text: [Themes: mystery / thriller, RPG, horror, drama]
  
  She laughed. "You tell me. After all you're the one that called?"
  
  Right.
  
  "Yeah, I saw a flyer for a free massage and was wondering if i could redeem it?"
  
  "We're currently not accepting new clients unfortunately. What is your name? I might be able to put you on a waiting list."
  
  > use your real name
  "Well, Alison, can you tell me a little about yourself? Where did you hear from us?"
  
  "The bus stop on 45th. I work just across the street and kept seeing the flyer. Finally got around to calling it today, I'm not really much of a massage person."
  
  "Totally understandable, we get a lot of first timers. Well, our standard 1 hours usually run 75 dollars, but your session would be free, would you like to schedule it? It looks like we do have an opening for this Saturday."
  
  "That should work. Where are you located?"
  
  "In North Seattle, up past Lakeview Ave. Are you familliar with the area at all?"
  
  "North Seattle?" You said and Ross hung up his call and crossed back to you. "Yeah, I've been up that way a few times."
  
  "Shall I put you down for three thirty?"
  
  > The appointment
  The rest of the week had been spent briefing you on undercover work. You were the perfect bait, a great fit with the victimology. Blonde, female, attractive. All you had to do was find proof that this massage buisness was connected to the murders. The best way to do that, apparentley, was undercover.
  
  Saturday" 2:45
  
  "Good luck in there, and remember. If you need anything. The codeword is-"
  
  "Trumpet. I got it. Still disagree with the choice of codeword, but ya know, I got it."
  
  Ross smiled and it warmed your heart a little. You'd grown fond of the mysterious, charming partner of yours. Hopefully, there'd be more of him in your future.
  
  IF you had a future.
  
  You reminded yourself of the basics. Stay calm. Keep the conversation on them. Be on the lookout for the man from the woods. And the codeword was Trumpet.
  
  3:00.
  
  You pulled up to the address you'd been given. It looked to be an apartment complex of sorts. You wondered who in their right mind would go to an apartment building like that all alone. It just wasn't safe. You sighed and walked up to the door, ringing the buzzer for apartment 3.
  
  > Enter
  The room was dark and there was a woman in the center of it, wearing a cloak. You couldn't see your surroundings very well, but there appeared to be a table of some kind in the center. There was an audible click behind you of the door locking. You turned around but there was no one there. It must be automatic, you thought.
  
  "Alison?" she called out.
  
  > Yes
  "You're early. That's alright. Just have some paperwork for you to fill out. But we can do that after if you'd prefer."
  
  "Whatever is easiest." You forced a smile. "Some place you got here."
  
  "It's small, but it does the trick. Massage doesn't require much room,"
  
  "Is it just you that works here then?"
  
  "Yes, it's not very corporate. I started taking on clients in my spare time for some extra money. The city can be expensive."
  
  "Right."
  
  she took a step towoards you and you felt wildly uncomfortable. "Shall we begin then?"
  
  > Begin
  "I suppose." She handed you a towel and led you to the bench. Get yourself situated, I'll be right back. You sat on the table and waited her return. She had vanished into a back room and you tapped the table nervously. There were so many red flags here, it was impossible not to feel on edge. Why did these women do it? Was a massage really worth their lives? The woman returned a moment later with a chuckle.
  
  "Now, i know youre new at this, but traditionally, you're meant to lay down on the table."
  
  "Right."
  
  > lay down
  You layed face down on the massage table with a sigh. You could make out her feet moving below you, but the rest of your vision was obscured.
  
  "This is a safe place." She said. "Remove your shirt."
  
  You shifted uncomfortably.
  
  > remove shirt
  You pulled the T shirt you had been wearing over your head and the woman took it from you and set it to the side. You felt extremeley exposed with nothing but your bra covering your torso and uncomfortable from the prolonged silence. You were about to lift your head up when suddenly hands were on your back.
  
  You jumped at the sudden touch and you heard the woman chuckle.
  
  "Is the pressure okay?"
  
  It wasn't. Something felt....wrong about the whole situation. You weren't sure if it was because you were already on edge or because she was doing it wrong but the massage felt invasive.
  
  It was less rubbing and more stroking. Hands delicatley caressed your sides moving ever so slowly down your back resting uncomfortably low and then rising back up slowly. Fingertips danced on your flesh and you felt your whole body shiver.
  
  > stay Silent
  You bit your tongue and focused on your breathing. The hands got more aggressive.
  
  "Do you get a lot of buisness?" you asked in a casual tone.
  
  "Our fair share of women wander in here. Not a lot of repeat customers though."
  
  "Why do you suppose that is?" you asked. There was no answer. You waited a moment, then decided to raise your head slightly. A hand quickly held it in place.
  
  "Just try to relax." The woman said.
  
  You felt goosebumps raise on your spine. The only contact she had with your body was a hand on your head, the massage had ceased.
  
  "Conversation helps me relax." You added quickly, and she answered only with a soft chuckle. You heard shuffling around beside you.
  
  > TRUMPET
  "Trumpet!" You shouted flinging yourself off the table. The person in front of you was not the odd woman you'd encountered earlier. No. This was a man. Small in stature, faintly recognizable.
  
  "Wait, she's a cop!" He yelled and you felt hands on your arms. You knocked your head back colliding with the womans who let out a grunt.
  
  There was banging on the door and shouting you couldn't quite make out. The man threw a nearby vase level with your head.
  
  > Duck
  You dropped to the ground quickly and the vase zipped harmlessly above your head. The banging on the door got more intense and the man was headed towards you. You threw the massage table upwards towards him and it knocked him over. There was a sharp pain in your head as the woman grabbed you by the hair and slammed your face to the wall. You brought your elbow to her stomach and she released you from her grasp. The man rose to his feet and was coming for you again.
  
  > fight the woman first
  You closed the distance between you and the woman and pulled her into a headlock.
  
  "Listen. We know who you are and what you've done. There's no reason for this to get any worse for either of you. Just surrender now, and cooperate, and we'll see what we can do about a deal? How's that sound, huh?"
  
  Instead of an answer the woman headbutted you but you were able to maintain your hold, you felt blood pouring out of your nose, and you quickly kicked her shins. She dropped to the ground, and you maintained your grip on her arm.
  
  "Take that as a no." You said, reaching for your handcuffs that you had concealed near your ankle with one hand, pinning her down with the other. You cinched them one around her wrist, one to the heavy table beside her, and went for the man. He was gone.
  
  > figure out how to let backup in
  "How do I open this door?" You asked the woman. She remained silent. "It's over for you, don't you get that. How do I open this door?" She waited a moment, then sighed.
  
  "There is a button under the desk over there." she gestured to the desk. "It will undo the magnetic locks."
  
  You crossed over and found the button. Backup came flooding in a moment later.
  
  "There's another suspect still here. He ran while I was dealing with her." You quickly described the man and officers ran past deeper into the house.
  
  Ross ran over to you and took your face into his big, calloused hands.
  
  "You're hurt." he said, refering to the blood caking up your face.
  
  "I'm fine," You assured him. He didn't seem convinced, however. Another officer had located your shirt and handed it to you then.
  
  "Thank you." you said, color flooding to your cheeks, as you'd forgotten you weren't wearing one. You brought it to your face first, wiping away most of the blood and then put it back on your body.
  
  "We've got him" you heard an officer report through your earpiece and then sighed a breath of relief. You and Ross exchanged a look of satisfaction, knowing that the worst part was over.
  
  > Continue
  With all the evidence stacked against them, the man, identified as Harry Jenkins, and the woman identified as Georgina Barnes, both took plea deals. They were convicted and sentenced to 50 years in prision. Had it gone to trial, it was likely they would have both recieved the death penalty for their crimes.
  
  A little over a month later, they began to serve their sentence, and life continued on as normal for you. For the most part. You had some mandatory time off to see doctors and counselors to make sure you were fit for duty after everything that had happened. Once you were cleared, you returned to work.
  
  "Alison." a familiar voice spoke behind you. You turned around and smiled at your partner striding up behind you.
  
  "Hi, Ross." He wrapped you into a hug and you smiled softly, breathing him in. He pulled away.
  
  "Welcome back." He said with a playful punch on the arm.
  
  "It's good to be back." you replied noticing a thick folder he was carrying with him. You raised your eyebrow. "New case?"
  
  "Double homicide in Greenwich Park last night. They need us on the scene ASAP. You up for it?"
  
  Without a moment of hesitation you snatched the folder from his grip. "Absolutley."