The man called Kyle continued to pace back and forth before the door. He knew that Buck, the Knights' leader, had been captured, and was likely going to spend life in jail. He was the one who had told Lauren, who he thought he had heard talking inside Jill's office. He paced more, wondering whether or not he should knock. Would Jill want to be disturbed? Would Lauren? Would Jill even speak to him after what had happened to Buck? Was it his fault? Kyle's mind raced with every sort of paranoia. Then, through the door, he heard Jill's voice. "Lauren," she said rather loudly, "would you please get the door and tell Kyle he can come in?" Kyle heard this and froze up slightly. Come in? He had hoped only to listen in on Lauren and Jill, not actually speak with them. He had never been good with women. All too soon, the door swung open. Lauren's face was shadowed by the darkness of the hallway, but he saw even through the shadows how beautiful she was. "Kyle," she began, "come in." Kyle walked in and Lauren closed the door after him. Stepping into the lighter portion of the room, Lauren looked straight at him. "How have you been?" she asked him. He wondered why she was acting so casual. "Fine, you?" he stuttered, nervous for a reason he could not explain. "Very well," she replied. Then came another voice, it was Jill's. "Nice to see you, Kyle. I expected you'd be here."
The hairs on the back of Kyle's neck stiffened, as they usually did when Jill spoke. She had the sort of voice that could easily frighten a man, or easily seduce him. She was versatile, that was why Buck had chosen her for the group. Lauren, not as cold as Jill, placed a hand on Kyle's shoulder. "It's all right," she whispered. She helped him to the couch and sat down beside him. Kyle stiffened again. Being this close to beautiful women always made his limbs lock.
Lauren was definitely the definition of "beautiful but deadly." She was like one of Charlie's Angels, but prettier. Kyle had always felt a little something toward her, and she looked even more beautiful when she was worried. However, Jill's voice cut through Kyle's daydreams like a knife. "So," she said in a voice that could cut steel, "you told Lauren about Buck's capture?" Kyle nodded. He had always been terrified of Jill. She could be evil if she wanted to be. "How did you know about the capture?" Kyle gulped. Jill pushed a dark curl behind her ear, looking at him with piercing green eyes. "I saw it on the news in my apartment," Kyle stuttered. "Nothing special." Jill looked slightly pleased at this, knowing that Buck had trusted her enough to tell her himself. Kyle smiled nervously. "You may go," Jill nodded at him, and Kyle tried to stand, but something stopped him. Lauren had fallen asleep with her head on his shoulder. Kyle laughed uncomfortably, glancing over at Jill. Carefully he lifted Lauren's head off and she leaned back without waking. Her blond hair fanned out behind her perfectly. He gazed for a moment at how strikingly lovely she was, then remembered himself and quickly exited the office. Jill glanced over at the sleeping woman on the couch, then went back to her paperwork.
Another hour passed before the phone rang. It was 3:00 A.M., but Jill was awake. She read and reread the letter from Buck, and then the reports of the most recent murders. Buck had been so stealthy, so careful...how had the police known? Buck was the best of them all, the leader, the others could never match him in cleverness. Jill picked up the phone. "Hello?" she wondered who was calling at this hour. Lauren sat up, awoken by the sudden loud ringing, and rubbed her eyes. There was silence on the other end of the phone. "Hello?" Jill said again. "Buck wants to see you," said a female voice. "He needs you to come to the Salem Prison in San Juan." Jill's jaw dropped. "He's at Salem?" "Yes," said the voice. "Who is this?" Jill demanded. There was silence for a moment, and then one word. "Eliza." Jill looked confused. "Eliza? I'm sorry, I don't remember you." there came a soft laugh. "I'm in the K.O.M., but I don't think we've ever met. Buck gave me your number. I spoke with him before he was captured." Jill looked slightly puzzled. "He was captured about 4 hours ago, there's no way the prison guards will let visitors in." Eliza seemed confused by the next statement. "Buck says to use your instinct."