Wade's behaviour toward EJ was puzzling; I had no idea why he was being so weird. As I walked downstairs, where EJ was waiting to pick me up for work I felt someone's hand clasp to my shoulder. "Ashleigh..." he said weakly.

I spun around and looked up at Wade's distraught expression, "Ashleigh, if I were you, I'd be careful."

"Careful of what?" I frowned. I noticed how alert he was being which was very unlike him.

Wade's green eyes looked beyond me where he saw EJ sitting in his car, he scowled as EJ gave him a cheeky grin.

I rolled my eyes, confused at what he was trying to tell me. "What was up with you yesterday, Wade? I wanted you to meet EJ and you just left?"

He looked into my eyes, as if he wanted to tell me something but couldn't. "I'm sorry... I just don't like him."

"You don't like him?" I exclaimed, "You never met him!"

He sighed, "Look, Ashleigh... I just want you to be careful around him, there's something off about him."

"He's helping me with this case and besides... you don't even know him!" I crossed my arms furiously and left him standing there. Wade watched me, feeling defeated as he groaned and walked off.

EJ stepped out of his car where he had been watching us. "Everything alright?"

I sat in the car and let out a sigh as I put my seatbelt on. I never argued with Wade. "Yeah... everything's fine."

He gave a kind smile and dropped the subject.

Wade was still in my head as we had been driving, I kept wondering why he got this weird feeling about EJ. But EJ had been nothing but kind to me, he was a very sweet guy who had something horrible happen to him. I looked out the window and noticed a sign that said, 'Attica Correctional Facility.' My eyes widened as I realised who we were going to see. "Sheamus?" I spoke.

EJ nodded, "Let's see what we can get out the man."

Some wardens escorted us toward a room where a muscled, tall man sat in a chair across from us. His skin was a very pale white and his red hair was spiked to the sky. I stared at the man in astonishment; he looked to be something that came out of Muscle and Fitness magazine. EJ mistook this for affection, "So you like ghosts do you?" he whispered in my ear.

I smiled, knowing that he was slightly envious. "No."

The wardens backed away from the table and EJ and I took a seat across from the prisoner. "Sheamus O'Shaunessy?" asked EJ.

"How ya" he said, his thick Irish accent beaming as he spoke, "What do I owe the honour?"

"Mr O'Shaunessy, we were wondering if you could talk to us about Jaclyn" EJ pressed.

Immediately after he had heard her name, his eyes grew wide and a smile brimmed to the surface of his face. "She's the love of me life" he said, "We were going to be happy together until-"

"Until the cops came and shut down the plan?" I asked, "Did you realise that obsession and affection is two different things?"

Sheamus laughed, "I never stalked her... I love her."

"The two of you were in love? But I find it hard to believe" said EJ.

He raised an eyebrow, "Why? Because she worked as a prostitute and I was part of a gang...sounds like a perfect crime love story to me."

"No... Because maybe you loved her... but she didn't love you" I said staring him down.

"That's what you think" he said grinning, "Sure I admit I began falling for her first but after a while she became just as engrossed in me as I was of her."

"Was she?" EJ asked, not quite believing him. I didn't either but I did feel that Sheamus had felt a true love toward Jaclyn. "So, you're telling us that Jaclyn and you were in love, that she loved you? I have another question... Why didn't Jaclyn stop you from getting arrested and how come she didn't tell the police that you were stalking her and weren't trespassing?"

His blue eyes grew moist as he lowered his head silently. "To be honest... I don't know... I would never hurt her, I promise." Sheamus grew more heartbroken as we continued to talk about it.

EJ looked concerned. "Has she ever come to see you?"

Sheamus shook his head, sadly.

EJ nodded, "Right... But if she loved you don't you think she's come to see you?"

"She doesn't love him" I interjected. EJ shot me an angry glare and I shrug my shoulders.

Sheamus looked up at the both of us, "I will still love her... until I die."

EJ looked at me again and pressed his finger to his lips, signalling to me to keep quiet. I rolled my eyes and continued to do so. "Sheamus, the reason we came here to see you is because... we think Jaclyn may be in trouble."

I watched anger strike through Sheamus's body; his back was straight, his eyes wide and his fist slammed on the table.

"What happen to her? Is she alive?" he asked desperately.

EJ nodded, "We believe she's alive but we need to find her. You see there is a serial killer on the loose who has killed seven women, all seven women had worked at the same place Jaclyn worked at. Do you maybe have some clue about this?"

"Are you behind this?" I asked boldly. Sheamus looked at me angrily as he slowly stood up from his seat, yet his wrists were handcuffed to the chair he sat on.

"Ashleigh?" exclaimed EJ who was just as mad as Sheamus.

But I stood my ground, "Is it you? Is this your plan to get her, maybe extract some revenge?"

Sheamus was silent.

"Ashleigh?" repeated EJ, questioning me. He was becoming annoyed at me.

I ignored him, "Have you got someone doing your dirty work while you stay in here, calling all the shots?"

Sheamus gritted his teeth as he squinted his eyes glaring in my direction, "Look here lass, you seem to be sitting on your high horse thinking that I'm nothing but scum! But I would never do anything to hurt Jaclyn or put her in any sort of danger!"

I sat back in my chair confidently, "I'm sure you loved her, but Jaclyn decided to skip town the second you were arrested. This tells me that she was afraid of something... and that something I think was you."

EJ shook his head, "Alright that's enough Ashleigh" he grabbed my arm and pulled me outside into the corridor. He glared down at me, he looked frustrated.

"What?"

"Ashleigh... You can't keep throwing shit in his face all of the time! I need him for this case and belittling him isn't going to help, I need him to talk... to tell me his side of the story. Maybe he can help us find Jaclyn" he said.

"Didn't you read his files? He and his gang were involved in several murders and rape crimes... not to mention theft. This has Sheamus O'Shaunessy written all over it. The woman he was obsessed over had betrayed him and now he is out for revenge" I explained, "That's it."

EJ shook his head, "You need to be more open minded Ashleigh, I know he's done some unforgivable things but maybe he's telling the truth."

I nodded, "Alright, but the moment we find out that he's behind it I am going to enthral you in a huge I told you so lecture."

He smirked finding my confidence to be admirable. "But you stay out here; from now on I will deal with him only, I'm sick of your feminist bullshit."

I stared at him astounded, "I'm not being a feminist!"

EJ turned and flashed another perfect smile before he headed inside. I slumped into one of the chairs outside sighing as I waited for him.

...

"Well... what did you get out of him?" I badgered as we walked back toward his car.

"Nothing much, I was mostly apologizing for your disjointed behaviour" he said, "Don't worry he's forgiven you."

"Forgiven me?" I barked.

EJ nodded, "God it took him a while but he finally gave in, by the way do you always speak to criminals like that?"

"Yes..."

He shook his head chuckling, "Well it looks like I'll be dealing with them then otherwise I'll be stuck apologizing to all of them."

"You shouldn't apologize to any of them anyway, they're criminals!" I said, "They certainly don't deserve my kindness."

EJ opened the car door and sat inside, "Yes well that's all fine and dandy but we still need them to help us and you acting like their principal."

I crossed my arms, "Fine you deal with him; I don't like him anyway."

"You can be in charge of maybe getting some more details from Michelle... Sheamus didn't seem to like her."

"Well she did call the cops on him" I said pressing my fingers to my forehead, it was aching badly.

EJ looked at me concerned, "You alright?"

"Yeah, just a headache I'll be fine" I said smiling at him, "It's nothing."

"Are you sure?" he asked, worry filling his voice which I enjoyed.

I nodded, "I'm sure."

"How about you and I go for a drink?" he asked grinning, "I find a good drink makes me feel better, English thinking."

I giggled, "Sure."

...

He drove toward the closest bar and we walked over to these two bar stools. It was thriving with plenty of people and music was booming. "What can I get you to drink?" he asked me.

I pulled one of the menu's and gave it a quick glance, "A tequila sunrise, please."

EJ flashed another grin, "I'll be back soon." I felt butterflies flutter about in my stomach as I watched him walk away, it was nice to be together and not have it be about work. I could feel myself growing more and more fond of him every day. Whenever he stared at me with those brown eyes of his I could feel myself grow weak in the knees. Or when he smiled at me, my stomach would do leapfrogs.

I stared around the crowd, most people were watching the football game and before I knew it someone was approaching me, "Hi... Wade" I said weakly.

Wade gave a kind smile but before I could speak another work I realised he wasn't walking toward me but past me. He had a beer in one hand and what looked like a cocktail in the other. I watched him walk over toward this caramel skinned, dark brown haired woman; she looked to be about my age and her dark brown eyes lit up as Wade sat down next to her, handing her drink. I felt instantly interested in what they were doing and who she was. I heard a glass slam onto the table and it had awoken me. I grinned at EJ who was staring right back at me, "Is everything alright? You look a little frazzled."

I blushed, "Um... just a headache."

EJ stared at my drink, "Well drink up, it's the only way you'll feel better."

I grabbed the glass and sipped it up from the straw. I glanced back up at EJ and he was staring at me weirdly, "Do I have some on my face?" I asked paranoid.

He shook his head, "No I was just marvelling at you, you're quite a woman Ashleigh Copeland."

My cheeks blushed even harder.

"I don't think you realise how beautiful you are... you know the moment I met you I knew that I wanted to kiss you" he said charmingly, "I was instantly attracted to you."

I took a deep breath taking in everything that he was saying to me, I wasn't sure if the alcohol was kicking in but I still liked it.

"But I promise I won't kiss you" he said.

"You won't?"

"Well I wouldn't want to make it awkward between us, we're working partners" he said, "And I respect you."

"You do?"

"Of course, I do... I haven't seen a woman bust on a criminal like that in my entire life" he said, "You definitely are a spitfire."

I smiled again, not realising how much I was smiling. Before I knew it I had finished my drink.

"Would you like another?" he asked noticing the empty glass.

"Actually... I'd like to know who that woman is" I said staring out into the crowd.

He stared blankly around the bar, "What woman?"

I pointed my finger in Wade's direction "Her, I wonder who she is?"

EJ followed my direction and his eyes widened from shock as he looked at the woman. "Uh... I think it's time we headed off" he said rushing me, "You know, early morning..."

"Um... alright?" I was confused by EJ's sudden urge to exit, "Let's go then." I gave one final glance at Wade and his friend and we left.

...