„Where is she, goddammit?" Cloud cursed while he checked his watch. It was quarter past six, and Tifa had been supposed to arrive half an hour ago. Finally, Cloud lost his temper and grabbed his cell phone.
"I'll drive to her hotel and look for her. If she arrives in the meantime, call me." He ordered, and Scott nodded. Cloud grabbed his jacket, put it on, shoved his gun into his shoulder holster and ran off.
Meanwhile, Tifa had awoken from her unconsciousness. She moaned, groggily, and tried to sit up – only to find out that she was tied to the bed. Fear rose inside her, and quickly the brunette scanned the room.
"I see, you're awake." A familiar voice suddenly came. Tifas head jerked around, and she spotted Derek Vessel, sitting in chair next to her bed. Tifas eyes went wide, and she opened her mouth to scream for help, but suddenly Vessel launched forward and covered her mouth with one hand while the other one searched for the duct tape he had in his pocket. Finally, Vessel found it, tore off a long stripe with his teeth and taped Tifas mouth shut with it.
"Now now, don't you scream." The rapist taunted the helpless officer. Tifa tried to get her hands free and pulled at the ropes that held her with all her strength, with the only effect that the rough rope tore her wrists open and they started to bleed. Vessel grinned and leaned over her, touching her tied hands and running one finger down to her face.
"We don't want anyone to disturb our privacy, won't we?" he whispered, his face so close to Tifas that she could feel his hot breath at her cheeks. The brunette whimpered behind the tape that covered her mouth; she had never felt so helpless in her entire life. Vessel just leaned back and reached out to grope Tifas chest, when suddenly someone banged against the door.
"Tifa? Are you in there?" Clouds voice came. Tifas and Vessels heads shot up the same second, and Tifa cried out as loud as she could. Outside, Cloud frowned; that wasn't a good sound. He stepped back a little, then suddenly launched forward and smashed his shoulder against the locked door, causing it to fly open with a bang. The inspector immediately scanned the scene and pulled his gun out, aiming it at Vessel.
"Don't move! Hands up!" Cloud yelled. Vessel just grinned.
"Come on, Strife, do what you want to do. Shoot me." Clouds hands began to tremble, and sweat broke out on his brow.
"I said, hands up, you piece of shit!" he yelled again, desperately fighting to keep himself under control. Vessel started to laugh, reached out and patted Tifas stomach.
"You know what, Strife, you're not the one who has the control here. It's me." With that, the evil man pulled a gun out and pointed it at Tifas head, who whimpered in fear.
"Drop your gun, Strife." Vessel ordered. Cloud looked from Tifa to Vessel back to Tifa again, a silent apology in his eyes. Then, he dropped the gun.
Before Tifa knew what had happened, Vessel had swung the gun around and shot. Tifa screamed in horror when Cloud stumbled back against the timber set, blood spouting from the bullet wound in his stomach. The inspector tried to grasp the door frame for support, his fingers slid from the wood and he fell on his back, lying motionless while his blood stained the blue carpet. Tifa screamed again, and Vessel smiled at her.
"Now calm down, my dear. Uncle Derek will show you to some nice things now." He started to crawl over her, but suddenly a shot rang and the rapist stiffened, his eyes bulging out. Slowly, Vessel turned his head, blood running down from his neck and dropping on Tifas body. The brunette raised her head only to see Cloud leaning against the timber set, his left hand pressed against his stomach, his right aiming the gun at Vessel. Vessel tried to stand up and fell down next to the bed. He produced some weird gurgling sounds deep in his throat, and then he died. Slowly, still holding his stomach, Cloud walked over to Tifa and managed to untie her hands. Tifa ripped the duct tape of her mouth, not caring about her bleeding lips afterwards, since Cloud fell on the bed, moaning in pain.
"Oh God, Cloud…" the brunette sobbed, the tears finally coming. She turned the inspector on his back, and pain filled blue eyes met worried ruby ones.
"I was…always…good at shooting." Cloud whispered, giving Tifa a weak smile.
"Shht…", Tifa whispered, stroking her boss' blonde hair while talking on, "don't talk…I'll call the doctor…just lie still, don't move, okay?" Cloud nodded, but when Tifa wanted to run over to the phone, he grabbed her wrist and held her back. Tifa turned to look at him, and he pulled her closer.
"Tifa…there's one thing…I want you to know…" he managed to say, so softly that Tifa almost couldn't hear it.
"In case…I don't make it…I…I…" his voice broke, he coughed up blood and talked on:
"I love you." Tifas eyes filled with tears again, and she hugged her boss close to her.
"I love you too." She whispered in his ear, but Cloud didn't hear it anymore. He had fallen unconscious. Tifa rushed over to the phone and dialed 911, hoping and praying that the ambulance would come in time.