by S. R. Rashad
“In danger! Ok, man. Will do.”
“Thanks, young man. Your government appreciates your help.”
“Oh man, no problem. No problem, Agent Jenkins.”
“Remember, it's urgent.”
“I got you.”
He leaves and waits in his car, up the block, a few buildings away.
Juan calls up stairs to Jen.
“Hey, Jen.”
“Oh hi, Juan. What's up?”
“Can you come down here? It's about Laura.” He says with an urgency in his voice.
“Yea, I'm coming now.”
“Ok.”
Jen locks Lb in the bedroom with an old shoe that has become one of his favorite chew toys and she heads down to see what's got Juan agitated.
“Juan, what's this about Laura?”
“Yea, look.” He says, showing her special agent Jenkins’ card. “This guy was just here and he said that Laura is in danger.”
“Oh no, Juan. I don't like this.” Jen says, looking at the card, she remembers this FBI agent from the hospital the day Laura woke from her coma.
Laura exits 66 Hudson pl. as Gary is there waiting in one of the firm’s cars. Peter sees his attorney get into the car and decides to follow. He gets up hurriedly from his seat, drops a twenty on the table and runs out to hail a cab. He flags one down, in seconds of Laura entering her SUV. He reaches for the cab door, and sees a reflection in the window of the couple that was in the café the entire time he was there. They leave as he does and jump into a black sedan with tinted windows, the police. He’s sure. He has his taxi follow Laura to her apartment building but he tells him not to stop, but to continue driving, knowing where Laura lives, he has the cabbie drop him off by a huge six story parking complex. As he's pressing concern is to lose the police accompaniment, he’s sure he can do that here.
A black SUV passes him, stopping in front of Laura’s apartment building and out steps the woman herself. He watches as she enters her building. He gets out of his car and follows behind her. When he enters, he finds Juan, Jen and Laura engaging in a highly emotional conversation, in the lobby. Laura and Jen turn, seeing him, both recognize him immediately, from the hospital.
Jen is the first to address him. “Hey, it’s you, the FBI guy from the hospital. What’s wrong, now?” Jen says with frantic concern.
“Everything’ll be fine.” He says to Jen, but gesturesfor Laura to come closer.
He leans into her. “Miss Danger. There is need for concern. Can I speak with you in private?”
“Ok.” Laura says to him, while motioning for Jen to stay. She leads him to the atrium just a few yards away, in the center of the complex, where they have a little more privacy.
“So,what is it?” Laura says expressing a little worry.
“I know you’ve ben through a lot, miss Danger. The whole shooting ordeal and having to spend time with that killer. But we have reason to believe he’s still a major threat to society. There was just a recent set of murders in Pennsylvania that may be linked to the doctor and now he’s here for god knows what purpose. He just left your firm. What do you think his business is there. May I ask?”
At first, Laura seems to draw a blank. Then looking back over toward the lobby, seeing Jen standing there with Juan, it hits her--Bambi! She remembered how crazed the doc got back at the prison when he saw her.
He sees Laura looking over toward the lobby and watches as her face goes completely white. And he begins to understand. He sees it, too, Jen! That’s it! She’s the doc’s taste to a tee. She has the right skin complexion, the right hair color and texture, the right build, the right eyes. She would be a perfect addition to the doc’s string of victims.
“Jenkins, I think I know what he wants.” Laura says with deep dread as she gestures over to Jen.
He looks over to Jen “Yes. She would be his type, indeed.”
“Fuck, this is fucking not good.” Laura yells.
“We can prevent this from happening.” He says.
“How, what the hell? What are we to do?” Laura says as she gets even louder.
Hearing all the commotion Jen walks over to them.
“So, It’s bad isn’t it, huh?” Jen says looking for answers from both, or either of them. But neither says a word.
“Ok, will one of you say something!” They remain silent “what’s going on?” Jen says angrily.
“Agent Jenkins, I’ll need to handle this, ok.”
“Fine.” he says.
“Jen, first, let’s go upstairs and check on Lb. And we can talk then, ok.”
“Yes, Laura. Please talk to me.”
“Ok.
“Laura, I’ll still need to speak with you.” He says as Laura heads toward the elevator with Jen.
“Fine. Give me a few minutes. I’ll be right back.”
“Sure.”
The massive parking complex was the perfect place to lose the cops. Peter watches as the way too obvious unmarked car circles the complex. When will these guys ever learn, these cars stick out like an American in Paris. After watching a few more minutes and checking for any other under-covers, certain he’s no longer under any watchful eyes, he slips away. Peter goes through a service entrance that leads to a back alley, and the street, where he hails a cab and heads back to the W.
Peter doesn't like being followed by the police. He doesn't like that his nursemaid is gone. He doesn't like the meddling punk kid that caused this to happen. He doesn't like that there's a crazed shooter out to get him. But most importantly, he doesn't like that his home has been violated. The fuckers were in his sanctuary. Peter is feeling lost, alone, homeless and angry beyond comprehension.
Peter does something he hasn't done in years. He calls his sister for help, for comfort, for a sense of calm.
“Hello, sis.”
“Peter?”
“Yes…” Then there is a long pause before he speaks again “The hunger. It won't stop.”
“I know Peter. I know. Let me help. Where are you?”
“New York City. I'm at the W hotel. I'm being followed. And those bastards were in the cabin!” He yells.
“I understand. Try not to get excited. Don't go anywhere, or do anything, Peter. Stay at the hotel. Eat something. Take a nap. I'm on my way.”
“Ok, I will.”
Peter is feeling more calm, more centered already. Just the sound of her voice puts him at ease. He does what she suggests. He stays at the hotel. He orders room service. He eats and rests, waiting for her to arrive.
The first time he killed, he went to his sister’s, telling her what he did, not sparing any detail. She didn't flinch. She wasn’t disgusted with him. He knew she would understand and she did. He knew she wouldn’t scold him and she didn’t. He knew she would know what to do and she did. She helped him then, as she’s helping him now. Big sister always helps. She told him it wasn't his fault. She helped him get though it. It was her duty to help him. That's what family’s for and if the police came looking for him, she would be his alibi, or she would hide him from them. She would do whatever the situation called for. But they never came. No one ever came, that first time. Peter was in the clear. But then he killed again, and then again. Each time feeling more compelled than the last. She knew things would never be normal for Peter, or for her. She knew he wouldn’t stop. She also knew she had to remain by his side, especially, with their parents gone.
Chapter 26
Sgt. Roberts/ Sgt. Vigilante
Officer Chan decides that it’s worth it to break into Sgt. Roberts’ desk. Despite the warnings and berating he received, and ignoring the fact that the team is under investigation, he knows there must be something in here that will ultimately help the team.
With Sgt. Roberts’ last remaining locked draw open, the files, notebooks and journals are under the careful scrutiny of a suspicious officer Chan. He knows this is what had to be done, why was this draw locked in the first place? Chan takes the files and journals, stuffing them into his
briefcase, walks through the precinct, not stopping to talk to anyone, and out to his car where he can go through them in private. The team’ll thank him for it later. He knows it.
He thumbs through the books and files, hurriedly and madly, looking for he doesn't know what, something, anything. Most of the stuff in these journals appear to be nonsense, gobbledygook. Nothing seems to mean anything: the death of Jill Hornsby, though unsolved, points to the monster he says. Victims are seen as blood rites, deep ritual killings. He is angelic. He brings me evidence. He uncovers other victims. He wants me to solve. To catch him in the act. He has to be stopped at all cost… he stops reading there. And the odd dates and times just seem to be randomly placed next to victims’ names, why?
What does this stuff mean. Is Sgt. Roberts going mad? Or is it a simpler explanation. The shootings outside the courthouse happened at the same time the Sgt. went missing. The same time the vigilante shows up. Is this coincidence? He doesn’t think so. The Sgt.’s been snappy and short tempered lately. He was extremely upset when they let the doctor go free. He may have felt pushed to do something. That has to be it. These writings, though not 100% clear, has to be pointing to the Sgt. wanting to take matters into his own hands. Chan has to go to the captain with this. He won’t mention the locked draw. He’ll just tell the captain he found these files with all the other files that he instructed him to review.
With officer Jeffries on the case, captain Benson is sure they’ll get that vigilante scum. So he wants to focus his attention on finding his friend and colleague. On his itinerary today, check out the Sgt.’s house and the Sgt.’s wife’s church and places where she volunteered. He's either gonna find the Sgt. or get a great lead on where he is.
“Hey Peterson, I’m heading over to Sgt. Roberts’ I need something concrete, something definitive, especially with the DA and IA breathing down my neck.”
“Ok, captain. Want me to ride along?”
“Sure, Peterson. Let’s get going then.”
They head out to the car but are stopped by a frantic officer Chan.
“Hey, Cap. You got a sec?
“What’s up, Chan?”
“I just need a moment of your time.”
“Can it wait?”
“I don’t think so, cap.”
Captain Benson motions to Peterson to go to the car without him.
“Give us a sec. Will you, Peterson”
“Sure, boss.” Peterson says as he heads to the squad car and waits.
“Ok, Chan. What’s so important it can’t wait?”
“Here, cap. Come to my car. I’ll show you.”
As they walk over to Chan’s car, Chan begins to tell the captain of his suspicions.
“Well, captain. You know how you asked me to review the files of the Sgt.?”
“Yeah, Chan. What of it?”
“Well, I know you and he have been friends a long time and you went to his son’s christening, and all that good stuff. But, you may not have known him, as well as, you thought. Hell, I don’t think any of us really know him that well.”
“Chan, what the hell are you talking about. Of course, I know him well. He and I have been friends since you were in grade school, son. What are you getting at?”
Well, captain. Not for nothing, but you don’t even know where he is now. I’m just saying.”
“Enough of this, Chan. Spit it out, man. What are you getting at?”
As they get to officer Chan’s car, Chan reaches for the files and journals. The stuff in here has to be the proof Chan needs to point to Sgt. Roberts, or Sgt. vigilante more appropriately.
“Here, captain. See for yourself what I mean.”
The captain reads through the ramblings of his friend and is taken back by what he finds. He’s not sure what it means but he knows one thing; It means the Sgt. had more involvement in the comings and goings of doctor VonNetzer, than he was letting on.
“Ok, officer Chan. This isn’t good news. What do you think is going on here?”
“I’m glad you asked, captain. I think it confirms some suspicions I’ve been having lately. Suspicions that at first, I thought to keep to myself, but with this!” he says as he gets louder and louder. Then he holds up the journals and waves them angrily and slaps his hand on his car. “This proves it, captain. Sgt. Roberts is our vigilante!”
The captain also has had these suspicions but he doesn’t want to believe this can be true of his friend, and he damn sure doesn’t want the men in his precinct to believe this, and yelling out wild accusations like this, doesn’t sit well with him.
“First off, officer. lower your goddamn voice. Second of all, this doesn’t prove a goddamn thing. And lastly, you’ve worked with the man for years. And this is what you think of him. You ought to be ashamed of yourself. You better damn well give me something more concrete than this, if you wanna throw my friend, or any of my men, for that matter, under the goddamn bus. Now, I’m going to his house, this very minute. We shall see what’s what. I’ll talk with you more when I get back. Until then, don’t you be going and spreading these awful suspicions of yours. You got it, officer?”
Officer chan is deeply embarrassed but he still believes what he believes but he will keep quiet about his suspicions like the captain asked. Well, at least till he gets more, or better evidence.
The captain is both angry and worried. Officer Chan may be onto something. All he knows is it better damn well not be the case that the Sgt. is the vigilante. He hates vigilantes and he doesn’t want to hate, or have to go after his friend, but if it is true that Roberts is this crazed gunman, he will put all his efforts into stopping him.
Jen and Laura enter Laura’s apartment. Laura sits Jen down and tells her of her fears and concerns.
“Jen, I may have done the worst possible thing when I worked so hard to get this guy off. Instead, I should have turned a blind eye when we came across those legal discrepancies in the doctor’s case, rather than pursue them. I am starting to feel certain that we should have let the system have him. We should have let him rot behind bars. I hate saying this kind of stuff. All this is confusing to me. I became a lawyer because I believe in this system of ours. I... I… I don’t…”
Laura is having a great deal of difficulty trying to relay her concerns to Jen as a tremendous flood of emotions begin to overwhelm her, love, fear, hate, remorse, guilt, old and new feelings, familiar and not so familiar ones attack her senses, leaving her nearly speechless, a state she is almost never in. Jen sees her friend struggling to keep her composure and she wants to help. She wants to let Laura understand that she understands, but Laura sees Jen about to let her off the hook and she motions to her to not do so. With tearful eyes, Laura attempts to continue…
“Jen, my father was always fond of saying ‘No good deed goes unpunished.’ I never really knew what he meant by that. But now, at this very moment, I’m beginning to see a few things clearly. Everything you do comes back to pay you a visit, in one form or another. Whether you think you are doing something to help or not. There will be consequences and repercussions to your actions as there is now. I helped him to go free. And now, for that act, my punishment is he is going to try for another victim, because of me. The simple truth is the agent and I believe the doctor wants--you, Jen. And we both know too well what that looks like.”
While Laura says this, Jen is in a state of panic and dread. Her? Why her? Laura can't be right. She knows what'll happen if the doc wants her. She is remembering with a vividness that turns her stomach, seeing the outcome of the doctor’s twisted passions, in countless photos and in numerous reports detailing every bizarre act. The mutilated remains of young women, now have a new eeriness to them as Jen is envisioning her face among the multitude of cold dead corpses.
“Jen, but I believe we can do something now to stop him. He doesn't have to take another victim. He's not gonna have anymore victims, especially not you, Jen. I couldn't do it then but I can do it now. I can turn a blind eye to what the agent may
have to do to get this guy off the streets for good.”
“Oh, Laura. I don’t want to die, not yet. There is so much I haven't done. I just started…”
Jen bursts out into a fountain of tears mid-sentence.
“Jen, hon. Please understand me when I say we will not let this happen. Firstly, he has no idea where you are, or who you are. Secondly, I’m sure we will find him before he even gets the chance to come looking any further…”
Jen interrupts.
“You just said any further. You think he's looking now? Wait, you know he's looking now. Don't you, Laura? How do you know, Laura? What has happened?”
“Well, hon. He was at the firm.”
“So, Laura. What's that have to do with me. Maybe, he needed help with another case. Maybe…”
“No, Jen. I know why he was there. I didn't tell you earlier. I thought I was protecting you, or that it would blow over, or that he would lose interest, or I don't know what. I know now I was wrong not to tell you. But I’ll tell you now. When we were at the prison, he saw you and I saw a look in his eyes that I can't explain but I felt something I didn't want to feel, deep fear, Jen. I know what he wants, Jen. I know.”
“Ok, so he was at the firm. So now, I can't go to work. Does he know where I live. What does he know, Laura?”
