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Trixie Belden walked into the office the next morning. Mondays, she thought as she hung up her jacket. I hate Mondays. She turned around and saw her partner, Erica Lane standing next to her desk. She was holding a brief case in one hand and coffee mug in the other.

"Put your jacket back on. We're going to Highland Falls."

"Another one?"

"Homicide this time."

"Oh, Gee."

Trixie and Erica raced out to the parking area behind the station and got into their ancient Crown Victoria.

"Putting some miles on her this week," Erica said, patting the door before getting in.

"So Investigator Gibson has his first homicide?" Trixie asked as they exited the lot.

"No. It's at the Point."

Trixie stared at her partner. "As in WEST Point?"

"Yep. First year Cadet. Sounds like she put up a fight. Probably why he killed her. "

"Do we know any of the details yet?"

"Nothing. But Chief Robinson must like us. I had a message when I first walked in. He said he's certain it's the same guy, but the MP's at the Academy won't tell him a thing. Thought we might be able to tempt them with some of what we know. It's worth a try."

"And an hour and a half trip."

I didn't have anything better to do today, Trix. Did you?" Erica laughed.

Erica inched the Crown Victoria through the Manhattan traffic. She worried that it would be like this for much of their trip north. "This is going to be a long drive. Read me some of our notes. I want to know every detail before we meet up with our macho MP's."

"Okay. Lets See...." Trixie dug down into her satchel and pulled out a file folder. "Victim number one: Mary Anne Woodruff, 26, white female, long blonde hair, fair complexion, five-two, one hundred pounds. Returns from dinner with her boyfriend around 10:30. They ate at the samelocal Italian Restaurant as they do at least once a week. Ummm could our guy work there? Second floor walk-up, no security entrance. Obviously she enters apartment, don't know if the door was unlocked or locked, but, with keys in hand crosses living room to turn on lamp. How dark do you think it was? How did she see to cross the room? Did she leave the door open so she'd have light to cross the room or was he waiting inside the apartment?"

"Just the facts, Ma'am." Erica continued to watch the traffic.

"Sorry, Erica. Where was I? The assailant either came in from the hall or was hiding. It appears that she was then struck from the back and beaten repeatedly with some type of club, like a baseball bat but smaller, even as she tried to defend herself, until she lost consciousness. He then cut off her clothes with scissors and without any type of sexual assault that we can prove, left her to bleed to death. What does he do after he takes off their clothes?"

"Trixie, read, don't editorialize."

"Let's see, her boyfriend comes up to the apartment around 10:50, as they had arranged. Or at least the boyfriend indicates he was supposed to come up then. But why didn't he just go up with her? Why did he go back to his place, first?"

"To get a change of clothes for the next day?" Erica suggested.

"So he says." Trixie continued to peruse the file.

"Trix, I questioned his involvement at first, but with all the other attacks, I think he's totally uninvolved."

"Just thinking out loud. Anyway, he was too late. She died the next day without regaining consciousness." Trixie paused and shook her head. Letting it all sink in.

"Okay, second attack: Ten days later. Kendra Lipski, age 28, short blonde hair, blue eyes, five four, one ten, leaves her office around 9:30, she's a lawyer, takes a taxi home. Pays taxi, speaks to doorman, and takes elevator up to her seventh floor apartment. We know she entered the apartment and apparently locked the door behind her. As crossing living room is attacked from back. Beaten unconscious with club, again a small bat of some kind, and this time her clothes are ripped off. Assailant apparently exits out the rear service door. He may have entered that way, also. Time determined because neighbor heard commotion and saw someone running down stairs, but never called it in. So she lays there for two days, until her employer asks building manager to check on her. Maid swears she locked it when she was there two days before the attack, but who knows how many times it was used after that. How do you think this guy gets home? He can't walk around covered in blood."

"I have my theories, Trix."

"Mind sharing them?" Trixie looked pleadingly at her partner.

"Later. Keep reading."

"Why her face? Why did he destroy her face? Did he think she saw him?"

"Probably something like that. She might have said something that set him off. It just might have been handy. Go on."

Trixie continued to review the files for the rest of the trip.

After a long drive, Erica finally pulled up in front of the Highland Falls Police Department. The two detectives hurried into the office.

"Good morning. We're Sergeant Lane and Detective Belden," Erica said as they entered. A woman in uniform was at the front desk today.

"The Chief is expecting you." The woman stood up and called into the office area. "Chief!"

Chief Robinson came out. "Come on back. We're waiting for you."

Trixie and Erica followed him back towards his private office. It was a little busier than the day before. There was one uniformed officer talking on a phone and two women, one in uniform and one in street clothes, working at computers.

They entered the office. Inspector Gibson and an Army Colonel were already seated. They had placed two additional chairs in the crowded room. The two men stood when the trio entered.

"Sergeant Lane, Detective Belden, you've met Matt. This is Colonel Higgins from the Academy." They all shook hands and sat down.

"Ladies," the Colonel began. "I believe the Chief has told you that one of our Cadets was assaulted and died early Sunday morning. The post military police have begun an exhaustive investigation and we hope to make an arrest shortly. I understand that you are investigating several similar assaults in the City?"

"You're making an arrest? You have a suspect?" Trixie blurted out.

"That isn't what I said."

"But.." Trixie started to speak but saw that Erica was glaring at her. She decided she should sit and listen.

"As I was saying, we're conducting an investigation. The, umm, victim was a cadet at the Academy and it did occur on post. That's all I'm at liberty to reveal at the moment."

"Colonel, we believe that this attack is related to the one in Highland Falls Friday evening and two that have occurred in the City. We don't know how many other young women and girls may have been assaulted or murdered by this creep. Any information you can share with us might lead to an arrest before he attacks someone else." Erica was taking control.

"I realize that, Miss..."

"Sergeant. Detective Sergeant Lane."

"Lane. But at this point, we are dealing with an occurrence on a military post. West Point is that, you know. And before we can release any information to you or anyone else, we have to be absolutely certain that national security has not nor will be compromised."

"National security? Information about a brutal murder is national security? Tell me, Colonel, is that what you're telling this young girl's family?"

"Her family has not been notified, yet. And we will not release any information until they have been."

"And when will her family hear about this? After they read about it in the paper or see it on the evening news and realize there might be a reason their daughter hasn't called? It's been over twenty-four hours!"

"We're only waiting until we verify that security..."

"Security. Bullshit. You're just perfecting your spin. You have to be absolutely certain the Army and especially the administration of the U-S-M-A don't look bad. God forbid."

Trixie and the two local police officers sat silently and enjoyed the confrontation. They knew that they couldn't say it any better than Erica.

"Now, Colonel, my partner and I are here to conduct an investigation of our own, as well as assist the Highland Falls PD with their investigation. I drove one and a half hours to get here, hoping that you might have something to assist us in our investigation. It appears to me that you do. And I don't have to remind you that if you attempt to interfere with our investigation IN ANY WAY, you might be accused of obstructing justice. Now tell me what spin you might put on that?"

"I have no intent of interfering with your investigation." Clearly Colonel Higgins was on the defensive.

Good!" Erica suppressed a smug smile. "Now, I have just a few questions."

"I'm not in a position to answer..."

"Are you saying you can't answer any questions or you won't?"

"I really am not familiar with the details..."

"Then who is?"

"The Superintendent of the post Military Police might be able to help."

"Where can I see him?"

Colonel Higgins indicated they could follow him to near-by West Point, the United States Military Academy, where they might meet with the M.P. at the post security office. The four civilian police officers piled into the NYPD car and followed Higgins north on Main Street towards West Point.

"Chief? Is it normal for a colonel to get involved like this?" Trixie asked.

"Nothing's been normal since you left yesterday. I think they're scared one of their own may have killed a fellow cadet."

"Is that what you're thinking?"

"I don't know who we're dealing with. This nut could be local, a cadet, or one of your crazies visiting from the city."

The caravan drove through the village of Highland Falls and out Thayer Road to the post. After a brief stop at the main gate, too brief, thought Trixie, they proceeded to a lot where the colonel directed them to visitor parking spaces. He parked in an area marked Reserved and waited for them in front of a stone administration building.

"His office is in the basement of this building." Col. Higgins led them around the side and to an entrance marked SECURITY. All five entered. The colonel spoke to the woman at the main desk. "Colonel Higgins to see Master Sergeant Daley."

A thirty-something man walked out. "MSgt. E. Daley" was on the nametag on his uniform. He was short and appeared stocky at first. When Trixie looked more closely, she realized that his size was due to muscle, not fat. He was obviously a body-builder. He had a square, flat face that reminded Trixie of a bulldog.

"Master Sergeant. These ladies are with the NYPD. This is Chief Robinson from Highland Falls and this is Investigator Gibson."

"I've met Matt and the Chief. Ladies?" He offered his hand.

"Sergeant Lane. And this is Detective Belden." Erica shook hands and stepped aside so he could reach Trixie who was standing behind her.

"What can I do for you?" The Master Sergeant made no effort to invite the group back into the office.

"We believe the murder of your cadet may be connected to some recent cases in the City."

"And one in the village." Chief Robinson added.

"I've heard." The Master Sergeant folded his arms in front of him.

Is he an idiot? Trixie thought to herself.

"We'd like to determine for certain if there are similarities. Is there some place we can sit down?" Erica asked as she looked around for a meeting room or private office.

"I'm quite busy right now."

Trixie thought he was looking more and more like a bulldog.

"I'm sure you could spare a few minutes, Sergeant." Erica's tone made it quite clear she wasn't going until she got what she wanted. "Now where can we sit down?"

"Follow me." Shrugging, MSgt. Daley led them back to a meeting room and motioned for them all to sit. He took the chair at the head of the table. After sitting down and crossing his arms once again he stared straight at Erica before saying, "Shoot."

"Thank you Sergeant." Erica took out her notepad. Trixie and Investigator Gibson also took out notepads. Erica looked over at Chief Robinson. "Would you like to start?

The Chief smiled at her and shook his head.

"I appreciate your concern about security, so I'll avoid any questions about how the perpetrator might have gotten onto the post or in her dormitory."

"You mean barracks."

"Of course. Barracks. We'll probably want to compare information about those details later, but I think it's important to ascertain that we're looking for the same man and if he left anything--and I do mean anything--that might lead us to him." She looked severely at the Master Sergeant. "Could you give us a description of the victim?"

"Female. Eighteen. White."

"Physical description, hair, size?"

"Mmm, small for a cadet, almost petite, I guess you'd say. In fact, she still looked like a young girl. The girls here tend to be strong, athletic, some even masculine looking, but not her." He grinned at the other men. "Light hair. Most of the girls here wear it short, but she had it as long as standards would allow and tied it up." He gestured to the top of his head. Trixie wrote something frantically in her notepad.

"She was new. Her first year?"

"Yeah. Shame."

"What about the attack itself?"

"We're still investigating the details. She was crossing the quad between 20 and 2100. That's ten and eleven p.m." He directed the comment to Trixie for some reason. "Appears she was grabbed and dragged to a stairwell. Guy roughed her up. She was quite a fighter though. Or so it seems."

"So it wasn't in her dor...I mean barracks?

"No. Never said it was." Trixie continued to write frantically.

"Did he beat her?"

"What? Oh, yeah, with some kind of stick. Maybe the limb of a tree? Still don't know for sure."

"Was she raped?"

"No."

"Her clothes, was she still clothed?"

"No. Her clothes were removed. She was completely nude. And she was battered pretty well."

"Do you know what killed her?"

"Probably bled out. No one found her until Sunday morning."

"Who?"

"Huh?" He was beginning to act a little cocky and smiled at the others in the room.

"Who found her?"

"Why..." He looked at Colonel Higgins. "Another MP and me."

"Sergeant, what you're describing to me is eerily similar to what we saw Friday night." Chief Robinson finally spoke up. "Too much like what I saw. Could you take us to where it happened?"

"Where we found the corpse?" He looked to Colonel Higgins. The colonel nodded. "Why sure. Nothing there to see now."

Master Sergeant Daley led them out of the building and towards the residential area of the post, talking non-stop to the other two men the entire way, while pointedly ignoring Erica and Trixie. No one else spoke as he named buildings and shared anecdotes about his experiences as a Military Policeman. Trixie was becoming increasingly aggravated with him. He was the first law enforcement officer she'd ever met with whom she did not share a certain feeling of comaraderie or mutual respect.

"Here." He stopped beside a narrow stairwell that led down to a metal door. Yellow crime scene tape that had once run from a nearby tree to the stair railing was now broken and blowing in the crisp breeze from the river.

"Where?"

"Oh, we think the initial attack was somewhere around here and we found it down there." He pointed to the bottom of the stairwell.

"It?"

Daley sighed. "The CORPSE." He pointed to under the tree. "There was blood there, on this sidewalk and we found her at the bottom there."

"Do you know exactly where she was initially assaulted?"

"No, but this is her barracks. She was obviously heading for the entrance on that other side." He pointed to the main entrance.

"Was she dragged?" Trixie asked this.

He shrugged his shoulders for what seemed to Trixie the one-hundredth time. "Listen, we're still investigating. Look for yourself."

Trixie, Erica and the two local policemen stepped carefully around the crime scene. Although the area had clearly been trampled and possible clues long ago destroyed, they did not want to contribute to the fiasco. While it had been windy for the last few days, it had not rained and it was fairly easy to at least speculate that the young cadet was initially assaulted as she walked up the sidewalk towards the main entrance of the barracks. She was struck at least once and struggled as she was dragged to the corner of the building towards the stairwell. There was a trail of blood along the sidewalk and evidence of dragging at several places in the dirt and grass. Three were a few places in the turf that looked like they might have been dug out with a heel. There was a significant amount of blood at the head of the stairwell and at the bottom. Blood also trailed down the stairs.

"Do you think she was dragged down the stairs or pushed?" Investigator Gibson asked Erica.

"Look. She was pushed. She rolled down." Erica pointed to a spattering of blood. Trixie knew enough to know that blood pooling and splattering could tell you exactly what happened, but she was still learning how to read them.

Erica began writing notes. "What kind of photos do you have" She asked Daley.

"I took plenty."

"Could we see them?"

"I haven't gotten them back yet."

"Sergeant, we've gone well beyond what we have to do to assist you." Colonel Higgins spoke this time. "The Master Sergeant and I have work."

Erica looked at Chief Robinson and Investigator Gibson. "Chief? Investigator?" They shook their heads.

The group turned and started to head away when Trixie suddenly thought of something and walked around the corner of the building to the main entrance. She climbed the steps two at a time, checked around before climbing down to check either side of the entrance.

"Detective?" The Colonel couldn't hide his impatience any longer.

"I appreciate your help, Colonel, Daley," the Chief said. "It's obvious to me we've got a serial killer on the loose in Highland Falls and I plan to do whatever's necessary to catch this nut before he gets to another young girl." He turned and headed back towards the parking area. "With or without the help of the US ARMY." He yelled as he walked away.

Trixie, Erica and Investigator Gibson followed him.

x x x

Dan left the office early that afternoon. A furniture store in the Bronx was having a big sale and several people had recommended it to him as a good source of inexpensive new and used furniture. He surprised himself by buying a sofa, dresser and large desk for the computer he still had in boxes. He also purchased two well-used bar stools for his kitchen, since they were significantly cheaper than any dining tables and chairs. After making arrangements to have everything delivered later that week, he went by a deli and bought a sandwich before heading back to the apartment. He realized he was whistling as he let himself in.

He scanned the almost empty living room and wondered how he should arrange his newly purchased furnishings. He pictured his desk in front of the window, wondering where he had recently seen that. Trixie had placed her desk in front of the window, probably to take advantage of what little light she got into her tiny apartment. He could envision her staring out the window, clues racing through her mind until she solved some crime or worked out whatever was puzzling her. He looked at the recliner chair. Is that blue or green? He asked himself. He'd always thought it was blue, but in the bright afternoon sun, he realized that it was green.

"Damn." He said aloud as he shook his head. He had owned that chair for almost four years and never known what color it was. "You have GOT to wake up Mangan. There's a whole world out there passing you by!"

Without realizing it, Dan began to whistle once again as he walked across the room and into the bedroom. He began moving the mattress and box spring onto their ends to make room for the bed frame, thinking this was as good a place as any to start. He continued whistling.

x x x

It was two thirty. The pre-arranged time for a joint counseling/conference call. Mart Belden sat in his office waiting for the phone to ring. He had dismissed his class at two, fifteen minutes earlier than usual and rushed back to his office. Consciously, he knew that this call would not create miracles, but there was always hope.

Ringggg.

"This is Mart Belden."

"Mart, this is Anna Kurtz. I have Diana here. Can you talk?"

"Yes, Dr. Kurtz. Yes, I'm here. I can talk as long as we need...Di? Di, I...How's Katie? I miss you both."

"We're fine, Mart. Katie's with my mother for a while."

Diana was with Dr. Kurtz at her office. They had agreed on Saturday that Mart would return, alone, to Ithaca, so that he could be at work. Diana did not want to return with him, but had agreed to counseling with Dr. Kurtz. They had arranged for daily conference calls until, hopefully, Diana would feel comfortable returning to Ithaca and Dr. Kurtz could find a counselor for them that was closer to home.

Diana had already spent an hour with the doctor. While she had been fairly open and honest at the session on Saturday with Mart present, she had felt more comfortable talking today. She was afraid that if she were totally honest about some of the things troubling her, Mart would be hurt and not understand. How could she talk about her feelings of inadequacy, as a wife, mother and woman? What if she said something about not wanting to spend so much time with Katie? It wasn't that she didn't love their daughter.

Nothing that Diana nor Mart had expressed surprised Dr. Kurtz. She had been counseling young couples for many years and was finding increasing numbers of intelligent, talented young women who loved being mothers, but needed something more, usually some kind of mental stimulation. Their guilt created increased stress at one of the most stressful times in any marriage, the birth of a child. She also recognized the strain Mart was under with the increased responsibilities, either real or imagined, of a child. Compounded by their already strained financial situation and his academic pressures, it was not surprising this young couple was struggling. Dr. Kurtz felt confident that Diana and Mart would work it out. They just needed some guidance and reassurance.

So, their second family counseling session began. By the end of an hour and a half, both felt considerably more at ease, although they had many issues still to resolve.

"Mart, Diana, I think we made good progress this afternoon. Mart, should we set up a call for the same time tomorrow?"

"I have a meeting with my academic advisor tomorrow afternoon, Dr. Kurtz. Could we make it later in the day?"

"Is that okay with you, Diana?"

"I have nothing but baby feedings."

"Im booked from 3:30 to 5:30. Would 5:45 be okay?" Dr. Kurtz asked.

"That's fine, Doctor."

"Mart, what about your lab time?" Diana asked. As part of his doctoral dissertation Mart had developed computer software that required a very powerful computer to operate. It was very difficult to get access to the few computers on campus capable of processing his work, and Mart's only reserved times were on Tuesday evenings.

"No, Diana. This is more important. I'll never concentrate on my work until I know...I know you're okay. That we're okay."

"Are you sure?" Diana knew how important access to the lab could be.

"Positive."

"Then it's set," Dr. Kurtz interjected. "Tomorrow at 5:45. And Mart, take advantage of your time alone and get some sleep."

"I'll try Doctor. Diana, kiss Katie for me."

"I will Mart."

x x x

Trixie and Erica walked through the 19th Precinct building towards their desks. They had just gotten back from their frustrating trip to Highland Falls and West Point. After the aggravating visit to West Point, they shared a lengthy lunch with the officers from Highland Falls, comparing cases and "war stories", but not learning much to help either investigation.

Every police office stopped and watched as they walked by, grinning. The two women looked at each other inquisitively, knowing something was afoot. As they neared their desks they saw what had sparked all the interest. On Trixie's desk was a large arrangement of flowers. There was no card or florist's identification.

"Do you have any idea?" Erica asked.

"No. There must have been a mistake. Who'd send me...?" Trixie dug around in the arrangement for a card.

"Not your handsome ADA?" Erica sniffed at the flowers.

"I told you, Erica, we're old friends."

"Yeah. I know. Why don't you go out and ask at the desk who delivered them?" Erica sat down at her desk.

Trixie walked out to the front check-in.

"Rudy?"

"Yeah Trixie?" The officer at the desk looked up.

"Were you here when the flowers were delivered?"

"Yeah. Nice. Who're they from?"

"I don't know. There wasn't a card. Do you know who delivered them?"

"Young kid. Boy, maybe 13 or 14. Clean cut. No reason to suspect anything. I did follow routine. I had to search through it and all." He smiled guiltily. "I tried not to damage anything."

Trixie laughed. She could picture Rough Rudy picking through her flowers. "And you didn't see any card?"

"Nope. Didn't look for one. Should there be one?" Rudy was one of the nicest people Trixie had met since coming to the 19th, but he didn't understand much about romance, and especially the niceties of sending flowers to a woman. There was no way of knowing if there ever had been a card.

Trixie walked back to her desk. Should I call Dan? No. Don't be silly. Why would he send me flowers? But it would be nice to talk again. Nice.

x x x

Brian Belden had a thirty-minute break for dinner. He sat in the doctors' lounge trying to decide exactly what to tell his parents. After finally admitting to Joyce that he would be going to Richmond and MCV alone, her reaction had been calmer than he'd anticipated. She'd seen the signs too, and, like Brian, couldn't admit to herself that their relationship had been a mistake. After they agreed to split up, Joyce had insisted that Brian move out of their apartment immediately. Brian had used his three-day break to pack and leave, with no place to go for the next few weeks. He now needed to let his family know about his move, but he didn't know what exactly to tell them. Hi Mom. I'm not living in sin anymore, I'm at a seedy motel and my next-door neighbor is a prostitute. He could see his mother's face. While she and his dad had never said much one way or the other, he knew they were unhappy about his living arrangements with Joyce.

Brian swallowed, cleared his throat and picked up the phone. Now or never. He punched in the familiar numbers.

"Belden residence."

"Hi Dad."

"Brian! How are you, son?"

"Okay. Dad, I have good news."

"Good? What is it?"

"I've accepted the position in Richmond."

"At MCV? Sounds great. They met all your conditions?"

"All of them. Well, I don't get a new Mercedes sports car, but.. they gave me all the important things." Both men laughed.

"And you'll still be in Pediatric Oncology?"

"Of course. Nothing else, Dad. That's what I want."

"I'm proud of you, son. What about Joyce?"

"She's going to Nashville."

"Oh!" Mr. Belden didn't know what to say. He didn't want to press Brian for an explanation.

"We've ah...split up. This has been really hard, Dad. But it's what's best. I don't know how to explain it all."

"Well, Brian, I guess its better you never... You're sure about this?"

"Dad, it's been dying for some time. The relationship. No one thing, just a slow death."

Silence. Brian was so ashamed. He had always worked so hard to ensure his parents were proud of him. He knew it had been a big disappointment to them when he and Joyce moved in together without marriage and now

"I, uh, you won't be able to reach me at the old number."

"The apartment?"

"Yeah. I moved out. I got a room for the next few weeks, but it'll be easiest for you to get me at work. Better yet, use my beeper, I take it everywhere."

"Are you okay?"

"Oh yes, Dad. It'll all work out." He hesitated. "I, I'm sorry."

"For what, son?"

"For, I really messed up. I know how ashamed you and Mom..."

"Brian, we all make mistakes. I guess it's best you two never got married. Just be sure you learn from this."

"I have. I will. This was...I only have a few minutes, Dad, and I need to eat."

"Sure. Let us know how you're doing, okay? You can call anytime...just to talk. And Brian?"

"Dad?"

"Your mother and I love you. We are proud of you."

"Thanks, Dad."

x x x

Honey Wheeler waited for the Maitre'd to finish with the couple in front of her. She fluffed her hair with her hands, wondering if the wind had messed it too much. She was surprised at her nervousness about this evening's dinner with Barry.

"Yes, Miss?"

"I'm supposed to meet someone. I believe we have reservations for seven. White, Barry White?"

"Yes, Miss. Please follow me."

Honey followed him through the front room of the crowded restaurant and into a second area of the restaurant, the Garden Room. D'Agostino's was one of the most popular restaurants in Albany, and it was almost impossible to get a table in the Garden Room, even on a Monday.

Honey was almost impressed. Barry had to pull some strings to get this.

The Maitre'd held out a chair at an empty table. "Something from the bar?"

"A glass of wine, ah, Chardonay would be fine."

The Maitre'd nodded and left.

Honey looked around the room. Each table was filled with couples or small parties engaged in quiet conversation. A few faces seemed familiar although she couldn't place anyone. She could hear music coming from somewhere else in the restaurant.

A waiter brought her a glass of wine. She looked at her watch. 7:15. Still early for Barry. He was always late.

She looked from table to table. Across the room was a young couple. The man looked remarkably familiar. No, nobody she knew. She smiled wistfully at the way he looked at the woman sitting across from him? He seemed mesmerized by her. Honey ached. Why hadn't anyone ever looked at her like that?

"Honey?" Barry walked up to her table.

"Barry. You're early!"

"I'm?" Barry looked at his watch. He laughed.

"I'm sorry, Honey. I was determined that tonight I wouldn't make you wait and I still did."

"It's okay. It's early for you."

"I want tonight to be special Honey. I want to make you feel special."

Honey smiled to herself. "It's okay. I understand."

Honey did enjoy herself that evening. The food was excellent and the wine superb. D'Agostinos definitely deserved its reputation. Barry managed to make it through the entire dinner without one call on his cell phone.

"Would you care for dessert?" The waiter asked.

Barry looked at Honey. She shook her head. "No thank you," He said to the waiter. But we would like two expressos." The waiter nodded and left.

"Did you enjoy your dinner?" He asked Honey.

"Yes. Yes, and I enjoyed the company, too. Do you realize we haven't had a single interruption?"

Barry smiled and pulled his cell phone out from his jacket pocket. "See, turned off." He held it out to Honey. His face turned serious.

"Honey, I know I screwed up." Honey started to say something.

"No, please hear me out." He swallowed. "You're the absolute best thing that has ever happened to me. Absolutely. I was an imbecile. I drove you away. You never complained and I just kept pushing. Work, work, work. I can't believe I...I can't believe that I ignored you so. It wasn't until you left that I realized...Honey, I never stopped loving you...and then when we ran into each other yesterday..." He looked down at his hands. "I want to try again. Do you think you might give me a second chance?" He looked up at her. His eyes made her heart melt.

"Barry, I don't know what to say."

"Just say yes." Barry reached over and took her hands. "You'll take....You'll at least let me try to prove I deserve you."

"My feelings for you never really changed, Barry. But I just don't like the politics, the...I won't be made to feel selfish."

"But you're not. You're the most generous person...."

"You weren't saying that before." Honey wanted to fall into his arms, but she knew she had to be strong. For over three years, she had given her heart to this man and he had failed to return her love. His first love was and would always be politics. She knew that she had rated second and didn't know if that could ever change. She wasn't sure she should settle for that.

"There's something you need to know."

Barry worried what she might say.

"I'm going to Richmond on the twenty-first. I have a job interview."

"Virginia?" Barry was surprised.

Honey nodded. "With the Virginia Institute for Forensic Science. It's an opportunity of a lifetime."

Barry felt like his stomach had fallen six inches. "So, you're... we're?"

"Can we take it a day at a time? It's only an interview. I haven't gotten an offer and I haven't moved yet."

Barry smiled. "I guess that's the most I can expect. So, where are we going tomorrow night?"

The waiter brought them their coffee. Honey picked up the cup and took a sip. She smiled at the handsome man sitting across from her. He was special.