A DISH BEST SERVED COLD

"What do you mean he's missing!" a familiar voice rang out.

Terry knew instantly what was going on. Laying her purse on her desk she crept towards the room. Entering silently she stood there as David tried to explain to Alan.

"Please, Mr. Eppes, you have to remain calm," the young man said firmly, "I didn't say he was missing. I said we've been unable to contact him, and that we'd like to know when the last time you saw him was."

"Which translates to the fact that you think he's missing," Alan replied. David opened his mouth to argue but Alan added, "I've seen those old cop dramas. Someone's always asked when was the last time they saw a person before a crime was committed."

David exasperantly dropped his hand into his palm and shook his head. Terry smiled at the gesture and decided it was time to give the young man a break. She finally made her presence known.

"Mr. Eppes, that isn't always what happens in an investigation," she said, taking a place next to David.

David looked up in suprise.

"Terry, I didn't think you'd be here so soon," he said.

"I caught the first flight out," she replied smiling, before returning her attention to Alan, "Mr. Eppes..."

"You know you can call me Alan, Terry," Alan interrupted.

"Alan," Terry started, "The truth is we don't know where Don is. We're worried due to the nature of the case he's been working on."

"You mean the FBI agents disappearing?" Alan started.

"How did you..." David replied caught off guard.

"It's been on the news," Alan pointed out, "It was obvious you would want your best on the job. Donnie is one of them."

David and Terry shot a worried glance to the other.

"If you know about the case then you can guess our suspicions," Terry replied quietly.

Alan looked at her. His own suspicions seemed etched in his face. Despite the fact that Don was an adult Terry understood Alan was having to face the fear of every parent.

"Yes," Alan replied quietly.

"Then you understand that we'll do our best to find him," David replied.

Alan looked tiredly at David. Nodding he replied, "Yes, David. I know."

Turning to Terry he added, "I need to call Charlie."

Terry nodded understandingly, "You can use the office phone if you like."

"Thank you," Alan said and walked numbly past David.

David looked over at Terry. The same concern she had seen in Alan's face seemed multiplied in David's. Despite how much he tried to hide it, Terry had noticed how much he looked up to Don. In fact she had to smile since it almost equaled the hero worship of Charlie.

"Could we be wrong about this?" David asked pulling Terry out of her thoughts, "I mean are we sure we want to add Don to the list of victims?"

"I hope we are, David," Terry replied, "I sincerely hope we are."

A sudden screach of metal woke up Don instantly. As his eye flung open Don found himself in a different room, and he wasn't alone. Right across from him sat the missing FBI agents. All of them were tied to their chairs in the same manner that Don found himself in. The only difference was their mouths were gagged and they were looking at Don with a frightening sort of urgency.

Suddenly Don felt a rough material force its way into his mouth. Struggling against the bind and with his yells muffled Don felt his captor tie the cloth painfully tight.

"Relax, Don," the voice from the car said.

Don turned to see a masked man walk past him. In his hands was a video camera. The man turned to look at Don. Silently he pulled the camera to his eye and focused the lense on Don.

"I want to capture this moment."

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