Chapter Four: Learn By Failing.

I had slowly, very slowly, awoken from my snow-white slumber. My head was ringing from that blunt force trauma I was hit with, it felt like a…pistol. Maybe I got pistol-whipped. I rub the pain in the back of my head, sitting up with squinted eyes. I looked around the room. Was this my room? As I noticed the exterior and the very different furniture and objects, I concluded this wasn’t my room. I then brought my hand down as I felt something tightened around my shoulder. I lifted my arm, then down, then up again until I looked at my shoulder, noticing something wrapped around it, clear white. As I turned my head to the dresser, there on the dresser, held a mirror.

My hair was messy, and my shirt didn’t cover my torso. As my vision improved, I had no reason to squint and swung my legs over the edge of the strangely comfortable bed. As I got a good look at myself, now I knew there was a bandage wrapped around me, which was strange because I didn’t feel any cuts or bullet wounds- wait. I then soon remembered the events of yesterday. If that then happened, has the wound healed? I stood up, and noticed a door in a corner, on the same side of the dresser. Should I leave? No, I shouldn’t- I don’t even have my pistol. Whoever helped me must’ve taken it, along with William’s phone. I stare at the door, thinking. Maybe I should wait for him to come to the room, if I walk out there myself, I might stumble upon something that might get me killed. No, that would just waste time, I can’t wait. Not while he’s still out there. My final decision brought me to the door, opening it, and walking down the stairs. The stairs whined in my steps.

As I descended, I heard what sounded to be voices. But it wasn’t a conversation, more like someone telling something to someone else. It sounded like the news. As I fully came down the stairs, I noticed framed photos to the right side of me but ignored them. When I reached the bottom of the stairs, there was an open doorway; one that could fit two doors. I was slightly behind it, so I could only see a slit, but that helped me see a lot. Well, I only saw a head and parts of a couch. It was an aging man by his hair. I kept walking until I stood in the opening, there, the TV caught my attention.

‘Philip Lyzer, Former Ceo and founder of Lyzer Pharmaceuticals was kidnapped, along with the next-up CEO, Mill Lake. All of it happened in 2 days. Mr. Lake was kidnapped in his own home after a shootout on his property. The suspect or suspects snuck in, pretending to be Mr. Lake’s bodyguard. Detectives also say they use the IDs of bodyguards who worked for Mr. Lake and Mr. Lyzer to get past the gate. And this is not just a one-man thing, this is multiple people, considering the shootout that took place, possibly used to distract Mr. Lake from knowing the culprit's true intentions. Detectives are determined and focused on solving this case. So far, there have been two known suspects involved in this case. Levi Ferwell.’ They then showed a picture of a person in a suit, smiling widely. Weird smile. ‘And this person.’ They showed a drawing of me, a pretty good one at that. What was I thinking? ‘His name is unknown, but this is what the wife of Mr. Lake saw. Sophia Lake, said, quote-unquote, “ I was with my daughter in her room, and suddenly a gunshot broke the glass of the window. He shot the window and walked in like it was nothing like he didn’t care about what would happen. Like he was gonna kill my husband, and himself.” She is now working with the detectives to find her husband. If you have seen any of these two, call 911 immediately.’

The man tilted his head sideways, resting his arm on the couch's armrest. ‘ Hm. Look at that. I didn’t know I was sheltering a killer. Maybe I should turn him in, maybe I’d get some reward.’

The feel of his smirk, I could just feel it. I’m already not liking this guy. ‘I didn’t kill anyone.’

‘You were about to.’

‘You don’t know that.’ I snapped back immediately. I feel like when you know something’s true, you want to clap back immediately to prove what you’re saying is factual. Why am I trying to prove my innocence to a guy who lives nowhere?

‘I know that…’ He then stood up with a little grunt and walked from infront of the couch to me. Now that I’ve got a good look at him, he’s strong, with wrinkles on his face, and a grey T-shirt.

‘You broke into a house, well, shot the window of a room a mom and her child were in like you didn’t care. Who knows what was going through your head?’

He had me silent. It was true, what I did was reckless, I wasn’t thinking. Damnit, I thought about kidnapping Mill to get to him. Still, it can’t be my fault. It’s the person who killed William, that’s his fault, doing this to me.

‘It…It doesn’t matter…I knew what I was doing. And I wasn’t going to kill him.’

The old man then raised an eyebrow with a smirk. ‘Then what were ya gonna do? Kidnap him?’

He had me silent again- who is this guy?! It’s like he can read my mind. Out of anybody that could’ve taken me in, it had to be this smartass. We stood in silence for a second as I didn’t have the power to look him in the eyes. He chuckled, he chuckled at me. This bastard, was he relishing in my vulnerability? I clenched my fists. Why? Why do I care?

‘You’re right. You didn’t kill him.’

Wow, wait, wow. Was it that easy? Didn’t he not believe me? My fists slowly unclenched as I had the slight power to look at him. My eyes were wide.

‘Wha…’

‘Yeah. You didn’t kill him. You don’t look like the type to kill.’ He then put his hands in his pockets.

My mouth slightly opened. I thought I was getting him on my side—not that I care—but it would leave me with one less person to bring me in, depending on how many cops KPD has looking for me and that other guy. He then smirked as he walked away to the kitchen, leaving me in my surprised state. I wanted to hold my tongue, I needed to hold my tongue. It’s like the feeling of sadness had spread into different emotions. Now…I’m feeling angry and disrespected. Killing isn’t good, but some people need to be killed, right? And that killer needs to be killed…by me.

‘I never had a reason to kill!’ I couldn’t keep my tongue still. The thoughts, I feel as if I’m doubting myself because of his words.

He stopped. I instantly closed my mouth after he stopped, and looked at him. The silence choked me until it had released its grip on my throat.

‘Stay there.’ He then walked into the kitchen. I stood there, blankly staring at where he stood before entering the kitchen. I then heard some rustling, causing me to move my eyes, furrowing my eyebrows at what he could be doing there. I wanted to move, but I thought it best to stay where I was. After the rustling, what sounded like a cupboard, shut closed. Then taps began to sing through the air. Footsteps singing. He then came out of the kitchen, standing infront of me with…the pistol I took, in his left hand, with a glove on, and a phone in his right. It’s not William’s phone, his is a different color. He then tossed the pistol at me, I was stunned at first but managed to catch it in time. The weight of the gun weighed me too. This. This is the thing I’m gonna use—the power to take another person’s life. But I can’t think of it like that.

‘Hey.’

His voice made my head turn. He lifted the phone to his head and leaned toward me, facing the screen.

‘You said you had no reason to? Well, I’m gonna give you a reason to.’

He then pressed the number nine on the dial pad. My eyebrows raised as he did so. He wouldn’t. Then again, I don’t know this guy.

‘Yeah, just take your time. Exactly what I need.’ He said, before pressing the number one.

Damnit, he’s not joking. I-I can’t run, but…I…I can’t just kill him for calling the cops. My eyes then landed on his arm. His arm! I thought about it. I’ll just shoot his arm. He then pressed one again. I instantly lifted the pistol and pointed it at him.

‘Don’t do it.’ My words were as shaky as my hands. Shooting his arm won’t be as easy as I thought. But it could be just shooting someone in general that’s got me shaking.

He smirked at me. Damnit, this guy is just…he’s too much. He then pressed one again before his thumb pressed the green call button and put the phone to his ears. My eyes widen. Just shoot him! Shoot!

‘Nine-one-one, what’s your emergency?’ A female voice said.

Damnit! I then pulled the trigger, but the pistol only clicked. My mouth slightly opened. I was baffled as I looked at the gun, then at him.

‘Hello? Anybody?’

The man smiled at me, trying not to chuckle.

‘Nine-one-one-? Oh, this isn’t the call-before-you-dig phone number, is it?!’

He said this, giving into the act, putting his hand to his chin, and looking to the ceiling.

‘Oh, no, sir! You don’t know the amount of calls we’ve had because of that!’

He rubbed the back of his head, chuckling. ‘ I’m sorry for this inconvenience!’

‘Oh no no, it’s okay!’

‘Okay, thank you! Have a great day!’

‘You too, sir!’

He then hung up the phone, dropping his act, and smirking at me as I still looked baffled. I slowly looked back at the pistol, pulling the trigger as it made a click.

‘I don’t remember my arm being my head or heart.’ He said with a smirk, putting the phone in his pocket. I slowly looked up to look at him. What’s going on? Did he unload the magazine? It’s supposed to shoot, right? That’s what guns are for, shooting. He walked up to me, taking the weapon from me as I stood there, looking at the pistol.

‘The safety’s on.’

He then showed me the safety lock on the pistol. It was down, and there was a green circle beside it. Safety? Guns have a safety lock on them? Wait, that makes a lot of sense. He kept smirking at me before raising an eyebrow.

‘Why do you even have a gun? Wait, let me guess, there’s someone you want to kill?’

I finally looked at him before sighing and nodding. This guy is too smart; it’s annoying— too annoying. The man scrutinized me, squinting his eyes at me as he said, ‘And what reason is that for?’

I glance at him before looking down, and scratching his neck. Should I tell him? This is between me, and me alone. Maybe he’ll try to stop me if I tell him. I then concluded, shaking my head.

‘It doesn’t matter.’

The man stares at me for a long time before he sighs, looks down, and then looks up, facing me.

‘You don’t have to…’

I shook my head, shaking away his words from reaching my ears.

‘No. You don’t understand. A-and don’t say that you do,’ I said, raising my hand.

He sighed, weighing the pistol before handing it to me. I blinked vigorously as I looked at the gun in his hand before looking at him.

‘Is it just one person?’

I slowly nodded my head, taking away the pistol.

‘No one else? Just one person?’

I nodded again, ‘One person. That’s it.’

He nodded back, looking down, definitely thinking before looking up at me with squinted eyes. ‘Do you know what he looks like?’

I go silent, folding my lips and letting air out my nose. Yeah, this guy’s appearance…it’s…this will be tough, considering it’s not a one-man thing. Wait, maybe William- or his…spirit can guide me to the right guy, right? He must’ve seen who killed him…right? I sighed. ‘Look. I know. But-’

‘But what? What if you get the wrong guy, huh?’

‘I…I won’t-’

‘And do you know that?’

I can’t tell him that the spirit of my brother is haunting me, giving me these emotions, begging me to kill his killer. He’ll just laugh at me.

‘I just do! Okay! Stop…just stop pestering me!’

He just looked at me before walking to a wall, and leaning against it while looking down. ‘Just one promise me one thing…’

I look at him before scoffing, shaking my head. Promise something to this random man. Yeah, that’s a no. ‘Yeah, and why would I want to keep a promise to a strang-’

He then looked at him, slightly glaring at me. ‘C’mon, it’s the least you can do, after what I did.’ I then look down at myself, specifically my shoulder. Yeah, he didn’t have to do it. Now I feel guilty, just great. I sighed. ‘I can’t keep promises.’

He chuckled, crossing his arms, nodding. ‘That’s cool. Just remember it then…’ I looked at him. ‘Don’t kill anyone other than the guy you’re looking for…’ He goes silent, looking away, taking a deep breath before looking back at me and continuing. ‘And if, or when, you find this guy…think deeply, and I mean to think deeply before you decide to pull the trigger on ‘im.’

I then looked down at my pistol, gripping it tightly. ‘It’s not a promise…’

‘Eh, just think of it as…’ He looked to the roof, pouting his lips before looking back at me with a smirk, shrugging while saying. ‘A remembrance.’

I look down to think about it. It’s not a promise, just something to remember. It’s not helpful, I’ll just forget about it. Yeah, it doesn’t matter. I then nodded falsely at him.

‘Sure.’

He smirked before pushing himself off the wall and walking towards me. ‘Now that we’ve got that out the way. What’re you doing…it’s gonna get nasty. And your current pistol skills…they’re gonna not help.’

I looked down at the pistol. He’s annoying, an annoying smartass. But he can help. And who knows? Maybe he can help me with this…this need. I looked back up from the pistol and held my pistol out. He smiled and took the gun.

***

Shawn is driving his car with Rich as they stop at the residence gate. A group of forensics officers is surveying the area, either searching or watching. Rich looks out the windshield, low-whistling at the multiple bodies on the ground.

‘They just did it. Like that? All at once?’

Shawn nodded, putting the car in park as he took out the keys. ‘Yeah.’

Once they both got out, walked up to the gates and through them, eyeing the covered bodies on the ground with the self-standing number cards next to them. Forensics and officers either watch or study the scene. Bodyguards also surveyed the area. They then walked up to the double doors of the mansion, seeing two bodyguards stand beside the door. As the two detectives pulled up the door. Shawn took out his badge and flashed it between the two bodyguards, they nodded and opened the door for them, letting Rich and Shawn go in. As Rich and Shawn went inside the house, they slightly looked in awe of the house, it was something their eyes never beheld before. There were bodyguards in the kitchen talking, and one sitting alone in the living room, his hands clasped together as his left leg shook like it was vibrating. But then Shawn’s eyes caught the woman in the dining room with an officer talking to her, and a child hugging her. She wiped her eyes as the officer asked her questions, and then after she spoke, he wrote it down in his notepad. But as the officer is writing, her eyes catch the two detectives, looking at them with red and puffy eyes as the officer looks up, then looks at what she’s looking at. He looks back at her, his mouth moving as he nods. She looked back at the man, nodding, lifting her shoulders a bit as she sniffled. He patted her shoulder before turning to walk to the detectives. He reached the detectives, and exhaled, holding his utility belt.

‘So, there was a shootout. As you already know…’ Shawn nodded as Rich folded his arms. ‘But the thing is, one of the bodyguards called in for backup when Mill didn’t ask for any.’

Rich tilted his head. ‘What if he wanted his boss to be safe? Y’know, so he could get paid?’

The officer shook his head. ‘That’s the thing, that was the same bodyguard that was in the same room as Mill before he disappeared. And the bodyguard disappeared with him.’

Shawn furrowed his eyebrows at this information, his brain working through this situation. ‘What about the shootout? What does that have to do with anything?’

‘The shootout was most likely a decoy for whoever to kidnap Mill and slip through easily.’ The officer said, looking between the both of them.

Rich put his hand to his chin, while keeping his arms crossed, thinking as much as Shawn. ‘Makes sense,’ He muttered before quickly turning his head to Shawn. ‘The bodyguard kidnapped him.’

Shawn nodded. ‘Yeah, they were definitely planning all of this.’

‘You know what’s even stranger…?’ The officer said, catching the attention of the detectives, both looking at him with interest before he continued. ‘The wife said that someone else came into the house, shot the window, and walked right into the room. She was on the second floor with her daughter when this happened. He must’ve climbed on top of a car, onto the awning.’ The officer chimed.

The detective's eyebrows raised, their expression becoming more confused and surprised. ‘Wh-what did the person look like?’ Rich said.

‘Nothing like the bodyguards, I’d tell you that. He had a black sweater, white T-shirt, Blue jeans, slip-on shoes, and brown long hair.’

Shawn put his hands in his pockets. ‘That’s quite the description. But he’s a suspect.’

The officer nodded but looked away as something crossed his mind. ‘Yeah, if he’s not dead.’

Shawn looked at him.

‘The thing is when he did walk into the room, there was screaming…Mill’s screaming. The unknown guy was the first person to run to the screaming before Sophia followed, leaving her daughter in the room. That’s when they reached the room, and nobody was there, but before he could leave the bodyguards showed up, causing the man to jump out the window, but as he ran, one of the bodyguards managed to pop him in the shoulder.’

‘Why didn’t they chase him down?’ Rich said, raising an eyebrow.

The officer shrugged. ‘I don’t know. Maybe they lost him. He did run into the forest…and it was dark.’

Shawn sighed, turning his eyes to the side of him, seeing the shaky bodyguard, before turning his eyes back, then back at the bodyguard again. ‘What’s the bodyguard that was with Mill, name?’

The officer looked at where Shawn was looking before looking back at him. ‘I don’t know, I was just finishing up talking to the wife before you guys pulled in.’

Shawn nodded, before moving his eyes towards Rich. Rich looked at him causing Shawn to nod his head at the bodyguard sitting on the couch. Rich looked over to the bodyguard before walking, Shawn following after, saying thanks to the officer. The bodyguard was looking down, his hands clasped together infront of him as he thought about what just happened. Was it someone, something? Was it a person? Or was it someone of a higher being? It was all supernatural-

‘Hey, you okay?’ A voice called out.

He looked up to see two detectives looking at him. He nodded.

‘Yeah…I’m-I’m cool.’

Rich raised an eyebrow at him. The bodyguard looked over at him before sighing and looking down. Detectives, they see and know stuff.

‘It’s…it’s just that what I saw. It didn’t look normal. N-nobody just does THAT, especially all at once. It's like someone, or something was controlling them.’ He says, scratching his shoulder.

Rich and Shawn looked at each other with expressions that asked each other ‘What the heck is he going on about?’, before looking back at the bodyguard.

‘Where were you when this happened?’ Rich asked.

The bodyguard, still with his head facing towards the carpet, answers, his voice shaky and fragile. ‘I-I was inside, watching the house in case anybody…y’know, managed to slip in.’

Shawn nodded before turning his head back to look at the bodyguards in the kitchen, talking, before turning his head forward towards the bodyguard. ‘Do you know the name of the bodyguard that was with Mill?’

The bodyguard nodded, rubbing his neck. ‘Y-yeah…Levi…’ He then lifted his head to look at the heads of the detectives before continuing. ‘Y-you don’t think…Levi could’ve of-’

‘Unfortunately, he most likely did.’ Rich said, not wanting him to have hope.

The bodyguard looked at Rich in disbelief, his mouth open ready to talk. ‘W-what- what if he got kidnapped too?!’

‘Don’t be naive. Three cars came into the mansion with the keycard of an employee of your boss. Levi was the one that called for backup when Mill didn’t need it.’

‘Definitely didn’t need it.’ Rich chimed in.

‘Look…do you know his full name? Levi’s full name?’

The bodyguard glances at Shawn before exhaling and looking down.

‘Levi Ferwell.’

Later, Rich and Shawn are walking to the car, thinking about what the officer and that bodyguard told them. As Rich and Shawn pass the last car used for the shootout, they get inside their car and sit in silence for a little while before Rich speaks.

‘So, it’s not a one-man thing. This guy, he’s not to be taken lightly.’ Rich says as he eyes the bodies splayed out infront of them.

Shawn nods, looking also before he spots a license plate on the back of one of the cars. He squints his eyes at it before getting out of the car. Rich looks at him with furrowed eyebrows, following his movements with his eyes. He walks to the car and takes out his phone before kneeling behind the car, taking a picture of the license plate, and after, standing up to look at the phone before closing it. He then walks back to the car, getting in. Rich stares at him confusedly, waiting for him to explain, but he doesn’t hear anything from Shawn as he starts up the car.

‘Uhm, did you forget you have a partner?’

Shawn doesn’t say anything yet, instead backing up the car while looking back.

‘We're gonna see who bought the car.’

***

The two detectives reach the dispatch center, parking their cars, blending their cars with the many other cars waiting in the parking lot to be driven again. Once they got out, they walked to the dispatch center, their trench coats swaying the breeze. Shawn swings the door back as they reach the door, leaving it open enough for Rich to walk through. The air freshener is as fresh as it needs to be, everybody in their uniform, typing away on their computers, people talking to each other, or other people through the microphone that has called 911. But in the far back, viewed a woman, with ponytailed black hair, with headphones on, nodding her head in a rhythm. She mouths the lyrics of the song that went into her ears, the music is loud in her ears so she can’t hear, but she can feel. The tap of a finger on her right shoulder causes her to turn her head and take off the headphones, the music loud enough to hear it coming out of the headphones. She turns her chair around to face her whole body whoever did that. Shawn and Rich stand beside her on her right.

‘We need you to do something.’ Shawn said, going into his pocket.

She rolls her eyes, closing it and hunching over a bit to rest her chin in her hand and elbow on her thigh. ‘You know, you could say hello, or how’s my day been? You're acting like we’ve never seen, or talked to each other outside of work.’

Shawn sighs, going on his phone and pressing a few buttons. ‘Hello, Amy. How’s your day been?’ He shakes his head while Rich looks down, tapping his feet.

Amy smirks with her eyes closed. ‘It’s been wonderful. How have you been?’

‘Been good. Would be a lot better if you’d look at what I’m showing you.’

She then opened her eyes, looking at the picture on the phone he had taken it with. She turned her chair around, fixing her glasses as it reflected the monitor's screen. ‘Buyer?’ She said as she did so.

Shawn nodded. ‘Yup.’

She typed in the license plate on her computer quickly and fast, her photographic memory being one of, if not the most useful tool she could ever acquire. After typing, she clicked entered, showing information about who bought the car, their bio, picture, and everything. She moved back her chair slightly, letting Rich and Shawn walk up to the computer next to her. Shawn leans forward, resting his hand on the back of Amy’s chair as Rich rested his hand on her desk.

‘His name is Gerald Ellis. 68. Former army man, served in ‘Nam. And it shows he’s bought three Black 1998 Caddilac Fleetwoods in just three days. And the day after that, rented a warehouse.’ Amy said, crossing her legs, leaning forward with her chin in her hand.

Rich nodded, smiling as he looked over to Shawn. ‘One step closer.’

Shawn looked back, giving him a half nod before turning his head back to the monitor. But Amy shook her head.

‘I wouldn’t be so sure about that.’

Rich snapped his head to Amy as she pointed her finger at a certain spot on the monitor. ‘Look at where it says ‘Status’.’

They all look at the told word and see that Gerald’s status reveals that he’s deceased. Rich’s smile dropped into an open mouth, but Shawn furrowed his eyebrows, sinking in this new information.

***

I covered up the bandage rolled around my shoulder with my shirt, and covered my shirt with my sweater. I then slipped on my shoes, covering my bare feet from the cold wooden tiles of this old guy's home. As I descended downstairs, I noticed a framed photo to the left of me. One of him, and three girls. One must be his wife, most likely the woman next to him, and the other two girls his daughters infront of them. They all looked happy. When I reached the bottom of the stairs, he was there, sitting on the couch watching absolutely nothing. Maybe he was just waiting for me, or the TV got boring after a while. What brought curiosity to me, was that he had a family and I haven’t seen a single human here other than me, of course. He looked like a lonely man, living in his lonely forest.

‘I didn’t know you had a family.’ I say, not being able to hold my tongue.

He just lets out an ‘Mhm’. That should’ve been my key to just being quiet, but no, I just can’t, can’t I?

‘Where are they?’ I shouldn’t have asked that. I’m probably going to get something sad.

‘Divorced.’ He said, before standing up and walking to the opening of the living room.

Well, that’s less sad. I look surprised at first before my expression goes back to normal and I nod. He’s like me. I guess he also doesn’t mind being lonely. He looks contemptuous to himself. Maybe he gets to see them once in a while.

‘Do…do you get to see them-’

‘Are you ready or not?’ He says, standing at the opening that I stood behind.

I nod again. ‘Yeah… I’m ready.’ I think he’s still sad about that.

The outside flows with life and nature. The trees move with the wind as the baby birds chirp, waiting for their worms. And squirrels moving along. The squirrels eat their acorns in the tree and then drop them after finishing. I like this place, and I would like to live there for the rest of my life. With the pistol held in my right hand, I looked at it. Am I ready to do this? I should give up, it’s all a waste of time. No, I shouldn’t be thinking like this. I can’t, I can’t let these emotions live in my body, they’re not even my emotions…I laid the pistol in the grass that I took as my seat. With something to distract me, I see the old man setting up the targets, the previous bullet holes already there. Hmm, guess he’s experienced with them. Should’ve known that with the stunt he pulled back there.

‘Hey…’ He puts down the last target before looking at me. ‘Help me the table in the shed.’

I stood up and brushed myself off before walking over with him to the shed. As we reached the shed, the old man said, ‘Get the front end, I’ll get the back.’ I followed and grabbed the front as he went got the back end. I gripped the edges and squatted a bit as he followed too. He looked at me and nodded as I looked back and nodded too. After the countdown, we both stood up, lifting it with us too. It’s pretty heavy, I’m surprised he’s doing so well. As he slowly and surely made our way back to where the targets were, I couldn’t help but wonder what his name was. I mean, I’m not gonna call him old man, or whatever. And it’s not like I’m gonna remember it because I’m not going to see him again.

‘So, uh, I don’t know…what to call you. Not that it matters, I’m probably not gonna remember it after we depart. But just for right now…y’know?’

The man smirks, shaking his head as he sighs. ‘It’s Gerald.’

I nodded. ‘Gerald…’ I muttered, repeating the name.

‘Yeah…’ We then placed the table down, infront of the targets, before Gerald continued. ‘Don’t forget it.’ He smiled, cracking his knuckles whilst looking at me.

I just walked away to pick up the pistol. He acts like I’m going to see him again.

‘Well. I’m not going to see you again.’

Gerald then placed both of his hands on his hips, smirking, ‘You say as if you know the future.’

I picked up the weapon before walking back to the table. ‘I can make sure it doesn’t happen.’

Me and I then stood beside each other, looking at the targets. ‘You’re not going to forget my name…’ He then looked at me with a smile, causing me to look at him back. ‘You know what they say, you forget a person’s name, you forget everything they’ve said to you and done for you.’

I turned my head to the targets, scoffing, ‘Sure,’ I muttered. But I haven’t forgotten William’s name.

‘You still love him though, right?’

I shook the words out of my head by shaking my head.

‘When are we going to start?’ I say, trying to move past this topic.

The man went into his pockets pulled out four magazines and placed them on the table.

‘Right now.’ He said as he faced his body towards me, leaning against the table with his hand.

I nodded, breathing in and out, amping myself for this. I looked at the targets, standing there in awkward silence. Okay, uhm, how is this supposed to go? I then glanced at him and then glanced at the targets.

‘So…what am I supposed to do?’

‘Isn’t it obvious?’ He said, then pointing his finger at the pistol, then at the targets.

I followed his finger movements, nodding as I looked back at him. ‘Yeah, got that much. But aren’t you gonna teach me…the ways, techniques?’

‘I am. First, you gotta shoot…’ I looked at the targets. Shouldn’t be too bad. I raised the pistol at the targets, breathing in and out, but that didn’t help the little shakiness I had. I’m learning, I’m learning to do something so dangerous. Something so dangerous, it can take a life. My hands started shaking more. I-It’s not like it’s an innocent life, but it’s a life. I exhaled. Who cares, it’s his fault. All of this. I then pulled the trigger, only for a click. My mouth gaped a bit as I looked at the pistol, then at Gerald. Gerald looked back at me, shrugging. Then I remembered. I looked for the safety lock until I saw that it was green, and the lock was down. The flick of the lock turned it red now. Gerald smiled very slightly but widely as if to make it noticeable.

***

They all stared at the monitor, confused. Shawn tapped the desk with his index finger, and Rich just blinked vigorously. Amy squinted her eyes and let out a ‘hmm’.

‘Maybe it’s a family member.’ Rich says, cracking the silence.

Amy shakes her head. ‘Nobody, after a person has deceased, can use their credit card. It’s a crime.’

‘Well, they still managed to use the card without getting caught for now.’ Rich said, gesturing his hand towards the monitor.

Shawn stopped tapping his finger. His brain moving like a bullet train. ‘Maybe he’s not dead.’

They both look at him. He was known for…crazy theories, so this shouldn’t come as a surprise, but they were always intriguing.

‘If the bank was already informed about his death, why would they still let these transactions continue? There could be some type of persuasion in the bank provider that’s being used.’

Rich and Amy look back at the monitor, considering the possibility. Rich's eyes widen as he turns his head to Shawn and snaps his finger.

‘What if he is dead? But someone is using his card. Like you said, Persuasion. Then it could be connected with Levi.’

Amy leaned back, sighing. Being a part of this detective work is brain-working, something she thought she wouldn’t be doing as a 911 dispatcher. Shawn nodded his head.

‘But why Gerald’s?’ Shawn said.

Shawn then leaned up, still with his eyes on the monitor. ‘He’s a part of this ordeal. Amy, check if Gerald has any active family members.’

Amy nodded and fixed her glasses. Then, she leaned forward to analyze the monitor, moved her mouse, and clicked the highlighted readings. Rich leaned in, too, getting a good look.

‘He has a wife and two children. But the wife is deceased also.’

‘What about his two children?’ Shawn says.

‘Two daughters. One Biological, the other adopted.’

‘Okay. Print them all out, except for the wife.’

Amy nodded her head before clicking her mouse a few times, causing her printer to whirr and hymn. After a few of those whirrs and hymns, the printer spits out papers that feel warm and nice. Amy takes the papers from the printer, staples them together, looks at Shawn, and hands them to him. Shawn thanks her and takes the paper.

‘Alright, search up Levi Ferwell, and do the same.’

Amy nods and does it again. She takes the papers from the printers and staples them, handing them to him. Shawn takes it, scanning through it with a nod.

‘Alright.’ Shawn then looked at Rich, causing Rich to lean back up from the chair and follow Shawn as he walked away.

***

I sighed as the magazine emptied. I tossed it on the table, shaking my head as I looked at the targets. None of them were hit, just bullets flying past the target, into the forest. I only got one hit, and that just grazed the shoulder of it.

‘I thought you would have learned it by now. Possibly ten bullets ago.’

I looked at him, then back, shaking my head. Learn what? Nothing to learn without being told what to learn.

‘You’re not that aware, are you?’

‘Aware? What is there to be aware of? All I’m doing is shooting, and missing.’

The old man sighed, walking closer to me as he grabbed a magazine, and took the pistol from me, reloading it with the mag. ‘Well, first of all, you’re shaky. Super shaky. Aim again.’ He said, holding out the pistol to me.

I looked at him. He shook the pistol at me, pestering me to go. ‘C'mon, take it.’ I mean, if he says I have to learn by failing. As I took the pistol in my hand, I aimed it up at the target, shaking as usual. He then looked at me, then my hands, then the target.

‘Breathe in, and out. Just relax, okay? Think of something that relaxes you.’

What he said, I did. I closed my eyes and imagined myself sitting down, leaning back on the couch, and not caring about anything. No one to pester me about stuff. Just to live, and die. Sinking into my couch as the TV played and the dark of night was evident through my window. I closed my eyes in my imagination and I then opened my eyes in reality to see my hands perfectly fine. He slightly smiled as he looked back at my hands.

‘Now shoot.’

The pull of the trigger sent the bullet flying right into the target’s shoulder. My eyes widened a bit as I blinked a few times to grasp what just happened. The old man smirked and shook his head when I looked at him.

‘It was just one shot.’

My smile slightly dropped before I scoffed and shook my head, looking back at the target with the bullet hole in its shoulder. It was just one shot, and it wasn’t a headshot. Man, he knows how to ruin the moment. Well, it was just a moment. Only temporary. It doesn’t matter, does it?

***

The precinct was filled like a cup with words spurting to each other. There was a whiteboard, and a projected screen infront of the whiteboard, turned off. The chatter and laughter kept continuing until a familiar voice was heard, not echoing, but a loud voice enough to go through people’s ears.

‘Alright, hold your mouths and open your ears!’ Rich said as he walked up to the whiteboard, standing beside it.

Shawn dimmed the lights before walking up to the projector, turning it on, and walking to the other side of the whiteboard. Everybody’s attention diverted from each other to the two detectives infront of the stationed desks lined up. With a click of a button on the remote Shawn had, the screen showed a bunch of bodies, cars, and the mansion.

‘To give you a quick scoop up; Former, and was-to-be Ceo, Philip Lyzer and Mill Lake were kidnapped in a shooting…’ Shawn clicked the remote, changing the screen to a man with a buzzcut and a weird smile. ‘This is Levi Ferwell…’ Shawn said, everybody moving uncomfortably, some looking down for a bit. Shawn then continued. ‘He was in the same room as Mill when he got kidnapped, nobody else was there in that room. We have reason to believe he kidnapped Mill and is connected with the Lyzer kidnapping, the principal and teacher murder, and the murder of a man named William Devellis.’ The screen changed again, showing a picture of a one-story, blue house.

‘I’m guessing Levi wasn’t keen on hiding his location, but some of you will be assisting me in going to his house.’ Shawn then clicked the button, changing it to Gerald.

‘Gerald Ellis. Pretty old guy. Doesn’t matter though because he’s dead.’ Rich said, causing everybody to look confused, and at each other. ‘But the thing, after he died, he bought three cars and a warehouse.’ Everybody’s confusion was amplified by one hundred. Some leaning in for more, others furrowing their eyebrows.

‘There are more things me and Shawn will worry about for ourselves. All you need to know is this warehouse…’ The screen then changed to a two-story brick warehouse. ‘Needs to be checked. Some of you will be assisting me in this pursuit at the warehouse just as others will with Shawn and Levi’s house.’

Shawn walked away to the dial and turned it right, turning up the brightness of the lights before walking over to the projector and shutting it off, putting down the remote on top of it. He then looked at the officers and said, ‘Alright. If you’re not picked for either the warehouse or the house, I want you to put up wanted posters and missing posters around the town. Luckily, we’ve printed a lot of them for you guys.’ He said, nodding his head at the printer.

***

The faucet runs with water as he washes his hands with soap, then dries it off and splashing its and bits of water left on his hand. He turns off the lights and shuts the bathroom door. The many framed paintings and pictures of Jesus and God surveyed the room with the dining table with a picture of a crucified Jesus. He sits down on his couch, and infront of him is a coffee table with that of a Bible on it. Next to it, is a remote. He picks up the remote and turns on the TV, which automatically brings him to a sermon, that preaches about Jesus coming back to judge the living and the dead and bring about a new peace. The man smiles a wide smile, muttering, ‘Amen.’

Outside the window, Shawn watched the man with his binoculars on the other side of the street where the man lived. He removed the binoculars from his eyes and brought up his walkie-talkie to his mouth, pressing the button.

‘I got visuals on him. Fit’s the description. What about your situation?’

Rich puts down his binoculars and holds the walkie-talkie to his mouth, as the officers in his car look out the window.

‘It’s pretty dark in there, considering it’s nighttime. Don’t see anybody in there, though. Whaddawe do? You say we go in?’

Shawn kept looking out the window, at the man on the couch. He looks like the type of man to have a plan up his sleeve. Nontheneless, Shawn nodded.

‘We go in.’

‘Alright, be careful.’ Rich said.

‘Will do.’

Rich then put down the binoculars and put his walkie-talkie in his pocket, calling out to the officers in the backseat and the one next to him.

‘Everybody geared up?’

The officers wore armored vests and carried shotguns by their sides. They nodded determinedly. ‘Yes, sir, ' one of them said.

Rich nodded. ‘Well, you heard Shawn.’ Rich then opened the car door as Shawn did.

Shawn and the officers crouched and ran to the door, getting low to be out of his vision. They all stood beside the door, looking at Shawn. As Shawn made a hand sign, signifying them to go, Rich nodded his head to the double doors of the warehouse. They both shot open the door and busted in. The man on the couch snapped his head in eye-wide surprise as there were shotguns, and a pistol pointed at him.

‘Get down on the ground, don’t move! Don’t move!’

Two officers then forced him up off the couch and pushed him to the ground, holding him down as Shawn came up to him with handcuffs.

‘What’s the meaning of this? What could’ve I have-’

‘Shut up.’ Shawn said, handcuffing him. ‘You are under arrest for being in a conspiracy of the kidnapping of Philip Lyzer, and Mill Lake, along with two other crimes you may know about. You have the right to remain silent—anything you can and will be used against you in court. You have a right to an attorney. If you cannot afford an attorney, one will be appointed to you.’

The man sighed as they picked him from the ground, holding his shoulders. ‘Lord forgive them for they do not know what they do.’ He mutters as they push him out the door, and to the car, Shawn’s walkie-talkie comes in.

‘Shawn…’ Rich says.

Shawn looks down at his device and takes it from his belt, holding it up to his mouth as he presses the button.

‘Rich, we got our guy. Closer to finding Philip and Lyzer.’ He smiled slightly.

‘That’s…that’s the problem; You’re not gonna believe this.’

Shawn’s slight smile disappeared as he furrowed his eyebrows and spoke in disbelief.

‘What?’

Shawn looked at the body, not sure what to say as the officers looked at the body in green, most of them looking away. Mill’s body was decaying as flies flew around him like a planet orbiting its sun…