"William!" Theo thrashed the door open- the shouted man walked in, with a half-full cup of coffee, "We found your car! The murderer parked it, it's at a bookstore in the middle of freakin' nowhere."
"Really? So you found Yumi?!"
The cop coughed, "Um, no. But on the good side- your car is safe and sound and I think Ulrich and Heather are working on DNA and fingerprints. Right after that, we'll give you your car back, sound good?"
"Sounds great! Thanks guys!"
Theo smiled, "It's our job."
XxX
"No finger prints." Confirmed the specialist, "No blood-spatter. So the victim wasn't killed in here, if she's harmed at all. A couple hairs, but it's also from the victim." The man dove inside the car, "Wait! I found something!"
Heather and Ulrich waited impatiently behind him.
He pulled out a pair of handcuffs, "Well, I'm not sure if these are used in a criminal way or not, but it's surely going down into evidence."
"We'll take the car for tonight." The woman, dressed pretty formally, told the officers, "I'm sure you police officers have a lot of work to be done!" The three shared a chuckle, "Have a good day, you two!"
"Thanks, you too!" Heather shouted to them as she and Ulrich were walking back to their police car. It wasn't hard for the young woman to see something was troubling her partner, "What's wrong Ulrich?"
He sighed, and looked up to the cloudy sun above him, "Before this, finding the serial killer was a duty; but now, after kidnapping my girlfriend, it got personal." A pause, "It's become my mission to take him down, before he does anything to Yumi."
Heather snarled silently. Why did he care so much for her anyway? "I don't want to sound negative, but this killer kills pretty fast. If she's anything like the others, she's already dead."
"Don't say that!" Ulrich whined, "I don't want to think about it. She's not and can't be like the others. Call me selfish, but before he kidnapped her, I was thinking of this case as the average everyday murderer. Do you think someone pin-pointed her out to get to me?"
The mistress almost swerved- was he playing with her to get her to say something? That's what cops do…
"No, I just think he saw her and thought she'd be his next victim." She quickly answered, "I don't think murderers like these put much thought in their victims. Take whoever's available, y'know?"
Ulrich nodded and looked out the passenger's window, "I hope Yumi's okay. If something happens to her; I don't know what I'd do."
"Um, well, I know this might sound bad," Heather started as she rolled up her window, "but why do you like her so much?"
"I've liked her ever since I can remember. We go way back, like, in middle school. She always came to me for everything; and it made me feel very important. I had a very troublesome time in school. Between girls, grades, and soccer, I felt like killing myself on many occasions. But I didn't… because of her." Ulrich scratched the back of his neck, "It's kinda awkward to talk about now."
Heather grinned half-heartily at him, taking one his hands in her palm, "If anything happens, Ulrich. You know you can tell me. No matter how awkward things may seem; I'll listen, and I won't judge you for the littlest bit."
"Thanks, Heather. That means a lot to me." He smiled back at her, squeezing her hand gently, "Now, we better get back to the station before Clayton gets in a bad mood."
"And when does he get in a bad mood?"
Ulrich snickered, "When Denis comes back without a patrol car."
XxX
"Thank god you got rid of those handcuffs." Yumi massaged her wrists; they were red and sore from the things, "They really hurt after a while."
"Yeah, well, I wouldn't know." Nicolas answered. He knew he was being really nice to Yumi because of their past. Alice was very easy to take care of- she was home alone, enough said. Girls before her too, very easy to take out.
Yumi walked onto the layout of what looked like an abandoned motel, "Why are we here? Change your mind about raping me?"
"You know, I've never had a girl continue to bug me about raping her." He answered coolly, pushing her into a room, "And no, I didn't. We're staying here for a few days, and by 'we' I mean you." He pointed to her, "I need to get back home and make sure Aelita isn't suspicious about me out for two days. But, just because you're alone doesn't mean you have the chance to escape. I'm not going to risk arrest. This motel is too far away for you to run to anyone that could assist you. No telephone, the wires are cut, there's no food or water either. Luckily, I like you, so I bought three bottles of water and some cheap crap food for you." He then pointed behind him, a blue bag was there. A water bottle and a cereal box sticking out from the top.
"So, if there's no water, I can't take a shower." Yumi interjected, and crossed her arms.
"Pour the water on you for all I care." He answered, he really couldn't care less, "Now, if I want to smuggle you around as a hostage, I need to buy you clothes. Whatever I buy you, you're going to wear. It's most likely going to be too big for you anyway."
The Japanese hostage jumped onto the bed, "Are there any bugs and/or rats here? I don't want to wake up to a rat nibbling on my food."
"I'm not completely sure, but I haven't seen any. A couple bugs, this motel's in pretty good shape." He began to strut back to the door.
Yumi sat up, "Wait!" She cried and he turned, "There's nothing to do here; I'll get bored."
"Do you honestly think I care if you're bored?"
She shrugged, "I thought you liked me."
He sighed in defeat, "I'll buy you a couple books. So, on Monday, when I see you again, I'll have a bag of clothes and books."
"Thanks." She answered and waved for him to go, "Have fun doing whatever."
Nicolas chuckled, "For a kidnapped victim you're taking this pretty well. You do know I have to kill you, right?"
"Well, I'll die one way or another." Yumi answered. Yeah, he was right. She was taking this strangely well. Better keep him calm and keep him talking then mad and ready to take her life.
He waved, "Good way to think."
--
Back on the road, Nicolas pulled out his cell phone. He knew Aelita wasn't home, she saw her at the hotel when he went to kidnap Yumi. He quickly punched in her cell phone number as he walked toward the slightly more lively part of the city.
"Hello?"
Great, she answered, "Aelita!" He cried, pretending to be scared and worrisome, "Where are you? You didn't go to work today, and I didn't see you at home!"
"Nick! It's terrible!" She screamed, apparently, the fight going on between them no longer mattered, "Yumi's been kidnapped! By that crazy horrible serial killer!"
"Oh no! Did you guys see anything? Anything useful?"
Aelita paused, he could hear his wife ask the question to someone else, "Actually, yes! The killer left a fingerprint on the doorknob when Yumi bit his glove off." That was his fucking favorite pair of gloves too.
"Oh—that's…" THAT'S HORRIBLE! They're going to find him out, "… good! Wonderful even! Hopefully that serial killer will get a good long time in jail. He's got all of France scared spit-less."
"I know! I hope they find him. It's really scary." He grunted somewhat for a reply, "Anyway, I'm with the gang at a hotel, I'll be at work tomorrow, and make up for my absences on Wednesday and Today."
"Okay good, wanted to make sure nothing was wrong." He answered, very casually- like he really cared if the bitch was okay or not.
She giggled, "Everything's great! Sorry I ran away a couple days ago. I just needed some time away."
"It's okay. I need to go. I need to call a taxi."
"Alright. Talk to you later. Love you."
"Love you too. Bye."
He shoved his cell phone back in his pocket as he stopped a familiar car, "Hello Heather." He greeted when he sat in the backseat, "There's a problem. When I kidnapped Yumi, she bit my glove, ripped it, and tore it off and—"
"You left fingerprints." She nodded, and looked into the mirror to look at the scared, but not physically showing it, man, "Don't worry your evil little head. I'm working late tonight, I'll tamper with the print they got. If anything, they'll blame Denis. That dumbass has done it before, and will probably be fired for it this time." She turned on the radio, now in her regular car, "Ulrich's going insane about finding Yumi. I feel like he's trying to make me spill something. It's almost like he knows."
"Cops are good like that." Nicolas added when she turned a U-Turn, to head back to Privas, "Did I hurt you when I beat you up a little the other night?"
"Of course, blood splatter was everywhere, and I almost died due to lack of blood." She answered, pretty annoyed, "But anything to get rid of Ishiyama."
"I don't see why you hate her so much."
"She bugged the crap out of my cousin's friend, Elisabeth. And she proved my father guilty, and threw him in jail. She's wrecked my family and my life, and I want her dead." Heather answered hastily, "Plus, she made my ex-husband divorce me. I confronted him about his two-timing with her, and he divorced me."
"Wait, Elisabeth? Delmas?"
"I dunno, I don't know if she's married now… Do you know her?"
"She works with me and my wife at the hospital." He stated, "She's the secretary at night, but still…"
Heather giggled, "I knew she'd never make it into a good career. She always wanted something in fashion, but she didn't want to go to school."
"College drop-out I heard."
The brunette woman nodded to confirm, "The whole family hates her for it."
"I see. Drive me to Poitiers, if you don't mind. I need to be home, and make it to work tomorrow, otherwise, Aelita will get suspicious." He ordered, but his tone turned nicer when she gave him a look.
"Poitiers? That's pretty far. I'll get you as far as I can without running out of gas." She remarked.
He frowned, "Or you go as far as you can to a gas station, fill up, and keep going?"
"If I stop to get gas, you're paying for it. Gas ain't cheap this days."
"Aww, you know I don't have the money to pay for someone else's gas." He said sarcastically.
"Between the money you make as being a hit-man and a doctor, I think you do pretty well." She retorted not very amused by his sarcasm, "Kinda an oxymoron don't you think? A serial killer doctor."
"Hey, it happens."
A silent, awkward pause made the situation have a heavy atmosphere.
"Anyway, what are you going to do with Yumi? She's not dead yet, or at least, you didn't kill her in the car. We found your handcuffs. Prints on those too."
"Tamper with them?"
"And blame dumbass Denis? You bet."
Nicolas tapped on the window, "I'm not sure yet. I left her at the hotel, doors locked, no windows, no phone, bare minimum to survive. I see her again on Monday. I'll be her only visitor."
"And… if not…?"
"No if's about it. No one knows about that abandoned old motel anymore. It's almost a house for the animals, the town it used to be the middle in suddenly deserted like forty years ago."
"You knew about it."
"I got lost." He told her forcefully, "Now, as much as I'd love a game of 20 questions, I need to hurry. So step on it."
XxX
"Stern!" He turned, hearing his name being shouted from the other side of the hallway, "Call came in, robbery in progress."
Ulrich sighed, "Look, Clay, I'm really not feeling too well, and—"
"I know, your darling Yumi." His boss interrupted him, "You and Theo are the only ones left."
"What?" The officer cocked his head to the side, "Heather's here, isn't she?"
The boss shook his head, "She left."
"Why?"
"She didn't tell me. I don't really find it any of my business why you guys leave early." He stated, "Now- robbery?"
"Get Theo to do it, I'm really in no mood. I want a break."
Clayton narrowed his eyes, "Well, if you didn't use all your vacations days, I wouldn't mind if you wanted a break."
"Sir, please!" Ulrich was never one to beg, but he was too worried about Yumi to even think about anyone else, "The girl I loved might be dead by now, I only want to work on her case for the time being. Please, get Theo to do it."
"I'll do it!" Denis shot up, and ran into the hallway, "Just clocked in, couldn't help but overhear."
"Robbery-in-progress. Think you're up to it?"
Denis saluted his boss formally, "Always up for it, sir!"
"Drop the formality. I like it, but you'll spoil me."
XxX
"A… motel." Sam repeated, "Do you know how many motels there are in this area?"
Odd shook his head, "Not any motel. It was completely abandoned. Like, on the outskirts of town." He put a palm on his head, "It wasn't very clear. I think someone's in danger over there."
Aelita came up with aspirin and water, "Poor thing. I hope you get to feeling better. Now what did I hear about a motel?"
"Odd had a vision. About a motel. We think it's where Alice is. Dead or alive." Sam informed, "Hey- Jeremie? What are you doing?"
Jeremie tapped like crazy on his laptop, "Looking up every hotel in a one-hundred-fifty mile radius from McClear's house that's ever been known."
"That's gonna be a heck of a lot." Aelita murmured.
Jeremie smiled at her and nodded, "Yeah, but hey. Abandoned, and on the outskirts of town. There can't be that many with that kinda description, right?"
The pink petite princess hopped up, and stretched, "I need to be home by eight tonight. Gotta make up my time at work."
"Bye Aelita!" Sam called.
"Call us when you get home." Ordered Odd, "You know those lunatics on the road at this time." It was half-past noon. Lunches were either beginning or ending.
"Also tell us about McClear's son when you get to the hospital. See if you can get anything out of him." Sam added.
Jeremie just silently nodded, and watched her hug Sam and Odd. She reluctantly stopped in front of him.
"So, Mr. Formal," She addressed him, "are you too serious for a hug?"
He wrapped his arms around her and squeezed her tight, "Yeah, but you're my exception."
Aelita smiled, and lightly patted his back, "I'll call you guys right when I get home, and again tomorrow morning. Around ten-ish? OH. And I bet Nicolas will be thrilled to hear about you guys. He'll probably want to chat when I get home, is that alright?"
"Yeah, for the time being." Odd answered, "William's not as bad as we thought."
"He seemed to get over the possession pretty easily." Jeremie answered, "Most of the time, it can damage someone—or even be fatal."
Aelita and Odd cocked their heads to him—Devirtalizing wasn't fatal. But then they realized- they never told Sam about their middle-school activities.
"You mean," Sam started, "He was possessed… by a spirit?"
"Pretty much." Odd answered, kissing her cheek, "But you don't need to worry about that. Remember a long time ago when you called and I told you that William just like- disappeared, and when he came back; he was all weird and stuff?" Sam nodded, "Well, he was… possessed."
"Oh. Wow." Sam stated, Aelita nodded and then slipped out of the hotel room, "So- do you guys know whose spirit possessed him?"
"Um." Jeremie stuttered, "His name was… Xana."
"Xana?" Sam slithered, "Ugh. It sounds evil."
"He was." Odd admitted, "He possessed William for 'getting in his way'. We didn't really notice until he started acting different."
"But, he's okay now?"
Jeremie nodded, "We—uh, we found someone that could help him."
Sam, relieved, sighed, "That's good."
"Now, Odd." Jeremie started, "About this vision…"
XxX
What am I supposed to do all day? Twiddle my thumbs?
Yumi inspected the hotel room. Small, and would've been cozy, if it wasn't a million years old. The walls were a gross greenish-blue color. The bed was moist, and the Japanese hostage didn't really want to know what it was that made it feel that way.
The carpet was a tan-ish color and had a dimmed pattern of red diamonds race across the floor. It was matted and felt a lot like the grass outside. The bathroom was disgusting, and after Yumi saw the green tiles, she didn't want to think of it much. After the door closed again, she realized something- the tiles weren't green.
They were white.
After she gagged a little, she examined the closet. It wasn't really disgusting, but it wasn't very pretty either. Yumi stayed near her bag of food, and pulled the nice-looking red chair near the wall. She decided to sit there, and rest. There was no way in hell she was going to rest on that bed again.
She was near the window and looked out- for any chance of escape. There was nothing she could break the glass with. She was tired, and somewhat scared.
I wonder what he did with my cell phone.
It was a pretty random thought, compared to her situation. But it drifted through her mind. What did Nicolas do with her cell phone? Did he plan on using it? Because that totally wouldn't be suspicious.
Who would he call, anyway?
Aelita? No, he's trying to kill her. Yumi smiled, thinking what he would say to his wife, 'Hey! I found Yumi's cell phone on the floor! I hope she's okay. I love you, Aei. And, oh, by the way, I'm gonna kill you and your friends. Great. Awesome. See you at home.' It wouldn't surprise her much if he was that flat about it.
What about Sam? … Okay, why the hell would he call Sam? He never really knew her.
Odd? No way, he's hated Odd since like the second grade. Next.
Jeremie. Well, it could be possible. After Herve died, Jeremie and Nicolas did start to hang out a little more. But it stopped before Yumi graduated. Well yeah, there was a slim possibility that he would call Jeremie. But it slim.Very, very slim.
William. Yumi grinned, William. He was charming, honest, and trustworthy. If anything, he was a very good friend. Anything more would seem awkward. Seeing each other everyday would make it hell if they broke up. He was so nice to her. So compassionate. He wasn't like this in high school. If he was? She totally would've given up on Ulrich and would've dated William.
Oh, yeah, Ulrich.
Ulrich.
Yumi vowed to herself that if she got out of this, she was going to beat him up so bad… Her anger, her frustration. She was livid. He had promised to protect her. And what did he do? He ran away. He fucking ran away.
He was a dead man walking.
Yumi looked through her blue bag that Nicolas had packed for her. Try to get her mind off of him.
It didn't.
Why did William change so much?
And it's like Ulrich doesn't give a damn.
XxX
"I swear, I'm gonna kill myself."
His friend lightly patted his back, "I know you're upset, Ulrich. Everything will turn out just fine. I'm sure, at the worst possible scenario, Yumi's locked up some place."
Ulrich turned to face his friend, "Yes, that makes me feel so much better."
"Well, I'm trying to point out that she's just fine."
The German man looked back at the floor. He didn't want to talk. His voice was cracking with his fluid emotion.
Theo watched as tears fell onto the carpet, "It's not your fault." He murmured. Although, really? It kinda was, but Ulrich seemed so regretful. He cared about Heather and Yumi; and Theo knew well that Ulrich could never choose between the two.
"It is my fault." Ulrich argued, "Thanks for trying to help, Theo. But- I mean- I just finally see her again! And he takes her away from me! Just because I'm an idiot."
The door knocked lightly, "Are you okay?"
Theo motioned for her to come sit with him.
"Oh, Ulrich." Heather whispered, rubbing his back, and pulled him onto her shoulder, "Hush. It's gonna be just fine. You're scaring yourself. I'm sure she's fine."
She got nothing for an answer except a small hiccup from the depths of his throat.
"Where were you earlier?" Theo asked her, "There was a robbery call like thirty minutes ago, directed to you- but you weren't here, so Clayton gave it to Ulrich, whom whined his way out of it. Denis went out on the job."
Heather sighed, running her fingers through Ulrich's hair to calm him, "A little carpool. I yelled at Clay telling him a friend needed help. Her car was towed and I was the only friend in a mile radius from her." She rested her head on top of her partners, "Ulrich, you remind me so much of my younger brother."
"…Thanks?" He squeaked.
Heather giggled, "You're welcome."
Clayton came over the intercom of the building, "Everyone please come to the meeting room, thanks." His voice was frustrated and lacked sleep.
Everyone dragged their feet to the meeting room, filing in one by one, and sometimes tripping over each other. The grave-yard shift was killer.
"There's something going on that I'd like to point out." Clayton started- in the front of a lectern, "Our evidence of the McClear's case is smeared. Someone's been playing with it while I had my back turned."
Gasps and whispers began.
"Yes! And if anyone has information on who it was, or if it you, yourself, speak it now!" He ordered- furious.
Heather stood up almost immediately, "I'm not sure who did it. I wasn't around, but Denis did it once, did he not?"
Ulrich couldn't believe Heather was trying to blame a fellow brethren for tampering with it, so he stood and argued, "Denis was with me and Theo the entire night, till he was called out to a robbery session. Theo and I saw him come back in, and call it night."
Heather growled silently, "I believe he did it! Denis isn't one to be trusted."
"Last time he did it, it was completely by accident! He loves his job more then we know, so he doesn't even go near the evidence room anymore." Informed Ulrich, "Someone else must be behind it."
Heather's evil brain hatched an idea, and she began to sob, "Oh, my friends, my co-workers! I'm so sorry!" She pleaded, fake tears rolling down her face, "It was me! Denis told me that he was still feuding over a fight he and Clay had the other night and threatened me to tamper with the evidence or he'd hurt me."
The room was silent. Denis didn't seem to be like that, but Heather seemed so upset that it was hard to not believe it.
Voices began calling out,
"Heather, is that true?"
"You're lying! Denis isn't like that!"
"Is Denis the one to hold grudges?"
The yelling stopped when the door opened again, "I heard my name?" Denis peered around his co-workers and their angry eyes, "What? I came back because I left my cell phone."
"Oh, really now?" Clay questioned him, "Or were you playing around in the evidence room?"
"What?!" Cried Denis, "You all know very well that I don't go in there anymore!"
"WE KNOW." Cried an unknown newly accepted officer, "You threatened Heather into it!"
Heather wasn't facing him but her shoulders were heaving.
"No I didn't!"
"You did, too! Do you not see how upset she is? How could you do such a thing, Denis?"
"I didn't do anything!"
Theo stood, "I believe Denis when he says he didn't do it." He began to protect his friend, "Like Stern told you, Denis and us have been together almost all day. He left for not even twenty minutes to a robbery. But, who wasn't here when she was supposed to be?" He pointed to the girl three seats next to him, "Heather! I doubt that Denis dragged her into the police car with him to threaten her."
"He has a point!" Cried someone from the front.
"How could you blame this on me?!" She screamed at Theo, "Is it because I'm a girl? Is that it, Theo? I told you that my friend needed a ride back home. Traffic was horrible because of a crash on the opposite-bound direction. He car was towed- that's where I was!"
"You have no witness." Ended Theo, and then he sat.
"Hey." Clay said, and then arguments started spurring, "HEY." He shouted, "Until this is solved- both Heather and Denis are temporary fired or laid off."
"That's not fair! I didn't do anything!" Both Denis and Heather shouted at the same time.
Clayton hushed them and escorted them both to the front door, "Wow," He turned to his other employees, "Does anyone else feel like we're on one of those Court-TV shows?"
Hands rose and they laughed their problems away.