Partners (Phanfic au)

Chapter 4

Dan's eyes flickered open, his surroundings coming to clarity. In the crook of his arm, the cat was curled up. He purred loudly, content with his new friend's warmth.

Slowly, Dan sat up and pulled his friend into his lap, "Morning, buddy."

The cat stretched and curled his toes, then rubbed against his chest.

As his fingers curled under his chin, Howell said, "Ready to go home? I'll pick up some cat food on the way."

Without an answer, he picked him up and walked toward his clothes. After he'd pulled them on, he walked to the closet. Inside, a box sat on the top shelf. He pulled it down and took out its contents. With them out of the way, he borrowed one of Phil's blankets and set it in the bottom. At last, he picked up the black kitten and set him in the box, smiling down at him. After closing the lid, Dan walked out the door with his gun on his hip.

The outside air was crisp and chilled, stinging his lungs as he dragged in a long breath. The man began to walk down the street, box under his arm and suit jacket flapping behind him.

Brown eyes locked onto each person before he passed them, determined to identify him if he were among them. The Mystery Man. But no one resembled him in the slightest, just normal people.

After the pet store, he reached his apartment. Dan let out a shaky breath once inside the building. He headed up to his floor. His apartment was drab, white walls with grey furniture. Sighing, he set the box on his couch and opened the top.

His cat leapt for him, falling into his arms. Dan chuckled, petting his head and setting him on the couch. He pulled out the contents of the bags and set up the litterbox. While his cat was checking it out, he poured wet food into a bowl and set it on the kitchen floor.

Sprinting across the apartment, the cat began to feast on his new meal. While he was busy, Dan pulled out the new green collar he'd purchased. On the tag it read 'Neko'. He looped it around his neck and fastened it, then pat his head and stood.

"See you later, Neko. I have to go to work," He explained, shutting all of the doors and clamping the windows into the locked position.

Once he'd locked the door, he headed down the stairs and out onto the street. He hailed a cab and got in.

"J. Edgar Hoover, please."

In his office, Dan sank into his chair and sighed. The events of the previous day had exhausted him, and he didn't even want to consider Lester's job.

"Um, excuse me?"

Dan turned to find Phil sitting in his chair, "What are you doing?"

"The question is, Howell, what were you doing?" He asked.

"I just got here," Dan replied, turning back to his desk and pulling out their case file.

Each of the thirteen girls stared back at him, suddenly disturbing him more than they had the day before.

"Are you checking them out or are we going to solve a case?" Phil asked sternly.

"Right, right," Dan coughed, flipping to the evidence photos. "Each girl has the same slash on her neck, as we previously established, and they all have the same burn marks," He added.

Phil cut in, "So, it is for sure the real guy. It hasn't made the news and we're keeping the media off of it. There can't be a copycat."

"Exactly. I think I have a lead. In two of the crime scenes they found hairs, and they've left a note on my desk saying the DNA matches. They already ran it through CODIS and we've got a match," Dan replied, scratching his head.

Phil rose from his seat and walked over, "A sex offender. How surprising. Let's pay him a visit."

The duo walked down the street, Dan close on Phil's heels. The suspect lived close enough to walk to, and they intended to get an alibi and all.

"Mr. Young? FBI, we'd like to speak with you regarding a few young girls," Dan called, knocking on the door.

Silence.

Then the back door flew open and someone sprinted past them and down the street. Dan pulled out his gun and began to tail him, gun fixated on his back.

"Stop now or I pull the trigger!" Dan called, an empty threat.

The man stopped and slowly raised his hands, chest heaving with each breath, "I'm innocent, okay? I didn't do it!"

"Then why the hell are you running?" Lester called, standing next to his partner and lowering his gun.

While Howell kept him at gunpoint, Phil cuffed him and began to take him toward the building, "Call a car, please, Lester."

Within minutes, an SUV pulled up. Lester shoved him into the car, reading him his rights while Dan went around and got into the car.

Back at the Bureau, the partners stood behind the glass watching their suspect stare at his hands and bite his lips. Finally, Howell left and walked into the room. Lester watched him stand against the wall and stare down at him.

"Why did you run?"

"I was just scared. You're intimidating," He replied.

"I'm about as intimidating as Winnie the Pooh," Dan shot back sarcastically.

"I didn't do anything, I swear," Mr. Young said. Sitting down in the chair across from him, Dan flopped a folder onto the table and opened it to slap a picture in front of him. "I don't know her!"

"You don't? Then why are there reports of her car having been parked outside your home?" Dan asked.

The man sighed and hung his head, "I can explain."

"Oh, please do," hissed Lester, wandering into the room.

"Well, um," he began, "I know her mom. We went to high school together."

Dan's eyes narrowed and he stared daggers into him. Silence deafened the three of them, and Phil finally opened his mouth to speak.

"And how does this tell us anything?" Phil muttered.

He swallowed, then looked up at the duo and said, "She's my drug dealer. I was buying a bit of stock from her and she was telling me about her daughter's job interview. We're friends, you know?"

Rolling his brown eyes, Dan stood, "You admit to purchasing illegal substances now. Great. Do you know where the interview was?"

"No," His eyes returned to the floor.

Lester leaned over the table and glared down his nose, "Are you sure? You can't tell us anything at all"

"Well, there's one thing I can tell you..."

"What's that?"

"I know her dad," He said, looking up again.

"Who is it? Tell me!" Dan screamed, slamming his hands on the table.

He smirked, "It's-"

{A/N: Hey guys!

That cliffhanger! Who do you think her dad is? How do you think it ties into the story?

Leave a comment and don't forget to vote/follow!

<3 -Lion}