IX

Natalia took a deep breath to calm the butterflies in her stomach. She couldn't help but get a little nervous. She hadn't been on television in almost five years, not since her days working for the feds.

"Thank you all for coming today," she said, her voice ringing out clear and confident, much to her relief.

The various members of the press listened with rapt attention, their microphones and video cameras poised in Natalia's direction.

"The Miami-Dade police department is seeking help from the citizens of Miami in identifying a suspect," she continued. She gestured to the giant poster behind her, which had a large image of the killer's face on it. "We are in pursuit of this man, who we believe may have been involved in one or more murders."

A few of the reporters clamored over each other in their attempts to get their questions answered first.

"Where did this image come from?"

"Who is this man suspected of killing?"

"I can't discuss details of an ongoing investigation," Natalia said. "We were able to digitally recreate this image using footage obtained with a search warrant."

"Where did the footage come from?"

"What did the footage show?"

"Who was murdered?"

Natalia caught herself before she sighed. She'd forgotten how overwhelming the press could be sometimes.

-()-

Ryan flipped through the channels aimlessly, still feeling like he'd been run over by a truck as he lay on his couch. He hadn't dared to try eating the crackers, but since his bout of puking he'd at least been able to keep some soda down. The cough was the worst part; every time they wracked his entire frame he felt as if he were trying to cough up barbed wire. His chest ached fiercely the whole time.

Ryan suddenly flipped back a channel. He hadn't imagined it.

Natalia was on television!

"The Miami-Dade police department is seeking help from the citizens of Miami in identifying a suspect," she said.

Ryan frowned. What suspect? Was this his case?

"We are in pursuit of this man, who we believe may have been involved in one or more murders," she continued.

The news station put a clearer image of the man's digitized face up on the screen for the viewers' benefit. Ryan squinted at the man's face. He didn't look like anyone they'd interviewed in relation to the murder of the prostitutes. Had Natalia caught a break in the case?

He snorted when the members of the press bombarded Natalia with questions and she coolly deflected them. "Come on, people," he muttered at the TV. "What part of 'no details during an active investigation' don't you understand?"

He continued watching the press conference. He wished he was there at the lab, working to bring this murderer to justice alongside Natalia and the rest of the team. But as another violent coughing fit erupted from deep within his chest, sending waves of pain shooting up and down his whole body, he knew it was more important to get better and regain his strength first.

Whether he wanted to admit it or not, he was no good to anybody in this condition.

-()-

Simon sat at the bar, gripping his pint of Guinness as if it were the only thing tying him to this world. The bar around him was a blurry dimness, out of focus both because of his recent consumption of multiple drinks and also because of the thick film of tears swimming before his eyes.

So much blood... her body... it was so heavy... cold...

Simon gulped down another swig of the bitter black liquid. He sniffed wetly, fighting to keep the tears from falling. He hadn't wanted to kill her, but he couldn't stop himself after he found out...

She wasn't the one.

He had to find her, the right one. The one who could finally end his pain. End his thirst. End this colossal agony that tore through his mind, body and soul every single day.

He could still see their blood on his hands. It soaked into his skin, poisoning him.

He glanced up at the television behind the bar and nearly choked on his beer.

His face was on the screen.

Simon blinked hard, trying to clear his vision of tears and alcohol. It was his face all right. Weirdly distorted, but him nonetheless. He quickly looked around the bar to see if anyone else was seeing this. There was only one other patron in the bar at this time of day, but he wasn't paying attention to anything but his Jack Daniels. And the bartender was busy with some sort of paperwork over in the corner.

Simon looked back up at the TV. The news banner along the bottom of the screen read "Miami police seek murder suspect." He had no idea where they'd gotten a picture of him, even one so oddly distorted as this one. Had there been a witness? He'd been very careful about avoiding the security cameras both times he had been near one. Someone must of seen him...

The screen flashed back to the video of a pretty woman addressing the press from behind a makeshift podium in front of the police station. Her mouth was moving, but he couldn't hear what she was saying since the volume was so low. A bar beneath her on the screen suddenly appeared. It said "CSI Natalia Boa Vista."

Simon quickly gulped the rest of his beer and slapped a twenty down on the counter. He hurried toward the exit before someone saw him and recognized him from the news.

He had to do something about these cops that were after him. His mind raced with panic. He was in deep trouble here if he didn't find a way to stop their hunt. He couldn't go to prison, he just couldn't. He wouldn't last a day in there.

His heart pounded with anxiety as he hastened toward his car. He had to find something to help him head off the investigation.

Or someone.


Author's Note: In Ryan's words, oh snap! lol What does Simon mean by someone to help him? Who's he after? I'll give you three guesses, but you're only gonna need one, maybe two. ;) Today was a particularly crappy Tuesday. But working on this chapter for you all made me feel better :) So thanks for giving me something fun to do when life decides to not be so fun for a while! :D You're the best! I have the coolest readers ever! ;P