Eli Carter's Story

Doctor Lawson looked down at the unconscious Eli Carter and frowned. The Sheriff was covered in bandages and tubes connected to an array of machines and bags. The shot had ripped out some of Eli’s intestine which had caused the dramatic blood loss, he’d also broken his right ankle and a couple of ribs in the explosion in addition to suffering a perforated ear drum that Lawson assumed was due to the percussion wave.

The Sheriff was a very lucky man Lawson thought as he patted the plaster on his forearm. It wasn’t the first time Lawson’s O Negative blood kept someone in the game. He checked Eli’s charts and shook his head slightly.

“Gonna be a couple of months till you’re back on your feet.” Lawson sighed and replaced the charts.

At least Lawson had gotten him a private room, he figured someone like Eli wouldn’t have wanted to be seen in his current condition. Of course that didn’t stop people calling anyway. Lawson had made it clear they were to be turned away until Eli regained consciousness.

#

Temple and Montgomery were looking at a pair of beat up teenagers and trying to piece together what had happened. The boy Nathaniel Alexander was destined for small town hero status after his efforts to get Eli Carter to safety also he was a new member of the I’ve been shot club and like Falco said Chicks dig scars.

So far the story seemed pretty sketchy, a guy just pulled up and started shooting cops and blowing up members of the clergy. There had to be more.

“Did the guy say anything? Maybe one of you got a look at him? Did you recognise the weapon he was using? Even if you think it’s stupid maybe that’s the thing that can help us.”

He worried he’d come on too strong and now the kids found him intimidating. He wished he’d left the rifle in the car but by the time he realised he was still holding it he was introducing himself.

He looked at Montgomery with a pleading look, perhaps the heavily armed FBI agent wasn’t the one for to be speaking to two traumatised teenagers. He hoped Hayden had been paying attention in her classes.

“Is there anything you would like to add Deputy?”

Before Hayden could speak a nurse entered the room. She had coffee coloured skin and a beautiful smile or at least Deacon thought so. Her hair was held in a loose bun and she carried herself with a happy go lucky demeanour. Nice smile or not she was interrupting his interview.

“Uh... excuse me, we’re conducting an interview here.” Deacon said to the intruder.

“Don’t mind me just have to give Mr Alexander his pills.” She turned to Nathaniel. “Painkillers sweetie, you’re going to need them later. Remember no more than two every four hours.” The woman’s voice was wholesomely sweet the kind of voice you don’t get in cities. “You’re free to go now... I mean from Hospital... not the FBI.” The nurse smiled awkwardly and left.

“Unbelievable.” Deacon muttered while he rubbed his eyes. “Deputy Montgomery, anything else you’d like to add?”

#

The nurse made her way down the corridor towards reception.

“Excuse me, can I speak to you for a moment?”

The Nurse turned to see Doctor Lawson hurrying after her.

“Yes Doctor.” The nurse said with a smile as Lawson approached.

“I’m sorry I don’t think we’ve met.”

“We haven’t Doctor I’m Emily Dempsey. I was sent to help pick up the slack after the accident.”

“Oh I see, so sorry I didn’t introduce myself. Doctor Joseph Lawson, Joe.” He always wished people called him Joe but nobody ever did. He clocked it up to an age thing.

“Pleased to meet you. Is there anything else you need Doctor Lawson?” She asked while inwardly Doctor Lawson sighed, he’d even settle for Doctor Joe.

“Oh no I just like to make a habit of checking out any strange nurses wandering around the hospital.”

“Rightly so, you never can be too sure about people.”

#

She spoke for a few more moments with the Doctor but left before running into anymore staff. She trudged through the snow to the black jeep sitting in the parking lot. She got into the passenger seat beside a man with goatee.

“Do it?” He asked.

“Done it.” She replied in a voice completely devoid of wholesome sweetness.

“I don’t like this. It’s unstable. Are you ok with going off the plan?”

“I’m ok with being paid. They want it done this way I do it this way.”

“Fair enough.” He said with a shrug before turning the key and setting off into the night.

Juliet smiled at Nathanial's words. "Thanks, but I think I can manage." She paused when Nathanial mentioned Julian. "Yes, he was," she agreed softly. "Thank you." She changed into the clothes, which turned out to be an oversized plaid shirt and jeans. Being much smaller than most people, she was much too tiny for the clothes - almost swimming in them - but she managed to cinch the waist with a belt she found along with the clothes. She also rolled up the jeans and the sleeves, which made her a little more presentable. After splashing some water on her face, she went in search of her mother.

Cassandra Bishop had just been tending to some patients when the victims of the shooting came in. After making sure that Johnny Fisher was alright, she hurried to one of the rooms Doctor Lawson had sent her to, and came across the town sheriff. Looking down at him, lying unconscious in the hospital bed, Cassandra was overwhelmed with a sudden desire to do something.

Trying to distract herself, she checked the medical equipment, making sure everything was in order. However, from time to time, her eyes kept drifting back to Eli's face. She was curious as to how he looked up close, as she'd never actually interacted with him personally. Edging closer to him, she smoothed his hair back and studied his features. However, the moment her smooth hand left his face, she gasped and stepped backwards, her hands flying up to her mouth.

"B-Benson?" she stammered. Quickly, she checked his personal information - his name was Eli Carter. No - this wasn't Benson Stanley after all. But he looked so much like Cassandra's husband. It had been more than a decade since Benson had caused the scandal by leaving Cassandra and her children, but she was just as in love with him as she had been over fifteen years ago. Obviously, this wasn't Benson - but Cassandra wasn't thinking properly. She'd missed Benson so much, and here was a man who looked exactly like him - this was too good to be true.

Cassandra moved closer to Eli's bed again, caressing his cheek gently. "Benson," she whispered tenderly. The sheriff's eyelids parted a little - ever so small, yet Cassandra was fully aware of the gesture. "It's me, Cassie," she told him. However, the sheriff's eyes shut again. Cassandra sighed and moved away. "I guess I'll just wait until you regain consciousness then," she told his motionless form.

Pulling open the bedside drawer, Cassandra caught sight of a bottle labelled Morphine. And when she saw that label, everything came flooding back to her.

"Benson!" Cassandra called as she stumbled out of the house, stretching an arm out towards him. He turned back slightly, and Cassandra caught sight of his expression. What emotions did it carry - anger? Pity? "No, Cassie," he told her. "I'm sick of this. I can't take it anymore. When it was just you and me, things were perfect - but then you had to get pregnant. No, I'm sorry - I can't put up with any more responsibility. I'm going."

He turned and ran off. Cassandra scrambled to her feet, lurching after him - but stopped at a cry coming from the house behind her. It was her children - the twins had probably woken up from their nap. Torn between her husband and her children, Cassandra looked back and forth between them, but it was too late. With his long, loping run, Benson was far gone, and there was no way Cassandra could've caught up to him, not with how tired she was after looking after the twins. Tears streaming down her face, she watched him go, and what pained her most was that she could not follow him, as she had last time.

Cassandra's expression hardened. She eyed the bottle - which did not contain morphine, she knew, but methanol, a deadly chemical. Grabbing a hypodermic needle, she measured a hundred and fifty milliliters of methanol into the needle, enough to kill a grown man, she knew from experience. Slowly and deliberately, she injected the methanol into Eli's arm, watching the colourless liquid slowly seep into his bloodstream. "Goodbye, Benson," she whispered. His death, she knew, would be a drawn-out and painful one, methanol taking hours to work. Still, the dose was enough to make it faster - the minimum needed to kill Eli was only a hundred milliliters.

Once the chemical was all gone, Cassandra coldly stashed the hypodermic in her uniform, careful to keep it away from her skin. She left the sheriff's room, striding down the hallway purposefully. Halfway down, though, she bumped into Juliet.

"Why, dear, you shouldn't be here," Cassandra told Juliet. "Come." Juliet protested, saying that she wanted to see the sheriff, but Cassandra waved a hand airily, dismissing her request. "He's in critical condition, and no visitors are allowed."

Cassandra led Juliet to the girl's own hospital room, and tucked her in bed. Singing lullabies softly to Juliet, the tired girl soon drifted off. It didn't take much - Juliet was already exhausted from the day's events.

Smiling, Cassandra left. She quickly went to the large rubbish dump behind the hospital, and threw the hypodermic needle there, to erase any evidence. It took a very cold-blooded person to administer a person's death, and sing their daughter to sleep five minutes later, but Cassandra was far gone past that stage - she didn't care anymore.

“Why so glum Partner?”

Eli turned on the stool to see a tall man wearing what to Eli looked like a brown Stetson or other type of cowboy hat and a long black duster. The hat obscured the man’s face with shadow. His dirty, naked feet were resting on the table in front of him, muck seemed to ooze from the man’s pores and land with thick splats on the table. He produced a cigarette along with a lighter seemingly from thin air and while he lit the smoke his face was illumined showing a craggy face with dark eyes that seemed to suck in surrounding light.

“I’m having a strange night.” The man’s bizarre appearance put Eli on edge so he turned back to the bar.

“I suppose you are, Eli.”

Eli spun in his stool and faced the man.

“How’d you know…”

“Eli please, let’s not ask stupid questions.”

Eli didn’t know what to say it was like the cogs in his brain were barley turning.

“You’re dying, what does that feel like?” The man was talking to Eli but also thinking aloud.

“I’m not I’m…”

“Ticket sir.”

The man with the “Staff” badage was standing beside Eli with his hole punch at the read. “It’s time to punch your ticket.”

Eli handed over his ticket and with a quick click the bald man punched a hole in Eli’s Ticket.

“If you’ll follow me sir your party is waiting.”

“My party?”

“Yes Miss Elizabeth Button.”

“Lizzie?”

The car crash and the girl with the flame red hair came flooding back to him.

“Little lizzie? She finally got invited to the big party. I had fun with her.”

Eli looked at the man in confusion.

“You were there when I came for her. How she screamed your name.”

“Sir please.” The bald man said as he gently took Eli by the elbow. “Just follow me.”

Eli stood and followed the man toward the Dining room. The large imposing doors swung open and Eli found himself engulfed in a white light.

#

Lawson was moving as soon as the siren started to beep and the voice over the PA system announced a code blue in room 142.
Eli’s room.

“Jesus I need a crash cart. 142! 142!”

Lawson took the elevator as he knew his old bones would be much slower on the stairs. By the time he made it to Eli the nurses were already starting in intubate
and Lawson immediately took over. Eli was asphyxiating on his own vomit which was pouring out of the Sheriff’s mouth. Lawson needed to get past that open and airway or else the Sheriff would surely die. Time was critical as the longer Lawson took the less of Eli’ mind there would be left to save.

Suddenly Eli’s body was wracked with spasms and Lawson felt the tube tube slip from his grasp. The vomit turned red telling Lawson that the tube had damaged something. The nurses tried to secure Eli while Lawson prepared a muscle relaxant. The spasms were costing seconds that should be spent getting oxygen to Eli’s brain in addition to wasting whatever oxygen was left in Eli’s body.

Lawson cursed softly.

#

She was in a red dress and sitting alone stirring the ice in her drink with a muddler. The blad man showed Eli to his seat which he collapsed into.

“Lizzie?” He croaked as his throat felt scratchy.

“I wasn’t expecting you so soon but I’m glad you’re here.”

“Where is here?”

“Don’t be dense. Whats the last thing you remember before arriving?”

“Getting shot.”

“And now you’re talking to your dead high school sweetheart.”

“So I’m dead?”

“Oh yeah.”

Eli didn’t have any strong feelings about that which scared him.

“It alright though Eli you still have a job to do.”

“I thought heaven was supposed to be a relaxing place.”

“This look like heaven to you?”

She had always given him a hard time, in fact it was something he loved about her.

“So where are we?”

“Let’s call it Limbo. You met the cowboy out there?”

“Yeah he said he knew you.”

“That’s… We’re not talking about that. We’re talking about getting out of here.”

“Ok how do we do it?”

“Him, the Cowboy he’s keeping us here, we keep him alive but not well fed.”

“Fed?”

“Fear, he needs fear, but the dead provide much at least not here in Limbo.”

“So what’s he doing?”

“We have a lot to talk about before we can get into that.”

#

“Time of death 2015 hours.” Lawson said with a shake of his head.

Finally Eli was at rest. The spasms hadn’t stopped until the Sheriff’s heart had finally given out. Only a nurse remained scribbling some final pieces of paperwork
while Lawson cleaned up Eli. He closed the Sheriff’s eyes and wiped the blood and vomit from the man’s chin.

“Are you alright Doctor Lawson?”

It was Nurse Oldman, a young man with sandy blonde hair.

“I’m fine Tim. I knew his father, he was a good man like his son.”

Lawson turned and Tim noticed the red rims around the Doctor’s eyes. He knew Lawson found it hard to remain detached from his patients but he’d never seen the man so open with grief. For a brief instant Tim saw Lawson as an elderly man and not the brilliant Doctor with unlimited energy he usually saw.

“Doctor I’m going to call the on call. I think you shoul take a few hours it’s been a really long day.”

He thought Lawson would argue but the Doctor just clapped Tim on the shoulder and walked off toward his office.

Tim made his way to reception and after filing the paperwork related to Eli’s death he picked up the phone and punched in the on call Doctor’s Phone Number.

“Hello, I’m looking for Doctor Saunders.”

#

Adams was explaining how he had arrived at the decision to start a man hunt to Hayden and Temple when Blake and Barton entered.

“So Hank Phillips ran into a hunter out in the woods took his name and gave the list to the Sherriff. With… everything that’s happened the Sherriff never got to see the list. Agent Barton and I only discovered it when we got back here.”

The phone rang and Justine answered as Blake and Barton joined the conversation while Deputy Adams continued his brief.

“Ok so with the weather the way it is Renner will need shelter and there are a few places the Guy could have gone. There’s the mine not far from where he was found and the Saw mill is pretty close too. He’ll be wanting to keep off the roads because of the police presence so I reckon he’ll be hiding somewhere till the storm lets him make a move.”

“Yes he’s shot a cop there’s no way he’ll use the Hi-Lux again every badge in the state has that description.”

“Oh my God… Yes thank you, of course…” It was Justine. She hung up the phone and glanced over her desk and the assembled group.

“Sheriff Carter just died in Hospital.”

A stunned silence fell on the group and Blake recognised now was the time to introduce himself. He cleared his throat and addressed the room.

“The death of Sheriff Carter is a tragedy and we will avenge him but the way he would have wanted. I didn’t know the man but he died saving two kids and from what I’ve heard he was fine Lawman, he’d want this motherfucker brought to justice and that’s exactly what we are going to do. Renner will be taken alive and will face his crimes, there will be no reprisals against this man because it will fuck the case we clear here?” He let his words settle before continuing. “Remember we have a missing girl still out there.”

He nodded at Deputy Adams who continued speaking.

“So I think we should hit the mine first then try the Saw mill.”

Blake looked at the map Adams was using as a visual aid. “Ok make it happen. Barton and Temple liaise with the locals and go get this bastard.”

#

Cassandra Bishop watched her child stir in her sleep before she drifted off. Confusion was wracking her, she was exhausted and wanted nothing more than to sleep but she knew it wouldn’t come. For months her dreams had been invaded with dreams of Benson and the dark man, then Julian disappeared. She knew he was dead before they found the body Benson told her in a dream, he taunted her with the knowledge for how her child had died, in agony surrounded by dark figures.

Benson let her hear his screams.

Now all she had left was Juliet and nobody was going to hurt her.

#

The woman approached Nathaniel’s door and gave the door a quick rap. A short house keeper answered the door.

“FBI. I’m Agent Burrows and this Agent Martin. We need to speak to Mr Alexander.”

She flashed the bogus FBI ID and barged into the house. The housekeeper said something about the boy being asleep.

“Well go wake him.” Agent Martin said his goatee twitching with annoyance.

The pair remained in the hallway waiting for Nathaniel to show up. It was unfortunate the housekeeper had seen their faces.

It meant she would be the first to die.

Hayden listened intently as Adams explained what they were to do once they started the hunt for the crazed man on the loose. Hunters in the woods weren't exactly rare, especially at this time of the year but the name was unfamiliar to the young deputy. Obviously he wasn't a native of Cartwright.

"Sheriff Carter just died in the Hospital." Justine's sad voice drifted to her ears. Hayden's heart almost stopped in shock as she looked over at the older woman with wide eyes. It seemed like just moments ago that she was at the hospital, Hayden had never expected Eli wouldn't make it through everything.

“The death of Sheriff Carter is a tragedy and we will avenge him but the way he would have wanted. I didn’t know the man but he died saving two kids and from what I’ve heard he was fine Lawman, he’d want this motherfucker brought to justice and that’s exactly what we are going to do. Renner will be taken alive and will face his crimes, there will be no reprisals against this man because it will fuck the case we clear here?” He let his words settle before continuing. “Remember we have a missing girl still out there.”

"I know the Saw mill is easier to get to than the mines, it's a faster trip from the town to there. With the weather the mine could be dangerous, lots of mud and there are sometimes pockets of water that are deeper than they seem. Some places flood when it rains a lot." Hayden spoke up as Blake gave them orders of who should go where.

"Almost done, just one last thing. We have one more lawman with us now, though we have lost one as well. Blake, we've got two teenagers who survived Renner's attack; Juliet Bishop and Nathaniel Alexander. Alexander's at his house; Juliet's in the hospital. Can you get them both to the same place and keep them safe? We cannot yet rule out the possibility that Renner was targeting them. With that taken care of, though, we are done here. Let's get to stakeouts. I'll drive myself and Adams."

Blake felt anger rise in his chest. He had been sent to oversee not to take orders but he swallowed his anger and let out a single controlled breath.

“Sure Barton, I’ll go check it out but then I’ll come back here to coordinate, make sure we don’t end up with another bloodbath on our hands.”

Blake too noted the change in Adams demeanour but was unsure if Barton had.

“Agent Barton can I have a word before you leave.”

Out of ear shot of the others Blake expressed his concern.

“Keep an eye on Deputy Adams, He’s seething. We need this done right, no Rodney King bullshit. Keep him on a short leash.”
Blake waited to see if the Agent had any other input, while he may not have liked Barton on a personal level he understood that personal feelings had no place in an investigation. The man could get a job done and that was all that mattered.

#

Temple reviewed his weaponry, he had a Grey six shot revolver on his hip, a Glock 17 in a concealed carry holster and the AR-15. After his years of military service the weapons felt extensions of his own body. He checked the sights on the AR-15 and could feel adrenaline trickle through his body. They all would be feeling it, hunting a cop killer in the hills during the dead of night, it would be impossible not to.

He glanced outside at the snow lazily drifting down and realised his suit wouldn’t provide enough protection from the elements. He went out to his car and from the boot produced a Black Jacket with the letters FBI on the back in large white letters. Before he put it on he stopped and pulled out his Second Chance Body Armour, again with FBI printed on it bust this time on the chest. He had a wife and kid and there was no way he was ending up like Carter.

Back inside he approached Hayden while he pulled on the Armour and his jacket.

“Ok Deputy looks like we’re hitting the Saw Mill. This is your neck of the woods so you’re driving.”

He tossed her the Keys.

“You got everything you need here? I think we have a spare set of body armour in the car.”

#

The kid was still twitching a bit as the woman injected him in the neck with a clear liquid. It was a simple drug that would keep him down for the drive to the base, she produced a pair of Flexi cuffs and snapped them shut on the youngster’s wrists. When she was done she sighed.

“Fuck, that escalated quickly.”

She would have to work fast as she didn’t know if the gun fire would attract interest. First she dragged Nathaniel’s unconscious body out and into the van. Next she did the same with the Man with the Goatee who Nathaniel had killed. His name was Keith and he’d been something or other in the Canadian Military. Now he was dead.

She dragged Keith’s body out to the waiting van and dumped him beside Nathaniel. The kid would get a little blood on him but that’s what you get when you start shoot shooting people in the head.

She was panting now from the physical exertion of the lifting and dragging. Despite being in good physical condition she was still much shorter than the two men. That’s why she left the tiny maid till last.

Once she’d the bodies and Nathaniel in the van she returned to the house and collected the shell casings before wiping down everything she could remember touching. Satisfied the place was clean. She went outside and insured the door was locked before smashing the living room window that was on the front of the house.

The clues would suggest a home invasion gone wrong and maybe the story would hold up or maybe not but it would cause enough confusion to make sure nobody came looking for Nathaniel in the right place.

She got into the van and started driving.

#

Eli had no idea where he was. He was still getting used to the power he now had.

Suddenly he was looking at a girl with blonde hair.

Juliet Bishop.

He felt like he was walking through treacle but Lizzie said it would be difficult for him at first.

“Juliet?”

He was unsure if the girl could hear him as she gave no reaction but he continued regardless.

“You need to be careful… looking for you… Mother… nobody never trust…”

Then he was back in the hotel sitting at the table with Lizzie.

“Did you speak to her.”

“Not really, more at her. I told her though. I don’t know what she got.”

“In time she’ll become more open. At least you tried to warn her.”

Eli sat glumly.

#

Cassandra jolted awake from another bad dream and looked down at her daughter. Benson was gone from her dreams now the Dark Man was the focus of all her dreams. His dirty coat and grubby hands stuck in her memory while she was sure she could still smell his breath, taste it in her mouth.

It was the smell of Decay, the taste of pestilence.

She stood and went to get a glass of water and splash some water on her face. For a brief instant she could see him watching her from the end of the corridor but then he was gone. She shook her head and tried to get a grip.

"Juliet?"

The voice came from a faraway place, somewhere out of the grasp of the hazy dreams that swirled through Juliet's head. With utmost effort, she managed to pull out of the dreams. A face swam into view above her. "Mama?" Juliet murmured sleepily. She hadn't called her mother that in years, and yet she was feeling so small and lonely right now.

"We're going to go to the Banner Inn. The Fargo's heard about… the fire and wanted to give us a place to stay. I also spoke to the Mr Greaves. The funeral has been finalised. It's tomorrow afternoon."

The funeral...? Then Juliet remembered. Julian.

She sat up, gripping her mother's hand tightly. "I want to go too, please." She couldn't stand this place any longer - it reeked of illness and death.

Sitting on that white hospital bed, she remembered what her dreams were about. She had seen the sheriff - they were sitting at a bar, of all places. He was trying to speak to her, Juliet remembered - if only she could have heard what he was saying!

The sheriff! "How's Sheriff Carter?" Juliet asked quietly, her eyes fixed on her mother's face. She didn't need to hear the answer to know - he was dead. Her eyes widened. He'd died saving her and Nathaniel.

Tears ran silently down her face. He was gone. No coming back.

Blake looked at his watch and rolled his shoulders in an attempt to ease the tension. He’d sent Justine home after catching her napping at her desk but she’d called in back up to man the phones and radios. A young woman called Tina was now controlling communications. She wasn’t as experienced as Justine but he figured it was best to keep the veterans rested.

He was standing outside the hospital waiting for Barton and Adams to arrive with Renner. He couldn’t believe the chatter he was getting on the radio. Wolves, suicides and creepy conversations. Blake ached for a shot of something but he’d had to settle for a cigarette. Which was why he was standing outside the hospital in the snow.

He’d wanted to check on Nathaniel and Juliet but with everything that had happened in the last few hours he didn’t have time. He’d do it after he’d inspected Renner’s body, it’s wasn’t that he didn’t trust Barton and Temple to do it he just knew they’d easily been awake for the last twenty four hours, the deputies probably longer. They would all need a rest for the following day.
He’d heard Tina mention that Julian’s funeral was scheduled for the next day and he wanted an FBI presence there. Never knew what they’d turn up. He’d decided Barton would attend as the older agent just had better people skills than Temple.
He took another drag and resumed waiting.

#

Nathaniel groggily opened his eyes while the room he was in spun around him.

He was lying on a bed in the middle of a well furnished room it reminded him of a trip to Disneyland he took years go with his dad. His favourite ride had been the Haunted Mansion and this room looked exactly like that. Except instead of the good adrenaline fuelled fear he’d felt then now all he had was a deep feeling of dread.

He climbed off the bed and was immediately hit with a bout of vertigo that sent him barrelling for a trash can. Luckily he made it before he lost his lunch. He staggered towards a dresser that had a large mirror on it and looked at himself. He lifted his shirt and looked at the two spots of dried blood where the barbs of the taser had hit him. It still felt pretty weird.
He let the shirt fall back in place and inspected the pin prick on his neck.

“What the...” He muttered glancing at it for a second before the memory of the attack came back to him. Maria was dead and he’d shot a guy.

He left the mirror and sat on the bed for a few seconds while he tried to get a handle on his feelings. He had to escape it was clear these people were crazy. He tried the door but obviously found it locked. He then tried the windows but found them locked and boarded. He was thinking about shouting but then thought better of it. He didn’t want to attract any attention.
Abruptly the door behind him swung open revealing two men in combat fatigues. One held a shotgun pointed at Nathaniel while the other held a pair of cuffs which he threw at Nathaniel’s feet before pulling out a pistol.

“Put em on.”

“I don’t think...” Nathaniel started but was cut short when the man racked his shotgun.

He bent over and slipped on the cuffs making sure to leave them lose enough to be comfortable. As soon as he’d slipped them on the men advanced and placed another hood on him.

#

He was marched down cold corridors, stumbling a few times because he couldn’t see. He walked down a few stairs before getting on a lift that brought him deeper down. Then the walking resumed, this time across uneven ground that caused him to nearly fall over a few times.

Then they stopped.

“Nathaniel.”

It was a new voice echoing off the walls and judging from the coolness of the room but lack of wind he judged he was in a cave.

“Please take off the hood.”

Nathaniel complied and found he was standing in the middle of a flood lit cave completely alone. The lights were the only thing that suggested there were other people there.

“Nathaniel do you remember this place?”

“Who are you? Why have you done this?”

“Answer the question please.”

“No I’ve never been here.”

“Do you recognise the markings?”

“Markings?”

Nathaniel was starting to feel cold, in fact it felt like the temperature was dropping steadily. A low pitched hum started to reverberate around the cave that seemed to beat inside his head.

“On the floor.”

He looked at the ground and sure enough there were scribblings covering it.

“No. I don’t”

“Look closer.”

Nathaniel bent down and spent a moment looking at the insanity of the mindless etchings.

“You killed Maria for this?” What do you want?”

“Look at the markings, do you see it?”

He dropped his head again and then he saw it. Each small etching was part of a larger whole, a massive eye that covered the entire floor.

“An eye.”

“Yes.”

“They’re all over town on trees, the Indians did ‘em or something.” Nathaniel said as noticed he could now see his breath.

“Close enough.”

“I’m cold.”

“Approach the centre of the cave.”

Nathaniel complied even though his teeth were starting to chatter.

He found a small depression with a perfectly smooth black stone in it. As he approached the hum got louder while he felt colder.

“What do you think it is?”

Nathaniel tried to open his mouth but his entire body was shaking with the cold and all he could get out was the occasional grunt. He fell to his knees in front of the stone and reached out with his blue right hand. He could feel the heat radiating off the stone.

If he could just touch it.

The hum was now pounding in his skull while his shaky arm reached forward.

Just a few more centimetres.

A bright light erupted from the stone and filled the room as soon as his finger touched the smooth surface.

#

“Aw shit not you too.”

Nathaniel blinked his eyes open to see the solemn face of Eli Carter standing over him.

“Sh-sh-sh- sherriff?” Nathaniel stammered through his chattering teeth.

He could feel warm sun of his skin and realised he was no longer in the cave but lying on on his back on a beach.

“Yeah kid you look freezing.”

Nathaniel just shivered while he let the sun light warm his body. Once he’d warmed up enough he finally asked Eli the big question.

“What the hell?”

“Yeah, lot of that going around. Good news is you aren’t dead.”

“Great so what is this? A hallucination? Am I dreaming you?”

“I don’t know about you kid but when I was your age my dreams tended to focus more on Farrah Fawcett than the local Sheriff.”

“So if I’m not dreaming where are we?”

“We’re in a limbo but you made the place. I’m me and you’re you. I guess you must have been pretty cold when you crossed over.”

“How’s that?”

“Well you dreamed up a warm beach.”

Nathaniel shrugged and pulled himself into a sitting position on the sand. Carter sat down next to him.

“So you’re...”

“Dead? Yup.”

“I was going to say a ghost?”

“Don’t know about that. I can sometimes see what’s going on but can’t really do much about it. In fact you’re the first person alive person I’ve spoken too since getting here.”

“I’m alive though?”

“Yeah. What happened did you and the girl make it out of the house?”

“Yeah that was hours ago. Thanks by the way.”

“No problem. Time is a bit funny here. What happened after that?”

“I was abducted at home. They killed my maid and took me... Is Maria here?”

“Don’t work like that kid. I saw Temple though.”

“Temple?”

“One of the FBI guys. Didn’t stop though he just went straight through.”

“To where?”

“Dunno that either. Haven’t been here too long, I’ve still got a pretty big list of blanks. Near as I can figure it’s like a limbo or something. So what happened next?”

“I woke up in a creepy mansion and they brought me to cave with this weird stone in it.”

“Weird stone? Did you touch it?” Eli said with an edge to his voice.

“Yeah I think so, I was dying of cold an it was warm.”

“Shit. Look kid don’t trust anyone anymore. I haven’t seen the stone but I know what it does. You’re gonna see things different now.”

“How?”

“Effects different people in different ways. Just remember don’t trust anything...”

#

Nathaniel woke back in the mansion bedroom. He was wrapped in many blankets and felt a lot warmer but incredibly tired. He looked at the bottom of the bed and saw well dressed man with a neat Moustache and a pair of half moon glasses on the end of his nose.

“Ah Nathaniel you’re awake. So sorry about all this but I’m sure you’ll understand in time. I cannot believe how strong your reaction was. You’ve been unconscious for nearly four hours.”

The man smiled but his teeth were black and vibrating.

“I’ve just stopped by to make sure you’re alright.”

Nathaniel kept seeing flashes of darkness erupting from underneath Lamont’s skin and clothes before they sank down below. It was like the darkness was inside him or wearing him. He wondered if it was what Eli had meant by the effects.

“My name is Blair Lamont and we’ll be working very closely together in the coming days.”

Nathaniel couldn’t speak, he was too transfixed on Lamont’s eyes or rather the thing that was looking out through them.

“Wha...” Nathaniel began before exhaustion took him and he fell into a deep sleep.

“Very closely indeed.” Lamont said as he stood and left the bedroom.

Blake stood in the doorway of the communications room and asked Tina for an update.

“Nothing yet Agent Blake. With the weather coming in so bad it’ll be hard to get a signal.”
Blake nodded but didn’t like the cold feeling creeping into his stomach.

“Agent Blake."

Blake turned to see Barton and Adams enter the squad room.

"We found Renner, but he committed suicide before we could apprehend him". The Agent continued. " He exhibited strange behaviour, such as speaking in third person before killing himself, acting like one with split-personality disorder, and uh..."

"Sickin' wolves after us and knowing about Barton’s past", The Deputy finished where Barton left off.

"Also, we can't raise Temple or Montgomery on the Radio we need to look into that", Connor said, looking between the two agents.

“Whoa slow down. Tell me from the top.” Blake said as he held his hands up in mock surrender.
The two men launched into the story and Blake just listened. When they finished Blake nodded slowly while he thought for a minute.

“Ok if both you can swear that’s what went down and autopsy can back it up I don’t think internal affairs will look at this too closely. They will have to look at this though could be seen as a little too much like vengeance.”

He then thought about the rest of what the men said.

“Alright. This guy was probably nuts. It will end up being like the bell tower sniper Charles Whitman. They’ll cut him open and find a tumour on his brain. As for him knowing about Barton, that case was pretty big and sounds like he got a couple of lucky guesses. You guys never heard of cold reading? I’m sure when you sit down and think about it the whole thing won’t seem that miraculous.”

Blake looked at the two men standing in front of him.

“Don’t take this the wrong way but you both look like shit. You’re both done for the day, go get some shut eye. I’ll have Renner’s body collected and go look for Deputy Montgomery and Agent Temple they’re probably still checking out the Saw Mill. I want you two at the funeral tomorrow see if you can’t scare up some leads.”

Blake’s tone didn’t invite debate.

#

“You’re Karen Fellows!” Hayden cried with surprise as she slowly walked toward the girl. “My name is Deputy Hayden Montgomery and I’m here too...”.

Hayden stopped halfway before checking herself.

“... i’m sure someone will be along to save us.”
She looked at the girl who seemed to be unharmed save a few scratches and bruises. Although the bouts of cackling laughter where a cause for concern.

Hayden sat down on the bed beside Karen and was sure to keep her hands where the girl could see them. She seemed a little unhinged.

“Did they hurt you? Do you know anything that might help us get out of here?”

The girl was about to respond when her eyes went wide with terror.

Hayden looked over her shoulder and saw the door to her room had swung open and two men were standing in it. One holding a shotgun, the other a pair of cuffs.

Hayden’s hands instinctively dropped to her empty holster which caused one of the men to laugh. He tossed a pair of cuffs onto the bed beside Hayden.

“Put em on Deputy you’re coming with us.”

Hayden took a look back at Karen who seemed to be frozen with fear.

“You guys must be real tough to scare a little kid like this.”

“Put the cuffs on or I’ll put them on you. You can guess what I’d prefer.” The man said with a dirty smile.
Hayden stood and slipped the cuffs on her wrists before the man walked towards her and placed a hood over her head. Then she felt strong arms guiding her out of the room.

#

Blake was standing outside the old Mill with his flashlight drawn and his hand on his pistol. It was easy to be rational in the well lit Sherriff’s department but out here alone in the woods with the stormy weather it was another story. He noticed the only set of tracks where his own but figured the harsh weather may have filled in Montgomery’s and Temple’s.

He crept inside the old building and had a look around.

The place was dilapidated and falling apart but it seemed structurally sound enough for Blake to have a look around. The first floor was a bust, all he found was some empty beer bottles, probably kids.

The mill floor was large with only old rusted equipment to hold Blake’s attention. He quickly moved onto the second floor which was a mezzanine overlooking the Mill floor. It was a collection of offices which provided him with little information apart from a map of the complex. He noticed there was a basement he still hadn’t checked.

“Typical.” He moaned before trudging towards the basement with only his flashlight as a guide.

#

The cuffs where removed and Hayden was pushed through a doorway. She landed in a heap as a heavy door slammed behind her. She got to her feet and pulled the hood off. Her hands were slightly cut from where she’d stopped her fall.

“Deputy?” A loud booming voice asked her.

“What?” Hayden asked aggressively.

“Sorry about all this but I’m sure you’ll find it all necessary in time.”

“I’ll find you in time.” Hayden whispered.

“No need for threats.” The voice answered and Hayden grew stiff. She looked at her clothes in the dim light but was still able to make out the small microphone than had been placed on her lapel.

She looked around the room which was actually a cave. There were five flood lights arranged in a circle around the centre of the room which left the recesses of the room in darkness.

“Please step into the light Deputy.”

“First some answers. Who are you?”

“Blair Lamont. Please step into the light.”

“What do you want with me?”

“Right now I want you step into the light.”

“What is this place?”

“Deputy. Trust me it’s about to get incredibly cold in that cave and if you wish to survive you’ll need to be in the centre of the room.

Hayden had noticed a chill in the air. So she slowly walked towards the light. Each step though became increasingly difficult as she became colder.

“Saying you’re so inquisitive I’ll let you know all about the cave. It has some bizarre qualities. For example we’ve recorded the temperature reaching absolute zero and the force of gravity changing. The walls contain trace amounts of elements like Seaborgium, Hassium and Fermium which as you know are all man-made. In addition to a few that are totally new to us. We also conducted analysis on the material the walls are made out of and found it to be at least 15 billion years old. That’s older than our galaxy. We also noticed any attempts to measure the size of the room are utterly impossible as appears to be constantly contracting and expanding...”

Hayden collapsed. She wasn’t listening any more to Lamont’s ramblings, it was too cold and rumbling growl filled her mind. All she knew was that the stone in the centre of the room was hot. It took all she had to reach out and touch it.

#

Blake was in the basement but had turned up nothing apart from some strange carvings that looked like eyes. He snapped a couple of pictures when his radio crackled to life.

“... Explosion... dead...”

“Repeat last Tina.” Blake said he made his way up the stairs and back to the Mill floor.”

“...Bronco... one body...”

He decided it was useless until he got outside.

“Tina repeat, I got none of that.”

“Agent Blake they’ve found one of the Broncos. Its blown up and they also found a body. It’s Temple.”

“Rodger, give me the details.”

#

Hayden woke up in the mansion bedroom with a man standing over her.

“Eli?”

“Yep. How you feeling kiddo?” Eli responded with a grin.

“You’re dead.”

“Yeah... You’re not though don’t worry.” Eli said remembering Nathaniel being worried.

“Great so I’m just insane.”


“Don’t think so. You’ve been the cold cave with the stone in the middle?”

“Yes.”

“Then no, you’re not crazy. The stone gives people abilities...”

“Who are you talking to?” Karen asked from the far side of the room interrupting Eli.

“Eli. You can’t see him?” Hayden asked.

Karen slowly shook her head.

“Well this just got interesting.” Eli said.

A large monitor hummed quietly while a slightly pale young woman clacked on a keyboard. Behind her a squat man observed a bank of monitors. On one of them he could see CCTV footage of Hayden Montgomery and Karen Fellows on another he could see Nathaniel Alexander. Others showed recordings of Karen, Nathaniel and Hayden in the cave with the stone.

“Strange isn’t it, Sophie? They all reacted the same way when encountering the artefact but only Fellows brain waves were unaltered.”

“Maybe it rejected her?” Sophie offered.

“Don’t tell me you’re buying into Lamont’s supernatural nonsense. It’s just a stone, there’s no such thing as ghosts. There’s nothing special about that thing. Stones can’t reject people because stones don’t think.”

“It’s only supernatural until we can explain it Karl. We could be standing at beginning of the greatest scientific discovery of all time here.”

“We’re looking at rocks in a cave, not curing AIDS.” Karl said shaking his head.

“Explain the results then. Why are none of our instruments accurate?”

“It’s...” Karl began.

“It’s because this place is special Doctor Adams.”

Both turned to see Blair Lamont standing behind them.

“Any change on our subjects?” Blair continued as he strode into the observation room.

“Fellows is talking more which is good. The inclusion of a second subject was a good idea.” Karl explained.

“I’m glad you think so.” Lamont deadpanned.

“Alexander has recovered is back on his feet.”

“Any other suggestions he’s been affected.”

“Apart from the brain activity none yet.”

“Amazing what they can do these days miniature electronics.” Lamont said commenting on the electrodes attached to the base of the subjects skulls. It would only be a matter of time before they discovered them but until then they where providing fascinating data.

“Uh... come look at this.” Karl said from the monitor bank.

Lamont and Sophie Adams approached the bank of monitors.

“Who’s she talking to?” Karl asked.

“Fellows looks like she’s about to freak out.”

“Audio now.” Lamont said.

Karl fiddled with some knobs on the monitor and brought the sound up.

“Her brain activity is going loco over here.” Sophie said from her monitor.

Hayden’s voice filled the small room from the speakers dotted around the room.

“You’re dead.”

She waited a beat before continuing.

“Great so I’m just insane.”

“Yes.”

“She’s providing gaps for someone to respond.” Sophie said.

“Who are you talking to?” Karen Fellows asked on the monitor.

“Eli. You can’t see him?” Hayden asked.

“Eli Carter? The Sheriff?” Karl asked.

“Continue monitoring them. I think we might have something here.” Lamont said.

#


“Car bomb. Had to be. Look at the pattern, explosion emanated from over here, the tank going up was an unnecessary secondary. It just went up with the car. Whoever blew this thing up used more than enough to get the job done.”

Blake was standing beside the charred hulk of the Van that Kyra Gosling had detonated. The snow was starting to ease but Blake didn’t care he was standing over the body of a Fed, a G-man, one of his guys. This made it personal, while the death of Carter had been annoying this was a direct affront to the FBI and him by extension.

He was talking to a confused looking fire fighter but he wasn’t really. He was thinking out loud.

“If you say so. I just don’t know who’d be up to this kind of thing in Cartwright Falls.” The fire-fighter explained.

“That’s sort of the point. That’s why it’s a mystery.” Blake said like he was trying to educate a slow child.

“I saw them Irish fellas on the news doing car bombs maybe they had something to do with it...?” The fire-fighter offered.

“You think Irish Republicans decided to plant a car bomb with the view of killing an American, an FBI agent no less who has no links to Ireland? You basing this on a comprehensive academic knowledge of the History of Ireland?”

“I uh, just thought...”

“Leave the thinking to me. Don’t you have a cat in a tree to save or something?”

The fire fighter left with his jaw still swinging.

Blake gathered the Deputies around him and began to delegate tasks. The murder made no sense to Blake because he couldn’t understand why Temple had been in this area, why Montgomery and her vehicle were missing and why Temple had been targeted in the first place. it felt like an ambush.

Once he’d finished an older deputy at the back of the group raised his hand.

“What about Hayden? Why aren’t we out looking for her? She’s obviously been taken. You Feeb’s don’t care about that.” He used the derogatory nickname for FBI agents that implied they were feeble in some way. The jab annoyed Blake more than it should have but with an agent under a sheet less than twenty feet away he felt justified.

“Deputy I suggest you check your attitude. If you are implying I’m not assigning the correct resources to the search for Deputy Montgomery I invite you make a complaint to our regional HQ. For the moment I’d ask you consider that your force has been unable to locate Karen Fellows despite the incredibly successful ‘lets go out looking plan’. This time we’re going to focus our resources and have an investigation not a fucking scavenger hunt where first prize is finding a corpse.”

He looked at the group as if challenging anyone to interrupt. Eyes where suddenly not meeting his.

“Secondly your well honed instinct for detection has identified that Deputy Montgomery is missing as is her vehicle. You think this means she has been taken, I think this means we just need to find her as there is nothing here to suggest she wasn’t involved.”

“Hey if you’re saying what I think...” The older Deputy began.

“I’m saying be a fucking cop. Follow the evidence not what you feel. Lastly if you’re going to call into question the dedication of the FBI why don’t you go over there and take a long look at Agent Temple. Then go tell his wife what you think about...”

Blake stopped dead.

Wife.

“Fuck!” He roared. “I don’t have time for this anymore, do your jobs and your jobs are to make me happy. Now off you fuck.”

He ran to his car and grabbed the radio.

“Tina it’s Blake.”

“Oh Hiya Agent what can do for you?” She said cheerily.

“I need you connect me to FBI Regional HQ.”

“Right away.”

Electric air passed through the speaker while she connected him. Blake said the magic words that got the Regional Director Francis Reynard on the radio.

“Frankie, it’s Blake.”

“David I just heard about Agent Temple. I can’t express...”

“Yeah, yeah it’s a tragedy, we don’t have time for that. Has anyone gone to see the family yet?”

“A unit has been deployed but there’s nobody home. We’re trying to find them now.”

“Ok tell them to be cautious, there’s something going on here.”

“Speak your mind David. You think the wife had something to do with it?”

Blake remembered that Reynard had just been through a messy divorce, he wondered if that’s what caused him to immediately suspect the wife.

“Temple died in an area he shouldn’t have been in. He was supposed to be going to the other side of town.”

“So?”

“So someone drew him off course.”

“And what’s the wife got to do with this.”

“Apart from having a gun to his head the only thing that would have made Temple do this without checking in is a threat against loved ones.”

“You’re stretching here, David.”

“I know but just give them a heads up... and check hospitals see if there’s been any Jane Does.”

“Will do David but I think your spinning your wheels.”

“We’ll see.”

Blake replaced the radio and looked out of his car window. The Deputies had started on their tasks but a few where still performing tasks around the crime scene. He noticed a few taking sideways glances at him. He didn’t care if they hated him he just needed them to work.

#

Blair Lamont closed a tall thin door behind him and walked into his study. It was furnished in a manner befitting a man of his various niche interests. Books on psychology and the occult shared the overflowing shelves of the room while at his desk was top of the range NeXT Station desktop computer.

He cleared a space on the desk and lifted himself onto it where he assumed the full lotus position and took a deep breath. He tried to focus his mind and prepare himself for the meeting.

“Don’t know why you do that partner.”

Lamont’s eyes popped open.

Standing in the middle of the room was a tall man wearing a battered duster and a cowboy hat that obscured his face. His feet where bare a filthy and left a trail of black muck.

“Have I done well?” Lamont asked hopefully.

“You have done well. Only one more on the list to get then you can proceed with the rite.”

“Yes, Master.”

“Renner’s gone. His purpose is served though the others are too busy chasing their tails to detect you.”

“But with Renner gone?”

“I need another plaything. Maybe you Blair?”

Lamont’s face contorted into fear.

The dark man laughed a smoker’s laugh, husky and deep.

“It’s a joke Blair, there is another and I’ll be sated until you achieve your goals. The power Blair, The power will be unimaginable once the door is open.”

Blair nodded. “I’ll serve you.”

“I don’t doubt it Blair and you will be rewarded. What I have given you thus far is just a taste and flirtation of what is coming. You will be a God among men, and I a God among Gods.” He explained in his scratchy voice that sounded like it belonged to several people speaking at one time.

#

Cassandra looked at the sleeping Juliet and then at the large knife in her hand. She grasped it tightly and ran it along her arm, her eyes fluttering as she savoured the pain of the blade cutting into her skin.

“Still cutting Cassandra?” A scratchy voice that sounded like many people speaking in unison said.

She froze while the voice echoed inside the walls of her mind.

“That’s what they say about addicts Cassandra. They never really quit, when the chips are down they always come running back to their vices. Looks like your chips are down.”

“Stop it...” She muttered as she quickly walked to the bathroom of the Hotel room she was sharing with Juliet. She fumbled through her wash bag for a few seconds before laying her hands on a bottle of pills she’d taken from the hospital.

Antipsychotics.

“Those won’t help Cassandra.”

She downed the pills and went to the sink where she washed the blood from her fresh cuts before cleaning them up and dressing them.

“Bitch!” The familiar voice filled her head.

It belonged to Benson. Cassandra jumped as she looked around the bathroom for her ex-husband.

“Gotcha!” The voice cackled.

Cassandra dropped her head into her hands and started and silently weep.

“Now you get it Cassandra. I’m everything you fear and I’m going to be with you always. You’re going to start staying in public places because you think you can drown me out but I’m always here. Oh the things I’m going to show you. The dark places of yourself you boarded up, locked away. I’m going to free you Cassandra.”

“Why?” She whimpered.

“You’re broken Cassandra. I like broken things.”

Cassandra just continued weeping.

“Let’s get started.”

#

Blake looked at his digital watch which told him it was almost 10:30 am Wednesday 6th November 1991. It had been a gift from his wife that he thought was gimmicky at the time but since the divorce he’d found himself unable to take it off. He was in the men’s room in Cartwright Falls Sherriff’s Department trying to look fresher than he actually was. He tried to remember the last time he’d slept but remembering anything was difficult. He seemed too far passed into the stage of tiredness where cigarettes and coffee gave him an energy boost instead they just prevented him from collapsing into sleep.

He’d spent the night co-ordinating the efforts to learn more about the murder of Temple and disappearance of Montgomery. It was slow going but he’d made some progress. For example he knew Temple’s cuffs where missing, the Van was registered to a Mr Nemo Noone who of course did not exist.

He slapped some water around his face tried to look alive before stepping back out into the lobby.
“Call for you Agent.” Justine was back behind the desk taking the day shift.

“Thanks I’ll take it in Sherriff Carter’s office.”

Blake entered the office and thought about sitting in Eli’s comfortable looking chair but realised he’d last seconds before he was out cold.

“Blake.” He said once he’d lifter the receiver.

“David, it’s Frankie. We found Temple’s wife.”

“And?”

“Dead. Kid too. Bastards.”

“Where?”

“A field a couple of miles from they live, lived. Jogger found ‘em. What’s going on over there David?”

“I don’t know but we need answers. I’m going to check out Karen Fellow’s home today while Barton and Adams are going to the funeral of Julian Bishop.”

“Adams? Who’s that?”

“Oh he’s a Deputy here. Seems to work well with Barton.”

“That’d be a first.”

Blake let the comment go, he was warming to Barton. Blake sensed Barton just wanted results same as him sure they’d never go for beers together but that didn’t matter.

“I’ve left a message at the front desk of the hotel Barton’s at for him to get over here ASAP. He needed sleep though.”

“Yeah. He doesn’t sound like the only one. When’d you last take a break?”

“I went for a piss about five minutes ago. Does that count?”

“Get some sleep David I think you’re getting coarser.”

They ended the conversation and Blake got ready to brief Barton and Adams on the night’s events.

#

Eli had found the problem was concentration. He no longer had a body, at least a physical one, so if he wanted to achieve something he had focus his thoughts, for a Buddhist monk this would probably have been simple but Eli Carter was small town Sherriff not used to such mental gymnastics.

He’d been speaking to Hayden for the past few hours before he started phasing in and out. Then he decided to take a break before trying again. That’s when he learned his second ability. He could move, seemingly anywhere. Walls no longer presented and obstacle to him. He spent a few hours walking around the mansion but found a few rooms mysteriously blocked to him. For example he could not enter the elevator that led to the stone chamber. This frustrated him, it was like playing a card game without knowing the rules.

The mansion felt wrong, like it was an anachronism like it shouldn’t be yet it was. The sense of foreboding around the place was keenly felt by Eli although he couldn’t put his finger on why he felt this way. He found the room with Karl and Sophie in it though and realised that the captive’s where under surveillance.

He wandered back toward Hayden but decided to check the other rooms and see if he could see anyone. They were all empty apart from Nathaniel’s. Eli tried speaking, waving his hand in front of the boy’s face and screaming in his ear but clearly he couldn’t detect Eli. Increasingly frustrated he returned to Hayden’s room.

He focused his thoughts and began a conversation.

“Hayden pretend I’m not here. They’re watching you.”

He pointed to the locations of the cameras he remembered seeing on the monitors.

“Also Nathaniel Alexander is down the hall. I think you guys need to break out of here. I can help by telling you what’s round the next corner but aside from that you’re on your own. I guess I can do moral support aswell.” He smirked before turning serious.

“If you’re game you’ll need a weapon and I’ll tell you when someone’s coming maybe you can use surprise to overpower them. You want to play it fast and quiet though and make sure you take of the cameras before you do.”

He waited to see what Hayden decided, it was her call ultimately.

The joy she had at seeing Eli quickly fell when the other woman occupying the room said that the sheriff wasn't in the room. Maybe she was having some type of mental breakdown due to all the stress? Maybe these people had drugged her? There had been plenty of cases where a person had taken drugs and it had caused hallucinations or some more permanent and serious mental deteriorations. There was no other logical reason as to why she would be seeing her dead boss, right? If he was real Karen Fellows would have been able to see him.

Hayden took a moment to herself and took in a deep breath. Despite everything, she found herself quite enjoying the conversation she had been having with Eli. Despite the not-so pleasant topic, it was still comforting to be able to speak with someone she had known and worked with for such a long period of time. Eli kept going in and out of focus by the end of their conversation though and it wasn't too long after that he just passed through the room's locked door.

Suddenly being "alone" with Karen gave Hayden a rather daunting feeling. Without Eli right there it really started to hit her that she could have spent the last few hours talking to someone who was one, dead (a confirmed fact), and two, that she was still trapped in a house full a crazies (also a fact).

Hayden stood from her position on the floor and walked over to the door. She tried turning the knob, kicking it, pulling it, and pushing it but the thing would not budge. Gently she thumped her head against the barrier. This was not a position that she would have ever thought she'd find herself in.

She turned to face Karen once more, the poor curl was curled up in one of the room's corners. Judging from both the teen's appearance and her state of mind, Hayden knew that the other woman would be rather useless in an escape attempt. Something in the corner of her eye caught her attention and she moved her head just in time to see Eli push his way through one of the walls.

His words confused her for a second, but truthfully once they had sunken in she wasn't really surprised. The news on Nathaniel was the part that actually gave her heart a jump. Things had just gotten more complicating considering now there were two kids that she had to make sure were freed.

Honestly believing in words being told to you by someone who might have been nothing more than a figment of your imagination was scarey but at the moment Hayden really didn't have a choice. Besides, imaginary Eli was better than no Eli in the young deputy's mind.

Subtly she looked him straight in the eyes and gave an exagerated not that could have been taken as an attempt at cracking her neck. The movement felt strange for a second and Hayden reached her hand up nad underneath her hair, there had been something there. It took a small bit of prying, but using her nail she managed to dislodge it. It was small and circular, remindering her of the things you put on a person when you hook them up to a machine like a heart-monitor. No matter what it was Hayden was rather glad she had found it.

Frowning, she made her way over to Karen and asked the girl to tilt her head to the side. After moving her hair away Hayden found the same thing attached to the teen as well. Taking them both, the deputy threw them to the otherside of the room.

She took a moment to scope out the contents of the room. First thing on her list of things to do was to find something to take out the cameras. The room had a chair, wooden and Hayden thought that it may just have been the thing she needed. Turning the thing over onto it's side she raised her foot and slammed it down. The young woman had never been more greatful for her continuous visits to the gym because breaking a chair apart was much harder to do than the movies made it seem. A few more heavy stomps and one of the leg pieces managed to come off.

A little out of breath Hayden grabbed the wood up and headed for the first spot that Eli had pointed out as one of the camera locations. "Suprise Lamont..."She muttered as she took out the first camera. She knew she had to work fast and did as best as she could. Karen was all but cowering by the time the deputy was finished and Hayden gave herself a quick stretch out, she guessed someone would be coming at any moment. "Alright, you're up Eli."

Eli nodded and walked into the hallway. It was completely different from the well furnished room Hayden was in. Patches of damp wallpaper hung low of the walls from where rainwater had leaked down through cracks in the ceiling while the floorboards where bowed in places from age. The place had a spooky vibe which Eli thought strange. He was pretty much a ghost so why did he feel scared?

Eli continued down the corridor and checked in on Nathaniel who was still in his room.

Back in the corridor Eli heard two voices approaching. They belonged to two men dressed in tactical gear like most of the other people he’d seen around the mansion. Neither man had a rifle but both carried pistols and spare clips.

“That cop’s a sweet piece of ass eh Kent?” Said a muscular looking man who had the barely contained intensity of a coiled spring. Eli thought he seemed over caffeinated but from the guy’s physique he guessed it was more likely steroids.

“I wouldn’t know...” Replied his comrade. He was a distinctly average looking man with blonde hair who stood about a foot taller than his short friend. In contrast to the first man he seemed very calm.

“Whaddaya mean you don’t know?! You ain’t a queer Kent is ya?”

Kent looked at the fidgety man with intense eyes.

“I don’t know how you do things, Joe, but I’m a professional. The guy paying the bills wants someone hurt then I hurt em. Right now he wants them kept in the room and kept safe. If that means I gotta keep em safe from you then that’s what I gotta do.”
“Woah ok, ok Hombre! No need to go all fucking high and might on me. I’m just spit ballin’ here.” Joe said raising his hands in a backing off gesture. Eli found this interesting; clearly Kent was the alpha male in this duo despite the disparity in their physiques.

“Just keep it to yourself.”

A moment passed.

“You got the candy bars?”

“and the water.” Kent replied as he tapped the satchel he was carrying.

“Ok give me the girl’s stuff.”

“You think I’m retarded?” Kent said he pulled out two candy bars and a bottle of water. “Go give these to the boy. I’ll feed the women.”

Eli noticed the pistol on the Kent’s hip as he reached into the bag before returning to Hayden.

“We don’t have much time, thirty seconds tops. There are two guys coming to give you food. They’re splitting up though. One’s going to Nathaniel and the other is coming to you. He’s tall and has a gun but obviously not expecting anything. If you can trick him or make a weapon you might be able to get the drop.” Eli explained hurriedly.

He felt impotent as he watched Hayden react to the situation. All he could think to do was offer what he remembered from unarmed combat training at the academy.

“Whatever you do Hayden it’s got to bring him down quickly you can’t risk him alerting the others. Remember to focus on weak spots eyes, throat, temple, nose, knees... Fight dirty as well, if you get the chance you smash him square in the balls...”
In life Eli had been a strong man and never had much of a problem hold his own but looking at Hayden he felt a sinking feeling. Now he was reduced to simply cheerleading and armchair quarterbacking.

Hayden let out a nervous chuckle at Eli's words. "Don't worry, I think if you consider the more than ten years of kickboxing and the academy training I'll be able to take him down Eli. Besides, I've got more muscle than Adams." She teased half-heartedly. In a way it put her at ease, the small talk and joking was like being back at the department, a bit a familiarity in all the chaos. All joking aside, while Hayden was definitely strong for a woman strength hadn't been what made her win her fights in practice, it was actually her speed. All the muscle in the world meant nothing if you weren't able to hit your target.

Taking one last deep breath she held tightly to the piece of wood in her hand as she took a stand next to the door. If all went as planned, she'd be hidden by the door opening when the guy opened the door. She'd have the element of surprise in the situation and hopefully would be able to take him down quickly. Of course things didn't usually go as planned.

When he walked into the room Hayden had only a quick second to size him up; tall and blonde hair. Hayden swing with controlled precision and strength, like when hitting a ball in baseball or softball. Of course in the sport the ball doesn't move on its own and Hayden just clipped the guy in the side of his head making him drop the things he held in his hands. The deputy stayed on him though lifting her leg to take out the back of one of his knees. Unfortunately he ended up dodging that as well and soon she was face to face with the man. Thankfully she that didn't throw her off at all, she wasn't even thinking much everything was happening in an almost instinctual kind of experience. Her arm reeled back and before either she or the man realized her fist was hitting the first vulnerable spot she could register; his throat. He went down gasping for air and Hayden lifted her weapon and brought it quickly down on top of his head. He didn't get back up.

Adrenaline was coursing through her body and it was as though she was on a high. Her mind was moving a mile a minute and her hands and arms were shaking. Slowly she made her way over to the man and knelt down to take his pulse. Was it bad that she was hoping she hadn't killed him? Either way he was alive, at least for the moment his pulse was thumping against her fingers pressed to his neck. Finally being able to get a good look at the man she noticed the pistol at his side with its extra clip. Needless to say she took it. She also took a second to rummage through his pockets, hoping to find another clip or a communication device, but instead she found a small ring of keys. She took that too.

Hayden looked over at Karen and moved over to grab the girl's hand, moving to the door quickly. She stuck her head out to look around the corner and once she realized the hall was clear she cautiously made her way down it and towards the direction that Eli said Nathaniel's room was. The hall was in a horrible state, in fact besides the rom they had been in the house appeared to be rather dilapidated.

Right when they were about to round another corner, Hayden heard the distinct sound of a door opening before slamming shut. She pushed Karen behind her and pressed both herself and the other woman close to the wall. A rather thick man walked down the hall and towards the staircase, muttering to himself in a rather irritated voice. Her body was still buzzing with adrenaline and it was as though her senses were in overdrive. Hayden could hear ever groan as the man descended the staircase and she refused to move until she hear another click of a door closing a distance away. Waiting for just another minute, Hayden took Karen's hand once more and moved down the hallway.

She reached the door that the man had come through, the one that Eli was saying was Nathaniel's. She tried to doorknob and, as expected, it was locked. Taking the keys she found earlier out Hayden began trying her luck. Three keys in she got what she wanted, the lock clicked as the door unlocked and Hayden turned the knob hastily. "Nathan?" She whisper as she spotted what appeared to be the boy on the bed.

Hayden let out a sigh of relief. Nathanial was all right and appeared to be in rather good health. Very unlike Karen Fellows who stood fidgeting behind her. The teen's nervous aura was starting to cause Hayden to have her own paranoid feelings. Then again given their current situation, maybe that wasn't such a bad thing.

Pushing Karen into the room in front of her, Hayden gave a final look down both ends of the hall before closing the door over. "Are you okay?" She asked, her voice filled with concern. "They didn't do anything to you, right?" He seemed well off, but looks could be deceiving.

The deputy made sure the gun she acquired was at the ready. They had to get out before anyone realized that she and Karen had gotten out of their room. "We have to move Nathanial, get out of her quick before any else happens. I'm pretty sure they're not keeping us here to have a tea party." She was getting anxious with each passing moment.

Opening the door once more, she took another quick survey of the hallway. They were still clear for the time being. "Look, I need you to help Karen, keep an eye on her and keep her calm." If they were going to get of their alive Hayden had to make sure that the traumatized young woman would be under someone's watchful eye. Considering Nathanial was the only alive person she had with her at the moment, the job was his. "Excuse the crazy for a second, okay?" She said, directing it at Nathanial before turning her attentions to Eli who had followed them into the room as well. "Can you tell me how to get out of here?" She asked, Hayden was pretty sure that finding their way via trial and error would take them much longer than if Eli took a look. At least he didn't have to worry about being scene. As a possible hallucination he hadn't steered wrong yet, so her faith was in his hands once more.

Blake slapped his forehead.

“Damn it! The autopsy report. It slipped my mind with Temple. I received the report earlier this morning.” He rifled through his desk and produced his report on the death of its previous owner. Blake then handed the report to Barton who thumbed through it. Blake provided a brief synopsis but he knew Barton would still want to read it.

“Ethanol poisoning. They say it was methanol introduced via syringe. Pretty clean too suggesting the killer had some medical skill. Of course he died in a hospital so the suspect list is the length of your arm. I’ve got people reviewing tapes but with the numbers going in and out of his room it’ll be tricky to work out who killed Carter.”

Barton nodded and handed back the report.

After concluding their meeting Barton headed for the door and on to the funeral.

After a few moments Blake stepped out into the lobby of the Sherriff’s Department.

“Agent Blake you look like hell!” A woman’s voice cried.

Blake spun on Justine whose eyes were filled with genuine concern.

“I... I haven’t had much time for sleep.”

“Well right now we’re making time. You go lie down and I’ll field the phones. Nobody will miss you for a few hours besides everyone has been tasked all you’re only waiting for their reports.”

Blake nodded glad in way that someone was giving him permission to sleep.

#
"Can you tell me how to get out of here?"

Eli nodded before walking away from Hayden and the group. He spent a while getting the lay of the land.

They were currently on the third floor of a four story mansion. The mansion was divided loosely into five structures, an east wing connected to the main building by a long corridor. The main building was then connected the west wing via another long corridor. Eli decided to name the structures the east wing, east wing corridor, Main building, west wing corridor and the west wing. Apart from the bedrooms the place was in a poor state of repair.

The group was on the third floor of the west wing. Each wing had four stories except the main wing which seemed to have a large attic space. First the group would have to get out of the west wing which would not be simple considering the many armed men that where milling around the place.

Eli returned and gave his impression of the place to Hayden.

“Seems to me the easiest way out is through the parking garage below the east wing. Looks like you have two options, try to sneak past the guards on the west wing staircase, in the west wing corridor and the rest of the way there or use the west wing crawl space that will bring you to the main building attic. From there you might be able to sneak down to the east wing park garage. Whatever happens you need to get moving.”

#

Cassandra Bishop watched as her son was lowered in the dirt and felt nothing.

The voice was speaking to her, telling her what she must do. For now though she’d have to act the part she was expected to play.

#

Later, at the wake which was being held at the small church hall Cassandra saw her opportunity.

“The kids are all at home Cassandra. They need their mother, it’s time to come home.”

Cassandra dumbly nodded. She knew where she was needed, needed for the first time years. The voice had broken her but rebuilt her stronger and better than before. She now knew where her purpose lay.

At the mansion in the mountains.

She quietly excused herself to go to the bathroom but already she knew where she was going.

She left the church hall and walked to the car park where a white car was waiting just as the voice had promised. A pretty woman with cold eyes sat behind the wheel.

“Don’t be afraid she’s here to help, Cassandra.” The voice said when Cassandra felt a trickle of doubt.
Kyra Gosling got out of the car and approached Cassandra.

“Mrs Bishop, I’m here to bring to Mr Lamont.”

“Lamont?” Cassandra asked.

“Just another member of the family Cassandra.” The voice answered while Kyra looked confused.

Cassandra nodded and followed Kyra to the car.