....Someone's stepping over your grave.......

The creature turned its head to the shattered night sky and cried. It let out the deepest sigh of sorrow, as if it knew what was about to take place tonight. Shining fang, the sharp contrast of white on black, much like the bonds that grace the neck of an ecclesiastic...a howl of pain beats like a fresh spirit at the walls of the time share cottage.

Gabi: Don't tell me that was a wolf!....

Antonio glanced out the window, a spark of wonder in his eyes.

Antonio: (smiles) I think it was!

Gabi: Why do they do that?

Antonio: What, howl?

Gabi: Yess!

Antonio: They're stalking their prey. They're not stalking us, don't worry, Gabi....(laughs) Unless of course they're Duran Duran fans.

Her eyes flashed over him for a split second, regarding him like the prey her heart had once stalked in the night...dissolving the thought instantly.

Gabi: I'm....sorry for being such a baby....

Antonio: Hey...you're not. You're one of the bravest people I know.

Gabi: (rolls her eyes) Antonio...you know that's completely untrue....I proved it to you. I wasn't even brave enough to tell you the truth.

Antonio: He coerced you. You lied to me because he made you, Gabi. I should've known the truth would make him grasp for control like that. I don't know how you lived...so afraid like that. Afraid of what he would do if I found out and he found out I knew he knew-- whoa. (mutters) God, that's a mouthful.

Gabi: It.....it hasn't been a picnic in that house, Antonio. But I'm doing what I have to do to make it up to him.

Antonio:... By what, being a, a doll in a doll house?....

Gabi: Antonio! It's where I belong, OK?

Antonio: No, it's where he's made you feel like you deserve to be. (turns to the window) Are we really where we belong, Gabi?...

Gabi: I don't know if there's an answer to that.

Antonio:....Gabi...there's something I have to ask you....did he ever...challenge your feelings for me? Test you?...

Gabi: (looks down) The police benefit dance.

Antonio: Oh, man...I should've known...the way he absolutely insisted that I take you out that night. He lied to my face while he was toying with you? He's really proven himself to be far, far above us, hasn't he???

Gabi felt a sudden pang of despair as she was struck by his growing angst. Her hand moved instinctively to his shoulder.

Antonio: How can I......how can I just bury the way I feel about you for Ricardo's sake if he's breaking you down?? It makes me want to scream inside.....I sacrificed everything...I stayed a priest so you could have the life I thought you wanted. It was because I thought you were happy!! Not because you were under his thumb!!

Gabi: Antonio........I'm sorry...I hurt you to your soul, I know I did, and.......please.....

Antonio: Did he....ask you about that night.....the police dance?

Gabi: Yes..........

Antonio: (angrily)...I'm sure he was the perfect gentleman. After that little remark about how "good" I was, I honestly and truly can't wait to hear this. How inexcusably crass was he, exactly? Did he ask if I was grinding on you like Patrick Swayze?? If I still "did it for you??"

Gabi: OK, OK, in so many words, yes!

Antonio: (staring off into space) And what did you say...?

Gabi: I told him no!! ....But........we both know that dance wasn't completely innocent......as much as we both want to deny it....

Antonio: (snickers) Yeah. How long did it take us to realize the slow song had stopped?

Gabi: (smiles slightly) Until Ruiz cut in.

Antonio: Right. And he was surveillance, I suppose.

Gabi: (folds her arms) Well, he didn't notice anything unusual. Guess that tells you something.

Antonio: What...that we were stuck in a stolen moment with each other and didn't want to wake up?

Gabi: I felt the same way....I swear to you....

Antonio: (sighs) And what am I supposed to do with this knowledge now ?

Gabi: I don't know....Antonio, I don't know...but I promise you, we'll figure this out tonight...I swear to you on our friendship......on our........our....

With a shroud of sadness hanging over her, she wrapped her arms around him quickly and tugged him into a hug...crushing the air from his lungs with the strength of the embrace for a moment, as he returned the sweet interlock.....a tear falling from her eye in a jacknife-like drop to the dark suede of his jacket.

The man in leather tasted a bitter sensation in his dry mouth. Mixed with the after-essence of victory beer, the taste caused by the sight he spied through his night vision binoculars ravaged him with a vengeance.

Ricardo: Didn't take 'em too long to find their way back into each others' arms, did it....!

He bent on weak knees to the black duffel bag, and the 9- millimeter silver special appeared beneath the crescent moon....his thick, harsh fingers practically denting the handle.

Crouching in the darkness, he dropped the bullets into the chamber.

Ricardo: (disturbed) Oh-ho-ho yeah, baby. Sudden change of plans. An embellishment...to an already flawless setup. Lights on my tree. I mean, why put 'em through hell tonight without makin' em dance a little first? If I got Balki and Larry on a string.....why not yank it really hard one last time.....once more before they're gone forever......

He cocked the pistol and pried a map out of the duffel bag, tracing the obscure path of the surrounding area with a quivering hand.

Ricardo: Y'know what they say about the infamous San Karma Woods.....deja vu at every turn. That oughta keep 'em busy till the feds show up. And when they come to the light at the clearing...hands to the sky...how will that look? C'mon you two....where'd you dump the body, huh?.............

He looked to the pitch blackness of the forest, clutching the gun...the sounds of vicious animals.....the swaying of the trees blocking out the world....smiling like a devil.......

.......

Gabi loosened her hold on Antonio slightly, her eyes rising to meet his...almost in terror of what she would see. What she did see...that made it all the more clear that it wasn't over between them....and never would be......

His eyes were dark pools that she could see right through...and past the brewing tears that corroded the edges of the orbs...shaking irises...his heart was shining in them...he still needed her....she was the fuel of eye and heart. As her arms dropped from the hug, his own still firmly in place...one arm of her jacket slipped down, her low-cut purple shirt falling a bit to the side with it, exposing the glimmering contour of her shoulder. She felt his frightened breathing ripping at his chest as he swallowed painfully at the sight....his hand drawn magnetically to his claimed territory of her body. His fingers tensed around it, kneading slowly as her lips were torn open by a ragged exhaling, her eyes nighthawks stalking his...

...This familiar sensation of best friend pacing madly at the door of lover.

Antonio: (softly) I-I don't want to let you go. That voice....that little voice in my head is grating on my last nerves...it's telling me to stop but I can't.........

Gabi: (whispers) Then don't........

Oblivious to anything outside the tiny space between them....oblivious to Ricardo....his thorn-covered "forgiveness,"...the chauvinist's rash need to silence this gentle woman....lock her away......Gabi put her fingers to Antonio's lips as he was about to speak.

Antonio: I--

Gabi: Shhhh......I already know what you're gonna say....

Antonio: You..you do?...

Gabi: Well....no. But I know it's not as important of what we have to do.

Antonio: No....no....it really isn't.--wait, what....what we have to do?...

Gabi: It's the only way to know the way we feel for sure.

Antonio: (nervously) Then I....guess I already know.....because....

Gabi: Yes......?

Antonio: (whispers) I already feel our kiss.

Her caressing fingers surrounding his face....she moved slowly in for the kill...that one swift passage of time that would confirm that a past mistake had never ended....they were immersed in it now....glowing.....white hot......mistake............

But before the capacious pink doorways to their hungers could meet, a gunshot filled their minds....the shattering of the large picture window, the path of the bullet, who knows where....they lunged to the floor, grasping at each other.

Gabi: Oh my God oh my GOD!!!! Somebody's shooting at us from outside!!!! Go, go!! We gotta get to the car!!!!!

Antonio: No, Gabi!!!!!

Ricardo ducked beneath the window and fired into the air again and again with a grin....hearing Gabi screech with fright as she bolted back from the window into Antonio's arms.

Antonio: This way, out the back door!

He yanked her hand and they hitailed it out of the cottage into the ominous woods, the snapping of twigs and brush resounding fiercely as they sprinted hand-in-hand into nowhere.

Ricardo fired the gun a few more times for kicks, regarding the zigzagging of the foliage until he could see it no more.

Ricardo: (chuckling) Gotcha. Oh-ho, man....I can hear the Chariots of Fire theme playin' right now. Hm...too bad the only ribbon they'll be runnin' through will be police tape once the guys bombard the area. That is...after they have a fun little hike through Mr. Poisonous Horntoad 's Wild Ride.

He waltzed around the time share, leaving a drop of blood or two here and there.......it wouldn't be long now.

As Antonio and Gabi burned their way through the woods, the gunshots still ringing in their ears...another terrible noise fell over them.....the ravenous howl of the wolf....not in the distance....but near enough to rattle their senses completely.

Antonio: Oh no, OH no......that sounded so close.....

Clutching his shoulder, Gabi shrank behind him, their eyes meshing for a flash in time.

The sepulchral scream of the wolf again, and their hands were clinging.

Gabi: Antonio???

Antonio: Gabi???

Gabi: (pushing him) Go, c'mon, c'mon go we gotta get out of here...!

Interlude

The young blond man spun around giddily in the swivel chair, flashing a million dollar smile.

J.C., you have got it made!

The swivel chair rolled out from underneath him, dumping him on the floor.

Jude: (crawling back into the chair) Ah, yes, excuse me, gentlemen...as junior CEO of the Lunacy Corporation, it is my sworn duty to screw around on company time. Now get back to work!!

He chuckled loudly, his laughter echoing through the empty moonlit office.

Jude: Oh, I am too good at this!

The cell phone at the desk began to chirp obnoxiously.

Jude: Ooh! That must be A.J. with some really important news on the benefits of oat bran! (clicks it on) Cavanaugh here.

Man: Agent Cavanaugh, are you alone? This is Alpha Central.

Jude: Go ahead, Alpha.

Man: Agent, I know you're engrossed in the Richards case at the moment...but I have a favor to ask you.

Jude: Oohoo....what kind of favor, Red Leader? Should I wear my racy panties?

Man: *Ahem*....Mis-ter Cavanaugh...as much as I appreciate your never-less-than-casual slant on your work....this is important. I need you to access Mainframe and do a scan on every officer in the SBPD. Annual C.I.A. database check-up on the boys...sorry to rope you in to this. District Attorney's orders.

Jude: (typing) Can do, can do, sir. Not a problem. If any of them have as much as an overdue library book, I'll know. Ciao.

He tapped away on the laptop, unknowing of the interesting tidbits he was about to stumble upon.

Jude: Let's see...... Ruiz, Oscar......squeaky clean...Spencer, Brett....hmm....frequent Visa usage at the Java Web. Oh, yes. "Visa. It's everywhere one nasty cup o' joe wants to be." (snickers) ...Detective Ricardo Torres...on medical leave. (raises an eyebrow) And....oh! What's this little juicy scoop? A million dollar life insurance policy on him by his wife no less. Well ain't that a murder mystery waiting to happen. Hmph.....a little too Agatha Christie for my tastes....Computer, bring up a copy of policy.

His eyes narrowed.

Jude: Hmh....I'm no handwriting expert, but.....Computer, cross scan signature of Gabriella Torres with other signed documents of the same name.

Computer Screen: NO MATCHING FILES FOUND.

Jude: Cross scan with signature of Ricardo Torres.

Computer Screen: Scanning..../////////// 99.8 % IDENTICAL.

Jude: Well I'll be damned. Forging your wife's John Hancock, are you, Detective Torres? Now why would that be? Let's see.....Gabriella Torres.......speeding tickets....marriage license.....airport locker registration with....Father Antonio Torres as of 12/7/99? What the hell....? Computer, access locker security cam at L.A.X, elapsed time, the last 24 hours. There! Enlarge......enlarge some more......that's it!

A blue-tinted stillframe of Ricardo in vestments was frozen on the screen, his priestly hand stuffing various items in the locker.

Jude: *Tsk, tsk.* A paraplegic that can Macarena. And play dress up too! Now is this a miracle of medical science, OR...a crooked cop on paid leave for his very twisted wittle hobbies? I wonder.....

He picked up the cell.

Jude: It's me. We've got problems.

Ricardo's car slithered to a stop a few miles down the deserted road. He staggered out, holding the gun and a tiny phone.....the little cellular key to the chain reaction he was about to set off.

Ricardo: Well....time to seal their tombs. Heh. That is, if the Blair Witch doesn't first. (dials the phone) Michael Bourne, come on down. You're on Candid Star-Witness!

*.........RING......RING......*

Vanessa: (smiling) Michael, we are not having an accordion player at our wedding!

Michael: Aw, come on, Scoop! Tacky-Chic is the new trend! Corny, yet sophisticated?

*.......RING......RING......*

Ricardo: Dammit! Come on, Mike...what're ya doin', rescuin' somebody in your bathtub??

Vanessa: Is one of us going to get the phone sometime this millennium?

Michael: (snuggles up) Mmm....how 'bout we just ignore it.....

Vanessa: Mi-chael!! Wait, wait, it might be Mom. She said she'd call when the results of her final Martin's Syndrome tests were in! This is important!

Michael: Oh, yeah, that's right! I'll get it. Y-eello? Corny Groom- to-Be speaking.

Ricardo: (whimpery voice) Michael.....it's me...

Michael: Ricardo? Where are you?

Ricardo: Aw, Michael.....it's a nightmare, man.....I....

Michael: Wha...? Oh--Ricardo, listen, stay on the line. I got another call. Vanessa's waiting to hear from Lena, it's real important, hold on, bud, OK? *CLICK*

Ricardo: Bu---Michael. Michael??? (muttering) Aw, Jesus, don't do this to me! You've been my rock, my supporter, Mikey--don't screw up now!

Suddenly, Ricardo heard a terrible crackling noise...and muddled voices on the line.

*~~~~How long have you been constipated, Henry?~~~~CRSSHSSS~~*

~~~`````Oh, it's been about a week since I had a nice movement~~~CRSHHSHS~~~````

Ricardo: Naw, naw, it's pickin' up someone else's damn conversation!! This piece o'--

Then it fuzzed into Spanish radio!

*LA LA LA LA LA BAMBA!! ~~~~~CRSSSH~~~UN POCA DES GRAZIAS~~~***CRRRSH****YARIBA YARIBA!*

Ricardo: No, no, don't do this, I'll shoot my frickin' self, dammit!

Michael: *CLICK*...Hey, Ricardo! That was Vanessa's mom. The tests came back negative! The doctors are 100% sure she won't relapse! Isn't that--

Ricardo: Yeah, yeah, that's spectacular, Michael, listen.....it's....it's a nightmare, man....Antonio an' Gabi--

Michael: Speak up, Ricardo! You're breakin' up. What about Antonio and Gabi? Are they alright?

Ricardo: (whiny) If ya' call bein' naked in bed together alright!

Michael: What? Ricardo, I can barely hear you! Are Antonio and Gabi in trouble??

Ricardo: *Ahem*...I said, they're naked!

Michael: You can't take it?? Can't take what??

Ricardo: (grits teeth) Antonio an' Gabi!!!

Michael: (covers phone and whispers) 'Ness, something's really wrong! Ricardo's like, flippin' out on his brother and Gabi or--

Ricardo: (sobby) Oh Michael! The humanity, dammit!! Antonio...Gabi.......noooo!!!!!!

*BANG, BLAM, BANG!!!!!!!*

Michael and Vanessa flinched a mile at the sound of the fizzy explosion on the line...then silence.

Vanessa: Ohh....my GOD......

.........

Michael: Vanessa....I think Ricardo just shot Antonio and Gabi!!

Gabi fell against the silver-lit trunk of a tree, struggling for breath as Antonio glared behind them in panic.

Antonio: (panting) You OK??

Gabi: (reaching to him) No......it's stalking us, Antonio.......I can feel its eyes on us......we're wolf meat!

Antonio: Hey.....it's alright, it's alright. I'm more worried about the demented human out there with the gun than the wildlife right now, OK?

Gabi: Have I mentioned how amazing you are in the last hour?

Antonio flashed the Indiglo on his watch.

Antonio: (slyly) It's just about time.

Gabi: Oh God, Antonio...you were wrong about me...I'm NOT brave.....I always lose it whenever we get into trouble...you're the only reason I stay sane.

Antonio: Well, considering the source of your sanity is scared out of his wits too...don't worry about it. Hey, hey...I know how to take ours minds off it.....look at the moon.

She snuggled closer...entranced by his power to calm her out of any terror.

Gabi: Yeah...it looks like a giant croissant in the sky, doesn't it?

Antonio: Gabi....I know this sounds incredibly hackneyed and stupid....but you have to know....if I could....I'd pull it out of the sky for you...

Gabi: You know, under a different set of circumstances that would sound like an incredibly corny pick-up line.

Antonio: But since we're in the middle of the woods, prey to a wolf and a nut with a 45?

Gabi: It sounds like you, Antonio.

He felt himself drop closer to her against the safety of the towering tree...and she suddenly snapped back, a sour look of utter horror blazing across her tiny features....

Antonio: What, what is it, Gabi??

She covered her mouth with her hands, then wriggled them in the air.

Antonio: What??

Gabi: A-Antonio....remember what you said about not having to worry about the wildlife???

Antonio: Yeah, so???

Gabi: Whatever you do, don't move!!

Antonio's craned his head to the side slightly as he caught a glimpse of his right shoulder...and the bright shimmery twist of scales gliding across it of the small but all too threatening venomous snake.

Antonio: Oh....my....God.......

To Be Continued..........On to the next chapter....