Noah bolted, but he didn't get very far. Almost immediately, running into an immoveable object; namely a three hundred pound man who barely blinked when hit at ramming speed. Once Emily got over her initial shock, she found it quite comical the way Noah bounced off the man like a racquetball bouncing off the wall. One moment he was on his feet, the next he was flat on his ass and wondering what the hell had just happened. The wall of a man shot Noah a disproving look before moving on to the next painting.

She hurried over and took him by the arm. The unidentified girl did the same with his other arm. Emily couldn't quite keep the laughter out of her voice as they helped him to his feet. "Noah, are you alright?"

He finally got a good look at her and realized he had just run away from the one person sent to help him. Embarrassment crept up his neck to his ears. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just felling really stupid at the moment, Agent Prentiss."

"It happens to the best of us. And over here I'm just Emily."

"Noah," he said, shaking hands with her and nodding to the girl standing quietly at his side with her arm through his. "And this is Amie. Amie Beauchene, my girlfriend."

"Bonjour," the girl said in greeting.

"Bonjour." Emily looked around, not feeling comfortable having a chat in the middle of the room. It was impossible to watch every direction at one time. "Let's find a place that's a little more private to talk."

Both agreed with the suggestion and let Emily lead them over to a corner where she stood with her back to the walls. Now she could easily see anyone approaching. She was so busy scanning the crowd that it took a minute for it to sink in that Noah was talking to her. "I'm sorry," she hastily apologized. "What were you saying?"

"I was asking where Uncle Jase is."

"Jas…Gide…your uncle," she stumbled over what to call Gideon in front of his nephew. The first two didn't sound right. "Is back at the hotel and will be meeting up with us at the embassy once I text him and let him know I have you."

"I can't," he blurted, nervously shifting from foot to foot.

"You can't what?" she asked in confusion. "See your uncle or go to the embassy?"

"The embassy. I can't go there."

"Why not? It's the safest place for you to be right now."

"I…I just can't," he finished lamely.

Emily looked out over the tourists circulating around the room, starting to feel too exposed. They were wasting precious time. She took a deep breath and slowly released it. "Look, Noah, I'm going to be blunt with you. The police consider you to be a person of interest in Rolf's murder—"

"I didn't kill him," Noah squeaked.

At his outburst several sets of eyes turned in their direction. "Lower your voice," Emily warned and then rested a calming hand on his arm. "We know you didn't do it, but we don't have time to discuss it in detail. I need to get you to the embassy and let the staff handle it from there. Once you're on American soil, the police can't touch you. They'll have to go through all the proper channels to talk to you."

"Don't you think I know that? But I wasn't sure if the guy who killed Rolf knew that and be waiting for me to show up. I couldn't risk it."

"So I took him to my friend's apartment who is on an extended holiday to hide until Noah could figure out what to do next," Amie finally spoke up.

"I think Amie's ex-boyfriend hired the guy to take me out."

"He's very jealous."

Wonderful. Let's toss a jealous boyfriend into the mix. But when she thought about it, it didn't make a lot of sense. Jealous boyfriends don't hire someone to do the dirty work, they usually do it themselves to show their dominance. I could be another piece to the puzzle or it could completely worthless. As much as Emily would have loved to see if it fit, now wasn't the time to try. She had other important things to do.

"Noah, is there anything I can do to convince you to accompany me to the embassy?" Emily asked one final time.

"No."

That was what Emily was afraid of. Apparently the nephew was as obstinate as his uncle. Must be a family trait. Since the embassy was out, it was time for plan B. Let Gideon talk some sense into him. At least they will be able to keep an eye on him at the hotel.

"Alright," she conceded. "We can go back to the hotel and stay until we can figure out the next step. I still prefer heading directly to the embassy without passing go."

Noah grinned in relief. "Thanks Agent…Emily for all your help."

"Don't thank me yet," she said as she led them to the nearest exit, wary dark brown eyes scanning everyone and everything. "Save it for when we get you out of this mess."

They took a cab back to the hotel, but the two youngsters were a bit confused when Emily had the driver drop them off a couple of blocks from the hotel. When they pressed her about it, all Emily said was that it was better to err on the side of caution. She led them on a round about route to a less used side entrance and sent Gideon a text that she and party were there and needed a second distraction. With Noah and Amie shifting restlessly behind her, Emily watched from their place of concealment as Gideon strolled purposely out of the elevator and the same two tails falling into step behind him. Now wanting to risk running into another cop, they took the stairs. By the time they reached the eighth floor, the only one not doubling over and panting for breath was Emily. For once she was thankful for the months of physical therapy she had endured for her shoulder and hip. It had left her in pretty good shape. The long walks with Mudgie had also helped.

Gideon returned forty minutes later and when he saw his nephew safe and apparently sound, he face split into a wide grin. "Noah."

"Uncle Jase."

The two men embraced, patting each other on the back while holding on for dear life. Off to one side Emily watched the reunion over the rim of her coffee cup with a tender smile gracing her lips. It was nice to see this side of Gideon he rarely let show: he warm and fuzzy side. The only times she had seen it was when he was interacting with kids while they were on a case. Beneath his gruff exterior and bad manners, he has a soft spot for children. When they had entered the suite, her two companions had fallen upon the fresh pastries arranged on the table like a pack of starving animals and Emily finally got that jolt of coffee she had a hankering for all morning. She was now on her second cup.

"How did you get here so fast?" Noah asked once they had separated, but had remained within arms length, gazing in wonder at each other. "I only sent that text a couple of days ago."

"I was already preparing to fly to Paris when I received it."

From there Gideon went on to explain that he had volunteered to identify his body when his mother was incorrectly notified of his death. How he drafted Emily into helping because of their past working relationship and her language skills and her intimate knowledge of the city and country. And finally he revealed all the steps of the investigation they conducted to locate him, including Emily getting extra help from Garcia and the Ambassador.

When Gideon finished, Noah sagged into a chair, eyes wide in disbelief. "Oh my god! I really need to call Mom. She must be worried sick."

"That's the understatement of the year," Gideon told his nephew with a smirk.

"I had no idea the cops had found Rolf's body and assumed it was me."

"Your passport was found with the body so they naturally jumped to the wrong conclusion that it was you. At the time it was the only way to identify the body."

Noah winced as a not too pretty picture came to mind. "He was in that bad of shape?" Gideon nodded. "Do they even know it was Rolf?"

"They should," Emily spoke up. "I phoned in an anonymous tip yesterday."

"Good." Noah felt so guilty that his German friend had died in his place. He was a great guy and he would be sorely missed. When this was all over he was going to try to visit or call his parents to express his condolences. Hopefully it would stop the nightmares plaguing his sleep.

Gideon pulled out a chair and sat down next to him, startling him out of his dark thoughts. "Noah," he asked in a soft voice, leaning forward to rest his elbows on his knees. "Can you tell us what happened?"

"I'll do my best." Noah took a deep breath to center himself and spoke slowly as the traumatic event played out before his mind's eye.

It had started out a normal morning. He wanted Rolf to meet Amie so the young German had gladly accompanied him to the sidewalk café where she was waiting. The two hit it off from the start and were soon conversing like two people who have known each other for years, not for only a few minutes. The service wasn't the greatest because the waitress was more focused on them than on her job, to the point of completely ignoring Amie's presence. After an hour of good company and poor service, Rolf excused himself, citing he had an appointment he couldn't miss even though the couple knew he was leaving so that the two could be alone. Grabbing his backpack, Rolf gave them a conspirator wink before saying he'll see him back at the hostel that night. Not long after the German youth had left, he and Amie decided that they should get going. She had a few places she thought he would love to see.

"It was when I was reaching for my backpack to get out my wallet that I realized Rolf had taken mine by mistake. They're very similar in size and color except that mine has two reflective strips of tape down the sides. If you're not paying close attention it's easy to get them mixed up. We've already done it a couple of times. Without thinking, I hurried after him hoping he hadn't gotten very far or realized his mistake an was on his way back to exchange the backpacks."

Luckily Rolf had told him where he was going so he rushed off in that direction. As he passed an alley, a flash of movement caught his eyes. He backed up, took a few steps in and peered into the shadows. What he saw chilled him to the bones, freezing him where he stood. Rolf was struggling with a man dressed in dark clothing in front of a parked car. When he looked closer, he realized Rolf was fighting to free himself from the man's clutches. There was a cord wrapped around his neck strangling him. Noah wanted to rush in and help, but the fear of it happening to him was stronger. Helplessly he watched the life fade from his friend's eyes. When Rolf went limp, the killer popped the trunk of the car and shoved the body in. The man turned…

"And then I got the hell out of there," Noah concluded with a shudder.

"That's when he ran into me," Amie said, picking up the story. "He ran off so fast from the café, I was left to settle the bill. By the time I caught up, he was as white as a sheet, mumbling over and over that Rolf was dead and that we had to hide. So I took him to my friend's apartment and that's where we've been since." She laid a hand on his shoulder. He reached up to put his over her and gave her a grateful smile.

Emily finished her coffee and set down the empty cup. "It didn't occur to either of you to go to the police and report what you have seen?"

A look passed between the younger adults that weren't missed by the two seasoned profilers. They were hiding something. Noah nodded. "It did, but I was afraid they would blame it on me simply because I'm an American."

"You are their number one suspect because it was your backpack that was found with the victim," Gideon pointed out, rising to his feet. "And you ran. You should have used that brain god has given you and gone directly to the American embassy. Wasn't the first thing you were told when traveling abroad was to go to the embassy when you think you are in trouble?"

Emily raised her eyebrows fractionally. Gideon had taken on all the characteristics of an angry father. Brow furled, eyes glaring and hands on his hips with feet spread. And Noah was acting the pouting teenager with his arms crossed defiantly across his chest while staring at the floor. Everything Gideon had said she had agreed with, but didn't think it was her place to voice them.

"Yes," Noah grumbled.

"Then why didn't you?"

Noah jumped to his feet. "I was scared, alright? I didn't think," he all but shouted.

The two men stood staring at each other and Emily knew it was time to step in before this turned into a full-blown argument. It wouldn't accomplish anything. "Gentlemen, what's done is done," she said, playing the role of peacemaker. "All that matters is the here and now."

Both nodded. "She's right, Uncle Jase."

"She usually is," Gideon commended.

Emily ignored the compliment and turned her attention to the French girl standing awkwardly off to one side. Her earlier comments were nipping at the corners of Emily's mind, but until now, she hadn't been able to pursue them to see how they fit into this puzzling mess.

"Amie, back at the Louvre, you mentioned an ex-boyfriend could be involved in this and how jealous he could be."

"Uh..oui. I guess I did," she responded.

"And Noah thinks he hired the guy who ended up killing Rolf."

"Right…that's right."

"You see, I don't quite buy that. Jealous boyfriends don't farm out their dirty work. They personally like beating the crap out of a potential rival. It's a way to show their dominance. I don't think you're telling us the whole truth."

Noah opened his mouth to defend her, but Gideon shushed him. He was very curious to see where Emily was going with this. If it turned out this girl was the reason for this whole mess, he would personally strangle her.

"Did he hurt you? Physically?"

Amie quickly shook her head. "Never. He was always gentle and kind, but he could be possessive and controlling. I thought all men were like that until I met Noah." She beamed at him and he returned it twofold.

Emily continued to probe deeper, intent on uncovering what she was withholding from them. "So I take it he didn't take the news of the breakup very well?"

"I…didn't tell him. I just packed up my stuff and left."

Emily's eyes narrowed. The French girl was looking everywhere, but at her. She gave Amie a hard look, really reading her body language. Whatever she wasn't saying was the answer to everything. "What are you leaving out?"

"Nothing."

"It's got to be something. What is it? You know something and you're keeping it from us."

Noah couldn't stay quiet and chivalrously came to the girl's defense. "Leave her alone."

"Stay out of it, Noah," Gideon ordered. "Emily is trying to help. Let her."

"I... I... I don't know what you want me to say," Amie muttered.

"I want you to tell me the whole story. This guy is trying to kill Noah and, presumably, you as well. There's more than jealousy at play here."

"I…might have taken something besides my stuff."

"Something like…money? Valuables?"

Amie didn't want to say, but she couldn't take the intense stares from the two older adults any further. "A journal," she said softly.

"A journal?" Emily question. What was so special about a journal? "Like a diary?" The girl's face was etched with worry and shame, but not so much about the current situation as the mess she made with the guy. "A journal…like a ledger type of journal?"

"A ledger?" Amie questioned in confusion.

"Un livre criminel?" Gideon and Noah were both trying to jump in, but Emily put up a hand to stop them.

"Oui."

"Amie, who exactly is this guy?"