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Chapter 64
Hodges and Waters pulled into Steven Mayer's driveway and parked behind the small truck.
"Looks like someones home." Waters said, noticing the lights on in the house.
Hodges quickly got out of the car and was practically sprinting across the yard.
"Hey Lone Ranger. Wait up." Waters said as hurried to catch up. "What's the hurry?"
"I just don't have a good feeling about this guy. My gut is just aching." Hodges answered.
"You and your gut." Waters said amusingly but knew that his partner's gut feelings were usually right on.
Hodges anxiously rang the doorbell that was positioned just to the right of the blue door.
Steven was just about to carry the sandwiches down to the basement when his doorbell rang. He froze. He wasn't expecting anyone and the last thing he wanted or needed was someone snooping around. Doing his best to not make any noise, he made his way to the window in the living room and carefully looked out to find a dark colored car parked in his driveway. However, he couldn't see who was it was standing at his door without them seeing him. He stepped back and waited, hoping that whoever felt the need to disturb him would give up and go away.
It had only been a few seconds since he rang the bell but Hodges was growing impatient. He was cold and very anxious. C'mon you jerk. Answer your damn door, he said under his breath.
Waters gave Hodges a sideways glance, knowing very well of his partner's impatience. "Give him a minute. Maybe he's in the bathroom."
Hodges gave his partner a smirk. "I'm bettin' he doesn't want to open his door."
Hodges rang the doorbell again but this time, he opened the outer door and pounded on the wooden door.
Damn it! Steven muttered as the intruder continued to pound on his door. It was apparent that whoever was out there was not going to go away. He sighed heavily and reached over and unlocked the two deadbolts and slowly opened his door. His breath caught in his throat when he saw who was standing on his porch. He instantly recognized the two detectives. They had been wondering around the hospital all week, asking questions about Allison. He regained his composer and managed to put a fake smile on his face as he greeted the two men in dark suits.
"Hello." Steven said.
Hodges and Waters pulled out their Id's and let them fall open, giving Steven a full view of their identities.
"Are you Steven Mayer?" Hodges asked in his best detective voice.
Steven pretended to study the Id's while he answered. "Yes, I am. Can I help you?"
"May we come in Mr. Mayer?"
Steven shrugged, ignoring the question. "What is this about?"
Hodges gave his partner a sideways glance when Steven didn't willingly invite them in. He tucked his badge back into the inside pocket of his jacket. "Do you know a Doctor Cameron?"
Steven suddenly heard a muffled sound coming from his basement, drawing his attention from the older detective. Allison was screaming and if he could hear her, there was a very good possibility the two detectives could hear her. He stepped a little further out the door, pulling the front door closer to his body. His thoughts were starting to go around in circles and he didn't hear what the detective had asked him.
Hodges was waiting for Steven Mayer to answer him. "Is something wrong Mr. Mayer?"
Steven caught himself. "I'm sorry. What did you ask?"
"I asked if you know Doctor Cameron."
"Sure - sure. She's a doctor at the hospital I work at… but I don't know her." Steven answered, hoping his voice didn't betray him and give way to the nervousness he was definitely feeling.
"Are you aware that Doctor Cameron is missing?" Hodges continued.
"Of course. Who isn't? It's all the hospital is talking about. Why?"
Hodges continued to ask questions while Waters wrote everything down in his little notebook.
Steven watched as the younger detective continued to write in his little notebook and wondered if this was a tactic to unnerve him. If it was, it was working. He could still hear Allison's cries and beads of sweat were beginning to form at his brow. He subconsciously started to switch his weight back and forth from one leg to the other.
Hodges gave Waters a glance to see if his partner noticed Steven's uneasiness.
"Mr. Mayer, we have reason to believe that you were seen with Doctor Cameron on the morning she disappeared." Hodges said, watching Steven's reaction closely.
Steven's breath caught in his throat. He had been very careful to not let anyone see him with Allison that morning and quickly decided that the older detective was lying.
"No - no. I haven't spoken to Alli---" Steven stopped himself. "Um Doctor Cameron in quite a while."
Waters quickly caught the slip. "Excuse me. Were just about to call Doctor Cameron by her first name?"
Steven looked at the young detective with a bewildered look on his face. "No. I don't know Doctor Cameron's first name detective."
"Really? Because I could have sworn you were just about to call her Allison."
Steven let out a fake laugh. "Is that her name?"
"Mr. Mayer, would you be willing to come down to the station and answer some more questions? It's really cold out here and it's apparent you don't want us to come inside." Hodges butted in.
Steven was becoming very agitated at the two men and their nettling questions.
No, I don't really want to go down to the station and continue this. It's been a long day and I don't feel well. I would like to eat my dinner and go to bed. So, unless you have anything else, I'm going back inside."
Hodges and Waters were amused at Steven's agitation. It was clear they had hit a nerve but unless they could dig up something solid, there was no way a judge was going to issue a search warrant for his house.
"Well, there are a few more questions I would like to ask you and it would be a lot easier if you would willingly come down to the station and clear all this up. It wouldn't take too long." Hodges urged again. "You must understand that there is a woman missing and you may know something that will help us find her."
"I told you detective, I don't know anything." Steven said through gritted teeth. The older detective was really starting to piss him off. "Whoever said they saw me with her, was mistaken. Now, I'm going to go back inside."
Just as Steven was about to close the door, Hodges put his foot in the way. The anger was evident in Steven's eyes as he glared at the older detective.
Hodges held his card out to Steven. "Please take my card. You know, incase you think of something. You never know." Hodges said with a big annoying grin.
Steven reluctantly took the card and slammed the door.
Hodges and Waters looked at one another for a minute, oblivious that the person they were looking for was only a few feet away, her cries unheard.
They proceeded down the sidewalk.
"What do you think?" Waters asked his partner.
"I don't like this guy."
"I don't either." Waters agreed.
"Did you see how pissed off he was getting?" Hodges asked as they got back into the car.
"Yeah, something is up. Too bad the judge wouldn't grant a warrant based on your gut."
Hodges let out a little laugh. "I think we need to go back to the station and switch to your car and watch him tonight."
"Sounds like a plan to me."
The two men got into the car and quickly headed towards the station.
*****
Steven watched as the two detectives drove down the street. He stood in the middle of his living room wondering what or who led the two assholes to his doorstep. He had been careful to not leave any clues. Everything had been carefully planned. And now someone was trying to fuck everything up.
The anger was building inside of him and he began to pace heavily across the floor. Son of a bitch! He yelled. Suddenly, he remembered Allison and anger was quickly replaced with betrayal. He couldn't understand why she would want to betray him like that and he knew he had to teach her a lesson, something he didn't want to do but had to do.
Cameron fell to her knees when she heard the front door close. Her body ached with exhaustion and all she could think about was that she was never going to get out of the hell hole she had been dumped into. Steven's ranting and pacing above her gave her indication that he was not happy with her screams for help. She watched helplessly as the small opening in the ceiling opened once more. She slowly stood, ready to face her captor.
Steven made his way down the stairs, his breathing was heavy with anger. He turned to face his beloved Allison, still not understanding how she could betray him. He stood only a few feet in front of her and stared at her with dark eyes.
Cameron's breath caught in her chest when she saw the look in Steven's eyes and for a moment, she wondered if she had pushed him too far. His eyes were cold and unfeeling, as if he wasn't human any more. His nostrils flared outward with every breath and he kept clenching and unclenching his fists that were held at his sides. She subconsciously took a few steps backwards, unsure of what he was going to do.
Steven saw the fear in Allison's eyes and it pleased him. At that moment, he didn't care if she loved him or not, he wanted her to fear him. It was the only way he was ever going to control her. He began to walk towards her, his excitement growing with every step. He reached out and grabbed her arm, preventing her to move away from him.
A small yelp escaped Cameron's mouth as she felt Steven's finger dig into her delicate flesh.
"What's the matter my sweet Allison? Afraid? You should have kept your mouth shut. You can't do things like that and not be punished."
The word please tumbled from Cameron's mouth but Steven didn't care. Her fear only excited him more.
"You are an ungrateful bitch!" Steven spat the words in her face.
No sooner had he said the words when Cameron felt his fist collide with the side of her face. She felt his grip loosen on her arm causing her to stumble backwards until she fell hard onto the floor, knocking the breath out of her. The pain in her head was excruciating. She looked up to find Steven standing over her.
"Stand up you bitch!" He screamed as he grabbed her and yanked her to her feet.
Cameron barely had time to catch her breath when he reared back and hit her again, harder than the first time. A blinding light filled her head and she stumbled again. She placed her free hand behind her, trying to soften her fall but when all her weight landed on her hand, she heard her wrist snap. She screamed as her body shook in pain and a few seconds later, darkness engulfed her.
Steven stared at her lifeless body. He watched as a small trickle of blood ran out of one side of her nose and it intrigued him that he felt no remorse, only satisfaction. He hadn't wanted to hurt her like that but she had given him no choice.
He walked around her body and wasn't exactly sure what happened next but somehow, his legs became entangled in the chain. He tried to keep his balance but he stumbled and fell forward, slamming the front of his head into the steal beam in the middle of the room. The blow stunned him, causing him to fall to the floor. He attempted to get up but the blow was too much and everything in the room went black.
