She had been dead for a long time. Dead to the real world, dead to everyone else, but never dead to him.

Never dead, because he knew what really happened to her. Never dead, because her Camaro didn’t end up at the bottom of a lake, as all the newspapers said. She didn’t even own a Camaro. Liked those sleek Italian cars that went from 0-60 in just under five seconds. Never dead, as he wanted her to be. As she should have been if he had been more careful.

But that was all going to change now, so it was going to be okay. He wouldn’t fail again.

So, finally his day came. The day when his feet hit the ground outside the chain link fence that surrounded the prison. The beginning of the rest of his life, and the beginning of the end of hers.

Jo nervously smoothed out the corners of her lace tablecloth. She glanced hastily out the window, then she tried unsuccessfully to calm herself. She knew this day would come. But it was impossible. He couldn’t have found her so quickly. Her reflection danced in the window in front of her. She looked so different now. Her long blond hair was now very short and dark red. She had gotten colored contacts and even had plastic surgery to reduce that distinct scar on her face. Name change, new job, house, car- everything. He couldn’t have found her.

But as much as Jo would have liked to believe that, she had the proof in her hand. After she had returned from her lunchbreak at work, the receptionist handed her a message.

“He didn’t leave his name or number- just a message. He said you would know who he was,” the receptionist said apologetically, as she handed over the piece of paper.

Jo felt her knees go weak and her stomach drop as she read the two, simple words on the paper. ‘Hello Emma.’

The warm sun glinted off his cold, steel-gray eyes, as he took in the sight of the bustling street. She could be anywhere. His men had found out where she worked, which was progress. She was living under the name Johanna Meyers. He laughed outloud. She would always be Emma Roberts to him.

His cell phone jangled in his pocket, which brought him back to the cold New York street. His boys had kept the business running while he did his time, and they fixed him up with all the essentials- cell phone, Armani suits, penthouse, Porche- as soon as he got out. The cocaine had paid his bail and now he was on parole. Which was fine. He hadn’t done anything illegal- just getting in touch with old friends.

But for now, his business was going to be put on hold. He was going to concentrate on making sure Emma never told anyone about why he could afford his Versace underwear.

It was sad actually- that one would betray someone they loved do much. But she was adamant about drugs. Especially after losing her brother to heroin. Ironic, that she would later fall in love with a drug dealer.

‘I was stupid,’ he thought. ‘I shouldn’t have let her get so close.. She never should have found out.’

But the fact still remained that she knew. And he couldn’t have the possibility of her ruining everything for him.

He said a few brief words into his cell phone, then snapped it shut violently. Never mind how much he used to love her or how much fun they had together; it was time to find her. He smoothed back his black hair and began to saunter casually down the street.

Jo got up from her kitchen table and hovered near the phone. She hadn’t called the police yet, because she was still trying to convince herself that it wasn’t true. But it had to be. Who else knew that her name was Emma? It couldn’t have been her family or any of her old friends, because they all thought she was dead.

Jo glanced over at her refrigerator and at all the pictures on it. She knew none of those people. There she was at the company picnic, at Thanksgiving, her mother’s birthday. But all the people she was with were strangers. They were all staged pictures, so it looked like she had a complete life as Jo Meyers, rather than one that started at twenty-nine.

Jo picked her phone and dialed a few numbers.

“Hello?” came the answer. “Hello?…hello?”

Jo placed the receiver back in its cradle. She had to stop doing that. Her mother thought she was dead. Jo couldn’t ever speak to her again.

“Damn you, Jonathan!!” Jo screamed, suddenly overcome with rage. She grabbed a glass from the counter and threw it as hard as she could against the wall. The glass shattered and fell to the floor, just as Jo collapsed. “Damn you…” she cried through her tears.

“Dammit!” Jonathan said, slamming down the phone. “You mean to tell me that after seven years you still don’t know where she lives?” he demanded of the short nervous man standing in front of his desk.

“Well… she wasn’t our top priority. We’re not hit men, ya know,” Slater temporized, tugging at his tie.

“What!!?!” Jonathan raged. “What did you say!?!”

“Oh, um, I said we’re working on it.”

Jonathan sighed and sat back in his chair. “Just follow her out of work back to her house.”

“Well, we don’t really know what she looks like. I mean, if she’s changed her name and told everyone Emma Roberts is dead, then I doubt she’s stupid enough to look the same.”

Jonathan sighed again and opened his desk drawer. He pulled out some antacids and a picture.

“Her face will look the same,” he said, as if talking to a child. Then, through clenched teeth, “Just find her.” He crunched on the antacids as Slater took the picture and walked out.

That night Jo didn’t sleep well. Every creak kept her awake, and when she did sleep, she had horrible nightmares.

Emma was in love. Simply, blindly, in love. Jonathan was everything she dreamed of. He was a rich, successful business man. He was sensitive, caring- every girl’s dream. But, of course, nobody was perfect, especially not Jonathan. He was addicted to money. And Emma found out. He was so obsessed with money, he was willing to kill Emma. But she was smart and it didn’t work. That night she packed her bags and left the police to figure out who had tried to kill her with a car bomb.

The next day at work, Jo strolled in confidently.

“Amy, don’t let people waste my time with cryptic messages. If they’re not willing to leave a name or a number, have them call back later,” Jo said as she walked by the receptionist. Jo wasn’t going to let Jonathan control her life.

“Sure Ms. Meyers,” Amy said. “Oh, by the way, there’s a um… Mr. Stevenson in your office waiting for you.”

For a moment, Jo hesitated with thoughts of Jonathan. But the she dismissed them. ‘It’s probably just a potential client,’ she thought.

‘Thanks, Amy.’ Jo walked down the hall towards her office. Through her opaque glass she could see a figure sitting in one of the chairs in her office. Jo gulped nervously and twisted the doorknob.

“Hello, Johanna,” a voice said mockingly.

“”Jonathan,” Jo replied icily, closing the door behind her. She walked around her desk to stand in front of him.

“Good to see you.”

“What do you want, Jonathan?”

“Just to say hi, Jo. Relax.”

“I can’t, Jonathan. You tried to kill me.”

“Don’t take it personally,” Jonathan smiled.

“What!?” shrieked Jo.

“Well, you knew too much.” Jonathan shrugged.

“About what?” Jo sat down in her chair, looking confused.

“You know, the whole drug thing.”

“Huh?”

“You mean, you didn’t know???” Jonathan leaned forward.

“You’re a DRUG DEALER?!?!?!?” Jo shrieked. Jonathan lept across the desk and covered her mouth with his hand.

“Shut up already!! Sheesh!”

Jo pulled her head away from his hand. “No, Jonathan, I didn’t know you were a drug dealer. I really didn’t.” Jo shook her head. “I can’t believe you tried to kill me because you thought I knew something.”

“Sorry, Jo. But I couldn’t take any chances.” Jonathan softened for a moment. He stood up and walked over to the picture window that overlooked the city. “And I can’t take any chances now.”

Jo watched in slow motion as Jonathan turned and drew a 9mm from a shoulder harness. She screamed as the opaque glass behind her shattered. She heard several shots above her head as she ducked down underneath her desk. Suddenly, the shots stopped, and Jo heard sounds of a struggle. She cautiously peeked her head up over her desk and saw Mark, from the office across the hall wrestling with Jonathan on the floor. He must have come running when the glass shattered! Jo momentarily forgot about the struggle happening in front of her when she saw Jonathan’s gun lying a few feet away from her. Jo dove for the gun and grabbed it firmly in her hands.

“Mark!” Jo screamed. Mark looked up momentarily from his struggle and saw Jo with the gun pointed at Jonathan. Mark slowly stood up and Jonathan started to. “No!” Jo yelled. “Stay right there!”

“Come on, Jo,” Jonathan said. “Just relax.”

“Call the police, Mark,” Jo said.

“Jo,” Jonathan said soothingly, “that’s not necessary. We can work this out.”

“No, Jonathan,” Jo said hysterically. “We can’t. That’s where you’re wrong. Ever since I met you, I’ve been on an emotional rollercoaster. With ups and downs and ups- I never knew what was coming next!”

“Jo…” Jonathan hesitated.

“All I’ve ever been sure of is that my life was full of ups and downs. And this is definitely an up point.”

The sound of a gunshot echoed through the office halls.

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