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Chapter 15: Leo's Plan in Action

Leo finished talking to the reporter and walked over to where Prue and Phoebe stood with Laurie.

"Glad you could make it," Leo said to Phoebe.

"Leo, what is this about?" Prue asked, shifting hading Laurie to him. Laurie put her arms around his neck and laid her head on his shoulder. He gently rubbed her back.

"Where's Piper?" Phoebe asked immediately after.

"Piper is alive. She is out of surgery and is in ICU. She hasn't regained consciousness and isn't allowed visitors right now. But I need your help."

"With what?"

"To catch McGunther."

"What!" Prue exclaimed as if it was the most ridiculous thing she ever heard.

"How?" Phoebe asked more calmly, ready to help.

"Phoebe, I need you to take Laurie home and keep her safe. An officer will be watching the manor."

Phoebe nodded her head. "Okay."

"What about me?" Prue asked.

Leo took a deep breath. "What I need you to do is more dangerous. I need you to pretend to be Piper."

"What?" Prue asked in confusion.

"I talked to the reporter and they are going to issue a broadcast about Piper and the situation with McGunther. They are going to say she is alive and is being treated at San Francisco Memorial. I'm hoping this will draw him out of hiding and to the hospital. I've rigged the computer hospitals to say Piper is in a different room than she really is. That should keep her safe enough. We think McGunther is an experience computer hacker because that is the only way he could have found Piper at the manor and later when she was in protective custody. He must have figured out a way to hack into the police files. If he can do that, he sure as hell can break into the hospital computers."

Prue was still looking at him. "So why do I have to pretend to be Piper?"

"Because we're going to put you in the fake room. McGunther will probably find a way in and try to kill you. Me and a couple of officers will be waiting for him and arrest him before he can do anything to you."

"So you want me to lie on a bed, pretending to be Piper and wait for some guy to come in and kill me?"

Leo was silent for a moment before answering. "Yeah, that's about it."

"Oh, joy," she said sarcastically.

"Let me do it," Phoebe said.

Both turned to her. "NO," Prue said.

"I know self defense. I can protect myself better than Prue can. Besides, Prue, Laurie knows you better than me. She'll be more comfortable around you. Please, I want to do this. I want to catch her shooter."

Leo looked at her. "That's a good idea. Since you already know self defense, it may be safe than using Prue."

"Phoebe, I am not going to let you do this," Prue protested.

"Well too bad. You don't have a choice."

Leo gave Laurie a hug and set her on the floor. He kneeled down to get a good look at her face. "Laurie, I want you to go with Aunt Prue. She's going to take you home, okay?"

Laurie shook her head. "I want to stay with Daddy."

"Laurie, do you remember the bad man?"

Laurie nodded her head, fear in her eyes.

"He's going to come to the hospital, and I want you to go home with Aunt Prue where you'll be safe."

"What about Mommy? Is he going to hurt Mommy?"

Leo hugged her close. "No, Sunshine. He's not going to hurt Mommy. I won't let him."

That seemed to calm Laurie some and she gave Leo a kiss on his cheek. "Bye-bye, Daddy. I love you."

"I love you too, Sunshine. Now you be good for Aunt Prue."

"Okay," she said as she took Prue's hand. Leo watched them until they were out of his sight.

"You're good with her," Phoebe said.

"Thanks," he said. "I just wish I knew sooner."

"Better late than never," Phoebe quirked. Then she thought of Piper and became all serious once more. "Come on, Leo. Let's go catch this bastard."

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"Piper Halliwell, renowned owner of the night club P3, was admitted into San Francisco Memorial Hospital yesterday afternoon as a result of a gunshot wound. The shooter his believed to be Scott McGunther, who was accused of raping and murdering three women a few years ago, but avoided jail time due to a technicality. Piper Halliwell and her three-year-old daughter, Laurie, were witnesses to a murder committed by McGunther and were placed in police protection. How McGunther found out where they were being kept is a mystery, but once he did he kidnapped Laurie. Police were able to safely locate the girl a reunite her with her family.

"But yesterday, as she was walking down Harrison Street, she was shot by whom police believe to be Scott McGunther. Piper Halliwell was taken to San Francisco Memorial where she is now alive, but in critical condition. But doctors are optimistic that she will pull through.

"Now, back to Dennis in the newsroom…"

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McGunther snapped off the broadcast and threw the remote across the room. Damn it, the bitch had survived. Couldn't she just die and do everyone a favor?

He calmed himself. It was alright. He could just kill her in a more…personal way. He walked over to the chest on the floor and took out a scarf. He had used it to kill one of the women he had raped and killed. Morgan had fought until the end. And she was the one who almost got him caught. But not quite. He was still free, and he was going to kill Piper Halliwell.

He felt the silky material of the scarf in his hand. It calmed him and he walked over to his computer and turned it on.

I hope you've said your goodbyes, Piper Halliwell, he thought as he logged onto the hospital mainframe.