Monkey in a Box
Disclaimer:
1. All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners (Showtime, Jeff Lindsay). The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.
2. All characters, events etc. portrayed in this story are fictional and any resemblance to real persons or events is purely coincidental. Also, locations, legal procedures etc. described in this story are not necessarily factually correct nor are they intended to be.
Synopsis:
This is a theory on how the last 2 episodes of the Dexter series might play out. I wrote this based on all the promos and filling in the gaps. If you have not watched 10/12 of Season 8, there will be major spoilers.
And now, on with actual story…
15th September, 2012
10:13 PM
Dr. Vogel's House
Saxon was nowhere in sight. He had already ran out the back door. It didn't matter to me, not at that point. All I could think about was Evelyn's death. Dr. Evelyn Vogel… My mother… My spiritual mother… I had failed her. In vain, I held her lifeless body in my arms as I heard a car start and rapidly drive off. Saxon. Again, I ignored him. I was in no mood to go after him, all I could focus on were the feelings that had overcome me. And for the first time in my life I felt grief in its pure form. I have had similar moments in the past, the time I killed my brother Brian, Rita's murder, the realization that my actions drove my foster father Harry to suicide. Yet somehow they felt… incomplete. Almost as if I had deluded myself into caring.
At least that's what Evelyn would say…
It was not so however. That night I had a sudden realization. The feelings I had for my foster family, my wife Rita, my son Harrison and now Hannah, they were never self-delusion. They were never a cover. They were never even incomplete… only dampened. But real nonetheless. And slowly but surely, I rediscovered them.
Harry had been wrong all along about me, he may have been a cop but not a psychiatrist, and Evelyn had never actually consulted me in person to give a diagnosis. I was never a psychopath, just a traumatized little child that was never given the proper help he needed, conditioned to indulge in the fucked up outcome of his own tragedy further, conditioned to keep the emotional side shut down and the unnatural fascination with blood alive. I had been deceived for over 30 years. Still, I couldn't blame them. I believe they acted in my best interest.
But I was going to stop Saxon, psychopath Dexter or not. He couldn't get away, not after this.
He was long gone by the time I snapped out of it and realized just how much I had contaminated the crime scene. Still, no traces of my own DNA, so perhaps I could still explain it to the police. I just needed to wash first the burn the bloodstained clothes.
I also deleted all of Evelyn's files and destroyed old tapes. Nobody could ever know the truth about my father being an accessory to murder.
16th September, 2012
7:03 AM
Dexter's Apartment
That morning, I went to grab some groceries, by the time I was back I had company, two people at my door. A neighbor and…
"Dexter, this is Oliver Saxon." she said.
"Dexter Morgan." I say.
"Pleasure to meet you." Saxon said as he smiled and shook my hand. I played along.
"Is there something I can help you with, Mr. Saxon?" I ask.
"Yes, I am a licensed building inspector. May I come in for a moment, I'd like to discuss a few things in private."
"Okay, sure."
We went inside. The neighbor stayed outside.
"I always did like this place." he said as he watched through the window. "The same view of the water Cassie did."
"What are you doing here?" I ask.
"I have a proposal. I figured the safest way to do it was to bring a referee."
"I'm listening."
"We walk away."
"Walk away?"
"Both of us… From each other… Go our separate paths, live our separate lives. I forget about you. You forget about me."
"You went out of your way to kill your mother in front of me and you just expect me to forget?"
"Maybe a little bit over the top, but I was only trying to make a point."
"I missed the point."
"It was a test. To see if, given the chance, she would finally choose me. Well… we both know how that turned out."
"Yes, so naturally you had to cut her throat."
"You know what it's like. To kill. It can be… cathartic, and it was. That's why I'm giving you a choice. Go on with your life, or come after me. You've a lot more to lose than I do. A cute little son, your sister, your girlfriend… all very easy to remove from your life."
"You haven't stayed out of my life so far, why should I believe you'll start now?"
"Times are changing. Things will be different now with my treacherous mother gone."
"You killed my next-door neighbor in cold blood… brought murder to my flat!"
"I have my needs, as you do."
"…you framed Zach Hamilton, my apprentice, for Cassie's murder… tried to turn me against him!"
"Weren't you supposed to kill him anyway for Norma Rivera's death? As far as I can tell, you're the one who was out of line."
"You cut his head open and left his corpse in my apartment."
"Are you finished? It's time to choose, Dexter."
I think for a moment and give my final answer.
"I could never trust you to stay out of my life after all you've done. Your word means nothing. You kill. You frame other people for your kills. You're a rabid dog that needs to be put to sleep. One thing you can be sure of is that if you kill again, I will not grant you a quick death."
"Well then, Dexter, I guess it's on." he said as he smiled and walked out. I couldn't really kill him with the neighbor outside.
Moments later I got the call, crime scene at Evelyn's house.
16th September, 2012
7:56 AM
Dr. Vogel's House – Crime Scene
The area was swarming with police and reporters. Feds had not been called yet, although Captain Matthews was there.
"Dex, what do you make of this?" asked Batista.
"Well, judging by the blood pool formed around Dr. Vogel's body, I'd say her throat was slit with a sharp object while she was sitting at the window, most likely a kitchen knife. She bled out pretty fast." I respond.
"That's what I thought." said Quinn. "We found the murder weapon on the floor. It's already bagged and tagged. Anything else you can tell us Dexter?"
"No signs of struggle, there aren't any defensive wounds or anything like that. The killer knew the victim. It all happened really fast."
"So how do you account for this?" asked Masuka pointing towards the door. "Someone broke the door off its hinges."
"Maybe Dr. Vogel didn't hear it. Err… Wasn't she treating some very deranged people? Maybe she was trying to reason with whoever killed her but it backfired?" I said.
Captain Matthews intervened.
"One thing I can say for certain is that shortly before her murder I had her in my office. I asked her if she knew anything of Zach Hamilton's disappearance. She declined to comment. Perhaps her murder is somehow linked to this."
"Wait! Zach Hamilton was one of Vogel's patients?" asked Quinn.
"Yes." Matthews responded.
"I knew it! I knew that kid was trouble! He did this!" Quinn said raising his tone.
"Calm down, detective Quinn. We don't know that yet. Just follow the evidence. In any case, there's already an APB out on Zach Hamilton and all his known vehicles. We'll bring him in for questioning if we find him." Matthews said.
"Yeah, I hope so. Give me five minutes alone with that prick in the interrogation room."
"Alright, detective, that's enough, I won't ask you again."
"What else have we got?" I ask.
"Well, someone had been drinking tea. But if this was a break-in I very much doubt you'd find the killer's DNA on the cups. In any case, I've taken the cups as evidence, we might be able to identify a witness." Masuka responded.
Outside, the reporters were getting restless.
"Captain Matthews, what can you tell us about this gruesome murder of Dr. Evelyn Vogel?"
"Do you have a suspect?"
"Captain Matthews, how do explain this recent streak of unsolved murders and disappearances plaguing Miami?"
And other such inane questions.
"Calm down people. There will be no comments until the investigation is concluded. If there's anything we need to share, we will hold a press conference next week." Matthews assured them.
And soon we were gone. Nothing but yellow tape remained…
16th September, 2012
9:14 AM
Debra's House
After I was done at the crime scene I went straight to Debra to check up on Hannah and Harrison. I knocked on the door and Debra answered.
"Jesus! What are you doing here so early?" she asked.
"Is Harrison with Hanah?"
"Yeah, she's helping him get dressed in a hurry. That kid wakes before the fucking sun."
I let out a sigh.
"You alright?" she asked.
"Evelyn's dead. Saxon killed her last night in front of me. He got away."
"Fuck…"
"I wanted you to hear it from me. Miami Metro is working the case, it's all over the news."
"Jesus Christ, you alright?"
"Evelyn was…"
"I know. If it weren't for her…"
"…We might not have found our way back to each other… While Saxon's out there, Harrison needs to be with Jamie. She's back at Batista's he'll be safe there."
"You gonna go after Saxon?"
"Yes."
"Then I will too, I'll call Batista. I'll go back to work today. She was important to me too, Dex."
"Deb, you're putting yourself in the same position you've been trying to avoid."
"Understand this, if I get Saxon my way I'm not handing him over to you."
There was a long pause until I finally replied.
"It's okay. You don't have to. I'll find him first. I'll kill Saxon and leave Miami for good. My final kill ever."
Hannah walked into the room with Harrison.
"Harrison! Hi. Listen Deb, could you take Harrison outside for a minute. I need to talk to Hannah."
"Sure, whatever… By the way, have you payed attention to the news lately?"
"Maybe. Why?"
"Well, a hurricane is coming." she said pointing at a muted TV weather report. Hurricane alert was clearly visible on screen. "The storm that's coming is going to ground all the flights when it hits Miami in two or three days. You better move fast."
Two days left in Miami, two days until I start a new life with Hannah.
"Alright, Harrison, you ready to go with aunt Deb?"
"Okay, daddy."
And they left.
"Something wrong Dexter?" Hannah asked.
"Dr. Vogel's dead. Saxon killed her and we only have two days left to catch a flight to Argentina." I said.
"That's still the plan right?"
"But I need to make sure it's taken care of. I need to kill Saxon."
"Saxon isn't going to follow us!" she tried to brush it off.
"I don't trust him, what if he does? I have to do this first, there's no other way."
"Look, I get that this is something that you feel like you have to do, that this is who you are but…"
"It's not who I want to be, okay?"
"Then what?"
"I don't know anymore. I'll take care of this, I promise…"
16th September, 2012
11:46 AM
Homicide, Miami Metro Police Department
"Angel," Debra said. "I'm ready this time."
Angel Batista smiled and handed over her detective badge and a gun. Her co-workers cheered as she walked out of the office. They were all happy to see her back unaware of her role in LaGuerta's death.
But it didn't matter. She had long gotten over it. She did what had to be done.
16th September, 2012
1:35 PM
Abandoned Hospital
After hours of searching, I finally found Oliver Saxon's hideout in Miami. An abandoned hospital. Tracking the GPS data of Evelyn's cell phone led me to it. Inside, I found his kill room and a laptop. There were many documents on it. Files about me, Debra and several other people I had known. He was collecting information about us. A natural stalker.
If my foster father Harry was here he would ask "What exactly are you looking for, Dexter?"
"Anything I can use against him."
"Are you going to kill him or not?" he asked but I ignored him.
"This. He recorded all his kills. This is exactly what I need."
"So you're not going to kill him, that's odd…"
"What's odd is that you were wrong about me, dad. I don't need to kill. And I see a life for me and Hannah that doesn't involve killing."
"You're only fooling yourself, Dexter… Even if this is all true, killing is what you've known your whole life."
"I don't need to kill Saxon. And I won't. I'll do the right thing for once. I'll turn him in."
"This is not going to end well, Dexter. Mark my words."
16th September, 2012
2:07 PM
West Wagon Diner
"Make your own kind of music,
Sing your own special song…"
Saxon was at a local diner grabbing lunch and playing the same song from Mama Cass Elliot over and over. There was a TV there as well and the owner had just turned up the volume. Saxon took notice.
"Miami Metro is seeking the public's help in locating a local man, Oliver Saxon, who is believed to be responsible for multiple murders in the Miami Metropolitan Area."
The headline read "Police On a Manhunt for Oliver Saxon".
"Over there! That's the guy!" shouted someone in the diner. Saxon quietly walked out and then ran to his car. The police arrived shortly but it was too late.
Meanwhile…
16th September, 2012
2:07 PM
Dexter's Apartment
"Miami Metro is seeking the public's help in locating a local man, Oliver Saxon, who is believed to be responsible for multiple murders in the Miami Metropolitan Area."
Debra was here with me, watching the news..
"Dex, what did you do?"
"You're back in homicide, shouldn't you know?"
"Angel gave me the day off."
"Deb, I want to give up killing… forever. I haven't really killed in a while and it's time to stop. No more bloodshed. I'm not going to kill Saxon. Instead, I'll make sure he is locked up for life."
"Wow, I never thought this day would come. When you would no longer feel the urge to kill for the sake of it."
"I found recordings of all of his kills and leaked them to all the major news outlets straight from his laptop with his name attached."
"Dexter, I… I'm proud of you. You did the right thing." she said as we hugged.
"But we still need to catch him first. Now that I've exposed him he will come after me for revenge. We're going to set up an ambush. Tonight. Here's the plan…"
16th September, 2012
5:41 PM
Elway Investigations
"Mr. Elway," said Deputy US Marshal Clayton "I got a line on Hannah McKay."
"Yeah? What have you got?" Elway responded.
"Well, I think we've been looking at the wrong Morgan."
"How so?"
"You know Dexter Morgan's son? Harrison?"
"Yeah, Debra's nephew as well. I hear he's staying with her for a while."
"Well, yesterday someone brought Harrison to a local hospital for some injury. That someone was identified as Hannah McKay. She signed in using Debra's name."
"Un-fucking-believable!"
"I know. I think your former employee has her hold up in her place but I'm going to need your help. I need whatever information you have on Debra Morgan. Did she say anything? Has she been acting suspicious lately?"
"Hmmm. I should have known something was off, Mr. Clayton. She was the one that suggested a hunt for Hannah McKay in the first place, but later backed off and tried to convince me to back off as well. You could be right. They might have reconciled… or worse."
"Thank you for your help, Mr. Elway. I'll speak to a judge about a search warrant on her property as soon as possible." Marshal Clayton said as he shook hands with Elway and then walked out of the office.
16th September, 2012
11:14 PM
Dexter's Apartment
I was in my bed, pretending to be sound asleep when I heard someone trying to pick the lock on my door. Saxon! He walked up to me with a blade in his hand ready to kill me in my sleep. As he prepared to plunge the blade into my body, Debra came out of hiding.
"Oh no you don't! Drop it!" Debra demanded.
Saxon complied.
"Now, hands behind your head, no sudden moves." she said.
However Saxon turned around and punched her in the head, disorienting her for a few seconds. Then he ran out the door, down to a parking spot. We ran after him. He punched one of the drivers as he was preparing to leave and took his car. Debra and I went for the squad car.
"Detective Morgan here, I'm in pursuit of stolen vehicle, licensed T94A7 heading west on Coconut Avenue. The suspect is Oliver Saxon, approach with caution" she called over the radio, but backup was nowhere in sight. We were on our own for the time being.
We followed him back to the hospital.
16th September, 2012
11:53 PM
Abandoned Hospital
Saxon grabbed his gun, carefully hidden beneath one of the cabinets and tried to shoot. We took cover. He kept shooting in vain until he ran out of bullets. That's when we finally subdued him. We tied him up to his chair and waited as backup finally arrived.
"I'm really proud of you Deb." Angel said. "First day back on the job and you already caught a serial killer. Well done."
"So this is the guy we've been chasing all along." Quinn said. "The real Brain Surgeon. The real murderer of Cassie. Take this scumbag downtown. I'm going to spend some quality time with him in the interrogation room very soon."
The Next Day…
17th September, 2012
11:32 AM
Homicide, Miami Metro Police Department
Interrogation Room
Quinn was interrogating Saxon.
"It's no use, Oliver. Come clean. We have video footage of all your kills because you were too much of a dumb fuck to keep them to yourself. It's the electric chair for you if you don't cooperate." Quinn said.
"I don't understand what you're talking about, officer. These are just homemade videos. Special effects to… raise awareness of Miami City's abysmal murder solve rate. Bring me my lawyer and he will clear this up." Saxon replied very calmly. Quinn was angry.
"Don't bullshit me. You're a killer. We know you killed Robert Bailey, Leonard Welks, Lyle Sussman and Zach Hamilton. And there's good circumstantial evidence linking you to Cassie Jollenston's and Dr. Evelyn Vogel's murder as well. Your DNA was found at the crime scene Vogel died, asshole! And you lied about details of your relationship with Cassie."
"Woah, that's a serious accusation to make there, officer. But I wonder, are you even remotely aware of the monster that lurks among you?"
"The only monster here is you, you sick mother fucker."
Shit, I had been so wrapped up in being normal I had forgotten that Saxon also has dirt on me. Or at least, enough to really raise the alarm. I went inside the interrogation room. Saxon turned and smiled at me.
"Hi, Dexter. We were just discussing about you." Saxon said.
"No we weren't. Dexter, it's okay, I got this. I'll make him pay for Cassie. I promise. And you?" Quinn said turning his attention back to Saxon. "Shut the fuck up and quit wasting my time. Are you going to confess or not?"
"Quinn, can we talk for a moment? I… only wanted to say goodbye. This is my last day at the department. I've just handed over my resignation and I'm ready to leave. I'm out."
Quinn left Saxon in the room.
"It's been a pleasure working with you, Dexter. When are you leaving exactly?"
"Well, Hurricane Laura hits Miami in two days, I want to be out of Miami by tomorrow noon before they ground all the flights."
"So you'll still be around tonight?"
"Yeah, why?"
"No reason, just asking. I can't believe you're really going."
"Look after Deb for me." I said and smiled.
"I will, Dexter. I certainly will."
"Goodbye, Dexter." everyone in the office said.
And then I was gone.
Quinn went back in the interrogation room.
"Back again, officer Quinn?" asked Saxon but Quinn was in no mood to be friendly.
"I got another idea." Quinn said. "How about we turn the cameras… off?"
"Why?"
"Cause I'm getting sick of your bullshit." Quinn said as he started beating on Saxon. "How do you like that you worthless piece of shit?"
Batista heard Saxon's screams and ran in to stop Quinn.
"Have you totally lost your mind, Joey? What did you do? Now we have no choice but to let him walk."
"This fucker won't walk for long." Quinn said breathing heavily.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Nothing."
"My lawyer will love this when he gets here." Saxon said.
"Joey, in my office! We need to talk about police brutality. I won't have any of it under my watch." Angel said as he lead Quinn into his office.
Later Saxon walked. Free man again and eager for revenge against the one who put him there.
17th September, 2012
1:02 PM
Debra's House
Around 1 PM I went over to Debra's house to say to final goodbyes. Hannah would stay over one more night and tomorrow we'd meet at Miami International Airport, ready to leave for Argentina.
7:08 PM
Harrison was at Jamie's. Hannah and Debra were getting ready for dinner. Then they heard a knock on the door.
"Hannah, hide." Debra whispered to her. She complied and hid herself in the closet.
Then Debra opened the door. She was surprised to see Marshal Clayton back so soon.
"Marshal Clayton?" Debra asked.
"Debra Morgan." he said as he stepped in.
"Wait, you can't come in here, this is private property." she protested.
"As a matter of fact I can." he said as he handed her a search warrant signed by the judge. "Now if you'll excuse me, I don't want you getting in my way."
The first location he went to was the bathroom. He found nothing. The second time he looked under the bed. Again, nothing. Finally he opened the closet door and Hannah jumped out, frightened. She tried to run but it was no use. Marshal Clayton forced her to the ground and handcuffed her.
"Well, well, I found a monkey in a box. I was right all along. You really were harboring a fugitive, Debra Morgan. But it's over." he said. "This charade has gone on long enough. You're under arrest too, Debra."
Debra pulled out her gun. Clayton did as well, both of their guns now aimed at each other. Hannah quietly crawled under the bed.
"You know you can't win this, Debra." Clayton said. "Come on. Drop the weapon. Sooner or later, you're going to have to answer for everything you've done. And I don't mean just Hannah."
"What are you talking about?" Debra asked.
"The court that issued this search warrant also revealed to me that there is another outstanding warrant dating from last Christmas. A warrant to track the GPS data of your mobile phone. You were at the docks the night Captain Maria LaGuerta was killed. It's over for you. Now drop the gun. Don't make me shoot a lady. How would your brother feel about this, huh?"
Still she refused.
"Drop the gun now, this is your final warning, Morgan!"
"You were right about me, Marshal Clayton. It was me. I killed LaGuerta. Long has that murder weighed heavily on me, but it was necessary to carry it out."
"Why?"
"I did it for my brother Dexter. To protect him. You see, he's not who you think he is. He is the true Bay Harbor Butcher. He's a vigilante serial killer. And I hid Hannah for the same reason, for my brother, because even though Hannah is a murderous bitch that I don't like, she's Dexter's soul mate. I see it now, they are meant to be together. And if I had to do it all over again…"
"Yes?"
"I'd still choose Dexter!"
At that moment Clayton realized there was no hope of any peaceful surrender.
"Debra, no!"
Bang. Bang. Bang. Bang. Bang.
Three shots went into Debra's stomach. As she fell she fired her gun two times as well, which hit Marshal Clayton in the head, killing him instantly.
She was alive… for now, but just barely. Hannah came out of hiding, removed the handcuffs using Clayton's keys and went to see Debra's wounds.
"Oh my… this is bad. We should call Dexter. He can get rid of the body." Hannah said.
"No… there can be… no distractions… not now!" Debra said coughing up blood. "Do not… call Dexter. Just drop… me off at the nearest hospital."
"Debra, did you really kill LaGuerta for Dexter?" she asked in disbelief.
"Yes… I know… you were right about… about me. I was hypocrite… And I'm sorry… I should never have tried… to separate you two."
"It's going to be alright."
Debra passed out but Hannah managed to control the bleeding. She drove to Miami Central Hospital and dropped her off without being seen. She then rented a motel room for the night.
Argentina awaited.
