"Damn it, Jack. There has to be a way to get on that base," Steve said, feeling his frustration growing again.

"I'm sorry, Steve." Jack sounded as frustrated as Steve felt. "But I don't have the kind of connections you need to get past base security, at least not without raising the wrong kind of attention."

Steve stood up and paced around the room. He and Jack had been in Jack's office for the better part of two hours trying to find some way to contact the soldiers without the military or ISA finding out. Thus far, they had come up with nothing.

There was no question that base security would be told to be on the lookout for Steve, even if the reason why was not disclosed. Steve knew that warning would also include Jack, given Jack's participation in the little games Steve had played with the ISA. Steve was also pretty confident the list would include Bo, considering the ISA knew of Bo and Steve's long friendship and Bo's relationship to Shane.

Steve had hoped that Roman might have been able to help because of his police connections and his badge, but he had refused and was now gone with Marlena to San Cristobal. That left nobody that Steve was willing to trust to help him out. Which meant he was back to square one - he and Jack would have to figure this out on their own.

"What about that camp you find out about?" Steve asked. It felt like months had passed since he and Jack had been in this office after dealing with the ISA.

"I made some calls, but it turns out the place is pretty full most of the fall." Jack shrugged. "I guess it's a popular place for hunters to stay. I was able to eliminate a few weeks when that reunion probably can't be happening, but I couldn't do much to narrow down when it might be."

"Great." Back to square one. "Maybe I should just go to Kentucky and hang out around the base," Steve said, thinking out loud. "Sooner or later I'm bound to spot Nowicki or Deakins."

"Or get spotted by base security or the ISA," Jack pointed out.

Steve knew Jack was right. But Steve also did not know what else to do. He had to talk to Nowicki and Deakins before Shane's trial and he could not just sit back and hope an opportunity would magically appear in time.

A knock at the door interrupted Steve's thoughts. He glanced at Jack, who shrugged and called out, "Come in."

The door opened and Abe Carver entered the office. "Abe," Jack said, sounding surprised. "What brings you by?"

"I was looking for Steve," Abe replied. "And for you."

"What's going on, Abe?" Steve asked. He could tell from the expression on Abe's face that it was not good news.

Abe took a deep breath. "Lawrence Alamain has disappeared."

"What!" Steve could not believe his ears. "He just got out of prison and you already lost him? What the hell are you guys doing?"

Abe held up his hand. "I know how you feel, Steve. I hate this as much as you do."

"Then what happened?" Jack asked. "Roman promised us the Salem PD would watch him like a hawk."

"A blind hawk apparently," Steve scoffed.

Abe shot an irritated glance at Steve for the jibe, but answered Jack's question. "You know that he got the jump on us by moving up his parole date," Abe said. "As soon as Roman found out, he had a detail assigned to watching Lawrence's house."

"So how did he slip by your guys?" Steve asked.

"He didn't." Abe turned to Steve. "It turns out that Lawrence never went back to the house. He set it up so it looked like he did - apparently had some servant dressed like him staying in the house so that it looked like Lawrence was there. We didn't find out until he missed his appointment with his parole officer today."

"If he didn't go back to the house, then where did he go?" Jack's voice was calm but deadly serious.

"He apparently had a private plane waiting and went straight from the prison to the plane. It wasn't a plane owned by him or his companies, because we've had a long-term track on those." Abe signed. "As for where he went, we don't know for sure, but we expect that he is back in his country."

"Unbelievable." Steve threw up his hands. "The guy buys his way out of prison and waltzes right out of the country. Now we have no idea what he's up to or where he might show up again."

"I've got units assigned to keep an eye on all of your homes," Abe said, trying to placate Steve. "But if Lawrence left town, it's a good bet that he's through with Salem."

Steve shook his head and looked at Jack. He could tell that Jack was thinking the same thing he was - Lawrence was not one to give up that easily. Maybe Steve did not know the man the way the others did, but he knew all too well how he operated.

A sudden chill washed over Steve at that thought. "Shane," he said quietly.

"What about Shane?" Abe asked, a curious look on his face.

"Shane's in the hospital, in a coma, just like I was." Steve looked at Abe. "What if Lawrence tries to take Shane like he did me?"

"Lawrence paid off a doctor that time." Jack turned to Steve. "Shane and Kayla found some tape recording at Lawrence's villa that proved that Lawrence was working with that doctor."

"I know," Steve said. "Kayla told me about that. And the only doctors that have been allowed to treat Shane are Marcus and Carly. But that doesn't mean that Lawrence can't buy somebody else off."

"I'll get an officer over to the hospital immediately," Abe promised. "We'll make sure no unauthorized person can get into Shane's room"

"Is the Police Commissioner going to let you do that?" Steve could not hide his disdain. "After all, he apparently thinks the Salem PD should still be investigating Shane working with Cal."

"Nobody believes that Shane was working with Cal, Steve." Abe's irritation was obvious.

"Then why hasn't the Salem PD issued a statement saying that?" Steve asked angrily. "It's been a week and you still haven't done anything to put those questions to rest."

Abe took a deep breath as if trying to control his emotions. "We've stayed quiet about it because Mickey asked us to," he finally answered.

"Why on earth would Mickey do that?" Steve was incredulous. "He knows that kind of publicity isn't doing Shane any good."

"Because he's afraid that the judge might use what happened with Cal to revoke Shane's bail." At Steve's shocked expression, Abe continued, "Shane broke into a private building, armed, without any legal authority, and killed a man. Mickey's worried the government will argue Shane violated the conditions of his bail."

"He was rescuing Kim and Kayla." This time it was Jack's turn to question Abe. "Even if it was a technical violation, no reasonable person could hold it against him."

"Mickey doesn't think the judge is all that reasonable, so he doesn't want to take a chance," Abe explained. "Look . . . it's not like we're actually conducting any kind of investigation. Mickey just thinks it's better if we let the whole thing drop and not give the ISA or the judge any ammunition to make things harder for Shane."

Steve just shook his head. He could not believe that it was somehow better for people to think that Shane might have been involved with the kidnapping than it was to make sure the truth was known.

The room was silent for a moment and then Abe spoke. "I'm heading back to office. I'll get the detail assigned to Shane's hospital room and set up the extra patrols around your homes. And if I get any information about Lawrence, I'll let you know."

Steve nodded. "Good." He turned to Jack. "Meanwhile, the rest of us are just going to have to keep our guard up. Now that Lawrence is on the loose, there's no telling what he might be planning."

Steve watched silently as Abe left and Jack reached for the phone to call Jennifer. Despite what he had just said, Steve knew all too well what Lawrence was likely planning. He had served as the lab rat for that plan after all. Abe might believe that Lawrence was done with Salem, but Steve knew that was not true. Another cold chill ran through his body as he realized that it was not a matter of if Lawrence would be back. It was only a matter of when.