Chapter 7

Danny pov

I awaken with conflicted emotions. The case we're working is going to hell, but… now we also have Ryan. Ryan… I really hope that between us could start something. I really like the other man, especially since I've know him only for a day and I can't stop thinking about him.

But I suspect it wont be easy, the former CSI's appear like he's living a difficult moment and he's running from his past. But can only be optimistic. I know what it's like running and hiding; and I know that doing it alone most of the time bring to failure.

The morning at the office is a nightmare; we have so many agents on this case that the rooms are overflowing. We pass most of the time at the phone trying to catch something new, anything that can help us.

But it's becoming harder and harder. I have the impression that we missed something important, a fundamental piece of this puzzles; I bet it's right under our noses but we miss it every time.

The hours passes and I feel frustrated; there's a girl out there that need to be saved, and if we don't find something soon we'll lose her like we lost her sister.

The only thing that's making all of this bearable is the hope that Ryan will call, it would be like the best thing ever. Especially if Ryan got something. He's fresh, he don't know anything about the rest of the case… maybe we should show him the file. A fresh pair of eyes and mind maybe could make the difference. I should ask Jack about it.

I'm so distracted that I don't realize that Sam is in front of my desk looking at me curiously. "Hi Danny, how are things? Something new?" She asks hopeful.

I look at her. "You really think that I would be here like this if I had something useful?"

She glares rapidly at me, so I try to repair. "Sorry. It's just so frustrating!"

She nods sympathetically. "I know. It's the same for everyone; no one likes case like this. It's not because it's hard. It's the fact that every new trace we start following vanish."

"Yeah!" I answer, feeling a little better.

"But, hey, Vivian told me that at least you have a new friend!" She says.

I start telling her about Ryan, trying to ignore the leer she used on the word friend.

When I finish talking, her eyes are sparkling. "You really like him! I hope this will bring to the great Danny Taylor settling down."

I roll my eyes at her. "I like him, okay. But don't go so fast. It's a difficult situation, and surely it will take time for me to 'settle down'."

"I know, I know. But a girl can hope. If you're interested I and Martin checked about the holes in his background file, maybe you can take a look, it could help."

"You're right, maybe it could help. But I don't feel like it would be good; and if he ever found out about it…" I shudder at the thought of his reaction.

She doesn't seem convinced, but nods, understanding.

"You want to check again the friends of the two girls?" She asks me.

I nod, "Okay, at the moment we don't have anything else. Maybe we missed something."

We take all the files and start looking.

Its afternoon, the rain hadn't stopped for a moment and my eyes are burning, all those stupid useless files!

I can see that Sam is not doing better than me.

Suddenly Vivian closes her phone and turns toward us with a strange expression. My first though is that they found the body of the other girls, but her behavior is really strange.

She approaches us. "We have a problem."

"What happened?" I ask worried.

"They're challenging us. It's about Ryan…"

And my entire world comes crashing down.

Tbc…