What happened next was all just a blur to Ian. Flashing lights, the interrogation room, the plane ride home all he could remember was sitting next to Melanie in silence a day later, it was a warm morning the sun shining through the curtains giving the whole kitchen a golden feel. Ian had never hated the sun more, the audacity of being such a splendid morning soon after Friday was dead. They were sitting in the kitchen of Bernie's house in Paris, normally everyone would be happily digging into their cereal while having a deep conversation about the kids TV show Bluey, Melanie stating her favorite episode was Sleepy Time, while Friday picked apart the deep sociological meaning of it all. But this wasn't a normal morning, Ian and Mel just sat in silence not daring to touch their food. Ian wished he could say something, but he felt there was nothing to be said, he full of regret, why didn't he save her, he managed to do it so many times before (10 to be exact). Why hadn't ran after her like he always did. Why had he been so mean to her over. (Surprise, surprise the last one was a common regret of his).

"Ian" Bernie said coming into the kitchen he clearly hadn't gotten any sleep "Um... Interpol want us to go back to Germany so we can finish the investigation". Ian glared at Bernie; Melanie translated his thought's "Ian says how dare they continue the investigation after all this".

Bernie looked confused "How do you know what he's thinking".

"Because I translated his face for Friday for years" Melanie responded, Ian nodded "He says I'm right".

"Listen... Ian if we don't find the Benatti's they'll get away with what they did to Friday".

Ian said nothing he just starred at his empty cereal bowl.

Meanwhile Friday was most certainly not dead in fact she was tied up in a cave. Every thing was pitch black, she was cold, her arms were pressed behind her back, like she was in a human pretzel, she shivered. Why hadn't they came and found her yet, by now Ian should be here tied up next to her with absolutely no way of escape because he hadn't planed ahead.

"Hello" She called out hoping for some response "anybody here". Light hit Friday's face burning her eyes with the white glow, Tatyana walked over to her with a flash light purposely shining it in her eyes.

"HELLO" she said pulling her of the ground and dumping her on a hard wooden chair "I have reason to believe that you have something I want". Tatyana pulled out a thick rope and started to rap it around Friday.

"Hey I'm surprised that Ian chose me over you too" Friday said, Tatyana tightened the ropes aggressively.

"Not that, the paintings you numskull" Tatyana growled.

Back in Paris, Ian was sitting alone on his bead staring into space, the thought of going to sleep scared him. There  was a knock on his door, Melanie peeked her head behind the door.

"I can't sleep" she whispered, sitting down on his bead "It's hard now that she's ..." Ian cut her of "She's not dead" this is the first thing he had said since the accident.

"OH...Ian" Melanie said giving him a hug "You know..." Ian cut her of again "NO! she's not dead, you've been telling me since I was twelve that I had an emotional connection to her, well right now that emotional connection is telling me she's alive" his eyes where red and full of tears, Melanie didn't know what to say. So she just sat there with him until he fell asleep.