| Subject: WTTS2 - 88d |
Author:
KT
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Date Posted: 22:58:13 01/11/02 Fri
In reply to:
KT
's message, "Window to the Soul 2 - More (splitting the thread *as requested by Sanlin*)" on 21:52:29 01/11/02 Fri
Window to the Soul 2 - Part 88d
By KT
Copyright June 25, 2001
O'Brien's team backtracked to Wicker Park to try to pick up the trail of the missing suspect. They arrived at Gerald Price's office building, where they immediately discovered Price's vehicle parked at the corner of the alley. They radioed Cossins to report their find, and he quickly surmised that Petrosian and Price were most likely in a third party car. But whose?
Cossins knew that O'Brien was in surgery at the hospital and unavailable for comment. He had already dispatched a surveillance team to the address O'Brien had given him, and beyond that, had no clue as to who the newest player in the game might be. Brainstorming, he called the D.A.'s office and talked to Lee Gladstone.
Lee had been apprised of Petrosian's escape, but was not up to speed on the latest developments. When Cossins told him about O'Brien and Petrosian's encounter, and a possible hostage situation involving Gerald Price, he supplied Cossins with Price's cell phone number. Patrick thought it just might be possible to track Price if he could get an open line.
* * * * * * * *
Dr. Phillip Jones reflected on the events that had led him to his present predicament. He could scarcely believe that he was piloting a car for a deranged criminal. Jones and Gerald Price had become friends years ago when Jones, fascinated by forensic medicine, was moonlighting as assistant medical examiner for the city. The range and type of clientele that Price serviced gave Jones an inside edge as he delved into the motivations of the criminal mind.
Phillip Jones was a man not easily trifled with. He'd spent most of his life sailing the world in the Australian Navy, and was as tough as they come. He had been a drinker and a gypsy in his youth, but the Navy soon straightened him out. He had trained as a medical officer from necessity, but grew to love the field, and when he retired from the service, he entered private practice. He made a good living, and combined with his veteran's pension, was fairly comfortable in life, which allowed him to do pro bono work.
His arrangement with Price was along those lines, and there had been many situations in which there had been no questions asked. But this particular one pushed the limit of his tolerance. Price knew that he had no interest in breaking the law, and now he had unwittingly become a hostage. He felt no sense of desperation, only one of reckoning his way out.
Jones had also been a boxer in the Navy, one of the best. He had the trophies to prove it. He knew that Price was no physical match for Petrosian, but thought that he might have a better chance at putting Petrosian out of commission. He decided to stay alert for an opportunity. He knew the city as well as a native, and drove deliberately toward the address Price had given him. The conversation of the car's other two occupants invaded his private thoughts as he headed onto Lake Shore Drive.
"I know about this Michael Samuelle," Petrosian was saying to Price. "He is the one who betrayed me and Chernov to the police."
"How could he have known about the two of you?" Price countered.
"I don't know, but it doesn't really matter now, does it? The damage has been done."
"So what further interest can you possibly have in him?"
"His dealings with my niece are what got me into this mess in the first place."
Price was incredulous. "Revenge? Is that what this is all about?" He would never cease to be amazed by the cleverness and stupidity of the criminal mind. Petrosian seemed blindly eager to get himself in deeper and deeper.
Jones had no idea what they were talking about, but he listened attentively as he drove, pretending not to take an interest in the exchange. Price had told him very little on the phone, only that his services were needed for an indigent client. Some indigent client!
"That... and finding this... Nikita Wirth... his... 'amour' that he is so lovestruck over... the one he rejected Karen for. The one who took the bullet intended for Samuelle."
Price's eyebrows went up. Petrosian pressed his gun more firmly against Price's head.
"Oh yes, I know all about them. My dear ex-colleague Chernov was very informative. They will pay."
An uncomfortable silence reigned. But Dr. Phillip Jones sat stiffly in the driver's seat, his breath coming short, his thoughts reeling in turmoil. Nikita Wirth??? His stomach was doing flip-flops, and his heart began to beat out of control. It wasn't possible! There couldn't be more than one person on the face of the earth with that name!!
As he struggled to keep his reaction hidden, he exited at Diversey and headed west. His life started to crumble around him. Images flashed through his mind of a time long past, to a time when he was in love and there was only one woman in the world for him. How she had pleaded with him to stay... be a father to their child... But his gypsy heart was too strong. He had sworn by his crazy ways. He had lost track of them. And lived to regret it. Every day. Year after year.
And now, if he should die by the hand of this blackguard without ever knowing... In a moment of clarity, he marveled at the hand of Fate, putting his life in jeopardy, and giving him a gift at the same time. His scheming turned resolute. He would find a way out of this. He would find Nikita Wirth. And perhaps he would find... Roberta.
* * * * * * * *
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