Most of the group met together in Amanda's pathology lab. Cheryl and the officers bagged the broom and the receipt that Levi had found. Mark's eyes lit up when he read the logo and address on the receipt. "You onto something, Doc Sloan?" Bobby asked hopefully.

"You say you found this in Sue's hospital room?" Mark asked.

"Right. Levi showed us." Jack added.

"Well, my friends, looks like we might have just caught our biggest break!" Mark announced happily. "I know the guy who owns this car rental studio. He's been a patient of mine for 32 years. This receipt shows that someone rented a Hurst just yesterday. I'll just give him a ring!" And Mark left the room.

"You think this will help us be able to locate them?" Jack asked Steve.

"I wouldn't be surprised." Steve grinned back. For the first time in days, they had a real hope of finding Lucy and Sue.

"Even if we don't have a recipient's address to work with, I bet you any amount of money that Mark can figure it out!" Amanda exclaimed.

"Let's hope so." Dimitrius said.

"Cheryl, can you let me hang onto this until we find out who rented the Hurst?" Steve asked.

"Sure thing." Cheryl nodded. Levi was lonesome for Sue, and Lucy, so he walked over to Amanda and sadly lay his droopy head in her lap.

"Awww." Amanda smiled and stroked him. "It's okay, big fellow. We're doing everything we can. Now you perk those ears up. We'll find them. Come on, smile for me. Come on!" Levi whined and lifted his paw up by his nuzzle. "He is just too darn cute. He's so stinking adorable." Amanda glanced at Jack and Bobby.

"Stinking adorable is an oxymoron." Myles said flatly.

"Well, not something you'll ever have to worry about." Amanda talked back to him.

"Yeah, I don't think you and adorable fit together in the same sentence." Steve grinned at Myles. Jack snorted, Bobby hid his face, but Myles just stared.

"Mmm-hmm. I can see my support staff's bad influence is rubbing off on you, Lt." He mumbled to Steve.

"Support staff? Seriously?" Jessie snickered. Mark returned shortly. "Did you find anything out, Mark?"

"Well, Joe told me to talk to his foreman who should be able to answer our questions. Unfortunately, he already went home for the evening." Mark replied.

"Maybe some friendly neighborhood doctor is overdue on making a house call?" Amanda suggested.

"Just what I was thinking."

"Okay, Dad. I'll take you there." Steve said. "Cheryl, take that broom and let me know if forensics find anything else of interest in the hospital room." His partner nodded. "Jack? Ganz? You two wanna come along with us?"

"Thank you, I really would." Jack said longingly.

"We'll stay put here." Bobby said.

"Let us know if Tara finds anything interesting on the video footage." Dimitrius said.

"Right oh." Bobby said. Mark, Steve, Jack, and Dimitrius started to walk out when Levi let out a pitiful whimper. They turned to look at him. Even though he was an animal, he looked as if he was about to shed tears!

"It's okay, buddy. I'll be back." Jack tried to say reassuringly. Levi cried again. Jessie knelt down to pat him.

"Take it easy, boy." He smiled sympathetically, but the dog continued to moan sadly. He didn't want Jack to leave. Mark stared at Steve with insistent eyes. Steve sighed and nodded.

"Lt. Uh, Steve? You mind if he comes along?" Dimitrius asked. "He won't cause any trouble."

"I don't think he'll be calm if he has to stay here." Jessie added. Steve stared at the poor dog.

"How am I gonna say no to that face?" He chuckled. "Come on, Levi. Let's go." Levi looked up at him and perked his ears.

"Come on, Levi. Let's go." Jack patted his leg. Levi stood up, wagged his tail and trotted to Jack. "We'll be back."

"Why don't we see if Tara's found anything?" Jessie suggested. Amanda agreed, and she, Myles, Jessie, and Bobby returned to the lounge.

"Tara? Anything interesting turn up on those videos?" Bobby asked.

"Not any more than we already know." Tara sighed, shaking her head. "Lance and White entered the hospital, attacked the two nurses in the locker room, disguised themselves in the clothes, wheeled a stretcher toward ICU and snuck down with it to the morgue where Steve caught up with them. Not at any time was the sheet lifted when they were in front of the cameras." Bobby bit his lip.

"Well, I'm sure Mark will come back with good news." Jessie said cheerfully. "His hunches almost never lead to a dead end."

"It better not, Dr. Travis." Myles warned. "This isn't a murder mystery game for amateurs. This is a hostage situation, and every minute we lose could be the end for our two friends." Jessie frowned.

"Give it a rest, Myles." Tara grunted at him. "And may I remind you that if it wasn't for Dr. Sloan, we never would've been able to trace White this far!"

"Tara's right." Amanda said.

"And then what?" Myles snarled. "The great white doctor holds a state-wide press conference?"

"Listen, you..." Amanda glared.

"Hey!" Jessie blurted out but Bobby got in Myles' face.

"Look, you are out of line." Bobby growled. "If you want to leave this current task force, you can walk out of this hospital right now. And I will be happy to pay for the plane ticket!" Everyone stared wide-eyed. Myles huffed heavily.

"We'd better find them...yesterday!" He grunted and walked out into the hall.

"He can't speak about Mark that way," Jessie said quietly. "Mark's the neatest guy I've ever known, and he's seldom wrong. And I can vouch for him that he's not doing this for his own ego!"

"We believe that, Doc...Jessie." Tara said. "And Myles does too, whether it seems like it or not."

"He's taking out his anger on the good doctor who seems to know what we wish we knew in order to solve this case." Bobby added. "But he still shouldn't have said that."

"Ahem." Norman spoke up nervously. "Has Dr. Sloan truly been very helpful to you federal agents in this serial killer case?"

"Indeed he has, mate." Bobby nodded. "He and the lieutenant have helped us beyond anything we hoped for."

"It's true, Mr. Briggs." Tara stated. "We'll be leaving with so much more on this case than when we first came."

"I've always thought of him as completely unorthodox," Norman mumbled. "He's been eccentric, rule-bending, no book-stickler, a bit shifty." Delores rolled her eyes and slapped his arm. "But...he's the best doctor we've ever had." Everyone gazed at Norman with raised eyebrows.


Mark and Steve led the way stepping up to Ben Hacker's house, the foreman of the rental studio. Jack followed with Dimitrius and Levi. Steve knocked on the front door and it opened. "Ben Hacker?" Steve asked.

"That's right." Mr. Hacker replied, confused.

"Lt. Sloan, homicide." Steve showed his badge.

"Wait. You're Steve Sloan, right?"

"That's right."

"Right! I recognize you. It's been a while. So, what? Am I under suspicion of murder?" Hacker asked with raised eyebrows.

"No, Ben. We just need to talk to you." Mark chuckled. "Ask you a few questions."

"Okay. Come on in." Ben opened the door and let the men inside along with Levi.

"Listen, Hacker. We don't have much time," Steve began. "These two gentlemen here are with the FBI." Jack and Dimitrius showed their badges.

"FBI?" Ben gasped.

"We're working together on the serial murders, the ones with the black roses." Jack said.

"Whoa! Yeah, we've heard about those!" Ben exclaimed. "But I don't see how I can help you."

"Mr. Hacker, you rented out a Hurst from the studio yesterday?" Jack asked.

"Sure did. Don't tell me I got jipped with a credit card scam!"

"The renters paid with a credit card?" Dimitrius inquired.

"Sure did. He said he wanted it for a movie shot he and his company were shooting. He promised to return it tomorrow." Ben explained.

"Tomorrow," Jack held his breath. That could mean only one thing: either Lucy or Sue would most likely be found dead tomorrow!

"Yeah, he said he only needed it for today."

"Mr. Hacker, the guy who wanted the vehicle, was it by any chance this gentleman here?" D asked, showing him White's photo.

"Nope." Ben shook his head.

"How about this guy?" Steve showed him White's disguise photo.

"That's him!"

"You sure?"

"Absolutely."

"Could you get us the serial number on this credit card?" Jack asked.

"Only if you come by the office tomorrow." Ben said.

"We can't wait that long." Dimitrius shook his head.

"Well, then I wish you luck, guys." Ben said, but Steve took him by the arm.

"Ben, the guy you just did business with yesterday is the man behind the black rose killings!" Steve exclaimed. "He used the car for one of his dangerous moves." Ben's eyes nearly popped out.

"What?!" He gaped in astonishment. "You're not serious! Is this a joke?"

"We only wish it was, Ben." Mark said solemnly.

"Are you sure?"

"Very sure." Jack said firmly. "He's abducted two of our friends, who happened to be FBI."

"Both women." Mark said.

"Mr. Hacker, you give us that number tonight, you may have just helped us save their lives and capture this dirt bag." Dimitrius said calmly. "Now if you'd cooperate, we'd deeply appreciate it."

"Of course!" Ben blurted out. "I'll get the office keys and take you there right now! Heck, why didn't you tell me in the first place, Lt. Sloan? Let's go!" Jack's shoulders sagged.

"You all right, Jack?" D and Steve asked.

"I can't believe we're finally getting somewhere." Jack answered, then reached down to pet Levi. "Good work, boy." Mark came over and pat his head too.

"Nice job, Levi." He smiled.


"Tara, Ben Hacker confirmed to us that it was White in disguise who rented the Hurst." Jack said on his phone when they got back in the car. "He paid with a credit card."

"That can't be, Jack." Tara argued into her mouthpiece, shaking her head.

"What?!"

"That can't be. I've been watching every move White has made with his credit card since we got here and there's nothing in there about a rented Hurst or the company."

"Well, double check it!" Jack ordered.

"I will. Now, he's sure it was White?"

"He identified him head on." Jack groaned.

"Okay."

"Cheryl, anything on that broom yet?" Steve spoke into his own phone.

"Exactly what you'd expect. Jeff White's fingerprints." Cheryl answered.

"Good. Another charge to hound them for. That's my kind of evidence." Steve chuckled. "Forensics turn up anything interesting in that hospital room?"

"Yeah, uh, some red fibers. The lab's analyzing it right now."

"Interesting." Steve nodded. "Ben Hacker confirmed that it was White who rented the Hurst. We're gonna have Agent Williams check up the serial number against his credit card record. Let me know as soon as you have anything on those fibers."

"Will do."

"Oh, and say. Any reports on that Hurst yet?"

"Nope."

"All right, thanks." Steve hung up. "Well, forensics found red fibers in the hospital room. We'll hear as soon as they know more."

"Clothes fibers, maybe?" Dimitrius asked.

"I guess we'll find out." Jack shrugged.


"Ah, here it is." Ben Hacker said, handing Jack the credit card receipt. Jack pulled out his phone.

"Tara? it's Jack." He said. "Listen, here's the credit card number 00470899023. Do your magic and let us know what you come up with. Yeah. Thanks."

"Thank you, Ben. You've been a big help." Mark patted him on the shoulder.

"Glad to help!" Ben exclaimed.

Inside the car, Steve's phone rang. "Yeah, Sloan here." He answered.

"Steve?" Cheryl spoke on the other end. "We just received a call from a small urgent care facility about 20 miles out of town. The all-night nurse said that somebody answering Lance's description came in about an hour ago with a gunshot wound to the left shoulder. They treated it, he paid and left. Oh, and he had a friend helping him who sounds very much like our Mr. Jeff White!"

"We're on it!" Steve announced. They reached the urgent care facility and the staff confirmed the thugs' identities. Steve called Cheryl to get forensics out there to examine the whole premises and surrounding area. Then Jack's phone rang.

"Hello? It's me." Jack answered.

"Jack, wait 'til you hear this!" Tara said excitedly.

"Wait, let me put it on speaker." Jack said and pressed the button.

"Turns out Tara was right." Bobby spoke. "The credit card wasn't White's."

"That figures." Steve mumbled.

"Not so fast, Steve. You don't wanna miss this!" Amanda joined in.

"Turns out that White used his partner's credit card to pay for the rented studio car so we couldn't track him." Tara smiled.

"You mean it was Lance's?!" Jack's eyes lit up.

"Uh-huh." Tara replied happily.

"And...we have an address!" Jessie announced.

"Oh, thank God!" Jack and Mark declared together.


They're finally getting somewhere!