CHAPTER TWO

The alarm woke them at six. They showered, then dressed for work. They'd stop for coffee on the way. The office was stirring when they arrived, and Jack unlocked the file cabinet, retrieving the case files from yesterday. It was a normal morning, too much work and not enough time.

Adam came in just before lunch. He dropped a folder in front of Jack. "You need to go to Sing-Sing."

"Adam," he protested, "that'll take all day."

"So it will. I'm sure Ms. Kincaid can handle the load here. The sooner you go, the sooner you'll be back."

Jack leaned back and looked at Claire. "I'll try to be back for dinner," he said.

She nodded, there wasn't much to be said in the face of Adam's orders. She could handle the work load. Jack got ready to go, called motor pool for a car, and then bent to kiss Claire. She looked up.

"I should be back no later than seven, depending on how big this clusterfuck is."

"I'll be fine, I can handle Garnett. Go, before Adam starts yelling."

He looked at her before he walked into the hall. She was bent over a proposed plea, twirling a strand of hair, as she did when deep in thought. He didn't want to leave, but he knew she could handle a few plea bargains. He glanced through the file on his ride down the elevator. They had an inmate who wanted to flip on a major player in the Russian mob. That made haste a necessity, informers on the Russians had a short life expectancy. He'd make a quick deal, have the man transferred into protective custody, and get back to the city, stopping for a pizza on his way to Claire's apartment.

Claire left at six. She went straight home, taking a raincheck on drinks with the ADAs from SVU and Narcotics. She flipped the master switch and lamps obeyed. She tossed her keys on the table, hung her coat and stashed her briefcase, then went into her room to change into her usual "done for the day" attire, cotton pants and a tee shirt.

The apartment felt empty without Jack, she was getting too used to his presence. She checked her watch, feeling ridiculous. If she didn't cool it, she'd be buying Bride Magazine. She had to pee, so she got up to take care of business.

When she opened the bathroom door, a hand covered her mouth and jerked her head viciously to one side. She felt cold steel at her neck.

"One sound," the man whispered, "one sound and I slice your pretty neck." He dragged her into the bedroom and pushed her on the bed. Jack, she silently called, where are you? On her back, straddled by Marc Meadows, she stared in abject fear as he grinned. He pressed the blade against her neck again, then turned the knife , and, with one swift stroke, slit her clothes from neckline to groin. Using one hand, he unbuckled his belt. She knew what was coming, hoped to survive it, prayed Jack came in.

It was as horrible as she expected it to be. He was brutal. She was so paralyzed by fear she didn't fight back, which excited him more. He pounded her mercilessly, and when he'd finished, he pulled back to his knees, grinning. And then he beat the crap out of her, concentrating on her face. He dragged his blade across her neck, making a shallow cut, before bounding off the bed. He fastened his pants and then went out the window he'd entered through.

Claire was still, tears running down her cheeks, feeling sick but afraid to move. She felt blood running down her neck, knew she should pick up the phone, but she could not move. And then she heard the front door open. She heard her name, Jack's voice, but she couldn't make a sound. She heard his footsteps, turned her head enough to see him in the doorway, and saw the horror on his face.

"Claire." He was beside her in an instant, reaching for the phone. She heard him call 911, heard him tell the dispatcher it was an ADA, heard the words It's going to be all right. He was wrong. It would not be all right. He held her shoulder, but he made no effort to touch her further. Evidence preservation, her brain said, as she detached from reality. She felt like she floated above it all, observing from a distance. The police came in, followed by paramedics, radios buzzed and crackled. Jack stepped away as the medics tended to her neck, prepped her hands and groin for further examination at the hospital, and put her on a gurney, covered by a plastic sheet and a blanket. And then she passed out.