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of the full moon shining in around the edges of the drapes. She flicked off the bedside light and got up and opened them. It was a clear night and the moon shone brightly into the room. Definitely more romantic.
    The moonlight cast an elongated replica shadow of the rose on her dresser. Lying in the shadow was a silver necklace, the moon illuminating its singular large pearl.
    Jack had received the necklace as a gift from a man he once helped. Somehow, the two gifts seem to go together. She looked out at the night sky. The world can be a wonderful place. People can be so kind. So much life and beauty.
    But within the next twenty-four hours, Natasha’s mood would change — when the man she cared for was beaten, kidnapped, and murdered.

6
    It was quarter to eight in the morning when Jack and Laura arrived at work, but not as early as their new boss, who had arrived an hour earlier. Staff Sergeant Rosemary Wood beckoned them in to her office and introductions were made.
    Jack guessed she was about six or seven years older than he was, putting her in her early to mid forties. She was tall, and judging by her build, he suspected she ran marathons. Her hair was blonde and cropped. He sensed she was studying him with some curiosity. It should have made him nervous, but the hint of bemusement on her face told him not to worry.
    “Do you prefer we call you Staff?” asked Laura.
    “I prefer Rose,” she replied. “Please, both of you take a seat. Make yourselves comfortable.”
    “Named after Rosewood?” asked Jack, as he sat down. “That small town in Florida where the Ku Klux Klan massacred people back in the 1920s.”
    Rose smiled and said, “I prefer to think my name is symbolic with rosewood, the type used in musical instruments.”
    Jack smiled. Good, she has a sense of humour.
    “Checking to see if I have a sense of humour, are you?” asked Rose.
    Jack felt slightly taken back. Okay, lady. One point for you. He gave a quick grin in response.
    “Do you two always come in so early?” asked Rose. “I’m aware that you both worked an undercover operation over the weekend and worked late last night. I didn’t expect to see you today.”
    “We had planned on working an afternoon shift, but thought we should honour you with our presence for your first day here,” replied Jack.
    “I see,” she replied. “A couple of brown-nosers.”
    Jack chuckled and replied, “If you think that about us, I suggest you ask our previous boss. He might disagree.”
    Rose smiled and said, “That would be Staff Quaile. Yes, I heard about your relationship with him.”
    “You’ve done your homework,” said Jack.
    “It wasn’t hard. Rather curious, really.”
    “Oh?” asked Jack.
    “Are either of you aware of where I was supposed to be transferred to?”
    “I only know that you came from Toronto and worked on terrorism,” said Laura.
    “Yes. The Integrated National Security Enforcement Team, or INSET as it is called. Up until a week ago I thought I was being transferred to Commercial Crime.”
    “I heard that there had been a last-minute change,” replied Jack. “I didn’t hear why.”
    “I thought I was being transferred under a cloud. Back east, I was criticized by the brass for gathering intelligence at a commercial location. They said it did not meet the judicial criteria in regard to a search.”
    “Searching a place after office hours without a warrant?” suggested Jack.
    Rose stared at him for a moment before replying, “It seems you’ve done your homework, as well.”
    Jack shrugged in response.
    “For the record,” continued Rose, “my watch was wrong. I didn’t realize the office was closed for the night as opposed to an employee having stepped out for a moment. It didn’t help that someone left the door unlocked. It could have been by the same janitor who was sleeping in an office across the hall and happened upon me. It complicated matters further when he later decided to call headquarters to