Let me start out this chapter by saying, I know nothing about computers, so... if on the show, they can refer to 'defragmenting' the hard drive and equate that to erasing the files on said hard drive, as happened in "Blink" - hopefully you'll, the reader will be able to excuse my less than firm grasp on what's really going on with our computers and their operating systems. (You may not believe this but when I saved this page to a bunch of 'source code' type jargon began the post - if you read the chapter, I'm sure you appreciate the coincidence. :)


Chapter 7

Ira and Josh fell into step with Alex outside One Police Plaza. Alex looked at the two disheveled and obviously tired men, "I know I said I needed everything and as soon as possible, but I really didn't mean for you two to work all night, Ira."

"Well, we didn't intend to, it just kind of happened that way. After the last text message we sent you last night, I got an idea and wanted to try it out, it was just out of curiosity …" Ira started.

Josh interrupted, "You don't know the half of what we found. You are not going to believe what we found. We found it - the smoking gun."

"What do you mean you found "it"? What smoking gun?" Dread rose up to choke her as she watched the exchange of looks between the two men.

"Once we found it, we couldn't stop, it was such a rush." The words tumbled from the excitable Joshua Simmons.

"Look, one of you is going to have to tell me what "it" is - right now." Alex started to press for the answer.

Ira shot Josh an irritated look, silencing him. "I got the idea of looking a little deeper at the information we gave you from the project I've been working on." He could feel Eames silently hurrying him along. "Okay, I've helping re-enter the data that had been 'lost' when the mainframe crashed. Now some documents and files were still there and those that weren't we have to recreate and reinsert them into the proper sequence, their proper place."

Eames sighed, realizing she was in for a lecture about computers. But it seemed the least she could do in the circumstances. She tried to hide her disinterest in the process and let Ira speak.

Ira continued, "Now, when information is saved, it's encrypted in binary code and that code has a specific protocol attached to it to open the file into a readable format. That's basic computer programming. It's general practice of the NYPD to also encrypt is the date the information was created and saved.

"I've never done that with anything I've saved." Alex pointed out.

"It's in the programming, it runs in the background, most people are unaware of it. They save a document, they open the document. Presto. Magic." Josh contributed.

"But one of the bits of information saved, is the date the file was created. Now, I've been messing around with the code and I've cracked it. I have the ability to track down the exact date that information was stored on the mainframe."

"Now, this is where it gets interesting, detective." Eames could see that Josh was about to jump out of his skin in excitement.

"We went back to the information we found on Hope Thornton and I tried the program I used to crack our code…" Ira stopped, hoping Eames would see where he was headed with this.

"And…"

"And… we discovered the program worked on all the files we'd found on Hope Thornton." The two men exchanged self-satisfied looks, before Ira added, "She may have a history that goes back thirty-five years, but every bit of information has been created within the last three and a half years."

"Now it's feasible that some of the information has been reentered, just like we're doing with our files. Except … we have multiple sources, hospital records, school records, DMV, banks, etc., - you know the drill – all of her history was created in the space of a two-week period, almost four years ago. The three and a half year time frame dates back to her arrival here in New York."

"So, you found out that Hope Thornton is in Witness Protection."

"Or something like it." Josh added.

"What does that mean? 'Or something like it'." Alex shot sharp glances at the men.

"It isn't the Marshall's Program. It isn't even a U.S. government Program."

"Then, whose program is it?" Alex could feel her Starbuck's start to burn a hole in her stomach.

"Scotland Yard." Josh ventured, with a shrug of his shoulders.

"We're not sure. But it's from the Brits." Ira shot Josh an irritated look. "We have everything upstairs, we can go over it with you..."

Eames checked her watch. "Thanks fellas, I have to check in first. Give me about half an hour; I'll find a reason to come down to see you."

As Alex turned to walk into the building, she heard Ira hiss, "I told you, it has to be MI5 or MI6. If it was Scotland Yard, it would be the same as if NYPD had its own witness protection program."


This morning, Alex hoped to be greeted by the same sight as yesterday, that of her partner's empty desk. Unfortunately, her luck wasn't holding up. Bobby was already at his desk, going through a pile of paperwork.

"Morning, Detective." Captain Ross greeted her as the elevator doors slid open. He and Logan were getting on the elevator as she stepped off.

"Morning Captain, Logan." Eames distractedly offered a nod to the two men as she continued into the squad room. The two men exchanged a look between them that seemed to say, "That preoccupied greeting was more suited to her partner, than her."

Logan shook his head, "I'm not asking. You can if you want to. I'm out of it."

"That's how I wound up getting divorced. No Logan, some things just aren't worth it."

Logan grinned at the Captain as the elevator door slid closed. "I hear that, Captain."

"Morning Eames." Bobby recognized her step and turned to greet her. "I thought I'd put the natural order of things back in… well, their natural order. I came in at my usual time to keep our balance in place."

"Good morning, Bobby. It … That's very reassuring." She admitted with a hesitant smile. "What… uh, what are you working on?"

"Just clearing up some paperwork, now that they've fixed the glitch with the computers. It looks like it's Logan's turn in the crosshairs. Ross and Logan are on their way up to see the Chief," Bobby couldn't repress rolling his eyes at the thought of the Chief of Detectives. "The Captain requested that we wait around for him and update him on the Brewster case."

Alex's silence surprised Goren, he looked up and was surprised to see the dazed look on her face. "Alex, are you all right?" he asked, his concern evident in his voice. She was staring at the empty desktop.

"Yeah, yeah I'm fine. I just have some thing I need to check." She picked up the phone receiver, and started to dial… "cracked the code..." Forgetting what number she dialed, she started again… "created in the last three and a half years…"

Slamming down the receiver, she declared, "I have to go downstairs. I'll be in records if Ross gets back before I do. Call me if he does."

Bobby warily looked up at her. "Okay, sure. Anything I need to know about what's going on in Records."

Alex shook her head, "No. No, I just need to check on something. I'll be right back."

"OK." Bobby returned to the report he was scanning through. "You'd better hope that you're back before Ross. I don't care how quickly you can get back here from Records."

Alex didn't hear a word he said, she was already gone.


Since her return from "records", Alex had been hiding out in an interview room, to avoid Bobby. She read and re-read the information Ira had given her. She found it all so incredible, even unbelievable. Only Bobby would have this kind of luck…

Alex was startled by knocking on the door of the interview room. Bobby cautiously entered, "The Captain just called. He's going to be tied up with the Chief through lunch, so it looks like we have free rein for a while. You feel like going down to D'Angelos and getting something to eat?" Studying her silence, he knew that whatever was bothering her was big. Closing the door, he sat down opposite her. "Are you all right? Has something happened?"

"Um… no. Everything's fine. Ah…" She knew she wasn't being very convincing when he reached across the table and put his hand on top of hers.

"Alex… what's going on? It has something to do with what's in that file, doesn't it? What is it?" Bobby asked gently as he nodded toward the file lying between them.

Alex looked down at the folder and then up at Bobby again, as she slowly slid the folder across to him. "I'm sorry… I'm so sorry. I felt I had to. I … I was concerned about you…"

Bobby knew where this was going and he knew what was in the folder. He obviously didn't know the specifics, but he knew the folder contained information on Hope. If the stricken look on her face was any indication, he knew that the pages inside the folder didn't contain good news. Bringing one hand up to cover his mouth, he slowly exhaled. His other hand pulled the folder closer to him before opening it.


Bobby stared at the words, unable to breathe, unable to make sense of the characters on the page, unable to raise his eyes to meet Alex's gaze. He drew another deep breath and tried to read the report. After several sentences he had to go back and start over, he hadn't comprehended any of what he'd just read. He kept his head down as he closed his eyes, inhaling and exhaling repeatedly before opening his eyes again. He found he was still unable to read the report, but he allowed his eyes to roam the page and he discovered he was able to focus on random words and phrases.

"This is what? Ira's work. You got this from Ira…"

"And Simmons… I… I asked Ira to run Hope's background. Ira and Josh both worked on it. They're the only ones besides you and..." Bobby stared at her, his face emotionless. "Bobby, I was concerned about…"

"… about me." He finished her thought for her. "Always concerned about me. Always worried about me. I need to be watched." He needed something…

Bobby brought his hand up to cover his mouth. "I… I gotta get out of here." Bobby felt like he was going to suffocate. This was big picture stuff. He'd seen a lot in his life, he'd lived through a lot, but nothing… nothing like Hope had endured.

"Bobby…"

He raised both his hands to stop her. "No, Eames. Not now. Don't. Just don't. I need to think." Bobby turned and walked out of the room, across to the elevator. When the elevator doors didn't open fast enough for him, he turned and pushed open the emergency door to the stairwell and began his descent.


................Chapter 8........ Coming Soon, I hope..............