Thomas Barton's Story

''Got lots of information on Kyle Renner. Not only does he appear the most likely candidate to be the shooter at the Bishop household, thanks to the wallet we found, but he's also wanted back in Los Angeles, as the prime suspect in the murder of Tanya Renner and Chris Avalon. Tanya was seeing Chris behind Kyle's back. Their bodies were found in the Renners' bedroom closet; she had been strangled and he had been bludgeoned. They were found by the cleaning lady two days after Kyle had left, and three days after their deaths. He told friends he was going up to hunt by here to clear his head, not mentioning the double murder, of course." Barton explained to Connor, tossing his hat on his folded coat.
"There's not much we can do now except watch out and hope to catch him before he gets away again. More importantly, we need to figure out if there's a connection with Julian Bishop's murder. Right now the only connection we have is that the shooter—probably Renner—struck the Bishop household. He could have been stalking the Sheriff, or he could have picked the place at random. Right now...we just have too many damned variables. And a shooter out there. I hope you guys have rifles; if those receipts are accurate, Renner has .22 Long Rifle, and that shit has range.".
Connor nodded, taking in all the information and running through his head before opening up with a response.
"Well, if he's out in the woods...I know that there's an abandoned Mine out next to Hunters Clearing...the clearing is a popular spot for tourists and hunters out in the woods. I know how to get there, my dad and I hunted out there a lot before I went into the Marines". Connor said.
"It can't be a coincidence that this Renner guy's wallet was found at a crime scene, and if it is...well then we can hand him over to your agency and get him nailed for double homicide". the Deputy continued.
"As for weapons, I think I have something better than a .22", he said, a small grin on his face. "I'm a damn good shot with the 30-06, and we keep three of them in the armory up at the station, their powerful, and they have range, the only draw back is the bolt-action style." He said.
"So, Agent Barton. What do you say we grab you're partner, Hayden and a few other volunteers, gear up at the station and head out on a man-hunt?".

Hayden looked Agent Temple and thought the man looked tired, the case was having that effect on everyone. She could only imagine how it must have felt for the FBI agents tasked with clearing up the mess.

“Deputy Montgomery, anything else you’d like to add?”

Hayden looked at the two battered kids and tried a half smile.

“Guess you two must be pretty tired? The other deputies are trying to organise some accommodation for you and your Mom, Juliet. It looks like she’s going to be tied up here for some time though.”

“Yeah and wherever you end up we’re going to post two deputies in a Bronco out front. Just until we understand what’s going on here.” Temple thought it looked like the girl was about to protest. “This is non-negotiable, at the moment your safety is paramount.”

Hayden produced a large brown paper bag. “I figured you’d want a change of clothes so here’s some stuff we were able to scrounge from around the station. It’s all Sheriff’s Department stuff so don’t expect it to be terribly flattering but I suppose you’ll want to get changed.”

“Alexander, best for you to go home and when you do move bring someone along with you.”
Temple produced two business cards from his wallet. “This has my pager number. Feel free to page anytime day or night. If it’s trouble add 911 to the page and I’ll get to you as soon as possible. Obviously call the Sheriff’s Department first.”

Hayden patted her uniform and found a pen she scribbled the Sheriff Department’s number on the back of Temple’s business cards before handing them over to the kids.

“Remember call me day or night if you remember anything.” Temple said with a forced smile. Witnesses weren’t really his thing.

“Deputy, lets go.”

#

Hayden and Temple approached the Reception just as Adams was finishing up his plan.

“…what do you say we grab you're partner, Hayden and a few other volunteers, gear up at the station and head out on a man-hunt?".

“Man hunt? You have a lead? Those kids didn’t see much, guess they were too busy trying to survive.”

Hayden returned to the group as she had been speaking to Justine to organise the Deputies to look after Juliet.

“They’re pretty shook up. That poor girl.”

Temple nodded. “So what’s the story Bart?”

Before Barton could answer Doctor Lawson emerged from behind a pair of double doors.

“Ok folks it’s starting to look like an NRA meeting in here. Can you take it outside? We need some room.”

#

The city was a dot in the distance now and all Blake could see was miles of wilderness below.

“Pretty big eh?” The pilot crackled in his headset.

“Yeah lots of places to hide.”

“Telling me. I work with the Volunteer Mountain Rescue team that works the woods. Lost hikers are like a needle in a hay stack.” He was complaining but he
sounded cheery.

“Mountain Rescue eh? What’s your name?”

“Bradley Vickers pleased to meet you.”

“Yeah likewise. Bradley do you know what a secondment is?”

“Uh not really.”

“It means you work for me now, Brad. How long ‘till we arrive at Cartwright Falls?”

“About Twenty Minutes.” Bradley said the cheeriness gone from his voice.

Barton nodded slowly at the idea. "Ordinarily I would not recommend a full-on manhunt, not in this weather and at this time, but-"

"Okay folks, it’s starting to look like an NRA meeting in here. Can you take it outside? We need some room.”

Barton shrugged as he turned to Temple. "Let's get outside, then I'll fill everyone in." He quickly removed his rifle, donned his coat and hat, and re-slung the rifle before heading out into the rain. He stayed under the awning as he spoke to the others. "In short, Deputy Adams and I found the wallet of a Mr. Kyle Renner right near one of the windows. Presumably he dropped it at some point. It had receipts stuffed in it for outdoor supplies and ammunition, Parabellum and .22 LR. I did some talking with the LAPD Commissioner, and it turns out Renner's wanted down there now for double homicide, killing his wife and her secret boyfriend. As far as his friends knew he was just coming up here to hunt, which he's done before. He's driving a Toyota Hi-Lux, gray, and has a .22 LR caliber rifle and a pistol. He is to be considered armed and extremely dangerous. Deputy Adams here says you have thirty-aught-six rifles at the station. I move we pair off, one Agent one Deputy, to have a balance of armaments. I can get us all over to the Station to get the Deputies armed, then two take the FBI car and two take a Deputy's car, and we start combing the town. I don't know this town as well as you two," he said, gesturing to the Deputies, "So I'll leave the routes to you for the time being, so long as we get the town covered."

He breathed for a few seconds. Two long monologues in as little time. "Right, let's get going, then." He led them to the FBI car, and they piled in. He drove as quickly as seemed safe, his eyes darting around, watching as much for a Toyota Hi-Lux as for where he was going. As they arrived at the station, he quickly established a shooting position of sorts near the front of the Station, watching for any unwanted visitors. He saw one only a few minutes after he settled in. However, this was not a car, but a helicopter. He quickly left the station, standing under the awning as the chopper's passenger disembarked and approached the station. He recognized the fairly infamous face immediately, one that he connected to the Michelle Halpert case and the FBI, much the same way one connected Richard Nixon to Watergate. Professional infamy aside, Barton had no love lost for the man he now addressed stiffly. "Good evening, David. Hell of a way to make an entrance."

David Blake glanced out the window at the small town below him.

“Jesus it’s tiny.”

“Yeah, real small town America.”

Blake didn’t comment, he’d seen places like this before. They all seem like nice communities but scratch a little deeper and you soon find it’s full of dark secrets. Just like everywhere else.

“Put me down near the Sheriff’s department and then find somewhere to land this thing, you’re sticking with me.”

“The only place near the Sheriff’s Department is the street.”

“Then put it there.”

“Uh....”

“I’m the FBI and you’re helping me in a murder investigation. Put it down in the street and then find somewhere to land permanently.”

Brad nodded and started his descent.

#

The radio was playing loudly in white van.

“Jesus Christ, can’t you turn this rubbish off?” The woman said as she reached across and flicked the radio over to a talk radio station.

“Hey! I was listening to that.”

The man with the goatee flicked the radio back and continued listening to Bing.

The woman groaned and returned to the headphones she was listening to. There was no point having the commercialisation of Christmas discussion again.

“Once he is back on his feet I can return it to him.” A tinny voice said in her headphones.

The bug she had hidden inside the blister pack of Pain medication she had given Nathaniel was working perfectly.

“He’s back at his place, sounds like there’s at least one other person there, not the Bishop girl.”

“Good let’s go pick up the little shit then.”

“Patience, grasshopper. First we need the OK from the old man.”

The goatee man sighed.

“Whatever...” He brightened when Christmas Wrapping by the waitresses followed Bing.

“Score!”

“It’s only friggin November!”

“I love Christmas.”

The women shook her head and turned up the volume on her headphones.

#

Blake recognised Barton immediately and gruffly shook the man’s hand. Blake knew Barton and although he was technically the man’s senior their career paths were the inverse of each other, they were simply passing as Barton made his way up and Blake went down.

"Good evening, David. Hell of a way to make an entrance." Barton said.

“I guess they needed to get someone competent out here quickly.” Blake deadpanned. “I’ve been briefed but why are you tooled up? Do you have a lead?”

Blake didn’t break his stride as he made his way towards the Sheriff’s office.

#

Renner was cold and alone somewhere in the dark.

“Kyle?”

The snow was billowing outside but that’s not what was making him cold.

“Kyle, don’t be like this we had fun today...”

Renner dropped his head and thought of his dead wife and the Sherriff he’d shot. He thought about the homicidal rage that consumed him in those moments. He thought of the voice which he knew wasn’t of his own invention, he knew that now.

“Kyle, don’t ignore me. You know what happens when you do that, I’ll send you back.”

“No please! Not that, not that!” Kyle begged while snuffling.

“Only a few more hours more Kyle, then I promise I’ll leave you.”

Kyle pulled his knees close to his chest and began to gently rock.

#

The radio in the Woman’s pocket bleeped which told her someone was on the line. She turned off the radio and answered.

“Go.”

“Boss says take the Biscuit outta the Barn.”

“Understood, we’ll be in touch. Over and Out.”

She put the Radio away and turned to the Man with the Goatee.

“How long to get to the Alexander kid’s place?”

“In this town about everything is less than five minutes away.”

“Good, we’re taking him.”

“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.

Barton shook his head quickly. "We have a bulk of identifying information, but the rifle's for defense. The shooter has a rifle too," he muttered off-handedly before they entered the police station. Barton remained quiet thereafter, listening carefully as Adams finished outlining his plan. He'd have to request a brief repetition for himself and Blake. A moment later, that was forgotten as the bombshell came.

"Sheriff Carter just died in the hospital."

Barton's eyes widened briefly before he clenched them shut tightly. He had only met the Sheriff briefly, but had carried him from the burning Bishop household. Somehow he felt useless, as though his efforts were now wasted. He bowed his head slowly, now unwilling to break the stunned silence. Make that minute a memorial for the dead Sheriff, for they might not have time for a proper memorial later. Unfortunately, Blake broke the silence with a sudden, impromptu speech. Barton never was much for that kind of monologuing, but he had to agree with Blake's sentiment. They could not let a desire for revenge override their duty as law enforcement. Renner would have to answer here for what now racked up to murder, double attempted murder, and arson, and then back home for double murder.

Though Barton hadn't noticed his leaving, Adams suddenly returned after Blake's speech, with a Remington shotgun and a lever-action rifle. Barton raised an eyebrow at the shotgun, but said nothing. It could have slugs loaded...no, a quick glance at the shells as he loaded them revealed all red shells, all buckshot. Odd.

Barton glanced with a small twinge of alarm at Adams' tone, cold and emotionless. This was a sudden change from his previous demeanor, and he didn't like what it boded at all. He silently hoped that Temple and Montgomery would be the duo to find Renner. Regardless, he realized one base that was uncovered, and that could now be covered. "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."

After that abrupt conclusion, Barton then left the station, putting his hat back on as he remembered the rain. It seemed to be getting lighter, though. Hopefully it wouldn't be as bad by the time they reached the mine: trying to see on a rainy night was difficult.

"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.

Barton nodded solemnly. "I noticed that. I'll watch him carefully. I really don't need this case getting any more disturbing," he muttered in return. Which was true; the Gerhart case had chilled him deeply, and the last thing he wanted to deal with was bloodlust, especially after the abject cruelty he recognized in Julian's and Carter's murders. He licked his lips briefly, then spoke again to Blake, a bit sheepish. "Sorry about going over your head there, I'm getting a bad feeling about things right now. Sir." He added the last almost as an afterthought. He remembered the details of Blake's last case in a flurry, and realized that his personal regard for Blake was...well, out-of-date. He didn't seem nearly as abrasive as Barton remembered, a change probably related to his fall from grace. A fall that, in Barton's eyes, had always seemed off. He knew his next words were probably stupid sentiment, but he did want to smooth some ground, the better to facilitate their working relationship now. "For what it's worth, David, I think the Bureau threw you under the bus. I would've done the same thing in your shoes."

Connor and Thomas drove down the old back road leading in the general area of the old mine as rain and sleet slammed against the Barton's car. The duo had been gone on in uneasy silence for most of the trip, and Deputy Adams knew why. Connor hadn't missed the uneasy behavior exerted by Hayden when she noticed his change in demeanor, and as well trained of an agent as Barton, Adams knew that he would pick up on the behavior change as well.
"Adams", Barton finally said. " You need to calm d-".
"I am calm", Connor spoke in a quiet but obviously hard voice, cutting Barton off.
"Look, I know how you're feeling, I've lost fellow agents before, people I've grown close to in the field, but you can't let it get to you emotionally, at least not right now", Barton said firmly, all the while keeping his eyes glued to the wet road.
"Do your job, mourn later, no screw ups. We don't want to lose another good officer".
Connor felt his anger subside a bit, enough to let him think rationally, but it was still there.
"....Alright, I won't kill Renner, but I seriously hope he resists arrest so I can have an excuse to fuck him up", the deputy muttered.
Connor didn't know if Barton knew he was kidding or not, but frankly neither did Connor.
"We're almost there", Connor finally said, pointing through a group of trees to a clearing jut barely visible in the sleet and darkness.

Barton eyed Adams warily, not sure if the deputy had made a bad joke or really wanted an excuse for some brutality. After gauging him for a moment, he decided it was merely a bad joke and let it go. He nodded after Adams noted the proximity of the mine. Forget everything else; now was time for business. Tonight's business was finding.

He noted the continuing precipitation with displeasure, donning his hat as he parked the car next to a small shelter and crossed through sleet to it. At least they had this much shelter, but he knew they couldn't stay there. If they wanted to find Renner, they would have to be mobile and alert. No shit, he mused. That much was obvious to anybody with a modicum of sleuthing ability. Tonight was going to be very long, and very difficult. They didn't have much of a description for Renner, except that he was in his early 50s and likely wearing hunting camouflage.

Surprisingly, the first other person they saw fit the description well enough, or at least the hunting camouflage part. He seemed to be headed for the mouth of the cave a ways away; Barton couldn't make out much more. He tapped Adams on the shoulder, pointed at the figure, and whispered, "Follow my lead. I'm going to call to him once, then a second time. If he doesn't respond after the second time, shoot into the air on my mark. If he fires on us...try to disable him quickly. Let's go." He moved out into the sleet, holding his rifle at the ready. He flipped the safety off, knowing that violence, while not the best answer, was a possibility.

When they were about 100 yards away from the figure, Barton called out to him. "You there!" It sounded stupid but it was the best idea he had. "This is the FBI! Put the gun down and identify yourself!" The figure ignored him. Barton gritted his teeth, then quickly pulled the Ruger's charging handle back and shouldered it. "I said put the gun down, and identify yourself immediately!" Still the figure seemed to ignore him. He glanced over at Adams. "Warning shot."

Connor noticed Barton studying the falling sleet with a slight frown on his face as the Agent parked the car near a shelter.
Convenient, The Deputy thought as he and Barton exited the vehicle and quickly made their way to the small shelter, out of the half frozen snow.
Adams saw a figure in the darkness, and began to feel his pulse quicken, but just as he was about to whisper to Barton he was tapped on the shoulder.The Agent pointed at the figure and Connor nodded his acknowledgment.
"Follow my lead. I'm going to call to him once, then a second time. If he doesn't respond after the second time, shoot into the air on my mark. If he fires on us...try to disable him quickly. Let's go.", Barton whispered, and again Connor nodded.

They walked until they were just around 100 yards off from the figure when Barton called out.

"You there! This is the FBI! Put the gun down and identify yourself!", The figure ignored the order.
"I said put the gun down, and identify yourself immediately!", the Agent yelled again, this time shouldering his Ruger and then glancing over at the Deputy.
''Warning shot''.
Connor slung his shotgun over his back, and tightened the strap across his chest before taking out his service revolver and aiming it into the air.
"Here we go", he muttered, then fired the gun into the air.

The wind had picked up and pulled Renner’s hood back exposing his face to the elements. He was almost at the mouth of the mine when he heard the shout.

"You there! This is the FBI! Put the gun down and identify yourself!"

"I said put the gun down, and identify yourself immediately!"

He heard the crack of a shot and stopped walking. He dropped his own rifle and slowly raised his hands. The two men hadn’t noticed the glinting eyes watching them intently, hungrily and this would be their undoing.

“Well done boys!” Renner shouted over the wind as he slowly turned to face the two men. He could feel the electricity in the air. He could feel their fear, manageable but there.

Renner took a step backwards towards the mouth of mine.

“Well boys this is hardly a fair fight. Just me and Kyle here against the pair of you. Maybe I’ll square thing up a bit, eh?”
Renner dropped his head so his chin was on his chest and took a deep breath before suddenly snapping his head back and letting out a long, inhumanly loud howl.

The glinting eyes in the woods suddenly became focused and alert as they silently moved toward the clearing.
It took a while for their forms to come into view but soon the group was surrounded by a pack of six large wolves. They were fierce and lithe with shaggy black fur and eyes that seemed to pierce through the darkness.

Renner took another step back toward the mouth of the mine before his own twisted into a smile. The wolves began a low growl in unison from the anticipation.

“They eat everything you know, nose to tail. By the time they find you boys out here, there won’t be bodies to bury.”
Renner’s beady eyes darted around the group, he could feel the fear radiating off the men now while the wolves were yearning for the kill.

It was a perfect moment.

He took a step backwards.

“Sic’em!” Renner cried before running for the mine. The wolves launched themselves at the two men with reckless abandon. If the men survived the wolves would herd them into the mouth of the mine, and into the belly of the beast.

#

Cassandra’s held her daughter and felt some stirring in her heart, remorse possibly? Or love?

It ended as quickly as it started.

“Of you’ll be there. Mr Greaves has taken care of everything, it’ll be tomorrow at one pm.”

"How's Sheriff Carter?"

Cassandra blinked slowly, surprised by the question, but her daughter knew the truth instinctively, she always had been a smart child. Somewhere she could hear the Dark Man chuckling.

“We should go, get some sleep. Collect your things and we’ll meet the deputy outside who’ll give us a ride.”

#

Renner was in the dark again and only had his knife for company they’d be following him down soon enough and then they’d know exactly what they were facing. The Dark man loved it, only one way out of the mine which meant conflict was guaranteed and if there was one thing the Dark Man loved it was conflict.

Adams noticed the figure drop something, and turn around with his hands up.

"Well boys, this is hardly a fair fight. Just me and Kyle here against the pair of you.".

"What?", Connor asked, directed as much to himself as Barton. "He just said Kyle..I thought HE was Kyle".
"I suppose he isn't," Barton muttered in return. "But if he isn't Renner, who is he and where's Renner?" The agent kept his eyes on the unknown man as he heard him suddenly continue his speech of apparent defiance
"Maybe I'll square things up a bit, eh?".
The deputy felt a chill run up his spine as Renner let out an inhuman howl.
What the fuck is going on?, he thought to himself as he shared a look with Barton, and then took a shooters stance at the agents back, watching their flank.

Barton noted that Adams had his rear covered, and started eyeing the shadows carefully. Canine forms began to emerge, black and terrible. Barton was far from a biologist, but he had never heard of any species quite like these creatures. They seemed unearthly...even infernal, evil.

"They eat everything, you know, nose to tail," the man cried. "By the time they find you boys out here, there won't be bodies to bury."

Barton gritted his teeth, and made the tough choice. "If they attack..."

"Sic'em!"

Connor saw the first wolf move towards him. He raised his revolver, but missed his first shot, panic flooding his nerves. He took a second shot, the round went a bit wide of its mark, but still struck the large canine in the head, putting it down almost instantly. He turned to fire at a second Wolf, but caught a flash of movement in his peripheral, then suddenly he was on the ground, a large hairy beast dragging him around by his jacket.
Connor managed to grab his survival knife out of his boot and began wildly stabbing above his the back of his neck, where he felt the crushing jaws and heard a yelp as the wolf let go and backed off.
The deputy rose up from the cold ground and holstered his pistol, keeping the knife out and his eyes shifting as he unhooked the shotgun from it's strap.
The wolves now had Connor and Thomas cut off from each other by about 15 yards and were circling the duo.

Curses came to Barton in a flurry as the sudden attack made his warning moot. He froze a moment in fear, then remembered the gun in his hand, and acted on instinct. He aimed for the closest hound, and fired as he heard Adams do likewise behind him. No time to stay and aim again; two more of them were closing on him. His rifle would do him little good in these quarters, he realized as ran for a short distance. He flipped the safety on, folded the stock, and slung the rifle over his shoulder quickly, then started fumbling with his overcoat to reach the pistol underneath. Oddly, none of the remaining hounds attacked them, but merely circled as he drew the Glock and cocked it quickly. Not only was this dangerous, but it was keeping them from the suspect (not Renner, apparently). They needed to get to him. But how?

"God-dammit," he muttered. He was disinclined to try running. If they could each get one quickly, then get the remaining two as they charged...maybe.

He paused his thoughts for a second as the hounds did something unexpected. They turned suddenly and ran into the darkness around them, disappearing as suddenly as they had appeared. Barton watched carefully, but they did not return. He wasn't about to question the sudden turn of fortune. He fumbled in his jacket for a flashlight, and turned it on as he entered the maw of the cave. He held the flashlight and pistol Harries-style, peering into the dark uncertainly as he advanced. "Watch if they return, Connor," he called back, his voice echoing in the cave more than he liked.

"Watch if they return, Connor," Barton called, his voice echoing in the cave as Connor followed him in.
The Deputy kept his back to the entrance as he entered, the barrel of his shotgun forward and ready. Connor heard a click and noticed slight ambient light coming off of Barton's flashlight and only then did he remember the underslung light on his Remington. The ex-marine flipped it on and kept sweeping the front of the cave with his weapon as they proceeded deeper in.
After a few moments of quiet, Connor was able to reflect on what had transpired, feeling a chill creep up his spine as he remembered the man's howl.
"Son of bitch", he whispered, but in the closeness of the cave, it sounded a bit louder.
"Barton, this is some serious shit we've gotten ourselves into", he muttered as he habitually checked the shells in the Remington, then reloaded his revolver before holstering it again.
"We're going to have a story to tell", the Deputy said, forcing the shakiness out of his voice and pushing a smile out.

The Dark Presence that was controlling Renner stopped running. His power over the wolves had been broken and he felt his control of Renner slipping.

“So it is true, they’ve finally sent someone worthy.” The Presence mused.

Renner slowly walked towards the noise of the two men pursuing him. He turned a corner in the tunnel and could sense Barton was near but couldn’t be sure if he was the one causing his grip to fail.

“Tom? I know you’re out there, Tom.” Renner’s voice was scratchy and distorted.

“I know you’re scared too. Scared of what’s hiding in the dark, but you already know that, don’t you Tom?”

He kept shuffling towards where he thought Barton was but the Presence could feel his hold slipping on Renner.

“What happened to that old bastard on your last case taught you it’s not the darkness out there you gotta worry about. It’s the darkness inside that’ll get ya.”

Renner produced the knife he’d been carrying.

“Tom how long can you keep doing this? How long can you keep staring into the dark places in the minds of others? How long before you start spending a little too much time looking in the dark places of your own mind?”
Renner turned a corner and found himself staring into the beam of FBI agent’s flashlight but it didn’t break his monologue instead he simply lifted the knife and drove it into his own wrist. Warm red blood erupted from the deep wound coating the walls of the tunnel.

“Maybe that’s why Alex left. She reads people for a living and maybe she saw something in you. Something dark.”

Blood was pumping out of the long deep cut in Renner’s arm at an alarming rate but he still brandished the knife with deadly intent.

“I wish I could stay and chat but Kyle seems to want spend his last moments behind the wheel. Be seeing you real soon Tom.”
With that Renner collapsed to the floor and roared with pain. The knife clattered off to the side.

“Oh Jesus, Oh Jesus!” He shouted while he clutched his wrist but abruptly the screams ended and his eyes glazed over.

“I killed them... I let him... He... Oh Christ what have I done? What the hell have I done?!” He whimpered as he drew his legs toward his body and went into the foetal position.

"Tom?" Barton froze. How did he know his name? "I know you're out there, Tom. I know you're scared too. Scared of what's hiding in the dark, but you already know that, don't you, Tom?" Barton shifted his weight uneasily, looking around in the darkness. Could the speaker see him? Was this a ploy, a feint to cover some other attack?

"What happened to that old bastard on your last case taught you it's not the darkness out there you gotta worry about." Barton could feel the colour drain from his face at that. How in the hell could he know about that case? "It's the darkness inside that'll get ya." What was he playing at? Was he bluffing and making guesses? Was he some kind of hyper-intelligent Hannibal, smug and snakelike in the worst ways? The voice continued, “Tom, how long can you keep doing this? How long can you keep staring into the dark places in the minds of others?" His voice was smug, even taunting, like the Hannibal-type that Barton now suspected. "How long before you start spending a little too much time looking in the dark places of your own mind?”

"Shut up," Barton whispered, more to his own doubts than to the voice. He was getting more on edge every moment. He should have requested leave after the Gerhart case. He would have to request leave after this, assuming he could make it until the end of the case. Until the end of the night, even. Blake and Temple could handle the case without him. He was in no shape to handle something this...raw, this shocking. It rubbed right at his psyche.

Suddenly, in front of him a thin, craggy face appeared, almost skull-like but for the start of a beard on the chin and cheeks. After a moment, he recognized it, despite the hair and near-emaciated state. "Kyle Renner," the Agent whispered. He started at the knife in Renner's hand, but found himself at a loss as the other man stabbed his own wrist, then continued talking, now striking the worst cut of all on Barton.

"Maybe that's why Alex left. She reads people for a living, and maybe she saw something in you. Something dark."

"Shut up!" Barton suddenly shouted before he could check himself mentally. This was getting out of hand. He hardly listened to the last part of the awful monologue, only feeling his own self-doubt and his horror at the awful bleeding. A sudden roar of pain came from Renner, snapping Barton back to reality. The knife was gone, Renner seemed a completely different person, and he was bleeding. Badly. "Jesus fucking Christ," Barton muttered, the extra expletive only slipping through in his present state of mind. He had left his first aid kid in the car. He had nothing to staunch the bleeding. The closest thing he could think of was his tie. He clicked the Glock's safety on and quickly holstered it under his arm before pulling his tie out at the knot, undoing it and balling it up to press onto the massive laceration. He realised Renner was extremely likely to bleed out now, and pressed the tie as hard as he could on the wound. "Connor!" he shouted into the dark. "Get back to the car and get my first aid kit! It's in the glove compartment! I need gauze and I need it yesterday! I found Renner, and he's not resisting, but he's bleeding out fast!"

"Tom?", Connor stood in place for a bit, daring to glance over his shoulder at the back of the Agent.
How the fuck does he know his name?
"I know you're out there, Tom. I know you're scared too. Scared of what's hiding in the dark, but you already know that, don't you, Tom?", The Deputy felt the hairs on the back of his neck standing on end. Something wasn't right here.

"What happened to that old bastard on your last case taught you it's not the darkness out there you gotta worry about." , Connor stole another glance at Thomas. "It's the darkness inside that'll get ya." .
What the hell is he going on about? Do they know each other?. This case was starting to damage his calm. Can I trust Barton?
"How long before you start spending a little too much time looking in the dark places of your own mind?”

At nearly 15 yards away, Connor had already lost sight and sound of Barton not long after entering the cave, and the idea of moving his flashlight away from the mouth of the cave seemed unsettling given the events of the last hour. He heard someone he could only hope was Barton whisper something unintelligible.
Connor then heard the sickening, wet and all to familiar impact of something cutting open human skin, causing him to spin around, his fear of what may be lurking behind him gone. His light shone on Barton and another figure mostly hidden by Thomas' frame.

"Maybe that's why Alex left. She reads people for a living, and maybe she saw something in you. Something dark."

"Shut up!", the words suddenly erupted from Barton's throat, the loudness amplified by the cave walls made The Deputy cringe as made his way to Thomas, shotgun pumped and ready but the Agent had other plans.
"Connor! Get back to the car and get my first aid kit! It's in the glove compartment! I need gauze and I need it yesterday! I found Renner, and he's not resisting, but he's bleeding out fast!".
Connor paused for a moment, confusion wrestling with satisfaction that the Sheriffs killer was dying slowly. He also knew that Barton would probably hold the Deputy responsible if he refused to render aid.
"Shit", he muttered loudly as he spun on his heel and took off for the mouth of the cave.

Running for the vehicle in the dark made Connor paranoid, especially since the bodies of the wolves he and Barton had taken out less than an hour earlier were now gone.
Aw, hell he thought to himself, eyes scanning the dark as he fumbled with the passenger door, opened the glove compartment and withdrew the first aid kit.
"Hayden, its Connor. We got some serious shit going on here", he said into his Walkie Talkie has he ran back for the cave.
"Hayden?", he said, worry lining his voice when he received no response. "Do you copy?". Connor growled in frustration when the communicator remained silent.
Hope she and Temple are okay he thought to himself as he entered the cave and continued to move forward until his flashlight caught Barton again, hunched over the suspects prone form.
"Here's the kit", he said handing it over to the Agent.
"I tried raising Hayden on the Walkie, I got nothing", the ex-marine said. "When we're done here Thomas, we need to have words."

"Here's the kit," Connor told him as he handed the box to Barton. Barton quickly opened it and pulled out a roll of gauze, working the clip off with his free hand before pulling the bloody tie from the wound and quickly wrapping the gauze around Renner's arm. Even as he did he realized it was no use. Renner's eyes had clouded, and his previously manic speech had stopped. "I tried raising Hayden on the Walkie, I got nothing," Connor said suddenly. Hearing but not processing him, Barton started fishing for his notebook, sticking the light in his mouth to free his hands. "When we're done here Thomas, we need to have words." Barton froze a moment, then nodded with a muffled noise of assent. He pulled out the notebook and pen, then checked the time on his watch.

Carefully, he scrawled Died 12.11AM below the previous note on Renner, and drew a line to link the two. He closed the book and pocketed it with the pen, then reached over and closed Renner's eyes, bowing his head a moment. Barton wasn't religious, but he knew when was a time for respect. Renner's last moments indicated some kind of mental disorder. Possibly schizophrenia? Barton doubted they would know for certain now, with the subject dead. Barton eased Renner's body to lean against the wall limply, then took the light from his mouth and stood, ignoring his tie. "Adams, we can have words in a few minutes. Right now I—we—need to call Renner's death in, so we can call off the manhunt and get his body to the morgue. After that, we'll regroup and plan tomorrow before we all pass out from exhaustion. I hate to leave Renner's body out here, but I'm not leaving either of us alone after all of this. Let's get back to the car."

He shouldered his rifle and took the kit in hand before starting out, watching for Adams to follow him. They walked to the car in silence. Barton had a feeling he knew what Adams wanted to ask about. His last case, and Alex. Alexandra Glass. The name ran through his head like a panacea. She would still be up at this hour. Probably. He needed someone to talk to, and for him there wasn't anybody better for that than Alex. She was better than any psychiatrist. But how to explain her, and the Gerhart case, to Adams, without it seeming strange. After all, how could he really be in a relationship with her, when she was all the way in...Los Angeles? No, that was in a week. She was still in Richmond now.

With a start, he realized he had autopiloted his way into the driver's seat of the car, but hadn't started it yet. How long had he sat there? He started the car up with a tinge of embarrassment, and started the long drive back to the station. After a moment of silence, he finally spoke again. "So, what did you want to have words about?"

"So, what did you want to have words about?", Agent Thomas Barton inquired after sitting in silence for what seemed like forever to the Deputy.
Connor was silent for a few moments longer, organizing his thoughts.

"What the hell happened back there? How did he know about you?", Connor let him answer before bombarding him with more questions.

"What was he saying about the "Darkness inside? And who's Alex? And what about your last case..what happened there?".
Adams barely heard his answers.

"We're in way over our heads, Barton. Something tells me this case isn't over", Connor leaned his head against the glass of the window, watching the sleet and darkness rolls by, feeling mental and physical fatigue setting in.

"When we get the chance, I'm sure we both need something to eat and a few cups of coffee. This is going to be a long night", Adams stated in a monotone voice.