Footsteps, my own, hit the wooden floor, echoing in the silent apartment. It's as empty as I am. My head is still reeling, my heart a mess. It feels worse than a hangover. Once again I've been played by a cop. I'm an intelligent girl, yet I fell for their game again. Now, I just feel stupid.

I walk into the kitchen, sleep still in my eyes. I rub it away. The coffee machine hums to life. I may no longer be working with Cyber Crimes, but nevertheless I have to go to my real job. With coffee in my system, I shower and prepare as best I can for the day ahead. I tell myself over and over again that I will not let what happened to me yesterday affect me today. I deserved to know the truth, even if it did come from my ever-so-helpful stalker. I close the door behind me as I leave, messenger bag over my shoulder.

Work is a dull drone of monotonous duties. Nothing I'm very interested in. George tries his hardest to get me to laugh, or so much as smile, succeeding only once or twice. He knows how much this revelation is weighing on me and feels horrible about it. But he can't fix anything. Tommy broke my trust; he broke me more than any serial killer could have and I don't know why. The one person who could help me, I never want to see again. But I do, every time I close my eyes his image is there, stubble-speckled jaw, weird comb-over and all. I hate that Tommy's in my head.

Bricks pull my feet down to each step. "Almost there," I think to myself as I climb the last few stairs to my apartment. Keys in hand, I reach for the knob with the other. I've just unlocked the door and stepped inside when I hear footsteps ascending the stairs, fast. I shut the door just as fast and lock it. I set up my laptop on the table in the living room and go the kitchen to look for leftovers. I pick out some Chinese and return to the couch to log on. I have to continue to search for Sara, with or without the Cyber Unit. Just as I start to type in Babylon, there's a knock on the door. I push myself off the cushions and look through the peep hole. No one is there, but I've learned to be suspicious and careful. After a few seconds, I slowly unlock and open the door. Again, no one, but a note lays just outside the door. I pick it up by a corner and walk back to the table after re-locking the door.

Inside, in classic serial-killer style, is a note that reads, "Lindy, my sweet, perfect Lindy. I told we make a great team, better than you and either of those so-called cops. They don't even know who I am. I would never, could never, hurt you like that, Lindy. See you soon."

I'm not scared, just angry. I throw the letter as hard as I can towards the wall, but of course it just flutters to the ground. This, this person will not have control over me. With tears in my eyes, I return to searching for the only person who could bring me peace right now, my sister.

Sun streams in through the window, hitting my tired eyes. I lift my head off the arm of the couch and stretch, my whole body aching. Falling asleep on this old thing was not the best idea. I was unable to find much last night, I thought of buying my sister on Babylon, but I was worried about what would happen if I did. Cyber Crimes probably bugged my computer and would come storming in if I so much as made an account. It's not like it would be beneath them. I set up a new firewall and check the old one as a precaution. Coffee inside me, as well as breakfast, I head to the park. As an afterthought, I had stashed the letter in my bag before leaving.

Fallen leaves cover the ground, turning the green grass into a collage of burnt orange, yellow, and crimson. It was beautiful. I loved strolling in the park on Saturdays; it was one of my favorite things, actually. All of the people out, having fun, make me feel a sense of togetherness that I don't get to experience often, especially now that Sophia is safe somewhere far away. Loneliness seems to drag me down even more without her. I think about how to save my sister and catch the killer, I think about Ben and Tommy, how different but how similar they are, I think about Catherine, the one who orchestrated it all. Two days ago she told me that she wanted to talk about my "position" at CCU. I would never go back anymore; they've fooled me twice and that's all they're going to get out of me. Disgusted, I turn right past the tallest tree in New York City. A couple sits on the bench under the tree's coverage. I want to warn them to not get too attached, but I refrain from it. They're not me, not everyone close to them will die.

A dog barks and I look up in enough time to see Tommy turn around with the barking dog and head in the other direction. He must have changed his mind because he lets his dog lead him back towards me. I don't want to talk to him, but don't walk away either. I let Tommy come up to me and he stands too close to me. Not too close that I'm uncomfortable, but too close for what happened just two days ago. And again, I don't move away. His voice shakes and a million emotions play around on his face, happy, sad, embarrassed, and longing, as he says my name, "Lindy."

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