Roger shrugged, leaving Rainey to answer, "Sure, I guess." Rainey looked at the two nearly full carts. "I do think you should leave some food on the shelves for other people."

Katie laughed for the first time since the bathroom incident and the two women finally relaxed. Roger went to check out the front of the store. Katie and Rainey finished the shopping together, the veil between them lifted; they laughed and joked, as if they had not a care in the world. The agents put the groceries in the back of the SUV and they headed home. The pleasant mood continued until they turned onto Katie's block.

Rainey heard Katie sigh loudly. She glanced at Katie and saw that she was staring out the window. Katie began to talk without looking at Rainey.

"Maybe it's the stress, maybe it's the situation we find ourselves in together, but I feel like I've known you my whole life... I'm not sure what's going on here, but I don't want to lose you as a friend, now that I've found you."

Rainey's breath caught in her throat. She pulled into the driveway and parked the car. She turned to Katie and waited for her to turn around.

When she did not, Rainey said, "Katie, turn around."

Katie slowly turned her head and finally made eye contact with Rainey.

Rainey took a deep breath and said exactly what was on her mind, "I'm not sure what's happening either, but I am sure of one thing. I'm not going anywhere."

Katie reached out and squeezed Rainey's hand. Rainey tightened her hand around Katie's. They did not need to say anything else.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN.

When Rainey, file in hand, and Katie entered through the French doors with their entourage, they were met by a frantic JW.

"I was worried about you. Are you alright?" he said.

Katie looked around her at the four large men, all holding grocery bags. "Why wouldn't I be?"

Katie walked away from him and into the kitchen, instructing the men on where to set their bags. Rainey was left with JW.

He turned to her, flushed with excitement, "I got another note and a picture of you sitting in the parking lot, at the Literacy Center."

Rainey met his excitement, "Where is it?"

"Danny has it, in the other room." JW said, leading the way.

Danny was standing with Mackie and another young agent in the den. All the others, except for the four men loading bags of groceries into the kitchen, had moved their operation to the police station. Danny had on latex gloves and was looking at a piece of computer paper, in his hands. He looked somber when he met Rainey's eyes.

"What does it say?" Rainey asked.

He turned so she could see the writing on the paper. She grew closer and the words came into focus.

"Can you keep fate from its path, once it has been set in motion?"

A million thoughts crowded Rainey's brain. Whose fate, Katie's, JW's, her own? What game was this guy playing?

"How did you receive this?" Rainey asked JW.

"It was under the door of my office when I got there."

Rainey questioned Mackie with her eyes. It was a natural response of an investigator to question every possible witness. She did not doubt JW; it was just so unbelievable how freely this suspect moved around, unnoticed.

"I was right behind him, when he picked it up from the floor. I didn't let him touch the note. We waited until we got in touch with Danny," Mackie said.

"How long have you had this? You've been gone for hours," Rainey asked.

JW answered her, "I had to go to my Raleigh office first. I remembered leaving a brief on my desk, after we left this morning. We didn't find the note until just a little while ago. We brought it straight here, as soon as I did some quick paperwork."

Rainey's anger and frustration needed an outlet. It found one in JW. Her anger flashed and she raised her voice, "I told you not to deviate from the plan. How can I protect you, if you won't listen to me?" She turned to Mackie next, "How could you let him do that? Why didn't you call me?"

Mackie looked ashamed. He lowered his eyes, when he said, "My cell phone battery died. The charger is in my truck. We were in JW's car."

Rainey realized Danny was looking at her. He was studying her reaction and the look on his face said, he thought Rainey might be losing it. She had to calm down. She took several deep breaths, before she spoke again.

"I'm sorry, you didn't deserve that," she said, trying to appear much calmer than she really was.

Danny put the note in a plastic evidence bag and handed it to the other agent. He picked up a picture from the table. He turned it so Rainey could see. It had been shot during daylight, but the overcast sky gave the atmosphere in the picture an ominous look. The suspect had printed it in black and white creating a kind of Hitchcock feel to the image. The picture showed Rainey's car in the foreground, the tinted windows shielding Rainey from view. The storefront of the Literacy Center appeared in the background. Rainey knew that was Katie's blurred image behind the glass, only because she remembered her standing there, just like that Danny asked her, "Do you remember about what time this picture could have been taken?"

"It could have been any time after five and before sunset yesterday. He had to have had some kind of long-range lens, because I know I would have seen him. He had to be in one of the tall buildings, on the next block, to have gotten this angle."

Danny was listening intently to her. He added to her thought process, "This guy has got to be loaded. Lenses like that don't come cheap. We know he set up a phony bank account in China and paid cash for a house and a car."

Rainey kept going, "The way this guy moves around unnoticed, I'd bet you he knows JW. He has to run in that social structure. The real money in this town sticks together. It's a tight circle."

Danny turned to JW, "I'd like to speak to you in private, get a statement from you, if that's alright?"

JW responded, "Sure, whatever you need to catch this guy. I'm tired of him terrorizing my family... and Rainey, of course."

Danny picked up another evidence bag, placing the picture inside. He handed it off and picked up a yellow legal pad from the table.

"Your living room will do fine," Danny said, and indicated for JW to lead the way.

Rainey was still holding the file she retrieved from the safe. She turned to the other agent, "I guess I should give these to you. It's the original of the other notes and pictures. I'm sorry. I don't remember your name."

"It's Eric ma'am. I'm just an intern. I was only with the BAU a month before you went on leave."

The intern went to do something with the evidence. Mackie went outside. Rainey suspected he was going to charge his phone, in his truck. Suddenly Rainey felt very old and tired. She sat down on the couch and closed her eyes. Her head fell back against the cushion. She must have fallen asleep, because she awoke to Danny gently shaking her shoulder and saying her name softly.

"I hated to wake you. You've been out for two hours," he said.

Rainey rubbed her eyes. They were burning and scratchy from lack of rest. She blinked several times, before she was able to focus and her head cleared of the fog of sleep. She had not had a nightmare, but the sleep left her feeling heavy and drugged.

"What time is it?" she said, groggily.

Danny checked his watch. "It's almost four. I need to talk to you and Mr. and Mrs. Wilson."

Rainey stood up on still sleepy legs. She wobbled a bit before she caught her balance. She followed Danny to the kitchen, where JW and Katie sat at the kitchen table. Two guys in suits stood by the French doors. Rainey found a chair and plopped down on it. She rubbed her eyes again, making them worse. She needed eye drops in the worst way.

She asked the room, "Does anybody have any eye drops?"

Katie stood up, "There's some in the downstairs bathroom. I'll get it."

Katie hurried out of the room. JW was focused on what he was writing on a legal pad. Danny brought Rainey a cup of coffee. Rainey took a sip. He had added cream and sugar, just as she liked it. Working stakeouts together so many times, he had learned how she liked her coffee, and could probably order a deli sandwich for her, with just the right toppings. Katie returned with the eye drops. Rainey put the drops in and felt the fire burning under her lids. She waited a minute and then added more drops, this time the burning was not as bad and she actually started feeling some relief.

Danny waited until Rainey was ready, before he started, "I've been over the recent evidence and I believe the suspect is escalating. He's gone from sending notes once a month to three in two days. His actions are more daring. He is devolving and his behavior will become more unpredictable."

JW, who had stopped writing, asked, "What does this guy want?"

"He's playing a game and he wants to win. His goal is to terrorize you, until he catches his quarry alone," Danny said, and then continued, "We're not sure, at this point if it is one of you, or all of you he is after. We need more time to evaluate the notes. A forensic linguist is looking at them now. We'll know more when the report comes back."

He took a second to let that sink in, and then went on, "What I'm getting at is I don't think you're safe here. Even with four agents, there are so many ways to get in. I can't guarantee your safety. I think we should move all three of you to a safe house, at least until we get more analysis of the evidence we have. JW has given us a list of people fitting the general description of our suspect. We need time to check out each one of them. I would just feel better if this guy didn't know where you are right now. It could cause him to make a mistake."

Rainey challenged him, "Or it could send him over the edge. He could wind up killing more people, out of frustration. I'm the bait, use me. Let me draw him out. You can take Katie and JW, but I'm not going."

"Me, either," Katie said. "I'm staying with Rainey."

JW spoke next, "I can't go to a safe house. I have meetings with the budget committee, next week."

Danny knew there was no reason to argue. He could tell they were not going to take his advice. "Okay then, these agents will stay with you. Please keep the doors locked and the alarm on, after I leave. I'll be back in the morning."

Danny left through the French doors. Rainey followed him out to the patio. They stopped together by the wrought iron table set.

"I'm serious about being bait," Rainey said. "I know we can bring him out, if we show him an opportunity he can't resist."

"I'll think about it, Rainey," Danny replied. He sounded tired.

"I'll see you in the morning," Rainey said.

Danny started for the SUV and Rainey turned to go inside. Just as her hand turned the handle on the door, Danny's voice stopped her.

"Hey Rainey, sleep with your gun," he said.

Rainey smiled at him. "Always," was her reply.

Rainey entered the kitchen area. JW was not sitting at the table anymore. Katie was standing, in the open door of the refrigerator, lost in thought. Rainey watched her for a minute, until she became aware of an agent sitting at the end of the table. She moved to the kitchen island.

Rainey inquired, "Where's JW?"

Katie did not turn around, her voice flat she said, "In his study, I suppose."

"Can't make up your mind?" Rainey said to Katie.

"I want to fix something that will last, so the guys can munch on it during the night. I think I'm going to make pizza. How does that sound?"

"I'm sure it will be fine. Can I help you?" Rainey asked.

Katie turned around with a big onion in her hand, "You get to chop this time."

They hurried around the kitchen. Rainey watching closely, as Katie talked her through the recipe for authentic brick-oven pizza, Brooklyn pizzeria style. Katie had purchased the dough crust already made, that was the hard part, she explained. She made it from scratch before and it took sixteen hours for the dough to rise. They used a pizza stone on the lowest rack in the oven, setting the temperature at five hundred and fifty degrees. Katie showed Rainey how to place thinly sliced pieces of Mozzarella cheese on the crusts and ground black pepper over it. Katie brushed Rainey's arm and the electricity shot to Rainey's heart. Next Katie sprinkled oregano on the crusts and had Rainey randomly arrange crushed tomatoes around on top. Katie drizzled extra virgin olive oil over all four pizzas, telling Rainey that was the key to the recipe.

Rainey enjoyed the time she spent cooking with Katie. They worked together very well, she thought. She was proud when the pizzas came out of the oven, bubbling with melted cheese, looking like a picture in Bon Appetit magazine. Rainey helped Katie set out the pizzas, stacking plates and napkins, at the end of the table. The agent, still in the room, ate a piece and gave it the thumbs up. Rainey and Katie each took pieces and sat on the stools, by the counter. Rainey thought the pizza was outstanding and ate another large slice.

The entire time they worked together Katie kept touching Rainey. She would brush up against Rainey when they worked side by side, at the island. When they sat down to eat, Katie repeatedly touched Rainey's knee or thigh to make a point. Every time a part of Rainey came into contact with Katie, she felt a tingling sensation and streaks of electricity crashed through her body. Rainey looked at the agent stuffing pizza in his mouth; glad he was there watching their backs, because all Rainey was watching was Katie.

JW reappeared with the other agent in tow. "Mmm, that pizza looks great," he said, when he arrived at the table. He, and the agent with him, sat down to eat. The other agent, who had just finished his third slice, made plates for the guys outside, thanked the women for cooking and went to deliver the pizza. Katie and Rainey cleaned up the kitchen and then took glasses of sweet tea to the den and settled in, on the couch.

Rainey's eyes began to get heavy again. She was spent emotionally and physically. She needed a long sleep to recoup her strength. The agent came back from delivery duty and joined them a few minutes later. JW went back to his study, accompanied by his shadow agent. There was small talk, but nothing interesting. They really could not talk with the agent in the room. The news channel they were watching started repeating stories, so Katie turned the channel to PBS and they watched a show on museums of music in New Orleans. Rainey did not really pay attention. Her head was spinning with thoughts of Katie, only Katie. She could think of nothing else. She finally asked Katie if there was someplace she could lie down.

Katie stood up and crooked her finger at Rainey. "Come with me," she said, and it had the pied piper effect on Rainey.

Rainey grabbed her overnight bag, from the car, and followed Katie up the stairs to a bedroom, across from the master bedroom. The ever-present agent followed too.

"Will this be alright?" Katie asked.

"This is great, thank you," Rainey replied. She looked at the agent and said, "I think I'll be okay up here. You can wait downstairs." She patted her gun, to remind him she was armed.

"I think I'll go to bed, too," Katie said. "Good night, Rainey. Sweet dreams."

"Goodnight, Katie," Rainey said and watched her walk away.

Katie went to the master bedroom and locked the door. Rainey heard the latch click over. The agent left and went downstairs. Rainey changed her clothes and crawled into bed, leaving the door open, so she could hear. She was lying there, thinking about Katie and the serial killer lurking around outside, but soon the heaviness of her eyelids forced them closed and she drifted off to sleep.

Some time later, she felt someone lie down, in the bed with her. She popped up, in a sitting position and reached for the Glock, she had placed on the bedside table.

"It's just me," Katie said. "I couldn't sleep in there alone. I hope you don't mind, if I share your bed."

Rainey looked at Katie, blinking the sleep from her eyes. "Yeah, sure. No problem," she said, still thinking she was dreaming.

Katie settled down into the covers and Rainey followed suit. They did not talk. They were both exhausted and soon they were sound asleep. Rainey woke up again later, sensing someone nearby. She looked out the open door, into the hallway and saw JW standing there, watching them sleep. When he realized she was looking at him, he turned and went back down the stairs. She closed her eyes again and slept better than she had in months. She did not wake up until early morning. She had no dreams at all that she could remember. She rolled over and saw Katie sleeping beside her. She thought to herself, "Wouldn't it be wonderful to wake up to that face every day?" That was a dream Rainey was beginning to think she could live with, and it frightened her.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN.

Rainey slipped quietly out of the bed. Katie was sleeping so soundly, Rainey did not want to wake her. She grabbed her bag and found the guest bathroom, where she showered and dressed for the day. Rainey had found some tank tops, which did not show her scar, back in the spring. She was glad because she was running out of old tee shirts to cut up. She put on a blue tank, adding a simple white, short sleeve, cotton shirt over it. She left the over shirt unbuttoned and folded the sleeves up a little. She wore khaki shorts, tennis shoes and of course her shoulder holster. She was glad she wasn't still in the Bureau, forced to wear those dark blue and black suits, while strolling around the piedmont of North Carolina, in the height of summer. She brushed her hair and put it up in a ponytail. She put everything back in her bag, surveyed the room and deciding it was clean enough, Rainey walked out to start the day.

When she came back into the guest bedroom, Katie was gone. There was no trace that either of them had been in the immaculately made bed. She turned to look down the hall and saw that Katie's door was closed. The aroma of fresh brewed coffee filled her nostrils, winding its way up from the kitchen downstairs. Katie must have awakened, shortly after Rainey left the bedroom. Rainey put her bag down and happily bounded down the stairs. She felt better than she had in months. Last night she slept nearly ten hours of the most peaceful rest imaginable. No terrifying nightmares, no waking for unknown reasons only to lay and stare at the ceiling, just the sleep of babes. It must have been because she felt safe with all the extra security in the house. It could not have been because Katie was sleeping by her side, could it?