'Bart is back '

Quinn sat on the oversized sofa in the living room of the Reese mansion while a freaked out pissed off Logan paced across the carpet as their friends and family listened as they waited for the arrival of Detective Vega. Malcolm tended to drinks to hopefully take the edge of panic away from his son and the others of this recent development.

It felt as if her whole world was spinning before her!

'Oh my God!'

'Are you alright, Quinn? '

'How is that even possible? I thought he was in prison '

Quinn twisted her engagement ring around her finger in a nervous gesture. She thought she was past the shock of her earlier encounter with Bart but now she was feeling unsettled. Logan had wanted to chase after Bart but she had insisted that she needed him.

'I need some clackers. Anybody got any clackers? 'Michael asked, his voice bordering on hysteria,' Bart stalked, he killed, and he did horrible things to girls at P.C.A. so he should still be rotting away in a damn jail cell '

' Michael is right ,' added Chase , rubbing his chin as the writer in him tried to figure it out for himself ,' if Bart is in Santa Barbara like in some prison break like on TV then it should have been all over the news . Zoey and I never miss the news and there was nothing '

Zoey confirmed this with a look. 'Nor was it on the radio '

'Well, it was Bart, definitely,' murmured Quinn, softly,' His hair was dyed beach blonde but there was no mistaking him for another psycho. I cannot believe that the police would keep something like this from us...it makes zero sense '

Logan drew in a breath then let it out. 'Couple months back, I got a letter from Bart and I couldn't figure out how he tracked me down to film school in Boston but I never answered back. Does he have like another accomplice on the outside?'

'How did he know that Logan and I would be at the florist or be here in the first place? Bart knew that Logan and I are getting married...he knew '

Just now picking up on Logan's admission of a letter from Bart, Quinn chewed nervously on her lower lip, irritated that he hadn't bothered to inform her of this until now but all things considering, she didn't want to fight with him either.

'I wish that you had told me, Logan, rather than trying to protect me 'Quinn rose to face him, folding her arms across her chest,' was there anything else you've kept from me?'

'No, Quinn, just the damn letter '

Frank exchanged a curious look with his wife then fixed his gaze on Logan's father who was downing another drink. Though Malcolm appeared to be calm and pensive, he didn't buy it.

'Malcolm, this all seems a bit suspicious,' brought up Frank, steadily,' Chase and Zoey aren't wrong that something such as a convict, a known killer, would make the local news '

Malcolm handed Chauncey his empty glass then spread his hands wide as he began to explain, measuring each word, carefully. Things were supposed to be back to normal now, under control, with his guests none the wiser but obviously Bart was cleverer than the Santa Barbara and the Los Angeles police departments.

' Yes, there was an incident that transpired last week with Bart escaping the police ,' replied Malcolm as Lisa gasped ,' Patrols are still out looking for him and Detective Vega is back on the case . I have extra bodyguards on the grounds so that you are all safe here.'

Lisa rose to stand beside Michael, who took her hand. 'You didn't think we have a right to know this news? We lived months totally freaking out worrying if this sicko nutcase would make one of us his next victim like Stacey Dillsen or poor Tracy '

Though this was several years back, the reign of the P.C.A. Stalker still brought fresh waves of terror back to mind making the young women queasy in the stomach. No one had forgotten that Stacey had been violently raped, Tracy murdered, and Zoey had nearly been attacked before the psycho had taken to terrorizing Quinn.

Bart Emerson was unpredictable!

He had even targeted Mark Del Figgalo and attacked him.

Vince ran a hand soothingly down Lola's back.' We have a right to the truth, Mr. Reese '

Julia stepped in the room, the tension palpable and thick, leading a tired looking Detective Vega into the living rom. He had on worn denim jeans and a white button down shirt, sleeves rolled to his elbows, and a grim expression plastered on his face.

'My husband meant only to protect you all,' said Julia, coolly,' I suggested many times that he needed to come clean with the truth though he was only trying to protect Logan and Quinn.'

David Vega took the floor hoping to remedy this before it got worse. 'Mr. Reese has kept Bart's escape out of the news and the press but let me reassure everyone that the police and I are diligently working to locate Bart. He hasn't been in contact with his mother in the womens prison and we don't believe that he has an accomplice on the outside.'

Susanna sat on the armchair beside her husband.' Detective Vega, obviously Bart is keeping tabs on my daughter and Logan or how else would he know the kids would be at that particular florist today?'

' We haven't even placed an engagement picture in the paper yet ,' pointed out Logan , putting an arm around his fiancée shoulders ,' Quinn didn't want to risk unexpected guests showing up at our private ceremony .'

Quinn bit the inside of her cheek.' Obviously Bart is somewhere close where he is able to watch us '

, 'Yes and your description of his changed appearance will help us to track him, Miss. Pensky ,' replied David, hoping to ease her mind ,'I want to speak with you and Logan in private to discuss what Bart said to you in more detail .'

'Bastard took off before I could see him '

' Taunting his brother …' surmised David , following his gut ,' he still thinks of you as his brother , Logan, and that could help us as well .'

Janna waved a hand in the air, her bangles dangling on her arm.' Detective, what do you intend to do about the safety of the wedding party staying here?'

She considered scrying to locate the whereabouts of the dangerous, twisted man but something held her back. Detective Vega seemed to be a by the book kind of cop and she doubted he would accept help from a Gypsy.

'I want you all to continue with the wedding plans and whatever else you were doing,' urged David, giving them no room to debate the matter,' I am bringing my men in to do a sweep of the estate just as a precaution. Bart's cocky but he'll slip, that's when we will catch him '

'Our wedding is in two weeks '

'I will do my best to make sure you two will have an uninterrupted wedding '

********************************Break****************************************

Why don't we divide up the wedding chores,' suggested Susanna, hoping to corral everyone into duties to change the tone of gloom in the room,' there is still much to do before the big day and it'll help if we each are assigned jobs '

Michael gave Quinn's Mom a steely eye.' Dang it, Mrs. P! We already filled hundreds of swag goodie bags yesterday, what more can we do?'

' You and Chase could pick up the table linens ' suggested Susanna,' Quinn and Logan still have items that need to be checked off of their lists and now is as good a time as ever to do so '

'We don't have to pick between different shades of greens and oranges, do we? Cause we don't want to be in trouble if we picked up the wrong colors 'added Chase, grabbing for Michael, ' I mean , my mother in law nearly gave me a heart attack over something like this so I have got to ask .'

Michael nodded his head like a bobble head.' It's true '

'You just have to pick them up 'muttered Quinn,' we already paid for them '

'Awesome '

While the parents corralled their friends with busywork for their wedding leaving the couple alone with Detective Vega, it looked as if Malcolm wanted to stay but a look from Julia had him deserting the room as well. Quinn and Logan sat together, a unit, much like the last time that he had interviewed the young lovers so many years ago.

Given how things could have gone down with the reactions of the others involved, David was just glad that cooler heads had prevailed. He just hoped that he could capture Emerson soon and not interfere with the couple's wedding.

David had been working round the clock on the case with no leads as of far but he hoped Bart paying Quinn a visit would help him with clues in finding the deranged killer .

Logan glowered at the detective.' I can't believe you'd take orders from my Father about not telling us Bart was on the loose. Man, I remember when you called the shots at P.C.A and told Dean Rivers how it was going to be ...'

Vega set his jaw, tensely. 'Well my Superior and your Father had the arrangement, son and I was following orders. Now Miss. Pensky, you mentioned Bart had changed his appearance...is there anything else that stands out?'

'Beach blonde hair and he was dressed like a surfer,' considered Quinn, squeezing Logan's hand,' He asked me if I liked his new look or If I, um, preferred when he looked like Logan.'

'Bastard still wants to be me,' replied Logan, gritting his teeth,' in his letter to me he talked a lot of nonsense about family ties and about us being brothers and shit that made no sense.'

Quinn shuddered, smoothed her lips together in a thin line as she clutched Logan's hands, tightly. Thank God for his strength and love, because Logan was holding her together. It also amazed her of his reaction –oh there had been the flash of temper and fear for her, but more than anything, her Logan was just being strong and steady.

God, she loved that man more than anything!

'Bart said that I was beautiful and he still wants me,' continued Quinn, trying to bring him into focus,' He knew about the wedding, he knew that Logan and I are getting married, and I don't understand how he could know about that because we really haven't even released an engagement announcement or picture '

'Bart hasn't written Beverly since her incarceration yet he seems much focused on you, Logan, as his family. Becoming like you and taking what he considered yours were his motives before and I think those are still what drives him even now,' decided Vega, on a roll,' you two have been making preparations for your big day so I am sure if he is watching you, it wouldn't be that much trouble to learn of the wedding .'

Quinn twisted her fingers together, worriedly.' I suppose we could always cancel our wedding until Bart is brought to justice '

Logan was on his feet, passion in his tone , every word fierce.' No fucking way, Quinn, are we canceling our wedding. That would be just giving that son of a bitch more power over us and we are not doing that'

'Sweetie, I don't want to put our friends and family at risk either! It would only be temporary '

'That is what the bastard wants us to do, Quinn! We can hire the whole damn Santa Barbara police department to guard everyone but we are getting married '

'Alright, Logan, we'll keep things as they are '

'I promise that we will do our best to get Emerson before your wedding day 'declared Vega, empathetically,' all of this new information is a huge help. Just continue on as you were and let my men do their job '

'We're counting on you, Detective '

'I'll be in touch '

As the detective showed himself out, Logan pulled Quinn in his arms, and she buried her face in the crook of his neck, holding on tight to him. He dropped a kiss against her hair.

'This isn't the excitement that I wanted for our wedding '

Logan's lips curled in a cocky smile.' To hell with the psycho, he is not ruining our wedding '

'We survived prom, we'll have our perfect wedding day '

Logan lowered his mouth to hers, drawing her into a deep kiss that was a promise.

*************************Break*******************************************

Unbeknownst to the love birds and the family, Bart had moved cannily from the guest cottage to an empty beach house a mile down the road from the Reese property enabling him to still keep an eye on the couple and reformulate his plan. Cops were crawling all over the place there and he needed to lie low until he decided his next move.

It needed to be memorable.

While Bart was plotting his next evil move , the women had decided to take Quinn into town for a shopping expedition to take her mind off all things Bart Emerson , putting her focus back on the wedding , and because shoe shopping was the ultimate in therapy .

Malcolm and Frank had called a truce and decided to head up the coast to Vaccaro's for steak and lobster and drinks. Logan was still pretty pissed off at how he handled the Bart situation and Frank had suggested that he just let everything lay for a while until his son cooled off.

Vince had suggested that they take advantage of the empty house and throw Logan's bachelor party tonight if they could pull it all together, that be fun and would take away all of the stress that was clouding up all of their auras .

Michael volunteered to put together the menu and conferred with the cook and ole Chauncey in the kitchen to make sure they had stuff to make thick sandwiches, bags of chips and popcorn, dips and salsa, and plenty of beer and soft drinks.

Cake would be good but they could do without if they didn't have the time.

Chase set up the man cave pulling out all of the classic video games to pit their wits against one another and had left Vince the number to call for the stripper. It was just what they needed to take Logan's mind off the psycho that was targeting Quinn again and stripper was a natural part of the bachelor gig though his own had been good enough without the normal .

Keeping it a private bash and one stripper was practical – what kind of trouble could they possibly get in if they weren't in a bar or a public place?

He should probably find cards for poker, too.

Vince bounded down the stairs tucking his phone in the pocket of his shorts. 'Lola needed reassurances more than another pair of heels but the women are looking for perfect wedding shoes I is told.'

Chase chuckled,' Zoey needs to learn to make designer high heels next '

' Only if she gives Lisa free shoe samples ,' added Michael , joining his friends ,' Cook kicked me out of the kitchen but he's making us really big sandwiches and chicken wings . '

Chase pulled out Video Go- Cart challenge hoping to continue his winning spree of kicking Logan's ass at the game. It was a matter of honor now.

'Where is Logan? '

Michael rolled his eyes upwards in disgust.' Talking to Quinn on the phone and trying to get her to blow his money on shoes. I didn't want any part in that so I left ….'

Vince snorted.' Who does? Oh dude, the stripper you requested can't do last minute so I hired another hot babe '

Michael pretended to leer.' Hot babe!'

'Where are you jerks? I was thinking we could kick it back like old times and go Crockett and Tubbs,' said Logan, joining them downstairs,' I mean we did it before and I don't know maybe we could find something the cops missed '

'No'

During Bart's reign of terror at P.C.A, the guys coming off of a binge of 80's detective shows had taken to the school in teams to divide and conquer hoping to bust the bastard and give their girlfriends some peace of mind. They hadn't gotten far though Logan had crushed the hopes of a poet dude who had his sights set on Quinn back in the day.

'Good times but no,' this came from Chase,' leave it to the cops '

Logan flipped him the bird.' Marriage has made you a wimp, Chase '

'A smarter wimp '

' Relax, Reese , this is supposed to be a bachelor party ' reminded Vince ,' we'll drink some brews, play some poker, have some fun, and you'll not think about all of this shit going down with Emerson.'

Logan dragged a hand through his copper curls messing it up.' Guys that's awesome of you and I appreciate it but couldn't we just meet the women in town, I'd feel better if I could be near Quinn '

'Quinn is in good hands with the girls,' reassured Michael, 'look here is Chauncey with beer '

Chauncey, looking somber as always, carried a tray of beer and chicken wings.

'Get the party started 'said the butler in a droll tone of voice.

' Thanks , man ,' said a reluctant Logan, trying to get in the party mood as they all took a can off of the tray as the doorbell rang ,' damn it , who else did you morons invite ? '

Chase, Michael, and Vince shared looks of mild amusement as they tried to hold in their laughter. They had also invited Dustin but Chase doubted the teenager who make it at such short notice and hoped it was the stripper.

'Get the door, Logan '

Swearing at his friends and unaware of what they had planned , Logan trekked upstairs and flung open the front door where a young woman dressed in a short trench coat with caramel colored curls stood , lips glossy red , an expectant look on her face.

Logan blinked, recognizing the familiar face as if it had been only yesterday they had seen each other instead of nearly seven years ago as he shook his head to clear it of cobwebs.

Her voice was husky and sexy as sin.' Hello Logan '

Logan finally recovered his voice,' Dana, what are you doing here? '

Dana swayed past him.' You called for a stripper. Here I am '