I sat in the corner of the restaurant watching people as they came and went. I didn't usually like to eat alone but today was different; I had a lot on my mind. I had just lost my best friend to a crazy serial killer and no one could seem to give me anything to make me feel better about the situation or that they were getting closer to finding her killer. Dawn and I had been friends since we were in diapers, causing her to almost be more like a sister than a friend. This was our favorite place to eat so I had come here to honor her memory and possibly to do some people watching. If the cops couldn't tell me anything maybe I could sense something on my own. I had a strong feeling toward certain people that had proven to be correct in the past. Maybe it would work out that way this time as well. I ordered Dawn's favorite meal and picked at my food, watching the people milling about.

Halfway through my meal a very tall, very handsome man walked through the door. He had a long shaggy mane of brown hair and was very built. His arms bulged beneath his grey v neck tee shirt as he moved and his hands looked like catchers mitts, they were so big. He had a sadness in his eyes that I recognized. Maybe he had lost someone as well. I felt drawn to him instantly but forced myself to stay seated. I watched him as he made his way to a table against the wall in front of me. He sat with his back to the wall so that he was facing the entrance and everyone in the restaurant. When he walked he moved with a grace not found in most really tall guys. He had a quiet confidence that drew me to him. He glanced around the room and our eyes met for a few seconds. He gave a cordial grin and I almost swooned at the dimples that flashed at me. As quickly as our eyes met, he looked away just as quickly.

I finished my meal and went to the register to pay my bill. I walked to my car and drove home slowly. Once I was home I stepped inside and looked around. There were so many things here that reminded me of Dawn, the hammock chair from Cancun hanging on my back porch, the photos from all of our various trips together and even my cat that came slinking around the corner from my room. Dawn had given the yellow tabby to me when her own cat had a litter a few years ago. A sadness washes over me and it's all I can do to get it all under control. I go to the bathroom and wash my face and try to straighten my makeup back up when I hear the doorbell ring. I take one last look in the mirror and see that my nose is all red and my eyes are swollen from the tears but there's nothing to be done about that now.

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Sam waits outside the door after ringing the doorbell for someone to come answer it. Finally hearing footsteps he straightens up to his full height and pushes thoughts of his brother from his mind. When the door swings open he is taken aback at the sight before him. It was the girl from the restaurant that he had made eye contact with. He had noticed her there and how sad she looked but now he could see she had been crying from the looks of her nose and puffy eyes. He quickly clears his throat and composes himself. "Miss Billie Simmons?", he questions and waits for her to answer. "Yes I am Billie. And you are?" Though she's small, barely reaching Sam's chest he can see she's unafraid of him. That was unusual sometimes when he first met women and such a relief. Billie had a pixie style haircut with a shock of blue running along the right side of her blonde bangs. Sam reaches inside his suit coat pocket and pulls his FBI badge out. Flipping it open he answers, "Detective Frehley investigating the death of Dawn Spencer and a few other ladies in your area. May I come in and ask a few questions?" Sam was sure to give her his best good guy smile when she looked skeptical.

Billie stepped aside and allowed Sam to come inside. He followed her in after stepping through the door and waiting for her lead. She asked, "Would you like something to drink? Water, beer, coke?" Sam heard a hint of Southern and from the mention of coke he knew she was from the south. "Water will be fine.", he said and ducked his head a bit as he scanned the area around him. Her home was very cozy and lived in. He liked that for some reason. It was a vast difference from his very structured lifestyle and way of keeping things, a throwback to living with a Marine for so many years. Billie handed Sam a bottle of water and carried her own into the living room. Sam followed her to the living room and noticed the furnishings there were very comfy and there were photos everywhere. Dawn was in several of the photos Sam noted. "Please have a seat.", Billie offered and sat in an overstuffed chair and waited for Sam to take a seat on the couch. Sam took a sip of his water before looking over at Billie. "Thank you for talking to me. I will try to be quick and not take up too much of your time. I understand you have already told the local police everything but I need to know a few more things for my investigation.", his eyes were almost questioning. Billie nodded at him and sat her own water on the rustic coffee table.

"I understand that you and Dawn have been friends for many years. Can you tell me more about her than what the police have already supplied me with?", Sam waited for Billie to answer. Billie related to Sam how they had been friends since elementary school and how they were friends all through school and into college where they were roommates for as long as Billie had stayed in school. Dawn had continued on in college, earning her degree in criminology. Billie had left school after her first year when all she really wanted to do was travel. She had scored a job on a cruise ship, giving her a way to earn a living as well as seeing new sites. She had worked out a way to go on three different ships so that she was going to different locations every third trip out. She and Dawn even had time to go on a few trips of their own when school was out and when Billie wasn't on one of the cruise ships. Sam listened intently and took notes.

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I was shocked to see the beautiful man from the restaurant when I opened the front door to my home but part of me wasn't surprised either. I knew men that looked like him didn't live around here. This place was too plain to attract too many good looking men like Sam. I noticed that when I talked, he listened more closely than any man I had ever been around. Why couldn't I have met him under different circumstances? Now that I was close to him I could see that he had kind hazel eyes that were both piercing and honest at the same time. He had a couple freckles that I fought the need to touch, one on the left side of his nose and the other on the right side of his chin. And speaking of chin, he had a valley there that made me want to run my tongue over it and feel the light stubble that smattered his face. I blushed lightly as those thoughts ran through my head unchecked and hoped he didn't notice.

When I had told him almost every aspect of my friendship with Dawn I began to cry gently. Sam reached in his jacket pocket and pulled out a soft handkerchief. Handing it to me gently he watched as I dabbed at my damp eyes. "Thank you for talking to me Billie. I will let you know what I find out as soon as I possibly can.", Sam says to me and then stands. I follows him to the front door and reach to hand him his handkerchief back. Sam smiled gently, "Keep it.", he simply said. He held my hand between his own and I noticed how dwarfed his large hands made mine look. "Thank you Detective Frehley.", I said with one last look up into his soulful eyes. There again I saw that sadness and wondered what had caused it. I longed to help him lose that sadness.

Before I was ready for him to leave, Sam was walking down my steps with his long strides. I watched him walk to his black Chevy Impala and climb in. The engine roared to life and he threw his hand out the window with one last wave goodbye. I watched him leave until all that was left of him and his car was a billow of dust in the driveway. I turned and made my way back into the house with his handkerchief still clutched in my hand. Bringing it to my face I could smell a faint smell of man, a mixture of gunpowder and maleness that caused my body to ache. I knew he would be back when and if he found out anything about what had happened to Dawn.