A/N: It's amazing how much feedback I got on the end of the last chapter from various websites. A lot of you asked if McNab will live or die…you won't know until the final chapter. Cross your fingers. Oh, by the way, these final chapters are going to be hella long. I didn't want to break them apart.
I know I don't post it enough, but thanks to all those who have reviewed and message. It really means a lot to me and brightens my day completely. Honestly, thank you from the bottom of my heart. *Hugs* I tried to make this chapter as suspenseful as I could. This is rated M for a reason peeps. Please review!
Chapter 21: A foot in the grave.
Cass POV
I turned off the faucet and squeezed all of the excess water out of my hair. I opened the shower door and grabbed the towel off the rack, wrapping it around me. I dropped my towel on the floor as I walked over to my dresser. My long hair tickled my back as I pulled on a spaghetti strap tank top and some baggy sleeping pants.
The phone on my dresser buzzed, so I picked it up to see I had a new message from Shawn. Frowning, I snapped it open and opened the message.
'Cass, please talk to me.'
I smiled sadly and placed the phone back down on the dresser without replying back. I sighed and ran my fingers through my long hair. I think I'll torture him for a bit longer.
"Why couldn't you just love me pup?"
I knew that voice all too well. My blood froze as I turned to see Charlie standing by the door glaring at me angrily.
"Charlie? What are you doing here?" I asked softly.
How'd he get in? Where's McNab? Holy shit! Where's McNab?
"I did this all for you, for us. I just wanted us to be happy together, and you didn't appreciate any of it." He growled.
What the hell is he talking about? For me, for us? The way he's talking…could that mean that the one that has been threatening us the whole time, that murdered Hailey…was Charlie? Is it him? Why? Why would he do something like that?
"McNab!" I shouted, taking a quick glance at the door and back to Charlie.
"He won't be coming to your aid anytime soon sweet heart, he's taking a nap." He said with pride.
Oh please no. Please tell me he didn't kill him?
I looked at him in shock to see him pull out a gun from his jacket and point it at me. I could feel myself starting to panic, but I kept telling myself I needed to stay calm. I needed to take control over the situation and fast.
I took a few cautious steps towards him. "Charlie, what're doing? Where did you get that gun? It's me...Cassidy. We can talk about this, just give me the gun." I said gently as if to a child.
He tightened his grip on the pistol causing me to immediately stop, his finger itching to pull the trigger. My breath catches in my throat and my heart starts thumping so loud that I can hear the blood pounding in my ears.
I stood there in shock as the very man who I come to trust, who bailed me, us out of the troublesome situation earlier was pointing a gun at me. I just couldn't believe my eyes. Charlie was a sweet man. Never in all my time I knew him would I ever think he would do something like this. That he was even capable of murdering someone.
"Charlie, was it you?" I whispered.
Instead of giving me a verbal answer I received a sheepish smile, but that's all I needed. My arms encircled my waist as in an attempt to comfort myself as I sobbed. Hailey's murder, Shawn's accident, the break in with the writing painted on the wall, the house fire and not to mention Matt's horrible demise. He was standing in front of me…us…all along. How could I have been so blind? The question I've wanted to ask, that I've waited so long for could finally be answered.
"Why did you kill her?" I cried.
"Because you're mine!" He shouted back his face red with anger. "You were mine since the day I laid eyes on you." He growled.
Flashback:
For the past hour I've been waiting for an officer to take my report on the grave robbing that have been occurring lately. I took a sip of my coffee from the small Styrofoam cup and headed back to my seat for another hour of excruciating waiting.
The hall was loud and overcrowded as I walked back to my uncomfortable chair. I let out a yelp as a few officers brushed past me knocking me forward, spilling my steaming hot coffee on the poor victim walking around the corner.
"Hey watch where you're going." The unknown male warned.
The female looked up to the tall brunet and frowned. "Relax Miller, it was accident. People are running around here like its black Friday." She scolded and turned to me with a smile.
"I-I'm s-so-" I stammered. When I looked up at the persons face I tensed up and froze before her,
"It's perfectly fine, no need to worry. It just got on my vest, so no harm done." She reassured, her eyes turning into a subtle, caring color.
"Miller, can you do me a favor and find someone to clean this up?" She asked.
He groaned and muttered something under his breath before turning around, leaving the two of us together in the crowded hallway.
I couldn't take my eyes off of her. I was spell bound. She was perfection. Her hair was a chocolate copper and hung below her shoulders. Her skin was so white and smooth and had a beautiful glow to it. And her eyes, Lord, her eyes were brown with a touch of gold. They glowed with determination.
"What's your name?" She asked.
"C-Charlie Briggs." I breathed, unable to break away from her gaze.
"Well Mr. Briggs, may I ask what you're doing in a place like this?" She asked.
"I-I needed to file a report, I'm just waiting for someone to take it."
Her pink glossy lips pursed. "Well how rude of them to leave such a nice gentleman such as yourself waiting. Let's see if we can find someone to take it for you shall we." She smiled.
"T-Thank you, I would really appreciate that." I smiled back.
We walked back to the front of the bullpen and I couldn't help but sneak small glances at here. I was in love. She smiled and ran towards an officer. "Hey Scott, do you think you can do me a favor and take this gentleman's statement?" She asked pointing over in my direction.
"Sure, no problem." He grinned and gestured me over to his desk,
"Well Mr. Briggs, he'll take over from here. I'm sure he'll be able to assist you in whatever you need help with." She said.
I extended my hand to show her my appreciation. "Thank you very much Miss-"
"Cassidy, Cassidy Reed." She chuckled, shaking my hand.
"Agent Reed, it's time to go. We need to head back to the office." The male from earlier said, or Miller as she called him.
She bid me a farewell and turned around rushing over to her partner. I watched her as she got further and further away…away from me. They were laughing about something and she playfully punched him in the arm. I noticed something drop beside her as she walked away.
"Hey pup." I shouted, but she didn't hear me from all the noise in the building. I walked over and picked up the small coin that was on the floor. I twirled it in my fingers and brushed it against my lips. I've never felt like this before. What was this? I wanted her, more of her.
I smirked and shoved the coin in my pocket. We'll meet again soon my love…
End Flashback:
My body was shaking lightly and my head was starting to hurt from all the information I was obtaining.
"So I followed you around for a while and came to see you had a daughter. I thought if I got her out of the picture I would see more of you. My plan went perfectly. I got what I wanted. I even dug her grave the night before I murdered her. Then you left me to come down here and I started seeing less of you. You left me to be with that boy who fucks you senseless!" He waved the gun at me angrily. "Do you know how much torture you've caused me? How much money I've spent?" He shouted. "Now there's that damn psychic I have to deal with again too." He said hatefully. "I have to admit I was pretty shocked when he came into the picture, he's pretty well known and has an impressive reputation and to find out that he's the father of your child was even more of a shock."
Again? Is he going to kill Shawn?
The walls I built up were slowly starting to crumble. If he killed Shawn, it would honestly kill me. I don't have it in me to lose someone else I love. I couldn't live without him again. He was all I had left of Hailey.
"So it was you that ran him down that night." I whispered.
"Yeah it was me. The pathetic fucker had it coming. The thought of him touching you sickened me. You're mine, not his." He said disgusted.
"This is crazy Charlie, you're sick! You need help!"
His jaw tightened and his breathing became more rapid as he took a few quick steps towards me, but stopped when he heard my cell phone going off on my dresser. His eyes left mine for a split second. I couldn't help but smirk as he dropped his guard so I took this as my advantage and rammed my body against his, making him stumble back a few steps.
I clenched my fist and punched him as hard as I could in the face causing him to fall onto the ground, the gun sliding under the bed. "You killed my baby!" I cried. I needed to act fast while he was down or it would be all over if he got back up. I sat on his chest, one leg on each side of him, and turned his face into a punching bag. "She was everything to me, and you took her away from me!"
Blood was gushing from his nose and mouth. I could feel myself slowing down. I kept telling myself to keep fighting that I needed to end this or he would never stop.
Through my rain of punches, Charlie got a cheap shot in and grabbed me by the throat forcing me onto my back. "That wasn't very nice Pup. Did you honestly think you stood a chance against me?" He sneered tightening his grip around my throat cutting off my air supply. One of my hands was trying to pull his arm away while the other one grabbed for his hair. He looked so damn cocky and confident it just pissed me off.
"Get off me!" I gasped and removed my hands from their current positions and brought them to the sides of his face. My thumbs started digging into his eyes, forcing him to withdraw. While he held his head in his hands I took this as my opportunity to run downstairs and grab my weapon.
I bolted out of the room. I let out a yelp as I heard the wood splinter beside me as a bullet penetrated the door frame as I ran down the staircase. I remember counting the steps as I ran down, I didn't make it passed four until Charlie grabbed me by the hair. I screamed as he pulled me back and wrapped one of his arms around my stomach, and the other clamped over my mouth to keep me from screaming.
"You're not fucking going anywhere! Do you have any fucking idea how long I've been planning this? You're mine Cassidy, you always were!" He growled angrily carrying me up the stairs. I continued to writhe in his arms as he carried me back to my room. I pressed my foot against the doorframe and pushed back with all my strength, causing Charlie to stumble back making us fall over the guardrail.
I fell hard on the floor, knocking the wind out of me as I landed. My head and arm were throbbing after the impact, and my leg felt like it was broken or dislocated at best. I could hear Charlie move behind me regaining his composure much faster than me. All I could do was gasp for air. I bit my lip so hard that I drew blood and managed to focus on something else than my arm and leg as I started to crawl towards the coffee table. I could see my pistol as I clawed towards it with determination I never thought I had.
"Where do you think you're going pup?" He leered behind me, but I ignored him. All I needed was to get my pistol and I could end all this. I was mere inches away from my pistol until I felt myself being pulled back getting further and further away from my weapon. I turned my body kicking him in the groin with my good leg causing him to cry out.
I stumbled to my feet and made another attempt for the pistol. Next thing I knew pain shot through my right shoulder. I let out a scream and I fell to the floor like a ton of bricks. My hand flew up to the wound, as I tried to slow the bleeding. The blood was hot as it trickled through my fingers.
"Why do you keep making me hurt you? Can't you see how much I love you?" He shouted pointing the gun in my direction.
"Go. To. Hell." I painfully spoke.
The pain was unbearable and I was starting to feel nauseous. The room was spinning and things were starting to get blurry. He kneeled down to me and removed my hand from the wound causing the blood to flow out more.
"Don't touch me!" I shrieked, pushing him away from me. Rolling to my side, a pained cry escaped my lips as I used my left hand to support my body and finally managed to stand up. I took a shaky step testing my leg, but fell once again. I was trapped. There was nothing more I could do. Tears of disappointment and anger ran down my cheeks. My freedom was slipping away and my body was in no shape to run anywhere, or even crawl. I tried desperately trying to figure out how I was going to get out of this predicament
"Why do you have to make things so difficult?" He asked in an emotionless voice. "I'm going to make you love me even if that means I have to break every bone in your body."
His eyes only held anger, he wasn't joking. My breathing became more rapid as he approached me. He looked down at me with a Cheshire smile. I let out a cry as his long fingers tangled themselves in my hair as he pulled me up towards him. I braced myself as he pulled his arm back and punched me across the face causing me to fall back down on the floor.
Get up Cassidy! Fight! You have to fight!
"You should be used to this by now, am I right? I bet daddy taught you a lot of neat things, but did he ever prepare you for a good ass kicking." He mocked kicking me in the ribs repeatedly.
I was fighting to stay awake, my whole body was aching like crazy and I didn't have the strength to fight anymore. It was over. I just had to accept it. I just prayed whatever he had in mind would be over quick, but I had a feeling he wouldn't let me go so easily. He was going to drag this out as long as possible until he got what he wanted.
"Is that all you have Detective? I was expecting so much more from you." He said with disappointment. He crouched down and grabbed my arm. "Now I'm not going to lie, but this is going to hurt."
Before I could register what happened I felt a prick on my arm. I tried to push him away but he just held me down as he pushed the plunger on the syringe down until the whole of its contents was emptied into my blood stream. Already I could feel something cold flowing through my system, making my limbs feel heavy and numb. My eyes drifted shut as I lost consciousness, my last thoughts being of Shawn as I slipped away into the darkness.
~PSYCH~
I could smell a strong odor. I grudgingly opened my eyes. The smell was placed back under my nose, bringing me back to consciousness. I let out a cry as pain shot through my body. I looked up as I realized my arms were cuffed to the headboard and duct tape was placed over my mouth to muffle my cries.
"Smelling salts." He smirked, holding up the package in front of me and walked over to the dresser where he unfolded a cloth full of surgical tools. I heard my phone go off on the dresser again. Charlie muttered something under his breath and grabbed my phone throwing it against the wall. A tear slid down my cheek as my only chance of help was destroyed. He pulled out a scalpel holding it up to the light admiring its beauty.
He walked over to the bed and towered over me. I shook my head fiercely and pleaded with my eyes for him to stop. He gently removed the duct tape from my mouth. "Please." I pleaded. "Don't do this, you can stop. Please Charlie."
"Oh, now you want to use your manners." He spat. "It's a little too late for that don't you think?"
He pressed the tip of the scalpel on my chest and ran down cutting the fabric with ease.
"Shh." He soothed.
I let out a whimper as the blade nicked me, "See, now you've gone and cut yourself haven't you?" He scolded. "See Cassidy, I've got experience working with these kinds of tools, I love everything there is to know about the human body, it's fascinating really. After high school I decided to enroll in pre-med, but throughout the semester I realized I was being taught by mere idiots." He frowned. "After dropping out I decided to work as a mortician so I could work for myself. A few years after retirement I started getting restless and needed to get out and work, so I had no problem getting a job at the cemetery as a grave keeper."
I winced as he pressed the scalpel to my cheek. "Do you want to know the trick? I use small incisions with a fine instrument." He said and continued back to cutting down the fabric. "That way, I can make it last for hours. And you will not believe how long I can make a minute feel."
"Fuck you." I croaked out.
He cocked his head to the side. "What?"
"You heard me old man. You think I'm afraid of you?" I asked.
He nodded his head and smirked. "I know you are."
"You're just a sad, lonely, boring, impotent old man who works a dead end job as a grave keeper." I spat.
He grabbed me by the throat with one of his hands while the other was thrusting the scalpel into my side, making a yelp of pain escape my lips.
"Listen you little bitch, the next time your disrespect me like that, I will cut that tongue out of that pretty little mouth of yours. Do you understand?" He growled angrily. I spit in his face causing him to pull back in surprise. He wiped the spit off his face and slapped me across the face. "I see how you're going to play. I'm on to your little game sweet heart." He said and placed the duct tape back over my mouth.
He repositioned himself so that he was kneeling on the bed between my legs, no matter how much I screamed at myself to fight him off I couldn't. I just needed to hold on a little longer until help arrived. He reached above where my hands were bound and grabbed my right index finger and sneered down at me. "Is this the finger that pulled the trigger on me?" He asked and bent it back. My back arched up as I let out a muffled scream in pain as he broke my finger. "Or maybe it was this one?" He said breaking my other index finger.
As the pain was inflicted, my chest constricted and my tears started to fall as I choke back a sob. "Do you love me?" He whispered against my ear as one of his hands stroked my inner thigh. I let out a whimper and turned my face away. He roughly grabbed my chin forcing me to look at him. "Tell me you love me!" He shouted.
My eyes met his and I shook my head. I would rather die than tell some lunatic something I didn't feel. His eyes darkened and he clamped his hands over my throat. "Why won't you love me? Why won't you let us be together?" He cried tightening his grip.
I closed my eyes embracing the darkness that threatened to take over. My only regret was leaving Shawn behind, just when things were going great between us.I wish…I wish I could have spent more time with him…with everyone.
A/N: O.o Cliffhanger! Ooooh! Please review.