Chapter Twenty-Six

This is what it has come to.

As Kyle held the gun up in the air, the people in the lobby shocked that he'd actually shot a round off, he realized that he probably wasn't going to leave this hospital alive. By siding with Goldsworthy and Edwards, he'd ended his life. Scorpion would come here and they both would die.

Or just Kyle would.

I will die trying to bring Scorpion down. That's all I can do.

Try.

"Okay, everyone," Kyle said, his tone a lot kinder than he'd wanted it to be, "I'm sure you recognize my face from the TV? I'm Kyle Martin." He looked around the lobby, gauging the reaction from the small crowd that had gathered. A few of them recognized him, he could tell. A few of them were just staring at the gun in his hand as if they didn't believe it was real. "Oh, it's real." He declared for their sake. "So feel free to try something."

There was a murmur in the crowd, but they didn't do anything.

"Good." Kyle said, smiling slightly. "Now someone call the police."

"You actually want us to call the police?" A nurse asked incredulously. "Why?"

"Because that's apart of the plan." Kyle said, offering no further explanation. "Make sure to mention my name. Our beloved police captain would like to know where I am."

He gestured with his gun to the front desk and the nurse closest to it. She complied, calling the police. "Kyle Martin is here at Toronto General. Yes, please, hurry. He's armed."

Kyle narrowed his eyes.

"And he wanted me to make sure that you told the police captain. He wants him here."

"Thank you." Kyle said, surprisingly polite. "Now go join the rest near the entrance to the lobby."

The nurse did as she was ordered, rejoining the group in the lobby and Kyle made sure to keep his gun pointed at them. He scanned the group looking for who would be his hostage when Scorpion did finally arrive. If he picked a woman, he would be viewed as cowardly. He didn't want the public to think that he was a coward. He'd take a male nurse and shoot him in the leg to prove his point that he wanted to see Scorpion and him alone. Pretending to be the good cop, he'll come to prevent any further injuries in the eyes of the public.

Kyle also realized that that was Scorpion's power came from. From the public. A dedicated public service record, a service in the army, he was supposed to be a champion of the people. He used that facade to gain him favor with the public. They didn't think he could do any wrong. He was a man of impeccable integrity that wouldn't dare operate in the shadows and hire people such as Kyle – bend the rules to allow someone like Kyle to roam the street, let alone hire him to harass a woman who'd been trapped in an abusive relationship and desperately needed an escape. He wasn't that kind of person and the people of Toronto believed that lie. That's where Scorpion's true power was.

Kyle now knew that he needed to make his confrontation with Scorpion as public as possible. He needed to make sure that there were plenty of witnesses, and perhaps even the news. If all of them got involved, Kyle might be able to cast doubt in the faith that the public had with Scorpion and they would cast a light on his actions while on duty. Perhaps they'd also realize that he ruled through the thought of fear, and that he often diverted resources that could've been used for murder cases and other cases that deserved such resources – not hunting for a single man through out the city.

"Has anyone been watching the news?" Kyle asked, deciding that's he'd start with these people first. He decided that he wouldn't view them as hostages, but as the first people to be enlightened.

There were a couple of nods and murmurs that they had.

"Could someone please tell me what the explanation is for this massive manhunt for me?"

"They said that you killed a well known lawyer and his secretary." Someone in the crowd said.

Kyle had expected as much. "And did anyone pause to wonder why there would be a very public manhunt for someone who allegedly only killed two people?"

There were once again murmurs amongst the crowd, but all of them shook their heads.

"Exactly. Your beloved police chief has a personal vendetta against me. He hired me. He wants me dead for no other reason other than to tie up loose ends. If you would forgive the gun, I'll give you all the evidence you need to know that I'm speaking the truth."

"We're also your hostages," A male in the crowd said, "What choice do we have but listen to you?"

It was a tough comment, but it was true. "You don't have to listen to me. You can stop listening right now. I would like if you did, though." Kyle paused, looking at all of them. "Before I die."

Kyle knew it was a gamble leveling with these people. Just a moment ago he had burst into the lobby of the hospital with what they thought was the intention of using it on them. His demeanor had changed and now he wanted them to listen to the truth about a man that they probably didn't even know all that well. It was his only chance, though. Once Scorpion arrived, he probably wouldn't be able to get a word in edgewise.

An eerie silence had fallen over the lobby and that brought Kyle out of his reverie. He blinked.

"All right. We'll listen to you, but as long as you promise us something."

Kyle kind of figured what they wanted, but he nodded. "I'm listening."

"We want to escape this situation alive. Can you promise us that none of us will be hurt by you?"

Kyle nodded. "I won't hurt you. I can't promise that Scorpion won't hurt you. You've seen what he's done for one man. He might very well just bomb this entire hospital to dust just so the truth about him doesn't spread."

This didn't seem to placate them, but they were still waiting for him to begin his story on Scorpion.

"It all began with my cousin, Jake Martin..."