Without missing a beat, Traci stared at Palmer.
"What are you doing in my room and pointing that thing at me? Didn't you ever hear of knocking?"
He shoved it a little closer to her.
"Just drop it, Traci, I know you did this to get Missy back safely." He chuckled. "And to think I was almost fool enough to believe you had truly turned on the man you love."
Traci's heart raced deep within her.
Her life may be over but at least she would die knowing she had protected those she cared about.
"So what are you going to do with me?"
He sat in silence, studying her.
"Well, for starters..." He backhanded her across her face. "I'll make sure Webb knows how dearly you paid for his life and his sister's life."
Traci sat up, shaking the pain away.
Her cheek was bright red and it burned.
"Do whatever you will, but you will never have the chance to hurt them again," she hissed.
He yanked her off the bed and threw her hard against the wall, holding her up off the floor by her neck.
He laughed as she gasped for air.
"Better smile for the camera."
He nodded behind him.
Traci found a small red light shining through the doorway.
Tears ran down her bruised cheek.
'At least he has Casey to help him through this now' she thought- her heart breaking a little more.
Then everything went black.
Webb's Apartment
Alexandria VA
Webb sat on his couch, eyes closed, reliving the past few weeks.
His head ached from all of it.
Suddenly, there was a knock at the door.
Slowly he got up and looked through the peephole, halfway expecting to see Casey standing there, but there was no-one.
He opened the door and found another small package at his feet.
Before he even picked it up he knew what it was and who it was from.
He could barely swallow as he slid the tape in the VCR and hit play.
As Traci's image came into view he wanted to reach out and touch her... to know she was really there.
He loved how peaceful she looked sleeping.
Then anger boiled up as he watched Palmer slip into her room, gun aimed at her.
He felt that familiar confusion of feelings as Palmer alluded to the fact that Traci was in love with Webb.
He fought the urge to cover his eyes as Palmer hit her.
He barely restrained himself from jumping through the television as Palmer choked her up against the wall.
As he closed his eyes, he heard Palmer's voice.
"You are one pathetic man, Webb. Here, is this woman who loves you so much she risked everything, even you believing she had turned to me, to save you and your bratty sister. And how do you thank her? By running into Casey's arms. Traci didn't deserve you. She deserved someone who would love her back. Sad, really, she'll never have that chance now. You have only yourself to blame Agent Webb. Maybe I'll let you find her body and maybe I won't. Maybe you'll have to spend years searching for her, searching for closure like I did when you got my Tracy killed!"
Then the screen went black.
Webb didn't know whether to run out and hunt Palmer down, call Mac, call Casey, or just cry.
The thought of taking his own gun to his head crossed his mind briefly.
He glanced around the room.
Memories of Traci were everywhere.
He smiled when he saw the small hole in the far wall.
She had been trying to show how tough she was and had challenged him to a wrestling match of sorts.
Somehow she had managed to punch the wall as she was trying to break free from him and he had never gotten around to fixing it... now he might never fix it.
Then his eyes settled on a nearby picture of her.
He had taken it on one of their more recent cases.
It had been to Guatemala.
In their short partnership, it was there that he discovered her love of archaeology.
He had taken her to one of the Mayan sites and had been amazed at how she was like a child in a candy store there.
It was one of the best times he had ever had in his life.
Webb walked over and picked up the picture. Traci's eyes were sparkling and full of life.
Her smile outdid the sun.
"Oh, Traci, I am so sorry. I never got the chance to tell you that I l..."
Someone knocked at the door again.
With picture in hand, Webb opened the door.
Mac stared at him.
Without a word, she knew.
Tears filled her eyes.
Webb couldn't even look at her.
"I... I..."
"You got her killed!" Mac screamed.
She raised her arm to hit him, but he grabbed her wrist.
It was then she noticed the picture in his hand.
She slowly lowered her hand.
Webb walked over to the window, still clutching the frame.
"Mac, I... It's all my fault. It should have been me."
Mac closed the door and walked up behind him.
"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have blamed you. Traci has always had a mind of her own and if she wants to do something, she'll do it."
He turned to face her, tears threatening to spill.
"If I had only talked to her about Casey. I just ignored it and she felt left out."
Wiping away tears, Mac smiled.
"You know she would have still done this. If it meant protecting Missy and you she would have done anything."
"I know."
She hugged him.
"I have to go."
He stayed by the window while she left, glancing down at the picture once more.
"I will find you, Palmer. I will find you and make you pay."