Chapter 19 (Hunter's Sacrifice)

"It's Keres" Grace said as the forensics took away the Priest's body. The church was filled with the Priest's followers all mourning the loss. Orlando couldn't see reasons why she would kill the Priest. According to Grace all Keres said she wanted was to kill Diego and the Priest had no relations with him. He didn't even attend the church.

"She attacks from the back" she added

"But why did she kill him? I mean, he was good to her and her roommate plus he didn't even know about her secret" Orlando said

"That's right! Her roommate! We never saw him again after that day" she said

"The murder weapon has been found" Wallace said

"It was a monkey wrench" he added

"Did you perhaps see any boy of about nineteen years of age around when you and the FBI got here for the arrest?" Orlando asked

"No, no one was here. Just the corpse" Wallace said

"Okay, thanks" Orlando said dismissing him

"She can't just leave without a trace, there's got to be something" Grace said walking towards the stairs that lead to the room

"Look here!" She said calling Orlando

"What?" He asked rushing to her

"That's a boy's shoe right?" She asked pointing to Ian's shoe on the stair case

"Yes, it is" he said

"And there's blood here too" he added pointing to her feet

Grace bent over and wore a glove. She touched the blood on the floor and examined it

"It's clogged which means it's not fresh. Not like the Priest's" she said

"From the looks of it, if it's Ian then he tumbled down the stairs for his shoe to be up there. But I don't get this fire extinguisher here" Orlando said pointing towards the fire extinguisher on the floor

"Obviously, she pushed him down and hit him with it. What's there not to get?" She asked getting up

"If we're considering Ian to be dead then where's his body?" Orlando said

"What are you saying?" Grace asked

"Keres killed the Priest and he's body was found here but Ian is no where to be found" Orlando said

"So?" She asked

"Which means, she might not have killed him but taken him hostage" he said

"Look, there's also a possibility that Ian and Keres might have been working together. So if this is Ian's blood why would she want to kill him and if she didn't kill him, why would she want to take her partner in crime hostage?" She asked

"Huh?" Orlando asked

"You know, if we're arresting Keres we would be arresting Ian too because he aided and abetted the crime" she said

"Ah! We can't do this on our own. We need more help because I'm seriously getting confused" He said

"I agree, let's head back to the station and give updates" she said as they walked towards the parking lot

"Hey, don't forget your wrist watch" she said

"My what?" Orlando asked

"Your wrist watch" she said pointing towards the watch on the floor beside the blood

"That's not mine. I'm putting mine on" he said showing her his wrist

They exchanged looks and walked back to the stair case. She picked up the watch and placed it inside an evidence bag

"I don't think this watch belongs to just anyone" Orlando said

"What do you mean?" She asked

"Mine is fake but this is the real deal" he explained showing her his

"What?! But you told Wallace it was the original" she said

"Lying isn't a crime. At least it's better than killing people" he said

"This watch has just two pairs in the country" he said

"One belongs to Diego Lukeman" he said

"Diego kidnapped Ian?!" She asked

"I didn't say that. Let me finish" he said

"The other is owned by Diego's son. Nikolay Diego" he said

"His Father gave it to him as a present on his sixteenth birthday" he added

"How'd you know that?" She asked

"I update myself on the influential men around the world. It made the headlines" he concluded

"This makes sense now" she said

"There was a third party here" he said

"Keres, Ian and possibly Nikolay" he added

"What if it was Diego himself? You said it yourself he has one too" she said

"No, Diego wouldn't have come here but he's son might have considering the fact that he and Keres alongside Ian attend the same school" he said and began to walk away

"Where are you going to?" Grace asked

"Someone's got to inform Diego that his son might have been kidnapped"

"Or is probably dead"

Diego broke the news of his son's abduction to the family and they weren't taking it well. Claudia had her hands in her hair. She looked like a widow. Her only son. The one who was always able to stand up for her whenever her worthless husband tried to hurt her had been abducted and the abductor in question was a straight out psycho. All abductors were psychos but Keres was a grade one psycho.

"Honey, what are we going to do now?" Claudia asked Diego pacing around the living room while Stellar cried on the stairs

"We're going to tell the Police, aren't we?" She asked

"No, she might find out and hurt Nikolay" Diego said walking around the living room

"Not telling the Police is killing Nikolay!" Claudia shouted throwing the table lamp across the room. Every woman had a moment of madness when it came to her child.

"Mom..." Stellar cried

"Calm down" Diego said holding her in his arms

"How can I calm down when that girl has my son? When we don't know what's going on in that crazy head of hers?!" Claudia shouted

The door bell rang. Everyone fell silent.

"Who's it?" Diego asked

"Central Intelligence Service, open up" Orlando said

"Nanny! Nanny!!" Diego called

"Yes, Sir" she said walking out of the kitchen

"Tidy this mess up" he told her pointing to the broken table lamp

"Yes, Sir" she said

"Wipe away those tears, right now" Diego told Stellar as he went to get the door

"Oh, hello officers" he said ushering them in

"Hello Sir" Orlando and Grace said walking in

They were wowed by the interior of the house. A mansion it was.

"What happened here?" Grace asked Diego as she saw the nanny clearing away broken glass

"Oh, my hand slipped" the nanny lied

"What can I offer you?" Diego

"Mmm.., Champagne would do" Orlando said

"We aren't here for any other thing except information" Grace said hitting Orlando slightly

"What information could I possibly give the State CIS that would be of any help?" Diego asked

"We're well aware that someone has been exposing the crimes you and your Enterprise but has anyone threatened your family as of recent?" She asked

"As a wealthy and influential family we do get a lot of threats so....." Diego said

"I'm talking death threats here" Grace said

"Oh, no we've not" Diego lied. Claudia sighed angrily

"Ma'am, are you alright?" Grace asked noticing her behavior

"She's fine, just has a mild headache and she would like if you wrapped this up" Diego said

"Well, we found this at a crime scene" Orlando said showing Diego the wrist watch

"And we believe it to belong to your son, Nikolay" he added

"Yes" Diego said

"Mr. Diego Lukeman, when last did you see your son?" Grace asked

"Last night. He went out to see a friend last night" Diego said

"Well, I'm sorry to say Mr. Diego, your son is a murder suspect and there's also a possibility that he's been abducted by a wanted fugitive" Orlando said

"What?" Diego asked

"And we would have to wait till midnight to declare him officially missing" he added

"If you get any phone calls or text messages from either him or the abductor please inform us as it would help in solving this case" Orlando concluded

"That would be all, thanks for your time" Grace said and they made to walk out

"Keres!" Stellar said

"What?" Grace asked stopping in her tracks

"Nikolay went to see Keres last night. He didn't kill anyone" Stellar said and raced up her room crying

"Detective!" Claudia called

"Yes ma'am" Grace said turning towards her

"Sweetheart" Diego said gripping her shoulder

"Please, find my son" Claudia said after hesitating for a minute

"We will ma'am" she said

"And please Detective, don't take what my daughter said to heart and focus on the evidence you find" Diego said

"No, actually what she said would help us a lot" Grace said and walked out with Orlando following

"Why were you so serious in there?" Orlando asked

"And what about you?" She asked slamming the car door shut

"We were supposed to come here to tell him that his son is missing and that he might already be dead since the abductor is a crazy girl and there you were asking for what?"

"Champagne?" She said

"It's like you aren't getting the gist here. When people like Keres kill more people the more they'll want to get rid of everything in sight" she said

"I've seen someone like her. My cousin"

"I know I told you that he's not completely normal but the truth is he's completely out of his freaking mind. There's no more hope for him so before he kills someone again the Doctors have decided on mercy killing"

"I couldn't save him but I want to save Keres. Badly" she said fuming angrily

"I'm sorry. I acted stupidly" Orlando apologized

Grace's phone began to ring. She picked up the call

"Grace speaking" she said

"Detective, there's a man here admitting to all the crimes that were filed against Keres Evans"

"Ah, my head" Ian groaned as he woke up. He tried to touch his head but his hands were tied behind him

"What on Earth?" He asked as he struggled to free himself

As he struggled he kicked Nikolay with his legs and Nikolay woke up

"Ouch" Nikolay said trying to stand up

"Where are we? Why are we here?" He asked

"What do you mean why are we here?" Ian asked

"Keres knocked us out and brought us here, remember?" He said

"Oh God. She's not going to kill us is she?" Nikolay asked

"God knows" Ian said

"Wait" he said

"What?" Nikolay asked

"Someone's coming. Play dead" he said and laid back

"Help me God" Nikolay prayed and laid down too. His eyes had seen a lot within a couple of days. It was a lot to process and all of a sudden he was kidnapped. Keres walked into the room where they were tied up and sat on the only available chair

"I know you aren't sleeping?" She said

"Hey there" Ian said opening his eyes

"Good morning" she said smiling

"Hey.." Nikolay said opening his eyes as well

"Good morning to you too" she said turning to him

"Okay, since that's settled how about you untie us, huh?" Ian requested

She laughed and looked away from them

"Sally, are you okay?" Nikolay asked concerned

She turned towards him

"You don't look good. Did you get enough sleep?" He asked

"What're you doing?" Ian asked surprised at his stupid questions

"Sally's gone" Keres said

"It's Keres now. And I'm here to stay" she added

"So if you don't believe it. Let me show you" she said getting up. She took a piece of wood and hit Ian on his head. He passed out immediately again

"Sally...." Nikolay called as she approached him

"Please stop ...." He tried to say

"Don't worry, Daddy would soon join you"

"Chief, a man wants to see you" Anita said walking in

"Who?" Lars asked as Hunter walked into the investigation room

"I'm here to confess to the crimes you're pinning on Keres Evans" Hunter said

"What's he saying?" The detectives began to murmur among themselves

"But I'll only speak directly to Detective Grace" he added

"What crimes do you think we're pinning on the suspect?" Lars asked

"Arson, murder, kidnapping, assault and battery" Hunter said

"Call Grace" Lars said

After a few minutes Grace and Orlando weren't available yet and Lars was so eager to know what Hunter had to say

"Why isn't Grace here yet?" Lars asked

"I'm dying to hear what he wants to say" he added looking at Hunter where he sat

"I'm here!" Grace said rushing in

"Who wants to see me?" She asked

"Me" Hunter said standing up

"Keres' Uncle?" Orlando asked

"Okay, she's here now so go on and confess" Lars said

"I said I'll only talk to Detective Grace" Hunter said

"Fine, go into the interrogation room, it's private there" Lars said defeatedly

"Let's go" Grace said leading Hunter

"I'm coming too" Orlando said

"I said just Grace" Hunter said

"I'm sorry but the last time she was alone with someone from your family that happened" Orlando said pointing at Grace's bandaged head

"I'm coming too" he said and walked ahead of them to the interrogation room

"Fine" Hunter said and walked in with Grace

"So, tell us" Grace urged

"First, I'll like to tell you the whole story about my Keres" Hunter said

"You mean your psychotic family member Keres" Orlando said

"Yes, her" Hunter said glaring at him

"Talk" Grace said

"She wasn't always like this" he began

"She was like every normal girl but that was until she was five years old when she was raped by the one she called Uncle" he added

"What? Raped?" Grace asked

"Uncle Klaus" Orlando said

"I don't know how you found that out but yes, that was the name of the man" Hunter said

"He was a friend of the family and a very close one at that. He ran a child day care then so her parents left the kids with him and went about their daily activities" he said

"One day, we just saw her crawling out. Bleeding. Before we could get to her she passed out"

"When we found her twin she said she didn't see anything because she was at the backyard playing but we all knew it was Klaus. When she woke up she refused to talk to anyone and when Hazel came to see her she threw a fit"

"The only thing she kept on saying was 'You caused it' " he said

"If Hazel was there he won't have been able to do it" Grace said

"Keres had to undergo series of therapies and sessions with child counsellors and it was very tiring for her I guess. The kids began to treat her differently, though not bad but with pity and if there's anything she hated as a little girl it was people pitying her"

"After a month, we heard that Klaus had died from food poisoning. She was smiling all the way and Hazel told us that her twin had exchanged Klaus' lunch with hers" he said

"She poisoned him?" Orlando asked

"I guess she wanted revenge" he said

"Yes, I mean he raped her" Grace said understandingly

"A five year old and what were you guys doing? No one called the Cops?" Grace asked

"Candida was a very small place and we wanted to keep it a secret" Hunter replied

"After she did that, she changed. She slit her therapist's cheeks claiming her smile was annoying. She burnt a cat alive because it was making a little noise, pushed Hazel down the stairs because she didn't want to share the same parents, flattened her Dad's car tyres so he'd go late to work and then he'd be queried and maybe fired" he said

"Why?" Grace asked

"He was at work when Klaus did what he did to her" Hunter said

"And finally, during one of her sessions with a therapist she was hypnotized because the therapist thought she had something she wanted to say badly and since she rarely talked we could only get it out of her through hypnosis" he said

"When questions were asked she didn't reply to any but one. Can you guess what it was?" He asked

"We don't have time for guessing" Orlando said

"'What do you want to do'?" Hunter said

"What was her answer?" Grace asked

"'Kill Hazel Evans'. That was what she said"

"And that was weird because she often called her sister Haz. Then when she woke up she rejected her real name. She was only eight years old then" he added

"What do you mean rejected her name?" Orlando asked

"Her real name isn't Keres?" Grace asked

"Maeve. Maeve Evans" he answered

"How does that help us?" Grace asked

"Don't you get it yet?" He asked

"Get what?" Orlando asked

"She has multiple personality disorder!" Hunter said

"Keres is Maeve's multiple created from the trauma she got when she was raped. And Sally was created to get information about the Diego's then let Keres take control" he added

"So you're saying, Maeve, Sally and Keres are the same person but what? Different characters?"

"Oh my God!" Orlando said

"Some years after, she got kidnapped and then the North Valley incident happened"

"She later found me saying she wanted revenge for her family" he concluded

"No, she doesn't want to get revenge" Grace said

"What?" Hunter asked

"She wants to kill Diego because he killed Hazel instead of her" Orlando said

"That goes without saying" Hunter said with his head in his hands

"So, now that I was able to find out what exactly it is that's wrong with her I want to do what's necessary" he said

"Turning yourself in? Do you think that's the best for her?" She asked

"And do you think her going to jail is the best for her?" He asked

"I believe that the only way to get Maeve back is doing something to reach out to her heart" he said

"And you think this is it?" Orlando asked

"I believe" Hunter said

"I'll confess to all the crimes charged against her and receive the punishment. I'll tell you were she is too" he added

"How do you know where she is when the Cops don't have a clue on her location?" Orlando asked

"Micro chip" Hunter said startling them

"But promise me that when you see her, no matter how crazy she is you'll get her to read this" he said placing an envelope in Grace's hands

"I think you'll be able to get to her" he added

"Diego would go to her to save his son and she'll try to kill all of them but if you get there fast enough, you'll be able to save some if not all of them" he said

"An abandoned gas station. West Town" he said and stood up

"Take me" he said to Orlando

"I'll save her. I promise" Grace said

"I know you will, if not I won't be betting my life and freedom for nothing" he said as Orlando placed handcuffs on him and lead him out

"Wait!" Hunter said dipping his hands into his pocket

"Diego Lukeman is a corrupt person and everything you need to put him in jail is in here" he said handing Orlando the USB key

"Let's go now" Hunter said and walked out with them

"He's confessed to all crimes being charged against Keres Evans. We're arresting him for all charges" Orlando said

"What charges actually?" Lars asked getting confused

"Arson, murder and the host of them" Hunter said

"What about the suspect, Keres Evans?" Carla asked

"Well, just the same way I framed Sandra Stewart up I was planning to do the same with her" he answered

"He's lying" Wallace said

"We all know that, but since he's attested to the charges he's under arrest" Marcel said

"Carla, look into all the abandoned gas stations in the whole of West Town" Grace said as they hurdled Hunter into the holding cell

"Yes Detective" Carla said and went to work

"Wallace, search for anyone who made any weapon purchase within the last 24 hours" Grace said

"Yes Detective" Wallace said

"And every other person right here make yourself available throughout today" she added

"Are we going on a war?" Lars asked

"Huh?" She asked

"You're sounding like a War General now which by the way is supposed to be me" he said

"And we've caught the real killer or at least he turned himself in but anyway we're supposed to be going for drinks after work" he said

"This is worse than a war" she said

"How?" He asked

"In an ordinary war, everything in sight is eliminated but this is not just any war. We're going to want to save everything in sight. Including ourselves" she said putting on her bullet proof vest

"Got it" Carla said

"What have you got?" Orlando asked walking towards her

"There's only one abandoned gas station in the whole of West Town and it's location is..."

"...52 layout, West Town" Carla said

"Ask Hunter what time she'd be there" Orlando told Grace

"He said 1.00am" Grace said

"We have to get our men there before 11.00pm" Orlando said

"Any weapon purchases?" Grace asked Wallace

"No, no purchases" Wallace said

"Wait a sec. Does Hunter perhaps have an accomplice?" Lars asked

"Um... No" Orlando lied

"We're just trying to save Keres Evans from getting killed" Grace said concurring with him

"By Hunter's accomplice?" Lars asked

"Maybe?" Orlando said

"Okay, I'm going to have to call the press since the bastard who's been tormenting North Valley has been caught" Lars said and walked out

"What do you plan on doing now?" Sean asked Diego. He was his friend and he had to help him one way or the other in the process getting revenge for his daughter.

"I'm going to save my son" Diego replied

"She's going to kill you" Sean said getting up from the sofa

"You step foot where she is and they'll be taking your dead body out" he added

"What else do you want me to do?!" Diego shouted

"My wife's at home blaming me for what's happening to my family and is asking me to take responsibility. My daughter is crying asking for her brother and when the Cops came she gave me out! And I'm going out of my freaking mind!" He shouted

"Calm down okay? This is what she wants" Sean said

"She wants you to lose control of your emotions and come running to your son so she'll kill you"

"It's her game and you're playing it" he added

"Then what am I supposed to do?" Diego asked sitting down

"Diego, you have no other choice" Sean said

"You can't go in alone and you need the help of the Police but if you go with them they'll find out about your illegal activities" he said

"Then what do I do?" Diego asked almost crying

"You'll have to gather reinforcements on your own. And I'll help you" he added

"Thank you" Diego said relieved

"So, what's the first step?" He asked

"Wait till she drops an address. That's when we make our move" Sean said

"Okay, let's get started" Diego said

They waited for hours without getting anything from her and Diego thought she had killed Nikolay. There was no need to send the address again if she had killed him because the Police would find his body. He paced up and down the room waiting for her call. The virtue of patience had left him.

"When will she call?"

"I didn't even save the number so I can't reach her" he said

"Don't expect her to use the same number she used in calling the first time" Sean said

"Oh, I've got a text!" Diego said

"Go on" Sean urged

"Let's get going" Sean said after Diego read the text

"Sir, another news regarding Diego Enterprise is airing now and the press are outside your house making a ruckus asking for an interview" an agent informed

"Tell Claudia not to open the door. I'll be back with my son" he said and walked away with Sean and some of the agents

"I hope this goes according to plan" he said

"She's out numbered, it'll go according to plan"