James Parriott and company own the Forever Knight characters. I'm borrowing them since they don't seem to want them anymore. They can have them back when I'm done. The story is mine. A Promise Kept Liz Muller He stood in the darkened window, watching the scene below him with anticipation. Soon the dance would begin. He smiled, a hot evil grin. Capt. Joe Reese stood staring down at the body of a young woman, a frown on his face. 'Damn' he thought, 'It just can't be.' He heard footsteps and turned lightly to see Knight and Vetter approaching. "Hey Cap, whatcha got?" Tracy asked enthusiastically as Nick winced. Reese's frown deepened as he spoke, "I'm not sure yet. We'll wait for the M.E., but..." he paused, glanced briefly back at the body, then continued, "I've seen a body done like this before, and if I'm right, this is gonna be a bad case." Nick and Tracy exchanged a glance. Nick had just started towards the body, when he heard a familiar voice behind him. "Hi guys, what have you got for me?" asked Dr. Natalie Lambert as she walked towards them, snapping on a pair of latex gloves, clipboard ticked under one arm. "We don't know yet, Nat. Tracy and I just got here." Nick replied as he turned back to the body. "Reese says he's see this before." He looked up sharply as he heard Nat's heartbeat begin to race. Natalie stared down at the body in shock. Her mind refused to work. Dimly, she could hear Nick calling her name. She felt a light touch on her arm and looked into Joe Reese's concerned face. "It's his, isn't it Joe." she whispered. "I wasn't sure, but..." He shrugged. She turned and knelt down next to the body, barely hearing Nick's confused and worried questions. She took a deep breath, and gently reached under the woman's head and pulled out the envelope she knew would be there. She shivered involuntarily as she saw her name on the front. She paused a moment before opening the envelope and removing the plain white card. A wave of despair flooded over her as she read the single line. 'It's Time To Keep My Promise" was all it said, but she knew exactly what it meant. Anger flared in Reese's eyes as he read the note over Natalie's shoulder. He turned and stared hard at his two detectives. Vetter looked mystified but seemed willing to wait for answers, but Knight looked anything but calm. Reese knew how much Natalie Lambert meant to Nick, even if they tried to hide it. He looked like he was going to demand some answers, but Reese spoke first. "Knight, I want you to take Dr. Lambert back to the precinct and wait for me. Vetter, you finish up here and meet them at the precinct. Both of you, stick close to her and don't let her out of your sight. I'll brief you when I get there. That should be in about an hour." He turned to go, and paused as Knight spoke, anger edging his voice, "Where are you going, Cap?" "I've got to check on someone." He replied. "Knight" Reese said, his voice hard, "Don't push her. If she wants to talk, fine. But don't PUSH. It really won't help." He watched. Saw him arrive. Saw the tensing of his body as he looked at the woman. Saw the other two arrive. He waited. Then he saw HER. He smiled as he saw her shock. Felt her fear as she read his note. He shivered in anticipation. 'Soon' he thought, 'Soon I will keep my promise to you.' He smiled a hot, evil smile as he thought of the ways she would pay. Nick and Natalie sat silently in his caddy as he drove to the precinct. He glanced at her from the corner of his eyes, but she seemed to be elsewhere. He clenched the steering wheel in frustration, not noticing as it bent slightly under his hands. He knew that look. He'd felt it so often on his own face as memories intruded. He wondered what she was seeing. What was the promise that terrified he so? **************************** Toronto, 1985. "Has the jury reached a verdict?" "Yes we have, your Honor." Will the defendant please rise?" Natalie sat with Sgt. Joe Reese, the lead investigator on the string of murders that had brought them here. She shifted slightly as she watched the defendant stand. This was her first major case since she'd started at the coroner's office, and she didn't want him to get off because she'd screwed up. Forensics was almost half the case, and if the jury doubted her... She looked at Reese and saw similar thoughts going through his mind. She turned her attention back to the jury as the foreman began to speak. "We, the jury, find the defendant, Michael Parker, guilty on all counts." She watched Parker for a reaction, but he stood silent and still. "Well, we won," said Reese happily as they started to leave. "We couldn't have done it without you," he continued. Natalie smiled, pleased. She felt as if she had truly made a difference. "Natalie?" she turned and saw the Crown Prosecutor, Aaron Walsh, making his way through the crowd. "Congratulations, Aaron, you got him," Natalie said as he reached them. "Thanks, but the two of you made it easy." He paused and looked uncomfortable. "Natalie, Parker wants to talk to you. He wouldn't say why, but he seemed to think it was important. He was threatening to throw a fit, until I said I'd ask you." He paused and looked guiltily at Natalie before continuing, "You don't have to, probably shouldn't, but..." his voice trailed off. She looked at him in surprise, started to speak, then paused. 'I would like to talk to him,' she thought, somewhat surprised. She nodded once and said, "I'll talk to him." "Natalie!" Reese exclaimed, outraged. She looked at him with a mixture of embarrassment and defiance as she said, "I've never met a murderer before, I only get the pieces left behind. Besides, I'm curious." "Are you sure?" asked Aaron, hesitantly. "I'm sure." she replied. He looked at her for a moment, and sighed. "Well then, follow me." He led them to a side door, and then to an interview room, guarded by two police officers. "He said he'd only talk with you, so we'll wait here." She took a deep breath and entered the room. The first thing she noticed was the Plexiglas barrier dividing the room. Then she saw Parker sitting at a table on the other side. "Hello, Doctor Lambert, thank you for seeing me. Won't you have a seat?" He asked, his voice full of quiet menace. She stared at him, amazed at how young he was. She noticed his eyes. They were filled with evil. She shuddered imperceptibly as she sat down. "You wanted to see me?" she asked in her most professional voice. "Yes, doctor, I did," he drawled as he leaned forward. "You're very good at what you do, do you know that?" She didn't answer. He smiled a predatory smile as he said, "You've stopped me for now, doctor, but I will be out again. I want you to truly understand how my woman felt. I will get you, Natalie, and I will show you all I can do." He paused and his smile grew as he watched her. "That's a promise," she whispered, softly. ********************* "Nat?" Nick said, gently. She looked over at him, confusion on her face. "Nat, we're here?" Her confusion cleared and she nodded. She started to open her door, and in a flash, Nick was at her door, waiting as she got out. He studied her face. He could see the weariness in her eyes. And the fear. He wrapped her in his arms. He felt her shudder slightly, and the tension began to drain out of her. He slipped his arm around her waist and they started into the precinct. He watched as they entered the precinct. Things were going well. As he watched, a group of hookers left the building. One of them caught his eye. She would make an excellent present for the good doctor. Nick spoke briefly with the desk sergeant, before leading Natalie to an empty interview room. Natalie looked at Nick as she sat down. She could see the concern in his blue eyes. She just didn't have the energy to explain it to him. 'Why hadn't she been told he was out?' "Who, Nat?" She started. She hadn't realized that she'd spoken out loud. She sighed and closed her eyes. "Michael Parker," she replied in a tired voice. He was about to speak when the door opened. Tracy Vetter stepped into the room and looked at the two of them. Natalie looked exhausted and Nick looked like he wanted to hurt someone. She had a good idea who. Once again, she wondered why they wouldn't admit how they felt about each other. "I finished up at the scene, and didn't find anything else," she said as she sat down across from Natalie. "Tracy, could you stay here with Nat for a few minutes? I have a few calls to make? Natalie looked as if she was going to protest, but he said, "I'll be right outside." He dropped a quick kiss on her forehead, and hurried out. Nick looked around the squad room till he saw an older detective, and headed for him. "Hey Knight, what's up?" "Charlie, maybe you can help me. Does the name Michael Parker mean anything to you?" Tracy watched Natalie as Nick left. Whom did they think they were their feelings from? The whole precinct knew, and was wondering when they would finally admit it. She sighed mentally and thought about the case. She knew about Parker, and knew Nick didn't. It felt good to know something first for once. An idea occurred to her. "Natalie, I don't know how you do it. You cut up dead people for a living, you put up with Nick, and now you have a serial killer after you. If it was me, they'd be peeling me off the ceiling by now." A faint look of surprise crossed Natalie's face. "My father a cop, Nat. He told my mother all about the Parker case, even the threat. What I don't get is why Nick doesn't know, or at least why you haven't told him by now?" She paused, looking at Natalie, then continued, " I mean, it's totally obvious that you two love each other," The shocked look on Natalie's face caused Tracy to start laughing. "Come on Nat, we're cops, we do this for a living. that it was hard to miss." Natalie just stared at Tracy, Parker momentarily forgotten. She tried to think of something to say, and just gave Tracy a bemused shrug. Just then, the door opened and Nick came in. Nick noted Natalie's expression and wondered what Tracy had said. He could feel that Nat's fear had lessened, but he wasn't sure what else she was feeling. He looked from Natalie to Tracy's smiling face in puzzlement. "Uh, guys? I'm going to go check my desk. I'll be back in a few minutes." She just had to leave. The looks on their faces made her want to laugh, and she didn't think she could hold it in much longer. She quickly left the room and made her way to desk, chuckling softly. Nick could feel Tracy's mirth as she went by him, and then heard her laughter through the door. He looked back at Natalie and raised an eyebrow. "What was that all about?" he asked. "Tracy just told me that the whole precinct knows that we love each other." she replied calmly. "What!?" Nick whispered. " I said," she answered carefully, "She told me everyone knows we're in love and they can't understand why we hide it." Nick began to panic. If his feelings were that obvious, then LaCroix had to know. He was terrified of what LaCroix might do. She saw the panic and the fear in his eyes. She knew he was thinking of LaCroix. "Nick," she said softly, "LaCroix doesn't matter. All that matters is how we feel. We can deal with anything else when the time comes. I love you and I want to be with you. If LaCroix wants to try and stop us he's in for a surprise." She walked over and put her arms around him. Various emotions played across his face, and then he sighed and gathered her into his arms. "I love you, Nat," he whispered. Natalie smiled up at him, joy shining in her eyes. He smiled at the sound the hooker made. The moan of pain was perfect...almost. He watched the life leave her eyes. She was ready. He placed her body gently into the box, careful not to destroy his work. He couldn't wait to set up his surprise. He frowned at the box. She had disappointed him, but soon he would have someone who wouldn't. He grinned as he thought about her. would be perfect. He had waited so long, and soon she would be his. Meanwhile, he had a small gift for her. He patted the box and laughed softly. Nick was still holding Natalie when the door opened and Reese and Tracy came into the room. Tracy grinned at them as they sat down. Nick and Natalie sat down next to each other, holding hands. Reese looked tired. He sighed. "I checked on Parker. He was released a year ago. No one told you, doctor, because the order was somehow deleted from the computer. No one seems to know where he is now, so we don't have a place to start looking yet." He paused, looking at Natalie. "I want to put you into protective custody until we get him." Natalie looked as if she wanted to protest, but thought better of it. "Natalie can stay with me. My loft is secure, and I'm sure she'd feel more comfortable there," Nick offered as he glanced at Natalie. She smiled and nodded. "Fine. Nick, why don't you take Natalie to her apartment first, to pick up her things. Tracy can start gathering all the old case files together. Maybe we can get some idea of where he's hiding," Reese said. They all nodded and set off on their various tasks. As they approached her door, she noticed Nick listening intently. "Just checking," he said. She frowned. She hated this! She realized that he was listening for Parker and it made her angry. Not at Nick, but at Parker for doing this to her. She unlocked her door and stepped inside, flipping on the lights. She froze and gasped. Nick followed her horrified gaze and winced. He tried to pull her from the apartment, but she wasn't coming. She slowly walked over to her couch, and the horror on it. It was the brutalized body of a young woman, placed in a sitting position, another damned note visible in her hand. Natalie realized that the pose and what she could see of the wounds looked like what Parker had done to his second victim, years ago. Nick got out his phone as he watched Natalie approach the body. He could see the professional mask click into place and sighed mentally. This was not good. He dialed Reese's number and when the captain picked up, spoke, "We've got another body, Joe. It's in Natalie's apartment." "That SON OF A BITCH!" Reese yelled. "I'll have a team there, fast. How's Natalie?" Nick hesitated. "I'm not really sure, Joe. She's gone into professional mode. I don't think it's sunk in yet," he replied as he watched Natalie examine the body from a distance. "Well, get her out of there. Take her to the loft and stay there. Tracy and I will meet you there later." Nick agreed and switched off his phone as he walked over to stand by Natalie. He looked at the body and saw how badly she'd been beaten. His eyes widened as he recognized her. Natalie glance at him and saw the recognition in his face. "Nick? You know her?" concern in her voice. "No, but we saw her tonight. She was leaving the precinct as we got there. Parker must have taken her right after." Shock flooded through her as she realized how close Parker had been to her tonight. She began to tremble violently. Nick saw the shock set in he put his arm around her, gently and led her to the door, meeting the first of the uniforms. "Tell Reese we went to the loft." The uniform nodded. Reese arrived at Natalie's apartment in a foul mood. He worked his way through the knot of people in the doorway, and over to the forensics team. He stared at the body for a moment, then snapped, "Where's the damn note?" A tech silently handed him an evidence bag. He read the note, 'Soon it will be your turn,' and grew even more pissed. He looked around and saw Tracy talking to one of the uniforms. "Vetter," he growled. Tracy looked startled and headed his way. "I want him, Tracy. Whatever you need, you've got. Just get him," Reese said in an icy voice. Records is putting together everything they have, maybe we can figure out where he's hiding," Reese nodded. Tracy continued, "Nick called. He said we should stop by the loft, he needs to talk to us. Reese nodded again, and stalked to the door, Tracy following behind. She couldn't ever remember seeing him this furious. They rode the elevator in silence, thinking. They had to get him before he killed again, before he got Natalie. Neither had been to the loft before, so they looked around. Tracy's eyes caught the motorcycle in the corner. "Interesting," she thought. Nick was waiting for them in the kitchen, an empty wineglass in his hand, and a worried frown on his face. "Joe, Trace, anything?" he asked hopefully. "Nothing. Just like the others," Reese answered, tiredly. "The note?" Nick asked. Reese handed him the bag and said nothing. He watched Nick's face as he read the note. He saw the anger quickly flare and just as quickly be brought under the control. "Joe, the woman in Natalie's apartment. We saw her earlier tonight," Reese started. "She was leaving the precinct as we went in. He's following her. We've got to get him, Joe," Nick said, his voice breaking. "We will, Nick," Reese said firmly. "Records will have the files ready soon. I'll get them and bring them back," Tracy said. She began to pace, thinking out loud, "He has to have a secure hiding spot nearby. He's daring us to find him. Picking up one of his victims at the precinct was a thumb of the nose to us. And getting that body into Nat's apartment, leaving no evidence behind shows great preparation. We need to trace his money. That way maybe we can find his lair. If I remember correctly, his mother left him a bundle a couple of years ago," she trailed off, realizing that they were staring at her, somewhat surprised. "What!?" she demanded. Nick and Joe exchanged a glance, and Nick said "...It's just sometimes, uh, you act so..." He trailed off looking sheepish. "Yeah, well, having people underestimate you comes in handy sometimes" She smiled. "Natalie's a friend, Nick. And I want this guy too" Reese moved to the elevator. "Let's go Tracy, you've got files to pickup. Nick, you stay alert, I don't think he'll try anything tonight, but you never know." Tracy paused by Nick and said, "We'll get him, partner." Nick just nodded and watched them leave. Nick stood staring at the elevator door, thinking. He heard a sound and turned around to see Natalie coming downstairs. She had a faintly amused look on her face that quickly faded. " Just full of surprises tonight isn't she," Natalie said softly. She moved over to the fireplace and sank into the sofa. Nick came and sat beside her as she asked, "So. What did his note say?" Nick turned and looked at her. He could see how tired she was. "Soon it shall be your turn," he replied in a gentle voice. She stared into the fire and nodded once, then leaned into him. He put his arm around her as she began to cry. He held her till she fell asleep, then he gently laid her down, covering her with a blanket. He sat on the floor next to her and watched her sleep. She meant so much to him. He didn't know how he could go on without her. He sighed. If only he wasn't a vampire. As the hours passed, he listened to the beating of her heart. He felt at peace. When this was over, they would talk. About everything. No more evasions, or lies. For now he would be there for her. With that, he drifted off to sleep. Tracy arrived back at the loft, several thick files and some groceries in her possession. Soon they were spread out in front of the fireplace, each one having chosen a file. Nick had the police reports. Natalie was looking through her own reports for anything she might have missed. That left Tracy with the financial records. They sat for some time, lost in their own worlds. End Part One