AN
I'm glad you all enjoyed that last chapter as much as I did, and thank some of you for reviewing both chapters. And NieveDrop, to answer your question, the killer would be relieved if someone was killed by someone else. Initially there might be some frustration, but soon he would revert back to his previous spychosis.
Disclaimer-I own nothing.
No Escape
Chapter 16
Rukia was shaking with fatigue by the time Ichigo drove her home, but she had one more thing to do before she could go out and join the others for dinner.
She shut the door to her bedroom, sat on the edge of the bed, and dialed Momo's cell phone. It was the middle of the dinner rush, but Rukia knew Momo always kept her phone handy in case Natsuki needed her.
Momo picked up on the fifth ring. "I can't talk right now."
"It's important," said Rukia.
Momo sighed. "Hold on."
The clank of dishes in the background faded, a door squeaked, and when Momo spoke, her voice had a hollow echo. "Okay. I'm in the bathroom, so make it quick."
Rukia gripped the phone hard and kept her tone even, calm, and steady out of a sheer force of will. "Hanataro's dead."
"Oh, God! Rukia, I'm so sorry! I know you and he were friends."
Rukia blinked back tears and swallowed to loosen up her throat. "He was a sweet man. I'm going to miss him."
"What can I do?" asked Momo. "Do you need anything?"
"I need to know you're safe! Come stay with me for a few days. We'll be safer together, and you'll have built-in babysitting anytime you want it."
"I can't uproot Natsuki like that. You know I can't. She's too fragile right now."
"I know it would be hard on her, but she'd be a lot safer here with me than with your neighbor's kid."
"How am I supposed to get around? You don't have any bus stops in your neighborhood, and my car only works about half the time."
"I'll drive you to work." Rukia still had to deal with her insurance company and get her car replaced, but she'd get a rental or something in the meantime.
"You have to work, too."
"I'm sure Ichigo would help out," offered Rukia out of desperation. "We'll make it work somehow."
Momo was quiet for a moment. "What's going on? What aren't you telling me?"
Rukia knew she wasn't supposed to say anything; she just didn't care. Momo and Natsuki's safety was more important than police secrets. "The killer has been murderering people in the same order they went to live with Aizen. You're next after Hanataro. And now he's gone."
"Holy shit! You're serious about all of this, aren't you?"
"Completely. Please come stay with me! Ichigo's setting up a security system here. He'll make sure we're safe until they find the killer."
"Are you kidding me? Putting all of us in one spot is like baiting the water to draw a shark! No matter who he wants to come after next, it's one-stop shopping."
Rukia hadn't thought about it like that, but maybe Momo was right. "If we're all together, we can protect each other. The police can concentrate their manpower on fewer places."
"Screw that! I'm taking my baby and getting out of town."
Rukia sagged with relief and felt the sting of grateful tears prick at her eyes. Momo and Natsuki would be out of harm's way. "Where are you going?"
Momo was quiet for a long minute. "I have a friend who's been asking me to visit for a while. I'll go see her."
"Are you sure it'll be safe there?"
"Safer than here! I'll lose my jobs, but I suppose there are always more crappy waitressing jobs where these came from."
"If you need money, I can help. I don't have a lot, but I'll do what I can."
"I may have to take you up on that, but not yet."
"When will you leave?"
"I'm punching out right now. We'll be on our way out of town within an hour. Assuming my car starts."
"Don't tell anyone where you're going, but call me when you get there so I know you're safe."
"I will. Gotta run."
Momo hung up, and Rukia sagged on the headboard, barely able to move against the sluggish feeling of relief that pulled at her. They were leaving town. They'd be safe.
Of course, Hanataro had been on his way out of town when he'd been killed.
Rukia wasn't taking any chances. She found Officer Ukitake's card and dialed the number he'd written. It took a little convincing, but she managed to get him to agree to keep an eye on Momo as she headed out of town with Natsuki.
Now all she could do was wait and pray they'd be safe while she figured out how to do the same for Renji.
She was pretty sure that if she begged enough, Renji would give in and come stay with her for a few days, just until this was all over.
;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;
Renji entered Momo's house through the back door. The lock took him all of thirty seconds to bypass and he slipped in quietly, unheard.
The TV was droning on in the living room, and the faint glowing of bluish light flickered over the worn tile floor. The place was a mess, with dishes piled in the sink and laundry spilling out of the baskets in front of the washer. Mail sat unopened on the kitchen table in sloppy stacks.
Momo worked long, hard hours. He knew that, but it didn't excuse the mess she forced her daughter to live in.
Renji shook his head. Such horrible living conditions were a sign of just how much Momo was suffering. She couldn't even get her life together enough to keep the dishes done.
Of all the people Renji had helped, he was certain that Momo was going to be the most grateful one. She would understand what he was trying to do. She would welcome the freedom he offered.
A quick glance at the teenager lying on the couch told him that Natsuki's babysitter was still here, sound asleep.
He slipped by silently and went up the stairs to Natsuki's bedroom. The door was cracked open, and he saw that she'd kicked the covers off. She was curled into a tight ball, as if cold, so Renji eased the door open and went inside.
Her walls were plastered with crayon drawings depicting a life that didn't exist. Her house was drawn as a bright, happy yellow instead of the dingy gray it really was, and overhead, a sun shone, wearing a smiley face.
Poor, deluded child.
Renji shook his head over the sadness of it all. Maybe Natsuki needed his help, too. He knew her home life had been bad before Momo split up with her husband, but he didn't know how bad.
Moving slowly, Renji reached down and lifted the thin, torn blanket from the floor. He tucked it around her small body and slid his finger over her cheek.
She was such a pretty thing. He couldn't let her suffer anymore. She needed his help, and he couldn't turn his back on an innocent.
Renji was going to save Natsuki, too.
AN
Don't panic! I'm not so heartless that I'd let Renji kill a second grader. I can't promise her mother's safety, though. I'm sorry these chapters have been getting shorter and shorter, but the next one is up as well. Since their so short, it's easy to do two at a time, but when school starts, it might not be so easy. Oh well, I'll worry about that latter. For now, review and go on!