Disclaimer: Nope, still don't own NCIS: New Orleans.

A/N: Pretty short chapter again, but the next will be longer.

Pride looked up at the apartment building as he stepped out of the car. Inside was the apartment which Aaron Shanks had started renting just two months before. It wasn't close enough to Brody's house to be overly suspicious, but close enough he could have returned home after attacking her within an hour. He nodded at LaSalle as the other agent stood from the car and then walked around to meet him on the sidewalk.

"Let's get going," he said. He walked up the steps to the front entrance, Christopher falling into step beside him as they made their way up to the appropriate apartment. Once they reached the door he rapped on the door with his knuckles. "Aaron Shanks?" he called when there was no answer. "It's NCIS."

Still no reply came.

He cast a quick glance over at Christopher before trying the doorknob. The handle turned without protest and the door swung open. They were looking for someone suspected of attempted murder, and someone who might even be inclined to finish what he'd started, Pride considered that probable cause enough to enter. He removed his gun from its holster and carefully stepped into the apartment. "Aaron Shanks?"

Pride moved through the small apartment and quickly checked the kitchen, then the bathroom, before heading back to the living room. "Clear," he stated.

"Clear here too," LaSalle said as he came out of the bedroom. He stopped mid-step, looking down at a small table by the window, and waved Pride over. "Take a look at this, King."

Pride moved over to the table and immediately spotted what the other agent had wanted him to see. Amongst the magazines spread over the surface there was a plate and an empty beer bottle. On the plate was a block of cheese, a few blocks having already been cut, but what was most interesting was the knife laying crossways across the plate. It wasn't the average knife one would use to cute cheese or any other food item. It was a dagger that resembled more of a hunting knife than an eating utensil.

"Not your usual cheese knife," LaSalle stated.

He looked closer at the knife as Christopher got out an evidence bag and gloves. It didn't appear to have any blood on it, just a bit of cheese residue, but Sebastian might be able to find some traces left still. Its design would fit Brody's wounds though, he was almost certain of it. It was more than a little disturbing to think that Shanks may have been using it to cut and eat cheese with after using it to stab Merri.

"Get forensics over here," he instructed. "He seems to have left in a hurry. He left his phone behind," he added, nodding to the cell phone laying on the arm of the sofa.

"Maybe he saw us pull up. The window in the bedroom was opened and we're only two floors up."

Pride looked around the apartment. He had a bad feeling again. If Shanks had found out that Brody wasn't dead then he would likely try to finish what he started. And if he'd left in a hurry when they'd arrived then he had a head start already. "Let's get back to the hospital," he said, already moving towards the door. "And on the way call the hospital's Security desk and have them check in on Brody."

LaSalle jogged to catch up. "You think he'll try something?"

He took the stairs two at a time, trying to get to the car as quickly as possible. "I don't want to wait to find out."