Power of Will, a SAW Fanfiction

Ch. 22 Pre-SAW: Matthews and Kerry Caught

Matthew Gibson

He was happy for Will.

Really.

But when he saw her and Hoffman leave together, he felt a stir in his gut.

"Someone's got to stand up to that prick," he muttered.

"Now, Gibson," Tapp turned to him with a bemused smile. "Today's a happy day. None of our boys died. Rosello's gone. Just enjoy it."

"Aren't you mad?" Gibson rounded to the veteran cop. "You, of all people, know what Hoffman did. What he'll keep doing."

The image of the junkie that had taken his gun filled his vision. The guy's chest, exploding as Hoffman shot him in the back. The spray of hot blood on his face. The taste of metal and gunpowder. It haunted him.

It had been cold blooded.

Cruel.

It had been wrong.

"Now, Gibs, I know you're all excited with your new assignment with IA. But remember what happened last time? You need to have hard evidence before bringing down a superior. Especially now that the precinct sees Mark Hoffman as the hero that took bullets to save our golden girl? I bet you ain't gonna find a single cop here who'll say boo to Mark Hoffman now. Now, you're a nice kid. I may even agree with you on a lot. But I also know to be smart about it. Pick your battles. Let it go."

Gibson clenched his jaw. Tapp must not have been that clean.

This entire department was dirty.

He'd clean it up.

He swore it. Even if it killed him, he'd be sure the bad guys would face justice.

He got to his feet and almost collided into Detective Kerry.

"Easy there, hon, where's the fire?"

He grumbled and walked away, shoving his hands into his pockets.

How could Will stand being partners with that creep?

He went to blow off steam. Poured some coffee. Chewed on a toothpick.

But his feet somehow carried him away from the Cop Pit and to the higherup's level. He knew where Hoffman's new office would be. And he wanted to give the guy a piece of his mind.

He knocked the on frame. Hard.

The door opened.

It was Hoffman.

He looked past him, searching for Will.

She wasn't there.

"Looking for Maddox?"

"Uh," he looked up at Hoffman, suddenly remembering that he was noticeably larger than he. "No. I want to talk to you."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah." Gibson squirmed, suddenly feeling warm. "I'm out of Homicide. I'm now in IA."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah." He rubbed his nose. Fuck it. "About what happened at the Crossroads. You killed that man. It was wrong. And you may now have this entire department around your finger but I want you to know," he paused, "that I know what you are. What you're capable of. And I'm going to keep a close eye on you. If you step out of line. If you start slipping. I'll be there and I'll bring you in."

Hoffman's face had gone blank. His lips curled into a sneer. "Oh, will you?"

"Yeah." Gibson cleared his throat. "And Maddox. She's a good person. I won't let you," he rubbed the back of his neck and looked away, "corrupt her. Someone's got to protect her from you. You got me? I've got my eye on you, Hoffman."