Lee lay on the mattress, trying to focus on the angry voices in the other room. He could hear Julie arguing with a man and then he heard a cry of pain. “ What’s going on?” He cried but no one answered. He pulled himself up on an elbow, and strained to hear what was happening.
She pushed Williams to the floor. “I warned you. Now you’ll pay for all the times you touched me.” She stabbed him in the right thigh as he tried to crawl away.
“No, Julie, please. I’ll go away.” He felt the knife penetrate his left calf and cried out again.
Lee heard someone calling Julie’s name and he did the same. “Julie what’s going on?” Adrenaline began to take hold and for the first time since his ordeal began he could think clearly. “Help me. I’m in here. She has me chained. Whoever’s out there please help me.”
Julie could hear ‘her’ Captain but was to busy with Brent to pay attention to the man in the other room. She stabbed at Williams again and again till he was a mass of bleeding wounds.
“Julie, please...let...me go. I ...won’t.... tell anyone...where.... where you...are.” he said, pain and blood loss rapidly breaking up his sentences.
She continued to stab and stab the man with her knife until her arm felt like it would drop off. “There’s no way you’ll tell any one anything now. You louse! I waited so long to do that to you. You’ll never touch me again.”
“I’m sorry Crane.” He said as the last spark of life left his eyes.
She turned her back on the body of the man she had murdered and walked into the room where Crane was straining against his chains.
“ So, you can still fight the drug. I’ll get you another dose in a minute but, first you have to be punished.” She said as she angrily drove the blade of her knife into his upper right thigh.
Lee felt as if his leg was on fire and he screamed in agony.
She pulled the knife out and without a word went into the other room.
The adrenaline left his body as quickly as it had come and he slipped under the drugs influence again. His mind wandered and he found himself on Seaview. He was in the warmth of his control room with his friends Admiral Nelson and Chip Morton. They were alive in his dreams and he longed to stay there.
Julie’s anger began to subside as she mixed the Ativan and water. By the time she went into his room she was humming happily to herself. “Wake up, darling, I have something for you.”
Lee resisted the hated voice that tugged at his consciousness but found he was slowly losing the battle. “I don’t want any.” He said when he saw her holding a glass.
“You have to drink it, my darling. It will make you feel better.” She forced him into a sitting position and helped him drink the water.
“What are you giving me?”
“Its just water, Darling.” She lied.
“Water and what else? Every time you make me drink it I can’t think straight. Please stop doing this.”
“When you learn who’s in charge. For now I need to look after your leg.”
“It hurts,” he stated flatly.
“Of course it hurts. Next time we have company you will keep your mouth shut, Right.” When he didn’t answer immediately she pressed on his leg wound until he cried out again in pain. “Right?” she said again.
“YES! ” he replied through gritted teeth, painfully aware of how much power she held over him, and of how helpless he was against her. ‘Helpless…. that’s what this is…helpless!!’
Julie loved the feeling of power. “You really are mine, you know,” she told him as she ran her hands over his bare chest. And soon I’ll prove that to you.” She told him.
“Never!” he said as the combined effects of the pain and the drug took over to rob him of consciousness anew.
“Never say never, my darling.” She said as she lovingly kissed his injured leg. Deftly she tore the leg off the pants, and reached for the wrappings she brought in with the drugged water. She took the disinfectant and poured it liberally on the open wound. Lee moaned in pain in his unconscious state, and she placed a large square of white over the jagged wound, and then bound it tightly. Assured that he would not bleed any further, she lay down beside him, and pulled him close to her.
Commander Matty Weaver Morton came back to Nelson’s office to find both men waiting anxiously. “Nothing’s changed.” She said downhearted. “I’m sorry but every idea we came up with just doesn’t pan out
“Damn! How can they have just disappeared like this?” Nelson said, frustrated by the lack of information.
“She has Williams helping her. He’s a mercenary without any need for money. He comes from a rich family and owes allegiance to no one. She must have something other than money to offer him. Until one of them shows up there seems to be nothing we can do, except wait and pray.” Chip said quietly.
“Maybe they left the city altogether, and that’s why we can’t find them.” Matty said.
“I don’t think so. I think they’re still close.” Nelson voice sounded positive.
Matty began to wonder just what the connection was between these three special men. “Sir, what makes you say that.” She asked Nelson.
“I’m really not sure. Call it whatever you like, intuition, sixth sense, psychic connection… it’s gotten us through more rough times than I care to remember. Chip knows what I’m talking about, right Chip?”
Morton nodded. “ She hasn’t left the city. We’re going to find her hiding somewhere close by.”
“You sound so sure. I just hope when we find them Lee’s ok.” Matty told them.
“She’s always been obsessed with Lee. She’s killed at least four people she thought were trying to keep her from him. She’s tried to kill several others including Chip and myself. There’s just no telling how far she’ll go. Lee’s in trouble, serious trouble, and we have to do something about it soon.” Nelson told them somberly.
“I agree, Admiral. What’s our next move?” Chip asked.
“We get out on the streets and look in every alley, building, and, vacant lot. Whatever it takes to find Lee Crane, we’ll do it.” Nelson said forcefully.
“Sir, I think the search will have to wait till tomorrow, at least for you two. Jamie asked me to make you both go home. I know Karen’s away with the dive team and I’m sure she’d want you to stay with Chip and me for tonight. No arguments! I know I’m tired and you both look like hell. A good night’s sleep and we’ll be more clearheaded in the morning. In the meantime, Sharkey and the men are continuing the search, and they will call me if they have any news.”
“I know you’re right, but...” Chip started.
“Sorry Chip. We’re going home” She turned her full attention on Nelson, “ Admiral, look, I know you called Karen. I also know you never told her the whole truth.” Seeing Nelson’s chagrined look she grabbed the opening. “If you don’t want her to learn the truth from a concerned friend I will call her and tell her everything and I mean everything. Get your things together because you’ll also be coming home with us.” She said, amused at the look on the faces of both men.
“That’s blackmail,” Nelson told her knowing he had lost the argument before it had even begun.
“Call it what you will. Sharkey will co-ordinate the search for tonight and let us know if anything comes up. Let’s go gentlemen. Your beds wait! Oh and Admiral, be warned I will contact Karen if I find you doing anything you shouldn’t be,” She said, smiling as she held the door open.
“ Nothing Chief.” A frustrated Riley told Chief Sharkey. “We’ve gone over every inch of these warehouses. Nothing.”
“It’s so damn frustrating. This is where she held the Skipper the last time she kidnapped him. I figured she’d be too smart to use it again, but, we had to try.”
“Where to next Chief?” Riley asked, anxiously.
“We meet Kowalski and Patterson, grab a bite to eat and start on the rest of the buildings.”
“Do you think the Skipper’s still alive, Chief?”
“Of course he is!” Sharkey blustered. “You know the Skipper, he’s probably charming the lady into letting him go.” He continued with a small grin.
“From what I remember of that woman she was anything but a lady.”
“True, but the Skipper has ways. He’ll be ok until we find him.” Sharkey told the rating confidently, even though he wasn’t feeling confident any longer.
“I hope so Chief… I sure hope so.” Riley said as they got into the Chief’s car.
Julie was very pleased with herself. ‘I have you, darling, and Brent can no longer hurt me. He’ll never touch me again.’ She thought happily. She got up from the mattress and pulled on her discarded clothing. She smiled as she looked down at the sleeping form of Lee Crane. She kissed his forehead gently and lovingly before leaving the room.
Julie looked down at the body of Brent Williams as she walked through the door into the outer room. ‘What the hell am I going to do with you?’ She thought looking around the living room area of the apartment. Straining against the weight of his body she began to pull him slowly to the door leading to the public hallway. By the time she got Brent’s body to the door she was tired and out of breathe. She dropped the dead weight and walked to the kitchen area for a glass of water.
Julie finished her drink and walked back to Brent’s body. She looked down at her bloodstained clothing and kicked the dead man in the ribs. “Look at the mess you made!” she yelled, not even realizing she had spoken aloud.
She opened the door and began to pull the dead man towards another part of the abandoned building. Grateful for the dull lighting Williams had been able to provide. “Can’t have you contaminating our living quarters now, can we?” she asked, smiling down at dead man as if expecting an answer. It took her nearly an hour and a half to get Brent’s body in another apartment at the other end of the hall.
‘Well done’, she thought to herself as she left the body lying in a bloody heap upon the dirt-covered floor. Julie went back towards her own quarters thinking about what she would use to clean the blood off the floors in the hallway. When she was almost back to her door she stopped, ‘what the hell am I thinking, I don’t need to clean this. No one comes down here but me,’ she laughed as she walked into her apartment. ‘I do have to clean this mess though,’ she thought looking at the bloodstains on the floor.
Julie checked the time and saw it was 0500. ‘Time for more of your medication darling,’ she thought as she went to get water and the Ativan.
“Lee, darling, wake up! Sweetheart. I have something for you.” Julie talked soothingly to the sleeping man. “Come on honey, it will make you feel better. That’s it, open those beautiful eyes and look at me.” She told him as he slowly opened his sleep filled eyes. “Open your mouth and drink this.”
“Um, what is it?” he asked, sounding like someone in a drunken stupor.
“Just what the doctor prescribed for you. Remember he was here last night.” Julie easily lied to him.
Lee’s eyes seemed to brighten for a moment as he said, “Jamie was... here. When?”
“Drink this and I’ll tell you all about it.”
He sipped some of the water and lay back. “I don’t understand why Jamie would come here. Why would he leave me with a madwoman?” he asked in a confused voice. “I want to go home!”
She forced the rest of the drug into him and quickly stood up, “You ungrateful son of a bitch. I am not a madwoman. I am a woman in love. Why can’t you understand that?” She threw the empty glass at him, cutting him above the right eye, “What must I do to prove my love for you.” She cried tears of anger and frustration streaming down her cheeks. “See what you’ve done Lee Crane. I swore I would never cry again after you left me and here you are making me cry all over again.” She screamed as she threw herself on top of the helpless man and began to beat him with her fists.
Lee Crane could do nothing to defend himself. He tried to raise his arms to cover his face but in his drug induced weakness she was easily able to knock his manacled hands away and strike him repeatedly. He never knew when she stood and left his battered and bruised body alone. The only thing he knew was pain.
Pain in his leg, his wrists, his ankles, his neck, but the worst pain came from the wounds on his head. Blood streamed in lines from the cuts on his face and lips. He was pretty sure she had broken his nose as well. For once he wished the drug she was using would take control and ease the pain. It was all so helpless and he was sure he was going to die very soon.
His mind slowly drifted to thoughts of his family, ‘Robert, I love you. Mom looks after him for me. Harry and Chip will help you with him, if I’m gone. That’s wrong. They can’t help you. She killed them. I’m sorry Matty, Karen, and Robert. It’s all my fault.’ He sobbed quietly, afraid she would hear and come back in. ‘Robert, my son. Seaview, my boat and crew. Will I ever see you again?’ he thought as he slowly drifted from one nightmare world filled with a very real and dangerous Julie, to a nightmare world of Julie and a ghostly image of Captain Krueger.
“Admiral, Sharkey called. He wants to know if they should keep searching the warehouses.” Chip told Nelson as he walked into the Morton kitchen at 0600 the next morning.
“Did he say whether they found anything?” Nelson asked as he grabbed a cup and filled it with hot steaming coffee.
“Just empty buildings and rats.” Morton relayed.
“Rats, Lee hates rats. He told me why once.” Nelson said sadly.
“I can’t say I heard that one. Matty is not quite ready to go. Care to tell me what happened.” Chip asked to keep Nelson from going off on his own.
“Well,” Nelson began as he sat at the breakfast table. “It happened when he was five or six, I think. Lee was summering with some friends on a farm. He wondered away from the main house one morning without telling anyone where he was going. You know even as a kid Lee had a knack for finding trouble.”
Chip nodded in agreement and encouragement and Nelson continued with his tale. “He wanted a closer look at an old rusted tractor. He was almost upon it when he fell through some rotten timbers covering an abandoned root cellar. The fall never hurt Lee but it was dark and he couldn’t climb out. He could hear scratching noises all around him and became frightened like any kid that age would. Now, the owners of the farm had just realized Lee was missing and they started a frantic search. Lee meanwhile was beginning to panic as large furry animals began to scurry over his hands and he jumped to his feet screaming for help. I can’t even remember the name of the family Lee was staying with but I guess it really doesn’t matter. But, by the time they heard him and realized what had happened he was terrified. The father jumped into the cellar and shone a flashlight around until he saw Lee standing in a corner. There were rats everywhere. The family had them exterminated the next day, but to this day Lee has a major fear of rats.” Nelson saw that he had finished his coffee and put the empty cup in the sink.
“I’ll never tease him about rats again.” Chip said meaningfully.
“What’s this about rats,” Matty asked as she came into the kitchen area.
“Lee hates rats,” Chip said with a smile for his wife. “I’ll tell you about it someday.”
“All right,” Matty said as she kissed her husband lovingly. “I just called Helen and gave her an update on where things stand.”
“How is she handling things?” Nelson asked, concern for Lee’s mother evident in his voice.
“She hides things. A lot like her son, I guess.” Matty told them sadly. “ She says she’s ok, but I could hear the weariness in her voice. She says she’s ok with keeping the kids with her while we search for Lee.”
“I think our first stop should be police headquarters. We can check with Frank, see if they’ve found anything new.” Nelson told them.
“I would also advise putting a bulletin out on the TV and radio stations. Put pictures of Lee and Julie out on the streets. Ask if anyone has seen them, and offer a reward for information leading to the discovery of her hideout.” Matty suggested.
“Would you handle that part for me, Matty. I don’t want to do any interviews for TV. You know what they’re like. We wouldn’t be there five minutes and they’d be asking what kind of research NIMR was into. Instead of focusing on Lee Crane.” Nelson asked, confident in her ability to do whatever needed to be done and see that it was done properly.
“If that’s what you want sir, consider it done. Where will I find you when I’m finished at the TV station?”
“Call Angie and let her know when you’re through and she’ll let you know where we are?” Chip told her as he led her to the door. Kissing her good-bye he turned back to Nelson, “Are you ready to go Sir?” Nelson nodded his head and grabbed his jacket as they left for the police station.
Fred just couldn’t believe his turn in luck. Months of living in the alley with nothing but the clothes on his back, eating whatever scraps of food people threw his way. Bumming money for alcohol and cigarettes, his luck had finally changed for the better.
Three nights ago he had watched as two men with guns had come into his alley and thrown out this perfectly clean uniform. He had waited all night for them to come back. When they didn’t he had claimed it, even the underwear. ‘It’s mine now,’ he thought to himself as he picked up the clothing, and began to put them on his filthy body. They seemed a little tight but he forced his body into them.
That had been yesterday morning as near as he could tell, and things had definitely changed for the better. The old saying that ladies liked men in uniform was true. After washing up in a laundry mat he’d gone to a bar he’d never been in before and the fair ladies had bought him drinks all night. He was on his way home after spending the night with a very buxom blonde. Smiling to himself he walked with his head down wanting the safety of ‘his’ alley.
Sharkey and Riley were back on the streets after catching a couple of hours sleep onboard Seaview. They were working there way through some rundown dilapidated buildings when Riley stopped short and pointed at someone across the street “Chief, that man’s wearing the Skipper’s uniform.”
Sharkey looked but saw no one. “Riley, get serious, we have a job to do.” Angry with the young man for pulling pranks when things weren’t looking good for the Skipper.
“I am serious Chief. He just went down that alley. We have to catch him.” he said and took off in the direction he’d seen the man disappear.
Sharkey had no choice but to follow, even though it was at a slower pace. He rounded the corner just in time to see Riley grab the man and turn him around to face him. “Where is he?” Riley shouted at the frightened man.
Fred was terrified of the angry looking man in front of him. “Whaddaya talkin’ about? Lemme alone!” he shouted trying to tear away from Riley’s grasp. “HELP, POLICE!” he shouted as another man came into view.
“Riley, let him go.” Sharkey ordered.
“But Chief look at what he’s wearing. That’s the Seaview insignia.” Riley angrily pointed out.
Sharkey stared at the filthy uniform and saw that it was indeed the Seaview insignia. Anger showed in his eyes and on his face. “Where did you get that uniform?” he asked pointedly.
“It’s nonna ya business! I foun’ it an’ it’s mine. HELP! POLICE!” he screamed again.
“Look,” Sharkey said a little more calmly. “We just want to know where you found it.”
“I don’ gotta tell you nothin’.” Fred told him.
“No you don’t. I tell you what we’ll do. You wanted the police to help you, so let’s go to the station and see what they have to say.” Sharkey watched to see if the mans face would show any reaction. Surprisingly the man looked somewhat relieved. Somehow Sharkey knew this man was innocent of any wrongdoing. Maybe they could get him to talk after all. “Riley, let the man go.” He told the rating.
“But, Chief,” Riley whined.
“No ‘buts’ Riley. I think we may be able to help one another. Will you listen to what I have to say?” he asked the shaking man Riley was holding.
“OK…. I’ll listen ya get this bully ta get his hands offa my new clothes.”
“THEY’RE NOT YOUR clothes.” Riley snarled as he let the man go.
“Riley, be quiet. What’s your name?” Sharkey asked in a much lighter tone.
“Fred.” The man answered suspiciously.
“OK Fred, want to take a trip to the police station and tell them where you found the clothing?”
“Only if I ken keep ‘em.” Fred stated.
“We’ll see what we can work out.” Sharkey told him as they walked out of the alley onto the sidewalk.
Julie’s anger seethed as she paced back and forth outside her apartment. ‘I better stay out here until I calm down. Or you and I will both be sorry. Why can’t you just love me Lee Crane?’
“Just who the hell are you?” Julie jumped at the sound of an angry female voice coming from the apartment two doors down.
“None of you business!” she stated malevolently.
“It is my business when someone comes into my building and claims one of my apartments.”
“You don’t own this building. I CAN STAY HERE AS LONG AS I WANT!” Julie screamed angrily at the woman.
“I’ve been living here since it was abandoned. That makes it mine. NOW GET OUT!” she yelled back.
Julie turned and walked back into her apartment. She picked up the knife she’d used on Williams and smiling maliciously she walked down to the closed door where the woman had stood. She didn’t bother knocking. Turning the knob she forced her way inside. The other woman turned from her counter, terrified by the knife-wielding woman before her.
“What are you doing?”
Julie didn’t answer. Grinning evilly she strode towards the defenceless woman and lifted the knife above her head. The woman lifted her arms to defend herself but felt the knife cut deeply into her forearms. Blood streamed from the deep gashes and she screamed. “NO PLEASE. I’M SORRY. I’LL LEAVE! JUST STOP THIS PLEASE!”
Julie ignored the agonized pleas of the cowering woman before her and brought the knife down again and again. She stopped when she realized the woman had ceased screaming and was lying in a pool of her own blood. She smiled as she checked the woman’s pulse and found it to be nonexistent. She wiped the blade of the knife in the woman’s clothing and left the apartment, closing the door behind her.
All the anger had left her body in the violent outpouring. Julie walked happily back to her own apartment. She picked up a pan and filled it with warm water and soap. She also filled a glass with cold water and added one of the Ativan. She walked into the room she shared with Lee Crane.
“Wake up Dearest.” She said. Gently she cradled his head in her arms and lifted the drugged water to his lips. “Lee, come on baby. This will make you feel better. It will make the pain go away.”
“W...will....it....it make.......you.....go.....a.....away?” he asked hopefully.
She smiled down at the thoroughly beaten man in her arms. “Now darling. Let’s not talk like that. I don’t want to punish you anymore. Drink your medicine and you’ll feel better.”
Lee felt himself swallow reflexively, his body needing the liquid. He didn’t know how much blood loss he had suffered at the hands of this woman. The Ativan was taking control of the pain and he felt himself floating away from reality once again. His mind wondered in its confused state as he felt Julie doing something to his wounds. Unable to comprehend what she was doing he used the remainder of his strength to fight her. His arms and legs were barely movable because of his bonds and he soon lay back frustrated.
“I’m just cleaning you up Lee. I’ll take good care of you.” She told him calmly.
Lee heard her voice and asked, “Why did you do this to me?”
“It was your own fault my Darling. Remember you called me a madwoman. I know you didn’t mean it but I was very upset. I love you so much and you’ll come to realize you love me as well.” She told him.
“Julie, please let me go.” He asked her softly.
She looked down at the man she was washing and smiled, “We will never be separated again. I will make sure we stay together forever. You might as well resign yourself to that fact.”
‘I’ll never love you Julie,’ he thought to himself. ‘I don’t remember ever hating anyone as much as I do you.’ Suddenly his mind drifted away from the pain and anguish he felt and he found himself walking his private beach with Cathy and Robert at his side. He smiled peacefully.
Julie watched as he closed his swollen eyes. She saw the smile come over his face and thought how handsome he was even with the broken nose, blackened eyes, and numerous cuts and bruises. She tenderly kissed his sleeping battered face. Unaware that his mind was with the woman he had truly loved. She continued washing his body until all traces of blood disappeared. She could tell that the bruising on his upper torso was extreme and covered most of his chest and still she felt no remorse for what she had done. ‘You have to love me Lee. Please, I need you!’ she thought and lay down beside the dreaming man.
Admiral Harriman Nelson felt hopeless. Detective Bartlette had informed them that nothing new had turned up since Lee’s disappearance three days ago. Police informers couldn’t or wouldn’t help. He turned to Chip Morton and read the same thoughts in his eyes. “We might as well check with Angie, see if she heard from Matty.” Nelson said dejectedly.
“I’ll call Angie and be right back.” Morton said leaving Nelson alone at the door to the police Precinct.
Nelson’s mind kept drifting to the first time Lee Crane had tested the security of Seaview. ‘He was a good choice as Seaview’s Captain, then, and in the years that followed he had become an even better submarine Captain. He was loved and respected by his crew, and for that matter his Admiral, I’ve come to think of you as my own son,’ he thought. ‘We will find you Lee. Just please, stay alive.’ He was so engrossed in his thoughts that he didn’t register Sharkey and Riley until they opened the glass door and entered the precinct. “What are you two doing here?” he asked.
“OH, Admiral. I’m glad you’re still here. We found this guy in our search area. He has the Skipper’s clothes.” Sharkey quickly told him.
Nelson looked at the man Riley was standing next to. His eyes opened wide in astonishment when he saw it had the Seaview insignia and could belong to no one but Lee Crane. “Where did you get that uniform?” he asked quietly. The shaky quality of his voice betraying the anger he felt towards the man wearing his friend’s clothes.
“I tole dese here guys I found ‘em.” Fred trembled in fear of this mans anger.
“Where?” Nelson asked with authority.
“I...I.... found ‘em in the alley where I been livin’. They’re mine and you can’t take ‘em from me.” Fred cried.
Chip Morton and Frank Bartlette came over to see what the commotion was. Bartlette spoke first. “What’s going on Harry?”
“This man is wearing Lee’s uniform. He said he found it in an alley.” Nelson told them.
“Is that right?” Bartlette directed his question at Fred, who nodded his head quickly. “Where is this alley?”
“Just north of the waterfront, there are some old abandoned warehouses there.” Sharkey told Bartlette. “That’s where we found him. He says he lives in there.”
“What’s your name?” Bartlette queried the man in question.
“Fred.” He answered.
“Fred what?” Bartlette asked an edge of impatience creeping into his voice.
“Just Fred, it’s been so long since anyone used my full name that I can’t remember what it was.”
“Well Fred, I’m Detective Frank Bartlette. Would you be willing to show us exactly where you found the clothing?”
“Wha’s in it fer me?” Fred asked
“What do you want?” Nelson asked the scruffy man.
“If I show you where I foun’ the uniform can I keep it?”
“I can’t do that.” Nelson said and watched as the man’s eyes grew angry and his nostrils flared. “Wait a minute Fred. Give me a chance to explain. I can’t let you have that uniform but I can get you some new clothes. Clothes that haven’t belonged to anyone else.” He was relieved to see his words were having the desired effect, as the man seemed to relax his stance.
“I wan new suits an shirts an a tie an....an a.... a place ter live.” He stammered excitedly.
“Wait a minute Fred, there has to be a limit to how much I can give you.” Nelson interrupted him.
“Givin you my clothes and showin’ you where I found ‘em must be worth somethin’.” He said. ‘I think my ships about to come in, he thought with a grin.
Nelson watched the change in Fred’s facial features and knew he was about to become demanding. “You’re right, it is worth somethin’.” He told him softly. ‘More than you’ll ever know.’ He thought sadly. “Sit down a minute and I’ll tell you a little story.” He indicated a chair next to an empty desk and Fred moved to sit in it.
“What story?” he asked.
“The uniform you’re wearing belongs to a very dear friend of mine. He’s also the Captain of my Submarine.”
“That still don’t mean nothin to me.”
Morton and Bartlette remained silent as they listened to the conversation-taking place at the desk.
“Just let me finish. My friends name is Lee Crane and he was kidnapped a few days ago. He’s saved my life and just about every crewman on my sub. Captain Crane has a young son at home and the boy deserves to know his father. He was wearing that uniform,” Nelson said indicating the clothes Fred wore, “the night he disappeared.”
“I had nothin to do with any kidnapping. I tole you I foun it.”
“We know you didn’t Fred, but if you don’t tell us what you know then a good man will probably die. I promise I’ll do what I can to help if you’ll just show us where you found it.”
Fred looked at the three men standing next to the desk and remembered a time when he hadn’t been so down on his luck. He’d had his own friends and they’d tried everything to get him to stop drinking after his son had been killed in a car accident but he hadn’t listened to them. He always felt as if he’d let his son down. Here was a chance for him to make up for his own weaknesses, “I’ll take ya there.” He said his eye’s reflecting the deep sorrow he felt.
“Thank you Fred.” Nelson said and turned to Frank Bartlette.
“I’ll call forensics and have them meet us there.” The detective told Nelson before he had a chance to speak. Turning his attention back to Fred he asked, “Did you happen to see who threw out the clothes?”
“It was dark.”
“Do you remember how many there were?” Nelson asked.
“I only saw two and they seemed to be in a hurry.” Fred answered. “They jus threw this toards the old dumpster and took off.”
“Did you see where they went?” The Admiral asked hopefully.
“I followed ’em ta the street and saw em get inta a car at that condemned apartment building. You know, the one they’re gonna demolish today.”
Nelson looked at Bartlette with horror filled eyes, “Frank we have to hurry. I’m pretty sure Lee is in that building.”
“What makes you so sure?” Bartlette questioned as he grabbed his keys from his desk.
“Just a bad feeling. Come on Chip. Sharkey you and Riley follow in your car.”
“Let’s go. Fred you’ll come with us.”
Julie studied the form of the man she loved. ‘He really is rather handsome,’ she thought. ‘I could probably remove the chains but I like having him helpless like this. He looks so peaceful. I adore you Lee. I want to feel your strong arms around me, loving me, and only me. Why did we ever let my father break us up.’ She was becoming agitated again and knew if she didn’t leave she would be unable to stop herself from lashing out at him again in her anger. ‘You could have fought for me Lee. You could have told my father we loved each other but no you had to leave and join the Navy. Well I have you now and I don’t intend to let anyone take you away from me ever again.’
Lee Crane knew something was wrong. His mind was in turmoil. He tried opening his eyes but nothing happened. He felt himself being watched and knew there was nothing he could do about it. He sensed a presence so deadly and evil that his whole body shuddered in terror. ‘JULIE’ he thought and a small whimper escaped his lips before he could stop it.
The large dosage of drugs she’d been forcing on him over the last few days were now causing vivid and horrifying hallucinations. Perspiration formed on his body as he realized there was no escape from whatever was making this happen to him. ‘I have to leave. I can’t stay here any longer. Too much pain. Admiral Nelson and Chip both dead. I’ll never see anyone I love again and it’s all my fault. I have to get out of here!’ he screamed silently.
Julie watched as her captive began to thrash around fitfully in his sleep. “Lee, darling it’s me Julie. Can you hear me? I love you and I’ll protect you.” She cooed softly putting her hands on either side of his face. “Come on darling wake up and look at me. We need each other.”
Although Lee knew he should hate the sweetly talking voice he was unable to stop the hypnotic effect it had on his drugged senses. He couldn’t remember whom the voice belonged to or why he should hate it. Angry with himself for not being able to think clearly he lashed out with his bound hands.
Julie had been leaning close to Crane when he lashed out and his bound hands connected with her mouth. She reeled and staggered away from him as he continued to thrash about like a shark out of water. “Lee what’s wrong?” she cried moving quickly back to his side as his whole body started to shake and thrash, fighting against the continued restraints. ‘Convulsions!’ she thought. “Come on Lee wake up!” she shouted holding his arms to keep him from striking her again. Her ministrations had an adverse effect and she knew she needed to do something. Standing she ran to the outer room and grabbed the bottle of Ativan. She shook out one tablet and quickly added two more before dissolving them in a small amount of water. Julie returned to the room and found things had calmed down very little. She struggled with Crane until she had his head raised and forced the liquid down his throat. She held his head back forcing him to swallow in order to breath.
Lee opened his eyes and looked at the figure that held his head. He gagged as the thick liquid was forced into his mouth and his head was pulled back. He had no strength left to fight with and swallowed the vile tasting potion. “I hate you!” he said softly and closed his eyes to the nightmare he couldn’t face.
Julie was devastated by what she heard. “No! You love me Lee Crane and somehow I’ll prove it to you.” She kissed his perspiring forehead and left the room.
“That’s where I found it,” Fred told them as they entered the alley. “Right there by that dumpster.”
Bartlette signalled for the two-man forensics team to get to work and asked Fred to point out the building where the men had left their car.
“I’s over dere. The third one, wit the fence aroun it.” Fred told them pointing to a building where a gang of men were watching a large wrecking ball swing down and into the brownstone walls.
“Oh, God.” Morton yelled running towards the building. “We’re to late.” He screamed as he ran.
Francis Sharkey watched as Riley also ran towards the building in question. He’d always been a fast runner and was able to pass Chip Morton. He forced his way through the throng of workers and into the building through the broken door.
“Stop!” Morton, Nelson, Sharkey and Bartlette screamed in unison. Horrified they watched helplessly as the huge wrecking ball was raised once again and began to make it’s second swing at the building.
“Hey Smitty, hold it. Something’s wrong.” One of the onlookers yelled at the wrecking machine operator.
“It’s to late, I’ve already started the second run,” the operator yelled back over the noise of the machinery. The ball hit the building with a resounding thud and was again pulled back. This time it remained swinging in the air as Smitty waited to see what was happening.
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