“I’ll get Andy to call you when we get there,” was all she could think of to say. “Keep calling Jen.” She hung up. “Andy is meeting us at AppTech. You’d better step on it.”
Travis shifted down a gear and floored the pedal, sending the car lurching forward, the sound of screeching tires filling the air.
***
As the car swung into the parking lot, Maria spotted Andy’s car parked next to Sinclair’s pickup truck.
“There’s Andy’s car. Get next to it.” She directed Travis to the spot with her pointed finger.
He pulled the car to a screeching halt next to the open vehicle and they got out. Maria went straight to the senior detective’s vehicle and peered in to see if there was any sign of him. Nothing. Travis went around the back of their car, popped the trunk, leaned in, and pulled out two bulletproof vests.
“Here,” he said, as he tossed the vest to her. “Put this on.”
“Andy must be inside already.” Daylight was fading fast as she looked up at the darkened building, and noted the only light that was on was in the vicinity of Chris’s office.
They secured the protective clothing to their bodies and checked their firearms, then he checked that they had a few spare clips for their weapons before leaning back into the trunk and pulling out a shotgun and offering it to her.
She holstered her weapon and patted it. “I’ll be okay with this.”
He nodded, then leaned into the trunk again to grab two handfuls of shotgun shells, which he placed in his pocket. “You ready?”
“Wait. I’ll call Andy.” She got her cell out and dialed his number. Again, there was no answer. “Shit.” She looked up at the building. “Okay, let’s assume Andy is in there. He doesn’t know Chris is involved, so let’s be careful.”
“Right,” he agreed.
“We should separate,” she continued, taking the lead and looking at the reception area. “There’s no sign of Sinclair. He has a private apartment in the building. It’s over that way.” She pointed towards the right of the building. “If you find him, detain him in a secure place.”
“What about you?” He looked concerned.
“I’m going in the front way.” She nodded to the main entrance. “Whoever finds Andy first, call the other. Okay?”
“Okay.”
“Make your way to Chris’s office. I’ll meet you there.” She nodded at him and looked back to the building. “Come on, let’s move.”
They separated and walked towards their chosen entrances. “Hey!” he said in a loud whisper. “Be careful in there.”
She didn’t acknowledge him. Instead she drew her weapon and held it at the ready as she approached the main entrance doors. Surprisingly, they weren’t locked. Her gut instinct told her this wasn’t right, but she had to push on and get to Andy before his brother did.
The Genesis Chamber
Chapter 38
On the upper floor of AppTech, in an office that was dimly illuminated by a single desk lamp, Martin Miller typed frantically on the keyboard in front of him. He had to finish what he was doing before anyone came in.
He frequently stopped to glance at the door, thinking he had heard movement in the corridor outside. Pausing for a moment he listened, then returned to his work, satisfied he was still alone.
He suddenly stopped working and sat back in his seat, glaring at the open door. Something wasn’t right. He needed to make sure he was alone. Silently, he stood up and walked to the door. He listened for a moment to see if he could hear anyone approaching before he popped his head out and looked left to right, checking either end of the passageway.
He took a quick look back at his computer screen to make sure he had put it into sleep mode, then hesitantly stepped into the corridor and stood motionless, eerily half-lit by the emanating light from his office.
***
The outside streetlights filtered through the glass partitions separating the offices from the corridor, giving Maria just enough light to systematically edge her way through the building.
She opened another door and shined her flashlight in, following the beam of light with her gun as she swept the room. Another empty office, Lord knows how many to go, she told herself as she switched the flashlight off, closed the door, and moved on to the next office, making sure she stayed low and close to the partition in an attempt to conceal herself from anyone waiting inside the next office.
The sound of a door closing further along the corridor stopped her from opening the door she was reaching for. Shit, who’s there? she asked inwardly. Peering into the darkness and squinting hard to try and make out what could have made the noise, she thought she saw someone move at the end of the corridor.
“Andy!” she whispered as loud as she dared. There was no reply. Her mind began to race. Call him on the cell. She quickly got her cell out and pressed redial. Instead of hearing a ringing tone, the constant beeping let her know the receiving cell had been turned off.
Another door opening at the end of the corridor grabbed her attention. Again she strained her eyes to see who was there. Was that someone standing in the doorway, watching her? She grabbed her flashlight, flicked it on, and directed it down the passage in time to see the door leading to a stairwell close.
“Mother fucker,” she cursed under her breath. Adrenaline coursed through her body faster than before. She could hear and feel her heart beating in her chest.
“Okay, move,” she urged herself, and rapidly advanced along the hallway towards the door, aiming her weapon and flashlight straight at the door. She took a deep breath, opened the door, and stepped into the stairwell, aiming her weapon first down the stairs, then up.
The door on the next landing was slightly ajar. Shining the flashlight at the gap between the door and the frame, she caught sight of someone looking at her.
She instantly froze, the hairs on the back of her neck standing on end. “Freeze! Police!” she shouted.
The door slammed shut. Instinctively she sprinted up the stairs, grabbed the handle and pulled. The door wouldn’t open. She peered through the wired glass panel into the darkness on the other side. Unable to make anything out, she shined the flashlight through the window. The sight of the wolf mask suddenly appearing sent a shockwave through her body. Before she could react, the door slammed into her face, sending her flying backwards. She hit the opposite wall and slumped to the floor, dazed.
By the time she had shaken her head to clear it and got to her feet, the door had been closed again. Take your time. She leaned back against the wall and pointed her weapon at the door, anticipating the wolf’s return. Come on, think.
“Travis,” she said out aloud. Call him now.
***
Travis had found and thoroughly searched Sinclair’s private quarters; there was no sign of the head of security. He didn’t have the advantage Maria had of being semi-aware of the building layout due to being there on previous occasions, so he was mainly using instinct to guide himself to the upper level, where they had seen the illuminated office from outside.
So far he had managed to work his way through the basement, which consisted of broom closets and stationery supplies, but hadn’t come across anything worth being alarmed about.
His cell ringing snapped him out of what was becoming routine. He looked at the screen and accepted the call.
“Maria, have you found anything?” he asked with some urgency.
“Travis, where are you?” she was whispering.
“I’m checking the basement,” he replied. “Where are you?”
“In the stairwell at the east end of the building. He’s here. The guy in the wolf mask is here.” She spoke with labored breath. “I’ve followed him up to the top floor.”
“I’m on my way!” he shouted.
“No, wait.” She stopped him. “There’s a stairwell at the opposite end of the building. Come up that way; he may try and get down that way.”
“What if he uses the elevators?” he added.
“I’ll try Andy again. If he doesn’t answer this time I’m calling this in.” She paused. “Fuck it, we need backup now.”
“Okay,” he agreed. “I’ll get to you as soon as possible.”
“Be careful. I don’t know if he’s armed,” she added, and disconnected the call.
He put his cell away, pumped the shotgun, and headed towards the west stairwell. Once inside, he stood looking up through several flights of stairs into the darkness. After a moment to allow his eyes to adjust, he slowly started ascending the stairs, checking the door leading to every level as he passed.
***
Maria took a deep breath and steadied her aim at the door. Call it in. She held her cell up so she could see the screen, at the same time keeping an eye on the door. Scrolling as quickly as possible, she found the number for dispatch and pressed the call button.
“Dispatch,” a voice abruptly answered.
“This is Detective Hernandez,” she announced, holding the cell to her ear and staring at the door. “I need full backup at the AppTech building on Oakrun Boulevard.” Her tone was precise and clear. “I’m unable to make contact with Detective Cooper, so assume there is an officer down. I’m in pursuit of a suspect in the building.”
“Okay, Detective Hernandez, hold the line,” the voice answered. “All units in the vicinity of Oakrun Boulevard, respond immediately to report of officer down at AppTech building. Detective Hernandez is onsite and in pursuit of suspect.” There was a pause for a few seconds. Maria could still hear her own heartbeat as she waited in the unnervingly dark stairwell. “Officers are on their way, Detective. Stay on the line so we can guide them to you.”
She was suddenly startled by the sight of a light coming on in the area behind the closed door. Holding her breath in anticipation of something or someone coming through the door, she pressed the phone harder against her ear. “I’m on the top floor. Get them here now.”
She disconnected the call, put her cell away and edged towards the door with her weapon concentrated on the door. Hesitating for a moment, she grabbed the handle, flung the door open, and stepped into the passageway in one swift movement. She waited for a few seconds to let her eyes adjust to the light.
The light dimly lighting the hallway was coming from an open office door. Is that Chris’s office? No, his is nearer to the elevator. Whose office is it? She quickly surveyed the area; there was no sign of the wolf mask. Move, come on, move.
Gripping her gun in both hands and aiming directly at the light source, she eased her way along the corridor, staying as close as possible to the dividing partition and being careful not to let her concentration slip.
After what seemed like an eternity, she made it to the open door. Her mind was working overtime. Who’s in there? Her heart was racing and her palms had become sweaty from the tight grip she had on the weapon. In quick succession she wiped the palm of each hand on her jeans to dry them, then assumed her stance, prepared for any surprise attack. Okay, relax. She paused for a moment to compose herself.
No matter how many hours she had put in on the firing range, or the endless scenarios she had gone over on the simulator that had been recently installed at the station, allowing cops to act out scenarios on an interactive big screen, this was different. This was real.
Okay, I’m good. Go! She swung her body around the door frame and entered the office, scanning the room with her pointed handgun. Her heart felt like it was going to burst out of her chest. There was no sign of anyone.
Her attention was drawn to the nameplate on the desk. Martin Miller. She glanced back at the door, lowered her weapon slightly, and took a few steps towards the desk.
What was that? She froze and snapped her weapon up at the sight of a leg jutting out from behind the desk.
“All right, get up nice and slow,” she ordered, but the person didn’t respond.
“Police! Get up!” she shouted. There was no movement.
She edged around the desk, her gun trained on the suspect. He was wearing a red baseball cap. Confusion set in when she noticed a pool of blood seeping from under the suspect, who was lying face down. Affording herself another quick look at the doorway, and scanning the room again to make sure nobody else was in there with her, she knelt down and placed her index and middle finger on the neck, checking. He’s dead all right. Let’s see who you are. She rolled the body over and removed the baseball cap, fully expecting to see the face of Martin Miller staring back at her. She was wrong.
“Fuck me, this can’t be right,” she said aloud.
She was completely confused as she stood up, staring at the body, then caught sight of someone standing behind her in the reflection of the widow. A shockwave blasted through her body. Shit! He’s behind me! She tried to spin around but it was too late.
The wolf was immediately behind. Before she had chance to completely turn around, his forehead connected with the bridge of her nose and he had a grip on her wrist, stopping her from raising the gun any higher. The impact and searing pain made her body tense up, causing her to squeeze the trigger, firing a round into the floor.
Dazed, she fell backwards, stumbling over the body behind her. But the hold on her wrist from the wolf stopped her from falling to the floor. He pulled her back.
“I’ve been waiting for you,” he hissed in his thick, Southern drawl as he landed a right hook square on the jaw, instantly knocking her unconscious.
***
Travis heard the muffled shot from the stairwell. He instantly started sprinting up the stairs as fast as he could. He got to the top floor and burst into the corridor, spotting the light coming from the open door.
“Maria!” he shouted as he ran along the passageway. There was no reply.
He was nearly at the open door when he noticed a figure standing in the doorway leading to the stairwell at the opposite end of the building. He slowed down to a steady pace and aimed the shotgun at the person.
“Identify yourself!” he shouted, as he kept advancing. But the figure calmly stepped into the darkness of the stairwell and let the door close. Travis fired a round at the door, instantly knowing there was no way he had hit the figure.
He reached the door and looked into the office to see his partner lying on the floor, her face smeared with blood.
“Fuck, Maria!” He raced in to see if she was alive, and noticed the body behind the desk.
The sight of the blood-stained shirt and entry wound in the chest of the body let him know the person was dead. He turned his attention back to the injured detective and bent down to see if she was alive. She started to come around as he lifted her head and called her name.
“I’m… I’m okay,” she mumbled. “It’s the wolf mask guy. Go after him.”
“Are you sure you’re okay?” He was concerned about her.
“Go after him!” she ordered in a raised voice.
He didn’t need telling again. He lowered her down, picked up the shotgun and raced after the wolf. Without hesitating he burst through the door leading to the stairwell and rapidly descended the stairs in pursuit of his quarry.
He had gone down two flights of stairs and was halfway down the third flight when he was suddenly halted by the sound of two gunshots. Pinning himself against the wall, he waited to see if the shots were being fired at him. He could hear shuffling below, then the sound of an emergency door being opened and closed. Think, quick. He looked around. The window.
He pounced towards the window on the landing and peered down to see a body slumped over the shoulder of another person, being carried towards the area where they’d left their vehicle.
No! He’ll be gone by the time I get down there. His mind raced, trying to come up with some way of stopping the wolf. Wait… the office windows.
He ran into the nearest hallway and raced to the office he guessed was in the middle of the building so he could get a clear shot of the suspect. Kicking the door open and rushing to the window, he looked down in time to see the figure du
mping the body in the back of Sinclair’s pickup truck. The body rolled over. He looked closer. Horrified by what he saw, he banged on the window.
“Stop!” he shouted as loud as he could, and banged vigorously with his fist.
The figure below looked up and stared at him for a brief second. Is he smiling at me?
The thought of the suspect taunting him sent Travis into a rage. He stepped back from the window, raised the shotgun and fired, shattering the glass, sending it raining down into the parking lot below. By the time he had stepped forward to take aim, the wolf had turned the truck around and was accelerating away.
Travis took aim and was about to fire but thought better of it. The last thing he wanted to do was risk hitting the person in the back, who could still be alive.
Indeed, the last thing he wanted to do was to take a shot and hit the incapacitated Andy Cooper as he lay in the back of the pickup truck.
The Genesis Chamber
Chapter 39
Travis gently lowered Maria onto the sofa in Regan’s office and gave her an ice pack to take the swelling down on her bruised cheek. She had refused medical attention at AppTech, opting for a few painkillers to relieve the pounding headache that understandably made her feel a little woozy.
“You okay, Hernandez?” the concerned lieutenant asked as he stood over her.
“I’m fine, sir,” she replied, although her posture told another story. Resembling a withered man in his nineties, she sat slumped on the sofa, looking down at the floor while she let the ice pack slowly numb her face.
“Are you sure?” Travis persisted.
“I said, I’m fine!” she snapped.
“Okay, Detective,” the lieutenant said calmly. “Take it easy.”
“I’m sorry, sir,” she said, looking up at him. “I had that fucker right in front of me and he got away.”
“You’re lucky to be alive, Maria,” her superior reassured her as he sat on the front of his desk.
“That’s what I don’t understand, sir,” she continued. “This guy is pooping people all over the place. Why didn’t he kill me?”
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