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Chapter 1:

"Danny Taylor, thirty-two year old defense attorney, has been missing since late last night. His neighbors heard a loud commotion coming from his apartment, but didn't think anything of it. When he didn't come in to the office this morning his boss called it in." Jack said looking around Danny's cold apartment.

There were still boxes that had yet to be unpacked and Danny had had the place, according to what the manager had told Jack for a little over two years. It didn't look at all homey and bachelor like.

Jack could have understood if it was messy with take out boxes scattered around the place, but there was an almost detached cleanliness to the place. Seemed kind of sad to anyone who looked deep enough.

"Well it looks like there's signs of struggle. Things are definitely knocked over. What I don't get is if he had this place for over two years why there's a whole lot of stuff still left in boxes. I mean I know he's a busy man, but this is just ridiculous." Jack smiled at Sam who was busy looking around at everything.

"Maybe he didn't want to unpack everything. Maybe this way it felt like it was only temporary." Jack said.

Sam gave Jack a puzzled look. She knew he had known Danny when he was a prosecutor. She had met him once and he hadn't even acknowledged her to busy showing off in front of Jack and the state prosecutor.

He seemed arrogant and vain and not someone Sam wanted to get to know personally. Of course now that wasn't up to her. She'd have to get to know him in order to find him. Part of Sam wished she didn't have to.

"You know it was probably an angry parent. He helped Abner Johnston get away... what just last week." Sam said.

"The cases could be related. It would make sense. Danny hasn't worked a lot of criminal cases for people to be mad at him. He sticks with corporate law most of the time." Jack said.

"So we look at his cases. See if there was anything unusual."

"He was abducted at home though. That would make things seem a bit more... personal. He wasn't taken on the street. Someone waited patiently for him to get home then took him."

"Well if you found out that a scumbag lawyer had helped a guilty man a man guilty of kidnapping and killing your child I think you would make things personal."

"Danny's not a scumbag."

"Really he seemed like one when I met him." Sam said.

Jack cast her a worried look. He couldn't have Sam getting personal with cases. He couldn't afford to lose another member of his team on such a high profile case.

"Sam, I need you to not let your emotions interfere with this one. It's just you and me on this one." Jack said.

"Really why not the whole team. His partners must not want him back that badly."

"Martin can't work this one." Jack said.

"Why?" Sam asked.

She knew little of Martin. His father was the Deputy Director and he had proven to be a good FBI agent in the time that Sam had been there. He was a little recluse and guarded. He rarely went out to drink with them. He barely said two words to the rest of the team. Sam just thought he was anti-social.

"Because. I don't want him too." Jack said.

"Well you better call him. I'm pretty sure he's on his way here." Sam said.

"Who told him?"

"It's been all over the news Jack. Besides that he called a few minutes ago and I told him that we were here. He didn't even need directions." Jack didn't say anything, but Sam could tell that he was angry. It was his fault for not telling her.

"I'll be downstairs." Jack said and without another word he left to go downstairs. He took the steps two at a time and reached the bottom just in time to see a distressed Martin walk through the door.

"Martin... I need you to..."

"You're not taking me off this one Jack."

"Martin..." "I mean it Jack. You can't take me off this case."

"Martin... you've got a personal relationship with Danny. You'll let your emotions get involved." Jack said.

"I haven't seen Danny in three years." Martin said though it was sort of a lie.

"I know, but you two used to share your lives together."

"I can help you, Jack. You know you'll be short handed if you keep me off this case. Viv's still on leave. I don't think the good people over at Marcus, Willton and Brant will be too happy to know that their best lawyer isn't getting the best to look for him." Martin said.

"He is getting the best. I've got everyone that can work on it working on it. Me and Sam are the leads though." Jack said.

"You're not very diplomatic, Jack. You're going to have to talk to the people he worked with at some point. You're going to have to go to his office. You'll butt heads with the people he works with and then we won't get any information out of them."

Jack sighed. He knew Martin was right. Jack didn't have nearly enough patience to deal with the big heads at Marcus, Willton and Brant, but Martin was just the white collar WASP type that spoke their language or at least he could be at the drop of a hat.

"I need to know that you're going to give me your best on this one. Nothing can interfere with your judgement." Jack said discreetly.

"Nothing will interfere with my judgement. Have you talked to his family yet?" Martin asked.

"No, me and Sam just barely got word of it not to long ago. I'm guessing you're going to want to talk to the family." Jack said with a smile.

"Well I think they'd handle it better if they talked to someone they knew." Martin said.

"You're probably right. So what do you think we're going to find in his apartment?" Jack asked as he and Martin made their way back to Danny's apartment.

"Hmmm... probably a bunch of boxes. Danny moved in what... two years ago. Probably has like a few things unpacked if that. Lots of pictures of his nephews and lots of work."

"Anything substantial." "His computer. Danny liked to have everything right at his fingertips." Martin said as they walked into the apartment. Sam was looking around.

"Well other then a gazillion cartons of Chinese take-out the kitchen held nothing. In fact this whole place holds nothing. Although his computer seemed interesting. Lots of porn." Sam said as Martin and Jack walked in. She spared one glance at Martin and then gave Jack a questioning look. He shook his head at her and she looked back at the computer screen.

"Did you find his lap top?" Martin asked.

"How do you know he has a lap top?" Sam asked giving Martin a questioning look.

"What lawyer doesn't?" Martin countered.

"Well I haven't checked every square inch of the place, but so far no luck."

"Might be at his office." Martin muttered to himself as he looked around at the apartment.

It was fairly upscale. None of the home touches of Danny's previous apartment. The couches were the same though. Torn and beaten up. They didn't look like they belonged in such a high class place. Of course Danny liked to defy convention. Martin smirked and laughed a bit when he saw the big screen TV. He had never let Danny get one during their time together. He didn't want to have to fight against a baseball game.

"What's so funny?" Sam asked suddenly standing right next to him.

"Nothing." Martin muttered. Sam looked like she was going to ask more, but was interrupted by the sound of Jack's cell phone going off. He answered it in his usual gruff manner and talked to whoever for a little while before hanging up.

"That was the guys at the office. The brought in Mr. Taylor's family. Martin... why don't you handle this one." Jack said looking at Martin expectantly.

"Sure thing."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Sylvia and Rafael Alvarez sat staring blankly at Martin for at least five minutes before speaking. Their children, Nicky and Joseph Alvarez sat with a female agent playing with puzzles.

"So, you don't know anything. You don't know where my little brother is. Is that what you're telling me?" Rafi said.

"I know it doesn't look good right now, but we've got the best people looking for him. We think he was taken somewhere between eight o'clock to eight-thirty last night." Martin said calmly.

"And no one thought to call the police?" Sylvia asked.

"His nearest neighbors... their teenage daughter was home. She didn't think that anything abnormal was happening." Martin said.

"Right because Danny regularly messes up his own apartment." Rafi said as he got up to pace."

Rafi, please. Martin is trying to keep us informed here." Sylvia said.

Rafi turned to his wife and Martin and sighed. He walked back to his chair and put his head in his hands.

"I'm sorry for being... it's just I'm so pissed off right now and I don't know what to do."

"It's okay. I understand. Now I have to ask... when was the last time you saw Danny?" Sylvia and Rafi looked at each other with worried glances.

"It's... it's been awhile." Rafi said.

"He doesn't come over every Sunday anymore?" Martin asked.

"No, he stopped... some time after he got that new job of his. He was too busy to spend time with his family." Rafi said a touch bitterly.

"Rafi, stop it. Danny's a good man. You know, but he and Rafi haven't been totally square about things and it gets awkward. He could handle it... when you were there, but he just... he doesn't stop by anymore. I wanted to know why so I went to see him." Sylvia said.

"You didn't tell me..."

"I know. I just... he seemed so sad the times that he did stop by to play with the kids that... I had to see what was wrong with him so I had my mother watch the kids and I went to see him." Sylvia said.

"When was this?" Martin asked.

"Oh it was a week or so before he finished that big case he was working on. The one that... with that man."

"I know what you're talking about."

"Anyway, he just seemed so sad. I knew something was wrong..."

~*~*~

Sylvia waited patiently for Danny to open the door. It didn't take long for Danny to open the door in sweatpants and a baggy T-shirt.

"Sylvia. What are you doing here? Where are the kids?" Danny asked.

"No hello or come in? You, Danny have bad manners." Sylvia joked.

"Oh, right, hello. Of course come in. You are family." Danny said stepping aside to let Sylvia inside his apartment.

"Of course, maybe you shouldn't be walking around. In your condition." Danny said smiling.

"Oh please Danny, I'm only three months along. I see you've been talking to your brother."

"Yeah he called all happy and cheerful. Course I was in the middle of a meeting. Can I get you something?" Danny said.

"Seems like you're always in a meeting. I'll have some water, please." Sylvia said. Danny nodded and went into the kitchen. He came out with a glass of water and handed it to Sylvia.

"So to what do I owe this nice visit? Just making house calls."

"I admit it. I'm checking up on you. You haven't been around in quite some time."

"Work keeps me pretty busy. I'm working this big case..."

"I know. We saw you on TV. Nicky was so excited. He said he wanted to bring you in for show and tell."

"I don't think the parents of Mrs. Crinkles fourth grade class would appreciate a guy who helped get their kids get abducted and killed." Danny said trying to make it sound light and airy, but it came out a touch to cynical.

"Danny." Sylvia said looking into Danny's eyes. Eyes that always seemed so bright, but looked so empty and sad.

"I'm alright, Syl... it's just... I used to put guys like this away and now I'm trying to keep him out. It's just... total 180." Danny said.

"Maybe you should hand it off. I'm sure someone could do just as good of a job..."

"No, I've been on this case too long. It's almost over anyway. Besides I've got it in the bag." Danny said.

"So you're just going to let this guy go. Even though you know in your heart that he's guilty."

"I'm not the one letting him go. The jury is. Jack couldn't do his job right that isn't my problem." Danny said a little too loudly.

"Danny have you been drin..."

"No! Why would you even ask me that? I wouldn't just give up everything I've worked for because of some fucking case!" Danny said.

"Okay just calm down. It was just a suggestion. I didn't mean for you to get all bent out of shape." Sylvia was quiet for a few moments as Danny ran his fingers through his hair.

"So... have you seen Martin?" Sylvia asked.

"Why would you ask that?"

"Because. You've clearly seen Jack. I just figured you'd have seen him too."

"Well... I caught a glimpse." Danny said.

"And?" Sylvia said as she took a sip of her drink.

"And nothing. I didn't talk to him... guess I was too much of a coward."

"I don't see what went wrong with you two. You were real sweet together."

"Yeah well... he fell out of love with me. Must be real easy or something." Danny said.

"Danny... don't think about it like that. Did you ever call him? Try and talk to him. Even try and win him back?" Danny's silence was enough for her.

"Danny. What's wrong with you? I know you've been living like this for three years..."

"He wasn't happy with the changes and I wasn't just going to change back for him." Danny said.

"You are the most stubborn person I've ever met... except for your brother. Must be a genetic trait."

"Look he's probably better off. I wouldn't want to drag him down into this anyway."

"What is this? This wouldn't be so down if you actually had someone with you. You can't tell me things just fell apart with you and Martin."

"Well they did. I came home and he was gone, Sylvia. Gone. He didn't want to be here and I didn't want him to be somewhere he didn't want to be." Danny said.

Sylvia took a deep breath and closed her eyes. She could here Danny's breath quickening as if he were about to cry.

"I'm sorry to have brought it up. I didn't mean to upset you. Look... my mother can only watch the kids for so long so maybe I should head out. Can... will you come by for dinner this weekend?" Sylvia asked with a hint of hope in her voice.

"I... I don't think I can this weekend. Maybe next. My schedules pretty full." Danny said turning his back to her, but she could hear that his voice was rough and raspy. He was probably crying.

"Okay, well we'll think about you. Any time you want to come over... just come. I'll... I'll let myself out." Sylvia said as she walked to the door.

~*~*~

"That was it. He never came over like I asked." Sylvia said.

Martin stared at her. She was crying softly and Rafi had his arm wrapped around her protectively. Martin took a deep breath.

"Excuse me..." Martin said as he got up from his seat and walked out of the room.

This case was bringing back memories Martin thought he had buried. Though if he were honest with himself the memories had been coming back up ever since he talked to Danny at that bar.

And with memories came feelings. Feelings Martin had thought had died a long time ago. Maybe Jack was right. Maybe his involvement in the case should be none. He had too much attachment to this one. He's never really stopped loving Danny.

Times with Danny had been so good. Martin was almost certain they never argued, but he was probably remembering it wrong. They had to have fought. Martin could clearly remember the make-up sex, but the actual argument seemed to evade him.

It was like that when he was with Danny. He could forget everything and anything. It didn't help that Danny was so good arguing that Martin often found himself agreeing that zebras were pink with purple stripes. The beginning had been great hell the middle had been great. The end had been hazy.

It was still pretty hazy to Martin and Martin didn't think that was right. There was something wrong about not being able to remember all the exact details of how your life ended. How the best thing that ever happened to you ended.

"Martin?" Martin looked down at the sound of the voice. He saw Nicky standing next to him.

"Hey buddy. It's been a long time since I've seen you. You're so big now. How old are you... twenty-five." Martin said as he put on his best smile and tried to keep himself composed. Nicky rolled his eyes.

"I'm nine, Martin."

"Right, nine. It's been so long since I've seen you that I forgot." Martin said.

"You're going to find him right. You're going to find Uncle Danny." Martin was about to speak when Sylvia came out of the waiting area. It seemed she and Raffi were with the kids.

"Nicky, honey, leave Martin alone." Sylvia said.

"But I haven't seen him in so long. He doesn't come by with Uncle Danny anymore. Uncle Danny doesn't come by anymore. Now he's missing. Martin's going to fine him though, right Martin." Nicky said his eyes so hopeful that Martin couldn't crush his hopes.

"Of course. Just give it a little time. I'm sure he'll be taking you to Mets games in no time." Martin said.

"Nicky, why don't you go in that room with your dad and brother. I have to speak to Martin alone for a bit." Sylvia said.

Nicky shook his head and scurried off into the room where his father and brother were waiting for him.

"You didn't have to lie to him you know."

"It's not a lie. We'll be able to find him. It's only a matter of time."

"But you might not find him alive. Danny has a lot of enemies." Sylvia said her tone cold, but worried at the same time. Martin flinched.

"I'm sorry. For you know, bringing that stuff up. I don't know what happened between you and Danny and I'm not trying to find out. That's your business. I'm just... I'm worried. And scared. I don't think... Rafi's not strong enough to handle all this. If something bad happens to him I..."

"Nothing bad is going to happen. We're going to find him." Martin said conviction in his voice. Sylvia said.

"Danny always said that you and Jack and the team could find a needle in a haystack. He was always so proud of you."

"I was proud of him." Martin whispered.

"Till he stopped being a prosecutor."

"There was more to it than that." Martin said.

"Oh I'm sure there was. I can still remember the look on his face when he told me about you. Had to tell me first so I could soften up Rafi, who amazingly didn't need softening. He looked like a teenage girl with a crush. It was so cute." Sylvia said and she looked like she was going to cry.

"Yeah... he was kind of adorable. Seemed so confident around like everyone else, but... well he was confident around me, but I remember when he asked me out for the first time. Stuttering and shaking like a leaf. Thought he was having an episode." Martin said with a smile.

Sylvia laughed, but the laughed turned into a choked cry. She started to sob. Martin gathered her in his arms and whispered soothing words to her.

"You have to find him Martin." She was whispering over and over again.

"I will. I'll find him."

Chapter 2

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