Reviewing the last of Simon Prescott's files revealed nothing. From the night of the explosion at the bible camp, every remaining day of Prescott's life was accounted for and nothing suggested he had any illicit activities on the side. Even the trip to the mountains, where Simon had shot at Shane, was documented as a hunt for "the elusive fugitive, Drew Donovan."

Shane did not believe that Simon thought he was shooting at Drew, but it was clear the man covered his tracks to explain his whereabouts. The records did not leave a lot of room for meetings with Jericho, assuming he had survived the explosion. Nor was there anything to indicate that Simon had been to the diner before or after he shot at Shane. And Simon had driven off immediately after missing the shot. That would have given him no time to have found the shirt.

Looking back through the files, Shane was beginning to wonder if this was somebody's idea of a sick joke - an attempt to distract him from the real threat out there, Lawrence Alamain. But Shane just could not figure out how Lawrence might factor into this. Kim was right. Lawrence did not even arrive in Salem until long after Jericho and Simon died, and Cal was arrested.

That left only one person who might have the answers.

Shane stood up and ran a hand over his face. He shut the last file and opened the door from the communications room to his study.

For the past few days, Shane had debated catching a flight to Nome. Cal would know what happened on that mountain that night. He would know if Jericho survived.

But as much as Cal might have answers, Shane knew he could not ask for them. Cal would never volunteer information about Jericho, and Shane had only one bargaining chip - one he could never use.

That was time. Shane could offer Cal a reduction in his sentence, but that would only shorten the time before Cal could return to Salem and make Kim's life a living hell. He had threatened to seek custody of Jeannie before; that had been the proverbial straw that broke the camel's back and sent Kim fleeing from Salem. She had been unwilling to trust that Shane could accept Cal being in their life or that Shane could deal with the constant reminder that Jeannie was not his daughter.

Okay . . . maybe on that last issue, Kim had a point.

Shane turned his mind back to Jericho. Cal was out. Even if he might have provided some answers as part of a deal, Shane would not put Kim through that. He would not even ask Kim to consider it. No. There had to be another way.

Checking his watch, Shane was surprised to realize it was already late in the afternoon. Maybe Roman had some information by now. Shane walked over to his desk, picked up the phone and called Roman. After a quick exchange of pleasantries, Shane asked if the lab results were back.

"I'm sorry, partner, but we've got nothing." Roman elaborated. "All of the prints on the box matched postal workers and people at the hospital. The shirt had a few prints, but they match yours, some ex-con who lives near that diner you told me about, and a set we can't match, but I would bet money on would be the diner owner. You said he handled the shirt several times. Oh, and I think I can answer a question you had about when you went missing."

"What's that?"

"There were prints from the guy who killed that couple out in the mountains," Roman said. "He was the subject of a huge manhunt around that time."

Shane remembered. For a time, with no memory of his own life, Shane had feared he was the killer. "Wait . . . his prints are on the shirt? How can that be?" Then it hit Shane. He had woken up in different clothes that when he had fought Jericho. And he had a different gun than his service pistol. "He swapped our clothes and guns."

"That's right," Roman said. "I guess he figured you'd be found and fingered as the killer."

Shane shook his head, stunned momentarily by that revelation. But then he reminded himself that that was all in the past. He tried to focus on the current situation. "As much as it's nice to get that question answered, I'm far more focused on the package and the keys. Sounds like this is just another dead end."

He could almost see Roman nodding. "I know, partner. I wish there was more I could do. Do you want me to increase patrols around the house?"

"No, there's no need," Shane said. "Just in case it's Jericho, I've doubled the ISA security." Shane doubted that would stop Jericho if he truly was out there and wanted to come after Andrew or Kim. Alfred had one of the keenest strategic minds Shane had ever seen. No amount of security would keep him out.

All the better reason to pray he's dead and this is some sick joke.

Shane hung up the phone, walked over to the tea pot and poured himself a cup. As he sipped the tea, he deliberated over yet another dead end. His gut was telling him that he was missing something - something critical. If Jericho had survived, there should be some clues out there, not this utter lack of anything.

He was trying to figure out his next step when there was a light rap at the door. He looked up as Simmons poked his head inside. "Mrs. Williams is here to see you, sir."

Julie? That was a surprise. Shane did not have any reason to expect her, but obviously she had some information. He set the cup down on his desk just as Julie entered.

"Shane, darling," she said, as she crossed the room toward him. He gave her a light peck on the cheek, and motioned for her to take a seat.

"Can I get you anything?" he asked.

Julie shook her head. "No, I'm just here for a few minutes. I stopped by because I wanted to let you know that I talked with Kayla."

"Did you?" Shane waited expectantly for the answer.

"She's thinking about returning to the lab, but if she does, you'll need to keep your distance." Julie eyed him carefully. "I told you I wouldn't push her. She's reluctant because of Steve, and-" Julie held up her hand when Shane started to protest. "-whatever you think, he's entitled to his feelings and you need to accept that Kayla intends to respect them. So if you want Kayla back at the lab, you need to stay away."

"But I can't, Julie." Shane sighed. "Carly's just come on board with this project, and I need to meet with her regularly."

"Then meet with her outside the lab or when Kayla's not there," Julie said. "That's non-negotiable, Shane. I promised Kayla I would provide a buffer between you, and that's my rule."

Shane shook his head. "This is all so ridiculous. I don't have any designs on Kayla. We're just friends."

"Come on, Shane. . . . You're not 'just friends.' You were in a relationship and you can't expect Kayla and Steve to forget that." Julie's eyes narrowed. "There's more to this."

"She's a friend," Shane insisted. "And maybe they're in a bit of short supply these days, okay?" Shane sighed again. "Look, whatever our relationship was, it started out as a friendship. She was someone I could talk to. . . ."

"And I suspect you could use someone like that right now," Julie said. She had that sympathetic look that drove Shane to distraction.

"I don't need your pity, Julie."

Julie smiled softly. "It's not pity, darling. It's understanding. When you've had someone you can really open yourself to and you lose that, it's a tremendous loss. And you and me, we're successful, mature adults, so we're not supposed to need people to lean on. We both know that's not true. At least, I have my grandmother. But you . . . as much as you try to act the cold superspy, Shane, you hate being isolated as much as any man."

Shane felt his cheeks grow warm.

"It's human nature, I understand," Julie said. "But what you want can't come from Kayla, Shane. Not anymore. You need to let go. If you keep pushing Kayla and interfering in her life, the last thing you'll have is a friend. Let it go."

Shane knew she had a point. The way Kayla had snapped at him at the airport the week before had made it clear that she saw him as an interloper. Even though it was not his intention, he was causing problems for Kayla and that was the last thing he wanted. But that did not make it any easier to let go. Then Shane reminded himself that his goal had always been to make Kayla happy.

"Okay," he said slowly.

"You'll keep away from Kayla in the lab?" Julie's eyes narrowed again. "I want your word."

"Fine. I'll pretend like she doesn't exist." Shane looked at Julie. "Satisfied?"

Julie stood up and grinned. "Perfectly." She started for the door, then stopped and turned around. "Shane. . . . If your relationship with Kim was half of what I had with Doug - and my grandmother says it was, and then some - that's who you should be turning to." She raised her hand, once again to stop Shane from protesting. "Anyway, I've said my peace, darling. I'll let Kayla know you've agreed and will let you know what she decides."

She closed the door behind her as she stepped out of his study. Shane was left to think. Julie was wrong to think that he could open himself up to Kim, but he understood what she was saying about Kayla. She was right. His relationship with Kayla had started as a friendship, but having gone beyond that, it was impossible to just return to the way it had been before. Maybe it was not fair, but it was reality. If he continued to give Steve reason to see him as a threat, it would only make Kayla hate him. In the end, as hard as it was, it was better for all of them.

It was time to let Kayla go.