Two Months Later

Utopia, Az.

Henderson stood against the red wood railing out on her deck. It was a cool, crisp November morning up in the pines. She snuggled her thick terrycloth robe closer to her body as her lungs filled up with the fresh mountain morning air. She looked down next to her at her deck chair. A notebook sat staring back her, her favorite pen clipped to it. It held the last chapter of the manuscript she had been writing. A manuscript based on the events of the serial killings and the people involved. Only unlike the real events, the book itself was fiction, something that people could read for entertainment.

She sipped her coffee as the events of late summer ran through her mind. She had almost wished that the horror she had lived through had been fiction. Fiction was a whole lot easier to deal with. But then, she supposed, that's why she wrote. To help her deal with life and all the curve balls it threw her way. She looked down into the ravine which ran below her cabin. A deer stood perfectly still as if it sensed her presence. Then, as it gained confidence it began to move once more. As she watched the young fawn continue to walk through the ravine, silently searching for its breakfast, she thought about Jay Adams.

It had been two months now and the police still had no idea as to the woman's whereabouts. She was convinced that Elizabeth Adams knew exactly where her sister was but she also knew the night club owner would never tell. While she didn't agree with it, she could almost understand it.

After the shootout with Kristen Reece, the police had managed to get the whole story from Mac and Adams. It seemed that Jay had most likely been manipulated by Kristen, but it still didn't excuse her of the wrong doings. Jay had a lot of questions to answer and the department would continue to search for her for a long time to come.

Erin Mackenzie had been immediately cleared of any charges, gaining only a slap on the wrist for withholding the information about Jay. She suspected the department didn't want any bad press and that was why they hadn't pressed charges against her. With the exception of her job, Mac it seemed, had been released relatively unscathed.

It took the department awhile, however, to let Elizabeth Adams free of their clutches. They, along with herself, were convinced that Adams not only knew that Jay had been the one committing the serial murders and refused to report it, but that the woman also knew the whereabouts of her missing sister. But without any proof regarding these matters, they had had no choice but to let her go.

She drained the last of her coffee and thought of Mac. She hadn't heard from the blonde in a few weeks and she hoped she was doing well.

"Morning." A raspy, sleepy voice welcomed from behind.

"Morning sleepy head." She said with a smile as she felt the tall detective wrap her arms around her from behind. It was always nice when the weekends arrived. It meant that Sinclair would drive up from Valle Luna to spend the weekend with her. Time she always valued. Especially now that her book was finished, she would be able to spend more time with the handsome detective.

"You didn't come to bed last night." Sinclair whispered in her ear with a kiss. "Did you finish the last chapter?"

Henderson rubbed her hand across Sinclair's forearm. "I did."

"The next New York Times Bestseller?" She asked, gently squeezing her.

"I don't know about that." Henderson said with a laugh.

"I do. I'm sure of it." Sinclair nuzzled the writer's neck. "Now, let's go inside. It's freezing out here."

Henderson groaned from the sensation of Sinclair's hot mouth on her neck. She turned to face her lover and laughed.

"You're naked!" She said, unable to resist ogling the tall blonde's beautiful body. The woman was all sinewy muscle which tensed as the detective jerked from the cold.

Sinclair grinned at her through clenched teeth. "Come here." She said, tugging on Henderson's belt. "Warm me up, gorgeous." She pulled open the robe and stepped into her lover's arms, thoroughly enjoying the feel of the warm nude body beneath the robe.

Henderson's body instantly caught fire as Sinclair rubbed up against her. "Let's go inside and make a fire." She breathed huskily.

Sinclair nibbled her ear. "Ok." She said as she turned to look at the stack of logs located next to the door.

Henderson pulled her back into her. "We won't…" She said touching the taller woman's lips. "Be needing any wood."

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The Aegean Sea

Just off the Isle of Lesbos, Greece

Erin stood staring out the incredible teal green sea. It was late afternoon and the breeze was blowing cooler against her. She hugged herself and focused on one of Greece's larger islands, the Island of Lesbos. Liz had friends that lived on the island and they were due to port there that very evening. They had been on the private yacht for days now and while she found comfort in it's secluded safety, she was looking forward to setting foot on solid ground.

She smiled as she thought about her dark haired lover. Although the last couple of months had been trying, the two had still managed to emerge hand in hand and ready to start their new life together. The police were finally leaving them alone, finally accepting the fact that they had no case against either one of them. She had lost her job, but after all that had happened, she knew she would never choose to go back even if she could. She was scarred now and resentful. The department will never look the same in her eyes. She looked down and ran a finger over her left hand, rubbing where her wedding ring once rested. Her divorce from Mark still wasn't final, but they were no longer fighting over the settlement, which meant it was only a matter of time before the state finalized.

"Hey, beautiful." Liz said as she walked up behind her blonde lover. "Cold?" She asked as she slid out of her white blouse and placed it on her lover's shoulders.

Erin hugged the shirt to her which held the wonderful scent of the dark woman. A scent that always sent shockwaves of lust right through her no matter how many times she smelled it.

"Thank you." She said, slipping the shirt on, while turning to give her lover a warm kiss. "You look beautiful." Erin said, looking the dark beauty up and down, taking in her white linen outfit. She noted the angry scar on her bare arm and reached out to lightly touch it. A tear started to form in her eyes as she thought of that awful night. The night she had witnessed her lover drift into unconsciousness.

"Hey…it's ok." Liz said softly, stroking her cheek. She could read the blonde so well and she knew Erin was thinking back to that night. She pulled the shorter woman against her for a hug. Taking Erin away from Valle Luna had been the easiest decision of her life. They had both needed to get away and she knew that the only way to make Erin feel safe for the time being was to take her around by yacht. On the yacht, they were surrounded by water, not people. Eventually, she knew, the nightmares would stop. Eventually, Erin would feel safe again. She would see to that. No matter how long it took.

"I know." Erin said pulling away from her and offering her a smile. "It's just…I love you so much. I never thought I could be this happy." She stood watching her lover with intense green eyes. She watched the way the wind blew her midnight hair, the way the sun reflected off her blue eyes. She smiled at the color on her high cheeks bones. Color brought by days on end of the sun and wind. The woman was so beautiful and she knew she would never tire of looking at her.

"I'm glad." Adams said, kissing her again. "Because I wanted to talk to you about something."

"Sure." Erin said, suddenly unable to stop thinking about the things her lover had done to her just that morning. She blushed as she looked at Liz, realizing the dark woman was wanting her attention on the here and now.

"I want you to have something." She said as she reached into the pocket of her white linen pants. With her hand nearly trembling, the dark woman pulled out a deep red velvet box.

Erin immediately placed her hand over her mouth as she realized what her lover was about to do. She watched helplessly as Liz opened the box to retrieve the diamond ring inside.

"I love you Erin Mackenzie." The dark woman said, her voice strained with emotion. "I want to be with you always. I will protect you and love you for the rest of my life." She gently took Erin's hand and slipped on the ring. "If you'll have me…"

Erin threw herself into her lover's arms, holding her dark head and kissing her long and deep. Adams groaned against her and lifted the blonde's smaller frame up against her.

When Erin finally pulled away, Adams reached up and fingered her lips which tingled after the hungry kiss of her lover.

"I take it that's a yes, then?" She asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Absolutely." Erin said, tugging on Liz's white tank top, pulling her in closer.

"You know…" Adams said, leaning down to bite the blonde's neck. "We still have another hour before we make port at Lesbos. What do you say you and I go inside and celebrate our honeymoon a little early?"

Erin shuddered under her lover's warm mouth. "Mmm. Only tonight…" She said, reaching up to rub her thumbs across her lover's nipples. "It's my turn."

………… ………… ……….. …………. ………… ………… ………… ………..

Baja Peninsula, Mexico

Jay sat in the white thick sand, staring out at the sea. As the waves crashed hungrily into shore, she thought about her sister and all the wrong that had been done in her name. She reached down and ran her hand through the soft grains of sand. She still felt guilty about letting Kristen manipulate her to do things to hurt Lizzie. And she knew now that there was nothing she could do about it.

She stood and wiped the sand from the backs of her legs. Her sister was safe now and off cruising the world. Lizzie had helped her escape yet again. And as long as she promised not to hurt anyone else she would remain free. As she walked back up the beach, she made another silent vow to her sister. If anyone ever tried to hurt Lizzie again, like those men did, or like Kristen…she would be there. She would be there to protect her. Always.

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