A New Genesis

Blurred Lines

Nick leaned against the bar stool, ready to bolt at any time. The clasp on his holster was unbuckled and the safety on his sidearm was off. He didn't anticipate trouble, but when you're meeting with one of the shadiest leaders of organized crime Chicago had to offer, you don't fail to take precautions.

"Agent Collins! What can we do for the FBI this fine morning?" A short, fat, balding man sauntered over to the bar, the grin on his face bigger than his waist line. There wasn't a single threatening things about his appearance, unless you counted the two obviously armed men flanking him on either side.

Nick didn't bother playing his fake-nice game. Instead, he held up the photo of Karla. "Is this your daughter?"

The smile faded and was replaced with a confused look. "Why do you ask?"

"Because I went to her apartment before I came here and she wasn't home. I was hoping you could tell me where I could find her."

"You haven't told me what you want yet. Why would I give information to you?"

Nick shrugged. "You don't have to. It's just that she's pretty, and blonde, and those blue eyes are awfully intense, aren't they?"

Richard's glare intensified. "What's your point?"

"My point is, I'm not the only one who's noticed such things. In fact, I'm almost positive there's a serial killer out there who knows personal details about your daughter's life, including where she likes to hang out when she's not at home. So tell me, Mr. Connolly, who would you rather find her first? Me or him?"

Richard stood up a little straighter and Nick could see the worry that only a parent could feel cross his features. He dismissed his bodyguards with a wave and motioned for Nick to join him at a table. "Tell me. Who is this who's after my Karla?"

"I don't know yet, and that's the problem. About an hour ago, Karla was identified as a potential target and we'd like to get to her before he does."

"I can protect my child, better than you people can." Richard pulled out a cell phone and started to dial.

Nick grabbed the phone before he could hit send. "I have no doubt about that, Mr. Connolly. I just need to talk to her before something happens that brings the rest of the FBI into the investigation. I don't give a shit about you or what you do or what crimes you commit. All I care about is making sure your daughter is more than just a file in my office."

Richard let out a sigh and pocketed his phone. "I'm not sure she can talk right now. She's in the hospital."

Nick was a bit relieved. It would be hard to kill someone in the middle of a hospital. "Sick or injured?"

"Both. My Karla has special circumstances, but it's not something that I want to discuss here. Meet me at Mercy General in an hour. Room four seventeen." He got up from his chair and walked away without another word.

Nick rolled his eyes and went back out to his car. If there was one thing he would never get used to it was the drama that family members often tried to add to a case. The drive through city traffic landed him at the hospital nearly forty-five minutes later. Richard Connolly was nowhere to be seen when Nick made his way to the fourth floor. He peeked inside the private room and saw a blonde woman sleeping in the bed. There was no one inside with her, but Nick spotted a tall, bulky man just down the hall at the vending machine that was dressed in a dark suit, just like Richard's goon squad.

He stepped inside and closed the door behind him, pausing at the door to allow his eyes to adjust to the dim light. An IV drip was hooked up to the girl's arm and it beeped steadily. As Nick approached the bed, he could see a definite swell in the girl's abdomen. He had just reached the side of the bed when the door opened and Richard rushed inside.