Chapter Seven: "He was There"

Adam's POV

I inhaled heavily and shot up. I gulped in air, as much as I could. I looked around the room. It was dark, but I wasn't in a bathtub. Jesus, I was so afraid of water now. I pulled blankets away from me and sat up. I wasn't in a hospital, that was for sure. I was in a small bedroom with wood paneling on the walls and a double bed taking up most of the room.

I stood up and walked out of the door. I stopped in the short hallway, hearing voices in the other room. I recognized them as Rickers and Maria. I listened intently. Hell, I was once paid to spy on people. Old habits were hard to break.

"But there had to have been some connection," Maria sounded frustrated as she spoke.

"We've had no leads since we found Adam, Maria," Rickers answered a lot calmer. "Even though he's safe, Adam really has nothing that can help us. We took his statement, wrote down every word he said . . . Everything he told us we went on and found nothing."

"There has to be something. He said he blacked out occasionally. Maybe he forgot some things."

"I know you're hoping this guy will be able to tell us exactly where Jigsaw is staying, but it's not that simple. Adam never saw the guy who did this to him. He thought it was that Zep guy, but he ended up having a tape, too. The dead guy in the center of the room got up and walked away, covered in blood. He never really got a clear view."

"But he heard his voice . . ."

"So have we, in all of the tapes. There's nothing there, Midge."

"I just don't get it. How can Adam still be alive? I mean, Jigsaw wanted him dead one way or another. We can tell by the tapes. It was either Lawrence killed him or he was left in the room to die a lot slower."

Rickers sighed heavily. It seemed like his patience was fading. "We already know that . . ."

"I know, I know. But we get an anonymous call that tells us exactly where the house is. The caller said to 'look high and low.' I swear to you, Rickers, we never would've been able to find that trap door in the floor if the caller didn't tell us that."

"So, what are you implying?"

"Do you think Jigsaw . . . made that call?"

"What?"

"Maybe he called the department to make sure Adam was found. Maybe . . . he wanted Adam to stay alive after all."

"Are you kidding me with this?"

"I don't know anymore. I know it sounds crazy, but think about it. We get a strange call with the exact address and a hint that led us to the trap door to the room under the house. When we find Adam, we find a key just casually sitting less than an arm's length away from him."

"So, you mean to tell me that . . ."

"Jigsaw thought Adam had enough in him to live."

"Just like Amanda."

"Just like Amanda. Please tell me I'm not insane with this, Rickers."

"I don't know. Why would he let Adam live, but then torment him with notes and flowers?"

"It sounds messed up, but . . . I think he was congratulating him for winning the game."

"But, Maria . . . he mentioned you in the note. Why would he threaten you if he was just 'congratulating' Adam?"

"I think . . . he wants me to be next."

I stopped breathing momentarily. Maria was the next victim on his list? What the hell for? She was a young cop and she didn't seem dirty at all. I mean, it looked like she didn't do drugs or anything like that . . . What had she done with her life that was so bad?

Rickers voiced my thoughts. "What the hell for? Maria, I raised you. I can't think of a single thing you did wrong . . ."

"That's because I never told anyone about it," she said quietly. "Adam, you might as well come out. You've been there for at least five minutes."

I stepped into the dining room. Rickers turned to look at me with raised eyebrows.

"I didn't even know you were there," he said.

Both of us looked at Maria, who shrugged.

"I've known this house since I could crawl," she said as if it was simple. "I know when anything's out of place. Are you okay, Adam? I guess you were too weak to handle the funeral. I'm sorry about that."

"I wasn't too weak," I answered defensively. "I . . . saw something. Or at least, thought I did."

The two of them looked at me expectantly.

"I think, I know . . . I saw Jigsaw."

"What!" the two exclaimed in unison.

Rickers shot up from his chair with alarming speed and Maria was at my side in a second.

"Who was it?" she demanded, grabbing my shoulders.

I felt her nails dig into my skin. I winced inwardly as my bullet wound throbbed under her palm.

"It was the old man," I managed, gritting my teeth. "I saw him right before I passed out. He touched Lawrence's casket and then looked at me. He just said, 'Still alive.' Then I woke up here."

"Oh, my God, it was the man from the hospital," Maria gasped, releasing her death grip on me. "Rickers, we have to get the hospital records. Find out who was in the same wing as Adam the night of the flower delivery. He was there. Right fucking there."

Rickers stopped her charge to the door. "No, you're going to stay here with Adam. I'm going to call the department and have someone come over and keep watch on your house. If he was that close to both of you, he'll probably be able to find your house easier than you think. We have to keep both of you under watch."

"I'm going with you," she said, shaking violently.

"I put my foot down here, Maria. This isn't your case anymore, not if you're a potential target. I'll call you as soon as I figure out the hospital records."

We watched him leave. Maria punched the tabletop as hard as she could. It shook the windows beside the table. She dropped to a chair and clutched her forehead in her hands.

"We had him, damn it!" she exclaimed. "We had him!"

"You didn't know who he was, Maria," I attempted, feeling numbness take over my brain.

"I saw him! I fucking talked to him, Adam! God, I should've felt it or something. Damn it!"

She pounded the table again. This woman scared the hell out of me when she was angry. I sat down beside her and took her hand, careful of the already bruising knuckles. Tears were running down her cheeks and she roughly wiped them away with her free hand.

"Seeing how we're now under house arrest and can't leave," I said, "I think we have enough time to sit and talk."

"There's nothing to tell," Maria answered, her voice shaking as much as her body was.

"You're a bad liar."

She sniffed and smiled weakly.

"C'mon, Maria. What could possibly make you just as messed up as me?"

Her green eyes focused intently on mine. They have that same shadow of determination and now, stubborn pride. She hated to seem weak. Just like me . . .

"You said I'll know your life story when we caught the guy," I said. "Well, I think we're forty percent there."

She sighed heavily and pulled her hand out of mine. "I'm going to wrap my knuckles and get a strong-ass drink. Then, we'll talk. You taking one, too?"

I nodded. She stood up and I watched her walk into the kitchen.

A/N: Whoo! I think I scared myself writing this chapter! I'll update as soon as I can. I think it's getting good!