CHAPTER 3

Revelations:

Karla let herself into the condo. Looking around as she went in, Jenna must be in her room she thought as she picked up the phone.

Dialling the number so often used Karla watched the door to Jenna's room. The phone at the other end was answered immediately.

"Martinelli" a male voice answered.

"It's Karla. We need to move things forward if you want to remain below the police radar" Karla informed Martinelli. Karla explained the current situation and told Martinelli to do this last job and get the hell out of Miami.

"You don't tell me what to do Petersen" Martinelli growled fiercely.

"I do when its my ass is on the line Martinelli. Get the guys together and I will meet you in the usual place at eight fifteen. Don't be late. Karla warned closing the connection.

Karla moved towards Jenna's room on hearing a crashing sound. Opening the door she saw Jenna thrashing around on the bed. Sweat beaded on her brow and she was muttering something intelligible. Karla watched silently not daring to wake her. She had heard somewhere that waking someone from a nightmare could be dangerous. Jenna tossed and turned, crying pitifully. As she moved towards the bed Jenna sat bolt upright and turned wide brown eyes in her direction.

"Jenna honey, its me Karla. I heard you crying" she explained. But Jenna wasn't awake. She was still in her nightmare. Eyes wide in fear Jenna just sat staring into the semi darkness. Karla noticed with trepidation that Jenna's eyes were darting to and fro, as if she were watching a horror movie.

Convinced that she was pretending Karla moved forward and put her hand on Jenna's shoulder.

Sensing the movement as imminent danger, she grabbed the hand and tugged with all her might, throwing Karla on the the other side of the bed. In her heightened state of fear Jenna's strength knew no bounds and any assailant would be hard pushed to gain ground and take her down. Jenna came fully awake, the vividness of her dream was more than she had ever experienced. Shaking with terror she jumped from the bed and moved towards the prone figure.

"Oh my God, Karla!" she exclaimed when she realised that it was her friend that she had tossed aside. In her dream she saw the dark menacing figure come towards her and had attacked Karla. Kneeling down beside her Jenna reached out and touched her pale face. Jenna brushed the hair from her face and patted her cheek.

"Karla" she called softly as her friend stirred. Opening her eyes Karla looked bemused.

"What the hell happened?" she asked Jenna.

"I was having a bad dream, a dark figure was pursuing me and I struck out" Jenna replied worriedly. "I'm so sorry Karla, I didn't know it was you" she finished worrying her bottom lip with her teeth.

"Jeez Jen. Remind me never to cross you. Shit, I thought I was a gonna for sure" she swore absently. Allowing Jenna to help her up Karla sat on the edge of Jenna's bed. Must have been some dream Jen" she shook her head and laughed. Standing up Karla eased the ache now starting in her lower back. "You must work out every day to have that kind of strength Jenna" she tossed over her shoulder as she left the room. Jenna followed her out to the kitchen, guilt stabbing at her chest as she watched Karla kneaded aching muscles.

"Coffee Jen?" she asked. Jenna nodded and took a seat at the breakfast bench. Teeth still worrying her bottom lip.

"Want to tell me about it?" Karla asked tilting her head slightly. It made Jenna think of Lieutenant Caine. Jenna shook her head.

"The dark figure is all I can remember," she answered quietly. Karla didn't push the issue. Picking up the kettle she filled it and set it to boil.

"I saw the Lieutenant leaving as I was coming out of Cindy's. What did he want?" Karla asked absently trying not to sound overly worried that he might want to question her further.

Jenna sat so still Karla wasn't sure if she heard her question.

"Jenna"

Jenna lifted fearful eyes and looked blankly, she could see that Karla was speaking to her but her mind was else where. It felt like she had just woken up in the twilight zone.

"JENNA!" Karla exclaimed loud enough to snap Jenna out of her reverie.

"What?" she asked bemusedly, "Did you say something?"

"I asked what Lieutenant Caine wanted to see you about Jenna. Are you sure you're OK, maybe we should take you back to the hospital , you still look very pale" her friend said with much concern.

Jenna gave herself a mental shake and assured Karla that she was fine saying the dream had shaken her a little. Indicating to her friend that the kettle was now boiling Jenna jumped off the stool and got cups from the cupboard. Instant coffee wasn't something that Karla or Shauna had been used to but in trying times like now instant was readily available. It was one of the few luxuries Jenna had brought with her from England. The aroma rose swiftly from the tin as she opened it and Jenna basked in the smell. Shauna had laughed when Jenna first unpacked the catering size tin.

"Good heaven's Jenna, one would think you were going to be in Miami for months" she stated wittingly. Jenna shrugged and said that was the idea. She and Shauna had made it their private joke.

The fleeting thoughts of Shauna caused a lump to rise in Jenna's throat. Coughing to cover the sob she handed Karla her cup. A deep ache began in her chest as she silently grieved for her new friend. No matter how long or short friendship was a passing always left a gap in someone's life that could never be totally filled. New friendships came and went and life went on and she had long since began to accept that she would never be able to prevent death no matter how hard she tried, neither could she harden her heart to it.

Jenna sat on the porch a week later filling out forms for her start of duty. A medical certificate was obtained from the doctor who had treated her in hospital to say she was fit for work and she was due to start at the lab the following day. Though she was looking forward to it Jenna didn't quite know how she would cope with the different ways that forensics was carried out in the USA. As a whole, forensics was the same in any country, the protocols however were different, Jenna had been assured that she would quickly pick up what she needed to learn.

Today being Sunday Jenna knew the beach would be packed with sun worshippers and wasn't disappointed to see the jet ski crowd beginning to arrive. Out in the bay the wind surfers were eagerly awaiting the breeze that they knew would come as the day wore on.

Getting up from her seat Jenna wandered down to the beach and began to stroll at the water's edge. At times, when she was relaxing as she was now, the many voices she worked hard to suppress would crowd her mind, leaving her exhausted both mentally and physically. Today was no different however, an evil presence made itself known to her as she walked towards the out crop of rocks. Hairs on her arms prickled alarmingly making her shiver in the 30 Celsius temperature.

Mindful of the dangers Jenna moved towards the place the Lieutenant Caine said he'd sat on the day that she was shot. A shadow moved across the sand and alerted her to the evil presence that awaited her in the little niche created by the rocks. Going quickly back to the condo, Jenna stood on the porch and watched trepidation as a dark shadow moved away and out of sight the rocks.

Senses still on high alert Jenna became aware of the noise in what should have been their empty condo. Turning she took up a defensive stance. Arms raised, hands in tights fists Jenna moved towards the door. As a SOCO (scene of crime officer) Jenna had always believed she should be able to take care of herself if ever she was in a difficult situation with no back up. Taking self defence classes had paid off on more than one occasion in the past so she stayed fit and practised judo, also ran eight miles a day to keep in shape.

Just as she was about to enter the condo the door opened and Karla stood on the threshold.

"Jesus Karla, what the hell are you doing back home. I thought you were going to be out all day. I could have seriously injured you this time" Jenna cried angrily.

"Oh come one Jen" Karla sneered. Surely you don't think I would let you take me unaware a second time?" Dropping the cup she had been holding Karla dropped kicked Jenna sweeping her legs from under her. Immediately Jenna sensed danger from Karla as she her eyes narrowed. They both jumped up for a second blow with Karla moving in with an attempt to kidney punch her. Jenna was quick and the hit was feeble at best.

"What the hell are you doing Karla?" Jenna demanded.

"Oh just a little fun Jenna, what's the matter, chicken? She taunted. And lunged for Jenna again. Side stepping her Jenna brought her arm down across Karla's back knocking her off balance and on to her knees. She then tried to sweep Jenna's legs again but she'd moved to far away.

Getting up, Karla leapt the rail of the porch and on to the beach where Jenna had moved to get away from Karla's attempt to knock her off balance.

The fight between them went on far longer than Jenna expected for a bit of fun. Karla was beginning to loose her temper and was becoming more vicious in her attack, it made Jenna more determined to stay in control, being the victor by fair play.

A crowd had started to gather on the beach around the condo, police sirens could be heard getting closer but it didn't deter either girls to bring the fight to an end.

A high kick caught Jenna in the mouth and split her lip. Spitting blood on the sand she decided to bring the fight to its end. She stood facing her opponent , taking a deep breath she mentally chanted her meditation mantra blocking out the sound of the crowd and the sirens.

"Oh come on Jenna" Karla drawled. "You're not giving up are you? She taunted bouncing around on her toes like a boxer. It's only just started to get interesting" she sneered moving in for the next round.

Suddenly it was over. Karla lay out cold on the beach with Jenna standing only feet away. Reaching deep down inside herself Jenna found the strength for one last punch to Karla's solar plexus and downed her. Jenna used just enough force to knock Karla unconscious for a short period of time.

Kneeling beside Karla, Jenna checked her pulse. Sighing with a heavy heart Jenna stood and moved away.

By this time two uniformed officer had pushed their way through the crowd and had taken Jenna by the arms, cuffing her. A paramedic pushed her way through and checked Karla's vitals.

"Officer, release Miss Marshall" Jenna heard Lieutenant Caine order softly.

"Lieutenant..." the officer began.

"I will deal with Miss Marshall and Miss Petersen," Horatio informed him

"You know them Lieutenant? He asked.

"I do" was his only reply as he waited for him to unlock the cuffs at Jenna's wrists.

Jenna rubbed the skin where they had chaffed and looked at the Lieutenant sheepishly. Head bent he took off his sunglasses.

"Care to fill me in on that little display Ma'am? Horatio asked quietly.

"I er..Jenna managed. "To be totally honest Lieutenant, I haven't a clue. She came at me like she had a score to settle and all hell broke loose." Jenna went on to explain how it had all started. She watched as the paramedics gave Karla oxygen and check her vitals again. Now fully conscious she glared at Jenna. Her eyes hard and unrelenting, Jenna knew that their relationship had changed, what she didn't understand was where all the hatred had come from. Some time during their supposedly fun challenge Karla changed the boundaries and Jenna had felt the menacing force that compelled Karla. It was time to leave the beach house, time to leave behind what may have been a lasting friendship and put up defences to ward off the evil presence that hung over Karla.

While Lieutenant Caine talked with Karla, Jenna gathered her belongings. She had asked the Lieutenant if he would be kind enough to take her to the hotel a block away from the crime lab on his way back. He agreed and Jenna began stowing her luggage in the back of his hummer. Turning one last time to look at Karla, Jenna saw a glint of something in her eyes. Regret? She didn't think so and Jenna began to suspect that Karla had more nefarious reasons to want her gone. It wouldn't take much to find out and Jenna promised herself that she would get to the bottom of it. Come hell or high water if Karla was involved in any way with Shauna's death Jenna would make her pay.