Chapter Six

Rachel had retreated to the master suite, seriously shaken by the gift that the sick fuck had left her. Puck waited in the foyer with Mike and Matt, muscles tense as he was ready to rip this cretin to shreds. A knock at the door revealed a plain-clothes detective. She was 5'8", bright green eyes and long blonde hair. If she hadn't flashed a badge at him and had a gun on her hip, she could have been mistaken for a model.

"I'm Detective Isaacs. What happened?" Mike told the story from what they knew (the letter) and what they had just experienced (the rotting roses). Detective Isaacs took notes as he spoke. "Do you three have experience with cases like this?" They shook their heads no and she sighed. "These things can get messy boys. She's a public figure."

It eased model detective's worry to hear that they had skills in boxing and mixed martial arts from fight club in high school. "I'll start an investigation about the delivery. But you three need to lock down her schedule. Keep only a few people involved in her daily activities and keep things very scheduled. Here's my card. I'll contact the precinct in New York and brief them so that we can work together."

Detective Aubrey Isaacs
Threat Unit, Detective Support and Vice Division
Los Angeles Police Department
213-910-8631

Mike saw her out and pocketed the card as Puck took a minute to plot.

"We need a plan. We need a set way of how things are going to go over the next few days. Coffee, yoga, everything has to be on there and someone is with her at all times – Quinn and Kurt don't count in that equation. It has to be one of us." Mike and Matt nodded at Puck's natural progression into the point person

"What do we tell her? The truth?" Matt asked looking to the closed door that the actress was behind.

Puck ran a hand over his face and weighed the decision. The scared girl in there would probably appreciate half the truth of the situation. But Rachel Berry…she would appreciate the truth.

"She gets the truth. Because with her in the dark, we'll have to be that much more fucking careful. Her knowing the truth will make her fight that much harder."

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The boys had sat her down and told her the truth, which she couldn't say that she didn't appreciate. She tried to compartmentalize all the information because she still had burgeoning career to maintain and that night it meant going out even if she didn't feel like it at the moment. Despite the situation, the group had gotten ready in record timing and got into the car that would be transportation for their time in Los Angeles. She didn't have a chance to think of the glitz and glamour, just of her job and what it meant to be making it. There was such an influx of actresses and actors that were chomping at the bit for what she had and there was no other option but to push through.

In Rachel's eyes, it was fate that on the night of the second situation involving her stalker, she had to go to one of the most popular Los Angeles area restaurants for dinner. But she was meeting Zachary Quinto who was playing Black Mask in the film for dinner. Her charm had won over all her co-stars and it was no wonder that Zachary wanted to dine with her and introduce to his former Heroes co-star, Ali Larter and her husband Hayes.

As they sat at a stoplight close to the restaurant, Rachel trembled and Puck noticed her anxiety written all over her face.

"Berry, you got this," Puck said from the passenger seat. He had been keeping an eye on her through the rearview mirror and the worry in her brown eyes was troubling. Rachel was the strong one – the one who had pulled the group together to win Nationals their junior year and the one to belt it on the fly when there was no one else ready to step up to the plate.

"I'm nervous, what if the...how can I be sure that the stalker isn't around every corner?" Rachel questioned wringing her hands.

"Rachel Barbra Berry, you have worked too hard for this to let some psycho suddenly deprive you of your time. We will find who it is and we will make sure that you are safe," Quinn said emphatically. The blonde gave her friend's hand a squeeze; a gesture that she hoped added some strength to the already resilient brunette.

Rachel let out a shaky breath and nodded. Quinn was right. She had worked too hard on too many small roles to finally let someone take her time from her. She was Beckett Warner and she had a two picture deal that would only further her career. It was time to take life by the horns.

Her mouth spread into a small grin and she nodded for Matt to open the door. Flashes went off as they piled out of the car. "Rachel!" was being yelled by the paparazzi camped out in front of Mr. Chow. She gave a little wave, paused for barely a minute before letting the three guys circle around her protectively and guide her into the restaurant.

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"Damn, some entourage you've got there girl. It makes me want to get into this movie empire," Ali commented patting Rachel's hand. "No offense babe," she said to her husband, giving him a chaste kiss.

"Thank you but they're actually all friends from home. I'm very lucky to have them, " Rachel explained.

The statement was very true. She knew that Chace and Adam had met through the industry and had become close, but it wasn't always like that. There were definitely relationships in the industry that were simply business and she was lucky to avoid that so early on. It made trust come easier.

The laughter coming from the other table caused Rachel to look over. Quinn had her mouth covered with her napkin as she laughed heartily at Mike. Kurt caught her eye and gave her a wink. And Noah? Noah looked up from his beer and raised an eyebrow, giving her a slight smirk as they locked eyes. She blushed at the inquiring expression. God, he looked cute that night in a plain black polo over the charcoal dress pants that Kurt had picked out.

Despite Matt and Mike being good sports, there had been a five minute fuss in which Puck had said no way in hell was another dude picking out his clothing. Rachel had sat on the bed with Mike, amused at the sight as Quinn seemingly egged the two on by telling Puck to just let Kurt do his job. Kurt was smug and crossed his arms in a stalemate.

"You're just threatened that my clothing choice obviously suits your physique and skin tone."

"Beyoncé, you did not just comment on my physique."

Rachel snorted with laughter and Mike poked her in the side and whispered encouragement for her to end the tiff. When it came to this group and all the different personalities, she was clearly the peacemaker. Plus, she was kind of the boss. Her word was difficult to argue with.

"Noah, I like the outfit if that counts for anything."

Swiftly enough, the fire in his hazel eyes died out and he agreed to wear what the stylist had picked. But it wasn't before Puck telling Kurt to never comment on his body ever again. Kurt rolled his eyes and moved onto Quinn who had clearly dealt with this clothing control a lot longer.

"Rachel?"

Rachel blinked as her three dinner guests were clearly waiting on an answer from her.

"I'm so sorry, I got lost in my thoughts there. What were you saying?"

"I know that look," Ali said with a grin as Rachel sipped her wine. "Who's the guy?" she asked nodding her head towards Puck. Rachel choked on the liquid, coughing as Ali's husband, Hayes, got up and urged her to put her hands up as they did with their young son. Puck was at her side in an instant, lightly patting her back and then urging her to take a sip of water to end the coughing.

"You good?" he asked

"Yes," she answered with a blush. "Thank you."

"I'll be over there if you need…us" he said, faltering on the last word.

Rachel blushed again leaving Ali delighted.

"Oh, girl…nice."

"What?" Rachel asked horrified, looking to Zachary who held up his hands claiming no part in this.

"He's a good choice. Handsome, attentive… go for it."

"Go for what?" Rachel further questioned. She did not like where this topic was headed.

"Office romances are the best. Isn't that right babe?"

Hayes nodded at Rachel and she had to remind herself to breathe. Was this physical attraction that she was having for Noah apparent to everyone? She didn't know where her emotions stood for the Lima's former bad boy, but her body seemed to buzz with excitement whenever he was around.

Looking over at the other table, she smiled in seeing his face bathed in the candlelight as he joked with Mike and Matt. He looked over at her and they locked eyes again before Rachel looked back to Ali, who was grinning excitedly and nodding her head. She bit her bottom lip in apprehension.

This was going to be an interesting next month.