CHAPTER FOUR

The woman's face was bare of expression the next day, no emotions playing, no tears threatening. But her porcelain skin was darkened with lack of sleep under her twin pale eyes. Her main of flaming red hair was shining and soft and obviously freshly washed, her body had a pomegranate-mango scent permeating from her flesh. She smelled clean, not that she hadn't the previous days, but she just had a more painfully noticeable cleanness to her this actual day. Her soft red hair was carefully pulled back into a long pony tale, her bangs wispily falling carelessly over her grand features. She looked like she should rather be in a museum then hunched over an old desk. The case had been closed basically as it was, it was simple, stupid, random, and super duper easy to get. Thanks so much to Hayden-Lars super eye probing skills.

The young woman sat as she quickly wrote down multiple pointers, going threw everything at an amazing rate, and yet she was doing an unquestionably good job at it. She seemed to have a photographic memory of the crime scene, even able to professionally bring up the Vampire of Sacramento that she had mentioned after breaking out in mad laughter that had everyone worried for her sanity. But her first case… it was done, and she couldn't help feeling a grand empty disappointment. Sighing as she shook her head finishing off her paperwork, all done. Case closed basically other than the trial. She tapped her pen annoyed on the desk, for having a gun pulled on her she found this a rather unentertaining case.

Lars actually jumped as she looked up to see that someone had snuck into the room and was standing at the front of the desk covered in neat piles of paper. She then proceeded to glare openly at the male that had just given her heart a stand still. "Well, hello. I just finished the paperwork for the case…," Lars said eyeing Greg as he gave her a positively glorious grin, obviously pleased with himself to scare the girl out of her wits, "so, why did you come stalking oh so quietly over Greg. Or should I start calling you shaggy" she said teasing him about his obvious lack of hair brushing that morning.

Greg put his hand over his heart, a hurt expression falling innocently over his handsome facial features, but still all he got in return was a hard core glare that actually made him shiver. "Actually, I was ordered to 'stalk over' here and tell you that we have just been called out to a crime scene, and that I am to be your handsome, boyish body guard, so to be boyish, I messed my hair up" he said in an obviously teasing tone, and in return Lars rolled her eyes at him, "looks more like homeless homeboy" she said finally with a return of teasing…ness.

Ice blue eyes sparkled as she leapt up, exited out of her mind to hopefully get a decent complex case to start on. Now, because she was new, she hoped they wouldn't keep raking in some pathetic cases. She wanted something that she could prove her worth to them, prove her greatness. Not waiting for Greg to say anything she grabbed his arm and dragged him along towards the waiting car, of course, Nick had indeed beaten her there, and she narrowed her eyes between the two "traitors. You planned this so I couldn't drive". She said letting a smile plaster over her face. Nick gave her an innocent look before answering her, "now, why would we ever do that." She actually let off a light laugh before she sat in the front seat, of, which Greg was just about to get into; she had slithered between him and the car and forced herself into the seat. And nearly had been sat on. She looked innocently at Greg.

"Little boys don't get to sit in the front. Only clean cut grownups" Lars said with a gleeful laugh as Greg looked shocked that he lost his seat. Tuff luck to him. Nick, of course absolutely clueless to her joke to Greg, looked from Lars to Greg. "Okay then, lets go" Nick said as he backed out of the parking space and then drove on, at a nice pace that was not homicidal as Lars's driving was, and made it safely, in one piece, and all sane, at the crime scene, of which was located out in the middle of no where. It was further out, and as soon as Hayden Lars saw this body, she sobered up completely. Her eyes showing recognition, and then dread, all witnessed by her new partners in crime.

It was a beautiful young woman; at least what remained of one, her hair was long and red, her dead paling dark blue eyes looking out hopelessly in terror and determination. Her pale skin ripped and beaten by the harsh surroundings, her body already being eaten by maggots. She shuddered and felt her walls crumbling, feeling the absolute terror this woman had felt. It was not the lack of trying to live that killed her, oh no. Her struggle in this rocky range of barren land showed clearly, but something else was what killed her. Her chest and neck bleeding and a merci shot in the for head built, one a crossbow. She was hunted. That son of a motherless whore! Her body grew ridged as she became furious, her small body trembled, but not in fear, but in a growing rage that grew wild, sparking around her. It was again how she surprised her co-workers. This time with her complete rage, not her laughing like a mad woman.

Fragile fists clenched menacingly at her sides, taunt and vibrating still. Her mouth clenched shut as she looked at the location of each shot. No. He didn't know she was here! He didn't know who she was anymore. Or, just maybe he knew who she was now, and planned this for her. And planed to take her next. She wished, it was the last. She put on her gloves and rather in a rage, started towards the body, a hand snaking out and gripping her shoulder, she twisted in rage to see the bewildered look on Nicks face. "Is something wrong… You seem familiar with this crime scene" Nick asked, again wondering why she did this job when already she had someone try to murder her. That was not, a good feeling. "It is the Miami Man Hunter," it was obvious as Hayden Lars spoke that she was more than sure of herself when she spoke with conviction in her voice. Then dread as she noticed a leaf much out of place. And she knew, she just knew it would be from another area of the United States of America.

But this time she wasn't going to be the one looked for, she had to save the other. That monster! That bastard! Greg shifted uncomfortably "Did you work in Miami… You would have to be rather familiar wouldn't you to make such a sure statement?". Greg had taken his hand and rested it on her other arm, as if both men wanted to protect her from what ever caused her to so deeply loath this killer. "No, I did not. But Hunter and Hound are not exactly something I don't know. I studied them very carefully" she shook free of the men's hands, nodding people away from the body. She knew if he had something to say, it would be… It would be were he knew it would hit her the hardest. Her hand quivered as she lifted the shirt up. Her head seemed to feel lighter, and nearly fell, but she steadied herself. It would only be for her. It was. "A.A.T.G.G.O.A. W.love. The hunter", she said as her voice faltered and cracked. She knew what it meant. Alicia, Alicia. The greatest game of all…. And without doubt it was with love. The hunter. His hound was the one that hunted sweet, sweet, Aleksandra . Alicia… Alicia. The greatest game of all.

She walked away from the body, as both Nick and Greg had felt shock she knew were to look, and absolutely dumbfound that her guess was correct, and what the hell the letters would stand for. She knew that there was more. But not carved into her belly as the letters had been. It would be coded. The code she broke. She shivered forcing herself to go back to the body. Damn it. It was going to be a hard case. But it had conflict of interest. They just didn't know that, so for now, she needed that note. She needed to find it. It was two possible places. Hunter was usually one to shove it in a plastic bag down her throat, while Hound, that sick fuck, shoved things up the vaginal cavity.

But this was hunters. And this was for her, Hunters prey to her. It would be in her throat. She took out an instrument from her kit and opened the mouth after multiple camera shots taken, and then she pulled out the note. Again her hand shook, faltering. She took some more photos before she carefully opened the plastic, and looking over the note. She read the strange symbols and code as if it was in plain English.

'My my, how you look so grand still, like the finest rose, and your sister. She does to. My poison viper. How hard you bite, and now a CSI… Ah. Beautiful… Soft skin, soft to the touch. How I wanted that hide on my wall, or your glorious body could be quite the trophy. I feel sad I did not stuff you. You fought so hard my viper. And your sister. Two of the same, the greatest game of all. Still, no one like you has come again. I leave you this fighter. She was not as impressive. Not as beautiful. But I'm here… And the second is some were in Miami. Not the usual kill. Just need you out there. Lovely, lovely Alicia. Alicia. Not that disgusting name Hayden Lars. No. Alicia. Alicia. Alicia. Alicia. Beautiful Alicia. And Aleksandra. I have Hound out on his own right now. But here in Miami… I am watching Aleksandra. Beautiful Aleksandra. What a trophy she would have been as well. The twins. Alicia, Aleksandra.

How much I want to hunt you again.'

Her hand shook, she nearly dropped the letter, putting both the bag and letter into an evidence bag before she handed it to Nick, her face unreadable as she walked off back over to the car. She couldn't do this case, she was to involved as it was. Damn! Damn and double damn. She had to go to Miami… But Aleksandra was dead. He must have taken her body! He couldn't do that! Aleksandra was buried and dead. Gone. Gone. Gone!

But Hunter, that sick sadistic fucking bastard. She walked to the other side of the car, away from everyone. Her face growing even paler. Her old wounds felt fresh again. My god, how could she put the past behind her and do her job. She was not Alicia. But she knew to intimately the details of the case, of the killer. Her breathing became uneven. Finally it seemed Greg noticed she was missing, looking over to Nick and calling to him lightly. "Look. Something's wrong" Greg said as his head bobbed towards the girl who was leaning on the far side of the car. Worry etched on his expression, "she just up and left. Do you think she had someone she knew killed by this 'Hunter' guy?". Nick looked over to Greg, and back to Lars. He sighed. "Well, we will need to find that out. Stay here, get evidence. Ill go talk to her." Nick said before turning and walking over to Hayden-Lars.

He walked over, and was more than surprised to see not only did she look ready to faint, but she was just about falling as she started sobbing into her hand, shocked and horrified by something. She didn't notice him until his hand was on her shoulder, about to ask if he could help her, until again, he found the fragile form in his arms, this time shaking, and racked with sobs.

"Hunter…. H… Hunter… He... Oh god. I cant face him again… I c… Cant let him get me again" she sobbed into his chest. Babbling and seeming clueless that she was saying something out loud. "I… I… I want to kill th… that fu…cker…. AAHHH!" she wailed in rage and agony that cut deep into Nick, "he took h…her away from me!" the last word was but a bare, raw whisper that held the deepest, harshest pain in her voice. "Aleksandra…" it was barely heard as it was muffled by the hard chest that her face buried into. "Do you know what the letters stand for?" She nodded to Nick, yes. "And the letter… Did you understand it?" again, she nodded yes. "I h..have to go to M-Miami she stuttered with large tears falling from her innocent eyes. Nicks hear hurt for her, for the pain suck a young beauty had held. "GREG! COME HERE" Nick yelled. Greg came over quickly. "Take her back to the lab. Okay… Drive around at least till she calms down" with that Nick transferred the sobbing woman to Greg, and helped her into the car. And then walked back to the crime scene.

Cursing under his breath Greg started to drive.