That's what you get, when you're reading romantic and suspense novels, you wanna write your own with your favorite couple!

Thanks for your support!

...

After he left the autopsy room for giving the couple some private time with their deceased daughter lying on that table, Ash just sighed at the text he had received from a lost friend. It was just the wrong time and wrong place to do so. But he decided to leave the place for a moment. He would had it avoid it, but he knew that somehow, deep down, he couldn't do it any other way. He shook his head as his eyes read the text;

'I've seen J.T., at the coffee shop today and he still looks great after ten years! I've decided to host an reunion party tonight at the June's Place restaurant, remember that place we used to hang out, back at downtown? All of us together? You and I, along with Alex, Vincent, Jeffrey and J.T. Even with hard med studies, we used to have so much fun! So I thought with Vincent's big return back to the world, we can maybe catch up after all that time away. Just like old times, Ash. What do you think? Wanna come over?

'Look, I have to go back home while Miguel is still at work, at the moment as I'm texting to you, but, please answer me, when you'll get this text!

Regan!

Dang that girl! Ever since she's been back in town, she tried to hang around with him and Jeffrey, despite whatever had happened a few months ago, during new year's day. It was a warning call for Regan, more like a waking up call to specify.

'Regan should be more careful around here, she can't just plantify an reunion party for old bunch of old farts like me, at the moment...' He had to be careful as well, Ward gave him that job because the precinct need a new medical examiner, when he was more of a pathologist, some guy working with the dead people. Its more save. Or, let's just say he used to, until now.

Regan had no other choice but to move back to New York, so that she could be close to her new boyfriend, Miguel, to Jeffrey and himself. It made her realize that living in California was an horrible mistake after that awful event that she went through. Ash wasn't so sure if he could make it up at the reunion, even if it meant for Regan's sake. It was way too soon and she wanted the whole gang, along with Vincent back together.

"Dr Kostopoulos, do you have a minute?" That startled him out from his thoughts. He ran a hand through his hair, hoping that no one had seen jumping like that. A little dignity here.

'At least, there some people who doesn't make fun of my last name..Unlike Vargas..' He put his phone back to his pants's pockets and looked up to the person who called him, trying to adjust his white lab coat, looking up good.

Medina, he came back after all. He watched him walking up to him with his partner, Nguyen. Comparing to his partner, Medina looked like he hadn't took a shower, mostly because he was working and giving everything he can possibly do for Tyler, bringing justice for her. As for Cheng, he looked clean in his black and formal suit. Way much more calmer than Medina. Taking his job very seriously, meaning by the book.

"What can I do for you, Detective?"

"I've heard from my partner here, that Mr and Mrs Stevenson had just arrived here. Isn't that true?"

"From I know, you're quite right, sir, they're at the practicing room, at the moment. I thought that I could leave them alone for a minute..."

'It's too hard to stand there and watch them cry over their daughter...' He almost had added back, trying to cover up his face from shock. However, Medina didn't seemed to notice any changing as he followed back;

"Mind, if I check in?" The doctor in him, just didn't wanted things to get any worse than they were already. Ash just sighed at this.

"I'm not sure if it's a good idea, Detective, they might need a moment to digest the fact their daughter won't probably never wake up alive from the autopsy table..." But Medina kept on insisting;

"I'm part of this case or more I know more of this case than Chandler and Vargas do know. They're Tyler Stevenson's parents and they do know me!"

"Medina! Seriously?" Had shushed Cheng back, trying to maintain the situation, but Medina kept doing his thing;

"Like I said, I've been with this case from the start, they need to know that I'm here..." Quite the demanding type here has thought the doctor looking up at the detective guy standing right in front of him. Not knowing what else to do, Ash sighed and pointed the door, at its direction.

"You think, it was a good idea to let him in?"He looked back at the other but quite silent detective, Cheng, who just shrugged like he was used to Medina's sturborness. "Well, I've been with him since two years, so I think I got used to his tantrums and drama, I believe.." Ash just watched Medina oppening the door to see and greet Tyler's parents in hurry.

"Drama huh?"

"Europeans genes, I say...He overdo it, at these times, like this..." 'That's why I moved out from my parents's house as fast as I could! Spare the drama and don't ever become like them!' had sighed the poor doctor anyways. Although he couldn't never deny his origins, he just wanted to be his own person, just not his parents at all.

"When's the funeral's coming up? I believe they wanted her buried, but I'm might need to do some tests here..."

"Cause of death was by blood loss, by someone who could had shot her in cold blood, no? We thought that was the conclusion of it? Why? Do you reconsider another autopsy exam?"

"I believe it by the scar on the chest, that her heart was stolen, but you never know anything at all. I mean, maybe her parents would want an second opinion..."

"So you're saying that you could be wrong?"

"Never said that, just the parents's opinion..." Ash hid any surprising features from his face at that point. He did not want that cop to think that he could easily be intimidated by an new comer. Cheng just waited at him to answer;

"I know my diagnosis very well, Detective Nguyen, and I'm rarely wrong about what I see when it comes to it, but if Tyler's parents do want an second opinion, it'll be up to them, not me..."

"I never doubted about your work, doctor, none of it. It's just that couple standing inside of that room wouldn't never be able to forgive the man who had put through their daughter into so much pain and to put her on that table of yours. Marked with death on her forehead. You may never understand the pain of losing a child, I did in the past and Medina is also a father of two kids as well, so it's kind of a important mission for the both of us..."had explained the asian cop back to the greek doctor's restraining face.

"And I don't care, the ADA Lowan is guilty or not, Medina and I would make sure he gets what he deserves at the end. They waited for a very longtime until they had the word that Tyler had ended up in that fridge, and mostly frozen to death, but from you told us, it turns out that she was killed in cold blood, before being put in that cold place..." Ash, just tried to stay silent at that comment as the cop followed with this;

"After Medina and I talk with the parents, I'll go back to the crime scene and check with a specialist about frozen places. Cryopresevation or Cryonic to specify..." Cryopreservation? Oh no, that's sounds very bad.

"What about searching for another Jack Ripper? I mean her heart was stolen by the way. Could you guys reconsider about finding the guy who stole it? I mean, before putting all charges on Lowan's back?" He sounded like a stupid idiot by saying that to the cop, but it would be better before making a step that you might regret later on. At this, Cheng just grinned, but only from a small corner to his face, which creeped out Ash.

"The idea is not bad, I have to say, we can always look up from that point, doc." As he said that, Cheng turned his back from Ash and walked away with both hands in his pockets as he wasn't bothered to miss a important family reunion. He may not know the guy much, but he could say that Cheng was making him feel uncomfortable when he was around. At his early thirties, Cheng was the quiet one and less built than Medina, even if he wore the usual black suit that made his shoulders broader, but still. Ash had a few problems with his weight back in the past, but kinda wished he could go good as Cheng and a few other guys like Jeffrey and Vincent.

It's gonna be hard to see old ghosts again. It's been eleven years now that he hadn't seen Vincent, but what about Regan, how would she react if she ended up seeing him again?

'Dang, it's a mess...' he thought back as he felt his vibrate in his pocket. He looked back the room behind him, hoping it didn't bothered the few people in it and checked up his phone. But as he recognized the person who had sent the text, he just read it with a frown:

"So, ex-fatso boy, are you gonna show up tonight or not?"

That stupid guy. Even after eleven years, Jeffrey Rafferty was still a pain in the ass! Ash just sighed shaking up his head, feeling completly hopeless. Soon or later, he'll have to face some old ghosts from the past and one of them was a guy named Vincent Keller. A old buddy from med school, whom he believed to be dead for at least ten and awful years, until today.

"Yeah, I'm gonna have fun, tonight! That's for sure!" he cursed back as he cringed his teeth in frustruation. He typed Jeffrey back with a clear message.

...

"Hang on a minute, did you just said; Regan and Jeff?" After a disastrous meeting of "bad air" J.T pinched his nose with a clothespin in order to stay alive for a few years to come, if he's ever gonna make it by living with Vincent around. Along with an whimpering Ed, hidding behind his feet, he managed to stay away from his friend standing near close to the bar when Vincent was sitting on a couch. Quite far enough. He couldn't blame J.T for running like a banshee away from him when he pooped his head out from the bathroom. Skunk smell, to specify. It wasn't his fault if he got pwned by a skank in the middle of the night!

And there he was in his long blue bathrobe, fingers intertwined and sitting on the couch, looking completely guilty at his best friend and dog. Like a kid that got caught by trying to steal cookie from the cookie jar. More of a skunk jar.

"Don't look at me like that!" Even with his nose pinched and a very pitched voice, because of holding his breath, J.T still seemed to look pissed off as Vincent tried to defend himself back and forth.

"How am I looking at you?"

"Like you got caught for stealing a cookie from the cookie jar, idiot!"

"Don't raise your voice! You're scaring Ed!"he pointed at the frigthen dog hidding himself behind J.T's feet which did not make anything good cause he really felt the need to sneeze up and with a clothespin hanging on his nose, J.T just felt like he was about to choke out and faint soon. He needed air and fast! And he's not gonna make it alive with Vincent and Ed, being in the same room with them and he hoped not to turn out like a smurf!

"He's afraid of everybody! But he can't live up like that for the rest of his life!"

"Easy for you to say...Ed needs some adjustement with other people, J.T. that's true, but that kind of thing takes time..." The dog has PTSD, not only people suffers mental disorders, animals do as well. Anyways, that's one thing that both Vincent and Ed are sharing together and later became friends.

"Whatever, you said something about Regan and Jeff; what happened with them?"

"You mean, you remember them?"

"Don't change the subject again, man, I do remember about Regan, I mean I knew her as a shy girl with big and huge glasses, that used to hang around Alex and Jeff, a total badass with women, from what I know.."

"Boy, you do remember..." Before J.T could go farther, Vincent just glared at him. A look that meant 'Do not repeat the part of; Do you ever remember any of this or that?' His best friend managed to take a few steps away from the bar, hoping he won't turn blue, in any time.

"Ah, yeah, about that. Look, it's been a longtime since I've seen her around and she took me by surprise back at the coffee place..." he started to explain as Vincent waited for him to follow. "Anyways, she told me that she was back in town, in order to be close with her new boyfriend, Miguel and maybe planning an reunion party, now that you're back here..."

"Not sure if it's a good idea, J.T. I mean, Tori tried to help me out, but I think it's enough of exposure, with the TV and charities events stuff. I'm not sure if it's ok to go out and do, whatever I want..."

"Yeah, I agree, we should be more careful, I mean think back about the last events we've been through and I'm sure you know of what I'm mean..."

"Yeah, I do know.."

"But it's Regan and friends, Big Guy, what worse could possibly happen?" Leave Medina's invistigation away for the moment. J.T knows that soon or later, he has to tell Vincent about Medina's true attentions about exposing him and Catherine, one day or another. Hopefully, he was afraid that his buddy would hear his heart beat fastening up about that thought.

"You're considering of going to that party with me?"

"Look, I know it's like bombshell to you of all sudden, but Vincent, do you, at least, want to know more about your past buddies? Because, I do want to know and take a break from all that beast researches drama and try to live a normal life, at least for one night, don't you think?" It was kinda true, he did wanted to know whatever happened with Regan and the others, though. It's been ten years, since Vincent had seen them all.

"Won't think it would hurt, if we don't try, no?"

"Vincent, no one tried to attack us, ever since the kidnapping thing and with you hidding back at your place, but we can't keep hidding for the rest of our lives, that makes us look like cowards and I'm sure you don't want to look like that..."

"Don't get me wrong, J.T, I do want a normal life and I don't want to look like a coward, by hidding-"

"So? What do you think? Wanna take the shot?"

"Who do you think is gonna be there?"

"I believe, Regan is gonna be there, Jeffrey and that fatso guy which I don't remember the name, anymore. The June's Place restaurant downtown, she said that we all used to go there along with Alex..." At that name's sound, whitening flashes of memories came through his mind one by one. Memories of him, Alex and J.T. along with a few other friends sharing miso soup, dumplings with a couple beers, sharing a group of laugh. Memories about Alex were little for him to remember, but he did remembered a shy blond haired girl with glasses, hidding behind her best friend's back when it came to introductions.

It was back at the hospital, Benjamin's Hospital where he used to work there before along with Alex and Jeffrey. At their lunch break, J.T. happened to be there as well, until it happened...

"Hey guys, I have someone to introduce to you!" Three heads turned to the owner's voice who was approaching herself to them. Alex, the girl who used to be one who made his heart beat, before all the mess had began;

"Hey Regan, don't be so shy! Come out and greet Vincent!" Coming out from the kind red haired girl, was a shy blond haired girl with huge big glasses in her blue scrubs, hands behind her back and head down. Her hair tied up into a ponytail and, boy, that girl was bitting her lip up, being so nervous as she managed to spit out something like this;

"Hiya! Vincent...Huh...D-D-Don't you...Don't you... Don'tyoujustlikethesun?" That just left him stuck for a minute. He raised his eybrows in confusion, at this. He never heard so many words glued up together in one reply, till now. He stood up to her height.

"Heeey, it's nice to meet you!" he replied back with a smile as he greeted her with a nice handshake, not so sure if he had to kiss her on her cheek, in front of Alex's questionning stare. He managed to to avoid the akward and stuttering moment, but he was sure enough to punch J.T. and Jeffrey who were laughing behind his back as they were eating their lunch.

It's been a longtime since he'd been out at the sun and that doesn't include the skunk smell.

"And before you ask, she did not stutter at all, I believe she got rid of it.." Well that solved the problem, cause the Regan he remembered did that a lot, like blushing and added words like; Don't you just like the sun? Vincent? or you don't starve yourself to death, right Vincent? Just no sense.

"So, when it comes to have an normal conversation, Regan won't mess it up, I mean, she wouldn't say something like if you still are taking your tums, whenever you feel like having an ulcer, right?" At this, J.T. just frowned when Vincent tried not to burst in laughing to his face.

"How about the guy who ended up smelling like a skunk? After he stalked his ex-girlfriend back at her fire-escape? You find this funny?"

"How about the guy talking with a clothespin, barely hanging on his nose? Like he's trying to hold his breath away from a beast?"

"It's your fault, for stepping on a female skunk's tail! Guess who's looking more stupid here?"

"You accuse me of being stupid?"

"When it comes to giving up on the girl of your dreams? I'd say so!" Vincent just shut himself at that as J.T. followed;

"What bad can happen if you show up at that reunion? I believe Regan would be happy to see you alive, after ten and awful years.."

"But, if something goes wrong?" His best friend just groaned when he said this;

"Then, we'll go home by midnight, if you ever end up like a pumpkin..I'm sure, she and the others would understand, Big Guy.." J.T waited for an answer from his best friend as he folded his arms as he waited for Vincent to answer. Vincent really wanted to see his old friends from med school, but what if; it ended to be an disaster? Would he be able to forgive himself for that? Look what happened with Catherine; he made a stupid choice by siding with Tori and his beast side and not listening to Cat. No wonder, he decided to stay away in order to keep her safe, from his mess. But what about them? Regan and the others? Would he bring more trouble than he already had done, to the people he loves? Catherine ended up shooting him, from doing the irreparable and he hated her for doing it, but what about now? He could try and be an better person than he used to? Wait! Did J.T just said about him turning into a pumpkin?

"So, Vincent?" Vincent just sighed as he rubbed his temple, before adding as he looked up at J.T.;

"At what time, did Regan told you to show up?"

...

"So you did not see anything particular? I mean, out of ordinary with one of the girls trying to order some guy around?" The frail barmaid in a black bustier top was busy cleaning up the bar, that she wasn't bothered with the questions that were being asked;

"From what I know, I do not think so, I mean, there's many guys who wants to have an affair here and it's pretty free when they're very demanding.."

"Free to have sex?" The barmaid just raised an eyebrow at this question that asked Catherine sitting at the bar as she watched her cleaning up the glasses with an old rag. However, she just shrugged as she followed with this;

"What can I say? Some girls like to play dirty, others just like to waste their vaginas out.."

"What about those who likes to play dirty, around here?"

"Well, when I mean 'dirty' I mean those girls who are being swore to never tell the truth, which happen often, after a week of having fun. They probably end up calling their client's wives about the fact that their man is cheating with ever girl they can find under their nose..." Catherine just sighed at that. It's been no longer than thirty minutes than she and Tess had arrived into the club. Tess had agreed to talk with the owner while Cat talked with the girls, seeking out answers from them, but it didn't turned out to be much of help since the most of them were out or all sleep at their rooms upstairs. So Cat ended up talking with the barmaid in front the bar. Jang Ji-Yeon, who goes by the name of Lina for short. Korean descendant, Lina joined the bar in her mid twenties and have been here ever since. However, a few years later, she refused to add any relationship to her work, consindering the fact that she was getting old, had volenteered to work at the bar, than upstairs anyways.

"They end up calling their clients's relatives?"

"From what I've heard, I mean, I did that as well, once. When I heard that I've got some dirty stuff growning up on me.."

"Such as?" What came later had surprised Cat, when the short chopped strawberry blond haired barmaid added with this ;

"Got diagnosed as HIV-positive and been paying my AZT medication, ever since two years...Yep, one of the clients wasn't so honest with an old hag like me and I ended up calling his wife, saying that he might soon or later, give her babies rats.." Lina snickered as she folded her arms to her chest, looking back at Catherine. "Pay back vengeance, you know?"

"Ouch..." No wonder, Lina gave up on that job and became an barmaid, at the end. It wasn't such an payful job, but if it means by staying away from contaminating people around, then Lina made a hard decision. "I'm very sorry to hear that.."

"No, you're not and you're just doing your job; asking dumping questions like whomever had slept with what kind of people and that..." Couldn't deny that fact. When Tess and Cat arrived here, they both decided to switch places. That Tess would be talking with the owner while Cat would go ask the girls around, since she seems to be the one that looks more tolerant and understanding type than her partner would do.. Chicken. Tess just wanted to know if Alvarez was being good enough to the owner. Very good enough!

"How about that question; Did you ever saw a guy named Oliver Alvarez, coming here to have a pleseant evening? or-"

"You mean, if he ever screwed around here with a few girls? Could be..I only know the guy as the owner of the financials things, you know? But I wouldn't be surprised if he ever cheated behind his wife's back.." So she did know.

"So, you knew, that he had a wife? A woman who fled the country, named Yalena Sandler...Did you knew her, I mean well enough?"

"Could barely spelt her name, but not quite..."

"What about another woman named Gretchen Hermandez? You must know her?"

"Just to hear her name, makes me think of a girl who liked to fool around..." Lina did not gave her answers she expected but she did tried anyway so. As she stood up from her booth seat, Catherine gave her a card, just in case if any memory comes by again. The frail barmaid just took her card with a frown just as she took a peak at it and went back to work under the detective's watch, like nothing happened.

"Mind telling me; about the rest of the girls?"

...

Catherine stepped up to the stairs after Lina gave her the way up to the bedrooms that most of the girls spent their nights with their clients. The bar looked like an ancient brothel from the late 18th centries. Down were the showtime with alchool with full of colors and upstairs were the pleasure and desire, however with darkness. Since the walls were darker and messy like a tornado just busted in. Each of the girls had their room and their private moments as they were getting their paid. Cat wasn't so sure about asking Lina about Tyler's murder, since the barmaid didn't seemed to look interested about it. With her Glock in its hostler that held by her right hip, she took a look at each chamber, hoping not to disturb the girls's so called nighttime. Each room had a name from left to right to the end of the corridor; Helga, Alicia, Olga, Anna, Evagelia, Kayla, Natasha and mostly but not lastly, Lina, Gretchen and Yalena. Ten girls living here.

Gretchen's and Lena's rooms were both in front of each other and Lina's was between of them. Too bad that Catherine didn't had a searching warrant, she would have had checked both rooms in order to find a clue. Lina wasn't a suspect because she knew little about Tyler's murder and Lena and Gretchen's deal. But that could always change, in any minute. She turned to her left side as Gretchen's room was standing there to her sight. Should she go into the room or not? The door was not wide open, but enough big to peek in it as Cat couldn't help herself but leaned a little bit closer...

"Wanna bust in?" The detective had almost lost her balance at that unfamiliar voice and spin around, startled to see a woman in her mid-twenties, long blond locks falling on her shoulders. Probably not her real color. Brown eyes that were looking at her, amused. She only wore a pink but silk nightrobe, that her belt was holding tight enough to breathe. She lighten up a cigarette as she continued to stare at Catherine.

"I said; Do you wanna bust in that room?"

"Sorry, can't do that, I don't have a searching warrant-.." "But you wanna go in? Which it was what you were about to do?"had cut the girl as she took a smoke from her cigarette and breathe it out in front of Cat's face. Leaning on the door, the girl took a look at the female cop.

"Nice boots, wished I could have these, must cost a good fortune..."

"And who are you, by the way?"

"The name's Evagelia, but gentlemen like to call me Eve, like the first woman on earth.."

"I thought Lilith was the first?"

"Some say that, but let's just say that Eve used to give Adam what Lilith couldn't, I'd like to believe that she ended up cursing him at the end of the day. And the rest is history..."

"Just like you give them? I mean you provide things to guys that come around here? Provide things that their wives can't do?" had asked Catherine as she listened to Eve's 'anology' of providing things to guys that others women couldn't just do. The smirk on Eve's face disappeared at that question as Catherine smirked back at her face. Payback. It's Lilith against Eve, from now on.

"Why were you looking at Gretchen's room, by the way?"

"I just wanted to know what kind of life she's been living now, I mean we were good friends back at school, but she ended leaving at the end. But her new boyfriend had showed up at the station, stating he was worried about what's she been doing, at the moment..."

"Like?"

"Like, I don't know. Do you think she has problems with drugs or with a client?"That just left Eve silent at this. "I know for one thing that she liked to have things under control with the clients, so surprises were out of the picture..I mean, she was good at it..."Inhaling the smoke, Eve just tried to play cool at this, but somehow, Cat felt like she knew too much about the situation.

"Like she managed to avoid surprises pregnancies or contaminating diseases?" That talk with Lina kinda left her uncomfortable the fact that the ex-escort girl had told her that she was HIV-positive, so Catherine wondered if the girls were smart enough to protect themselves. Eve looked back at her, like her words just stabbed her.

"We do know how defend to ourselves! Just because we are paid to sleep around, that doesn't mean that we all are stupid!" And before Catherine could answer, she dropped her cigarette on the floor, pushed the cop out of the way as she walked right into Gretchen's room, slamming the door hard behind her back. Catherine wasn't so sure of what to do now, she didn't meant to upset Eve, but she wanted answers about Yalena and Patrick hadn't told her all the truth, so she had her reasons to ask questions, right?

When she was about to turn back away, the door opened back and Eve came out of it. Holding a blue card as she handle it back at the stunned cop;

"I'm not sure if she has trouble marked on her forehead, but as I busted into her drawner next to her bed, I found this!" Cat looked down at the card, before her eyes went up to Eve, who looked frustrated back at her. Damn, that girl was wearing nothing but a pink G-string and that pink silk nightrobe whose belt had finally loosen up from its tie. Cat could had swored that Eve's perfect and big boobs were revealing themselves up-

"Well, are you gonna take it or not?" Or I'll have to put into your mouth? She could have guessed that instead. Cat took out a pair of gloves from her coat's pocket and wore them, before she snatched the card from Eve's fingers.

"Don't say I did not do anything good..."These were the last words coming out from Evagelia, before she walked away. Smashing the cigarette with her foot and entered her room. The third room after Yalena's at the right side.

...

"So anything, from your side?" Catherine heard Tess's voice as she was walking down stairs. "Not so much though, what about you? Did the owner told you about our beloved ones?" Her partner just rolled her eyes up as they were both exiting the club as they walked out;

"Same thing like you. Nothing big. But Esperanza did told me about Álvarez's doing here, like the fact that he ended up saving the club from shutting down its doors. Not only he's a surgeon, but he saved enough money to bring it back up and my gut's telling me that he's using the foundation's gold..." Catchy, catchy baby boy. So the owner's name was Esperanza after all, she decided to name the club after herself.

"Damn..What a nice excuse.."

"And you know what else? Esperanza is about to retire soon and the job would go to the ex-escort girl.." Catherine just took a step back as Tess was about to get her keys out to open the driver's door. When she heard nothing coming from her partner, she looked up at her;

"You mean, Lina?" That was unexecpted. Lina didn't mentionned about getting any heritage, probably because she thought it wasn't important.

"Whatever her name is. Let's just say that Lina would inherit the bar soon as Esperanza leaves. The old lady told me that she plans to move to Colorado Springs to be more closer to her mother and kids.." However, Catherine wasn't done with this. Lina may looked ok, at the moment, but an illiness like hers can change to any moment.

"Tess is not what I meant. I mean, Lina is very sick, she has HIV..." Ouch, her partner just whistled at this.

"That girl has some dirty rats running in her blood..."

"Tess, seriously, this could be very bad! Do you think that Esperanza or Alvarez knows about this kind of problem?" However her partner just rolled her eyes at this.

"Come on, Cat, don't freak out! If Esperanza or Alvarez knows about that kind of thing, I'm sure it wouldn't be a problem, and besides, HIV illiness is better controled today than it was thirty years ago...Now, get in..." She gestered the passanger door that she opened up for Catherine, as she stepped in. Like she despised the cold winter so badly, she went inside the car and closed the door back. Just as Tess was starting to warm up the car, Cat just added this;

"Looks like Gretchen has a date tonight..."

"Which one? Your escaping friend or the whore?" With that, Cat gave her a tired look, explainning;

"No, I mean Lena. A girl from the club stepped inside of her room and brought out a blue card. And yes, with a guy's name and phone on it..." The thought of her stepping in Gretchen's room was off of limits according to the law and without a search warrant, Catherine could've had ended up in trouble. However, it felt so easy when Eve went there, without caring about her neighbour's reaction to this.

"Did that girl told you where Lena was gonna meet her 'date'? Any location?"

"June's place, at downtown something like that, I believe...There was a blue card with a certain guy's name written on it, along with his number..." And might have Eve's fingerprints all over. With the deepest care, Cat tried to keep the blue card clean and sealed in a small plastic ziplog bag, hidden in her purse next to her seat.

"Too bad, we cannot reach that dumbass Patrick, to fill us more information about his girlfriend..."As she started up the car, she added with this; "Let's try to locate Alvarez's location and if he's not there, we'll bother him up at work. Even bust him in surgery..."At this, Catherine's phone vibrated into her coat. She took it out and stared at it when Tess got out from the club's parking.

"Looks, like we won't have to bother him, anyways..." It was Patrick himself on the phone. That was going to be interesting, but Tess shook her head, with both hands on the wheel, she couldn't look to see whom was waiting on the phone.

"Sorry, cannot look, Cat. But put him on speaker, I'd like to imagine his reaction when he'll hear that he had been caught on lying about his so called girlfriend..." Damn, she was angry now. Cat could bear it as well. The guy had whitheld the evidence that Yalena and Gretchen had switched identities, which was turning to be a messy case. Putting him on speaker, she said to him;

"Hey there, Patrick, so how's life going?"

"I'm sorry, I couldn't called you back, but last night, I felt like I was being watched, so I had to be careful..."

"Watched? By whom?" That was interesting to hear.

"I don't know, but it felt like someone had a huge hammer under my head, but I'm sorry that I couldn't called you back, earlier on..."

"So you took care of that person, no?"

"I'm sorry, I don't understand what do you mean now.." It was Patrick's turn to ask questions, not knowing where this conversation is going now. He had been caught.

"Okay, how about this question; Why did you lie during the interrogation, last night?"

"Lie to you? I've told you everything I know about Gretchen-" But Cat decided to jump in at this answer;"Not about the switching part with both Gretchen and Yalena here. Stop making excuses, Patrick. My partner, Tess and I went through bailing out prostitues files, and an certain Gretchen Hermandez was in there, but Yalena wasn't. So why did you lie about something important like that?"she could hear, or believed to have heard Patrick groan at that. He did not told her the whole truth, after all. He was scared for his girlfriend, so he had every reason to be. Right?

"I told you that she was under an alias..." True. He did said that Yalena was living under a fake name, but still, the fact that both girls ended switching names could end up bad, though. What if Álvarez ended up finding the wrong ex-wife? Yalena, could be the very bad girl Gretchen, in disguise. Gretchen, could be the very nice woman Yalena, who was on the run after sending her daughter away. Catherine frowned at his answer, she eyed up at Tess, who was focusing on the road, but was listening to their conversation, anyways.

"Still, you did not tell me about the switching part, Patrick. The real Gretchen could end up in trouble, if her cover is blown. And what about Lena in all of this? Your girlfriend could also be found by now...What about the girls and Esperanza? Do they know about this?" Catherine's mind was full of questions now. So much, that she wanted to rip off Pratrick's head out from his neck. She was so frustruated that she felt her ears boiling of smoke and were coming out, like in those cartoons shows.

"Why do you think, that I looked nervous to you, last night? I was afraid to get caught and Lena knew what kind of mess she would be getting into...That's why I wanted to talk to you and things like that, just couldn't be told on the phone..."

"Change the subject, Cat, I can feel you burning fire here. Tell him to come by the station, tomorrow morning and about that date that Lena is having tonight, before you hang up..."had whispered Tess back to her boiling partner, it wouldn't do nothing if Catherine was about to lose it over a suspect now. Yup, Patrick lied, so makes him a suspect. No?

"How about that date that Lena is about to have with? Patrick? Do you know where she'll be showing up?"

"Alright, At June's place. Eleveen or midnight of clock, I'm not sure about that. All I know it's a chinese-japanese colloboration and chick bar. Lena would show up tonight with someone..."

"And the real Gretchen?"

"I think she has an appointement at the hospital after work...Tonight.."

"What is she sick, or something?"

"All I know is that one of her hernia has fallen and she has to take it out, before it gets worse..She's been trying to take a appointement, ever since a week. So it is important.."

"Which hospital?"

"New York's" Now it was Tess's turn to talk, as she kept her eyes to the road, she added this; "Patrick? It's Detective Vargas talking here, I hope you're telling us the truth now, that you're not fooling us around. Cause, once my partner is in, I'm also into that case. Got it? There's no secrets between the three of us. I hope it's clear to you?"

"I got it...I just wanted to protect her. Protect Lena..." he followed with a sigh that sounded like he had accepted to lose the fight.

"I know it's hard, Patrick, but if we both want to save and protect Lena and Gretchen, we have to know everything. Like we both know at which place Lena is showing up, but what about Gretchen? What she'll be doing, before going to the hospital?"

"Probably at the club. She's been doing long shifts ever since she and Lena switched places, but also because two girls had both taken two weeks off.."

"It is quite big for her to take care of big burden like that. No wonder her hernia fell out, with the stress and the pressure for the protection stuff. Why didn't she asked the other girls, to help her out?"

"She did not ask any of them. And plus, she needed the money for the surgery.."

"At what time is the surgery?"

"Around eleven of clock. She should be leaving around at nine, to get the first train and bus in order to get to the hospital early..."

"Good, because my partner Tess would go and visit her, before she gets to see her doctor.." had interrupted Catherine before Patrick could say anything else and to an shocken Tess who just wide eyed Cat at that. The interest one had followed with this; "While I'll go and talk to Lena..." she eyed her partner back, with an annoying look that meant 'We have to stop this madness, before it gets any worse than this!'

"But Detective!"

"You told me to reasonate her. No? Well, guess what? Patrick, we'll gonna end this now, before it gets our asses!" she added back, before hanging up her phone with a deep breath. Once she calmed down, she looked back at her shaken partner who had no idea of what they'll be getting themselfs into; "Got any plans, tonight? You'll have to cancel them, Tess, cause you and I are going out.."

...

Later at night...

"J.T, you've got to be kidding me!"

"No, I'm not and plus without your beast effect, you shouldn't scare Ed off, anyways...It's only for one night, Tori, I'm sure you can handle it without Gabe's help.." had said J.T as he handled Ed's red leash to the former beast girl's hands. She wasn't sure if she could handle it on her own. Especially with a petrified dog like Ed who just wanted to go back to the houseboat with Vincent, but J.T and Big Guy were having friends night, dogs weren't allowed at bars. So, he ended up packing some food for Ed, a huge Pedrigee bag was closer to the entry door, two bowls and a few toys, including Ed's giant pulshie and yellow duck.

"And where does he sleeps?"

"He might prefer the living room, but since he's far away from home, he might surprise you at bed..." Tori's widened at that picture, a dog lying on bed?

"WHAT?"

"Look Tori, I know you hate the idea as much as I do, but I don't have any choice, ok? I got a lot on my plate at the moment and for once, I just want to forget it and so does Vincent. Only one normal night between friends, Tori and that's all..."

Jeffrey, Regan, Miguel, Regan's boyfriend, Vincent, J.T and Fatso Boy, or whatever his name is...However, Alex cannot show herself to the reunion, for her safety, in case if something bad happens. It's gonna be weird to see old faces again, like Zach wasn't much of trouble in the past. After he texted and assured Regan that both him and Vincent would definally show up at the reunion, he had to look presentable and forced his bestfriend by dragging him back to the bathroom, stating that he had to get rid of that skunk smell after Vincent had almost wanted to share a hug with him. J.T had felt like dying there.

"Use the whole tomato juice or use Krebaum's formula.."

"Krebaum's formula? What is that?"

"My time of dying! Use Google! Smartass!"he had said back in one only breath, before grabbing Vincent's collar and dragged him back into the bathroom, without he could say anything else and slammed the door hard; "And don't come out until you get rid of it!"

"What if it doesn't come out? What should I do?"

"Use one of Sara's colognes! It should hid the effect!"

And there was Ed to handle now. Cat or Tess couldn't kept him for the night neither can Gabe, so Tori was quite the last person he ended to be with. Or did not want to be in the same place with. He does know that she ended up saving his life and sacrificed her own for him, giving time for both Cat and Vincent to find them just in time. It was a little uncomfortable to be with her right now and without Gabe's presence here. Dressed in clean casual and formal clothes, he checked his watch; It was almost 9pm and the reunion was around at that time.

"Look, I have to go, Tori and don't worry about Ed, he's a nice fella. He has food, water and toys, his giant duck is very important to him and when he does these big puppy eyes at you, it means he's hungry and can barely fight on his own. About the walking thing..."

"How's Vincent?" Here we go again! He knew that Tori shouldn't see or even know about Vincent at the moment, or else Gabe wouldn't have no choice but to put eletronic bracelet on her. An tracking device, if she ever crosses a line again. Tori has to give up on her obsession or else it could end up, pretty much like Glenn Close. And speaking about puppy eyes, she pleaded him with her green orbs and J.T knew he shouldn't fall for them.

"I..I..I've got to go now! I'll be back tomorow morning! See ya!" And he left even before she could say anything to hold him back.

...

'Never been into a room that sounded so much like a party rave, but without the drugs...' had thought Catherine as she walked into the bar, cligning on her small blue purse as she was looking around the the dark colorful of spotting lights were all over the place to the dance floor where people were talking out loud trough the very loud music and dancing between friends. From three to two stairs from the dance floor, tables were at the left corner were men and women, mostly on a date, were having a drink or were enjoying each other's company. The bartenders behind the bar were busy, but not into the rushing feeling. However, coming from the wall behind them were a couple of stairs that people kept coming up and down. Maybe a place a place to play pool and casino stuff. Men and men. Women and women. Men and women holding hands...It very different from the IL Cantuccio's bar.

Cat just shook her head at that thought. She shouldn't be looking for a date, but tracking an old friend here. Lena should probably show herself by any minute, at what time did Patrick said that she and her date would come up? Around eleven? Tess had decided to go back to the club to try and talk to the real Gretchen, before she could leave for her appointement, but till now, there were no messages coming from her partner in mission. She re-adjusted her blue dress and decided to go to the bar section to get a drink while waiting for Lena to show up. Sitting on the booth stool, she looked down on the menu on the counter just as an asian barmaid in her mid-twenties with too much make-up on, approached to her side. Cat smiled up at her and pointed the menu;

"I'll have some bretzels and the Nigori Sake bottle for shots..." Ouch that's gonna cost a lot.

"Which one do you want? Sayuri, Ozeki, Sho Chinku Bai?"

"I'll take the pink one, the Sayuri bottle..I'm waiting for a friend who might show up by now.."

"Guy or Girl?"

"I..Uh..Blind date?" she made that up. Why do you want to know that? Anyways, the barmaid just shrugged, not interested with the social media of today, the whole world must be a mess.

"Good luck with that.. I knew some guy that went on a blind date and went bad.."With that she went back to take care of another costumer who sat next Cat. She sighed in relief as she took off and drop her blue coat and purse on another booth at her left side. But as she was about to take her phone to check if Tess had responsed or not, she heard something familiar coming from the stairs. She looked up as she recognized J.T's laugh as he was laughing with a beautiful blond and wavy haired girl and a dark haired guy with tanned skin along. However, it wasn't them that made her heart stop its heartbeat at the moment she landed her eyes on someone that was coming behind the first three people.

She was stunned to see a very quiet but smiling Vincent who was walking right behind them.

...

I'm sorry for the long wait, but I was dealing with depression and it was hard for me to write with bad thoughts in mind. However here's chapter nine, I'll see what I can do with next one. I hope you appreciated the hard work I do now. Thank you for your support Beasties! And please sent me a review, it always makes me smile!