The Unexpected III

Title: The Unexpected III
Chapter 8 – Who Dunnit?
Word Count: 6688
Rating: R
Fandom: FAKE
Pairings: Ryo/Dee
Warnings: Yaoi, Male/male, MPREG, AU If you don’t like, don’t read! Cursing, mature themes, graphic insinuations of violent death, torture and violence.
Disclaimer: FAKE is not mine. We have Sanami Matoh for giving us Dee, Ryo and the rest of the 27th precinct characters. Any OCs appearing in this fic are mine.
Summary: The search is on for Gilbert Blum’s killer.
Notes: I'm sorry in the delay with getting this chapter out. Also sorry about the cliffie here, and I can’t guarantee I’ll have the next chapter done within the week. I’ll try, but I’m still playing catch up with some other fics and working on a challenge this month. I'm hoping to get back to regular scheduling once January is over.
Beta by the gorgeous and brilliant Grace_Musica.

The parking lot within Fort Tryon Park was cordoned off. The flashing lights of the police cruisers were like beacons to the cars arriving at the crime scene. Officials and police were allowed in, while the press was turned way. Along Margaret Cabrini Road, within the park, vehicles and news vans were parked, as the press hoped to get closer on the biggest story of the season.

Ryo and Dee were greeted by the first officer on the scene through the parking lot. Ahead of them was a familiar BMW. Dee felt his stomach drop, realizing it was only the night before they were in that car when Gilbert gave them a ride home.

With them were JJ, Hernandez and Janet.

“I guess since you boys are the Carrier Crime squad, operations will be handed over to you,” the police officer stated.

Ryo nodded, his jaw clenched as he fought back the rising emotions as they got closer to the car. He wanted to reach out and grasp Dee’s arm, not certain that if he dared, it would be to give support to Dee, or to receive it. When they were out on the streets, the couple maintained a professional attitude. While they did not make a secret that they were married, they refrained from intimate touching while investigating a crime.

Ryo and Dee tried to think of this as just another crime scene, that they did not know the car where the body was found, and that the victim was not someone they had come to care for. Back at the precinct, Ryo had tried to convince Dee to stay behind, but his husband remained stubborn, needing to go. It was as if Dee would not believe it until he saw it himself. When they arrived at the scene, Ryo once again tried to get Dee to stay by the car, and speak to other officers who were there before them, start gathering any clues on who had done this to the young man who had so much life to give the day before.

“Registration and insurance cards confirm this is Mr. Blum’s vehicle,” the officer from the local precinct explained.

Dee nodded, swallowing. “Yeah. It is his.”

Ryo took the flashlight from the officer and held it so he could see inside the car.

“He’s in the back seat,” the officer said.

Dee peered in the direction of the light. He felt his stomach lurch, but he firmly told himself that he was not going to be sick. Not yet. He had to do this for his friend.

Ryo sighed sadly as trained eyes took in the state of the body. “Did the ME arrive yet?” he asked.

“On the way,” the officer replied.

“It looks fresh,” Dee said, his voice cracking. “Like it happened this afternoon or early evening.”

The beam of light was directed around the body, and the puddles of dried blood. Ryo nodded his head. “Too much blood for it to have been done this morning. And it doesn’t look like it’s been congealing very long. Whoever did this was in a hurry to get the job done.” The light flashed on the incision going down along the dead man’s abdomen. “Sloppy job comparing to the others, but that could be credited to our serial killer being in prison.”

“Looks like an amateur did it,” Dee stated. He took a long, deep breath, his hands on the swell. “God, I… I’m sorry, Ryo. I can’t stay here any….” Dee turned, putting a hand to his mouth.

Suddenly there was an arm around his waist and he was being lead to a nearby tree, being supported by whoever had a hold on him. He knew it was not Ryo, because the last glance he had of the older man, he looked shocked and confused on what to do.

“Got it, Ryo,” he heard Hernandez call out. The voice came from next to him, but Dee did not have any time to think more on it. He found himself by a tree, on his knees, bent forward and heaving his dinner up.

“Hey, someone get some water over here,” Hernandez order, and suddenly he felt someone kneel next to him.

When Dee was finished throwing up, he was still shaky. “Here, drink this,” Hernandez offered, holding out a bottle of water.

“I can’t,” Dee protested.

“You have to. Take a sip or two. Then we’re going to get you back to the car.

“I shouldn’t. I should be over there with Ryo, taking care of Gilbert….”

“You stubborn bastard,” Rose’s voice broke in, from above them.

Dee looked up to find the Commissioner with Diana, both of them staring down at Dee in concern.

“What’s the matter with you, Dee? You know better,” Rose asked.

“I’m sorry. But…” At the moment, Dee suddenly felt weak and vulnerable, and unable to hold in his emotions upon hearing what happened to his new friend. He looked up at the newcomers, tears forming in his eyes. “I had to, Berkeley. Gilbert is a friend… was a friend. I had to.” His words caught as he held back a sob.

“Ray, can you give me a hand with Dee?” Diana asked Hernandez. “Berks, Ray and I will take care of Dee, while you go tend to this situation. Dominic will be here shortly.”

“Of course,” Hernandez said. “Are you ready to get your sorry self out of sight, you big lug?” he asked the man still on his knees next to him. The concern on his face belied his words, but when Dee looked up at him, Hernandez got the response he hoped for.

“Asshole,” Dee muttered, but his eyes told Hernandez he was grateful for the relief. “You’ll never let me live this down, huh? But crap, yeah, I need some help.”

Hernandez grinned. “Of course.” He helped Dee to his feet. Once he was certain Dee would not go crashing down on him or get sick again, he started to guide the pregnant man toward the unmarked squad car Dee and Ryo had arrived in. “After all, I’m going to become the rookie cop who had to help a hero.”

“Fuck you, Ray,” Dee snorted.

Diana was on the other side of Dee, steadying him. She had laughed a little at the familiar banter between the two men. “Ray, stay with Dee. When he’s feeling up to it, go with him, because I know he won’t sit in the car or go home. Stubborn bastard.”

Once Dee was seated in the passenger side of the car, he looked up at Diana. “It was hard to leave when it was some random poor bastard, but tonight… it’s impossible.”

“I know, Dee,” Diana agreed. “So rest up, drink some water, and maybe Ray will allow you to join the canvas.”

Dee nodded. He looked over to the rookie cop, who held out the bottle of water, and some crackers he got from the backseat of the car. “You’ve become worse than your partner, dude. You even know where Ryo keeps the stash in the cars we use.”

Hernandez shrugged. “Self-protection. I learned not to spend much time around the upset pregnant man.”

“Bastard,” Dee muttered. He crunched on the cracker and leaned back in his seat. After he swallowed and had more water, he closed his eyes. “I really liked him. Very quickly I found a friend in him, you know. Ryo and I thought we found another male couple to hang out with. And with him having a baby, well, I thought that Koko would have a little friend to grow up with.” He shook his head. “Now…” He opened his eyes and peered out the windshield, looking for his husband.

He found Ryo conferring with the Commissioner and the ME, who had since arrived.

Dee knew the night would only get worse when they finally got home. At the moment, Ryo had a tight clamp on his emotions, being the professional. Which was well, because they had a job to do, a killer to find. When they finally will find themselves home, Ryo will need to grieve for his friend.

Assuming his emotions were not already locked beneath the surface.

He watched as Diana came over to join them, and Dominic was making his way across the parking lot toward them. He drank some more of the water, rubbing his bump.

“You okay, Dee?” Hernandez asked.

Dee took a deep breath. “Yeah. C’mon. I’m feeling better now. Let’s start going around and see what we can hear.”

The evening went by in a blur. At some point, Dee found himself consoling the grief-stricken mayor and Tony. The mayor and her almost son-in-law arrived at the scene once they heard the news.

It was after 1 am when Dee and Ryo finally arrived at their apartment. They found Bikky sitting in the living room with Carol. Bikky knew his dads were going to be upset, and wanted to let them know he was there for them. The couple sat with their son between them for a while, Carol sitting next to Dee after she made them some tea and a snack, insisting that they needed to eat.

Elena had contacted Ryo earlier in the day. She knew better than to pry her nephew for information just to get an exclusive, but she told him that Rick and her were covering the case on it, and planned to add it into their documentary.

Finally, the two men found themselves in their bed. They were exhausted, but neither one could sleep. Dee had long ago shed tears for Gilbert and the unborn baby. Ryo was still holding in his grief, but it was easy to see he was deeply disturbed by recent events by one look at his face.

Dee snuggled in Ryo’s arms, resting his head on Ryo’s shoulder. He softly kissed the warm skin near his mouth. “Talk to me, Ryo. Please.”

Ryo squeezed his eyes shut. “I can’t, Dee. I wish I could just forget about it, but I can’t do that either. I don’t want to forget Gilbert.”

“I know.”

“Richard had to have something to do with it. I’m going down to have a little talk with him. It’s not a coincidence that Gilbert was killed so shortly after his mother all but called Richard some type of nutcase.”

“I know.” Dee ran a finger softly along Ryo’s chest in an abstract pattern. “I can’t help but think that McFadden’s death is connected.”

“That too.” Ryo ran his fingers through Dee’s hair. He took a deep breath and said, “It was still in him.” He spoke low, his voice cracking.

“I heard,” Dee said, shivering a little.

“He was cut up like the MO, but the baby was not removed,” Ryo repeated.

“All our other victims were at least six months pregnant too. Which is why I believe Gilbert was killed in retaliation for something. We’re not looking for a copycat murderer. We’re looking for someone connected to Carriers Inc. that we don’t know about yet,” Dee concluded.

“I agree.” Ryo gazed down at Dee. His husband’s face was partially lit from the glow of city lights beyond the blinds. “How are you doing?”

“I’ll survive,” Dee stated. “But it’s going to take some time to get over this. I know I started to talk to him only recently, but I felt this connection… you know, the type when you know you have a good friend for a long time to come. After last night, I started to think of him like a younger brother.”

“Me too. I liked him a lot. Tony too. Oh my God, poor Tony,” Ryo moaned.

“He’s totally broken over this. He loves Gilbert so much. It was obvious during the time we spent with them. He would have asked Gilbert to marry him at some point in the future if there wasn’t a baby already.”

“I know. I think I want to see him at some point tomorrow. Unofficially. Just as a friend, offering support. Mayor Blum will be surrounded by people offering her comfort, but Tony… he probably doesn’t know where he stands now. He lost his fiancé and his baby today.”

“Just don’t overdo it, Dee. I know better than to stop you from going in with the rest of us in the morning, but I want you to slow down. Maybe take some of the day to be with Tony. Believe me when I say that we’re going to find this son of a bitch who did this.”

“I believe you.” Dee kissed Ryo’s shoulder again. “Are you okay?”

“I will be, once justice is served to the bastard who killed Gilbert.”

“Ryo, it’s okay, you know. I mean, to let it out.”

“I can’t, Dee. Not now. I can’t afford it. But I do have a favor to ask you, something that will help me forget for just a little while, and hopefully be able to get some sleep. It’s going to be a long day tomorrow. It might help you too.”

Dee sat up a little in the bed and leaned forward to kiss Ryo’s lips. “If it’s what I think you’re asking, that’s not a favor. That’s never a favor, and always a pleasure.” He ran his fingers down along the middle of Ryo’s chest. “I want it, too, Ryo. Make love to me. Please?”

Ryo sat up to take Dee in his arms. “Gladly.” Their mouths met for a deep kiss, while their hands slowly explored along familiar planes and curves of their bodies. They both knew it was going to be quick this time. Fast and hard and hopefully enough to help them fall off to sleep.

~+~ ~+~ ~+~

June 13, 2006

Despite the late night the day before, everyone arrived to work bright and early, eager to find Gilbert Blum’s killer. Eyes watched Dee during the briefing. They saw the usual composed detective, intent on finding out what he could to bring justice, but when they looked at his eyes, they could see they were red. Ryo seemed to bury his grief taking on an additional role other than being the catching detective for the case. He was looking out for Dee, knowing his husband was taking Gilbert’s death hard. He was watching for any additional signs of stress that could cause harm for Dee and the baby.

Right after the briefing, the first thing on their agenda was a press conference held right there at the 27th Precinct. The mayor and her family, all dressed in black joined them. The mayor and Dee were the key speakers during the press conference. They kept it short, releasing the official statement that Gilbert Blum was killed in the same style of Carriers Inc. Dee gave out a number to a hotline for anyone who had a potential lead, while the mayor pleaded for justice to come to whoever had killed her son, and offered a huge reward for information leading to the capture of the killer.

Dee and Ryo spent a few extra minutes after the press conference with the mayor. With heavy hearts, they accepted her invitation to the funeral. She was not sure when, because her son’s body was still being held for an autopsy. She had assured the ME that she was willing to wait for however long it took them, to do whatever they could if it could help find who did that to her son. She informed Dee and Ryo that she would be calling them once she had final arrangements, then assured Dee that once Gilbert was buried, they were still going to sit down and discuss steps to take and new laws to protect Carriers. The mayor broke down in Dee’s arms, saying she never wanted another parent to feel what she was.

After the mayor had gone, Dee and Ryo were going to the elevator when they noticed Dana walking toward them.

She ran up to Dee and Ryo, hugging them.

“What are you doing here?” Dee asked.

“I couldn’t stand it anymore. I was sitting there watching the news and I just couldn’t stay home. Jack agreed with me and let me come here. I already called the Commissioner and I’m rescinding my leave until another time.”

“Dana, you’re on baby leave,” Ryo protested.

“Not anymore. Besides, I’m not the one who just had a baby. Jack’s fine at home. My mother and his sister will be there to lend a hand while I’m working. This is important to us, guys. I need to be here helping in getting that son of a bitch behind bars,” she explained.

Dee put an arm around here. “I’m not going to argue with that. Come on, sweetheart. We all have a lot of work to do, and having you back will definitely relieve the load some.” Dee rolled his eyes as they got into the elevator. “Talk about high profile. It’s almost as if this bastard wants to be caught.”

Ryo’s eyes went wide. “Dee, what you just said.”

“Huh?”

“You might have a point. I’m going to angle this case in that direction and see what we come up with.”

“I think you both may be right,” Dana said, “but I also think our killer is going to milk the publicity for what it’s worth first.”

“Thank you, Dana,” Ryo stated with a wink. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

Back in the squad room, Ryo handed out assignments to the remaining members of the unit. Ted and Marty were already out, canvassing Fort Tryon Park and the surrounding area while the press conference went on. He also had Andy working with CSU and was also out at the crime scene. Ryo, Drake, JJ and Dana were going to head out to the park and join the others, expecting to also meet up with Diana’s team.

“Dee, you’re going to stay here,” Ryo instructed.

“What? I’m perfectly capable of knocking on doors and asking questions,” Dee protested.

“Not this time. Sorry, Dee. You need to take it easy anyway, but I also know you’re under extra stress because Gilbert was a good friend. I just don’t want you running around on your feet for hours at a time, and I don’t want to be worrying about you. Besides, someone needs to run the command center. We’re getting a few other detectives from Homicide to give us a hand. You’ll be fielding calls and coordinating from here, including sending the extra detectives out where you think we need them. You’ll also be the one to have to get warrants if we need. You heard the mayor. Contact her and she’ll make sure we get what we need. Also, you can pull anyone you think is needed from the uniform pool. The Commissioner stated that anything we need to find the killer, we got it. That’s all going to be on you.”

Dee rolled his eyes. “Yeah, I know what running the command center is, thank you. And that also means I’m going to be the one who will have to turn in the expense report when it’s over. Wonderful.”

“Try not to go crazy, but we don’t have a budget on this one. The mayor’s office will see to it,” Ryo stated.

“Alright, fine. Let’s not argue. We don’t have time for it,” Dee conceded.

He watched as Ryo put on his suit jacket, preparing to leave.

“One more thing,” Ryo added. “I’m going to send Ferguson and Hernandez up here. They offered to be go-fers for this.”

“Send them up. The more the merrier.” Dee went over to Ryo and lightly kissed him. “Now get out of here and catch that bastard.”

Ryo quickly returned the kiss and gave Dee a cheeky salute. “Yes sir.”

Dee snorted, and then chuckled as he watched Ryo leave with the others. He started to set things up for the command center when the two uniformed officers arrived.

“Just in time, boys,” Dee greeted. “I’m sure Ryo won’t be the only one having a cow if I was caught moving around the whiteboard, so if you would please?”

Hernandez laughed. “Sure thing, Dee. C’mon Sean and let’s hope he can make up his mind quickly on where he wants it.”

“Oh funny, Ray,” Dee commented. “Wait, Ray. Weren’t you on duty last night?”

“Overtime, which turned out to really be overtime, but I was scheduled duty this morning. Besides, you were there too.”

“Yeah well. Thanks.”

“Any time, Dee.”

~+~ ~+~ ~+~

Ryo sat in the squad car, dropping his head against the headrest and closed his eyes. If they were right about the killer wanting to be found, he did a good job at covering his tracks until he was ready to reveal himself. He opened his eyes and taking a sip of the now cold coffee he had in the car, and took note of the time. He needed to check in with Dee again. He doubted there would be anything breaking coming from Dee’s side, because he knew if Dee had come across anything he would not wait until Ryo called in. It was just standard procedure to report into the command center every hour, and he was glad of it. It kept him in touch with Dee without appearing as if he didn’t trust his husband. He did, and he knew Dee was most capable of the job. He just worried that Dee might push himself too much, even having Ferguson and Hernandez, who Ryo had learned to trust implicitly, around. Dee was never one who was good at listening to good advice, especially when he was caught up in the job. He decided he’d talk to Dee, advise for all of them to break for lunch, and then have everyone out there with him do the same. And then he would go get some decent coffee.

Dee picked up on the third ring. “Yes, Ryo. Any luck on your end?”

“No. If anyone saw anything, it was not someone living around here,” Ryo said with a heavy sigh.

“You have Drake and JJ looking into the areas Gilbert was supposed to be in, right?” Dee asked.

“Yeah. He left Tony’s at 10 am, his neighbors saw him come in around 11 and left shortly after. Supposedly he was going to run a few errands. He wasn’t expected to be at dinner with his family, so no one noticed he was missing,” Ryo recapped, his mind going over the facts in case he missed something.

“There was the call from that small record shop on Bleeker Street saying he was in the shop around 12. I haven’t heard anything after that.” Dee sighed in frustration. “I’m sure you’re right, that he was killed elsewhere and whoever killed him drove the car to the park.”

“And did a good job in being careful not to leave fingerprints. Andy said CSU is going to strip the car and look for anything to pick up DNA. It might take a while.”

“I know. How are you doing, Ryo?” Dee asked softly.

“Ready to bang my head into a friggin’ wall. What about you?”

“Same.”

“How are you holding up?”

“Okay. Working keeps me from thinking too much. It’s amazing how quickly we became friends,” Dee said sadly. “There was just something about him – so open and honest, it’s hard not to get attached to him.”

“Yeah, I know. I was thinking we found ourselves another couple with children that we could be friends with. You know, watch our children grow up together, having them come from the same environment. Now Gilbert and his baby….” Ryo stopped talking and roughly shook his head. “Sorry.”

“It’s okay. I have my moments too. It’s like I knew him more than just a week. Not counting seeing him in the news with his mother.”

“Yup. That’s Gilbert. I wonder how Tony’s doing? I mean, after he left the press conference,” Ryo mused. “After all, the mayor has all her people lending her support, and everyone is pretty much focused on her. But I wonder if Tony has anyone? The man just lost his family last night.”

“Yeah. He did. Want me to give him a call and see if he’s up to us coming around tonight?”

“Yeah. I’d like that. Please do call him, Dee. And let him know he can always come to us for anything. He’s a friend too, and it doesn’t have to end with Gilbert’s life.”

“Agreed. I’ll give him a call when we break for lunch.”

“Speaking of, that’s what I meant to tell you. I’m having everyone here take lunch in a few minutes. Why don’t you do the same over there? I’ll call you back in an hour and we can get back to the job.”

“Yeah okay. I’m not really hungry, but I know I should eat something. I’ll see if I can get someone to do a lunch run for us. I’ll take a break, but I want to stay close to the phones just in case.”

“Good. I’ll call you in an hour then. And try to eat something, Dee. I don’t need you passing out.”

“I won’t. I’ll eat something. Promise. Love you, Ryo.”

“I love you too, Dee. Bye.” Ryo disconnected the call and leaned back in his seat again. A few minutes later, he picked up the radio on the car and called everyone to join him at the Starbuck’s down the block.

~+~ ~+~ ~+~

Ryo let the phone ring again until it once again went to Dee’s voicemail. Frowning, he tried the office line again.

“What’s wrong, Ryo?” JJ asked. He was sitting in the car with Ryo.

“I’m trying to call Dee and let him know we’re all getting back to work.” Ryo dialed the number to the phone in the squad room, but no one answered. “What the hell?”

“What?”

“He’s not picking up. Not his cell, not the office phones. Where is he?”

“Maybe they all went out to lunch and he forgot his cell phone? That wouldn’t be the first time with Dee, you know.”

“At least I know his battery was charged when we left this morning.” Ryo sighed. He dialed another number. “Crap, Sean’s not answering. I’m going to try Ray’s number.” On the second ring, the line picked up.

“Ryo, what’s up?” Hernandez greeted.

“Ray, where are you?”

“We all went to lunch. We’re on our way back to the house now. Why?”

“Is Dee with you?”

“No. He sent us all out. He said he wanted to lay down a bit, and be around if the phones ring there.”

“Well, no one is answering. He’s not even answering his cell.”

“Maybe he went to the men’s room?” Hernandez suggested.

“Maybe.”

“Look Ryo, we’re almost there. As soon as we get there, I’ll grab him and tell him that he better call you.”

“Great. Thanks. We’re heading out again. Some of us are changing locations, try the areas where the mayor’s son was last seen.”

“Okay. Just relax, Ryo. Deep breathes. And in a few minutes you’ll be getting a call from your husband. Okay?”

“Yeah. Thanks, Ray.”

“Later Ryo.”

Ryo stared at the phone, frowning.

“What did he say?”

“They all went out to lunch except for Dee, but they’re almost there, so he’ll make Dee call me.”

“So we’re good,” JJ said, in hopes to lighten Ryo’s mood.

“I think.” Ryo turned to look at JJ. “I don’t know. I can’t help getting this bad feeling.”

~+~ ~+~ ~+~

Dee looked up when he heard the door to the squad room open and close. “Who’s there?” he called out.

“Sean.” The police officer appeared in the doorway to their office. “I told the others that instead of making you wait until they got back, I’d get ours to go and bring it back for you.”

Dee struggled to sit up. He looked a little embarrassed as Ferguson watched. “I’ll be glad when I finally get my body back,” he joked. He took a deep breath, rubbing the baby swell. “But thanks. Now that I’m smelling it, I’m starving.”

“Yeah, no problem Dee.”

Ferguson set the food down on Dee’s desk.

“You want some tea or coffee?” Dee asked, going over to the hot water heater.

“I’m fine, Dee.”

When Dee’s back was turned, Ferguson went over to the door leading to the corridor and made sure it was locked from the inside. He looked over to find the detective putting sugar in his cup, still dunking the tea bag in his mug.

Sean went over to the door that led into the squad room and closed it, also making sure it was locked.

“You know my sister died,” he said to Dee.

Dee stopped making his tea and turned around, horrified at hearing the news from his friend. “Oh God, Sean. When?” His eyes went wide. “Sean? What’s going on?”

“Put the cup down, Dee and sit down at your desk.”

Dee’s eyes went to the gun Ferguson held, aimed at him. “What’s this?” he asked.

“Don’t make you shoot me, Dee. It’s not in my plan to shoot you. Now sit the fuck down, and I’ll tell you all about my sister. Taylor.”

Dee’s eyes got wider. His eyes flashed when he made the connection. “Sean. No. Come on. This is a joke, right? Well, it’s not a good joke, ‘cause I’m about to crap my pants here.”

“Good. You’re showing fear. I like it when they show fear. Of course, you had to make sure that George was put away, but he showed me things, Dee. Now sit down. There’s no fun in shooting you, but I will if I have to.”

Dee took a deep breath as he turned, starting to place his mug down. Suddenly he flung it at Ferguson, managing to hit the man in the face with the hot tea.

Ferguson dropped his gun as his hands went up to his face. “You bastard!” he cried out as Dee made a dash for the door. He had his hand on the doorknob and fumbled with shaking fingers with the lock. He was scared and he tried to steady himself. If it was just him, he knew he probably would not be so shaken, but there was the baby to think about. And his nerves from the situation were already starting to work to his disadvantage. Still, he had to try. If he could get out into the corridor, all he would need is one good yell and the area would be swarming with detectives and uniforms who were assisting other units.

Unfortunately Ferguson recovered quickly as he felt a hand go around his mouth, and an arm pull him away from the door.

He bit the hand and tried to kick from behind. “Let me go!” he snarled, trying to shake his attacker off.

“I don’t think so, Dee.” He was hit on the back of his head, making his vision blur for a moment and his head started to swim.

Ferguson took advantage of the moment and dragged Dee over to his desk, dropping him in his chair. He hit Dee again, which gave him the chance to pull out the gag he tied around Dee’s mouth. He used his handcuffs to secure Dee to the chair by one hand. Dee tried to get up, and pull the chair when the police officer reached behind him to pull an extra set of handcuff. Ferguson hit Dee across his face, and cuffed his other hand to the chair.

Dee felt blood trickle from his nose and he tried to shake off the swimming feeling. He felt like he was going to be sick. Managing to focus on the man before him, he noticed Ferguson had his gun again and had it aimed at Dee.

“You’ll never get away from this,” Dee warned him, his voice muffled from the gag.

“No. I don’t suppose I will. But then again, neither will you. ‘Cause you’ll be dead before they get to me.” He leaned against Dee’s desk. “Now, let me tell you a story. At least I’m decent enough to let you know why you’re going to die.”

“Because you’re as sick as those other bastards we put away. That’s why.”

“Still feisty, aren’t you? You sound funny like that.” Ferguson crooned. “Enjoy it while you still can. You’re pretty good at that. Do you play sick games like this with him? With your pretty boy? Oh wait, it’s different now. You’re his bitch, aren’t you? Yeah, you’re the sub now. That’s why you’re so good talking through that. That’s okay, as long as you can’t yell and bring attention to us too soon.”

He paused as the Dee’s cell phone started to ring. Ferguson looked down at Dee’s desk, and picking it up, he flipped the phone open and lowered the ringer. “It’s your husband,” he said to Dee. “Let him think you went to the head or something.” He dropped the phone on the desk, his attention going back to Dee.

“Now, you guessed right. McFadden was her married name. Taylor’s birth name was Ferguson. She was my older sister. You know her story, of what sent her off the edge to create Carriers Inc. Now you get to hear the rest of the story.” He reached into his pocket with his free hand and pulled out a surgical scalpel. Staring at it, he continued. “Taylor was my older sister. Our parents died when I was 10, but she was old enough to take me in, raise her. She sacrificed for me to make it. She worked long hours to put me through school, made sure there was food for me to eat, even if sometimes she didn’t eat herself. She made sure I had clothes on my back. She did everything.”

The phones on Dee and Ryo’s desks started to ring. “That must be him again. Persistent asshole, isn’t he?” Ferguson said. “We’ll just have to deal. Now listen closely over this noise.”

Ferguson put his gun down and leaned closer to Dee. Using the scalpel, he cut one of the buttons of Dee’s shirt off. “I owe her much. Even my life. You see, when I was finally on my own, she was able to concentrate on her life again. She married. And she wanted children. Desperately wanted children. But for years it never happened. When she finally got the nerve to get herself checked out, they told her she was sterile. Seems she was anorexic, going back to when she was caring for me. All those times of not having a meal herself, and then she just hardly ate. It was my fault that she couldn’t have the family she wanted. It was my secret that I was able to have a family myself. But I choose not to. I couldn’t do that to my sister. Then her bastard of a cheating husband decided to deliver the ultimate insult to her. He got himself pregnant. By another man. She couldn’t handle it. And I didn’t blame her. They say there was an accomplice with her husband’s murder, and they were right. Bless my sister for still looking out for me. For not mentioning me at all. I helped her, Dee. I helped kill her husband. It was easy. I was a cop by then. I knew the ins and outs, and was able to help her kill him without leaving any leads. I helped her form Carriers Inc. George was a master at carving up bodies, but I knew some tricks so it would never lead to him.”

The phones had stopped ringing while he spoke and the ones in the squad room started to ring. The rings were lower because of the closed door between the office and the squad room. He shrugged. “No one will be back yet. They’ll still be eating. He’ll get tired of calling, I’m sure.” He looked at Dee. “Oh, he might work out something is wrong, but it’s too late. No matter how I’ll have to do it, you’ll be dead before someone gets through one of those doors.”

Ferguson gave Dee a chilling smile. “We traded secrets, you can say.” He cut another button off Dee’s shirt, moving the material aside with the blade. “I’m not as neat as George, nor do I have the time to do this right. But still, I intend to draw this out as much as I dare. And no need to worry – I don’t use drugs. No need for them.” He slashed the blade along the rest of Dee’s cotton shirt. His skin was scraped, but not cut, while his shirt was ruined. Once again using the blade, he pushed each side of the shirt away until Dee’s bare protruding belly was exposed. He lightly traced an abstract pattern along the flesh. “You are to feel everything.” His smile turned sinister. “I see this baby is as obnoxious as her father. She’s putting up a good fight in there. I wonder how long she’ll fight once I take her out until she dies. I wonder if it will be before or after you do.”

“Don’t…” Dee found himself pleading. His breath caught and he could feel his heart hammering. He felt the baby kicking, as if she knew there was danger and was trying to find a way out.

“My sister died in prison, Dee. She died because of what she did. Criminals decided to take justice into their own hands and killed her for her crimes to babies. Correction officers who looked the other way or assisted in making sure she was killed. She has to be avenged. The public must know what her death had caused. So… the two most public pregnant figures must die. Well, one of them is already dead. It was easy getting Gilbert to trust me. He saw me around here, considered I was one of the good guys and offered me a lift. That was his mistake. Just as it was yours. I really did like you once, Dee. It’s a shame you had to go and get yourself knocked up. It’s also a shame that you contributed to my sister’s death. For that, you and your baby will die. And Ryo will live with that for the rest of his life.”

Tears started to leak from Dee’s eyes. He wasn’t worried for himself. It was the thought of his unborn baby dying that undid him. And thinking of Ryo, learning that he lost both his husband and child. His family, as he said earlier, when Ryo was talking about Tony.

Oh God, no… please. For Ryo and Koko’s sake. If nothing else, let Koko live….

Ferguson ran the scalpel down the middle of Dee’s stomach. It drew blood, but did not cut deep yet. He moved the blade in the opposite direction, again making it bleed along the cut, but still not cutting deep.

Licking his lips, he stared into Dee’s eyes. “And now, Dee Laytner, it’s time.”

Dee felt the pressure on the blade as Ferguson positioned the blade at the intersection where the two cuts crossed.

He found himself trying to scream, having to try to stop the crazed man with him, even knowing it wouldn’t work. His scream came out as a muffled sound. He twisted in the chair, trying to get the blade away.

“Stop it!” Ferguson roared, slapping Dee across his face. “Stay still. Or move if you must. You’ll discover it’ll be easier to just let me work because it’ll be more painful if you cause me to make jagged slices.”

Dee fought to keep himself from passing out. He couldn’t. If he did, then it would be all over. He probably would never wake again. And Ryo will find both him and their daughter dead.

He had to stay awake and figure out a way to stop him.