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time of solitude to think.
    “I’m sorry.  I guess I don’t make a good detective after all.”  Annabel pouted.
    “It’s okay.  You really didn’t miss much.  I got pictures and we know where she lives.  Now the fun begins.”  Danni laughed nudging Annabel in the ribs.
    “Gotcha.”  She giggled knowing this was going to be her detail for the next few days.
    As Danni pulled into Annabel’s driveway she felt sad.  She would not admit it, but the stake out with her new partner was the best evening she had in a long time.  Reluctantly, she gave detailed instructions; where to park and how to go unnoticed.  Annabel nodded as a cool breeze blew past her as she was getting out of the car.  She shivered as she listened.  Danni was giving her the opportunity to prove herself and she was determined not to let her down. 
    Less than twenty four hours passed and Annabel stood near the towering church adjacent from the apartment complex where the prostitute lived.  She looked over the notes and the pictures that Danni gave her.  She had a visual using the binoculars her partner handed her.  She hid in the dark of the entrance of the gothic structure of the cathedral.  She could clearly see the woman as she walked from room to room.
    Annabel wondered why the woman looked so sad, she could see from the distance as she paced back and forth and ran her fingers through her hair.  The display tore at her heart.  How can she live like this?  She sent the question into the obis not expecting an answer.  It disgusted her as she tried to understand how a woman could sleep with men to pay her bills.  That is when she saw him, a figure of a man on the fire escape.  She tried to get a better look at him, but when he turned his head in her direction, the view was obscured by the bars.  She took several pictures, but his pace picked up as he carefully climbed the steps.  He was only two floors from the prostitute’s window.  Her heart pounded in her chest. She ran across the street all the while dialing Danni’s cell to advise she was in pursuit of the suspect.
    The dagger in the hooded figures hand still grasped its hilt, but now they moved to jerk it from it nest in the woman’s chest, which convulsed in response.  The woman watched in terror as the dark liquid flowed easily from her to the floor while the killer drew the weapon further out.  The noise from the television muffle the blood curdling scream, the hooded figure laughed when the sharp edge slid across her throat and the last thing the woman saw was her attacker’s eyes before all went black. 
    Footsteps from the stairs echoed into the apartment.  The killer looked out the window to flee but a body climbing the staircase halted the escape.  The hooded killer ran to the door to flee but the footsteps got closer and closer. 
    Just as Flanery reached the door, she opened it slowly, from the entrance she could see the woman lying on the floor.  She stepped in slowly gun drawn.  She took three steps forward unaware she was not alone.  She heard a shuffling noise behind her, but before she could turn, a sharp pain shot into her head, and the room around her began to spin, she tried to focus to shoot her attacker, but was struck again.  Then all went black. 
    Danni told her not to enter the apartment until she arrived.  But Annabel already ended the call as she ran up the five flights of stairs.
    “Shit.  .  .  Shit!” Danni cussed as she ran from the restaurant leaving her and Annabel’s bag of food on the counter.  She dialed the number back several times but no answer.  She drove the three blocks and pulled outside of the building with her police light flashing. 
    The hooded figure laughed again, this time louder than before.  Two for one the voice said as the knife hilt was pulled from its holster.  Before the kill could be completed, flashing police lights were visible from the open window.  “Next time!” The killer hissed upset