Uh oh, Lassie's going on a road trip! =O Something tells me that's probably not the best idea... ;P

Another great chapter! I love the push/pull between Juliet and Lassiter as they try to figure out how to deal with each other while they're struggling internally as well. I'm a little afraid to see what Juliet does when she finds out what Lassie's planning to do. 

Thanks for the chapter...can't wait for the next! :)

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Truthfully, today, his route was waiting on him; he had no need to take a drive to Central Coast. The back of his neck itched.

I love how at the tail of Gus's rambling inner monologue you have this physical observation. Its a slightly non-sequiter insert that is both hilarious and completely natural. No reason to know his neck itches but the fact that you included it suddenly adds a new level to his personal discomfort. He's twitchy and self-questioning even if his questions aren't fully on the surface. He wonders why he's there but not enough to stop himself from actually walking to the door and knocking. Guuuh!! He's so adorable and lovely and I love him!!

And oh it aches something in my heart the description of Shawn's abandoned home – abandoned and empty and Gus not knowing where his new nest is, or if he even has one. Immediately it causes worry and fear for Shawn and where he's found himself.. Or lost himself as the case may be.

This was a day or two after her "innocent" visit to his apartment, where he had made accusations of her and then ripped open his insides as penance.

Love this tearing description of his guilt and shame! How elegant a line yet so heart destructive! The mental image of the act- echoing the act of Saul preying upon his flesh as the same act he would do to make up for his words of hurt. The greatest way he could show his regret. No deeper form of humility could he show her.

Juliet had photographs of her partner's injuries; it would be a lie to say that holding them against the corpses hadn't been nearly impossible. Woody had even tried to take them from her, offering to do the "unsavory stuff" for her, but Juliet had shaken her head. "I have to do this," she'd whispered.

I LOVE this small inclusion of Woody, so little needed to display his care and offers of saving- he could take that bullet for her and not flinch at the impact, knowing what wouldn't make him bleed would drain her body. But yet he has the respect to let her wound herself this way, knowing she has the inner strength to heal and go forward.

The latest (known) victim—the young woman with the short, dark hair, with the one missing sandal. The bottoms of her feet had been slashed. So she would never walk again, without pain. Curious notion, Juliet considered in reflection.

This charges me up with extreme curiosity! Another line that speaks of deeper things and draws me further along this mystery. You have a magic for keeping the story constantly engaging and fascinating! I'm constantly yearning to know more of what is to come and am fed tiny drops, one by one, enough to keep my hunger but never sate. Not yet.

But the fact remained, in print—as well as witnessed to the grave shock of his partner—that Saul had tasted Lassiter's blood and had licked it from open wounds. Lassiter hated that Juliet knew that, that she actually seen it happening; he was humiliated by so much that Saul had done.

I can feel his degradation – how so like rape that act was upon his body. The same helplessness while his form was used to satisfy this creature, and himself helpless to stop it. Forced to endure it and play the game simply to live through it. But what soul remains at the end? One he struggles to even see as his own. He doesn't want to die but he doesn't want this version of himself. He wants him vitality back! In so many ways, it seems as though Saul truly did lap up his strength – drank away what was integral to his spirit.

There was a . . . Carlton was ashamed to have these thoughts, but they were so tangled up with his other thoughts that right now, separation of any kind was impossible. He had a morbid sense of pride that the killer had . . . had coveted his blood alone as some sort of extraordinary gift. He hated that he liked the idea of it.

This is another brilliant insight – another surprise and yet it makes so much sense! Because I could imagine myself feeling that way as well. To be the “chosen one”! How could there not be a sense of ashamed flattery? He was greater than all other victims. No, not even a victim to Saul, but a conduit to ultimate power! He had what no others before him had. He is a treasure and prior to his death, stronger than the beast himself as he had within him was was lacking in Saul. And pride is so much better to face than fear! Yet the shame, I suspect, may be stronger.

There's almost a sense of jealousy in Juliet as she tries to work her way through the connection between Saul and Carlton. One has a piece of the other, one knows the soul of the other in a way she could never be privy to. And so horrific in that this beast is a twisted psychopath! And yet he holds insights to her partner that she's never gained even after years of trust and hard won friendship. It has to be destroying her inside little by little.

"You did not ask to be victimized," Vick stated almost forcefully, changing her tactic.

"Even if I didn't 'ask'—" Lassiter began, his long fingers fidgeting with the edges of his suit jacket. He couldn't finish the thought, not out loud, not in his head. It had become commonplace to deconstruct his actions so that, no matter what, he always came out at fault. It was not Saul's fault—Carlton Lassiter was the only one to blame for his own misfortunes.

Classic victim mentality – by claiming fault it's as though he's claiming control. He doesn't need to see his helplessness, doesn't need to see that he was overpowered and unable to save himself. It's easier, so he thinks, to take this blame on himself. Because it's too much hurt to see the truth.

What an amazing yet not totally unexpected way to leave this chapter! I knew that Carlton was going to follow his own leads but I hadn't reached a place where I'd understood that would mean striking out on his own – a parallel to how he was captured by Saul. Does he even recognize the similarities yet? Or is he so wrapped up in fixing this in the most expedient manner possible that he'll unwittingly allow fate to repeat itself in some small way?

And what of Shawn? I'm now completely concerned how he'd vanished with no trace! I fear for him knowing the fragile state of his soul the last time we saw him! So much agony in this story! So many hurts that have no chance of being soothed! And now, here we are at a cliffhanger and me desperate to see what follows!!