Author's Note: First, I would like to apologise for delay. I have been diligently writing on this story as well as five other stories these past couple of months, so I have been really productive. So, productive, in fact, that within the next week I will release another chapter for this story! I have the chapter finished actually, but it still needs to go through fine tuning before I can release it. And now... as they say, on with the show! ;)

The trio rode in silence as they left the station. Each one's thoughts echoing the others, though they did not speak a word. Finally, Chloe interrupted the silence. "What do you think they found that would cause them to want us to come home so quickly?"

Nick shrugged his shoulders. "I don't know," he said as he glanced at the rear-view mirror and looked into Chloe's eyes. "Gail seemed pretty pissed though and she wanted us to let Oliver know where we were going, so it couldn't be anything good."

Dov shook his head. "When is Gail ever not pissed about something?" he asked as he looked out the passenger-side window. It was a beautiful day, but he knew in his heart that it was only going to be marred by the information that Gail and Holly were going to give them.

"Did you ever find out about that woman's job?" Nick asked, interrupting Epstein's thoughts.

He turned to look at the ex-military soldier. "What woman's job?"

"The one we thought was Patricia O'Neal... this Anna woman. She said something about working for a pharmaceutical company out of Germany."

Dov sighed, "It was all a fake. She was lying from the time she entered the house to the time you had dropped her off, Nick."

"So even the company is a fake?"

"No. Zurich- Mueller is a real company, but everything she said about it was fake. Anna Schlenz has a wrap sheet about a mile long. Starting from the age of sixteen. All of it small time though. Petty theft. Few windows busted here and there. Busted for marijuana a couple times, but other than that, nothing major. Her brother is a known drug dealer that the Narcotics division would love to get a hold of, but he's like a ghost. Every single time they think they are close to him, he disappears and lies low. Steve has been trying to get a hold of that guy for months, but to no avail. Even his informants don't know where this guy spends his off hours."

"So," Chloe began. "We have two people who have basically disappeared and the only person who might know where they are is at the station, but isn't speaking much on the subject, except that he was an innocent bystander."

"That's the short of it," Dov replied with a sigh. "Now we are off to figure out what Gail has found that is so distressing that she had to pull us from the station. I wish that she would have waited until we found out if this guy cracked more. Maybe he could have given us a location or something."

"Maybe she found out something about Chris?" Chloe stated as the car stopped in front of the apartment building.

"Maybe," Nick said as he unbuckled his seat belt and opened the car door. "We need some break in this case and we definitely need Diaz's help."

The door to the apartment that Chloe, Dov, Chris, and Gail shared opened and the blonde officer stepped out onto the steps. "About time you guys decided to show up. We were wondering if you would ever come."

Dov rolled his eyes. "Well we're here now, so what is it that is so important that you had to take us away from the station?"

Before Gail could reply, Holly stepped through the open door and answered. "I think it would be best if we spoke about this inside instead of out on the street."

The three officers stared at each other questioningly as they took in the pathologist's sullen demeanour. Though none of them have really spent a lot of time with her, they all knew that Holly normally had an upbeat, fun personality; but now seeing her serious expression, coupled with her subdued tones, the three friends knew something was not right.

"You're right," Nick said as he started walking towards the front door. Dov and Chloe followed behind, everyone silent until the door was closed tightly behind them.

"So," Dov began as he stared at the two women in front of him. "What is so important that you had to call us over? Chloe and I were going to leave the station in a few more hours to try and catch some sleep. You could have told us when we got back."

Gail rolled her eyes and opened her mouth to speak, but Holly intervened. "This is something that could not wait, Epstein."

"Why not start at the beginning," Nick ventured as he crossed his arms and leaned against the front door.

"We came to pick up some of my stuff so I could spend some time at Holly's place," Gail started as she glanced at the woman in question. "Mom said I was off the case, so I thought it was best to stay away from the house so I wouldn't hear everyone..."

"You don't have to come up with an excuse, Gail," Chloe said with a smile. "It's good to see you two back together."

Gail smiled. A slight blush graced her cheeks before she continued. "Thanks," she muttered as she glanced at Chloe. "Well, anyway. We were here grabbing some of my stuff, when I decided to take a look in Chris's room. I thought maybe there was something in there that might tell us where he went or maybe who he has been in contact with."

"That was good thinking, but you do remember what your mom said, right?" Epstein asked as he narrowed his eyes at the blonde.

Rolling her eyes, Gail huffed. "Of course I remember! She may be my mother, but I'm not stupid. If she gives an order, it is to be followed. What we did here was not in direct violation to her order, that's why I brought you guys in. I found out information and called the proper authorities." Under her breath she muttered, "Though I probably should have called someone else into this."

Holly smirked and elbowed Gail softly in the side. "What Gail is trying to say is that we felt that the evidence that we had found needed to be further explored, so we decided to enlist your help on that matter."

"So, what did you guys find?" Chloe asked as she glanced towards the partially closed door that led to Diaz's room. Even though she had lived in the apartment with Dov, Gail and Chris for several months now, she never ventured into the others bedrooms. Most of her day-to-day allowed her passage to the kitchen, dining, and living rooms, as well as, Dov's bedroom and personal bathroom. Though the thought of crossing into another room that was not part of her daily repertoire seemed intriguing, the red-head did not like the idea of invading someone else's private life; though some of her friends felt otherwise.

"I think it is better that we show you instead of telling you what we found," Holly said as she turned to face the room. Her teeth were worrying her bottom lip as she stared at the room.

Dov shook his head as he felt a weird sense of foreboding creep through his psyche. "It can't be that bad, can it?" He huffed. "I mean we are talking about Chris." He stared at Gail and wondered over her look of dismay. She saw something that really shook her up, Dov thought as he continued to stare at the blonde. Something is definitely not right here. Taking a deep breath he glanced away from Gail and peered at the door. "All right, let's go see what you found."

The group of friends trailed behind Holly and Gail as they crossed the small expanse of the living-room towards the room that would hopefully provide the answers needed in finding their friend. As everyone entered the dimly lit room, Dov noticed right away that something wasn't right. The room was too dishevelled as if someone had rifled through all of Chris's belongings. In search of... something.

"Did you guys do this?" Nick asked as he flipped the light switch and stared at the mess under fluorescent lighting.

"Of course not!" Gail exclaimed as she rolls her eyes again. "What do you take us for? This is how we found it. I know that Chris isn't exactly the cleanest person in the world, but I seriously doubt he would leave his room looking like this." She shook her head and pointed towards the dresser. "But the mess isn't why we are here. Take a look on the dresser."

Dov, Chloe and Nick walked over to the dresser and stared at the contents sprawled across the top. As they continued to stare, Nick said, "I don't understand what we are supposed to be looking at... oh! Is that what I think it is?" he asked as he pointed a finger at a small bag underneath a hand-scrawled note in the middle of the debris.

"We really won't know until we confirm it with the labs," Gail said from across the room. "But as far as we were concerned, it did look like cocaine."

"Shit!" Dov exclaimed as he stalked back to the door. "This can't be right! Not Chris! He would never do something stupid like this!"

"It fits though," Holly replied softly. "From what Gail has told me while we were waiting for you guys to show up, it seems as if he was going through withdrawals. She told me how he has been the past week and the symptoms fit. Maybe he tossed his own room to find his stash, but was too muddled to see it in front of his..."

"Just stop right there, Holly," Dov warned as he pointed at the pathologist. "That is just bullshit and everyone knows it! You don't know Chris! Maybe... maybe he was set up! We busted a couple of drug dealers a few weeks back, so maybe they decided to take advantage of our situation down at the station and set Chris up."

Nick shook his head. "Dov, that doesn't make sense. If that was the case, why didn't they trash the whole apartment? Also, how would they know where you lived? I know it may sound harsh, but I agree with Holly and Gail on this one."

Dov rolled his eyes then stared at Chloe. "What do you think?"

The woman in question furrowed her brows and worried her lip. "Dov, they're right and you know it. You even said so yourself that he wasn't acting right. Besides, did you read the note?"

Dov took a deep breath to calm himself and clear his head. They're right. I should have noticed the signs sooner. Maybe I could have helped my best friend out of this situation before it got too big. He cleared his throat and glanced at Chloe. "What does it say?"

"There is an address on it and a name of some guy named Jaime. Do you think that is the brother of Anna? I mean the name is the same and also it seems as if he might also be tied to Chris's little problem. Maybe we should give Steve and Traci a call... just to be on the safe side." She said as she looked up from the paper.

"Shit, that's too much of a coincidence," Dov stated as he ran his hand through his hair. He turned towards Holly and Gail. "Now before we call Steve and Traci in on this, just answer one question... did you guys touch the note or the bag?"
"Do we look like idiots to you, Epstein?" Gail exclaimed as she rolled her eyes.

"You know this is going to get him in a lot of trouble," Nick said as he looked at everyone in the room.

Dov sighed as wiped his hands on his pants. "I know. I really hate to do this to him, but if the name on the paper is someone who is a part of the murder we are working on, we may have broken the case, without the creep in lock-up even spilling his guts. Also, if this is the way to get him off this shit, he really needs the wake-up call."

Nick nodded his head slowly in agreement. "Okay, then let's go outside and call Steve. I don't want us to be in here any longer. I don't want anyone thinking we might have a part in all of this."