Michael pulled into the police station parking lot. The police had taken statements at the IHOP and then taken the four thugs into custody. Michael had then been asked to come to the station. Which made a nice change from how he usually ended up at a police station.

He and Emily Grace walked in and were directed to the office of Detective Lucas Reyes. Michael knocked on the doorframe and gave his name.

"Ah, Mr. Knight. Come on in."

"Call me Michael. And what's this about?"

"I figured you'd like a status update," said Kevin, who was leaning against the wall.

"Kevin! You made good time."

The DEA agent smirked at Michael. "My team has been on standby since you left Lexington. All it took was Kitt's call to get the ball rolling. My team is watching the Brem Chem facility. I'm here to coordinate with the local police. Detective Reyes here is my contact."

Michael guided Emily Grace to the open chair and then stood behind her, one hand on her shoulder. "This is Emily Grace. Her mom, Maria Daniels, is a chemist at Brem Chem. She's being held by Philip Josephson, the leader of the drug gang. Their chemist left town, so he wants Ms. Daniels to make a final production run for them." He looked over at Reyes. "The four guys who jumped me at the IHOP were after Emily Grace. Josephson wants her as . . . leverage."

"Hmmm. I'll go make sure they don't their phone call just yet. To avoid tipping off Josephson." Reyes left.

"Do you have a game plan?" Michael asked Kevin.

"Originally, before we knew there was a . . . before we knew Ms. Daniels was there, we were going to storm the facility and take the bast . . . bad guys. Now . . ."

Michael smiled to himself at Kevin's self-correction from what he wanted to say to what was appropriate for Emily Grace to hear. Emily Grace tapped Michael on the hand. He looked down at her. She signed something to him.

"Sorry, Pumpkin. I can order you pancakes and milk. But that's about it. Unless you know sign language, Kevin?"

Kevin shook his head. Emily Grace gave it some thought. Detective Reyes returned.

"We've got about 30-45 minutes."

"Any chance you know sign language? Emily Grace is mute, and she has something to tell me."

Reyes shook his head. "Nope. But I do have a pen and plenty of paper."

He handed a pad and pen to Emily Grace while Michael and Kevin exchanged chagrined looks at not having thought of that simple a solution themselves. Emily Grace wrote something and handed the pad to Michael.

He read it and laughed. "Out of the mouths of babes. Emily Grace wants to know why we don't let the bad guys make their call. Won't that make the rest of them come out of the facility? Instead of Kevin and his team going in after them."

Keven and Reyes chuckled, too. Reyes added, "If you were older, I'd offer you a job here."

Emily Grace smiled at three men, clearly pleased at being able to help. Kevin and Reyes quickly worked out the details of the plan, which they shared with their respective teams. Then it was time to leave.

"I'll stay here with Emily Grace," said Michael. "Her mom asked me to keep her safe."

Kevin nodded his understanding and agreement. "Let's have you sit with Dispatch. If that's okay with you, Reyes. We may need your insights, Michael, even if you aren't physically with us."

"Sure. And I know Dispatch has a cot in the corner." Reyes gestured towards Emily Grace, who was struggling to stay awake.

Michael scooped up the girl and followed Reyes to Dispatch. Sure enough, there was a cot. He gently placed the now sleeping girl down on it. He then grabbed a chair, positioning it so he could see the cot and still listen to the radio chatter.

Now if only everything went smoothly.