Thanks for the reviews folks. These are the last chapters, I had no idea how to end this properly but here goes.
"He was following me?" Tom said in shock and feeling slightly sick as he looked through the pictures Doug had handed to him. They were sat in one of the rooms in Parker Centre waiting to interview Mackenzie before formally charging him, so Doug was taking the time to fill his partner in on what he had missed.
"Could've been nasty huh?"
"Could've been?" Tom said with raised eyebrows. "What I've just been through gives nasty a new meaning." he said with a shudder.
"Sorry we weren't faster." Doug said as he lowered his eyes.
"Don't worry about it." Tom said casually.
"You sure you're alright"
"Doug I'm fine, honest. He didn't even get past first base" he said with a crooked grin. "Maybe third" he said shuddering as he remembered Mackenzie's groping hands.
"What do you mean maybe?"
"Well what's third base?"
"Look man, I live with Dorothy, I've even forgotten what first base is"
"I will have to drink disinfectant for a week. I know that much." he said with a smile that wasn't quite convincing.
"Hey if you mix it with orange juice it's not bad." Doug suggested, noticing his friend wasn't quite composed.
"I'll keep that in mind" Tom replied and focused on the door as Fuller came in. "Hey Coach."
"Are you alright?" he asked looking intently at the young officer, relieved to see some of the colour return to his features.
"Absolutely. What's on the tapes?" he asked looking up at his commanding officer. Fuller looked uncomfortable and focused his eyes away from the wide brown ones staring up at him.
"Mackenzie had a video camera concealed in his office. It's all on tape. Seems he was using that old basement to store them."
"Nikki too?" Tom asked quietly. Fuller nodded his head. "Then we got him." Tom said bluntly.
"Yeah, you did." he said giving the younger man a small smile.
"Does that mean I can loose the wig?"
"Yeah, you can loose the wig" Fuller answered fondly
"Have you seen them?" he asked eyes focused firmly on the floor.
"The videos? Yeah." Fuller answered.
"Is that them?" he asked pointing to the package Fuller was carrying.
"You don't need to know man" Doug said putting his hand on his partners shoulder. "It's over."
"Not quite" Fuller said. "We still have to have a little talk with our friend in there." Tom nodded and resolutely rose to his feet.
"Ok" he said.
"Are you sure you want to do this?" Fuller asked. "You've had a lot to deal with, if you're not ready I understand."
"Don't worry, Coach, I'll let him down easy" he said grinning. Fuller smiled sadly at him recognising the weak attempt to brush over the day's events.
"Tom..."
"I know. I lost it in there and I let you down."
"You didn't let me down." he said earnestly.
"I just kept seeing their faces, not just Nikki's, Emily's too, and Nikki's parents, even Diane Nelson." he hadn't realised until that moment in the church hall that this had brought back those memories. "I said it back then and I still mean it, I hate him, for what he did, for all the pain he's caused."
"And I told you these people don't deserve your hate."
"Maybe. But he's got it anyway."
"Hates a terrible thing to be burdened with Tom" he said meaningfully. Hanson met his eyes knowing that he hadn't just meant Mackenzie. Doug watched with a slight smile on his face as he saw a flicker of understanding between the two men.
"Shall we?" Fuller asked gallantly offering the younger man his arm and noticing Tom shy away slightly as he did so.
"Watch yourself Coach, he's the jealous type" he said gesturing towards Doug.
"In that case" Fuller replied, "After you" he finished signalling to the door grinning but watching after him closely all the same.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mackenzie sat nervously in the interview room waiting for the officers who would charge him and put him away. When he heard the door open he looked up at the two men who entered. Now that he had been cleaned up his injuries didn't look too bad. He actually had the look of a lost child as he sat there under their gaze.
"Hello Father." Fuller said, making the word sound like the most disgusting word in the English language. "We've met before, I'm Captain Fuller and I believe you're very familiar with Officer Hanson" he said gesturing to the smaller man beside him.
"Yeah, you tried to poach me for the other team a couple of hours ago." (both he and Fuller looked at the author in disgust for putting such bigoted words in his mouth ;0) )
"I'm sorry, I didn't know."
"You think that makes it ok?" Tom spat. "Telling you didn't stop you did it?" he continued as his anger rose at the memory.
"Never had one as pretty as you." Fear ran through him like an electric current as he felt the older man pressed against him and he had to fight an uncontrollable urge to vomit as the mans tongue travelled the length of his jaw.
"Listen, I'm not lying, I am a cop." he said again, his voice sounding weak and shaking even to himself.
"You like to play games do you?" he had asked looking at him with hungry leering eyes as his fingers brushed over the surface of the younger mans exposed chest.
Tom forced the unwanted images away and as he fixed eyes full of pure contempt on the priest he promised himself that he was never going to allow himself to be vulnerable again.
"I didn't mean to hurt you I'm sorry." Mackenzie replied unable to meet the young officer's eyes. Hanson watched him, confusion etched on his face.
"Did you mean to hurt the others?"
"What others?"
"Tell us about Maria Stephenson." he asked softly
"Who?"
"OK, how about Sophie Myers, Emily and Chris Carter. Do you remember them?"
"I remember all of them Officer Hanson."
"So..."
"They were my students. I know it's inappropriate for someone in my position to enter into relationships with students but you can't help who you fall for can you?"
"Relationships?" Fuller spoke up.
"That's right."
"So you didn't rape them?"
"Why would I do that?" Mackenzie asked, lost eyes gazing at the officers stood across from him. Tom found it hard to believe this was the same man he had been trapped with. He didn't look threatening or dangerous. If anything he looked like he was totally lost.
"I don't have a gun and handcuffs, but I'm sure we can improvise."
"Maybe cos you're sick." Hanson spat.
"Are you jealous?" Mackenzie smiled as a strange light shone in his eyes. Tom just smiled back before reaching out and grabbing him by the collar.
"Why do you do it? Do you get some sort of twisted pleasure from breaking vulnerable and trusting children?" he said, his voice steady but seething with anger as he glared Mackenzie.
"Hanson!" Fuller said, warning in his voice as he put a hand on Tom's arm, who tensed as he did so.
"Tell us about Nikki." Tom said coldly as he let go of the older man and unconsciously wiped his hands on his jeans.
"What do you want to know?"
"I want to know what you did to her." he asked shifting uncomfortably as their eyes met.
"I didn't do anything she didn't want me to. I loved her and took care of her. Just like I did the others."
"You raped her and then you killed her didn't you?"
"NO!"
"You found out about the baby and that she was planning on getting rid of it. Only a good catholic like you couldn't allow her to do that. So you raped her and you killed her."
"No. I would never do that. We loved each other"
"You never complained before Nikki".
Tom looked at the older man sat across from him in amazement. He really didn't understand what he'd done. He'd violently attacked and raped these kids and he had actually managed to convince himself that was what they wanted.
"Look I didn't rape her, officers. We were having a baby together, we were going to be a family."
"The baby was yours then?" Fuller asked.
"Yes."
"Then you'll be charged. Nikki was three months pregnant. That means she was under 18 when the child was conceived. So you see it doesn't matter whether you claim she consented. Under the law we can charge you with statutory rape."
"But we don't need to do that" Tom said, "Because we stumbled across your video collection."
"What collection?" Mackenzie asked seeming genuinely confused.
"You really don't remember?" Tom said the anger in his eyes turning to shock and finally to pity. Mackenzie shook his head confused.
"Remember what?" he asked.
"You're fingerprints are on the tapes and on the camera in your office." Fuller said not quite believing what he was hearing.
"You told one of my partners that these kids were fantasists. Seems to me the only fantasist here is you." Tom said as he picked up the large envelope Fuller had in front of him and took them out one by one. "Maria Stephenson. Sophie Myers. Chris Carter. Emily Carter. Nikki Stokely" he said placing each one in front of Mackenzie as he reeled off the names. "It's all here. You abused your position and their trust. You raped them and you will be charged." he said looking Mackenzie straight in the eyes before rising to his feet. "Now it's over." he said turning to leave the room.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"What happened?" Kelly asked uncertainly as she saw Tom enter the hallway. She had given her statement and had been waiting with Doug for any news. Being the first time she had actually seen Tom she was quite startled as he approached.
"He's going to be charged with 5 counts of rape. He'll be going away for a while." he replied calmly. "Where's Sam?"
"He went home. This has been pretty tough on him."
"Yeah, he didn't look too good." Doug added.
"Well, it's over now." Hanson said giving Kelly a small smile.
"I really mean it you know. Thank you."
"Glad I could help."
"You have no idea." Kelly said relief evident in her voice. "I was so tired of living in fear and keeping secrets. I know Nikki and her family would thank you too." Doug smiled and patted his partners back.
"That's my girl!" he said bringing a grin to Tom's face.
"Not anymore pal! The skirt is being hung up for good."
"Shame, I was getting used to having an affectionate girl around." Tom and Kelly looked at him with wide questioning eyes. "Hey man, compared to Dorothy you're like a little kitten."
"He's a little starved of affection" Tom whispered to Kelly raising a smile to her face.
"Don't have to be" Doug said batting his eyes at Tom.
"In your dreams Douglas."
"They always flirt so shamefully in public?" Kelly asked Fuller as he approached after seeing Mackenzie off with a group of uniformed cops.
"Give them a break. They're still at that sickeningly cute new relationship phase."
"Is our little matchmaker jealous?" Doug said laughter dancing in his hazel eyes.
"Always Doug" Fuller said rolling his. "You got a minute Tom?" he said as his tone became more serious.
"Sure" he said before smiling at the others and following his captain. "What's up Coach?"
"One of the uniforms brought the DNA results with them."
"Did they match?"
"Mackenzie was the baby's father." he began, "But the traces of seamen taken from the body don't match."
"Someone else was there?" Hanson said feeling like he'd just been kicked in the guts.
"Looks like it?"
"Who?"
"We don't know. It doesn't match any of the samples we have on file."
"So it's back to square one. All this was for nothing. All that back there ..." he said looking devastated.
"No it wasn't" Fuller said vehemently. "We've got a very sick, disturbed individual put away where he belongs."
"We still don't know what killed her."
"Coroner says it was the drugs. He's ruled accidental death."
"But she was raped. Forensics said there were signs of assault."
"It's over Tom" Fuller said gently as he tentatively placed a hand on his shoulder. "Let her rest in peace and her family move on."
"Has anyone told them?"
"Not yet. Do you want to be there when someone does?"
"I don't think so coach."
"Are you sure?"
"I don't know." he said sadly.
"Think it over ok."
"Yeah." he sighed. "Someone should tell Sam. He left while we were in with Mackenzie."
"It can wait till morning Tom. Go home and get some rest."
"Thanks coach." he said as he joined Doug and Kelly
"Hanson" Fuller called after him.
"Yeah."
"You did a good job. I'm proud of you." Hanson smiled and nodded his thanks as the small group left the building.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sam Taylor sat on the steps outside the home he shared with his parents and brother. The street was empty of the usual bustle of cars and children running up the road and he was enjoying the quiet just staring out at nothing in particular. So it came as a shock when he heard a voice from the steps below him.
"Hey"
"Hey Tom."
"How you doing?"
"I've been better. Have a seat"
"You're not gonna try anything are you?" he said smiling uncomfortably.
"Doug told you didn't he?" Sam said looking indignant.
"About you wanting to jump me, cop or not? No of course he didn't"
"Good, cos I was a little worried he would" he said grinning slightly. Tom sighed and sat down bedside him.
"You're a difficult guy to track down you know."
"I've been taking time out."
"I think you probably deserve it."
"So do you. Why are you here when you should be having some well deserved time out?"
"I just wanted to let you know that Mackenzie has been charged with rape and sexual harassment."
"And?"
"He'll be going away for a while."
"Good. I'm sorry you had to go through that" he said as he gazed out over the street again.
"Don't worry about it." he said dully.
"So how about who killed her? Do they know?"
"No. The coroner's ruled accidental death."
"Overdose?"
"Yeah."
"But Doug said she was raped."
"I think it's time to let Nikki rest now Sam."
"Have you told her parents?"
"That's going to be difficult" Tom said with a sigh.
"We're you really her cousin?"
"Yeah. Not everything we tell you is a lie."
"I'm sorry."
"Me too. I know you must be hurting"
"I should have been there. If I could have stopped her none of this would have happened."
"It's not your fault."
"I got the drugs for her."
"You didn't make her take them."
"No, but I may as well have."
"What?" Hanson asked throwing him an awkward glance.
"Nothing" Sam sighed.
"Sam, don't blame yourself over this. You said you decided not to let her have them, so she took them from you. Hey, you weren't even there, give yourself a break."
"I can't. I miss her so much. There should have been something I could have done." he said distressed. Tom looked at the kid and took a deep breath.
"Look Sam, 7 weeks ago my girlfriend was killed in an armed robbery. Shot right in front of me. There was nothing I could have done to stop it, and even though deep down I knew that, I still blamed myself. It took a while for me to really believe that it wasn't my fault, I even thought that I didn't do anything because I didn't love her enough. But I'm getting through it and in time so will you."
"I'm really sorry. Did you love her?"
"No" Tom said quietly, "I cared about her a lot but I didn't love her."
"Have you ever been in love Tom?"
"Yeah."
"How do you know?"
"I don't know. I guess it's when you put what's best for her before what ever you want. When just being around them makes you a better person. When there's no one in the world more important and no matter what happens to you as long as you do right by them everything's ok."
"That's how you know?"
"I guess."
"Well then there's something I gotta tell you Tom."
"What?"
"I was there the night Nikki died."
"You we're?"
"So you see it was my fault."
"No it wasn't you didn't force feed her the drugs did you?" he said kindly
"No. But I was the one who raped her that night." he said looking into Hanson's stunned face. "I really did love her you know. Have you any idea how it feels when someone you love won't let you even touch them, and then you find out that they're having someone else's kid. She wouldn't do more than kiss me, but she let that sick pervert get her pregnant. I just wanted to know what she would be like." he said as tears streamed down his face. "I found that the rocks were missing so I went to find her and stop her. We got into this argument and I don't know what was going through my mind. I was just so angry and hurt that she would go through all this because of him when I was mean to be the one she loved. I just went for it. But she wouldn't stop screaming. It was this horrible sound and I just wanted it to stop. All I did was put my hand over her mouth to keep her quiet. I didn't even press that hard and I was sure she was still breathing, but when I let go of her she didn't make a sound. I tried to wake her up but she was gone."
Hanson sat beside him in shock. Breathing deeply he raked his hands through his hair and rested his head in his hands.
"That's murder right?"
"Yeah." Tom said flatly.
"You're going have to take me away now aren't you?"
"Yeah, I am." Hanson answered sounding sad and exhausted. "Jesus Christ" he said in frustration. "Please tell me this is your idea of a sick joke."
"I'm sorry."
"I know you are." he answered sadly. The two sat in silence staring out over the street together. Hanson knew he should bring the kid in but at that moment he just didn't have the strength. So they simply sat there both lost in there own thoughts. Tom kept waiting for the anger to rise, the anger that he knew he should be feeling. This kid had killed Nikki, lied about it and actually helped them put someone else way. He had every right to want to smash this kid into the ground. But the anger didn't come and all he felt was extremely tired. All he wanted was to go back and make it so none of this mess had ever happened. Failing that crawling into a hole and hiding for the rest of his life sounded like a good option as well. Eventually Sam broke the silence.
"Can we wait here until my folks get back? I don't want them finding out from some stranger."
"You want to tell them?"
"Please. I'm not going anywhere I promise. I just want to sit here till they get back ok?"
"Sure."
"Thanks."
"Are you gonna tell Nikki's parents?" he said staring with pleading eyes at the young officer.
"Yeah" he answered quietly.
"Tell them I'm sorry."