Disclaimer:You know it...I'm tired of typing it
Frank was extremely angry. He didn't know what he was going to tell Nancy. This would scare her to death. Hell, it scared him to death. He looked at the corner of the pictures and saw that a few were taken three months ago. This sicko had been watching her for month, invading her private space, and she wasn't even aware of it. Frank looked up when he heard Joe draw in a sharp breath beside him.
"He's been following her for months." Joe said quietly.
Frank handed Joe the pictures and put his head in his hands. He had to control himself. He could feel his rage boiling inside of him. His cell phone rang.
"Hardy." He said.
"Did you get the pictures?" Fitz asked.
"Leave her alone." Frank said in a chilling voice.
Joe looked at his brother. He had only seen Frank like this once or twice before. And when it did happen, it never bode well for the other guy.
"I don't think I can do that." Fitz was telling Frank.
Frank decided to try another track. "Where does Kristin live?"
Fitz chuckled and then sighed. "You're taking all of the fun out of this, Detective."
"Tell me." Frank demanded.
"I'll narrow it down for you a bit. I really do want you to find her before she does die. She lives in an apartment complex in one of these suberbs: Clinton, Pike, or Collins."
Frank jotted down the names on a piece of paper.
"Oh, and Frank?" Fitz saod politely.
"What?" Frank asked.
"Just a friendly warning: Keep an eye on Nancy." Fitz said. "I am. And if I'm not mistaken, she's having lunch with her two friends, isn't she?"
"You listen to me." Frank said. His voice became louder. "You stay away from her! You better pray that I don't find you first, because so help me, God-"
"Temper, temper, Frank." Fitz said. "I would hate for you to be taken off of the case because you can't control you anger." He paused. "Well, looks like they got done with their lunch."
"You stay away from her!" Frank shouted. He heard Fitz laugh as he hung up the phone.
Frank slammed down the receiver and looked around the room. Everyone was staring at him wide-eyed.
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Nancy was happy. George's great news had really lifted her spirits and made her forget eveything, at least for a while.
They had walked back to her office. She unlocked the door and they each sat down. Nancy pulled her cell phone out from her purse and turned the ringer on. She normally left it on, but she wanted peace and quiet while she was having lunch. She checked messages and heard that she had eight missed calls.
She dialed her voice mail and listened to her messages. They were all from Frank, and each one sounded more urgent than the last.
"That's weird." She muttered.
"What?" Bess asked.
"Frank left me eight frantic messages, but he never said what they were about." Nancy explained as she dialed his cell phone.
The phone was starting to ring when Frank and Joe rushed into her office. Nancy jumped up from her seat and looked at the both of them in surprise.
"What the--" Nancy began, but Frank enveloped her in a big hug.
"It's great to see you, too, sweetie." Nancy said.
Frank cupped her face in his hands. "Are you all right?" he asked, concerned.
Nancy gave him a confused smile. "Yeah. Why wouldn't I be?"
"I was just worried." Frank said.
"What aren't you telling me, Frank? You left me eight frantic messages on my phone." Nancy said.
"Why didn't you answer your phone?" Frank asked.
"I had it on silent while I was eating lunch." Nancy said.
Frank finally seemed to notice that George and Bess were in the room. "I"m sorry, Bess and George. How are you?" He asked giving them both a hug.
"Great." They both said.
"When did you get back in town?" Frank asked George.
"This morning." George answered.
"And you'll never believe who she got a job offer with." Nancy said.
"Who?" Frank asked.
"A small news station--ESPN." George answered.
"What!?" Joe asked. "You're kidding me!"
George shook her head. "Nope. I'm still thinking it over, though."
Nancy turned her attention back to Frank. "Spill it, Hardy. What's going on?"
Joe handed Nancy the manila envelope. She opened it up, still looking at Frank. She took out the pictures and looked at them.
Nancy could feel herself getting light-headed as she looked through them. She felt Frank catch her as she passed out.
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"Nancy!"
Nancy stirred as she heard Frank saying her name. Her eyes fluttered open and she saw Frank, Joe, Bess and George standing over her.
"What happened?" She asked, weakly.
"You passed out." Joe said. "Are you all right?"
Nancy nodded and saw George pick up the pictures.
George picked up the pictures and started to browse through them. "Does someone want to explain to me what's going on?"
Nancy, Frank, and Joe exchanged glances. She didn't really want to get Bess and George involved. But maybe if they did know it would help keep them safe.
Nancy sighed."This guy that I put away a few years ago is back. Only now, he's resorted to killing people. And he has his eyes set on me."
"Are you serious?" George asked.
Nancy nodded. "Unfortunately, I am." She said. Her voice got deadly serious. "You two need to watch your back. If he sees you two he may think they best way to get at me will be to go through you. I can't have anything happen to you."
"Do you have a picture of him?" Bess asked.
Frank and Joe helped Nancy stand up. She reached across her desk and opened the file that she had on Mike Fitzgerald. She gave the picture to Bess.
She saw a flicker of recognition pass over Bess's face. "I know him." She said slowly.
"Yeah. You were with me when I solved the case." Nancy said. "Mike Fitzgerald--Cupid."
"He's back?" Bess asked softly.
"Yeah, that's why I need you to be extra careful." Nancy said.
"But he almost killed you last time, Nancy. What's to stop him from succeeding this time?" Bess asked, fearfully.
"I honestly can't answer that, Bess. I'm keeping an eye out for him. Frank and Joe are following me everywhere." Nancy said.
"They weren't with you at lunch." George said.
"I know. I refused to let them come with me." Nancy explained. She turned to Frank. "Did you turn up any leads?"
Frank nodded. "Can we talk in private?"
George got the hint. "Look, I really need to go anyway. I have unpack and then I'm heading back to River Heights." "I'll walk you out." Joe said.
"Just promise me that you'll be careful." Nancy said to Bess and George.
They each gave her a hug in reponse. As soon as Joe walked them out Nancy turned on Frank.
"There's something else, isn't there?" Nancy asked.
"I think he's been following you around. He called me after I got the pictures and told me that you were eating lunch. He knew exactly when you were leaving. He told me I needed to keep an eye on you, because he was." Frank explained.
"Oh, God." Nancy said softly.
"He's got me real scared, Nan. I never know when he's going to strike. I don't know if he's not watching you right now. I don't know what his next move will be. All I know is that he is after you. And that scares me so much." Frank said.
Nancy grabbed him in a hug. She had never seen Frank this scared. And seeing how he was reacting like this terrified her.
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Mike Fitzgerlad looked at his watch. It was a little after eight o'clock. If he wanted to get Kristin he would have to do it now. It was only a matter of time before Nancy figured out where she lived. She was determined. He liked that about her.
He looked up at the apartment complex and saw that the lights were on in her apartment. He got out of his Jeep and grabbed his bag out of the backseat. As he was walking up to the door, a couple was walking out. Just his luck. Now he wouldn't have to have anyone buzz him in.
He grabbed the door before it completely closed and walked inside. He looked for Kristin's apartment, number 105. He glanced around to make sure no one was looking and knocked on her door.
"Hi." She said. "Mike, right?"
Fitz smiled. "Right. I just wanted to make sure that everything was okay after that flat that you had."
Kristin smiled back at him. "That's very sweet. Everything turned out great. Again, thank you so much for what you did. You're a life saver."
"I'm just glad that I happened to be there." Fitz said. "Would you like to come in?" Kristin asked.
"I really shouldn't." Fitz said.
"Oh, come in. The least I can do is give you a drink." she said.
"Well, maybe for a few minutes." Fitz said. Kristin opened the door wider and Fitz walked into her apartment.
"What can I get you?" Kristin asked. "A water is fine." Fitz said. "May I use your bathroom?"
"Sure. Down the hall, first door on the right." Kristin said.
Fitz went to the bathroom and set his back down on the counter. He looked in the mirror and smiled. Things were going great.
He pulled the blonde wig off of his head and stuffed it into his bag. He then took the green contacts out of his eyes. He wanted Kristin to see the real him. The way that she remembered him.
He grabbed his bag and walked out of the bathroom. Kristin was just walking into the living room with the glasses of water when she looked up at him. She dropped the water and the glasses shattered on the floor.
She backed away slowly from him. "Who are you?"
"You don't recognize me, Kristin?" Fitz stepped into the light.
"Fitz?" Kristin breathed.
"Lady gets a prize." Fitz smiled. He reached into his bag and pulled out his knife.
"What are you doing?" She asked.
Fitz gave her a charming smile."I'm going to kill you. I told you I would get back at you. And I am a man of my word."
Kristin looked at the phone. "Don't bother. The police will be here soon enough."
Kristin tried to make a run for the door, but Fitz grabbed her and shoved her against the wall.
"Please don't do this." Kristin sobbed.
"Sorry. But it really is your fault." Fitz said. "You know, you should really be careful who you trust, Kristin. You never know who they will turn out to be."
"This happened years ago." Kristin said.
"And I still haven't forgotten." Fitz said.
He gripped the knife tighter in his hand. "I want you to do something for me, Kristin."
"What?" She whispered.
"I want you to hang on long enough so that she can find you. I want your last words to be telling Nancy that is was me. And tell her she's coming up soon." Fitz said. He smiled as she plunged the knife into her abdomen.
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A/N: Well, let me know what you think of it.
Frank was extremely angry. He didn't know what he was going to tell Nancy. This would scare her to death. Hell, it scared him to death. He looked at the corner of the pictures and saw that a few were taken three months ago. This sicko had been watching her for month, invading her private space, and she wasn't even aware of it. Frank looked up when he heard Joe draw in a sharp breath beside him.
"He's been following her for months." Joe said quietly.
Frank handed Joe the pictures and put his head in his hands. He had to control himself. He could feel his rage boiling inside of him. His cell phone rang.
"Hardy." He said.
"Did you get the pictures?" Fitz asked.
"Leave her alone." Frank said in a chilling voice.
Joe looked at his brother. He had only seen Frank like this once or twice before. And when it did happen, it never bode well for the other guy.
"I don't think I can do that." Fitz was telling Frank.
Frank decided to try another track. "Where does Kristin live?"
Fitz chuckled and then sighed. "You're taking all of the fun out of this, Detective."
"Tell me." Frank demanded.
"I'll narrow it down for you a bit. I really do want you to find her before she does die. She lives in an apartment complex in one of these suberbs: Clinton, Pike, or Collins."
Frank jotted down the names on a piece of paper.
"Oh, and Frank?" Fitz saod politely.
"What?" Frank asked.
"Just a friendly warning: Keep an eye on Nancy." Fitz said. "I am. And if I'm not mistaken, she's having lunch with her two friends, isn't she?"
"You listen to me." Frank said. His voice became louder. "You stay away from her! You better pray that I don't find you first, because so help me, God-"
"Temper, temper, Frank." Fitz said. "I would hate for you to be taken off of the case because you can't control you anger." He paused. "Well, looks like they got done with their lunch."
"You stay away from her!" Frank shouted. He heard Fitz laugh as he hung up the phone.
Frank slammed down the receiver and looked around the room. Everyone was staring at him wide-eyed.
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Nancy was happy. George's great news had really lifted her spirits and made her forget eveything, at least for a while.
They had walked back to her office. She unlocked the door and they each sat down. Nancy pulled her cell phone out from her purse and turned the ringer on. She normally left it on, but she wanted peace and quiet while she was having lunch. She checked messages and heard that she had eight missed calls.
She dialed her voice mail and listened to her messages. They were all from Frank, and each one sounded more urgent than the last.
"That's weird." She muttered.
"What?" Bess asked.
"Frank left me eight frantic messages, but he never said what they were about." Nancy explained as she dialed his cell phone.
The phone was starting to ring when Frank and Joe rushed into her office. Nancy jumped up from her seat and looked at the both of them in surprise.
"What the--" Nancy began, but Frank enveloped her in a big hug.
"It's great to see you, too, sweetie." Nancy said.
Frank cupped her face in his hands. "Are you all right?" he asked, concerned.
Nancy gave him a confused smile. "Yeah. Why wouldn't I be?"
"I was just worried." Frank said.
"What aren't you telling me, Frank? You left me eight frantic messages on my phone." Nancy said.
"Why didn't you answer your phone?" Frank asked.
"I had it on silent while I was eating lunch." Nancy said.
Frank finally seemed to notice that George and Bess were in the room. "I"m sorry, Bess and George. How are you?" He asked giving them both a hug.
"Great." They both said.
"When did you get back in town?" Frank asked George.
"This morning." George answered.
"And you'll never believe who she got a job offer with." Nancy said.
"Who?" Frank asked.
"A small news station--ESPN." George answered.
"What!?" Joe asked. "You're kidding me!"
George shook her head. "Nope. I'm still thinking it over, though."
Nancy turned her attention back to Frank. "Spill it, Hardy. What's going on?"
Joe handed Nancy the manila envelope. She opened it up, still looking at Frank. She took out the pictures and looked at them.
Nancy could feel herself getting light-headed as she looked through them. She felt Frank catch her as she passed out.
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"Nancy!"
Nancy stirred as she heard Frank saying her name. Her eyes fluttered open and she saw Frank, Joe, Bess and George standing over her.
"What happened?" She asked, weakly.
"You passed out." Joe said. "Are you all right?"
Nancy nodded and saw George pick up the pictures.
George picked up the pictures and started to browse through them. "Does someone want to explain to me what's going on?"
Nancy, Frank, and Joe exchanged glances. She didn't really want to get Bess and George involved. But maybe if they did know it would help keep them safe.
Nancy sighed."This guy that I put away a few years ago is back. Only now, he's resorted to killing people. And he has his eyes set on me."
"Are you serious?" George asked.
Nancy nodded. "Unfortunately, I am." She said. Her voice got deadly serious. "You two need to watch your back. If he sees you two he may think they best way to get at me will be to go through you. I can't have anything happen to you."
"Do you have a picture of him?" Bess asked.
Frank and Joe helped Nancy stand up. She reached across her desk and opened the file that she had on Mike Fitzgerald. She gave the picture to Bess.
She saw a flicker of recognition pass over Bess's face. "I know him." She said slowly.
"Yeah. You were with me when I solved the case." Nancy said. "Mike Fitzgerald--Cupid."
"He's back?" Bess asked softly.
"Yeah, that's why I need you to be extra careful." Nancy said.
"But he almost killed you last time, Nancy. What's to stop him from succeeding this time?" Bess asked, fearfully.
"I honestly can't answer that, Bess. I'm keeping an eye out for him. Frank and Joe are following me everywhere." Nancy said.
"They weren't with you at lunch." George said.
"I know. I refused to let them come with me." Nancy explained. She turned to Frank. "Did you turn up any leads?"
Frank nodded. "Can we talk in private?"
George got the hint. "Look, I really need to go anyway. I have unpack and then I'm heading back to River Heights." "I'll walk you out." Joe said.
"Just promise me that you'll be careful." Nancy said to Bess and George.
They each gave her a hug in reponse. As soon as Joe walked them out Nancy turned on Frank.
"There's something else, isn't there?" Nancy asked.
"I think he's been following you around. He called me after I got the pictures and told me that you were eating lunch. He knew exactly when you were leaving. He told me I needed to keep an eye on you, because he was." Frank explained.
"Oh, God." Nancy said softly.
"He's got me real scared, Nan. I never know when he's going to strike. I don't know if he's not watching you right now. I don't know what his next move will be. All I know is that he is after you. And that scares me so much." Frank said.
Nancy grabbed him in a hug. She had never seen Frank this scared. And seeing how he was reacting like this terrified her.
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Mike Fitzgerlad looked at his watch. It was a little after eight o'clock. If he wanted to get Kristin he would have to do it now. It was only a matter of time before Nancy figured out where she lived. She was determined. He liked that about her.
He looked up at the apartment complex and saw that the lights were on in her apartment. He got out of his Jeep and grabbed his bag out of the backseat. As he was walking up to the door, a couple was walking out. Just his luck. Now he wouldn't have to have anyone buzz him in.
He grabbed the door before it completely closed and walked inside. He looked for Kristin's apartment, number 105. He glanced around to make sure no one was looking and knocked on her door.
"Hi." She said. "Mike, right?"
Fitz smiled. "Right. I just wanted to make sure that everything was okay after that flat that you had."
Kristin smiled back at him. "That's very sweet. Everything turned out great. Again, thank you so much for what you did. You're a life saver."
"I'm just glad that I happened to be there." Fitz said. "Would you like to come in?" Kristin asked.
"I really shouldn't." Fitz said.
"Oh, come in. The least I can do is give you a drink." she said.
"Well, maybe for a few minutes." Fitz said. Kristin opened the door wider and Fitz walked into her apartment.
"What can I get you?" Kristin asked. "A water is fine." Fitz said. "May I use your bathroom?"
"Sure. Down the hall, first door on the right." Kristin said.
Fitz went to the bathroom and set his back down on the counter. He looked in the mirror and smiled. Things were going great.
He pulled the blonde wig off of his head and stuffed it into his bag. He then took the green contacts out of his eyes. He wanted Kristin to see the real him. The way that she remembered him.
He grabbed his bag and walked out of the bathroom. Kristin was just walking into the living room with the glasses of water when she looked up at him. She dropped the water and the glasses shattered on the floor.
She backed away slowly from him. "Who are you?"
"You don't recognize me, Kristin?" Fitz stepped into the light.
"Fitz?" Kristin breathed.
"Lady gets a prize." Fitz smiled. He reached into his bag and pulled out his knife.
"What are you doing?" She asked.
Fitz gave her a charming smile."I'm going to kill you. I told you I would get back at you. And I am a man of my word."
Kristin looked at the phone. "Don't bother. The police will be here soon enough."
Kristin tried to make a run for the door, but Fitz grabbed her and shoved her against the wall.
"Please don't do this." Kristin sobbed.
"Sorry. But it really is your fault." Fitz said. "You know, you should really be careful who you trust, Kristin. You never know who they will turn out to be."
"This happened years ago." Kristin said.
"And I still haven't forgotten." Fitz said.
He gripped the knife tighter in his hand. "I want you to do something for me, Kristin."
"What?" She whispered.
"I want you to hang on long enough so that she can find you. I want your last words to be telling Nancy that is was me. And tell her she's coming up soon." Fitz said. He smiled as she plunged the knife into her abdomen.
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A/N: Well, let me know what you think of it.