Here's a Christmas-related Chapter for you – not! I also want to take a moment to wish all of my readers a fantastic Christmas Day. I intend to have a good one, and hope you do as well. As always, many thanks for all the reviews 'Too Close' has received so far.

~Lisa xx.

Chapter Thirteen - Walking into a Trap

"So this is our life!" Dean commented to Stephanie, "Hanging out with a couple of seven year-olds. We've had more double dates with these two lately then alone."

Stephanie laughed, Nicky looked insulted, and Amelia glared at her older brother.

It was Saturday night and almost a week had passed since the last incident with Regina on Monday. The police had visited Regina again on Monday night, after the 'mailbox' tampering, and Stephanie had not seen or heard from her in any form since then. The police were confidant that the message had finally reached Regina, and that there would be no more occurrences. The school was still conducting its own investigation, but Principal Robolard had confided to Danny on Wednesday that the suspension was merely a formality, and that in order to protect the safety of all the students, Regina wouldn't be returning to Bayview.

Dean moved in close to Stephanie, whispering so only she could hear, "I really like that sexy black dress you're wearing by the way." Stephanie blushed with pleasure at the compliment. She had worn the same outfit to DJ's homecoming back in June.

Dean picked the wrong moment to place his hand on Stephanie's knee, as Jesse was just passing and he frowned Dean's way.

Dean cleared his throat, "Hey, Jesse!" He looked beyond Jesse, smiling and nodding, "Joey! Carmen!" The couple were sitting two tables away, and also had a clear view of Stephanie and Dean's table.

Shooting Stephanie a look, he said, "Looks like your entire family's here again, as usual."

Stephanie raised her eyebrows in amusement, "That's never going to change, Dean believe me." She grinned at him, "And you're wrong – Dad and Michelle aren't here, but they are due shortly."

"Great!"

"Excuse me, are you Stephanie Tanner?" A blonde guy, approximately eighteen, paused by their table.

"Yes I am," Stephanie confirmed.

The blonde guy smiled, "Gia asked me to tell you to meet her in the supply closet. Sounded like it was pretty important."

Stephanie thought it was odd that Gia was passing her messages via a third party, but she merely shrugged, and said, "Okay, thanks." Sliding out of the booth she informed Dean that she would be right back.

The blonde guy wandered off into the crowd of dancers, patting the twenty-dollar bill in his pants pocket. He was thinking that the red-haired girl named Gia must be crazy – fancy paying someone twenty bucks to pass on a simple message, it made no sense!

Alex Katsopolis was bored.

Perched on one of the bar stools, he was swinging his legs backwards and forwards, his hands using a straw to stir the ice cubes in the bottom of his glass round and round.

"Alex! Do you mind? You almost tripped me, and I'm carrying a lot of glass here," Kimmy set her tray down on the end of the bar.

"Sorry," Alex apologized, "Is there anything I can do to help? This place sucks."

Kimmy shook her head, "No can do. The Smash Club is not in the habit of employing Child Labor." By her tone, it sounded like a memorized speech she had used before.

Alex scanned the crowd, "Where's Dad? I want to ask him when we're leaving."

Kimmy shrugged, "He's around here somewhere." She opened a packet of potato chips, shaking the contents into a wicker basket.

Alex rolled his eyes, "Gee, that's really helpful. Thanks Kimmy."

Kimmy picked up the basket, "I have to get back out there. Stay put okay? It's really crowded in here tonight."

The supply closet was located off of the locker room, and Stephanie made her way toward the door. It was slightly ajar, "Gia!" Stephanie called, pushing the door the rest of the way open, and walking into the room. The room was empty, Gia nowhere in sight.

Stephanie jumped as the door slammed shut behind her. Whirling around, she registered the sound of someone turning the key in the lock.

"Hello," Stephanie called, placing her palms on the door, and speaking into the crack between the door and the frame. "There's somebody in here."

"I know," a familiar voice chanted on the other side of the door. "That's what I intended."

Stephanie whacked the door with her fist, "Regina!" her voice rose in anger. "Unlock this door – right now!"

"It's not going to happen Stephanie!" Regina said in voice, similar to reprimanding a young child. "You should have listened to me. All I ever wanted was to be your friend, and you rejected me."

"Regina," Stephanie pleaded, trying to reason with her. "Can't you see that you need help?"

Regina ignored her advice, "It's too late."

Stephanie drew in a deep breath, "What do you mean too late?"

"I mean, I'm moving on … I don't require you as a friend anymore. You should be happy."

Stephanie wanted to feel relief, but there was no emotion in Regina's voice, and that in itself chilled Stephanie. "Regina listen … open the door, and we'll talk okay."

Regina laughed harshly, "There's nothing to talk about. Like I said, our friendship is over. Now if you'll excuse me, I have big plans. See you Stephanie. It's been fun!"

Stephanie heard the sound of Regina's shoes, walking away, "What plans?" she called out desperately, banging on the door. "Regina! Let me out! Help! Anyone! I'm locked in!"

Stephanie kicked the door in frustration, turning to lean her back against the door. She slid down the wood, to land on the floor, hugging her knees to her chest.

She briefly glanced up at the air conditioning duct. Uncle Jesse had once escaped from this room that way, after being locked in with Kimmy. Nowadays he would probably relish the idea of being trapped in here with Kimmy. Stephanie shuddered at the thought. Stephanie recalled that her uncle had also ended up atop the mirror ball above the dance floor of the Smash Club, so with a shake of her head, she decided not to attempt it. She wasn't worried; Dean would come looking for her – he had heard the blonde guy say the Supply Closet. Okay, maybe she was a little concerned, I mean what had been the point of Regina locking her in this room, and what had she meant by 'big plans!"

At the bar, two teenage boys, goofing around, came racing past, accidentally knocking over a half full glass of coke that someone had left sitting on the bar. Liquid went flying across the bar top.

"Hey watch it!" Gia cried angrily, having just returned from the kitchen, but they had already disappeared into the crowd.

Alex managed a perfect catch, as the glass disappeared over the edge. His reflexes were spot on as well, as he jumped back before the coke could splash him.

"Idiots!" Kimmy said, tossing Gia a cloth. "Amazing save Alex. Broken glass is all we need."

Alex grinned, making his way around the bar, to place the empty glass beside the sink, next to the coffee machine.

Gia hurriedly mopped up some of the spill, squeezing the excess water from the cloth into the sink. Gia turned the tap, to rinse the cloth, and waited. Nothing happened. She tried again, "There's no water!" she announced.

Kimmy looked up from the coffee machine, "Huh!"

Gia twisted the tap in frustration, "There's no water – see!'

Kimmy groaned, "God … don't tell me Dad is now renovating the Smash Club."

"What!"

"Forget it! The main switch is in Jesse's office. I've got it." She grabbed a set of keys from the hook under the bar. "And Alex – "

"I know, I know, stay put."

Kimmy crossed the main room. Nicky and Amelia were laughing over something Dean was either saying, or doing, but Kimmy didn't pause to see what it was. On her way to Jesse's office Kimmy thought she heard a sound from the vicinity of the locker room, but when she stopped to listen all was silent. Shrugging, and thinking she had imagined it, Kimmy continued on her way.

Kimmy frowned as she failed to hear the audible click of the lock, as she turned the keys in the door of Jesse's office. Great, which of the moronic staff members had left it unlocked? Stepping into dark room, Kimmy flipped the light switch, surprised to find room empty. She had expected to discover a couple of teens making out on the couch – or worse.

The utility box was located on the far wall of Jesse's office, so Kimmy quickly crossed the room toward it. The box didn't appear to have been tampered with, as the door was closed and locked. Kimmy searched the ring of keys, quickly locating the tiny key that opened the lock. Even though she knew where to look, the switch was conveniently labeled 'water main' and Kimmy instantly spotted the obvious problem – the switch was turned off. Giving a sigh of annoyance Kimmy was about to flick the switch, when her eyes were drawn to a dangling wire, which had been viciously severed at the end.

As Kimmy was registering that not only had the wire been cut, but that it also controlled the fire alarm, she caught a movement out of the corner of her eye. Her head whipped around, but she was too late, and she felt a sharp object connect with the side of her head.

Regina watched satisfied, as Kimmy slumped to the floor. Smiling to herself she held up the wooden Elvis figurine, that she had found on Jesse's desk. It sure had come in handy. Dropping it to the ground, she knelt by Kimmy's prone body, smiling.

"I so hoped you would be the one to check out the water situation – Kimberley. I so love it when people make things easy for me."

Standing, she frowned at the open utility box, quickly decided not to bother re-locking it. What was the point, as an unconscious body on the floor was a dead giveaway! Oh well, the chances of someone entering the office in the next five minutes were slim to none, and after that everyone would be far too occupied.

Regina gave Kimmy one final look, "Bye, bye," she said sweetly. On the way out she grabbed a stack of magazines from the low table next to the couch, tucking them under her arm. Turning off the light, she shut the door firmly behind her. She reached into the pocket of her sweater for the key, intent on locking the office, but upon hearing voices at the end of the hallway, decided she had better skid addle.

As the voices drew nearer, Regina slipped through the door that led back stage. As luck would have it – well her luck anyway – no one was in sight. Working quickly she began shredding the magazines depositing them in a pile on the floor. Slipping her hand into her pocket she removed a box of matches. Without even hesitating, Regina struck a match on the side of the box and threw it onto the pile of paper. She watched the fire for a second, wearing a satisfied smile on her face. Pocketing the box of matches, she headed for the door.

Pulling the drawstring on the hood of her sweater tightly around her face, Regina hurried down the hall. She had barricaded the rear, and kitchen exits, and would have liked to do the same to the main door, but the chance of being spotted was way too high. Regina walked quickly towards the front door, head bent low under the hood of her black sweater. She glanced briefly into the central area of the club on her way past her gaze falling on Nicky and Amelia. Regina fleetingly hoped that the kids would get out okay, but she didn't really care enough either way.

Regina was so preoccupied with her thoughts, that she walked straight into Julia Denyer entering the club, "Oops, so sorry," she muttered, disguising her voice, careful not to make eye contact. She hurried through the main doors.

"No problem, "Julia smiled, thinking the voice sounded familiar, but when she again glanced behind her the figure had disappeared from sight.