Dark Visions – Chapter Ten
The door to Sabrena's hospital room flew open and Doctor Mirhm entered followed closely by the head nurse. Both looked angry and had irritated, pinched looks on their faces. "What do you think you're doing causing all this ruckus during the wee hours of the morning," the nurse demanded.
"My apologies, but it couldn't be avoided," Donovan stated flatly.
"Well, you're causing problems for our other patients," Doctor Mirhm explained.
Donovan nodded. "As I said, it couldn't be avoided." He wondered what the doctor's reaction would be when he found Bre missing from the hospital without permission. He shrugged mentally, it didn't matter; he knew he could handle this doctor.
Both doctor and nurse looked putout by his lack of explanation, but were not about to push the agent for more information. The stern look on his face told them to back off.
During the exchange with the doctor, Cody had logged onto the hospital's switchboard system and instructed it to forward all calls going to Bre's room to Frank's cell phone. If Carmichael called, they could try to get a fix on him and find Monica.
************
From a dark corner in the basement, Monica sat bound and gagged, watching her assailant closely and struggling against her bonds trying to free herself. Carmichael moved about his makeshift darkroom, developing pictures and hanging them to dry. She watched with dread, seeing the faces of her friends and teammates appear to her in the photographs. He had much more in mind than just killing her. He planned to go after all of them.
He turned and began walking toward her as though he heard her attempt to get free. He wielded a large knife in front of him. He held it menacingly to Monica's cheek. "Don't even try it, Princess. You'll never get away." He slid the knife under the cloth that held her gag and sliced through the material.
Monica spit the gag out with force. "Let me promise you one thing," she said vehemently. "You hurt me and Donovan will be out for blood. You'll never live through this."
The defiant look in her eye told him she believed every word she said. She had a lot of faith in this Donovan. "We'll see who lives through this," he said, bringing his face close to hers. "But, Princess...you will not be one of them."
Monica grimaced when he slid his slimy tongue across her cheek and spat in his face. She grinned wickedly as she watched her spittle run from his eye onto his cheek.
"You'll pay for that soon enough," he assured as he wiped the spit from his face.
He went back to his small worktable and picked up a cell phone. Monica recognized it immediately—it was hers. He flipped it open and searched through the programmed numbers until he found the one he wanted and pressed the button to send the call.
************
"We're getting close," Cody commented from the front passenger seat. "Nav-com shows just a few more blocks."
Donovan was about to reply when his phone rang. Holding the wheel with one hand he flipped it open then looked sharply at Cody. "It's not from the hospital...its Monica."
He pushed the receive button. "Donovan."
"Hello, Special Agent. I just thought I'd call to let you know I have a friend of yours here with me. Hell, I'll even let you talk to her."
"Frank?"
"Monica! Are you okay?"
"For now," she said, her voice showing her fright.
"Where are you?"
"Like I'd let her know where she was!" Carmichael laughed darkly. "You must think me a fool."
"Something like that," he said, dryly.
"You're the fool. You'll never find her in time. Just be glad you had a chance to say goodbye to her. And make your piece with your pretty little redheaded girlfriend—she's next."
The line went dead in his ear. "Damn." He looked sideways at Cody. "Anything?"
"Yes, sir! He's just where you thought, and we're almost there."
Donovan took the next turn sharply. Bre grunted from the backseat and she saw him look at her through the rearview mirror. She could see in his eyes he already regretted letting her come along. She gave him a confident look, letting him know she could hold her own and to stop worrying about her.
Bre's silent admonishment made him realize all his thoughts were not on the task at hand. He shook himself mentally and pushed all thoughts of her from his mind. The only thing he needed to think about was Monica, taking down Carmichael and keeping the entire crew safe.
"Stop here," Cody instructed. "The house is the next to the last on the left."
Donovan eased the SUV to a halt and turned off the lights and engine. He turned to face the agents in the back seat. Everyone had their protective gear secured. "Jake—you and Alex go in the front. Sabrena and I will go around the back. Cody—stay outside and alert us if Carmichael comes out."
"Yes, sir!" Cody responded, as the team exited the SUV and headed toward the house.
************
"Come on...let's go," Carmichael said, untying Monica's legs and jerking her from the chair.
"Where are you taking me?" She asked, struggling against his grasp.
"Shut up and move," he said, pushing her up the basement stairs. "You think I don't know Donovan's on his way? That he didn't trace that call from your phone?" He laughed. "I wanted him here. You are just the means to an end."
"Why?" she asked, trying to distract him to buy time. He was pushing her through the living room and towards another set of stairs.
"He's the man in charge, right?"
"Yes."
"Precisely. He put you up to this...to try to stop me. I'll show him who's really in charge. He'll watch...not you, no, not you. You're mine and mine only, Princess. No...the other one, the redhead."
He stopped long enough to shove Monica into a closet and push her to the floor. He retied her feet and attached the rope to her bound hands, trussing her like an animal. Monica laid on her side looking up at him as he secured a gag to her mouth. "He wants her, you see, just as I want you. He'll never have her; I'll see to that." He closed the door, shutting her in the darkness.
************
Jake checked the front door and found in unlocked. He entered first checking the entryway. He motioned for Alex—all clear. They searched the downstairs room by room and found nothing.
Jake heard Donovan through his earpiece. "We're headed to the basement. Check upstairs."
He silently motioned for Alex to head upstairs. When they rounded the corner they saw movement at the base of the stairs. "Federal Agent!" Jake yelled, holding the gun on Carmichael.
Carmichael was taken aback. "No! It's too soon...you shouldn't be here yet!" He moved slowly in the direction of the kitchen, his hands down at his sides.
"Stop now, Carmichael!" Jake warned. Alex was next to him, her gun also locked on Carmichael.
Carmichael moved swiftly, catching Jake and Alex off guard. They barely had a chance to dive out of the way as the knife Carmichael threw came sailing toward them, giving him a chance to make a getaway into the kitchen.
"GOD!" Jake groaned. "Son of a bitch!" He held his thigh where the knife impaled him.
"Jake." Alex bent over him.
"Help me up," he ordered as he pulled the knife from his thigh. "Let's go!"
************
Donovan opened the basement doors that lay flat to the ground at the back of the house. He led the way down the stairs, gun drawn, Bre followed close behind. A small bulb that hung over the stairwell that led into the house lighted the basement, giving them full view of the room. It was empty bar a chair and a small worktable.
Donovan moved to the table. Above it hung several newly developed photographs. The exact ones Bre had described in her vision—down to the one where they laid together in her hospital bed and he had kissed her. He shook his head. Was it true? Visions, ESP and what else? Ghosts. It was hard to accept, and yet he was looking at proof positive.
He turned abruptly to the sound of Bre's gasp. She was near the base of the staircase, staring at a wall covered with pictures. They showed his victims in various stages before their deaths. Cody was right; Carmichael was a sick bastard. He started to walk over to her when the door from upstairs opened and someone ran down the stairs.
Bre turned a moment too late. Carmichael barreled down the stairs, smashing into her, knocking the gun from her hand. He grabbed her and held her as a shield.
"Deja vu," he said, laughing. "Eh, Donovan?" He moved forward quickly, pushing Bre into Donovan, causing them both to tumble to the floor.
Bre got up quickly, keeping an eye on Carmichael. She could sense Donovan getting to his feet. The sudden cracking of dried wood caused Bre to turn in time to see the floor give way beneath Donovan sending him crashing into the depths below.
"Frank!" she cried, as he disappeared into the darkness.
To be continued...