Regan must have been crazy to be walking down a dark alley in New York at two o'clock in the morning all alone. She pulled her gun from her hip holster as she moved silently deeper. If it wasn't for the tip that the man she had been hunting would be here, she wouldn't be. Being a cop as long as she had, and a homicide detective she really should know better than this, but she had been chasing this man for months. Every muscle in her body was tense, waiting for any sign he was here. He was a dangerous man. She heard a ruckus nearby, and instinctively spun to face the noise her gun aimed. A cat leapt out of the nearby dumpster before trotting off. She released a heavy sigh and lowered her weapon. It only took a second, the man moved like a ghost which proved the reasoning behind the nickname. His hand gripped her wrist which held her gun, and his body slammed her into the nearby building. His other hand came up to cover her mouth. She finally saw him face to face for the first time. He had the bluest eyes she'd ever seen.

"Hello Regan." He said softly his voice was softer than she imagined it would be. Soft as velvet, and smooth as glass. He slowly removed his hand from her mouth. She debated screaming, but knew if she did he could kill her and be gone before her cry reached the end of the alley.

"That's detective Cooper to you." She said.

"You've been following me for five months now, I think we're on a first-name basis." He said smoothly.

"How do you know that?" She asked.

"Because I've been watching you for six." He said with a grin.

"Why?" She asked her eyes searching his face. He was taller than her by a good half a foot, and he had broad shoulders. His all black suit brought out his eyes, and black hair that was cut short.

"Just back off, and stay out of my way." He said looking away from her.

"You killed thirty two people in two years. I can't look past that." She said.

"You're good, but not nearly as good as you think if you only know of thirty two people." He said in a slightly condescending tone.

"You're a monster." She said, and when he turned his attention back to her she felt a slice of fear slide up her back.

"No, I'm a hired gun. I don't kill people at random or without a reason. No women, no children." He said.

"Is that why I'm still alive?" She asked.

"You're still alive because I like you." He said.

"Funny, that doesn't make me feel better." She said bitterly.

"It should. My interest in you makes you the safest person in the city." He pointed out.

"I can keep myself safe." She said.

"Obviously." He said his eyes roaming over where his body had her pinned against the building.

"You snuck up on me." She said.

"Of course I did. I knew you were coming." He said.

"How?" She asked suddenly confused.

"Who do you think called in the anonymous tip?" He asked.

"Why? Why call and turn yourself in?" She asked.

"I thought it was time we meet face to face." He said.

"I still don't know your name." She pointed out.

"Call me Ghost. Everyone else does." He said.

" You've been stalking me for six months. Aren't we on a first name basis?" She asked, throwing his words back at him.

"You don't need to know my name." He said.

"Why have you been following me?" She asked.

"I need a friend in the police department. I thought since you seemed interested in my cases. Why not?" He said honestly.

"I'm not a dirty cop." She said.

"You don't have to be, but you should know your partner is." He said.

"What?" She asked. She didn't want to believe it.

"The case last month that you're blaming me for. I didn't do it." He said.

"Why should I believe you?" She asked.

"I'm telling the truth. I'm not a liar." He said his voice dropping slightly lower.

"No, you're a murderer." She said evenly.

"If you dug a little deeper into the victim you might learn more." He said.

"What's that supposed to mean?" She asked.

"What it sounds like. You think you're on to me, but every clue you found I left it for you. If I really wanted to elude you, I could." He said.

"I'm going to catch you. I'm close I can feel it."

"This is as close as you'll ever get. You're good, but not good enough." He said.

"Okay, why would my partner blame you?" She asked, taking the bait.

"Because he's covering for someone, and your obsession with me provides opportunity." He said.

"I'm not obsessed with you." She said.

"Yes, you are….did you forget I've been following you? You're entire life is me."

She was shocked enough by his words she barely felt his hand move from her wrist slipping into hers. His fingers slide her gun from her hand effortlessly, and he tossed it a few feet away. The next instant she heard the click and felt the cold metal of her handcuffs biting into her wrist. She looked at where he had handcuffed her to a nearby dumpster.

"It's been a pleasure detective, but I must go." He said backing away from her.

"No, you're not going anywhere. You're under arrest." She said, and he arched an eyebrow in amusement at her predicament.

"I'll see you around detective. I'll be watching you." He said.

"I'm going to find you." She said as he backed away.

He spun smoothly on his heel and walked slowly from the alley at a leisurely pace. Her hands went to her belt digging for the keys to her handcuffs. He reached the end of the alley and stopped, but didn't look back at her.

"You should be careful chasing ghosts detective. Sometimes they haunt you." He said in a soft voice she could barely hear. He started walking the darkness slowly eating up the outline of his tall frame.

She could hear him whistling as he rounded the alley. Her window was closing fast and with it everything she had been chasing for the past five months. She grabbed the keys, and with a satisfying click the handcuff came loose. She dove for her gun and scrambled out the alley after him at a run. She broke from the confines of the alley onto the darkened street, but the Ghost was nowhere to be seen. She sighed and ran a hand through her tangled brown hair. She was stupid and had let her guard down. Maybe, it was the enticing way he smelled like cinnamon, and sweetness. Maybe, it was the soft caress of his voice, and the piercing blue of his eyes. Either way he had gotten under her skin, and eluded her once again. Five months brought her face to face with the monster under the bed, and she wasn't able to do anything. He had escaped again, but he couldn't run forever, and she wouldn't stop until he was behind bars. Charming or not she was closing in on him, and she knew it.