Prologue

December 1988

Vanessa knew it was rude, but she couldn't help standing stock still at the big bay window watching the snowfall while all her family and friends milled around the living room, talking and laughing over the Christmas tunes playing in the background. For as long as she could remember, she had never witnessed so much snow falling at once. It was so thick and white she could barely see the lights across the street. It made the warm inside of the house seem all that much cosier.

A pair of arms wrapped around her and squeezed her tight. "Just think, you'll be seeing a lot more of that stuff in a month."

Vanessa smiled as the arms gently spun her around and she exchanged a quick peck on the lips with her boyfriend. "I can't wait, Warren. How did you manage to get my dad to stop talking to you?"

Warren pretended to put on a guilty expression. "I told him I smelled something burning in the kitchen and he rushed off to check on your mother."

"Sneaky."

"Isn't that what you love about me?"

Vanessa laughed as she snuggled tighter against his chest.

"Well it seems like a day or two ago that I watched you cry after you fell skating around the rink." A high and cheery voice called out.

"Aunt Louise." Vanessa and Warren quickly released their grips on each other. "Enjoying the party?"

"How can I enjoy the party? When my favourite nieces are going to Toronto for eight months, one to work and one to accompany her." Aunt Louise said sadly. "Bunch of bollucks if you ask me."

"I have to do sixteen months for my Work Experience placement. I promise I'll try to stay in Philly for the remaining eight." Vanessa assured her.

"Besides," Warren added, draping an affectionate arm over his girlfriend. "Only a handful of applicants actually get into the program. Your niece is one in a million. And don't worry, I'll be visiting her in August to make sure she hasn't done any hanky-panky."

Aunt Louise tried to scold the young man for speaking like that, but everyone knew she was joking and even she couldn't hold back a smile for long. Unable to hold back her curiosity, she asked Warren when he was planning on popping the big question since they had gone out for so long the whole family was expecting it.

"Then let me assure you, Aunt Louise." Warren answered with his classic sly look. "That I'll get down on one knee and pop the question when everyone is LEAST expecting it."

She walked away laughing, like most people who talked to him. But as soon as she was gone Ryan came up to them. She knew it was crazy, but Vanessa could feel the tension surrounding the young man. And if the negative vibe wasn't enough, the expression on Ryan's face certainly indicated he was not a happy camper.

"How can you do this?" Ryan demanded.

Vanessa gave Warren a confused glance before shifting her gaze back to Ryan. "What are you talking about?"

"Running away to Canada like this, and dragging Kaitlyn along with you."

Vanessa completely removed herself from Warren's grip, taking a step forward to boldly face Ryan. "Well then I'd like to inform you that Kaitlyn accompanying me to Toronto was her choice, and nobody else's."

"Yeah, I know she wouldn't dare abandon her sister in such a time of need." Ryan hissed, matching Vanessa's step forward until their glares were inches apart. "I know why you're going there. Everybody knows, though they're all too polite to say. The only reason you're going there is because Warren knocked you up and he doesn't have the guts to pop the question."

"Watch your mouth." Warren's tone bordered on aggressive. He would have done something if it hadn't been for Vanessa reassuring arm on his own. She was right, of course. They didn't need a big scene at her going away party.

"Are you alright?" Warren asked her after Ryan had finally walked away to mingle with other people and pretend that everything was ok.

"He's just bitter." Vanessa replied regretfully. Her brow wrinkled with worry when her eyes rested on Warren again. "Are you sure you still want to go through with this?"

"It's a little too late to back out now."

"Yeah, but I never expected you'd have to put up with…Ryan."

"Hey, it's alright." Warren gently cupped Vanessa's chin and brought her gaze up to match his own. "It was partly my choice, remember? So in a way it's partly my fault as well. Now let's forget about our troubles, at least for today."

It was a clear, beautiful night with a million stars twinkling in the sky. In a nearly empty parking lot just hidden from the glare of a street lamp Vanessa lay on the warm cement, a pool of dark blood by her head, a pair of car keys dangling from her limp hand.

Down in the vault, a detective filed away the file of Vanessa Hamilton dated November 1989. It was such a shame, any case that ran cold. He had wished a thousand times over for a lead to come in, any lead that would reveal the killer. But that was not the case, not this time. As the detective slid her box into the empty space on the shelf, he prayed that justice would come for the young girl. No matter how long that would take.

Author's Note: Sorry if I confused anyone...I didn't realize I had written the date of the case file to be September1989 when it should have been November 1989.