AN: Yay, another chapter up. Thanks you again for all the reviews. I love them, they make me so happy. Oh, and would like to give all the people reading this a fair warning. You guys are going to have to deal with not having a new chapter for 4 whole days on thursday through sunday. I'm going on vacation to New York and I won't me near a computer. It's already depressing me. Alright, on with the story I say!
She knew instantly who he was though he had changed a bit from his mug shot. He was a little cleaner and not as scraggly looking. But it was him, no doubt about. Tyler Dirchy. He had found her somehow. She made a mental note to shot at the social worker and anybody at the safe home for realizing her information to this man. Assuming of course he didn't kill her.
'You gotta stop thinking like that Sara' she told her self stubbornly. She kept her eye to the peep hole, thankful it didn't work both ways. One...Two...Three breaths and the man knocked again, much more impatient. Sara knew the only thing that kept him from smashing the door in was the fact that he would alert the whole apartment building to his presence. He wouldn't want that.
Sara felt a small hand grab her own hand. Despite the fact she knew it must be Tony she jumped. She was surprised the little boy had woken up. Kids always seemed to be there when things like this were happing. They always seemed to have a sense for it. Sara was the same way when she was little. She'd always know when her parents had their silent fights.
Sara held the little boy's hand and squeezed. The man knocked again. Sara knew he wouldn't give up.
'Stay calm. Stay strong,' she thought. She had to keep her head if she and Tony were going to come out of this. Fear still coursed through her veins. She looked through the peep hole again. She couldn't spot a weapon on him, but her view was limited.
Now her head started working. She picked Tony up. He didn't make a noise or struggle at all. She took him to her closet and put him on the floor.
"Tony, look at me sweetie," she said. The little boy looked up at her. She saw fear in his eyes, even in the dim light. "Stay here okay. Don't move." He nodded and hugged his knees to his chest. It occurred to Sara that this probably wasn't the first time he had to do this.
Sara went to her cabinet where she had her gun. She didn't plan on opening the door, or even letting Dirchy know there was someone in the apartment. But feeling the gun in her hand made her feel safer. Then she used her cell phone to call Brass. Less noise then her house phone and Brass would be able to help her more then 911.
"Brass," Brass said at the other end of the line.
"Brass, it's Sara."
"Sara what's up," There was concern in his voice.
"Can...um...can you send a squad car or something over to my apartment. There is this guy, Tyler Dirchy. He's the main suspect in the case Greg is working. The case with the little boy. Dirchy's at my apartment right now, pounding on my door."
As if her had heard her, Dirchy knocked on the door again.
"Yeah, I'll be over there. We'll get him. Don't open the door Sara, don't talk to him."
"I know Brass."
"Just making sure."
"Thanks. And Brass, try to come quietly. I don't want him being tipped off."
Sara sat facing the door, still holding her gun, waiting for Brass to get there. She was calmer now. He obviously wasn't going to break her door down, but she was still a bit nervous.
Only a few moments later she heard the cop car sirens.
"Damn it Brass, I said no sirens," she said, forgetting to keep her mouth shut.
Dirchy had obviously heard the sirens too. He discarded the 'keep quite' idea and started to bang on her door with all his might.
"I WILL GET THAT KID BACK, BITCH," he shouted through the door. Sara aimed her gun at the door should he knock it down. Several moments passed with no noise except the sirens and wailings from the babies next door.
Then there was another knock on her door.
"Sara, it's me," came Brass's voice. Sara quickly let him in. Along with him came a few uniformed cops.
"Brass I thought I said to come quietly," Sara said.
"Yeah, well we figured it was better to scare him off. Don't worry, we'll but out alerts for him all over the city."
Sara nodded still a little shaken up. When Brass asked her she recounted everything even though there wasn?t much to say. Tony had come out of the closet, obviously realizing the coast was clear. He wasn't to happy about having people all around but he didn't complain or say anything at all.
Brass was obviously in control, ordering some of the officers to do canvases on the building, trying to find out if anybody else saw him.
Greg came by at one point, more stressed out then he should be.
"Sara, are you sure you're okay," He asked.
Sara, who was holding Tony again, nodded. "We're both fine," she insisted, not finding it odd that she was already referring to Tony and herself as one unit. The little boy had made himself a permanate place in her home and heart in only a few days.
Greg gave her a disbelieving look.
"Greg we are fine. A little shaken up, yes, but he didn't even get into the apartment."
Greg sighed. "I'm sorry Sara. I just can't help being worried about you. I know you're strong but sometimes I think you get it into your head that you're invincible or something."
Sara glared at him.
"Don't give me that look Sara you know you do get like that sometimes. And I can't help but worry that... I don't know... maybe you won't be back to solve another crime. And I'd never be able to live with myself if anything happened to you."
And he hugged her tightly, little boy and all.