Part Two

Charlie had been vague about the case, Nick remembered as he opened the file. 
Now, maybe he could get a handle on Parker.  The first thing that caught his
eye was Parker's age: 15.  That meant he was unusually young for this type of
crime.  Almost always, serial killers were between 20-35 years old.  It also
meant he was smart.  He read on.  There were eight murders, each more
vicious then the next.  He saw how Natalie had found the most minute pieces
of evidence that had helped the team nail Parker.  If she had been less
thorough, it would have taken much longer to find him, and he could have
gotten off.  He began to understand Parker's anger.

He looked up to watch Natalie as she frowned over her reports.  He just
stared, lost in the warmth of her presence.  She looked up, caught his eyes, and
smiled.  "Done already?" she asked.  "Yeah, there's nothing here.  You?" he
replied.  "Nada.  I can't find anything that we didn't rule out before.  Wherever
the answer is, it's not in these.' she said in disgust, as she tossed the files done. 
"Tracy, you find anything?"  Nat asked.  Tracy looked up, a lost look on her
face.  "I don't understand a quarter of this stuff," she complained.  "He's just
too sophisticated for me.  We need an expert to look at these."

"I might know someone who could help," Nick offered.  Natalie looked at him
sharply.  She had a good idea of who he meant, and wasn't sure it was a good
idea.  Tracy rubbed her eyes and said "Guys?  I'm gonna head out.  I need to
check on some things.  I'll check back in a few hours."  Tracy headed for the
elevator, Natalie's soft, " Thanks, Trace." drifting after her.  Natalie turned and
looked thoughtfully at Nick.  "Just whom were you planning to call, as if I
didn't know," she asked.  "Natalie," Nick said, concern tingeing his voice. 
"Aristotle is the best and if anyone can make sense of Parker's finances, it's
him.  The community owes you, and I can't think of a better time to collect. 
Can you?"  She looked at him for a moment longer, then sighed.  He was right. 
If anyone could trace Parker's money, it was Aristotle.  She wasn't prepared to
refuse anyone's help.  She sighed again and said, "You're right, Nick.  I just
hate this."  Nick took out his phone and prepared to dial."  I'll call him now,
then how about some videos?"  She smiled and nodded yes as she rested her
head on the back of the sofa.  The familiar activity might help her relax and
forget, for awhile, that someone was trying to kill her.

The next few days were excruciating for her.  They stayed in the loft, except
for a couple of quick trips, one to her apartment for some clothes and to the
store, since he didn't have much to eat in the loft.  They heard nothing from
Aristotle, and the team was getting nowhere.  She was grateful there were no
new bodies, but she knew that wouldn't last.  Natalie was bored.  Not a little
bored, but big time bored.  She needed to get out for a few hours.  The idea of
hiding from Parker made her crazy.  She couldn't stay cooped up here any
longer.  The problem was, it was daylight.  Nick had to stay in, but she couldn't
stand one more minute in the loft.  Then she thought of Tracy.  Reese said she
had to stay with Nick or Tracy.  She smiled and reached for the phone.   

Nick woke with a start.  He listened and heard nothing.  Natalie wasn't here! 
He flew downstairs and looked around wildly.  The sun was up so he couldn't
leave.  Then he saw the note.  He snatched it up and quickly scanned it.  He
sighed in relief.  Natalie had called Tracy.  She needed a break, so they'd gone
out.  They would be back before sunset.  He glanced at the clock and sighed
again. 
 
Natalie and Tracy were headed to the car.  Each carried several bags.  "This
was a great idea, Nat," Tracy said, happily.  "Yeah, well, I had a great time
too, but why did I let you talk me into buying some of this stuff?"  She
motioned with the bags, smiling. 
 
Tracy shifted her bags and unlocked the car door.  As she opened it, She felt
something hard jab her in the ribs.  "Oh sh*t" she whispered, her eyes widening
as she recognized Parker.  "Hello detective, doctor.  Why don't you both come
with me, or else I might just have to shoot you now." he said as he pressed the
gun harder into Tracy's ribs.  Tracy glanced at Nat and saw the frozen
expression on her face.  Parker motioned with his head, to a van parked just in
front of the car.  They climbed in the side door, which he slid shut and locked. 
He had them sit on the floor and he tied their hands behind their backs.  "I've
waited so long for this moment, Natalie," he whispered, as he stroked her hair. 
Natalie shuddered at his touch and tried to pull away, but he grabbed her neck
in a fierce hold. 

"You're afraid.  Good.  I like that."  His grip tightened and he could see the
pain in her eyes.  He released her with a hard shove, causing her to fall over
and hit her head on the side of the van.  He reached into a small bag and pulled
out a cloth and a bottle.  "It will be easier if you both sleep," he remarked, as
he wet the cloth from the bottle and pressed it over Tracy's nose.  She felt
consciousness slip away... 
 
"I'm worried, Joe," Nick said, his voice full of anxiety.  "Nat said they'd be
back by sunset, and they're not here yet."  "Nick, just stay calm.  I'll put out an
APB on Tracy's car.  It <could> be nothing.  You stay there and I'll call you
the minute I hear anything."  Nick hung up the phone and began to pace.  He
knew something was wrong.  He knew it!  He could feel it. 
 
Natalie awoke slowly, with a rotten headache and a sticky feeling on the side
of her face.  She could still smell the chloroform that Parker had used.  She
groaned softly and tried to sit up, realizing that her hand were free.  She
blinked as she tried to clear her eyes, and looked around.  Tracy lay on the
floor near her, out cold.  She gingerly touched her head and winced.  She
pulled her hand away and saw blood on it.  Just then, Tracy coughed and her
eyes opened.  She looked blearily at Nat for a moment, then asked, "What
happened to you?"  "Must have cut my head when he pushed me," Nat replied,
grimacing slightly.  They stared at one another for a moment, as the reality of
the situation sank in. 
 
He watched the monitor as the two women began to examine their prison, and
smiled.  The only way out was the door, and it was locked. 
 

Nick jumped at the sound of the buzzer.  He walked over to the monitor and
saw Reese.  He let him in, a cold chill settling around his heart.  He watched as 
Reese slowly left the elevator and walked towards him.  "We found Tracy's
car. 
We don't know where they are."  They just stared at one another.  They both
knew that Parker had them.  Nick turned away as his heart began to break. 
The thought that he might lose Natalie filled him with despair.  If she died, he
would meet the sunrise.  There would be no point in going on. 

For two days, nothing happened.  He roamed the city looking for some sign of
them, of her.  There was no word from Aristotle and that surprised him.  He
suppressed the urge to call him again.  Aristotle hadn't been pleased with his
interruptions.  Parker was more devious then anyone had thought if Aristotle
was having this much trouble.  Nick ran his hand through his hair for the
thousandth time.  He felt he was slowly going mad.  He couldn't sleep; she was
there, in his dreams.  He couldn't eat.  Thoughts of Natalie in Parker's hands
assaulted him.  He prayed to the god that he had turned his back on that she
would be all right.

Joe Reese slowly hung up the phone.  Another body.  Thank God it wasn't
Natalie or Tracy.  Yet.  He looked up and saw Nick in the doorway.  Nick
looked paler than normal, and his eyes were haunted.  "I heard they found
another one," he said flatly.  "Yeah," Reese said.  "Identical to his third one,
from before.  He's copycatting himself."  Nick took a seat and swallowed. 
Then he whispered, "What did the note say?"  "There was no note, just an
envelope containing a gold heart pendant."  Nick closed his eyes in pain.  He
had given it to her.

Tracy watched Natalie sleep.  She struggled to hold back tears as she
considered her friend's condition.  Parker had repeatedly beaten her.  He took
pleasure in causing pain, but somehow, it wasn't satisfying him this time. 
Natalie wasn't living up to his dreams.  She wouldn't give him what he wanted. 
He'd come close to killing her last time, but had stopped.  Whatever he needed,
he wasn't getting from Natalie, and Tracy could see it was driving him nuts. 
He just didn't seem to know what to do about it.

Tracy looked up at the sound of the door opening.  She could see him trying to
hide his delight as he entered.  The look on his face scared her.  "Wake her," he
ordered, curtly.  "No" Tracy said, quietly.  He smiled slightly.  "Either you
wake her, or I will.  And I promise you, <She'll > regret it."  She moved next
to Natalie and said gently,  "Nat, you have to get up now" shaking her slightly. 
Nat groaned and her eyes popped open, turning to the door.  Parker grinned at
them as he said, " Here's today's paper.  I think the headline might interest
you."  He tossed the paper on the floor and left.

They looked at one another for a moment, then Nat reached out with a shaking
hand to the paper, but Tracy was faster.  She opened the paper and blanched. 
Nick's face stared out at her, under the headline, 'Homicide cop dies in fire'. 
Involuntarily, she looked at Nat, her eyes anguished.

Natalie saw the look on Tracy's face and knew.  Somehow Nick was dead. 
"How?" was all she could ask.  "In a fire, trying to save kids."  That was Nick,
she thought numbly.  Natalie laid back down and closed her eyes.  She was
dead, and she knew it.  It couldn't be soon enough for her.

Tracy saw the light go out of Natalie's eyes.  She had given up.  Tracy couldn't
help it, she cried.

Finally, Aristotle got in touch.  It had taken him too long, but he had managed
to track down all of the property Parker owned in Toronto.  There were six
buildings.  He had even come up with complete blueprints for all the buildings. 
Nick, Reese and the rest of the team poured over them, trying to decide which
one was the most likely place to start.  They were still arguing hours later when
Nick's phone rang.  "Knight, Homicide," he answered, distractedly. 
"Detective Knight?  I think I have some information for you," said a hesitant
voice.  "What information?" Nick asked.  "Well, I run a print shop, I do special
orders.  Yesterday a guy had me run a fake newspaper headline.  That's not
real odd and I didn't think anything more about it till I saw your name in
today's paper.  About that kidnapping," The voice trailed off. 

"Oh?" Nick replied, totally focused on the caller.  "Yeah, well, this guy, Mike 
Park, had me print up a headline saying you had died in a fire."  Nick sat
stunned.  "Where are you and when, exactly did he come in and did you see his
car?" Nick asked in a toneless voice.  Reese looked up as he heard Nick's voice
change.  He saw the expression on his face and grew concerned.  "Thank you." 
Nick said as he hung up the phone.

Nick looked at Reese, his eyes anguished.  "That was a printer.  Parker had a
fake paper printed saying I was dead." he whispered.  Reese knew what Parker
was doing.  He hoped Natalie was able to see through it.  Nick's eyes fell to the
blueprints.  The printer had said Parker had walked.  That meant he was
nearby. 
Parker wouldn't risk leaving them alone for too long.  "Joe, we got him!  He
made a mistake.  He walked to the shop and two of his buildings are nearby,
but only one of them meets his needs."  Reese saw the hope flare in Nick's
eyes, and prayed that they weren't too late. 

He was furious.  She had slipped away from him.  She no longer cared to live. 
No matter what he did to her, there was no reaction.  Absolutely limp.  It
drove him insane.  Somehow he would make her scream.  There < had > to be
a way.

Tracy knew she couldn't wait any longer; Natalie couldn't take much more. 
Not that she complained.  She didn't say anything.  Since the paper, Nat didn't
seem to be there anymore.  Tracy didn't believe the paper.  She couldn't.  She
wouldn't.

Nick and Reese drove to the building, a large team of police and medical
personnel right behind them.  This had to go smoothly; one mistake and Natalie
and Tracy could both die, if they weren't already dead.  They stopped a block
away and quietly surrounded the building.

Tracy could hear him coming.  She was ready.  Her body tensed as the door
began to open.  As soon as she saw him, she leapt, hitting him squarely in the
chest, driving him back into the wall.  They hit heavily and fell, stunned to the
floor.

Nick and Reese lead the way into the building.  Moving quickly, they headed
to the area they had thought Parker was holding them.  Parker recovered first
and began to punch.  Tracy fought back.  Parker began to falter.  He got in a
shot to Tracy's stomach, allowing him to scramble back and pull his gun.

Nick heard the struggle and started to run.  He turned a corner and saw Tracy
on her knees, blood running down her face, and Parker, aiming a gun at her. 
Nick was on him instantly, throwing Parker, hard, into the wall.  Nick's eyes
burned a brilliant yellow, filled with the need to kill.

Reese turned the corner and saw the rage on Nick's face.  "NO!  Nick, don't
kill him!"  He prayed Nick would listen.

Nick heard Reese from a distance.  He wanted to ignore him, but he couldn't. 
They were Nat's words as well.  He gave Parker one final violent shake and
threw him to the floor as he turned and ran through the door behind him.

As he raced into the room, he faltered.  He couldn't believe how bad she
looked.  She was so bruised and battered, he almost didn't recognize her.  He
fell to his knees next to her and softly called her name.  He lightly touched her
cheek and called her again.  She didn't stir.  He knew she wasn't unconscious,
her heartbeat told him that.  He had no idea what to do.  "Natalie?" he let his
fear enter his voice, hoping to reach her somehow.

She heard someone calling her name.  It was his voice.  She moved to it, drawn
by the fear in it.  "Nick?" she barely whispered, her voice having no strength. 
"It's me, Nat. It's Nick," he said, a trace of relief in his voice.  A ghost of a
smile touched her lips as she slid into the darkness.

Natalie slowly returned to consciousness.  She knew she was in a hospital.  She
really didn't want to open her eyes, her head hurt so, but she needed to know if
she had been dreaming when she heard Nicks voice.  She forced her eyes to
open and looked around.  And then she saw him; slumped in a chair at her side,
asleep.  Silent tears began to run down her face as she drank in the sight of
him.  He was alive. 

Nick started awake.  He saw Natalie looking at him, tears streaming down her
face.  He reached out and took her hand.  "Natalie," he whispered, his voice
choked with emotion.  "It's over," he said as he gently wiped the tears from her
face.

She just stared at him.  His touch filled her with such peace.  "I love you,  
Nick" she said.  "I love you, Nat, now and forever."  She smiled and drifted
back to sleep.

Tracy quietly entered Nat's room, still shocked at the sight of her.  In the three
days Nat had been in the hospital, her bruises had faded only slightly. 
She noticed the smile on her face and the matching one on Nick's.  "Nick?" she
called softly, not wanting to disturb Natalie.  Nick looked up, his smile
widening.  "She was awake, Tracy, She's back," he said, remembering what
Tracy had told him about Nat's reaction to the news of his death.  Tracy smiled
with relief and gingerly lowered herself into a chair.

"How are you doing, Trace?" Nick asked, concerned.  He could feel the guilt
in her.  It was a feeling he knew all too well.  "The doctors say I can go home,"
she replied flatly.  "Tracy, it wasn't your fault.  Nothing you could have done
would have stopped Parker.  In fact, you're being there kept her alive.  If you
hadn't attacked him when you did, he would have killed her."  He got up and
pulled Tracy into a hug.  "Thank you," he whispered.  Tracy stiffened a
moment, then relaxed, letting her tears fall.  He held her, letting her feel his
gratitude.

The end