Title: Opposites Attract
Chapter 20 - Just another Day at the Fair?
A/N: Okay so back to the action. In fact the next few chapters will be a mix of action and fluff until Mac is kidnapped.
"Adam, Mac Taylor, can you help Stella and I out with something. Check back on all the unsolved serials that have the same MO as our crime scene. Not necessarily large groups, could even be one offs. Young men, sedated, carved up. Right. Please compile a list and have it ready when we get back. Thanks."
"You've seen this before?" She asks me in wonder.
"Not specifically around here, but we need to cover every angle. It bothers me that someone is out there thinking they can get away with this because we spend so much time looking at the obvious. Our suspect list is shrinking and all the usual suspects so far are either turning up dead or have credible alibis. So even if it might seem a long shot, I'm willing to consider it."
"Makes sense," she offers as my phone rings again.
"Taylor," I answer with a huff, which changes to a smile. I notice Stella's look of interest and quickly I qualify it. "Paula. Anything on Harvey? No. Damn it! Yes I know it got me into trouble. I didn't touch him. Yeah let me know what Chavez says. No she's here; we are going to check out another lead. How's Ed? You want what? No you can't talk to her, she's..." I try as Stella snatches the phone out of my hand.
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"Bonasera," I answer, snatching the phone from Mac. "Hi Paula." As I listen, I look at Mac and I can't help but smile as I know when I don't tell him what she's said, it's going to drive him crazy. "Thanks for the tip," I wink at him, making him lightly scowl. "I might take you up on that. Thanks. Right talk to you later. Bye. Here you go."
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I look at my phone in disbelief. "She hung up? What did she want?"
"She wanted to talk to me," she answers.
"Stella," I stammer, not impressed with her game. "What did she say?"
"Mac, it was a private call. I'm sure when you have private calls you dont tell me everything," she answers firmly.
"You listen to mine," I counter.
"And you just heard mine," she smiles.
"You two are going to be the death of me, I swear."
"But she did ask us over for dinner on the weekend and I agreed," she adds. What? The weekend? Us at Paula's?
"What?" I ask in shock. "She didn't. Did she?" I stammer as I reach for my phone. Stella touches my hand and I quickly relax and put the phone back down on the consol.
"Mac, she said to remember to eat lunch as you never have breakfast," she tells me in half truth.
"Sounds like her," I resign in defeat. I know she's lying. Paula said more, but if Stella won't tell me then maybe her new cohort would. Why do I feel like I'm being ganged up on?
"What was that about Jack Harvey?" Stella asks, forcing my mind back to reality.
"Thanks for changing the subject," I offer in a not impressed tone.
"Mac, it's an argument you won't win," she smiles at me.
"You are doing this to drive me crazy right?" I sigh.
"Is it working?" She retorts.
"Yes," I huff.
"Good," she answers, making me look at her in surprise. But I say nothing. She has once again shown me that now even my friends can join her side with a few simple words. Oh how this woman intrigues me!
"So Jack Harvey?" She presses me again.
"Just trying to justify my stupid actions as of late," I frown. "Paula said my superior found out and wanted her side of the story as Jack is now claiming harassment. Who else could my attacker be?"
"Unless it's someone related to Jeremy Frost?" Stella offers. "Maybe he was with him; knew the plan and then had something on Jeremy to make him take his life?"
"Or helped him do it," I add. "But everyone Flack talked to said they either didn't know him that well or was glad he was gone."
"With friends like those, who need enemies," Stella huffs, looking out the window.
Even now she amazes me. We spent an amazing night last night but when work is what needs to be discussed she is all business; once again she has me guessing and that's a good thing.
We finally approach the amusement park and stop. I look around and then over at Stella, who is just as interested as I am at the few vehicles parked a few feet away.
"So much for closed for the season," she notes. "I wonder who his friends are?"
"Let's go and find out."
We get out and slowly start for the entrance; my eyes nervously darting around. Something isn't right here but I have yet to put my finger on it. I have the feeling I am being watched but maybe it's just paranoia feeling my tired brain and I dont want to sound panicky if there is no reason.
"Something wrong?" She's quick to pick up on my tension.
"Just can't put my finger on it," I frown.
"Do you like amusement parks?" Stella asks me.
"Not really my thing. Too much fanfare," I huff as my eyes dart around for anyone that we might not see until it's too late. "You?"
"Yeah I like the bright lights, the noise, the rush from the rides," she smiles. She could tell me that having your nails picked off one at a time with wrench was fun and I would think it was the most wonderful thing in the world. I need to have my head examined sometimes. "Maybe like the museum, you had the wrong tour guide."
"Probably. But unlike the museum I can't see myself coming back here during operating hours. Did your family go a lot when you were young?" I ask her. But when she doesn't answer and I see her stiffen I know there is more to this woman beside me than her sparkling smile and mood lifting laugh. A dark secret? A strained childhood? What am I not seeing? What is she keeping locked away? "Stella?"
"What? Oh sorry," she answers in a hurry. "No we didn't go a lot," she offers with firm lips. Since it's not a genuine smile I know she's hiding something; but since it appears painful, I dont press. I need to remember my boundaries as our union continues to grow, but now I'm really curious.
"Mac," she says as she nods in the direction of a man working.
"Excuse me sir," I start as we approach. The man turns and faces us with a scowl and a large tool.
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I watch Mac tense a bit but he is not unnerved by the large man before him. "CSI Crime Lab, we are looking for Tyler Redmond," I hear him mention.
"You cops?" He snarls.
"Are you Mr. Redmond?" Mac counters.
"And if I am?" He throws back.
"Then we need to talk to you," Mac orders.
"Well I don't want to talk to you Detective Taylor," he sneers, leaning in close to Mac. I look at Mac in shock and my hand is automatically reaching for my gun.
"How the hell do you know who I am?" Mac demands; and I know from his tone things are going to get worse.
The man just smiles as he watches Mac tense up and then his hand reach for his gun. The large man before him swings the large tool, barely misses him and then lunges at Mac. I watch in fascination as the large man tries to get the upper hand but Mac is able to quickly kneel down and punch him hard in the stomach. The large man falters back and lands his own blow. Mac stumbles back but doesn't lose his footing; allowing him to finally grab the large tool and hit the man in the back. The large man slams to the ground on his stomach but hits his head and is down; I watch as Mac is about to hit him again. But he looks up at me and stops.
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I look at Stella and stop before I go too far. For some reason she makes my anger subside and I once again am thankful. I wonder if she'd ever tire of hearing me tell her that? I toss the tool and then bend down to look for ID. "Nothing," I frown as I look up at her. "Could be Tyler Redmond," I mention. "We need to bring him with us," I start as I am about to stand up; only to have to duck back down as a shot is fired in our direction. Stella crouches down beside me with her gun drawn.
"Did you see where it came from?" She asks me.
"I think by that fun house. Green one with the goblins," I nod with my head to the dark haunted house ride a few yards from us.
"Great," I hear her sigh, but just as I am about to tell her something else; I hear a voice that stops my world cold.
"Welcome Detective Taylor," a voice says over the loud speaker. I look at Stella in shock and feel my heart starting to beat a bit faster. I am trying to register the voice; but so far it doesn't match any of the previous two attacks and now I'm getting worried.
"Who is this?" I demand in anger; not really knowing where to direct my question.
"You don't strike me as the amusement park type of guy."
"Show yourself!" I growl in anger.
"You know you have a very bad memory," the voice laughs. "How is it that YOU DON'T REMEMBER ME?" The voice finishes in an angry yell.
"Show yourself and we'll talk about my memory!" I demand again.
"Oh you're the hot shot right? Mr. big time hero?" The voice taunts. "The invincible Mac Taylor? You'll just have to put that brain of yours to work and find me. But you better make it fast."
"Come and face me son of a bitch!" I shout in anger.
"In time I will," the voice laughs. "Or you could always come and find me. See the open door? Care to tempt fate a little?"
"Mac, I think we should wait," she tells me. Maybe I should listen. Haven't before? Why start now?
"You wait here and call for backup," I tell her.
"I am not letting you go in there alone," she replies.
"Damn it Stella! Please listen, just once?" I lightly beg.
"If you go in there, I'm coming with you. End of discussion. I'm not letting you go in there alone. Not with this guy," she insists. "But we need backup."
"Stella," I try to offer in protest.
"Mac, end of story. This guy has already shot at us."
I offer a heavy sigh but finally agree; however, just as I am about to call for backup a man's face appears in the door and smiles at us. Without waiting, I put my phone away and rush for the door; Stella offering another ethnic curse as she's forced to follow.
"Damn it Mac. The call didn't go through," she offers with a small curse as I pull the door open and Stella readies her flashlight and gun and takes her place behind me. We step inside and the door slams shut with a loud bang and my panic immediately rises. I rush back for the door only to find it locked and us trapped. I hear Stella offer a heavy sigh and know today is not going to end as I had planned.
"Are you afraid of the dark Taylor?" The voice laughs to which I just curse.
"Show yourself!" I shout back in anger, taking a few more steps forward. Stella is right behind me and I can swear that her heart is beating just as loud and as fast as mine. "Stella?"
"Right here," she whispers.
"How do you like my fun house? I guess you have been in the dark before right? Oh and I don't just mean in combat missions; but am guessing a few of those too?" The voice laughs.
"Mac, who is this guy?" She whispers.
"Come and face me like a man!" I demand. "Or are you just a big coward? Scared of your own shadow?" I hear Stella offer a small scream as she is hit from behind. I quickly turn around to push back something large and she drops her flashlight but not her gun, her arm quickly looping around mine.
"I'll make you a deal..." I start.
"Mac," she warns me.
"I'll meet you wherever you want and Stella goes outside," I call out.
"Mac forget it!" She hisses in anger.
"You're a funny man, Taylor. So now you care? How very odd for you! You usually care only about yourself! Think you'd care if her screams were your fault! How about her death?"
"Who the hell are you?" I snap in angry frustration. "If you want me, then stop playing these damn games!"
"Oh but I like games," the voice laughs. "You like to play games. Telling people you're such a great cop but then failing miserably. Tell me, does your word mean anything to anyone YOU CARE ABOUT!"
"Who are you referring to? WHO ARE YOU?" I shout in anger. I feel Stella's body tense once more and just as she's about to take a false step I grab her and pull her close once again. "Meet me, but leave Stella out of this!"
"Mac, you can't face this guy alone," she whispers to me in frustration.
"I will if it will save your life," I whisper back to her.
"Ever think about the oath you took Taylor?" He asks in a low tone.
"Which one?" I counter.
"The Taylor oath!"
The Taylor oath, I think inside. I have only ever faced a few people with a those exact words and right now my brain fails to place any faces in my head that might offer a reasonable explanation as to who this is. Who is this guy? Obviously someone I have wronged in the past, but who?
"Ah the silent type. Figure it out yet Taylor?"
"Did you murder those boys?" I demand; Stella fixed to my side. I feel her body slightly trembling and wish I had a free arm to hold her close.
"Sorry, who?"
"Did Jack pay you to do this?"
"Once again I'm lost? Who?" He laughs. "Ask a better question."
"What do you want from me?" I ask as we take another step, further into the darkened haunted house.
"You will know soon enough," the voice laughs. "But now it's time for some fun..."
"Mac?" I hear Stella ask in fear.
"Oh don't worry Stella my dear, I'm not going to kill him just yet," the voice laughs. "Parting is such sweet sorrow, however, and it's been fun. I have an idea, since you two are so fond of being close together," the voice taunts as I stop; forcing Stella to stop also.
Little did we know it was exactly where he wanted us to stop.
"Bye bye Taylor, until next time. Oh and there will be a next time."
"I think that..." Stella starts and it's the last thing I hear as we both feel the ground give way beneath us and we tumble into darkness.
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I slowly feel my world coming back to me as I start to open my eyes; my heart is racing and my head is pounding from the fall. I squint into the dimly lit room to look for Stella; my eyes still trying to focus. "Stella!" I try, my lungs sore from the fall and my chest a bit tight and winded. I finally feel her starting to move beside me and offer a sigh of relief; but as I try to push myself up I feel slightly trapped. I raise one arm and its fine; I raise the other and it's sluggish.
"What on earth?" I manage as I hold my wrist up to the light. But as I lift my arm I hear Stella offer a small yelp and I quickly lower my arm. "We're cuffed together," I frown as I try to sit up. "Are you okay?"
"My head hurts," she offers with a slight cough. I use my free hand to help her sit up and we both look around into the dimly lit room that we are in.
"Anything broken?" I ask in concern.
"No. You?"
"No." Both our coats are missing and so is my suit jacket and for the first time I feel a slight chill; could be my rattled nerves, but at this point I'm not sure.
"Where are we? What on earth," she says as she tries to move but my arm comes with her.
"I wasn't lying," I offer.
"No, I know but," I hear her try in a jumble of words.
"I'm getting really tired of handcuffs," I sigh. She looks at me with a smile.
"Are you sure?" She counters.
"Well maybe if they were pink," I shoot back.
"Maybe they will be next time," she smiles.
"Just sit until you are okay to move," I tell her as my eyes start to scan the area around us. Just as I am about to give up on seeing anything of note, a small spotlight is flipped on; bathing a small table on the other side of the room in dim light. "Can you get up?" I ask a few minutes later.
"I think so," she offers. "Mac, who is this guy?"
"I didn't recognize his voice, but I think it's someone Jack Harvey paid to do this. Probably just messing with me for the jail room showdown. Paula said there was backlash toward me and this might be it. Jack's idea of a sick joke," I tell her as I slowly stand up, Stella slowly following suit. "I don't know who else it could be? I'm sure with all the friends he has, he probably was able to get the same information that Cyrus got. Otherwise I don't know, but I'm pissed and ready to kill someone."
"Good thing I'm here then," she offers in a gentle tone and my anger starts to subside.
"I just hate these cloak and dagger games," I frown. "Come on let's go."
"Well I guess we really are stuck together," she offers with a slight smile, that even though it's dark I can hear the smile in her voice.
"Don't worry, I'll rid you of me soon enough," I lightly grimace as I look back at the table. My mind now races with panic that because of my stupid actions toward Jack or whoever this is, that Stella's life is now in jeopardy because of me. What if he killed her to prove a point? Or hurt her so bad that I was forced to relive this misery for the rest of my life? Could I live with that? Be the person responsible for her pain? Draw closer to her; fall in love with her; offer her a future only to have it taken away by something I might have done? I know I can't ever do that to her and now this changes everything. I know what I must do; instead of drawing closer, I have to draw apart; it's the only way to keep her safe.
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"Or maybe I'll rid you of me," I send back to him. Mac keeps surprising me at every turn. He comes across as so strong and self assured at times, but in when I get glimpses of another side of him, it's very different. Even after the intimate moments we have shared, he's still so unsure of his feelings or what I might think of him. Why is that? Does he actually care what I think enough to worry that much? Or does he doubt us even still? Maybe I'm the one fooling myself into thinking he wants more. He hints at it, but doesn't come out and say anything. What's he still afraid of? This madman or something else?
"I see our things on that small table."
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We walk toward the small table; every step taken with caution; and when we get into the light I lift the sleeve of my dress shirt and frown. "Damn it, these are custom," I offer with an angry glance. "They'll have to be cut off."
"No key?" Stella smiles at me.
"Nothing to work with," I huff. "Unlike the night of the party."
"I did wonder what you used," she throws at me.
"Trade secret. Unless you share yours," I shoot back to which she nods her head no. "We'll have something in the truck to get these off." I lift up my suit jacket and all that is left for us is my phone. "Where are my gun and keys?"
"Mac, he left us nothing," she mentions. "Where is my phone and gun? Where is our jackets?"
"Let's just get back to the truck," I tell her. "We'll call the team and get some help. Did you manage to get through to Flack before we came?"
"No," she states in frustration. "Who the hell is this guy?"
"I don't know but nothing about this makes sense," I answer her as I grab my jacket and slowly lead us to the stairs. Walking cuffed feels odd and so I take her hand, making her look at me in surprise. We finally reach the bottom of the stairs and stop; my eyes look around and then back at Stella. "Looks safe," I tell her, my voice uncertain.
"Well I can't try another way, so lead on," she encourages me.
I start up the stairs and feel Stella's hand lightly squeeze mine. I know she's scared but in truth I'm a little rattled myself. If it were just me, it wouldn't matter. But I'll die before I let anything happen to her. Die? For Stella? Yeah I would. What does that mean? It means I care a lot more than I want to believe. I think I love her; and with this situation I realize now that I can never act on that emotion. She'll probably hate me for it; but at least she'll be alive. I made that mistake with Carla, and I swore then I'd never do it again. Sorry, Stella I lament inside, someday I hope you'll be able to forgive me.
"I just can't figure his game? Was he the same guy that attacked you on campus?" She dares to ask.
"Must be, that guy new my name; same as at the museum; plus those damn phone calls," I utter in fate; my back to her. Then I feel her stop, tug at my arm and I know I'm in trouble. Was that out loud? Damn it!
"What do you mean he knew your name? What phone calls? Mac what are you talking about?" I hear the anger in her voice and finally she the frustration on her face when I turn to face her. "Why didn't you tell me any of this?"
"Wasn't important until today. Stella, I swear I didn't think it would come to anything this serious. Didn't think he'd drag you into this mess," I try. She just looks at me with a skeptical arch and I know I'm in trouble.
"What do you mean wasn't important? My involvement aside; your life being threatened isn't important? How long has this been going on?" She wonders.
"Since the University."
"What? Mac you mean the second night?"
"Yes," I reply in frustration.
"Thanks for trusting in me," she huffs.
"Stella, it's not like that. This is just Jack, I swear. It has to be. Who else? He didn't cop to killing those boys so it must be him."
"I don't think you believe that," she huffs. "And if you don't believe that then I don't believe that."
"Stella, trust me I'm just as in the dark about this as you," I frown. She looks at me in frustration but I know I have already started to dig my own grave; and after the past few days of me opening up a little to her, I know there will be hell to pay for keeping important things like this from her. However, without saying another word, I offer her a frown and turn around and keep going.
We finally reach the door at the top and I gingerly push it open. I spy only a body in the parking lot but not our truck; all other cars are now gone. "Looks clear, only the body were we left it. But where is the truck?" I demand in anger; however, not expecting her to answer. We hurry toward the body and stop just as we reach it.
"Not the same man as we confronted when we first came," I note in anger. In a plastic bag is a wallet with a note on it resting on the chest of the man on the ground before us.
"Gunshot wound to the head," Stella notes of the body at our feet as I bend down to look at the note.
"Damn it!" I curse as I use my finger to lift an edge of the note so we can look at it.
'Lose this Taylor?' Is all the note reads.
"Mac," she whispers, horror in her voice as she looks at a picture of me with a bloody fingerprint over the face.
"Stella, look at his name tag," I tell her as I lift the plastic bag.
"Tyler Redmond! If it is him, then there goes our suspect! Another one! What the hell is going on around here?" She states in anger; her temper matching mine.
"I..." start when my phone rings. "Paula?"
"Mac, where have you been?" She asks in haste.
"Did you find something on Jack? Because..."
"Mac, Jack Harvey is dead."
"What? Dead?" I ask angrily, Stella looking at me in shock. "How the hell can he be dead? What happened?"
"He hung himself in prison this morning. We found a note from another higher player that said if Jack didn't do the honorable thing then he would find a way to make it happen. Mac, we think it might be Grant Donaldson."
"Damn it! Any financial transactions on any of his accounts?" I ask her.
"We'll keep looking to see if he paid anyone but I dont think it's him. Are you guys okay? Where have you been?"
"On a haunted house tour. My attacker just set a trap for me and Stella but we're okay," I tell Paula. "With Jack dead who the hell do we look at?"
"Did you recognize the voice? Any match to the other two attacks?"
"No," I state in frustration. "I don't know who this can be! Keep looking and let me know what you find. Maybe Jack paid someone to do this before he died," I state in anger as I hung up. "Jack's dead. So whoever did this can't be on his payroll; they wouldn't have had time to collect. Paula is checking to see if perhaps money went through yesterday but I just arrested jack last week; pretty fast turnaround even for him."
"So we really are back at square one," she tells me in a sour tone. "Who is this guy?"
"I don't know."
"Mac?"
"Stella, I swear to you that is the truth. I thought it was Jack this whole time. Who else would know those things? Who else as of late would have much to gain from my demise?"
"I want to believe you," she tells me with a hesitant voice.
"But?" I dare to ask.
"But you have already held things back about this guy so I am not sure anymore," she tells me with a strained voice. "Maybe you don't want to tell me any solid details about him, thinking you can fight him on your own without my help? As you always have?"
"Stella, I didn't mean to keep things, but to be honest I thought it was Jack; part of me still does. In past two years, I haven't had much in the way of personal threats that amounted to anything other than an angry parent at a crime scene, and even those didn't follow through," I tell her in frustration. She looks at me and then finally offers me a small frown; her face less tense. "I didn't tell you because I didn't want to worry you or have anything else to distract us from this case; much less anything that I might have done. It was a personal fight that I didn't want you involved in. But now I am sure this guy is connected to the murder of those boys. Who else would take out Tyler Redmond? I doubt Jack knew him!" I huff as I look around in anger. "And where the hell is the damn truck!"
She offers me nothing in the way of an answer and silence now starts to grow; silence I am responsible for creating and I blame myself for this tension.
"I wish you had stayed in the truck like I suggested," I offer in a low tone; not really wanting to create an argument.
"Are you serious?" She asks in surprise. "You really want to play that card now?"
"If it had been only me that went in there..." I start only to be quickly cut off.
"You are still alive because I was with you," she retorts. "His words, he's after you Mac. With me there, he didn't try anything drastic."
"He could have killed you!" I lightly snap. "He threatened you; offered you pain because of me! If you had listened then you wouldn't have been in danger."
"I might have when he came out here to finish off Redmond!" She snaps back and I just frown. "We should have called for backup instead of rushing in half cocked. That was your idea."
"You went after Frost alone, so don't get after me for doing what I normally would do if I was here by myself," I reply. "It's what we are both used to!"
"What is the Taylor oath?" She asks me as I drape my suit coat over our cuffed hands and then reach for my phone to call for some help.
I stop and look at her in surprise. "It's nothing," I try.
"What is it?" She demands of me again.
"It's nothing."
"I could have died in there and you still want to lie to me?" She snaps in anger. "Mac you have some guy who is stalking you; knows intimate things about you; knows my name, threatens me; puts my life in danger and you still want to lie to me and pretend it's nothing? How long has this really been going on? These past few days I could have sworn we were drawing closer to each other not further apart?"
Oh life was so much simpler when I didn't have a partner to contend with; much less one that I actually give a damn about what she thinks. "The Taylor oath was a personal promise I made to a few people on certain cases to get what I was after at any cost; trust me it's not relevant to this case. It's from the past," I explain. "It's doesn't matter."
"You know you're right," she tells me in a cold tone. "You only want me to get killed for no reason. Who cares what I think! Who cares if I care about you?" She finishes in a heated shout. "Or if I know why this guy wants to hurt you!"
"Ah I knew this would happen," I offer in frustration. "Before you came into my life, things were simple and uncomplicated like I like them! Like me, simple. When the only person I had to worry about and care about was myself! If I had gone into this situation it would only have been my ass to worry about!" I offer in anger; my worry and panic sending thoughts to my worried brain that my mouth shouldn't be speaking. "Maybe that's how it should be from now on!"
"Okay fine. You want it back the way it was, you got it. You want to be alone and cynical and care only for yourself for the rest of your life, go ahead! That's the choice you want you got it!"
"Damn it Carla!" I shout as she turns her back to me.
"What?" She asks me in shock, turning back to look at me in surprise.
"I mean Stella," I rush.
"Who's Carla?" She asks. "The woman in the pictures in your place? She's your wife right? Or at least ex? Is that why you lock yourself away from the world or those around you? Is that why you are afraid to take the next step? Is that why you are suddenly pushing me away now? Now, after the progress we have made in the past few days?"
"I...I can't tell you. It's nothing," I stop and look at her with a frown. Her eyes are once again searching mine for the truth. I can't tell about her Carla. I just can't. Carla was special and one of the reasons I told myself that caring about someone and then losing them hurt too much and I'd never do it again. "We should go. You're shivering," I simply tell her in a softer tone, as I dial Cyrus; my back now to her. She doesn't have to say a thing; I just crushed any hope of something more between us. Was there hope? Not anymore. It wasn't meant to be, I try to tell myself. Why did I even let it get this far? Because you wanted something more from her. I did; but I just ruined it.
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I watch him turn his back; trying to hide the pain from his attack and what's obviously inside his heart. Who really is Carla? Must have been someone close; someone he loved. For a man to close up that much of himself; to not talk about her and to turn away that quickly, to crush anything new that is growing, must have been very painful. And while I really hoped that something more would grow between us, especially after last night; his words and actions just showed me that nothing more might ever grow. I follow after him in sorrow; for the first time ever in public, swallowing back tears.
How on earth, especially after last night, could he just turn away like this? What's really going on?
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"Cyrus, what do you have?"
"Mac, someone killed Donald Amor," he tells me to which I only curse and look at Stella with growing anxiety. "Gunshot wound to the head."
"Yeah we believe Tyler Redmond as well. If we have any more dead bodies we might as well open our own cemetery. Okay I'm bringing back our body; see you back at our lab. Tell Sheldon to keep Amor there, Stella is on her way back there to work on it. I'll get Berg to get over here and you two can get started on this place."
"What happened?" She asks with a tight frown.
"We are running out of space and our suspect list is shrinking. Amor was also killed," I huff. "But I'm sure you are pretty sick of all of us around your lab so I'll take this body back to our lab and then we'll compare notes."
"Sounds like a plan," she offers me with a tight lipped smile.
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He wants space and I'm going to give him space. I want to tell him he doesn't have to be afraid to open up again if he was hurt in the past, but it's not my place and he obviously doesn't want to let me in. I guess it was over before it began; the way it should be, right Stella?
We stand in miserable silence, our eyes looking at everything but each other; our hands had dropped long ago and although I have the urge to grasp his hand in mine and force him to open up, I know we are past that. It probably will never happen now.
I watch his body language and am saddened, but somehow not surprised. This man has made a career out of locking himself away; offering petty excuses to anyone who dares to get close. I foolishly thought that I might be the one to unlock it, but I guess not. Oh Stella, just give it up already. But do I? Do I just walk away? Maybe that's another problem; maybe every other woman has just given up and walked away. Maybe every other woman has just tired of the struggle; not wanting to see what else he really has to offer? Is he worth it? That's the real question; and right now even though I think he is; I'm just not sure he wants me to try.
And as the silence continues to grow I wonder what kind of future awaits either one of us.
XXXXXXXX
I finally spy the maintenance shed and look at Stella with a pensive frown. "They might have cutters for these in there," I tell her.
"Lead the way," she tells me in a cold tone.
We walk there in silence; an uncomfortable chasm starting to grow. I can't take this silence! I know it's my fault but there is nothing more I can do. Maybe it's better this way. How can I tell her I care about her only to lose her to a monster like this? If he killed her to get back at me how could I live with that? I couldn't.
"Taylor," I sigh; answering my phone with a weary tone. "Lindsay, what did you and Danny find? Any prints? Damn it! Don Amor and Tyler Redmond. Great. Lindsay get back to our lab and work with Wally on Redmond's body. No Danny stays there," I huff as I hang up and redial. "Adam, did you find anything? Send it to my email. No I'm not coming back there. Right bye."
"Square one right?" She offers in a hurt tone.
I look at her with a heavy frown. "Trust me as soon as I got the second call I started to think on who this could be, but I don't know," I tell her with a heavy sigh.
She looks at me square on but offers no further words; once again it's her silence that torments me; even worse is the fact that I can't pull back because we are still attached. We stand in heated silence for a few more minutes before heading toward the shed. We reach the small building and as I pull the door open we gaze in horror. "It's empty," she moans. "We have to find another..." her voice trails off.
"Stella, we wait here. We just took a tumble and are unarmed and who knows what the hell else this guy has waiting for us. Cyrus will be along shortly and then we'll have a few uniformed officers check this place for any more surprises," I tell her with a frown. "I am not sending anyone else into this guys trap uninformed."
"I guess arguing with you about anything would be pointless right now," she huffs.
"Look I'm just as frustrated as you," I stammer, my heart starting to beat faster.
She goes to cross her arms but since we are attached; she offers an angry sigh and then slowly pushes the door closed; making me look at her in wonder.
"Now what on earth is going on inside your head?" She finally challenges.
"Pardon?"
"You have just done a complete one eighty in less than twenty-four hours and don't hand me the, 'this is just who I am line,' because I don't buy it. The Mac Taylor from the past few days isn't the same man before me right now. I know you have been threatened before and I was with you when Jack also threatened you and you didn't act like this. You drew closer to me right after that, not further away. What accounts for this sudden hot and cold attitude? Suddenly pushing me away? What on earth is going on with you? Your attacker or something else?"
"Like I said the other night, you don't know me that well," I frown.
"Oh that's a lame excuse and you know it. What are you really afraid of?"
"Of not knowing the answer until it's too late," I offer firmly. "You want answers to things I don't even know the answer to myself."
"Carla?"
"This isn't the time or place for.."
"Why? Because it doesn't work for you right?" She counters. "We can't leave this place because as you said we don't know what's waiting for us and we are unarmed and I agree. So I want some answers."
"I won't talk about her," I whisper in torment.
"Fine," she huffs and I know I'm just putting up another roadblock to our future. My eyes look away, once again searching for anything I can use to change the subject. Then out of the blue she asks a question that will once again force my hand.
"Do you care about me?" She dares, not allowing me to wallow in anything; forcing my eyes back to hers.
What do I tell her? If I say yes, I'm doomed; everyone I've cared for has been taken away from me in horrible ways. If I tell her no, she'll be hurt and it'll be a lie but it'll be the safe way out and her life could be saved; even if I end up alone.
"Stella, I..."
A/N: sorry for the cruel and hopefully not to OOC but I had to add some tension as you know I like to (grin) and as Mac wasn't just going to open up about Carla on his own, his hand had to be forced. Don't kill me but I have a purpose and all will be revealed in the next chapter! Well all about Carla...sorry you'll have to wait a bit for the identity of the kidnapper. Please review! THANKS!