Chasing Anne

Be Careful

Mark stuffed his hands in his pockets and walked out of the hospital. Jackson was to remain at the hospital with his wife while Mark went to try to clear things up a bit. First he wanted to talk with the police, but he doubted that that was going to be done very easily. He pulled his keys out of his pocket and was about to open the door to his truck when he heard a car stop behind him and a car door open. He turned and smiled in relief at the sight of Officer Clark. The man dropped his keys into his pocket and smiled at Mark, walking toward him. Holding out his hand as he came closer, he began to speak,

"I'm glad I found you, Mark."

Mark took his hand. "How do you know my name?" he asked. "I never told you."

The officer became uncomfortable. He glanced around, suddenly nervous. "Mr. Normand, I need to speak with you in private. Would you mind if I sat in your truck for a moment?"

Mark nodded. "Sure."

The man immediately went for the truck, jumping into the passenger seat as if terrified. Mark jogged to the driver's side and got in behind the wheel. Only when he was inside the vehicle did the officer relax slightly. He turned to Mark and met his eyes. They were blue and seemed as though they could see right through him.

"Do you know what happened to Anne?" he asked.

Mark nodded. "She was shot by some guy that used to work with her Dad."

The officer nodded. "Do you know why he shot her?"

Mark shook his head. "No, do you?"

The officer looked away. "There are many things that I wish to tell you of, Mr. Normand. But all I can tell you now is that your intimate friend that is a girl is in extreme danger. He's coming back, and believe me, he won't retreat this time."

"How do you know?"

The officer grunted in frustration. "Mark, you don't understand. This battle is more than just between Anne and he father's old lab buddy. This is-."

The officer was cut off as gunshots rang out in the alley behind them. Mark froze terrified, and the walkie talkie on the officer's belt began to buzz with voices. "Get out of the truck," he commanded.

"What?"

The officer thrust open the passenger door and jumped out of the truck. "GET OUT!"

Mark jumped out of the truck just as a rain of bullets flew overhead piercing through the top of the truck-right where he had been sitting.

"Stand down!" someone called, as the gunfire stopped. Mark raised his hands over his head in surrender, but the officer raised a gun at the oncoming attacker.

"Stand down!" the command was repeated. The officer didn't budge. And then the shooter came into view and the fingers of the officer tightened on the trigger of his gun. Mark tensed.

The attacker laughed. "Sometimes I think you're over confident, Bartholomew." He had black wavy hair and was wearing a black leather jacket over a black t-shirt. His eyes were masked by a pair of sunglasses and Mark instantly knew that this was no ordinary criminal. He took a step back.

"Stay where you are, Normand," the attacker continued. "I won't harm you. Just stay still."

Mark froze.

"Lower your gun, Bartholomew. This is no place for a battle."

"Then why attack me, Raymond?" officer Bartholomew asked.

"You know why I'm here. Hand her over," Raymond demanded.

"I would never."

"You want Anne?" Mark asked, instantly regretting it.