Once seated in Betty and Harry's house with a steaming cup of coffee, Lisa's story came out.

"We thought maybe something was up last night at dinner," Harry admitted. "Then, when this little girl, Mel, you called her? Came running over here, we had a gut feeling."

Lisa nodded as the officers took down notes.

"Listen, um-can I use your phone? I need to call a few people."

"Sure," Betty said kindly, tossing her the cordless.

"Daddy," Lisa croaked when he picked up.

"Lisa! Oh thank god, sweetie, where are you?" his rushed voice said.

"N-New York," Lisa began to explain.

After the call to her father, Lisa dialed the hotel.

"Lux Atlantic, this is Cynthia," Cynthia's voice said cheerfully over the phone.

"Cynth, give me Keefe's number off the database," Lisa ordered.

The next call was to the Keefe's.

"Hello, this is Lisa Reisert, I need to speak to the Keefe's," Lisa requested.

"One moment, please."

"You know where Mel is?" Mr. Keefe's anxious voice asked when Lisa got the story out. "Is she with you?"

Lisa swallowed hard. "Yeah. But someone needs to come get her. I'm not sure how long-how long we have before he-he'll be back." She closed her eyes painfully.

"Who, Lisa?" Mr. Keefe questioned. Lisa swallowed again.

"Jack Rippner."

"I'll be there tonight."

Despite Lisa's desperate pleadings, Betty and Harry insisted on remaining at home.

"Doll, that's what locks and security systems are for," Harry insisted. Lisa sighed and tried to explain just how cunning Jack really was. But it was in vain. Lisa decided to stay with them should anything happen, and Mr. Keefe picked up Mel around eleven that night.

Lisa tried to calm her frazzled nerves by enjoying a pleasant Christmas Eve dinner with the elderly couple, but she still felt nervous. She stuck a pen in the waistband of her pajama pants for reassurance. They talked about everything and afterwards Betty insisted on looking at Lisa's numerous cuts and bruises, should anything be infected.

"Sweetie, what are you going to do?" Betty sighed as she led Lisa into the bathroom. Lisa sighed right along with her.

"Honestly, I have no idea," Lisa shrugged. "Try to go back to a normal life, I suppose, and hope to hell he isn't feeling vengeful.

Betty nodded and gently swabbed a cut on Lisa's cheek with alcohol. Lisa hissed in pain.

"You're welcome to stay as long as you like," Betty offered. Lisa smiled but shook her head.

"Thanks, but...I'm going to catch a flight back to Miami tomorrow," Lisa explained, then remembered something. She darted away from Betty, crying, "Shit! Tanya!"

Betty shot her a confused look. "Wha-"

"My cousin! Oh god, I need to use the phone, please," Lisa begged. Betty looked worried but handed her the phone.

It kept ringing for almost five rings until finally someone picked up.

"Hello?" Tanya yawned. Lisa breathed a sigh of relief.

"Tanya, get out of the house," Lisa ordered. Lisa could practically hear her straightening up.

"Lisa? That you? We've been worried si-"

"GET OUT, Tanya! Somebody is going to try and kill you! Go to my dad's, or something! But go out the back door!" Lisa's breath was frantic.

"Lisa, why-" Tanya was panicky.

"Dammit, Tanya, just do it! Now! My dad will explain!" Lisa screamed. Harry entered the room and shot her a weird look, and then glanced to Betty, who shrugged.

"O-Okay," Tanya agreed shakily, hanging up. Lisa finally breathed and turned to look at Betty and Harry. They were staring at her, jaws wide.

"What?"

Lisa sat on the spare bed of the couples' house, her knees tucked to her chin. Betty sighed.

"Things will get better, dear," she offered warmly. Lisa smiled weakly.

"I hope so. It's just...nothing ever ends, it seems. For the past eight years, really, it's been...nonstop."

"You've known him ten years?" Betty asked, surprised. Lisa shook her head.

"No. My parents divorced several years ago and then I-" she cut off, shuddering. Betty placed a hand on Lisa's shoulder.

"What happened?"

"I was-" Lisa bit her lip. "Raped. In a parking lot." She pulled the collar of her shirt down a bit to reveal the scar. Betty didn't say anything, just wrapped Lisa up in her arms as she began to sob.

Lisa awoke early the next morning, feeling as if a huge weight had been lifted off her chest.

"Merry Christmas," she told herself, and when she realized the humor in what she was doing, laughed, shaking her head.

Lisa pulled herself out of bed and looked out the window. A heavy snow was falling. She cracked open the window and left the cold December air blow in. Her hands froze but she closed her eyes and took a huge breath of the cold, fresh air. She knew then that this was what serenity was.

Lisa slowly tiptoed downstairs to the living room in the clothes she'd been wearing before, which ironically were pajamas from a day ago. She took a long look at the huge pine Christmas tree Betty and Harry had set up. Peaceful lights blinked softly and an angel glowed at the top.

Lisa happily strode into the kitchen and flicked on the light. Coffee would be great and hopefully she could surprise Betty and Harry with breakfast before they woke-

Lisa gasped and stumbled backwards, a choked cry coming up her throat.

Betty and Harry lay on the floor, bleeding. Dead.

Lisa grabbed the cordless and quickly punched in 911.

"Hello, there's been a murd-" she began frantically, but suddenly a hand ripped it away and clicked it off.

"Hey, Leese," Jackson smiled broadly at her. "Merry Christmas."