Chapter Seven – Hunted

After leaving Nottingham with Annie, Danny and Sara spent most of the day interviewing acquaintances of the victims.  They focused on coworkers and their employers.  The work was tedious and time consuming, but necessary.  By mid afternoon, they had arrived at Strathford Temporaries where Sandra Kensington had worked as clerical staff.  Her friend and coworker, Kelly Ridley, was the last interview of the day.  She was a petite woman in her 30s with short, blond hair and dark eyes.  Desperately trying to help, Kelly answered every question and even offered more information in an effort to assist them in their investigation.  So far, they were coming up empty.

"We better get back to the hospital, Danny…check on Annie.  My knight in shining armor will be getting hungry soon."  Sara pushed back her chair, standing ready to leave by Kelly's desk.

"What's going to happen to Annie?"  Sandra's concerned friend asked, tears welling up in her eyes.

"Social Services thinks they may have found an uncle in Oregon.  We'll know more later today or tomorrow."  Danny offered as he stood next to Sara.

"I remember Sandy talking about him.  They seemed to get along fine, but he left home and never looked back."  Kelly nodded hopefully.  She caught a tear that rolled down her cheek with a tissue she had been holding in her hand, then continued.

"Oh…before I forget.  Someone needs to pick up Annie's car at Callahan's Garage.  They called today.  Guess whatever work she was having done on it is completed."

Danny and Sara looked at each other in bewilderment before Sara asked, "Is that near here?"

After getting the garage address and location from Kelly, Sara and Danny walked quickly to their unmarked police car parked on the street.  Danny had brought some case files with him to review as Sara drove.  They sat in the car; their minds were working overtime trying to recall details of the other murders.

"That garage name…I think I remember it from one of the other killings…the Hogan case.  Something about a work order or receipt for work done found in her car?"  Sara watched as her partner read over the files setting between them in the front seat.

"Here it is…Carla Hogan and Annette Demaret forensic reports…BINGO!  Both victims had maintenance records indicating work was performed at Callahan's Garage.  We'll need to verify the dates of the work, but this looks promising, partner."  Danny grinned.  It was the first time in weeks she had seen that smile.

"Why didn't we find out about the Kensington car until now?"  Sara asked.

"I remember the initial report…The neighbor said she thought she rode the bus.  Maybe no one ever checked it out."  He shook his head.

"I finally feel we got something here, Danny.  We got enough time to hit the garage before it closes."  Sara turned the key in the ignition as Danny read her the directions to their next stop.

When they got to their destination, they implemented the strategy they had concocted on their way over.  Danny worked with the manager on duty to obtain copies of work orders along with employee names and addresses.  Sara walked the premises looking for anything or anyone suspicious.  The garage had six bays with more than a dozen employees working today.  The amount of activity at Callahan's indicated a successful place of business but could also disguise any unlawful conduct.  Danny found her as she concluded her sweep.

"I got copies of all the work orders for our three victims.  The last work performed for all three were done by the same mechanic."  He smiled, making her wait for the clincher she knew he had.  Her partner had teased like this ever since they had been together, making her pull information from him when he had something incredibly noteworthy.

"And does this mechanic have a scar on his left cheek, Danny?"  She guessed.

"Direct hit…you sunk my battleship, partner.  It seems Randy Wyatt has a rather pronounced scar on his left cheek."  Danny's version of the game Battleship probably had been honed from his experiences with fatherhood.

"I didn't see anyone with a facial scar in the garage, Danny."  Sara was ready for another direct hit.

"Hit me again, partner…You are taking out my entire fleet.  Your keen eye did not discern a facial scar because Randy called in sick today.  I think we should pay him a house call…show him a little of our bedside manner."

The address given by the employer for Wyatt was a motel a few blocks away.  As they pulled into the Liberty Inn, they noticed few cars parked in the lot.  A front desk clerk named Murphy looked up as they entered.

"We rent by the hour or by the day.  Payment up front.  What do you need?"  The sweaty little man stopped leering at Sara when she showed him her badge.

"We're looking for Randy Wyatt…works at Callahan's Garage up the road.  What room is he in?"  Sara asked.  Murphy knew off the top of his head since not many people rented by the week in this dump.

"Room 26…out this door and to your right…last door."

"Any back way out?"  Danny asked.  Murphy shook his head in reply.

"Give me the direct phone number for that room."  Sara demanded.  As the clerk read off the number, Danny keyed it into his cell phone, understanding Sara's request intuitively.

Danny coerced the cooperation of Murphy to give them admittance to the room via his passkey.  With the desk clerk in tow, they were both outside the door with guns drawn and at their sides as they approached room 26.  Murphy was sweating by now, not wanting to be a part of this.  He quietly slipped the key into the door, leaving it to give the detectives access, then scurried back to his desk.  Danny hit the send button on his cell as they positioned themselves outside the door, each on opposite sides.  They listened as the phone in the room rang and rang.  No answer.

Sara nodded to her partner, who turned the key and pushed in the door with his shoulder as she rushed in behind him, their guns aimed purposefully across the room.  The place looked unoccupied.  Danny cautiously pushed back the closet door.  It was empty as well.  He watched as Sara examined the small bathroom to the rear. 

Nothing.  Gone…he was gone. 

The detectives both pulled on latex gloves they kept in their pockets for just such an occasion, not wanting to contaminate a crime scene.  Danny sifted through the waste cans for clues but there was nothing to be found.

"We need to get a team out here…dust for prints."  Sara called it in using her cell phone.

"Look…I'll stay…wait for the team.  As soon as they get here, I'll head to the Precinct…do a little research on our guy.  You need to get back to Annie."  What Danny said made sense.

"Thanks, partner.  Call me at the hospital if anything turns up."  Sara smiled weakly, trying to hide her frustration at being just a step behind this guy.  It had been a good day.  They had been the closest they had ever been to this killer…and they now had a name.  She knew her partner had been feeling the same.  She could see it in his eyes and in the way he set his jaw.  She also knew neither of them was willing to give up. 

She could sense they were close now.  If there was blood in the proverbial shark infested waters; she was bound and determined to make sure it was Randy Wyatt's blood.

*****

Randy Wyatt knew how to blend in, buying a bouquet of flowers, acting like a visitor at St. Elizabeth's hospital.  With carefully applied makeup and a day's growth of beard, the scar on his cheek was not clearly visible.  He was also careful to avoid talking to anyone.  Every time someone looked like they were going to ask if he needed any help in finding a patient's room, he walked authoritatively as if he knew exactly where he was bound.  All the while he kept his eyes and ears open for any information on the mystery witness.  The news coverage talked about a new cardiac wing of the hospital.  It took him a while to find this new wing. 

It was isolated from the rest of the hospital wards, which seemed to be a good thing.  He could see down the far hallway as he rounded the corner.  A lone policeman was on duty outside one of the rooms.  Coming toward him down his targeted hallway were two men, one with a familiar face.  He tried to place the face, searching his memory.  The hair on the back of his neck raised, which was usually a sure sign of danger.  Something wasn't right about this.  He ducked into a nearby restroom to think things through, seeking anonymity by using a stall rather than a urinal.  Voices in the hall were coming closer.  The restroom door opened.

"Seems that damned Petzini's got Irons and that freak Nottingham involved in our business.  Got a call from moneybags this morning.  Seems he wants me to keep him apprised of Nottingham's whereabouts…for reason unknown…as if I don't have enough responsibility with this Lonely Hearts Killer trap we got going on here at the hospital.  Where is that bitch, Orlinsky?"

Hidden away in the stall, he listened intently as the two men talked, using the urinals.

"She's on the third floor in the Children's Ward…to the right as you get off the elevator…near the nurses' station."

"Is Iron's freak of nature with her?"

"As far as I know.  What do you want me to do?"

"Just keep an eye on Iron's boyfriend…or he'll make my life miserable."

Their voices were muffled as they flushed, then washed their hands, but he could hear well enough.  Looking through a crack in the stall door and into the mirror near the sinks, he could clearly see the faces of the two men.  He now recognized one as Captain Dante from the press coverage on TV.  His luck was holding.

"You need me to report on the kid?"

"No.  Some witness we got, huh?  Kid's catatonic and she wanted police protection.  Can you imagine that?  I would have to be a pretty poor Captain if I let that bitch waste tax payer dollars on protecting that so-called witness of hers."

"This idea you had on laying this trap for that lunatic killer is the only way to go, Captain.  He won't have a chance…the stupid bastard."

Captain Dante and his flunky Orlinsky left the room but not before giving the 'stupid bastard' in the stall an idea.

*****

Stopping at her favorite Thai Food restaurant for a couple of orders of spicy noodles and spring rolls, Sara was famished by the time she stepped off the third floor elevator and headed for Annie's room.  Sitting in his customary chair near Annie's bedside, Nottingham looked a little stronger than he had the night before, the color in his cheeks returning. 

"Hey Nottingham…How are you feeling?"

"Better…much better.  Annie has been quiet all day…seems to be resting."

She handed him a carton of Pad Thai Noodles and a couple of spring rolls as she took a seat on the cot using a nearby chair for a makeshift table.  He opted to use one of the sets of chopsticks over the plastic forks she offered.  She had never quite gotten the hang of eating with wood sticks and chose the plastic ware for herself.  Sara wondered if he would give her lessons sometime, but thought Danny might be personally offended if she had not gone to the master, namely him.  Nottingham was painfully quiet and introspective, seemingly content to be in total silence.  Then, he broke the tranquility.

"Did you and your partner have any success today, Detective?"  His formalness took her by surprise.  She thought they had grown closer over the last couple of days.

"What's up Nottingham?  Why so formal?  You usually call me Sara.  What gives?"  They both continued to scarf up the spicy noodles.

"This familiarity we have shared…It has pleased me…but it must not continue if I am to serve you, My Lady."  He bowed his head, keeping his eyes downcast.

"What if I desire this familiarity to continue?  What if I insist upon it?"  She waved her spring roll around as if it were her royal scepter.

He looked up, met her eyes for an instant with confusion written in his.  He had not counted on the wielder reacting this way.  He did not know how to proceed.

"Irons would not approve of it."  He shook his head as he bit into his spring roll.

"You have said that you would do anything to please me…and that you only wish to serve me.  Is that not right?"  Sara had to be clever here.  He slowly nodded, wondering where she was headed.

"Yes…Lady…Sara."  He was obviously confused.  He stuck his chopsticks into his noodles waiting for her to finish her thought.

"Then, how can you serve both Irons and myself in this case…when we want entirely different things?"  Take that bit of logic, Nottingham, she thought.  It took him a while to respond, and when he did, it was with dispirited eyes.

"That is a good question.  I have been reluctant to admit this even to myself."

The saddened look in his eyes bothered her for she did not want to be the cause of his quandary.  He had experienced enough pain this week, both physically and emotionally.

Ian knew Sara's logic was sound.  It pained him to not have a better answer.  He wanted to serve her exclusively but he knew his service to Irons would have to continue if he was to protect the wielder, his beloved Sara.

"Look…I suspect you stay with Irons perhaps out of loyalty…but maybe more in an effort to protect me.  Irons can be a nasty, mean bastard.  No one knows that better than you."  Her candor took him by surprise.  He should have expected it by now.

"I don't want you to put yourself on the line with him because of me.  I can't watch you do that, Ian.  Next time, he may kill you.  I couldn't live with that…that I might have been the cause.  Don't put me in that position."  She continued.

"You do not know what he is like, Sara…you just…it is not that easy.  Just as you do not want to be put in that position…how do you think it would make me feel to see him harm you in any way…and know I could have done something to prevent it."

They stared into one another's eyes, knowing each was right.  In that instant, they also knew that they both cared enough to jeopardize their lives for one another.  Nottingham was the first to pull away.  He stood slowly, stretching his back, then walked slowly to the doorway.  With a deep sigh, he leaned against the door jam, hands in his pockets, facing into the hallway toward the nurses' station.

Sara stood slowly herself and walked up behind him, placing her left thumb through his far left belt loop, then stroking his right forearm with her other hand.  He looked down at her with his beautiful dark eyes, surprised at her forwardness, but appreciating the familiarity.  Such intimacy was foreign to Nottingham.  He was not only unacquainted with affection and the liberties taken between lovers, but he was not sure how to express what he knew was in his heart.  Would Lady Sara accept him as a man?  Reticently, Ian placed his right arm gently around her shoulder.  With his left hand, he hesitantly touched her right cheek with such tenderness, as if it were a rare piece of porcelain.  His boldness surprised him yet she did not resist.  Is this what it was like to have a lover?  He had never dreamed such normalcy would ever be his.  He had given up hope long ago.

His tender exploration warmed Sara's heart for she had longed for this intimacy.  The feel of his body this close to hers felt so good.  Her senses knew him even before they had ever been this close to one another.  The smell of his skin and hair, the way his heart beat in unison with hers, the gentle touch of his fingers on her face, these were all sensations she had felt time and time again.  They were too familiar to be dismissed as wild imaginings.

"I think we've just shared something that we may need to explore…something between you and I…No Witchblade…No Irons…just us."  Sara ventured.

"I am not sure…I would not know how…" Ian was afraid his innocence might be construed as a weakness by Sara.  He had accepted that she had been with other men, yet he felt he might suffer by comparison due to his inexperience.

"As I said before…lean on me…let me do all the work.  You might just be worth the effort."  She teased, rewarded with one of his infrequent yet brilliant smiles.  God, how she loved his smile.

*****

Wyatt appreciated the NYPD Captain and his flunky giving him specific instructions on how to locate their catatonic witness, Kensington's kid.  The third floor of the children's ward was busy.  One more guy with a handful of flowers would not stand out.  As he got off the elevator, he knew the kid's room was to the right so he headed left to scope things out.  Looking down the hall, he saw a tall, dark man with his arm around a woman as they stood in the doorway to a hospital room. 

The woman caught his eye.  She was taller than he normally liked but had long, straight dark hair.  From this distance, he could not discern her eye color from here but she was definitely his type.  His heart rate escalated, his palms began to sweat, as it always did when he targeted new prey. Like all women, she was flaunting her good looks…out in public view…in front of everyone…probably trying to get that poor bastard to do something for her.  He slipped down the hall for a better view.  If this was the woman Captain Dante had been talking about, who was protecting Kensington's catatonic kid on the third floor near the nurses' station, then he had located their witness. 

His luck was still holding.

*****

Nottingham's body tensed, his head jerked to the right, as if he had heard something peculiar.  He pulled his arm off Sara's shoulder quickly, pulling into the room in front of Annie's bed.  Sara was confused by this sudden change in Ian's demeanor.  Did she push him too fast?  Was he having second thoughts about her?

"What's the matter, Ian?"  Sara heart started to race as she noticed Annie had become agitated in her sleep.

"He is here, Sara.  I feel him…He is here…now."  Nottingham looked down the corridors around the room, no one stood out.  Do not leave Annie's side, he thought.  Protect Annie.

Ian looked back into the room, focusing on the child he was sworn to protect.  She would soon start screaming.  She knew…could feel him, too.  There was not much time.  Nottingham had to make a quick and agonizing decision.  As much as he was drawn to fight by Sara's side, having trained his whole life to do so, he had no choice but to protect the defenseless youngster.  He took his place near her bedside.

"Annie is going to be needing me…very soon.  I may need you to help me connect with her.  It will be dangerous."  Nottingham leaned over the small girl as she started to wrestle with her IV and wildly flail at the nightstand and bed rails again.  He held her down as gently as he could, not wanting to inadvertently hurt the small, frail child.  He continued.

"He is on this floor…somewhere.  I am certain she and I will be able to feel him as he gets closer.  I will release you to pursue him, Sara.  Just keep him away from Annie."  Ian sat near her bed, starting to center his focus on Annie.  He trusted Sara so he could devote all his attentions to the small girl for she needed him most.

Sara's anxiety was growing rapidly.  She kept looking over her shoulder into the hallway, desperately trying to avoid getting attacked while they were in Annie's world.  Nottingham was having trouble connecting with the child.  His breathing was erratic.  Through his pain and fear for Annie and Sara, his ability to focus was being tested.  Growing feverish with this attempt, he shuddered trying to get over the brink into the dark chasm of Annie's mind.  He reached back, desperately groping for Sara's hand.  He would need her to make the link.  Sara reached for his hand…and was instantaneously sucked into the swirling darkness.  Ablaze with fear, her stomach turned upside down as if she were being hurled down the steep tracks of a runaway roller coaster.

"He's here…I can feel him…The Monster!"  Annie screamed.

"Yes…He is here, little one.  That is why I came…to take you to safety.  Lady Sara and I are here to defend you.  No one will harm you, child."

"I can feel Lady Sara nearby…"

"She is by my side…The Lady has a powerful weapon.  She will be leaving soon to slay the monster.  Are you ready to come with me, my brave girl?"

"Just hold me…and I will come, Sir Ian.  Hold me."  Ian scooped the small girl into his arms, holding her tightly.

Although Ian was now speaking directly to Sara, he recognized the importance of maintaining a self-assured façade for Annie sake.

"Our plan has worked, Lady Sara.  The monster is within our reach…in our trap.  Go now.  Do what must be done."  Before separating himself from Sara, he continued.  "I made you a promise, but know this…if you fail…it shall be my turn."  He released Sara's hand while he continued to stay with Annie.

*****

Randy Wyatt had slipped cautiously down the hallway, turning into rooms, acting like he had made a mistake if someone paid too much attention to him.  As he drew closer, he was able to get a better look at her.  All of his attention was focused on that room with the deceiver in it…the one with the long, dark hair and light eyes.  Surprisingly, she closely resembled her…but then they all did to him.  The tall, dark man with her seemed to be in a meditative state, similar to the kid's condition.  He didn't look well at all.  The woman's back was to him so he could not see if she was in a similar state.  Only the space of two doorways separated him from his quarry.  This may prove to be easier than he had originally thought.  All three now appeared to be in the same hypnotic condition.  Placing his hand in his coat pocket, he griped the handle of the knife he had brought this time. 

Only five steps away, he began to fantasize how he would shut the door to the room slowly behind him.  He would creep up behind the tall, dark haired man for he would be the greatest threat.  Grabbing his hair, he would then slit his throat as he sat dazed by the kid's bed.  As the man gurgled his final breath and the last of his blood spewed forth onto the bed linens, he would make the 'little witness' watch as he would take his time with her…the liar…the cheater.  He inched his way closer to the room, in a stupor of his own.

"Hey, Pez…Did I miss something?"  Danny had rounded the corner and entered the room, only to find Nottingham and Sara with Annie, oblivious to his entrance.  He had seen Nottingham do this before, but Sara? 

Who the hell is that?  Wyatt rolled to his right and ducked into the nearest room, flowers in hand.  He narrowly missed bumping into the Asian man who had walked into the room ahead of him.  He chastised himself for almost getting caught.  His anger boiled underneath his skin as he threw the flowers across the room.  He was met with the stares of two young boys as they lay in their hospital beds watching television.

"Women…You can't live with them…and you can't cut 'em up and put 'em in your freezer."  He smirked, trying to make it appear a joke.  The boys seemed to appreciate his brand of humor.  He waited for the right moment to make his exit toward the elevators.  There was always tomorrow.  The green-eyed woman's image would not let him forget.  He had no doubt he would face her again.

When Nottingham had released her hand, Sara was abruptly pulled back into reality, gripping Annie's bed to maintain her balance.  It took her mind a moment to clear before she realized Nottingham had told her the killer was here…now.  Grabbing Danny's arm, pulling him into the hall with her, she quickly tried to bring him up to speed.

"He's here, Danny.  Randy Wyatt is here…now." 

"How do you know, Sara?  Have you seen him?  What does he look like?"  Danny was totally confused by all of this.  Trusting his partner, he unsnapped his holster.  "What's going on with you and Nottingham…in some kind of trance?"

"You're just going to have to trust me, partner.  I'll explain things when there's time.  I just know he's here."  She stated authoritatively, giving her partner no room for debate.

Following Danny's lead, she unsnapped the holster to free her gun but would not draw it in this public place unless she had no choice.  Darting further into the corridor, Sara looked down the hallway to her right, then straight ahead towards the elevators.  A tall, dark haired man was walking casually toward the elevators.  The Witchblade began to radiate heat and swirl a red, angry hue.  Hoping her faithful partner could not see the change in her bracelet, Sara silently nodded her head in the man's direction, giving Danny a quick hand signal to follow her.

The detectives walked steadily toward their man.  He had punched the button for the elevator; the down arrow flashed with a muted ring to indicate the elevator had arrived.  As the doors slowly opened, Sara and Danny were just two steps behind him.  They stepped onto the elevator, dismayed to find it fully occupied by an elderly couple, a mother with her small boy, and a young Hispanic orderly.  Danny was closest to their suspect and did not notice what floor he had pressed.  Sara pushed into the back of the elevator with Danny just behind her.

Wyatt caught a brief glimpse of her, now with this Asian guy.  This bitch was worse than his mother, the whore.  She's got her hands all over the guy in the hospital room, then she's getting it on with Jackie Chan.  He was beginning to loose it.  He had to think…think clearly, he repeated to himself.  His anger would give him away.  Stay in control, he thought.  They were behind him in the elevator.  They could not have known who he was.  Could They?  Turning his head to the left, he tried to keep a low profile, not drawing attention to himself.  Even if they suspected him, the elevator was full.  He knew they would not risk trying to take him here.  He was safe for now.  Still, she was close enough for him to smell her fear.  He wanted her. 

His eyes glanced down to the control panel.  Someone had pressed the first floor of the garage.  If they were following him, he would be safe at least until he could draw them into the garage.  Suppressing a smile, he knew he would get his chance with her, after he got rid of Mr. Kung Pao.

*****

"Hold me, Sir Ian.  Take me with you.  I don't want to be in the closet anymore." 

Nottingham clutched the small child to his chest, absorbing her fear, cradling her in his strong arms.  He tried to keep his mind off Sara.  Even with the power of the Witchblade, he still wanted to be with her, to protect her.

"Open your eyes, little one.  I will be there when you awaken…to protect you.  Now, my Annie…Now."

Nottingham waited to feel Annie gasp for air as they parted before he did the same.  They both shook uncontrollably, holding onto one another until the quaking abated.  After she calmed a bit, Ian laid the small child gently onto the pillow, brushing back her hair and looking into her eyes for the first time.  He was weak and felt nauseous, but he had prayed for her recovery…and now he looked into her gorgeous blue eyes.  Smiling, he was the first to speak.

"Pleased to meet you, My Lady.  You can call me Sir Ian…and I am at your service with every beat of my heart."

The sweet smile on Annie's face warmed his heart.  Searching his memory, in that briefest of moments, he could not ever remember anyone being that happy to see him.  He was an instrument of destruction, a purveyor of Irons' form of justice.  Never had he brought such joy as he witnessed in this child's precious face.  It was a reminder of the road he had chosen for himself.  Setting aside the personal pain of his road less traveled; his only wish was that Sara could have been here to witness such beauty in this single manifestation.

Nottingham wanted to relish the moment a bit longer but the killer's presence could still be felt, though it was faint.  Hoping that Annie was not as aware of this, he tried to distract her.

"Lady Sara has commanded me to take you to a very safe place.  She will be joining us later.  Are you ready, little one?"  Annie nodded trustingly. 

Closing the room door, Ian removed the IV from the little girl's arm and brought her clothes so she could change.  She was weak, so he had to help her button her blouse and tie her shoelaces. 

"Are you hungry, My Lady?  Maybe some soup?"  He asked.

"Maybe some soup, Sir Ian…only if you will eat with me."  This remark brought a smile to Nottingham's face.

"Then soup it shall be…for My Lady."

He left a rather cryptic note for Sara…meant only for her eyes and understanding.

Roses are Red.

Violets are Blue.

I have taken the angel

for a much better view.

From high a loft with a

Fire escape built for two,

we shall eagerly await

Chicken Noodle & you.

Forever in your service,

The Poet Warrior

With a smile, he laid the note on the nightstand in Annie's room.  Wrapping Annie in a blanket, he hoisted her into his arms, grabbing the bag Sara had left in the room.  Having her arms around his neck made his heart swell with affection, making him long for things he now had no hopes of attaining.  The child entwined her small fingers in his hair, forcing him to grieve for what might have been.  How could he have known, as a child the same age as Annie, that his choice to follow Irons would have such a sweeping consequence?  With a sigh, he opened the door, then waited a few minutes for the hallway to clear before making his escape to a nearby stairwell.

As he was hailing the taxicab on the street, with Annie wrapped warmly in her blanket; his thoughts turned to Sara.  Her beautiful, green eyes haunted him.  He only hoped he would see them again for he could not bear to think otherwise.