Short Story - 12/12/14
"I will never surrender!"
That was the last words I heard from her mouth. She simply disappeared after that... No-one was able to catch her.
A few weeks passed. As she promised, nobody linked me to her actions. Then I received a letter. A simple letter. Even if the handwriting wasn't hers, I knew she had left a hidden message for me.
Her strategy was easy to get - she had meant to. She simply used an invisible ink on another letter (probably written by one of her "friends").
Its content:
"You know I'm not responsible about all this. Please give me some time so I can clean this mess up. You are the only one I can rely on and I have faith in you. I hope you'll understand me."
I'm almost certain she knew I would give her some time, even if she didn't ask. Yet I like the attention. This also means she's probably in deep shit.
Why do I know her?
The answer isn't glorious. She saved my ass during a mission. She got out of nowhere and neutralized a man that was about to shoot me. She also helped me framing the person I was after.
I owe her my life but even if she hadn't saved me, it would have changed nothing. I would have helped her. That's stupid to say, but I also find her pretty attractive.
I guess I'll wait and see what she's up to.
---
I have no idea who the fuck is this guy, neither what he's doing here, nor why this thug wants to kill him. I know two things: I can't let that happen and he will probably be helpful.
I sneak behind the bad guy and neutralize him properly. The guy doesn't understand what is happening. I even have to offer my hand so he can get back up. As I help him, I can see his police insignia. This explains that.
"Thank you. I owe you my life."
"You're welcome."
"Who are you?"
"It's not important at the instant. For now, I think we have the same goal: take down the bastard that lives up here. And bring his business down too."
The look on his face is priceless. He thought I used "take down" to mean "kill". I have to correct myself though.
"Sorry, I should be more careful in the choice of my words. I meant 'get to him and frame him following the rules'. No irony intended."
"I prefer that. Do you have any plan? We're losing our time right now."
"I suggest we follow our own ways. Do you want to race to him or do you prefer that I wait for you at every floor?"
"I guess we will race. There's no use of losing time waiting each other."
"Great!"
"I have one request though... Please promise me you won't kill him if you get there before me."
"I promise. I don't carry any lethal weapon by the way."
"I don't think you would need one to end him properly, after what you did to that man."
*Giggle*
"I guess you're right. I'll be on my way. See you up there!"
I smile at him before moving on. This day got really interesting.
I move through floors as a shadow. I neutralize anyone who's on my way by non-lethal means. Since there are no clues that the policeman passed on my way, I consider that I'm ahead of him. My ascension is pretty fast. I leave a small message for him ("I won. By the way I've got your back") on the door of the godfather before hiding myself in another spot. It doesn't take too long for him to arrive and to check my note. Even if he turns his back on me, I know he's smiling.
He knocks the door open and takes his gun off his holster pointing it at the godfather.
"Police! Hands up!"
Do they even learn other approaches when they study? This is so basic and risky that it's no wonder why their success rate stays low even with a good formation.
Oddly, everything goes better than expected. We catch the godfather without any problems.
---
I met her a few times and we got to know each other afterwards. What was a coincidence the first time seemed to become a habit for her. I guess she was stalking me or something. Yet I don't think she was interested by my personal life (she could've been deceived since I have no life) but she rather spied my investigations. I didn't try to discover her identity either. I was probably giving her some ways to use her skills and she was easing my life in return.
This little 'game' carried on until that day.
She was already here when I arrived. She was armed and surrounded by dead bodies, bathing in their blood.
---
"The fuck happened?!"
I can hear his scream covering the sirens of the policemen.
"I am not involved in this."
"Why are you armed?"
"I have no idea. I retrieved this weapon on my way and I took it just in case."
"That's probably the weapon that killed them. You had no clue that it was a bad idea?"
"Listen... There are some things I can't talk about. I took a weapon because I kinda needed it. Now, if you'd excuse me... I have to go. Remember. I'm not responsible of this massacre. I'll also do something so that no-one will think you can be a corrupted man. This implies punching you a few times pretty hard. Sorry."
I don't wait for his answer. Other policemen are almost there. I hit him with some strength. He tries to defend himself. Perfect. This will look like a real fight. The door opens while I finish him. He falls on the ground, conscious and not too bruised. I'd not ruin his pretty face - not that I'm into him or else.
"Hands up!"
"I will never surrender!"
I have to flee. I've never been caught and today's no exception.
---
I haven't seen her in a long time. It has been a year since the incident. I received some messages from her, saying that she was making some progress. Even if I believe her, I wonder if it's worth it.
Plus, since she isn't here to help me anymore, my investigations are back to the same nightmares as before. From a 100% success rate I got back to approximately 75% success rate. It is still correct, but yet there is 25% too much of failure.
I really hope she's close to the end of her investigation. This massacre is still unsolved and stays an open case. We have found absolutely nothing.
---
One year. One long year that I do everything to find the crazy psycho who killed those persons. But it is almost over now. I hope my policeman friend will help me. I have a correct stream of evidences but I need him to use it. I guess I'll pay him a visit in a day or two.
What I learned is impressive. The person behind this act didn't plan anything. He just went crazy, picked a weapon, killed everyone and disappeared. Luckily enough for me, he left a few tenuous leads I was able to find.
Now I have his probable location and enough material to prove he's the one behind the massacre.
---
She has finally shown her face again. She explained the whole story. She took it really seriously and all the evidences are perfect. Basically I just have to show those proofs to my superior and to go get the guy. It took me three minutes to convince him that it was better to send me rather an intervention team. She would not have liked the intervention team.
---
"So, we meet again."
"Yes, and I've got everything you need. I'll let you study the file I compiled and convince your chief to let you intervene. I'll see you tomorrow."
"See you then. And... I must assume I kinda missed you."
"We'll speak of this once it is over."
"Right."
I spend my day planning the intervention. This has to be perfect. We won't have a second chance.
The next day I meet the investigator again.
"So... I am in charge of the operation. I think I can say 'you are' or 'we are', that would be more correct."
"I guess so. I have planned everything. I'll need two or three persons to guard each exit of the building, with the right to shoot to incapacitate but not to kill. This shouldn't be required but we must not miss the occasion to get him. I also fear that there's more behind this."
"Are you serious?"
"I don't know. But we must consider the possibility."
"Ok. I believe and trust you."
"Thanks."
I explain the assault plan to him. He gets the best men for this operation, even if they're probably going to watch. We're going inside together; the others will be waiting outside and in the basements. This should be a perfect operation but I can't get rid of the idea that there's more behind this.
---
She was right to doubt the success of the mission.
In fact, when we got in, there was absolutely no one. Nothing to find either. Nothing except a message written in blood, stating "It began a year ago. You should not have followed me. Now, you're going in hell with me. I'll make sure to bring down as many persons I can". One wall for each sentence, two livid bodies in the middle of the room, drained from their blood and their face showing an insane suffering. There wasn't anything that could become a real lead.
Yet, she refused to stop. I remember perfectly what she said: "I have startled him. Now he will continue as long as I don't find him. The fucker must not be taken lightly."
"As long as WE don't find him." was my answer. Pretty stupid, yes, but sincere.
She smiled. "You're right, let's go then."
It was probably the first and the last time she said I was right.
---
I can't stand this. A man is going to kill because of me. I wonder what would have happened if I didn't try to find him. I must catch him by all means.
There's already one thing I know: there's a corrupted agent that have access to the files of my friend. He also knows what I do and he has some reasons to protect the psycho I'm after.
I believe that if I find this guy I'll be able to track the killer again. This is going to be another long investigation, but now that I'm free of charges again, I can also help my friend on other cases - still unofficially though.
---
Time passed. With her return, all my investigations began to be successful again. All but one.
The unknown killer stroke again and killed a few people a few times. Every time he made sure to leave a trail of leads leading to his next murder and connecting each murder with the other ones but nothing to get him.
My friend was unable to find anything. I was a spectator in the fight of Sherlock Holmes against Moriarty. The struggle of two geniuses trying to overcome their opponent. And I was unable to give an advantage to one of them.
Or so I thought.
---
Hell. This was so obvious that I wasn't able to see this.
From the beginning he was giving me obvious hints on where and when I could find him. Basically, the messages and the evidences he left were hiding a message. An easily understandable message. This and the fact that all his murders where located in specific locations that were pointing at his place.
Hopefully my policeman friend got the intuition of it. Yet, from the beginning I could have found him. By my fault, some people were killed. This won't be the case this time.
I'll pay him a visit. But I won't be alone. And he won't flee this time.
---
That was a pure coincidence, but I found the way leading to my friend's archenemy. He will be prepared but we will be too. I'm determined to get him.
The rendezvous point he fixed is on the top of a huge building. I have a bad feeling about all this. It seems that I know what is going to happen, and I fear it.
---
So, this is it. We're at the top of the world. Or at least the top of this city. He is waiting for me. He knows that I won't be alone. Right now, my friend is checking the roof to make sure there is no trap. I know there is none.
I'm in front of him.
"Here you are! You took your time to find me!"
"Fuck you! Why did you do that?"
"Please watch your mouth! The first time was a test. You successfully passed it. All the other crimes were to defy to what you call 'your smartness'. It took you long enough to figure out my obvious message."
"Well, I was considering that you were smart, so I didn't imagine you would hide this kind of hints."
"The best way to hide something is to put it under the eyes of everyone."
"That's true."
"You know what will happen next? Tell your friend, he's here."
"I'm sorry..."
I see in the eyes of my friend that he has understood something. He's the one who talks next.
"I know why this seemed familiar! Please don't do it!"
I look at him. I can see so much distress in his eyes. But no matter what he does, we all know how this will end. The sooner, the better. I run at my enemy. I catch him in my arms and I continue until the border of the building.
"Don't do like him!"
"WHO DO YOU THINK I AM?"