"What are you talking about Whitney?"  Sammy was trying to concentrate on his driving and his chocolate shake, while Whitnery talked to her mom & he'd zoned out a little bit.

"Sammy, I remember where i've seen that guys face before, or at least why he looks so familiar!" 

"Yea," Sammy glanced her direction for just a second, "Do tell!"

"Do you remember the FBI guy that came in to the department for some kind of research information, just after Mike got shot?"  She couldn't believe she was saying this, "It was him, well, an younger version of him?  but it was the same face!  I have to call Ben!"

"Whoa, what?  Are you sure?  We don't want to send them off on a wild goose chase & waste valuable time."

Whitney couldn't help herself & gave him the look. 

"Seriously Sammy?  When have you ever known me to be anything but serious?  I'm telling you, it's a younger version of that guy on the FBI team that came in.  What was it they were looking for, do you remember?   My head was still trying to figure out what had happened with Mike, but I remember that one FBI guy because he was better dressed than the others.  Same black suit & shoes, but a better cut of cloth & his shoes were shined.  I'm telling you, they might not be the same guy, but maybe they are related somehow.  Or maybe they just look alike for some reason, but I'm telling you there's something to it.  I'm calling Ben!" 

"you know what, I think you're right Whitney, I kinda remember that guy.    I wish I could remember his names, or any of their names.  Wasn't your guy the lead investigator?  Wait, yea, he was, it was a missing persons case, from a long time ago.  They said a child  had been kidnapped & they thought th trail had led them to Neligh, but then it went cold.  What was that guy's name?  I remember he was a jerk.  Remember, he called you a baby because you were sitting in the break room & you'd been crying about Mike & waiting to hear from the hospital when they came in."

"Yeah, Yeah,  He'd walked in & interrupted our conversation when you were trying to console me, brought me a coke or something & he said something about  how these small towns in west Texas were so desperate for help they'd even rob little girl's cradles." 

At 5'3" 115 lbs, Whitney was one of the smallest recruits to ever go through training, barely making the minimum height & weight requirements, but no one, including her big brothers doubted for one minute that not only would she graduate, but she'd make a fine addition to whatever department she ended up with. Secretly they all hoped it would be the NPD so they could all keep an eye on her & it would be less dangerous than the big cities.  But a baby she was not.

"I'm calling Ben" 

Whitney heard the phone ring on the other end, then it went to voicemail, "Ben, hey, it's Whitney, I think I might have some information for y'all.  Call me when you get this."

Whitney went back to her chocolate shake & opened up her fries to eat them while they were still sort of hot.  She started thinking about stuff while she dipped her fries in her shake, a family habit. 

Growing up with 5 brothers had toughened her some and having crazy curly auburn hair, well some times it seemed more red than auburn, she'd had to deal with more than her share of taunts from her classmates.  Only one of her siblings didn't have the McKayvile red hair & that was her little sister Tara who was a true blonde.  Dad always teased her that she was a throw back to his grandmother on his mom's side of the family.  Tara would pout & stomp her little foot threatening to dye her hair red as soon as she was grown up enough.  The four oldest boys, John, Frank, Paul & Joseph all got Dad's bright red hair, while Kevin & Whitney tended more towards Mom's darker auburn hair.  They all, even Tara, got Mom's emerald green eyes.

Whitney realized she must have dozed a little bit, or at least zoned out when she jumped as Sammy tapped her on the shoulder.  "Whitney, sorry to wake you, Chief is on the phone for you."

Whitney saw that Sammy must have taken her shake fries & propped them up in the console.   She wiped the sleep out of her eyes as she took the phone from Sammy, "Ben, I need to tell you something." 

Ben interrupted her, "No wait Whitney, not now.  wait till you get to the safe house.  I'll meet you there as soon as i can & you can tell me in person.  But not over the phone.  Also, between wherever you are now & the safe house, I want you to start thinking about who made what phone calls that you know about at the house today & if you've received any weird phone calls in the last few days.  How much longer before you get there?"

"Sammy, how much longer?"

"Maybe 10 minutes?  15 if i stop for some coffee, want some?"

"no coffee for me, but get me some more fries?"  

"Ben, Sammy said about 15 minutes.  How much longer will you be?"

"I don't know Whitney,  I'll wake you if you fall asleep before I get there.  Just so you know I decided against calling Pastor, security you know?  but you know I'll be praying & I know you will be too.  We'll figure it out, I promise & i'll see you as soon as I can, but it might be awhile." 

Whitney felt a little sadness creep in but did her best to put a smile in her voice, "Ok Ben, I'll see you then,"

Ben heard the catch in her voice, "Whitney, I promise I'll get there as soon as I can & we'll talk then.  Hey, consider yourself triple hugged once i get there ok?"

That made her smile just a little, "I'll take those hugs, & maybe a couple more?"  Ok, see you soon Ben."  She ended the call feeling a little better.

"Sammy, order me a large coffee & to go with those fries please"


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