Chapter 29

They took a couple of loads to the closet. Rebecca went back for more while Larry straightened up the rack. She pulled more clothes out of the closet to see the end of a gun pointed at her. She dropped the clothes on the bed. The detective grabbed her arm and led her into the other room. They waited outside the closet until Larry came out. "Hands where I can see them or I kill her."

Larry put his hands up. "What do you want? I can pay you."

"It's not about money. My life is ruined because of this nosey woman. She wouldn't back off. She could have left it alone, but she couldn't. If that homeless man wouldn't have come along, I would have made sure she was dead."

"You won't get away with this."

"I don't care about getting away with it. Even if I sit in jail for the rest of my life, I will have the satisfaction of knowing she is dead."

Larry stepped towards him. "I can tell them to drop the investigation."

"They won't do that." The detective said. "Don't come any closer. I will shoot her right here." He said as he put the gun to Rebecca's temple.

"Just kill me already, then," Rebecca said.

"No." Larry said then came at him.

The detective swung his gun and hit Larry in the head with the gun. Larry fell onto the floor. "Now look what I had to do. I wanted him to watch while I slowly killed you." He kicked Larry in the stomach.

"Just kill me and get it over with."

"Oh no, sweetheart. It's going to be slow and painful."

"Why are you doing this? Why couldn't you just leave me alone?"

"I don't leave loose ends."

"But you're secret is out. People know about you."

"Thanks to you." The detective pushed Rebecca out the door and into the room across the hall. He threw her onto the bed. He put his gun in the back of his pants and pulled out a knife. He opened it. He grabbed her leg and pulled her towards him.

Rebecca kicked at him. He swung the knife at the kicking leg and cut it. Rebecca pulled herself up and tried to grab the knife. The detective cut her hand. Rebecca laid back down. "Is that all the fight you got? You should have stopped while you were ahead. I gave you plenty of warnings."

"You will pay for what you've done." Rebecca kicked at him again. He cut her leg again with the knife. Rebecca reached up and grabbed her leg. Blood soaked her pant leg.

The detective laughed. "You aren't so tough now, are you?"

Rebecca pulled with her leg he was holding. The detective wasn't expecting it and bent forward from the force. Rebecca punched him as he came closer. He up righted himself, swung the knife and cut her in the arm. Rebecca pulled back. "You won't get away with this. There are security all around."

"They won't be helping you. I took care of them."

"What did you do?" Rebecca asked as tears stung her eyes.

"Oh, don't cry. I didn't kill them. They are just unconscious. I'm only planning on killing you. But first, you will hurt and then I will get your pretty rich boyfriend over there and he can watch as I make you scream." The detective said.

Rebecca started kicking and fighting again. The detective swung the knife at her as he tried to grab a hold of her leg again. He cut her a few more times before he grabbed a hold of her ankle. Rebecca continued to kick and punch at him. The detective climbed up on the bed and held her down with his weight on top of her. Rebecca pushed at him.

Brian rushed in and grabbed the detective. He threw him up against the wall. The knife went flying across the room. The detective got up.

"He has a gun." Rebecca screamed as she saw the detective reaching in the back of his pants.

Brian kicked the gun out of his hand before he could raise it up. The gun flew to the side of the bed. The detective went for it, but Brian grabbed him and punched him in the face. Brian pushed him against the wall and punched him a few more times knocking him unconscious. Brian rushed over to Rebecca. "Are you all right, Rebecca?" Brian asked as he picked up the gun.

"Where's Larry?" She asked as she started to get up.

"Duane's with him." Brian said. "Stay still, you're bleeding."

Rebecca sat down on the bed and looked at her cuts. She applied pressure to a deep cut on her leg with her cut hand. "Is Larry all right?"

"Yes, he has a lump on his head, but he's conscious. The police and ambulance are on the way," he said. He pulled out his radio. "Cody, let the chief know I have the suspect in custody and send the paramedics up."

"The chief is on his way up now. The second ambulance just got here."

"10-4." Brian said. "Duane, chief is on his way." He called out.

"Larry wants to know how Rebecca is."

"She has a few cuts on her, but she'll be all right." Brian said. He knelt down in front of her and help her apply pressure to her cuts. "I 'm sorry, Rebecca. He got past my surveillance team."

"It's not your fault, Brian," Rebecca said.

"Yes, it is. It was my job to keep an eye on him and keep you safe. You and Larry are hurt because he got past me."

"We're alive. You stopped him before he killed me. For that, thank you."

"I should have been here sooner. He got past the security teams downstairs."

"It's over. There's nothing you can do about it, now."

"Brian?" The chief called.

"Back here. It's all clear." Brian called as he glanced over at the detective.

The chief and two officers came in. The officers took charge of the detective. Brian handed over his gun and they picked up the knife. Brian held pressure to Rebecca's wounds. The chief stood at the foot of the bed. "Where is Larry?" The chief asked.

"He's across the hall." Brian said as he looked at Rebecca's cuts.

The detective started to come around as the officers secured the handcuffs on him. "Secure him downstairs and don't leave him alone." The chief ordered. The officers pulled the detective up and out of the room. "I will need your statement after the paramedics look at you."

"Yes, of course." Rebecca said as she looked up at him "Can you go check on Larry please?"

"Of course." The chief said then left.

"I wish the paramedics would hurry up. I'm going to get a towel." Brian said then hurried to the bathroom. He came back and put a towel on the cut Rebecca was applying pressure to. He put another one on her hand.

"I wish he would have just shot me."

"No you don't." Brian said. "Don't say that."

"I'm not feeling so hot." Rebecca said then laid back on the bed.

"Don't pass out on me, Rebecca." Brian said. "Talk to me."

"About what?"

"What have you been doing?"

"I just finished the advertisement for the hotel. We posted it on the internet and ordered flyers before this happened."

"That's good." Brian said. A paramedic rushed into the room. "Rebecca, the paramedics are here."

"That's good. Check on Larry."

"I'm not leaving you." Brian said then moved to her side so the paramedic could work. He continued to talk to Rebecca. "You're going to be all right."

"I hate the sight of blood."

"So do I." Brian smiled at her.

The paramedic checked her vitals then started an IV. He then started clean and bandage the cuts. "You're lucky, ma'am. You're going to be fine. It looks worse than it is."

"Will I need stitches?"

"Yes, I'm sure you will." The paramedic said. "We will take you to the hospital and get you checked out."

"Why do I have to go to the hospital?"

"You lost a lot of blood, Rebecca. You should get checked out." Brian said.

"I guess you're right."

"You know I am."

"I want to see Larry."

"Let the paramedic finish then I will take you to him."

"No need for that, Brian. I'm right here."

Larry said from the doorway. Duane helped Larry into the room and to the bed. "I'm sorry, baby. I told you that I wouldn't let that guy hurt you."

"You don't have to apologize. It's my fault for making myself a mark. I should have stopped when I was warned."

"You did the right thing," Larry said.

"Maybe, but if I wouldn't have tried to get a story, then he wouldn't have been here in the first place."

"What matters the most is that he is going away for a long time for attempted murder, assault and several other changes." The chief said as he came into the room.

"Yes, that is what matters," Larry said.

"We need to get you loaded, sir. There's another ambulance on its way for her."

"All right. I'll see you at the hospital." Larry said as he bent down and kissed Rebecca.

"I'll stay with her." Brian said.

Duane helped Larry out of the room. Rebecca sat up a little. "Brian, can you get me some clothes to change into later?"

"Of course." Brian said as he got up and went to the closet. "Anything in particular?"

"Just a pair of jeans and a shirt," Rebecca said.

Brian came back and placed the clothes on the bed. "Anything else you might need?"

"Yes, I need to use the restroom."

"As soon as I am finished here, ma'am." The paramedic said.

"All right," Rebecca said.

The paramedic finished dressing her wounds. Brian and the paramedic helped Rebecca to the bathroom then left her alone. She called when she was finished.

Brian and Duane walked Larry and Rebecca into the hotel later that evening. The staff in the lobby cheered. Larry put his hand up to silence them. "Thanks for all you did. It's been a long evening," Larry said. "You all did a great job."