„I don't like this." Korsak said after I had slid into the passenger seat of the rental.
"Hey, old man. Glad to see you too." I greeted him back and listened to his chuckle.
"We should call for backup." He stated while the sun was setting over LA's skyline.
He was right, I knew that. But I also knew that I wouldn't be happy if a bunch of strangers – workcolleagues at that – would see me like that.
I was still entangled in my thoughts when he spoke up again while driving.
"This sounds like a goddam trap. If he wants to stop killing and can't without being imprisoned, why doesn't he just walk into the next precinct and tells them what he has done. Why playing this stupid game?"
"Because we have to do right were officers failed him back then." I mumbled. "And because he seems to believe that faith has chosen him for the task of killing abusive spouses and he thinks that us catching him is a sign that he has done well and can rest now." I said.
Korsak nodded to himself. "Makes sense now." He mumbled.
I focused on the street, thinking about how distanced I had felt to Maura over the past days since meeting Belinda. I had focused on Sophie and the task of finding her. But there were no emotions as I did my job. I was a little bit scared that Maura had fallen out of my system although I should be grateful for it, I thought.
My confusion was driving me nuts, so I focused on the picture of Maura in the tiny bed. It all made more sense now. The wallpapers that displayed cars, the bedsheets that were showing spiderman. I was surer than ever that Maura was held captive in his childhood bedroom.
With a sigh I called in for backup. Frost had mailed me the plan of the house. The officers could help us clear the house. But the one room where I assumed Maura was held, was off limits for them. I would force them to stay out of it.
My gut told me that he was there waiting for us – probably lurking in the dark. I couldn't tell thought if he would put up a fight or not. This fact made me nervous. And what if at the end he changed his mind and killed Maura before fleeing the scene? My heart went out to Sophie and Maura.
It took us 15 minutes to reach the house which lay in the dark. If it hadn't been for the moon, I wouldn't have seen it as it somehow seemed to perfectly blend in with its surrounding.
Korsak parked his car a little further down the road as we waited for our backup. Soon we saw the two unmarked cruisers and Korsak waved them over. Then a van with a special unit parked close to us and I laid the plan out to them. The officers didn't like the idea that Irvings bedroom was off limits to them, but they finally gave in. I hadn't notified Gabriel who was also somewhere in town. If we found the killer and Maura, I didn't want him to take the credit. Moreover, I didn't trust him with being reasonable enough to not immediately pull his gun and shoot someone.
I didn't care about the consequences for my ignoring the rule that I needed to call him. This operation was to go down smoothly.
Korsak and I waited for some uniformed officers to vanish behind the house before moving in with the others. I was leading the pack, wearing a bulletproof vest provided by the LAPD. It was hot and I felt some sweat trickle down my spine.
It was even hotter inside and a foul odor lay in the air. Breathing became harder by the minute but I continued my way towards the door at the end of the hallway where I assumed Maura was held captive. Officers checked all of the rooms. I heard Korsak mention the attic in a whisper and watched some officers disappear into the master bedroom where the ladder to the attic was.
I stopped briefly in front of the door, listening for any sound coming from inside. Korsak was behind me, covering my back and I asked him if he was ready. He nodded, so I tried the doorknob. The door swung open, and I gingerly peaked into the dark room. It was so silent that I almost thought that we were too late.
But then I heard a strangled noise and turned to my right, pointing the gun towards the bed. The masked man was sitting on the edge of the bed, his hands shaking slightly as he lifted one to greet me.
"Hello detective." He greeted me, his voice sounding strangely rough and relieved.
"I hoped that you would come. I almost thought that I wouldn't be able to wait until tomorrow." He sounded sad now and he stood while talking, walking towards me with his arms stretched out.
Korsak stood silent behind me, ready to shoot if the perp should try a bad move on me. I felt safe enough to put my gun down and reach for the handcuffs the LAPD had provided me with.
The snapping sound seemed to be overly loud in the silent house. Irving stayed perfectly calm until I wanted to pull back his mask to face him. Something in me decided to let go of it now. He would have to pull down the mask eventually, but I had a feeling that he was hiding something under the mask like scars. I could relate as I didn't like people to stare at my scars.
So, I nodded to Korsak to take him out, while I focused on the tiny bed where Maura was whimpering. I averted my flashlight to leave her some privacy as I slowly walked over and took up Irvings spot.
I murmured soothing words and gently touched her face to calm her down before I undid the handcuffs that tied her to the bed one by one. Once I was done, she fell into my arms and sobbed desperately.
Relief washed over me as I finally allowed myself to realize that we had found her alive. And I also suddenly realized that the fact that I hadn't felt much about her for the past hours had been self-protection. Because now that I was cradling in her arms like I had cradled her daughter in the past hours reminded me of how much I desired this woman and to be close to her.
"You're crying." She whispered softly and pointed out what I hadn't realized at all. Tears were falling relentless onto my cheeks and Maura sat up a bit to pull me into her arms.
"Must be the stinky air in here." I said, knowing that she saw right through me. But instead of commenting Maura made sushing sounds and kept caressing my cheeks until my tears dried up a bit.
Just in time when Korsak came back and knocked on the door. "Is it safe to come in?" he joked, and I chuckled. "We're decent if that's what you mean." I joked back and watched him walk into the room. If he saw the traces of my tears, he didn't mention it. Instead ,he informed us that Irving was on his way to the precinct and that some officers were still searching the house. The crime techs should arrive soon, and I became aware of the fact that he was giving us the chance to leave before the hoards came with their bright lights.
"Are you okay?" I asked Maura and helped her stand after she nodded. Her feet were still a bit wobbley as were mine when we walked down the hallway towards the door. Korsak was already waiting in the car.
We were silent as he drove off. My eyes met Korsaks through the rear-view mirror as I sat in the back with Maura, holding her hand.
"Do you want us to bring you to the hospital?" I asked and she shook her head in no.
"I need to see Sophie. She's okay, isn't she?" the doc sounded frightened, and I squeezed her hand.
"Yes, I took care of her. Now one of my colleagues and best friends is with her. We never left her out of sight." I replied and heard a deep sigh. Was it too soon to ask Maura about what had happened?
And was I the right person to ask? I was still mulling over the questions, when Maura spoke up. At first, she spoke so low that I had to strain my ears. But then she became more audible.
"I had a huge fight with Belinda after you had left."
Curious glances came over the rear-view-mirror but Korsak stayed silent.
"She told me that if she couldn't have me no one could. I replied that we were done and that I wanted her to leave. She wouldn't give me the keys. Belinda refused to leave though. Instead she insisted on us to sit and talk first.
I saw Sophie lurking on top of the stairs and sent her to her room. Meanwhile Belinda had poured me a glass of wine and promised me to leave after we had talked. I have no memory though of had happened after that." I heard her hitch a breath as she seemed to realize that she must have been drugged. I squeezed her hand again and told her that it was okay. We had a pretty good idea of the events that must have followed.
She nodded and turned away, glancing out of the window.
"I'm sorry for leaving. I just thought that it was none of my business and not my place to interfere." I apologized silently, knowing that Korsak was listening. I hadn't really come out, but I was sure that he knew that I was gay.
Maura faced me again and I could spot the warm glow in her hazel eyes that I had grown so fond off during the past days.
"It was the most decent thing to do." She replied and her thumb began caressing the top of my hand.
"I should have stayed because I knew that she was trouble." I finally allowed myself to be mad at me.
"I could have asked you to, but I didn't. so it's at least as much my fault than its yours. If we owned crystal balls life would be easier. But we don't and hindsight is always 20-20." She whispered.
I sighed and now it was me looking out of the window. I recognized the familiar surrounding of the hotel and silently thanked Korsak for bringing us here instead of Mauras home. Belinda was still on the loose as far as we knew.
Officers had immediately been dispatched to her apartment, but it had been empty.
We stepped out of the car and entered the Lobby while Korsak went to park the vehicle in the garage. I told Maura how I had found out about her abduction and how I had gone to her home to find Sophie alone.
"She's a smart kid." I said. "Are you sure that you're not her birthmother?"
Maura blushed slightly with the compliment. "I'm sure yes. But I read lots of books and studies how to train a childs intelligence and talents." She smiled proudly.
"You did a great job." I honestly said.
"So did you when watching her. I'm sure that you underestimate your own talents a lot." Maura said, reaching to touch my hand. I blushed then told her that I just had had a good mother. I had spent most of the time remembering how ma handled all the situations like us being sick.
Maura nodded and smiled. "That's good. I hope to meet your mother one day." She whispered and my heart fluttered. Little did we know that she was closer to it than anticipated.