Chapter Twelve
There was still no trace of Cliff or Robbie as they frantically searched. Stella had dug deeper into their backgrounds and come up with little. There was something missing and it was driving Mac crazy. The day was growing late again and he continually found his thoughts drifting to Mady. He sighed as he sat in his office trying to concentrate. He was tired. He was distracted.
Finally he gave into impulse. He knew where he wanted to stay tonight, and maybe he could talk to them and see if they remember anything else that is helpful. He told Stella he was leaving for the night and she gave him a questioning look. He didn't answer, just walked away. She watched him leave.
He got to the safe house and relieved the inside cop. Mady smiled when she saw him and it seemed to brighten his day. He smiled back. The boy then came out of the back to see what was going on and Mac thought he saw a tiny smile flit across the boy's lips. He wasn't sure. Mac sat down on the couch and rubbed the back of his neck. Mady sat in the chair.
"Have you found anything more?" Mady asked wringing her hands in her lap.
"We found a Clifford Jenkins. You know him?" Mac asked. He noticed Kolby James' head snap to him when he said the name. Mac glanced at the boy, but he wasn't showing any emotion.
"Clifford Jenkins? I don't think so."
"How much do you know about Robbie's past?" Mac asked.
"He was adopted when he was fourteen, before that he was in the system as he called it. He said he bounced from place to place. Said he didn't remember his real parents, didn't know how he came to be in the system. He said he came from the west, or at least he thought he did, but a family in New York adopted him. They had their own son too."
"So you don't know about the first adoption?"
"First adoption?"
"When he was four," Mac said glancing at Kolby James briefly before continuing, "he was adopted in the state of Nebraska with another boy named Clifford. The boys were four and three. Nine years later the adoptive parents and the other three kids living in the house were murdered."
"What?"
"Clifford and Robbie were the only two to survive. They were suspects in the case, but they never had enough evidence to convict and the DA wouldn't bring charges against them without solid proof since they were minors."
"You think Robbie killed them?" Mady asked in shock as her hand came up to cover her mouth. She felt like screaming. This man had her children.
"That's what the cops who investigated think. Robbie then bounced around from foster home to foster home. He eventually ended up in California. We don't really know why, but one of his foster fathers' ended up dead. Again there was no solid evidence to convict him but the police thought Robbie was good for it."
"My God," Mady breathed as the tears came down. Kolby James had a hard look on his face. He was standing, leaning against the wall, his eyes downcast to the floor. Mac kept an eye on him while still speaking to Mady.
"Then Robbie was adopted by the Beale's. That's how he came here. Did you ever meet the Beale's?"
"I met Ryan and the mother, Karen, but I never met Dustin. Dustin was Robbie's adopted father. He went on a hunting trip and disappeared. No one ever heard from him again."
"Another disappearance associated with Robbie. We also tracked Cliff Jenkins. He bounced around after the murder in Nebraska; he was separated from Robbie when Robbie went to California. He was violent in the homes. He was arrested on two separate occasions after he put other foster children in the hospital. He was also adopted by a family in New York, but after difficulties between them he went his separate way at the age of eighteen."
"What does this have to do with us?"
"You are sure you never met Clifford? Or maybe heard Robbie talk about him?"
"No," Mady said in a whisper. Mac could tell she was trying hard to remember. Kolby James walked over to her. Mac could see he was clenching his jaw muscle. The boy laid a hand on his mother's shoulder. She shook her head. She didn't know anything. How could she spend so much time with this monster and not even know it?
Mac got up and walked over to her. He squatted down in front of her and gave her a small smile. Kolby James watched him curiously. Mac reached out and put his hand over hers. She bit her lip and nodded.
"I'll find your children," he said.
Robbie and Cliff sat in the yard behind the house in the shadows. They were waiting. The cops had not noticed anything at all. Robbie felt the anger building in him the more he thought about Mady and that cop. Cliff sat calmly, watching.
Finally Cliff put an arm out and tapped Robbie on the shoulder. Robbie looked at him coming out of his musings. Cliff pointed to the house and a car pulling into the driveway. Robbie looked up.
"That's him," Robbie mumbled as Mac got out of the car and headed inside. They waited for the other cop to leave then Robbie told Cliff to go get the truck. Cliff hurried to the truck and roared it to life. He drove slowly towards the house, his brights on to draw attention.
"What kind of truck was Beale seen driving?" Goodrich asked his partner.
"Red ford, older model. Jersey plates." The other cop replied.
"Like that one?" Goodrich asked pointing to the red ford truck driving towards them with its brights on.
They both took a closer look and then Goodrich scrambled for the radio. He radioed the other car about the red truck coming towards the house. They were all nervous now. Goodrich contacted Mac in the house and let him know that there was a truck matching the description of Beale's vehicle in the vicinity. Goodrich said he couldn't confirm the driver because of the bright lights. Mac had a bad feeling in his stomach.
Soon the truck stopped in front of the house and Goodrich got out of his vehicle with his gun drawn and approached the vehicle. As he was about to reach the window and see the driver, the truck squealed to life and spun its tires as it tore away from him. Goodrich sprinted back to his car, flipped his lights on with the siren and then raced off after the truck. The other car bit too and screamed down the street joining the pursuit.
When they heard the sirens go off in front of the house both Mady and Kolby James jumped. Mac pursed his lips and felt his gut churn. This didn't seem right. He looked around the room quickly and considered his options. This would be the safest room. Although there was a large window it was easily covered. Mac moved the couch out from the wall and had them both sit on the floor behind it. When he went to stand up and check the house Mady grabbed his hand. Her grip was like steel. He looked down at her.
"Please be careful," she said in a whisper. Mac nodded. He saw the raw fear in her eyes and would do anything to take it away. His other hand brushed gently along her cheek. She closed her eyes. He then put the hand on Kolby James' shoulder.
"I will. You take care of your mother, ok?" Mac said. The boy nodded. Mac jumped up and drew his gun. He saw Mady draw Kolby James closer to her then. He walked cautiously around the room, trying to stay out of the window looking for any sign outside, or in the house. It was quiet now that the sirens were gone.
Robbie saw the truck pull up in front of the house and wait. He watched as a cop came out and then the truck took off. He smiled when the cops took the bait and followed. This was almost too easy he thought. He approached the house slowly. He scanned the windows and saw movement coming from the living room. He stayed in the shadows avoiding being seen. He watched as the cop frantically looked around, trying to see any danger. This guy was smart Robbie thought. He didn't bite on the truck. Robbie came around to the window, and stayed just out of sight. He could still see in. It was nice that way, back lit by the lamps, while he was in darkness outside.
He brought his gun up and took aim. He would kill the cop first. He was the only threat. The boy he could easily handle once inside, but the cop that was a different matter. He waited patiently as the cop had his back to him. He didn't want to shoot him in the back; he wanted to see his face when the bullet tore into him. Finally his chance came.
Mac turned around and tried desperately to see into the darkness outside. The thought came to him then, turn the lamps off. He was reaching for the lamp when he heard glass shatter, the report of a gun, then the hot searing pain in his shoulder. The force knocked him up and back as he was thrown into the wall behind him. The lamp shattered underneath him. His gun was flung from his hand. He had no idea where it had landed. He heard a scream but he wasn't sure who it came from.
His brain was fuzzy. The force of the impact had smacked his head off the wall. He blinked then tried to move his hand. He couldn't. It was numb. He could feel the hot sticky blood leaking from his shoulder, down his chest and arm. The bullet had hit him in the ball of his shoulder. His arm was completely useless. It hummed with a dull ache from where the bullet ripped into him to the numb hand. His breathing was increasing as he gasped for air and he tried desperately to control it. The blood had soaked through his shirt now. It had seemed like hours, but in reality only a few seconds. His mind jolted with a single thought then: Mady.
He reached around with his left hand frantically searching for his service weapon. It wasn't within reach. He looked, he couldn't see it. He knew whoever had shot him would be in the house any moment now. He had to think. He tried to move, but his body was not responding. The blood spewing from the hole in his shoulder was very warm; it felt hot against his cold skin. Don't go into shock! His brain screamed at him. He looked around, but things seemed to go in slow motion. He felt a wave of nausea hit him. He swallowed hard.
The door flow open as the jamb splintered. Mac blinked his eyes, the lids were growing heavy. He had no idea where Mady or Kolby James were; he thought he heard a scream. He had no idea who had just come into the house. He was very tired. He looked around again for his gun, but still didn't see where it had landed. He looked up as a man walked up to him. The man stared at him for a moment; Mac could see the queer smile on his face.
Robbie kicked at the door, hearing the wood splinter on the other side. He heard Mady scream and he smiled. They were somewhere in the room. He looked over at the shattered lamp and then the cop on the floor. He was slumped against the wall, his right arm hanging limply from his body. Robbie could see the blood soaking the white dress shirt the cop was wearing. The man had a distant look in his eyes. His breathing was erratic. He was going into shock. Robbie smiled.
He walked up to the cop and squatted down in front of him. His smile grew as the other man struggled to concentrate on him. The cop was looking around, for his weapon. Robbie pulled his gun up and pressed the barrel into the wound on the cops shoulder.
Robbie was squatting in front of him now. Mac didn't know what he could do but he knew he had to do something. He felt so tired, so weak. He couldn't even move his left arm now. There was no strength left. He had failed. His eyes were rolling up in his lids when he felt red hot searing pain cascade down his arm from the shoulder to his hand, and then down his chest. He gasped for air and his eyes flew open seeing Robbie pressing the barrel of a gun into the wound. Robbie wore a sadistic smile on his face.
"Still with me?" Robbie asked in a whisper. "Good, I win. You know that? That whore thought you would save her, but I WIN."
Mac felt fear pang through him. He needed to do something otherwise he was a dead man. He felt the blood growing thick on his shirt, and caking his arm and chest. He was alert again, after Robbie had pushed on the wound. He knew it wouldn't last but he needed to try something while it lasted. Mac mouthed something but didn't let the words come out. He wanted Robbie to come closer. It worked.
Robbie leaned in closer to hear what Mac had said and asked him to repeat it. Mac leaned closer and so did Robbie and it gave Mac the opportunity to shove forward with his left shoulder. The impact caused more pain to rip through his right side, but it had the desired effect on Robbie. The other man, having been leaning forward in the squatting position lost his balance and tumbled over. Mac threw his body forward and grabbed at Robbie's gun with his left hand, but he was too weak. Robbie yanked the gun away and stood up. He was angry. He pointed the gun at Mac.
"Say goodbye to the world, copper. You fucking prick. YOU were no MATCH for ME!" Robbie screamed as he aimed his gun at Mac's head. Mac felt the strength leave him then, there was nothing more he could do. He had failed. He just hoped that someone came back before it was too late. His mind went to Mady and he felt tears coming to his eyes. The pain was gone now; he really didn't feel much of anything. He was so tired, his eyes kept closing.
"I'm sorry, Mady," Mac tried to say but no one heard it, his voice didn't work. He slumped further against the wall as everything was moving away from him. He felt the nausea again and this time wasn't able to swallow it back. He felt himself turn his head and vomit. His head then swung back over and his chin touched his chest. This was the end he thought. Then he heard the gun shot.
TBC…
AN: Ok, yes you can hate me right now, yes I promise to update soon, no I'm not going to tell you what happens just yet. dark rolling sea.