Chapter 27: Dead Ends

Helga and Arnold had slept (horribly might they add) through the night. They were shocked to even wake up the next day. They thought for sure they were going to be dead by now. Helga hoped that they had forgot about them.

That was too good of a thought to have when she heard the footsteps. Her and Arnold looked at each other, hoping for the best. It was Lila and Big Gino who had came to see them.

"Well, you're THE Helga Pataki that won't keep her big mouth shut." Gino walked over to Helga and grabbed her face with both of his hands. She was terrified. "You're Helen of Troy my dear."

"Don't you touch her!" Arnold yelled, trying to free himself from his chains. Gino only smirked and gave Arnold a hard punch to the side of his face.

"ARNOLD!" Helga screamed.

"Shut up. Can't you see I'm talking to the pretty lady." Gina turned back to Helga and placed his hands on her face once again. "Now where were we Pretty Lady."

Lila chimed in. "No need to be ever so harsh Gino."

Gino was annoyed and took it out on Lila. He grabbed the frightened girl by her hair and slapped her twice. When he was finished with her he threw her to the cold ground.

Gino stomped on Lila's small body and yelled, "Did I tell you to talk? I told you you are decoration only. Neither of them would be here if you killed them when I told you. If you would've gotten rid of Rhonda like a good girl no one would be dragged into this mess."

Lila winced in pain as he twisted his foot into her stomach. "I'm, I'm sorry."

He kicked her in the side of the head. "I'm sorry what Lila?"

Lila said in a barely audible whisper, "I, I'm s,sorry baby."

Gino released his foot and the girl could breathe finally. "That's right baby. Good girl. Now get off the floor. Decorations don't stay on the dirty floor." Lila did as she was told and dusted herself off. She put the same plastic smile back on her face.

Helga and Arnold were both shocked. Lila was being abused right in front of them. Then it all fit. She was doing everything because she feared for her life. Through that perfect smile she had, Helga could see her pain. She was terrified and beaten like a caged bird with broken wings.

"I'm sorry about my girlfriend folks. She hasn't been trained well enough." Gino straightened his tie. For a man so dangerous, he sure cleaned up well. Despite his violence, he was extremely polite and well-spoken. Was that a requirement to becoming a crime overlord?

Arnold's face was red and the side of his face was already swelling. "What are you waiting for?"

Gino laughed. "Well I'm waiting for some remorse. I can't kill such a pretty girl without allowing her her last rites."

"Remorse? You're the biggest criminal in this city and you want me to beg for remorse. You have been killing innocent people for years and for what? For money?"

"Innocent? The people I ordered to be killed seek retribution for betraying me, like you soon will be. Now don't make me angry." Gino rolled up the sleeves up of his suit. "I really don't like doing my own dirty work Helga."

Helga could pee her pants. She was terrified but she couldn't back down. She didn't want to die without swinging the whole way.

"I can tell. You haven't been tagged for a single one of your crimes."

"That's because I have friends in high places. You really think that the police aren't afraid of me, that they don't fear me as much as you do. They're mere mortals and I am a god. I control everything in this city and there's no one to stop me. I'm untouchable as Jesus was when he walked on water."

"So what if you have officers looking out for you? You're still a murderer. You killed Rhonda!"

"On the contrary, I never murdered anyone. Rhonda kept trying to stop me from getting my blessings from Horowitz' account. I only make the calls between life and death but Rhonda was not my doing. Definitely was not my work. It was such a shame, such a sloppy job. "

If he didn't kill Rhonda, which Helga highly doubted, who did?

"How?"

"My beautiful girlfriend here has been infiltrating that company for years. As the company grew so did my wealth. Some people think my drug money is bad but blood money still has value. I simply invested then took what was mine. Rhonda had a problem with that unfortunately. Glad someone got her before I did."

Lila was visibly shivering. Helga could barely breath and Arnold's heart was raging.

Gino continued, "I do feel bad for Rhonda. They could've at least preserved her face. Don't worry Helga when you're dying I'll make sure to not harm your beautiful face so your boyfriend here has something to look at while he suffers."

~/~

Sid was extremely distraught. He was stuck in the hospital bed playing Texas Hold 'Em with Harold and his whole friend group could be dead.

He grunted at the thought. He could barely focus in the game with Harold, who seemed all too calm about this whole situation. He didn't freak out or scream or even cry at the fact that his friends could be killed. Hell, he didn't even flinch when Helga went missing. Something was up with him.

Harold handed Sid a candy bar from his pocket. "I brought you a Mr. Fudgey. Figured it would be better than the hospital food."

Of course he offered him fucking chocolate at a time like this. Harold still stress ate like he was the same 250 pound little boy. He had been doing it a lot lately. Despite, patrolling together every night and being partners on the force they didn't talk much about their personal lives. There was no time for that when bullets were fired at them left and right everyday. Still, he felt like a bad friend for never asking how Harold was or how he felt. Even after the funeral they didn't talk about it.

Sid decided to bring the emotional stuff in naturally as opposed to forcing it out of him. "Thanks. The doc says my ribs are healing up. I don't feel that stabby pain in my liver when I move anymore."

Harold grinned. "That's great. You'll be out of here in a week or so."

Sid thought about that night, the night that landed him in the hospital. Sid turned his back to leave and then the shots came. If Gino thought Sid was going to be mad enough to shoot at him over a little vague threat he was stupid. It wasn't shots from Gino's side though. It was Harold.

Sid remembered turning around just as Harold pulled the trigger. Before he could ask what the hell he was doing Sid could feel the bullets hit him. Everything went black after that. He had meant to ask him what happened. Maybe now was the chance.

"I hope. I didn't get to apologize. I have been so focused on being a great partner that I've been a shitty friend. I know we're men and we're not supposed to have emotions and shit but what is going on with you? You've been eating more. You haven't been joking with me like usual. It's like ever since Rhonda's death you've been a different person."

Harold averted his gaze from Sid's concerned eyes. "Can we not talk about Rhonda or her death please? I'm fine Sid."

Sid was insistent on getting answers. "Like hell you are. I'm not the most sensitive guy in the world but I notice when people are experiencing pain. Why don't you want to talk about it Harold? You loved her. I know Eugene was going to marry her but you two together were perfect. You guys were like soul mates. It's okay to be pissed off."

Sid couldn't help but feel guilty for all the times they hooked up behind Harold's back in high school. If he could take it back he would have. He enjoyed it at the time but now it just made her sick to remember that he laid in bed with Rhonda Wellington Lloyd.

Harold's body stiffened. He was extremely uncomfortable talking about this. He always avoided the subject and moved to something else. That wasn't good enough for Sid. He needed to know what was up.

"I DID love her. I'm sorry if I don't want to talk to a guy, who can't keep his dick in his pants long enough to have a serious relationship, about the love of my life."

Sid WAS quite the ladies man but lately he hadn't been. Harold seemed noticeable bitter towards Sid's sex life, which frankly had been nonexistent for awhile.

Sid's eyes narrowed. "Low blow dude, but you're deflecting. You need to talk to someone. If not me then who? Christ, Harold you fired shots last night at Gino when there was no clear threat. They were going to let us leave. If you didn't shoot at them I wouldn't be here right now, handcuffed to this stupid bed. You are seriously losing it!"

Harold said briefly, "I was afraid last night. I panicked."

Sid immediately detected the bullshit. "You're lying. I'm the one that panics. You never fucking panic. Cut the bullshit. Why'd you shoot at Gino's men? You could've at least waited until I was facing them to do it. You didn't have my back at all."

"I ALWAYS have your back. And I told you, I panicked. There's nothing else to say."

Harold was the worst liar Sid had ever seen. Of all the bullshitters and crooks he encountered Harold was possibly the worst liar. It almost seemed like Harold waited until he turned around on purpose. Now that Sid thought about it, if it was a real firefight and Harold fired first why the hell did he not have a scratch on him? Unless… Unless….

Sid came to a realization. He proclaimed, "You set me up, you bastard! Why else would you come out of a mob shoot out unharmed."

"Sid, I, I s-swear I-

"Shut up! Just shut up! You honestly thought I wouldn't figure it out." Harold was shaking. Sid paused for a second, "Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. You took Helga didn't you or you at least aided in her kidnapping. You didn't go look for her, you ass hole. You helped transfer her while I was lying in this stupid bed! You are the only one who even knew she was here."

"Listen-"

"No! You've been working with Gino this entire time haven't you? You've been searching for clues just so he could go out and kill people. How else would he know about Helga and Arnold? You have blood on your hands!"

"It wasn't me. It was Lila! Lila's been the one watching them. I just, I just…." Harold grew silent.

Sid was fuming. "You just what? You've been making sure to help Gino cover up his dirty work. You've been cleaning up crime scenes for him. You've been feeding him our next move. You've been helping that bastard get away with murder over and over again."

Harold once again tried to explain himself. "I was in over my head! I, I didn't mean to help him. I didn't mean to be involved with the mafia. Sid, you're, you're my main man. I would never betray you but I had to help Gino."

Sid retorted. "Oh you'd never betray me but you got me shot and beaten. Some main man you are!"

Harold was the most honest in what seemed like a while. "I made sure they didn't kill you Sid. Gino was growing tired of you. No matter how much I tried to make you stop searching about Rhonda you didn't stop. You should be grateful. He would've killed you if I hadn't begged for him to let you live."

Sid's sarcasm was present. "Oh I'm so grateful. You handcuffed me to keep me here, didn't you? You're supposed to keep me here while he kills them right? You're disgusting! What great actor you are! You even got the plane tickets for me to give to them and acted like you cared, like you wanted them safe but really you were a dirty snake."

"It's the only way I can keep you safe. You're still my best friend. And so what if Arnold and Helga die? In another month the Rhonda case will be dead and we can move on. I know you like Helga but you can find someone else. She just didn't know how to keep her mouth shut. She didn't know how to keep her nose out of things."

"He has Arnold too!" Sid balled his hands up into fists. "Why are you so obsessed with forgetting the Rhonda case? I know Gino keeps getting his drug money from Horowitz Inc with her gone but what did you get? If you loved her wouldn't you rather have her alive?"

"Sid, stop talking! You don't want to go down this road. Just lay there and wait. Gino will make the call soon and it'll be over. I'll be off free, I'll have my debt paid and I can leave town."

He couldn't believe him. He was willing to sacrifice two of their oldest friends for what? Unless he was trying to save his own ass for some reason.

"What debt? What does he have…. Oh my god, YOU killed her didn't you?! You killed your own ex- girlfriend. How could I have not figured it out before? That scene was so clean and so staged like a person who knew crime scenes. Every clue we got seemed to only be met with another body or a dead end. All this time you've been playing me. You let me get shot, you helped kidnap Helga, you've been working for Gino this whole time because he knows you killed her."

"No. No. No."

"YES! You killed her. A man like Gino only uses people he knows he has control over. You're guilty as hell. That's why you don't want to talk about her. You killed her!"

Harold was having a mental break down."I DIDN'T MEAN TO! It was an accident. She was being horrible to me. She was using me like always. I didn't mean to kill her, I promise. She was belittling me and my manhood. I couldn't take it anymore."

Flashback…..

The sun had set for the night. Harold was excited he had gotten a message from Rhonda asking him to meet her at a hotel. Maybe she would finally realize how much they belonged together. If they weren't meant to be, why would Harold continue to feed her drug problem after all these years? They were made for each other.

He knew she still wanted him. Why else would she have sent him all those flirty messages behind Eugene's back? Why else would she had slept with him all those months ago after he pulled her off the streets? When he found her that night, a year and a half prior she looked a wreck. She was walking the streets like a common whore, begging for pills and any kind she could get her hands on. He took her to his apartment for the night and they spent the night pleasuring each other until the sun came up. She was so beautiful. Ever since then Harold had came to make sure she had pills which he had stolen from the drugs confiscated back at the station. No one would miss them, he thought and it gave him excuse to spend time with Rhonda. The plan was he'd bring her drugs, come back to his apartment where they'd make passionate love, and then she'd go back to Eugene who she swore she was going to leave for Harold.

Lately though, she hadn't spent the night with him anymore. She would get her pills from the drop off location then leave. She wouldn't kiss him, wouldn't speak to him, and wouldn't even acknowledge his presence. It had been 4 months since they had last touched each other and Harold was curious to know why. She couldn't keep her hands off of him every other time. Harold assumed Eugene just couldn't compare to him in all aspects of their relationship. Maybe Eugene was watching her more and she couldn't slip away. Whatever the case may have been Eugene was excited to finally be alone with her again. She was his everything.

Harold had driven in an unmarked car. Him driving in the cop car just looked suspicious. Sid would suspect something. If Harold even attempted to explain the complicated relationship he had with Rhonda to Sid, he would never understand. Sid had a new woman every week and could never understand true love if it hit over the head.

It didn't matter what anyone else thought, Harold said to himself. She'd be all his soon. He smiled and drove passed the William Gates Hotel. This was where they used to spend some nights together. It was on the lower end of town and sleazy to say the least but no one would expect a famous socialite to be there. She always gave a fake name and wore a disguise. He himself usually wore a black hoodie with the hood pulled over his face and a blue baseball cap. No one could possibly know he was a cop dressed as a civilian.

He parked his car a couple blocks away and walked up the hotel with the pills in his backpack. She'd be happy this time. He had three freezer bags full of Xanax for her. That would last her awhile. She'd be so happy with him when he showed her this.

Harold walked into the hotel and up to the elevator. Room 1214. It was a different room every time but she'd let him know which room she got 20 minutes before he'd arrive. He knocked on the door and there she was in all of her breath-taking beauty.

She was dressed in a red nightgown that didn't leave anything to the imagination. It was sheer and he could see all of her creamy skin underneath. It stopped just below her killer butt and cupped her breasts perfectly. Although it was closed to cover her breasts, it opened like a robe over her bare stomach. All of that skin was just begging for Harold to touch.

"Hurry up and get in here geez! I thought you were coming earlier! It's almost nine o'clock." Rhonda flipped her long black, straight locks and pulled Harold inside. Harold took a seat on the bed and placed his backpack down. Rhonda disappeared into the bathroom and reappeared with a fluffy, white robe to cover herself up.

She was always such a tease. Harold looked around the room and saw the rose petals scattered throughout the room and the candles that were lit. She had pulled out all of the stops for him as he eyed the expensive wine sitting on the night stand.

He wanted her so bad. She was absolutely stunning. It was hard for any man to resist her beauty. "Why'd you cover up? I liked what I saw Rhonda."

Rhonda looked at Harold like he was an alien, like he was disgusting, like he was beneath her. He didn't understand. If she wasn't being sexy for him then who? Why did she suddenly not want him flirting with her?

"I have someone else coming so can we make this-"

Before Rhonda could finish her snarky statement she ran to the bathroom in a rush. Harold followed behind her to make sure she was okay. She kneeled on the floor and then proceeded to throw up into the porcelain bowl. Harold held her hair back as she emptied the contents of her stomach into the toilet. When she finished she got up and washed her mouth out with warm water.

Harold flushed the toilet for her and then asked, "What's wrong? Are you sick?"

Rhonda wiped her mouth and began reapplying her red lipstick. "I'm fine. Just been having an upset stomach lately."

"For how long?"

"Three weeks but it's not a big deal. It's probably the withdrawal symptoms from the Xanax." Rhonda made sure she looked perfect in the mirror before leaving the bathroom. She yelled, "Which is why I NEED my pills Harold. Where are they?"

He could hear her searching threw his bag from the bathroom. He stormed out and snatch the bag from her.

Rhonda threw her hands up in annoyance then put her hands on her hips. "What the hell Harold? Give me the drugs!"

"Not yet, Rhonda. I wanted to talk for a bit like we did before. You owe me that at least."

"I don't want to talk Harold. I just want my Xanax. I need you out of here by 10."

Rhonda plopped down on the bed next to Harold. He placed a hand on her upper thigh and said, "Well we don't have to talk tonight baby. There's time for that later."

Rhonda smacked his hand away, "Don't touch me you pig! I told you I have someone coming at 10 so hurry up and give me the pills so you can leave."

What was her problem? Why was he rejecting him like he was second-hand trash?

Harold tried to make sense of things. "Well you aren't getting it right now. Not until you tell me who you have coming that's so much more important than me. You dressed all sexy for another man? I thought you and Eugene didn't fool around. We haven't had sex in months Rhonda. I know you want me."

Rhonda laughed right in Harold's face. It made him feel weak. "We aren't doing that anymore Harold. We're done. Did you honestly think I was going to sleep with you tonight? You're pathetic."

Harold was beginning get angry. How dare she? His veins were popping out of his neck. "You told me you'd leave Eugene for me. That you wanted to be with me and now you're saying you're meeting another guy here tonight. This was OUR spot and you're going to screw someone else."

Rhonda could tell he was getting upset. She took the moment to walk into the other part of the hotel room and stood near the large glass window. She looked out at the city lights longingly.

"Harold, I'm in love okay. He is a great man, an honest man, and he makes me want to be better. He gives me love and affection and compliments me beyond my appearance. I want to be with him. I have a plan to get away from Eugene and he's going to help me. Then we could finally leave Hillwood and be together." Rhonda spoke softly, as she gazed out of the window.

Harold got up from the bed and walked over to her, placing his hands on her shoulders. "You're leaving Eugene for someone else and not ME. How could you love someone else? For how long have you been seeing him?"

"For four months now. I never intended to be with you Harold if we're being honest here. If you actually believed that I wanted you you're delusional."

"We had been seeing each other for almost two years. You slept with me. You kissed me. You told me you wanted to have children with me. None of that meant anything to you?"

She said nonchalantly, "I lied. All of it was a lie. I'm sorry sweetheart but the only thing I wanted from you were my Xanax."

She was the coldest woman he had ever met. His was heartbroken and angry. He couldn't believe the past year and a half was lie. How could she manipulate him like that?

Harold gritted his teeth. "You bitch! You lying, manipulative bitch. You played with my heart. You used me to feed your addiction."

She spoke in a condescending tone. "Bravo Harold, you finally have some brain cells I see. I was waiting for you to figure it out. How could I ever love a man like you! You are broke and stupid and have nothing to offer me at all. You are useless and sad excuse for a man."

Harold could feel his eyes misting up. Rhonda looked at him up and down and sighed. "Aw is the baby Harold going to cryyy. Grow up and be a man Harold! If I didn't want you in high school why would I want you now? There we talked! Now give me my shit you idiot!"

Harold was quick to grasp her shoulders tight so she looked at him right in his eyes. "You are a disgusting person Rhonda. You lie to everyone to come into contact with."

Rhonda tried to shake his tight grip from her shoulders, "Let me go Harold! You're hurting me."

"No. I'm going to expose you for what you really are. You are a manipulative, heartless bitch!"

Rhonda smirked, "Well at least I'm pretty."

Harold breathed heavy and asked, "What else have you been lying to me about? Did you ever love me?"

Rhonda chuckled and leaned her red stained lips real close to his ears. "I was fucking Sid the entire time we were together in high school and I enjoyed every moment of it. How do you feel knowing your best friend was better at making me orgasm than you ever were?" She mockingly grabbed at his crotch as she smirked at him.

Harold gripped her shoulders tighter, so tight it could've left a bruise. "You fucked Sid! You fucked my best friend. You cheated on me with HIM."

Rhonda was noticeably uncomfortable but that didn't stop her from snapping back. "Aw baby don't feel too bad. You can ask him how good I was."

Eugene shook Rhonda hard by the shoulders. Her head bounced back and forth.

"Let go of me Harold!"

Harold stopped for a minute and said, "Screw you. You are a terrible person!"

"Yes, yes I'm terrible and rich and successful and I still have a man that loves me. If you give me my pills we could both move on with our lives. You can go on being pitiful and I can go on being beautiful."

Harold's breathing was heavy. There was blood rushing through his veins. His vision was blurry. His face was turning red as he went and grabbed his backpack from the other room.

Rhonda looked dumbfounded as he headed towards the door. She sipped her wine and then ran over to cut him off.

"Give me the drugs or I will tell everyone you have been stealing drugs from work because you're a druggie."

She had some nerve of accusing anyone else of being a drug addict. She WAS the one needed him! She WAS the one who needed her Xanax to live with herself at night.

He dared her to tell that lie. "You are the one who's the druggie. No one will believe you."

"Ha, you want to bet? I am Rhonda Wellington Lloyd. I'm a perfect socialite in every way. Everyone loves me. If I say that Officer Harold Berman has been stealing drugs and tried to rape me in one of his drugged manias EVERYONE will believe me."

"YOU BITCH!" Harold grabbed her by the wrist and tried to push her the ground. Rhonda grabbed for his backpack all the while. Harold dragged her across the floor, causing her to drop her wine glass. Even as Harold dragged her by her robe she didn't let go off his bag, which was falling off his shoulder.

"Give it to me!" She screamed as they both struggled. Finally Harold pulled her so hard he ripped her robe from her body. She was clad in her nightgown still trying to get Harold's bag.

They made their way close to the window again and it was a stand off. Harold's shirt had gotten messed up from the fight and Rhonda's hair was completely disheveled. Harold still had the backpack in his hand. He put his back against the cold glass as Rhonda's large eyes locked in on the bag from a few feet away.

"You want your drugs so bad huh!" Harold dangled the bag to the side. "Come get it!"

Rhonda came charging at Harold. Before she was able to tackle him Harold stepped to the side. He really thought the window would stop her or she would run so hard it would knock her out. She was ferocious, kicking him and spitting at him. She would not let go off him for a minute.

Harold threw the bag at her hard, still holding on to one of the straps. That was enough to send her falling back through the glass window. It happened almost in slow motion. Harold threw the bag at her hard, she fell back, the glass broke, and he heard her scream all the way down.

What had he done? He had underestimated how hard he pushed her. It was too late! She was already dead on the ground below by the time he could grasp what happened.

"Shit! Shit! Shit!" There he was alone with broken glass at his feet and a dead body on his hands. The police would come soon. He WAS the police! His career wouldn't survive if anyone knew. He had to clean this up. He had to erase the evidence, had to get the fuck out of there.

A knock came at the door. Rhonda hadn't even locked the door because the next thing he knew a man was in the room while he was trying to stage the scene and wipe his prints clean.

"I heard a disturbance. I'm Gi-NO." The mob boss saw the apparent mess and the open hole from the window. "What did you do?"

"Shut up, shut up, shut up!" Harold said frantically as he cleaned up more prints.

"Well, well I recognized you. You're Sidney's partner, Harold right. You two have been giving me a lot of trouble. What has the good cop done now?" Gino walked towards Harold and looked at some of the paperwork on the table. "Oh shit! You killed that Rhonda bitch. My girlfriend has been trying to get rid of her for such a long time. She's been a pain in my business. Good job. I was coming here to off her myself tonight."

"Shit! Shit! Shit!" Harold was shaking and out of it. He was going to jail. Gino was a witness. He needed to get rid of him too now. "I'll do anything you want. Don't say anything please. Help me cover it up."

Gino rubbed his hands. He was obviously scheming. "You realize you're making a deal with the mafia, Boy? If I keep my mouth shut, you give me police immunity. I run this city now Harold. You understand me."

Harold shook his head. Gino was going to take advantage of him for sure but at least he could avoid going to jail and being labelled as a murderer. He wasn't a murder. She just fell, he kept repeating to himself in his head.

"Great, get your shit and let's get out of here. We have 20 minutes before a police response. I shack up here from time to time so I'm good with timing. My boys will do the rest before the cops get here. Remember, you owe me debt now Harold."

Harold grabbed his backpack and the white robe and headed out with Gino. His head was running wild. No one had seen him. There was no DNA in the room. If there still was Gino's men would handle it. It just looked like she fell out of the window. Yea, she fell. He needed to believe she just fell.

As he drove off, trusting Gino would keep his end of the bargain his police scanner went off. It was Sid. He could hear his voice through the speaker: "Hey man we're needed in the lower side. Some girl fell from a window and it's gathering attention. We need to get out there now. Meet you there in 15."

Harold could barely focus. He was shaking with his hands on the wheels. He needed to compose himself. He probably looked horrible. His shirt was ripped, he had scratches on his arms, and his eyes were red. He had to clean himself up before he went anywhere or saw anyone. He was still in shock and could barely take a breath.

She fell. She fell, he kept saying to himself. You are not responsible.

His phone went off. It was a text from Gino.

Gino: It's done. You're clear. Remember, you're my inside man now.

"Fuck!" He stopped the car and eyed the backpack and robe in his back seat. He couldn't face her lifeless body right now and he definitely couldn't face Sid. He picked up his walkie-talkie and said: "10-4 Sid. I'm not going to be able to make it tonight. I'm out of town right now. I'll be there in the morning. Sounds terrible."

Sid responded: "10-4. It's a mess out there man. They say she's a beautiful girl who just fell out of the sky according to onlookers. See you tomorrow man."

Harold exhaled deeply and drove as fast as he could to the outskirts of town. He burned the pills and the robe right under the Hillside Bay Bridge. As the smoke went up, the memories of his past affair with Rhonda flooded into his mind. He curled into a ball and let out a blood-curdling scream. He killed her. He killed her. He killed her. It was all his fault and now he had a blood debt with the most dangerous criminal in town.

He didn't want to go to jail though so he had to play it off. He had to be Gino's inside man.

It wasn't a mistake. She deserved to die. Rhonda was the worst kind of person and he had saved everyone from more pain. He hoped when she hit the ground and breathed her last breath she thought of him. He hoped she regretted crossing him now.

She deserved it. She deserved it for not loving him back. She deserved it for lying to him and using him. She deserved it for being dirty, for sleeping with Sid, and for being the devil in a skin-tight, designer dress.

"Good riddance Ms. Lloyd." As he watched the flames erupt, the last tear fell from his eyes and he knew everything was going to work out. He had did a great service to the world by ending Rhonda's reign of terror.

She was still beautiful until the very end. She was like Lucifer. She had fallen from heaven as a beautiful angel and come to man to promote evil. As she fell that night, Harold hoped she had repented. He had hoped he thought of him as she drew her very last breath.

…...End of Flashback

Harold paced back and forth like a caged tiger. Things he felt he should have done, coupled with his perceived failures dominated his mind. He thought about his actions and words, finding them inadequate. Festering guilt rendered his mind ineffective, his short term memory shot. There it goes again, my inner dialogue, but it's not my friend. It whispers to me, "Everything has gone wrong, it's terrible, no way back, disaster, ruin...". He needed to run away. Sid knew and now there was no way out of this.

"You're a coward Harold. You kill her,covered it, and ran. How can still wear your badge with blood on your hands?"

"I told you it was an accident. And I'm not the coward! When were you going to tell me you slept with her? Never?"

"Harold, I'm sorry. She manipulated me too and I fell for it. I was wrong for that but it was ten years ago. I assumed you moved on. I didn't know you served as her personal drug dealer in exchange for oral sex!"

"It WASN'T like that! You shut up. It's not fair Sid." Harold had gotten so upset that he punched a hole next to the bed. He was losing it indefinitely. "You get everything. You get the gorgeous women, the nice apartment, and all of the praise at work. I'm still that pathetic fat kid."

"Harold-"

"No shut up! I should've known you'd figure it out. Now I have to kill you Sid." Harold drew his gun quickly. "No one can ever know what I did. I love you man."

"Be a man for once in your life. Shoot me but at least uncuff me. You owe me that much, partner." Harold kept the gun pointed at his head and uncuffed him from the bed. Sid looked into the barrel of the gun and nearly froze. In all of his years of service he had never been at the other side of a gun due to someone he cared about. The fact that it was Harold wielding the gun and ultimately wielding his life in his hands made Sid get a knot in his stomach. He had never been so uncertain and so afraid in his life.

He had to pretend he was strong. No one could ever see him weak, not even Harold. Sid laughed to himself, "You honestly thought I came here without my piece? You aren't as good of a partner as I thought."

Sid pulled his gun while Harold pointed his gun right at Sid's head. Sid's heart was pounding. He had never been so afraid of a gun in his life. He knew for a fact Harold was a better shot than him. He also knew his arm had begun to bleed again from the strain of moving his arm to hold the gun. Things weren't looking good for him but he had to protect and serve until the very end.

"This is the end my friend." Harold clicked the safety off his gun. Sid was ready for whatever was going to happen next. His partner of 6 years was about to kill him in a hospital room. This may have started with Rhonda but it was going to end with one of them dead.

Author's Note: ONE MORE CHAPTER LEFT! How do you guys feel about the killer being revealed? Did it shock you? Considering everyone is setup to die next chapter: Who do you think will live to tell the tale?