As always, Crystal lost herself in the case before her. The handsome face of Nicholas Paxton looked out at her from the photo in the file. This case made her feel desperate. Like she must solve it, and solve it quickly.

“Talk to me, Nicholas. Show me what I am missing. Where are you? Are you alive or dead?” The thought of him being dead made her ache, and she couldn't understand it. “Talk to me.”

“I only wish I knew how…”

Crystal's head came up and she glanced around the room. The feeling was back, and the hair on her nape prickled. She stood slowly and checked the alarm system. All was safe and quiet.

“Okay, now I am hearing things.” She sat on the couch and looked again at the photo. “I guess I want to solve this so bad, to give you peace, my mind is working overtime.”

Her finger reached out and traced his features.

“Why do you feel so much more important to me than a case? Why do I feel so desperate to know what happened to you?”

“You heard me, didn't you?”

She stood quickly, spinning around and reaching for her gun. The first time she had passed it off as her imagination. But she knew, knew she had heard it that time.

“Enough with the games. I don't know how you got into my house, but the jig is up. I am armed, and will use force if I have to.” She made a slow circle. “Show yourself or risk being shot.”

“I don't know if I can. Besides, I don't think I would like being shot again. I’m not sure if I’m dead or alive as it is.”

Not sure if he's dead or alive? Great, she had been followed home by a lunatic. Crystal swallowed the fear rising inside of her. The voice sounded far away, yet close. Taking a deep breath, she tried to hold onto her control, to remain calm.

“Look, I’ve had a long day and my patience is wearing thin. Show yourself, let me watch you walk out the door, and we can forget all about this.” It was a lie, but she hoped he didn't see through it. “Just leave now.”

“Well, I can try to show myself. Guess I won't know if I can till I try. As for walking out of here, well, that may be a problem.”

Crystal's eyes took in everything around her. She clicked the safety off her gun and circled slowly, not wanting to be taken by surprise. All the while, her mind was trying to figure out how the hell he got into her house. Her security was top notch.

The flames in the fireplace flared for a second, and thinking it was the wind from the chimney, she ignored it. Her back remained to the fire, giving her the best advantage for defense. Whoever it was had to come from the kitchen, or the hallway. Unless he was Santa, he wasn't coming down the chimney.

Again, there was a flare, and she stood waiting, gun at the ready. What she heard next had to be impossible.

“Well, I guess it did work.”

Crystal slowly turned, finger on the trigger, unable to believe what was happening. She had to be losing her mind. What she was seeing could not be real. That deep, manly voice was only her mind telling her she needed serious help.

“Who-”

“Am I?” He took a small step closer. “Nicholas Paxton and you are my only hope.”