Disclaimer:
The characters belong to CBS. I own nothing. I just like to play along with the characters for the delight of the readers.
Synopsis:
A sniper heading especially for cops isn't Don's only problem when he's asked to take care of a young woman and her little niece whose lives are in danger ... The story is not related to any shown eppesodes.
Categorie:
Angst/Dark:
Rating:
PG-13
Prologue
Don sat on the couch in his apartment. He wore a black suit with a white button down shirt. The tie dangled around his neck. He watched the last beams sent out by the setting sun. The dust shimmered and reminded him on sparkling little diamonds. Diamonds reminded him on the earrings he had given to Liz on one of her birthdays. Birthday reminded him on …
He swallowed. His service gun lay heavy in his hands. He rested his head on the backrest of the couch and stared at the ceiling. As a matter of fact Liz and he had been separated for quite some time. But when she came to his office a few weeks ago and asked for help he didn't feel this way.
It was like she had been away for just a minute or so. And now … she was gone forever. She had been buried three hours ago and yet it felt like ages. From the apartment next door he could hear music and laughter. Proving him that live was still going on no matter what.
He lifted his hand and pressed the gun against the side of his temple. He squeezed his eyes. An inner voice yelled: STOP! Why couldn't he simply pull the trigger? He brushed the barrel of the gun down his cheek and finally dropped his hand.
Everyone had assured him that Liz' death wasn't his fault. He was with her when the bullet of the sniper hit her and went through her bullet-proof vest like a hot knife through butter. He still remembered her eyes bulged in disbelief and was able to hear her gurgling, choking breaths. She was dead before her body touched the ground.
The ammunition was a special one also known as cop-killer. Yes, someone was out there on the streets and had found his destiny by erasing cops.
"You could have chosen me instead of her, bastard! Why didn't you?" Don clenched his teeth.
The lump in his throat took his breath away. Once more he pressed the gun against the side of his temple. Suddenly his beeper sounded.
"Should I stay or should I go now," the lyrics crossed his mind.
His mouth felt dry as the Nevada desert. Laughter and music mingled with the nerve racking sound of the beeper. His forefinger touched the trigger.
He broke out in sweat. He breathed heavily. Before he hit for the finale step, his mobile rang. The silly melody made this scenario kinda bizarre. Suddenly Don started to laugh. With a suffocated cry he put the gun aside. Whoever was on the phone he had to thank him or her for saving his life even if it was for just some more minutes … tbc
Chapter 1
"Eppes," his voice wasn't more than a croak.
"Jesus, Don you sound awful are you okay?" It was Megan and while she kept on talking he simply shut off.
"Yes Megan I'm doing great. I was just about redecorating my apartment. I thought it needed a fresh and bright color preferred red with some cerebral matters in it. I guess it would look nice, wouldn't it? But there's my furniture, God only knows what came over me that time. Even with a spray of blood on it wouldn't look better."
"Don? Are you still there?" she inquired.
Silence.
"Don?" she said a little harsher and louder.
At one blow he found himself back in reality in the middle of the living room hanging on the phone.
"Uh, sorry Megan I was lost in thoughts. Could you please repeat?" He cleared his throat.
"Another cop was shot. Someone called 911 and reported a domestic quarrel. Officer Michael Camden was only two blocks away. When he went toward the front door of the building he was shot in the head."
"What a coincidence", his inner voice commented.
Megan told him the address; hopefully he kept it in mind. Once more he didn't respond.
Therefore she said, "Don, if this causes you troubles stay at home. Colby and I can …"
"No, I'm on my way", he muttered and hung up.
His head was spinning with what Megan had told him. Another cop has died a senseless death while he sat in his cozy warm apartment wallowing in self-pity. He took a deep breath, closed his eyes briefly and tried to focus on what to do now. When he went over to the couch he realized he had switched into autopilot. Everything was well trained routine. He was working like clockwork. How long would he be able to save his face? Right now he was just functioning nothing less nothing more.
He wanted to put the service gun back into its holster but stopped. He swallowed, felt hypnotized by the cold metal. His hand trembled slightly. Again his mobile rang. He put the gun into the holster and fumbled his phone out of the pocket of his leather jacket.
"What?" he barked.
"Calm down Donnie, it's just your old Dad", Alan said.
"Sorry Dad but I'm in a hurry Megan just called. Another cop had been shot."
"My goodness!" Alan said aghast. "Where?"
Don tried to remember the address.
"Huntington Park. Sorry Dad I gotta go now!"
"Wait a minute Donnie. You disappeared quite fast after the funeral. I understand that. But if you need someone to talk to you know …"
"I know Dad. Thanks. Could you do me a favor and inform Charlie. He might need it for his calculations."
"Sure and please son take care", Alan said worried.
"I do, promised." He put the phone back into the jacket's pocket. Then he got changed quickly. He felt much more comfortably in his black jeans and his ruby pullover with the v-neck. While hurrying to the car he shoved some chewing gum in his mouth.
He couldn't remember how he got to Huntington Park but he arrived safely. In the street near the house a cluster of LAPD uniforms crowded about and waved the onlookers away. He badged his way into the crime scene and ran right into Lt. Gary Walker.
"Good evening Don. We just buried one and another one follows right ahead. Five cops in eight weeks," he shook his head and said with a voice full of anger, "what about your brother? Doesn't he have an idea were to find this bastard? We need results."
Don tapped Gary's shoulder, "I know my friend, I know. Charlie is working feverishly on it and I'm sure sooner or later he comes up with something."
"Better be sooner," Gary replied and led him down the street.
Passing by the car of the Crime Scene Unit, Don discovered Megan a few steps ahead. He thanked Gary and walked over to her. He had been to dozens of homicides but this case was taking almost everything. He pressed his hand against his stomach it ached. Or was it is heart?
"Don honestly said you look a mess," Megan welcomed him.
"You should have seen me earlier pressing a gun against the side of my temple. Pretty cool hun, I can tell ya," his inner voice babbled.
Deciding to ignore Megan's words he breathed deeply, pulled a pair of gloves over his hands and knelt down. He took a long and close look at the body of Michael Camden. Poor boy he must have been in his twenties obviously too young to die. Like Liz.
His head was pounding when he got up and it's not from a hangover. He looked around. The open place was a perfect playground for a sniper. He cursed inwardly.
Megan looked squarely into his eyes, "you know not talking about doesn't turn back the clock."
"I'm here because you called me. All I want to do is my job. So would you please stop behaving like a shrink and analyzing me?" Don hissed, took off the gloves and ran through his hair.
"Yes, Sir," she retorted sharply, gave him a venomous look and turned to one of the techs of the Crime Scene Unit.
"Quite nice Donnie, you'd consider your charm as lethal for the moment." The applause ringing in his ear caused nausea.
Softly he touched her upper arm, "I'm sorry Megan. I'm not myself."
She turned around, "of course you're not but could you tell this little bastard inside to retreat and let me talk to the real Don?" she winked.
He gave her a weak smile, "better? Promise to work on it."
Megan's interest was suddenly aroused. Colby came along with some guys of the SWAT Team. He exchanged some words with them. Then they left again. His forehead was crinkled and he didn't look happy at all. He nodded briefly at Don.
"Not a single trace. They boys and I checked some possible hide outs no reasonable chance. This goddamn place is far too big. Sorry."
Don couldn't remember when he had seen him that desperate before.
He felt obliged to say something, "its okay Colby. None of us is expecting miracles. Charlie is also working on this case and I'm sure …" he sounded like a damned preacher. Nothing was okay. A lunatic was still on the hunt for cops. And all he could do was talking in platitudes.
He watched the scenario from high above. The streets were ablaze with police activity. Television news vans were arriving one after the other. The air was filled with the noise of helicopters. They were on the hunt like he was but there was no need to worry about being discovered. Playing hide and seek with the SWAT Team had thrilled him. He was aroused and the strong pounding of his heart made him feel more alive than ever.
Using the sniper scope he aimed at another target. He was itching to shoot another cop. The adrenalin pumped through his veins made him feel almost invincible. There he was! The guy who cried about the female cop he killed not long ago.
"It would be so easy," the sniper whispered, "do you feel me? I became police worst nightmare and I've just begun."
Having Don in his crosshair he watched every single movement of the FBI agent.
"Mr. Tough FBI," he smirked, "how does it feel knowing your vest isn't worth a dime when my bullet is hitting it?"
Suddenly Don stopped and lifted his head and for a split second the sniper was eye to eye with him. He held his breath. It was impossible the guy could see him by no means. When Don went on to some LAPD uniforms the sniper exhaled relieved. Don was still in the crosshair and he was still lying in wait. tbc