The sun was shining through the cracks of the boarded window beside her. She could hear the fast chirping of birds nearby.

"Good morning Sleeping Beauty. Did you have a nice nap?"

"Don't call me that," Gladys said, keeping her eyes on the ground.

"Ahh...that's right. You're more like Little Red Riding Hood. Little Red Riding Hood caught in the wolf's clutches. Are you worried that I'll eat you up?"

Gladys looked up at her abductor, her eyes pink from crying.

"Are you afraid your husband will believe my text message?" he scrolled down all the messages that were sent from Roberto Montoya. "He seems really worried about you."

"Let. Me. Go."

He laughed, "Now why would I want to do that when I just got you? Don't you know the rules? I thought it was common sense but I have to play with a toy before I can get tired of it."

"I'm not some toy! I want to go home!"

He pulled out a knife from his back pocket, "Well now, you're just hurting my feelings. I'm being as hospitable as I can be and you're still wanting to leave? Did I not offer you a drink?" He pointed to the glass of warm water next to her. "I even took your gag off of you. Women! They're never satisfied."

"You think this is funny?" Gladys' voice was low and gravelly. It was the voice she used on her trouble-making students.

"Don't you?" he flipped a chair around and sat across from her, "You're so serious. Why? Do you really think I'm going to kill you?"

"You're not?" a glimmer of hope shone in her eyes.

"I might not," he winked. "I don't like to make promises I can't keep."

A single tear slid down her cheek as she placed a hand on her stomach, "Please...I'm-I'm-"

"Pregnant? Yes, I know."

"How?"

He laughed and tapped her hand with the arm that had the wolf tattoo on it, "Your hand gave you away."

"I don't understand."

"You keep grabbing your stomach. It's what pregnant women do when they feel threatened."

Gladys frowned.

"You're not the first pregnant woman I've known," he confided.

"Or threatened?" Gladys blurted out.

He grinned, "That...and worse."

"What's your name?"

He laughed, "My aren't you suddenly interested? Does this mean we'll be best friends forever? Will we make matching bracelets? Or are you looking to dump the old ball and chain? I'm not opposed to having some fun with a preggo...unless she's showing. Now that's just awkward."

"What's your name?" Gladys repeated, ignoring his taunts.

"Hmmm...that's hard to say. I go by a lot of different names. I guess you can call me CJ for now. It'll makes things easier."

"CJ, I'm not sure why you took me but there's something you should know," Gladys said hoping she didn't sound as scared as she felt.

"What's that?"

"I'm married to a detective. My brother's a detective. My husband's best friend is also a detective. They will find me."

"Your faith is admirable. It really is. Hold on while I take a mental picture for myself. I want to remember this moment the next time I feel like laughing," he mimed taking a picture, even making a clicking sound with his mouth.

"They will find me and when they do, they'll make you wish you never did this."

"Wish? Me?" he laughed. "Wishes are for the weak. If I want something to happen...I make it happen. I don't need to wish when my destiny is in these two hands."

He held up his hands and again, the tattoo of the wolf and its glaring eyes bore into her. She shivered.

"As for your husband, his friend, and your brother being cops...I already knew sweetheart."

"You knew?" she gulped at the look of satisfaction on his face.

"Of course. It's why I chose you."

-------------
While Gladys was attempting to plea with her abductor, Dani was pleading with Jax.

"I don't need you to come over. You should stay with Roberto. He might wake up and do something crazy," Dani said.

She could hear Jax cursing on the other end of the call, "So tell me again. You said they were a wolf's eyes?"

"Yes. I can't be a hundred percent right because these nightmares aren't always accurate, remember? They're just manifestations of her fears. I think she's been taken and I think that gang you keep talking about has something to do with it. Remember the guy from the diner? The first time you and I met there was a man with a wolf tattoo in the diner, remember? In my dream, I saw the same kind of tattoo."

"It makes sense. The guy at the restaurant said he knew someone who had an interest in me. He was part of the crazy wolves gang."

"Then why take Gladys?" Dani asked. "Let's just say hypothetically that this wolf gang-"

"Los Lobos locos," Jax corrected.

"Whatever," Dani said. "If this Lobos Locos gang wanted to get to you, then why Gladys? Why not me? They saw me with you at the restaurant."

"That's a good question. Maybe it has something to do with Roberto?"

"Has he had any other run-ins with that gang?" Dani wondered aloud.

"Not that I'm aware of. I mean we're partners so we usually share the busts we bring in."

"Well start using your head Jax, because there's got to be a reason. This is so horrible. I just met her but I feel sick in my stomach just thinking about it. Poor Roberto"

"Hey," Jax said quietly. "We're going to find her. I already promised Roberto."

"Jax?"

"Hmm?"

"Promise me something."

"Anything."

"I'm serious," Dani said.

"So am I."

Dani could feel herself blushing in her dark apartment, "Promise me you'll be careful."

"Dani-"

"I'm serious Jax. I have a bad feeling about this," she said. She thought of the hooded figure in her dreams and dread punched her in the gut. "About a lot of things. So promise me."

"Panda Eyes, are you okay?"

"Promise me."

She was holding her breath and the seconds that passed felt like days.

"Fine, I promise. I'll be careful."

"Thank you. Listen, I should probably get back to bed if I can. I'll see you tomorrow, okay?"

"Sure thing. Thanks for calling me."

"G'night Jax."

"G'night Panda Eyes."

After Dani disconnected the call, she stared at the drawing she had created earlier. It had been a while since she sketched something but the image was so strong in her head that she had to release it on paper.

A hooded figure following her in her nightmares. This was unnatural.  

A few hours later after the sun had risen, Dani was dressed to go to work at King's Diner. She opened her door and was about to lock it when she noticed a note taped to it.

"What's this?" she asked, opening the note.

I know something about you.

"Something about me?" she whispered, looking at the chicken-scratch writing.

Just then, the door to Calvin's apartment opened. He made eye-contact with her before quickly lowering his gaze.

"Calvin?" Dani took a few steps towards him.

"Ye-yes?"

"Do you happen to know anything about this note that was taped to my door?"

"No-note?"

"Yeah. There was a note taped to my door. Since you're my neighbor, you're the only one that might've seen anything."

"S-sorry. I didn't s-see any-anything. M-maybe it was a f-family member or a f-friend."

"You'll find out soon enough, but I don't have any family or friends. That's why I'm not sure who could've put this note here. Did you put it there?"

Calvin shook his head, "N-no way!"

Dani tapped the note against her palm, eyeing her new neighbor, "Fine. I'll believe you."

Calvin watched her walk past him then suddenly turn around and point a finger at him. She tapped his forehead with her bare finger before saying, "If you're lying to me, I will find out."

She turned around again before he could respond, and exited the corridor that housed their apartments.

Calvin rubbed his forehead where she had just touched and smirked, "I should be the one saying that Dani. Not you. Me."