Mary emerged from the library humming a soft tune. Mary was not sure what it was, but she had never felt like this in her life before. Her thoughts were consumed by Jack. She had found out that not only was the man handsome, but he was also intelligent. To Mary, that had been more appealing than his looks. Maybe it was a result of him being from the city, but he had an aura about him that was unmistakably irresistable to her. She was on her way to the church to talk to Pastor Carter, when Jack and Karen emerged from the hospital. Karen took one look at Mary, then flung her arms around Jack.

"You're my hero!" Karen shouted. Jack attempted to disentabgle himself from the girl, but her grip was stronger than he thought it would be. He shot a look towards Mary, hoping she would understand that he was not a willing participant in this show that the girl was putting on. Karen finally turned towards Mary and had a smile plastered on her face. "Jack carried me here to the hospital last night!" Mary's eyes widened. What had Karen been doing with Jack last night?

"She came to my house drunk," Jack explained. "Ended up hitting her head on the door jamb."

"Oh Jack," Karen gushed. "You don't have to act so blase about it. Jack really is a dashing hero isn't he?" Karen had a smug look on her face. Mary wasn't sure how to react. This entire situation was very awkward for her.

"It was nothing like that," Jack insisted. Karen didn't appear to be disturbed by Jack's insistence. She was fueled by Mary's lost look.

"I'm glad to see you are okay," Mary replied. She nodded her head in Jack's direction, and quickly moved past the duo. It was stupid she knew to feel a bit heartbroken. It wasn't as if Jack was hers anyway. Karen was a hard woman to resist. She knew that many of the men in town had their go around with Karen. She was notorious for pulling men in. Mary had very little sex appeal. She had always been the book worm, the smart one. That had always been okay with Mary, but for some reason she found herself being frustrated at herself. She had missed the small window of opportunity to impress Jack.

Jack managed to wrangle Karen away from him. She was continuing to drape her body over his.

"Karen!" Jack shouted. "You and I are not a couple!"

"Then why did you carry me to the hospital?" Karen asked. "Come on you know you like me." she caressed his arm. Jack resisted the urge to throw the girl off him. He knew that would not be viewed lightly here in a small town.

"Because you passed out," Jack explained. "I do not like you in that way." Karen pouted.

"Come on Jack," Karen purred. "Every man in town finds me attractive."

"Including the married ones?" Jack asked with disgust. Karen showed no signs of remorse.

"I simply provide them with pleasure they don't get from their wives," Karen cooed. Jack was disgusted by her lack of remorse or concern for the other women.

"Well then, why don't you go and be with those men who want you. I don't date homewreckers," Jack replied. With that said he was done with the conversaion. He pulled Karen away from him and started walking away. Karen stood dumfounded, but determined. She would get Jack to like her one way or another.

OOOOO

Maya walked into town hall, barely acknowledging the detective who was watching her. She knew that the video had gone to Chase first, and he would have undoubtedly give the information to Detective Cranston. She was furious with her husband. chase believed that the police would be able to get their daughter back alive. Maya knew better. She knew that the police typically screwed up these types of investigations. She made her way up to the town's archives upstairs.

There little comfort in her research. She wanted her baby girl home safe, but she did not even know where to start. How was she supposed to find information on a girl who had lived on this island for only a short period of time? This whole situation made little sense to Maya. Was Dakota a random target? Or was Maya being played. She stretched her neck out rubbing the back of it with a hand. She had gotten very little sleep as of late. Life had been so normal, and wonderful just a few weeks ago. Now it felt like Maya was living in a terrible nightmare. The only problem with it was she could not wake up from this. As much as she wanted to, there was no running away from this. Her daughter was everything to her. Over the years her romance with Chase had become less and less appealing. She had lost the feelings that she had for him. If she were being honest, she had only stayed with him for her daughter. And now her daughter was in danger!

"Good Afternoon, Mrs. Watson," Maya heard a voice greet behind her. Her blood grew cold. She detested Detective Cranston and everything he stood for. A part of her knew her feelings were irrational, but she didn't care. She was angry and desparate to get her daughter back.

"Is there something you need?" Maya snapped.

"Just wondering what you are doing here in the city archives," Dirk replied. Dirk knew the information Dakota's kidnappers wanted from Maya, and knew she would have to come the archives to find it. He was a seasoned detective and was used to parents who tried to go around the law to get their children back. That never ended well.

"Is it a crime to look?" Maya asked.

"No ma'am," Dirk replied. "But if you are looking for information for the kidnappers without informing me, I would like to tell you that would be a grave mistake."

"What do you know about it?" Maya asked seething.

"Mrs. watson," Dirk replied. "I have been doing this for years-"

"And that means you know what it's like to have a daughter missing?" Maya shouted.

"No ma'am I am not saying that," Dirk said. He remained calm and collected. He knew from experience that would make her even angrier. "But I have years of experience in this, and placating those kidnappers might seem like a good idea to you, but once they get what they want, what do you think they will do to your daughter?" Maya glared at him. Her eyes started watering, and she was shaking uncontrollably. He could see the recognition in her eyes of the truth, but he also knew she wasn't going to listen to him at this point.

"You don't know!" Maya shouted. At that moment Elli came up the stairs.

"What's going on up here, is everyone okay?" Elli asked.

"Just fine," Maya grumbled. She stared at Dirk, then walked out of the archives. She would get her information another way.

"Detective Cranston, she sure doesn't like you does she?" Elli asked. Dirk laughed. That was an understatement.

"I find that many parents of missing children need someone to vent their frustration and fear on, I find that usually since I am always the person giving them bad news, it's usually me that gets the brunt of it," Dirk explained.

"But surely you don't deserve it," Elli insisted.

"That is true, but I have tough skin," Dirk replied.

"Would you care to join me for lunch at the Inn?" Elli asked. Dirk was suprised by the woman's forwardness. He hadn't expected that from her. He looked at her face, she had a hopeful look on it.

"Sure," Dirk replied. He knew it was a bad idea, but he didn't have the heart to crush her spirit right now. There was too much on his mind, specifically the note that he had found yesterday, with the very clear warning.

OOOOO

Dakota wriggled against the rope that bound her to the bed. Last night Hamilton had been so distracted, he had failed to tie her up as tightly. She had to plan this correctly, or she feared she would never get out alive. She needed to find a way back to the island, and back to her parent's house. She felt the knot around her left hand slipping, and suddenly her hand was free! Her heart beat faster with excitement. She looked at the clock, she only had a half an hour before Hamilton would come in with her dinner. She quickly went to work on the other knot. The use of her left hand made it much easier. Dakota was finally free from her restraints. She could hear the blood pounding in her ears as she feared he would be able to hear her. Slowly she made her way to the window. Outside was a fire escape. It was now or never. This was the risk she'd have to take. Dakota opened the window and stepped out onto the flimsy fire escape. The feel of fresh air on her skin was exhilarating. She quickly snapped to attention, she wasn't safe yet.

Dakota made her way down the three stories of steps. When her feet hit the pavement she started running. She was in an unfamiliar city with no money. But at this moment, that did not matter to her. She started running away as fast as she could.

Dakota kept running. Her lungs felt like they were about to burst, and she paid little attention to the people and scenery around her. Her body begged her to stop, but her mind kept pushing her forward. She wanted to put as much distance between herself and Hamilton as she could. She felt herself growing more tired, but kept pushing forward. Finally her body could no longer take it, and she collapsed to the ground, passing out from sheer exhaustion.

OOOOO

Marlin detested visits to Umberland City to see his mother. With his illness the city smog made it difficult to breath. Tonight was no different. Umberland was a good hour and a half drive from Forget-Me-Not His mother had coerced him into coming for a birthday dinner. Vesta had made him come. His mother was a cantankerous old woman who always had a cigarette in her hand, even after she'd lost a leg, and most of her teeth from smoking. She was demanding at best, and usually had some insult on the ready. But Marlin felt sorry for her, and even though she could be a terrible person, she was still his mother.

By the time the evening was over, he was ready to go home. On his way to his old pickup truck, he saw a girl with bright red hair crumpled on the ground in front of his mother's apartment building. Sighing, he jogged up to the girl. He checked for a pulse. She was still alive. At his touch the girl jumped awake, and pulled away from him. This made Marlin jump as well.

"Shit!" Marlin shouted. The girl stared at him wide eyed and afraid. "Sorry. You okay?" At that moment Vesta emerged from the house. She saw Marlin and the little girl, and came running over as well.

"What's going on here?" Vesta asked.

"Found this girl lying on the sidewalk," Marlin answered. Vesta turned to the young girl.

"You okay honey?" Vesta asked.

"I think so," the girl replied. "I just collapsed from running. I was return to run away."

"From whom?" Marlin asked, he found the girl suspicious. The girl scratched her head.

"I don't know," she replied. "I just remember running." Marlin regarded the girl carefully.

"What's your name?" Vesta asked. Vesta had always been the more friendly of the two siblings.

"Dakota," the girl replied.

"Dakota, what are you doing out here by yourself, lying on the sidewalk?" Marlin asked.

"I don't know, I remember my name is Dakota, but I can't remember anything else," Dakota sighed.

"Well let's get you to the hospital then," Vesta advised.

"No!" Dakota shouted. "Please! I don't know why I can't remember anything but my name, but I know whatever I was running from was real bad! I can still feel the fear! I don't expect you to believe me..." The look of fear on her face pulled on Vesta's nurturing side.

"I believe you dear, how bout you come home with me and my brother for the night, we can figure everything else out in the morning," Vesta replied. Marlin grumbled under his breath. Vesta was far too trusting. The look his sister shot him, stopped any argument from passing his lips.

"Thank you," Dakota replied. The trio got in the old pickup and headed for Forget-Me-Not.

OOOOO

Hamilton opened the bedroom door, to find that the girl was gone! Suddenly all his desperation turned to fear. This girl would be his undoing! He called out for Elliott who was sleeping lazily on the couch.

"Get in here!" Hamilton yelled at his associated. Elliot made his way to the bedroom. His eyes grew wide. The girl was no longer in the bedroom!

"Where the hell is she?" Elliott asked.

"I don't know!" Hamilton shouted. "We need to find her! And fast!" The pointed to the open window to the fire escape. The duo left the apartment quickly, hoping she wasn't able to get far.

Yes amnesia is a bit cliche, but it was needed for the rest of the plans I have for this story. I needed to find a way for everyone's paths to cross.