"What!" Willow gasped out. "Why would you think that?"
"Because of this,"John said handing Willow a plastic evidence bag with the latest note in it. "This was found in the hand of the latest victim."
Willow read the note and wondered if her past had come back to haunt her. "I don't understand. Why would you think that this note has anything to do with me?"
"You're the genius you tell me." John said a bit sarcastically, feeling that she was hiding something from him.
Willow looked hurt and handed the note back to him. "I really don't know what this means."
"Lilies are water flowers and your given name just happens to be Lily. It seems to convenient to be a coincidence." John said a little more kindly.
"Supposing what you are saying is true the note says you are supposed to bring me to him. How does that make me a target? If are supposed to bring me to him that means he doesn't want me dead." Willow said grasping at straws.
"Will, we don't know what he wants with you. He has been taunting us from the beginning. For all we know he intends to kill you in front of me to make me suffer." John said patiently.
Willow smiled and said, "Will? You just called me Will."
"Oh, sorry. It just slipped out," he said, a bit confused at the change in subject.
"No, don't apologize. I actually like it." Willow said with a smile. "My parents, I mean my adoptive parents used to call me that."
John smiled and said, "oh."
"Is there anything you aren't telling me?" John asked getting back on to the case.
"John there are things in my past that I simply can't tell you, but I don't think they have anything to do with this case. The killer probably wants to rattle you." Willow replied. "Is there anything else I can help with?"
"Actually there is," John said, "can you find out everything you can on someone for me. The department will pay you."
"John! Are you trying to insult me? You are family. I couldn't possibly take money from you. Who is this person and I will get right on it."
"Dr. Steven Haver." John said with a small smile at her outrage. He liked the fact that family meant so much to her. It was important to him as well. In fact he probably would have reacted the very same way.
As Willow wrote the name down she said, "Isn't Dr. Haver a professor at Lanview University? I think I heard Jessica saying what a wonderful guy he was."
"Yeah he is. Natalie and I think he is a bit off though. I would rather be safe then sorry," John explained.
"How much do you want to know about him?" She asked in a professional tone. "Do you want me to do it quietly or is fast and loud ok?
John smiled at her change in demeanor. He was the same way. Natalie called it his cop mode. "Everything, and quietly. I don't want him to know we are looking into him," he said.
"That might take a few weeks then." Willow said.
"That's ok. Take as long as you need but remember sooner is better." Willow nodded, and went to get up. " I have to go now John. I'll get back to you when I have something."
John stood up as well and walked her to the door. Once they were there he gave her another brief hug and thanked her for helping him out.
"It's ok, you don't have to thank me John. Your are my brother and I love you. I will do anything I can to help." Willow said with a big smile.
John suddenly gave her a hard hug and whispered in her ear, "I love you too, Will." They both stepped back and smiled at each other then Willow turned around walked to Natalie's desk. I've got an appointment now, so I'm gonna go. I'll see you at 6 tomorrow at Rodi's?" She said to Natalie.
"Ok, that sounds great to me. I'll tell Jess what time." Natalie said, then called, "Bye Willow," as she was leaving. Willow turned around and waved at both her and John.
John watched her leave with a smile on his face.
"What's the smile about?" Natalie asked.
"Nothing, we understand each other better now, that's all." John said, gave Natalie a quick kiss, then went back into his office to work on the case.
The next night
John was leaving the office when his phone rang; he looked at the caller ID and saw that it was Willow.
"Hey, Will. What's up?" He answered.
"Hey, John. is Natalie there with you. She was supposed to meet me and Jessica at 6 and she isn't here yet."
"Did you try the apartment?"
"Yes, there is no answer." Willow said, "and when I call her cell it goes right to voice mail."
"Well it's only quarter after 6 so I wouldn't worry yet. I'll go over to our apartment and see if she is there." John said more then a little worried himself.
As he drove over to the apartment he tried both the apartment phone and her cell. By the time he got there he was extremely worried. He ran into the apartment checking all the rooms calling her name. When he got to the bedroom he almost passed out at what he saw. Natalie was sprawled out on the bed with a red leotard around her neck.