Unknown Killer Part 3

Something was ringing right in my ear. I woke up and found it was my cell phone. Looking at my caller ID, I saw it was my boyfriend. Groaning, I rolled over and wondered what time it was as I clicked open my cell phone.1

"Hello?" I said.2

"ELIZABETH!" he yelled, "I called you on Tuesday night. Where WERE you?"3

"I was working late," I replied, knowing that Tuesday night was when my last mission was.4

"At 3 in the morning? You don't go to work, or stay at work, at 3 in the morning. I don't even get to see you or talk to you anymore. What do you do at "work"?" he asked.5

I knew he thought I was cheating on him. "Sweetie, I'm sorry, but that night I had to get a really big project done and I work better in the office. I promise, there was nobody else there. They let me lock up on my own."6

"Yeah right there was no one there. Who is it, Elizabeth? Is there someone else? Just tell me right now and I'll be fine with it," he insisted. 7

"No, there's nobody else. I promise. You know I wouldn't cheat on you. I'm sorry I didn't answer my phone. I turned it on vibrate and it was in my bag. I didn't even hear it because I was probably across the room in my office when it went off. What time did you call me anyway?" I asked, wondering how I was going to get out of this one. This wasn't the first time such an incident had occurred, and I knew it wouldn't be the last time, either.8

"How can I even believe you? This has happened several times. I don't know whether or not you're lying anymore. I called you at 3 in the morning. 3! How could you be working at 3 on a "big project"? Elizabeth, this just isn't going to work out. Even if you are working, you would be a workaholic and I can't deal with that. I couldn't live with you and I wouldn't want to if anything that I think is true," he said sadly.9

"Please don't break up with me," I pleaded, "I need you and I love you and there's nobody else. Look, there's just a few things you don't know about..."10

"Like another guy?" he said, cutting me off short, "I'm sorry, Elizabeth. I love you but I can't deal with this anymore. You know I don't like it. I think this is the end. I still wanna be friends, but I can't live in a mystery all the time," he said.11

"John...I love you..." I said, almost pleading with him not to leave me.12

"I love you, too, but I can't deal with this and you shouldn't have to either. Goodbye."13

I hung up the phone. I was very upset, but I knew crying wouldn't help and I didn't want to even think about it anymore. I was trained to be tough and showing the least sign of weakness could hurt me on the inside and out. If I ever showed any signs of being weak, I could be fired. So I tried to deal with it and went to eat breakfast.14

Halfway to the table, my phone rang.15

"Hello?" I said.16

"Elizabeth," a hushed voice on the other end said, "nobody knew this, but there's someone right in your state that you need to take care of. He has accidentally stumbled on some information. You have an assignment tonight. Come in for debriefing in an hour."17

I smiled on the other line. "Will do," I said, "I'll be there in ten minutes."18

Hanging up my phone, I started to get ready.19