........Mom?

[Molly O'Brien]

On a typical day, Erin had to wake her daughter up for school. Molly had always been an early riser, but even she had a tough time getting up at half past six in the morning to make sure she was dressed and fed and out by the bus in time to get to school. So when Molly's eyes fluttered open without the aid of her mother, she knew something was a little off. First she thought maybe it was actually Saturday, but then she remembered that she'd done her homework the night before and mom had made her go to bed on time. On Friday nights she got to stay up late and they even got to watch a movie sometimes, but last night definitely wasn't Friday night. It had been Wednesday night. A look at her clock alarmed her a little. It was a little after seven, which meant she had less than twenty minutes to get to the bus stop, which meant she would need to get dressed super duper fast and would get to have a pop tart for breakfast and cafeteria food for lunch.

"Mom?" She called out, hustling out of bed to realize her mom had probably forgot to turn her alarm on and had overslept. It had happened once earlier that school year, but mom was usually pretty good about getting up on time. "Mom, we're going to be late!" She called out, opening her door and running to the bathroom. Molly quickly peed, brushed her teeth and combed her hair, wondering if her mom would have time to braid it for her. Braids were so much easier because then there would be no knots. Plus it was always curly and poofy at night which Molly loved, even though it looked silly. She still didn't hear her mom stir when she'd gotten out of the bathroom, so she went to her mothers room and pushed the slightly opened door fully opened. She didn't expect to see her mothers bed empty.

Terror filled the young girl immediately. It wasn't like her mother to get up early and run an errand without telling her. "Mom?" She called out again, moving down the hallway towards the living room, seeing no sign of her mother. She peaked in the kitchen and saw a glass of wine on the counter alongside her mothers keys and cell phone. Molly knew her mother liked to have a glass of wine some nights before bed, but never, ever in the morning. And how could she have run errands without her keys? Or phone? Molly stood frozen in the kitchen looking around. There was no sign of struggle. She turned and looked at the front door. It wasn't locked. Mom ALWAYS locked it before she went to bed, and before she left. Something was wrong. Something was very, very wrong. The girl ran to the phone and called her aunt immediately, knowing at this hour she was probably at the bakery.

"Cora's Cupcakes." Sang the weary voice on the other end after a couple of rings. "Aunt Cora?" Came Molly's weak, cracking voice. The tears were starting to come now that a familiar person was talking to her. "Molly? What's wrong sweetie?" She heard her aunt's concern and Molly sniffled, lifting an arm to her face and wiping her nose as the tears began to well and spill freely. It was always harder to be brave when someone was there to be brave for you. "Mommy's gone.." There was a pause on the other end before a very concerned voice came back through. "What do you mean mommy's gone?" "She's not here. She left her phone and keys and her glass of wines out from last night and the doors unlocked and she isn't here. She's not here and I don't know where she is. Can you come over?" Molly heard swearing on the other side of the phone. It wasn't like Erin to disappear. If anyone was meticulously responsible it was Erin O'Brien. "I'll be right there! Don't move, okay? I'll be there in five minutes, just have some breakfast, okay?" Molly nodded and sniffled even though her aunt couldn't see. "Okay." She said weakly. "I'm scared.." "Don't be scared, baby. I'm sure there's a reasonable explanation, okay? Don't go anywhere!" Molly agreed again and the line went dead. She hung the phone back up, relieved that Cora would soon be there. She didn't like being alone, and she didn't like not knowing where her mother was. She wished she had Cal's number at home, but it didn't matter since before Cora left the shop she grabbed the captains card from the drawer and dialed his number on the way out.

[CALVIN HAGAN]

Cal wasn’t much of a morning person. He worked long nights and preferred to sleep until about eight on the weekdays; as long as he could on the weekends. The station house never complained about his hours, knowing he worked sixty hours weeks on average. When his phone began ringing at 7:15, he was tempted to ignore it, especially since it wasn’t a number his phone recognized. Then again, it could be work related. With a heavy sigh, he slid his finger across the phone’s screen and pulled it to his ear. “Hagan,” he answered gruffly. “Cal, is that you?”[/i] His brow furrowed and his eyes opened. “Cora?” “Oh, thank God. You have to come to Erin’s right now.”[/i] He sat upright in bed, the comforter falling off his naked torso. “Why? What happened?” “I don’t know! She’s gone missing and Molly’s all by herself and she wouldn’t do that, she just wouldn’t!”[/i] Her voice was getting more and more frantic as she spoke, tears beginning to choke her. Cal on the other hand was jumping out of his bed and rushing to his desk for a pen and paper. “Okay, what’s the address?” Cora rattled it off to him and he wrote it down quickly. “Thanks, I’ll be there in twenty minutes. Go be with Molly and don’t let her out of your sight.” “Fat chance of that happening. See you.”[/i] Cal dropped his phone on his desk, his heart and mind racing. Erin was gone and he was certain he knew who was behind it. “Damn it!” he growled, pounding his fist down on the desk. Why hadn’t she listened to him?!

The man didn’t bother shaving, only brushing his hair and teeth before throwing on a suit and rushing out the door. With the lights flashing and the sirens blasting in his Ram Charger, he was speeding through the streets, demanding CSI and two units to be sent to Erin’s address over the radio. When he arrived, there were already two cars outside the apartment building and a third civilian vehicle belonging to the CSI crew. He rushed up the stairs of the apartment building to the right floor and then made his way quickly down the hall. Breathless and disheveled, Cal walked into Erin’s apartment to find four cops and two CSI investigators ready and waiting for his command. His eyes surveyed the apartment, noting the glass of wine, keys and cell phone on the counter. Erin would need at least her keys if she was going out for an errand. He walked into the living room and as soon as his eyes met Molly’s she came charging at him. Her little arms wrapped around his waist and he wrapped his arms around her in return. “It’s alright, Molly. I’m going to find your mom.”

When his eyes lifted again, he found Cora and a pretty little look-alike standing beside her who he knew was her daughter Julie. He’d seen her a couple times in the shop but was confused about her presence now. “I know Jules probably shouldn’t be here, but I need moral support and she’s family too.”[/i] Cal frowned, but he understood why Cora would ask Julie to be there. The young woman looked as worried as her mother, but none were as upset as the little girl clinging to him. He gripped her arms to unwrap them from his waist, moving them to her tiny shoulders as she looked up at him with a tear-stained face. “Molly, I need you to tell me everything that happened last night okay? Everything that you remember or know what your mother would have done. Here, let’s go sit down and you can tell me.” Together they walked over to the couch, but his eyes fell on Taylor and Roccograndi. They had worked the Montgomery case together and he had specifically asked them to be here. “Taylor, Rocco, take notes.” Roccograndi nodded and fished his notepad out of his pocket along with a pen. “Bailey, Petrovski, go ask neighbors if they heard or saw anything, but only on this floor for now. We’ll expand the search when we have more information. Michaels and Schultz, start dusting for prints, starting with the door.” All the officers did as directed and Cal took his seat next to Molly on the couch while Taylor and Roccograndi hovered near, but out of Molly’s direct line of sight—it was protocol for nervous witnesses. Cora and Julie came close to listen as well. “Okay Molly. Tell me what you know.”

[Molly O'Brien]

Molly didn't eat breakfast as Cora had told her to, instead sitting anxiously on the couch looking between the door and her feet which were tapping on the ground. She clutched the cushion below her, biting her bottom lip and feeling as though the room around her was emptying of breathable air. Did the bad man Cal was talking about take her mom? Was it someone else? Was she dead? Did she run away? Molly had heard of a mom once going out to buy milk and never ever coming home. Sometimes moms just didn't like their kids anymore and left, but would her mom do that? Her mom loved her.. Molly knew her mom loved her too much to go away and leave her. She was mom and dad to her, she was everything.. Molly knew how hard her mom had worked to raise her all by herself. She knew the struggles she'd faced, at least to some degree. So she wouldn't just want to disappear! Molly knew she wouldn't!

The door opened and for a split second Molly thought maybe it was her mother, but it wasn't. Sadness and relief filled her at seeing Cora and she got off the couch and darted to her, wrapping her arms around the woman and breaking down into sobs. Cora held her tight, saying gentle words of encouragement, but they were lost on molly. She was hardly listening too busy letting her sadness flow out in the form of tears. Somehow Cora had gotten her back to the couch and no sooner had she sat down that there was a knock on the door. Cora got up to answer and two police officers came in; a blond lady and the police officer who had opened their van door after the shoot out at the catering hall. She remembered him because mom had commented on how big his muscles were on the way home. They introduced themselves and then the door opened again and Julie came in. Molly didn't need to get up since the girl rushed over and wrapped her arms around Molly, who happily hugged her right back. It was a relief to have two familiar faces, but the presence of the police told her this was all probably not good. Something happened to her mother. They wouldn't all be there otherwise.

Four more offices showed up before the one she wanted to see came in. Cal didn't knock, stepping right into her house and relief washed over her. If anyone could find her mom, it would be Cal. She got off the couch, red eyed, and darted to him, flinging her arms around his middle and hugging him. She wanted to thank him for coming, and say sorry for her mom being so mean to him, but her throat clenched as a fresh wave of tears threatened at her hazel eyes. "It’s alright, Molly. I’m going to find your mom.” She sniffled, looking up at him, again unable to find words. “I know Jules probably shouldn’t be here, but I need moral support and she’s family too.” Molly bit her lip and looked at Julie, wondering if Cal would make her go away. She didn't want Julie to go away!

Cal pulled her arms free and then grabbed her shoulders, making her eyes come up to his once more. “Molly, I need you to tell me everything that happened last night okay? Everything that you remember or know what your mother would have done. Here, let’s go sit down and you can tell me.” Molly sniffled again, wiping her nose and eyes with her arm as Cal gently led her to the couch. She sat down and silently listened to Cal giving orders, his voice so different when he spoke to the other people in uniform than when he spoke to her. They all listened and scattered, doing as he'd commanded. Finally his eyes came back to hers and she wiped them with her palms, sniffling again. She turned and saw the muscle cop and blond cop standing near, suddenly feeling a little shy even though she couldn't see them when she looked at Cal, but it was easy to forget their presence when Julie and Cora came near.

“Okay Molly. Tell me what you know.” Julie handed her a tissue and she took it, wiping her drippy nose and then she shrugged. "We came home from the bakery and we had a snack while mom helped me with the hard homework. It was celery and peanut butter" She explained, figuring it would be best to tell him the whole night. "The snack.. not the hard homework." She clarified. "We practiced my spelling words and then mom let me watch TV for a little, I watched Wizards of Waverly Place, and then I had to take a shower and brush my teeth and pick out my clothes for school and then we read a chapter in the Harry Potter book together and talked about magic and then I went to bed." She explained feeling a little shy as she looked around, seeing the two cops at the door taking pictures. She looked back at Cal, shaking her head. "I don't know what happened then, cause I went to bed. Mom always cleans up and stuff when I go to bed. Like she does dishes and puts my homework away and takes out the trash. And she drinks wine sometimes, but not last night, because it's still on the counter. And then she watches TV or reads or looks at the computer." Molly looked over at the computer, which was off. "She didn't go on the computer because it's off, and the TV is too, and her book is..." She looked around, not seeing it. "I guess maybe in her room?" She wiped her eyes with her palm again. "Can you find her? What happens if you can't?" She asked, her lips quivering a little. "What if she.." Molly gulped, her eyes welling quickly. She felt Cora's hand on her shoulder, but her eyes never left Cal, begging for hope.

[CALVIN HAGAN]

Cal listened carefully while Molly began to tell him what she and her mother did the night before. First homework and a snack—celery and peanut butter. It was an inconsequential detail, but he listened intently to everything Molly had to say. “We practiced my spelling words and then Mom let me watch TV for a little, I watched Wizards of Waverly Place, and then I had to take a shower and brush my teeth and pick out my clothes for school and then we read a chapter in the Harry Potter book together and talked about magic and then I went to bed.” All routine things. But what had Erin done after? Where had she gone? It didn’t look like there was a struggle. Molly looked up and then shook her head. “I don’t know what happened then, ‘cause I went to bed. Mom always cleans up and stuff when I go to bed. Like she does dishes and puts my homework away and takes out the trash.” That sparked something in Cal’s mind and he glanced up at Taylor and Roccograndi to make sure they took note of that detail. Was the trash taken today? “And she drinks wine sometimes, but not last night, because it’s still on the counter. And then she watches TV or reads or looks at the computer. She didn’t go on the computer because it’s off, and the TV is too, and her book is…” Her green eyes looked around and Cal instinctively did the same even though he wouldn’t know where to start looking. “I guess maybe in her room?” Cal nodded, certain finding Erin’s book wasn’t part of the big picture here. He knew Molly was under a lot of stress and oftentimes children looked for the familiar to find comfort in.

The little girl wiped her eyes on her palm before turning those big, teary spheres to him. “Can you find her? What happens if you can’t? What if she…” Cora reached out to place a hand on the girl’s shoulder and Julie reached out to rub her skinny little leg, but the girl’s eyes never left him. His brow furrowed as he frowned, knowing he couldn’t promise he would find her mother. There was a possibility he would never find her. He prayed that wouldn’t be the case. Cal reached out and ran a big, calloused hand over her soft head, cupping the back of her head gently so she would keep her eyes on his. “I promise I will do everything I can to help you find your mom, okay Molly? I’m not going to rest until she comes back home to you. She’s only been gone a few hours, which is good. That means we’re more likely to find her and she’ll be okay. Try not to think about the ‘what ifs.’” He knew that was a lot to ask and Molly would lose sleep and probably her appetite over this anyway, but he wanted her to worry as little as possible. He wanted to find Erin…for Molly’s sake, for her sake, and for his. His hand fell to her shoulder and he squeezed it gently, giving her a small and anxious smile. It didn’t stop the big tears from spilling onto her cheeks and he wished he could hug her, but he didn’t want anyone getting the wrong idea.

“Now, can you tell me if she took out the trash last night? I know you were asleep, but maybe your mom said she was going to take out the trash or something…” Cora’s head snapped up and she looked up at Cal, jumping a little from her seat beside Molly. “Oh! She said something about that yesterday! She said she wished there was a garbage chute so she wouldn’t have to go all the way down to the dumpster!”[/i] He nodded and then looked at the CSI team who was looking over curiously. “Dust the dumpster for prints when you’re done here. I’ll go down with Taylor and Rocco after the interview to investigate.” His eyes fell on Molly again. “Do you know where the dumpster is?” She told him it was in the alley on the side of the building and a flash of the creepy man zipped through his mind. He’d been in the alley across from Cora’s that day…Had he been waiting in this alley? How far had they gone? Would there be any clues? He focused on the little girl again, wondering if she’d ever seen him. “Have you ever seen a strange man hanging around here, Molly? He’s pale, tall, really thin with kind of long black hair, really pale eyes?”

[Molly O'Brien]

The fact that Cal looked worried only served to upset her more. If he wasn't sure, how could she be? When Cal reached out and grabbed her head gently she gave him her full attention, her eyes only on his as she gave a little sniffle. "I promise I will do everything I can to help you find your mom, okay Molly? I'm not going to rest until she comes back home to you. She's only been gone a few hours, which is good. That means we're more likely to find her and she'll be okay. Try not to think about the 'what ifs.'" . She sniffled again as a tear tricled down her cheek, but she nodded for him, comforted that Cal wasn't so mad at her mom for being so mean to him that he wouldn't try to find her. She wiped her eyes again as his hand came to her shoulder and squeezed.

"Now, can you tell me if she took out the trash last night? I know you were asleep, but maybe your mom said she was going to take out the trash or something?" She didn't know, but one look in he trash can would be evidence enough. She was about to get up to check when Cora piped up. "Oh! She said something about that yesterday! She said she wished there was a garbage chute so she wouldn't have to go all the way down to the dumpster!" Molly nodded. "She's always saying she htes going to the dumpster." She reiterated, remembering how much her mom hated it, but she never made Molly do it. Cal told some of the people to g dust the dumpster and Molly wondered if maybe that's where she disappeared. Do you know where the dumpster is?". She nodded. "It's in the alley next to the building, on that side." She pointed to the left so Cal would know which alley to go down and the cops that were supposed to go to the dumpster left.

Molly took a deep wavering breath as Cal processed it, turning her head to look at the two cops that were hiding behind her. The lady had a strange look on her face, like she was sad, her face low so she could look at her notes. Her eyes turned to Julie and she noticed everyone looked a little sad. "Have you ever seen a strange man hanging around here, Molly? her attention shot back to Cal. "He's pale, tall, really thin with kind of long black hair, really pale eyes?". Her stomach lurched. She remembered mom and Cal fighting about a guy about a week ago. Cal wanted her to be careful and she had told her he was crazy. Mom had explained that sometimes people looked strange but that everyone had feelings and it wasn't nice to judge people. She'd told Molly that Cal thought everyone was a bad guy because he was a cop and that's what cops have to do sometimes to keep everyone safe. Guilty until proven innocent, but people like them needed to believe people were innocent until proven guilty because that was fair. A fresh wave of tears surfaced and her lower lip pouted. "Did he take her?" Her voice cracked. "The bad guy you told her to stay away from?" Her mom was always right! How could she be wrong now? She tried to think if she'd ever seen anyone like that nearby but it was hard to tell. She spent so much time at Cora's.. "Where does he live? Can we go see?" She begged wanting her mother back, and now!

[CALVIN HAGAN]

Cal could see the recognition in Molly’s eyes, but he didn’t push her for an answer. It might be that she was remembering the argument he and Erin had over the man in front of Molly. She could be putting the puzzle pieces together, or maybe she had seen the man too. If that was the case, he was desperate to know what she had observed. Kids often had the purest reactions to people, unhindered by being afraid of judging a book by its cover. Suddenly her eyes were swimming in tears again and her lower lip was trembling. “Did he take her? The bad guy you told her to stay away from?” He let out a breath through his nose, his eyes lifting to Taylor and Roccograndi. It was obvious he knew the victim and Molly, but he was suddenly self-conscious about his reputation as a hard ass. That was less important than comforting Molly right now, however. “Where does he live? Can we go see?” She hadn’t answered his question and a rock fell into the pit of his stomach at how hopeful she sounded. “No because I don’t know where he lives. I don’t even know his name, just what he looks like. I need you to think really hard about whether you’ve seen him when you’re walking home with your mom or even if you’ve seen him when walking to Cora’s after school or in the morning.” He knew she was under a lot of stress, but he had to try and get as much information from her as possible while it was still fresh in her mind.

His eyes fell on Cora as he suddenly noticed she was crying. The frown on his face grew as he looked worriedly at the woman. “Do you remember anything about him?” Cora sniffled and gave a soft sob before she threw her hands up a couple inches off her lap before dropping them with a soft thump to signal her dismay. “Just that he comes in every day to talk to Erin. A couple times I’ve been at the front and he asked where Erin was. I just…I just thought it was a crush, you know? I didn’t think it was that serious.”[/i] Her voice got more strained as she spoke until she sobbed in a breath and wiped some of her tears away. Julie was kneeling beside her, one hand on top of one of her mom’s, the other rested on her mom’s arm. There were tears in her big blue eyes too and Cal had the distinct feeling of being helpless. He hated seeing women crying and now he had three of them right in front of him. “Did he ever tell you his name?” Cora shook her head. “No. He barely spoke to me. I never even thought to look for him hanging around the shop.”[/i] It was obvious she was feeling some measure of guilt for this and Cal didn’t want anyone blaming themselves. “Hey.” Cora looked up as did the other two girls. “Don’t blame yourself for this Cora. It’s no one’s fault that this happened other than whoever it was that took her. The blame is not on anyone in this room.” He may have said that, his eyes fixing on Cora and Molly in particular, but he did feel somewhat responsible for what had happened. If only he’d watched her back like he wanted to, if only he hadn’t t been so stubborn and gone with his instincts no matter how much Erin complained, maybe this wouldn’t have happened.

His eyes landed on Molly again. “So do you remember ever seeing someone like that? It’s okay if you didn’t; he’s very good at hiding himself.” The second he found out that guy’s name and who he worked for and where he lived, he was going after the bastard. How could he do that to a child, a young child who needed her mother? There might be a complaint of police brutality when he caught up with the scrawny fucker.

[Molly O'Brien]

“No because I don’t know where he lives. I don’t even know his name, just what he looks like." It made her pout all over again, the tiny shred of hope she'd grasped onto fading away. "I need you to think really hard about whether you’ve seen him when you’re walking home with your mom or even if you’ve seen him when walking to Cora’s after school or in the morning.” Molly tried to think really hard about it, but she didn't know what the man looked like. How could she say for certain if she'd noticed him before without knowing what she was supposed to be noticing? She bit her bottom lip, thinking if she'd ever saw something strange, a man.. tall and skinny and pale with dark hair. It didn't ring a bell. She'd probably seen men like that, but none of them stood out in her mind.

Before Molly could answer Cal was asking Cora the same question, and when Molly looked over she saw the woman crying. Cora didn't cry. Cora was one of the strongest women Molly had ever known, and she could and would beat up a guy if she needed to, so why was she crying? Molly suddenly felt ill as the severity of the situation truly sank in. Cora wouldn't be crying unless her mom was in serious trouble. “Just that he comes in every day to talk to Erin. A couple times I’ve been at the front and he asked where Erin was. I just…I just thought it was a crush, you know? I didn’t think it was that serious.” Even Julie was crying and Molly felt the hot tears pool at her eyes again. Where was her mom? “Did he ever tell you his name?” “No. He barely spoke to me. I never even thought to look for him hanging around the shop.” “Hey.” Molly focused on Cal at the strong way he called their attention. “Don’t blame yourself for this Cora. It’s no one’s fault that this happened other than whoever it was that took her. The blame is not on anyone in this room.” Molly sniffled and wiped her face on the back of her arm. She wished she'd stayed up late so she knew what her mom had done. Maybe she could have helped her!

“So do you remember ever seeing someone like that? It’s okay if you didn’t; he’s very good at hiding himself.” Cal's voice caught her attention and she looked at him with wet, doe eyes. Slowly she shook her head, rubbing her eyes with her palms again. "I don't remember." She said honestly, turning her head when she heard someone clear their throat behind her. "Are there other possible suspects?" Molly turned her head and looked at the blond woman who was taking notes with the big cop. "A crazed ex boyfriend maybe? Or any convicted criminals in the area?" Molly looked back at Cal, not sure of the answers. "Mom doesn't date." She told him honestly. "She said she doesn't have time for boys and would much rather spend her nights with me." Molly boasted softly, putting to bed the thought that it might be an old boyfriend. But what about the criminals? "I think we should investigate all potential leads before setting out on a manhunt for this guy. We don't want to be blindsided by potential dead ends." Molly frowned. She didn't want there to be more people involved. If it was just the skinny guy they could find her easy! Right? The girl sank low in her seat, turning her head and burying it into the back of the couch. Why couldn't she wake up from this nightmare?

[CALVIN HAGAN]

When Molly’s big doe eyes came back to his Cal had to bite back a despairing groan. When she looked so desperate and lost it made him nuts to know he didn’t really have an easy way of finding her mother. It was heartbreaking. The girl shook her head and rubbed her eyes with her palms. “I don’t remember.” He gave a soft sigh through his nose, disappointed but far from upset with the girl. The sound of someone clearing their throat encouraged Cal to lift his eyes to Taylor. “Are there other possible suspects?”[/i] He hadn’t really considered that and he had to admit it irked him a little that something like that would escape his notice. Then again, there weren’t any other possibilities in his mind. He had to remind himself that he didn’t actually know a lot about Erin. “A crazed ex-boyfriend maybe? Or any convicted criminals in the area?”[/i] His eyes stayed fixed on the younger detective, considering her avenues of thought. There weren’t any recent kidnappings in the area, but could Erin just be the first of many? Normally serial kidnappers started close to home, usually with people they knew. That supported his theory of the thin man, but he didn’t think that guy would have the juice to be a serial kidnapper. “Mom doesn’t date. She said she doesn’t have time for boys and would much rather spend her nights with me.” Cal’s eyes focused on hers again and the slightest twitch of a smile tugged at his lips at her mild boasting.

“I think we should investigate all potential leads before setting out on a manhunt for this guy. We don’t want to be blindsided by potential dead ends.”[/i] Cal appreciated her input, but it was starting to get on his nerves. Would he waste Erin’s precious time on dead ends? This was the best lead, he knew it! His brow lowered and he gave Taylor a mildly exasperated look, holding back his scolding. “Rocco, call the precinct and have Pollard look into any convicted criminals in the area and any related crimes.” The big man nodded his head before turning away and pulling his cell phone out, walking away from the group to better hear the person on the other line. He looked at Cora next, knowing she might know more about Erin’s personal affairs than Molly, considering Cora was a close adult confidant. “Cora, can you think of anyone who would want to harm Erin?” The woman looked at him bewildered and then shook her head slowly. “No…Erin isn’t really that social. She keeps to herself…I don’t know of any dates she’s been on.” “Anyone bugging her? Friends she’s been arguing with or guys she’s turned down?” Again Cora shook her head. “No, no one. She doesn’t have a lot of friends. I can give you names of other people who might know more, but the only one bugging her lately is…well, you.” Her eyes came up to his, almost apologetic but for just a moment he could have sworn he saw suspicion there. He knew there was no way he would hurt her, but he couldn’t blame Cora for being a little suspicious. That would fade away hopefully.

His eyes shifted to Julie, noting she had stayed silent through all of this. “What about you, Julie? Do you know anything?” The girl shook her head, her brow creased worriedly. “Did Erin do any work besides her work at the store?” Cora and Julie both shook their heads. “Not that I ever knew of…” Cora answered, pondering on the question still. He looked at Molly again. “Do you know, Molly? Anything she might have done to bring in some extra money? Or maybe hobbies that she had?” It was highly unlikely Erin was involved with anything illegal, but Taylor was right, they had to investigate all possible avenues. All Cal really wanted to do was tear through the system to find out who the creepy man was and where he could find him. Despite his probing questions, he was still very focused on the man his gut told him was responsible for Erin O’Brien’s disappearance.

[KEVIN WHITFIELD]

When Cal instructed the cop to call the precinct to get more info on other possible suspects, her heart sank lower. That meant that it might not be the creepy man Cal thought it was, which meant they might never find her mom! The thought made her feel sick to her stomach and all she wanted was to run to her room and cry, but she couldn't do that in front of Cal. He would think she was a big chicken and she wanted him to think she was brave, at least a little.

"Cora, can you think of anyone who would want to harm Erin?" her eyes instnctively trailed to Cora, a nervously hopeful look on her face, but Cora shook her head and Molly's shoulders slumped once more. "No..Erin isn't really that social. She keeps to herself. I don't know of any dates she's been on." "Anyone bugging her? Friends she's been arguing with or guys she's turned down?"[/i] Moly looked back and forth between them as though she were watching a tennis match. "No, no one. She doesn't have a lot of friends. I can give you names of other people who might know more, but the only one bugging her lately is...well, you.". Molly looked at Cal and she had to admit her mom complained about Cal a lot. Well, a lot for her mom. She would get grumpy when Molly taked about him and her face grew concerned. Cal wouldn't take her! Would he?

Cal started asking Julie questions and Molly looked at Cora. The police didn't do bad stuff, but could Cal know? No, he would never take her mom! Molly knewin her gut that Cal wouldn't do that, not to her. He wanted to protect them! "Do you know, Molly?" Molly looked at Cal with uncertainty. She hadn't been paying attention to the questions. "Anything she might have done to bring in some extra money? Or maybe hobbies that she had?" Molly stared semi blankly for a moment, trying to figure out a good answer, but she hd none. Finally she shook her head. "I don't think so..." her mom was always there when she woke so she couldn't be going out after she went to bed. "She likes to take pictures.. it's.." Molly sniffed again wishing her mom could just be there. "It's her hobby." She explained. Julie handed her a tissue and se took it, wiping her nose. "Can we go look for her yet? I think we should look for her." Molly stood suddenly. "I need to get dressed. Can I miss school today Cora? To look?"

[Molly O'Brien]

When Cal instructed the cop to call the precinct to get more info on other possible suspects, her heart sank lower. That meant that it might not be the creepy man Cal thought it was, which meant they might never find her mom! The thought made her feel sick to her stomach and all she wanted was to run to her room and cry, but she couldn't do that in front of Cal. He would think she was a big chicken and she wanted him to think she was brave, at least a little.

"Cora, can you think of anyone who would want to harm Erin?" her eyes instnctively trailed to Cora, a nervously hopeful look on her face, but Cora shook her head and Molly's shoulders slumped once more. "No..Erin isn't really that social. She keeps to herself. I don't know of any dates she's been on." "Anyone bugging her? Friends she's been arguing with or guys she's turned down?"[/i] Moly looked back and forth between them as though she were watching a tennis match. "No, no one. She doesn't have a lot of friends. I can give you names of other people who might know more, but the only one bugging her lately is...well, you.". Molly looked at Cal and she had to admit her mom complained about Cal a lot. Well, a lot for her mom. She would get grumpy when Molly taked about him and her face grew concerned. Cal wouldn't take her! Would he?

Cal started asking Julie questions and Molly looked at Cora. The police didn't do bad stuff, but could Cal know? No, he would never take her mom! Molly knewin her gut that Cal wouldn't do that, not to her. He wanted to protect them! "Do you know, Molly?" Molly looked at Cal with uncertainty. She hadn't been paying attention to the questions. "Anything she might have done to bring in some extra money? Or maybe hobbies that she had?" Molly stared semi blankly for a moment, trying to figure out a good answer, but she hd none. Finally she shook her head. "I don't think so..." her mom was always there when she woke so she couldn't be going out after she went to bed. "She likes to take pictures.. it's.." Molly sniffed again wishing her mom could just be there. "It's her hobby." She explained. Julie handed her a tissue and se took it, wiping her nose. "Can we go look for her yet? I think we should look for her." Molly stood suddenly. "I need to get dressed. Can I miss school today Cora? To look?"

[CALVIN HAGAN]

Cal was disappointed as Molly’s head shook from side to side indicating that her mom didn’t have any hobbies or other jobs that might get her into trouble. A sigh left his nose, his brow knitting. “I don’t think so…She likes to take pictures…it’s…It’s her hobby.” Julie handed the girl a tissue and Cal reached out to give her knee a comforting rub. What could he say to make a little girl stop crying? He couldn’t tell her they would find her mom because there was no guarantee that they would. “Can we go look for her yet? I think we should look for her.” All of a sudden the girl was on her feet and Cal watched her with confusion. Did she really think she was going anywhere? “I need to get dressed. Can I miss school today Cora? To look?” Cal and Cora exchanged uncertain looks, not sure who should be the one to break it to the girl that she wasn’t coming on this investigation. “Well, sure Honey, you can miss school, but…”[/i] Molly was already taking off for her room and Cal let out a frustrated sigh. He supposed he could tell her after she was showered and ready. Cora’s eyes were wide and worried when she looked back at him and he could only give an uncertain stare in return. She would be so disappointed.

Cal pushed himself to his feet, looking at Taylor and Roccograndi, the hardness coming back into his face. “Alright, I want to check out the alley and see if there are any signs of foul play.” Roccograndi was the first to speak up. “Uh…You sure that’s a good idea, Cap?” Cal gave him a confused and challenging stare. What was he talking about? “What d’ya mean?” the police captain commanded. Roccograndi and Taylor shared a nervous look that peeved Cal. Why was he looking at Taylor? He should be explaining himself to his superior officer. When Roccograndi looked back at him, he cleared his throat before speaking. “No offense sir, but don’t you see a conflict of interest here?” Cal hadn’t even thought of that but he didn’t like the idea of being thrown off the case by one of his detectives. His eyes got hard as he looked at the tall, wall of a man. “Why, because I know the victim?” “Yes, and it’s obvious you’re close to her and her daughter. You can’t see this case objectively.” Cal had to give the guy props for having the balls to challenge him. Even so, he wasn’t in the mood to be put off the case right now. The captain gave a heavy sigh and stepped toward the two junior officers. “Rocco, Taylor, if you want me off the case, call my supervisor and let him know, but until then, I’m on the case. I won’t stop working it even if I am kicked off. You’re right this is personal—and I’m not going to let go of this case because of that. I’m naming both of you lead detectives on this, though. I trust you’ll work as hard as you can to locate Erin O’Brien.” His eyes were firm but almost desperate as he looked between his detectives, almost pleading with them to understand why he had to do this.

He took a step away and moved toward the door. “In the meantime, I’d like to look in the alley for any signs of an attack or foul play.” Cal led the way out of the door, moving straight for the stairwell to begin his investigation outside. CSI was already out there dusting for prints and finding more than they could possibly decipher. Hopefully they might be able to date them to see if Erin was out here last night. There were no obvious signs of foul play out in the alley except for some scuff marks made by a pair of tennis shoes. “The only way for these scuff marks to get here is if someone was slamming their shoes into the pavement…dragging their feet…” His eyes fell on an apparently clean rag on the ground and his heart sank as he approached it. With his gloves on, he picked it up and sniffed it at a distance. There was chloroform on the cloth. He balled the cloth up in his hand before shoving it in an evidence bag. “God damn it!” he swore in a muffled growl. He came back to Roccograndi and Taylor and let them smell the rag as well. “Chloroform. Someone probably knocked her out and kidnapped her while she was taking the trash out.” When they were back upstairs, he looked in the trashcan and found a fresh bag in there with nothing in it. It only confirmed his suspicions. If she was kidnapped, he was certain the creepy thin man was the one who took her. Molly’s voice called his attention back to her and when he turned, he saw that she was freshly showered and dressed. His shoulders slumped a little. “I’m sorry, Molly, but you can’t help us look for your mom. I know you want to, but it’s too dangerous. Why don’t you stay here and hang out with Cora and Julie?” He knew she would refuse. He knew Molly well enough to know she was as stubborn as her mother. But she couldn’t go looking for her mom—the last thing Cal wanted was for her to get hurt if Erin was hurt too.

[Molly O'Brien]

Cal and Cora were looking at each other and Molly looked between them, trying to figure out their silent conversation. "Well, sure Honey, you can miss school, but...". Molly smiled wide an got up, scrambling around the couch and towards her bedroom, darting around the two cops. She had to hurry before they changed their minds or left without her. Plus her mom needed her help right now!

Molly grabbed her clothes tha had been laid out for school and her robe before making her way into the bathroom. She washed herself from headto toe as fast as she could, scrubbing her long dirty blond hair with shampoo and then conditioner. When she was finished she got out and dried off, got dressed and then combed her hair. She put it up in a messy ponytail, still not great at making them, but she hated the way her wet hair dampened her shirt when it was left down after a shower, and they didn't have time fo Cora to blow dry it. Maybe Cora or Julie would braid it later fo her.

When she was don she darted out of the bathroom, leaving her dirty and wet things on the floor and counter, which was never allowed, but she was sure her mom wouldn't care when she knew Molly had been in a hurry to help find her! "I'm ready, Cal!" Molly called out, finding the officer in the kitchen. The look on Cal's face deflated her slightly an dshe frowned up at him. Why was he looking at her like that? "I'm sorry, Molly, but you can't help us look for your mom. " she was shaking her head before he even finished, tears swimming in her eyes again as her hands balled into fists. "I know you want to, but it's too dangerous. Why don't you stay here and hang out with Cora and Julie?" Molly was utterly crushed and her body slumped noticably. "No!" She shouted, her voice choked with her still unshed tears. "Cora said! That's not fair, I can help!" Cora started at her but Molly didn't even hear what she was saying as she glared, heart broken, at the police captain she thought was her friend. Cal was coming up with an excuse but Molly didn't wat to hear any of it. Instead, she turned and darted to her room, slamming the door shut behind her before throwing herself hysterically onto her bed. This was so unfair!