“Where is he?” Nick seethed into Elaine’s ear. The cold barrel of the gun pressed against her temple. Elaine closed her eyes and took a deep breathe. When she opened them she stared straight into Nick’s icy gaze.

Shivering Elaine responded “I don’t know.” Her chest hurt from her pounding heart. Facing down the barrel of a gun was extremely stressful. Nick sucked in the air between his teeth then let out a deep sigh.

“I’m tired of your games Detective. Goodbye.” Elaine heard the click of the gun and she braced herself for the shot.

“No! Don’t hurt her!” Elaine’s eyes searched for the small voice she heard. Her stomach dropped as to her horror she saw Tommy emerge from behind a dumpster. Tommy’s whole body trembled as he put his hands up. “Please don’t hurt her.”

“Nick, please let him go.” Elaine pleaded. “You don’t need him. It’s me you need to deal with.”

Nick ignored Elaine as he snapped at the men around him. “Go get the boy!” He growled. When he looked back at Elaine the coldness in his eyes froze her in place. “This is not about you. I need him not you but since you want to make other people’s business your business you have made yourself involved. And therefore my priority.”

Elaine’s eyes darted between Tommy and Nick. Her mind raced thinking of any possible way she could get both of them out of this alive. Or at least Tommy. Her heart ached for him. He was innocent and didn’t deserve to be involved in this. The men dragged Tommy’s small frame easily and placed him in front of Nick. Without removing the gun from her temple, he snatched Tommy with his other hand and gripped his arm. He pulled the shivering boy to his side.

“Please don’t do this. You don’t have to do this.” Elaine’s eyes begged with the cold glint in Nick’s eyes.

Tommy whimpered as Nick squeezed his arm tighter.

“Detective…Detective. If you had only minded your own business.” He smirked. “This had nothing to do with you. I wasn’t going to even hurt the boy. I have given him every treat and junk food he could ever want. I let him watch all the TV he wanted. He played video games all day. Isn’t that right Tommy?” When Tommy didn’t respond he roughly shook him.

“Yes.” Tommy mumbled.

“That’s right Tommy. I was so good to you wasn’t I? I just wanted to scare your father that’s all.” Nick’s face darkened, his smile growing larger and more malicious with each word. “But your father didn’t want to cooperate with me. I could have helped him. I knew his charity was just a cover. I knew all the money went to him to help fund his campaign. I could have helped him before he got caught. The rumors were already out, it was only a matter of time. That’s why I donated to his charity. I was going to help him get elected and he was going to help me take over the city.”

Elaine gasped. So the rumors were true.

To Be Continued…