Ok, well, that's definitely something.  Sammy, can you text chief that information?  I want to get started on my notes.  Thanks Ginny, that could be something major!"  

"Really Whitney?  Why?"  

"You know what, I really can't say right now.  Give me some time to type up my notes & talk to Ben & Sammy, then we'll fill you in on whatever we can, ok?"  

"Right, like I have a choice?  ok if i turn on the tv and find something stupid to watch?"

Whitney caught the edge in Ginny's voice, "yes, of course it's ok Ginny.  And really, I'm sorry, you know I'll tell you everything I can as soon as I can.  I'm not trying to keep you in the dark, I promise.  I'm sorry, I know this is hard for you too.  Just make sure you and the boys do NOT go outside, if you need something, let us know we'll get it delivered ok?  I really am sorry, but until we figure this out, we have to keep you safe"

"And you too, right Whitney?"  

"Yes, me too."

For the next 2 hours Whitney concentrated on remembering every thing she could & typing up her notes.    She didn't even realize she was eating cold fries or that Ginny kept filling up her coffee cup with hot coffee.  She just typed, ate & drank.  Sammy did pretty much the same thing, except he occasionally came up for air & went in to the kitchen to check on the boys.

Whitney didn't even notice when someone knocked on the door & Officer Logan checked the peep hole before letting in the "outside" officer.  They were apparently changing places.   

Sometime later, she looked up while Ginny was getting the  boys ready for bed, Sammy was sleeping at the other end of the couch & a new guard was sitting by the door, watching whatever tv program Whitney had been watching.  She stood up, stretched & nodded at the guard to meet her in the kitchen.  

"Hi, sorry, I didn't catch your name earlier"  she said when he followed her into the kitchen.

"Craig, Craig Burnett.  Is there something you need ma'am?"

"No, just wanted to say Hi without waking up my partner.  and please, don't call me ma'am.  Whitney will be just fine.  Have we heard from the chief, any news at all?"

"No ma'am, I mean Whitney, sorry.  Logan is taking his turn outside with Lonny, we're doing rotations.  but no news from anyone."  

"Ok, well thanks Craig."

Craig nodded at her & went back to his post by the door.  
Whitney went to frig & stood there with the door open for a few minutes before she realized she didn't even know what she was looking for.  Just as she was closing the door of the frig she heard her phone buzzing from the living room.  She'd set it on vibrate to keep it from distracting her from her notes.   She walked quickly into the living room & picked it up off the arm of the couch & returned to the kitchen.  The caller id said it was her mom.  She knew if she answered it would be breaking protocol, if she didn't she would catch it from her mom for sure!    She knew she couldn't take any chances answering it.  

Whitney went back out to the living room & asked Craig to borrow his cell.

"Sure Whitney, local right?"

"Yep, local, I'm calling the chief"

Whitney dialed Ben's number & stepped back into the kitchen.   She shut off the light in the kitchen & walked to the edge of the window for just a quick second & looked outside, then sat down at the table waiting for Ben to answer.

"Hello?"

"Ben, it's me, I borrowed the guards phone."

"Hey, are you doing ok?"

"yea, I'm fine, missing you though.  But that's not why I called.  Mom called my cell and ..."

"You didn't answer it did you?"

"NO, of course not Ben.  But what I'm worried about is why she's calling.  She knows our safety protocols.  She might not have been on the police force, but she's been married to it & mothered it long enough to know better than to call someone's cell when they are taking refuge in a safe house.  Can you call her yourself & check up on her?  Something's not right.  Ginny said Mom was quiet, too quiet when she left the house.  You know my Mom, one thing she's not is quiet."

"Yes, of course I will.  Hey listen, I've got a crew fixing your doors, at least temporarily & I've posted guards at the house.  The CSI crew is done, at least for tonight & I'm almost done with my report.  I'll call your mom right now & find out what's going on, tell the guard to expect a call back from me on of our burners.  I don't want to take any chances until we know what's going on.  I don't want any one to have any way to trace your location.  Just in case.  I'm going to borrow someone's car from the station to drive over there.  But I'll call you as soon as I talk to your mom ok?"

"Sure Ben, that's great.  I've got my report done.  Bring a flash drive with you so you can pull it off my laptop.  Oh, and before I forget.  Ginny said she saw a guy fitting our victim's description walking up to the house yesterday just as she was leaving.  He "said" he was looking for the library, but Ginny was pretty sure he was just making up an excuse for why he was there.  Anyway, how much longer do you think before you get here?"

"Hmmm, that's interesting information.  We'll talk to her some more when I get there.  It might be an hour or so yet.  I miss you too, but I want to have as much done as I can get done before I get there.  Why don't you take a nap or something, we might be up for awhile once I get there."  

"Yea, that's a good idea, except I don't know if I'll be able to fall asleep.  I think Ginny has been refilling my coffee cup for the last 2 hours and I just kept drinking it.  But I'll try anyway.  See you in a while?"

"You got it Whitney, I'll call you back in a few minutes though after I talk to your Mom, ok?  or do you want me to wait until I get there?"

"No, if it's important, call me.  but if it will wait, then we'll talk when you get here."

"Ok, hey, I'll talk to you soon, one way or the other, ok?"

"Yea, Ok.  Talk to you soon."

Whitney hung up the phone & gave it back to Craig.  She let him know the chief might be calling her back & to wake her if he called or when he got there, whichever.  She then went into the bedroom where her bags had landed & laid down on top of the bed.  In no time at all she was sound asleep & stayed that way until Ginny came in an hour and a half later to tell her Ben was in the living room.