"Hey, what are you still doing here?"
Stella entered Mac's office, concern etched on her beautiful face. He smiled thinly and shrugged. "Not ready to go home yet."
She leaned against the desk, searching his eyes. "How are you holding up?"
He sighed heavily. "It never gets any easier. I loved Claire so much; she was my entire life. I guess I never really thought about all this until now. A dead body shows up near the site and suddenly, all the memories are flooding back."
Stella placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. No words were issued as they stared at each other, lost in thought. Mac stood up and gave her a warm hug, tears threatening to fall from his usually stern eyes.
It was moments like these that he was glad to have Stella as a friend.
---
Danny plated the pasta and poured thick sauce over it, placing a sprig of parsley on top as an added touch. Smiling in the flickering candlelight, he gently put it down in front of Lindsay, who licked her lips in anticipation.
"This looks delicious, Danny. Thanks."
He winked as he sat down across from her. "Only the best for my Montana."
She grasped her wine glass and held it up, never breaking eye contact with him. "I propose a toast."
He mimicked her movement. "A toast to this, to the wonderful life I have with you, Montana. A toast to our friends and co-workers who keep us in line everyday."
A mischievous smile appeared on her face. "Maybe you, but certainly not me."
He blinked in mock surprise, but before he could retort she added another item to the list.
"A toast to Aiden Burn."
For a moment his eyes became cloudy, and Lindsay cursed inwardly at her foolishness. Nice, Linds. Way to get him upset.
"To Aiden."
---
"I'm sorry."
Lindsay's apology was sincere as they cleaned the dishes from supper. Danny shifted his ever-piercing gaze to her as he remained hunched over the sink.
"No worries, Montana."
She shook her head stubbornly. "I didn't mean to bring her back up. I just thought, maybe-"
He turned around and clasped her shoulders, a loving smile dancing on his lips. "Lindsay," she tensed up for a slight second; he rarely used her given name. "It's alright. I know what your true intent was; you were only toasting her memory. I admire that. Everything is fine, okay?"
Lindsay visibly relaxed. "Okay."
He leaned down and gave her a soft kiss. "I love you, Montana."
"Same here, cowboy."
---
He watched the young woman fiddle with her keys before locating the correct one and sliding it into the lock. He had stalked her for a few days now, taking note of her every movement. She was a beautiful girl - he guessed she was about twenty years of age - and lived alone, although he would occasionally see a boy enter the premises. By the way they looked at each other, he knew they were a couple. He went along his business in the adjacent apartment, surveying with keen eyes as she came and went with her daily routines. She did not even suspect anything wrong with the seemingly friendly worker across the way.
Night had fallen over the city, and Katie Blench was deep in slumber. She had gone to bed a bit earlier as usual due to a long day and an early rise the next morning. Too late she heard the floor creak slightly. Too late she felt the hand slap down over her mouth, awaking her instantly and muffling her terrifying screams.
He flattened her hair with his palm, speaking in a calm but sinister voice. "Don't fret, my beauty, I won't hurt you. Jus' come with me now."
A swift punch to the head, and Katie was moaning as her body swam into unconsciousness. The intruder picked her up in his arms, and like a silent shadow he was gone, leaving behind an empty and forgotten apartment.
---
New York had settled in for another sleep, with an eternal bundle of stars watching with careful eyes. It was a magnificent scene; countless white orbs dotted the velvet sky, covering the world in a blanket of comfort and safety. Young ones were sleeping peacefully in their beds, wondrous dreams dancing through the corridors of their minds. It was a mystery as to what the next day would bring: happiness, sorrow, joy, frustration.
In the midst of all this peacefulness, no one knew that murder lurked over the horizon.