Chapter 3 - Phone Call
The note, Nick thought to himself, if I show them the note, it might clear my name. Also, it might help them figure out who the real murderer is.
"I have something you both really need to see," Nick began.
Nick thought to himself, "I have something you both really need to see," Nick began.He walked into his kitchen, not even giving Brass time to say 'We really need to get this questioning done'. He searched the table where he swore he had set down the note, but it wasn't there.
"No... I know I put it here."
He quickened his search, knowing that it had to be somewhere. A piece of paper just doesn't grow legs and walk away. After what seemed like an eternity of searching, he saw something white on the floor pushed up against the side of the counter. It must have fallen when he'd thrown it onto the counter. Breathing a sigh of relief, he picked it up. Everything was about to be cleared up... so he thought. As he began to walk to where Brass and Catherine were waiting, he heard the distinct sound of his cell phone ringing from within his living room.
Showing them this note is more important. Mere seconds after the caller had hung up, Nick heard his cell phone ring once more, and decided that it must be important. As quickly as he could, he rushed over to pick it up.
"Hello," he said into it.
"Don't you dare."
Nick's heart skipped a beat.
"What are you talking about?" Nick questioned, even though in the back of his mind, he had an idea of what the caller was saying.
"You know what I mean. The note. In your hand."
Nick could feel the beads of sweat forming on his face. Whoever had left him that note, whoever had killed that woman was watching him right at that very moment. A part of him wanted to run, run over to Brass and Catherine. He knew that if he made it over there, they could help him and whoever was calling wouldn't be able to hurt him. The other part of him was ordering him to stay. Perhaps it was the part of him that was damaged from everything that had happened to him. From the incident that occurred with the babysitter when he was nine, from being buried alive and being moments from his own death. From the time when he first had a gun held in his face by Mrs. Hendler. From the time when he had a gun held in his face for a second time by the stalker Nigel Crane.
Nigel.
Could it be Nigel who was watching him?
No, Nick quickly thought, Nigel is in a jail cell right now paying for what he'd done. It couldn't be him.
Before Nick had the chance to make a decision on what he was going to do, the person on the other line spoke once more. "I see you've got people at your door. It would be a pity if they had to get hurt because you decided to do something stupid. Something stupid like tell them about this."
Nick froze. He didn't want anyone else to get hurt, just because he wanted to do something to save himself.
"I'm not going to hurt you. As long as you keep my secret, I know you saw me. Every thing will be fine as long as you don't open your big mouth."
The logical part of Nick wasn't in control as his lips formed the word 'okay'. The caller didn't sound very sincere in saying that he wouldn't harm him, but Nick didn't want to do anything to make whoever it was angry.
After the caller had hung up, Nick crumbled up the piece of paper and shoved it into his pocket. He couldn't tell them. He couldn't risk it. The caller...the killer was watching.
"I'm sorry, I couldn't find it. I guess it wasn't really relevant to this case anyway," Nick lied when he finally walked back over to where Brass and Catherine were waiting.
After a few more questions, Brass and Catherine left. The moment they drove off, Nick could feel his heartbeat race. He was alone, and someone was watching him.
Once Nigel was sent to jail, Nick often had nightmares that he was still being watched. That someone was glaring at his every move. That he was no longer safe in his own home. And now, his nightmares were coming to life.
xXxXx
"So, Nick's the suspect for a murder?" Warrick asked when he saw Catherine in the hallway.
"How on earth did you find that out?" she questioned, turning her head to look at Warrick.
"Yeah, half the lab knows. But hey, it's Nicky. He'd never kill anyone," Warrick added with a slight laugh, "I wonder who is trying to set him up for this murder. He sure gets all the bad luck... remember Kristy?" Catherine nodded. Warrick expected at least half a smile to creep upon her face, but he saw nothing.
"He acted so weird when Brass and I went to question him..." Catherine trailed off, starting to walk away.
"Whoa. Wait a second Cath," Warrick said as he caught up with her, "You don't think Nicky did this did you?"
"No, I don't think he did... but I definitely think there's something that he's not telling me."