"Dani!" Billy called out.

Dani was walking from work to their apartment building. She forced herself to look in his direction and gave a slight smile before continuing on. Billy quickly caught up with her.

"Dani, what's wrong? Are you mad at me?"

Dani looked away, "Of course not. Why would I be mad at you? Did you need something?"

"Seriously, what gives?" Billy pushed his red glasses up the bridge of his nose. "I feel like you've been avoiding me since yesterday. Are you embarrassed because of what happened at the diner? I tried to help you but—"

Dani shook her head, "No."

"Then what is it?"

"Didn't you talk to Derek?"

"Derek?" Billy echoed. "What does he have to do with anything?"

Dani sighed, "This is kind of embarrassing for me. I know the truth Billy. Derek told me that you were only being nice to me because you felt sorry for me. I don't want to be a burden. It's okay. You don't have to pretend to be my friend. I totally understand."

"You do? Because I don't."

"Billy—"

"Is that what you think? That I'm pretending?"

Dani looked away again, "It's not like I have a lot of friends. I'm not exactly a social butterfly. What I mean is...well I don't want you to feel bad or anything for not talking to me or whatever. I'm used it. Now I really do sound like the loser Derek says I am."

"You don't sound like a loser. You sound like a crazy person."

"What?"

"Dani, why would you believe Derek?"

"Are you saying he was lying?"

"I wouldn't say lying so much as joking around. He has a horrible sense of humor so stop calling yourself a loser. Besides, I am your friend so what does that make me?"

"Billy—"

"Right. I'm just Billy. I don't know why Derek told you that but he likes to be the center of a person's world. Ignore him. He has no control over who I'm friends with and I am friends with you. Got it?"

Dani didn't respond so Billy nudged her with his elbow, "Got it?"

"I got it," Dani whispered, a smile on her face.

"I can't believe Derek though. He has no right to tell you that," Billy muttered. "I'll talk to him Dani. I promise."

"No, he'll just get upset. I don't want to be a reason the two of you argue."

"No, he needs to understand that he can't dictate who I hang out with just because we live together. You're my friend and I care about you. He's gone too far this time."

"I'm sorry. It was just me overreacting. I should've talked to you first before assuming you didn't really want to be my friend."

"Yes, you should have but it's not all your fault. Derek went overboard this time. Don't worry. I'll take care of it. Anyway, I was meaning to ask you. Have you been to the new bar in town? It's called Wine Time." Billy smiled, pushing up his red glasses again.

"No, I haven't really heard of it."

"Do you think you and I can meet there tonight? I have a surprise for you."

"A surprise?" Dani asked.

Billy nodded, "You can't tell anyone though. It's a secret. Just meet me there in an hour. Since we're friends, I'm going to show you how special you are to me."

"Sure thing. I'll see you in an hour.," Dani grinned. She watched him walk ahead of her and frowned. Billy was sweet to want to talk to Derek but Derek was a bully. She hoped they didn't argue because of her.

Meanwhile, Detectives Jax Michaels and Roberto Montoya were finishing up at a crime scene.

"The stamp on her hand is the same as the victim of the mugging," Jax said. "Wine Time."

"So we know our victim visited Wine Time," Roberto sighed. "We should go there and ask anyone if they saw her."

Jax shook his head, "It'll be difficult. The last time I tried getting information from the bar, they were pretty tight-lipped."

"Remy Kress was an unfortunate soul," Roberto said, placing the sheet over her head.

"Who do you say that? Jax asked.

"Because whoever she went home with, killed her. Who knows if there's been another victim since her. It took a few days for her family to even realize something was wrong."

"Yup," Jax sighed. "The drawbacks of not having close family or friends."

"Don't worry, Jax. If you went missing, I'd notice right away," Roberto teased. "I probably wouldn't report it, but at least I'd notice."

"I'm touched," Jax said dryly. "I'll go to the bar and see what I can find out."

"Alright. I'll stay here to see if we can dig up any other clues," Roberto said. "Hopefully the Maestro slipped up somewhere. He seems to be taking less time between kills."

"It's a scary thought," Jax said. "But I think you're right."

Roberto waved off Jax who quickly made his way to the bar known as Wine Time. After pulling into a parking space, he scoped the line of nicely dressed people waiting to enter the exclusive bar. He rubbed his hands together when he saw who was at the front of the line.

"I have to get in," Dani said. "My friend asked me to meet him here."

The bouncer eyed Dani up and down before shaking his head, "No. You don't meet the dress code requirements."

"I don't what?"

"You're dressed in a waitressing uniform," the bouncer said, disdain dripping from his mouth. "Go home and change first."

"I have to go to work once I'm done here. This is a professional outfit."

"Next!" the bouncer called out, pushing Dani to the side.

Dani opened her mouth to argue but Jax pulled on her arm.

"Don't touch me," she hissed.

"Calm down, killer. I come in peace," Jax said defensively. "You sound like I just tried to kidnap you."

"I'm sorry but I don't have time for your games. I have to see my friend tonight."

"C'mon, is that how you treat your boyfriend?"

Dani glared at him.

"Fine, Panda Eyes...your pretend boyfriend. Don't be upset. I just want to help you. Didn't you tell that bouncer you needed to meet your friend?"

"I did but you heard him. I need to meet some kind of dress code," she waved a hand at the people in line. "All these women are dressed up to the nines."

"So?"

"So...I don't exactly have that kind of stuff in my closet even if I were to go home and change."

Jax grinned, "Should I play the fairy godmother tonight?"

"The what?"

Jax cleared his throat, "If you give me twenty minutes, I'll help you get into that club."

"Why would you do that for me?" Dani asked suspiciously.

"Because once you're in that club, I want you to help me ask a few questions."

"What kind of questions?"

Jax opened the passenger door of his car, "Your carriage awaits, my lady."

"What kind of questions?" Dani asked again.

"The kind that can help me catch a killer," Jax whispered. "I came here the other day and they wouldn't open up to me but maybe if a beautiful woman asks..."

"I get it," Dani said. She looked back at the bar and sighed. Billy really seemed excited about showing her his surprise. She turned back to Jax and nodded, "Okay, you've got a deal."

"Are you sure?"

"Let's go before I change my mind," Dani said, getting into the car.

A few minutes later, they were inside a local boutique called The Cat's Meow. The worker inside the boutique was showing Dani a short black dress with gold studs along the sleeves.

"With some black heels, you'd look fabulous in this," the worker said, smiling at Dani.

"She'll take it," Jax said before Dani could answer. "Do you have any jewelry to match?"

"I have some beautiful engagement rings," the worker said. "They'd be—"

"No. No rings. A necklace and earrings are fine," he said, looking back at Dani. "Hurry and change, Panda Eyes."

After Dani was changed and they were pulling back into the parking lot of Wine Time, Jax asked, "Well? Do you feel like a million bucks now?"

Dani swallowed her nervousness, "Is it okay for you to be spending so much money on my dress and jewelry? I mean...won't she get mad when we return it?"

Jax laughed, "Return it? Why?"

Dani's eyes widened, "We're not going to return it?"

"Why would we?"

"Because it was so expensive. Is the police department paying for this?"

"No."

"You're paying for this?" Dani placed a hand on the emerald necklace she was wearing, "You're not getting reimbursed?"

"It was my decision to buy it. Why are you so worried. It's not like I can't afford it."

"Are you a dirty cop," Dani asked, her eyes narrowing. "It's the first thing I thought of when I met you. How else could you afford a Rolex? Unless it's a knockoff. This car is pretty expensive too."

Jax gripped his steering wheel, mentally counting to ten. He slowly turned back to Dani and said, "I am not a dirty cop as you so bluntly asked. I happen to come from a wealthy family."

"Is that so?"

"That's so. Whatever I bought tonight, just consider it payment for helping me out. Remember, I need you to ask questions about—"

"Remy Kress," Dani sighed. "I know. You told me already. I didn't think you were allowed to tell me names from your cases. Was she the woman that was mugged?"

Jax cleared his throat, " I tend to play on the outside of the rules."

"Ahhh...so you're breaking the rules by having me help you," Dani said.

"We'll just keep that to ourselves," Jax reminded her. "You did want to see your friend, didn't you?"

Dani nodded.

"By the way, how does it feel?"

"How does what feel?" Dani asked as they waited in line to enter the bar.

"To be taken out and dressed up. Do you feel like Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman?" Jax smirked.

"Are you asking if I feel like a prostitute?" Dani asked a little too loudly, earning her the stares of the men around her.

Jax frowned, "No."

"That's a nice necklace," the bouncer said, pointing at the emeralds around Dani's neck. She placed a hand over the expensive jewelry before quietly thanking him and entering the bar.

Once they were both in, they were greeted by the soft music of a piano. Dani stared at the man behind the piano, mouth open.

Playing an upbeat song, a huge smile on his face, was none other than her friend Billy.