Damon:
Elena and I quietly exit the hospital before heading off on foot to the bus terminal which is only a few blocks away. It's actually pretty quiet here this evening. After purchasing a couple of tickets to get downtown to the hotel, we take a seat and wait for the bus to arrive. As outrage and irritation crackle through my nerve pathways, my hands fist in my lap, my knee jumping as I repeatedly tap my foot against the floor. I'm chomping at the bit to confront him. Elena threads her fingers with mine, squeezes gently then softly lays her head on my shoulder. I drop a gentle kiss to the top of her head and close my eyes, attempting to calm down a little.
Marshal Saltzman:
I'm staring at the board in our conference room, trying to work out the details of this case.
"Ric, I checked Jordan's calls for the last eighteen months against Salvatore's like you asked. It came up empty," Jeremy says matter of factly.
"It was a thought," I remark before turning my attention back to the board.
"However, when I checked Salvatore's phone records, one came up."
Turning my attention back to him, I raise my eyes silently telling him to continue.
"Salvatore called Jordan."
My eyes widen. "Salvatore called Jordan? Bonnie, get C.P.D. to pick up Jordan."
"Yes, that's what I'm telling you. It was the night of his wife's murder. Seven forty five in the evening."
I stare at him momentarily, "Something doesn't click," I say before turning my attention back to the board.
"I have the phone record right here," Jeremy continues.
"Bonnie, bring me Salvatore's arrest report right now," I bellow.
She hands it to me then picks up the phone. "Ric, C.P.D. just checked Jordan's apartment. He's gone."
Damon:
Unable to sit still, I start pacing while waiting for the bus to arrive. A lady shows up and takes a seat to wait for the bus along with Elena and I. She buries her nose in her girly magazine, seemingly not paying attention to us at all.
"Damon, calm down," Elena says softly.
"Easier said than done," I say before dropping into the seat beside her.
Quite by accident, I notice the woman trying to be discreet while staring at me, her eyes peering out over the top of her magazine.
Smiling tightly, I drop my clammy palms to my lap, attempting to rub them dry.
The lady gives me one more rather awkward look then gets up and walks away. My eyes follow her as she heads toward a transit officer who's standing a little ways down the hall.
"Elena, we have to get out of here, that woman must've recognized me," I utter anxiously.
"Okay," she says, standing up.
We almost reach the exit when suddenly I hear someone say my name. I turn to the direction of the voice only to see Connor Jordan, gun in hand, raised and pointing at me.
"Step away from the door, Doc," he says menacingly.
Marshal Saltzman:
Frustration surges through my veins as I continue to stare at the board. I have pictures of Jordan, Biometric Pharm., Fell and Dr. Salvatore.
"Ric, Matt is on line two," Jeremy informs me.
"Hey Ric, I'm still with Mr. Truman. He said he has no idea where Salvatore is right now. Apparently when he was still on staff here, he asked him to keep track of some tissue samples. Liver tissue to be exact and that he asked to take them to another pathologist. Curious isn't it?"
"Tissue Samples?" I utter before turning my eyes back to the board.
"Yeah, tissue samples. They were from a drug study, signed for by Dr. Stefan Lang."
After exchanging a look with both Bonnie and Jeremy, I tell him to continue.
"Lang also knew Fell. He was a pathologist. Dr. Lang was covering for Salvatore," Matt explains.
"Bonnie, get C.P.D. to find Jordan and bring him in," I tell her before turning back to my board.
Damon:
Nodding, I step away from the door. Out of my peripheral vision, I see the transit cop walking this way.
Just as the cop opens his mouth to say something, Jordan shoots him in the chest. He collapses to the floor, blood spreading out all around him. I rush over to him, checking his carotid artery for signs of life. Discreetly as I can, I pocket the officer's handcuffs.
"Damn it," I say before turning on Jordan. I also notice that Elena is nowhere to be seen. Thank God. I want her to be safe.
"Keep your hands where I can see them," Jordan says.
He steps up next to me, pressing the gun into my ribs. "Move," he sneers, his tone threatening.
Feeling the gun nudging my side, I do as he asks. We're almost to the exit when suddenly, the gun is no longer pressing into my rib cage.
Quickly, I turn around only to see Elena holding a decent-sized trash can having knocked him on the head with it. Using my foot, I kick the gun to Elena. I charge Jordan as he's struggling to get back up. My body crashes into his as we go soaring across the slickly polished floor. I land a punch to his right jaw and his solar plexus.
"I'm not as easy as Katherine, am I?" I yell, adrenaline surging through my veins.
My head flies back when he lands a punch to my jaw. Shaking off the stars, I go after him again. This time I land one right to the gut. When he doubles over, Elena trains the gun in on him, yelling for him to step away from me.
"Go ahead," he goads her as he slowly stands up and takes a threatening step towards her.
This time I slam into him from behind, his head hits the floor with a loud thud. I see his eyes roll back just as he loses consciousness.
Grabbing the handcuffs out of my pocket, I slap it on one of his wrists, drag him across the floor and snap the other one around a post.
He's not going anywhere. I bend over to catch my breath and get my bearings. Elena steps over to me, rubbing my back soothingly.
"Let's get out of here," she says softly. "We still have someone to see."
Nodding, I tell her to take the gun and dispose of it. I watch as she lifts up the lid to a floor drain and drops it in.
Marshal Saltzman:
"Ric, C.P.D. just reported a transit cop down," Jeremy says.
"I heard. Was it Salvatore?" I ask.
"Conflicting reports, the cops are considering him the shooter."
"I don't believe it. He's trying to find his wife's killer. He wouldn't do something so contrary and idiotic," I say firmly.
Suddenly everything clicks into place. I turn my eyes to my team then motion for them to follow me.
"C'mon, I know where he's going."
Happy Birthday to my oldest son, Matt. Thank you Eva for everything. And thanks to all of you for the wonderful reviews. I appreciate them more than you know. Be sure to check out my new story 'Breathe'. It's just beginning while this is winding down. Hope you all have a wonderful day. Stay tuned...
