Chapter 57

Both men stood staring in disbelief at the bloody knife on the counter. It was clear that whatever had gone on had very little to do with Nathalie and Nikolas' argument and everything to do with some kind of assault. Nikolas' throat was closed off and dry. He swallowed thickly several times but was unable to form words. He walked in bewilderment to the counter and was about to pick up the knife when Noah called to him.

"Don't touch that!" he said quickly. "It's evidence."

"What….what the hell happened?" Shock resonated in Nikolas' voice.

Noah shook his head unable to process much beyond the fact that his son was clearly in some kind of trouble. He took several long, deep breaths and reminded himself over and over again not let his mind wander too far, too fast. "We need to call 9-1-1 and Mac Scorpio."

Nikolas pulled out his phone and hit the speed dial key. "Lucky, it's Nikolas." The tremor in his voice became more pronounced. "I need you right now" he said urgently. "Something…something has happened to Nathalie and Patrick."

Noah continued to stare at the knife and the blood droplets. Was that his son's blood? Was it Nathalie's? Or had there been a struggle and they were both hurt and hiding. His eye twitched as scenarios ran through his head. His attempts to not let his imagination get the best of him were failing.

"Lucky is going to call Mac."

"I need to get back to Robin. If she doesn't hear from us in the next couple of minutes she is going to panic."

"Lucky is on his way with the crime scene guys – why don't we have Mac meet us at Robin's place?" Nikolas proposed.

Noah nodded. Waves of understanding crashed over him. His son – his only child – was missing. Missing or dead? He stood stock still for a moment trying to listen to his heart, knowing that if his child was dead he would surely feel it. He felt fear but not pain and until that changed then he would believe Patrick was alive.

Neither man moved from where they stood, both somehow afraid that if they left the scene it would change something or take them further away from their loved ones. There, in that kitchen, with its overturned tables and chairs, was as close to Patrick and Nathalie as they could get. They both jumped hearing Lucky's voice.

"I need you guys to step out of the kitchen" he said. He had called to both of them but neither answered.
"Lucky" Nikolas said, his brown eyes filled with fear. "She's not….she's not here."

Lucky put his hand on his brother's trembling shoulder. "I know Nik – we're going to find her" Looking over at Noah he gave his most reassuring smile. "Both of them – we are going to find both of them. I've got the best forensic team going but I need you to get out of their way." His voice was kind but firm.

Noah shuffled from the kitchen suddenly realizing he had no idea how he was going to tell Robin the news. He wasn't sure the words would make it from his brain to his mouth. Intellectually he understood the scene before him but emotionally it was simply not registering. Nikolas followed Noah to the living room and turned back to his brother. "You have to find her – please Lucky – you have to find her."

"I will Nik – you just need to let me do my job."

"Lucky…"

"It's okay Nik – I'm going to do everything I can."

"Where is Mac?" Noah asked as he pulled himself from his thoughts.

"He's agreed to meet you at Robin's. He said he won't go in until you get there. Why don't I have a squad car take you over?"

"I drove" Noah said flatly.

"That's okay Noah – you can get your car later." His voice was firm, but kind – providing reassurance and direction. His brother and Noah were both in shock and unable to see that. Until they could, he would gently but forcefully make decisions for them. With a promise he would update them as soon as he knew anything, he escorted them both to the door and had one of the beat officers take them to Robin's.

Mac jumped from his car as soon as he saw the marked car pull into the lane. He had received two full briefings from Lucky since the original phone call and knew that it was likely they were both alive. The medical examiner was running tests on the blood drops as well as the blood on the knife – that at least would provide a jumping off point. He watched as Noah and Nikolas exited the car – both were pale and silent. The prospect of telling his niece that her husband was missing was a daunting one but knew that he needed to be there when it happened. She had had her share of disappointment and tragedy in her short life and Mac hoped that this time it would only be temporary.

"Noah, Nikolas" he called to them.

"Mac" Noah said quietly.

"It's okay mate" the commissioner said, putting a strong, steadying hand on Noah's shoulder. "I have all my best guys working on this."

Noah nodded wordlessly and led the way to the front door. He rang the bell and closed his eyes when Robin pulled open the door. Balancing Rian on her hip, she looked from Noah's face to Nikolas' before stopping on her uncle's. Taking a deep breath she held open the door.

"I guess you all better come in."

They filed in to the house and headed straight the kitchen, the heart of the home. Noah was struck by the difference between this kitchen and the one he just left. This one was warm and brightly lit, there was jazz playing on the cd player and baby toys strewn about the floor; the other one was cold and heartless.

Robin put Rian in his playpen and sat down at the table. "I want the absolute truth with no softening of the blow" she said firmly. "Where is my husband?"

"We don't know luv." Mac started, trying to spare the other two from having to break the news. "There is evidence of a struggle at Nathalie's place and no sign of either Patrick or Nathalie thought their cell phones and pagers are there." He reached for her hand and waited while she processed the information.

"Why – who…why would anyone want to hurt them?"

"We don't know yet sweetheart." Mac said reassuringly. "It could be random or it could be targeted – we're working on that."

"He's not dead" she said strongly. "I would know - I would feel something."

"Me too" said Noah. "He's strong Robin and really resourceful." Noah said it as much for himself as he did for her. "Why would Patrick be a target?" Noah asked.

"We don't know that he was. Nathalie could have been the target."

"It doesn't make sense that either of them would be a target" Robin said in frustration. "Patrick is a doctor – he has no ties to organized crime or anything – he is a family man and a doctor – why would anyone want him?" She shook her head, resolving not to cry unless she truly had something to cry about. Her husband and her children, both of them, would be counting on her to be strong and she couldn't afford to let them down.

Mac took his niece in his arms and felt as she melted into him just a little. "We're going to get them back" he promised. "No matter what."

Nikolas ran his hand over his watch, a gift from Nathalie at Christmas; it was the only tangible thing related to her that he had with him. He was devastated that his final words to her were in anger - that whatever happened to her, happened with her believing he didn't love her or want her. His heart felt shredded and when they got her back he would spend every minute of every day trying to make it up to her.

"Nikolas?" Mac asked.

Snapping from his thoughts, he shook his head and looked at the commissioner. "Pardon?"

"I asked if you knew of any reason why anyone would want to hurt Nathalie?"

"No" he said hoarsely, looking back at his watch. "No one knows her here – no one would hurt her – her parents hate her but they have what they want – her children. They would never do something like this."

The hair on the back of Noah's neck stood on end. "Nikolas – did Nathalie speak to you about what happened while you were away?" Noah had the undivided attention of all three people in the room.

"What do you mean?" he asked, furrowing his brow.

Noah sighed and ran his hand over his face. "I really am not supposed to say – it's doctor/patient privilege."

"Noah" Robin said softly. "I feel confident that Nathalie would wave that if it would help bring her and Patrick home." She was ready to break any law, flout any rule to bring her husband home. Her hand went to her belly and she rubbed it lightly. She would not have a second child without her husband so getting him home was all that mattered.

He nodded, knowing that Robin was right. "Nathalie was at Jake's one night last week and I got a call from Coleman saying she was in trouble."

"Wha-what kind of trouble?" Nikolas asked as a sense of dread worked its way inside him.

"She was behaving….out of character" he said euphemistically. "Coleman didn't know who else to call since you were all out of town so he called me. When I got there, she was clearly under the influence of something so I brought her to the hospital and ran some tests."

"What was it?" Mac asked, feeling as though he may be getting the first piece of the puzzle.

"GHB"

Robin's mouth fell open. "No!"

"What is GHB?" Nikolas knew, given the reactions, it wasn't good but had never heard of it.

"Gamma butyrolactone" Noah said. "Date rape drug."

Beads of sweat formed on Nikolas' face as his stomach continued to flip flop as it had been since arriving at Nathalie's house. "Was she?" He couldn't bring himself to ask the question.

"No" Noah said quickly. "But if Coleman hadn't intervened she may have been."

"What did the guy look like?" Mac asked.

He shook his head. "He was long gone by the time I got there – Coleman could probably tell you though."

"This is good – this is a lead" Mac said confidently.

"There's one more thing" Noah started, reticent to divulge any more of Nathalie's secrets but her life and his son's life could be at stake and he would tell everything he knew if it meant saving their lives.

"What?" Mac asked, aware that this was about to get much worse.

"Nikolas, I am so sorry to have to tell you this in this way – she wanted to tell you – she was going to tell you…"

"What is it?" His dark eyes were filled with fear.

"Nathalie is pregnant."

Nikolas closed his eyes as he felt them fill with tears. "Oh god no."

Noah put a hand on his shoulder. "I'm sorry you had to find out like this."

"Nikolas, I have to ask you" Mac pressed on. "Where is Helena?"

"Locked up at a facility in London."

"Are you sure?"

"Am I sure she's there? Yes. Am I sure she isn't behind this? No."

Robin stood up, somewhat unsteadily and walked to the phone. "Who are you calling sweetheart?" Mac asked gently.

"My father and then my mother. If Helena has Nathalie and Patrick, it's going to take a lot more than what the PCPD can offer to bring them home."