06 Home at Last

Although she had wanted to rush to the hospital Rae had known that her duty came first. They had waited far too long for the information she had in her hands for it to be left until morning. She poured herself a cup of decaffeinated coffee, grabbed a Danish from a box on the refreshment table in the squad room and then made herself comfortable in one of the video viewing rooms at the back of the homicide department. The memories of the last occasion she had spent sitting watching a security tape over and over again however, were too fresh in her mind and she saw Elizabeth Masters standing in a bank elevator, saw the killer as she moved to crack her neck and then as that vision came to an end it blurred into the moment when she had known she was about to be shot.

For a short while Rae had been unable to function, the recollections taking her breath away and leaving her shaking. The bullet hitting her was a memory she didn't have, but the aftermath, the pain, the fear, the waking up in a strange hospital being unable to breathe, unable to speak or remember, as well as the long hard road to recovery, they were all still with her, and she knew, without a doubt, that she was lucky to be alive.

The fourteen women from LA weren't so lucky, and it was that thought which haunted her and it was those women who invaded her dreams. The fear inside her which had seemed to cripple her after her recent injury had receded a little, but it was still there, still gnawing away at her, and Rae knew that once this case was solved, once Dominic Little or whatever his real name was, was behind bars, she would have to re-evaluate her career and her future.

Taking a drink Rae knew that there was no way to avoid the task ahead of her, she also knew that the video would show the last chance that Leigh Ann had to save herself, but with no idea of the danger she was in, the young woman hadn't been able to take that chance.

Rae quickly wound the video forward until it was at the correct place and then, as it was slowed to ordinary speed, Rae watched the man they were after as he talked and joked with his next victim. She looked just at him because, although her initial thoughts had been for the prey, when she had a chance to see their man Rae found that she was unable to take her eyes off of him.

He had been confident, but not overly so, he had kept a gentlemanly distance as his date had been helped onto her horse by one of the grooms, and then, as they had finally moved off together, he had waved a cheerful goodbye to the stable hands and smiled to himself.

Rae wasn't certain what she had expected to see, she had already known that he was good looking, sure of himself, he was a monster without horns, without fangs, but he was deadly just the same. For a moment Rae wondered where he had kept his knife, but as she had looked at him again she had known. He had knee length riding boots on, the weapon would have been hidden in them, it was only supposition, but she knew she was right.

Running the tape back Rae began to watch again, this time keeping her eyes firmly on Leigh Ann. The young woman was obviously enjoying herself, the smile on her face, the way she stood, carried herself, all pointing out the pleasurable time she was having. Rae realised that Dominic had a pair of saddlebags over the rump of his horse and she made a note on the tablet of paper beside her to get them checked. Once she had done that Rae ran the tape back once more, this time preparing herself to watch it frame by frame, aiming to find the clearest picture of their killer that she could. By the end of the day she had every intention of having a flyer ready that she could flood LA with. She didn't quite have him yet, but she would have, nothing or no one would stand in her way, and as that certainty filled her mind she also knew that it would be her last case at least for a little while; suddenly she wanted her life back.

ooo

Michael took a deep breath and looked through the information he had gathered once again. In his mind there was no doubt, only one person could have arranged for the credit card fraud, the problem was proving it.

He had worked for a police lieutenant long enough to realise that instinct was a wonderful thing, but proof was better. The dates fitted his belief, but alone they weren't sufficient. Already he could hear a defending council pointing out that Jo could quite easily have arranged the fraud herself for that period of time just so that there was another person to blame. The fact that she was never absent from the top 100 richest women in America and had no need to obtain goods through deception would be neither here nor there.

Michael had been in contact with Gilbert Sholte, Jo's lawyer, and he in turn had called a number of stores and other businesses to enquire as to the length of time they kept their security tapes. The replies had varied from a week to a month, neither of which was long enough, and Michael knew that any tangible evidence was long gone.

His sister had given him all the details of the purchases she was supposed to have made and Michael wondered whether it could be possible that the perpetrator had kept any of the items. He seriously doubted it, none of them were things that would have been needed, all of them being purchased for their price range rather than their usefulness, as far as he was concerned anyhow.

Nothing that had been bought needed to be delivered, nothing that cost over $100.00 either. If a credit check had been made then the unpaid bills would have been picked up and the transaction denied. Michael also knew that no five year guarantees or service agreements would have been entered into and he groaned, every avenue had been closed off, there was no way to get proof of what had been done and without that proof there was no assurances that it wouldn't happen again, and again, and each time it could be more serious than before.

ooo

The smile hadn't left his face for almost three hours, he had finally got his revenge, or at least a little of it. Wayne hadn't meant to be spotted quite so soon; his plan had been to follow her home, drive close behind her, show her that he was there but that she could do nothing to stop him invading her life whenever he pleased. He also planned to show others he was around, others who knew him, that butler, her cop husband, and that bastard child. All of them would still know he meant business, that he could enter and leave their lives at will. The smile grew wider and then he laughed, and if he had been seen or heard his evil intentions would have been apparent.

As Jo had fainted his original plan had disappeared, to be replaced by the sight of her lying, unconscious, for at least a minute or two, initially at his feet, and then, when a crowd had gathered, just a little way in front of him. They had made eye contact again before he had disappeared, and he had touched his hand to his Stetson and nodded his head slightly as he let people move in front of him to tend to her.

Wayne knew where she would be, that doctor, her father-in-law, worked at Community General, she wouldn't be any place other than there. The florist had been in the same shopping mall as the baby store she had been in and he had ducked inside to order the red roses before getting back into his car and driving back to his place. Now, as he downed another beer and waited for the wrestling to come on the TV, he leant back in his chair and once again went over the details of a job well done and then began to plan his next assault.

ooo

Alex had waited outside Daniel's school almost unable to believe his eyes. The car he had bought himself just before Christmas was his pride and joy, and he always felt good driving it around LA, but these cars, well they made his look like a heap.

As he sat, not quite as pleased as usual with his red BMW, the young doctor watched a woman of about thirty-five, maybe forty, climb gracefully out of a deep golden orange coloured, obviously brand new, Dodge Viper. For a moment Alex wondered whether he was supposed to wait for Daniel on the sidewalk and, realising that his young friend would be looking either for one of his parents or Juan, he decided that he too would leave the safe confines of his vehicle.

Daniel's face broke into a smile as he saw one of his oldest friends waiting for him outside school.

"You came in the BMW, right?"

"Well, it was that or your dad's bicycle."

"Dad has a bike?" Daniel was amazed, he wasn't sure he could imagine his father riding a bike, not even an exercise one.

"He does, so does your grandpa, they're both in the garage at the beach house with the other bikes. You must have seen them."

"Yeah, I have, I knew the dirt bike was Dad's, I never really thought about the other ones in there. It would be cool to go biking with him."

Alex paused watching as the idea took shape in Daniel's mind, enjoying the happiness he saw there, then with a sigh he unlocked his car and waited for Daniel to climb into the passenger seat. Once he was sure he was comfy and strapped in he started the engine and drove away, planning to stop at a nearby park to pass on the news about the young boy's mother knowing that it would destroy the pleasure he had seen in Daniel's face.

The tears had rushed unbidden to Daniel's eyes, he didn't have words to explain away the feelings he had knowing that his mother was in the hospital and that both she and the baby were in danger. Gradually though he had regained his composure and asked question after question of his friend. Alex had answered them all as honestly as he could, but although he knew the threats associated with pre-eclampsia, Jo wasn't his patient and he wasn't privy to the type of information Daniel wanted to know.

The journey to the hospital had then been undertaken in silence and Daniel had only just waited until the vehicle was parked before leaping from the passenger seat and rushing towards the main entrance to the building.

"My name is Daniel Sloan; can you tell me where my mom is please?" He stood, slightly out of breath, at the main reception desk trying not to tap his feet or fingers as he waited for the woman in front of him to provide him with the information he needed.

"What is your mother's name?" the woman, probably about fifty years old, smiled at the young man in front of her who, she could tell, was very upset.

"Jo, Josephine Sloan." Daniel looked around him, he couldn't see Alex, and that added to his confusion and worry.

"Is that S L O A N?"

"Yes, Ma'am." Daniel just wanted her to hurry and give him the information, but she seemed to be working almost in slow motion. He suddenly felt a hand on his shoulder and turned to see Alex smiling at him.

"You doing ok?"

"Yeah, I'm just finding out where Mom is."

"Your mother is in suite 5, you need to take the right-hand hallway down to the second set of elevators and go to the third floor … yes, Sir, can I help you?" She looked at Alex, and then smiled, "I'm sorry, Doctor, I didn't recognise you for a moment."

Alex just smiled, he was both thrilled and surprised that she had recognized him at all and, with a slightly lighter heart, he followed his younger friend on the journey to the elevators.

ooo

The rituals, all-important, so exciting and wondrous, had been played over in his mind many times in the last two days but at last Matthew knew that, for the time being at least, he was safe, safe to live his own life for a little while. Dominic would still be the dominant personality, but here, in the quiet sanctuary of the apartment, Matthew could indulge in his own thoughts and freedom, for a short time. The rituals though were becoming his too, and this time the excitement had crept into his soul showing him how Dominic thought and felt both about the killings and the aftermath.

Dominic's thoughts were frequently unwelcome visitors to his own mind, taking over and trying to snuff out his individuality, but now, in the peace and quiet of mid afternoon he was in charge and knew exactly what he needed to do.

The actions of his alter ego, the murderous actions, were all too real to him, whereas before he had been able to either shut them out or pretend they hadn't happened, he no longer had that luxury. The vision of blood flowing into the water at the Japanese gardens or soaking the blanket on the recent picnic were constant reminders of the fact that he was now as guilty as Dominic, was as culpable, as responsible, but instead of repulsing him, for the first time Matthew found himself excited by the knowledge, and taking his courage in both hands he made his way towards the closed door, wanting and needing to see and touch the treasures behind it.

ooo

Jesse had stopped by to see how Jo was faring at the end of his shift, but as he neared the door he heard Steve explaining things to his son and instead had just smiled and waved before returning to the elevator, and making his way down to the parking lot. Jesse hadn't seen Susan since he had opened the parcel, and now that his anger was spent he was glad. Losing his temper, or confronting her, wouldn't do him any good. He needed to be calm and rational when he spoke to her; the problem was that, even now, thinking over what she had said and done caused his rationality to desert him.

Once in his vehicle Jesse put a call through to Rae and was disappointed to find that she would be at least another couple of hours. He wished that she would share her work with him, but he was resigned to the fact that it was a part of her life that she didn't feel comfortable having him in, and so, knowing that Eliana would have been picked up from Sally's by Miss Vicki, Jesse decided to go to Bob's, make up some sauce and get a little caught up on paperwork.

There was a television installation company van outside the main entrance when he arrived which Jesse recognised as a company they had used in the past. A temporary screen had been installed for the Superbowl the previous year, and for the World Series. Jesse couldn't think of any major sporting events which were coming up and, annoyed that he couldn't just drive into one of the spaces by the door, made his way a little further down the lot and parking in the first empty slot he found before marching towards the entrance to find out what was going on. The sound of drilling could be heard as he opened the door, and the sight that met his eyes stopped him in his tracks. Two ladders were positioned at the rear of the restaurant; two tables had been moved out and were restricting the use of three others as well. That though was the least of Jesse's problems. The wall now had a huge framework on it and two large men in blue overalls were carefully placing a wide screen TV into the frame.

"Excuse me, can you tell me what you're doing?"

"Fixin' up the TVs you ordered."

Hearing the plural Jesse looked again and realised that the framework was big enough to hold two of the monster screens he could see.

To Jesse's surprise Alex came through from the kitchen, a phone in his hand. "I was just calling you."

"I thought you were at the hospital with Daniel."

"He didn't need me once he had his dad. Besides, I kind of think you might need me more."

The words hung ominously in the air and Jesse looked around himself again before trying to concentrate on what his friend was saying.

"According to the two guys over there, Steve ordered the TV's, COD, I explained that there was no way I could authorize the type of money they were talking about, but they said they were working to a tight schedule and began putting up the framework anyway."

"They started putting these things up without payment?" For a moment that fact amazed him more than the sight of the screens."

"You've used them before I guess you have a good credit rating. I didn't know what else to do so I figured the best thing was close the place, so I did that; the staff are out the back. I cancelled the reservations, and then I was trying to get through to you."

Jesse nodded, Alex had handled the problem to the best of his ability, but now it was up to him. He knew Steve had always wanted wide screen monitors to watch the ball games on, but he also knew, once they had bought Bob's, it had become apparent that they wouldn't fit in this type of place.

For a moment he paused, the TV was perched, a little precariously, on the top of the ladder and Jesse wasn't sure whether it would be better to let them attach the thing to the wall and then talk, or ask them to put it back on the floor. In the end the decision was made for him as one of the fitters said something to his co-worker and they carefully climbed back down to the base of the ladder.

"Can you just leave that for a moment and show me the work docket?" Jesse wasn't really sure how to begin the conversation, but it seemed ok as the taller of the two men, who, it now became apparent, were brothers, nodded and then took the relevant paperwork out of his pocket.

Jesse placed it on the counter in front of him and smoothed it out with his hand. He read it through and shook his head. Apparently Steve had called the company and ordered both TV's three days before, used a credit card to pay a five hundred dollar deposit and agreed to pay the remainder on delivery and installation. The remainder, Jesse realised, was just over five thousand dollars.

"Could you wait a moment, I need to make a call?" Jesse didn't give them the chance to reply but disappeared, with Alex, into the small office off the kitchen of the barbeque restaurant.

ooo

Once Steve had finished talking with Daniel the young man sat next to his mom, taking her hand into his own and trying to get his feelings under control. When he had first learnt that he was going to have a baby brother or sister he had been devastated, and knew that if he had been given the chance to remain an only child he would have accepted. Things had changed since then and Daniel was struggling to keep the tears at bay, not just for his mom but for the baby as well.

His dad had explained that the condition pre-eclampsia was so unpredictable that even doctors couldn't forecast what might happen. Daniel knew that Steve was scared, and that and the fact that his grandpa might not be able to help terrified him too.

His mom was fast asleep, she knew that he was there, had spoken to him herself when he had first arrived, but she had drifted off to sleep as he had been talking with his father, and now the room was silent and still.

That silence was suddenly shattered by the sound of a cell phone ringing, and with a barely disguised oath Steve had stood up and left the suite. Two minutes later Daniel could hear him trying not to shout at Jesse and failing miserably.

ooo

It hadn't taken long to get the framework off the wall, but the damage would need to be dealt with by a decorator, and that would cost money. Jesse didn't know what Steve had said to the contractors, but he had stood and watched in amazement as the two men had packed everything back up again and even put the tables and chairs where they were supposed to be. Steve had told him, in no uncertain terms, that he would deal with the problem and to forget all about it. He wasn't sure he could do that, but he was trying.

Jesse wished that he could be like Steve, he never intimidated anyone, and most of the time that was fine, doctors weren't supposed to be that way, but he would have liked to be able to have dealt with the TV problem without worrying his best friend when he had enough troubles of his own. He would also like to know that he could speak with Susan and diffuse what was becoming a very difficult situation without involving anyone else, but he knew that wasn't to be either.

Grabbing a coffee from the machine Jesse made himself comfortable at one of the empty tables and considered his options. He didn't want to over-react to the situation, but the contents of the parcel had spooked him, the innocence of his girls' faces as they played had been turned into something to hide away, that infuriated him and he knew it would do the same for Rae. For a moment he wondered if Susan's actions could be classed as stalking and he realised that whether she saw it that way herself or not, the law probably would.

Picking up his coffee Jesse walked through the kitchen to the back of the building. He had sent the kitchen staff home, deciding that they would remain closed until the following lunchtime. A decorator was coming in at nine in the morning to estimate how much it would cost to repair the damage. Damage Jesse knew they wouldn't claim on their insurance, the premiums were high enough as it was.

Logging onto the Internet Jesse went into a search engine to try and find a site that had been recommended to him when Levington had been stalking Rae. At the time the problem hadn't escalated into the devastating crisis it had later become and he hadn't checked it out, now he wondered whether it could help him.

After a few false starts Jesse found himself on a site run by the Los Angeles County
District Attorney's Office and right away, on the first page, found information that confirmed that what Susan was doing was, intentionally or not, stalking. However, it did say that the act had to be wilful and, try as he might, Jesse couldn't see Susan's actions that way. Maybe she hadn't seen Rae when she took the girls' picture; maybe she was just concerned and sent the wrist links as a genuine gift. But the letters, the letters weren't friendly at all and, shaking his head, Jesse knew that so far he was only making her look more guilty not less.

As he carried on reading Jesse came to understand that he was making things worse by talking with Susan, and going to meet her for coffee had been a big mistake. The DA's office said that no should mean no. And there wasn't a need to say more than that one word, which, he had a feeling, was easier said than done, but he could see the potential effectiveness of that course of action. Although Jesse had told Steve that he was going to get a restraining order, once the initial shock had died away, he really didn't want to do that. Reading through the way that things could escalate though made unpleasant memories rise to the surface again and Levington's face glared out at him from the computer screen, its mirage-like image taunting him.

The emptiness of the restaurant began to close in on him and draining his coffee as the hairs on the back of his neck stood up Jesse came out of the office and back into the front of the building. He had worked himself up into such a state that he half expected to find someone sitting waiting, menacingly, for him at one of the tables, but the room was cold and totally empty as, with a shiver, Jesse turned off all the lights and locked up on his way out.

ooo

The face staring at her from the computer screen did nothing to still her rattled nerves or improve the despondency that was descending upon her. Rae made a grimace as she got up and went to get another coffee; the fancy cakes and pastries had long since disappeared, as had the guilt she had felt in not realising that it was the Captain's birthday and he was responsible for their purchase in the first place.

Rae had hastily sent him a humorous e-card before beginning to work out what she wanted to say on the flyer she planned to flood the city with.

Knowing that it needed to be short and to the point Rae had first made a list of the vital information that needed to be included. The picture, obviously, along with both hers and Steve's names. A phone call to the DA's office had gotten the result she wanted, and Dominic's name was also on the list of vital items. The evidence against him was now almost totally damning, they had his image, his fingerprints, his DNA, if they got him, she corrected herself, when they got him, she was absolutely sure that everything they had would match everything he had.

The City had offered a $20,000.00 reward for information leading to Little's arrest and that too was on the list. Though she knew it would bring out the crazies and some money grubbers looking to make a fast buck, it might also be just the incentive a reluctant witness needed to come forward. Finally Rae had his description, she knew that there was nothing to make him stand out in a crowd, well, nothing that could be seen in the photo, or garnered from the details given by the people who had met him face to face but maybe everything together would begin to stir some memories.

As Rae was about to begin putting the information into some kind of order her phone rang and she answered it with a groan that turned into a broad smile as she heard her husband's voice.

"Hey, handsome … sorry, Honey, I'm still really busy, at least that, maybe even about two … ok, come up to the squad room, then I'll know you're here … I love you too, bye, Jess."

The interlude had been brief, but seemed to revive her. The smile disappeared, but only because her concentration was soon on the job at hand, and she was unaware of most other things going on around her.

ooo

Jan Burlington was an old friend, she had helped Rae enormously when she had realised that she was being stalked. Jan was now a lieutenant, and as such most of the officers working rape and stalking cases reported to her. Jan often worked with the Threat Management Unit of the Detective Support Division, and was a recognized expert in her field.

Jesse had called ahead and so Jan was waiting for him in her office. The friendly smile and welcoming personality were just as he remembered them, but Jan herself looked different. Her hair, dark and cut short was neat and business-like, as was her blue two-piece pants suit. The office wasn't really all that business-like though, and Jesse knew that was because the people that Jan dealt with were fragile members of society, people who were scared for their own safety and that of their loved ones. Having been there he could understand the need to have a friendly and relaxed office environment, especially in a place as tension filled as a police station.

"Jesse, how nice to see you again, won't you please come and sit down?" Jan stood as she spoke and indicated a chair with her right hand. With a smile Jesse did as he was told and then, gradually, began to talk.

ooo

Rae had read through the information flyer three times, she knew that something wasn't quite right with it, but try as she might she couldn't work out what it was. Looking up she saw Cheryl pouring herself a coffee and called out to her.

"You don't have a couple of moments free do you?"

"Sure, give me about fifteen minutes to finish what I'm doing and I'm all yours." Cheryl smiled and, seeing Rae nod her head, made her way back to her own desk so that she could do as she had suggested.

Rae decided to spend that time relaxing a little, she had been working all afternoon without a break and she needed one. She placed an order over the phone for some food to be sent in and then took her phone off the hook and let out a sigh of relief. For a moment she watched as Cheryl bent over her work and then closed her eyes as she let her mind drift back to the early spring and an afternoon she had spent with Martin.

Although she knew that it wasn't her fault Rae still felt guilty about the injury that Martin had received which had cut short a promising career in law enforcement. Apart from the one FBI agent who had been killed when they stormed the garage Texas and Jesse had been held in, Martin's injuries had been the most traumatic. Jesse had suffered, mentally as well as physically, but Martin had been forced to change his entire life plan.

A piece of wood, embedded in the back of his skull, had turned the once vibrant, highly motivated, young man into a shadow of his former self. Martin knew that he wasn't the person he used to be and that made it far worse. He had spent his days at a residential home where he was bad tempered and surly because he wanted to be anywhere but there until finally, on that spring day, he had let his feelings out.

The day had been bright to start with and Rae had enjoyed pottering around in the back yard with Martin. Despite his injuries he still had green thumbs and had helped Rae plant some primroses which she had, to her utter amazement, managed to grow from cuttings.

"These nice." Martin had looked at them and Rae could tell he was impressed. They all looked healthy and she was seriously pleased with herself.

"Yeah, think what I could do if I had all this time on my hands every day." Rae, who had been recuperating from her gunshot wound at the time hadn't thought before she spoke, and had been surprised at her friend's reaction.

"No, no fun, Mar'in hate it." His voice had wavered and Rae had looked up from where she was carefully patting down the soil to see a look of abject sadness on his face.

"Martin, Honey, I'm so sorry, I didn't even think."

"No un does, Mar'in forgo'en." He had slowly got to his feet and moved away across the lawn and for a while Rae had let him be.

She had been injured, almost as seriously as Martin, a few years before, but had been incredibly lucky and, as far as she was aware, had no residual damage from the head injury inflicted on her by an animal rights activist swinging a placard at a funeral. It had taken her a while to get back to anything like her normal self though, and she still remembered the helplessness she had felt as words wouldn't come or actions took twice or three times as long as they used to. Gradually she had realised that her limitations wouldn't be permanent, Martin didn't have that light to work towards and, feeling both fortunate and guilty, she had moved over to where he stood looking out across the remainder of her garden.

"Martin?"

"Mar'in a cop, Rae. Nothing else, not good at aything else." His speech was slow, and still uncertain, each word seeming elongated, but if you listened closely it was clear that, unless he was unsure of himself, Martin knew what he wanted to say and could express himself reasonably well.

"Now that's not true. You have helped me no end with advice and hints for my yard. And you kept that strange looking plant alive I sent you in the hospital one time, I got sent one myself and it only lasted a week."

The smile she had gotten had eased her conscience a little, and they had continued on with their work for almost another hour before the clouds began to gather and large warm raindrops fell on the soil in front of them, darkening its colour and quenching the thirst of the new plants.

By the time they had collected up all the gardening equipment and made their way back into the garage to put it away the rain was coming down in sheets. For a few minutes they had stood together and watched as the water pooled on the patio and then cascaded off the steps in a small torrent.

"You know it would be nice to have a waterfall out here, if it was safe for the girls of course." Rae watched the water, even in the shadow of the rain clouds it seemed alive, and she wondered what Jesse would think of the idea.

"If ou hadin…" Martin had paused, searching for the right word to get his point across and, knowing how much it had frustrated her when people had tried to fill in the gaps in her conversation, Rae waited. Finally Martin had gesticulated with his hands going round and round in a circle.

"Ring?" Rae hadn't been sure it was the right word and when Martin shook his head she had tried again. "Um, round and round, the same water over and over?" This time he had nodded his head, smiling as he did so. "In a perpetual loop?"

"Es, Es, in a yoop, not deep, would work."

The excitement in his eyes had almost filled her own with tears and although she hadn't done so Rae had wanted to hug him tight.

They had been able to retire to the house a few minutes later and once they had dried themselves off and fixed hot chocolate in the kitchen the two friends had made themselves comfortable in the lounge, both kicking their shoes off and taking over a corner seat on each sofa.

They had discussed the possibility of the waterfall for a while, and had passed their enthusiasm on to Jesse when he had arrived home and joined them. Gradually the afternoon had drifted away until there was a knock at the door and Vicki, who had returned from her trip to the grocery store just a little after the rain stopped, showed Cheryl into the room.

"No, Mar'in not go."

Rae knew that she had spoken in a childlike way when she had been injured although not always because she didn't have the capability to speak in an adult way, as she had gotten better she did, but those words took longer to retrieve if the sentences were more complex, and simple words took long enough to find as it was. Martin was the same, some things, like the history books he read, he could describe in detail, using the correct terminology, but to get across an urgent message he stuck to the quick and easy.

"Chey, Mar'in stay here or your house, peese." Rae had seen Cheryl turn away for a moment, the pain more than evident in her eyes, and she had spoken to give her friend time to collect herself.

"I have plans for tomorrow, Honey, so does Jesse, I'm sorry. But you can come again real soon."

"K, Mar'in say at Chey's ven."

"Martin, you can't, you know that. The driveway is sloped, there are way too many stairs, and you just get bad tempered."

"Don't, Mar'in don't wan go to home." His eyes had filled with tears then, and unable to stop them two had trickled down his cheek. Cheryl had moved across, the love she felt overriding the helplessness and anger that he evoked in her.

"Baby, I'm sorry, I'm still looking, but anything on one floor is so expensive, and you know how much it would cost to have access changed on anything."

"What about our apartment?" Jesse had broken into the conversation and the smile on his face had transferred to Rae in an instant.

"Jess, that's brilliant." The confused look on the faces of their two friends had made her laugh, and she had hurried to explain. "We have an apartment, the other side of the driveway, and everything is on one floor."

They had grabbed the key from where it had lived on the hook in the kitchen for as long as they had been there and then walked across and unlocked the dark mahogany wood door. Immediately they were in a large living area, with a kitchen to the left of the doorway and bare floor space in front of them and to the right. Through a door at the end of the kitchen were two bedrooms and a bathroom. They hadn't had to ask Cheryl or Martin if it was suitable, the looks on their faces had told them that.

The rent had been a bit of a sticking point, Rae and Jesse were happy for them to just live there and pay for the utilities; Cheryl and Martin felt uneasy though and so in the end they had decided Cheryl would pay $50.00 a week and Martin would become their gardener. They had been happily living across the driveway from each other for almost three months and everyone was content.

"Rae, I am so sorry." Cheryl's voice cut into her thoughts and she looked up. There was a brown bag with her food in sitting on the corner of her desk and Rae realised that she had been so lost in her memories that she hadn't even heard it being delivered.

"No problem, can you just read this through for me? Something isn't right, but I have no idea what it is."

Cheryl had done as she was asked, and a smile had crossed her face. "You're tired aren't you?"

"It shows?"

"Oh yeah." Cheryl reached over and picked up the handset of Rae's phone and placed it back on the receiver. As she did so she saw enlightenment on her friend's face.

"I forgot the phone number, oh you stupid, stupid woman." She laughed as she turned back to her computer and finally completed the task, which, she hoped, would catch her a killer.

A/N The website mentioned in this chapter exists and is very informative. If you have any worries regarding stalking and its legalities, this is a good place to start.

http/