5.

He had gotten halfway through the first book by the time the Starbucks had closed, and he had been itching to pick it up again. He had never had that sort of experience with a book. Had something grip him like a vice and not let go. He kept thinking about her, so scared like something awful was repeating all over again, he was determined to make sure that this killer wasn’t a serial and was not going to go after her.

He was going to make sure that Miss Briarwood was safe.

......*......

‘You have got to be fucking kidding me,’ Was the first thing that Ellie thought when she opened her inbox on Outlook to find an unlabeled message with a picture of a bloody knife. She couldn’t tell if it was just a prank or if it was the killer actually telling her that she was next on their hitlist. Whatever it was, Ellie elected that she wasn’t going to take any chanced and flagged down one of the unlabeled cop cars that had been sitting outside of her house. Jack was the one that came inside to talk to her. Part of her was relieved and a little giddy when she saw him. It was always good feeling like she could actually communicate properly with someone. Plus, he made her feel safe. That was not something that a lot of people could do.

‘Hi, Miss Briarwood.’ Jack had this smirk on his face that wasn’t exactly a smirk but not exactly a smile. ‘What seems to be the problem?’

‘I’m sorry to bother you,’ Jack quirked his head to the side when Ellie began siding. ‘I just received an email.’

‘What type of email?’ Ellie figured it would be easier to just show him what she meant. She gestured for him to follow her and he did. She showed him to her computer room and waved her mouse around. The email was still on screen. He sat down at the seat and looked at the email. ‘I’m going to call in my partner.’

Ellie nodded and let him do his work, the both of them were talking so fast that Ellie couldn’t keep track, but she didn’t feel as overwhelmed as she usually did when dealing with other people because she knew that Jack would fill her in on what she needed to know. She just had to wait. Which wasn’t easy.

She ended up going to her kitchen and putting on a pot of coffee and put a bagel in the toaster. The pot of coffee was done by the time Jack appeared in the kitchen. ‘You want a cup? I have travel ones,’ Ellie signed.

‘That would be amazing,’

‘How do you take it?’

‘Three sugars, regular amount of cream.’ Ellie nodded and prepared the cup for him. She liked having things to do to distract her from the fucked-up happenings of her life. Even menial tasks helped her feel better. Like an actual functioning person. She handed him a cup and then made her home, sipping it before turning around and looking at him expectantly.

‘I was going to ask you if it was okay if we confiscate your computer as evidence,’

‘Sure,’ Ellie signed back.

Jack nodded, ‘We’ll get it back to you as soon as possible. Sorry to inconvenience you,’

‘Don’t worry about it,’ Ellie signed and then picked up her cup, sipping it. Jack gave her a small smile and then bid her farewell. Ellie couldn’t help but feel a little sad when he left. There was something so reassuring about that smile that made her feel like she didn’t have anything to worry about in regard to the murders. Plus, he was cute. That was a bonus. She knew that she was probably going to see him again, so she felt silly for the fact that she was feeling sad.

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