Suspicions

"Today, we have two officers that proved through hard work and dedication, that the picture who died did not die in vain. Today we honor the newly promoted Detective Lieutenant Mark Hoffman and his intern who endured the torture with him, Officer Scarlet Kramer." A man on a podium announced.

Applause filled the room greatly. Next to the podium, a coffin with pictures of David Tapp, Steven Sing, Allison Kerry, Eric Matthews, and Daniel Rigg.

Mark had his picture taken with two other men and his award. He then took the stand with Scarlet standing by him.

"Thank you, thank you very much. Throughout this ordeal, if we have learned anything it's that a human life is sacred and we learned that everyday life should be cherished. Justice is the backbone to a peaceful society and I believe that true justice has been served."

Mark and Scarlet took their awards and went into Mark's office. He threw his award on his desk and let out a sigh.

"Hey, at least you can care about it." Scarlet sat her's down on his desk.

"I don't give a fuck." He looked down at his desk where a letter for him was under his keyboard. "Did you write me this?"

Scarlet took a seat then exhaled. "No. If I wanted to tell you something I could just say it to you."

"Okay, smartass." He opened the yellow envalope and took out a piece of paper with big bold letters on it.

"I know who you are." Hoffman read out loud.

Scarlet got up and looked over Hoffman's shoulder. "Who's it from?"

Hoffman turned the card around. "Doesn't say. Anyway, we have to visit Strahm in the hospital."

"That involves changing and moving around." She whined. "Is he dead?"

"No, but Perez is." He walked out the door to the car.

Scarlet took out her back-up clothes from a file cabinet and changed right there. Her clothes were nice jeans with a button up white shirt. She went from heels to boots and she put her jacket on that matched her jeans.

Mark and Scarlet took a right and entered through Perez's room, Room 259. Strahm sat at the foot, staring at the blood stained pillow and sheets. He had a tissue in his hands to dabbed his mouth because of his throat, which had patch over the hole.

Mark closed the door behind him. "I'm truly sorry about Agent Perez."

Scarlet walked over to the other side of the bed. "She was a very wonderful person. Brave, Smart, and a credit to the team."

"She said your name, you know." He said to Hoffman, his voice hoarse. "Last thing she said was Detective Hoffman. Why did she say that? Why did she say your name?" Strahm wiped his mouth.

"I don't know." Hoffman joined Scarlet on the other side of the bed.

"Oh yeah? How did you two walk out of that building?"

Scarlet remained silent while Hoffman answered with a question. "How did you?"

"On a gurney with a fucking hole in my throat!" He cleared his throat, holding it in pain. "Look at you. A couple of scratches and a story on how your arm straps broke. Jigsaw doesn't make mistakes. And Scarlet, how did get out?"

Scarlet looked up. "Hoffman saved me and Jeff's daughter."

"Anyway, is this you theorizing again? 'Cause Jigsaw's dead." Hoffman jumped in.

"I'm not talking about him! I'm talking about you and your whole crooked department." Strahm corrected him.

"My department's gone. They're all dead except for Scarlet. There's no one left."

"Besides you and her!"

"I've been chasing Jigsaw from the beginning and I got him. So unless you got something else to say, back the fuck off. Read the paper, I saved them."

Strahm remained silent. For the first time, Strahm was silent.

"You coming Scarlet?" Mark walked off.

Scarlet crouched down by Strahm. "Sorry for Perez, again." She took Strahm's phone at the time Dan Erickson, her boss, walked in.

"Oh, sorry sir."

He nodded. "It's okay. I got to talk to Strahm, so, please leave."

Scarlet nodded. "Yes sir."

Dan closed the door after she was let out.

"You grabbed the phone didn't you?" He opened his hand out.

Scarlet dropped the phone in his hand. "I almost got caught."

Hoffman smirked. "Oh well. Let's go. We have to start out test."

"Can you get the Fatal Five? I want to visit Jill, my mom. I will meet you in time to plant Dan's record and Strahm's phone."

Hoffman stopped. "That wasn't the plan. Why do you need to visit Jill anyway?"

Scarlet shrugged. "I told her we would have a mother-daughter day. I will be back in time tonight." She hugged Hoffman and went out the door.

Hoffman sighed. "That damn kid. Hmm.."

Scarlet knocked on Jill's door. "Jill, are you in there?"

Jill answered her door, another wine full glass in hand. "Oh, Scarlet. Please come in." She walked to her table and sat her glass down.

Scarlet walked in and closed the door behind her. "Remember the mother-daughter day I wanted us to have? I was kinda wondering if you would like to go out shopping or out to eat." She took a seat on the sofa.

Jill gasped and sat next to her. "You mean it? You want to bond?"

Scarlet looked at the necklace around Jill's neck. "Where did you get that?"

Jill gripped the key. "Oh, it's from John. Now, let's go shopping. I'll buy you a new outfit and shoes."

Scarlet took out $500 dollars. "It's okay, I'll pay for it."

"Please, Scarlet, I insist. I want to buy you new clothes and shoes." Jill put her coat on.

Scarlet nodded and gave in. "Okay Jill, let's go."