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Chapter 4

Lt. Moore arrives at the scene. The Bonneville is being towed away and a larger rig is currently hooking up to the Mack truck. Val walks over to the small circle of officers and firefighters. "So tell me gentlemen, what do we know?"

"Lieutenant, no one saw L-20 leave the area, but the tire marks indicate it was put in reverse and must have headed east on Pico Boulevard. We need to have everyone canvassing the area looking for the car." Jim states.

"Jim, I will put out an all-points bulletin for 1 L-20. You start patrolling in Adam-12 east down Pico Blvd. Captain Stanley, can you let fire and rescue dispatch know of our missing officers? With all the flooding from the storms tonight, maybe your departments can help be extra eyes for us when out on calls tonight."

"I would be happy to do that, sir. We can also finish up with clearing the last vehicle from the scene so Officers Wells and Grant can start looking as well."

"Thanks for all your assistance, Captain." The two older men reach out to shake hands then Moore quickly turns to Ed Wells and Grant. "Start searching east along Wilshire Blvd. I'll get more units peeling off Santa Monica Blvd. to Venice Blvd. I'll remain on Tac 2 for any updates. Report in every five minutes, gentlemen." As Grant and Wells jog toward 1 Adam-36, Ed says, "Roger that, sir."

Jim pulls off his rain poncho just before he slides into the driver's seat of Adam-12. He tosses both his hat and poncho in the back seat. The thoughts of being cold and wet have faded from his mind with only worried thoughts for Pete and Mac. As he grips the steering wheel, he says a little prayer to himself. "Lord, keep Pete and Mac safe." It doesn't feel right to be in Adam-12 without you, Pete. Jim picks up the mike, "1 Adam-12 patrolling east on Pico Blvd. for the missing officers. Switching to Tac 2, over."

"I Adam-12 on Tac 2, Dispatch out."

Lt. Moore sets about establishing a man post at Hillcrest Country Club at Pico Blvd. and Motor Blvd. He plans to have several units scouring the area in a grid-like fashion for the missing officers and L-20.

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Alone in the basement with Hotel California blaring on the radio, Pete looks over to Mac. "How are you doing, Mac?"

"I've had better days. How about you, Pete? You don't look so good."

"I'm ok. I just have a splitting headache." Pete is shifting around trying to get more comfortable. The cuffs are cutting into his wrists with the position he's in. He moves his feet into a wider stance to stabilize himself. He yanks down a couple times to see if the ring his cuffs are through could break free, but no such luck. The welding job is a good one. "Have you got any great ideas on how to get out of here, Mac?"

"Nothing is coming to me just yet." Mac starts to rock his weight a bit in the chair thinking he might be able to loosen the anchors from the floor. He also keeps tugging on the ropes hoping he can stretch them out. "Pete, this is not how I envisioned myself dying on the force. I could picture a shootout maybe, but never a psychopath." A nervous tension fills the room as both men consider the real possibility of dying here.

"Damn it! How did I not notice something hinky? Stupid!"

"What are you talking about Pete?"

"When I found you in your car, I didn't check the area."

"Pete, it's not your fault. I'm sorry you got dragged into this too."

"Don't fight, boys. I'll give you both something else to worry about." Ned says as he steps down the stairs slapping the nightstick into his open palm.

Mac speaks up, "Why are you doing this, Ned?"

"I have my reasons."

"What do you do for a living, Ned?" Pete asks.

"Do you really want to know? Because it won't change anything."

"Of course we do." Pete wants to keep him talking. The more they learn the better.

"I work in a hospital. I clean up blood and shit. I'm sick and tired of all the high and mighty doctors. You cops, and fireman, are just as bad."

"Hurting us isn't going to fix anything. It's only going to make it worse for you." Mac tries to reason.

Ned suddenly slams down the club on Mac's other hand. Out comes a blood-curdling scream from Mac as his knuckles get crushed from the blow. In seconds his hand starts to swell up and turn blue.

Pete tugs against the bonds. "Stop it! Get away from him! He's a husband and a father. Do what you want to me, but leave him be!"

Mac tries his best to slow down his breathing. He so wants to pull his hand in close to his body to protect it, but the rope restraints leave him vulnerable to any attack by Ned. Mac's whole body has a subtle quiver from the lingering stress and pain.

Pete determined to get the crazy man's attention off of Mac yells, "What did your mother do to you, Ned?"

Snapping his head around Ned says, "Don't you say a thing about my mother, cop!"

"Would she be proud of you?" Pete goads him.

Ned turns his fury toward Pete. He whips the club at Pete's exposed sides and nails him twice in the abdomen as if swinging a baseball bat for the fences. Pete can't help, but cry out, and then nothing comes out as the air is knocked out of him.

Ned cools down for a minute as he looks on at Pete with his head now hanging down. Pete's legs give way for a second then the pressure on his wrists create more problems. The circulation is restricted from the tight cuffs and Pete's hands start to swell. The blood is now dry on his brow. If the earlier head blow had been any lower Pete's eye would be swollen shut. Ned reaches over and grabs Pete's chin and lifts it. Pete's eyes flutter as he fights passing out. "Come on. You can't be out of it that quick, my friend." He turns and tosses the nightstick onto the table. "Let me see, what I should use next." He looks through his canvas roll then pulls out a short paring type knife. "Malloy, wake up man." He grabs his chin tightly in his left hand then he lifts the knife to Pete's face. Pete blinks and tries to turn his face away. Ned takes the knife and scraps the blade over the dried cut at Pete's brow starting the bleeding again. Pete grimaces from the sting of the knife. "I like the look of that much better." He says as he nods. Even more twisted, Ned licks the blood off the knife. Pete finally gets his legs back under him and with shaky legs straightens up to relieve his wrists. Pete grits his teeth and begins to feel his resolve. Ned then runs the knife tip down Pete's shoulder to his badge and taps it. "Is this what makes you so special?

Pete doesn't say a word. Ned barks at Pete, "Without this, your just a mere mortal." He pulls off his badge and tosses it aside. "Let's see if you're just flesh and bone."

This is all just a game of power and control that Ned wants to play. Can he ruffle their feathers? He wants to feed off of their fear.

Ned slowly clutches Pete's tie in his left hand and pulls till it pops loose from his collar. In one quick jerk he rips it away at the tie tack. Then he just throws it on the floor. He then stabs down near the top button in his uniform shirt with enough pressure to go through the shirt. He strokes the knife down roughly. Ned cuts about ten inches of shirt, and then he yanks it open since the fabric doesn't cut cleanly in a few places. The knife tip nicks bits of Pete's undershirt as well as makes superficial cuts into his flesh. Ned pulls down at the white undershirt and it tears open too. The shallow cuts trickle blood down Pete's chest and get absorbed in what's left of the t-shirt. "I guess you aren't a god." Pete just grits his teeth through the ordeal.

Suddenly, the doorbell rings, then some knocking follows from the floor above. It is difficult to hear with the loud music, but Ned is attune to it. He quickly stuffs a rag into Pete's mouth then Mac's as well. He gently slaps Mac on the cheek. "I'll be back in a bit. Don't go anywhere." He hurries up the hollow steps.

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Jim's been cruising along Pico Boulevard and hasn't seen anything yet. At the intersection of Pico and Fairfax, Jim crosses paths with Xray-45. They pull up to one another to talk. "Any luck?" Jim asks Brinkman.

"No, not yet. But someone has to have seen the wagon. Start asking anyone you see out walking. Hang in there, Reed. We'll find them."

Just a few minutes later Jim starts driving through any lots along Pico. First he comes to a car dealership and pulls slowly through. "Nothing." Next, he passes a theater with cars in the side and rear lot. A movie recently let out and a number of cars have left. As Jim drives through, he spots the black and white in the back row of the lot. Jim quickly grabs the mike. "This is 1 Adam-12, 1 L-20 is found! It's in the rear lot behind the Landmark Theater on Pico Boulevard and S. La Brea Avenue."

"This is Lt. Moore. Jim, wait for Xray-45 to meet you at the lot before investigating the car. I'll be there in less than five minutes."

"10-4."

Pulling in is Brinkman and Woods in Xray-45. "1 Xray-45, code 6 at the Landmark Theater parking lot along with 1 Adam-12."

All three men hesitantly walk up to the rear of the wagon with flashlights in one hand and guns drawn in the other. Fearing the worst that they may find Mac and Pete both dead inside. First, they shine their lights inside the back, then the rear seat area, then front. "No sign of anyone here." Woods announces out loud.

Lt. Moore's squad car pulls up as the men are investigating Mac's wagon. "No sign of them, sir."

Jim opens the driver's side door and finds the keys still dangling in the ignition. He looks down and quickly spots the two hats lying on the front floorboard. He leans over and picks up both damp hats. Peering inside the one, it reads, "Peter J. Malloy."

Woods has the back door open and is looking more closely inside for any clues. He sees the blood smears across the backseat. "Jim, we have blood back here. It's not a ton, but someone is obviously hurt."

"Whomever has them, must have transferred them to their own vehicle here." Moore states. "We need to spread out and talk to people. Someone had to see something. We want to know about anything strange. Woods and Brinkman, I want you to go in the theater, stop any movie playing and pose the questions to the audience. Maybe this guy is a regular at the theater and someone knows an odd person. We need to follow every lead. I'll call Detective Miller so he can investigate this scene. I'll also get on Tac2 to bring in a few more officers that were searching for L-20 to help with questioning folks.