Chapter 16

They made arrangements for Rusty to sleep at Tao's house for the time being, while Tao and Buzz wired the Captains car to make it traceable at all times.

"If you want to communicate with us you only have turn the lights on. There's a camera in the radio and microphones behind the speaker covers."

"So everytime I switch my headlights on you guys can see and listen in?"

Tao smiled "Exactly."

Sharon nodded clearly not so happy. "Ok and where did you get those fancy earring mics?" she asked putting on the pearls that were really another set of microphones.

"I called Agent Howard. They are lent from the FBI", Provenza provided.

"That basically means you hear me snoring?"

"You don't snore. I grind my teeth in my sleep", Lauren offered with a smile.

"You share a bed?" Provenza was surprised.

"It was either that or the death of my back", Lauren explained pointedly.

Sanchez joined them. "We've finished wiring the Captains condo."

"And what else? A Kevlar bra?"

Flynn smirked "Do you think the FBI has these?"

"I don't want to know", Sharon gave back shaking her head, albeit smiling. Flynn had the rare ability to make her smile even if she didn't feel like it.

"So we're good. Could we arrest McGregor now?" the Lieutenant asked all too eager to put cuffs on the millionaire.

"No, tomorrow! Not tonight. We only have 48 hours to hold him. I want to give Mr. Gull a chance to build up some anger. Let's go home and get some sleep."

And so they did.

Lauren could see Mr. Gull was furious when they arrested McGregor in the morning Sykes and some officers would be staking out Gull in order to try to follow him but he vanished in McGregors hotel after he departed from the LAPD in order to get Douglas lawyers.

McGregor on the other hand didn't appreciate being arrested before breakfast. Sharon felt bad for the arrest and went in to explain. She found him pacing furiously in the interview room.

"What are you thinking you are doing?" he growled when his eyes fell on her.

"Would you mind to sit down? I'll explain this", she held out a mug of coffee as an offer of peace. He bristled but took the mug and sat down. Sharon followed suit and cleared her throat.

"I'm sorry we had to do this but there is a reason."

"Other than you believe I'm a serial killer?"

"Yes, we believe we can coax the killer out, by arresting you."

"You…what?! That's insane."

"Sadly not, since this is an ongoing investigation I can't tell you more yet, but in addition to our plan to force the killer into action I think you are way more safe here with us."

McGregor raised his brows. "You know this is going to be a public relations nightmare!"

"For you or the LAPD?"

"Both. So you don't think I'm the killer."

She shook her head and offered an apologetic smile.

"I hope your plan works."

When she heard Taylors booming voice muffled by the door she said "Me too", before she got up and excused herself to endure Chief Taylors yelling at the top of his lungs.

She had crossed her hands behind her back and stood in a relaxed posture as if she was awaiting orders, while she really was waiting for him to stop shouting at her. When his voice ran out of volume and was reduced to croaking she asked in her smooth cool voice "May I?"

The Chief just nodded and accepted the tea Lauren offered him silently and Sharon explained the plan to him.

"That's insane and I hope for you that it works", he croaked and retreated to his office.

"I have to talk to Chief Pope about this yelling" Sharon said calmly and shook her head.

"Would someone keep Mr. McGregor company and please don't forget him when we order lunch," Sharon said turning towards her office.

It was late afternoon when Lauren decided to go home. It was no use in waiting for her mother. According to Sykes Mr. Gull hadn't left the hotel all day.

"I need to do some work for the university and I need to call the airline again about my luggage", she said and added "And frankly I don't think Mr. Gull makes a move in daylight."

Sharon handed her the keys of her car.

Lauren was nervous when she walked down the street where they had parked her mother's car this morning. She checked her environment frequently and was glad for the daylight. She relaxed when she opened the door on the driver's side and suddenly felt someone standing close to her. The next thing she felt was the gunbarrel in her back.

"If I were you doctor, I wouldn't move" Gull whispered softly and continued "Would you mind to hand me the keys and get behind the wheel now, and slowly please" he said.

Lauren did as he asked and he cable strapped her hands to the steering wheel before he closed the door, walked around the car and got onto the passenger seat. Het put her seat belt on and had her heart in her throat. He put the key in the ignition. "Would you please drive where you are staying now?" he was very calm and still the polite butler.

"I'm surprised", Lauren said, "why me Mr. Gull? According to your letter you wanted to take the last dance with the Captain."

"That would be very inconsistent with the Ripper murders, wouldn't it?"

"I'm not as young as Mary Jane Kelly was Mr. Gull."

"But you are closer than your mother."

Lauren swallowed.

"Yes I did some research, doctor. You are the Captain's daughter. I knew you were related when I saw you", he explained.

"Mr. Gull would you care to explain why you do this?" she asked her voice only slightly shaky as she switch the headlights on.

"Why I do this. It started out as cleaning up after my Boss. Sweet Elca decided to blackmail Douglas. I thought about a good way to get rid of her and wanted to it artfully."

"So you mimicked the Ripper murders", she said silently.

"Yes and I kind of liked that, but you know it was like an unfinished piece of art."

Lauren hummed and nearly forgot to stop at a red light. She reminded herself to drive slower.

Meanwhile back at the LAPD.

"Captain!" Buzz came running from electronics Sharon looked up from her desk.

"He, I mean Mr. Gull, he has Lauren!" he panted. He had been so shocked when the picture popped up on his screen.

All color was drained from the Captains face when she got up and hurried into the electronics room.

The squad members who hadn't been on the stake out quickly gathered around the screen where a clear picture of Lauren and Mr. Gull in the Captains car was displayed. Flynn had the mind to get the Captain a chair. He saw her shaking hands. Tao was quickly accessing a GPS tracker with his touch pad. "I got them", he announced.

"Where are they going?" Provenza asked and Tao told him where they were, which could basically mean they could go anywhere in LA.

"Buzz did you hear where they are going?" the Lt. barked.

"No Sir, sorry."

Sharon just stared at the screen, she didn't even register Flynn's hand gently squeezing her shoulder till he spoke "Should we get patrol cars chasing?"

Provenza was about to make the call when Sharon said silently "No, if he hears sirens he could snap and kill her before they reach their destination."

They fell silent and listened hoping Lauren would give them a hint. Sanchez went to get their Kevlar vests.

"Besides you were right, the mess was really unpleasant to clean up. Even tiles need a lot of scrubbing."

"And your hands do too. So you started something and you wanted to finish your work", her voice got calmer, she could do this. She would talk to him so he wouldn't realize she was taking a detour to the condo. Perhaps the others would be able to be there before them.

"Never leave open ends. I thought about getting rid of Ms. Livingstone, but that would have been a little obvious, wouldn't it?"

"Yes, it must have been hard to know you would be replaced by a woman."

"Hard is the wrong word, annoying is more accurate."

"Did you take your annoyance out on those women?"

"It was like killing two birds with one stone."

Lauren hummed again.

"Did you know?" he asked.

"What?" she gave back and stopped at yet another red light.

"That it was me."

She had to find the right moment to lie or it would be too quick or too slow. "No, I didn't."

He smirked then, obviously buying the lie.

"How much Ripper will you bring to your final work? Are you planning to decorate my mother's living room with me?"

"No, the bedroom. Mary Jane Kelly was killed on her bed."

"But I have no bed in my mother's condo."

"Hers will do."

Buzz was suddenly very alone in electronics. As soon as they knew where to go, they raced to their cars Flynn taking the Captain along. Provenza called for backup, specifically asking for non-marked cars and no sirens.

For once Sharon appreciated Flynn's driving skills and prayed that they would arrive before Lauren and Gull.

"We'll make it. She's smart, she lull's him with the talking. He will never realize she takes a longer route."

Sharon hummed and slid into her Kevlar. Andy had put his on in the elevator on their way to the garage. She was shaking so badly she could barely close the vest.

"Do I get to wear a costume?"

"Of course, it's blood red."

"Nice metaphor", she gave back.

"Aren't you totally panicked that you're going to die, doctor."

"You know, people react different to stress, besides my curiosity wins. I always want to understand why people kill, kill others who might not have done anything to them."

"It wasn't like the women didn't do anything to me. They treated me like crap. After all, I was just the Butler."

She hummed and said "A personal assistant is far more than that."

"See, that's why it kind of makes me sad to have to use you. Mr. McGregor just doesn't date women this young."

"Gee, I never thought I'd get killed because I wasn't a man's type" she said and even barked a bitter laugh.

"You have a grim sense of humor, doctor."

"I'm about to get butchered Mr. Gull, what is left for me?"

He nodded "I guess you are right. I'm used to begging and crying."

"I tend to surprise people."

"Are you trying to make me be sorry for killing you?"

"No, I don't think you are capable of feeling sorry anymore", she said voice suddenly cold.

"In my line of work you can't afford being sorry."

"I thought that line was reserved for managers."

"Managing a man like Mr. McGregor reaches beyond the duties of a personal assistant. You mother will notice he's an" he hesitated as if trying to find the right expression " … interesting man, once he start's dating her."

"What would make you think my mother would go out with him?"

"Because he wants her and he always gets what he wants."

Lauren nodded and thought with a thin smile that McGregor was in for a surprise too. Her mother wouldn't date a man whose butler had butchered her daughter.

What am I thinking? She asked herself silently. He is right! I should be crying and begging for my life! And yet, she felt oddly calm at the prospect of being killed. Would it hurt? Would he be quick?

She was about to find out because they had reached their destination.

Gull cut the binders and led her into the building at gunpoint. "You know what's really sad?"

"That my precious life is going to be wasted by you to complete a series of bloody murders?"

"No, your mother will have to redecorate."

Lauren turned her head to look at him "Seriously?"

He laughed, a short but genuine happy chuckle "No, it's really a shame your brilliant mind will be destroyed."

"How comforting", she said shaking her head.

They had reached the front door and Lauren contemplated to try something, but he ordered her to open the door and she turned the key expecting to have to turn it twice but it clicked open immediately. She was sure she had locked it twice this morning. She let out a breath in relief perhaps they had made it before him. "Tell me one last thing Mr. Gull", she said pushing the door open "which knife are you going to use? A scalpel is too small."

"A fish knife, doctor! Now would you please move", he said, slightly unnerved by her coolness, and urged her on. She made a step and then everything happened all at once. She saw a blur out of the corner of her eyes and was pushed out of the line.

Sykes stepped into Gulls view gun trained on his head "Drop the gun", she ordered. She could see the butler's mind race to find a way out of this, when Flynn stepped up behind him hand held the gun at his head. "You heard her, drop the gun!"

There were some tense moments when one never knew which option he'd pick, giving up or suicide by cop. Mr. Gull's arms went limp, he dropped the weapon and Flynn kicked the gun away before he handcuffed him and read him his rights.

So the killer's caught. But I'll do a closing chapter but I have some ideas for a sequel.