~Lassiter's POV~

"Dear Sweet Lady Justice!"

Walking in on this crime scene nearly made my heart leap out of my chest as I held back the erg to cover my nose and mouth in order to protect myself from the stench of the body that has been rotting for three days. Thankfully, I was able to keep down my lunch as I stared at the gruesome sight. Nailed against the wooden wall, inside of an abandon house, was another victim. She was young, most likely beautiful, and in no way deserve such a horrifying death. It wasn't because of the naked young woman that was nailed to the wall, nor was it because of her rib cage was ripped open with her organs laying on the floor right in front of the body, and not even the eyes that were burnt out that make me fell sick to my stomach; I felt sick because this woman looked just like Dominique. The two could've been twin!

A sudden fear of losing my princess to this maniac hit me like a lightning bolt. I quickly left the house and pulled out my phone. I impatiently waited for Dominique to pick up. With every ring I listened to, my heart pound harder against my chest.

"Hello."

"Dominique", I nearly yelled.

"Ow, Carlton, what's with all the shouting?"

I finally let out a breath that I didn't even know I was holding in. Dominique was alive, and ok. Hearing her voice didn't make the fear of losing her go away though but, at least it gave me peace of mind; for the moment at least.

"Carlton? Are you ok? What happened", she asked.

By the sound of her voice, she knows something is wrong. I was about to speak when I heard familiar voices in the background telling my princess that they got her a pineapple and mango smoothie.

"Is Spencer and Guster with you", I asked, not believing that they would be hanging around her but, not really being that surprised either.

"Hi Lassie", I heard Spencer call out to me.

As much I wanted to punch him at times, well, all of the time really; I never thought that I'd be happy to hear his voice. Even with Spencer's bull crap psychic nonsense, I'd rather have him than with Dominique than anyone else. At least while my princess is with Spencer, I know that he'll look out for her.

"Yes. They were so sweet as to give me a ride home. We stopped along the way to grab a quick bite. I've never had a burger before; they're absolutely delicious!"

"I'm glad that you're enjoying yourself. Um, Sweetie-Pie, would you be so kind to put Spencer on", I ask while trying to sound calm and collect.

"Of course."

Not even a second later, Spencer is on the phone.

"What's up Lassie?"

He sounded happy and care free. I hate when he sounds happy.

"Spencer, I need you to listen to me and listen to me very carefully."

"Sure thing", he said as he's tone became more serious.

"I need you and Guster to keep an eye on Dominique the entire time I'm not there."

"I don't know if I can do that. DD looks good but, this smoothie has captured my eyes, and my heart; also my taste buds. Plus, if I have to pee, I don't think that she'll be allowed to come with me to the boys' bathroom."

"Damn it, Spencer! There's a deranged killer out lose in Santa Barbara and we found a victim that looks just like Dominique. I will even pay you to stay with her at all times, sense suspicious people if you have to, I don't care! Just don't let her out of your sight!"

I hung up the phone before Spencer could get a word in. I looked around and noticed the numerous pair of eyes watching me. I straighten out my shirt and went back inside of the house.

"O'Hara, what do we got?"

I looked over at my partner who looked pale, speechless, and sick. I couldn't blame her. I've seen a lot of horrible things in my time but, this case is the only case that will leave me nightmares.

"O'Hara?"

"Yes," she finally snapped out of it.

"It's ok. Whoever did this, we're going to get this bastard."

I gave O'Hara a comforting pat on the shoulder. After that, asked the Blood Splatter Analyst, Dexter, to tell me what happened.

"Well Sir, the women was alive when she was brought here. The blood under her finger nails indicate she fought back. The blood on the wall, sprayed out when the attacker kept punching her, thus breaking her nose. She was nailed to the wall alive which is why there's so much blood that came from her wrist. The bruises on the victims legs are finger marks from where the attacker held the victim as he raped her. Then afterwards, he cut her chest open, breaking the rib cage, and finally ripped her organs out. From looks, he used a skinning knife for cutting her open and a monkey wrench to break the rib cage. From the over all projector of the slatterns, this is a man with a lot of rage."

"Fine, what about the eyes", I asked quickly.

The sooner that I get out of here, the better.

"That was the last then he did. He used a blow torch, a small one. Most likely one that can me bought from anywhere. I couldn't tell you why. But what I can tell you is, this man is around 6'4, left handed, and very strong. You want to look for a skinning knife as I said, as well as a blow torch, and bloody wrench."

"Thanks Dexter."

"I'm just doing my job, Sir."

Dexter left when I ordered the body to be sent to autopsy for further review. I was about to leave when something caught my eye. I grabbed a pair of twisters from the one of the forensics guys. I pulled down the lip of the dead girl with a gloved hand. Using the twisters, I pulled out what looked like a piece a paper with writing on it.

"Love is like death, it must come to us all, but to each his own unique way and time, sometimes it will be avoided, but never can it be cheated, and never will it be forgotten."

"Carlton, what is it?"

"It's, it's nothing," I said as I felt my voice nearly tremble.

O'Hara grabbed the paper from my hands and read it out loud.

"Love is like death, it must come to us all, but to each his own unique way and time, sometimes it will be avoided, but never can it be cheated, and never will it be forgotten."

O'Hara looked at the paper a moment longer before her eyes returned to me.

"What does this mean?"

"It means, whoever did this is looking for someone"

I felt so scared at the realization of this monster's goal that I could taste metal.

"How do you know", O'Hara asked.

"Think about it O'Hara. We found a note inside the coat of yesterday's victim next to her ID. What did that note say?"
"'My love for her is so great, that if all the leaves on all the trees were tongues, they could not declare it.', so he's trying to find an ex-girlfriend?", she asked, no understanding my dilemma.

"Maybe, or an ex wife."