(A/N: I know, you're all freaking out. Hopefully, this chapter answers some questions, but I am certain it will stir up some more. ;) I'm already writing Chapter 14, so don't worry.)

Chapter 13: Vanessa Jones

John and I sat on a familiar couch sipping wine across from my best friend and her boyfriend. We were having a bit of a couples night with wine, dinner, and some detective movie later on. I tried to insist against it, but Vanessa and her boyfriend, Frankie, and John all wanted to watch one.

It's not like Vanessa doesn't know who I am. Of course she does. I've known Vanessa since Primary school, so its only natural that she would know who I was. She probably just wants to show John how good of a detective I am, but I don't want him to figure out yet. If that happened, I might not know what to do.

I hadn't seen Vanessa in ages, and I thought it was only right to see her with my new boyfriend. Well, "new" was kind of an old word to use now. Well, he was new to Vanessa, but that word makes me feel like he's a trophy or something, and he so is not.

Last night, Sherlock and I were out until the wee hours of the morning. He was surprisingly quiet during most of it so I could let it sink in. Of course, I hated the silence so he let me talk as much as I wanted and he didn't correct me or make a snappy remark to stir up the conversation. Near the end, as we were only two blocks away, I stopped him at one of the two crosswalks.

"Sherlock?" I asked.

"What?"

"There's something I want you to know."

"That would be?"

"Tonight I have showed you a side that I don't intentionally show people a lot. I want your word that you won't tease me about this or tell anyone about it."

"I... I promise." Sherlock assured me.

"So," I looked across the street at the other side, "When we get over there, this vulnerable, on the edge, one wrong word from breaking down me that is with you now is going to go away." I looked at him, "I'm going to become the me that annoys the socks of you and there is going to be no trace of this me anywhere, no matter how hard you dig."

"I understand."

Then, I walked alone to the other side of the street, took in a breath and I turned around, a somewhat annoyed look on my face.

"Are you coming, or what? Jeez. I don't have all day." I rolled my eyes and I walked away, leaving him to trail behind me.

I pretended last night didn't happen, which was the easier thing to do. I didn't even tell John what happened. I know I should be truthful with him and tell him who I am and where my family is and what the hell is going on, but I just... can't. The longer this goes on the more I knew it's going to hurt us both when... if... we break up.

Another 미녀 operative turned up last night. Lestrade called me and explained some of the details to me and explained, in great detail, why he decided he didn't want me on this case at all. Even if my back heals well enough, I'm not aloud on the case.

"What? Why?" I exclaimed, looking back at Sherlock who was completely clueless.

"I can't risk it, Alex. You're too important to us and you will be coming in too late on the case."

"It could last months, Lestrade." I rasped, making sure Sherlock couldn't hear me.

"They know you."

"They know you, too, Lestrade. I should be allowed on this case. My father worked on a case involving the 미녀 and he was able to bring them in. I brought one in last time they turned up."

"Exactly. They probably want revenge and I don't want to put you in this position."

"What? You don't want to use me as bait?" I said a little too loudly and I whispered again, "I don't care. I'll do whatever it takes to bring them in."

"I know, Detective Colt. It's not going to happen. I value your life too much to do that to you. Even if we need your help before you can officially come back on duty."

"I know you will need me." I snapped and I hung up. I made my way to the table where Sherlock sat, waiting. "Maybe I'm not okay." I sighed.

Sherlock didn't bug me too much today, and I suppose that was good. He came over this afternoon saying I'd dropped five quid when we were buying coffee. He said he intended on keeping it, but he decided to give it back. He couldn't look me in the eye and he walked away as quickly as he could.

Then, Vanessa called me inviting John and I over for a couples night and I agreed, longing for some sort of distraction. I called John once I got off of the phone with Vanessa and he said he would love to meet Vanessa so he would clear up his schedule.

Now, here we were, talking in Vanessa's living room. We were talking and laughing over a glass of wine. I knew how high her tolerance was compared to Frankie's, so I watched him out of the corner of my eye to make sure he didn't drink too much. Vanessa and Frankie and been dating for two and a half years and she still isn't very conscious of his alcohol tolerance.

Vanessa is actually a very sharp girl and she's good at banter which is probably why she's dating Frankie. For the first year after they met before they got together, every time they would have long streams of undying banter. They suited each other well. The flirting was endless and after a while, those who were observing just wanted them to kiss and just get together already. That is exactly what they did.

Vanessa has been training to be a marine biologist and she's going to be going on a few expeditions these next few months in places like The Great Barrier Reef, Florida Keys, The Sea of Japan, and various... aquatic locations in that general vicinity of the Earth. Just like me, she wanted to follow in the footsteps of her father who got killed doing what he loved. Vanessa's father was killed in a rather violent shark attack. No one has been willing to tell her family the whole story.

In a way, I'm terrified to be here. I don't want the 미녀 to take her as well, but I have a feeling they will anyway. This afternoon I even wrote down a list of people who could possibly go missing because of me. I kept it covered and I have it in my bra, currently. I do not want this thing out of my sight. It has the people who have already been taken on it so I can keep track of who is gone. Of course, only two people have gone, but I feel in my gut that there are going to be more.

"Is anyone up for desert?" Vanessa asked suddenly, "Frankie and I made cake."

"Sounds good." I said, and John agreed.

I went with Vanessa to prepare the cake. I knew she would want to talk one on one for a minute, regarding John. The cake was a beautiful one. It was double layered, chocolate and vanilla with chocolate icing and caramel designs on it. It looked fantastic and I could hardly wait to eat it.

"So," Vanessa said as we prepared four pieces, "John seems nice."

"He is." I smiled.

"What does he do?"

"Well, he was a doctor in the army. He's seen some pretty gruesome stuff."

"Have you two..." she nudged me slightly.

"Last night." I whispered.

"Oh my goodness, that was fast."

"Maybe so, but I like him."

"How was he?"

"I don't kiss and tell, Vanessa." I grinned.

"Do you think it'll last?"

"I hope so."

"Listen, Alex." she whispered my name, "You have to tell him who you are or it's not going to last. If it's for a case, fine, but if you really like this guy, you have to tell him."

"I know, but-"

"No buts." Vanessa scolded, "As soon as you get a moment, you have to tell him. I'm only looking out for you."

"I know. I'll tell him soon, I promise."

We took the four plates back out into the living room where the boys were working on setting up the movie. John was turning the couches to face the TV and Frankie was changing the cables in the TV so the monitor would hook up to the CD Player. Vanessa was too busy paying for school to get a modern TV.

I handed John his cake and we sat together on one of the couches. Vanessa waited for Frankie to return before she turned out of the lights and starting on her cake. I didn't know heaven existed on Earth, but I have decided that heaven is chocolate cake.

Vanessa had picked out a movie I had never seen before, just to test me. I'd never even heard of it. As first, it was difficult to see what the movie was about, but after the first half an hour, I reached into my purse, pulled out a piece of paper and wrote down who did it. I folded it up and handed it to Vanessa who pocketed it without a word or a glance sideways.

Vanessa and I had a habit of doing this. A few months before I got my job, Vanessa and I were watching a mystery and I randomly blurted out who it was and when I was right, we made a habit of it. Vanessa and I used to watch one or two a month just to test me. I never really needed it, but Vanessa found joy in knowing I could tell who did it from the first half an hour or so.

I resisted blurting out my conclusion in the middle of the movie. John looked like he was trying to work it out as well, and I figured he would get it right. Then, when I thought I could take it no more, the conclusion came and Vanessa paused it. She turned to John and grinned.

"Something you need to know... for the past six or seven years, Crystal and I would watch mysteries and she likes to see if she figured it out. She is always right, as far as I'm concerned, so I would like to hear what Crystal has to say."

"I gave it to you on a piece of paper earlier."

"Ah, yes," Vanessa took one of the pieces of paper out of her pocket, "About half an hour into the movie, she gave me this. Ready for this?"

"Shoot." John said.

"The dad did it. He was having an affair with the dead woman and he killed his nephew because he found out. However, before the nephew was killed, he told his sister who then ran away into the woods and she tripped, fell, was knocked out, and when she wakes up, she'll confirm it all for them."

Then, Vanessa pushed play and about twenty minutes later, John was applauding me and I was blushing like crazy. I had deducted correctly and John was very impressed. Frankie also looked mildly impressed, but he was used to this by now.

"I should have you help Sherlock and I with one of his cases sometime." John said, "We'd be unstoppable."

"I'm afraid I'm not interested in detective work. Vanessa makes me do this. I don't want to do something that makes me unhappy." Like pretending to be Crystal Greene. I added silently.

"Who's up for a game of Monopoly?" Vanessa asked.

"I suppose a quick game wouldn't hurt." John said.

"Quick." Frankie and I snickered.

"What?" John asked.

"With the way Vanessa plays, we could be here forever." Frankie said.

"Oh, come on." Vanessa protested, "My last game only lasted an hour and a half."

"Fair enough." I said, "Let's get it out."

The Monopoly conversation consisted of things like, "YES!" "Aww, man!" "Another one! John, I didn't know you were this good." "Dammit!" and the most popular, "Two thousand pounds, please." Long short, John wiped us out in about an hour. It wasn't a very long game at all. Then, we just sat there at the table and talked. Frankie got up to get some more wine at one point and he poured a little more than he could handle in his cup and I casually reached across the table and drunk it for him.

Finally, midnight rolled around and I figured John and I should get going. The goodbyes were heartfelt and filled with phrases like, "I will call you!" "I love you!" and "See you soon!" Then, John and I were off.

"Why did you drink Frankie's wine so much?" John asked, seeming shocked at the fact I was still sober.

"Frankie has a very low alcohol tolerance and Vanessa has a very high one. Sometimes she forgets that. I've known Frankie long enough to know when I have to take care of him."

"Have you and Frankie ever..."

"No!" I exclaimed, "Vanessa and I have known him for five years and it's only ever been Vanessa."

"Are you sure?"

"Of course I'm sure." I assured him, "In fact, I introduced them to each other."

"Really?"

"I've got two happy witnesses in that apartment." I used a bit of American slang.

"Crystal, I have a question and I want you to answer truthfully." John said.

"Yes?"

"Where did you go last night? I heard you getting dressed and the door shut. You seemed to be in a rush."

"I was." I said, "I got a call that my mother..." my voice broke and I trailed off.

"Crystal..."

"My mother could be dead."

"Why didn't you tell me?!" John exclaimed.

"I'm not freaking out because the police are looking into it, so they don't know if she's dead."

"Is she gone?"

"Yes, she'd vanished."

"So, Lestrade called you?"

"No..."

"Donovan?"

"No."

"Anderson?"

"Who called you, Crystal?" John stopped us.

"Sherlock called me. I don't know what he was doing in my mothers area or in her flat at all, but he realized she'd been kidnapped and her flat was in ruins."

"Sherlock? I don't think any of the leads we were looking at led to your mothers area." John mused.

"I think he was looking for Alexander Colt."

"You know about that?" We started walking again.

"Of course. He's asked me about it."

"I didn't know he asked you."

"He's asked me a few times, actually."

"You never told me?"

"I'm sorry. I just..."

"Didn't see a reason to tell me?"

"I suppose not." I said timidly, "I am so sorry, John."

"It's alright. Sherlock and I sure are going to have a bit of a talk tonight."

"Don't worry about it, John. I don't mind."

"You are my girlfriend and he's only known you a little while. He shouldn't be accusing you of being someone you certainly aren't."

"No, the thing is... he's never accused me of being Detective Colt. He's always asked if I know him or if I'm related to him."

"Are you Alexander Colt?" John laughed.

"John, there's something I need to tell you." I said quietly.

"What would that be, Crystal?"

"When I tell you, I don't want you to look at me differently and I want you to know I am still the same person and the thing I tell you only changes one thing about me."

"Of course. Crystal, are you alright? You're as white as a sheet."

To be honest, I didn't feel alright. I was nervous. I wanted him to realize that the only thing that would change about me would be my name and my occupation. Of course, my occupation was his occupation, but it's dangerous. This should be easy.

"John, I am-"

I was interrupted by a vibrating and a loud jungle coming from my front pocket. I jumped and pulled it from my pocket, and the caller I.D. claimed it was my sister, so I hung up, not wanting to talk to her. I wasn't into the mood to talk to my sister who my last boyfriend cheated on me with.

"As I was saying," I said, "I am-" my phone rang again and I ignored it again, "I am in fact-" My phone rang again and I gave up and answered, "What do you want, Maria? I'm kind of in the middle of something." I snapped.

"Alex, why didn't you tell me Mum was missing?" Maria exclaimed, and I stepped slightly ahead of John.

"Technically, she has to be gone forty eight hours before she can officially be considered 'missing.'" I stated.

"B-but there was blood."

"Exactly. That's why they made an exception. Well, and she's the mother of... well, a teacher, but she's the wife of a detective."

"A dead detective!" Maria cried, "Aren't you a detective? Why aren't you there?"

"Exactly. Someone could want to get at us. Or take it out on her. Maria, dear, only the finest are on the case."

"What do they have to go on? Aren't you one of the finest?"

"I don't know. Lestrade hasn't called me yet. And no, I'm not at the moment."

"I heard there was a message... on the wall... written in blood, but not for either of us." Maria choked.

"There was. It was for another detective I know. He's a consulting detective and he's the one who found Mum's flat destroyed."

"How did he know where Mum's flat was?"

"It's a long story. I'll tell you once I get inside." I said as John and I turned onto Baker street. "John," I lowered my phone a bit to talk to him, "I'll see you tomorrow, alright. I'm sorry. I've got to talk to my sister, you know how it is."

"Yeah, of course." John looked completely understanding. "See you tomorrow."

John leaned over and kissed me before going into his flat. He looked quite determined and I knew he was going to talk to Sherlock. I dug my keys from my pocket and went inside and ran upstairs to my bedroom where I fell back on the bed, taking off my shoes and jacket as I talked to Maria.

"Okay, listen..." I said and I told her about taking John to meet my mother and Sherlock tagging along, then finding Mum's flat later on.

"Who is this 'Sherlock' guy?" Maria asked.

"My neighbor." I shrugged, "And my boyfriend's flatmate. Speaking of which, you should meet John. Then run off and have sex with him."

"Alexandria!" Maria exclaimed, "It was only once. I promise I'll never do it again." There was a pause, "Oh... Oh my god, Alex..."

"Good. Besides, John isn't even your type. If you have any more questions about Mum, then give me a ring or text me. I am going to bed."

"No, Alex, I-"

I hung up and tossed my phone towards my feet and it rang again. God, I couldn't think of a question she could think of right away. She was too slow for that. I got up, taking my phone with me into the kitchen and I got a glass out of the cupboard and I answered the phone.

"Hello?"

"You sound as if you are expecting someone else." A cold voice said on the other side.

"Maybe I was. Who is this?" I asked, heading back into my bedroom.

"If I tell you, I know what you will do, Detective." I stopped walking.

"What do you want."

"Oh you know what I want. I've been picking and choosing at my will. I'm still trying to decide who I'm going to take next."

"Why do you want me?"

"We have some unfinished business, Detective. I intend to collect what you owe me."

"You plan to kill me."

"No. I plan to kill one that you love."

"Why not me?" I was honestly confused.

"You took one that I love and in return, I'll take one that you love."

"Who did I take?"

"You killed Min Ho, my... well, I'll leave you to deduct that."

"You... You're taking my options."

"You're very good."

"Min Ho was either your cousin or your mother and you are going to continue picking options and when I figure out who Min Ho is, you're going to kill the equivalent."

"Very quick indeed." The voice drawled, slightly strained.

"Who are you?"

"That's for me to know and you to find out."

"There are thirteen of you and I have never heard your voice before. How am I supposed to know who you are?"

"Such a Prima Donna," the voice said with a sigh, "If I tell you who I am, it would give everything away and I would just kill everyone. You wouldn't want that, now, would you."

Then, whoever it was hung up, leaving me standing in the middle of my apartment clutching my phone so tight my knuckles were turning white. I clutched the glass in the other hand and I think I felt it crack. I dropped my hand away from my ear and gulped heavily.

Someone very important to me was going to die and there was nothing I could do about it. I now knew what they were doing and why, but... who were they going to kill. Maybe if I figured out where they were, I could confront them there and I could solve everything. I've been known to do that, so it's not completely outrageous. The only problem I have is... where are they?

I slowly ventured into my room and in a pang of fear, I realized that Maria had been freaking out the last couple of seconds we were on the phone and there was a bit of strain in the mystery callers voice. Oh my god.

Maria.