Chapter Thirty-Two

Warning

Shrugging his jacket tighter, Richard was feeling miserable. Rain was one of the only things that irritated him and the rain in Willingboro wasn't letting up. Rain, thunder, lightning, hell, goddamn tornados... Whatever was happening was some kind of freak weather, it had to be. Not to mention the wind that was blocking all access in and out of Willingboro. People were starting to get much more irritable now, since stores couldn't get their shipments in. It was like they were in some kind of siege, only able to survive on what was currently in Willingboro.

Richard dwelled on the weather only for a moment before his mind went back to the matter at hand. He had the address of the brother and was now on the right street. Looking left and right he was trying to spot the name on a mailbox, peering through a curtain of rain.

Finally he saw the name 'Roche' and started down the driveway. The house looked like any other house on the street, pale white walls and a black roof. Two floors, although from the look of it, it likely had a basement. Hitting his knuckles against the door, Richard was surprised to see the door opening wide into a carpeted corridor.

Glancing down to the door Richard let out a small gasp, seeing small splinters. The door had been forced open, probably with a crowbar or something similar. Most of the damage was on the other side, indicating some kind of hooked tool. Immediately Richard put a hand on his hip, resting it on his pistol.

Richard had learned to shoot almost as soon as he got out of college. Always aspiring to be a detective, having a firearm was important in case of situations such as this. He had heard of other detective's dying because they couldn't defend themselves.

"Mr. Roche." Richard called out, walking down the brown carpeted corridor and quickly glancing in the living room and the kitchen. The back door was shut tight. "Mr. Roche, are you here?" Richard called out, his eyes darting left and right. Richard noticed a smashed vase at the bottom of the stairs, shards of glass lying on top of the carpet. Moving his gaze up the stairs, Richard's eyes widened.

A clear red stain was across a doorframe. Blood.

Richard quickly went up the stairs to see that the blood was about an hour fresh. Fresh enough for Richard to start panicking. A quick check of the rest of the rooms quelled his panic slightly. No-one was in the house.

It was clear what had happened. Somebody forced their way into the Roche household with the wife away. They walked up stairs where Mr. Roche opened his workroom door. Someone smashed his head against the door-frame, likely knocking him unconscious. Brought him down the stairs, knocking into the vase on the way.

Immediately Richard wondered if this was at all related to his investigation, but quickly put away that idea. Mr. Roche was a school-teacher with golden marks. Nothing wrong with him... Going back down the stairs Richard pulled his mobile out to call the police when a sticky note came into his sight on the front door. He had missed it as he pushed open the door, but now the yellow paper was easy to say. Peering towards it, Richard read in cursive handwriting,

We have your husband. Do not contact the police; come straight to the abandoned school building if you want to see him again. We will know if you contact the authorities.

-O

Richard shivered. A chilling message directed straight at Mr. Roche's wife. Don't contact the authorities... someone is watching her. Why? Is this a completely separate case...? Richard knew that he couldn't call the police. To call the police would put Mrs. Roche in danger. Chances were she was probably still at work. There was no evidence of the wife coming home any time within the hour.

Richard was thinking hard. This doesn't have anything to do with me. I'm investigating the bridge, not this. But I can't just leave someone in danger... but then I'll be in danger. I'm only a detective, not a policeman. But if I contact the police I'll likely cause harm to Mrs. Roche. As much as I hate it, I'm involved now... what I'm involved in, I have no idea.

Sighing, Richard rubbed his hands together. He didn't have a choice; he had to go the abandoned school. He knew the school, abandoned for a couple of years. Richard went out of the front door and closed it as much as he could, before quickly taking off in a brisk walk for the abandoned school, worry creasing his brow.

XXX

After the detailed explanation that took almost three hours, it was jarring to go back to the motel. Joshua had dismissed them all, telling them all to stay at the motel since they could all be together. For those that didn't already have a room Joshua had said he would pay for the rooms.

Everyone had left, deep in thought. Everyone barring David, Dorothy, Jason and Jennifer. Lukas also stayed, determined to persuade Joshua to help him find Dominika. He may have dismissed it earlier, but Lukas wanted Joshua to help him, since he had proven capable.

"So what did you need us for?" Jason asked, looking at Joshua.

Joshua didn't answer, but looked curtly at Jennifer and David. "I said only Dorothy and Jason."

"Oh yeah, like I'm gonna leave Dorothy alone with a guy like you." David rolled his eyes. "You either talk to her with me here, or you don't talk to her at all."

"David," Dorothy frowned. "You don't have to stay."

"I do. This guy, no matter what he says, we can't trust him." David said, pointing towards Joshua.

"I did ask whether you trusted me and you all nodded." Joshua remarked.

"Yeah, I nodded in front of everyone else. But in front of these guys, I'm not too worried about speaking my mind." David stepped forward and jabbed his finger into Joshua's chest. "Look, for all we know you could be playing us along. For all we know, you could be a terrorist, or some kind'a religious nut. If I let you alone with Jason and Dorothy... you've already shot Jason. What's to stop you from trying to kill them? Dorothy wouldn't even see it coming." David glared at Joshua.

"if I had a gun, I'm sure that it wouldn't matter if you were in there." Joshua replied.

"Oh? They'd be four of us in one room. I'm sure at least one of us will get to you when you pull out a gun." David stood straighter and put out his arms slightly, showing off his size to Joshua. David stood almost a head taller and his arms were bulkier. "You talk big, but you're nothing without your words."

Joshua and David looked at each other in an intense stare-off. Jason and Jennifer watched carefully, feeling the tension.

Dorothy placed her hand on David's back. "David, please calm down..."

"Oh, I'm perfectly calm." David replied, not taking his gaze off of Joshua. "I'm as calm as could be."

Joshua's lips curled up into a smile as he listened to David's reply. Without warning, Joshua's shoot his arm out towards Dorothy's neck.

Reacting almost as quickly David tugged the arm out of the air with one hand and with his other he slammed a closed fist hard into Joshua's gut. Letting go of Joshua's arm, David grabbed his throat and pushed him against the wall, folding his arm across Joshua's chest preventing Joshua from lifting his arms.

"What are you trying to do...?" David growled, having completely trapped Joshua.

"Heh..." Joshua choked a laugh. "Guess I was right."

David narrowed his eyes in question.

"I was worried about two visionaries. I can't protect both Dorothy and Jason at the same time. But now I see that Dorothy has adequate protection. You passed my little test, David." Joshua coughed trying to push David's arm away. "You can let me go, now, if you like."

With a grunt, David let go but kept his fist clenched.

"I can see I'm not getting rid of you." Joshua sighed and turned towards Jennifer. She glared hard at Joshua, causing him to put both hands. "Okay, okay, I can't get you away, either. Fine, fine. All four of you come here then." Joshua motioned to one of the offices in the station. "We need a closed room."

"You try anything..." David said lowly, standing in front of Dorothy protectively. "I'll snap you like a twig."

"Hehe... I wouldn't expect anything less." Joshua chuckled while rubbing the red mark on his neck. "You're reliable. I like reliable people."

A/N: Slightly earlier in the day chapter today. That's because I'm off to watch Dark Night Rises tonight. That should be great.

Thanks to Silentking1, Cenobia100, LocalTalent53, Gabe's-Girl-Forever, Bookreader2010 and Meowth's Toon Dragon for the reviews! I knew focusing solely on this story was a good plan. Thank you all so much for your support.

Also, I now know exactly who the three people I'm gonna kill in the next... oh, 10 to 15 chapters will be. I'll think you'll all be surprised. I know I was surprised at myself. Also, damn fanfiction not allowing other fonts!

Thanks, and 'till next time!