Author's Note: Okay, I'm on a roll again with this story. Good, right? Anyway... Apologies in advance, because this chapter is kind of short, and there's a cliffhanger at the end... Take you all so much for the reviews! They really do mean a lot to me! Please keep reviewing!
Distribution: None so far! If you want it, take it, just give me a link!
Always Watching
Chapter 9
Her throat tightened, and she could feel the tears of helplessness springing to her eyes. Jaw clenched, she fought them down. 'Moceri will have everyone posted outside the hotel,' she thought, her fear growing. If he saw them...he would hurt one of her friends. Lita sat down on the bed, her hands trembling. She had to get the cops away! But it would leave her totally alone, with only herself to rely on for strength. 'I could call someone to come in exactly at six!' No, no. He was watching her, even now. He had probably bugged her phone calls. Lita felt tears sting her eyes, but she knew what she had to do. If the cops remained, someone would get hurt. It would keep on going. It was doubtful that the detectives could even find the suspect if they got more time.
Lita picked up the phone and dialed the number that she now knew by heart. She closed her eyes as it picked up.
"Moceri."
"Lita here."
"Hey, Lita. How are you doing?"
"Okay, a little relieved," Lita bit on her lip once more, hating the fact that she had to lie.
"I'm a little curious as to why," he told her.
"I got another letter in my room," she told him. "He basically reprimanded me for telling the cops about the meeting, and said the next time he set one up I'd better not to the same. He said he wasn't going to come tonight."
"I'll come over right away," he promised. Lita swore inwardly.
"Detective...Can't it wait until tomorrow?" she asked pleadingly. "Look, I know it's an important clue or whatever, but it's going to be the same thing as the others. I really just want to relax for the rest of the night," her voice was pleading.
"I suppose that will be okay," Captain Moceri said, and it was clear in his voice he'd rather be on his way to her hotel. Lita forced herself to not say anything else. "He's coming in less than a half an hour!" she wanted to scream, but she couldn't.
"Thank you...for everything, Captain," Lita said, her chest tightening as she glanced at the clock. 5:48. Her hands began to tremble again. "Goodnight," she whispered into the phone, letting a tear roll down her cheek as she dangled the phone over the cradle.
"Lita-" Captain Moceri began to say. There was something wrong, he knew it, by her voice.
Clank. The phone fell against its cradle, hanging up on the detective and cutting off his sentence. Lita turned away from it, hugging herself for comfort. Twelve minutes... She pursed her lips tightly, trying to stop her hands from shaking. Everything seemed to start moving a faster pace. The redhead stood up, making her way to the bathroom, her head dizzy with fear. She stumbled through the bathroom, rifling through everything. 'Weapon...I need a weapon,' her eyes blurred with tears as objects clattered to the floor. Finally, her hand reached a nail file, the closest thing to a weapon she could find. She tried to brush the tears from her cheeks. 'Calm down,' she willed herself, but she was too far gone into panic to notice. Lita sat down on the lid of the toilet, putting her head in her hands.
Suddenly, a beeping noise filled the room. Lita jerked and her eyes widened. The realization that it was simply her watch telling her that it was six o'clock did nothing at all to quell her feel. Shakily, she stood, gripping the nail file in her sweaty hand. Lita made her way to the bathroom door, inhaling deeply. She grabbed the doorknob, and flung the door open, her eyes snapping around the room.
No one was there.
Her eyes fell on the small table near the window. Pulse racing, she stepped slowly to it. On top of it, a small metal vase was placed, two red roses inside. Lita tried to slow her breathing as she approached, and failed miserably. Her hand reached out, plucking the small card between the roses.
Lita...
Turn around.
Her heart pounded against her chest, and she found herself out of breath. Lita swallowed tightly, her grip on the nail file increasing. She could feel her entire body shaking, and willed herself to stay where she was, but, with a mind of its own, her body turned.
Lita swallowed the scream building in her throat, terror replacing the fear. She stepped back, pumping against the table. The vase tilted, and clattered to the carpeted floor. Lita raised her hand with the nail file only slightly, her breathing coming quick. The redhead barely recognized her voice.
"B...B-Benoit?!"
