Joelynn was greeted home by the smell of bacon, eggs, and blueberry pancakes. She smiled as she saw Eva trying hopelessly to flip a pancake into the air with a spatula. "Hey cousin, whatchya up to?"

Eva turned and laughed, "I'm making us some breakfast. How do you want your pancakes? Burnt or crispy?"

Joelyn grimaced and grabbed a piece of toast from the counter, "Ummm...I think I'll pass, thanks. Congrats on the article by the way."

"You saw it?" Eva beamed. "My editor was pretty pleased with it."

"Is it true that he skins them alive?" Joelynn sat at the kitchen table while Eva put a plate of food in front of her. Eva wasn't the best cook but she was about seven years older than her and she always tried to take care of her. Joelynn was grateful to her. Eva was like an older sister, a friend, a cousin, and a mother all rolled up into one.

Eva cocked her head to one side before answering, "Well from what I understand, he skinned the faces of the first two victims after they were dead but can we talk about something else during breakfast?"

Joelynn shrugged so Eva grinned and asked, "How's Jacob doing?"

It was a topic they always discussed and Joelynn rolled her eyes, "How many times do I have to tell you? He's gay, Eva!"

Eva looked as though she didn't believe her. Joelynn laughed, "Eva! Stop trying to hook me and Jacob up. I'm not lying to you...he really likes guys."

"If you say so," Eva said before shoving a giant piece of burnt blueberry pancake in her mouth. Joelynn laughed. Eva didn't believe that Jacob was gay. "Maybe it's just you he doesn't like. He's too good-looking to pass up. Does he like older women?" Eva joked.

"Eww...will you stop Eva!"

"Eww? I'm not that much older than you! You act like I've got one foot in the grave," Eva said indignantly.

"Well if you're on the wrong side of twenty-five, you might as well," Joelynn teased.

"Youngsters these days have no respect!" Eva joked in a fake older voice. Then she tossed a piece of burnt pancake at Joelynn, "I'm not even thirty yet so don't go there Joelynn."

Joelynn laughed and tossed the pancake back to Eva. "So what about you? Meet any hot guys lately?" Joelynn wanted to steer the conversation away from her lack of a love life.

Eva gave a dramatic sigh, "No. I have yet to meet my Mr. Right or even a Mr. Wrong for that matter."

"What about that Detective Gonzales or David? I can tell you from experience that dating a cop can be fun."

Eva almost choked on her pancake. "Joelynn! When did you date a cop? I know a lot of officers. Who was it? Someone I know?"

Joelynn shook her head, "This is exactly why I didn't tell you. He dumped me anyway so it doesn't matter."

By her expression, Eva could tell her cousin was upset, "Did he break your heart? Who was it? Tell me and I'll get-"

"Stop!" Joelynn was laughing. "Stop talking about me when we were talking about you. So David or Jerry Gonzales? Who'd you rather date?"

"Joelynn...Detective Gonzales is old!"

Joelynn smirked, "Not that old...and I didn't hear you say anything about David."

Eva rolled her eyes, "David is my friend. Besides he isn't into monogamy."

Joelynn speared some eggs with her fork, "He's pretty cute. If you don't want him, I'll date him." Joelynn gasped when she felt the egg that landed on her chest.

"Eva!" Joelynn laughed, "Did you just throw egg on me? I see how it is. You do like David."

Eva shook her head, "No. If David weren't so promiscuous I would tell you to go ahead but he isn't the type of guy you date to have a long term relationship with. He's the type of guy you date when chocolate isn't doing it for you if you catch my drift."

Joelynn threw a piece of pancake at Eva. "You're the one that told me boys and girls can't just be friends. Just admit you like him Eva."

Joelynn didn't like David but she was feeling lonely so she figured Eva must be feeling the same way since she had been without a boyfriend longer than Joelynn. Joelynn was so ready to be in a relationship that she even considered going on one of those dating sites. Her thoughts were interrupted by Eva's words, "Go upstairs and get dressed. I called in today. We can go shopping!"

Joelynn was surprised but eager to comply. After she ran upstairs, Eva thought about David. David was cute but he wasn't boyfriend material. Was he?

~AT BCT ENTERPRISE~

Back at his office, Tom was having a hard time concentrating. He didn't know why he had come into work but here he was trying to look over contracts and his mind wasn't working. He hadn't felt like this in years. Vague memories of him being at home and playing with other children invaded his thoughts. He groaned as his head began to hurt.

"Dammit!" Tom tossed his file onto his desk. He couldn't be here right now. He got up and began walking out of his office. He spotted Stella, his secretary. There was a huge bouquet of roses on her desk that weren't there this morning.

"Are those new?" he asked.

The smile on Stella's face was breathtaking. He hadn't seen her this happy in a while.

"Yes. They were just delivered to me," she answered.

Tom actually felt some genuine happiness for her. He didn't think it was possible but he did. Stella had been his secretary for almost five years. All he knew about her was that she was a great secretary and that she took care of her little brother who was in middle school. Her parents had passed away years ago. He remembered catching her looking online for a birthday present for her brother when she should have been working. Her brother wanted a bike but they were too expensive. Stella had been so afraid that she was going to get into trouble that she had explained her situation to Tom. In the end, Tom had purchased a bike for Stella's brother and asked her to give it to him. After that, he made sure to always give her generous bonuses during holidays and birthdays.

As far as he knew, Stella hadn't been dating anyone so this was a good thing. Tom was still grieving the loss of his could've been love life but that didn't stop him from feeling joy for his secretary's good news. He smiled. Maybe things would be okay after all. He was about to tease her about the flowers when he noticed the newspaper on her desk. "Is that today's paper?"

"Yes sir. Would you like to read it?"

Tom grabbed the paper and quickly opened it.

"Demon King Seeks Queen: Who Will be the Unfortunate Bride?"

Tom felt disgusted, "What the hell?" He looked at the author and remembered the woman from the police station, "Sonofabitch."

"What was that sir?" Stella seemed surprised by his sudden anger.

"Stella get me the contact information for this journalist, Eva Lewis." Tom quickly walked out of the office and raised his voice and his Blackberry as he exited, "I expect her information e-mailed to me in fifteen minutes Stella."

"Yes sir!" Stella shouted as he left. She took one last look at her roses. They were so beautiful she had to touch them.

"Ouch!" Stella accidentally pricked her finger on one of the stem's thorns. As blood trickled down her finger, Stella couldn't help but think that the roses were so much like her boss. Beautiful on the outside but still quite dangerous.

~AT THE LUDWIG POLICE STATION~

Detective David Wilson was having fun watching his partner Jerry Gonzales get angry at the pretty new FBI agent that was put in charge of the Demon King's case. David really didn't have a problem with a beautiful woman telling him what to do but Jerry was another story. He was pissed when he found out FBI was taking over and he was beyond livid when he found out it was a woman calling the shots. David thought Jerry must have had some sort of mommy issues to be so bent out of shape over the sex of the lead investigator.

"What the hell? You're not going to let me sit in on the meeting?" David could hear Jerry shouting. He must've been told no because he came stomping back towards his desk.

"You okay Gonzales?" David could tell that Jerry wasn't okay but he figured he'd be a good partner and ask anyway.

"Shut the hell up Wilson."

David laughed and held up his newspaper. Just for that, he was going to rile Jerry Gonzales up even more, "Did you see the paper this morning? Demon King seeks queen. Who will be the unfortunate bride?" David whistled, "My girl Eva sure knows how to write about the Demon King. Makes me glad I'm not a woman. You know...since the Demon King only goes after women. That Demon King sure is evil."

Jerry cursed under his breath, "Demon King my ass. And since when did Lewis become your girl? If she is, I would warn her to stop poking the lion."

David laughed, "Now who exactly is the lion Gonzales? The Demon King...or you?"

Jerry stared at him and asked, "Does it matter?"

~LATER THAT DAY: OUTSIDE THE CITY LIMITS OF LUDWIG, TX~

"Demon King Seeks Queen: Who Will be the Unfortunate Bride?"

The title made him want to laugh each time he read it. He wasn't scared of the police or the FBI. He had seen the news conference that morning telling residents of the FBI taking over the case at the request of the local police department. They'd never catch him or properly profile him. As far as he was concerned, he had no profile. They thought he was searching for his queen. That was just some crap he wrote on the wall. Once again he had that journalist to thank for that. She called him the Demon King and he would live up to the name. He looked at the paper and with his thumb, carefully caressed the printed name of the journalist, Eva Lewis. "Don't worry sweetheart, I'll be seeing you soon."