"Gaston, may I have my book back, please?" Ashlyn asked. Ashlyn was happy they had this impromptu rehearsal with her older cousin. They had a hard time going from cousins to him trying to pursue her hand in marriage. Ashlyn wished it was under better circumstances. E.J fought with his father, and he ran to Ashlyn since she knew just as much about Caswell's bullshit as him. So, they went to the park they always went to as children for him to cool off.

"How can you read this?" E.J asked. He used his script as a prop. He opened it to a random page. "There are no pictures."

"Well, some people use their imagination," Ashlyn snapped. E.J was about to say his line. A black USV drove past them, catching his eye since the windows were down and the driver had sunglasses on at night. He made brief eye contact with the driver, who was a bigger muscular guy. The car was going slower. Ashlyn didn't seem to notice. "Well, some people use their imagination."

"Sorry," E.J said. "Belle, it's about time you got your head out of these books and paid more attention to important things."

"Like you?" Ashlyn asked.

"Does he treat you right?" E.J asked.

"That's not your line," Ashlyn said.

"I know," E.J said. "Does Big Red treat you right?"

"Yeah," Ashlyn responded.

"I noticed you two were on the rocks since the North High visit," E.J explained.

"Oh, we're fine now," Ashlyn said. "The guy who plays Lumiere at East High was a little flirty. Then, we had a little misunderstanding over the career test. Everything is great now."

"I just worry," E.J sighed. "This is your first boyfriend."

"I'm nervous too," Ashlyn confessed. "Big Red and I are both nervous. We're figuring it out together."

"Just know if he hurts you, I can't promise his hair won't be the only red of his we see," E.J joked. Ashlyn laughed at the comment.

The two of them went back to rehearsing their lines. They were unaware the black SUV returned and snapped a picture of them.


1:20 am

Gina: E.J isn't responding. It could be nothing, but it could be something.

The news of the kidnapping quickly got back to everyone else. The other wild cats were exploring different avenues. "Go home," Mrs. Redonvich suggested. "Get some rest. Get something to eat. I'll call you every time I hear something."

"I can't rest when my girlfriend is missing," Maddox said.

"She would feel terrible if she knew you weren't taking care of yourself," Mr. Redonvich responded. Behind them, they heard a glass shattering. The window nearest to them was no longer intact. Someone threw a brick through the window. On it, there was a letter addressed to Maddox. "I'll get it. It's going to be surrounded by glass."

Mr. Redonvich slipped on his slippers. He carefully picked up the brick. He handed Maddox the brick; she took it from him gently. Maddox took the letter off of where the letter was attached. It had a simple, two-sentence threat.

'Careful. We're not against making this a three-kill night.'