Elisa hung up the phone after speaking with Matt about her car.
The bastard had keyed her car.
Elisa was fuming. Her car was a classic, and she had spent time and money keeping it looking as good as she could. Honestly, it was the only non-living thing in this world that she could say that she loved…
And Jeremy Cross, had damaged it.
What kind of psycho would do that?
The good news was that the station's security cameras caught him.
The bad news was that the pictures were still pretty grainy, so she still didn't have a clear picture of who it was.
Matt admitted that he'd left that bit out. There was a collection being taken at the station by everyone to help her cover the paint repair, and Matt had had her car towed to the body shop that she frequented.
"Look," Matt said. "I'm about to run by your place with the few pictures that we do have of this guy. If you can ID him and see if you can remember where you may have seen this guy, that would go a long way to finding him. We're trying to run an employment search, but so far we're not getting anything current. I just wanted to let you know I was on my way."
"Ok," Elisa said. "I'll let security know downstairs."
"See you in a few," Matt said and hung up.
Elisa looked at the phone and laughed. They had definitely been working together too long. He had stopped saying goodbye when he talked on the phone… He'd gotten that from her.
"Matt's on his way," Elisa told Goliath. "He wants me to take a look at some pictures."
Goliath frowned. "I thought that there was to be no one allowed in or out of our home tonight."
"Normally, that's the case," Elisa said. "But if I can identify this guy before he does any more damage, then we might be able to get him tonight. Then things can go back to normal." Elisa placed a gentle hand on his cheek. "Not that this isn't nice, but…"
Goliath smiled. "I understand."
"I need to let Marco know that Matt's on the way." Elisa said, picking up the telephone again. "Hey Marco. Sorry to bother you so late, but there's an NYPD officer coming in soon with some important stuff for me. Can you go ahead and buzz him up?" Elisa paused for a second. "Thanks, Marco. Sorry about all the trouble."
Elisa hung up the phone.
"I'm starving," Elisa said on a sigh. "We didn't get to eat earlier. Are you hungry?"
Goliath's stomach chose that moment to growl, and Elisa chuckled.
"Never mind, Big Guy," Elisa said. "I think I have some steaks thawed that I can cook up."
Goliath followed her into the kitchen, and took a seat in one of the high stools that lined the counter.
A few minutes later, two steaks were frying on her grill pan, and she was chopping vegetables for a salad.
The buzz sounded, letting them know that Matt was on his way up.
"Great timing," Elisa laughed. "When there's food involved, trust Matt to be there."
Goliath got to his feet. "I will get the door," He said, and went around the corner to the entry.
Elisa was about to begin tossing the salad when the elevator bell chimed.
The door opened, and the sound of a gunshot made Elisa instinctively drop to a crouch.
The silence after the shot was deafening.
Elisa covered her mouth with her hand, trying to force her panic down. She had to think clearly.
She looked to the small bit of wall that separated the entry hall from the kitchen. On the other side was the hall tree where she'd hung her red coat, and her gun holster. With Liam not home, she had been a little lax with her regular ritual of locking it up.
Elisa kept low, and crept to the end of the counter, that would keep her hidden from view if someone came in this far.
Endless seconds passed before she heard the faint squeak of rubber soled shoes on the tiled entryway.
Elisa mentally tracked the footfalls. They were in the living area, but they must have heard the sizzling of the steaks that were still on the grill.
Elisa edged forward, and peeked out low, where the stool seats would keep her hidden, but she could see his legs between the stool legs.
She watched as the intruder slowed, then turned to enter the main area on the opposite side of the counter.
Elisa moved quickly, keeping as low as she could, and moved to the other side. She was so close to the hall now, if she could only get him to look the other way…
Elisa knew she'd have only seconds.
She slid one of her boots off, and rose to a runner's stance. Without looking, she threw the boot straight behind her, opposite the way she was going to run. She heard the rustle of fabric and prayed that meant he was looking toward the noise.
Elisa dashed around the corner, and out of years of practice and drills, released the catch on her holster, turned and knelt to one knee.
She heard the running feet, and took a deep breath. She released it slowly, focusing on keeping her hands steady, as a figure came around the corner.
She had only a fraction of a moment, and the briefest impression of a tall man in uniform.
Between one breath and the next, two guns fired simultaneously.
Only one hit their mark.
He had been aiming high, where she would have been had she been standing.
She aimed high, hitting him in the chest.
He fell backwards, his gun flying from his hands, landing in a heap on the ground.
Elisa waited, her gun trained on him, but he didn't move again.
She got to her feet slowly, running forward to kick his gun away from him. His face had frozen in an expression of shock, his eyes dull.
"Goliath," Elisa breathed, looking behind her. He wasn't there in the hallway. "Goliath!" She screamed now, running to the door that separated her condo from the elevator. He wasn't there, but there was a smear of blood just inside the door.
"No," Elisa said, wrenching at the door, "No, no, no…"
On the other side of the door, Goliath's human form lay face down.
Elisa fell to her knees, and rolled him over. "Goliath!"
He groaned as she rolled him over. He was alive, and the relief almost made Elisa lightheaded.
She spotted the gunshot wound in his shoulder, and pressed her hands over the hole to apply pressure. Goliath groaned again, his face screwing up into an expression of pain.
"I'm sorry," Elisa said. "I know it hurts, I'm sorry."
Goliath slowly opened his eyes.
"I need to call for help," Elisa said. "I'll be right back."
Elisa got to her feet, running through the space and getting her phone. She pressed her speed dial button that would get Matt.
He answered on the first ring. "Elisa, Travis and I are on the way in the door now, did you…"
"Matt, help," Elisa said, not caring if she made sense at this point. "The guy got in. He shot Goliath. I need help."
Matt let out a colorful expletive. "I'm on my way," He said, and she could tell he was running now. "NYPD," She heard him identify himself. "I'm Maza's partner, and I need up there now."
Elisa dropped the phone, not caring that it was still active, placing her hands back over the gaping wound.
"Goliath," Elisa said, "Stay with me."
Elisa was vaguely aware of the elevator noise behind her.
"Matt's on his way," Elisa said in a rush. "You just need to stay with me."
Goliath opened his eyes and raised a hand to cover hers where they pressed on his shoulder. "Elisa," He said in a pain filled voice, before he seemed to lose consciousness.
The doors of the elevator opened, officer Travis and Matt spilled out into the small entryway that spanned between the elevator and her front door.
Matt immediately knelt beside Goliath opposite Elisa, and Travis, gun out, moved into the condo.
"Matt," Elisa said, fear constricting her chest, "Help me get him to the patio."
Matt looked at her like she was crazy. "Elisa, we can't move him."
"We have to," Elisa practically shouted at him. "Sunrise is only a few minutes away. If we can get him outside, we can get that ring off him, and he can go into stone sleep AS a gargoyle and heal this."
Matt nodded his understanding, and got under one shoulder. Elisa got under the other, and together, the hefted Goliath's weight between them.
"Switch me," Travis said, shoving his gun into his holster and all but pushing Elisa out of the way. "Where are we going?" He asked Matt.
"Outside," Matt said shortly.
As much as Elisa wanted to argue, she knew that the guys would be able to do this faster than she could. She ran ahead to open the patio doors, not even sparing a glance at the dead man in her living room.
Travis and Matt had to go through the doors at an angle, but they managed to get through the door, the cold air whipping at their hair and clothes.
"Lay him down," Elisa said.
Matt and Travis laid Goliath, who even in human form was taller and heavier than either of them.
Elisa knelt by Goliath's side. gently, she began patting his cheek. "Goliath? Come on Big Guy, open your eyes."
Goliath showed no response.
Matt frowned, and knelt by Goliath's side. He placed his fingers on Goliath's neck, feeling for a pulse.
"Travis," Matt bit out, stripping out of his duster coat. "Help Elisa."
Elisa's eyes swung up to go between Matt and Travis. "What…"
Travis came up behind her and got her to her feet.
"Matt?" Elisa asked frantically.
Matt didn't answer. He was too busy performing CPR.
"No," Elisa said, the barest of whisper at first, then repeated in a scream.
Travis wouldn't let her go, despite her struggling.
"Elisa," Matt ground out between clenched teeth. He was trying to split his concentration, and that couldn't happen right now. "Eyes on the sky."
It took ELisa a moment to understand. Of course, she'd be the best one to time this. After all, she'd spent years now, having to be conscious of when the sun was about to rise. Sometimes she could practically feel it, even when she was indoors.
"Okay,' Elisa said, trying to steady herself. "Okay," she said again, trying to get a grip.
They only had to keep his heart beating until sunrise.
Elisa looked to the horizon, and watched as the colors began to lighten the sky. Black turned to a dark blue, then a light blue. The clouds turned from a dark grey to a deep red, heralding the coming dawn.
"Travis, let me go," Elisa said, trying to remain calm.
Travis reluctantly released her, but stayed close to her like a shadow in case he needed to step in.
Elisa knelt by her still husband. She laid her hands on his head, one on each side, cradling his face in her hands.
She kept her eyes on the horizon line.
"Come on, come on," she chanted in her mind.
There! Finally, the pale streaks of that brilliant white and yellow of the sun's arrival.
"Matt?" Elisa asked, her voice strained.
Matt stopped compressions, and felt for a pulse. He almost gave in to start again, but he felt the faintest beats against his fingers.
"Got him!" Matt said.
Elisa grasped the chain in her hands, and pulled with all her strength. The delicate chain broke, and her ring flew through the air.
Suddenly, Goliath's human form expanded, lengthened. His tail and wings sprouted from his back.
In a matter of seconds, he was fully Gargoyle, and encased in his stone skin.
Elisa was afraid to move, her legs trembling in fear. She wasn't even sure that she would be able to stand on her own.
Sensing this, Matt walked around Goliath and took one of Elisa's arms. Gently he attempted to help her to her feet.
In the end, it took both Matt and Travis to get her to her feet. They guided her back inside, and escorted her to the small office on the ground floor.
"You stay with her, Matt," Travis said. "I'll go call this in."
Elisa looked up at Matt in a panic. "I think I killed another officer. He was in uniform."
Matt placed a hand on her shoulder in support. "We'll take a look, Elisa. You stay here." He handed her the telephone. "Before this hits the radio waves, call your parents and let them know you're alright. Then call the castle and talk to Skyler and Liam."
Elisa nodded, and numbly began to dial.
The phone on the other end, despite the early hour, was answered on the second ring.
"Hello," Came the cheerful greeting.
"Mom?" Elisa said, as the events of the last few hours came crashing down on her, "Mom, I need help…"
