"May I have a minute?" Gary looked at Jess, with a smile.

"Actually, I...I was just leaving," she stammered.

"This won't take long," he said. "I brought you a coffee."

Jess smiled nervously. "Okay. Have a seat." Everything Trent had said passed through her mind....'They think they have him....be careful...' She sat behind her desk. "What can I help you with?"

"I just need a little help in your class. I want some extra work I can do to help bring up my mark. Maybe I can take you out." Gary's facial expression told Jess he was serious. "Here, have some coffee."

"I'm sorry but that's against school rules," she said nervously, taking the cup.

"It seems to me you are pretty close to that blond guy you are always talking to. How come it's okay for him?" Jess noticed that Gary's eyes were getting hard.

"I am not dating him. We have a mutual friend. And besides that is no business of yours." As soon as she said it, Jess regretted her words. If Gary was the rapist, she didn't want to set him off.

"No, he's just better looking than me." He paused. "Why aren't you drinking the coffee?"

"It usually keeps me up," Jess said feebly.

"It's decaf. Drink it." Gary stared at her until she took a sip of the strong hot liquid. Jess prayed to herself that Trent was right and that this wasn't the man they had been looking for. Gary smiled. "I really just want to do well in your class. I don't mean to scare you. I'm sorry if I did.'

"That's okay," Jess said, trying to calm herself. "If you want, I can come up with an assignment to help you improve your grade. All I need is a little time. Why don't you come and see me Monday? I really do have to get going," she said, taking another drink of coffee.

"I was hoping to work on it over the weekend. Can we come up with something now?"

Jess looked at him. "Let's see," she said, getting up to go to her file cabinet. As she stood the world suddenly started to swim. She looked over at Gary and the last thing she saw was the evil grin on his face.

**

"He says he was in Wisconsin on night of the last murder. We checked with the instructor of the course and it checks out. Looks like he isn't the guy," Trivette told them.

"I knew it!" Trent said. "I really think Carlos was right. I think this Gary is our guy. We have to find him and find him fast. I've got a bad feeling about this." Just then Trent's phone rang. "Malloy."

"Hey Trent, it's Butch. Did you see Jess today?"

Fear rose in the pit of Trent's stomach. "Yeah. She said she was going to be there at Uppercuts by 6." Looking at the clock on the wall, Trent saw 6:10. "She's not there?"

"No, and it isn't like her to be late. I tried her cell but there was no answer. Is she helping you guys with this case?"

"Sort of. Don't worry, Butch, I'll find her. I'll let you know." Trent hung up his phone and turned to see Carlos, Walker and Trivette all looking at him with concern. "Jess is missing. This afternoon, Gary made some reference to dating her for extra marks. We have to find her, guys, before anything happens to her. Carlos, you and I will head over to Gary's place."

"Okay, we'll head to the university," Walker said. "Call and let us know if you find anything."

**

Jess tried to clear the cobwebs from her head. She was aware that she was tied up but had no idea where she was. She knew someone was there with her but didn't know who. Desperately, she tried to focus her eyes.

"Hi, Teach." His face came within inches of hers. "Just thought I could get some extra credit!" he said with an evil laugh. "Feeling comfortable? And I wouldn't bother screaming, the room is sound-proof."

Jess tried to speak but couldn't. Looking around the room, she knew he was right; the room was soundproof. Her mind was racing. She knew she would be missed at Uppercuts and she knew that Trent had known about Gary. She just prayed that everyone put it together in time.

"You know, I think we should have a discussion about abnormal sexual behaviour. Just you and me. Maybe you can explain why I am the way I am." Gary smiled. "Maybe I can even show you some." He laughed again and Jess cringed. She now noticed the 6-inch blade in his hands.

"If you want to talk, go ahead. I am listening," Jess said, quietly. "What do you consider abnormal?"

Gary got up and walked around. He began to tell Jess about all he had done. "See? I kept pictures, souvenirs." He looked at the pictures on the walls almost lovingly. Jess felt sickened and frightened but she tried not to show it. "Do you think I am abnormal, Teach?" he finally asked.

Jess tried to choose her words carefully. "I think what you do isn't normal. I think you could use some help. A good therapist could help you ....."

He cut her off angrily. "I've seen therapists. They just look at me with contempt and try to lock me up. They don't want to help."

"Then you haven't found the right one, yet," Jess said, calmly. She was trying to buy time and keep Gary calm. "There are all kinds of therapists and you just have to find one you trust and can relate to."

"Like you?" Gary said, coming close to Jess again, whispering in her ear. "Could you help me?"

"I'm not fully licensed," she told him, shivering at his closeness. "You need someone with more experience than I have."

"Yeah, right. You don't want to help either. Well, maybe I'll just tell you anyway."

**

Trent and Carlos had both raced into the apartment complex as fast as they could. Now, as they stood in front of the door, they hesitated. Trent knocked, while Carlos stood off to the side with his gun drawn. When there was no answer, Trent knocked harder. Finally, they decided to kick the door in. With a crash, the door opened. The apartment was quiet. Wordlessly, Trent and Carlos searched the apartment but to no avail. No one was there.

"Now what?" Trent asked, feeling the weight of Jess' disappearance.

"I've got an idea," Carlos told him.

**

"So, do you want to hear about my troubled childhood?" Gary asked, pacing.

"Whatever you want to tell me," Jess lied. She was beginning to feel the hopelessness of her situation but tried to keep up the facade. "Was it troubled?"

"My mother hated me and my father could have cared less. Isn't that the story I'm supposed to give?" he said, laughing.

"You are supposed to tell the truth." Jess tried to move but couldn't. She wasn't even sure how long she had been there.

As Gary continued his aimless mutterings, Jess thought she had heard something. But could she have if the room was sound proof? Quietly, she turned towards the door, as Gary paced. Again, she thought she heard a noise. Could she be dreaming? Was it the drug? As she was about to chastise herself for being silly, the door burst open.

"Trent!" she yelled. "Watch out!" She held her breath as Gary lunged at him from behind the door. Trent saw him out of the corner of his eye and spun to deliver a kick to Gary's hand. As the blade went flying, Trent landed several punches and kicks. Jess tried to pull herself back into a corner but found herself being helped to her feet. She looked up to see Carlos standing over her, untying her bound hands. As she felt the ropes loosen, she threw her arms around Carlos and started to cry.

"Shhh," he told her, holding her. "You're just fine now." Looking over he saw that Trent had left Gary unconscious.

"Are you okay, Jess?" Trent asked, moving over to her.

A mumbled, "yes," came from her as she continued to cling to Carlos.

Trent smiled slightly, and told Carlos, "I'll call Walker." As he pulled out his cell phone, Carlos guided Jess out of the room.

"He told me everything," she whispered. "Thank you for finding me." Carlos just nodded.

**

Two Weeks Later

"Gentlemen, a toast." Butch raised his glass. "To Alex Cahill, the best prosecutor in the State of Texas." All those present agreed and raised their glasses. "Another conviction to be proud of!" Alex smiled and raised her glass.

"And to Samantha. May she finally rest in peace." Again, everyone agreed and raised their glasses. Alex turned to Trent, putting a hand on his arm. "She would have been proud, Trent. Of everything you have done."

"Thanks, Alex." Trent said, smiling, slightly. Turning to the rest of the group, he said, "I've got to go do a few things. I'll see you all later." As Trent headed to the door, he was stopped by a hand on his shoulder. Turning around, he saw Jess.

"I just want to say thanks for everything, Trent," she said as she hugged him. "Without you and Carlos...."

Trent hugged her back. "No problem, Jess. You've helped us both, more than you know. I'll see you later. I might need to talk to someone if that's okay."

Jess smiled. "You bet."

**

As everyone was leaving, Kim quietly came up to Carlos. "This came in the mail, today, Carlos. I though you might want it." She handed him a pink envelope. There was no return address but Carlos instantly recognized the writing.

"Thanks, Kim," he said, turning the letter over in his hands. Ordering another beer, he sat down at a table by himself. After about 10 minutes of staring at it, he opened the letter.

"My dearest Carlos," it began. He stopped reading it, not sure if he wanted to continue. Finally, he turned his eyes back to the paper. "The first thing I want to say is that I am sorry but I know my words are just not enough. I know you have gone through a really tough time and once again, rather than being there for you, I ran away. I can't tell you how ashamed I am of myself for not being strong enough to stay there, love you and help you through your pain. The problem is, Carlos, that I am not that strong. Sam was always the strong one and without her I am lost. She always knew what to say to kick me in the butt when I needed it, or to hug me when I needed that. I'm just sorry I couldn't see past my own pain, and that I lashed out at you and Trent. I'm not sure that you will ever forgive me or even if I will forgive myself. Somehow, I just hope you understand. I love you, Carlos and I always will, but I just can't come back there. Please give Trent my love and give Sam a rose for me. Good-bye, my love. Sarah."

Slowly, Carlos folded up the paper and placed it in his coat pocket. "You okay?" He looked up to see Jess.

"Just fine. Want to see a movie tonight?" he asked, smiling.

**

As he turned the key in the lock, Trent hesitated. He knew this was something he had to do, but that didn't make it any easier. Slowly, he opened the door to reveal the place he and Sam had called home for over two years. Closing the door behind him, he leaned up against it and let the memories come flooding back. He almost expected her to come out of the kitchen, calling a greeting to him. He knew his mom and Carlos had been there regularly to keep the place clean and lived in but everything was almost as it had been before he and Sam had left on their vacation.

Looking around, Trent saw signs of Sam everywhere. There were pictures of the two of them, of Carlos and Sarah and just about everyone else who had meant anything to them. Sam had loved pictures and had surrounded herself with them. Taking a deep breath, Trent forced himself further into the apartment. As a wave of sorrow came over him, he remembered something Jess had told him. He could almost hear her words. 'Remember her spirit, Trent. Remember all the things you loved about her and all the joy you had. Don't just mourn her, celebrate her.' Trent smiled as he looked at the pictures and thought about the times he and Sam had had. He thought about all the times they had fought and made up, the times when Sam had been so infuriating. He thought about all the fun they had had together, the joy they had brought each other. He was surprised to find himself smiling, laughing through the tears. As much as he missed her, he finally knew that everything was going to be okay.