Chapter 14: Plan of Action
Daniel stood at the front of the school, looking solemn. He'd snuck back to the school after the movie had finished. He'd wondered to himself why Brenda would ditch him at the theatre. He couldn't think of a reason why she'd leave him behind. Maybe he appeared squarer than he thought. But Brenda said they were a couple. Maybe they rushed it too fast. He had no idea. But he had to be quick getting his stuff from the school, to avoid getting caught by his teachers. He'd fooled Kate many times before.
Kate pulled up with Max in the back seat. He climbed in the passenger seat, placing his backpack in the back. Kate smiled at him, helping him buckle his seat belt up. She seen the look on his face and caressed it. "Got the SUV back today!" Kate said. He looked at her and forced a weak smile. She tilted her head and gave him a sympathetic look. Max made a shrill noise in the back, telling them she wanted to get going with them. Kate nodded her head at her and the SUV crawled out of the driveway.
"Daniel? Daniel my son," Kate said to him, rubbing his shoulder, "What's on your mind? Please tell me." "Well, I thought this girl liked me," he said, "She even told me we were going out. Then I guess she just…changed her mind." "Oh, I'm sorry son," she told him, "was it Brenda?" He looked saddened at her. "Right, I'm sorry," she said, "Don't worry pal, you'll find someone. You still have the rest of your life." "I don't even want to think about it right now," Daniel said saddened. "Well, we're having dinner with some of my work pals," Kate told him, "My work is paying for it." "Cool," he said, faking interest. "Daniel," she moaned. "Alright I'll go then," he said.
Late that evening, the press was outside the police HQ, causing chaos as they usually did. Captain Rousseau shook his head as he peered out of the blinds. "They're not letting up at all," he said as he turned to Alan and Wilson. Dr. Varava came inside as the press tried to swarm him. He shut the door on them, ignoring them. Alan looked over at the captain, who was just as overwhelmed as him.
"I should go and make the statement," Rousseau said, hearing the banging on the door, "We have to let the city know that there's a woman out there pretending to be a child. At least the Coleman's will be safe where they are." He took a deep breath and went out to them, closing the door behind him. "I can't believe she's actually here," Wilson said to Alan, "We spent all this time looking for her and she comes looking for us." "She really likes you Detective Emerson," Dr. Varava said, "I think it's admiration." "Admiration?" asked Alan, "For what?" "Your persistence," the doctor continued, "I think she likes the challenge." "Yeah? Well I'm going to give her a real challenge," Alan said.
He rolled out a map. Wilson and Dr. Varava came over seeing it had marker writing on it. "Let's see here," Alan started, "the first attacks were here and here. The Coleman residence was the first. Then she went to Gabriel Cochran's place, as they're both in pretty decent distance from each other. Then she somehow left the community, probably using the woods. She hides at the church out of town, and then comes back. She goes to old McClaren Mattress factory and kills a man there. She's using the forest that surrounds this town. She's probably there now."
"So we hunt in the wilderness?" Wilson asked him, rubbing his beard. "I want men posted on each entrance to this town," Alan told him, "The rest of us will be going into the woods to look for her." "I have to go too Detective," Dr. Varava said. They both looked up at him, surprised by his remark. "She's my patient," he said. "Alright doc," Alan said. "Maybe you can help lead her to us," Wilson said. "Thank you, but Detective Emerson here has taken care of that for us," Dr. Varava said.
Alan thought it over for a moment. He then grabbed a gift bag that was sitting on his desk. "Where you going, Alan?" Wilson asked him. "You guys start without me," Alan said, "Take the chopper if you have to. Artie knows how to fly it, so he can help you out. I have to check on the kid." "Tony?" Wilson asked, "He's fine." "He called me a while ago, asking me to come andsee him," Alan said walking out. He marched past the press and Captain Rousseau getting pelted with questions. "And it didn't sound like Tony talking at all," Alan said, pulling his black coat on.