So disappointed with where the series is going so have had no desire to write. Yet, here is another chapter.
Review and there will be more chapters. Thanks Birgitta

10. Another.

I wake up to an empty bed. Turning over to my side and breathing in, I can smell his scent on the pillow and sheets. Last night was amazing. He is finally mine. And now he is in my apartment and… cooking me breakfast.

Even though, I want to go to him, wrap my arms around and get close, I know what I need. The shower proves hot and cleansing which is what I need. I can't go to work and reek of sex. Tess is like a bloodhound. She picks up on everything.

With my hair still dripping, being in a hurry, I walk out to the kitchen and do what I've wanted to do ever since waking up. "Good morning," I purr, feeling perfectly content and whole.

I have my gorgeous dream man in my kitchen, dressed in only row rider jeans, cooking me breakfast. It's hard to imagine that life could get any more perfect than this. But the truth is that this is just the beginning. We have the rest of our lives together… to make memories… make love… make babies… I blush and I am happy that he can't see my face.

Although with Vincent, such things have no importance. "What is it?" He asks and turns. He studies me, evaluating my flush. "What are you thinking about?"

I give a quick a shake of my head and lean in to kiss him. "Nothing… last night."

"Oh yeah," he grins, making me melt and wishing that I had the day off. "Last night… that was incredible… I can't even believe that it happened… that you are mine…"

"Well I am, in every way."

We eat breakfast and then I have to leave. It's probably one of the hardest things that I have ever done. But, I do know that he will stay close. He is never very far away.

"Wow, you look… did you get lucky last night?" Tess the bloodhound gets right on the trail as soon as I enter and walk to my desk. Teasingly, she sniffs me as I pass by and I shake my scolding her. "So, who is this guy and when do I get to meet him? Actually, more importantly, what's his name so that I can look him up? You do have a thing for bad boys."

Tess is right and now I have the ultimate bad boy; a military experiment who turns into a raging Beast when angered… like a Hulk but less green. If only Tess knew that we have already looked him up in our computer. I had known right away when I saw his picture. And it wasn't just that I recognized him from somewhere. There was a connection, a surge. I had just known that he was someone important… someone important to me.

"Hello, space traveler," Tess says and waves her hand in front of my dazed eyes. I blink and return to the here. "I'm sure the sex was great but we have a homicide to investigate."

I have just taken off my leather jacket and hung it on the back of my chair but now I am putting it right back on again. This is my job. It is never repetitive and dull. We never know what we will be doing, who we will meet, and where we will end up. Despite the risk and the graveness of investigating a life ended, I love my job.

"Young woman, age 22, found this morning in a dumpster. Evan is already there. She was beaten to death sometime last night between 6 – 9pm. We are yet to identify her…"

Tess continues and I given her my full attention, taking mental notes as she goes over what information she has. The drive is short, not far at all from the precinct. When we arrive, Evan meets us and walks with us to the crime scene. Looking down at the body, my mind flashes for a brief moment and I can see my sister's pretty face. It usually does when I see young girls like this killed. Heather is not always the most careful. Luckily, I am not the only one Vincent looks over.

To ensure nothing is missed, Tess and I split up and survey the scene. When a crime takes place in the open like this, it is hard to know what belonged and what didn't. Something striking could have been there previously, left by another, and have nothing to do with this case. Yet…

I lean in closer and read the marking left on the side of the dumpster; "NO FORGIVENESS FOR A SLUT."

"What've you got?" Tess asks from across the alley and comes over. "Looks like someone used their car keys. It might be from our killer… might not. "

"Yeah," I reply as an alert is buzzing in my head, telling me to pay heed to the wording. There is something familiar. "Tess, do you remember seeing this or something similar in a different homicide case?"

"When?"

"I don't know… about 10 years ago."

Tess lets out a laugh and rolls her eyes at me. "10 years ago? And, you still remember? Wow, you are amazing, Cat… in a good way… but still… Wow and no, I do not remember seeing this before."

But I do, clearly. So when I get back to my desk, I start going through the records. I know that I have seen that kind of working and key marking before. The recollection is sending eerie shivers up my back. Whoever did that to the girl was strong and full of fury. Whoever did it is still out there… and whoever did it, I believe has done it before… some 10 years ago.

'Bingo', I exclaim to myself as the case fills up my screen.

Eyes wide open and mind soaking in every detail, I read over the case and the report. "… young girl age 24 years of age found in dumpster… cause of death severe trauma to head and body… marking on side of dumpster with sharp pointy tool… 'NO FORGIVENESS FOR A WHORE'…"

It's not an exact match but it's close enough. It's close enough for the shivers to increase and create goose bumps on my arms. I keep reading and learn that no one was ever arrested. The only one under investigation was the girl's boyfriend but was cleared when his whereabouts was investigated. There were no known disputes at work, with a friend, or with family. No excessive partying or history of drugs or… I skim through the rest until my eyes freezes in shock on a name.

My mind begins to spin. 'What does this mean? What is the connection? It cannot be… Yet…'

"Cat, what's wrong?"

I rush out of my chair, grab the print out, and head for the door. "Not sure. I'll let you know once I found out more."

I'm gone before Tess can ask anything else. Once outside, I begin to scan the roof tops. He can't be far. He is never far. He might have stayed in my apartment for an hour. Two tops and then he would have gotten anxious. It is strange how well I know him despite of not knowing him for very long and not really knowing anything about him. Yet, I do know one thing; he loves me and there is nothing more important to him than my safety.

I turn a corner and walk down a dark alley. Here there are no spying eyes and overhearing ears. Just as predicted, a thump behind me is followed by familiar strong arms wrapping around my waist… Vincent. His kisses are as they were this morning; full of sexual longing for my naked body against his. Our relationship can never go back to what it used to be… Thank God for that for I would never want it to.

The paper nearly slips out of my grip as his kisses deepen and turn me into pliable weakness. What was but minutes ago so urgent has now lost all importance. My mind and body are equal jell-o; wiggly and absentminded. So, I release it all; stress, worry, and … print-out. The paper glides from my hand and falls slowly to the ground.

In one smooth motion, Vincent catches my police record while still holding me close to his chest. "What's this?" He asks and looks down reading. I watch his face carefully as his eyes dart across the paper and then stop. "What is this? Why did you print this?"

"That was her, wasn't it? The girlfriend that you friend was sure was cheating?"

"Yes but… I don't understand. What are you saying?"

He releases me and I am force to carry my own weight once again. My legs feel slightly unsturdy but I fight through it. Vincent is looking down at me with severity and grave concern. This was one of his closest friends. He fought alongside this person. They were both the victims of an unjust and unethical experiment. Vincent believes that his friend was killed by Muirfield to cover up their mistake. And, now I am saying that…

'What am I saying?'

"Vincent, there was another homicide this morning…" He keeps staring, blank stare waiting for me to spell it out. "…young girl, similar appearance, and same message left scratch into the side of a dumpster…" Vincent does not move or speak. I study him for a sign of what is going on in his head but he reveals nothing. "… and both women were beaten to death by someone very strong… unnaturally strong…"

"What are you saying, Catherine?" He finally asks.

I swallow hard before I can manage the utter the words that is about to change it all. "Vincent, are you sure that you were the only one who survived? Are you sure that there is not another Beast out there on the street… killing young girls in jealous rage?"