Chapter 5

"So what is your opinion of the photo I gave you?" Jack asked Samantha after they were in a quiet corner of a cosy Italian restaurant and the waitress had taken their orders.

Samantha hesitated, she was so dazzled by her instructor and she didn't want to embarrass herself. Finally she replied, "I'm not sure what to say."

"This isn't a test my Samantha. Forget the psychobabble and techniques idiots have tried to thrust upon you. What do you think?" Jack pushed gently and pulled the photo out of the folder and handed it to her.

"The killer is very organized. The crime scene is very neat, he's very controlled."

"What else?"

"He took his time, Jack. I don't think it was his first kill and I think he took pleasure in it."

Jack smiled innocently as he asked, "What kind of pleasure did he derive from it? Was it sexual?"

"No," Sam shook her head. "His pleasure comes from power, from intelligence, from the pleasure of the-"

"The game," he offered helpfully.

"Exactly! His work is really quite amazing-" Samantha trailed off embarrassed. Then she mumbled, "Sorry. Tom says I get way too involved with "serial whackos" as he calls them."

"Tom, your fiancé I take it?" Jack grabbed Samantha's hand and examined her engagement ring.

"Yes. We're getting married in a couple months."

Jack remained silent for a moment as the waitress approached with a couple steaming plates of chicken and pesto sauce over penne pasta. The idea of Samantha getting married made him feel sick. A couple months wasn't long, but Jack was up to the task. If he could end a life, surely he could end an engagement.

"My dear Samantha, doesn't Tom understand how important profiling is to you? Forgive me if I'm overstepping my bounds, but it sounds as if he doesn't respect your studies," Jack said innocently.

"Tom thinks I should quit school and work as a bureau secretary until we start a family," she confided.

"Never!" Jack proclaimed and took her hand. "Promise me Samantha. Promise me that no matter what you'll pursue your dreams!"

Sam pulled back slightly, a little disturbed by her handsome teacher's outburst.

"Sorry, Samantha," Jack soothed. "I just think you have excellent instincts and a great deal of potential. I would hate to see your abilities go to waste."

Seeing Samantha relax slightly, Jack decided to gather more information. "So is Tom around Quantico at the moment?"

"No, he's on assignment and won't get back until a few days before the wedding. Dr. Steele-"

"Please Samantha, call me Jackson or Jack."

"Ok, Jack. I noticed something the other day that I would like your opinion on. Bailey Malone had a couple of us look at some files on unsolved cases and I think I noticed a pattern. Part of me says I must be wrong that if that were the case a seasoned agent would have noticed, but part of me-"

"Samantha, you need to be confident in your abilities. Don't doubt yourself. But if you like why don't we review the files together tonight over dinner at my place?" Jack suggested. "I only agreed to teach after they agreed to give me a furnished apartment off campus and it has a nice kitchen that I need to break in."

Samantha hesitated. She shouldn't. Lunch was one thing, but this was going to Jack's apartment at night. Tom wouldn't approve. A dozen good arguments flashed through her mind and flew away as Samantha nodded. "Just write down your address and I'll bring the Janice Fletcher file and the others."

A secret smile crossed Jack's lips when Samantha said Janice Fletcher's name. Could it be? Did his beautiful girl see his artistry? Looking across the table, she looked so serene, but underneath there was an undercurrent of violence. It was well concealed and maybe she wasn't ready to acknowledge that part of herself yet, but it was indelibly there. Jack pulled his wallet and threw some money on the table. Then circled around to hold out her chair.

Quietly the pair walked outside. Standing on the sidewalk in front of the restaurant, Jack took Samantha's chin in his hand and gently tilted her head back. Samantha stared into his dark eyes, her blue eyes wide with shock. He was going to kiss her she thought. I can't let him, I shouldn't. But her eyes closed involuntarily in anticipation. Softly he rubbed his thumb across her lips, his touch feather light and sensual. Sam opened her eyes in slight disappointment.

"Pesto sauce," Jack told her holding his thumb up.

For a second, Samantha blushed, then felt as if someone else were in control of her body as she took his hand in both of hers. Looking into his brown velvet eyes, Samantha took his thumb into her mouth. Never in her life had Samantha done anything so bold! For a moment she was afraid he was upset as he stared at her quietly his expression unreadable. With his free hand, he reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a business card and handed it to her.

"I'll see you at seven my Samantha," Jack said softly taking her hand and pressing a kiss against her inner wrist, allowing his lips to linger for a moment at her pulse point. Then he bowed gallantly and disappeared...