PART EIGHT: Somewhere But Here

"I really don't know anyone here. I mean, everyone that I know is ... I could ask Nick or Sara or Greg but all of them are working on the case. And the only place I'd go is now ... is now haunted. So, hmm, I'd say your place, Detective Vartann." she said as she looked up to meet his gaze.

"What about your friends?" he asked as he took a seat next to her.

"I already talked with them and I rearranged them a room at the Palermo. Jim is gonna take their statements tomorrow and then I think they'll go back to LA." she said with her look lost in her surrounds.

"Why don't you go to the Palermo with them?" he asked. He hated that he had done it. But when he realized it was too late.

"If you don't want me to stay at your house just say it! I just... I just need to be somewhere but here... somewhere that isn't an hotel room... somewhere that feels more... more like a real home." this time she wasn't looking into the air, she was looking straight into his eyes.

And when she looked into his eyes, he knew he just couldn't say no. Not when she was almost begging. Not when there was sadness in her voice. Not when there was tears in her face. But special when there was fear in her eyes.

"It's not a problem, kiddo." he said just to tease.

"You can have Jake's old room. Second door on the right.. I'm just gonna get you some clean towels. Make yourself at home." He left leaving her alone in his living room. She took a look around. It looked nice, clean and not messy. Not what she had in mind for a single man's house. She laughed at her silly preconception idea of a bachelor's house.

"Are you hungry? I could make us ..." he said as he was about to walk into his son's old room but that's when he noticed her laying down on the top of the bed sleeping. He put the towels in the old desk before taking off her shoes and cover her with a blanket.

He sat on the couch with his phone in his hand. He stared at it, for how long he didn't know. He knew he had to make that call. But he just couldn't bring himself to do it. He stared at the number once again. He had to do it. He knew the girl in his son's old room would hate him for it. But she was the reason he had to put his ego aside and do what was right. So, he took on last glance at the number on his cellphone's screen and pressed "call". He heard a mumbled, sleepy "hello" on the other side of the line and suddenly her last words to him came to his mind. But he then remembered the girl in his son's old room was the reason why he called.

"Hi, Catherine."