Watching out the window of his office, he kept his back to the computer while Shay looked over the disc that had arrived.  He cringed each time Darinda's voice accused him "all because of you". 

Shay watched the slides with the eyes of a profiler.  Even the analytical mind couldn't shut out the suffering those women went through.  The feelings of a wife lead her to click the volume button and mute the accusing sound .wav. 

"I'm not seeing it," Shay said, breaking the silence moments later.

"Seeing what," he asked, turning back to face her.

"What the killer is trying to tell you," she replied as she stood and moved toward him and placed a hand on his arm.

"Maybe it's nothing more than to frame me," he said quietly.

"How?  What connection is there?  I know you dated..." she trailed off.  Her eyes flew to his in understanding.  "You were involved with all of them?"

His response was to pull her into his embrace and rest his chin on top of her head. 

"Hmmm...punish you, I think."  She pulled away slightly.  "You know this killer, Frank...he is part of your past, even your present."

"I've thought of that, but who?  There's no connection."

The outside door closed loudly signaling Cody's return.  Shay pulled away and moved toward the office door, but before she could reach it Frank grasped her by the shoulders and turned her to face him.

"I should have told you...and the team, from the beginning."  He waited for her response but she merely nodded her head in agreement.  "And...what happened...what I did to you; I can never make that right."

"You just did, Tiger." She leaned forward and brushed her lips against his.  "No more lies...no more secrets," she whispered.

"Pardonnez-moi et aimez-moi, mon cadeau," he replied softly before he kissed her deeply.

The sound of Cody clearing his throat pulled them apart.  Cody laughed at their embarrassment.  "I'm trying to come up with something witty to say, but all that comes to mind is 'get a room' and that's so overdone." 

Shay laughed and took the to-go bag from his hand.  "Give it a rest, geek-boy.  Come on; we've got work to do."

Cody made a face at her back.  "Yes, your hind-ass."

Frank just shook his head as he followed behind them. 

"What do you have in mind, Shay?" Frank asked as they headed toward the break room.

"We need to find the piece that completes the pyramid.  We know you're connected to all of these women in one sense or another, but who is close enough to you to know you and those women?"  She took a couple plates from the cupboard and set them on the table.  "What's for dinner, Cody?"

He shrugged.  "You didn't tell me what you wanted, so I brought you back a pu pu platter and fried rice."

Frank sat down and picked up an egg roll and a packet of duck sauce.  "Call Jake and let them know what I showed you.  I don't know what they can dig up in Florida, but maybe we'll get lucky."

"When does Cody get filled in, hmmm?" he asked, leaning against the doorjamb. 

Frank sighed.  There was nothing like airing his dirty laundry, so to speak.  "I dated all the victims.  Nessa was my high school sweetheart.  I dated LeighAnne for a short time before she became Miss Illinois, and you know about Darinda."

**Pardonnez-moi et aimez-moi, mon cadeau = forgive me and love me, my gift.

************

Gazing down into her face, he fed off the fear he read in her eyes.  This one was different; he had no desire to love her physically.  He touched her cheek gently, not surprised when she wrenched away from him.

He looked over her lovingly.  She lay fully clothed in her light blue housedress on the bed in the secluded run-down motel room.  Having no wish to hear this one's screams, duck tape covered her mouth.  Her hands and ankles were bound by cloth from a torn pillowcase.  Her bottled blonde hair fanned the pillow; the moonlight glistened through the window, causing a halo effect.

No, he would not love her physically; he needed only to purge the anguish within in this time.  He loved her, so very much, but this was a different kind of love.  If only she could have loved and admired him the way she did the other...Frank Donovan.  Yes, if only...then he would not have to...

He shuddered when he saw the glint of the blade from the corner of his eye before he brought it down to sink deep into her chest.  Down...down...again and again...until he felt sated...his hatred drain and he felt then only the love for the woman who lay before him.  Untying her bonds, he positioned her carefully on the bed; hands and ankles crossed.

"Goodbye..." he whispered as he left the room; the door wide open for anyone to find what remained in the aftermath.

**********