Liette awoke, thankful to have slept without nightmares and yet put off by the dreams she did have. Little memories of Joe had flickered through candlelight as she went through her sleep cycles. She was sure some of the dreams had escaped from her but as she sat up in her bed the night on the frozen pond burned brightly in her mind. She had been a fool to develop a crush on her professor but she was sure she hadn't been the first girl to do such a thing. Many girls before her had probably chased the coattails of their professors, hanging off their words and hoping to see them without their wedding bands. Liette had tried not to be so foolish but Joe's wonder had drawn her into him, like a moth to a flame. It had all been enough that she hadn't seen the devil underneath.

Winter was something that Joe had stolen from Liette. She hadn't previously been aware that a thief could take a season and yet she knew he had taken it from her completely. Every first snow fall or pair of ice skates made her think of him and made her wish the frozen months would be thawed with an early spring. The tickle of soft snow flakes reminded her of his gentle touch and the smell of hot chocolate made her recall their afternoons in the coffee house. Such a frozen time should have been suitable for such a cold man and yet the memories of Joe and winter were not icy at all. He had taken the warmth of the fire and hot chocolates and left her with nothing but a barren feeling of the bitter cold.

Losing her clothing for a hot shower, Liette awoke quickly, much quicker than most people. Mornings had never bothered her but the few hours of sleep she had been able to get made her eyes heavy and increased her usual need for caffeine. She needed two things: coffee and fresh clothing. Once she was cleaned up she threw on yesterday's outfit as it was the only thing she had and headed out the door.

As Liette opened the hotel room door she noticed a resistance that felt a little unusual. Her eyes narrowed until she came upon a plastic bag that had been tied to the outside handle. A small yellow sticky note hung loosely off the bag.

Some new clothes for you - Parker

Liette felt the restraints of the leash around her neck tugged back as she realized that they weren't even going to trust her to go out shopping on her own. For a moment she considering tossing the bag down the hall and heading out anyway. She knew she wouldn't get two feet past the lobby before she was stopped by someone. There was an agent sitting at the end of the hall, pretending to be working on something else while he really cast his eyes down at Liette's room. She was practically as trapped as Joe was.

Taking the bag of clothes off the door handle Liette stepped back into her room, closing the door behind her so she could feel as if she actually had some privacy. Her hands ripped open the plastic bag to release the clothes that had been picked out especially for her. The thing was that the moment Liette opened the bag and allowed the contents to spill out onto the bed she didn't see a single piece of clothing that looked like something she wore. Debra saw her every day and yet the woman had picked out lace dresses and high waisted pants. Just touching the material made Liette feel like she was entering a game of dress up which was exactly when she realized she was.

Debra wanted to send her back in with Joe.

It was the only explanation for such ridiculous purchases. The black blouse Liette picked up off the bed was about the only thing that looked remotely close to what she normally wore but as the shear material caught the sunlight Liette realized it was slightly see-through. It had been done on purpose. Debra was dressing her up for Joe, making her into an object of his desire in hopes to make him talk.

She had become bait.

There was absolutely nothing wrong with the clothing laid out on the bed and yet Liette looked down upon the pieces with disgust. She was a generally modest girl who was known for dressing professionally for everything. She usually did not allow people to see her in the plain t-shirts and jeans that she saved for weekends alone at home with her dog. She appreciated pressed dress pants, proper blouses and different toned tweed blazers that were usually adorned with leather or suede elbow pads. See-through blouses, lace dresses and high waisted pants were a little too much and yet Liette knew she would have to settle upon an outfit from the bag or go out in yesterday's clothes.

She started with the pants, figuring that they would be the most comfortable but as she noticed her body shape and tighten around the fabric she felt uncomfortable and confined. A moment later the garment lay crumpled on the floor. With pants out of the question the blouses were kind of useless which left Liette choosing between the two dresses. She settled on the longer of the two, that had a lace collar and sleeves over the top of a sweetheart neckline and an a-line flow. It was a ricotta white and looked pristine against Liette's light skin. She didn't feel completely awful in it but it looked like something that she should have been talked into for the work Christmas party, not an outfit for an actual day of work.

Debra had really overstepped this time.

With one final look in the mirror Liette knew she could waste no more time pulling at the fabric of the dress to make the hemline longer. She slipped on the small pair of flat oxfords that she carried around in her bag as convenience shoes. With everything else set aside and her computer bag slipped over her shoulder Liette moved back into the hallway, this time letting the door close behind her as she headed out for the day.

Debra waited in the hotel lobby, knowing that her team would start to awaken from their first night of sleep in a while and would need to be directed back to the prison to set up. Debra waited for Liette in particular who came out of the elevator with a bemused look on her face. The way Liette shifted against the fabric of her new dress made it quite apparently to Debra that she wasn't comfortable. Debra did feel slightly bad for the call she had made but they were running out of options. She was doing all she could to get the reigns of this operation in her hands and out of Joe's which meant she had to use Liette for what she was worth.

"Good morning." Debra greeted, holding out a coffee from the hotel's continental breakfast to Liette. Begrudgingly Liette took the cup and sipped it, not forgiving Debra's decisions just because the cup of coffee but welcoming the warm caffeine to her body as she felt herself start to actually wake up.

"Who's driving me to the prison?" Liette asked, leaving all camaraderie and courtesy behind her. She'd focus on the task ahead instead of fighting with Debra about this ridiculous dress and the other pieces of clothing back in the room.

"I am." Debra answered. "I thought you wanted to go see Weston."

Liette's eyes were cold as she stared at Debra, responding quickly with words sharp as knives. "I think you have other plans for me today, don't you?"

Debra couldn't deny it, she could lie and act like she had nothing in particular planned but they would both know she was lying through her teeth. The image of Liette in that white dress would have been enough for a laugh had their situation not been so desperate. Liette didn't look fully like herself but that was the point. She was less conservative and reserved which is how Debra wanted her presented to Joe. If Liette appeared to be opening to Joe perhaps he would open up as well. It was a long shot but Debra finally had the chance to act without Ryan or Mike breathing down her neck about what decision she was making. She would be taking a chance by throwing Liette back in with Joe so quickly but she hoped taking the risk would pay out handsomely.

Only time would tell.

For those of you patiently waiting, your next Joe x Liette interaction shall be coming next!