The Survivor - Lynka

8/18/2019 The Survivor - Lynka

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The Survivor: part 1 by lynka

Yes, we're out of retirement! We hope you enjoy this story of ours. Thanks to en whotook over postin stories on the site so we "oul# hopefully finish this shortly. $t's ointo be a lon one folks so han on for the ri#e an# we think you'll enjoy it!

%is"laimers: This is a work of oriinal fi"tion. &lease #o not "opy in part or whole orlink to it without the "onsent of the author. ny similarities to persons livin or #ea# is"oin"i#en"e.

This story is about a love between two women. $f this isn't your "up of tea, feel free to#rink elsewhere.

(any thanks to en, our e#itor, for helpin put this pie"e toether.

"opyriht )*** by lynka

Chapter One

S+-----+++++. /0o##amnsonofabit"h!/ The tru"k #river "urse# ashe stoo# on the brakes of his briht re# 1 wheel tru"k brinin it to a s"ree"hin haltonly in"hes from a slim form on state route 2. e wipe# at his brow as he sat there fora "ouple of moments lettin his min# pro"ess what has just happene# an# lettin hisheartbeat "ome un#er "ontrol. /oly shit!/ he whispere# to himself wipin his fa"eaain with the palm of his han#. 3eanin forwar# over the steerin wheel he a4e# atthe surroun#in area before he "autiously opene# the #oor an# jumpe# to the roun#.

Slowly he approa"he# the woman stan#in in the roa#. /ey./ e sai# as he steppe#"loser hol#in his han#s out in front of him not wantin to s"are her. /You all riht5/ easke# "rinklin his brow as he took another step. $t was as if the woman stan#in in

front of his tru"k #i#n6t even know he was there. She stoo# starin at the hea#lihts thatilluminate# her slim form.

The roar of an enine startin stoppe# him in mi# step. +o"kin his hea# to one si#etryin to ju#e what #ire"tion the noise "ame from. e noti"e# for the first time hownoises in the open forest su##enly seem to be all aroun# you. e jumpe# towar#s theyoun woman rabbin her aroun# the waist an# liftin her off her feet lettin hismomentum "arry them both a"ross the roa# an# into a #it"h as a "ar spe# past them

hea#in in the opposite #ire"tion. /What the hell6s oin on here5/ e aske# ettin tohis knees an# shakin the limp form in his han#s. moment of stunne# silen"e as hereali4e# the blon#e woman was not "apable of respon#in.

mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]


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/Well, shit./ e rumble#. /+an6t just leave you here for the bears. +ome on. $6ll takeyou into Se#ona./ e sai# entlin his voi"e an# helpin the woman up only nowseein the "uts an# bruisin on her fa"e an# arms. /What the hell happene# to you5/ ewhispere# in his own entle way as he lifte# her in his stron7arms "arryin her to the

passener si#e of the tru"k. fter se"urin her seat belt an# lo"kin the #oor he "limbe#

into the still runnin tru"k. eleasin the emeren"y brake an# rin#in it into ear hefelt the tru"k jump forwar# as he let out on the "lut"h.

The tru"k #river was a entle soul havin 8 #auhters of his own. The ol#est was aboutthe same ae as the youn woman he ha# in his tru"k. /$ won#er what happene# toyou5/ e muse#. /%on6t worry miss, we6re only )8 miles out of Se#ona. You're safenow./ e "ontinue# to talk, tellin her about his #auhters an# how he always wishe#he "oul# spen# more time at home with them as they were rowin up. e was passinthe time an# he knew not a wor# was bein listene# to e9"ept by himself. /$ think $6ll"all home as soon as $ #rop you off. The wife6s oin to have a "ow. +allin at thisuno#ly hour but/ e stoppe# "hatterin when he finally "ame to a stop in front of

the small but effi"ient hospital. e "arrie# the youn woman in an# lai# her on theurney the nurse ha# wheele# up to the #oor when she spotte# the man "rossin the

parkin lot.

/What happene# to her5/ The nurse aske# lookin at the "uts an# bruises on the younwoman6s fa"e.

/$6m sorry ma6am $ have no i#ea. $ just about run her over stan#in in the roa#. $ #i#n6tknow what else to #o so $ brun her here./

/What6s her name5/ She ;uestione#.

/$ #on6t know. She ain6t sai# a wor# sin"e $ foun# her./

/lriht, if you6ll have a seat over there $6ll et the %o"tor #own here to take a look ather./ The heavy set nurse sai# motionin to what appeare# to be a small waitin room"omplete with sna"k, "offee an# so#a ma"hines. n# of "ourse a pay phone. /%amn!/e muttere# #iin into his po"ket. /0uess $6ll have to "all later when $ et some"hane./

/umm/ The %o"tor mumble# "he"kin the rea"tion in her pupils with a little

penliht. /


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Twenty minutes later the youn %o"tor was stan#in at the #esk in the emeren"y "lini"rea#in the bloo# report. /ohypnol,/ e repeate# after rea#in it off the paper.

/%o"tor5/ The nurse ;uestione#.

/ohypnol, no won#er she6s so out of it./ e shook his hea#. /She6ll never rememberwhat happene# to her. $6m oin to talk to %r. Salmon about this./ e sai# straihteninto his =7foot heiht.

/umm/ %r. Salmon mumble# as he rea# the lab report. />ra# #oes this younwoman have lon blon#e hair5/ %r. Salmon ;uestione#.

/Yeah, pretty too. Why5/

/We ot a bulletin awhile ba"k about a series of youn blon#e women bein mur#ere#an# they all ha# ohypnol in their systems. ?rom everythin you tol# me $ think it6s

worth the "all to the ?>$ an# let them evaluate her after she wakes up./ e state#.

Two eyebrows shot skywar#. /The ?>$5/

/Yes, it seems this youn woman miht have es"ape# a serial killer./ e finishe#lookin at his "ompanion who appeare# somewhat sho"ke#.

This was the most e9"itement the youn #o"tor ha# e9perien"e# sin"e he a""epte# the job in Se#ona. 0rante# it ha# only been a year sin"e he ra#uate# (e#. S"hool an#re"eive# his li"ense to pra"ti"e in ri4ona. /iht, $6ll ive them a "all./ e tol# theol#er #o"tor as he slippe# out the #oor an# returne# to his own offi"e.

/Yes that6s riht,/ e sai# listenin to the insistent voi"e on the other en#. fter beintransferre# three times an# put on hol# for several minutes finally a sleepy woman6svoi"e "ame ba"k at him.

/$ am Spe"ial $nvestiator +orey @an,/ she tol# the #o"tor. /$6m sorry it took so lon torea"h me. What "an $ #o for you %o"tor5/

/>ra#ley. They just "all me >ra#. $ have a youn woman in the "lini" here in Se#onathat $ was tol# you miht be intereste# in./

/n# why #o you think that5/ She aske# stan#in stret"hin out mus"les that were tihtfrom bein in be#.

/She has the #ru ohypnol in her system. She has been very obliviously beaten an#she is appro9imately )2/ he pause#, /with lon blon# hair./ e finishe# waitin for aresponse on the other en#. /ello5/ e finally sai# into the #eafenin ;uiet.

/ra#. &lease listen to me very "arefully. $ nee# her to stay where she is until $ etthere. $ nee# you to put a uar# on her room. +all the lo"al &% an# let them know youhave spoken to me an# this is top priority. ave them sen# someone over there S&.

(ake sure no oneA absolutely no one ets into her room okay5 $ #on6t "are who they say


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they are./ >efore the #o"tor ha# a "han"e to respon#, /$ #on6t want to take any "han"esof somethin happenin to her. $ shoul# be there in a "ouple of hours.

/ra#5/

/Yeah5/

/Beep her safe./ +orey sai# hanin the phone up an# #ialin a number from memory.

/(ornin ohn. $t6s +orey./ She sai# hurrie# as she was pullin on the last of her"lothes.

/+orey5 %o you know what time it is5/ e rumble# at her.

/Yeah, sorry./ She sai#, /We miht just have a break with the serial killer file $ have been workin on. Seems there6s a woman in a "lini" in Se#ona that miht have justotten away from him. $6m #rivin up there riht now./ She finishe#.

/%rive "areful an# keep me poste#./ e tol# her knowin there was no use in tryin totalk her into waitin until mornin./

3ess then two hours later +orey was parkin her -9plorer in the small parkin lot of the"lini". She ha# ha# to stop an# et #ire"tions from a +ir"le B "lerkA the only thin openat that time of the mornin. She walke# purposefully up to the bi #ouble #oors thatru#inly opene# for her.

/(ay $ help you5/ The "heerful voi"e "ame from behin# her.

Turnin to fa"e the mi##le ae# nurse, /Yes $ woul# like to see %r. >ra#ley/ +orey sai# pullin her ba#e out of her po"ket showin it to the woman an# almost smilin at herrea"tion of startlement. /$t's okay./ She trie# to sooth the ol#er woman. /e6s e9pe"tinme./

/


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e e9ten#e# his arm in the #ire"tion of his offi"e. /$ bet you "oul# use a "up of "offee./e smile# at her when she no##e#.

/So %r. >ra#ley,/ She was interrupte#.

/&lease "all me >ra#./

She smile# ba"k. /ra#./ She a""epte# the fresh "offee. /ow #i# she et here5/

/(are sai# she was brouht in by a man. She thouht he miht be a tru"k #river./

/(are5/ she ;uestione#.

/The nurse. $ "an6t really tell you mu"h. We treate# her "uts. She ha# a nasty "ut on thesi#e of her fa"e. ope burns on her ne"k, wrist an# ankles. &hysi"ally she'll re"over justfine./ e finishe# up.

+orey took a breath. /Was she rape#5/

/Co/

She no##e#. /$6# like to talk to the nurse for a minute before $ o see your patient./

/Sure./ e stoo#. /$6ll o hol# the fort #own an# sen# her in her./

/Thank you >ra#./ +orey e9ten#e# her han# out.

.e hel# it between both of his own. /You're wel"ome. $ hope you fin# out whathappene# to her an# et the bastar# who #i# this. $6ll ask (are to take you to her room.$f there is anythin else $ "an #o/

/$6ll let you know./ She smile# as he loosene# his rip on the tall investiator.

Waitin for the nurse +orey walke# aroun# the sparse room.


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/Co $ aske# him to wait but./ She left the senten"e hanin.

/%i# you see what tru"kin "ompany he #rove for5/

/Co ma6am, $6m sorry. e just "arrie# her in an# left. e sai# he almost ran her #own.

That she was just stan#in in the mi##le of the roa#./

%isappointe# the tall investiator sai#. /ll riht (arethank you"an you take meto her room now5/

EFEFEFEFEFEFEFEFEFEF

The tall woman stoo# an# stret"he#, rubbin the ba"k of her ne"k. ?eelin it pop ba"kinto pla"e. /%amn that felt oo#./ She sai# to the small win#ow she was stan#in infront of lookin out into the parkin lot. /Well, so mu"h for the view./ She turne# an#rear#e# the woman in the be#. She looke# familiar for some reason. +orey sat ba"k

#own an# just wat"he# her, tryin in vain to remember a time they may have met.

/$. +an you tell me your name5/ She ;uestione# keepinher voi"e soft.

/a"hel Woo#s./ She sai# lookin aroun# aain then su##enly turne# her hea# to theinvestiator aain. /The ?>$5 What #i# $ #o5/

/You #i# nothin wron (iss Woo#s. $ wante# to talk to you about how you ot here./>efore she "oul# finish the #oor opene# an# %r. >ra#ley steppe# in.

/0oo#, you're awake./ e sai# movin to the opposite si#e of the be# +orey was

stan#in on. /ow #o you feel5/

/3ike $6ve been run over by a tru"k./ She rima"e#.

/?rom what $ was tol# you very nearly were./ e patte# her han# then "he"ke# thestit"hes. /$ see no reason to keep you here. You nee# to et in tou"h with your own%o"tor an# have them take a look at this "ut. $ put 8 stit"hes there but after it6s allheale# you shoul#n6t noti"e it too mu"h. $6ll fill out the papers to #is"hare you an#have the nurse "ome in an# take out the $@. So just sit tiht a moment./ The %o"tor ha#written somethin in the "hart he "arrie# before leavin the room.

a"hel lai# there stunne#. /What #i# he mean $ almost was5/


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/Why #on6t you et #resse# in these5/ The investiator han#e# her a "lean pair ofhospital s"rubs to put on. /n# we "an talk on the way ba"k to &hoeni9./

/Why #o you think $6m oin anywhere with you5 $ #on6t even know you. Where aremy "lothes5/ a"hel #eman#e#.

/(iss Woo#s, to bein with $ believe you just es"ape# from a serial killer who hasmur#ere# G women all of whom look alot like you. $f you woul# prefer $ "an pla"e youin prote"tive "usto#y in whi"h "ase we will et you to the &hoeni9 hea#;uarters or you"an just "ooperate an# "ome alon willinly. -ither way you will "ome with me./ +oreystate# in her most no7nonsense tone of voi"e while maintainin eye "onta"t with theyouner woman.

Wi#e roun# eyes peere# ba"k. /S..ser..serial killer5/ She stuttere#. /What6s oin on5/

/That, (iss Woo#s, is what we are oin to fin# out. Cow will you "ome with me5/

+orey entle# her voi"e an# wat"he# the youner woman6s han#s shake.

/Yes./ Was all she sai# as she went into the bathroom to "hane out of the hospitalown.

When she returne# +orey stoo# up an# rabbe# a ba. She hel# it up /Your "lothes.They6re oin to the "rime lab as soon as we et ba"k. n# (iss Woo#s,/ +orey aveher a shy smile. /thanks for "ooperatin./

/Well investiator it seems you #i#n6t ive me mu"h "hoi"e./ She replie# smilin ahost of a smile just to take the stin out of the wor#s.

/There6s always a "hoi"e. $6ve been after this uy for over a year an# you6re the firstreal lea# we6ve ha#./ +orey state# openin the #oor an# peerin out into the hallway

before she let the youner woman out.

/$6m sorry $ ave you a har# time. $6ll help anyway $ "an. The reater oo#huh5/a"hel sai# as they walke# out the front #oors an# hea#e# to +orey6s -9plorer.

+orey was startle# an# looke# at the youner woman with a #efinite sense of thefamiliarity she felt earlier. /uh..riht./ She soun#e# pu44le# as if the wor#s /The

0reater 0oo#/ shoul# of meant somethin to her.

The ri#e out of town was ;uiet as they both thouht about what was oin on. Thena"hel yawne# an# apoloi4e# for bein so tire#.

/$t6s okay o ahea# an# rest./ +orey tol# her as she "ruise# #own hihway 12G to$nterstate 12.

EFEFEFEFEFEFEFEFEFEFEFEFEFEFEF

/$

sai# rabbin a lare "up of "offee an# offerin one to the sliht, blon#e woman sittina"ross the table from her.


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/$ "an6t,/ she whispere#. /$ just #on6t remember anythin,/ she took a lon breath then"ontinue#, /There just isn6t anythin to tell. $ just want to take a shower an# o to be#,/she state# lowerin her hea# #own restin it on her arms that she fol#e# a"ross the topof the table. /$ just want to o home./

/+orey,/ a mi##le ae man sai# motionin to the aent to follow him out of the room./So, what #o you think5 $s it our uy5/

/+oul# be./ She pause# lookin ba"k throuh the lass at the fraile, youn womansittin at the table. /(y ut tells me it is./

/Then we nee# to keep her in prote"tive "usto#y. +orey, she6s the only one that6ssurvive#. The only one that "an help us $.%. this uy./

/$ know that, +aptain. $ really #on6t think she6ll want to stay with us thouh an# we"an6t make her./

/Then you6ll just have to "onvin"e her that it woul# be in her best interest to a""ept ourhospitality./

/$6ll try,/ the investiator sai# as she turne# to re7enter the interroation room.

/


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/ey/ +orey sai# tryin not to startle her. /+ome on, $6m oin to take you home./ She pause#. /(y home,/ the investiator sai# ;ui"kly hopin to "at"h the youn woman stillsleepy enouh to just follow her without ;uestion.

/0reat. ?inally, $ et to o home an# take off these stupi# s"rubs. They're not as

"omfortable as they look on T.@./

/$6m sorry but $ "an6t take you to your home. You6re in #aner an# we want to put youin prote"tive "usto#y./

/Co, $ #on6t think so, ent@an, riht5 $ want to o home an# et on with my life.This is one nihtmare $ want to wake up from./

/(iss Woo#s, $ know you woul# like nothin better than to o on with your life as ifthis never happene# butif you #on6t "ome with me, the nihtmare as you "alle# it mayturn out "ompletely #ifferent. We woul#n6t be havin this "onversation now. $nstea# $

woul# be lookin at photoraphs of you/ +orey pause# takin a #eep breath an#shakin her hea#. /3ook (iss Woo#s he6s still out there somewhere. What we6re askinis a minor in"onvenien"e "ompare# to.../

&rotestin a"hel looke# up into the har# blue eyes above her. /%eath/ a"hel"hewe# on her bottom lip as she finishe# the senten"e for the $nvestiator. /$ have a job,an apartment $ nee# to take "are of, not to mention a life $ want to et on with./Su##enly she stoppe#. /Your home. Why5/

/>e"ause (iss Woo#s we have a serial killer out there an# you6re probably his numberone priority. Co one else has otten away from him. So, it6s my job to prote"t youwhether you want me to or not. $t woul# make it easier for me to #o that, (iss Woo#s,at my resi#en"e./ She straihtene# up e9ten#in her arm towar#s the #oor, /So shallwe5/ +orey aske# lookin spe"ulatively at the youner woman.

a"hel stoo# larin at her. /$6m too tire# to arue about it riht now./ er voi"e wasflat an# ;uiet as she followe# the tall woman out of the room an# to her "ar.

The ri#e was ;uiet as they both stewe# over the "urrent situation. Softly a"hel aske#./What about a "hane of "lothes5 Why "an6t $ o to my pla"e an# at least pi"k themup5/

/Well, (s Woo#s, $ #on6t think you know how mu"h #aner you6re in. When you werefoun# you ha# no i#entifi"ation on you at all. Whi"h means we have to assume he hasyour a##ress, keys, "re#it "ar#s, "he"kbook an# anythin else you may have ha# withyou. e may be in the area wat"hin your pla"e or even waitin in your apartment rihtnow. n# if you6re thinkin that havin someone with you will be prote"tion, $ #on6tthink he6# "are. e'# most likely kill us both without a se"on# thouht. You6re the only

person that manae# to es"ape. e will fin# a way to kill you. $f he #oesn6t know whereyou are then he won6t et that opportunity. s for "lothes $6ll fin# you somethin tosleep in toniht an# we6ll et you a few "hanes tomorrow.


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Co##in her hea# in a"knowle#ement as she wat"he# the traffi" move aroun# themshe aske#, /Where we oin5/

/The safest pla"e $ know. (y "abin./ The investiator state# turnin onto the >eelineihway hea#in north towar#s &ayson.

Two hours later the tall woman pulle# off the main roa# onto a barely noti"eable #irtroa#. The bumpy ri#e woke the woman sittin in the passener seat of her -9plorer./Dmm sorry $ uess $ shoul# have woke you before $ turne# off./ She trie# toapoloi4e, somethin she wasn6t partially oo# at.

/Where are we5/

/lmost to my "abin./

/This is where you live5/ a"hel aske# peerin out the win#ow into the #arkness not

seein anythin e9"ept what the hea#lihts illuminate#.

/Cot as mu"h as $ woul# like it to be. $ have a "on#o in &hoeni9 $ use #urin the weekan# usually spen# my off time out here,/ she sai# in a soft voi"e. /$ built this "abinmyself./ She a##e# turnin into the #rive that woul# lea# to the si#e of the "abin.

+orey love# this pla"e. She ha# spent every available hour she ha# buil#in the "abin.She ha# refuse# to let anyone help her. She wante# a pla"e that was hers an# hers alone.Somethin nobo#y woul# have any "laim on an# "oul#n6t take away from her. With aheavy sih an# a shake of her hea# she trie# to ri# herself of the unwel"ome thouhtsthat still plaue# her #reams.

/You built this yourself5/ a"hel in;uire# as they pulle# up in front of the "abin.

/Yeah, it took me a "ouple of years..../ +orey let the thouht #rop before she ave awaymore of herself then she wante# to her youn visitor.

+orey ushere# them both insi#e the "abin from the por"h, turne# on the liht then shutthe #oor behin# them. a"hel trie# to take in the surroun#ins in one ;ui"k look butthen let her a4e work its way a"ross the room. The "abin was one very larere"tanular room. er eyes starte# to the left where a small livin room o""upie# a

small amount of spa"e. ust beyon# the livin room was a "omputer #esk with all theessentials. The be#room lai# a"ross the entire lenth of the ba"k of the house on a raise#

platform. ?rom her vantae point a"hel "oul# see a lare s"reen T@ an# a lare be#.s her eyes "ontinue# their inspe"tion, they fell upon somethin she ha# only seen inhome #e"oratin maa4ines. sunken firepla"e area with a lare, leather "ou"h an# awhite sheep skin ru on a re# bri"k floor. The beauty of it sharply "ontraste# with the nononsense style of the rest of the "abin. The kit"hen to the far riht finishe# out the ;ui"k tour a"hel6s reen eyes ha# taken.

/nythin wron5/ +orey aske# when she saw the youn woman not movin at all.

/Dm... nothin... it6s just... it6s beautiful./


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/Well, "ome on in./ +orey sai# brinin a"hel out of her musins. She motione# forher to rela9 in the livin room.

/


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+orey sli# the shower #oor open turnin off the water. She ha# waite# for the younwoman but after forty7five minutes she thouht it best to see if she was all riht. Shelan"e# #own at the fraile, frihtene# woman shiverin from the "ol# water thenently s"oope# her up in a lare bath towel. /$t6s oin to be all riht./

a"hel6s reen eyes a"knowle#e# the soft voi"e lettin herself be "arrie# out of theshower an# into the be#room. +orey sat them both #own on the e#e of the be# hol#inthe smaller woman aroun# her shoul#ers. ?inally a "ra"ke# voi"e whispere#, /$6ll beokay. Thank you. $ just nee# a few minutes to et myself toether ent @an./

/$ "an stay here if you want me to. $f it6ll make you feel better./

/Co. $6# rather be alone to et myself toether. Thank you, thouh, for the offer./

+orey ently s;uee4e# her shoul#er to let the shaken woman know she woul# be there if nee#e#. /$6m just #own in the kit"hen if you nee# me./ The investiator slowly left the

be#room an# walke# towar#s the kit"hen. s she passe# her #esk, she lan"e# ba"kover her shoul#er an# listene# for movement, whi"h she hear# ever so slihtly. /Shesure is ;uiet,/ she sai# to herself.

a"hel hea#e# towar# the aroma of #inner "omin from the kit"hen. s she rea"he# the"ounter separatin the kit"hen from the rest of the "abin she aske#, /What6s for #inner5/tryin to keep her voi"e perky.

/Well, only "anne# foo#. $ #on6t keep mu"h up here otherwise so how about some"hili5/ she sai# hol#in up a "an of ormel. /This is about my level of "ookine9pertise./ she sai# with a smile.

+orey #ishe# up the "hili, pla"in the bowls on the "ounter. The two women ate insilen"e with the investiator makin mental notes of the a"tions of her houseuest.a"hel ate just enouh to be polite but not enouh "onsi#erin what the woman ha#

been throuh. er eyes staye# lowere#, fi9e# on her plate. She looke# as if she wereemotionally #efeate#. +orey "oul#n6t help won#erin what this woman was like beforeall this happene#. She pi"ture# the smaller woman smilin, lauhin an# a small "url"ame to her lips. 'What am I thinking? I’m just here to protect a witness,' she mentally"hastise# herself for allowin her thouhts to wan#er.

The tall woman "leare# the "ounter pla"in the #ishes in the sink for the time bein. /$#on6t keep mu"h up here in the way of foo#. $ usually shop on my way throuh town.We6ll have to pi"k up some essentials tomorrow alon with some "lothin that fits you alittle better./

/Well, these aren6t that bi on me, really./ The blon#e woman note# even allowin asmall smile to "ome to her fa"e as she sprea# her arms out to show off the over si4e#arments.

/Co, not at all./ +orey lauhe#. /$t6s ettin late. %o you think you will be able to tryan# rest5/


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/$ woul# like to lay #own. $ feel just sowhippe#. What was that #ru they sai# was inmy system5/ She mumble# throuh a yawn.

/$t6s "alle# ohypnol. $t6s also known as 'The %ate ape' #ru. $t6s no won#er you "an6tremember anythin. $t6s ot ;uite a pun"h. $t looks like an aspirin. Dsually it's put into a

#rink./ +orey stoppe# lookin up at her "ompanion who looke# like she was a millionmiles away. /ey,/ she a##e#, /you okay5/

a"hel shook her hea# away from the imaes that forme#. /Yeahsorryjust my min#won#erinit was just a bun"h of imaes mostlyjust jumbles/ she "ontinue# tothink about what she saw.

/Well, anywaythe "ou"h in the fire pit is the most "omfortable. 0o ahea# an# $6ll etthe e9tra blankets,/ She sai# pointin to the leather "ou"h by the firepla"e.

/$ "oul#n6t. $6ll just stay here on this one,/ the small woman sai# pattin the ba"k of the

"ou"h in the livin area.

+orey "hu"kle#. /That "ou"h is barely "omfortable enouh for sittin. $ have it there sowhen uninvite# uests "ome, they #on6t stay lon./ She smirke#. /Cow, "ome #ownhere an# make yourself "omfortable./

The smaller woman joine# the investiator in the Hpit6. /$f you6re sure.../ she ;uestione#as the soft embra"e of the "ou"h enulfe# her bo#y.

/


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as she starte#. 'What is it about her?' She thouht to herself as she hea#e# for her be#room.

a"hel "oul# swear she saw the #ark haire# woman falter ever so slihtly over her but#ismisse# it as faulty siht as she strule# to keep her eyes open. >efore #riftin into a

#eep sleep her last thouhts were of the strane woman who seeme# to be her kniht inshinin armor. 'Something about her is so familiar to me...'

Co! Coooo.../ a"hel6s s"reams pier"e# the silent niht.

+orey was alrea#y #o4in on the sheepskin ru awakene# earlier by the woman6s "riesin the niht. t first +orey ran to the pit, un in han#. She was about to wake the younwoman when her "ries stoppe# an# she settle# into sleep aain. +orey trie# to o ba"kto be# but the "ries bean aain a short time later. This time she ently rubbe# the

sleepin woman6s ba"k until she settle# ba"k into sleep. She #e"i#e# to throw on a lonshirt, start a fire an# stay "lose by the youn woman. She ha# finally #rifte# off to aliht sleep when a"hel6s s"reams on"e more #isturbe# the niht. +orey move# so shewas kneelin besi#e the s"reamin woman. Tryin not to startle her or make any "onta"twith her bo#y, the investiator softly sai#, /a"hel./ fter several attempts the ol#erwoman ha# no "hoi"e but try an# wake her usin physi"al means. 0ently she pla"e# her han# on the woman6s shoul#er an# shook her lihtly while "ontinuin to talk to hersoftly.

a"hel6s eyes flew open at the moment of "onta"t. She trie# #esperately to "rawl awayfrom her atta"ker as she "ontinue# to be for mer"y. +orey ;ui"kly remove# her han#shol#in them up in full view of the frihtene# woman an# "ontinue# to speak ;uietly./$t6s okay, a"hel. $t6s me, +orey. You6re safe. You6re at my "abin an# no one is ointo hurt you. 3ook at me./

a"hel6s eyes ;ui"kly took in her surroun#ins then ma#e "onta"t with the blue eyessear"hin for some form of re"onition from the woman. Tears swelle# up in the reenorbs an# a pair of lon arms swoope# up the fraile spirit to prote"t her from the#emons of her #reams. er han#s stroke# the blon#e hair as her arms hel# on tihtly.The smaller woman pla"e# her arms aroun# the stron ne"k an# nestle# her hea# intoher shoul#er. a"hel bean to rela9 so +orey starte# to relu"tantly release her tiht rip

but the smaller woman hel# on. +orey reaine# her hol# an# fiure# she6# wait an# letthe blon#e woman #e"i#e when she wante# to be let o.

/re you all riht5/ +orey finally aske#.

/Yes,/ she sai# lettin o of the investiator6s ne"k. /$t was that woman from the bar.She ha# me tie# up an# was "omin after me aain. er han#s rabbe# at my fa"e asshe kisse# me over an# over aain. She was anry./

+orey leane# ba"k on her heels. / woman5/

/$t showe# in her eyesA hatre#. er left han# rea"he# out for my breast./ Sheun"ons"iously "overe# her own with her left arm. / $ trie# to "rawl away but with my


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han#s tie# behin# me $ "oul#n6t o far. er han# rabbe# at me aain.../ a"hel6s;uiverin voi"e stoppe# as she looke# at the investiator. /You #i#n6t know5/

Stunne# +orey just shook her hea#. /We6ve never ha# any in#i"ation that it miht be awoman. $ah #o you remember anythin else5/

/er tattoo. She ha# a tattoo on her left han#. $t was some sort of flower or #esin orsomethin. $t was riht here./ She rubbe# the area where her thumb met her han#. /$twas a flower but then swirle# #own like a vine #esin./

/%o you remember anythin else5/

/Co. $6m sorry, $ uess $6m not very oo# at this witness stuff./

/You6re #oin just fine. $6ll be riht ba"k./ +orey ot up hea#in for her #esk. She;ui"kly s"ribble# some notes on a pa# then #isappeare# into the kit"hen. few minutes

later she returne# with two "ups of tea han#in one of them to a"hel. /ope you likeit. Ten#s to "alm me #own on those nihts $ et really woun# up from a "ase./

/When #i# you start the fire5/ She aske# suspe"tin that this wasn6t the first time shewoke her hostess this evenin.

/ "ouple of hours ao./ She sai# movin a small oak table in front of them then sittinne9t to the blon#e on the "ou"h. bsently, she pla"e# her le up on the small tableallowin her shirt to fall to her hip. She often sat here alone #rinkin her tea an# starininto the flames. She wasn6t aware of the youner woman6s eyes #riftin to sneak a peekof the well7mus"le# le on #isplay. $n fa"t, her thouhts were of the lon forottenfeelins stirrin in her own bo#y as she thouht of hol#in the small, blon#e woman inher arms on"e aain.

They finishe# their tea in silen"e both women lost in their own thouhts. +orey move#the table off to the si#e of the "ou"h out of the way. /(aybe we shoul# try an# et somerest. $t6ll be #ayliht soon an# we both "oul# use a few more hours of shuteye./a"hel6s bo#y tense# up at the thouht of her prote"tor leavin. $t #i# not o unnoti"e#

by the 'kniht' in ;uestion. /$f you #on6t min#, $6ll just lay ba"k #own here ne9t to you.Will that be all riht with you5/

a"hel settle# ba"k on her pillow. She knew she shoul# have #ismisse# +orey so she"oul# sleep in her own be#, but she #i#n6t. /$6# like that./ She whispere# instea# an#slippe# off to sleep.

+orey lay on the soft ru listenin to a"hel6s breathin "hane to a stea#y rhythm asshe finally fell asleep. She was vauely aware of her own rae# breathin. 'No one

should eer hae to go through what she did.' She thouht to herself as she felt anoverprote"tive aner rise in her. 'Wh! does it seem like I know her?' She ;uestione#,risin slowly without a soun# retrievin another "up of tea then sittin at her #esk.

-7(ail time I:I* am.

ohn,


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$t appears that our killer may be a woman. Will "onta"t you when $ have more #etails.

+orey

&.S This prote"tion thin's not so ba# after all.

s ;uietly as +orey ha# otten up a few moments ao she trie# to be that ;uiet whenshe returne# to her houseuest. /


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/ey there yourself./ The tall woman hea#e# towar#s the #esk to see what the womanha# otten into. /ow are you feelin this mornin5/

/Sore. (y hea# still hurts, but $ think $ finally ot some sleep. ow about you5/

/$6m fine. ust not use# to sleepin so late./ She sai# stret"hin her arms above her hea#then runnin her han#s throuh her hair in an attempt to or#er it. /What are yourea#in5/

/$6m sorry. $ "ame over here for some paper an# a pen, but then these papers "auht myeye./ She pointe# to the neatly sta"ke# pile of "omputer7printe# paper. /$ was justlan"in throuh some of the paes./

/That6s okay. frien# has been botherin me to write a book about the time $ spent in%.+. $ just thouht $ woul# ive it a try./ +orey #ismisse# the manus"ript for the bookshe ha# been writin as a whim. /ow about $ take "are of that "ut5 3et6s o up to the

be#room so $ "an "hane your ban#aes./

a"hel followe# +orey up to her be#room. /Take a seat on the be#./ The investiatorturne# nurse #isappeare# into the bathroom an# returne# with the ne"essary supplies to"omplete her task. /ow about some breakfast5 There6s a reat little "afe not far fromhere. Su4ie makes the best, homema#e foo# aroun#./ She trie# to tempt the smallerwoman into areein to "ommit what she thouht of as one of the seven #ea#ly sins.

/$ "an6t o into a restaurant like this!/ a"hel looke# at herself with a "omi"ale9pression on her fa"e. /Still it6s better than those s"rubs they ave me last niht./

/3et6s see what $ "an fin# you. $ know they6re in here somewhere./ +orey opene# ea"hof her #rawers in the armoire sear"hin for her ol# "lothes. /ere they are. Cot mu"h ofa sele"tion but, $ think they6ll fit better./ She tosse# the "lothes on the be# ne9t to the

blon#e haire# woman. /Take your pi"k./ The tall woman opene# her #resser #rawerstakin out a "hane of "lothes before turnin to a"hel, /$6m oin to hop in theshower. $ won6t be lon./

/$6ll be all riht. $ uess $6ll "hane an# see if these fit any better./ When her tall prote"tor #isappeare# into the bathroom, a"hel ;ui"kly un#resse# then put on thesmallest set of "lothes she "oul# fin#. The "uffs of the pants an# sleeves of the shirt ha#

to be rolle# up but it was a #efinite improvement. She move# over to the mirror an#"he"ke# herself out. 'Well, at least this looks a whole lot better.'

+orey steppe# out into the be#room still #ryin her hair with the towel as she took inthe site of the woman stan#in before the mirror. smile "ame to her lips as she took inthe beautiful form stan#in before her. 'It’s been too long.' /They never looke# that oo#on me,/ +orey sai# smilin. /We6ll stop at the mall on our way ba"k an# et you some"lothes that fit you a ta# bit better./

/You look oo# in a smile./ a"hel sai# as her eyes lo"ke# with +orey6s. '"hat was a stupid thing to sa!. Wh! did !ou sa! that?' er fa"e ;ui"kly flushe# an# she turne#

away preten#in to straihten out her shirt. /$ #i#n6t know &ayson ha# a mall./ She trie#to "hane the subje"t.


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/$t #oesn6t./ The investiator noti"e# the "rimson "olor in her "he"ks before she turne#away. /$ want to #rive ba"k to &hoeni9 an# take "are of some thins at the offi"e.&hoeni9 has a multitu#e of malls to shop at. &i"k one. 3et6s o et breakfast./

The women steppe# out on the por"h into the sunliht peekin throuh the tall pine

trees that surroun#e# the "abin. a"hel walke# to the rail tu"kin her han#s in her jeansas she leane# her hea# aainst the re#woo# post. She listene# to the ;uiet of the forestan# the sinin of the bir#s. &ea"e settle# aroun# her like a blanket.

/re you okay5/ +orey6s voi"e was almost a s"ream as she shook a"hel6s shoul#er.

/Dmm. Yes, $6m sorry. $ was just noti"in how pea"eful how beautiful it is here./

/You s"are# me. $ thouht with that bump on your hea# $ was losin you./

/Co, $6m fine./ er eyes never left the pi"tures;ue s"ene in front of her. /3ook at the

way the sunliht seems to just filter throuh the trees. $sn6t it reat5/ a"hel6s eyes litup brinin a smile to her fa"e.

/You know, a smile looks real oo# on you too. 3et6s o,/ She no##e# in the #ire"tionof the tru"k.

elu"tantly a"hel followe# the investiator to her tru"k still smilin. /$t6s veryunusual./ She sai# as she sunk into the leather, passener seat of the -9plorer.

/What is5/

/The "olor of the tru"k. $6ve never seen this sha#e before./

/Co. $ suppose not. n# you probably never will aain. $ #rove the poor uy at the bo#yshop "ra4y. e must have mi9e# the "olor two #o4en times before it was what $ wante#.$ just wante# somethin #ifferent./

/Well, it6s #ifferent. ni"e, ol#en tan like the "oat of a palomino e9"ept when the sunhits it just riht. Then it almost takes on more of a milky "olor. $f you were oin for#ifferent, you ot it. >ut $ like it./

/Thanks. $6m not use# to ettin "ompliments about it. (ostly, the uys just jive meabout it. ere6s Su4ie6s pla"e. ea#y for breakfast5/

EFEFEFEFEFEFEFEFEFEFEFEFEFEFEFEF

+orey walke# throuh the offi"e with a"hel just a step behin#. The "aptain "auht herout of the "orner of his eye as they passe# his offi"e. e poke# his hea# out of the #ooryellin, /ey! $ thouht $ tol# you to take the weeken# off. %o you ever listen to what $tell you5/


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/+aptain, it isn6t that far an# $ really want to et to the artist before (s. Woo#s foretsanythin. She remembere# a few thins last nihtA a basi" #es"ription an# a tattoo thatmay help us i#entify this woman./

/You know, that6s not the point!/ The "aptain respon#e#. /The point is $ ave you a

#ire"tive ent. That #ire"tive was e9pli"it. $t left no room for interpretation or in your"ase, mis7interpretation./ e move# the aent out of earshot of the youner woman

before "ontinuin, />ut $6m la# you "ame. 0et her over to onnie then "ome ba"k.There6s some stuff $ nee# to o over with you./

/Yes, sir./

/a"hel, this is ent onnie Smith an# this is the artist, ent >ill 0oo#son. $ nee#you to work with both of them so we "an et a make up of this woman./ +orey pulle#out the "hair in the interroation room for the blon#e haire# woman then steppe# behin#them towar#s the #oor.

a"hel noti"e# that the room took on a new look in the #ayliht. $t #i#n6t seem so #arkan# lonely. $t wasn6t as intimi#atin as it seeme# last niht. She slowly took a breath inan# just as slowly release# it. er reen eyes met those of the youn woman sittina"ross from her, /Where woul# you like to start5/

+orey interje"te#. /She #oesn6t remember mu"h about what the woman looke# like./She s;uee4e# a"hel6s shoul#er. /ust #o the best you "an./ She ;uietly sai# fa"in the

blon#e woman wat"hin a"hel no# in un#erstan#in.

/


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towar#s the ba"k. Seems she applie# for a position with us a while ba"k. Beep her "lose,$ #on6t want a loose "annon on this one./

/She applie# with the ?>$5 This shoul# make interestin rea#in later./

/$f you think that6s interestin, you shoul# rea# her onor6s thesis, $nsi#e the (in# of Biller/

+orey raise# one eyebrow at her frien#, /So what about our hero, the tru"k #river5/

/Cothin of real interest. Cothin on the tru"k #river. Co one is "omin forwar# to"laim the spotliht. We6re at a #ea# en# there./ +aptain %aniels shrue# his shoul#ers,/Co new information./

/That surprises me, ohn. ere6s a "han"e for some uy to be a hero an# he #oesn6t stepforwar#. Why #o you think that is5/

/>eats me. &robably s"rewin aroun# on his wife an# #oesn6t want to et "auht./

/(aybe. $ think it must be be"ause he wasn6t suppose# to be there, for whatever reason.(ost likely it wasn6t somethin illeal./

ohn interrupte# her, /Why #o you say that5/

/>e"ause, if it was illeal, he woul#n6t have stoppe# at all. (y uess is that he6s a#e"ent human. e was in the wron pla"e at the wron time an# he #oesn6t wantsomeone to know. ave a team hea# up to the area. $ want them to follow up on everyre"eipt for as, foo#, an# lo#in they "an fin# within a fifty7mile ra#ius. This uy left amark an# $ want him foun#. n# ohn,/ +orey pause#, /$6m oin to nee# someone herein the offi"e to work with me. $ nee# to fin# out if any of the other women werelesbians./

/You think there miht be a "onne"tion5/ e ;uestione# while sittin #own an# restinhis arms on the top of his imma"ulately kept #esk.

/(s. Woo#s tol# me she was in a lesbian bar the niht she was ab#u"te#. She waswaitin for a frien# that never showe# an# this woman must have spike# her #rink. $

nee# all the paperwork we have on the "ase so far. $ never "onsi#ere# our killer to be awoman an# $ nee# to fiure out why not. $ nee# to be sure we6re still lookin for thesame person. $t6s really ot me bue#,/ +orey "onfesse# not meetin the "aptain6seyes.

/+orey,/ he waite# until the investiator looke# up at him. /%i# we have any reason atall to think it miht be a woman5/ he aske# ently.

/Co,but $ "an6t believe $ just #i#n6t look at that possibility. $ know none of the womenwere rape# but somebo#y's #eprave# i#ea of se9 isn6t always the reason people #ie./+orey pause#, /You know ohn, $6m oin to nee# a team on this now that the fo"us has

swit"he# an# $6m prote"tin (s. Woo#s./


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/Yeah, $ aree. Who woul# you like5/

/ow about Baren5 (ost of the work will be #one from here./ She e9ten#e# out herarm to in#i"ate the investiation rooms.

/%o you think Baren is rea#y for this5/ ohn looke# #oubtful.

/$ know she6s a rookie but she6s smart an# has a level hea#. >esi#es she6ll be reportin#ire"tly to you an# me. $6m also oin to nee# aents %unn an# 3arsen./

/+an $ ask why you want your team to "onsist of only women5/ e ;uestione# the tallinvestiator.

/We are oin to have to et wor# out ;ui"kly when we et her "omposite from theartist an# women walkin into a lesbian bar aren't ;uite as intimi#atin to the rest of the

patrons. >esi#es if she6s sittin in one of the bars an# the uys walk in she6ll know

somethin6s up an# may just split. $ #on6t want to take that "han"e. ust be sure Baren isalways with either %unn or 3arsen if they6re out in the fiel#./

/You ot it./ >ut before the investiator "oul# rea"h the #oor the "aptain interje"te#,/ill, as

usual./ Then she a##resse# the youn woman sittin a"ross from a"hel at the table,/0oo# work, onnie. &lease follow throuh an# make sure all lo"al an# area offi"esre"eive this. %on6t release this to the me#ia! $s that un#erstoo#5/ She pause# until sheot a no# of a"knowle#ement from them both. /0oo#. 3et them still think we #on6thave any "lues. $ #on6t want her runnin. Where6s that #isk5/

/iht here, (s. @an./ The aent rea"he# a"ross the table an# han#e# the investiator a plasti" #isk "ontainer. The investiator pla"e# her "opies of the sket"hes an# the #isks inher brief"ase.

/a"hel, $ nee# to o meet with a team $ am puttin toether to help with this

investiation. Woul# you min# lookin at some mu shots an# see if anybo#y "omes to


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min#5 $t shoul#n6t take me more then half an hour to ive some them some #ire"tionson what $ want from them. Then we6ll hea# over to the mall./

/$6ll #o whatever you want./ a"hel met the blue eyes that seeme# to smile at her.

Sittin aroun# an oblon table in the "onferen"e room, the four aents stu#ie# the photos lai# about the table. /$t seems the entire fo"us of this investiation may have"hane#. We now have reason to believe that the mur#erer is a woman. The last womanwho was atta"ke# was pi"ke# up in a lesbian bar./ She pause# to observe the fa"es ofher fellow investiators fi9atin on (arilyn %unn. ent %unn was an averae lookinwoman with no #istinuishin traits. She knew her job well, as well if not better than+orey. She ha# always felt that +orey6s promotion shoul# have been hers. She just#i#n6t et the hih profile "ases that seeme# to fall into ent @an6s lap. She kept tellinherself she hel# no animosity towar#s +orey but it wasn6t true. She sat with her armsan# les "rosse#, smu in the fa"t that +orey ha# to a#mit that she nee#e# help on a"ase. er help. +orey "leare# her throat, /(arilyn5/ she looke# at the aent sittin

a"ross from her.

/


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/ny more ;uestions5/ +orey aske# lookin at the three of them. /


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me#ia "ir"us "ampe# outsi#e my #oor./ e wave# her out of his offi"e as if he wereswattin a fly. She turne# an# left smilin at his attempt at aner.

/re you in trouble5/ Juestione# the youn woman.

/Co. 3et6s o./

The two women strolle# #own the hallway to the ba"k e9it of the buil#in. She "oul#hear ohn as they rea"he# the outer #oor, /n# #on6t foret to "he"k in!/

+orey just smile#. /ea#y for some shoppin5/

EFEFEFEFEFEFEFEFEFEFEFEFEFEFEFEFEFEFEFEF

$t bein ?ri#ay afternoon the mall seeme# more "row#e# then it shoul# have been. The parkin lot was full an# the investiator ha# to park her belove# -9plorer in the parkin

lot of +hili6s estaurant. /Wow./ +orey "ommente#. /$ won#er what6s oin on inthere5 re you sure you want to fiht the "row#s5 She turne# to the smaller woman whowas eyein the lare, over stuffe# parkin lot.

/Cormally $ woul#n6t but $ really nee# to et some "lothes. Tell you what if the storesare "row#e# we6ll leave. $ have a feelin it's just some promotion or somethin in themi##le of the mall./ She looke# up at a pensive +orey. /$ remember not lon ao Wheelof ?ortune was here tryin out "ontestants./

/


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momentum an# finally s"rat"he# her ba"k. /a"k out into the mall the ne9t stop was Sears. /$ just want to pi"k up a "ouple pairs of jeans an# t7shirts. (aybe a new pair of sneakers./

With the pur"hases out of the way +orey on"e aain le# her "ompanion out into themall. The area was ettin "row#e#. She instin"tively steppe# "loser to a"hel. /$6m notsure we shoul# et in the mi##le of that./

a"hel looke# #own the mall only seein a wall of people. /Yeah, $ think you6re riht./They stoo# a moment observin the "row#.

Su##enly a lou# ban ran out e"hoin in the "orri#or. &eople starte# runnin towar#sthem. >efore +orey "oul# rab a"hel she ot swept up in the pani"ke# "row#.

/+-3!/ She s"reame# at the top of her luns knowin she wasn6t hear# over thes"reams of the "row#. /+-3!/ She s"reame# aain as she jumpe# up an# #owntryin to et a fi9 on the lo"ation of the youner woman in her "hare.

a"hel ha# manae# to et into a small al"ove. She s;uatte# an# "overe# her hea#.Shakin insi#e she wasn6t sure where she was or what happene#. She felt warm han#stou"h her an# she fro4e rememberin the niht she was taken to the mountains an#that,that woman was there. She "urle# up "ir"lin her les as she pulle# away. &ani"rippe# her from every #ire"tion.

/ey,/ a soft voi"e "ame to her. /it's me, +orey. -verythin6s all riht./ She "ontinue# tospeak to the frihtene# woman hu##le# up in the "orner.

?inally +orey6s voi"e reistere# an# a"hel looke# over her shoul#er seein the frien#ly

blue eyes fi9e# on her. /+..+orey./

/Yeah,/ the #ark haire# woman soothe#. /it6s me./ >efore she ot the last wor#s out shefelt her arms fille# with a very frihtene# an# shakin a"hel. /$t6s okay. $6ve ot you,/She "ooe# into the "lose ear while runnin her free han# up an# #own the woman6s ba"k tryin to et her to "alm #own.

se"urity offi"er passin by stoppe#, surveyin the situation. /re you okay, ma6am5/

/We6ll be fine. $6m an ?>$ aent. ust what the hell was that5/

/ust a (7*. We ot the ki#. re you sure she6s all riht5/


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/We6re fine. Thanks./ Satisfie# that the woman was in oo# han#s, the se"urity offi"erturne# his attention to another "row# of teenaers millin aroun#.

3on moments later the frihtene# woman took a #eep breath an# finally ease# the#eath rip she ha# on the investiator. /$6m sorry,$ was just so s"are#./ She a#mitte#.

/What happene# anyway5/ She finally aske# as she "alme# her heart rate #own to analmost normal pa"e. They both let o an# just sat aainst the wall for a moment.

/Some ki# threw an (7* in the other "orri#or./ She shrue#. /0uess he thouht it wasfunny./

They both looke# up as the poli"e were ui#in a youn man maybe in his mi# teensout the #oor in "uffs.

+orey looke# over at a"hel seein the pu44le# look on her fa"e. /You okay5/

/Yeah, just won#erin what makes ki#s #o stuff like that./ She shrue#. /ea#y5/

+orey smile# ettin to her feet first an# offerin the smaller woman a han# up. Shesmile# as they walke# ba"k to the SD@ noti"in how "lose a"hel was walkin ne9t toherA so "lose a"hel6s shoul#er brushe# up aainst the investiator's arm.

EFEFEFEFEFEFEFEFEFEFEFEFEFEFEFEFEFEFEFEFEF

The two women rabbe# the bas out of the tru"k. />oy am $ la# that6s over./ a"helsai# rea"hin for some of the bas. /Wow,$ #i#n6t think we bouht this many "lothes,/The smaller woman mumble#.

/


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+orey "leare# away the stuff that ha# starte# to "olle"t on her #esk. I reall! need to keepthis desk more organi%ed. She boote# up the "omputer sprea#in out the papers from her

brief"ase while she waite#. The new files joine# the ol#er ones as she trie# to pla"ethem in some type of or#er. She #e"i#e# to start on the file marke#: a"hel nn Woo#s.

alf an hour later a"hel "alle# to her "ompanion. Cot re"eivin an answer she walke#over to her hun"he# over her #esk rea#in. /ey./ She sai# as +orey jumpe#.

/ut to answer your ;uestion it was just a survival me"hanism. / Sherea"he# out for the #irty plates an# starte# to "lear the table.

/ere, let me #o that,/ +orey jumpe# up to take the #ishes away from her.

/Co, please. $ really #on6t min# an# $ nee# to pay you ba"k somehow for all this./a"hel proteste#.

/3ook, it's kin#a ni"e havin you here an# havin someone to talk to. $t6s been awhile.So, why #on6t we both #o this5/ +orey sai# as she "arrie# the lasses to the sink.

fter they were #one with the #ishes, a"hel lai# the towel over the e#e of the sink.

/So,/ she bean, /you #i#n6t buil# this "abin to be share#, so what #o you #o aroun#here for fun5/ er eyes foun# a very ;uiet +orey.

smile "rosse# the ol#er woman6s fa"e. /+ome on. $6ll show you./ +orey le# the bewil#ere# blon#e to a #oor on the si#e of the "abin. Smilin she opene# the #oor./This,/ she sai# wavin her han# for the smaller woman to enter. a"hel was ama4e#.$nsi#e the room was a ym "omplete with weiht ben"h, free weihts, a trea#mill, "y"lean# rowin ma"hine. /n# when $6m not in here, $ usually run, hike, or take out themountain bike./ The blue eyes met surprise# reen ones. /


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smile lit a"hel6s fa"e, /Soun#s like fun, but if you #on6t min# $6ll skip the fishinan# just rela9 while you #o it. oy was she la# she fille# the tub an# set it to heat last nihtwhen they ot there She finishe# pilin her "lothes ne9t to the other neatly sta"ke# pile

before slippin into the tub behin# the other woman. 0ently she pla"e# her han# on the


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little. $t was like $ was really #runk but $ ha#n6t have but two beers. She rabbe# me./a"hel "ir"le# her arms aroun# herself instin"tively as she remembere# what thestraner ha# sai#. H#h no, &ac!, !ou’ll neer tell me no again.6 then she put somethinover my mouth.

The ne9t thin $ knew $ was layin on the roun# with my han#s tie# behin# me an# mymouth tape# shut. $ preten#e# to be asleep for a while until my hea# "leare#. $ uess sheot tire# of waitin for me to wake up an# she ki"ke# me in the stoma"h. $ trie# tos"ream out from the pain but my breath just stoppe# at the tape. $ "urle# up in a ballmostly from the pain but to try an# prote"t myself from another hit as well. $ rememberlistenin to her lauhin then she sai#, +What’s the matter bitch? id that hurt?6 $ trie#to look aroun#, to see where $ was. >etween the moonliht an# the fireliht $ "oul#n6tsee anythin aroun# me, it was just to #ark. >esi#es the woman6s voi"e there wasn6t anynoise e9"ept for the "ra"klin of the woo#. $ fiure# we were out in the #esertsomewhere. $ uess $ #i#n6t hear what she aske# be"ause she ki"ke# me aain only thistime in the ba"k. She bent #own whisperin in my ear, +I’e warned !ou about not

pa!ing attention to me.6 Then she hit me in the fa"e. She "ontinue# to beat me until $ bla"ke# out aain./ a"hel stoppe# to "at"h her breath. su##en "hill swept throuhher bo#y "ausin her to shiver.

+orey pulle# her "loser whisperin softlyA /You6re #oin really oo#, a"hel. $6m rihthere. $6ll keep you safe./ I promise.

a"hel took in a lon breath before "ontinuinA /She was strokin my fa"e when $ "ameto. Then she was on her knees pi"kin me up in her arms an# ro"kin me she wassayin, +Wh! do !ou make me hurt !ou, &ac!? I don’t want too, !ou know. I loe !ou so.

I don’t know wh! I hurt !ou. $an !ou forgie me?6 This time $ thouht my best bet wasto o alon with her. $ wasn6t even sure what she wante#, but $ ha# to et her to releaseme if $ ha# any hope of ettin away from her. So, $ , ah, rubbe# my "heek on her thihas she stroke# my hair. She sai#, +See &ac!. I can be nice.6 She finally remove# the tapeover my mouth an# all $ remember for an instant was takin a #eep breath. Then sherabbe# my fa"e an# kisse# me over an# over. She rea"he# out an# s;uee4e# my

breast./ a"hel6s han#s "overe# the mentione# items ./$ trie# to "rawl away but myhan#s were still tie#. She must of thouht $ was tryin to lie #own for her be"ause sheturne# me over an# lai# #own on top of me. er han#s roame# all over my bo#y./a"hel instin"tively move# away from the han#s that were on her ba"k ;ui"klywrappin her own arms aroun# herself. +orey let her hol# on the smaller woman o for

the time bein. /$ tol# her $ "oul# love her better if she untie# me. She was so "auht upin the moment that she #i# it. When she starte# kissin my ne"k aain, $ rabbe# a ro"k.She rabbe# my left han# an# looke# #own $ thouht maybe this woul# be my only"han"e so $ swun as har# as $ "oul# hittin her in the hea#. $ just #a4e# her but $manae# to move out from un#er her. She starte# to et up an# $ hit her a se"on# timekno"kin her out, at least $ thouht so. nyway, $ stoo# up an# starte# to walk awayfrom there. $ #on6t know what #ire"tion $ hea#e#. When my les be"ame more stable, $starte# to run. Seems that $ was runnin or walkin for hours an# $ just ha# to rest. $ sat#own behin# a lare ro"k formation that was surroun#e# by smaller ones thinkin $woul# be safe. That6s when $ reali4e# $ wasn6t in the #esert but somewhere in themountains. $t was hours yet until sunrise. $ lai# my hea# aainst the ro"k an# "lose# my

eyes./ +orey noti"e# that a"hel6s breathin ha# stea#ie# finally. She rea"he# her lon


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arms ba"k to a"hel6s shoul#ers "oa9in her ba"k "loser so she "oul# "ontinue themassae.

a"hel "ontinue#, /The ne9t thin $ know $ was hearin her "allin out, H &ac!- Whereare !ou? I know !ou’re out here somewhere.6 $ just fro4e. $ "oul#n6t have move# even if

$ wante# to. She was "lose7too "lose an# hea#in for me. Then $ hear# a noise an# she"hane# her #ire"tion. $ knew $ ha# to move an# soon. $ wat"he# her move away in theopposite #ire"tion then took off for what $ hope# was the soun# of traffi". s soon as $"leare# the "over, she was there riht in front of me. H(ou know !ou will neer get awa!

from me. I’e told !ou that time and time again. "his time I will hae to teach !ou alesson so !ou don’t forget .6 $ knew she woul# kill me if she ot me aain so $ use# everylast oun"e of strenth $ ha# to fiht her. When she rabbe# me $ hit her with my arm onher hea#. That #a4e# her enouh for me to ki"k her. er han# rea"he# out an# rabbe#my shirt. We both fell to the roun# ki"kin an# strulin with ea"h other. $ trie# to etup but she "auht my ankle. $ finally ki"ke# her in her hea# an# she "ollapse#. $ rantowar#s the noise prayin it was a roa#. $t took me less time to rea"h it then $ thouht it

woul#. Cot knowin where $ was or anythin $ saw a "ar "omin #own the roa# an#wave# my han#s franti"ally. The "ar past me but pulle# over on the shoul#er. $ was sorelieve# my bo#y starte# to o limp. $ only took two steps towar#s the "ar then shesteppe# out. We stoo# there fa"in ea"h other for a minute. $ knew $ "oul#n6t fihtanymore. $ just #i#n6t have the strenth. $ saw a tru"k "omin an# steppe# out in themi##le of the roa#. $ fiure# it woul# be better to be run over by a tru"k then to be kille#

by her. $ remember the soun# of the tru"k brakes then wakin up in that room at the"lini"./

a"hel turne# aroun# to fa"e an all too silent +orey who seeme# lost in her thouhts./$6m sorry but that6s all $ remember./

+orey refo"use# her attention on the blon#e now fa"in her. /Dm. That6s all riht. Youremembere# a lot./

er reen eyes were on the surfa"e of the water unable to meet the a4e of theinvestiator, /$ "an only imaine what you think of me. 3ettin her,/ She turne# awayfrom +orey. /-verythin was happenin really fast. $t was all $ "oul# think of./

+orey rea"he# for a"hel6s "hin turnin her fa"e so she "oul# meet her blue eyes. /$think you are one of the bravest people $ know. %on6t ever tell yourself any #ifferent. $t

wasn6t your fault an# you aren6t to blame. Your ;ui"k thinkin an# a"tions are what keptyou alive./ When she re"eive# an a"knowle#in lan"e ba"k, she release# her hol# onthe youner woman. /ow about some tea5/

/Yeah, soun#s oo#./ a"hel sai#.

+orey stoo# lettin the water "as"a#e off of her tall bo#y like a waterfall. She "lose# her eyes an# ran her finers throuh her hair. When she looke# ba"k at her "ompanion shenoti"e# the flushe# "heek of her profile. +orey simply smile# at the shyness of the

blon#e woman. /Shee4h, $6m not use# to havin to et towels. $6ll o et a "ouple./Wrappin a towel aroun# herself, she tosse# one to a"hel. /$6ll et the water for the tea

starte# while you #ress./ "hat should gie her the priac! she needs.


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a"hel "ame into the kit"hen wearin the sweats +orey ha# iven her the niht before,/$6ll finish this if you want to et #resse#./

+orey smile# /$ see you have "hosen the leisure look for evenin wear. >e ba"k in aflash./ She pro"ee#e# to the be#room to put on her sweats an# t7shirt while a"hel

finishe# makin the tea an# brouht the two "ups of tea to the pit. She sat #own on the"ou"h in front of the firepla"e "urlin her les un#er her an# stu#ie# the "up6s "ontents.

+orey joine# her a moment later. /re you okay5/ She aske# takin a seat on the ru.

/Yeah./ Time seeme# to stan# still as their eyes met. /So, investiator, #i# you learnanythin new5/

/oth of their lips turne# up at the e#es before they buste# out inlauhter.

/esi#es you bein one of the bravest people $ know5 Seems the barten#er, nne, ha#more than just passin wor#s with her. opefully, she6ll remember a little more abouther.

$ "an also e9plain how she ot a hol# of you so easily. The bloo# work reporte# thesame #ru in you that was foun# in the other vi"tims. She spike# your #rink then justwaite# for you outsi#e. %i#n6t your mother ever tell you not to a""ept #rinks fromstraners5/ the investiator trie# to et a smile from the smaller woman. /$t6s a"tuallymore of what you #i#n6t mention that has me intriue#. ll of the vi"tims look verysimilar to you: averae heiht, slim buil#, lon blon#e hair, an# reen eyes. n# theyha# oo# jobs leavin them finan"ially se"ure. $6m assumin that you all resemble thisH3a"y6 person, probably someone who left her. >ut all the other vi"tims have one thinin "ommon that you #i#n6t mention. They were all wearin a thin ol# we##in ban#./

a"hel su"ke# in a breath, /


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"oul# brin on a su##en break#own. $f that happens she woul# most likely be"ome soviolent that "ommon sense woul# no loner apply an# she woul# be "apable of killinmass amounts of people to attain her oal./ a"hel lan"e# #own at the investiatornoti"in that she ha# the woman6s full attention.

/Se"on#, about the woman, 3a"y. (ost likely as you sai#, you will fin# that she is a lostlover who the vi"tims resemble. 3ost means left whether voluntary or involuntary./

/-9"use me5/ +orey inje"te#.

/$t means either 3a"y left her for whatever reason: another lover, tire# of bein abuse#,or any number of other reasons or she6s #ea#./ a"hel thouht a moment. /(aybe evenone of the vi"tims./

+orey sat up "o"kin her hea# to one si#e thinkin. /You mention bein abuse#./

/Yeah, this woman is a "lassi" abuser. She was probably abuse# as a "hil#. $ woul#venture to uess both physi"ally an# emotionally. $f she was a uy with a wife, shewoul# be easy to spot but be"ause she6s a lesbian or at least in a lesbian relationship, it6sa little har#er to see. $f you fin# 3a"y, most likely you6ll fin# out that she abuse# her./

/This is e9tremely interestin. 0o on. What else5/ The investiator was sittin up "ross7lee# leanin forwar# with her han#s fol#e# un#er her "hin listenin intensely like aki# in a "lassroom.

/


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/Cot yet. nyway, usin the theory in this "ase, 3a"y "oul# be a sister who ot all the"re#it an# oo# reinfor"ements from the family or everythin she per"eives she6s not

but if she was then everythin in her life woul# be oo#. So she "reates this person inhopes that H3a"y6 will set everythin riht with the worl# an# en# all of her problems.That toether she an# 3a"y woul# "reate the perfe"t balan"e. Thus the we##in ban#s, a

perfe"t marriae. 0ettin the i#ea5/

/Think so. $t6s pretty far7fet"he#. You analy4e# all this like you know what you6retalkin about an# not like you just rea# it in &sy"holoy To#ay./

a"hel shrue#, /$ have a #eree in &sy"holoy, +riminal &sy"holoy to be e9a"t. $only minore# in +omputer Te"hnoloy. The opportunities just weren6t available in

pys"h so $ went with "omputers startin my own business as a trainin spe"ialist. $ stillkeep "urrent with the latest information. t least this is a "han"e to use some of it. n#

besi#es, $ know you were just rea#in a file about me./ She rinne# at an embarrasse#investiator. /$t's alriht $ woul# e9pe"t nothin less./

/$,ahh,#i#n6t know you knew what $ was rea#in,/ +orey stuttere#. /$,ahh/

a"hel rea"he# out an# tou"he# her arm. /+orey it6s okay, honest./

/So that6s how you knew what to #o to et away from her5/

The youner woman yawne#. /$t really was my only "han"e./

/You still haven6t mentione# any #etails about her "ar or even the tru"k or tru"k #riverfor that matter. We still have nothin to o on to fin# him. %o you remember anythinabout them5/

a"hel trie# to think about the #etails then shook her hea# in #efeat, /$ was just so tire# by then. $6m sorry. $ just #on6t remember./

/$f $ ha# a way of helpin you remember, woul# you5/ +orey aske# hesitantly. /(aybeif we ot a hypnotist5 What #o you think5/

/Sure, $6ll try anythin./

/-ven more interroations in the hot tub5/ +orey "oul#n6t help but tease her some to puta smile on her fa"e aain whi"h she ot at her suestion. She #i#n6t know why but thatseeme# important to her for some reason. +orey patte# her le as she stoo# up, /$6ll etyour pillow an# blankets./

an#in her the inten#e# items +orey hesitate# then finally sai#, /0oo#niht./

/Thanks. ope $ #on6t wake you toniht,/ a"hel sai# lookin towar#s the now slowly burnin fire.

/$f you #o, #on6t worry about it. $ really #on6t sleep mu"h an# when $ #o, 3et6s just say

that someone "oul# be stan#in outsi#e the win#ow bein perfe"tly still e9"ept for their breath an# $ woul# hear them./ She smile# reassurinly at the beautiful woman seate# in


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front of her. Whoa, hotshot, back up. +eautiful’ where did that come from? #h $ore!-She "hastise# herself.

EFEFEFEFEFEFEFEFEFEFEFEFEFEFEF

/C

/a"hel!a"hel, it6s me +orey. Wake up. /ods how could !ou do this to her? Wh! did I make her relie this nightmare? )ow stupid can I be? I should hae known this was

going to happen. #ne time, $ore! /an, just one time can !ou think of an!thing besides

work? /a"hel, "ome on now, wake up,/ she spoke softly as she ently shook thesleepin woman.

-yes flew open at the all too real tou"h. The shaken woman jerke# ba"k refo"usin hereyes in the #ark until she re"oni4e# the #ark haire# woman that kept whisperin to her,tellin her she was safe an# nobo#y "oul# hurt her here. ?inally her min# reistere#what was bein sai#. It’s $ore!. I’m safe. $nstin"tively she "laspe# her arms aroun# thestroner woman6s ne"k while the tears bean to flow unhin#ere#.

+orey6s lon arms imme#iately "ir"le# aroun# her pullin her into a safe embra"e. /$t6sall riht! $6ve ot you! you6re safe,/ she repeate# as she move# her han# a"ross her

ba"k. +orey hel# her until the tears were just a tri"kle an# the youner woman no loner aspe# for air in between sobs.

elu"tantly, +orey starte# to let her o but a"hel "lut"he# onto her. /Co. &lease!/ shesai#, /#on6t let o. Cot yet./

+orey tihtene# her arms aroun# the blon#e woman, /s lon as you nee#./ +orey feltthe youner woman finally rela9 an# her breathin slowe# to a stea#y rhythm. /Youokay now5/ She whispere# into the nearby ear.

The blon#e hea#e# woman no##e# her hea#. /Yeah!thanks aain. $ seem to keep ettinyou wet./ The youner woman sai#. /$6m beinnin to really hate "losin my eyes atniht. -very time $ #o, $ relive the niht that she.../

/$6m sorry./ +orey apoloi4e#, /$ shoul# have never ha# you o over it aain toniht./er a4e won#ere# to the floor as she sat ba"k on her heels. /$ shoul# have known!you6# ahh!/

/+orey, it6s okay, honestly!/ a"hel sai# runnin her finers #own the investiator's jawline.

/$ nee# to fa"e it. $6ll never move on if $ #on6t. $6m just sorry $ keep wakin you up./She smile# reali4in for the first time what she was #oin. +learin her throat she sat uprelu"tantly removin her finers. %i# she see reret in the investiator's eyes when she

#i# that or was that just wishful thinkin5


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/$ "oul# "amp out here for the niht./ +orey in#i"ate# the ru she was kneelin on./That seeme# to help you rela9 an# feel safe last niht./ er voi"e hesitate# then"ra"ke# slihtly as she "ontinue#, /esi#es!/ she pause#, /$ #on6t bite!/ nother pause /Well, $ #o but!/ she let the senten"e#rop ivin her "ompanion a #evilish rin.

a"hel "ontemplate# the suestion. What are !ou afraid of? ods, 0achel, she’s probabl! not een ga! and !ou’re acting like all she wants to do is jump !ou-ma!be just

wishful thinking huh? et a grip. /Co reason we both shoul#n6t be "omfortable./

/0oo#/ +orey sai# offerin a han# up to the youner woman. /You ot a favorite si#eyou like to sleep on5/ She aske#, e9ten#in her han# out over the be#.

/Co, not really!you5/ esitantly she looke# up at the investiator who no##e# an# pointe# to the other si#e of the be#.

3yin on her ba"k a"hel ha# her han#s behin# her hea# starin at the "eilin. /+orey5/

/umm./

/Thanks./

broa# smile "rosse# the investiator6s fa"e. /You6re wel"ome./ a"hel turne# on hersi#e towar#s the e#e of the be# "urlin up an# soon #rifte# off to sleep.

Well, no chance she’ll wake up on m! side of the bed from there. $ore!, girl, !ou’re

being foolish if !ou think this beautiful woman wants an! part of !ou. She "hastise#herself . o to sleep. >ut she "oul#n6t. +orey lay awake most of the niht listenin to thesmaller woman6s breathin. $t ha# been a lon time sin"e anyone was this "lose to her.

The "hill of the mornin air foun# its way insi#e throuh the "ra"ke# win#ow as therays of the early mornin liht bean their journey throuh the "ra"ks of the trees toinva#e the sleepin women. +orey6s bo#y "oul# sense the early mornin battle an#starte# it's own strule of wakin. -ven as she was just "omin out of her sleep, she

sense# the bo#y lyin ne9t to her as a"hel ha# shifte# #urin the niht ne9t to the taller woman6s bo#y. pea"eful, serene look repla"e# the tension an# fear from the niht before. )ate to leae but I hae to keep this bod! in some kind of shape. Juietly,without #isturbin the sleepin form, +orey slippe# out of be# tu"kin the "oversaroun# her. >efore startin her mornin routine +orey just stoo# besi#e the be#wat"hin a"hel6s fa"ial e9pressions for an en#less moment. +od she’s beautiful’ awishful look appeare# on the #ark hea#e# woman6s fa"e.

>efore leavin the "abin, +orey went over an# "he"ke# on a"hel. She "overe# her t7shirt "la# shoul#ers with the forest reen "omforter then pla"e# a short note she wroteon her own pillow now o""upie# by the blon#e. She #i#n6t want the youner woman to

worry or be frihtene# if she woke up before she ot ba"k from her run. She nee#e#a"hel to feel safe. She wante# a"hel to be safe.


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Silently she walke# out to the roa# an# starte# a slow jo waitin patiently for hermus"les to warm up. With every breath her luns fille# with the "ol#, mountain air an#e9pelle# a puff of white smoke. The temperature ha# #roppe# lower than normal for thistime of year an# it took her bo#y a little loner to a#just to it. She ra#ually ran fasteruntil her bo#y settle# into its normal rhythm. "here’s something about her, something

familiar. I see it eer! time I look into those emerald green e!es, eer! time I touch her,eer! time I hold her. I wonder if she feels it to? &ike the fates are drawing us together.

(ou’re dreaming again $ore!. She’s just been through hell and is probabl! not thinking

about !ou at all. She practicall! jumped clear across the room when !ou asked her to

share the bed. If that’s not an indication of how she feels- "ime to clear the old head. er pa"e ;ui"kene# as she pushe# herself har#er the last mile. She ran throuh thewin#in #irt paths until her "abin "ame in siht #own the embankment then she slowe#her pa"e.

Steppin on the por"h she "oul# hear the soun# of ba"on si44lin not to mention thesmell. /(mm,/ she patte# her stoma"h in approval. She steppe# into the kit"hen just as

a"hel was turnin the frie# potatoes. /0oo# (ornin./ She walke# over to the stovean# peeke# at the various items still "ookin. /Wow, $ haven6t ha# anyone "ook me

breakfast in a lon lon time./ She smile# at her houseuest. /What "an $ et5/ Sheaske# movin aroun# the "ounter.

/0oo# mornin, yourself. $ love# the note. $f you et the "offee $6ll finish these es.


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She rabbe# for the pole sittin between two smaller ro"ks that were ne9t to her, just asshe rea"he# for it, the pole was rippe# from her han# an# hea#e# out to the lake. /ey!%amn it!/ She yelpe# jumpin to her feet, /that fish just stole my pole./ She "ontinue#wat"hin it o farther un#erwater. She starte# to mentally "hastise herself, damn, !ouneer fall asleep while doing something as important as fishing. What’s gotten into !ou?

/%amn,/ she rumble#, /that was my favorite pole./ The tall woman turne# to a"helseein an amuse# looke# as she startin to apoloi4e for her lanuae, /Sorry!but thatwas my favorite pole./

/So $ athere#./ a"hel sai# sittin up lookin at the water then ba"k at the anry,flustere# investiator. /What6s the matter5 Cever ha# a little fishie steal your pole

before5/

+orey turne# with her eyebrows raise# ivin a oo#, mena"in, look to her youn"ompanion. +orey just mumble#, /That was my favorite pole./ She trie# to et asympatheti" rea"tion from a"hel but the blon#e haire# woman was #oin all she "oul#

to stop herself from breakin out in a fit of lauhter. The site of the bi, ba# investiator #efeate# by a little fishie was too mu"h for her to bear an# a"hel6s lauhter broke free.The more mena"in +orey trie# to look the more a"hel lauhe#. ?inally +orey"oul#n6t help herself an# joine# in on the infe"tious lauhter.

/ow about somethin to eat5/ The smaller woman offere# when she reaine# some ofher "omposure thinkin that foo# miht et the tall woman to foret about the now lost

pole.

/s lon as it's not fish./ She mumble#, /That!was!my!favorite!pole./ She manae# toet out while pointin to the blue water of the lake.

/Yeah. Yeah. 0et over it all rea#y./ a"hel tease#, /3ook./

+orey finally stoppe# lauhin lon enouh to noti"e the blanket sprea# out on therass.

There was a bottle of wine "hillin in a bu"ket with two lasses besi#e it. sele"tion ofmeat an# "heese on one tray an# #ifferent brea#s an# "ho"olate "hip "ookies on anotherwere "arefully arrane# to leave enouh room for the two of them to sit. /Wow. When#i# you #o all this5/

/While you were snoo4in,/ a"hel ;ui"kly "orre"te# herself when +orey ave her araise# eyebrow, /$ mean fishin,/ she ;ui"kly "orre"te#. /What #o you think5/

/Wow! looks reat. $ was e9pe"tin a san#wi"h or somethin borin like that./ Shesmile# an# motione# for them to sit. +arefully pourin the wine she han#e# a lass toa"hel. /Thank you,/ +orey sai# tappin her lass to the youner woman6s.

/You6re wel"ome./ s blue meet reen. a"hel finally "leare# her throat an# looke# outonto the pea"eful lake. So!how lon have you been with the ?>$5/ She aske# aftertakin a sip of the Linfan#el. +orey rear#e# the other woman without sayin anythin.

/That is if you #on6t min# my askin5/


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+orey ave this invasion a ;uiet "onsi#eration before replyin. /ust over eiht years./

/What about the book $ pi"ke# up yester#ay5 You mentione# somethin about your timein %.+./

/$ spent five years on a spe"ial task for"e in %.+. We tra"ke# serial killers all over the"ountry. $ worke# with the best aents in the worl#. We tra"ke# some #anerous men. frien# of mine thouht the insi#e s"oop woul# make for interestin rea#in but a lot ofthe work is really just te#ious stuff,/ +orey "oul#n6t believe she was a"tually revealinherself to this youn woman. She was breakin all of her own rules an# at the momentshe really #i#n6t "are. 3a4ily, she pi"ke# up a pie"e of "heese poppin it into her mouth.

/So that6s why you6re on this "ase5/ a"hel aske# in7between bites.

/Yeah. $ left Washinton after $ lost everythin. $ was #raine# both physi"ally an#emotionally. So, $ aske# for a transfer an# was sent out here be"ause there was a

possible serial killer atta"kin youn women./ She pause#, an# then finishe# herthouht. /$ really #i#n6t "are where they sent me, $ just wante# to et away from %+./

/$ when $ was)1, riht after $ ra#uate#. (y appli"ation was turne# #own. $ remember the le"ture that

bal#in, beer7bellie# uy ave me just before he reje"te# my appli"ation. is voi"e was,well, raspy like from too mu"h smokin./ She #i# her best to imitate the man, /We havenumerous appli"ants from the military as well as #ifferent law enfor"ement aen"iesfrom a"ross the nation with enouh e9perien"e to keep me busy for the rest of mynatural years if $ ha# to listen to them tell me about themselves. What makes you thinkthat a twenty7one year ol# from Cew ersey with no law e9perien"e an# just out of"ollee woul# make my "ut list5/


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+orey lauhe#, /$ know who you6re talkin about.


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kno"ke# on her #oor but no one answere#. $ thouh she must be in the shower an# use#my key./ a"hel just stoppe# "ol#. er voi"e was "ra"kin an# tears were beinnin toswell up in her eyes. +orey sat up pullin her into a safe embra"e while she finishe#./She was just there! hanin in the mi##le of the room. $ fro4e. $ "oul#n6t move,"oul#n6t s"ream, an# "oul#n6t "ry. ?inally $ wille# myself to the phone an# "alle# the

poli"e. $ spent the rest of the #ay just "ryin alone in our apartment. (e ot homeabout ten or so that niht #runk as a skunk. When $ tol# her all she "oul# say was, HCoshit. $ better let Sam know.6 She trie# to "all but there was no answer. bout fifteenminutes later the lou# banin an# yellin tol# us she was at the #oor. HWhere6s my

bit"h56 She yelle#. (e let her in an# tol# her what happene#. %o you know what shesai#5/ $t wasn6t a ;uestion that nee#e# to be answere# by the ol#er woman ro"kin thesmaller woman in her arms. /0uess $6ll have to fin# a new pet then.6 n# she lauhe#about it. She lauhe#. $t hit me then like a ton of bri"ks just what she was tryin to tellme the #ay before. They both starte# to #rink aain an# one of them ha# some pot.When (e an# Sam finally passe# out on the livin room floor, $ pa"ke# enouh"lothes to et by an# $ left. Cever bothere# to looke# ba"k./ a"hel "urle# ba"k into the

safety of the arms behin# her buryin her hea# in the waitin bosom lettin the tearsflow. /She was my frien#./ +orey brouht her han# up strokin the blon#e hair as she"ontinue# ro"kin the #istrauht woman. ood going $ore!- o !ou think !ou can doan!thing that doesn’t upset this woman? If I eer bump into 1eg, I’ll be sure to make

her life a liing hell.

/>ut you survive# all that an# you survive# all this. You really are a survivor. What #i#you #o after that5/

/Well!that niht $ #rove aroun# a little then foun# a motel. $ trie# to feel sorry for (e but $ just "oul#n6t. The only thin $ felt was relief. $ foun# my own pla"e the ne9tmornin. $t wasn6t mu"h just a stu#io apartment but the pri"e was riht. $ was alrea#y#oin some free7lan"e trainin an# #e"i#e# pretty mu"h to stay with that. fter a "oupleof months $ ha# more work then $ "oul# han#le. $ have all the proper "ertifi"ations. $t

pays well, so in no time $ was ba"k on my feet. $ applie# an# was a""epte# into SD6smaster6s proram but $ haven6t finishe# it yet./ She shrue#. /nyway, what aboutyou5 re you seein anyone5/ a"hel wante# to "hane the subje"t away from herself.

/Co, not sin"e!/

/Cot sin"e that person took everythin from you5 You mentione# somethin about

losin everythin, $ assume# you were talkin about a #ivor"e./

/Yeah, you "oul# say that,/ +orey6s voi"e "arrie# a tan of bitterness.

/e must have been somethin else. To let someone like you et away./

The investiator hesitate# a moment then sai#, /She./

She. She said she. 1a!be I wasn’t imagining. ods, I can be reall! dense sometimes.

Sta! calm. a"hel eyes ;ui"kly met #eep blue ones, /What happene#5 $f you #on6t min#me askin./


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/She took everythin, e9"ept a few "lothes. She took everythin $ owne# then#isappeare#. She ! ahh!/ +orey su##enly felt very un"omfortable. /Went ba"k to ahusban# an# ki#s $ #i#n6t know she ha#./

/%i#n6t know she ha#5/ a"hel soun#e# surprise#. /ow "oul# you not know5/ a"hel

aske# inno"ently.

(our turn, hotshot. &et her know what kind of fool !ou are. /$ was just assine# to thespe"ial task for"e in %+. $ was away often, travelin to #ifferent sites, tra"kin #ifferentkillers. She woul# take trips to Bansas +ity a lot to visit her mother who was ill an# in anursin home. $ ha# no reason to think otherwise. When $ manae# to have some freetime $ offere# to fly out there with her but she woul# always talk me out of it. She sai# itwoul# be more of a hassle if she ha# to worry about me while she was at the nursinhome most of the time. So!/ +orey let the thouht #rop.

/ow lon were you two toether5/

/ust about five years. We met in %+ just after my assinment starte# there. -verythinhappene# ;ui"kly with her. $t wasn6t lon before we move# in toether./ +oreyrima"e# with the pain the memories infli"te#. /$ feel pretty stupi# now,/ She a##e#

pi"kin up a pebble an# tossin it into the lake.

/You shoul#n6t./ a"hel reasone#. /You ha# no reason not to trust her. ow #i# youfin# out5/

/She left a note in the apartment. $t just sai# she was leavin. $ uess she thouht noreason was ne"essary. >ut bein the investiator $ am, $ nee#e# to know why. $ took ashort leave an# hea#e# out to B+ hookin up with the lo"al offi"e there. $t #i#n6t takelon to tra"e her "hane of a##ress at the %epartment of (otor @ehi"lesA after all it wasmy "ar. $ #rove to the resi#en"e an# s"oute# it out. $ thouht she went ba"k to an e97lover or maybe just ba"k home to be with her mother. She "ame out of the house withtwo ki#s an# a man while $ was wat"hin. $ just #rove away. 3ater that evenin $ "alle#the number a "olleaue of mine ha# iven me an# she answere# the phone. While $ wastalkin to her, #eman#in an e9planation, $ hear# the man6s voi"e in the ba"kroun#. easke# who was on the phone. She sai#, HCobo#y, #ear. $6m not talkin to anybo#y. ust awron number,6 an# she hun up. $ flew ba"k to %+ in time to join the en# of a huntthen aske# for the transfer. $ still "an6t believe what a fool $ was./

/0uess we've both ha# some ba# lu"k with relationships./

Shakin the memories from her thouhts she finally note#, /$t6s startin to et "ol#.ea#y to hea# ba"k5/

/%o you want to wat"h the sunset first5 $ think it6s oin to be a pretty one./ a"helsettle# ba"k into +orey6s wel"omin embra"e as they wat"he# the sky6s "anvas fill withmi9tures of blues an# re#s.


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+orey steppe# out of the hot tub first wrappin herself with a towel an# keepin her ba"k turne# while the youner woman followe# her lea#. a"hel went into the bathroomto "hane into her sleepin "lothes while the taller woman let the towel #rop by the tub

before slippin into somethin more "onfinin. She wasn6t use# to sleepin withanythin on but "onsi#erin the #aner her "ompany was in, she thouht it best to be

rea#y at all times. unnin after a mur#erer nake# just wasn6t an option for theinvestiator so she #onne# sweats an# a t7shirt at niht. a"hel steppe# into the

be#room wearin the same sweat pants an# t7shirt she ha# the last "ouple of nihts,/$6m la# you took it easy on me in the ym. $6m even happier that you have that tub!/She note# rubbin her ne"k.

/You won6t feel it in the mornin. ow about a "up of tea5/

/Soun#s oo#./

/You et "omfy on the "ou"h an# $6ll brin it over./

a"hel settle# herself on the "ou"h starin into the fire. +orey han#e# her the "up thensettle# into her usual position on the floor leanin aainst the "ou"h. /ope you enjoye#yourself to#ay./

/Yeah, $ #i#. $t really is a beautiful spot. The sunset was just awesome from there. Youknow $ foun# out to#ay just how appealin Hfishin6 "an be. $ miht have to take it up asa hobby,/ a wi"ke# smile "ame over the youn woman6s fa"e an# was returne# by ane;ually amuse# smile. /$ "an6t believe how late it is all rea#y./

/Well, let6s see. We must have spent at least an hour hittin the weihts an# anotherhour soothin our mus"les in the tub. The perfe"t en# to a near perfe"t #ay./

/Cear perfe"t5/ a"hel stoppe# "o"kin her hea# to one si#e. /


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The minutes passe# with the "ra"klin of the firewoo# e"hoin throuh the "abin theonly au#ible soun#. a"hel wat"he# the tall investiator won#erin if she felt the samesense of familiarity. +orey lai# her hea# on her arms wrappe# aroun# her les forsupport. The youner woman finally broke the silen"e, /+orey5 +an $ ask yousomethin5/

/(mm./

/Why are you sittin here5/

ecause I hae this need to be close to !ou een if it’s just sitting here watching !ou

sleep. +orey raise# her hea# to answer the youn woman, /You #on6t wake up withnihtmares when $6m "lose by. $ just want to make sure you et to sleep all riht./

/$s that the only reason5/ a"hel "ountere# supportin herself on her elbow.

+orey6s heartbeat in"rease# an# her palms be"ame sweaty, what does she mean b! that?$ould she? #h god, she knows. /What #o you mean5/ She answere# in a shaky voi"e.

/+orey, why are you really sittin here5/

The #ark haire# woman #i#n6t know how to answer that ;uestion. She knew what herheart wante# to say but her min# woul#n6t allow it. t least that was what she thouht atthe moment. She knelt to fa"e the blon#e haire# beauty tryin to think of somereasonable e9planation. The only response she "oul# think of was to brush a loosestran# of hair away from the #eep reen pools she #isappeare# into every time shelooke# into them, then slowly brush her lips a"ross the pair that belone# to the womanthat hel# her heart. a"hel rea"he# behin# +orey6s ne"k pullin her "loser nee#in totake her fully with her kiss

/$ #on6t un#erstan# it./ a"hel manae# between rae# breaths. /$ feel so mu"h at pea"e in your arms. $t6s like!/

/! We belon toether,/ +orey finishe# her thouht pi"kin up the smaller han# hol#init in her own with a ten#erness the investiator ha# not known for a lon while. /$won#ere# if you felt it too5/

a"hel6s left han# tra"e# the line of +orey6s jaw with the entleness of the soft bree4eaainst the rose petals in the early sprin. er voi"e staye# just as soft, /?or a whilenow./ She ently pulle# the #ark haire# woman6s lips to her own.

/$ #on6t know if we shoul# be #oin this./

a"hel6s answer "ame between soft entle kisses well pla"e# a"ross +orey6s ne"k, /$!want! $ nee#! you./

/$ nee# you too,/ The taller woman sai# in a voi"e just barely above a murmur. Stan#inslowly she e9ten#e# her han# out to the youner woman. Wat"hin +orey #reamily

a"hel pla"e# her han# in +orey6s an# allowe# the investiator to pull her to her feetan# lea# her to her be#.


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+orey "laime# the youner women6s lips on"e aain. a"hel move# her arms aroun# thetaller women6s ne"k an# pulle# herself "loser. +orey pla"e# her riht palm to a"hel6s"heek as her tonue aske# for permission to enter. The smaller woman parte# her lipsinvitin the wan#erin tonue insi#e. Their tonues #an"e# a won#erful ballet as theyea"h ently li"ke# an# su"ke# the other's for what seeme# to be an eternity. s their lips

finally parte# +orey ha# to hol# the smaller women to keep her from fallin. /Dmm,/was the only soun# that "ame from the blon#e haire# women. She opene# her eyes to

prove to herself that it wasn6t a #ream.

The #ark haire# investiator slippe# her han#s un#er a"hel6s shirt swiftly liftin it offof her in one easy motion. Bneelin #own in front of the beauty before her, she lowere#her mouth ently takin a nipple between her teeth. $t swelle# the instant her tonuema#e "onta"t. Then it #isappeare# as her mouth enulfe# it alon with part of the breast.elu"tantly, she release# the "apture# nipple "ir"lin it with her tonue. s she move#her tonue towar#s the other waitin treasure, +orey use# the same effi"ien"y to a## her own shirt an# pants to the pile. Then she turne# her attention ba"k to the ere"t nipple

waitin patiently for the sensual feelins to resume. +orey "laime# the nipple with anun"ontrolle# #esire this time. a"hel "oul#n6t believe how in"re#ibly eroti" an# arouse#she was, she "oul# feel her wetness es"ape from its safe haven.

The lare, stron han#s slowly sli# the sweatpants off of the statues;ue woman sheknelt before. a"hel steppe# out of them as +orey lowere# her to the e#e of the be#.She let her han#s wan#er over the blon#e woman6s thihs as she presse# herself into theyouner women6s "enter. a"hel "laime# her lover6s mouth with a #eep, passionate kiss.+orey thouht she woul# erupt with flowin wetness when her lover ently "aresse# her

breasts. er nipples har#ene# un#er an e9pert tou"h. She "ontinue# to press herself intoa"hel6s "enter with a rhythmi" motion. Their wetness mi9e# with ea"h pressin motion#rivin both women to the e#e of orasm.

Dn#er mu"h protest +orey broke away from the meltin toether of their lips. Slowly,ever so slowly she kisse# her way #own to the flowin wetness. a"hel lai# ba"k on the

be# in anti"ipation of the final #estination of the tonue that left her breathless. +oreyrea"he# the sour"e of the wetness an# smile# as she be"ame into9i"ate# by theaphro#isia"al smell of her lover. She starte# by brinin her tonue up the lenth of thewomanhoo# in front of her. Then she foun# the swollen nub that pulse#, almost beinfor release. HCot yet my love,6 The #ark haire# women thouht to herself. She "ir"le#the wetness that she fe# on. a"hel trie# to push her hips up to enulf the finers into

her. /%o you want to feel me insi#e you5/

/


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+orey "ontinue# movin her finers in an# out while lappin up her lover6s wetnessmovin her tonue over that won#erful nub. Sh

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The Survivor - Lynka

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