Bob finished off more paperwork and stood. "Got a wife and baby," he said under his breath, just to himself.

He shut off the computer, and took the case with his personal laptop and a few journals. His wife read them assiduously, and he had to be ready to discuss things with her, and he was working with his backlog. He figured when his wife came back from leave, she'd argue with him about them. He’d hated coming back from leave after only a few weeks, but such was life. He turned off the lights, locked the office, and went to the company truck.

He stopped off for potato and blue corn chowders, small salads, and pecan pie for his family, then took a swing over to grab some baby wipes and diapers. He was fast realizing there was no such thing as "too much." He then headed home, sucking on a soda to keep his eyes open.

He drove up, and saw the door slightly open. He left the things in the car, and called dispatch. "This is S-34. There's an intruder at my house, 3555 Sunflower Drive."

He dropped the mic, and ran toward the house. He used the tip of his gun to open the door. Two of the stools at the breakfast bar were smashed. No one was there, no baby in the crib. The ruby blanket had been slashed, which chilled him. He made his way upstairs, then back down. He went back out, and circled the house.

He went back in, and found Tanner in the house, still in uniform. "No one here. There was a struggle, and someone had a knife." He pointed to the two lamps he hadn't seen on his first walkthrough. "Someone ripped those out of the wall and used them as missiles. My wife and Deputy Reece are missing, and our baby Diana," he said. "We need to get the word out. My wife's car is still here. Call the FBI. This is a kidnapping."

He did a second walkthrough, in case someone had hidden the baby, using gloved fingers. Nothing. He pulled out his cell phone and texted Herja a 412 code, which meant kidnapping, and his address. Herja would find who did this, and between the two of them, they would pound the son-of-a-bitch into the ground and get his family back.

He dialed again, this time to Agent Rita Beck, a longtime friend. She was based in Reno. She said, "Just got it from the Vegas office. On my way. I'll bring Frenchie." Frenchie was Cinna French, FBI, also a Valkyrie.

"Bet Frenchie knows already," said Bob.

"No bet," said Beck. "Sit tight."

Tanner stopped talking on an open mic. "CSI is on their way. The FBI has been called."

"Who the fuck called Vegas?" asked Bob. "Reno would know this area better. Special Agent in Charge, Beck, is on her way with Special Agent French."

"Good," said Tanner. "Your wife's truck is in the garage. Nothing is missing?"

"Not even that pack of baby wipes there," said Bob. "And we've got valuable things. I checked the safe. It's hidden well, and no one breached it." He took a breath. "That's actually bad. If my wife and baby got away, they have nothing; no food, water, baby wipes, diapers, clothing, money, IDs. My wife's purse is there." He pointed to it. "I didn't look in it, but the tip of her wallet is there. I doubt she had much on her. Carrying your ID around inside the house (as a new mother) is not normal."

"No," said Tanner. "It isn't." He blew out a breath. "I don't think your wife was injured, or anyone, because, no blood. No trace. And if I ask who you think would want to hurt your family, I think it would be 'everyone I arrested, or my wife arrested' and 'no one.'"

"Got that one," said Bob. "I can't leave, because of a possible ransom call, but there isn't much for me to do here. I can go on a grid search; my wife and daughter, and Reece —are probably on foot." He sighed. "Did you eat yet?" he asked.

"What?" said Tanner. "No. Why?"

"I'll eat in my car, and I'll blow protocol and take this house phone." He took pictures of it, and so did Tanner. "You'll grab the food and go on a grid search, and I'll stay here and wait for..."

The CSI van pulled up. "Go," he said.

They fast-walked out to Bob's car. He gave Tanner half the food, and he sat in the car and methodically ate the food that tasted like sawdust in his mouth. He took a bottled water from the little cooler in his truck, and waited for Herja.

Instead, Sergeant Dani Ramos came, one of Herja's Soldier Pack. "We're deployed, Sir," she said. She had dark skin and deep brown eyes. She was compact, like a fireplug, and strong. "Herja's got us on a grid, and is looking for places for food, shelter, and communi..."

Bob held up a finger and answered his phone. "Sheriff Hunter," he said.

He sat up straight, threw his food containers back in the sack and threw it in the rear. He tilted his head, and Dani ran around and hopped into his car. They buckled up while Bob ran through his own lawn to get around the CSI van.

"Got one dead. He's nearby, about six blocks down, with a broken neck. CSI is there to catch any ransom demands. I don't think this is going to end well." He smiled grimly. "For them." Dani looked at him with a wild, familiar, Valkyrie look in her eye.