Still not sure if I love this story or not, but we will see where it goes.

Chapter Two

Jubilee ducked under the surveillance of the local cops as they combed over the alley. She thanked her ducks that her latent telepathy had kicked in a couple years ago. It allowed her to walk among them unknown. She grimaced at the white sheet that was covered in blood. It looked like the asshole had moved up from kidnapper to killer. She cursed herself again for the lack of concern she had shown her old 'hood in the past few years.

She ducked into the investigating officer's mind and almost caterwauled at what she discovered. So this wasn't the first killing. It was just the first reported. She turned her head to hide her tears from even her subconscious as she saw the mutilated body of the infant. Why was someone killing children? They weren't mutants and they certainly weren't rich. She just didn't understand.

What is to understand, Miss Lee? Surely your absence has not made you forget about what else is popular here in St. Bernardo?

The voice swooped through her mind out of nowhere. Her eyes shot up to meet the amused eyes of the detective she had just scanned. She narrowed her eyes and started to back away. If needed she was sure she could out run him.

A laugh resonated all through out her scull, Now, there is no need for that, Miss Lee. The name is Detective Jack Benson and perhaps we should talk.

Jubilee wasted no more time in throwing up strong mind shields. Still, she nodded to the man and slipped back under the yellow tape and started down the road. She made a turn and waited patiently for the detective. He was only moment's behind her.

"What can I do for you, Detective?" she asked suspiciously.

"Jack, Miss Lee. Call me Jack. I am sorry for the intrusion, but I believe your shock lowered your shields and I caught wind of what you were thinking. I, however, am not comfortable talking here. Too many ears. Perhaps somewhere more private this evening?" he spoke quietly, almost as if the walls could hear.

Of course is St. Bernardo, Jubilee could not be sure that they could not.

"Fine, the Vaunt Inn, room 612 at eight. I'll be busy till then," she answered back and quickly cloaked herself again and disappeared down the road.

Jack Benson watched her go. He groaned to himself for having rely on a citizen. Granted, obviously a very talented and pretty one, but still not the law.

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Jubilee paced her small room in annoyance. Detective Benson should be arriving any minute and she was still no closer to discovering anything besides him graduating top of his class and being very photogenic. She stared perturbed at the laptop shining on her sooty desk. She groaned in aggravation and sat down.

A knock to the door brought her back around. She crossed quickly and swung it open. She found a plain clothed Jack in jeans and leather jacket. He looked a bit more unruly and dangerous. Not quite the boyscout, Scott Summers she had been imagining.

"Miss Lee," he acknowloged her stare. Jubilee blushed and moved aside for him to enter.

"Jubilee, Detective, just Jubilee," she found herself saying.

"And just Jack...Jubilee," he replied.

"Jack. Now what is this all about?" she closed the door behind him. He shushed her and she was suprised to find him shielding the room stronger than she could ever have managed. She grew dizzy from the power he was displaying. She sat down hard on the bed. The man was at least a beta if not alpha level mutant. How had he gone unnoticed on Cerebro?

"By being careful, Jubilee. I have no wish to join any superhero team. St. Bernardo has enough hardened criminals for me to catch as it is...to many people leave as soon as they can..." he answered.

Jubilee felt a flush of guilt and turned her head.

"St. Bernardo, home of gangsters and rich criminals," she spoke bitterly.

Jack laughed harshly, "But the sins of the father don't always follow, do they?"

Jubilee found herself suddenly smiling at the hidden praise.

"I guess your right," she responded, "Now, once again, what is going on?"

"I take it you know what else St. Bernardo is known for?" he asked as he sat beside her.

Jubilee sighed hard, this was what she was afraid of.

"Besides criminals and rich bastards?" Jubilee's voice got smaller as she put a hand in her head and contemplated the thing that scared her more that Sabretooth and Apocolypse combined.

Her voice came out breathy and shaky, "Magic...dark magic..."