Author's Note: HAHAHA! My stories… some that I didn't even knew that I had written are finally being reviewed! throws party

Chapter: The One Eyed Jack

She closed her eyes and relaxed into her overstuffed chair, her legs folded in front of her. In her hands was a hot mug of coffee. She sighed and stroked the Irish Setter next to her in the chair, his upper body across her lap, his head on her thigh.

"So Crim… what's our next move?" She muttered, sipping her coffee. The Setter looked up at her with his brown eyes and then rested his head back down. "Yeah… I know." Melody Hawkins was a Special Agent for the FBI, her long history of catching criminals and bringing down terrorists was a merit to her record. Long blonde hair hung around her shoulders, feathering back from her face. Green eyes were framed by long dark lashes, tanned skin spoke of her recent return from a five year visit in Chile. She wore cloth bracelets on her wrists and one on her ankle, a white bandage was wrapped around her lower left arm from a knife wound received just before she left Chile. Her long sleeved emerald colored shirt had bold black letters that spelled out FBI. Her black shorts hung just below her knees, on one knee, her left, she wore a knee brace from a recent meniscus surgery.

The dim firelight in the grate flickered across her face and her eyes became nostalgic. "Has it really been five years?" Across her mind she caught a flicker of images from her past. "Has it really Crim?" She asked directly to the dog and he barked softly, nuzzling his face under her arm. "H-Hey boy stop… you'll make me spill my coffee!" She laughed then she stopped. Crimson's ears perked forwards as he turned his head towards her door. She reached behind her and felt for her gun. The Setter jumped from her chair walking towards the door, his hackles raised and his fangs bared. The dog growled low, warning the intruder. "What is it boy?" She whispered, making her way silently to the door, hiding herself from view. Crim barked as something was slipped under her door. Melody looked down then opened the door, training her gun all around the yard. There was no one to be seen. Who was that? She wondered then shut the door, turning to pick up the letter. As she did her heart stopped.

"Dear Isabella,

I see you've found my latest puzzle piece. I hoped you would. This new one you'll find… he's quite a challenge isn't he? Have you figured out how I killed him yet or are you still fumbling around? You're not lost at all. I know you too well, you already had it figured out before you got there or are you not the adversary that I hoped for? It's been a very long time since the last time we talked hasn't it? He didn't scream… that's why I hate men they don't scream like the others. He had fire and passion, he even attempted to fight back but it didn't work. Do you remember the first time we met? You were just a young detective, it was your first case ever on your own. I remember well.

She was beautiful too. I remember the way her blood splattered on my hands, that warm life's blood. She screamed too. She had blonde hair… just like you… I always had a fetish for blondes but I supposed that the raven headed ones are the ones that scream the most. Screams are amazing, just the rush and exhilaration of that primal form of communication, the sheer power that emanates from a woman's body when she screams, do you know what that feels like? That exhilaration? Of course you do, you love the feeling of exhilaration when you're chasing me. You can't deny it.

But on to the matter at hand. You've been hiding from me lately. Why? I've missed seeing your beautiful face. I've missed knowing that you're unsure of where I am and when I am watching you. I'm watching you Isabella, right now. I know you can feel me watching. I know you can sense me. It's taken me a long time Isabella but I've finally tracked you down. It's taken me 5 years. Five whole years of torture, because since I was on the move, I couldn't strike. I wouldn't, not without you there to watch.

You thought that if you hid from me the pain and suffering would end. You thought that I would never find you. But I have. It's time for round two, but this time, I'm not going to help you. I'm going to use you.

With Love,

The One Eyed Jack

PS. I left you a present in your envelope if you care to check…" Her shaking hand turned the envelope over and let the card drop to the floor. The Two One Eyed Jacks from a deck of cards fell to the floor. She watched them flutter to the floor in a silent tango. The firelight from the other room flickered across her face as her fear trembled down her spine. He's back… there's no way… he couldn't have found me! She dropped to her knees painfully and felt sobs wrack her body. "I DON'T WANT TO GO THROUGH THIS AGAIN!" She screamed, flashes of memory painted themselves across her mind. A dead girl on the floor, blood trickling from her mouth, her eyes open and staring blankly at her. Another, her throat was slit and bloody footprints were all over the room but not a single finger print. Another and another brutally killed, all of them investigated by Izzy. "NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO!" Her memories chased each other in circles until all that there was, was a twisted tangle of blood and death. But amongst all of it one thing stood out, that bloody hand print on the One Eyed Jack cards he left at every scene, his signature of sorts. "WHY? WHY ARE YOU BACK!"

She sobbed into her hands, feeling like a child that needed her mother. Crimson nudged her arm gently, placing his head in her lap. She buried her face in the Irish Setter's scruff and sobbed. She couldn't hold them in anymore. She cried as hard as she could, her body shaking with sobs. She couldn't keep the painful scream down. Her heart and soul screamed with her voice as she sobbed violently. Like a little kid who'd gotten lost in the dark without guidance. Being alone she allowed the small whimpers of pain to escape her mouth as she cried, her entire body aching with sorrow. Strings of saliva strung from her open mouth as she coughed, her head aching. She was crying so hard she thought she would vomit. Her stomach turned and she felt her chest give. She sucked in air and cried. She cried until the tears had subsided and the only thing left were small hiccups that rocked her entire body and a pain so powerful that she thought her chest would burst from her body.

A while later she stumbled to her feet and made her way to the phone, she needed someone… someone like a father. She dialed his number, "Jeth-Jethrow?" She gasped.

"Isabella?" He grumbled sleepily into the phone and glanced at the clock. 2:24 AM it read and he shifted, why would she call him this early. "What's wrong?"

"H-He's back." Jethrow shot up in bed. His mind spun wildly.

"The One Eyed Jack?" He spoke hurriedly into the phone as he pulled his clothes on. A pair of jeans and a long sleeved shirt with his NIS shirt over it, he slipped his feet into his shoes and grabbed his keys.

"Yes." He gave her orders to lock her doors and pack some clothes, he was coming to pick her up. So you're back you bastard. Good. Jethrow let an evil grin cross his face as he broke the speed limit to get to her house. Because this time… I know your tricks.

SO HOW WAS THAT? We know what the mafia boss is all about, we know who our new enemy is, out new agent… now who's the assistant director?

Read and Review or I won't post my friends…

Ringo Host