Prologue

Hilde shivered at the cold glare staring at her. "Why would you do this? What do you want from me?" Hilde screamed hysterically. She was afraid. Nothing could have prepared her for this. She was tied up, defenseless. Her captor dragged her through the trees. She was having a hard time trying to stand while she was being dragged. "Please let me go." Hilde sobbed. She didn't want to die. Duo had proposed to her just a few days prior. She was supposed to get married, be happy and live. Things weren't going as planned and she knew she wasn't going to get out of here alive. "Let me go! Let me go!" She started screaming and struggling against her captor. "Stop it!" The assailant hissed. The plan was to do this by the river but time was running out. Hilde saw the knife being pulled out of the jacket. "Nooooo. please no!" She said, her voice quivering with fear. "Why?! How could you do this?" Hilde screamed as she scooted on the ground in a last attempt to escape. "Because you're in my way." was the cold reply. Hilde screamed as the knife went up in the air and plunged into her stomach. A quick slash to the throat cut off any more screams or pleading that would have come afterwards. Hilde choked on the blood pooling from her neck. Her arms were still tied behind her so she couldn't stop the bleeding. Her killer had merely walked away. Her mind whirled at the pain and panic she felt. One last tear escaped her as she struggled for the last few seconds of life before she went numb and darkness consumed her.....

    Heero groggily looked up at the alarm going off. 5 a.m....He reached out and shut it off. It was his day off. Why did he set his alarm? *Must be a habit* He thought as he turned over in his bed. He looked out the window and stared at the purple orange hue of the sunrise beginning to peek over the mountains. He wanted to go back to sleep so badly, but once he was up he couldn't fall back asleep. He sat up and scratched his head, his bed hair in messy tangles. He jumped when his phone rang. Who would call him this early? He debated letting the machine get it, but decided against it. It might be something important. "Hello." He stated. "Heero, it's Wufie." Heero was instantly awake. Wufie would never call this early unless it was important. "I'm sorry to wake you..." Wufie started. "It's fine I’m already up." Heero answered. "I know it's your day off....But..I think you need to come take a look at something." Heero rubbed his eyes. "Can't you have someone else do it?" He needed a day off. He had been working 3 weeks straight and he was looking forward to having today to himself. He heard Wufei sigh. "I could...But I thought you'd want to be here...." Heero was becoming alarmed. Wufie sounded upset and nervous. They had worked together a long time at the police station, from rookies to detectives. They had seen some disturbing things over the years but nothing really shook up Wufie. "What is it Wufie? You don't sound so good." There was a long pause and Heero held his breath, waiting. "We got a call early this morning. We went to investigate and....We found a body...." Wufie's voice started to shake as if he was trying not to cry. "It's Hilde, Heero....Hilde's dead....Murdered. Do you want to come down and help me or not?!" He snapped at the end. Heero sat silently, his hand gripping the phone. It couldn't be....It had to be some mistake..."I'm on my way." He replied and hung up. He walked to the bathroom to splash some water on his face. He stared hard at his reflection in the mirror, watching the drops of water fall from his face. He was still in shock. This wasn't happening. Hilde was like his best friend. She was engaged to Duo who was his closest friend. It still hadn't sunk in that he was going to see the proof of Wufie's words.

Wufie met him at the station. "You look like shit." Heero commented. He was right. Wufie was usually immaculate with his uniform. His hair was barely hanging in his ponytail, his clothes wrinkled and not buttoned properly. "You should talk." He answered back. Heero had threw on whatever was in his drawers and ran a quick comb through his hair. He looked like he just rolled out of bed, which was true. They drove quickly to the site of the crime. Heero wanted to get there and then part of him didn't. He hadn't seen anyone really close to him dead before. Could he handle it? The choice was taken from him as he involuntarily stepped from the vehicle and made his way through the trees. Why would someone kill Hilde? As far as he knew she had no real enemies. Hell he couldn't even think of someone that didn't like her at all. He met Trowa at the scene. Heero frowned. Trowa was smoking again. He and Heero quit together two years ago and they hadn't had one since. Circumstances being what they were, Heero had to force himself not to ask for one. Trowa frowned as he exhaled. "It's not pretty. I could give you the gory details or you can see it for yourself." Heero nodded and proceeded to walk towards the scene. Trowa grabbed his arm. "I have to warn you. I would rather had someone just tell me about then have to see it....." Trowa shook his head sadly. Heero noticed how his hand trembled as he brought it to his lips for a quick drag of his cigarette. Heero sighed. He'd rather not...but he had to see for himself. He had to see proof that is was true. Trowa acknowledged it and let go, walking away. Heero took deep breaths as he walked closer to the scene. Officers, detectives and forensic scientists scoured the area for clues. Heero walked up to the scene before they put the body in the bag. Heero had to turn away before he lost the contents of his stomach. The image burned itself into his mind. Whoever did this had bound her. She couldn't even fight back. The ground around her was dark, and he knew it was her blood soaking the earth. He walked closer. He took in the sight of her disheveled hair, the dirt covering her face and arms. He looked towards the photographer. "Get as many pictures as you can, I want all angles, got it?" The man nodded and went to work. Heero walked around, talking to people that were there earlier than him. Not many of them knew Hilde too well. He looked behind him to see the doctors placing her in a body bag. A chill ran up his spine as a thought occurred....Did Duo know??? He knelt down by the blue bag containing his dear friend.." I'm so sorry Hil." He said softly to her. He held his tears at bay, at least until he could be alone. "I'll find who did this to you and they'll pay, I promise." He stood and walked back to where Trowa and Wufie were waiting. He knew there would be no rest, no days off until this was solved. He would catch whoever did this to her...And they would pay.