Chapter 32, The Devil Denies His Soul (or Vengeance Part 2)

Zero quietly shut the front door and stood on the stoop of the Poulton's house. Blackie, as he now called the cat, purred contentedly in his arms. He looked up and down the street and it was quiet. The neighbors were clueless to the events that had just unfolded inside the house. Through the glow of the street lamps he could see the start of a light flurry. It was just enough that it would be annoyed. He stroked Blackie's head and told her, "We have one more stop to make tonight."

As usual Costello came home late. He came in through the back door and tip-toed through the kitchen. He unbuckled his holster and quietly laid it on the table. Then he opened the refrigerator door and found a plate of leftovers. He took them and then placed them in the oven so that they would start to warm up as he got his shower. He walked back over to the table, grabbed his holster, and walked in to the living room as quietly as he could.

He stopped.

There in the dim light from the glow of the street lamps stood Zero with his arm outstretched and his gun pointed at Costello. In his low deep voice he said, "Zero."

"Long time no see old friend," sneered Zero. He then commanded, "Drop the holster."

Costello put his hands up and slowly knelt to the floor. He gently laid the holster down on to the floor and rose back up. "You're supposed to be dead."

Zero chuckled, "I've been hearing that a lot lately." His eyes shifted to the stair case and Costello's head turned to see what he was looking at. It was Kogarashi coming down the stair case. She stopped at the bottom.

Costello hissed, "What have you done to my family?"

Zero's chuckling turned to laughter. "Killed them of course. I won't go in to the same theatrics that I did for Jeb and his lover. You already know why I'm here."

Costello's cold expression turned to one of horror as Zero's words sunk in. Kogarashi walked over to the nearest chair and ran her twin swords over the arm of it in order to clean the blood off.

He screamed out "NO!" and he lunged for Zero. If it had been any other man he would have stood still and tried to talk his way out of the situation. But this was no ordinary man nor was it an ordinary situation. This was Zero, and even after all these years he still carried his hatred for him. In the heat of the chase they had killed his sister. It was an accident. If they knew they would have stopped. His penance was carrying the guilt and pain of the memory of Zero cradling his dying sister in his arms. Her words burned in his ears, "Tell Mother and Father that I loved them. And I will always love you Dale."

POP!

Zero's shot hit him in the chest but it only slowed him for a second. He reached Zero and hit him square in the chest. Both men tumbled backwards and crashed on to the floor. Costello was the larger of the two men and he sat up and started to pummel Zero. The wound in his chest was bleeding profusely. It was a mortal wound but his anger for Zero for killing his family, and killing Cain's family kept him going.

The silent swipe from Kogarashi's blade across his back made him roar in pain. A second swipe made him roar even louder.

Zero took advantage of the opportunity and was able to push Costello off of him. He rolled over and was on his hands and knees as Zero wobbly stood up. He took the back of his hand and wiped it across his mouth. He looked at it and saw blood.

"Get on your knees Paul," he angrily commanded him.

Costello pushed himself up and knelt in front of Zero. He was sweating and was on the verge of collapse. The wound in his chest continued to bleed and with Kogarashi's deep slices to his back, it would not be long.

He drew a ragged deep breath and said in the strongest voice he could manage, "This won't bring your sister back."

Kogarashi said, "It's not too late. Forgive them."

Zero looked at her. As she wiped the blood clean from her swords he realized that the voices were in his head again. He was long overdue for the pills that helped to silence the demons.

He looked back at Costello who was wavering ever so slightly. He briefly thought of just watching him; he would eventually bleed to death. But he did not have time.

"I'm not that fucking stupid Paul. I know that this won't bring her back. Pain breeds pain and I'm just adding to Cain's."

POP! POP! POP!

Zero pumped three more shots in rapid succession in to his chest. Costello wavered and then fell on to the floor with a heavy thud. With his remaining fading strength he rolled over on to his back so that he could see Zero. He whispered the words "Burn in hell" as he struggled to breathe. Then he fell silent.

Zero stared at him for a few minutes and then motioned for Kogarashi to follow him in to the kitchen. He told her, "We're going back to the safe house. We'll get Jill Wilkins in the morning."

DG and Glitch had long finished breakfast and were impatiently waiting in the private dining area for Jeb. He was well over an hour overdue. The servants watched them from the kitchen door. They were anxious to remove the breakfast dishes and replace them with the dinnerware for lunch.

Glitch lightly strummed his fingers on the table and held his head up with his hand. DG played with her coffee cup. She slowly swirled the cold remnants. Finally, a courier arrived and curtsied in front of DG and Glitch. DG instantly recognized her. It was Sam.

"Good morning Sam. I'm hoping that you're bringing some good news," DG told her.

Sam extended her a sealed envelope. "I don't know Princess Dorothy. But this is from the Provost Marshall himself and he told me to deliver it with great haste."

DG smiled at her and gave her a silver coin. "Thank you Princess Dorothy!" she squealed and ran out of the room.

Glitch asked, "What do you think it's about?"

"I don't know Glitch," she answered.

She deftly undid the seal and began to read the letter that was enclosed. Her hands started to tremble.

Glitch noticed the trembling and hesitantly asked, "What's wrong?"

"I think that something terrible has happened to Jeb. The Provost Marshall wants us to see him immediately," DG answered somberly.

Glitch knocked on the door to the Provost Marshall Collin's office. A voice from within said, "Come in."

He opened the door for DG and escorted her inside. They found the PM Collins and the DPM Vargo standing in front of the window, having a hushed conversation. It stopped when they heard the door open.

She said, "Provost Marshall? It's me and Ambrose."

They turned around and both looked haggard and worn.

The PM Collins walked behind his desk and said to DG and Glitch. "I see that you got my message." He motioned with his hand, "Please have a seat." As he wearily sat down his chair made a slight creak. It was the only sound in the room.

Glitch moved closer behind her and placed his hands on her shoulders. She said quietly, "I prefer to stand. You wrote that Jeb was missing. What do you mean by that?"

DPM Vargo turned away from them and went back to looking out the window. The day was overcast and it had started to snow.

PM Collins began solemnly. "There is no easy way to say this Princess Dorothy. Samantha Poulton, Jeb's fiancée and her family were found murdered in their home by their housekeeper."

DG gasped and Glitch held her steady and his grip on her shoulders tightened.

"Parts of Jeb's blood stained uniform were found in the home. And since he has not yet reported this morning, we can only assume the worse at this point."

DG balled her hand in to a fist and brought it up to her mouth to stifle the scream of remorse and sadness she wanted to make. She started to sob and her knees felt weak. Glitch helped her over to one of the twin chairs in front of PM Collin's desk.

DPM Vargo turned back around. He looked at DG and at Glitch who was doing his best to console her with sympathetic eyes. He felt her pain and his hand clenched into a fist as he struggled to stay silent.

DG's thoughts raced as she continued to cry. Oh god, was he and Samantha murdered because of what we were going after? After what Cain, Jill, and he stumbled on? Is it a warning? OH GOD DOES WYATT KNOW?

Glitch handed her a handkerchief and she wiped the tears away. She re-composed herself and asked, "Does Cain know yet?"

"We have sent a senior officer to the precinct in order to deliver the message in person," he gently replied. "We have also sent out our special operatives to work with the Central City police," he added quietly. "Princess Dorothy," he started and then stopped. He was unsure whether to continue. "There was another murder in the city. Sergeant Costello of the 9th Street Precinct and his family was found early this morning."

DG drew in a sharp breath. Jeb told me that it was Petey Staggart who was probably dirty. Did the Sergeant stumble upon it too and now he and his whole family have paid the price?

"Princess Dorothy, we have informed your mother of the situation. Until the murderer or murderers are found, you will be escorted by additional guards at all times and you will not be permitted to leave the royal grounds."

His words were slow to sink in. It was Glitch who first realized their implications. "That means that we can't see Cain."

DG's head snapped to attention. "I need to…" She stopped and looked at Glitch. He was somber and his eyes had lost their characteristic spark. She started over. Cain was Glitch's friend too. "We need to see Cain immediately."

PM Collins sighed. He somehow knew that this would happen. "I understand your concern for the elder Major Cain but as I stated you are not allowed to leave the royal grounds."

DG's sadness started to turn to anger. Why does everyone seem not to give a fuck about him? Ooooo… you did your job alright, you sent a senior officer to tell him. She retorted, "Understand? Cain is our friend and he needs us now more than ever. If you actually understood that, you would let us go!"

The Provost Marshall rose from his chair. He admired the younger Cain and respected his father. It cut him to the quick when he was first told the news. He sighed and regretted the position that he was put in. In the authoritative voice that he had hoped that he did not have to use, he said, "Princess, with all due respect, the decision is non-negotiable. Both you and Ambrose are confined to the royal grounds, with additional guards, until further notice."

DG glared at him. She rose from her chair and wiped the few remaining tears from her face. "You're a cold hearted bastard."

She marched towards the door and Glitch jumped up to follow her.

"Princess Dorothy."

She stopped and turned to look at him. It was the first time that DPM Vargo had spoken since they arrived.

Even speaking softly his voice carried across the room. "Do not extinguish your dim flame of hope."

She automatically mumbled, "I won't." It was already fading fast though.

"Swear to it on the memorial of your parents."

She was taken aback by his words. It even took PM Collins by surprise. No one outside of her immediate family and friends ever mentioned the memorial to her other set of parents. If they were referred to in passing, they were always called her nurturing units. She was going to ask him why. Why swear that on the memorial to Hank and Em? But she decided against it. She was in too much distress already.

She looked in the eyes and told him, "Vargo, I swear it on the memorial of my parents."

He nodded his head and then returned to looking out the window. The snow was falling heavily.

Cain sat on his cot with his head hanging down. He was alone again, confined to his box.

A few hours before he was told that his son's future in-laws were murdered. As he was told that Jeb was missing he lost his composure. He had grabbed the bars separating him and the senior officer and screamed out in rage. For once the guards showed compassion and did their best to peacefully calm him down. Who could blame his outburst? He was just told that his son was probably murdered and that they were looking for his body.

He blamed himself.

Maybe Costello had been right all along. He just should have taken Jill to the nearest precinct, dropped her off, and told her to have a nice life.

As if it was not enough bad news for one day he was told that Costello and his family were brutally murdered too.

Costello was already poking around. Even if he had just dropped off Jill, was Costello's day already coming?

He ran his hand through his hair and then squinted his eyes shut. Even in solitary he did his best to keep his composure.

"If you don't have heart you have nothing."

That was what he told Jeb once upon a time so long ago.

The tears finally came.