After Kimberly had eaten her dinner, Gina bathed her, and then dressed her into the sweet little pink pajamas she had found in her dresser. She thought again, how she would dress her own little girl in clothes like those Kimberly had. She couldn't wait until her baby came!

Tucking Kimberly in, she tickled her. "There you go, little Kimmy... Snug as a bug in a rug"

Kimberly laughed. "So what story would you like tonight, sweetie" She asked, but she knew what her answer would be. It was always the same.

"Green Eggs and Ham! Please...????" begged Kimberly.

Gina reached for the book on the nearby bookshelf.

"You got it, Kimmy, girl, green Eggs and Ham it is."

"Yeah!... Squealed Kimberly... I just love Sam I am... He's so funny!"'

When the story was finished, Gina placed a little kiss on Kimberly's forehead.

"Okay now, little one, you have to get some sleep now, okay"

'Okay, Gina.... But when I wake up, you won't be here anymore, right?"

Gina smiled. "No, sweetie, I’ll leave when your mommy and daddy come back, but don't worry, I’ll see you again next week, remember"

"I remember, Gina, you promised to take me to the park then, so don't forget, okay"

"I won't forget, Kimmy... But come on now, close your eyes, it's off to slumber land with you"

Now Kimberly began to pout, "What's wrong, sweetie?" asked Gina, surprised.

"You forgot to kiss my eyes, Gina, you forgot to give me the princess dream."

Gina laughed softly at the little girl.

"You know, I did forget that, didn't I .... Well here you go, princess."

Gina kissed each of Kimberly's eyelids lightly.

"Good night, Kimberly, have sweet Princess dreams tonight."

"I will, Gina. You always take away the bad dreams for me... Thank you" Kimberly reached out to hug Gina.

"I love you... Your the bestest baby-sitter in the whole world!"

Gina gave Kimberly a hug back, then laid her back down in the bed.

She lightly stroked the little girls hair away from her face, softly singing a lullaby.

While Kimberly entered the land of Princesses, Gina again dreamed of her own little girl, thinking that someday soon, all her dreams would come true for her.

Later that night, while Kimberly soundly slept, Billy knocked on the door. He came in, and took Gina into his arms. He listened patiently as she told him about the little child, and he smiled when she said Kimberly had told her she loved her. Gina seemed touched by that. Billy had seen Kimberly while working around the house. She had always followed him, annoying him with questions, while his mind only wanted to work in silence. He never liked kids too much, though. Kimberly was okay, as kids go... He just didn't give her thought, one way or another. Gina did though... She loved the children a lot, and it was that fact that had saved their lives. He would have killed them all, to be on the safe side, but she had made him promise he wouldn't hurt them, and so he didn't. Only that one boy, but that hadn't been helped. He had woken up, had come into his parents room crying.... He would have been a witness, and so he had to kill the little boy. Gina, she had been so angry at him then. He promised her it would never happen again, and he hoped it was true. Gina had almost left him then... And he had really been scared. He had to remind her of why they were doing this, for their own baby, and for the life they deserved. He could never loose her, she was his whole world. Everything in his world would be so perfect, if only he could make her get that abortion, but she refused. So he had to deal with it..... And now he had to find a way to support a kid, and Gina. Well... It wouldn't be much longer now... He only had a few more houses in mind, then they should have enough to start a new life away from this town of money obsessed people. They would have enough money soon. He had no problem selling what he took from the houses.

Gina went on now about the baby again... Always that damn baby. He had something else on his mind though. He took her in his arms, kissing her. She kissed back, and they sank into the hot desires that quickly overwhelmed them both.

Chris and Rita spent the next day looking into the names and addresses of the others listed in Karen’s note book. After calling them , it was learned that most had their own handymen, and used Nannies or other sources of childcare. Only three other families had the same link as all the other families.

"So, now I guess we go talk with them, warn them .... And try to figure out who would be next on his list. "said Chris.

"And just how do we do that Partner?" asked Rita.

Well..... There must be some order to this.... We just haven't found it yet... I think we should go talk with the families first.... Then we'll have a better idea. You ready?"

Rita stood up, stretching and yawning as she did.

"Ah, Rita, I’m not keeping you awake, am I?" he chuckled.

"Yeah, you are... But don't worry about it, I’ll catch up on my sleep when I have my vacation up in Sanibel.... You remember the one Cap gave me the other night?" she teased.

"Oh... Really? Well as I remember it, you won't be getting that vacation... Once

Fran hears of your sneaky little ways." his cocky grin was back.

"Hey, Sam... You wouldn't really do that to me would you? I'm your best friend!"

"I would, and I did." said Chris, now a little sheepishly, looking guiltier by the second at her words.

"Sam!!! How could you!?

"I could, and I did.... Now come on you Sleepyhead, we've got work to do"

"Yeah, yeah" mumbled Rita. "wake up."

The first family on the list they checked out wasn't even in the country, and hadn't been for the last month. A neighbor said they were vacationing in Europe, and would be away another month still. The next address on the list didn't look to promising either, as it was an older couple, who yes, they have had Billy Crago do some work for them, however they only used Gina to baby-sit once or twice when their daughter had come in from out of town, and they all went out without their grandson. Gina had come highly recommended by a friend, Patricia Standford, and hadn't been needed since her daughter went back home, about seven months ago. Chris raised an eye at the sound of the name. Patricia Standford and her husband had been Billy's second victim.

Walking back to their car, they both spoke at once at the realization they had.

"Sam... I think the Claymont's are his next victims. This caused them both to laugh briefly, but the moment was too serious for it to last.

"We'll go there now, talk with them, and make the arrangements. I think we got them now, sam." Chris smiled.

"Let's hope so" said Rita, thinking that time was running out on them.

They sat in the beautifully decorated living room, gazing at the portrait that hung on the wall opposite them. It was a huge, more then life size piece of modern art, but to Chris and Rita, it looked as if some ink had been spilled onto the white canvas.. Chris snickered, and Rita quickly jabbed him with her elbow, though she too, had to hide her own laughter.

'"Who are you's?" asked Kimberly, who had snuck up unnoticed to her guests. Chris and Rita looked over at the little girl, wondering where she had come from. "Don't sit there looking like you have no idea what she's saying, sam. "Rita nudged Chris again.

"Hi... I'm Rita, and this is .."

"The little girl eyes opened wide, brightening, and absolutely delighted with Chris .

"Sam!" she exclaimed, interrupting Rita before she could finish.

"Do you like green eggs and ham, SAM?" she asked.

Chris just looked at her, then looked over at Rita with a confused look.. As if she would be able to understand the mind of this small female child.

What amazed him, was that she did.

She started speaking in the strange language the child did.

"I do not like green eggs and ham... I do not like them Sam I am." then she laughed, and the little girl joined in with her."

She had made a new friend.

"Sam... Mind telling me what that was about?" asked Chris.

Now Kimberly looked over at Rita, confused herself. "Your Rita, not Sam!"

Rita laughed at her. "That's just a nickname we both have, he's Sam.... I'm Sam... But really he's Chris and I'm Rita. What is your name ?"

I'm Kimberly.... I'm six... How old are you?"

Now Chris started laughing. Apparently Kimberly hadn't learned the rules her own sex had made yet.

Kimberly didn't notice her question went unanswered, she only went on with her own."Why are you's here?"

"'We have to talk with your Mommy and Daddy. We are waiting for them." Kimberly went over to Rita now, and climbed on her lap.

'Your really pretty Sam." she said. "I like you ."

Rita smiled at the little girl.

"Kimberly, thank you, and I like you too. You are very pretty yourself, you know that?"

Kimberly was only being honest with them when she replied.

"I know that, everybody always says that!"

Chris choked back a laugh. Kimberly gave him a look of superiority , one she had seen Rita give Chris earlier.

"Sam.... Your funny!" she said to him.

Just then, Virginia Claymont entered the room, alongside her husband, Richard, who had been called away from work to join them now.

"I see our little Kimberly is keeping you entertained." Richard said, laughing.

"Oh, yes,... She's charming." said Chris, as he stood along with Rita to introduce themselves.

Rita made the introductions. "Your daughter is a real sweetheart. I'm Sergeant Lance, my partner, sergeant Lorenzo. We have some business to discuss with you..... Remember the saying little pictures have big ears? "It was her way of telling them this would be no place for a child.

"Oh, of course... Kimberly, honey, how would you like to go out with Delores, and have a dish of ice cream?" said Mrs. Claymont. Rita noticed a softness to her voice when she spoke to her child that didn't seem to match her high society appearance at all.

"Okay Mommy.. Yeah" she turned back to Chris and Rita. "Bye, Chris Sam..... Bye Rita..... Sam I am "she giggled

She turned and went quickly out the door, calling to Delores for her ice cream. "Uh, oh", said Richard. "Has Kimberly dug out that book again?" he asked his wife.

Yeah.... It's her favorite. I'm sorry if she 's bothered you at all with it." Virginia said, as she turned now to the detectives.

"Oh, no... She hasn't really. I think your gonna have to watch that one... She's gonna be a real heartbreaker when she's older." said Chris.

"Just like her mother" said Richard as he looked his wife’s way. Chris smiled at them, and turned to Rita, who was watching them. He saw the look of longing she had on her face. It was one he had never seen before on her , but one he liked very much.

They had spent over an hour talking with The Claymont's, giving them the news which frightened them extremely, and assuring them of their safety in the entire deal. It was arranged that Richard would take his family on a vacation out of town, and their house would be lent out for the next night. Chris and Rita left then, knowing they still had much to do to make tomorrow night a success for them, for the PBPD, and for the city of Palm Beach itself.

Gina was worried about Billy, he wasn't himself anymore and that scared her. It was as if he had changed ever since.... No she told her self, that couldn't be it... Billy had asked for her to get an abortion, yes, but when she had cried, telling him she could never do that, he had relented, saying he'd take care of her. Gina thought, he's probably scared, that's all. Most men are... I guess I am too. Just wait though Billy, you'll see, we will be so happy... The way it should be. We'll raise our baby, and we'll be just like Kimberly's parents, and all the others.... We'll love this baby and give it everything it deserve. Yeah, he was just scared, that was all. Raising a baby was a huge responsibility. Both their parents had failed miserably at it... Could they do better? She knew she could, but what about him?

He'll be back to normal anyway, in no time at all. He promised it would be only one or two more now, then they could leave town, and soon all their dreams would come true.

She laid on the raggedy sofa, and tenderly rubbed her still flat stomach. "Soon", she whispered to her baby, "soon"