A/N: I love reading your guesses and theories. Thanks to all of you who take the time to read and review (and to those too shy to review, I love you, too!).
Tread carefully, elements of NAT and troubling material ahead.
Chapter 21:
Humanity
The longer Emily stared at the image of Sara Harvey the more it started to unnerve her. Her corpse was swollen and water-logged and barely looked like a person. Her icy blue eyes were clouded over. Her straw-colored hair was a matted wet mess atop her head.
It had been three days since Emily had met her partner and a dozen other officers at the scene of the most recent Scarlet Letter Killer crime scene.
The body had already started to bloat due to the water she'd ingested. Someone had killed her in her shower. The lab geeks were already calling her Shower Harvey. They didn't have much sympathy for her. Most people in town had followed the case after her son died. Everyone believed she had drowned him in the tub, but no evidence had been found to prove it beyond a reasonable doubt. For the forensics team, she was the one that got away.
Turns out, she couldn't escape justice. It was a twisted form of justice, but many of them quietly believed it was a form of karma. Even so, the gruesome nature of the death brought about a serious air of professionalism in which the team could put aside their biases to assess the swollen corpse left behind.
Her body was posed, marred only in one place…the Scarlet Letter A on her cheek. Somehow it had been perfectly preserved. The killer had gone to a lot of trouble to keep it covered while the girl was being tortured and waterboarded. The careful precision pointed to someone who knew forensics, someone who was careful and meticulously clean.
One thing was clear. The SLK was sending the message that the woman was responsible for the death of her son. That was as clear as day. She'd even drowned in the same tub where her child had died.
What struck Emily as the most disturbing wasn't the way she'd been killed. The strangest thing was that the killer was starting to kill in a new pattern.
Young blue-eyed blondes. The killer was starting to target girls that looked like Alison.
She tried to pinpoint when her girlfriend had become the sick bastard's muse.
Had it been at the park when she was tracking Tim Roland? Had someone seen Alison that day?
Alison thought she'd seen someone watching them. Was it possible the killer was following her?
If that was the case…was Alison in danger?
Did the killer know what the blonde meant to Emily? Because she was looking at two nearly identical dead girls that bore a striking similarity to her girlfriend, and it felt like a threat.
Are you telling me to stop looking for you or you're going to kill her?
Or are you messing with my head because I already lost one girlfriend to a killer and you know I'll crack if I lose two?
Are you trying to distract me?
Am I getting too close to you?
It was clearly a direct message, but who was the message for? And what were they trying to say?
Seeing another dead girl who looked like Alison had caused another crack in her impenetrable foundation. The case was continuing to chip away little pieces of her armor, leaving her feeling vulnerable and powerless.
When she looked at Sara…when she thought about Iris…all she could think about was losing another girlfriend to this maniac.
She couldn't let what happened to Maya happen to Alison.
The rush of emotions she'd felt the day she'd discovered Maya dead in a pool of Lyndon's blood hit her like a slap to the face.
There was so much blood.
Oh God.
Oh God, I'm going to be sick.
She hadn't realized that she'd backed herself into a wall. Her breathing was fast and heavy. Her heart was a solid fist pummeling her from the inside. She could hear her pulse thrumming in her ears.
Toby had immediately recognized the look in her eyes and suggested she go out to get some fresh air.
That's how she wound up pacing in front of the house, Alison watching from the cover of darkness.
The blonde had followed her out to the crime scene and watched from the shadows, wondering if someone else was watching her watch from the shadows, though she didn't see anyone.
Alison had gone just as much for Emily as she had for herself. Her selfish desire to find out more about the murder was eclipsed by her urge to protect her girlfriend from whatever ghoul was posing with her name.
She had to fight the urge to go and comfort Emily when she saw the detective lean over, hands on her knees. She looked unsteady…like she might vomit. After a few deep breaths the brunette pulled it together.
My strong brave woman…
The press was already swarming the area. The hairs on the back of Alison's neck stood up when she saw Alex Drake in the crowd of reporters.
Emily approached from across the yard, controlling the masses, telling them they had to stand behind the lines they'd set up.
Alex started shouting questions, to which Emily coldly replied that it was an active crime scene.
She's so sexy when she takes control.
Control that should be going to use in the bedroom.
A wave of anger surged through her, because their perfect night had been ruined.
We should be in bed and she should be telling me exactly what she wants…and how bad she wants it.
Alison wasn't sure what pissed her off more. The fact that this asshole had taken Sara away from her. Or the fact that if her copycat hadn't killed Sara, Emily would be commandeering her in the bedroom and not commandeering leeches at a fucking knock-off crime scene.
Then again, seeing her command an entire police force was hot.
She shook her head, trying to concentrate, but it was hard to balance her feelings of lust with the broiling murderous rage she felt. It was a double-edged sword, because being at a murder scene turned her on. Their dinner and impromptu sex in the dance studio had left her wanting more.
Should have doused myself with a bucket of ice water before I left. Her core was on fucking fire.
If she could pull Emily into the woods for a quickie she certainly would…
No. Horny later. Focus now.
As much as she wanted to touch herself as she watched Emily control the scene she managed to get ahold of herself.
She pulled out her phone and sent a text checking in, just like she'd promised.
Here is your quarterly on the hour evidence that I'm alive, Detective.
She'd tried to be cheeky to lighten the mood, but Emily's mask was one of stoicism as she replied,
Stay safe. Talk to you in another 15.
The reply was short and simple. Alison understood why, considering she was watching chaos unfold…with Emily trying to control that chaos. But it still bothered her.
She squeezed her fists together and thought about the person responsible for tearing her girlfriend away from her.
You upset my girlfriend you garbage human. I'm going to stick your hands in a blender so you can never cut anyone again. I can't wait to slice you into pieces.
Her phone buzzed in her hand. She looked down expecting another reply from Emily. Something sweet and fun and saucy about how their bad night was going to turn into a good morning.
Instead, she saw a message that seized every muscle in her body and sent her heart into a rapid tailspin.
An unknown number had sent her a snapchat with a single photo. Alison's finger trembled above the screen as she stared at the image of Emily at Hanna's dance studio. A devilish smile had been drawn in red ink next to her glistening body. Below the photo was a message in red letters.
I can see her, but she'll never see me coming.
Alison's breath hitched in her throat, the cool evening air stuck in her lungs with no place to go.
Someone had been following her girlfriend.
No, not just someone.
A killer.
Emily is in danger.
She frantically fumbled to try and grab a screenshot, but she'd been staring in shock for too long. The image disappeared.
Alison's head snapped up and she searched the crowd for Emily. Even though the photo had been taken hours ago she still felt a fluttering panic in her stomach. She needed to lay eyes on her and make sure she was okay.
It was going to take every ounce of self-control she had not to run over to her and caress her cheeks, run her fingers over her body, and make sure she was uninjured.
Her eyes landed on Emily a few seconds later. The brunette was talking to Aria. The spunky little forensic pathologist with the sassy pink stripe in her hair had a very serious look on her face. It was the same professional expression she wore when she was doing autopsies in the hospital.
Emily said something to Aria, and Aria nodded in agreement. Then the shorter woman broke off and walked towards the house to get away from the flashing lights of the paparazzi.
The detective turned around and looked at the crowd.
Alison did the same.
They both surveilled the scene, looking for the same person. Alison was looking for people who had their phones nearby, but that was a useless task, because everyone was connected to technology all the time. Everyone had their phones out, including the bane of Alison's existence.
Alexis Rose.
The reporter was staring at her screen as though she'd just gotten a very important message.
Emily rubbed the spot between her brows intensely. She started to turn back towards the house, but Alex shouted at her.
"At what point is the Rosewood Police Department going to admit they're over their heads and call in the big guns? They're calling you incompetent all over social media." Alex shoved a microphone towards Emily, who looked back at her murderously.
Alison saw Emily square her shoulders and set her jaw.
I'll rip your fucking teeth out of your skull. Alison glared daggers at the gangly little brunette.
As if she didn't hate the sniveling reporter already. She felt like ripping her face off for questioning her girl. Not that Emily couldn't handle herself. It was the principle of the matter.
No one messes with Emily. NO ONE.
She stared at her phone, waiting for another threat.
Show yourself you bastard…
Alison could feel her fingers itching to kill someone. She tapped her thumbs against all of her fingertips, antsy and uneasy.
"You're out of line, Alexis," Emily snapped.
Get her, Em…
"The FBI should be all over this by now. Why aren't they?" Alex remained cool for the camera, but she glared back at the detective.
"Not my call to make." Though Emily knew that Chief Furey didn't want the Feds taking over the case.
"What are you doing to ensure that the citizens are safe?" Alex pushed.
"Behind the line, Miss Drake." Emily pointed to the police line that had been drawn. "As details come to light we will be sure to inform you."
Emily had felt like punching her that night.
The woman had been relentless, refusing to give up even after all of the other reporters had called it quits.
Alex hadn't let up even as the days passed. She'd spent every waking hour trying to get an interview with everyone at the station.
Three days later and the woman was still hounding her.
Emily's office phone was ringing off the hook.
"Fucking Drake." Emily shoved the photo of Sara away and glared at the phone. "At what point does freedom of the press end and harassment begin? That "freedom of the press" cult she has that follows her only exacerbate things. It's like she's fucking everywhere…"
As soon as she said it a light switched on in her head.
She's everywhere…at every crime scene…
"Just block her number." Toby shifted in his chair, careful not to run over the bushy tail curled against his desk.
Duke was at his feet. The Shepherd had charmed his way into the office again by looking pitiful after getting his yearly shots at the Vet. Toby said he'd been super clingy.
The dog had come in with big sad eyes, but had soon been happily bouncing between the two of them for scratches, belly rubs, and treats. Toby had called him a big faker.
"Send her straight to voicemail. It's what I did." Toby shrugged.
Emily ignored her partner and picked up the phone.
"What?" She growled into the line.
Alex was just as huffy in her response.
"So you'll speak to Yvonne Forbes with Rosewood News…" Alex referred to an interview Emily had granted to a reporter with limited access, "But not to me? What the hell is that about? I have been at every single crime scene. I've been following this case since the beginning. Do you know how insulting it is that you talked to another reporter?"
"I actually like Mrs. Forbes." Emily didn't sugarcoat it. "She's a real journalist. Respect gets you a long way. Stalking, however, makes me grumpy."
"That is such bullshit. She wasn't even on this story until I broke the news."
"You didn't break anything that wasn't already national headlines. A serial killer in town is bound to attract attention. What you did is sensationalize it for your headlines and used it to fear-monger. You don't care about this case or the facts tied to it. You only care about your name getting out there." Emily pushed her, she antagonized her. She needed to see how Alex would react.
As she expected, the woman blew up in a tirade. Emily sat there and listened, jotting down detailed notes as she screamed like a child throwing a tantrum.
Emily responded with an exaggerated expression of intensity and fake sympathy. Every so often she would purse her lips together in thought and convey a look that a parent might use to placate a crying baby.
"I hear you. I do. This has been rather informative. So thank you for that. I appreciate this interview." Emily said, making it sound sincere.
She hung up a few minutes later.
"What was that about?" Toby lifted a single curious brow.
He looked like Elvis with his lip curled up.
"Alex Drake just volunteered the information that she has been at every single crime scene." Emily started going through her notes.
Was it coincidental? Or something more?
"Yep. First leech…" He coughed and then said, "I mean first journalist…" He said the word like it was a joke, "…every time. She must be so in love with her police scanner that she married it."
Emily thought back to how aggressively Alex had come at them in the parking lot the day she'd been apprehending Tim Roland. It was the same day that Alison had seen someone watching them.
She tried to track the journalist's movements and where she was in location in proximity to the kills.
"Hey, can we check on some dates for her whereabouts during the time of the murders?" Emily glanced at Toby. "She seems to be conveniently close. And we both know most killers enjoy returning to the scene of the crime."
Toby looked over at her, assuming she was kidding.
"Are you serious?" He dropped his pen in surprise. It rolled off the desk and hit Duke's head before plopping on the floor. Duke slapped his big foot over it, pawing at it curiously. "Alex Drake? She doesn't even have half a working brain cell."
"I think she's smarter than she's letting on. The killings seem to coordinate with her return to town. And she's been at every scene." Emily underlined the dates on her paper.
"As much as I'd like to get that dirty journalist off the mean streets of Rosewood, do you really like her as a suspect?"
He was asking if it was personal.
It was and it wasn't. Something about the woman rubbed Emily the wrong way. She had learned to trust her instincts. Her dad told her she had good instincts. She was her father's daughter.
"We have to look at all angles." Emily circled a few things she thought to be important.
"I know what that partial fingerprint shows. It could be a woman. But do you really think we could be looking at a female serial killer? I know they're not unheard of, but some of these men that have been murdered are pretty big and powerful…"
Something Alison had said to her during Garrett's autopsy was flashing through Emily's mind. The surgeon had suggested that maybe the victims were being poisoned…drugged, which was normally a woman's raison d'être. Men were usually more violent, more driven by ego and emotions. Women were calculating, and ironically, not emotional about it. It could stand to reason that the victims were being subdued somehow and then murdered.
"Women are powerful. A female killer could easily use her vulnerability or sensuality…" She felt Duke's snout against her thigh and she reached down to pet him, "…or even drug her marks."
"There are no traces of drugs in any of the victims."
"None that we can detect." Emily reached up and dug her thumb and forefinger into her eyes with her free hand, exhausted from the non-stop work. She pressed the heel of her hand against her forehead, trying to dull the ache there.
Duke grunted and shoved his head harder into her hand, making a yowling sound in his throat. Emily took one look at him and realized he was picking up on her frustration.
"I'm not crazy. I promise." She leaned down and kissed the dog between his big goofy ears.
Crinkles appeared in Toby's forehead as he thought about Emily's suggestion. To his credit...and to her surprise he didn't rebuff her idea.
"Okay," he said.
Okay?
"If you think this Alex Drake theory is something worth looking in to, I've got your back."
Before she could thank him, her cell phone bleated at her.
For a few seconds she thought Alex had somehow gotten her personal number. But then she saw Alison's contact photo pop up, a picture of her throwing her head back and laughing at something Emily had said. Her blue eyes were sparkling in the sunlight, her matching scrubs bringing the color out in the natural light.
Emily smiled at her phone. All traces of her tension eased as she reached for it.
Toby jokingly waggled his brow and uttered out a teasing "oooohhh!" in a high pitched voice.
"Hey, babe," she answered.
"Babe?" Toby mouthed as she reached out and nudged his shoulder.
He made kissy faces and smacked his lips together. Emily reached up and pressed her palm against his face and gently shoved him backwards with a laugh.
"Hey." Alison replied dreamily.
Emily had no reason to suspect that the reason for Alison's sleeplessness was because the blonde had been working overtime trying to figure out who had sent her the threat at the crime scene.
As far as Emily knew, the surgeon had a long day in surgery, so she'd been out like a light all night. She'd barely even stirred when Emily left before dawn.
"I thought we were supposed to go jogging this morning." Alison managed to hide the fear in her tone.
Fear that Emily was out on her own. Fear that her copycat could strike at any time. Fear that the copycat's next victim could be the very woman she was in love with.
"You looked so peaceful. I didn't want to wake you. I made sure everything was locked up tight before I left." Emily swayed in her chair.
Out of the corner of her eyes she saw Toby making a lewd face as he thrust against his chair. Duke was nipping at his leg.
She flipped him off and threw a balled up piece of paper at his face. He caught it and tossed it back at her with a wink.
"You're sweet." Alison gushed. She wanted to wrap her protective arms around Emily and never let go.
"You could come to the station if you want. Toby and I are going on a run in a little bit…"
Toby grumbled out an old man noise from beside her. Duke moved between them and playfully mouthed at Toby's arm.
"Knock it off you knucklehead." He laughed at his dog. He lowered his voice and muttered, "Sore from your shots, my ass…"
"We need a bit of a breather." Emily reached out and smacked Toby's abs, "Plus…we've gotta keep Cavanaugh's six pack from turning into a beer belly. Not to mention cardio. We all know how important cardio is, right, Toby?"
"How hard is he glaring at you right now?" Alison chuckled.
"If looks could kill…" She paused and poked Toby, "I'd be very, very injured right now."
Fortunately, Emily couldn't see the alarm on Alison's face. Joking about getting injured, no matter how lighthearted, frightened the blonde.
"Mmm." Alison yawned. "Give me half an hour. I should carb-load if we're running. I'll swing by after breakfast."
She could keep an eye on Emily before going in to work.
"Just text me when you get here. I'll come buzz you in." Emily played with her pen, balancing it on her knuckles.
"Yes ma'am, Detective Fields."
Emily could tell by the tone in her voice that the blonde was saluting her.
"See you in a bit." Emily turned her head the slightest bit and lowered her voice, her cheeks turning red hot as she added, "Love you."
"Love you, too."
After she hung up she had to face Toby, knowing he'd overheard.
He stared at her silently for a few seconds, a wicked smirk on his face.
"Cavanaugh, don't you dare say a word…"
"Fine. I'll sing it." He cleared his throat as he started playfully sing-songing, "Emily and Alison sitting in a tree…"
He slapped the edge of the pen she was balancing and sent it flying into the air. It twirled around before it landed sideways on her desk.
She rolled her eyes at him. He was such a boy sometimes.
Duke barked at Toby, a low rumble like he disapproved of his actions. The Shepherd stood in front of Emily protectively.
"Hey, you're my dog. You're supposed to be on my side." Toby gently grabbed a scruff full of his fur and gave him a gentle shake.
Duke made a playful grumbling noise at him and then moved closer to Emily, leaning his body against her legs.
She smiled smugly at Toby.
"Maybe you should stop messing with me?" Emily shoved her partner.
"No. You made me a third wheel." He curled his lips down and pouted like a child.
"Awww, is someone a little jealous?" She ragged him.
"Nah." He flicked his wrist and played it off. "It's probably safer if we go in numbers anyway. I'll protect you, mi'lady." He bowed, treating her like royalty, something he knew she hated.
"Stop that." Emily glared at him.
"The Queen doth protest too much." He made a gesture as if he had a crown on top of his head that needed straightening.
"The King shall find-est his balls in a vice if he doesn't stop-eth talking like Shakespeare." Emily pointed her index finger at him.
He threw his hands up, palms forward in surrender.
"You win, Fields. I wouldn't want to take you in a fight." He chuckled, reaching for a folder, all business-like again.
Duke settled at Emily's feet, sensing that playtime was over. He curled next to her chair, his tail swishing over her feet.
"Hey, do you have a copy of Montgomery's report on Shower Harvey's death?" The name sounded so ridiculous coming out of Toby's mouth that Emily couldn't help but laugh.
"Yeah." She reached for the paperwork and handed it to him. "Same MO as the others, but she thinks the killer has changed their ritual…tweaked it a bit."
"How so?" He opened the file.
"She couldn't put her finger on it. Says that these last few kills have seemed…strange." Emily flipped to a page with Iris's autopsy. "She's been consulting with Holden. Chief gave the okay to share the case files since the Poconos PD was generous enough to co-op with us. After reading through her notes, Holden agrees. Something is going on with our friendly neighborhood pedophile killer."
"Maybe the killer feels threatened? Maybe we're on to them. Could fit your theory about our local journalist." Toby nodded. "I'll put in the call about bringing Alex Drake in for questioning."
"I've got a follow up call with the mother of one of Talia's students." Emily grabbed a notepad.
She'd followed Hanna's advice and put in calls to the parents of the children in Talia's class. A few of the mothers who had wanted to glom on to the story for their fifteen minutes of fame had bitten, but there was only one woman who seemed sincere in wanting to speak with her.
Toby grabbed a form and started scribbling something down. He pushed up out of his chair and walked out of the room towards Chief Furey's office. Duke watched him go, cocking his head.
"You do a very good job of keeping him in line, buddy." She reached into Toby's desk drawer and pulled out a treat.
The dog waited patiently for her to close the drawer and toss him the treat.
Emily read through her notes where she'd scribbled down the number of the woman who said she might have some information about Talia.
She picked up the phone and dialed the number.
"Hello?" A muffled voice answered after the third ring.
Emily clenched her teeth when she realized it was still early.
"Mrs. Cutler?" Emily glanced at the clock. It felt so much later than 7 am. She'd been at the station since 5. "This is Detective Emily Fields. I'm so sorry, I didn't realize it was so early. I hope I didn't wake you."
"Oh, no, I've been up for an hour getting the kids' lunch ready for school. My husband is out of town, so I'm pulling double duty as mom, dad, and working mom. What can I do for you, Detective?"
"I'll try not to keep you." Emily could tell she was a very busy woman. "I'm calling following up on the message you left for me about Talia Standival?"
The other end of the line went silent.
"Yes," she said after what felt like an eternity.
"Your daughter…Mallory…" Emily read through her notes. "You said she told you something?"
"Yes. A secret. She was very upset about it. It was after the Standival woman was killed. I didn't know what to think at the time. You know kids…they grieve in many ways…"
Emily tried not to think about the photos she'd seen of Alison as a young girl with her brother and her aunt. In the photos with Jason she had a bright demeanor. She looked happy and safe with her big brother next to her. There was a difference in her expression in the photos after the murders. She had big sad eyes and a wary expression.
She couldn't imagine how Alison must have felt after losing Jason. She'd held the blonde when she cried in her sleep, so she knew it was something that haunted her dreams.
Loss was tricky, but it was even harder for young children to process. Grief was a pain that never went away. Emily knew it all too well. The loss of Maya had turned her into a monstrous version of herself that she was still trying to make amends for. Her mother hadn't deserved her misplaced anger.
When she lost her father she had no choice but to hold it together for her mom. She wasn't sure she'd ever fully processed it. She'd been so wrapped up in police work and taking care of her mother that she'd never stopped to completely fall apart.
"What exactly was this secret?" Emily questioned.
"Mallory has a friend in the class. She won't say who. I've tried. I swear I've tried. But she is big on keeping secrets…"
"What did she tell you about this friend?"
"Her friend apparently confided in her…told her that Mrs. Standival did things to her that she didn't like."
All the hairs on Emily's neck bristled up. She swallowed.
Jesus.
"She claims that Mrs. Standival…" The woman seemed to be struggling to get the words out, like she was choking back anger…and bile, "That…that she touched her. Like inappropriately. And she talked about making movies. Making her a star. Something about an exclusive club that only special little girls were a part of." She shivered. "Mallory mentioned someone named Nat, but there was no one there by that name. I checked. I tried talking to the other moms, but they blew me off."
Emily wrote down the letters NAT.
Making movies starring children...
She shuddered.
There's the connection to Ian and Garrett.
And it had a name. NAT.
"And Mallory wouldn't tell you her friend's name?"
"She refuses. I just thought maybe…maybe it might be helpful to the case." She paused and sighed. "Listen, I know how this might sound, but if someone touched my daughter I would absolutely lose it. Do you think…perhaps one of the parents…understandably might have snapped?"
The woman thought that Talia was the first. She didn't realize the kills dated back before her. She clearly hadn't been keeping up with the news, though Emily wasn't surprised if she was splitting her time between working and raising kids.
"We can certainly look in to that. Is there anything else that you can think of?"
"No. I'm sorry. I wish I knew more. I can push her…"
"There isn't any need for that." There was no need to traumatize the little girl any further. Talia was dead. There was no use in drudging her up. Emily had her answer. Talia was in on whatever Ian and Garrett were doing in their sick little club. "Just do me a favor…" All she could think about was Alison. Her childhood had ripped her to pieces. "If Mallory does tell you who told her this, please make sure her friend gets help."
"I will."
"Thank you again. You have been incredibly helpful." Emily penned her information down. "Would you mind coming to the station to formally give your statement?"
"Of course. I'll get back with you about a time," the woman said softly. There was an inkling of anger in her tone. If her child had been the one hurt Emily didn't doubt she would have unleashed hell on the dance instructor. "Oh, before I go. There is one more thing." She cut into the conversation before Emily could hang up. "I was going through some photos of the girls and their class the other day. Mallory mentioned something about the photographer. The one who took the photos. She insists that it's that woman always peddling information about the killings on the news…"
"Alex Drake?" Well, that was a strange turn of events.
Why was Alex taking photos at Talia's studio?
"Yes, that's her. She's the one who took the photos at the studio. My little Mallory didn't like her. Said the woman never talked to them or paid attention to them. She moved them around like dolls when they were staging photos. Mal didn't like it."
Emily thanked Mrs. Cutler once again as she pulled out the photo that Hanna had showed her at her dance studio three nights ago. She studied the classroom photo and then looked at the crime scene photo, Talia naked with her detached fingers in between her legs.
She deserved it…
Duke lifted his head, and Emily bit her lip, worried that he might be reading her horrible thoughts. Dogs always seemed to sense people's intentions.
Instead of looking at her, he stared into the hallway. Emily could hear a couple of officers chatting a few doors down. Duke's ears pricked forward as he listened.
She slid the photo of Talia's corpse away and took another look at the photo of the dance instructor with her students. In the corner there was something cut off from the printed page. It was written in tiny Sans-Script. So small that she'd missed the name, Alexis Rose.
Things had gone from a 'that's interesting' level of insanity to a 'what the actual fuck?' level.
She didn't hear the double set of footsteps approaching. It was only when she looked up and saw Toby standing next to Chief Furey with a beaming smile on his face that she realized he'd gotten the okay to bring in Alex Drake for questioning…which couldn't have come at a better time.
Duke climbed to his feet and loped over to the Chief, his collar jingling. He greeted him with a tail wag.
"Hear you had your shots, big guy." Chief Furey reached down to pat Duke on the head.
The dog whined, as if he knew exactly what he was saying, playing on the Chief's sympathy.
"He's such a drama queen." Toby shook his head with a laugh. He glanced at Emily. "Got permission to interview the journalist from hell…" He paused when he saw the ghostly look on her face. "Yeesh, what's up? You look like you're about to hurl."
She felt like she was about to hurl.
"I was able to verify the connection between Talia, Garrett, and Ian." She curled her lip up in disgust.
"Do I even want to know?" He looked at her, his body rigid and tense.
Chief Furey and Toby walked over to her. Duke followed, like he was part of the team.
Emily sighed and slid the photo of Talia and her class over to them. She handed Toby her notes.
"She was abusing one of these kids."
"Fuck." Toby reached up and ran his fingers through his hair. It was starting to get a little shaggy. He needed a haircut. "This is so fucked up. I can't…" He pushed the photo away from him, disgusted at the thought of it.
"The mother I spoke with…she said her daughter Mallory has a friend who told her about it. Mentioned something about a club of people who wanted to do things to kids and record it on camera."
Toby's widened, the whites encircling his natural baby blues like clouds in the middle of a summer day.
Chief Furey cleared his throat.
"This can't be right." He mumbled as he stared at the photo, plopping down in a chair in front of Toby's desk. "It can't be. This went cold…"
"You know something about this?" Toby leaned forward to get a better look at the file in Marco's hand.
"It's just…this died years ago." Marco scratched the stubble on his chin. The look in his eyes said what he didn't say, "It died years ago...because I made sure of it…"
"Can you elaborate a little more?" Toby asked.
"Not much." Marco stiffened in the chair, straightening his spine. "Bunch of pervy old men founded a ring of pedophilia with dirty money."
"Shit. Let's get some names. Start questioning known associates." Toby reached for a pen and a notepad.
"There were no names. It was all anonymous. But the cash donations suggested that it was someone from old money." The look on Marco's face changed. It was the same hard look that Emily had seen on his face the day she was attacked in the locker room. A look that told her he would snap a bunch of perverts necks and not feel guilty about it. "I'm pretty sure all the old bastards are dead now."
He said it with a bone-chilling certainty.
"How could we find that out for sure if there aren't any names associated with it?" Toby pried.
Emily knew better than to pry. She'd learned from her dad that when someone who had been in the military said something was done, it was done. No questions asked.
"Common sense." The Chief's face was calm, placid. "The group was allegedly founded over eighty years ago by a bunch of WASPy fuckers who wanted to exploit children for money. Those men are long past dead. And the children who survived don't need that shit drudged up."
"My parents tried to force Jason to do things to me." Alison had confided in her.
Emily squeezed the arm of her chair.
Alison.
Her parents must have known someone in that disgusting club.
She swallowed hard and fought back the mixed emotions clawing their way to the surface.
Emotions she didn't like. Emotions that would have her ripping people to shreds if she wasn't careful. She pushed it all down.
Her eyes met Marco's eyes. Their gaze lingered, their thoughts on the same wavelength. He tipped his chin forward and gave her a slight nod.
He knew about Alison's family.
Of course he knows.
As the original detective on Alison's case there was no way he hadn't uncovered it. He wouldn't have let it go.
Maybe he even took care of it on his own…
"Well, it seems as if though they're living on through this new group of pervs." Toby glared at Talia's photo. "Someone named Nat?" He scrunched his brow and read Emily's handwriting.
"I don't think NAT is a person." Emily reached for her laptop, sliding it over to where they could all see it.
She pulled up a file that had the information on the dark web site that had been funded by Tim Roland. She started scrolling through the comments, searching until she found a thread with comments about some kind of secret pervert society.
"The NAT Club…" She pointed to a screenshot.
After their IT guy had discovered the comments they sent the information over to the special detectives who worked on sex crimes against children. The special units hadn't been able to find actual proof of the club…yet.
"Nos Animadverto Totus." She tapped on the screen, showing the comment that directly mentioned it. It had been sent through a public Wi-fi that was impossible to track.
She pulled up their translation software. It rolled through several different languages until it landed on Latin.
"Roughly translated…it's Latin for We Notice All."
"Well, that's not creepy and ominous at all." Toby uttered sarcastically, a grimace on his face.
Emily read more about the club through the speculative comments.
"Supposedly it was founded by a young group of boys in the 1940s when photography was still the newest and coolest technology." She glanced at Furey, confirming his knowledge of it. "It morphed into something a lot darker as those boys became men."
"Yeah. There was nothing about members or a founder, but I'm sure the old perverts did a lot of damage over the years." Marco confirmed her suspicions.
Emily's stomach curled in on itself.
I have to talk to Alison.
But how the hell did she bring up the abuse in the doctor's past without adding to her trauma?
"I'll reach out to the special units again. See where they're at with the sex crimes." Toby turned away from the screen and turned his attention to Duke, who had settled right next to him. He knew when his buddy needed him. "We have to focus on catching a killer who has a propensity to go after pedophiles, rapists, and anyone who hurts children. At least we know who this killer is profiling."
"Drake was photographing Talia's class. I don't think that's a coincidence." Emily flicked at some lint on her pants. "I'll know more after I talk to her. In the meantime, should we scan the databases for criminals and hope that one of them fits the killer's profile so we can try and catch our perp in action?"
"It's a long shot given that this killer seems to go after criminals who haven't been caught yet, but it couldn't hurt." He shrugged. He faced Chief Furey, "What do you think, Chief?"
Marco was still staring at the notes about the NAT club. He murmured something to himself.
"Chief?" Emily asked softly. He didn't respond, so she reached out and touched his arm, "Marco?"
He lifted his head, blinking slowly, snapping out of what seemed to be a memory.
"Hmm?" He lowered the notes. "Yes. That sounds like a good idea."
"Great. I'll set up a search. Let it run while we're…out running." Toby tried to make it a pun, but it just made Emily cringe.
She gave him a pity laugh.
"I'll see if I can find anything in the old case files." Marco pushed himself out of the chair.
"I'm going to run The Beast home." Toby playfully scratched Duke's head. "I think he's perfectly fine to sleep it off at this point."
"You're not going to bring him jogging?" Emily clucked her tongue and shook her head. "He'll feel so left out…"
"He'd be up all night whining from overdoing it. And I've got to sleep sometime." Toby grabbed his keys from his desk. "Let me know if anything new pops up." He glanced at his partner.
"You got it." Emily leaned over and gave Duke a goodbye pat and then grabbed a folder as the two men walked out of the office, the Shepherd trailing behind them.
She glanced at her notes and thought about the conversation with Mallory's mom. If Talia had been abusing one of her kids, it was likely she was abusing more.
All the evidence they had pointed to the Scarlet Letter Killer only going after perverts and murderers. From Jackie Molena's hit-and-run to the ring of child molesters. Tim Roland was a rapist. Sara Harvey got away with killing her son.
We have a fucked up justice system when a clear baby-killer can just walk…
She glanced at Maya's name on the board.
Why are you mixed up in this, My?
She sighed and rubbed her wrist, her eyes landing on the picture of the kids in Talia Standival's class.
Those poor babies.
She peered at a framed photo of her and Alison on her desk. It had been taken by Aria at the hospital one evening. They were sitting out on a bench watching the sunset. Alison had leaned in for a kiss at the same moment that Emily's hand softly caressed her cheek.
Emily traced her index finger over the shape of their bodies leaning in together, the sunset painting them in beautiful bright colors.
Emily couldn't believe that Alison was still able to find appreciation in those bright wonderous colors after everything she'd been through.
Poor Alison…
Emily made herself scarce with busywork, trying not to think about the talk she was going to have to have with her girlfriend. She was hoping she'd feel better after the endorphins of her run kicked in.
Once she hit a stopping point she reached underneath her desk and pulled out her gym bag.
Running is good. Running will get me away from my thoughts.
She had a lot to process with the new information about Talia, not to mention Alex Drake. She also had far bigger fish to fry. The SLK was lying in wait, ready to kill again.
But given everything she'd learned about the people killed so far...
Why should I stop them?
She shook her head.
These were the very thoughts that were starting to scare her.
I have got to get a fucking grip…
She grabbed her bag and walked to the gym locker room to get changed. After she'd pulled on her work-out gear she put her stuff in a locker.
She glanced at her phone, checking to see if Alison was on her way.
When the blonde finally did walk into the station she was all smiles in her tight-fit yoga pants and sexy sports bra that left almost nothing to the imagination. All of Emily's anticipation and dread disappeared.
When Alison kissed her hello Emily let her fill up her senses. She held the embrace passionately, more intense than usual. When they parted she laid her forehead against Alison's.
"That was a hell of a hello." Alison studied Emily's face, noting a small crease in her brow and a dull look hiding behind the elation in her eyes. "Is everything okay?"
Emily let a short breath slip through her parted lips, half-smiling, half-grimacing.
"The case can be tough sometimes."
"I'm sorry." I'm so so sorry. The thought came out automatically.
The case…her case…was causing Emily stress. She didn't like the way it made her feel. Sometimes she wished she still felt nothing at all.
Alison peered into Emily's eyes. There was something strange in them that she was having trouble placing. A mixture of emotions.
Sadness?
Fear?
What was she afraid of? Alison swallowed hard, trying not to think about the snapchat. Because if she thought about someone threatening Emily she was going to completely lose it. Instead, she focused on Emily's emotional state, working hard to decipher what she was feeling.
Guilt?
She had no idea that Emily's cold dark thoughts about the murders were tearing her apart.
A hint of anger?
She also didn't know what Emily had discovered about Talia.
"No reason to be sorry. Everything is just fine now." Emily smiled at her. "Nothing a little time with my girl and some exercise can't fix."
"I can't wait to see these buns of steel in action." Alison reached down and squeezed the brunette's ass.
"Whoa…" A voice startled them both. "Usually we're the ones doing the pat-downs and cavity searches. Not the other way around."
Toby averted his eyes and pretended to be prudish, catching them in their little moment.
Worst twat-swat ever. Emily glared at her partner, who was decked out in his exercise gear.
He glared back with a very readable "get a room" expression on his face. He pulled his arms up over his head and twisted his body, revealing a portion of his toned muscles. He'd been working out more since he'd been spending more time with Spencer.
"You ready?" Emily reached up and rubbed Alison's bare arm. Alison felt goosebumps rise on her skin.
The blonde smiled. It was sweet that Emily had been encouraging her to work on her survival skills. It was also ironic considering she'd spent her entire life surviving. But Alison went along with it.
She was hoping that maybe it would help her shift her focus away from the obsession that was drumming like a heartbeat in the back of her mind...the obsession that had her unable to sleep since getting that text at Sara Harvey's crime scene.
I have to kill this second-rate killer before Emily gets hurt.
They walked out of the station and turned towards a small park about a block away. They started with a light warm-up. Toby jogged ahead of them, lost in his own little world.
"You weren't kidding about his six pack. Your boy is ripped." Alison concentrated on planting one foot in front of the other, keeping up with Emily's pace. "I like yours better though."
She grinned, purposely slowing her run, knowing that Emily would slow her speed to match hers. Alison reached out and slid her hand across Emily's ribs. She glanced at the step-counter on her wrist.
She was already bored. Running was so mundane. She knew she had to do it, but she preferred other methods to get her heart racing.
God, I really do need to kill someone.
Ever since Sara Harvey had been stolen from her she'd been itching for a kill, even though she'd promised herself she was going to stop. Sara was supposed to be that stopping point. Then she was going to find out who was posing as her and take them down, framing them in the process.
She didn't like that her plans had been disrupted. She had been prepping for weeks, because she thought it was going to be her last ritualistic kill. She'd geared herself up for it and now all the energy she'd reserved had nowhere to go.
To keep her mind busy she'd been staking out Kathleen's place. The bitchy receptionist was still out of work. Alison was hoping she'd see her drop dead any day. She was hoping it would satisfy her urges enough to the point where she could let go of that part of herself.
She looked over at Emily.
I'm doing it for her. And for myself. For both of us. I want a life with her.
"You really do have a hell of a body." Alison gave her a flirty smile as she watched perspiration glisten against her skin. "I remember thinking that you'd have a fast recovery after your surgery because of your BMI and muscle mass."
"So you were checking me out." Emily winked.
"Of course I was. I'm not blind." Alison laughed. "What motivates you to stay so fit?"
"Exercise clears my head." She nodded towards Toby in the distance. "His too. It's a regimen we started together after my OD."
Alison peered ahead at Toby. He'd taken really good care of Emily over the years. She owed him for that.
She'd never felt true gratitude before.
It was weird.
"He's a really good man." Alison let her thoughts play out loud for once. Because for once, her thoughts were something good.
"He really is."
"I saw him having lunch with Spencer last weekend. I think they're starting to get serious." Alison had spied them in the break room when she went to get something from the vending machine. They looked happy.
"Yeah, he told me he gave her a call after Sara Harvey was found. Needed someone to talk to. Someone other than me." Emily huffed out a breath.
"I haven't come between you two, have I?" The idea intrigued and excited Alison…that Emily would choose her over her best friend.
"Not at all. He likes you."
He does?
"He understands our limits. He knows he can't run to me for every little thing, and I can't run to him for every little thing. We're there for each other. We always will be. We're family. But there are certain things we can't give one another." Emily reached up and wiped some sweat from her brow.
Intimacy.
"So he needs to get laid." Alison's comment was so blunt and nonchalant that Emily burst into laughter.
"More than you know." She almost choked on her chuckles. "But I think he's looking for more than that."
Alison thought it over. Spencer had been more pleasant at the hospital lately. Maybe whatever Toby was getting out of their relationship, Spencer was, too.
"I think Spencer is, too. It's actually weird to see. She's always been married to her career…kind of like I was before you came along."
"There was another love before me?" Emily faked a gasp. "Scandalous."
Alison purposefully bumped her shoulder, but not too hard so they wouldn't both eat pavement as they jogged along.
Toby's lead was starting to get wider. Emily was ready to catch up to him, but Alison was enjoying their time together so she kept her sluggish pace.
"Come on, slow poke," Emily ran backwards and then circled around her, once…twice…three times.
Alison pretended to be out of breath…pretended to be vulnerable. The truth was she could run twenty miles and she wouldn't get tired as long as she had the thrill of a kill on her mind.
That's what drove her. That's what she thought about as her shoes hit the pavement as she chased after Emily.
She could feel the thrumming pulse of her heart pounding against her ribs, and she couldn't help but imagine how good it would feel to stop someone else's heart.
Kathleen.
The woman's little flower she loved was long dead, wilted from the poison that Alison had doused it with.
Now it was Kathleen's turn.
She could feel her fingers twitching in anticipation and excitement. She had been looking forward to snuffing the old bitch out since she first met her. She hadn't had a reason until she discovered the embezzlement that resulted in children dying. Now she was ready to watch the life fade from her beady little eyes.
But she wouldn't cut her. She wouldn't mark her. It had to look natural.
I'm just tying up loose ends. This doesn't mean I'm going to start a cycle over again. This is just to tide me over until I can get my hands on the twisted shadow stalker…
Lies she told herself to get through the long nights instead of grinding her teeth down to stubs. There were times when she thought she truly was capable of letting it all go. Becoming a better version of herself for the brunette seemed within reason.
But there were also times when she doubted herself. She was simply a wild animal who couldn't fight her nature.
Except when she was with Emily.
"Let's make this a little more challenging." Emily grinned as she circled around Alison, jogging slowly.
"Oh? What do you have in mind?"
Emily had a sultry smile on her face. There was a sexy nature radiating off of her. She was screaming to be fucked, and Alison could feel it heating her veins.
"I'll let you try out that new toy you like if you can catch me." Emily whispered just before she took off at full speed.
That captured Alison's attention. She surged forward, dropping the pretenses of not being able to keep up, visions of pleasuring her girlfriend driving her. Catching her probably wouldn't come as a surprise to Emily. The brunette would just think she'd motivated her.
Emily was faster than Alison realized. She'd underestimated the detective. She barely caught up with her. When she did catch up she leaped on to her back squealing with laughter.
She had no way of knowing Emily had let her catch up with her. The detective liked making the blonde happy.
"Gotcha!" Alison wrapped her arms around Emily's neck and her legs around her center mass. "Now where's my prize?" She pressed her lips against the tip of Emily's ear, hoping she wouldn't fumble.
"Patience." To Alison's surprise, the brunette didn't slow down or run off the path to the nearest wooded area so they could go at one another like wild animals.
Instead, she gripped Alison's legs and held her tightly as she continued to jog.
Alison wasn't surprised at her strength, but she was impressed with her dedication. She laid her chin against Emily's shoulder, letting the heat and sweat pooling between them consume her.
Emily was lost in thought, trying to consider how she was going to bring up the fact that Alison's parents might have been involved with the same group of perverts responsible for unleashing a horrible crime ring exploiting children and teenagers that was still ongoing.
The detective had considered letting it go. She wasn't sure what good it would do. She was only digging into Talia's past because they'd been looking so desperately for a way to connect the kills. She hadn't expected the NAT club to be dumped into her lap. Now they had to follow that lead.
It could give us a lead on the next victim. Emily nearly gagged thinking of them as victims. The more she learned about them the more she questioned her humanity, because it was hard to mourn for monsters.
The pattern of the victims could lead us to the killer.
And then what? Emily couldn't stop thinking about the strange trade-off the killer was giving them. Clearly, murder was wrong, but how many lives…how many women and children had this killer saved by taking lives?
It's not right. She had to remind herself.
But she was assessing things in such a different way these days. She'd been so focused on catching Maya's killer, and she still wanted to, but her death didn't make any sense. They'd clearly identified how the perp chose their victims. Maya didn't fit that. There was no telling what the hell had happened that night.
She remembered the stillness in the air that night.
The feeling in the pit of her stomach.
The eerie silence.
Standing on the porch.
Flowers in hand.
The smell.
Decomposition.
Maggots.
Blood.
Blood everywhere.
It was such a blur to her. She was in shock. She was in pain. She wanted to die. She hadn't been thinking clearly.
She had been through so much, which had hardened her a bit.
She didn't trust her judgment anymore.
When they got back to the station Emily and Alison split away from Toby to go change in the women's locker room in the gym. Emily approached her locker, opening it to reveal her neatly folded khakis, long sleeved shirt, and an overcoat.
She stared at her work clothes. What kind of cop was she? She didn't care that people were being murdered.
Bad people. But still people.
Alison watched curiously as Emily stretched her neck, bending it from side to side. The brunette had carried her for the better part of a mile. No doubt her father's military blood coursing through her veins.
The doctor walked up behind her and lovingly put her hands on the brunette's shoulder…hands that would soon be used to take the life of another criminal. She found the tension in Emily's shoulders.
"Are you sore?" Alison massaged the knotted areas she assumed she'd caused by riding on Emily's back.
"Not too much." Emily turned around to face her, trying to bury the fact that the tension had nothing to do with her exercise and everything to do with Talia and the killer and the fact that she just didn't care about the "victims" anymore. She felt like a part of her soul had been yanked out.
She smiled when she saw Alison's rosy cheeks. She reached up and caressed her face before moving in for a kiss.
"I'm all gross and sweaty." Alison warned.
"I like you gross and sweaty." Emily pressed a kiss against the side of her neck, getting a taste of her salty skin.
Emily's tongue against her throat woke something primal in Alison. She gripped the brunette's chin and forced their lips together.
Alison's heart came to life every time they were together. She liked pleasing her…making her feel good.
They both had addictions…obsessions. Emily and alcohol. Alison and killing. The only time the urges were quiet was when they were together. Certainly not a healthy coping mechanism, but the joys of sensual touch kept them both from self-imploding.
Alison had started to question if it was possible to fuck someone to death. She had nothing to compare their relationship to, so she had no idea if they were having too much sex. But it seemed like every time they turned a corner they were naked. Hands, mouths, fingers, toys.
Too much sex. She scoffed at herself in thought. Like there's such a thing as too much sex?
Emily leaned against the lockers as their tongues rolled together. She reached down and grabbed Alison's wrist, feeling a grunt of surprise reverberating in her mouth.
She didn't give the blonde a chance to ask her what she was doing. She just shoved Alison's fingers into her yoga pants and pushed them into herself. She huffed into their kiss and wiggled her hips.
Alison didn't stop her, but her thoughts started running wild. Something felt strange about the encounter. Emily wasn't usually so needy. The last time she'd pushed for control was…
Maya's birthday.
"Is everything okay?" Alison's fingers were a tight fit in Emily's yoga bottoms, but she stroked and pumped effortlessly. It's what she wants, so how can I stop?
Emily nodded as she threw her head back against the lockers. She was holding her tongue, trying not to say "we'll talk later."
Normally, she went out of her way to look into Alison's eyes, but as shattered bits of her guilt leaked into her consciousness and struggled against the nefarious thoughts in her mind she found herself questioning her very morality. Her psyche felt like it was split in two.
She let the darkness consume her.
When she closed her eyes she saw flames rising, surrounding her. She was on fire, but she was content to burn.
Distorted visions from her past flashed in the darkness.
"This is who someone is making her in to!" Her mother's voice echoed in her mind.
The projection of memories sped through moments of her life she'd locked away.
Ben, baring his teeth. But they weren't human teeth. They were long and sharp, covered in blood.
Her blood.
Dripping on to the floor.
The blood droplets on the floor turned into a river, sweeping her away, washing her ashore at a murder scene.
Maya, head twisted at an awkward angle, the bones in her neck protruding at the base of her skull. Eyes empty and black, pointing directly at her.
"It's your fault."
Her dad appeared behind Maya, decked out in his dress blues, but something was horribly wrong. He was wasn't smiling at her. His eyes, black like Maya's, bore through her. Blood oozed out of dozens of bullet-shaped holes scattered throughout his uniform. She heard her mother's agonizing scream from the night they'd gotten the news.
"Your fault." She heard Maya say again.
Her father shook his head at her,
"I'm so disappointed in you, Emmy…"
Emily shuddered, but she wasn't sure if it was pleasure or pain.
And Christ…what the fuck did it mean that she was picturing all of these things with Alison inside of her?
Hands shot out in the darkness, wrapping tightly around her neck.
A dark silhouette loomed over her.
The Scarlet Letter Killer.
She couldn't make out any features of the shadow, but she sensed the killer's presence. They were kindred in the worst way. Twisted and wrapped up in one another in a dance for dominance and power.
I've been in your head.
It was a tricky balance the two of them had. The hunted and the hunter. Emily wasn't even sure who was who anymore. She wasn't sure of anything anymore.
Except…
Her cheeks flooded with warmth, and she realized there was a soft palm pressed against the left side of her face.
"Hey, where are you?" Alison's voice cut through the bitter cold, through the darkness.
Her touch sent the brunette over the edge, her body clamping down on Alison's fingers.
"Mmm…I'm here," Emily said softly, leaning forward to capture the blonde's lips. "I'm right here." She murmured as she cried against Alison's mouth.
The ecstasy propelled her into a heightened state of bliss.
The darkness swirled in the light.
Alison.
Her name was whispered like a song in the wind.
She peered into a pair of crystal blue eyes as her body shivered. She saw a hint of confusion in them.
Alison had sensed the difference…the desperate frenzy…the loss of her sense of self.
It was Alison who reminded her of her heart…of who she was. The blood in her veins belonged to the doctor, the woman who had saved her life and held her very soul in the palm of her hands.
The woman she was going to have to break into a million little pieces by digging into her past.
NAT. Her parents. It will destroy her.
"Breathe, Em." Alison's voice hummed against her ear.
When Emily exhaled she felt a fire in her lungs. She kept her eyes focused on Alison as she breathed through her orgasm.
Once the wave had crashed into her and rolled over her she came down from the height of her emotions. She felt Alison pull her fingers out of her pants, leaving a hot wet mess between her legs.
The blonde's soft palm was still against Emily's cheek, her eyes narrow as she studied her face. Her fingers lightly trailed over the brunette's jaw.
Emily did her best to connect…to keep herself from pulling away, but she felt like she was being sucked down into quicksand. Long treacherous claws were slowly passing in her peripheral vision, like large gnarly tree branches, slick black ooze pouring off of the twisted knotted limbs. The shadows of a monster that wasn't there.
It was a monster in her head.
The faraway expression in her eyes resonated with Alison. She watched Emily curiously. Something felt strangely familiar.
Why do I know that look? Alison asked herself as she traced a thumb against the edge of Emily's eye.
She caught a glimpse of her reflection and realized why it was familiar. She saw the same monster in her eyes every time she looked in the mirror.
I've destroyed her.
Or…had she opened her eyes?
"Are you sure you're okay?" Alison licked her lips, the taste of Emily's lip gloss dancing against her tongue.
Emily put her hand against Alison's hip and nodded.
Just as rapidly as that darkness had appeared, it disappeared. The light returned to Emily's eyes.
She smiled at Alison. And Alison couldn't help but smile back at her. They kissed again, but this time it was slow and gentle instead of hard and rushed.
When they pulled apart Emily's kind brown eyes landed on Alison's.
"You are so beautiful." Emily grazed Alison's chin with her index finger.
Alison bashfully glanced to the side. Then she lowered her chin and pressed a kiss against the brunette's fingertip before gently wrapping her teeth around it, playfully biting her.
She saw Emily's hands moving towards her sports bra, but her mind was elsewhere.
The moment she woke up that morning she had laid out a plan for the day. The impromptu exercise and fingerplay had not been on her schedule, but she wasn't going to complain about it.
But when Emily was ready to repay the favor she was too focused on the clock to enjoy it. She wanted to, but she had things she needed to do before work. Sex was great. But there was only one thing that could scratch the itch she'd felt since Sara Harvey's body had been found.
She had two hours before her first surgery of the day. Just enough time to get home, shower, and make a pit stop at Kathleen's apartment before heading in to work.
"I want to…" Alison bit her lip. "I really do. But I've got to get to work. I need to shower before I go in and I've got to stop at the store to pick some things up."
"Tonight then." Emily smiled.
She was one of the most patient people in the universe.
"Definitely tonight. I'm holding you to the promise you made about me catching you out there." She poked Emily's abs. "My bedroom, my rules, my way."
In her mind she could see herself slipping into the new toy while Emily sat up against a cloud of pillows, blindfolded and handcuffed to the bedposts.
"Can't wait. What time does your shift end?" Emily's lips grazed Alison's.
"Mmm…" She loved the feel of Emily's silky mouth against hers. "Ten."
"I'll be there at 9. Not a minute later."
So overprotective. Such an alpha. Like me.
"Toby and I are going to the gym after work before I go home." Emily slipped her fingers into Alison's. "I want you to come."
"I'd rather come at home." Alison winked.
"Oh, you will." Emily squeezed Alison's ass so hard it stung.
God, I love it when she plays rough…
They kissed goodbye and Emily told her to be careful. Alison assured her she would be fine before turning and waving to her.
She caught a glimpse of Emily's eyes, watching her ass as she walked out.
She gives a new meaning to the phrase 'dirty cop'.
Leaving Emily always heightened her nerves. She didn't like it. But she didn't have a choice. She had a job. She had responsibilities. She also had a pit stop to make.
She ran by the store, just like she said she was going to do. Then she went home and showered. She didn't need her kit for this kill. All she needed was the same concoction she'd used on the Rapist Surgeon she'd killed a few years back. A nice deadly little plant and a healthy overdose of undetectable substances.
She parked two blocks away from Kathleen's place. She grabbed a carry-out bag from a café just in case someone saw her and questioned why she was in the neighborhood, though she knew no one would. She used back alleys and back doors to get into the woman's apartment.
Kathleen was OCD about her schedule. She was OCD about everything. She never changed anything. Breakfast at six. Online gambling in the morning. A shower at nine. And a freshly brewed pot of coffee at nine thirty.
It was 9:18.
Alison was right on schedule. She'd avoided all security cameras and successfully picked the lock.
She could hear water running when she got into the apartment.
She'll die as she lived. A frigid old bitch. Alison's thought amused herself.
She slipped into the kitchen and saw the coffee pot brewing.
Oh, Cuntleen, you made it too easy.
She slipped the drugs into the steaming coffee pot, which was sitting on a burner. The heat would expedite the way the drugs were processed. She would be dead in five minutes.
She waited for her to come to the kitchen, but 9:30 passed. Then 9:35.
It wasn't like her to change things up.
Alison heard a loud thump in the bedroom, followed by a moan. She crept down the hallway and saw Kathleen's bedroom door cracked.
Through the sliver she could see the old woman in her sweatpants sprawled out on the floor. Her breathing was ragged.
Looks like we won't be needing that coffee after all.
The timing was perfect.
Fate. Kismet. This is a sign. This was meant to be. This is full-circle.
Alison put her gloved hand against the door and slowly pushed it open. She walked towards Kathleen, whose gaze was fixed on her ceiling as she struggled to catch her breath.
The blonde's shadow towered over her.
"Hello, Kathleen." Alison smiled, watching as the woman gasped for air.
Her hand clutched her chest as she rattled out a raspy breath. It sounded like she'd said "Help."
"Help?" Alison questioned, leaning down. "Is that what you want?"
Kathleen managed to nod her head once. She pointed to her bathroom, where her heart medications were stored.
"Oh, those won't help you now." Alison lowered her voice to a whisper. Kathleen's agony revitalized Alison's energy, making her tingle all over. "Do you know how long I've waited for this?"
Months. Fucking MONTHS. But your old ass has been too stubborn to die. It's about goddamn time.
"I saw what you've been up to." The blonde made a 'tsk' sound and shook her head. "Creating false reports and stealing from hospital funds is a huge violation of ethics."
She laughed when she considered the fact that she was preaching about ethics as she, a doctor, watched an old woman die.
A horrible miserable excuse for a woman.
Not a person. A thing.
"That money was for children." She grabbed Kathleen's chin angrily, thinking about all the kids she had seen die. Innocent kids. "Dying children. Do you know how many kids we could have saved with medical trials with those funds?" Her hands were trembling.
When she'd seen the evidence with her own two eyes she'd been blinded by rage.
"I watched two of my patients die because of you, after years of painful surgeries, chemo treatments, and radiation. Those experimental trials were their last shot. And you took that away from them. For what? Your fucking Bingo habit? Literally gambling away the lives of babies. That's sick."
Kathleen whimpered and sputtered, but couldn't form any words. In the end, she was just like all the other kills.
A criminal.
Alison had waited a long time to see the bitch get her comeuppance. She savored watching her final breaths.
Every painful wheezing cough that came from the woman's mouth was like a glorious firework going off in Alison's mind. It was beautiful.
Kathleen clutched her chest as she looked helplessly into Alison's eyes.
That's right, you miserable old bitch. I want my face to be the last you ever see…
Her heart stopped four minutes later.
Alison felt for her pulse, making sure she was really gone. She wanted to spit in her face, but leaving DNA would be a horrible idea.
She sat with the body for a few minutes, relishing in the pleasure that had washed over her as she watched the life drain from her eyes. They were cloudy and vacant now. No more bitchy scowls at work. No more gaslighting. No more temper tantrums or aggressive power moves. And best of all, no more embezzlement.
She went to work cleaning up after herself. It wasn't nearly as messy as her other crime scenes. No blood to clean up. No body to move. All she had to do was make sure no one knew she was ever there.
She switched the placebos she'd given Kathleen and filled her prescriptions with the real drugs. She made sure the bottles looked untouched, like the older woman had forgotten to stop taking them. Then she cleaned out the coffee pot, flushing it several times before putting on a freshly brewed pot so it would look like her normal routine when she was found dead on her bedroom floor.
Once she was finished she wiped everything down and slipped out as easily as she slipped in, her heart racing as she calmly walked back to her car.
The high always made her feel euphoric, though not in the same way being with Emily felt blissful. Nothing compared to seeing Emily's face twisted in pleasure and desire as she made love to her. But seeing the old woman who had mentally tortured her for years came pretty fucking close.
The trip back to the car gave her time to clear her head. The high of seeing the exact moment that Kathleen's withered old body died was slowly wearing off.
She climbed in the car and pulled her gloves off. She stared out the windshield, trying to place what she was feeling.
It took a few minutes for her to realize what it was.
I'm not satisfied.
Killing Kathleen hadn't made her feel better. It hadn't taken away from the fact that Sara had been stolen from her. She had planned to try and stop after her. But that snapchat message threatening Emily had changed everything.
Now what?
Someone was running around out there with her secret life, imitating her. Killing people who didn't deserve it, like the girl found with Tim Roland, and killing her targets, taking them away from her.
By the time she got to the hospital she was clutching the steering wheel so tight her knuckles were white. Her fingers were stiff from the tension.
Great. How the fuck am I supposed to perform surgery with hands that feel geriatric?
She needed to calm down. She needed a lifeline. She felt like she was spiraling. Losing control. She needed to remind herself why she was trying to let it go.
She looked at her phone, pulling up a picture of Emily. The brunette was staring directly into the camera, wearing the same smile that had captured Alison's heart the first time she'd seen her in the emergency room.
Everything I do, I do for you, my love…
She pulled up her text messages and started swiping a message to the detective.
Forgot to tell you to have a good day. And that I'll be thinking about you all day. Can't wait for tonight.
Alison wasn't normally someone who cared about adding emojis. She thought it was stupid to fake emotions in writing. She was already faking everything in real life. But she sent a winking face, an emoji blowing a kiss, a devil, a peach, and an eggplant…the same color as a very special toy that awaited Emily at her house.
She'd learned about the eggplant emoji from one of her teenage patients. They were horny little things, especially when they were laid up. Alison liked to consider them safe in her hospital, and because of that they felt comfortable treating her like a peer. Though she was always very careful not to cross any lines.
Her phone chimed at her.
If the locker room was a preview of things to come…
Emily had paused on that last word on purpose. She sent a grinning emoji before finishing the message,
…I can't wait either.
The locker room.
Alison had sensed something peculiar between them in the locker room. Something was changing...shifting inside of Emily. There had been a strange flicker of darkness in the detective's eyes. In a way, it was intriguing. The darkness inside of the brunette spoke to the darkness inside of her. She could feel it flowing through her veins, arousing the part of herself that she kept hidden. She was attracted to it. She craved it.
But Emily wasn't like her. Emily couldn't simply close herself off to her feelings...her humanity. Her soul, her emotions...they would eat her alive. If the detective gave in to the darkness she wouldn't be able to live with herself.
I can't let that happen to her.
She was too good. Too pure. It was something worth protecting. She was worth protecting. Alison would give anything in her life to keep Emily from living with the demons she had to live with every day.
Misery doesn't love company. It feeds off of it. It sucks people dry. It destroys them.
I won't let it destroy her.
Emily was struggling with her sense of self, and Alison hated seeing her suffer. Unlike the people who ended up on the wrong end of her scalpel, Emily didn't deserve to suffer. Yet she was teetering on the edge of something, and she was close to going over.
Alison wasn't sure what would happen when Emily finally fell, but she was certain of one thing…she would be there to catch her. Because that's what it meant to love someone more than loving oneself.
A/N: Ah, a balance of dark and light, a tale as old as time. Do we think Alison is seeing a bit of light? Or is she just lying to herself? Is our fearless detective losing it? Can Alison and Toby steer her towards the light? What do we think the copycat is up to? Is Emily on to something? How far would Alison go to protect her lover? How much do you adore Duke? And how much do you hate Alex? So many questions...
As always, try not to judge too harshly about their intimate scenes. Someone once said that Alison had two speeds: horny and murder. And that's it. That's the story. But in between, she also has an immense amount of love for her partner.
Also, I love writing me some Tobily. Their friendship/partnership is like no other.