Catching Shadows

Day Three

"Friday January 28th, 2007 4:58 A.M. This is Detective Felicity Ambers. I think I made a break in the case... well maybe. I found something in the tapes last night and I'm hoping that it will bring us straight to the killer. I have to call Detective Sanders to get a second perspective on the videos that way we will also both know that a fight happened. It could be nothing but it may be something."
I grabbed my phone looking at the time then dialed Sanders number, I was dreading having to call but I needed to talk to him. The suspense of the ringing got me I was nervous and started to laugh a little, then he didn't pick up.
After I called the second time I called without him answering I was about ready to show up at his doorstep, yes it was five in the morning but this case was important. As I was getting my coat on he called me back time of the phone ringing he answered the phone.
"Detective Sanders, I need you back in the office, I found something and I really need you to see it, if you aren't too far away. I think we have a break in the case," I spoke before he had the chance to say anything.
"I will be there in ten," he said as he yawned then hung up before I could say anything else. I looked down at the pint of ice cream and the tissues crumbled up. I threw the ice cream container in the trash can in my office along with all of the tissues that were laying on the floor. It looked like exactly what was happening in the trash can, that I had just spent hours crying and eating ice cream while working. I waited patiently for Sanders to open the door to my office not knowing what I would say when he walked in. I rewinded the video to 2:26 am and left it up so that he could see what I was talking about. He was just on time with what he had said. He opened the door walked straight to the chair and sat down.
"I found something on the tape that looked shady to me, I kept watching it over and over again to figure out what it was that kept catching my eye. There was a fight that started which involved all of the guys at the table along with the man sitting diagonal from them, from what we know his name is Derek. The guy that the bartender told us about. He looks really mad about whatever happened at the bar, we need to figure out what that fight was about and where Derek is because he is now a suspect in this case," I said after showing him the tape. He looked impressed with me that I noticed that.
"Good catch Detective Ambers. I will drive back up to the pub and try to get something out of the bartender and you can..." we were interrupted by my phone ringing. It was our boss. I answered the phone as quickly as I possibly could.
"Sergeant, is everything okay?"
"Ambers a new victim was taken. But the suspect was seen by a witness. It is a male, caucasian about five foot nine, he has dark brown shaggy hair that is shoulder length, he has a some kind of impression or marking across his right cheek." I pointed directly at Derek on the screen and mouthed he is the killer. Sanders ran out of the room immediately, which I assumed was because he was going to the nerds for information.
"We are on it," I said as I hung up the phone hoping I didn't piss off the sergeant for doing that. I didn't need two people being pissed at me in one day. Sanders came in with his coat in his hand.
"Lets go Ambers," he said while grabbing the keys off the hook next to my door.
We had found out that Derek had two private residences. One was a home that was at the edge of town it was a small two bedroom home that he was living at with his mother, and the other was an apartment two miles away from there where he did private viewings of his artwork. He promoted it all over so ads were popping up when we typed in the address. So we were heading to his mother's home hoping to find either him or something that would tell us where he would be.
We got there within twenty minutes because there wasn't much traffic. We knocked on the door and a sweet old woman answered the door.
"Hello ma'am, I am detective Felicity Ambers and this is Detective Andrew Sanders," I said while pointing next to me. "Is Derek Johnson home?"
"No he left early ,Said he had some work to do at the factory, he left around two,two-thirty and I haven't heard from him since, why do you ask? Is my son in trouble?"
"We would just like to talk to him about an incident that had happened a few weeks ago, he may have some helpful information. Can you give us the address to the factory?" I asked while pulling the notepad from my front left pocket.
"72265 Memorial Court, would you guys like some tea, I just put the kettle on," she asked sounding very sincere.
"Thank you very much for the offer ma'am..." she cut me off very fast.
"My name is Shirley, please don't be formal with me, it makes me feel old being called ma'am."
I nodded and continued
"Thank you shirley, it is very kind of you to offer but we have to get back to work, maybe another time. You have a wonderful rest of your night." She nodded as she shut the door. I ran to the car and typed in the address she gave us. I looked at Sanders and he pulled out his phone ,he knew what I was thinking. The address popped up as an abandoned farmhouse, that was odd because she said it was a factory which must mean she must not know what's going on.
We headed there knowing that we had to hurry, the clock was ticking and we had two more hours before his newest victim would die. Sanders was saying directions fast and after an hour we made it to the house. As I stepped out of the car the cold wind seeping its way down the back of my neck. The driveway was made of loose gravel so each step we took sounded like someone eating chips with there mouth open. We approached the old green warehouse, as not expected there happens to be multiple structures on this property ranging in size. Getting in was easy enough the door was open and the glass was broke anyways a flight of stairs was visible from the doorway. Sanders motioned for me to turn on my walkie, I turned the knob, the earbud gave me a little shock and I let out a little cry. We split up, him searching the first level and me searching the second. I tiptoed up the stairs holding my gun at hip level, I opened each door quick scanning the room with my gun. I heard a creak in the room behind me that had the door closed. I ran to the door swinging it open revealing Derek. He was holding a gun to the soon to be newest victims head.
"This is the police, drop your weapon," I yelled at him. He started to bolt and in a case of me stopping him I lifted the gun up peering down the sight of the gun and I pulled the trigger, but I only heard a click... I pulled it a few more times each time closing my eyes in habit of the loud bang but there was only that same sound over and over again, disappointment struck me along with terror sharing the same room with the monster that we had been investigating for weeks was terrifying, the thought of the only thing that had the possibility of keeping me safe, my weapon, wasn't working. I repeatedly pressed the emergency button letting out a loud wailing sound on both ends of the walkie. I kept hitting my gun I knew Derek was armed and that I was at a horrible disadvantage. He turned around mid sprint and shot twice one impaling my stomach, I dropped to my knees while seeing him get farther and farther down the huge room.I collapsed to the ground releasing the gun, as it hit the cement floor the misfire that had happened became a delayed fire, the bullet left the chamber heading straight for my leg, but the angle that it had fallen it had just grazed my upper thigh leaving a burn and cut. I put my hands to the wound, my arms started to feel weak, heavy I wanted to put them down. I looked down and saw blood oozing out more and more. I reached around for my walke my hands were slippery and it looked like I had dipped them in a bucket of paint. The warm blood was seeping through my black vest. Within a few seconds Sanders was in the large room. He shot his gun twice, the same sound echoing off of the walls finally came to an end . I lifted my head a little to see Derek on the ground lifeless. With a very afraid look on his face Sanders crouched over to the victim while looking at me on the floor. He untied him pointed at something then ran over to me.
"Felicity, stay with me. I am right here," he said as he applied pressure to the bullet wound. He took off his vest checking on the lifeless body that lay fifteen feet away every few moments. He ripped his black long sleeved shirt revealing a dirty white tank top. He pressed it on my wound and I let out another scream, squirming, as if I could crawl away from the pain I felt his hand on my shoulder keeping me somewhat still. He was screaming something into the radio I couldn't make it out he kept looking at me saying everything will be alright. His voice would come back,
"WE HAVE A WOUNDED OFFICER AT 72265 MEMORIAL COURT, I NEED PARAMEDIC SERVICES IMMEDIA--" The rest I couldn't understand, Inaudible
"I'm sorry," I whispered trying to speak loud and confident but only sounding quiet and weary. In a semi- conscious daze, I looked into his eyes and tried to stay awake but I had already lost a lot of blood, the pain from my wound was excruciating but somehow I still lay there still and silent with the pain starting to fade, my eyes started fluttering and all I remember was Sanders repeatedly trying the same thing on the walkie.I closed my eyes.... I felt him put something on my stomach then tie the compress tight. I could feel my heart beating in my chest, my lungs trying hard to hold on with each and every breath I took. I was dancing with death and he took the lead. I opened my mouth to speak once more then everything went black.