Maritime Grande Hotel
Room 1501
Sydney City
Australia.
Agent Traci MacKenzie paced across the floor of her hotel room.
Her partner, Clayton Webb, sat on the edge of the bed watching her.
"I'm sorry. It never came up. You know how the company works."
She stopped and stared at him.
"It never came up? With all the stuff we've been through it never came up?"
He merely shrugged.
He had thought Casey McDaniels to be dead ... killed in the line of duty.
The last thing in the world he had expected was for his former partner to show up and want her old partner back.
"I thought you two were getting along."
"We were, we are. It's just that... Webb, this is hanging over all three of us. You have to make a decision at some point."
She smiled, but he could see the sadness and hurt still deeply reflected in her blue eyes.
"I will understand if you choose Casey over me. You two have a past, and not just as partners. You've only known me for what? Six months if that?" Webb sighed. "Traci, I... I don't know what to tell you. I don't want to have to choose. She's part of my past and you, well, you're my present."
"Is she? Is she really part of your past? You were in love with her."
"I was..."
Traci stood before him.
"Clay, don't try and deny it ... if it were any more obvious it would be written on the wall. You thought you had lost her. I heard you two made a pretty great team."
He looked up at her and grinned.
"I guess we did..." He stood up and locked eyes with her. "But I'm not going to lose you.
You're too great of a partner. Too great of a friend."
"Even if I did shoot out your windshield during target practice?" Traci laughed.
"Yeah, even though you did that." He reached out to wipe away a tear that had escaped from her eye. "I promise you this will all work out."
She nodded sadly.
"You'd better get going. It's late and we have to get an early start tomorrow if we are to meet Casey outside of Sydney."
He nodded in agreement and slowly walked towards the door, leaving Traci standing in the middle of the room.
"Traci?" He turned to face her.
"Yeah?"
"Thanks for being so understanding."
She smiled.
As the door closed behind him, she went to lock it and slid to the floor in tears.
Next Day
Cherokee Cafe & Brasserie
Cronulla Mall, Australia
"The latest update has Palmer heading North.Any idea what he's looking for?"
Casey looked up from the file when she received no answer.
"Clayton?"
He pushed his breakfast around with a fork ,lost in thought.
Casey reached across the table and took his other hand.
"Clay?"
"Huh? Oh, I'm sorry. Um, what were you saying about Palmer?"
Putting down the file, she looked at him, studying his expressions.
"This is hard on her, isn't it?"
He merely met her gaze.
"Are you in love with her?"
"What? No."
"It's happened before," she reminded him.
"And I learned that hard way that it's not a good idea."
"Ouch."
She pulled her hand back.
He closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
"I'm sorry, Case, that wasn't what I meant. It's just..."
"You're partners and partners develop an immediate bond...some faster than others."
"Right now the important thing is getting Palmer and rescuing my sister."
Casey smiled.
"Knowing Missy, Palmer's one who will need rescuing."
Webb glanced at his watch then towards the doorway.
"Traci's usually late, but not this late."
"Relax, I'm sure she's fine. It hasn't been easy for any of us, least of all her."
"Excuse me, are you Clayton Webb?" a waiter asked.
"Yes."
"This is for you."
He handed him an envelope and left.
Webb looked at it and opened it carefully.
Webb :
I see you have one too many partners so you won't mind if I borrow Miss MacKenzie for a while.
What better way to hurt those that have hurt me than to hurt those you all care about.
P.
Webb nearly dropped the note but Casey took it from him.
"Oh my...Clay?"
"He's got them both."
Anger flared in his eyes.
"If he hurts either one of them I'll kill him."
Casey placed some money on the table and grabbed her bag.
"Come on, time to call in a few others."
Maritime Grande Hotel
Hotel Room 1518
(Casey's Hotel Room)
"Uh-huh. I understand, but...."
She looked at Webb as she listened on the phone.
"I know, but this is... Okay. Yes, I'll tell him."
Hanging up, Casey took a deep breath.
"Admiral Anthony said that you are to stay out of it. You are too close to the victims."
Webb slammed his fist on the table and began pacing.
"What does she expect me to do? Sit around while my sister and partner are both out there being held by a madman."
Casey felt a quick shot of jealousy at Webb's use of 'partner' to describe Traci, but recovered quickly.
"She's right, Clay. You already are having trouble keeping a professional distance. One mistake could get them both killed."
"I don't get what his motives are this time. Usually he's going after Rabb."
Thinking for a minute, Casey spoke.
"Didn't you say that Traci is Major MacKenzie's sister?"
He nodded.
"Have you called the Major?"
Webb paled.
"Um, she'd kill me if she knew her sister was tied up with me."
"Clay, you have to let her know!"
"I know." He opened the door. "I guess I'll give her a call now."
Casey walked over to him and gave him a quick hug.
"We'll find them."