~Fianna~

"Hello. I'm Jennifer Marellio bringing you an update on The Cupid Killer who has been sweeping the nation. Police have yet to make any progress as the media-deemed Cupid Killer has not only managed to remain uncaught but has also succeeded in crossing state borders multiple times to find his victims. Many people are wondering, is this not a job for federal agencies? Who would be better suited for such a serious cross-borders case? If so, where are the updates and progress? What-?"

The news reporter paused and touched her ear on camera. Then she looked up with bright shining eyes better suited to a kid in a candy store than a grown woman reporting on a deadly, widespread crime.

"I'm receiving information right now that The Cupid Killer has struck again! That's correct ladies and gentlemen. Two new victims have been abducted within six hours of each other. A man in Chicago and a woman in Pittsburgh! Both from their place of work. This is following The Cupid Killer's pattern of abducting a man and woman, separately and in completely different locations, from places they frequent. This is bringing the total of abducted 'couples' to a terrifying 42. Only 4 of those whose bodies have been found. As always, we are all left with nothing but fear and questions. Will this nightmare ever end? What is the FBI doing to try and end this? Why is this happening? How is this happening? Where are the 38 other victims? Who is The Cupid Killer? ...Who will be next? As always, this is Jennifer Marellio keeping you up-to-date on what is turning out to be the crime of the century. Until tomorrow, stay safe. Marellio signing off."

FBI Special Agent Fianna Hearne groaned in complaint. "Come. On. Why do they always do that?! They know our focus is on the case and that we're not going to hinder the investigation by giving them vital information!"

Adam Engel, Fianna's partner who is a man 15 years her senior and who has been in The Bureau longer than that, chuckled in unamused frustration. "Come on, Hunt. You may be a newbie to The Bureau but you're smarter than that. It's the media's job to control the narrative, no matter the truth or how it affects the public."

Her eyes narrowed. Not at the use of the nickname but the newbie remark. She earned her nickname first from her unit in the Army, again in her short stint with the Army CID, and kept it even in her graduating class of the FBI Academy. Given to her partly because of her name, both of which apparently meant huntress, and partly because she tended to take to a mission like a dog with a bone. She would not stop searching, working, hunting until she succeeded or was told to stop. Her parents had a strange sense of humor.

Yet, it was a nickname Fianna was proud to have because it meant she, a 26-year-old just starting in this new job, had succeeded in everything she had set her mind to so far. It meant that being a respected young woman in men-centered professions was possible, not just for her but for everyone one else out there who may be thinking, or even told, they could not simply because of their gender or skin color. It was not easy, but she had known she wanted to serve her country since she was a little girl and she always had known she would not give it up until she managed to do so.

So, Fianna realized her frustration really was not with Engel insisting on her being a newbie because to him she was; and she had not gotten here by being fragile. It also helped that he had used her nickname in the same sentence. It showed that even though she still had so much to learn and nowhere near the amount of experience he had, he respected her enough to understand Fianna had earned her way to where she was right now. She knew her frustration was more with this monstrosity of a case and the media's ability to rile up the public with inaccuracies.

"You forget, soldiers have had to learn news channels can help or destroy any hope you have too. What I don't get is, this is a serious and deadly case that's crossed how many state borders now? There's so much red tape; so many pieces of this puzzle. Yet she basically told the world that we aren't doing anything useful to stop it, that this stupidly named 'Cupid Killer' has nothing to fear and isn't close to getting caught, and encourages the public to be terrified. All while simultaneously acting like the entire thing is exciting and fun!"

She sat back in her chair and with a noise of frustration. "This case is already so difficult. The last thing we need is having to field questions and demands instead of actually working on finding this guy and the victims!"

"Is that all?" Engel asked her in a dry tone. Sitting forward at his desk situated across from Fianna's, Engel linked his hands. "Listen, kid. It's not fun. No. That's an understatement. Every single time we handle a big profile case and the media gets involved everything is FUBARed. But we can't change it. Getting caught up in it all and allowing it to frustrate you is going to wear you down just that much sooner. Especially with the fact it happens so often. So, yea it sucks. But you need to breathe it in, let it irritate you, and allow that irritation to help drive you to solve the case. Then you need to let it go. The case. The frustrations. All of it. If you don't, you won't last long in this job."

Fianna nodded. She knew he was speaking the truth but it did not make it any easier to keep in mind when every time the news had an update on the killer, for the public, it was like they were playing a game instead of giving potential life-saving information.

Just then the phone rang. She knew it was coming because the new reporter had already mentioned the new victims on the TV. How a news station got information before the actual agents working on the case was beyond her. But it happened all of the time.

"Hearne." Her voice was terse and to the point.

Since her time in the Army, a habit Fianna had not broken yet was addressing everyone by their last name. Including herself. A habit she did not see herself breaking anytime soon when taking into account her current profession.

As she answered the phone, briefly before the caller had even said a word, Fianna saw Engel wad up a piece of paper and throw it across the room at another agent.

She shook her head at their childishness but her time in the military taught her everyone decompressed in different ways. Certain, random, acts of horsing around were a pretty common method of decompression around people in their profession. Especially with men in her experience. At least, while at work. She tried to steer clear of their methods of relaxing and decompressing when they left work.

"Ah yes, Special Agent Hearne? This is Jennifer Marellio. From INRS New York station?" The infamous reporter said it was unknown for both of them. Fianna rolled her eyes at the possibility any law enforcement agent would not know who Jennifer Marellio was or where she worked. Not at a time like this. The reporter was often on the news finding a way to undermine law enforcement agencies or their cases.

"Yes, I am aware of who you work for. What can I do for you Ms. Marellio?" Her response probably sounded short. No one ever called Fianna Hearne gentle.

Of course, the reporter was either oblivious or had learned to roll with the punches in her job. Probably an equivalent of both. "Ah yes! I'm calling to receive an update on the Cupid Killer case. As I'm sure you learned, there have been two new victims, and seeing how my station is personally involved in the discovery of these new kidnappings I was hoping-."

She had heard enough. "Ms. Marellio. We are greatly appreciative of your employer's help in the situation regarding these last victims. Without the tips your station received, we would have undoubtedly connected these two to the Cupid Killer much later. However, as you're aware, this is an ongoing investigation and as such, I am not permitted to disclose any information to you at this time. If you are wanting any further information, your employers will be included on the list for the next press interview."

Jennifer tried to say something a few more times but Fianna interrupted her, in what she hoped was a polite way. Getting off the phone, Fianna leaned back in her chair with a groan. Rubbing her hands down her face she closed her eyes, knowing it would be yet another long day.

"Who was that, Hunt?" Fianna's fingers spread so she could peek through them at her partner. "Oh you know, just our current Devil of the week wanting an inside scoop."

Engel barked out a laugh. "You hear that guys? Reporters never learn, do they? Always thinking they can get the exclusive."

Everyone who shared the office laughed from their desks. Fianna, on the other hand, just groaned and dropped her hands. Shaking her head she wadded up a piece of scrap paper and flung it at his head. It just caused him to laugh more.

"It's not funny, Engel. Ever since I got here I seem to only be the one getting these calls. Why me? They think just because we're both females we've got some bond or 'girl code' or something."

"Well, that's probably exactly what she's thinking. Whether it's because you're new or you're a girl-." At Fianna's raised eyebrows and narrowed eyes, he cleared his throat. "Woman. Either way, they probably just see you as chum in the water."

At his metaphor, Fianna couldn't help but chuckle. "Ah, I always love your expert insight into the psyche of serial killers, kidnappers, reporters, women, and sharks. You never cease to amaze me with your wisdom of old age, Engel."

"You laugh now, kid. But at the end of the day, all of those people you just mentioned are sharks. If you don't think so you're fooling yourself. But hey, I am smarter. Like you just said. Maybe you just haven't learned that yet."

She gasped in amusement. "You're lucky we are in a workplace because I'd be over there teaching a lesson right now, old man."

Before anything else could be said, Fianna's cell phone chimed. Glancing at it made her smile drop as any fun she was having was forgotten. It was her aunt asking to call her if she could.

Sighing, Fianna stood up and grabbed her phone. "I need to make a call real quick. I'll be back. And if my phone rings, do answer it will ya? Maybe you'll be the next to have to shoot down a hungry reporter, Mr. Shark-Expert."

Engel flipped her off with a smirk, but she wasn't paying attention. When she got out into the hall she leaned against it and took a deep breath. After a few moments of trying to center herself, she called her aunt.

It wasn't a hardship to talk to her aunt. Her aunt was the closest thing to a parental figure Fianna had left. But the pain of living through her parents' murder, whose killer was never caught, was something so unbearable Fianna had promised never to let herself feel that way again. So, she did her best to keep her emotional distance from her family. Even if they did their best to bridge it. It was the only way she was able to keep going. By doing so she knew she would be safe if anything like before happened again. But she also knew she was better off keeping things like that from happening to others when she was mentally stable.

"Fi, dear? Are you there?" Her aunt's voice interrupted her thoughts and snapped her back to the present just as she had begun to go down the dark path of her parents' cold case again.

"Ah yes, Aunt Diane. I'm here. You said you needed to speak to me?"

"I'm sorry for messaging you at work but I was hoping you could check on your cousin for me. She hasn't been answering any of my calls or texts."

Fianna took a deep breath so she wouldn't get irritated. Not because her aunt was worried about her cousin but at the fact that despite her best efforts she seemed to be stuck in the middle of the spat they seemed to constantly have. "Aunt Diane, Aura's a senior. It's coming up on that time where midterms just happened and her finals will be soon. She's probably just busy."

"Yes, yes. I know dear. But a mother worries. Will you please just check to see how she is? Better yet, meet her for coffee or lunch? For me? I hate how she decided to move so far away for college. If I could I'd be up there every weekend. I don't know where you two got it from but she's dead set and determined when it comes to her work and helping people. She has her whole life ahead of her. I just know she's meant for better things than getting a college degree to become a cop."

With gritted teeth, Fianna shifted in her spot against the wall as someone walked past her. As she waited for them to pass she got her anger under control. "You know I'm not going to try and talk her out of that, Aunt Diane. It wouldn't do any good, anyway. She's got the Hearne's stubbornness and desire to serve. But she's probably just focused on passing her finals and graduating right now. Besides, I don't really have time to spend time with her. I'm working on a pretty big case right now."

"Oh! Yes, I know. I know. And I'm sorry. She just looks up to you, you know? She always wanted to follow in her cousin Fi's footsteps. I just know it would mean so much to her if she could see you. It would help her get a break from doing all of her non-stop studying I'm sure she's doing, and help soothe your old aunt's heart to know her daughter hasn't died or randomly dropped out of college. We don't see near enough of each other, any of us, these days. And I worry about the two of you. But it's crazy you two live in the same city and never see each other. I know you're busy on that awful case everyone's talking about. But if you can find the time, please check up on Aura."

"Fine. Fine. I'll text her now to see when she's free for a coffee or something. No promises, though, Aunt Diane. Aura and I haven't really kept in touch and we are both pretty busy right now."

After she got off the phone with her aunt, Fianna groaned and pushed off the wall with her back. What she needed right then was a strong drink and a session at the shooting range. Every time she had to talk to or be around the two remaining family members she had it brought everything she wanted to forget back. It was a reason why she never even talked about them. It seemed harsh, but out of sight and out of mind was the only way Fianna knew how to handle the loss of the parents she loved and lost. Though she cared for and would die protecting her aunt or cousin, she never wanted to feel the pain of losing a loved one again. It was just easier not to love at all.

Fianna sent off a text to her cousin, Auryon. Asking her if she wanted to meet up for a coffee soon to catch up. Her aunt only ever called them by their nicknames, saying there was power in your full name and you should only ever use it or give it to someone trustworthy enough to have that power. Fianna remembered when they were younger she and Aura had asked who was considered trustworthy enough for it. Their mothers had told them the only people we should trust with it were our future husbands and family. Every time they had mentioned it, it was like they had known something we didn't know.

Fianna blinked and shook her head to clear her thoughts. There she went again, getting lost in the past. She needed to stop doing it. Each time it happened, it was harder to get back from.

Waking back to her desk she dropped into her chair with a sigh, threw her cell in the desk drawer, and slammed the drawer shut. She could feel Engel's eyes on her, drilling into the side of her head and undoubtedly with a million questions.

"Everything okay? Who was that?" From the slightly worried undertone to his voice she could tell he was worried for her.

"Yep. No one. Just had to call someone back." The ever-present guilt hit but she had gotten better at pushing it aside. It was better that way. Clearing her throat. "So, did I miss anything while I was away?"

"Oh, nothing much. But we did finally get those names. The names of these recent vic's. A, um, Brielle Neith and um-." Engel's voice cut off and then boomed across the room. "Yo, Richards. What was the John's name again?"

"For the most recent ones?" Richards yelled back from the other side. Neither man cared to walk across the 30 feet separating their desks or text each other. So, they instead chose to yell across the office even while people were working or on the phone. Fianna shook her head in amused exasperation, still shocked at their laziness but used to it by now.

"Yeah! I remember the Jane was an uh-. Dang it, I just had it!"

Fianna chuckled. "Getting forgetful in your old age, eh Engel?"

"Oh shut it, Anna."

Fianna stifled her laugh, knowing she had hit a nerve with that one because he only ever called her Anna when it was serious or he was pissed.

"Ah, here it is! Yeah, I know the Jane was a Brielle Neith but I can't seem to find the John's name!" Engel's yell volleyed back to the other side of the room, uncaring of the many irritated or amused looks thrown his way. Most people didn't say anything to either Engel or Richards anymore because they were the oldest Agents still in our particular ranks.

Richards shuffled papers around on his desk, uncaring of the mess he was making. No wonder the two couldn't remember. They were both getting to be grouchy old men with organization issues. Fianna pushed her fist to her mouth to keep the laugh from bursting free at the thought.

"Found it! The John's a Cocidius Canow- Canowee- ah I'll just email it to you! I don't know how to pronounce it!"

She could hear groans from people in the office and see a few hands thrown in the air. Fianna just shook her head. She wondered when they were going to learn to just email it in the first place.

Chuckling, she pulled up her email tab when it pinged to let her know she had a new email. At least Richards had been smart enough to send it to her too.

When she opened the email and clicked on the attached files her eyes narrowed. Flicking her gaze through the file she gasped in shock. When Richards had been mispronouncing the last name before, it had sounded slightly familiar to her. Now that she was looking at the file she felt her whole world narrow as she read the entire file as fast as she could.

Things just went from bad to worse. She blinked rapidly and pushed her chair away from her desk as she held onto the edges of it. Taking deep breaths she tried to stay in the here and now.

"You okay, Hunt?" She ignored Engel's concern as she tried to focus on her desk.

She was holding a desk, not a gun. She was in an office, not a sandbox. She was staring at a Canow picture, not the Canow who saved her life when she had been trapped under enemy fire.

The odd thing was Fianna didn't have issues with flashbacks from her military days often. Canow and her had even hung out and become friends, kind of. She had never had this issue with his name, his voice, or even his face leading to a flashback before. It was probably because of the stress she was under with the case and the recent phone call with her aunt that pushed her over.

"Anna. Look at me. You're okay." This time Engel's voice helped her snap out of it. She glanced up to see him by her desk now with a hand hovering over her shoulder.

With a smile that even she knew was more of a grimace, she tried to tease him. "Aww, you actually stood up to check on me. I'm touched."

Engel, though, didn't rise to the bait this time. His eyes were still soft with understanding and concern. Which only served to irritate Fianna. She didn't want to be seen as weak.

His voice helped alleviate her concern when he didn't try and press harder, other than asking her what started it.

Looking back at the computer screen, Fianna took a deep breath. "Well, I guess I'll be meeting up with a blast from my past again." Engel's gaze had already moved from her to the computer screen so he didn't see her wince at the wording of her own sentence. "Our male victim, Cocidius Canowicakte, is a Specialist in the Army. Once upon a time, I crossed paths with his brother while I was enlisted."

Leaning back in her seat, Fianna massaged her temples. A grim smile that looked more like a grimace crossed her lips.

"I guess it's time for me to make a few calls. This one's going to be intense and I don't think I'll be getting any sleep any time soon."