managed to support you and your mother's lazy ass before she stole you from me?" his father snarled.

"You robbed banks when I was a kid?"

"Two a month. Any other stupid questions?"

Adam stared at him for a moment. "The casserole will be done in forty minutes." He walked over to an arm chair, a place that was currently out of his father's reach. The couple went back to planning their bank robbery.

"Where am I going to be during this? In the trunk?" Adam asked.

The two looked at him. Charles grinned. It was one that made Adam's stomach knotted. He had something dubious planned for Adam when he grinned like that.

"No, kiddo, you're going to be in there with us. So if we get shot for something you do, so will you."

Adam looked away, leaving them to their plans. He looked at the door, only ten feet away. It would be easy to bolt right now, but how far would he really get? He had no idea where he was, or which direction was safe to run. At the moment, that wasn't the best plan.

Adam closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose. He could feel a migraine coming – he was prone to them when he hadn't had much sleep. He wanted to sleep, but he was so afraid of his father that his sleep was plagued with nightmares and bizarre dreams.

He sat his hand down on the arm of the chair, but it missed and slipped off onto the side table next to it. Adam looked down when his hand brushed something. He stared at Lillian's green cell phone sitting on the table. Adam looked up at the two, then back at the phone.

He reached his hand out, keeping his eye on them, and picked up the phone. He lifted his hips up, sliding the phone down his pants into his underwear. He could worry about 'gross' later. Adam stood and headed for his room.

"Where are you going?" Charles asked.

Adam stopped walking. "I'm going to take a shower before supper."

Charles didn't object, so Adam kept walking.

He stopped when he heard Lillian tell Charles, "Honey, I really think that boy has you blinded. You think he's stupid, but he's not, Charles. You look at him and you can see he's working things out. I really don't think he should be in on this robbery. If he finds some way to screw us over, he will."

"If he does, I'll kill him."

He closed the bathroom door and locked it. He started the shower, fished the cell phone from his pants, and stripped off his clothes. When Charles came looking for him, and he knew he would soon, he had to sell the shower lie.

He woke up the phone and found it asking for a code. Adam pressed a combination of buttons and the lock was removed. The phone came up to the main screen. He found the option for silent and turned it on. Adam sat down on the toilet. He opened a text message and typed as fast as his fingers could move.

#

Hawkes and Mac waited at the counter of the post office. The Postmaster came back out with a piece of paper.

"This is the registration for the post office box," he told the two, setting the paper down. "There was no forwarding address and there hasn't been any other mail come to it."

Mac picked up the paper. "Do you have any cameras that might have picked her up?"

"Yeah. That's going to take a little more time though."

"We'll wait," Mac told him.

The man left.

Hawkes pulled the paper away, looking at it. "Vespa Morgan. That's not even the name on the credit card."

"No. I doubt it's real." Mac's phone beeped to alert him to a text message.

He pulled it out and opened it. The sender was unknown. He opened the message and the first line made him go tense.

HELP this is adam my father kidnapped me hes going to rob bank of ny mellon says he has money there he doesn't i don't know when

His phone beeped again. He opened the second message:

trace this phone dont call trying to hide it if you dont stop him I will

"Mac? What is it?" Hawkes said.

"I just got a text from Adam. His father is going to rob the Bank of New York." Mac cleared the message and called a phone number. "Stella, do you know where Adam banks?"

"Yeah. Why?"

"Is it Bank of New York Mellon?"

"Yes. Why?'

"Go get a warrant to release his financials. See if there have been any large transfers in the last sixty days."

"Why? You don't think Adam's doing something illegal, do you?"

"No. But I think his father might be. Adam just sent me a text message that says his father's going to rob that bank because he has money there, but says he doesn't."

"A text message? He sent you a text message?" He heard her gasp and let out a soft sob.

Mac walked away from Hawkes. "Stella, I'm sure he just sent it to the first number that came to mind. It means nothing."

"I'm happy, Mac. It means he's alive and okay for now."

Mac smiled. "Yes it does. Get that information."

"I'm on it." Stella hung up.

#

"ADAM JACOB ROSS!" Charles's voice boomed outside the bathroom door.

Adam looked up when something slammed against the door. The green door knob began rattling and something pounded on the door.

"ADAM!"

With shaking hands Adam cleared the sent text message to cover his tracks and searched for somewhere to hide it. The door rattled harder.

"ADAM UNLOCK THIS FUCKING DOOR NOW!"

Adam found a loose board on the sink and pried it open enough to drop the phone behind it. He hurried into the cold shower, realizing he'd forgotten to turn on the hot water. He quickly adjusted the water.

He heard the door burst open. He turned and grabbed the soap from the dish, then turned back as the shower curtain flew open. He stared up at his father's flushed face.

"Where is it?" Charles demanded.

"Where is what?"

"Where is Lillian's cell phone, Adam?"

Lillian leaned against the door. She wore a smug smile. Adam was starting to hate her as much as he did his father.

"I don't know what you're talking about."

Charles grabbed his arm and yanked him out of the shower. Adam stumbled out. He slammed a hand against the wall to catch himself. Charles grabbed Adam, slammed him against the wall, and pinned him against it by his throat. He dug his fingers so deep into Adam's throat that his fingernails cut the skin and Adam couldn't get a breath.

Unable to get a breath, Adam panicked and tried to pull Charles's hand off. It made Charles dig his fingers in deeper. Adam began to feel like his heart was pumping in his head and his eyes felt like they were burning and being stabbed.

"WHERE IS IT!"

Adam couldn't answer if he wanted to. He gasped, getting small bursts of air. The edges of his vision were starting to distort and blacken. A tear started sliding down his face.

"YOU SON OF A BITCH!" Charles screamed and threw Adam to the floor.

Adam wanted to crawl away, but every breath in burned in his throat. His father began pounding on him iron fists, screamed at Adam to tell him where the phone was. Adam closed his eyes and kept his mouth shut. He wasn't about to give up his lifeline.

Something hard hit Adam across the side of his face head and the world went black.