Cold Hard Courage

[4] - Facts

[Beatrice Prior]

Beep.
Beep.
Beep.

Where am I? How long have I been here?

I look around the room I'm in. It's a hospital room. Why am I in a hospital room? I should be dead. I jumped into that pool with the intention of drowning. I had zero intention of coming out of that pool alive. But I'm here. Alive.

" Tris, " Shauna states sharply.

I turn my head, spotting her staring at me. It's just us.

" What we're you doing in that pool? " Shauna asks.

She seems angry. Why is she so angry?

" I was going for a swim. " I say.

She cocks an eyebrow.

" You were going for a swim in your pajamas? " She asks. " I'm not an idiot, Tris. You can tell me the truth. "

I was planning on taking my intentions to the grave... Literally.

" You really want to know? " I ask.

She nods.

" I want the truth, Tris. Please. " She asks.

I sigh, squeezing my hands together.

" Shauna, the truth is that I wanted to Die. I can't live like this any longer--crying myself to sleep because my husband, the love of my life, is missing and possibly never coming back. I wanted Graham to have a better life. A life where his parents were always there. Together. This life... This life can't offer him that. " I say.

Shauna sighs, shaking her head.

" I feared the stress would get to you eventually. But Tris, Graham doesn't deserve this either. He will grow up not knowing who his family really is. He will grow up hearing only stories of what you were like. Unless you stay alive. For him. "

I nod. She stands to leave. She's probably got to get to work. But I need her to keep this secret.

" Shauna? " I ask. " Can you keep this between you and me? If we find Tobias... I don't want him to know that I tried to kill myself. "

She nods.

" Trust me, I understand. Ever since I learned that Zeke was missing, I've wanted to jump into a swimming pool and drown too. This stays 100% between us. " She says.

She leaves and I'm all alone. I remember the sensation of his lips. Soft. Sweet. And in our fight, I didn't kiss him goodbye. I'm so stupid. We'll find you, Tobias. We always do.

[Tobias Eaton]

She's in stable condition--Awake and recovering.

One of us should head over there. Ask her if she knows anything yet.

You're the leader of the case now... You do it.

We both should go. Clear our names for a little while longer.

" You both realize that as soon as we are found and we tell them who did this, you'll both go away for a very long time. " Zeke says.

Peter nods to Michael and approaches Zeke hanging frame. He lifts a brass-knuckled hand and swings his fist into Zeke's chest. Zeke screams out loudly.

'Stop!' I scream.

He does and looks at me.

" What, you want a piece of this? " He asks.

I stare at him.

" No matter what you do to me, you can't hurt me. " I say.

He nods.

" We'll see about that. " He says.

He approaches a table, removing his brass knuckles. He grabs the baseball bat again and approaches me. He inhales sharply, then raises the bat. He swings with such brute force that I scream on impact.

"HELP!"

[Max Walker]

I step out of my office, examining the room. An odd, uncomfortable feeling is equally spread throughout the space. I sigh, clapping to call attention.

" Let's not be melancholy at the missing members of our team. This is a missing persons incident. Let us treat it that way. Can anyone tell me any significance of Four's disappearance? " I ask.

Will nods.

" Because he's been missing before, this incident is most likely a higher threat. More than likely a potentially lethal incident if he's not found soon. " He says.

I nod.

" Good observation. Anyone else? " I ask.

I look around the room. Michael nods.

" Four is dedicated to his work. He would never purposefully miss a workday. He came back to work when his wife was in the hospital. He is committed. We have to search for him with all we've got. He'd do the same for us. " Michael says.

I nod, sighing.

" Yes, he would. So let's get out there as soon as possible. Can anyone tell me something special about Zeke's case? " I ask.

Shauna is pale and sad. She lifts her head, sighing.

" Zeke was the lead of this case when he went missing. The day he disappeared was the day he attacked Peter. I know that Peter isn't the abductor, but I can't help but feel that he is inclined to do something that may have hidden their whereabouts. " She says.

I cock an eyebrow.

" That's quite the accusation, Shauna. Do you have anything to back that up? " I ask.

She sighs, shaking her head.

" No. I don't. But it might possibly be true. Peter hated Four and Zeke. Maybe he's just finally cracked. "  She says.

I go to correct her for betraying a partner in law, but then suddenly, the radio crackles to life.

Captain? Captain, come in.

I turn my head, staring at it. I only have two men out right now on Search. Did they find them?

Captain, please come in.

I approach the Radio, looking down at the sending signal. It's Four's squad vehicle.

" Who is it? " Shauna asks.

I lift my head, looking back at the group.

" It's Four's squad vehicle. " I say.

Everyone rushes over.

Captain. Captain, come in.
We're here. Four, is that you?
No. It's Peter.
What are you doing in Four's squad car?
I found it.
What? Where?
At the river. It's crashed.
Are either of them in there?
No. But they were. They're gone.
Any trace of which way they went?
No... I think they're dead.
What?
I found their uniforms half a mile back.
So you think they're...
Yes. There was so much blood in the car. I think it's time we call it.
No... No. I promised both of my boys that if for some God-forsaken reason they died, I would find their bodies--Dead or Alive. I'm keeping that promise.
Please, Max. Think of their families. We can't keep lying to them. Think of Shauna. Think of Tris. Her husband is dead. She's going to have to raises baby by herself. We owe it to them.
Please, Peter. Give me just a little more time.
No, Max. I'm calling it.
You don't have authorization to do that.
I'm doing it--With or without you.