Chapter 21 Mark's View
Mark and Amanda walked into the police station and found Erickson and another detective.
"We've been waiting for you." Erickson said. He led Mark and Amanda into another room and put the tape into the TV. But something was wrong. Instead of Jill strapped to a table, it was someone sitting in a chair.
"Where and when did you get this, Erickson?" Mark asked.
"We just found it today." Erickson replied. They looked closer.
"Oh my God!" Amanda gasped. She put her hand over her mouth.
"What?" They all asked in unison. Her hand shook as she pointed to the woman on the screen.
"P-Perez." She stuttered. They looked at the screen closer.
"Are you sure, Manda?" Mark asked. She nodded her head. Her hand still covered her mouth and her eyes were wide. They looked again. Suddenly they could make her out.
"It is her!" Erickson gasped. Mark grabbed Amanda's arm and dragged her out of the room and to his office. He closed the door and locked it. He faced her.
"He is trying to be Jigsaw!" He said to her. "I mean, we knew that already! But he's trying harder than I expected. And he's good. Almost as good as John." He admitted. "Almost!" He added quickly.
"Mark," Amanda mumbled.
"What?" He asked. Amanda pointed past him, to his bookshelf. He turned around to see an envelope in place of his picture of Amanda. It was addressed to him. He picked it up and opened it. Amanda read over his shoulder. In fancy writing it read:
Detective Mark Hoffman,
By now you are probably wondering where Agent Perez is. Am I correct? If you want to find her come to the address at the bottom of the page and you'll find her. Come alone, trust me. Your reputation depends on it. And leave Amanda behind. It will be much safer for her there.
Mark folded up the letter and put it in his pocket.
"I'll be back soon." He said.
"I'm coming with you." Amanda said, following him to the door. He turned to her.
"No you're not!" He said sternly.
"Mark-"
"You heard what that note said!"
"Okay, first off, I didn't hear it. I read it. And second, I can't let you go alone! What if you get hurt?"
"What if you do?" he said. He put his hands on her shoulders and looked into her sad eyes. "I almost lost you once in that last two weeks. And I almost lost you multiple times before that. I'm gonna keep you safe as long as I have the option." She kissed him.
"Be safe. Come back okay for me." She smiled sadly. He knew it was hard for her to let him go risk his life by himself.
"I love you."
"I love you too." She kissed him one more time before he ran out the door.
He got to the address on the letter. It was an abandoned old building that looked like it would fall apart any second.
"Lindsey?" He called once he got inside. He had his gun ready.
"Mark? Mark help!" He heard her call from down the hall. He ran to the door.
"Lindsey? Is anyone else in there with you?" He asked.
"I don't know! It's completely dark!" She called. He opened the door and flipped on the light. She was alone, strapped to a chair. A tape recorder was on the floor next to her.
He put his gun away and untied her from the chair. She stood up.
"You okay?" He asked.
"Ya, you?" She asked. He nodded. Then he heard a loud bang from behind him. He spun around to see the door had closed behind him. He ran to it and pulled on the knob. It didn't budge. He turned around to see Perez had her gun pointed at him.
"Lindsey, what are you doing?" He asked.
"You killed him." She said. When he looked confused she continued. "You killed Peter Strahm!" She screamed.
"Wha-no!" He yelled.
"Don't lie to me! I know you were the undercover Jigsaw apprentice!" A tear ran down her cheek. She kicked something that slid over to his feet. He picked it up and turned it over. It was the picture of Amanda from his office.
"You and that bitch were behind it all." She sounded hurt.
"Lindsey, I-"
"You killed Peter! And all those other people!"
"Lindsey, just calm down!" He took a step closer to her. Another tear ran down her cheek.
"Stay back!" She screamed. He put his hands in the air.
"Lindsey, who told you this?"
"I don't know!" She said. "It's on the tape." She allowed him to pick up the tape. He hit play.
"Hello, Special Agent Lindsey Perez." And eerie voice said. "I suppose you're wondering why you're here. It is because I have some information for you." Mark listened as the voice on the tape explained how him and Amanda helped the original Jigsaw.
"Your goal is to kill Mark Hoffman when he comes to rescue you. Despite any feelings you may have for him." Mark looked at Perez. More tears escaped her eyes.
"I'm sorry, Mark." She whispered. He acted quickly and threw the tape recorder at her. It hit her hands just right to knock a little to the left. A gunshot echoed and the bullet ricocheted off the walls a few times. Lindsey's eyes were wide. Mark grabbed the gun from her. He pointed it at her, she raised her hands in the air.
"Mark, please!" She screamed.
"I'm sorry, Lindsey." He hesitated a little, then pulled the trigger. Blood dripped from the gunshot wound on her head and she fell back. He dropped the gun next to her. The door suddenly opened. He walked out the door, and then looked back.
"It had to be done." He said. "Sorry, Lindsey." He walked back to the car, and drove to the police station.