2 Til Death Do Us Part

I pull the map out and started to map the attacks. Again it seems familiar and naggingly not connecting with coherent thought. Alex knows that I am hitting the point where I obsess over a case and he decides to end that.

"Mira, we are going out to dinner tonight." He states clearly.

"But-" I try to rebuff.

He shakes his head, "No buts, if we don't do this you'll get stuck and then you'll never sleep. We don't need you in the hospital again for exhaustion."

I out and sigh before nodding my head. He chuckles at the seemingly childish agreement and goes back to what he was doing for the next little while before he stands and pulls me away from my desk. I laugh because he knows that I hate leaving work like this and he excels at managing it.

He's taken me to our favourite fancy restaurant. Ordered our favourite drinks and he looks at me with an all knowing smirk that he does when I have forgotten something. Then I realize why he demanded that we go out. I blush in embarrassment. He starts to chuckle and grabs my hand giving it a little squeeze.

"If you want to divorce me for not remembering our anniversary, I wouldn't blame you." I hide my face and mumble that.

He laughs harder, "I wouldn't divorce you over that. you probably wouldn't have had we not had the case we do in front of us. So I can't really blame you."

I'm still very much upset with myself but Alex seems to have forgiven me without actually getting angry with me and I vow to make it up to him that night when we get home. But Alex has a whole different idea and I can't seem to fathom how he managed to get the restaurant and the hotel booked without me noticing that something was not right. But here we stand in the hotel room and in each others embrace. Mouths locked and heated. Instead of going home we strip there and fall into each other all over again.

That was two months ago. Now I am standing at the scene of another murder almost exactly like the others except one thing. We can't identify this one. All identification has been removed and their face has been peeled like a misshaped grape. I've tried to call Alex but he must still be with sources that had called him. Which means that it might be a while before he contacts me. We walk around and gather what we can but all in all it's the same body positioning and there's the fur. But nothing else.

Another few hours go by and now I'm getting agitated that I haven't heard from Alex when one of my superiors and that GODS agent approach me together. I immediately growl that they want to sweep in and take over.

"Grant, come here." I am commanded and I sigh.

I turn and walk over and stand straight, "If we are handing another case off to them I think I may have to make a formal complaint over the fact that they never catch the criminals and if they do they don't do anything to let the public know so that they feel safer.-"

"Mrs. Grant-" The agent starts only to be cut off again.

"Besides if you are going to tell me that they are taking over the least you could do is wait for Alex to be here so that I don't go to hit these guys and-"

"Mira!" My superior raises his voice.

I'm shocked, he has never done that to me. I don't understand. My phone buzzes and I look at it. I sigh now that Alex is calling.

"Where are you Alex?" I ask without a hello.

Theres a pause on the other line, "In the underworld, Mira, stop interfering."

I go ghostly and go to get a trace on the phone call and that's when it clicks. I look at the body and I insistently know that Alex is gone. Murdered. Posed like all the others and stripped of his identity. My superior is here to tell me that this is my husband, my partner and I am going to be removed from the case.

I turn and look at them, tears in my eyes and anger, rage really creasing my face. I'm shaking and don't want to listen to anything that they have to say. Not at all. I just want to find out who did this and make them pay for all the pain they have caused. I want to ensure that I am the last.

I turn to the techs, "Get everything together and everything is put on a rush. They've now killed Agent Alexander Grant. And now they will feel the full force of justice."

The techs stop and stare a beat before going back to work. I have a hand on my shoulder and I look to see the GODS agent right by me. I shrug him off and walk past both men that came to talk to me. I walk out into the streets and look up. All the anger is boiling over and I scream. A banshee would have run from me. The pain and anger and fear that flows through the unrestrained voice would've woken the dead. But I refuse to cry. I won't until this is over and that... That is my goal.

The agent has followed me out and I turn to him snapping, "You wont mess this up. Not now that my husband has fallen victim to this..."

I trail off as the agent pulls me into an unexpected embrace murmuring into the top of my head, "I am here to help you. But you really should rest before you go on a tirade. It's only going to get harder from here on out."

I look up slightly confused. But he isn't being pushy and he isn't demanding that I release the case. He is calm and collected and reassuring. I realize that he mouths 'sleep' at me and I didn't hear it but I certainly slump into his arms as shock and exhaustion finally take over.

I awake in a hotel room. It's more than my agency would splurge for which means that it wasn't my agency. I look around and it's the penthouse suit. Which also means that there are more rooms that go along with this. I cringe and look at myself in the ensuite bathroom mirror and moan about my appearance. Apparently I still cried in my sleep as my eyes are puffy and red. I don't remember getting here and I don't remember going to bed but I do remember the one thing. The GODS agent had been extremely gentle and calm even though I was going to tear him apart. He was even fearful of me when I had screamed my fury and pain outside where Alex was found.

Quickly I wash my face and exit the bedroom that I had been placed and look to see if I can find anyone that can fill me in. But before I get the opportunity to ask anything there is a knock on the main door. Making me tense and defensive before I know what's going on.

"It's alright Mira, that will just be breakfast." the agent comes up behind me and opens the door to let the employee roll in the cart and place trays on the table.

I shake my head. I am apparently in the company of this agent and I don't know why but it's almost a comfort. My heart yearns for Alex but so far this agent hasn't actually upset me. He comes over and seats me at the table and starts to open trays. I want to ask why there is so much but then a couple new agents trail from another bedroom and sit down as well.

"Mira, this is Artemis and Apollo, and I am Hades. We are staying with you until this series of crimes is solved." He puts a hand up before I can argue, "You've been given a week off to arrange a service for your husband and no you haven't been taken off the case, but... You will be working with us and the resources that we have to offer. It wouldn't be fair for you not to know that the criminal was caught and punished."

That's when it hit me. I stare into nothingness as the pose comes to mind. "Ixions wheel."

The three at the table look perplexed and I excuse myself for a moment to rethink how to handle this. Because this is turning into some greek tragedy.