DARK BOUNDARIES

Kaleidopy

Chapter Twenty-Five

Erik moaned in pain, already suffering from a headache that the crash had caused. "I'm suing the entire police force," he stated and waited for an angry response from his brother. Surprised when none came, he turned and discovered Peter was unconscious. With the car landing on the driver's side, Peter had taken the worst of the impact.

Erik quickly unfastened his safety belt, determined to escape before Peter regained consciousness. He started to climb out of the window, checking first to make sure there wasn't any glass sticking out around the frame.

Satisfied his escape route was safe, Erik started to crawl through the open window, but another glance at his unconscious brother caused him to have seconds thoughts. As a precaution, he sniffed the air to make sure he didn't detect any gas fumes and then dismissed escaping as a top priority.

Erik maneuvered his body back inside the vehicle and slowly made his way towards Peter. He didn't want to make any sudden moves in case his brother woke up and believed he was trying to escape. He slid his hand under Peter's head and lifted it slightly.

"Peter," he whispered, keeping his voice soft and gentle. He waited, making sure the younger man remained unconscious before he lowered his head down. "Too bad you're still out," he said as he retrieved the cop's weapon from its holster. "I would have loved to smash your head against the door." He checked the weapon and found it loaded. "I guess it's true what they say," he said, pressing the gun against Peter's temple. "The good die young."

"Hello down there," a voice called, interrupting the assassination. "Is anyone down there?"

Erik tucked the weapon into his belt and slowly climbed out of the vehicle. An elderly man stood on top of the hill watching him. "Should I call for help?" the man asked, moving towards a parked Lincoln Continental where his wife waited.

"No, I'm alright," Erik called, stopping the man. "Can you give me a lift to the next gas station? As you can see, my car isn't going anywhere."

"Sure," the man answered, glancing at the overturned car. "Are you alone? Is there anyone still trapped in the car?"

"No, I'm alone," Erik said, accepting the elderly man's hand for support after he reached the top of the hill. "I lost control when a deer ran out in front of me."

He settled into the back seat and smiled at the woman who offered him a handkerchief. "You cut yourself," she said, pointing at her eyebrow in order to see him the location of the cut. "It's not bad."

"Thanks," he said, dabbing the cloth over the cut. The car pulled back onto the road, leaving the damaged vehicle behind. The large automobile was comfortable and just his style. He lowered his hand down to his belt and felt for the gun. "Do you have the time?"

"It's almost ten," the woman answered.

He thanked her again, smiling at her when she looked back. If he played his cards right, he would make it to Bristol in time for the meeting. With the money he planned to make, he could afford to buy twelve parking lots full of vehicles.

Erik looked out the windshield and saw the city in the distance. Another glance to his side revealed the perfect location to dump a couple of bodies. He pulled out the weapon, pointed it at the woman's head, and fired.

"What do you mean he's not answering his radio?" Kermit asked, staring at Broderick. "Peter should have been here thirty minutes ago."

"He's not answering, that's all I can tell you," the desk sergeant replied, and then glanced towards the two men pacing in Strenlich's office. "They're Feds; apparently Peter was bringing in a prisoner for them to escort back to Braselton."

"Something has happened to my son," Caine announced in a somber voice.

Kermit turned, watching as a concerned Skalany escorted the priest to the front desk. "What direction did Peter take, Mary Margaret? I know he didn't take the warehouse district or use the direct route."

"He took…"

"The Park Ridge Woods," Caine answered. "The same woods where the survivalist Grant tried to take over the park."

"I'll get someone over there to check it out," Broderick said, picking up the phone.

"I know where it is," Kermit replied angrily. He started to leave but the priest reached out and grabbed his arm.

Caine's eyes narrowed. "Kermit, I do not wish any harm to come to Erik. He is my son."

"I make no promises, Caine," the computer expert said as he freed himself from the priest's grasp. "How can you stand there and defend Erik after learning what he did to Marilyn? What about Peter? Don't you give a damn about him?"

Caine reacted as if he had been slapped. "If Erik is guilty then he will answer for what he has done, but do not ever question my love for Peter. He is my son and my love for him is never ending."

"Maybe you should tell him that sometime," Kermit replied and instantly regretted his words. The remark had been vicious and unprovoked. "Look, Caine…"

"There is no need for apologies, Kermit. Your words were spoken in anger and concern for Marilyn."

The priest's acceptance of his behavior only made Kermit feel that much worse. "I'll find Peter," he vowed and reluctantly added, "and bring Erik back to stand trial."

Caine nodded and turned to Skalany. "Perhaps we should follow Kermit."

"No," Kermit said, addressing Mary Margaret. "I want you to make sure all the paperwork is completed for Erik's arrest. I don't want there to be any loopholes for his attorney to throw back at us when he goes to trial." With those last words, he left the precinct in search for the blue Stealth.

The silence in the large vehicle was unnerving. Benedict reached to turn on the radio but his hand was slapped before he could touch the knob.

"You didn't ask," Badger said, shaking a finger at him. "Didn't your mother teach you better manners?"

If he weren't so scared, Benedict would have hurled an insult at the man, but the situation was too dire to take such a risk. "Is it alright if I turn on the radio?" he asked, keeping his voice level to keep from angering his kidnapper.

"No, you didn't say mother-may-I."

Benedict didn't know if he should be excited or worried when the Bristol city limits sign appeared.

Kermit slowed the vehicle down when he saw the flashing lights of several police cruisers and emergency vehicles parked on the side of the road. He parked the car, climbed out, and went to investigate.

"What happened," he asked the officer in charge as he flashed his badge.

"Carjacking," the officer answered grimly as the two walked to the crime scene. "We've got two victims, an elderly couple. The woman's dead, and if the survivor hadn't managed to fool the perpetrator into believing he was dead, we would have another casualty," the officer replied indicating a body on a stretcher covered in a sheet. "The husband managed to wave a passing motorist down and give a brief description of what happened before he collapsed. If the motorist hadn't been a registered nurse, he wouldn't have survived, either."

"Is the motorist still here?"

"Yeah," the officer answered, pointing to a blond woman standing by a sports car. "That's her. Mrs. Cassandra Kendal."

Kermit started walking towards the woman, but a feeble voice coming from inside the ambulance tugged at his heartstrings. The elderly man was calling for his wife.

"It's alright sir," a female voice responded with compassion. "Someone is taking care of your wife. I promise she isn't in any pain."

With those words, the ambulance door was closed and the emergency vehicle pulled onto the street on its way to the hospital.

"The paramedics think it's best if he isn't told about his wife until he's stabilized," the officer explained, shaking his head as he started towards the police cruiser. "If you excuse me, I have to notify the family."

"Mrs. Kendal, can I ask you a few questions?" Kermit said, and introduced himself. He waited until she nodded before he continued. "Officer Macintosh said the victim spoke to you before he lost consciousness. Can you tell me exactly what he said?"

"He said his name was Charles Brittan. He and his wife spotted a car turned on its side and slowed down when they saw a man climbing out of the vehicle. They stopped to help, but the man only wanted a ride to town. It was during the ride that the man attacked the couple. The poor man had the sense to fool the killer into believing he was dead."

"Did he describe the attacker or the overturned car? It's important that I find out who did this. We have an officer missing."

"He said the attacker was between 30-40, tall with dark hair, and wore an expensive suit," Cassandra answered. "And the information he gave about the car was brief at best. He said it was a blue sports car."

"Damn, sitting behind a desk has made me soft," Kermit remarked. Somehow, he had driven past the Stealth and missed Peter. He made his way to the Corvair and hurried back down the road in a desperate attempt to find his missing friend. Since Erik had no scruples in murdering an elderly couple, then it was a forgone conclusion he wouldn't hesitate to kill a cop.

Peter opened his eyes and moaned. His head felt like Mark McGuire had used it as a baseball during the 1999 homerun derby contest. Another moan, and he carefully started climbing out of the overturned vehicle to inspect the damage.

Thankfully, insurance would cover the damage, but nothing prepared him for the shock of discovering his weapon missing and his brother gone. Frantic, he searched the area and found neither one. He staggered up the embankment, hoping the road wasn't as isolated as it had been earlier.

One quick glance and Peter instantly regretted his wish. The green Corvair came to a stop and the angry driver climbed out and headed in his direction.

"I've got it," Mary Margaret said, craning her neck to keep the phone receiver steady while she wrote down an address. She ripped the top sheet off the notepad and gave the information to one of the federal agents. "Are you alright? And Peter? Ok, I'll tell him. Bye, I'll see you in Bristol."

She hung up the phone, turned, and addressed the agents. "That was Detective Griffin," she said, pausing to glance at Caine. She wished he had stayed in Chinatown where he wouldn't have learned about Erik's latest crime.

She reached out and touched the priest's shoulder. "I'm sorry, Caine," she whispered with compassion before turning to the agents and repeating what Kermit had said. "Erik Montgomery carjacked a car, and according to a witness, is heading towards Bristol. Detective Griffin said that he and Detective Caine are following. We are to meet them in Bristol where he promises the prisoner will be waiting to be taken into custody."

The two agents nodded and left for their vehicle. Before Skalany could follow, Caine grabbed her arm. She looked into his face and saw his concern.

"Mary Margaret," the priest said, speaking in a soft voice. "You did not say what happened to the driver of the car my son took."

"Caine, I…" she paused, unsure how much she should reveal. Caine hadn't asked about any passengers and the driver wasn't dead…yet. So technically, she wasn't lying. "The driver is in critical condition, but he is alive."

The priest released a sigh of relief and then quickly masked his emotions. She thanked her lucky stars that he didn't ask for more details. Instead, he walked out the door and followed the two agents.

She went outside and found him waiting by her car. She opened the passenger door, allowing him to get settled before she slammed it shut. Any other time Caine's company would have overjoyed her, but this time she knew the trip would be a silent one.