This is a shift day [see above]. There was another upload this morning: Something I Said?

"A Dish Best Served Cold"

3. Third

New York City

He didn't want to lie to her, but for her protection he felt he couldn't tell her what was happening and risk having her get pulled into all this. He knew she was friends with Brittany, familiar with a handful of them because of this, but he also knew what that man was capable of. The fact that he had broken out of prison so he could strike back at those kids told him he definitely didn't want his daughter anywhere near this.

"Going somewhere?" He had just gotten hold of his suitcase when her voice startled him and the case slipped from his hand. He turned and saw her, standing there at the door, innocent, calm… He allowed the leaning to retrieve his suitcase to be his moment to work out the 'busted' flush to work itself out of his system. He put the case on his bed and opened it before moving to get what he'd need.

"Yes, just a quick trip out of state, you'll be alright," he told her as he watched her shuffle in and do her thing, helping him pack. She always thought of the items he would later realize he had forgotten at home.

"I know, Dad," she told him, and for a second he wasn't sure if she meant she knew she'd be alright or she knew about what was happening in Lima. "I've stayed with grandma before," she shrugged, and he relaxed. "How long are you going to be away?" He didn't know. He hoped this would be resolved soon, but he couldn't really tell either.

"It depends," he started, pulling at anything his mind could offer. "My luck may turn…" he hoped his voice sounded convincing, because he sure as hell wasn't.

"You're going gambling?" she asked, and he could have sworn she sounded disappointed, or confused. "I thought you were on a case with Detective Beckett."

"I was," he nodded, taking a hat away from her and shaking his head at her before putting it back in his closet. "I am… Undercover," he leaned to her with excitement she might be more familiar with.

"Well… you'll need your lucky socks," she went to his drawer and pulled out the pair, squeezing it in his suitcase. She looked back to him, like she was waiting for something, but he didn't know what it was. "I'll let you finish," she finally told him, leaving the room just as, from below, he could hear his mother announcing her return. He almost wanted to call Alexis back, tell her the truth, but he remembered his reasons not to, so he let her go.

"Richard?" Martha called.

"In here, mother," he replied, touching the lucky socks in his suitcase… Maybe it wouldn't hurt to bring them anyway.

"Where are you off to?" Martha asked as she entered and saw the suitcase. He looked back beyond her.

"Where's Alexis?"

"She's downstairs," Martha told him, then picking up on something, "What's happened?"

"You know the four convicts who escaped prison yesterday?" he asked, and she nodded. "One of them was from a case I worked on with Beckett. Jared Matheson, he ran the show choir competition," he explained. It didn't take long for her to connect the dots.

"Alexis' friend and that club of hers," she recalled.

"There were suspicions he might be making his way to Ohio after he slipped through our fingers. This morning we caught one of the other escapees, confirmed that Matheson was on his way to Lima, to settle the score with those kids."

"Oh, Richard, you…"

"Beckett and I have already been given the go-ahead to go down there and apprehend him before he can hurt anyone. Mother, promise you won't tell Alexis about this. If she finds out her friend might be in trouble, she'll want to come and…"

"I do," he heard and saw her at the same time, appearing at the door again, over Martha's shoulder.

"Alexis, your father's right. This is dangerous, you could…"

"What, like he doesn't get in trouble all the time working with Beckett?" she surged past her grandmother to come and stand before her father. "Dad, please…"

"Alexis, no… I'm sorry," he put his hands to her shoulders. "I know she's your friend, but we've got this. We need to find this man and stop him, and the thought of having you anywhere near him… I won't be able to let myself focus. I need you safe, and I need you here. Please do this, for me and for her." He could tell she was seeing his point in this, even if she didn't like it.

"Fine," she finally relented. "But you better catch him, or else I'm getting down there," she frowned and he let out a breath, hugging her.

"Not a problem. I've got my socks, right?" he told her and he could feel her smile against him.

"You'll let me know what's happening, right?" she asked as she pulled back.

"Every step of the way," he nodded, then amended, "As much as I can." She kept looking at him. "Everything will be okay," he promised her, even if he thought that kind of sentiment was unsafe… They didn't know what might happen. What if everything wasn't okay and he had to turn around and give her bad news? No, they weren't going to let that happen. He would hold his promise. Then something occurred to him, looking back at her. "You already knew, didn't you?"

"Brittany texted me earlier," she confirmed. "Dad, they're worried."

"We'll be down there in just a few hours, and we'll get to the bottom of this, okay?" he hugged her once more, kissing the top of her head and then bidding his mother goodbye as he grabbed his suitcase and went on his way to meet Beckett.

Left on their own, Martha tried to think of a way to keep Alexis occupied, so she wouldn't worry too much, but it was no use. She had gone down and sat on the couch, phones – home and cell – left in her lap, and… that was her post, so long as she would have to. Martha sighed, moving to sit with her. Now all they could really do was wait.

TO BE CONTINUED (TOMORROW)