Chapter 1



Renee jumped up from the table where she had been writing when the phone rang. When she lifted it from the receiver, there was no one there, only a dial tone. She slammed it back down and even though no one else was there, asked, "Why do they do this to me, interrupting my train of thought like that?"
Of course there was no answer, but she felt better after voicing her thoughts. She walked back over to the table and got back to work on her latest story for the Vorschlag View. She wouldn't have any problems meeting the deadline, but she wanted to get it finished so she could enjoy her weekend.
Just as she was finishing it, she heard a knock on the door. Rolling her eyes, she got up and walked over to it. Gabriel was raising his hand to knock again when she opened the door. Her face immediately brightened with a smile when she saw him. "What are you doing here?"
"I can't come to see you anymore?" He asked with a smile.
"Of course you can. I just didn't expect to see you until later."

"It's seven o'clock. This is when I said I'd pick you up."
Renee looked at her watch, then back up at him. "I'm so sorry. I was writing and completely lost track of time. I still need to get ready."
"It's okay. We have plenty of time."
He sat on the couch while she went into her room to change and fix her hair. Ten minutes later she was ready. She was wearing a denim skirt that came to her knees and a white blouse. The sides of her hair were pulled back into a pony tail and the ends were curled under.
Gabriel stood and smiled at her as she came into the room. "You're beautiful," he told her.
"You're blind."
He had learned by now not to react to these comments. He took her arm and they walked out the door together.

Sara had invited them to the precinct's annual Christmas party. Renee had agreed to go with Gabriel, but afterward had been unsure. She wouldn't know anyone there and she was always nervous then. He had assured her that he would be right there with her. He also told her that they didn't have to go if she really didn't want to. But she had all ready said she would go, so she wasn't going to change her mind now.
When they arrived, Sara was waiting just inside the doors. She smiled at them and said, "I'm glad you could make it."
Gabriel removed his coat and shook his head, making the snow fly from it in all directions. Renee took off hers and sara hung them up. Then, they headed into the dining room.
As soon as they stepped through the doors, Renee stopped. The room was packed with unfamiliar faces. Her heart started beating faster, her hands felt like they were sweating, and her head felt like it was spinning. Gabriel looked at her and squeezed her hand, seeing her nervousness.
She smiled at him and they walked over to a table with Sara. Grabbing their plates, they walked over to the food table. Once they had their food and drinks, they walked back over to their table and sat down.

Soon a band started playing. Renee didn't recognize the sound of it, but she liked it. She was pushing the food around on her plate, her mind elsewhere. Gabriel noticed this and asked, "What's wrong?"
She shook her head and replied, "Nothing."
He didn't push it any further, knowing she wouldn't tell him until she was ready. Once they had finished eating, Gabriel stood up and bowing, asked, "May I have this dance, ma'am?"
She laughed and held out her hand. He took it, leading her out to the middle of the room. The band was playing a slow song and he put his left hand around her waist and his right on her shoulder.
After a while, he noticed that she was very tense. "What's wrong?"
"It feels like everyone's watching us."
"Of course they are. They can see how beautiful you are."
The song ended and they headed back to the table. Just as they were about to leave the dance floor, a man came stumbling up to them. He grabbed Renee's arm and said in a slurred voice, "Dance with me."

She could smell the alcohol on his breath and tried to pull away, but his grip remained strong. Gabriel stepped forward and put his hand on the man's shoulder. "Take your hand off her."
The man looked at him and sneered. "Are you gonna make me, boy?"
Gabriel's face became very hard. He was really getting sick of being called boy. "Yes, I will. She is with me and we were just going to sit down."
"Well, she can dance with me before she sits with you," he said with obvious contempt.
"I don't want to dance with you," Renee told him.
Sara had been talking to Captain Richards and they both heard the commotion and started over there at the same time. He put his hand on the man's back and said, "Go home and sober up."
He spun around and glared at him until he realized who it was. "Sorry, sir."
"Go home."
"Yes, captain."
"Are you all right, Miss Mackenzie?" He asked once the man had left.
"Yeah."
They walked back over to the table and sat down. He leaned over and whispered in her ear, "Are you sure you're okay? You seem awfully quiet."

She nodded and said, "I'm fine."
Gabriel didn't believe her, but he let it go. After a while, some people started to leave. Soon only the two of them, Sara, Jake, and Captain Richards were still there.
"Did you two walk here?" Sara asked them.
"Yeah."
"I could give you a ride home," Richards suggested.
Gabriel looked at Renee and she shrugged. He nodded his head. "Sure. Thanks."
They grabbed their coats and walked outside. Someone was standing by the cars, but as soon as they started toward them, the person turned and walked away. Gabriel and Renee didn't notice, but Sara felt that something was wrong. She tried to brush the feeling away, but it wouldn't leave. When they reached the cars, she told them, "Be careful."
It wasn't unusual for her to tell Gabriel that, so they just nodded their heads and replied, "We will."
They climbed into the car and Renee yawned.
"Tired?" Gabriel asked with a laugh.
"Yeah. Woke up early this morning."
"You wake up early every morning."

She shook her head. "This was early even for me."
"Why did you wake up so early?"
"The phone rang."
"Who would call so early in the morning?"
She shook her head again. "I don't know. When I answered, no one was there."
His face had a look of worry on it. "Was this the first time that's happened?"
She hesitated, then shook her head. She looked at Richards, but wasn't sure if he was listening. "It's been happening for almost a week now."
"Why didn't you tell me?"
Richards' head jerked up, concerned at the worry in Gabriel's voice. Renee just shook her head, not wanting to say any more about it right now. When they arrived at his apartment, Renee climbed out of the car. Gabriel started to climb out after her, but was stopped by Richards. "Find out what is going on and let us help."
Gabriel looked at him, then nodded his head. He stepped out of the car and walked over to where Renee was waiting for him. They walked inside together. Once their coats were off, Gabriel sat on the edge of his bed and motioned for her to sit beside him. "Now, why didn't you tell me?"

"Because I was afraid."
"That's why you should have told me. I would have made sure they didn't bother you anymore."
"That's why I couldn't tell you." There were tears in her eyes. "That's exactly what I was afraid of. I don't want you going after them."
"Who are they?"
Renee shook her head after a moment of hesitation. "I don't know," she replied, but she wouldn't meet his eyes.
"Renee, what aren't you telling me?"
"Nothing."
He took her face in his hands and pleaded softly, "Renee, please tell me."
She turned her head and looked at the floor. Then standing up, she walked to the middle of the room and turned around to face him.
"Two weeks ago an article of mine came out in the view about this one stable. Their barns are run down and the horses are so thin you can see their ribs. It's awful. And you know how diplomatic I am about things."
He laughed. "So someone is mad at you."
She nodded. "That's the only thing I can think of."
"But you don't know who."
She shook her head. "I really don't." She went back over to the bed and sat beside him. He wrapped his arms around her and she laid her head on his shoulder.
"It will be all right," he told her as he stroked her hair. "Do you want to stay here tonight?"
She lifted her head and looked at him. "Of course I do."
They slipped into bed, too tired to do anything else.
*******
Sara was sitting at her desk the next morning when there was a knock on the door. She looked up and smiled when she saw Gabriel standing there. "Hello, Gabe."
"Pez, I need your help."
"With what?"
He sat down in a chair across from her and told her what Renee had told him the night before. When he had finished, she said, "I'll see what I can find out. You don't try to find them though, understand?"
He gave her a sheepish smile. "Yes. I'll stay out of trouble. Renee all ready made me promise her that."
"Smart girl. What are you going to do now?"
"Go to the shop for a bit, then go home. Renee went to her place this morning to finish working on a story. We're gonna go to lunch later."

He left and started down the street to his shop. he had only walked a little way when he felt something hard press into his back and someone hiss in his ear, "Keep walking and turn down the next alley."
He obeyed, but his mind was racing to figure out what was going on. When he turned into the alley, he saw a car sitting there. He stopped, realizing what was happening. In the next minute he saw lights go off in his head, then nothing but darkness.