Unchained Memories *complete*

Author: JadeHeart
Fandom: Gravitation
Warnings: bad language.
Summary: The last days of Nittle Grasper after the New York incident with Kitazawa; Ryuichi’s dark past that changed him forever and the introduction of Kumagoro into his life; and the bonds that tie Tohma and Jim Harris together. (Side story to ‘The Key to My Heart’)
Disclaimer: I do not own the characters in this, apart from Jim Harris, Kerryn Middleton and Brian Turner; the rest belong to the creator of ‘Gravitation’.

-oOo-

Unchained Memories: Chapter 12

Tohma could only look at Jim, shock stunning him into silence. What did Jim mean? Kerryn was…taken? By whom? Why? What was going on?!

Jim stared back at him, eyes wide, even slightly glazed still as though the shock was setting back in and freezing him mind, his face dead white. This tableau held for another heartbeat then the phone dropped from Jim’s hand as he released it, ignoring it as it struck the desk top, spun and then clattered to the floor. In the time it took to do this Jim had already crossed the room and was out the door.

Tohma leapt to his feet and followed, looking right, then left, seeing Jim running full tilt down the passage towards the back door. His speed wasn’t slackening so Tohma took off after him, running also.

He saw Jim push through the back door and put on a burst of speed, stretching his hand out to stop the door from closing, wincing as the heavy metal unforgivingly crushed his fingers. That was going to really bruise no doubt which meant he wouldn’t be playing at his best anytime soon. But he hadn’t had any choice. For security the door worked on a swipe card to exit. If it had closed, he wouldn’t have been able to get out that way on his own. He set his shoulder to the door and pushed, stumbling a little down the steps with his momentum.

Scanning the carpark he saw the flash of lights and heard the screech as a car reversed rapidly. He gauged the distance to the gate and ran across the parking lot. Jim was going to have to slow down to navigate the final turn and trigger the security gate so that is where he intended to intercept him.

He heard the screech draw closer and leapt forward just as Jim rounded the last corner. As the vehicle slowed, Tohma reached out, catching the door handle and pulling, popping the catch so the door swung open, clanging loudly against the car parked at the side even as he managed to avoid it.

He took a couple of running steps, reaching out with one hand to grab the top of the car, the other on the top of the swinging door and using that leverage to support him, lifted both feet from the ground and swung himself into the car feet first, before pulling on the door to help push his body into the car and seat. The door slammed shut, narrowly missing his other hand that he just managed to pull inside and then he leant back, breathing hard.

“What the fuck do you think you’re doing?!” Jim shouted at him, eyes blazing as he glared at his uninvited passenger. “Get the fuck out!”

“That would be a little difficult just at present,” Tohma said calmly as Jim hadn’t slowed down any further during this entire process and since he was now past the security gate he had already planted his foot on the accelerator and they were now speeding down the road, weaving between the traffic.

Jim didn’t respond, just fixed his eyes now on the road before him, flipping the switch to sound the siren and the flashing light that he had placed prominently in view.

Tohma could see Jim’s hands clenched tightly around the steering wheel, so tight that his knuckles were white. His jaw was clenched just as hard so he could see the muscle bunched up on the jaw line, his lips in a thin line. All his concentration was focused forward, on his driving but more so, on his destination. Tohma didn’t try and speak to him, just ensured his seatbelt was secured and reached up to hold on tightly as Jim drove well in excess of what Tohma would have considered safe speeds, even for a police vehicle.

It took them very little time before they screeched to a halt outside a building. The wheels had barely stopped turning before Jim was out the door, the keys in his hand in a completely automatic reaction, and the only reason the car door was closed was due to the force of Jim’s swing, not because he had taken the time to do so.

Tohma struggled to exit the car swiftly also, not being familiar with these premises having never been to Jim’s home and not wishing to lose track of his friend now in the large apartment block. Again he managed to capture the front door before it locked him out; he knew perfectly well that Jim would not be pausing to let him in.

Jim headed immediately up the stairs, ignoring the elevator which read it was still on the 10th floor whilst Tohma followed, thanking everything there was that he at least was fit and healthy otherwise he wouldn’t have had a hope of keeping up with the frantic pace Jim was setting.

The climb seemed to go on forever and Tohma could feel the air beginning to burn in his lungs with each breath. He was wondering just how much longer he would be able to keep going when Jim finally veered off and slammed through the stairwell door. They had obviously reached the right floor. Halfway down the corridor, Tohma saw Jim reach a door and disappear from view without a pause. When he reached the same location he could see that the lock of the door was damaged, half torn from the door.

He entered and saw Jim running through the living room, taking note of the disarray the furniture and other items were in. The couches were tipped over, tables overturned, ornaments littered the floor, china and glass shattered, their glittering shards winking in the changing shadows and light. Tohma noted the way pictures had been removed from the walls, backs torn open and the contents ripped out and destroyed, even photo frames suffered the same fate.

“Kerryn!” Jim called, as he looked around the small kitchen off to the side which didn’t have a single cupboard unopened and the contents removed, every item strewn carelessly across the floor. Even the pantry had been destroyed, a sheen of spice dust still swirling in the air, stirred up by Jim’s passage. There was still complete silence everywhere with no response to Jim’s urgent calls. He turned his back on the destruction there, not even seeming to notice it, and headed for the stairs.

Tohma just stood there in the wreckage of the lounge room, staring at his shoes and the flowers scattered around them, their damp ends indicating that they had once resided in a vase, of which the broken remains lay nearby with a spreading stain across the carpet where the water had seeped in.


“KERRYN!” Jim shouted louder as he took the stairs almost three at a time with his long legs. “Kerryn, answer me!”

He pushed the bedroom door open, eyes taking note of the continued destruction, the way clothing had not just been removed from the wardrobes but actually deliberate destroyed, cut or torn so it was unwearable. Amongst the pile of ruined fabric his eye was drawn to a brilliant blue, all that was left of Kerryn’s favourite dress, the one she had worn when she had first met Nittle Grasper.

He could see through the open bathroom door that it too had been thoroughly destroyed but he ran there anyway, yanking back the shower curtain so hard he half pulled the railing from the wall so it hung precariously from one screw, almost breathing a sigh of relief that the bath was empty.

He felt his mobile phone then vibrate against his leg. Go away!, he growled in his mind, trying to pull his thoughts together, not needing this distraction.

It vibrated again as he turned and ran down the stairs, shoes slipping dangerously from the spilt creams, shampoo and other liquids he had stepped in on the bathroom floor. He could see Tohma still standing in the middle of the living room. It looked like he hadn’t moved. What was he even doing here, the thought now came to Jim. What did this have to do with him?

“Kerryn!” he called again, still hoping against hope that she was here. That somehow he had just missed her or she was hiding, although the practical part of his mind was telling him it was futile, that there was no where she could be hiding in this compact apartment. Still he ignored it, calling again as he reached the base of the stairs, “Kerryn!”


Tohma turned as Jim returned to the living room, still not trying to speak to him, seeing the fear still there in his eyes, the disbelief that this could be happening and the desire to fight against reality just a little longer.

“Fucking hell!” Jim suddenly yelled, startling Tohma at the force behind the expletive more than the actual words although Jim wasn’t one for gratuitous use of such language.

He watched as Jim shoved his hand into his trouser pocket, withdrawing his mobile phone, pushing a button and then staring at the screen for a moment. Tohma almost held his breath, sensing the sudden stillness that swept over his friend, freezing him in place. He saw Jim slowly press a button again and then a mere few seconds after the phone rang, the happy bouncy tones jarring in the tense silence.

Jim slowly lifted the phone to his ear and answered in a monotone voice, “Yes?”

Tohma watched as Jim obviously listened to the person at the other end of the call, his eyes narrowing. “Let me speak to her,” he finally said and Tohma sucked in a breath as he realized that it must be about Kerryn. “I won’t do anything unless I can speak to her,” Jim stated firmly, although Tohma could see him bite his lip hard enough for a small droplet of blood to well to the surface.

A look of relief flooded Jim’s face as he spoke next, warmth in his voice. “Kerryn,” His voice cracked a little. “Are you okay, hon?” Tohma couldn’t hear any response but Jim hurriedly spoke again. “I know you’re scared, honey, but I’m going to fix it. Trust me.” A small smile lifted Jim’s lips. “You got that right,” he said softly. “Don’t worry. Just hang in there and wait for me.” His eyes grew brighter then closed for a brief moment. “I love you too.”

Tohma then saw all signs of softness vanish and guessed that Kerryn’s captor was back on the line. Jim listened in silence, only the occasional response being a ‘yes’, or ‘I don’t know’.

Finally he hung up, looking at the phone for the moment before slipping it back into his pocket. When he raised his head his eyes locked with Tohma’s and they gazed at each other in continuing silence.

“Want a drink?” Jim finally said in a normal sounding voice that seemed so out of place amidst the destruction strewn around them.

He turned and made his way back into the kitchen, the sound of crunching glass under his shoes frighteningly loud. Tohma followed him, watching as he rummaged through the mess and finally found two mismatched glasses that weren’t smashed, although one sported a hairline crack down the side that showed it would have to be discarded eventually.

Jim then returned to the living room, heading for the toppled over TV cabinet to kneel down and tug on one of the small bottom doors that had obviously twisted from the impact and jammed. Finally another hard yank forced it open with a grinding of hinges and scrape of wood against metal. He then leant down so his chin was nearly touching the floor, peering into the dark interior before reaching in and seemed to be feeling around.

“Ah, there it is,” he said with a sound of satisfaction. Tohma watched as Jim withdrew a box, almost cradling it reverently. He stood and took a few steps over to the fixed shelf on the wall, placing the glasses on it and opening the box.

Tohma saw him withdraw a bottle and Jim turned with a smile. “Thank goodness they know how to pack this stuff properly,” he said, unscrewing the lid and pouring a liberal amount into each glass. The one with the crack immediately showed a tiny droplet of amber lid form on the outside.

Jim held out the intact glass to Tohma, picking up the other for himself. “Better drink it fast,” he suggested, taking a deep swallow from his own. “You’re gonna have to keep up with me and I’m not about to let any go to waste.” He tossed back the rest of the drink and immediately refilled it as Tohma took his first sip.

The liquid burnt down the back of Tohma’s throat, yet still it was smooth and stimulated his taste buds. Jim noticed his raised eyebrows of surprise and laughed.

“It’s good stuff, right?” He tossed back his second glass, gasping a little at the end and refilled a third time. “Come on,” he half demanded, frowning at Tohma. “You some sort of wimp or something? Can’t hold your liquor?” He took another long swallow from his glass.

Tohma watched the way Jim’s hand was clenched around the glass, the way it applied such force to the fragile receptacle yet that full force was still being held back, contained with such concentration. He could see, no, he could feel, the tension in the other man, radiating off him like a palpable force. Jim was holding everything in at the moment.

Jim finished his third drink and refilled for the fourth time but Tohma stepped forward now and reached out, placing his hand over the top of the glass and thus preventing Jim from raising it to his lips. Jim glared at him and Tohma felt the tension, the sense of danger increase a notch.

“What the fuck do you think you’re doing?!” Jim snarled, eyes narrowed.

“I don’t think this will help. Do you?” Tohma said evenly, not removing his hand.

The sense of danger increased again and every instinct of Tohma’s was warning him to get away and quickly. Still he remained where he was. He felt Jim shift his weight a fraction and wondered if he had pushed the man too far and he would actually attack him. In some ways he wished he would. It seemed a more natural response to the circumstances than his behaviour at the moment.

Then that sense of danger dissipated and he saw Jim’s lip quiver, his eyes growing bright. “Let me,” he said quietly, voice cracking, almost pleading. “Let me forget. Just for while.”

“But you know you won’t,” Tohma answered just as softly, looking at Jim with sympathy.

Jim’s hand shook now, the liquid splashing against Tohma’s palm still placed over the top. “I….can’t do this,” Jim whispered. “I…don’t know what to do!”

The glass dropped to the floor as Jim released it abruptly, ignoring it as it smashed between their feet, glass and liquid splashing across shoes and trousers, as he raised both hands to his face, hiding his eyes. “I don’t…” Jim was murmuring between his hands. “I don’t….”

Tohma reached out, ready to gather the other man into his embrace, to try and comfort him when Jim suddenly dropped his hands and turned away from him, staring blankly at nothing.

Jim reached into his jacket and withdrew a wallet, flipping it open and Tohma saw a glint of metal as Jim looked down at it intently. He then shut it sharply and tossed it in the wreckage on the ground. It fell open again as it landed and Tohma could see it was Jim’s badge and ID.

He watched as Jim reached into his jacket again and this time drew out his gun, running his hands automatically over it, checking it. He said nothing as he went into the kitchen, making his way to the pantry, kicking the mess out of his way.

Tohma trailed after him and watched in surprise as Jim took a knife and carefully levered up a segment of the flooring. Underneath was a safe and he watched as Jim swiftly spun the dial and open the door. He withdrew a large item, wrapped in cloth which he lifted to place on the bench.

“What’s that?” Tohma queried.

Jim didn’t answer, but as he unwrapped the material Tohma could see that it held another two handguns with various magazines. Tohma frowned as he watched his friend check each item and place them in his pockets before turning and making his way back to the living room.

“Jim….” Tohma began when he was interrupted.

“Go home,” Jim said suddenly, walking briskly towards the door, ignoring everything. “Get out of here.”

Tohma hurried after him as they headed back to the stairs. “Where are you going?”

“None of your business,” was the only answer he received.

Tohma frowned deeply at Jim’s stiff back and felt his own anger rise, as well as his worry. He increased his stride and caught up with Jim, reaching out to grab one shoulder and spun him around. He glared up at the taller man, meeting the hard stare that matched his.

“What are you planning on doing?” he said sharply, not releasing his hold on Jim’s shoulder.

“I said it’s none of your business! Fuck off!”

Jim tried to shrug him off and turn away but Tohma was having none of it, only tightening his grip.

“I am not leaving here, no matter what you say,” he said firmly. “What did they say to you? Why are they holding Kerryn?”

“I said…!” Jim took a swing at Tohma who managed to duck under it but was forced to release his hold to escape being hit. Jim turned, obviously intending to continue on his way unimpeded.

“If you don’t take me with you I’m going to immediately call your station and tell them everything.” Tohma stated clearly, in a voice that carried down the corridor.

Jim paused, his hand wrapped around the door handle of the stairwell access. “Don’t you dare!” he spat out as he glared back at Tohma.

“Then take me with you and tell me what we are going to do to fix this,” Tohma said reasonably.

Jim’s lips thinned, obviously displeased but realizing he didn’t have a lot of choice. He struggled with himself for a moment more and then growled out, “Fine! Come on,” and he pushed through the door.

Tohma followed him down, their descent a far cry from the mad dash they had made only a short time before. Fortunately Jim’s car was still in place, not having been stolen or damaged, despite it not being locked. Perhaps the police light still visible was deterrent enough.

Jim headed for the driver’s side when Tohma spoke up again. “Are you all right to drive?”, thinking of the three large drinks Jim had consumed in quick succession. That alcohol was going to take effect sooner or later.

“I’m fine,” Jim growled, opening the door.

Tohma gave a small shrug. “Well, don’t blame me if you have an accident and call attention to yourself.”

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Jim pause and scowl. He then slammed the driver’s door shut and stamped around the front of the vehicle to stand beside Tohma, glaring at him. “Then you drive but do it fucking discreetly! You’re not even part of the Force and so you’re not supposed to be driving it at all!”

“Of course,” Tohma said, making his way to the driver’s side as Jim slid into the passenger seat, still scowling. “I would suggest that just before we enter the station’s parking lot that we change back so no-one will be the wiser?”

“Yeah. Whatever,” was the only response he got.

True to his word, Tohma did drive carefully as drawing attention to them really was the last thing he wanted to do. They swapped positions when they reached the station and Jim managed to park the vehicle although it was a near miss so Tohma guessed the alcohol was beginning to blur his judgment. He followed Jim inside and down to his office which was fortunately empty of any other occupants.

Tohma closed the door carefully behind them. “So, are you going to tell me what is happening?”

“Not here,” Jim said as he collected some files from his desk, walking to a photocopier in the corner and running a wad of papers through it. Whilst that was happening, he opened and closed filing cabinets, sometimes pulling another file out and flicking through, occasionally removing another sheet to copy.

Tohma just watched these preparations, becoming more and more concerned but realizing it wasn’t wise to say anything more at this point. He had blackmailed Jim into bringing him along, he would have to bide his time to find out more.

Once Jim seemed satisfied, he bundled up the papers into a satchel although it caused it to literally bulge at the seams, throwing it over his shoulder, collecting some items that Tohma didn’t see from a drawer in his desk, before grabbing his jacket from the back of his chair.

“Let’s go,” Jim growled, striding from the room. They exited via the back door again but Jim didn’t collect a car this time. Instead he made his way further down the street to where his own vehicle was securely parked.

Jim unlocked the car then tossed the keys to Tohma. “You drive,” he commanded as he dropped the satchel and his jacket onto the backseat and opened the passenger door.

Tohma got in and started the engine, pulling into the traffic. “Where are we going?” he asked.

“Your place,” was Jim’s surprising answer.

Tohma didn’t question the unexpected request, just made his way to his own apartment block, parking in the bay allocated to him which had never housed a car and lead Jim to his door.

“I’ll make some coffee,” he said as they entered.

He half expected to have an argument from Jim but instead he just said, “Sure,” as he sat down on the couch, the satchel falling at his feet.

Tohma kept a careful eye on him as he moved around in the kitchen. Jim had gone from frantic disbelief, terror, anger, despair and now Tohma wasn’t quite certain what emotion he was feeling. All Tohma did know was that he didn’t like the way that Jim had just so carefully and yet so swiftly seemed to sever his ties with the police. He had a very bad feeling about this.

The kettle whistled and he quickly made two strong coffees, carrying them back to the living room. Jim had now removed the papers he had brought with him and had them separated into various piles.

“Here,” Tohma said, holding one cup out.

“Thanks,” Jim answered, reaching out and taking it. His eyes returned to scanning the pages before him as he took a gulp of the coffee.

“Shit!” he exclaimed as the hot liquid scalded his mouth, lurching so further coffee splattered in his lap. “What the hell are you trying to do to me?!”

He glared at Tohma who just raised a brow as he took a far more careful sip from his own cup. “You knew it had just been made so don’t blame me for your own inattention.” Tohma stated evenly.

Jim continued to glare at him and looked like he was going to say something more but instead turned back to his reading.

Tohma left him like that for a few moments longer, seeing the fixed intensity Jim was giving to his reading, but then carefully put his coffee down out of potential harms way and reached out to turn the page Jim was reading over so the blank back was facing up.

“What the hell..?!” Jim said, reaching out and gripping Tohma’s wrist hard. He locked gazes with Tohma. “What twisted game are you playing, you bastard?!”

“No game,” Tohma said, ignoring the pain in his hand. It wasn’t so much pain from the force of Jim’s grip but he was currently holding onto his bruised hand. “Tell me what is going on? And,” he held up his other hand to forestall what he knew would be Jim’s immediate response. “don’t tell me that it’s none of my business. I’m here now, so let me help you.”

Tohma wondered if this would be enough to get through to his friend when suddenly Jim released his hand. He watched as Jim ran his fingers through his hair, with a hand that shook.

“Start at the beginning,” Tohma suggested, sitting back. “Who called you at the station and told you about Kerryn?”

He saw Jim tense up again at the mention of his fiancee’s name but then saw him take a deep breath before beginning to speak.

“Remember what I had just been telling you about that mafia bust?” Jim said, his voice sounding almost conversational.

Tohma nodded. “Yes.”

“It’s them,” Jim continued. “They want to make the case ‘go away’ against their members. They took Kerryn to ensure I went along with it.”

“But why Kerryn?” Tohma asked, still a little perplexed. “How did they know about her? And you?”

“That’s not that hard to find out. My name as the senior officer running this case is all right there for everyone else to see. That means their lawyers have my name straight off. It wouldn’t be that hard for them to find out where I live and about Kerryn.” He smiled without humour at Tohma. “Our lives become an open book in these circumstances. If I had thought for one moment that any of this could spill over to affect Kerryn I would have organized some protection.”

“Have you had to do that before?”

“A couple of times,” Jim admitted. “Just as a precaution. Kerryn didn’t know about it.”

“So do they normally do it this way?” Tohma queried. “I mean, this action does seem a little extreme. I would have thought they would have tried to speak to you first, try to bribe you perhaps. Be more subtle.”

Jim gave a twisted grin. “Subtle isn’t one of their strong points. Perhaps they didn’t think we would be able to get this far to make the case stick so we caught them unawares. We’re basically at the death knock now so time has run out for them.”

“So they chose to go straight for the heart of the matter to force your hand.” Tohma summed up.

Jim nodded. “Looks like it.” He took another sip from his cooling coffee. “They’re making certain to put the most amount of pressure on me so I do as they say and get this thing thrown out of court.”

“Can you do that?” Tohma asked out of curiousity.

“Sure,” was Jim’s surprising answer. “I just need to mess up some key evidence or contaminate the case in some way which will cast doubt on the whole circumstances. That would probably be enough for their lawyers to have the whole lot squashed and them acquitted.”

“Is it really that simple?”

Jim gave a small bitter laugh. “Not really,” he agreed. “It would probably destroy, or at least damage the reputation of a number of cops involved.”

“And what about you?”

“Me? I could definitely kiss any hope of getting into the FBI that’s for sure. In fact I’d probably be busted back to a beat cop for the rest of my term in the Force. That’s if I wasn’t suspended immediately upon investigation by Internal Affairs.”

He turned a twisted grin towards Tohma again. “In other words, I’d be history and my name would be mud. Or I’d be in jail instead.”

“So you, and many others, would suffer instead if you did what they ask?” Tohma summarized.

Jim nodded, taking a sip from his coffee. “Yep, that about covers it.”

“Could you really live with yourself if you allowed that?”

Tohma saw Jim’s hands tighten around the cup. “Of course not, but I’m running out of options!” He turned to look at Tohma. “You don’t know these guys. You don’t know what they are capable of. I do. I’ve seen the aftermath of their ‘business’ – the really bloody messes they leave. If they say they’ll kill Kerryn if I don’t do what they say they mean it. There’s no bluffing, no negotiating.”

“I don’t doubt it,” Tohma said, “But there’s got to be other options also.”

Jim reached out and flipped over the page Tohma had turned. “Only if I can figure out where they might be holding Kerryn and get in there quickly and get her out of this mess.”

“That could take some time,” Tohma stated the obvious.

“I know,” Jim half growled. “But it’s the only thing I can do.”

Tohma chewed on his bottom lip for a moment in thought. He guessed that Jim probably wasn’t thinking very clearly at the moment, emotion perhaps clouding his normally cool judgment so he felt it was up to him to try and prompt Jim to think beyond that emotion and put his vast skill and knowledge of police work to use.

“Is there anything you can do to…delay things at this stage? Legally that is,” He added hurriedly. “Anything that would make it seem like you are doing what they ask?”

Jim looked over at him, reaching up and scratching at his chin. “I guess there are a couple of things,” he finally said slowly, obviously running through various scenarios in his mind as he was speaking. “There’s not a lot but, yes, perhaps.”

“Enough to gain you a couple of days so we might have a chance of finding something amongst this?” Tohma asked, waving at the pile of papers.

Jim half smiled at him. “My friend, this here is tonight’s reading. From tomorrow, it’s field work. Welcome to my world.”

Tohma rolled his eyes. Now he understood why Jim had sometimes looked like death warmed over if this was the amount of work he had to try and get through in one sitting. He was already developing a new appreciation of the work his friend did – and he hadn’t even begun doing any of it himself!

“So you think that could work?” Tohma asked.

“It just might,” Jim looked lost in thought for a moment. “Give me a sec and I’ll make some phonecalls and see what I can get on with.”

“How are they going to know that you are doing something about this?” Tohma asked with a little concern. “Are they watching you?”

Jim grimaced then shrugged. “I’m not sure but I can’t guarantee anything. My only hope is that they don’t know anything about my association with you so won’t have any idea I would be here. The other very bad possibility is that there’s a mole at the station who’s been keeping tabs on me which wouldn’t be good.”

“Is that likely?” Tohma queried.

“Don’t know. Really hate to think that is the case but I can’t dismiss it entirely.” Jim ran a hand through his hair again. “They said they would be in touch so the next time they call I should be able to get something out of them as to just how closely they are watching me. I doubt they expect me to return to the apartment but that might mean that I’ll have to book into a hotel for appearances sake. Just to keep them off my back.”

Tohma suddenly thought of something “By the way, how did they get your mobile number?” he asked.

“Although it is a private number,” Jim said, scanning his phone’s screen as he scrolled down. “it still wouldn’t be hard to get. These people have a lot of contacts they can draw on usually.” He looked up and met Tohma’s eyes, his face serious. “But they most likely took it directly from Kerryn’s phone. She would have had it on her.”

“Wasn’t she taken at home?” Tohma said with surprise. “I wouldn’t have thought she would have been carrying it then.”

Jim pressed a button and held the phone to his ear, shaking his head in answer to Tohma’s question. “That little display at the apartment was nothing more than a warning. And probably just to check if I had left any papers to do with the case at home. No, Kerryn was snatched when she left work this afternoon. Of that I’m sure.”

“Did they tell you that?”

“No, and Kerryn did have the chance, but since I’ve had no call from her work saying she had gone missing it must have been done then. So she would have had her bag with her, which meant she had her phone. And so they have my number.” Jim held up his hand and quickly said, “Hold on a sec,”, before turning and speaking to the person who had answered.

Cat and mouse, smoke and mirrors, that’s what this all is, Tohma thought as Jim continued making calls. He only half listened in on the conversations as he really didn’t understand everything Jim was saying. It was obviously to do with police procedures as well as legal requirements and he would rather leave all of that up to Jim who was the expert.

When Jim hung up from the last call he said, “That’s it. At least that’s all I can do at the moment to set things in motion. Now I’ve just got to wait for them to contact me.”

“Well then,” Tohma said, leaning forward and pulling one of the piles closer towards him. “Until that time what am I looking for in here?”

Jim returned to sit on the couch beside him, reaching for the papers himself. “Are you sure you want to do this?” he asked in a low voice, not looking at Tohma.

Tohma reached out and touched the back of Jim’s hand lightly, making him look at him.

“I’m not leaving you alone to do this,” he said firmly. “You returned something that was very precious to me. Now I will help return the favour.”

Jim gave a sharp nod and gave Tohma’s hand a brief squeeze, surprising him for Jim wasn’t one for overt displays of affection, and certainly not towards another man.

“Thanks,” Jim said. “Now get your hands off me, pervert.”