A CHARMED AU...

Cole Turner threw down his coat in frustration on the kitchen table as he entered his apartment; Life couldn't be going more wrong. He had lost a case, managed to burn a hole through his favorite tie with the iron, missed the train back home and waited 45 minutes in the pouring rain when his keys suddenly stopped functioning.

Seizing a freeze dinner out of the fridge, he shoved it into the microwave. The phone rang as he took it out gingerly as he remembered the incident with the iron and how important it was to keep a particular eye on things. "Turner," he answered, cradling the phone under his chin.

A gruff voice accosted him His landlord was demanding the rent.

"I told you," Cole protested. "I already paid! Two days ago, I sent you the check!" So Cole spent 15 full minutes arguing with his landlord about payments.

Cole finally slammed down the phone and turned around. Sitting near him was his dog. "Can things get any worse? My life is going downhill. My girlfriend broke up with me. My career seems to be hitting roadblocks as no one will tell me what the h*ll is going on! And I'm talking to my dog," Cole rambled angrily.

It seemed no one cared. No one.

*

She stayed in the darkness, watching him. She knew she had to stop him before he uncovered things...it was her job, her duty. One that she despised but had to do in order to keep her sister alive. His death was the key to their survival. Once she did it, they could be free, free from the tormenting darkness of evil that had imprisoned and kept them from the light. Her elder sister was not up for this task. It was hers alone.

He would be her victim...her first and her last. Thankfully. But she needed a plan to win him over and then be able to betray him. It wasn't easy. But it was the only way...

*

Cole has managed to get up late that night to respond to a phone call. Apparently, at a club, a police officer was almost stabbed. It had a connection to the other cases he was investigating. There lay a victim near that police officer with a triqueta on her forehead. And they had caught the perpetuator of the crime, or so they thought.

It was one thing going right at least. As he arrived on the scene, flashing red and blue lights blinded him. There were areas covered with yellow tape warning spectators to stay out. Co As he brushed by them, a detective waved him over.

He nodded, "Jackson"

"Turner," Detective Jackson replied. "Well, we think they caught him. Some women apparently saved the officer from this lunatic. I think you need to go talk to them. Get some info. It's what we need to put this guy where he belongs or worse. He's done a lot."

Cole nodded and he made his way to where two young women was standing, comforting the police officer

"Ladies, my name is Cole Turner and I am the assistant district attorney investigating this case. I was wondering whether you could tell me whether either of you saw what happened here,"

"I did!" one woman raised her hand.

He smiled at her. Finally cooperation.

*

She could only think about how good-looking he was. No, don't think about that, she warned. She couldn't afford it. Couldn't risk it....not when Piper's life was on the line.