Today started exactly like most, drugged induced sleep disturbed only by the thrashing nightmare that is his caged childhood trauma. Infact getting out of bed was easier this morning, less of a dull ache in his head than usual, he wonders to the fridge slurps some juice down with his meds like every morning, he was never one for breakfast hence his small frame just as he manages to bottom his dress shirt , a knock at the door startles him and frustrates him at the same time.
"its open" he said
Ainsley poked her head around the door with an astonished look on her face "Do you sometimes forget your line of work Malcolm? I could have literally killed you! Or worse caught a glimpse of your pasty legs" she teased followed by a gagging expression
"how could I be so foolish!" he rolled his eyes and side eyed his annoying sister " firstly how many murderers are courteous enough to knock, lastly I know your knock" he exhaled loudly as he put his suit jacket on
"look we need to talk" Ainsley blurted while simultaneously stepping in front of her brother "im kinda late cant it wait? Lunch?" he said whilst stepping around her "erm its kinda important and ide rather you find out from me then you know freak out later"
"walk and talk I understand ive not seen mum in a while but I ju.."
he was cut off "MALCOLM I think I blacked out again" she stuttered "
I cant be sure but there is blood on my coat and I remember a face and then all of the sudden There's a murder and I just...i just had to come and tell you it could be nothing" she took a large breath just realising she hadnt stopped during her entire confession.
Malcolm grabbed her shoulders, rougher than he intended " what are you talking about ainsley please" he grabbed his nose and ran his hand through his hair "this isnt happening" he turned his back to her" what face tell me anything! Anything you remember"
"i just he was following me im sure of it" she admitted but her tone wasn't convincing "next thing im home sitting on the bed and there is blood on my coat and..." she paused
"what ainsley cmon" his eyes wide and petrified "look I ..there is blood all over my coat and on the floor I know he was a man dark hair I can see his face Malcolm I can see his face" she starts sobbing
Malcolm had already sat back down on the sofa at this point head in hands "ok...ok?...no...ok" he stared forward "I I need to go to work Ainsley I can checkout the crime scene I can't do this right now stay here don't move from here don't answer your phone just wait for me to come home !"
It took him longer than usual to get to work he kept pausing every now and then to think. when he did arrive the bull pen was oddly quiet he could have sworn they knew eyes burning into him as he walked in Jesus did they know! they don't know Malcolm they can't can't He kept repeating in his head. what is going on instead he opted for an oddly cheery "good morning team "
"is it" gil repied slightly snappy he softens his expression
"Sorry Malcolm look I need you to sit down" Malcolm complied instantly
"where is Angel we need to find her Malcolm we need to find her now" gil Said with compassion in his voice
Malcolm played innocent even though his mind was racing "no idea why big case need the media?" he questioned
"look Malcolm this is gonna be tough to hear,…. we've got her nailed to rights CCTV caught the whole thing... she flipped one minute she's walking next minute she swings a gun no warning and seemingly no control" he knew how much this would tear a whole in malcolms heart but the evidence was there clear as day, his sister murdering in cold blood.
He awaited a response and approached Malcolm to comfort him. Malcolm just stared for what seemed like forever how could this happen, he done his best to protect his sister, for her to just throw it all away.
"has to be a mistake has to be" he repeated "let me see the footage"
gil paused giving Malcolm a clear no with his eyes
"just let me see it please gil" He pleaded
"I'm sorry Malcolm but you can't be anywhere near this case, what you need to do please go home, and the minute you hear from her you tell me, I know you think you know her, but she's dangerous and probably frightened I'm so sorry kid" he ended with a sigh
"You think I don't know my own sister, she didn't do this gil, there's just no way look I can find how I can get the bottom of this" again pleaded infact begging this time
"No" Gil said abruptly "not this time go home that's an order"
Every colleague every friend burned a hole into Malcolm soul as he walked past every single one of them the door was a mere four metres away but the walk seemed to last a lifetime, the worst part is that most of them probably expected this of him. he wanted to scream, this is what his nightmares were made of, please god let me wake up he kept thinking, but no such luck... shit Ainsley is at his house, just sitting there waiting for her brother to save the day again !
He rushed back to his flat as fast as he could, between his mind racing and his thoughts running away he had enough time to think about how he was going to break the news to ainsley.
When he got home he stopped, taking in a huge breath, before hovering his hand over the handle, every inch of him wanted to run, to let the police come, but he knew he had to tell her and comfort when she realises that she is her dads prodigy! The instant she saw his face she knew !The game was up, he lifted his hands almost surrendering, was he scared of her she thought am I a monster just like our father!
"ainsley I need you to be calm" still holding his hands slightly above his waste line "its all on cctv I cant protect you this time" it dawned on him...this is his sister not some perp, he adjusts his hands.
"no" shaking her head in disbelief but no tears no panic in her voice.
Malcolm noticed this too " are you serious " he flipped this was it how could his life possibly get any worse, his father is a serial killer for god sake and now his sister is slowly catching up "christ" he said outload instantly regretting it, he had been so lost in thought his sister jumped at his sudden outburst. "why Ainsley you need to talk to me I need to understand" his internal voice almost laughed how can anyone understand
"im done for. well thanks daddy dearest for the life lessons I mean really, im gonna go down cos im just as fucked up as you" she laughed almost like she knew this was coming .
"im sorry im so sorry ainsley we can help you with everything in your life they will help yo..." he was cut off
"oh poor ainsley, daddy's a murderer what choice did she have like father like daughter right? Sure I can see this ending so well for me, why not you huh you've always been the screw up, terrors and all they would let you off easy plus you've always been daddy's favourite" she was going to continue but this time Malcom interrupted.
"Ainsley you just killed a guy and all you can think about is favourites I'm doing my damn best here" he said frustratingly "well guess what I want a reunion lets get daddy's opinion, he is the expert after all" her tone has changed its sinister
"what! Are you talking about ainsley its over gil is on his way I told him to treat you well you know he will he loves you ains we all do" a tear escaped him, he wasnt even aware he had started crying but he was more concerned at his sisters none existant tears come to think of it she was not showing any emotions. Malcolm couldn't help but profile his own sister.
"bullshit you know what" she calmly reached into her purse "im getting dad here" what she could possibly need from her purse at a time, who would she even ring suddenly a hot pain erupted in his lower abdomen
"what the fuck ooooo what the fuck" had he been shot why how jesus it burnt "oh my god what did you do"
"dont worry brother of mine, I will get daddy here he can you help you" she said with zero shock in her voice
"help me ains" christ she shot him he sunk to the ground blood spilling from his stomach. The dress shirt he only just put on ironed and perfect slowly turning crimson red.
Think Malcolm think ….ok ok I think she missed the vitals he checked his back and let the breath he had been holding out, through it went all the way, this is good he thought, well it could be better but if he manages to sort the bleeding, it will buy him time.
"ring them" ainsley demanded "ring your cop buddys tell them ive shot you and noone touches you but the surgeon, or I swear to god ill end your nightmares here and now"
she waved the gun close to malcolms face.
The pain was mind numbing heat just pulsating In his side, "im doing it ains im going " he sounded petrified "p..please think about what your asking they wont release martin your deluded if you think tha"
"DO IT NOW" she yelled lunging at him
"ok..." he grabbed his phone visably shaking blood smearing all over the screen his fingers slipping. -
Gils phone rang, he really hoped Malcolm had processed the news he received earlier, he knew its an impossible ask but he just hope he had gone home and slept "ha" he let out lost in thought as he saw malcolms name on his phone. "hey kid how you holdi..."
"gil ainsley Is here look she has lost it ok" malcolm didn't want to panic gil he didn't want it to all end this way
"malcolm tell me whats happening" he could hear ainsley faintly in the background mumbling "so I told her ok she um she shot me, im ok im ok but she wont let me be treated by anyone but the surgeon" he tried his best to sound ok he knew its didn't matter when he said shot he could almost feel the change of breathing over the phone.
"she shot you? We are on our way malcolm how bad" his mind a blur so many different thoughts all trying to fight their way to the front, he heard the line go dead
"shit" he whispered but Jt and Dani heard
"boss?" dani said clearly concerned
"malcolm has ainsley she fucking shot him I don't know anymore please don't ask get your shit lets go NOW!" he meant to sound stern but it came out panicked and confused.
JT and Dani shared a look {what the fuck} was clearly the thought they simultaneously had, they couldn't move fast enough in fact dani nearly tripped on her own feet.
Blood started to dry on malcolms shirt had it been that long he pondered, as he kept pressure on his wound, fresh blood seeping through his fingers, he remained calm he knew it wasn't a fatal shot so long as he doesn't lose too much blood his internal voice running through all he had been taught by his father the surgeon, he laughed what a situation to find himself in, using his fathers knowledge to save himself from his sadist sister who is a direct result of their fathers influence , he accidentally let out a small chuckle, it's almost poetic he thought.
"Your laughing, you find this funny" ainsley had stopped pacing long enough to spot Malcolm in deep thought and the slight smile he had creeping onto his face.
"Surrender yourself please end this" Malcolm begged feeling slightly light headed from blood loss and at this point he realised if she can shoot him then what chance do dani Gil and jt have, he has to talk her down .