chapter word count: 338

noir heart: seventy-six

"There's your signature…" he murmurs to himself. Morbid and macabre, but it's a clue. His murders are related in some way to the concept of love.

A heavy vrrrm sound of something vibrating against wood practically makes him jump, such was the small rush of victory he was basking in. The photograph of Phillip valiantly and futilely attempts to return to its previously flat shape while Jack reaches for his cell, sat next to the half-empty can of Coca-Cola fuelling him for the last hour. "What the…" he mouths, frowning deeply as he recognises precisely who is calling him. Curious, he thumbs the Answer icon - after all, she made her feelings clear.

"Rapunzel? What's going on?"

She sounds flustered, and a little anxious. "Jack, I know it's late, but I need to talk to you."

"Sure," he says, and the curiosity deepens...not to mention the suspicion, "I'm at my apartment - so tell me where you want to meet and I'll be there. You okay?"

"No, not really," she titters nervously, "I'll be at your apartment in about ten minutes. I hope you've got something strong…"

Jack blinks. Quite a few times. Peering up at the half-empty bottle of whisky sat on his breakfast bar, he replies with an awkward, "Um, strong? Sure...um, see you in ten, I guess?"

Rapunzel acknowledges with a hurried 'see you' before hanging up, leaving Jack to stare at the cell with even more confusion and curiosity than this freaking serial killer. Those he can figure out, but when it comes to women...yeah. No chance.

He looks around, and notices how much of a bachelor pad - bomb site - his apartment has become. Empty bottles of beer here and there, disorganised cushions, empty glasses and used plates...yeah. After months of the occasional spruce up, his home is about to see the biggest tidy-up ever.

Starting with the crime scene photographs. If Rapunzel sees them, she's gonna freak out.

sorry it's taken so long. RL is brilliant like that. Next week, probably Wednesday-ish, keep your eyes out for an OGaV "trailer" teaser chapter for Act II. doomstone: yeah - that's all coming up later. My thoughts were that Jack's a bit rusty at the whole thing, and while he's pretty sharp, months of self-pity, depression and drinking has somewhat hampered him.

special thanks to: doomstone, hornedgoddess, rainbowcolorw0w, stormdragonslayer (hai!), jpbake, vrupd.1992, stefalove, heartonfire, invisibleme, dingo (I know you...), oninoko and lunasnoir for the reviews!