"Twenty-Seven Miles." Zachary announces as he pulls the car over to the side of the road. He turns off the car and looks at Nikita.

"Are you sure?" Nikita asks as she glances down at her paper and then at Zachary. She leans over and looks for herself.

"And it was twenty-seven miles from the victim's house and where we found her arm." Nikita says as she jots down the information on her pad.

"What are the chances of that?" Zachary asks as he helps Nikita out of the car. Nikita looks around and closes the door. There isn't much chance of it being exactly the same amount.

"What route did you say we used again?" Nikita asks as she starts down the walkway to were the Section One team of operatives were viewing the body.

"We used the direct route. The populous route would have taken us two hours with rush hour." Zachary says and Nikita stops on the walkway and looks at Zachary.

"But we usually measure the populous route because it has the highest probability of use in a crime." Nikita says and Zachary turns back to Nikita.

"The body is over here." Zachary says motioning to the corner. Nikita starts to walk, but not paying much attention to what is being said to her.

She was being explained to how they measured the box's angle and that it was the original killer. They explained how this body appeared to be beaten in a more sadistic manner. None of that mattered to Nikita.

"Zachary, we measured all the distances by the populous route." Nikita says as she stands up from viewing the body.

"Yes.... it is the practice that Madeline instituted." Zachary says and Nikita stares at him.

"But we can't tell if the killer is working on the populous route. What if he is taking the direct route?" Nikita asks and Zachary shakes his head.

"Why would he do that?" Zachary asks and Nikita turns to the paper.

"This is a highly intelligent killer. He wants to drive us up the wall. If he can establish a pattern, and in that pattern, over fill it with numerous bodies, the pattern may never be found." Nikita says and Zachary shakes his head.

"Nikita, we have run the pattern programs..... there are none." Zachary says and Nikita shakes her head.

"There are too many. He doesn't even seem to have a comfort zone. Something is wrong." Nikita says as she scratches her head softly.

"Take me back to the sub-station." Nikita says and Zachary's eyes open wide.

"Nikita, you need to study the crime scene." Zachary argues. Nikita shakes her head.

"He is professional in this area now. We won't find anything unless he wants us too." Nikita says as she turns and heads towards the car. Zachary looks around and heads after Nikita. Maybe the stress of the job was getting to Nikita. She was now sporadic in her work and her hours. She had been emotionally suffering over the copy cat killer, but continued her search for the original killer. She went on mad spending sprees and then would talk to Ayn for hours. Ayn would report that basically Nikita would go into the office and fall asleep.

When Zachary heard that report, he sent Ayn back to Headquarters. He knew that Madeline was busy enough with Nikita in New York, and that Ayn shouldn't overstay her stay. That was when Nikita kicked it into overdrive.

***

Birkoff sits at his computer staring at a computer calendar. His fingers tap on the desk nervously as Michael sees him. Michael watches Birkoff twiddle around, but not currently doing work. Michael slowly approaches and stands nearby Birkoff.

"What is this?" Michael asks as he looks over Birkoff's shoulder and sees the calendar. Birkoff looks at Michael and then to the glass office above him.

"Melissa wants to set a wedding date." Birkoff says and Michael smiles softly. Birkoff just didn't realize what he gave Michael to use.

"Don't you think you should tell Operations first that you are engaged to his daughter?" Michael asks and Birkoff looks at Michael and then looks away.

"I'm scared too." Birkoff says and Michael leans down slowly.

"He already knows.. the longer you wait.. the harder he will be on you." Michael says and Birkoff turns his head in horror of what Michael said.

"Actually... Melissa is pushing for all this real fast... some problems from Operations would be a relief." Birkoff says and Michael stands up and leans over the desk. With one snap of a button, Birkoff's desk is surrounded by a privacy wall.

"If I can get information about what Operations feels about this indirectly, will you do something for me?" Michael asks and Birkoff raises an eyebrow.

"I don't have access to Nikita's mission files, Michael. I tried that today..." Birkoff says and Michael tilts his head.

"Why did you try that today?" Michael asks, wanting to know if Madeline was interested in Nikita's files on the mission also.

"When I patched her through the past few days, Nikita sounded awful. I wanted to see what was going on." Birkoff says and Michael nods his head slowly.

"That's not what I need." Michael says and Birkoff pulls out a piece of paper. Michael picks up the paper and rolls it into a ball.

"That kind of information, Michael? You have me interested." Birkoff says. Michael leans down and nods his head.

"I need to know about Stephen's special mission. I need to know who he reports into and where he has been of late." Michael says slowly.

"Michael, do you know how hard that will be?" Birkoff asks almost angrily.

"Do you know how hard it will be to find out what Operations feels about you and Melissa?" Michael asks with a raised eyebrow.

"Michael , what does this have to do with Nikita?" Birkoff asks after he pulls up the small file on Stephen on to the screen.

"Why do you ask that?" Michael asks as he looks at Birkoff, trying to give him a version of Nikita's innocent look.

"He is based in New York... he goes back and forth the Albany sub-station and the New York sub-station." Birkoff says slowly.

"See what you can get. I'll see what I can get." Michael says firmly and allows the screen go down. Michael walks away quickly. There was no way Birkoff was going to buy that Michael's request for information was not about Nikita's mission. The implications of the requests were deeply sinister. Was Nikita running into Stephen in the sub-station... that would explain a lot of Nikita's attitude problems. Was Stephen doing something wrong? Birkoff didn't like it, and pushed the calendar away. Nikita was more important that the wedding date.

***

Nikita sits at the computer with a huge smile across her face. She pulls at a file, types in the number. A map pops up on the computer and Nikita plots the three crime scenes that they were interested in. The pick up place, which happened to be a personal residence every single time, even with the copy cat murders, the arm dump site, and the body dump site.

Nikita waits for the places to be plot on the computer map as she reaches over and pulls the map from the printer and places it inside the previous file. Nikita looks at the screen and shakes her head as Zachary walks in with three Styrofoam cups. One was his coffee and the other two were tea for Nikita.

"I found the flaw in the program." Nikita says as Zachary sets his coffee down and then places the two cups of tea nearby Nikita's paperwork. Zachary looks over Nikita's shoulder as she takes a pen and starts to point.

"The program isn't using the streets to calculate the distance. It just calculates it mathematically according to the scale." Nikita says and Zachary looks at her.

"So these distances are all wrong?" Zachary asks and Nikita nods her head.

"I used the program to print maps out so we can send out teams. We need the distances of the direct routes, and we can only do that by a car." Nikita says and Zachary shakes his head.

"If we do this... the copy cat could be someone doing the measuring." Zachary says and Nikita looks at Zachary.

"I don't think so. The copy cat would have shown up on the other programs and lists. No one we would use is even a suspect." Nikita says and Zachary pulls a chair up to Nikita.

"But Nikita, you haven't even given me a list of suspects." Zachary says and Nikita points to her head.

"It's safer up there, for now. And if you are worried, I told the name of my prime suspect to Michael." Nikita says and Zachary shakes his head.

"Oh, Nikita.. this is a ton of work..." Zachary says as he looks at the files. Nikita takes a sip of the tea and then stands up suddenly.

"OH! I CAN'T BELIEVE I DIDN'T SHOW YOU YET!" Nikita screams as she runs to another series of boards across the room.

Zachary walks over and looks at the massive board of confusion. Nikita smiles and shakes her head.

"This board had every single case we had... so we went to the next one.. This is the original killer... It doesn't look important...." Nikita says as she turns the board around and Zachary leans in.

"The first case.. the movement went to the west and then north... hence, clockwise..." Nikita says as she points to the board.

"The second case.. the movement went south and then east... hence, counter-clockwise." Nikita says and Zachary pulls a chair over.

"And the third one?" Zachary asks and Nikita smiles, knowing that his mind now knows what Nikita is going to graphically show.

"Clockwise." Nikita answers and Zachary smiles broadly.

"You found the pattern!" Zachary exclaims and Nikita shakes a finger. She pulls up another board and flips it over.

"I think I have found the comfort zones... the clockwise and counter clockwise groups.. look how the home cluster." Nikita says and Zachary almost falls out of his chair.

"My god.. that could be where he lives and where he works!" Zachary says and Nikita nods her head.

"And we just narrowed it down." Nikita says with a proud smile.

***

Michael opens the door to the house and allows Birkoff in. He has in his hand a disk and Michael shows him to the computer room.

"Where did you get all of this equipment?" Birkoff asks as he looks at the state of the art technology in the room. He looks at the computers. They were as good if not better than the one he worked on.

"Slowly it was dropped off at the house. I think it is Operations. He doesn't say anything to Nikita, but he really wants her happiness." Michael says as he helps Birkoff turn on the equipment.

"But why?" Birkoff asks and Michael smiles.

"I guess it is his own way of expressing that he hopes that Nikita does have a baby. This equipment could keep Nikita home a lot more, and in some way.. keep the baby out of Section constantly." Michael says and Birkoff nods his head.

"Well, I wish you had Operations working on this one with you... this one has me scared, Michael." Birkoff says as he slides in the disk.

"Don't you want to know about what I found out?" Michael asks as Birkoff waits for the information to come up on the screen.

"What? Operations is afraid that I am in love with Melissa because I had a crush on Nikita?" Birkoff asks and Michael nods his head.

"Not to scare you, Michael, but this is more important." Birkoff says as he opens the screen and scrolls down the screen.

"It seems that Stephen has abandoned the concept of the Albany sub-station." Birkoff says and Michael turns on the other computer and stares at the information.

"So he is working totally out of the New York station." Michael says as he leans back with a frown on his face.

"That's only the beginning, Michael. I hacked into the mission profile and some of the reports. It seems that Stephen was to marry a civilian to steady his identity." Birkoff says and Michael starts to shake his head.

"He should have never been allowed out of the psychological level. He is too dangerous." Michael says and Birkoff looks at Michael.

"Well... I did finally find the name.. I haven't been able to cross reference the name yet." Birkoff says as the picture of the young lady shows up on the screen. Michael turns his head and looks at it.

"Can you run it against the victims of the serial murders that Nikita working on first?" Michael asks and Birkoff shakes his head in confusement.

"Michael, I haven't even asked for a crime history yet!" Birkoff says and Michael faces Birkoff sharply.

"Ok.. ok..." Birkoff mumbles as he turns back to the computer. Birkoff types a few moments and sits back for the information to run through the system.

"Oh my god..." Michael says as he snaps off the computer and stares at Birkoff.

"YOU DID NOT SEE THAT!" Michael says firmly and Birkoff nods his head in shock and confusement. Birkoff lowered his head and instantly did a prayer for Nikita.

***

Nikita walks down the hall quickly as she gathers reports from the incoming teams. She tries to contain her excitement as she looks at the reports. All of them were confirming her beliefs.

"Hayter... get me Zachary... now!" Nikita exclaims as she sets the papers down on the desk and look at Hayter.

"I already called. Michael has called twice. Are you going to call him back?" Hayter asks and Nikita looks at the computer and then hears Zachary walking down the hall.

"I'll call him later. Don't worry, Michael always understands." Nikita says firmly as she grabs the sheets and walks over to Zachary.

"Looks like it is more than just theory." Nikita says as she hands the papers over to Zachary to view. After the first five sheets he turns to Nikita.

"They are all the same." Nikita says and Zachary smiles as he moves over to the maps that Nikita moved over into the main part of the sub station.

"So what is our next attack?" Zachary asks and Nikita smiles softly.

"I ran a cross reference off the men with any type of surgically background that has access to both areas. It narrowed the suspects down to ten." Nikita says and Zachary shakes his head.

"You mean we only have ten suspects left now?" Zachary asks and Nikita smiles broadly.

"Amazing what one breakthrough can do for an investigation!" Nikita says with a happy voice. Zachary sets the papers down and looks at Nikita.

"So we can just assign operatives to watch all of the men." Zachary says as he picks up the list of men.

"Why are there vets on here?" Zachary asks and Nikita looks at him. Nikita picks up a crime scene photo of the surgically removed arm and then a text book.

"In fact, the three vets are our best suspects. Looks like the stitches being used are more common in surgery with dogs and cats than humans." Nikita says as she hands the photos over to Zachary.

"Nikita, did I tell you how unbelievable you are!" Zachary says as he drops the book and the photo and hugs Nikita.

"Well... that is only one killer." Nikita says sadly and Zachary nods his head.

"Well... I'm going to get some sleep, tell me if we catch him." Nikita says with a shrug of her shoulders. Zachary watches her walk off.

"Zachary... did Nikita go to bed?" Hayter asks softly about ten minutes later, as Zachary still is numbed by Nikita's work on the case.

"Yes, she did. Why?" Zachary asks.

"Oh, it's Michael on the line again. He has called three times.... but he didn't want to disrupt her sleep." Hayter says and Zachary nods his head. He had to agree with Michael. Nikita did need her sleep.

***

Operations opens the door to his office and slides his hand against the wall. The light flickers on slowly as he walks to the right, near the window, and pulls up a glass. Operations dumps some ice into the glass and pulls at the vodka. He pours and then slams the bottle down. He didn't like what was going on in New York. He had about fifty missions he could use best with Michael and Nikita, and now, Nikita had called for a communication stoppage until the original killer was captured.

Operations takes a long gulp and then places the glass down loudly. He pulls at his jacket and pulls out the packet of cigarettes. He had tried to stop, but for some reason, he needed them now. He didn't like what Nikita was doing. She didn't ask, she ordered. Boom, and that was done. Zachary didn't even notify is own sister of the block.

Operations lights up the cigarette and picks up the drink as he turns towards his desk. As he does so, the chair slowly turns around and Operation's eyes stare back in anger.

"Michael, what the hell are you doing in here!" Operations roars as he places the drink down on the desk. Michael looks at the drink and then the smoke circling Operations head.

"I need to speak with Nikita." Michael says and Operations glares at Michael.

"I need to speak with Nikita, also, Michael... but I'm not even getting what I want!" Operations says loudly as he drops down in the seat that he would never normally sit in. Operations has already forgotten Michael stowing away in his office, and has gone back to Nikita problems.

"It is very important that I get in touch with her." Michael says and Operations rubs the ridge of his nose.

"Michael, if I try to override any of the blocks that Nikita has placed, it might place her life in danger among most of the sub-station." Operations says and Michael stands up and moves to the glass window.

"Is it because they have found the copy cat?" Michael asks and Operations takes a long drink.

"No. Because they have found the original murderer." Operations says firmly, upset that the copy cat wasn't found first. Madeline told Operations that Nikita's way was correct and not to second guess her. Operations stands up and pushes the cigarette out. He walks to the window and looks out also.

"Michael, you know something." Operations says and Michael looks towards him firmly.

"I have been doing some research." Michael says softly and Operations looks at him.

"So you hacked?" Operations asks, but receives no response. Operations stares out the window and thinks for several moments.

"Nikita has a suspect." Operations says as he looks to Michael again.

Michael turns and blank stares Operations. Michael couldn't tell Operations that Nikita suspected her own half brother.. and his son. Operations would probably cancel Michael without a blink.

"You know who she thinks it is." Operations says firmly.

"I knew of who she thought it was... it was incorrect, and it is important that she stops thinking that way." Michael finally says and Operations nods.

"I will notify you as soon as the blocks are taken down. That is all I can do." Operations says and Michael nods and walks out quickly.

***

Nikita sits in the car waiting. Zachary looks at the door and then to Nikita. She has been out on the streets almost constantly. She truly believed that the killer was now being watched and that they would find him soon. That was the day prior to the current one. It has been the longest time that the killer hasn't killed someone. There have been no bodies found, but even Nikita is starting to doubt herself.

"Why don't we just go back in? Take down the block in communications and go back to scratch." Nikita says as she glances at her watch. Zachary looks to Nikita and turns on the ignition. He looks to Nikita and looks out his rear view mirror.

Suddenly, the comm unit that Nikita has held in her hand starts to beep increasingly loud. Nikita looks at Zachary as he pushes the stick back to park. Nikita pulls the comm unit on and stares at the dashboard.

"No activity?" Nikita asks with a tinge of depression on her voice.

"Suspect has taken girl from house.... team 6 is following them...." Hayter says and Nikita looks at Zachary. Zachary hurriedly pulls out of the parking spot, on the way to the site.

"Is she still alive?" Nikita asks and she waits. She is sure that Hayter is checking in with Team 6 to be sure.

"Yes, the victim is still alive..... Grunden reports that she was forcefully taken.... all teams are in route to possible dump locations." Hayter says and Nikita looks at Zachary.

"Step on it, we need to be there before he kills her." Nikita says firmly as she watches the scenery quickly pass on her sides.

Zachary pulls over as Nikita looks both directions. They would be at this area in any moment. Nikita twiddles her thumbs nervously as she notices a couple more Teams taking positions around the same area. Some operatives run into the bushes while others bend over so not to be seen in the car.

"Get out, Zachary." Nikita says as she opens her door and steps out. Zachary looks at Nikita and frowns.

"Nikita... we will expose ourselves!" Zachary exclaims as he follows Nikita out. Nikita smiles.

"He is a man of impulse... if he can't mechanically do what he wants too... he will let her go at this spot. With visible people, he won't kill her." Nikita says as she steps into the middle of the roadway and turns to Zachary.

"I HATE YOU! YOU SHOULD HAVE ASKED FOR DIRECTIONS!" Nikita screams loudly as she notices the approaching car. The car behind it is a Section car.

Nikita smiles internally as Zachary yells at her. He has just pushed the girl out of the car and made the right hand turn.

"I HATE YOU!" Nikita screams as she watches the car make another right hand turn and out of sight. Nikita rushes to the sidewalk and pulls at the bound and gagged girl.

"Are you all right?" Nikita asks as she pulls the duct tape off of her mouth. The girl slowly nods her head yes. Nikita motions for some operatives to come to the girl. Nikita takes Zachary's arm and goes back to the car.

"Let's go get the killer." Nikita says firmly as she sits down in the car.

*

The operatives hold guns to his head as Nikita enters the apartment. She looks around to find more than enough proof. There were pictures of the girls found in the locked room and Nikita walks up to him.

"So you like to kill girls... odd hobby for a vet." Nikita says as she picks up some pictures and then rubs her chin softly.

"I don't know what you are talking about.. .who are you?" The man hisses back and Nikita smiles back.

"I work for an anti-terrorist group... I kill people because my boss wants them killed... I protect the world from genetically engineered diseases and then I protect the world from scum like you." Nikita says slowly as she smiles. The operatives raise their eyebrows at Nikita and Nikita smiles coldly.

"A signature like 87 degrees is very unique... and I want to thank you for the game.... but I have to say, CHECKMATE..." Nikita says as she turns her back on him and walks towards the door.

"Kill him." Nikita says just as the door shuts. While the echo of the closing door is still in the room, the three guns go off so close together one can not be identified from another.

***

Michael rushes to the phone in the office and picks it up. He dials the number from memory and is blessed with the sound of a ringing phone. It rings eight times... each time making Michael more nervous.

"Hello?" a tired Nikita answers. Michael sits down and smiles as he hears Nikita's voice.

"I didn't want to wake you." Michael says and he can hear Nikita chuckle at the comment.

"I was working on the report." Nikita says as she pushes back her hair. Michael pulls out the file from the desk drawer and looks at it.

"Nikita, I found something." Michael says tentatively. He didn't want Nikita to take anything wrong. He didn't want to intrude in her case, but he couldn't help himself.

"What do you mean, Michael?" Nikita asks slowly. Michael looks at the file and closes his eyes.

"I traded Birkoff... I gave him some information about what Operations felt about him and Melissa and he did some research for me." Michael says and he hears Nikita tapping her fingers on the desk.

"On whom, Michael?" Nikita asks with a stressed and tired voice. Michael swallows and holds the paper in his fingers.

"On Stephen." Michael says and Nikita's fingers stop tapping. Michael waits for Nikita's reaction, but there is none. Michael sets the paper done and closes his eyes.

"SO?" Nikita finally asks and Michael opens his eyes. He really believed that Nikita would be upset with his meddling.

"He is working solely out of the New York sub-station.. stopped working at the Albany one..... But..." Michael says slowly and he can hear the fingers starting to tap again.

"But what, Michael?" Nikita asks and Michael closes the file. He doesn't need to consult it. He has read each sheet at least a hundred times. He knew the file off by heart.

"He was to marry a civilian to make his story seem more credible." Michael says and Nikita's eyes snap open. She pulls out a pen and waits for Michael to tell more.

"He did marry someone... her name..." Michael says and Nikita waits, poised to write it down on the paper.

"Her name, Michael?" Nikita asks shortly, not liking the pauses.

"Gretchen Keller." Michael says and he hears the short and sharp intake of air. He knows that Nikita knows that name.

"Nikita?" Michael calls out after a long pause of noise.

"She was the first one killed by the copy cat..." Nikita says as she closes her eyes. She had her suspicions and now it was horrible true. Stephen was yet again trying to send messages to Nikita. This one, deadly messages.

"Nikita, I want you to come home... let Zachary deal with this." Michael says and there is yet another pause from Nikita.

"No, Operations will only send me back once he hears. You haven't told him, have you?" Nikita asks firmly.

"No. I sure don't want to be the one to break the news to him." Michael says and Nikita nods her head in agreement.

"That's why I must catch him red handed." Nikita says and Michael's mouth drops.

"Nikita, drop that notion.. Just come back home to me....." Michael insists on loudly and he looks around again. He rubs his face and then sits back down.

"Michael... he is sending me the messages.... Zachary won't be able to capture him if I go back.. Stephen would just follow me there." Nikita says and Michael squeezes his eyes shut.

"But I can protect you here!" Michael protests loudly.

"Michael.... I have to do this." Nikita says and she waits.

"Well... I'm proud of your capture Nikita... you did real well... I love you..." Michael says softly as he drops the phone and looks towards the door.

Nikita had firm points, and most of them were so correct. If Stephen was again obsessing over Nikita, he would only follow her. Michael shakes his head as he can't think of a reason why they wouldn't want that. Nikita would be safe with Michael around and Operations might figure it out without anyone else having to tell him.

Nikita sat in her bedroom and shakes her head. She was sure that Michael barely understood the underlying dynamics that were occurring. Stephen had already become more violent with his attacks since it was announced to Section as a whole that the original killer was destroyed. Nikita trembled as she fell deeper into the make shift cot. Zachary was in the other room, but Nikita suddenly felt stranded, a feeling that she had rarely felt since she met Michael.

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