"So. Detective McCartey has left our fair city. We should use this time wisely."
Kenneth Irons rubbed the twin circle scars on his hand while he talked to his ward. He had wanted McCartey out of the way. With him gone he had time to work on Sara Pezzini.
"Resume your normal watch while he is away."
Ian Nottingham nodded.
"I didn't realize that Sara's discovery of him would lead to so much trouble."
"She is afraid of what the dreams are telling her."
"And what do you think they tell her, Ian?"
Nottingham raised his head slightly, "I believe that she thinks that the dreams are showing her how she will die."
Irons nodded his head in agreement.
"I believe that it is the exact opposite, but no one can truly know what it tells any one. Can they?"
No answer.
"I see. It is time for you to go."
Ian left to do his duty.
* * * *
The white-haired man had told him it was all right to start helping people again. It made him happy. He loved to help people. He had told Seiji that it was time to start again, but Seiji wasn't happy. He wondered how to make Seiji happy.
"What makes you happy?"
"What?"
Seiji was still sleepy from the medicine. He asked again.
"What makes you happy?"
"My friends . . . your head on a spike wouldn't hurt too much."
"It's good that you're friends make you happy. I like having friends. But I don't think my head would make you happy."
"Yes it would."
It must have been some kind of joke. He didn't quite get it, though.
"Do you have a name?"
"Me? Everyone has a name."
"You know mine," Seiji shook his head, "I think it only fair that I know yours."
"The white-haired man told me not to tell you."
"Whatever."
It was time to go. It was Thursday, and that couple would be at the food store. He was going to be able to make a big picture with the two of them. Where should he put it? Ohhh. He knew the perfect place to put his new picture. There was that old factory near the river. It had all those old adds painted on the side of the brick. He could make a really pretty picture there. The couple would really like it after he had sent them on. He was sure of it.
He was about leave when Seiji said something.
"Why do you think you're helping people?"
He turned around. Maybe Seiji was ready to learn.
"I need to send the seers on. To the better place. You know."
"I don't. What about the people who aren't seers?"
"They aren't worthy. I just get rid of them. And I get rid of the Negations."
"Have you considered that the seers don't want help? And perhaps they want the Negations around?"
"The white-haired man says that they don't know that they need help, and the Negations don't always know that they do bad things to the seers. I help the seers anyway, and I make sure that the Negations don't do bad things."
"You'll get caught one day, and the police won't understand."
"Do you understand, Seiji?"
"No. I don't think I ever will."
He shrugged his shoulders and began to leave again. He stopped and turned around.
"I really don't like the Negations who know what they are. They need to be punished. Like the Atlanta girl and the Partner. You said you know the Atlanta girl. She hurt me. I don't like her. How do you know she will come?"
"She is my sister in arms, and my girlfriend. She is supposed to come to New York to meet with me this month."
She was going to come! He needed to tell the white-haired man. He would do it as soon as he had sent the couple from the food store to the others.
Seiji didn't bother to tell him that he had a damn good idea who the Partner was.
* * * *
After Jake's flight had taken off, Sara Pezzini had returned to the office. She was going to try and stay awake until he got back . . .
"Listen to myself. Next thing you know I'll faint whenever something scares me." Sara scolded herself. She was supposed to be the tough one. How could she be afraid of some silly dreams?
Some of them were very frightening. Others ran like a documentary.
Sara wasn't really sure what she was afraid of. Were they showing her fate to her? Were the dreams warnings? Kenneth Irons had told her that they were lessons. She had learned something. Every memory that she had dreamed had told her that the Blade wielder dies an unpleasant death.
She didn't want that to happen to her.
It was a possibility for her. Considering what her profession, there was a very large chance that she would go out on a painful note.
A chill ran down her spine.
"I understand you getting into my home, but my place of work . . ."
"Your desk man should invest in caffeine."
Sara turned around in her chair and put her feet up on her desk. She stared at Nottingham
"What is it this time?"
Ian kept his head bowed and hid posture ridged. Sara wondered why he always stood like that.
"Well, Ian, are you going to say anything or stand there? You could at least take a seat."
"You should use this time to learn, Sara."
"About wha- Ah, yes. The dreams that tell me the details of how all the people before me met their end. Oh I've been learning. That I don't want to die because this thing doesn't like me."
"Learn from their mistakes, and it won't happen to you, Sara."
"I don't even know what they did. All I see is the moment of the person's death. And would you stop saying my name at the end of every sentence you say."
Nottingham raised an eyebrow, and raised his head to look at her.
"You should by now that not everything is what it seems. The dreams, your case, or your partner."
"What about Jake and what about my case?"
"I know next to nothing on your case, Sara. I have been more interested in the former."
"Why?"
"He has eluded me twice, and has . . . snuck up on me, somehow. I did not ask him why."
"Getting slow, Ian?"
"No. I have a new respect for the former agent, Sara."
"Huh?" She looked back to ask Ian what he had meant, but he was gone.
What the hell was he talking about? Former what?
Sara looked at the phone and considered calling Jake and asking what Nottingham had said. Her hand was half way to the receiver when the song she had heard in her earlier visions filled her ears.
It was cold. Colder that when Ian had entered her office. Crying mingled with the song. And the Hudson River flashed in front of her eyes.
The vision ended abruptly.
Her body shook. It was still freezing.
The river. She had to go to the river.
Sara picked up her helmet and ran out of the building, not really sure where she needed to go.
* * * *
Rebecca was crying. She couldn't stop. How could he do this?
What he was doing to David.
"Please, stop!" She sobbed.
The man continued to cut her husband apart. She couldn't run. She had broken her ankle when she tried that last time. He stopped his singing to speak.
"There, all finished."
He had nailed what was left of David to the brick wall of the old factory. He turned to look at her.
"It's your turn now."
"No! No, please! Go away! H-how could you do this!! Just leave me alone!"
He thought Rebecca looked pretty when she was crying like that, but he had work to do.
"Don't you like the picture?"
She continued to sob.
"I'm trying to help people. You and David are special. Like the others. I'm supposed to send you to be with them."
He reached for Rebecca and she began to scream for help.
He covered her mouth and broke her neck. It was the easiest way to get started. He took his nail gun and started to bend her body around the pieces of her husband that he had already placed on the faded add for Coke. He nailed her in place so she wouldn't fall down. When he was finished he stood back and admired his work.
He was sure that Rebecca and David would love it as soon as they saw it. The others would like it too. It was one of his prettiest pictures yet. He took out his camera and took a Polaroid of it. So he would be able to look at it later. Someone was bound to find it, then the police would take it down.
Oh well. He had a picture this time. It wouldn't make him as sad to see it come down. Now he had to go get cleaned up, and go meet the white-haired man.
He had to find out what to do when the Atlanta girl got here. She was going to come to find her friend. Maybe the white-haired man could tell him how to make her go away, and how to do the same to the Partner.
"Such a long day."
He stretched and admired his picture some more. He took another picture, so the white-haired man could have one too.
It was time to go. He piled his tools in a book bag, and walked away from the old factory.
* * * *
This was going to be so cool. It was dark, and it was so early. No one would see them. He and Ryan were going to spray paint the entire side of that old meat packing factory bright pink with huge black letters that said "fuck you!".
It was going to be the best.
"Hey, Chris?"
"Yeah, Ryan."
"Did you hear that? It sounded like some one crying."
"What? If you're looking for an excuse to back out on me . . ."
"No, mans. I'm serious."
Chris shook his head in disgust, "It's probably some homeless prick who's feeling sorry for himself for, like, the one thousandth time."
"It didn't sound like that."
"Whatever. Are we going to do this or not?"
Ryan nodded his head, reluctantly, and followed Chris down the old boardwalk. Ryan's head shot up when he thought he saw a reflection of a quick flash on the water. He didn't say anything to Chris this time.
"Hey. Get out the flash light, the lighting ends soon."
Ryan dug into his back pack and felt around for the large maglite that he always carried. He found it and turned it on. It was a two more blocks to the old meat packing plant. They had to go around it to get to the side that faced the Hudson. It was ok. Ryan had always liked the way that the old paintings looked.
"Almost there, Ryan."
"I'm jumping for joy."
"You might not be, but I am. This is going to be so fucking cool."
They spotted the busted out windows of the building, and looked for the small alley that ran around the perimeter of the factory. They found it and began to make their way around to the other side.
Ryan heard a slight splash when he stepped in a puddle.
"Damn it!"
"What is it?"
"Just watch out for water, man."
Ryan lowered his flash light to see how wet his jeans had gotten.
Water wasn't red.
"Um, Ch-Chris?"
"Yeah, man. "
"I think that we-"
Ryan had raised the light to see Chris leaning against the wall of the factory. His eye widened.
"What is it?!"
"Oh fuck!"
"What?!"
Chris turned around and finally saw what had Ryan so freaked.
"Holy shit! Dude, let's go!"
"Call the police! We can't just leave this here!"
Chris fumbled with his cell phone and dialed 911.
They waited on the other side of the factory.
* * * *
Sara's cell phone had gone off before she had a chance to put her helmet on her head.
There was another one. At that meat packing plant near the river.
The Blade had warned her. It was too late, though. She sped down the highway towards the crime scene. She got there and greeted the forensics team.
"Hey, Jumbo."
"Pez. It's a nasty one."
"Aren't they all. Uh, where are the kids that called it in?"
Jumbo pointed to the squad car, and returned to his work. Sara walked over to them and kneeled down in front of them.
"I hear that you two found the body."
"Bodies" The blonde one corrected.
"Yeah, that's right. I'm Detective Pezzini."
"I'm Ryan Bragg," The blonde one pointed to himself, " and this is Chris LaCroix." Ryan motioned to the brown-haired youth next to him.
"What were you two doing out here?"
"We didn't do it!" Chris mumbled.
"I know you didn't. This isn't the first."
"What if the killer knows we were around? What if he comes after us?"
"He won't, Chris. You two will be in protective custody for a while. Now, what were you two doing out here."
Ryan answered.
"We were going to spray paint the side of the building with big letters that said 'fuck you'. On the side that faces the river."
"Dude, don't tell her that!"
"It's ok. It think that we can let the paint thing slide."
Chris nodded his head.
"Your parents will be contacted to come to the station. Officer Mills," She pointed to the driver of the car," is going to take you there. The both of you will need to give statements, and officers will be assigned to you for your protection."
Sara got up to go and look at what the two boys had found. Ryan stopped her.
"Detective Pezzini?"
"Yes."
"I hope you find this guy."
"So do I."
Officer Mills shut the door to the squad car, and took off for the station. Sara got out her phone and dialed the number to the airplane.
"Delta flight 1020."
"Yeah. I need to speak with Jake McCartey. It's an emergency."
"Hold on. I'll find him for you."
She followed the path of officers and medical personnel around to the wall that the boys had found.
Good lord.
She almost forgot to answer when Jake's voice came over the line.
"Pez?"
"Yeah. It, um, there's been another one."
"Where?"
"At the old meat packing plant that's next to the river."
"It's our guy?"
"Oh yeah. Two people this time. Some kids were coming to spray paint the walls and found the . . . picture."
"How bad is it, Pez?"
"There are pieces nailed into the brick. The woman's body has been bent around those."
"Damn. Did he leave anything behind?"
"I just got here. I don't know yet."
"I'll be on the ground in an hour. I can use my cell then."
"I'll call you back then."
"All right. Be safe."
"I'll do my best."
"Later."
She pressed the end button, and put her phone back in her pocket. She looked up and met the eyes of Ian Nottingham. It looked like it was back to being watched full time.
Sara sighed in frustration and began to search the area. It was difficult to do. There was so much blood on the ground, and glass from the windows being broken.
"Pez."
She looked toward Danny's voice, and made her way to where he was standing. He looked down. Sara followed his example. There, in one of the many pools of crimson, was a piece of jewelry.
"I need an evidence bag."
Jumbo made his way over with a few, while she picked up the bracelet with her tweezers.
She placed the bracelet in the plastic, and looked for anything else.
"It's got an inscription on it."
"Let me see."
Jumbo shined his light on the under side of the bracelet. There was something written there.
"Make a note of it."
Sara looked back to not see Danny. She sighed and resumed her search.
* * * *
Jake McCartey watched the city of Raleigh-Durham from the window on the plane. They were about to touch down.
It had been a long time since he had been here. He found that he would rather be somewhere else. Not that he didn't like the city, he thought it was great. Jake didn't like the reasons he had to come here.
And now there were two more bodies to add to the list.
There was supposed to be some one from the RPD there to meet him. Officer . . . some body.
He rubbed his temples in an effort to make the headache that had formed to go away. When this was over he was going to follow Sara's example and take his vacation. That sounded good. Back out to Hawaii. Catch some waves.
He smirked at what anyone else would say if he told them that. He wouldn't hear the end of it.
Or he would just sleep for a straight week. No, the ocean was better than sleep. Unless he was with someone.
The plane touched down on the runway, and Jake was jerked back in his seat.
The sun was up.
Hopefully the day would go by quickly. He doubted it.
But he did have one thing to play that would get the SEALS to cooperate. They had better.
"Welcome to Raleigh-Durham International Airport. The local time is 6:53 AM. If you are connecting to Miami you may leave your items aboard the plane. If Raleigh-Durham is your final destination, enjoy your stay. And thank you for flying Delta."
Jake pulled his bag from the overhead compartment and exited the plane. His ride had better be there.
The bright lights of the terminal greeted him. It was way too early for that. He spotted a dark-haired man holding a sign with his name hastily written across it.
"Hey, man."
"You Detective McCartey?"
"That's me."
"Sorry to do this, but we have to hurry or I get a parking ticket. I parked by the yellow line."
Jake burst out laughing.
"Are you in a marked car?"
" . . . Yeah."
"You won't get a ticket, if they see that you're the police."
"Oh. I'm new at this."
He gave Jake his hand to shake, "Chad Powell."
"Nice to meet you."
They walked through the airport to where the car had been parked.
"So, I'm supposed to take you to the Navy Base?"
"Yeah. They have information we need."
"I always thought that the NYPD got whatever it asked for."
"I wish."
McCartey closed the car door and buckled up. Chad pushed the heater as high as it would go and left the curb.
"They said you were homicide."
Jake shook his head, "Yes".
"Is the case you're working on that bad?"
"More than you know."
* * * *
She loved her garden. From a distance it looked as though a forest covered mountain had been placed in the middle of the city. An oasis in the middle of the desert. Her husband had covered the Ziggurat with exotic plants, and he was planning to create a water garden for her.
He loved her so much.
It was a shame that the view would not last.
The City-States were at war.
Again.
She was going to fight with the warriors. She had a superior weapon.
But she would miss her garden. People had come from across the lands to see the masterpiece.
She could hear the enemy coming. She knew she would die during the battle. The Blade had shown her death in her dreams. And in the day dreams she had as well.
She stood and took a last look at her garden.
It was time to fight.
* * * *
Sara opened her eyes. She reached for Jake, then remembered that he was gone. She had come to his place. He had asked her to, and she knew that Nottingham couldn't see her here. It looked like Jake was wrong, whatever it was didn't rub off.
She sat up in bed, and stretched. She still had some time before she needed to go in.
The bracelet had been the only object found at the factory. It would have to enough.
Sara laid back down, and stared the the bedroom ceiling.
She wanted Jake back. It was odd. They had been sharing a bed for almost a month now.
The case had been open a month. They needed to close this thing. How? Was the hard question.
She shut her eyes and went back to sleep.
* * * *
The City was on fire. The warriors had breached its walls.
She had killed many of them, but it she knew she had lost. A single blade had gotten through her defenses, and pierced her belly.
Her life spilled out on to the sand. It did not astonish her.
She had already known. So she had found a place to sit, up against a large rock. And she watched the City burn.
She was becoming very tired, and the Blade was gone. She didn't care.
The last thing she saw was her garden.
