Author's Note: So I have some AWESOME news! My manuscript has been picked up by a publishing company and might possibly be going into print! I'm so excited! Although it's not a for sure thing as of yet, but I'm hopeful! So wish me luck and I'll keep everyone posted on it's status!

Shoutouts: Kelsey. Marie. Scott- Hmm... being one of Kat's teammates could be a possibility, but there is also a chance there is another person I have not introduced yet. I still have quite a few chapters before we even get close to finding out who it is. I think I have up to chapter twenty or something like that written in a notebook, just have to type and edit them... Anyway there are a few more possibilities being thrown at the readers coming up. It's such a fun guessing game! LOL that's my favorite part of mystery books, I always think I have it figured out and them BAM, it's someone I never thought of. Guess we'll just have to hang on and find out. LOL Enjoy!

brankel1- You know, I went back and forth on the conversation with the girls. The guys, easy. Had that done in a short time. The girls... I kept thinking, "what if I made it seem like they're too bossy toward Anna or too nosy" But I'm glad to see that it worked out. Anna was actually a last minute addition to my story lol To keep Tommy preoccupied hehehe But she's working out quite well and I have some plans for her now YAY. AS for catching the creep, that's still a while down the road. This story just keep growing. Originally I had it plotted out for like twenty chapters, but I'm already to 11 and not even half way through my plot line now. LOL Hopefully the scene I have worked out for the 'take down' will make the drawn out 'chase' worth the wait.

Jeremy Shane- Here's more for You! Thanks!

Ghostwriter- A criminal justice major! Wow! Hope I'm keeping things fairly realistic for you then. I'm basing my crime scene etiquette off my own research, books I've read, and a few true crime documentaries I've watched. Other than that I don't know much LOL Well, either way hope you enjoy this next chapter. I am on a roll lately and can't seem to stop working on this story. So I should have another post fairly soon! Thanks for the review!

Chapter 11

The team was once again gathered in Tom and Jason's office, minus Tom and Rachel who were out following up on the vehicle. Kat was outside the office talking to the west coast HQ on the phone. The men were sitting quietly at the small table in the office.

Kale suddenly leaned forward and looked at Jason. "So I hear you and Hillard were in LA together."

"Yeah, our friend had her baby and we went to congratulate her." Jason nodded.

"Did you... you know..." Kale waggled his eyebrows suggestively.

"Kale! You shouldn't be questioning the lieutenant about his personal relationship with Agent Hillard!" Russ snapped.

"But did you?" Dell cut in, ignoring the glare from Russ.

"No." Jason shook his head. "It's not like that with us."

"Disappointment man!" Kale slouched back against his seat. "How can you be around someone like her and not want to tap that ass?"

"It's not a question of want." Jason shook head head again, hardly believing that he was actually talking about this. "It just wouldn't be right."

"Oh don't give me that moral ethics crap." Kale raised an eyebrow.

"It's not that either." Jason sighed. "How to explain... I don't want just sex from Kat. If, and that's a big if... If I were to sleep with Kat, it has to mean something to both of us."

"You're the hopeless romantic type, aren't you?" Dell raised an eyebrow.

"She's coming, I suggest we drop the subject." Russ cut in before Jason had a chance for a retort.

"Okay, I pulled some strings and the bureau is procuring us a house for the remainder of our stay, which will probably be a while. Hopefully Tom and Rachel can pan something out for us to go off of." Kat sighed heavily and sank into his seat. "Don't worry Kale, I'll give each of you time to go home soon for a visit with loved ones and to pack a few more belongings."

"Can I just..."

"No, absolutely not. Lindsay is not coming here." Kat cut Kale off, already knowing what he was going to ask. Lindsay Jordan was Kale's girlfriend of two years. The prolonged separation was hard on both of them. Usually the team was only gone for a few days, maybe up to two weeks at a time. He had been gone just shy of a month now.

"What if I paid for her ticket myself and paid for a hotel for the two of us. Not on the bureau dime."

"Kale..." Kat sighed. "If you're late even once, I will personally kick Lindsay's butt back to New York faster than you can drink a cup of coffee. Understood?"

"Yes ma'am!" Kale grinned.

"Pushover." Dell laughed. Kat gave him a half smile and playfully rolled her eyes.

"Ah young love." Kat half sighed."I'm serious about booting her ass back Kale. I've got some friends that can keep her busy during the day, so I expect you at your best everyday. One chance is all you get."

"Yes, ma'am." Kale nodded.

"I wonder what's taking Tom and Rachel so long?" Russ cut in.

"Knowing Tom, they're pulled off on a side road." Jason laughed.

"I was about to say the same about Rachel." Kat smirked. As if on cue Rachel and Tom burst into the room. Tom waved a piece of paper over his head and his chocolate eyes sparkled with triumph.

"The security camera at the mall got the license plates!" He said excitedly.

"Amen!" Russ exclaimed.

"Thank God for small miracles." Kat sighed. "What did you find out?"

"It's a rental car." Rachel answered.

"But the clerk remembers him, she got a good look at him." Tom grinned.

"Can she talk to a sketch artist?" Kale asked.

"She's doing that now, she came back with us." Tom nodded.

"Although she gave us a huge break." Rachel added. "She said she remembered him specifically because of his eyes. They're really weird."

"Weird? Like how?" Jason raised an eyebrow.

"They're such a light blue that they almost look white." Tom answered.

"He's really tall, She wasn't sure exactly how tall, but over six feet." Rachel continued. "Caucasian, light blue eyes, and dark brown hair"

"Did she say if he was left handed?" Kat asked hoping for the final piece.

"I didn't ask, I can go find out." Rachel nodded and then left to go find the witness.

"Why do you think he's left handed?" Tom asked.

"The angle and depth of the cut in Kelly's throat." Kat answered.

"You know, even if he's left handed, we don't have anything on him." Dell cut in. "We know he was talking to Kelly, but there's no evidence that he was the one to take her. This is all circumstantial, we can't arrest him."

"That's why he's only wanted for questioning. When we find him, we start asking him if he noticed anyone watching Kelly." Jason explained.

"Exactly." Kat nodded. "Then we start in with questioning where he was, have him account for his whereabouts. There's been people convicted on less than what we have, but we're not going to give up searching the cases. I want to walk into court with all the evidence we can, and slam dunk this bastard to the chair."

"You do realize no one uses the chair anymore right?" Jason raised an eyebrow toward her. "I know, but it sounds better than 'slam dunk him to the lethal injection or life in prison'." Kat rolled her eyes. "Everyone here knew exactly what I meant."

"I know." Jason grinned. "Just had to give you a hard time."

"She said that he did sign the rental agreement with his left hand." Rachel reported as she rejoined everyone. "What does that mean?"

"It means that the odds are stacked in favor of this being our guy." Kat replied.

"Our haystack just turned into a bale of hay." Jason said.

"I'd say we're only looking through a handful of hay now." Kat corrected him. "The light blue eyes our witness is talking about are usually only found on people with extremely blonde hair. Pigment deficiency. But our guy has dark hair, so he shouldn't be too hard to find. Adding to that, he's left handed. There's only a handful of people who could fit that description."

"I think we've finally got the break we've been waiting for, for three years." Russ grinned.

"We're going to get him this time!" Kale whooped.

"Alright people, settle down." Kat ordered. "I want everyone to take a case and go over every statement we have. I want to see if we can connect some dots here. Keep an eye out for any comment about a tall male, or 'white' eyes, or just any male in the area that no one knew."

Everyone did as Kat instructed and grabbed a file from the pile and sat down to read over every detail. It was well after dinner by the time Kat finally called it a night. They had found five statements about a tall unknown male in the area before the victims disappeared.

"Everyone go get some sleep. We'll get moved into the house tomorrow morning." Kat said after all the files were cleaned up. "We'll turn the den into our new HQ."

"Sounds good Katherine." Kale nodded. "See you in the morning."

"Night Kale, say hello to Lindsay for me."

"Sure will." Kale nodded.

"Remember, one chance."

"No screw ups, I promise." Kale grinned. "Bye."

"Don't go getting yourself into any trouble now, Katherine." Dell said as he playfully patted the top of Katherine's head.

"Oh get away from me, you walking beanstalk." Kat growled in mock anger as she gently slapped his hand away from her.

"Nice burn Kat!" Rachel cheered. "See you guys tomorrow. Get some sleep boss."

"Night Rach." Kat replied.

"See you later Shortie." Dell teased before he followed behind Rachel.

"You do realize I'm taller than Rachel right?" Kat hollered after him.

"Dell never picks on Rach, you know that." Russ laughed.

"You think he's scared of her?"

"Nah, I think he likes her." Russ shrugged.

"Hmm, I don't think they'd go well together. Dell is so... sensitive, for lack of a better word. He's definitely a long term type of guy. Rachel on the other hand is a free spirit, she's the love em and leave em type."

"Don't tell me you've done a psych analysis on all of your team." Jason laughed.

"I can't help it, it's second nature."

"Okay I have to hear it, what am I?" Russ laughed.

"You're somewhere in the middle. You're looking for the right person to have a long term relationship with, but enjoying the ride and don't mind having a few meaningless nights." Kat answered. Russ seemed to think about it for a few minutes before nodding.

"I'd say that's pretty accurate."

"Oh oh, do me!" Tom exclaimed. Kat and Jason exchanged a look before breaking into laughter. "What?"

"No thanks, Tom." Kat just shook her head. "Need a lift, Jase? Tanya and Rocky brought my rental to the station earlier."

"Sure." Jason nodded.

"Night boss lady." Russ said before disappearing out the door.

"Don't do anything that I wouldn't do." Tom grinned as he followed Russ out the door.

"You hungry?" Jason asked as they walked out to Kat's car.

"Sure."

"I'll fix us something when we get to my house." Jason nodded.

"You can cook?"

"Ha ha, you're so funny." Jason rolled his eyes. Kat drove them to Jason's house in a comfortable silence. Neither felt the need to say anything as they just enjoyed being near each other. At Jason's house he quickly boiled some pasta and tossed a salad.

"Hmm, Italian. Who would have thought you'd like that." Kat teased after they had finished eating.

"Don't make me take you to the mattresses." Jason laughed. Kat's eyes grew wide and her face paled. "Oh! I didn't mean... it's a phrase... TheGodfather." Jason stammered. He hadn't even realized that Kat wouldn't know a Godfather quote. "It means, go to war."

"What is it with guys and that movie?"

"It's just the most awesome movie ever." Jason laughed.

"I'll take your word for it." Kat shook her head. "I better be getting back to Tanya's. It's already almost one."

"Yeah, you better go." Jason nodded and walked Kat out to her car, disappointment showing in his midnight eyes. "Good night, Kat." He said softly as they stood at her car. Absentmindedly he reached for her hand. "Thanks for the ride."

"Thanks for dinner." Kat smiled at him. "Get some sleep."

"I will." Jason nodded. He released her hand and turned to leave.

"Jason." Kat said softly causing Jason to pause in his steps. He turned back to her. "I just wanted to say thank you, for everything you've done for me. I wouldn't be able to get through this case without you."

"Kat, you're an amazing agent. You've done great without me for years." Jason sighed.

"But right now, you're here. And with you on my side I feel invincible." Kat continued as she took a few steps toward him. "So, Thank you." She carefully reached up a few inches and gave him a peck on the cheek. Before Jason could respond she moved out of his reach and quickly climbed in her car, leaving him standing in his driveway dumbfounded and silent.

She kissed me! Jason cheered to himself as a huge grin spread across his face. She actually kissed me!

Kat smiled to herself as she dove away. Next time I go the lips. She told herself. After a few blocks Kat's senses suddenly went on high alert and hair on the back of her neck stood up. She began scanning the road, trying to decide what it was that was making her feel anxious.

"You think you're so smart don't you Agent Hillard." A deep rumbling voice spoke from directly behind her. Kat screamed and slammed on her breaks at the same time a very large man leaned forward and wrapped his gloved hands around her neck. "I can snap your neck with very little effort Hillard. Don't move and don't scream, do exactly as I say... Drive forward, stay on this road."

Kat obeyed and started moving again. Her whole body trembled with fear. "Wha... What do you want?"

"You're allowing yourself to get distracted Agent Hillard. Do you know who I am?"

"The 'Angel Killer'." Kat's voice quivered.

"Take a right, go up the bluffs." He ordered as he leaned back in the seat. Kat nearly stopped now that she was free of him, but then she heard the distinct sound of a gun being cocked and her whole body went stiff.

I'm going to die. She screamed in her mind. I'm going to be number seventeen!

"You used to be the best. I thought for sure if anyone could catch me it would be you, but you've allowed yourself to be distracted by Lieutenant Scott."

"Leave Jason out of this!" Kat hissed. The man suddenly thrust the gun against the back of her head.

"That's exactly what I'm talking about. Don't stop the car." His voice grew even lower, sending chills down Kat's spine. He leaned forward and wrapped right arm around her chest, holding his gun in his left. Kat could feel his breath hot on her ear, the smell of his cologne assaulted her nose. Even in her fearful state, her mind registered it was not a cheap end cologne. "You smell so delicious."

"What do you want?" Kat tried to lean away from him, but was firmly held in place.

"Just a taste." He whispered before he slowly traced her ear with his tongue. Kat shuddered and squirmed trying to break free of him. "Oh you taste so good, better than I ever though possible."

"Bastard." Kat hissed.

"That's not exactly lady like Katherine." He laughed as he sat back in his seat again. The gun remained pressed against her skull. Kat bit her tongue, trying her best to not provoke the sadistic killer behind her. "How good is the Lieutenant in bed Katherine?" Kat's grip tightened on the steering wheel, knowing that he was enjoy her discomfort. "Oh, should I call you Snowflake?"

Kat kept waiting for him to pull the trigger, but surprisingly he never did. She started driving up the winding road to the top of the bluffs. The 'Angel Killer' removed the gun from the back of her head as suddenly as he had placed it there. She heard a suddenly click and realized it was his seatbelt. "You know, I've decided that you are of no use to me anymore. You'll never be able to catch me."

Before Kat could say one word he slammed the handle of the pistol into the base of her skull. Kat's world went black as she slumped off to the side. Without a conscious driver, the car careened off the side of road and tumbled down to the valley below.