Darkness and Light

Greg stepped into the locker room, still shaken from the note. He tried to take his mind off it by doing his job. He had gone to Jacqui for an update on the print and got a hit, a repeat offender out on parole.

Vega was looking for the robber now and there was nothing else Greg could do. The idea of going home didn’t appeal to him, but he didn’t want to be caught alone by Kristine. He had a feeling she was out there waiting for her chance to strike.

I’m not going to give her that chance, he thought as he pulled on his jacket and closed his locker.

He made his way out of the building and toward his car. The night was warm and the city seemed to be holding its breath. Greg tensed, but he picked up his pace as he spotted his car.

He pulled out his keys as he neared the vehicle. A breeze blew around him and he stopped, his hair standing on end. He stared into the darkness, his hand on the car’s door handle.

“Greg,” a voice like the breeze itself came to his ears.

His heart raced as recognition coursed through him. He knew that voice and fear washed over him. He jerked the door open, wanting to get away.

“Still running away, Greg?” The voice was closer now, behind him.

He spun around and froze at what he saw. The woman before him wore black slacks and a red blouse. Her auburn hair was flowed over her shoulders like blood. He pressed against the car, wishing he could merge into it. He didn’t want to believe she was standing before him, didn’t want to believe she had found him.

“Kristine,” Greg whispered.

“So you remember me,” she said with a laugh. “I’m touched.”

Greg glared at her as she closed the gap between them. He stared into her green eyes as a chill went down his spine. He shivered as he saw the glint in her eyes, remembering what came with such a look.

“We’ve been over for years, Kristine,” he said harshly. “You don’t own me.”

Kristine smiled as she ran a finger down his chest. Another shiver went through him, but it wasn’t from desire. She leaned in to kiss him, but he moved his head. She kissed his cheek instead.

“We are far from over, Greg,” she whispered. “You will be mine again.”

“I seriously doubt it,” he said as he shoved her away.

Kristine stumbled back, surprised. Her eyes flashed and she back-handed him, sending him slamming against his car. He slipped to the ground as stars sparked before his eyes. He blinked them away then looked up. He saw Kristine’s smiling face and he narrowed his eyes.

“Get away from me,” Greg snarled as he rose to his feet. “I want nothing to do with you!”

“I’m not letting you go again, Greg. We’re going to be together, always.”

Greg shook his head as she stepped closer to him. He backed away from her, but the car stopped him from going further as Kristine ran her hands up his chest. His heart raced as he tried to find a way to escape.

“Be with me again, Greg,” Kristine whispered in his ear.

“Never,” he said as he tried to shove her away. She held on, her arms wrapped tightly around him. She tried to kiss him again, but only received his cheek.

“Kiss me, Greg.”

“Leave me alone!” Greg shouted as he struggled against her.

“Greg!” Sara’s voice captured their attention.

Kristine glared at him. For a moment, he feared she would attack Sara. He braced himself to stop her, but she slinked back into the darkness. He slumped against the car in relief as Sara’s footsteps came toward him.

“Greg,” Sara called again and he stood and went to her. He wrapped his arms around her, kissing her with all the passion and relief he felt.

Sara pulled back and looked at him. Her eyes widened and she touched his face. He winced in pain, his fingers going to where Kristine had hit him.

“What happened?” Sara asked, concerned.

“Kristine happened,” he said with a sigh.

“She was here? Are you all right?”

“I am, now that you’re here.”

Sara scanned their surroundings and he could guess what she was thinking.

“Let’s get out of here,” he said, bringing her attention back to him, he wanted to get as far from here as possible.

She nodded and gave him a kiss before she headed toward her car. He watched her leave, excitement coursing through him. His encounter with Kristine almost forgotten as he opened the door to his car.

“So she’s my replacement, is she?”

Greg turned around to see Kristine standing before him, Sara’s headlights from her car, illuminating her. He glared at Kristine, but fear rose inside him as concern for Sara grew.

“Leave her alone, Kristine,” he said as he clinched his hands into fists. He wasn’t about to let this woman hurt Sara to get back at him.

How did she reappear so fast? Greg wondered as he stared at her. He had thought she had left. Did she stay nearby until Sara had left?

Kristine smiled as she strode toward him, a smile on her face that gave him chills.

“How much does she mean to you, Greg?” Kristine asked, her voice silky.

“That is none of your business,” he answered as Sara’s car disappeared into traffic.

Kristine ran her hand through his hair and he backed away from her as far as he could go. He wanted to climb into his car and leave, but he feared for Sara. He didn’t want Kristine to follow him home where Sara would be a target for this woman’s rage.

“I am making it my business,” she growled as she grabbed his hair and pushed him up against the car. “What is she to you or I will hurt her and kill you.”

Greg glared at her as he reached for her hand to force her to let go of his hair.

“You’ll hurt her anyway, Kristine. I know you, remember? You’ll hurt her just to get back at me.”

“Smart boy,” she whispered near his ear as he tried to pull her fist away. “But I’ll find out who she is and make it that much worse for the both of you.”

She yanked on his hair and he winced. He was through being intimidated by her and he hit her across the face, causing her to release her hold on him. He scrambled into the car, but she grabbed the collar of his shirt and yanked him out. She flung him against a nearby post, knocking the wind out of him.

He caught his breath as Kristine strode over to him, her eyes flashing in anger. He stared at her as he straightened. Was she taking steroids? In all their fights, he didn’t remember ever being tossed around like a rag doll.

I need to hit the gym, Greg thought as he took a breath to get the air back into his lungs.

“Who is she to you?” Kristine asked again in a snarl. “How can she replace me?”

“She didn’t replace you, Kristine,” Greg said calmly. “She completely removed you, tossed you out, obliterated you. However you want to put it.”

Kristine cried out in anger and back-handed him. He ducked in time and her hand hit the pole. He smiled slightly as she yelped in pain, clutching her hand. She glared at him and he raced around her, heading toward his car.

“No you don’t,” she said as she grabbed him by the jacket, pulling him to her. She wrapped her arms around him as she nibbled along his neck.

“Do you love her?” Kristine asked as she stroked his hair, sending ice cold chills down his spine.

“More than you know,” he whispered, wanting her to let him go. “More than I loved you.”

He gasped as she yanked his head back. His heart raced as she licked and kissed his throat, causing him to wonder what she was up to. He struggled against her, but she held him tighter.

“I’ll make you forget her,” she whispered. “I’ll be the only woman for you, Greg.”

Greg elbowed her in the stomach and she shoved him away from her. He landed on the ground, but he scrambled to his feet and raced toward the car. He heard her footsteps behind him, but he climbed into the car before she got a hold of him again. He slammed the car door as she banged against it in anger. He ignored her as he started the car and pulled away from her.

He looked in his review mirror and sighed in relief as she slowly became smaller. He pulled into traffic and headed home.

The fight replayed in his mind and he knew he couldn’t call Brass. Kristine was too dangerous to get anyone else involved. He would have to stop her himself.