A/N: Jenkins & Dick ^^^
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POV RILEY:

I continue to check my phone every time the damn thing vibrates. Hal told me Samuel Pilocke would call me when the son of a bitch is ready. Mabel should have given him my phone number if that's the case. But seeing how he was so reluctant to even open up about the events ten years ago, he probably won't call. Doesn't mean I can't stop hoping though.

Hal taps away at his desk with the tip of his pen. The irritating noise catches my attention after a while. I glare at him but he's focused on the computer and some file he's been holding onto all day. I'm curious and charmed at the different behavior. I was expecting him to be counting the tiled flooring or something because of how much he claimed to "hate desk work."

My phone vibrates again and I turn it on from sleep mode. Just a text message from my mother.

Anok, there's a serial killer in your city? It made national news. Why did you not tell your father and me? I know you are working on it. Don't ignore my text. I want to know if you are doing well.

I press the bridge of my nose with two fingers and close my eyes. I'm surprised they didn't hear about it a week ago. I know they check the local news from online. They probably didn't bother to ask me until now. I decide to not reply to the text. My father is an investigator; he can tell her all the details she skimmed over the news.

"It can't be any other pattern..." I hear Hal mutter out loud. My gaze examines him from top to bottom. He looks more handsome while he's like this, reminding me of the time when I first met him. The stubble needs some trimming because it's growing patchier around the light skin. His one hand types away at the keyboard.... I should go back to work.

Before I can make that decision, George comes bursting in through the door."We got to go now," pants George. Without question, Hal and I hurry out of our seat to follow George and Lucia who was waiting in the hall. We take George's car this time to wherever he's taking us.

He finally informs us in the car, "Our guys lost sight of Kevin Baker."

My eyes widen and I frown, "What? He knows the Hangman is after him. Why is he putting himself in danger?" I remember having four officers watching over him when Kevin was released from the hospital. He should feel safe. Hal speaks up, "How long has he been away?"

"Two hours."

I grit my teeth, "Why. were. we. not. informed. sooner?"

Lucia answers this time, "They reported that they were looking for him for that long." She looks over her shoulder from the front passenger side.

I lean my head back against the low head rest. I fear the body count will increase once more. I glance at Hal to discover him agitated; his jaw tightens a few times. I move closer to him, feeling the belt be pulled further by me. I whisper, "Hey, you okay?" He did take his pain killers this morning right?

Hal turns his attention to me. He relaxes and nods, "Yah... I'm good." I stare him down for a couple of seconds to see if I can get him to spit out whatever is bothering him. I hate it when people blatantly hold back whatever is on their mind. I drop the issue for Hal though, returning to my original spot. He'll tell me later if it's very important.

We make it to a construction zone, south of where Kevin was staying. Jenkins is already at the entrance, waiting. The four of us rush over. "What's the situation?" asks George.

Jenkins takes his fingers through his neatly combed hair. He sighs, "Dick's working on trying to persuade the kid to not commit suicide. I believe he's on Daze."

Hal asks what I was about to say, "And the Hangman?"

"We're looking for him high and low for him right now."

Our group hustle to the fourth floor of the half-made building. Tools and extra equipment lie around; someone should complain about safety problems with all this stuff out in the open. Steel bars are stacked in flat areas and crates are all around. I spy Dick up ahead and further ahead, across a huge gap, is Kevin Baker.

"Now, Kevin. Let's calm down here! Take the noose off around your neck and move away from the edge!" shouts Dick.

Kevin's rope is tied to a steel beam that's half off the edge from the floor above. How does the Hangman have all that time to prepare this shit, really? My only guess is drug influence aids his schemes. But from Kevin's freshly beaten up state, he didn't ingest the pills without a fight. What is Daze exactly, to be this persuasive over someone who was defiant previously? Just using the drug on anyone can turn them into a melancholy mess.

Kevin cries out, "S-She died because of me! Because I-I am some plague that will continue- to- to harm people!"

Dick turns to us with a hopeless expression, "He's been talking about this shit over and over like some mantra. Damnit J, you know I'm not good with this bullshit." His partner shakes his head and pats the guy's back. The two are my seniors when I first started being an investigator, five years ago. They've always been partners since I first met them.

"I got the Calvary, Dick. No worries. Leave it to them," says Jenkins. The gruff detective sighs and sides step for us to approach.

"Kevin!" George shouts, "Come here and talk with us!"

Kevin yells back, "H-he told me you guys- you assholes w-would say that! It-it's your fault! I shoul-ld have stayed and r-rotted in the slammer! You- you guys let me g-go too e-easily!" Kevin is talking about how long he stayed in prison; if I remember correctly, it wasn't very long with his crime of reckless involuntary manslaughter. I think back to what he said during our hospital visit.

I yell, "You told me you don't want to go back there! Why are you set on returning? The man who told you these things doesn't care what you've done." All his victims, the Hangman did not care. They all happened to have committed crimes in the same year- same month. I've come to the conclusion that October, whatever was Pilocke and the Jackson brother's crime, is the true key to why these deaths are happening.

"H-he does! Macy wouldn't have d-died if-" So his girlfriend's name is Macy.

"If what?! The past is the past! No matter what you have done, either you regret it or don't, you have to accept that it happened! You can't change it! You live, not for those who can't, but to learn from your mistakes and help those who are still alive! Dying will only be for yourself, not for your girlfriend!" Boy, I can yell but not for that long. I could see what I said is turning the wheels in Kevin's head. Can reason break the effects of the Daze on a healing man?

Kevin turns his gaze down and sobs softly. His shoulders shake and his grip on the noose around his neck slackens. Hal shouts one more thing, "Come here and talk to us, kid! We'll listen!" I probably wouldn't but I know Hal's the type that would.

Kevin looks back at us with tear stained eyes, similar to the ones he had back when we first met him. He nods his head slowly but before he can step back a loud crack echoes. Kevin let's out a pained cry and falls forward. His body halts midair and swings on the rope tied to his neck. His one leg kicks in the air and his hands grip around the rope above enough for him to not be strangulated by the noose; the drop is too short and we have time!

We all fall into slight shock for a millisecond then Jenkins is the one who gets us into action again. He commands, "Sniper! Everyone take cover! Someone get Baker!"

Dick pulls out a police radio, "I need men searching on the business building across the street and the hotel next to it!"

Hal and I begin to race around the building to hurry over to where Kevin is. I don't know if we can reach Kevin in time but the man's fighting to stay alive! I sprint like my life depends on it, leaving Hal who's trying to keep up without hurting himself.

I dash around the pillar and see Kevin's form slowly give up to the strangulation. I push my legs further to reach him. The rope hangs a few feet away away from me. I can't get him without him reaching over to me. "Hold on longer, Kevin! We'll get you!" I tell him.

"Riley! I found rope!" Hal calls over to me. I glance at him to see him tying a rope that's wrapped around a pillar to the his waist. He runs over to me. I can only guess what he's trying to do. I grip tightly on his shirt before I reach over to Kevin who's veins are popping out of his lightly built arm. "You got this?" I ask  Hal, nervously looking over my shoulder.

"J-just do it!" Hal struggles. His good arm is gripped tightly on the rope to support us. I let my body lean out further, one foot half in one foot out; I'm so damn close to Kevin!

"Kevin, I need you to either swing a bit towards me, if you can or reach over to me with one hand," I say hurriedly. His narrow watery eyes look over to me. One hand shakily leaves the rope and I pull on it right away. Kevin's body swings towards me and the guy's other hand gives away to the rope above. He lets out a choked noise.

I get him close enough to wrap my arm around his waist. "Hal!!!" I yell over my shoulder.

"Graaaah!!!" I'm pulled back forcefully with Kevin in one arm. Kevin's rope makes us not fall backwards, still choking the living shit out of him. Hal now has his arm wrapped around me to make sure we don't fall forward, back into the gap. We balance enough to not go tumbling anywhere. The rope slackens on Kevin's neck but no response from him puts me on edge.

"Kevin- hey now, you better not die on me after I saved your ass, man!" His body is heavy weight leaned against me. I have arms hooked under his so he doesn't slip away from me.

"Riley! Hal! You two are insane!" yells George from behind. Lucia appears with a pocket knife and cuts off the rope attached to Kevin. She helps be drag him away from the edge. She checks for his breathing. "It's really small but it's there. We need an ambulance right away," she says. George is already on the task.

I fall to my knees and Hal sits on the floor panting hard. His good arm rubs his side. "That went well better than I thought," he grins. I roll my eyes as I get closer to untie the rope around his waist. My hands are trembling from the adrenaline rush. I joke, "You have a secret specialty at tying rope with one limb?"

"Hah, you should see me tie cherry stems with my tongue then."

I huff out a short laugh before helping him up to his feet. My partner groans in pain and I hold him before he collapses to the ground again. Hal grits his teeth, "Damn, I hurt all over."

"Your painkillers?"

"In the office- ow..."

With one hand on the small of his back, I use the other to remove his hand from his side. I hope his injuries didn't grow worse from that ridiculous stunt. His doctor told me not to push him too hard. I frown, "Maybe you should get yourself checked up just in case." I didn't want him to worsen because of me. Again.

"And get an hour long lecture from Sofia and the doc? Hah. No thank you."

The stretcher for Kevin shows up seconds later. Hal and I watch them carry Kevin out. Even when he says he's let go, he still is holding onto some guilt that came up with the help of the Daze. He's fighting though; him having enough strength, mentally and physically to survive through, shows his will to live. If it weren't for that, the Hangman's body count would have increased.

Hal sighs, "His bacon is saved, again." I glare at him knowing what he was intentionally trying to say. My partner only returns a lopsided grin.

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A/N: Vote & Comment ❤️
I had fun writing this chapter a lot and wondered how the hell I was going to play it all out. All it takes is trust 👌