"I figured you did," Alicia said, smiling slightly. She couldn't remember the last time she trusted a man. For some reason she really trusted Charlie. It was a nice feeling to have, trust.

"Of course you are going to be interviewed," she laughed, but quickly added, "I'm sorry. It's just in this job I tend to ask a lot of questions. It's nothing personal. I'm just programmed that way." She found herself explaining her faults. She considered it a fault. A lot of people didn't like their lives to be probed into.

Looking out the window for a moment, she saw the neighborhood they were driving through. It was cute. It was something she pictured she'd live in some day. She had been listening as he spoke. The moment he mentioned his mother getting ill and passing away her face moved back to his. There was hurt in her voice with she spoke, "I'm so sorry, Charlie. I didn't know." There was a pause as she thought about what he said, "What happened?" She finally asked.

Charlie laughed after hearing her explanation, "Programmed that way? Like a VCR?" he laughed again, "nah, I don't mind the questions. It's not a bad thing to ask questions." he smiled, looking at her again, briefly. He didn't see anything wrong with it. Despite his... well, secret, he didn't mind answering questions. And it wasn't like she had a gun to his head and he had to answer. He could just say 'no comment' like they do on TV, right?

He heard her asking him more about it, despite the hurt in her voice. She was definitely a report, just had to ask questions. He really, truly didn't mind it though. Charlie never got the chance to share his stories or feelings with anyone else- well, other than Bailey. He smiled a little as he drove, "Don't worry about it." he told her, "She was in the hospital awhile, a rehab center, more like it. She had cancer for awhile. And the doctors didn't take very good care of her. Someone poisoned her while she was in there, and that's when I came and took her home. While I was gone one day, off at work when I worked twelve hour shifts at the factory, they came back to finish her off. My sister too... They hurt them bad before they killed them though..." he said, his stomach churning. He hated what those people did to his family, and they had to repent for it. Charlie was going to make sure of it...

"Yeah," Alicia laughed, "like a VCR." His analogy gave her a good smile. She was glad to hear that he didn't mind the questions. It was hard for her to turn that switch off. It was why she was a reporter. She was good at asking questions, sometimes she was even good at getting honest answers out of people.

She listened to him explain the history with his mother. The whole while she sat in shock. Her face blanched. "Charlie! That's horrible! Did you report them?" And deep down she was thinking she should cover that story while she was in town too. A reporter could unravel all the horrible things that place had done, but she didn't want to upset Charlie and tell him her idea.

"Was this a rehab center in town?" She didn't want to come out and ask a name of the place. If she could just get him to tell her what city it was in she could find the place his mother was hospitalized at.

He smiled as she laughed. Maybe calling her a VCR wasn't quite the right terminology, but that's how she made herself seem.

She was horrified at the story about his mother, and Charlie was thinking it wasn't such a good idea to have brought that up today. He parked in front of the house he was told to go to and he shut off the truck and looked at her, "Of course I did. The police investigated, caught 'em and let 'em go." he said and looked down, sighing, "The rehab center was in the next town over." he answered her, a small smiled, "Well, we can finish out interrogation of me later. Right now, you've got people waiting for you." he said, pointing at the house. The front door was open a little, as if they were wondering who was there for them.

Charlie got out and went around her side of the truck and opened the door, also holding his hand out to help her. Then he decided it might be a good idea to get a running board put on. He didn't expect this thing with her to be permenant, but he wasn't expecting it not to either- not that either of those were on his mind. He was just thinking about making things easier for her while she was there.

Alicia sighed when Charlie said the police investigated and caught them, but to her horror he said they let them go. "They released them?" This was horrible. What kind of justice system did they have here? He was right though. They were at the house of the person she needed to interview, so it was best to let it drop for now. Well, she wouldn't bring it up to him again. Silently she thought how she was going to go hunting out this bit of information on her own.

The conversation between them would be forestalled for now. Alicia put her game face on and let Charlie help her out of the truck. For now, she had to focus on the job her boss sent her to do.

Once she was on her two feet she strolled to the front door and knocked. An older woman answered. She looked to be in her eighties. "Hello, Mrs. Coleman?" Alicia smiled that winning smile, the one that one peoples trust over in a heartbeat. "My name is Alicia Clark. I'm a reporter for the New York Times. I was hoping I could speak to you for a moment."

The older lady seemed a little nervous. She looked back at Charlie with a frightened look. Alicia knew how older woman were. She glanced back at Charlie. "This is my friend Charlie. He lives in town."

Alicia brought out her business card to show the woman. Finally Mrs. Coleman opened the door and allowed them to enter. "Thank you, Mrs. Coleman." The older woman smiled, "You can call me Gladys. Come in here and sit." They were led to the living room. "Can I get either of you a drink or something to eat?" It was something Alicia found common in a lot of older woman, ready to serve their company. "No thank you," Alicia said then continued, "I was hoping I could ask you a few questions about the serial case here in town."

Gladys smiled, "What can I tell you that I haven't already told the police?" That was when Alicia got down to it. "I'm not looking for anything different, but I'd like to record the conversation and just go over every little detail that you can remember."

"Alright," Gladys sat down and motioned for Alicia and Charlie to follow. Alicia glanced back at Charlie and smiled before taking a seat. She hoped he wouldn't have a problem enduring this interview.

Fishing into her purse Alicia pulled out the digital voice recorder and hit record.

Charlie decided now was his time to be quiet and let Alicia do her job. He was only going to speak when spoken too. He too politely refused the drink and then let Alicia do the talking.

He had seen this woman before. Sweet old lady, from the grocery store. She knocked over a display with her cart once and couldn't bend over to pick up the cans- especially since Charlie was on the floor before she even made the attempt. He chatted with her awhile and then helped her get her groceries in her car. He also offered to follow her home to help her get them into the house and what not, but she refused, politely, not wanting to 'pester him' any further.
Charlie was afraid to know what she knew. He didn't want to hurt her to cover his tracks. He couldn't damage the poor old lady anyway, and he knew he wouldn't.

When Alicia sat, he smiled and took a seat that was left available for him, waiting to watch her at work.

The old woman looked nervous. She kept looking at the voice recorder. She wasn't afraid of giving information like she did to the police, but the police had been good about keeping her information anonymous.

"Well..." Gladys cleared her throat while Alicia encouraged her to continue. "It was one day back a few weeks ago. I had a doctor's appointment in the town over. I have to drive myself, ya know. It's a hard drive for a woman of her age." All stuff that Alicia didn't care to hear, but she wasn't going to stop Gladys from speaking. "I was on my way home. It was after five and the sun was already beginning to set. It was right off of I-94 and Lincoln Road. I had just gotten off the exit when I spotted this man, well, I guess it was a man, but it could have been a woman, dragging this long bag down the hill into the woods. It looked like a body bag. I didn't get a good look at the person or the vehicle he or she was driving. I was so shaken up that I just wanted to hurry and get home. I'm not sure the police believe my story though. They said they investigated it, but I can bet they think I'm a crazy old woman with a crazy story. I haven't heard from them since."

Alicia mused over what the woman said before asking. "You didn't get a look at his car and no identifying features of the man?"

"No, no, but if he was dragging a body out in the woods you would think that body was buried back there. If I was the police I would take the dogs out and go looking, wouldn't you, Ms. Clark?"

"Of course," Alicia admitted quickly. "Well, ma'am, we don't want to waste anymore of your time. I just wanted to get down what you had seen. I'm hoping I can pull out a good report for the Times. If they decide they want to send a camera crew out, would you mind if I come by again?"

The old woman shook her head. "I wouldn't mind, just give me a heads up first. I'll jot down my number before you go."

After the older woman wrote her number down Alicia got up to leave. That was when Gladys smiled warmly at Charlie. "I remember you now. I saw you at the grocery store. You helped me pick up the display I knocked over then helped me take my groceries to my car. You are such a kind young man."

Alicia couldn't help but grin.

Charlie listened to the woman's story and smiled a little in his head. He didn't have to do anything to her after all, because it wasn't him she had seen. There had been a murder, other than Charlie's string of them. There was a copycat who thought they could kill someone and get away with it, blaming it on Charlie- or, er the serial killer. HE couldn't mention this though, otherwise he would make himself look like he knew something he shouldn't know as an innocent man.

Then, when they were leaving, Gladys recognized Charlie, causing him to blush deeply- which he couldn't hide, "Thank you, ma'am." he replied to her, smiling a little. At first opportunity, he walked out of the house, saying goodbye and claiming he wanted to start the truck, to avoid embarrassment.

Alicia followed Charlie out of the house, thanking the kind woman for her time. She shoved the voice recorder into her purse and walked over to the truck. She got into it, which was a little embarrassing. It was tough climbing into a truck with a dress and heals on. If anyone had been carefully watching they probably got a free show.

Once she was settled in she glanced over at Charlie. She had noticed the blush on his face before he exited the house. "She seems to like you," she grinned. Closing her door then fastening her belt, she got comfortable. "Her story is good. She seems to believe she saw what she saw, but it's not enough to really go off of. I'll go check out the area she saw the person at and see what I can find."

She then changed the subject. "So, where to now, cowboy?"

Charlie blushed a bit more as she climbed into the truck, "Sorry, I should have waited to help you... I forgot about the shoes." he admitted. He felt bad for having left her to do it herself, but she didn't seem to mind so much, so he commented on the next thing she said as well, "Yeah, I was surprised she remembered that. I remembered, but didn't expect her to..." he blushed even deeper, almost matching his hair in a different shade.

He just nodded, "So, do you think you can use her story?" he asked, looking over at her, then looking forward as he shifted into drive and they were off. "Oh, and that depends, was this the only errand you had to run?" he asked, driving blindly down the street.

Alicia waved it off. "It was no problem. I don't mind climbing into trucks." She smiled again as Charlie blushed. "Older woman are usually really good at remembering faces of people that help them. She probably doesn't get much attention, so it meant a lot to her."

She shook her head. "I don't think I can. There's no hardcore evidence that it was the serial killer. I'll just have to see what else comes up." Glancing his way, she smiled. "It was. I have to call my boss later and pass the information from this interview. Then maybe he has another lead. If not I have to wait for one."

Crossing her arms she gave his next question some thought. "Have you ate this morning?"

Charlie smiled at the fact she said she didn't mind climbing in. Alicia was turning out to be Charlie's kind of gal. He didn't say that out loud though, he instead nodded, "Maybe you're right. Either way, I'm still surprised she remembered me. I guess the red hair might have given me away, seeing as there aren't too many redheads in town." he laughed.

Charlie nodded as she spoke. He wasn't sure what would be safe to say at first. He knew what he was thinking: he was happy he didn't have to hurt Gladys, but he couldn't tell her that. He found something practical at last though, "I'm sorry you didn't get anything you could use."

"Ah, no. Just coffee." he answered, remembering why he didn't eat that morning, "Why? Did you?" he asked.

Alicia agreed. "I think the red hair is a dead ringer for you." She liked his red hair. It looked good with his skin color.

She shrugged. "It really doesn't bother me. That means I get to stay in town longer. Isn't that exciting?" She looked his way and smiled.

"No. I was too worried about getting ready and downstairs in time for you. We could go grab something to eat. I know there's a restaurant in the hotel, unless you know of a good restaurant in town."

She shifted in her seat, crossing one leg over the other. A moment later her cell phone started going off. She pulled it out of her purse and looked at the phone. "It's my boss," she told Charlie before flipping the phone open.

"Hi Gary." She listened to his question, which she knew what it would already be. "Her story didn't lead me to anything, really." She quickly explained the conversation she had with Gladys then listened to him again. "No problem. I'll wait for you to give me a call this evening."

Putting her phone back she yawned. Talking to her boss always made her tired. "He just wanted an update," she found herself telling Charlie. "So, about that restaurant.." She really was quite hungry.

Charlie smiled a little, "Well, thank you. And yes, that is exciting." he replied to her compliment and her being able to stay longer, just before her phone rang. He nodded, not minding when she answered. He listened in a little and smiled mentally.

When she asked about the restaurant he replied, "I do know a little diner with some excellent food, particularly breakfast. How about that?"

"That sounds wonderful. I've been thinking about pancakes all morning," Alicia told Charlie, letting him in on her little secret. Her love for food.

"What plans do you have for the evening?" She asked after glancing at the clock. It was only 10:30, so they hadn't been at the older woman's house for too long. They had the full day ahead of them still, but she wasn't sure if Charlie had plans.

"Where do you work?" That should have been asked. She didn't want to interrupt his schedule. She had no idea what he did or his shift.

Charlie laughed, and nodded, "That's the place for yah then." he smiled. When she asked about his plans he smiled a little, "I'm free for the rest of the day. I work in a carpentry shop, I own it, actually." he smiled.

He drove to the diner, parking in the all too small parking lot and turned the truck off. Charlie stepped out and closed his door, going around to help her out.

"Perfect," Alicia said rather enthusiastically. "I hope they have excellent coffee too."

After he helped her out of the car she probed some more into his personal life. "I should have known you were a carpenter." It fit his style. "What's the name of your shop?" She wondered outloud.

She strolled into the diner. The sign said to seat yourself, so she stopped shy and glanced around the room. "Any preference?"

"Best next to mine." he laughed, joking around. "It's Callon's Carpentry. It's on South Main. It was my father's shop. And his father and his father's father... and, you know." he laughed, "Been in the family for generation." he told her with a smile.

"Considering you're in a dress, let's grab a booth." he said, leading her over to the nearest, clean one. He let her pick her seat before he sat in the other one.

"You are saying you have the best coffee? I'll have to try it one time." Alicia stepped over to the booth that Charlie lead her to. She didn't argue that a booth would be more comfortable with a dress. It was true. "Callon's Carpentry. I've burned the name to memory now. I love the type of businesses that have been in the family for generations. It adds a certain charm to it."

A waitress came over and introduced herself, asking what they would like. Alicia asked for pancakes and coffee. Then she waited for Charlie to place his order.

"Well, I wouldn't say THE best, but it's definitely not bad." he rectified, laughing a little. Charlie smiled a little, and was about to respond to her when the waitress came up. He let Alicia order first and then told the waitress he wanted a ham and cheese omlette and a coffee as well. The waitress smiled and walked off after writing down the order, then Charlie went back to what he was going to say, "Well, we Callon's know wood like the back of our hand, I'll tell yah." he laughed a little, "So long as you're in town, feel free to stop by any time." he smiled.

Charlie looked around. This was the least full he'd seen the place in a long time, but it was late in the morning. Most the people who came here were here at seven and off to work by seven-thirty. He looked back to Alicia, "So, how many more name's you got on that list of yours?" he asked, wondering how many more interviews she had to do. Part of it was sheer interest in her life, another part was wondering how many interviews he needed to weasel his way into hanging around.

Alicia pushed back the smile she felt coming on. Charlie had invited her to stop by his work. She felt a trickle of excitement, not that she hadn't been feeling that ever since she met him.

His next question didn't seem odd to her. They seemed to be discussing one another's work. She slid her finger over the table while they waited for their food. "Actually, there's only two other people. I haven't quite decided which day to stop by and interview them, but if it was up to my boss I'm sure he'll expect me out there tomorrow or the next day."

Since they were on the subject she decided to ask, "You're not worried that the killer might come after you?" She had found a lot of people didn't want to be in or around the city until the killer was found.

Charlie smiled at her. He could tell she was holding a smiled back herself, but he couldn't be sure why she was holding one back- the reason for holding it back or the reason for smiling in the first place. All he knew was he didn't scare her and she didn't seem to think he was odd, and that was good enough for him... but there also seemed to be underlying feelings for her alone.

The fact there were only two other names on the list helped ease the small churning in Charlie's stomach over the matter. Maybe they wouldn't know anything either and he could keep to the original task with his usual list of victims. "Well," Charlie said to address the conversation, "if you want some company and a navigator-slash-chauffeur, I'll be around." he smiled.

Charlie laughed at the next question. Even if he weren't on personal terms with the killer, he wouldn't have been afraid of him, "Considering his MO, I'm not worried." he said, just as the waitress came back with their coffee and to tell them the food would only be a couple more minutes. He thanked her and began to prepare his coffee while he continued, "Their targets can't be random, right? An' I haven't done anything to anyone, so I can't be a target. Plus, even though their targets are mostly men, none of them have been anywhere near my place. And they haven't lived around there either. So as far as I'm concerned, I'm good." he concluded. He had thought about the answer ahead of time, but he had to make sure it seemed like spur of the moment, "What about you? Especially since you're covering the story."

"I would like a chauffeur," Alicia couldn't suppress the smile any longer. He was making the butterflies in her stomach go off again.

She listened to what he said about the killer, which made perfect sense to her. The string of killings didn't quite add up to her. She was a reporter though, not a detective. Of course, sometimes, reporters got lucky and got a lead that the police might have missed. If that happened it looked good on the reporter, not that she expected it to happen here. She was just here to do her job. "I don't think the targets are random, but that's just what I think. There has to be a link that the police are missing." His next question made her pause and think about it. "I don't typically scare too easily. I've been here for four days now. I haven't felt threatened in any way, but the killer probably doesn't even know I'm out here trying to get a story out of this. Who is to say what he might do if he did know?" She asked then finally shrugged. "Either way, it's my job, and this type of job is definitely not for the squeamish."

About that time the waitress came over with their food. She asked if they needed anything else. Alicia asked for cream and sugar for her coffee then looked over at Charlie to see if he needed anything else.

Charlie gave a full smile as the butterflies in his stomach also erupted; he was elated to hear she wanted him around. Only an afterthought was the realization that it gave him the advantage of finding out who knew what and who he would have to keep quiet. Mostly, Charlie was just thrilled with Alicia. He had never felt such a gravitational pull to a woman before, and it was enthralling.

Nodding as he followed her words, he smiled mentally. The killer did know, but he couldn't hurt her- especially since she didn't know anything to incriminate him. He must admit his original intent was not to become attracted to her, but to find out what she knew and get her out of the picture... Until he actually met Alicia by happy accident. When he found out there was a reporter in town, he had full intent of hunting them down, but then he ran into Alicia and found out she was the reporter. She was too amazing to scare off, especially now.

The waitress came with the food and left with a smile, which was returned as well as a 'thank you' and a 'nothing else, thanks'. When Charlie finally answered he had a still casual tone about him, "Serial killings usually have a connection, don't they?" he asked before taking a sip of his coffee, "And while I'm glad to hear you're not afraid, because it means you're not going to run off on me, it also denies me the privilege of offering you a free place to stay, if you wanted it." he announced. Though, maybe it was easier without her living in the same house. While it gave him the pleasure of her being closer to him and 'safer', it also made his nocturnal activities, when they happened, even safer.

There were so many conflicts with Alicia and his task at hand. Having her around was a liability, but he still wanted her around, and couldn't resist the urges to put out the offers and invitations out to keep her closer.

Alicia picked up her fork and started cutting into her pancakes. After they were cut up she drizzled them with a little bit of syrup, listening to Charlie all the while. She wasn't the drown her pancakes in syrup type. "You're absolutely correct. They usually have some sort of connection to them. I just wish I could find the connection."

It was his next statement that left her fork hanging in the air inches from her mouth, about to take a bite of her pancakes. She brought the fork back down to her plate. The butterflies in her stomach were worse now. "Are you saying that you'd like me to stay with you?" She had to ask to make sure she had heard him correctly. She didn't want to be sitting in her room later wondering if he had said that or not.

The thought of staying at his place sounded really nice. The holidays were right around the corner, so it was always nice to have someone to spend them with. Of course she could go home, but part of the job required that she sometimes gave that up. Staying with him would also give her money back into her pocket. The company paid a certain allowance towards the business trip, so if you went outside that allowance you had to pay for the difference.