Chapter 6

Mike paced wearily away from the edge of the highway, towards the lights of one of the patrol cars. He had his phone to his ear. Carolyn was still waiting to be told she could look at the car. She stood at the edge of the street, arms folded, staring down the embankment.

"Yeah," Mike said.

"Have they found the boys yet?" Bobby asked.

"No. It doesn't look like they're down there. Maybe it's just so damn dark…"

"Mike, I have to tell you something." He paused, and then continued. "Last week, I was called in to consult on a case. It's Nicole Wallace. She's alive, Mike. And she's in the area. And I think she's behind this."

Mike's jaw set angrily and he scrubbed his hand through his hair. "You got anything solid?"

"No, but my gut's telling me…"

"Call me back when you have something solid. I can't deal with this right now." Angrily, Logan hung up the phone.

Bobby was already dressed, and sat down to put on his shoes. Alex came out of the bedroom. She was dressed too. "Well?" She asked him.

Bobby shook his head. "He… hung up on me. I shouldn't have said anything."

"You had to tell him, Bobby."

"I don't have any evidence, just a gut feeling, and he… he can't handle it right now. That's what he said."

"They haven't found the boys?" There was no hope in the question.

Bobby shook his head and stood up. "I'm going in. Get Lichter on the case."

"I'm going to New Haven," Alex told him, and he nodded approvingly. They fell into each other's arms.

The sun was rising, and still there was no sign of the boys. Darren's parents had arrived, too, and they stood silently by the Logans as they watched the police slowly put an end to their search and rescue operation.

Carolyn was torn with worry, but she was also pissed. Mike could read it in every fiber of her being. They had held firm to protocol, and hadn't let her see the car. Now, as it was hooked to the tow truck, she was inspecting it from a distance. He took her lead and did the same.

"The driver's side door," Carolyn said, and glanced over at her husband.

He nodded, not taking his eyes off it. His mind played back what Goren had said. What if his son had been forced off the road? It would provide an explanation for where they could be now. But why Andy? Mike had never worked on any of the Nicole Wallace cases.

He looked at his wife. He would have to tell her. And he would have to call Goren back.

Andy had fallen asleep, but Darren had managed to stay awake all night. The morning sun was peeking in through the painted over windows, giving the room an eerie light. Darren straightened up, stretching his back, and got to his feet. He walked around the room, looking for anything he might have missed in the darkness of the night.

They were in a bedroom, stripped of furniture. There were two windows, both painted over in bold strokes from a brush. There were a couple of clear streaks where the painter had done a sloppy job. This was where the light was coming in. The outside wall was cool and damp from the moisture in the ground outside. The inside walls were sturdy and warm.

Darren looked down at his friend. He couldn't see any blood, besides the scrapes on his face from the broken glass of the accident. He looked down at his own arm. It was swollen, black and blue. He cradled it with his other arm and thought long and hard.

The phones had made good flashlights last night, but they couldn't get a clear signal in the basement. He'd tried calling 911, everybody, but none of the calls went through. He pulled his phone out and watched it carefully as he walked slowly around the room. No signal. They were too insulated down here.

He sank to the floor beside Andy, his back against the cold outer wall. On a whim, he gently held his arm up against the cool plaster. The throbbing wouldn't stop. "Andy," he said quietly.

Andy woke up quickly, remembering their situation. "She back?" He asked.

"No. I haven't heard any movement upstairs for hours. I think she's gone."

Andy studied the room in the light, then saw Darren's arm. "Holy hell, Darren!"

Darren ignored his friend's outburst.

"We have to get out of here." Andy got to his feet a little too quickly. He waited while the room swayed around him.

"How's your head?"

"Not so good."

"Maybe we can get the window open." He stretched and reached for it, but he couldn't quite get it. This was one deep basement. "Darren, move over," he ordered. He waited until his friend was out of the way, then took a running jump, catching the sill with his fingers. He held himself for a moment, then dropped back to his feet, and dizzy from the effort, fell to the floor. Andy wrapped his hands around his head and waited it out.

"I guess that's not gonna work," Darren said sarcastically, then added, "Dipshit."

"Touche," Andy groaned from beneath his hands.

She watched and frowned when she saw the small woman climb out of the car and enter the dorm. That was not the person she was hoping for.

Goren's phone rang. "Goren," he said.

"We didn't get a close look, but I think the car was rammed, forced off the road."

Bobby stiffened. "The boys?"

"Still no sign of them."

Bobby looked out the window of Lichter's squad room. It was full daylight now. "Mike, I'm with Detective Lichter. We're working the case."

"Bobby, you gotta get a look at my car."

"We'll be there soon," he said. "Is Carolyn...?"

"I made her take a sleeping pill. We're helpless here, Bobby."

"Alex is down there, with Katie, if you need her. I'll be there soon."