Parker drove past Paige and Ryder’s houses, but they were both dark. Taking a guess, she heads to Mason’s. She see’s Paige’s car and Ryder’s bike out front. Without knocking, she walks right into the house to see Ryder sitting in the recliner in the living room, staring at the fireless fireplace.

“Ryder.”

“He killed Ma.” His body language kept her planted where she was.

“I heard. I’m so sorry.”

“I was just getting to know her. My childhood sucked, but I was getting a second chance to have a mom. She was helping me. I never thought she’d ever be able to do that. And now she’s gone before I can I tell her.”

Parker moves towards him, but he holds up a hand to stop her. “I know what it’s like to lose your mom, Ryder.”

“Not like this. This was completely senseless.”

Parker tries to keep her composure. “My parents’ deaths were senseless, too.”

He finally makes eye contact, and his face is hard. She’s taken aback by his anger. “No, your mom was murdered because of the mistakes she made. My mom was murdered because of mine.”

“Ryder, what are you talking about?” Mason asks.

“He’s saying his mistake was saving me,” Parker says as she backs up. “All those things you told me to make me feel better after my parents passed were all lies? Is that it? You fully believe they deserved what happened to them?”

“I’m sure that’s not what he means,” Paige says, reaching for Parker’s arm but she moves out of reach.

“They made their decisions. And now, so have I. And it seems I only pay consequences when it comes to you.” His tone is clipped and his eyes are boring into her. “I made the mistake of saving you, and now my mom paid the price for it.”

“Ryder!” Mason yells.

Parker’s tears fall as she nods her head. “You wish I would’ve died instead of your mom.”

“That’s not what he was saying,” Mason says. “He loves you.”

“No, he doesn’t.” She turns to Ryder. “You never said it back last night. I told you I loved you, and you didn’t say anything back.”

“That’s a rich accusation for someone who left without a word this morning. You fucked me while engaged to another man, and you accuse me of being an asshole.”

“I guess last night didn’t actually mean anything,” Parker says. Her tears won’t stop, and she’s wiping at them as she avoids eye contact with him.

“Just get out of here. When I look at you, I see him. I can’t handle this right now. I can’t handle you. Just get out of my life.”

Parker turns and rushes out the door and into her car without another word.

“Parker!” Paige calls running after her, but Parker ignores her and takes off.

“Ryder, you know that was too far. This is not her fault. And you know you don’t wish her dead.”

“Mason, you don’t understand.”

“No, I don’t. And the only person who does understand just left here crying. The only person who’s ever meant anything real to you just heard you say you wished she was dead.”

“Not only that, but you blame her for Kane’s actions. She’s right. You don’t love her. No one is that terrible to someone they love,” Paige says with disgust. “You’re an ass.” She reaches out and slaps him across the face.

“You just assaulted an officer.”

“A suspended, off-duty officer with a drinking problem. You want to haul me into jail and press charges, fine. You have no idea the damage you just did to that poor girl. After all of the damage you did before that. You broke her, and she seems to have found a way to forgive you, but now? Do you honestly think she’ll ever be able to look at you without remembering those words you just said to her?”

“I guess it doesn’t matter, does it.”

“You are one stupid son-of-a-bitch, you know that? You’re pretty goddamned lucky I have a son to live for. Otherwise I’d help Kane myself.”

“Excuse me?”

“You heard me. She didn’t do this. You didn’t do this. Kane did this. And now you purposely hurt her just because your feelings are hurt. Don’t you think you’ve done enough to her? After everything she’s been through, and everything you’ve put her through, don’t you think she’s been through enough?”

“She’s gone,” Mason says. “I’m not sure she’ll come back this time, man.”

Ryder seems to sit and let the words sink in for a minute. “Fuck!” He runs his hands over his face. “Why do I do this to her?”

“Because you heart the ones you love,” Paige shrugs. “Although, I don’t know if there’s any love left for her. Or maybe you know she’ll forgive you. Eventually. Maybe. Or not. Who knows this time? I wouldn’t.”

“Where’d she go?” Mason asks.

“The station,” Ryder says as he walks towards the door.

Parker rushes into the station, tears still streaming down her face. She sees Sam standing at Mack’s desk.

“Parker? What’s wrong? Are you alright?” Sam rushes to her.

“I’m fine,” she says and wipes at the tears.

“It’s him, isn’t it?” Mack asks.

“I haven’t seen Kane in five years.”

“You know that’s not the him I’m referring to.”

“Yes.”

“Do I need to have a chat with him?”

“No. I actually got another letter. Obviously too late.”

“Shit.”

“Can we look at the letters? He’s gotta be staying somewhere. There has to be something in what he’s saying that tells us where he is.”

“Let’s head to my office,” Sam says leading them back.

Sam lays out the first two letters, and Parker pulls the third out of her bag. As they’re reading through the short letters, Sam gets an email and opens it. It’s an image of the crime scene showing the victim, who Parker assumes is Ryder’s mom, on her front steps.

“Oh my God,” she gasps.

“Sorry,” Sam says. “Didn’t think before I opened it.”

“No, the flowers.”

“What about them?” Mack asks walking around the desk to look at the image.

“He talks about them in the last letter.”

“So?”

“He’s been under our noses the whole time,” she whispers.

“Park, point us in the same direction here. We’re not quite there yet.”

“What do those flowers look like to you, Sam?”

“Yellow?”

“They match the wallpaper from my room. Mom got rid of all the wallpaper in the house when they moved in, but she left it in my room because she thought it was pretty. And it kept a piece of the house’s history with it. He picked Ryder’s mom because of the flowers.”

“So, we’re going on this is where he’s staying based on flower wallpaper?” Mack asks.

“He mentions in his second letter about the a place that should be familiar to him, but it’s foreign. And in the first he mentions being surrounded by familiar but unknown faces. He only spent five years in that house before being sent away, and Mom has pictures of all of the family in the hall.”

“They’re still there?” Mack asks.

“I haven’t stepped foot in that house since the night of the murders. Everything is still as it was when I left.”

“What’s your gut say?” Sam asks.

“He’s in my house.”

“Good enough for me,” Mack says.

“Parker!” Ryder hollers from the squad room.

All three rush out to find Ryder, Mason, and Paige.

“I’m-“

“Kane’s at the Lewis’ house,” Mack interrupts.

“Are you sure?” He’s looking at Parker, but she’s looking at the floor.

“She says her gut’s telling her he’s there,” Mack says. “You’re the one who believes all that shit.”

Ryder walks to his desk and pulls his gun from the drawer. “No one’s gonna stop me.”

“Hold up, man,” Mason says.

“Get out of my way!”

“You’re about to kill the only relative Parker has left. Think about it, man. Make sure she’s good.”

Ryder looks at Parker who still refuses to look at him. “He’s tried to kill me. He’s killed my parents. He’ll kill you if you don’t kill him first. I don’t understand why there’s even a question right now.”

“Parker,” he fumbles.

“It’s fine. I get it. I understand, now. Go. Kill him. He deserves it.”

Ryder sighs and turns towards the door.

“Park, where’s your ring?” Paige asks.

Ryder hears and turns back to look at her. “Later,” she says to Paige as she puts her hands in her pockets.

“Chief, put me down for a couple of vacation days,” Mack says and straps on his gun. “Edwards, wait up! Partners stick together.”