Chapter 1 - Goodbyes and Hellos

The alarm sounded at 6am. Kenzie Howell groaned before reaching over to shut it off. She hated getting up early, but for this particular occasion, she was excited.

She sat on the edge of her bed and looked around. In a few hours, she'd be leaving this room behind and staying in a different one. But it wouldn't be a hotel room. It would be a spare bedroom in her best friend's house.

It had been almost two years since Kenzie had last seen Jillian in person. The two had grown up together, best friends since they were eight years old. They'd even attended college together and were roommates. Kenzie had studied to be a detective, which she'd succeeded in and was now one of the best known detectives in Riverview. Jillian had studied to be an architectural designer. The two kept in touch thanks to instant messenger and cell phones, but things weren't quite the same.

Now that summer had arrived, Jillian had invited Kenzie to spend at least part of the season with her at her home in Sunset Valley. Kenzie had cleared it with her boss, who agreed that she deserved a vacation after her latest case in Bridgeport involving vampires, which she didn't care to remember. Incoming cases would be sent to other detectives (Kenzie was one of the best, but she wasn't the only one in existence).

Kenzie got dressed in a bright yellow skirt and tank top and headed into the kitchen to prepare breakfast. She wasn't sure what time she'd arrive in Sunset Valley, but she wanted to get as early a start as possible. The sooner she got there, the sooner she could see Jillian again.

Kenzie prepared some French toast for her breakfast and sat down to eat it, all the while pondering what all fun awaited her in Sunset Valley. Jillian had mentioned the perfect temperatures of the water at the beach, not to mention there were a few new clubs in town, thanks to Bridgeport's influence. The best part was that Kenzie wouldn't have to pay for a hotel, since Jillian had insisted she stay with her. Jillian had a roommate at one point in time, but she moved out to go to Bridgeport and "live the dream". It seemed like everyone was going to Bridgeport. But Kenzie was perfectly content staying in Riverview.

She could live her dream out just as easily at home as she could in the big city, where vampires roamed. She shuddered at some unpleasant memories.

After she ate, Kenzie brushed her teeth and then loaded her suitcases into her car. She still had the same plum-colored Requiescence she'd gotten as a high school graduation present, and she loved it. It was the perfect car for a top investigator.

Before leaving, Kenzie had one last stop to make. She wanted to stop at her parents' house and say goodbye to them. They'd been thrilled at the news of her seeing Jillian again. She was like a second daughter to them. The Howells were still very close with Jillian's family, the Swansens, but only one of the four children still lived at home - the 16-year-old, Savannah. The eldest, Hunter, had moved to Bridgeport to become a rock star (again, another Bridgeport victim), Jillian had moved to Sunset Valley since she loved the beach and she had a job there, and Alexis had moved to Barnacle Bay, simply because she loved pirates (who knew what she was doing there?).

Kenzie rang the doorbell to her parents' house. Even though she'd lived there since they bought the house when she was seven, she still felt it was more appropriate and less intrusive to ring the doorbell than walk right in.

Her father, Russ, answered the door. He was already dressed in his division manager suit.

"Hi, Ken!" he said with a smile. "You're up early!"

"Yeah, I was going to head on out to see Jillian, and thought I'd say goodbye to you and Mom."

"Well, I'm glad you did. You'll be gone most of the summer I bet."

"Most likely, but it'll be nice to see the place. I've never been there, and Jillian's always talking about how pretty it is."

"Just be sure to get pictures for your mom and me."

"I will."

"Who's at the door?" Kenzie's mother's voice sounded from the kitchen.

"It's Kenzie!"

There was a clatter of dishes and the sound of a cupboard slamming before Constance emerged from the kitchen, still in her robe.

"Kenzie!" she exclaimed as she headed for the door in excitement.

"Hi, Mom!"

Constance gave her daughter a warm embrace.

"It's so good to see you! I was afraid we wouldn't get to tell you goodbye before you left."

"That's why I stopped by, plus I wanted to get an early start and figured you'd both be up and about."

"Oh yeah, the joys of working," Russ said with a chuckle.

"Oh, don't act like you don't like it, Dad. We all know you're a workaholic."

"Detective Kenzie found me out! Call the cops!"

Kenzie laughed. Her father had such a wacky sense of humor, but she loved it.

Russ glanced at his watch then and said, "Well, speaking of work, I better get going or I'll be late. You have a good trip Kenzie, and be safe."

"I will Dad, thanks."

Russ gave his daughter a friendly squeeze before heading into the garage to get his red Yomoshoto Evasion. Kenzie and Constance waved at him as he pulled out of the garage and drove down the street.

Constance turned to her daughter when Russ was out of sight. "Would you like to come in for some coffee? Or some milk or juice?"

Kenzie wanted to get going, but she figured a quick drink wouldn't hurt anything. "Sure, but just for a minute. I don't want to get to Sunset too late."

Constance led the way into the kitchen with Kenzie following close behind. The familiar walls and furniture of her old house filled her heart with memories. The fireplace mantle still held pictures from Russ's and Constance's wedding day, as well as a picture of Kenzie on her high school prom night, and of her in front of the desk in her office.

Kenzie sat down at the dining table in the cozy kitchen while her mother prepared the drinks. When they were finished, she set them on the table and helped herself to a cup while Kenzie grabbed another. She took a sip of the warm liquid and smiled when she realized it was a hot chocolate soy latte, with extra foam the way Kenzie liked it.

"Hot chocolate in the summer, Mom?"

"Well I figure you wouldn't get that in Sunset Valley."

"No, probably not."

Kenzie continued to drink while her mother continued to converse.

"It'll be nice of you to see Jillian again. I can't believe she's been out of Riverview for all this time."

"Yeah, almost two years. It seems like just yesterday we were graduating college."

"To me, it seems like just yesterday that you brought her home from school for your first sleepover."

"Oh yeah, I remember that. That's when you asked us to smile and we made silly faces at the camera instead."

"Yeah, you two had some great times together."

"I'm just glad we haven't lost touch. A lot of people lose their childhood friends in high school, their high school friends in college, and their college friends when they move into their own place. I held onto my best friend for years."

"Yes, you did. I just hope she's doing okay."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, you know I care deeply for Jillian, but you know how she is with boys."

"Last I heard, she didn't have a boyfriend."

"Still..."

Kenzie put her cup down. She did know what her mother meant. Jillian had always been pretty flighty, and very popular with the boys. But because she was gorgeous, this came as no surprise. She had the perfect figure, naturally blonde hair, and eyes that would change from blue to green and sometimes be in between. She was a real beauty, and the best part was that she didn't flaunt it about as her only quality. She wasn't ashamed to show herself off, but she didn't want to be a model or anything like that. How many other young girls wouldn't want to be a model if they had the looks for it?

Finally, Kenzie stood up. "Well, this was nice Mom, but I have to go. I promise I'll call you as soon as I get settled though, okay?"

Constance stood up too. "All right, just please be careful. I don't know what it's like in Sunset Valley and neither do you. It could be a whole different world from Riverview, not just because of the beaches. And drive carefully too. Don't take any calls if you get them while driving."

"Don't worry, Mom, I won't. I'll be fine."

Constance smiled and gave her daughter a hug. "I should get ready for work anyway. You have a good trip, and tell Jillian hello from your father and me."

"I will. Have a nice summer."

"You too."

Kenzie let herself out as her mother went into the master bedroom to get ready for work. For her, that meant putting on her paramedic uniform, applying her makeup, and fixing her hair. Kenzie was glad she didn't bother with too much makeup, or have a uniform to put on.

Kenzie took one last look around after walking across the street back to her own house (she'd been lucky enough to find a new house so close to where her parents lived; it was very convenient since she was so close to them). She then got into her car, put her seatbelt on, started the engine, and drove off.

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