The Nature of Things

Chapter 55

************************************************************************

Ted casually stepped over Emmett's lifeless body and wrapped his hands around Molly's throat. The gun fired again and a bright red stain seeped through the white shirt that Ted wore. He laughed and pulled the gun from Molly's grip and fired the remaining rounds into her chest.

Her body crumpled to the floor as blood spread quickly across the floor of the bedroom.

"I told you, I'm in charge now, Bitch."

Without stopping to worry about his own wound, Ted left the condo and headed out to finish his plan.

************************************************************************

Carl responded to the report of shots fired and was shocked to find himself standing in Ted's building. He was even more shocked to find Emmett and Molly dead on the floor of Ted's bedroom. He checked for a pulse and found none in either victim.

Carefully he began to search Ted's condo for clues and stumbled upon a murder list on Ted's computer. All of the victims so far appeared on the list along with several other names.

Grabbing his radio, he immediately dispatched several officers to the hospital and to the diner.

************************************************************************

Debbie and Ben were just back from a coffee run when the nurse came running from Michael's room. Dropping his coffee, Ben ran the few steps to his partner's room and was devastated to find a blue and distorted Michael.

He tried to shield Debbie, but she pushed her way past and collapsed at the sight of her son's lifeless body. Ben held her as they cried and the doctors tried in vain to revive Michael.

************************************************************************

Word made it upstairs to Brian that Michael was dead and foul play was suspected. Luckily all of the nurses on the NICU were able to verify that he'd never left Maya's room.

He was just explaining to Justin about Michael's death when the call came in from Carl. He listened closely as Carl told him the circumstances surrounding Michael's and Emmett's deaths and that Ted was now the prime suspect.

Disbelief implanted itself in Brian's heart, but his head knew otherwise. Ted had been spiraling out of control since he'd become a crystal queen years before.

************************************************************************

Carl knew that he should have told Brian about Molly's death and involvement but he felt it would be better to break that news in person and to Jennifer first. He turned the brown sedan towards Brian's and worked up the courage to tell a mother that her child was no longer in this world. It was the one part of the job he hated the most.

His headlights hit the darkened windows and he almost lost his nerve as he put the car into park. Bypassing the front door, he took the path through the garden to the guest house and knocked softly.

Jennifer answered the door in her robe and ushered Carl in without a word. For several minutes she disappeared into the kitchen and came back carrying a tray of coffee. After pouring them both a cup, Jennifer settled into the plush couch to listen to what Carl had to say.

"Jennifer, this is hard for me."

"Just tell me, Carl, the not knowing is worse than the truth."

"Molly was found shot in Ted Schmidt's condo earlier today."

Jennifer tried unsuccessfully to control her sobs. After several minutes she regained her composure. "Was she part of the whole thing?"

"Right now the investigation is ongoing so I don't really have an answer to that. But off the record, all signs are pointing that way."

"How could she be so cold hearted?"

"Sometimes trauma sends people off into places we never thought they'd end up. Molly went through hell the last few years."

"She did. I was just hoping that with Father Adam in her life, she could find her way back to the girl she used to be. She had such a bright future."

"You can't get weighed down in the what could've been, you have to look at the life she had and focus on the positive aspects of it. Molly was lucky to have been loved by so many people."

"Have you told Justin?"

"No, I thought it was better to tell you first. I have to go by the hospital next, I can tell them if you'd like."

"That's okay, Carl, I'll do it. Let's just give them the happiness of Maya's new chance before we rip their world apart again."

************************************************************************

Brian left Maya and Justin napping and headed out to sneak a smoke. Justin knew that every now and then he fell and lit up, but there was no sense in causing an argument. He was just settling into the cold night air and inhaling the first intoxicating puff of a Marlboro when he heard the click.

Turning he sneered at Ted and shook his head. "Theodore, to what do I owe the honor?"

"I'm so sick of your self-obsessed, 'I'm better than you, so fuck you', attitude. You're no better than the rest of us, Brian. You just think you are."

"But that's where you're wrong, Theodore, I AM better than you. What the hell were you thinking? Did you seriously think you'd get away with murder?"

"So far I have. Too bad that you won't get to see the end of the movie. I almost feel sorry for you."

"Save your sympathy, Teddy, you're going to need it."

"All I'm going to need is the satisfaction of knowing I brought down the king."

The shot rang out and echoed through the garage. Blood flowed freely down the concrete and lives were forever changed.

TBC.........

Return to The Nature of Things