The phone rang in Mike's office. Officer Terry Jones was on the other line. Jones was one of the first responders to the woman found at the parking garage near the newspaper office. From his sergeant's morning briefings, the officer recognized some of the common factors between the new attack and the two murders in Pacific Heights. The woman found in the garage had bruising around her neck and a stab wound in her stomach.

"Lord, no. A third victim. Is she at the morgue?"

"No, sir. They took her to St. John's. She was still alive when the ambulance left, but she was in very bad shape. I called you because of the similarities to the other cases."

"Do you have a name and address?"

"Yes, her name is Connie Mathers, and she's from Pacific Heights."

Mike went silent. "Lieutenant Stone, are you still there?" Another pause.

"Yes, Terry. Umm…Thank you. We'll be down to the hospital. St. John's, you said?"

"Yes, sir. But you had better hurry. She looked bad."

Mike hung up the phone and stared out the window. He saw Steve working on reports and didn't know how he was going to tell him the news. After a minute to think, he realized that he didn't want to put Steve through hearing the bad news in the squad room in front of others.

"Come on, Steve. We need go over to St. John's."

"Okay, I'll be finished in just a few minutes."

"No, we need to go now, Buddy-boy."

"What's going on?"

"I'll fill you in on the way."

As they got near the car, Mike said, "I'll drive."

Steve stopped in his tracks. "Mike, what's going on? Something has happened." He looked over to Mike and paled.

"I'm afraid so, Steve. It's Connie. She was brought to St. John's."

"Mike, what…"

Mike cut him off. "Steve, get in the car. We need to get over there."

Steve slowly nodded and got in. As they went on their way, Steve spoke again.

"Mike, what can you tell me?"

"Connie was attacked in the parking garage near the paper. She was alive when they found her."

"Same M.O.?"

"I'm afraid so. There was bruising around her neck and a stab wound in her abdomen." Steve turned his head and said nothing the rest of the trip.

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Mike pulled up to the entrance of the emergency room. Steve jumped out of the car before Mike could put it in park and ran to the reception area.

"Connie Mathers, please." He showed his badge for extra effect.

"Room 4."

Steve found the room and walked in. He was not prepared for what he saw. Connie was laying on the table, pale with dark circles under her eyes. A light blue sheet covered her. A red stain near her stomach was seeping through. There was a tinge of blue around her lips.

At her side, were her parents. One of Connie's coworkers had found her in the garage and had called them. Her mother was crying and her father was in a state of shock. Steve and the Professor looked at each other for a few seconds and then the young man's attention turned strictly to Connie. "She's been waiting for you, Steve," the Professor said quietly.

"Where's the doctor? Why isn't someone with her?"

"They have been. They are getting the OR prepped and will be back in a few minutes."

Steve walked over to her other side and gently stroked her arm with his hand. "Aw, babe." He wrapped his fingers around hers. "I love you so much," he whispered, as he softly touched her hair.

Her eyes fluttered. She looked at Steve and tried to lift her hand. "Don't move, sweetheart, you have to save your strength."

Professor Mathers looked at his daughter. "We love you so much, honey. We're here for you." To Steve, he said, "We'll be outside. Come on, Karen, let's leave them."

Connie's mother was hesitant to leave her daughter. She looked down at her and kissed her on the forehead.

Steve waited a moment and then returned his attention to Connie.

"Sweetheart, I will be here with you until you are back on your feet." He rolled the ER stool next to her and continued to hold her hand.

"St-eve."

"Babe, don't talk."

"I'm so sor-ry…you were right. So scared."

"Just do one thing for me, baby. Don't talk, but squeeze my hand. Was it one man that did this to you?"

She squeezed his hand.

"Did you know him?"

No movement.

"Did he match the description of the man we've been talking about, King?"

She squeezed his hand and tears began to form. She whispered, "Get him…don't let him…do this a..gain."

"Okay, no more. Don't talk. Rest. Honey, there's nothing to fear now. It will be all fine. The doctors here are good. I've been here before. They know how to patch people up." Steve was nervous and talking fast.

"It's too late…I'm just too tired."

"No, don't say that. You need to save your strength. Just try to be quiet. For once…" he tried to make a joke, but it didn't happen. "Please, save your strength and then we'll have the rest of our lives to be together."

"To-gether"

"If you'll have me, we'll be together forever. You are the one, sweetheart. You're the one I want by my side."

"I…love you. Can't…hold…on. Will…watch…oh.…" Her hand went limp and she closed her eyes.

"NO!," Steve panicked. To no one in the room, Steve said, "Doctor, we need a doctor…!"

Steve ran into the hall and caught sight of the Mathers and Mike. The sheer look of terror on his face told the story. "We need a doctor. Somebody!"

"I'll get him, Steve," Mike tried to reassure. With that, Steve ran back in with her parents falling right behind.

"Connie…Connie! Please come back…"

Her mother was crying and the Professor took her back out into the hallway. Mike came around the corner with a doctor and nurse following him. Steve was still in the room holding her hand. He leaned over and had his head close to her ear. "Babe, come back. We need to be together."

Mike entered and took Steve by the arm. "We need to give them room to work, Steve. Come on."

"Connie, please. Don't leave me…I need you…," he whispered as Mike dragged him away. "Connie…"

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Steve and Mike joined the Mathers in the Emergency waiting room. No one spoke. Mrs. Mathers was sobbing and the Professor had his arms around her. Steve was sitting with his head in his hands, not showing his face to anyone.

Mike stood by feeling utterly helpless. He pulled out a handkerchief for himself as he found his eyes were watering.

Minutes later, the doctor appeared. "Are you here for Miss Mathers?"

Shock had left them all speechless. "Yes," Mike finally responded.

"I'm very sorry. Her injuries were too severe. She lost too much blood and the damage to her throat did not help. While I can't tell exactly what happened from the surface, the blood coming from the knife wound was from the liver. She didn't have much chance. It's a miracle she hung on for as long as she did."

Connie's mother swayed at the news. "Let's sit her in the chair here and put her head between her knees," the doctor suggested. "I'll get a nurse. And our social worker will be here momentarily to help you with the next steps. I am so sorry for your loss."

Within minutes Connie's parents were ushered into a small room where the arrangements for transporting their deceased daughter to the coroner were being made.

Mike looked down at Steve. The young man never moved the entire time the doctor was there. He head was still buried in his hands. Mike moved closer and sat next to him. He placed his arm on his back. "Steve. What can I do?"

Steve remained silent.

Minutes passed. Mike patted him on the back a few times just to let him know he wasn't alone. "Take your time. I'm so sorry."

Finally, Steve looked up, eyes red-rimmed and his face lined with dried tear-streaks.

"It was him, Mike. Connie told me. We have to find the bastard that did this to her," He stood up. "That's all I want to do now. She deserves justice just like the other women did."

Steve was in no condition to work, and Mike knew it, but he dare not say anything.

"Let's get you out of here."

"No, let's find out what the police report says. Let's go talk to the person that found her."

"Steve, I don't think it's a good idea for you…"

"Mike, I don't care about me right now. I only care about finding her killer. I won't do anything out of line, I promise" he paused. Mike started to speak, but Steve cut him off. "If this were Jeannie, you'd be saying the same thing."

He paused. "Mike, don't tell me I'm in no shape for this. Don't tell me that I'm too emotional. This isn't about me. This is about her and we need to give this everything we have."

Mike nodded. "Let's go find Terry Jones. He's the black and white who was a first responder. We'll take it from there. I won't shut you out of this, but if I see you are fading or losing your judgment, I'm going to pull you. While you may not care about your personal well being right now, I certainly do."