"Ethan Henderson is a four year old who was abducted last night from his room", Voight said as he began to put up a recent picture of the young boy.
As Voight put up the other pictures from the young boy's room, Jay glanced over at Erin who had her head down looking at the file each of them had gotten. He saw the similarities of the case to Mia's and he knew everyone else did too.
"Why exactly did we get this case", Ruzek suddenly asked. Everyone glared towards Ruzek, "What it was just a question! It doesn't seem that high profile", he defended himself.
"Since you are so curious, Ruzek. He is the son of one of the ADA's, who has already been missing for almost six hours, so let's get going already. Halstead and Lindsay, go to the house. Ruzek and Antonio, go through recent patterns", Voight instructed.
Jay looked towards Erin who was already standing up with her coat in her hands. He quickly followed her out as she sped down the stairs.
"Hey, slow down", he called after her just before she got through the gate.
Erin stopped at the gate watching as her partner ran down the stairs to catch up with her.
"You okay", he asked making eye contact with her as she traced her fingers against the gate.
"Erin, if you don't want to work this case because it brings too many memories back for you, then just tell Voight he will understand", Jay stated.
"I'm fine", Erin said quickly.
"I want to do this because it could, you know, lead to something. You saw the similarities. It could be the same guy, Jay", she explained looking up into his calming eyes.
"And we will catch them, find the little boy, and maybe it could lead to Mia", Jay said.
Erin gave a little smile which Jay kindly returned, "It will lead to Mia. I know it", she said before opening up the gate.
xxx
Erin, of course, drove them to the Henderson household, where the crime scene technicians were still processing the scene and trying to collect as much evidence as possible.
Walking up to the house, Erin could almost feel Jay's eyes watching her every move. She knew he was worried about the case and how it could affect her. He also knew about the dreams or nightmares she had in the beginning of Mia's case. She knew he was worried, but it wasn't going to stop her from solving this case.
When the arrived to the front door, one of the crime scene technicians showed them where the parents were located. Erin and Jay walked into the kitchen to find both Mr. and Mrs. Henderson leaning against the counter.
"Mr. and Mrs. Henderson? We are the detectives from the Intelligence unit. I'm Detective Halstead and this is my partner Detective Lindsay", Jay said in a low tone.
"I can't talk to anymore cops. I just need my boy back", Mrs. Henderson stated harshly taking both Erin and Jay back.
"Honey, they are here to help. To get Ethan back", Mr. Henderson said trying to comfort his wife.
"This wouldn't be happening if you hadn't made so many enemies! Why do you think he is gone, John", Mrs. Henderson quickly yelled distancing herself from her husband.
"Why don't we talk separately? Mrs. Henderson, why don't you come with me", Erin suggested directing the wife's attention to the empty living room.
Mrs. Henderson followed Erin into the next room as they say down on the couch.
"Mrs. Henderson...", Erin began to say.
"Please call me Emily. Just talk to me, okay", she cut her off.
Erin gave her a gentle smile. "Do you have any idea who would do this to your family", Erin questioned.
"Being the wife of an ADA is never easy, you know? I'm constantly being questioned about the criminals my husband has put away recently and if they are dangerous", Emily continued.
"So, you think that it was one of the criminals your husband put away", Erin asked trying to get somewhere.
"There are so many threatening things said about John and there are letters and blocked phone calls, but I made sure to protect Ethan from all of it. I guess I didn't do that good of a job", Emily explained, her eyes beginning to swell with tears.
Erin quickly handed her the tissue box that was conveniently sitting on the table beside the couch. "This is not your fault", she said trying to comfort the distraught woman.
Emily Henderson wiped away her tears, "Do you have any children, Detective", she asked quietly.
Erin sighed inwardly giving the woman a smile, "I have a daughter", she said making sure not to bring up the fact Mia had been missing for over a year.
"Then you understand. You understand why I freaked out in the kitchen", Emily began to say.
"Because I can't live another day without him", she finished quietly, more tears beginning to swell in her eyes.
Erin gave the woman a light hearted smile as she heard footsteps coming into the living room. Turning around she saw Jay standing there, indicating he was done talking to the husband.
"Emily, if you need anything, this is my card", Erin said taking out one of her CPD 'business cards'.
You can call anytime you would like. I will make sure to stay in touch with you until we find Ethan. I promise", she continued to explain as Emily took the card from her.
"Thank you so much", Emily said giving her a smile.
Erin returned the smile as she rose from the couch and walked out of the house with Jay. There was a comfortable silence to the car, but as soon as the engine started Erin began to speak.
"Do you remember what I said to you when you took my statement after Mia was taken", she asked him as she drove.
Jay turned his head in her direction, watching as she didn't even make eye contact with him, just focused on the road ahead.
"You wouldn't rest until Mia is found. No matter how long it took you were going to be there when she was found. You told me you couldn't live without her", he said.
Erin smiled briefly as she also remembered the statement she had insisted her best friend should take. A month later the case was cold, but she still never gave up.
"We have to find this boy. I don't want that mother to live like this", Erin stated as they approached a stop light and she turned to look at Jay.
"And we will find him, Erin", he said giving her a smile which she returned.
Nothing more had to be said. The light turned green and they were back to driving. A text from Voight came in saying to meet at the DA's office while the thought of both the little boy who was missing and Mia's case still weighed heavily over the two detective's minds.