Author: Leslie Agostino (leslieago@netzero.net)
Title: INTO THE SHADOWS -- Part Eight
Timeline: This story takes place in the third season shortly after the episode Cliffy
Summary: The Danko’s become
targets of a crazed killer and the rookies race against time to catch him.
After Ryker left, Mike locked and chained the door. Then he went down the hall to check on Jill.
When he reached the bedroom, he saw that she was waiting for him.
"You okay?" Mike asked, as sat down beside her.
"I am now," Jill replied, as she reached out to hug him. "Ryker sounded really pissed."
"He is. How much did you hear?"
"Enough to be surprised. Did you know he thought of me like that?"
"Like a daughter? We’ll you’re not that much older than the girl he put up for adoption. Why shouldn’t he feel that way?"
"I don’t know. I mean, I know how he feels about us, but I never realized it went that deep."
"Well, Ryker has always been a mystery. At least you know how he feels about you."
"And you. He feels the same way about all you guys."
"I guess so. Listen, baby, I didn’t come in here to talk about Ryker. I came in to be with you."
Jill leaned in and kissed him. "Is Ryker serious?"
"About what?"
"Arresting everyone who’s helping Toscano?"
"Yeah. Including Galina. She tops his list."
"I don’t understand Toscano. Mike, if he wanted to kill me, why didn’t he? Why did he just leave the rose and the note?"
"What did the note say again?" Mike asked.
Jill got up and went into the bathroom to retrieve the rose and note from the garbage can.
Mike grinned as she handed them to him and climbed back into bed.
"I hope not all your flowers end up in the garbage," he said.
"Not all of them. Just the ones that give me the creeps. No more roses, okay?"
"You got it." Mike read the note again. "Sounds like he’s trying to prove something."
"Well, he’s certainly proved it. Mike, his actions don’t make any sense."
Mike was thoughtful. Finally, he said, "Yeah, babe, to me they do. This note wasn’t just for you. He’s also showing me how close he can get. I have a hunch I know why he didn’t try to kill you tonight."
"Why?"
"Because I was at Terry’s."
Jill was confused. "I thought that’s what he wanted. To get me alone and make his move."
"Maybe in the beginning." Mike rose to his feet and began to pace. It was starting to make sense. Mike turned to face her. "When he first started calling you, what was your impression of him?"
"He’s nuts."
Mike grinned as he sat down. "Besides that. What did you believe it was all about? Love or hate?"
"Well, if those are the choices. Love in a twisted way. I mean, who does a self-proclaimed savior, save? The ones he thinks he loves."
"Exactly. When he called yesterday, I got him to admit a few things. One of them was he wants to kill you. However, he also said I might get to watch."
"Watch? You’d kill him."
"True, I would. However, can a guy as far gone as Toscano is believe I would try or would he believe he’s too powerful to be stopped."
"Wait a minute. You’ve lost me."
"In the beginning, it wasn’t personal. He was daring me to stop him because we all thought I was the first cop on the scene. You don’t alienate your co-conspirator so to speak by going after his wife."
Jill was totally confused. "But, that’s what he’s been doing."
"Not really. Until yesterday, he wanted to ‘save’ you. You were the Chosen One. That means one of two things. Even Galina wasn’t sure which reason he would have to go after you.
"Reason one, a sacrifice. As scary as that sounds, that is one option.
"Reason two, what a better person to bring over to the dark side than someone like you."
"Wait a minute. If I was the one he wanted to bring over. Who was he going to be the sacrifice?" Seeing the look in Mike’s eyes, she asked, her eyes wide, "You?"
"Think about it. A cop as a sacrifice. One, it pushes you right over the edge and two, it shows the world that not even a cop’s safe from this madness."
"And now, because I didn’t talk to him…"
"He did call it a betrayal. Now, baby, it’s reversed. Either way, in his mind, he wins. He gets his sacrifice and he brings someone over."
"He’s sick. If he thinks he can get away with this. What if you still don’t…"
Mike leaned in and kissed her. "We’ll catch him, babe. You have to believe that."
"Want to know what I want?"
"What?"
"I want to forget, for one night, that any of this is happening. I want to forget Toscano and how much he scares the hell out of me."
"Mike, I want to make love to you. All night if you have the stamina for it."
Grinning as he traced a line down her jaw. "I have the stamina," he assured her. "Are you sure…"
Jill pulled him to her and kissed him. "I’m sure," she replied. "I need you, Mike. Can’t we forget, for at least tonight, there’s no one else? Please?"
Mike brushed the hair from her eyes. "You know you never have to ask."
Jill took his hand in hers and said, "Tonight, I do. Lately it’s been.."
Mike kissed her hand. "I know, baby. I’m sorry."
"It’s not just you, Mike. I haven’t exactly shown enthusiasm lately."
Mike looked at her. "What’s wrong, baby?"
"I feel like if this goes on much longer, I’m going to lose you." Jill looked at him with tears in her eyes. "I don’t ever want that to happen. I can’t…"
Mike pulled her into his arms. "You won’t. Nothing’s going to happen. This time tomorrow, Toscano will be behind bars and our lives can get back to normal."
"What ever that is. Mike, I don’t want to talk about this any more. All I want is you."
Mike gently, hungrily kissed her. Jill responded as greedily. She needed him so badly. Especially since Toscano broke in tonight.
Mike slowly inched her nightgown off her shoulders as he planted kisses. He needed her as much as she needed him. He had come so close to losing her, losing everything he ever wanted.
Jill reached for him and pulled him down, ripping his shirt open.
"Please, Mike," she pleaded. "I need you."
Mike was starting to take off his jeans when the telephone rang, destroying the moment.
Jill tried to stop him as he got off the bed. "Don’t answer it," she said, grabbing his arm. "Just…"
"I have to," Mike said, gently pulling his arm out of her grip. He went to the receiver as Jill snatched up her robe, angrily threw it on and stormed out of the bedroom, slamming the bedroom door closed behind her.
Mike grimaced, as he said, "This better be good."
"I told you I could get to her, Danko," Toscano said.
"Toscano, I swear to you, you’re a dead man."
"Did Jill like my rose?"
"You know something, Toscano, I don’t even know why I’m wasting my time with you. You have no guts. You’re a coward. Only cowards do what you’re doing. Hiding in the shadows. Wanna know what’ll get my attention? Try taking me on. Just you and me. You leave Jill out of it."
"Can’t do that, Danko. I’ve waited a long time for her. She and I will be one."
"She’ll never be what you want her to be. So back off or you’ll live to regret it."
"Oh really? I don’t think…"
"You’re not in control of this conversation. Go to hell, Toscano. By the way, tell Galina to enjoy her freedom while it lasts."
"What are you talking about?"
"You’re so damn smart. Why don’t you figure it out."
Mike slammed the receiver down, then he shoved the phone down onto the floor. Taking a deep breath to calm down, he went in search of his wife.
He found her in the living room staring out the sliding glass doors. She didn’t turn around when he entered.
"I’m sorry, babe," he said.
"Sorry doesn’t cut it, Mike. Not tonight."
Mike sighed. He knew he was in trouble the minute he reached for the telephone. What he didn’t realize was how much he had hurt Jill with his choice. He was about to find out.
"Will you at least turn around and look at me?" he asked. "I deserve that much."
Jill turned around angrily. "Right now, you don’t deserve much of anything. I asked for one night, Mike. One night to forget you were a cop. You couldn’t even give me fifteen minutes."
"What if it was Ryker telling me…"
"But it wasn’t Ryker was it? It was Toscano as it always is. What did he tell you this time? He’s sorry he missed you? He’s determined to kill me? What did he tell you that was more important than us?"
"Will you knock it off? I don’t need this right now!"
"I needed you! Lucky me! As usual, you weren’t there!"
Mike knew this was coming. Jill had taken what happened tonight way to calmly. "How the hell was I suppose to know Toscano would break in?"
"I’m not talking about that, damn it! I was talking about what happened just now! I wanted, no needed to make love to you. I thought that was what you wanted too! After all, you haven’t laid a hand on me in four days. How do you think that makes me feel?"
Mike stared at her. Here they were, in the middle of some psycho’s twisted game and she’s bitching about the lack of sex in their marriage. He must be losing his mind.
Finally, he said, "Christ, Jill when did you want me to make love to you? During, before or after your nightmare? After I threw Terry out on his ass last night? After Ryker…"
"I just want you to love me," Jill interrupted. She said it so softly, Mike didn’t think he heard her. He did notice the tears streaming down her face as she turned away from him.
Without a word, Mike approached her. Gently, he turned Jill to face him and reached to wipe the tears from her eyes.
"I do love you, baby," he said. "God, you’re the most important thing in my life worth caring about."
"You have a funny way of showing it."
"I know and I’m sorry. I promise, when this is over, I’ll take you somewhere for a nice long weekend. You deserve that."
When Jill didn’t reply, he said, "Isn’t that what you want?"
"I want you, Mike."
"You have me, baby."
"Not all of you. Even when you’re here, your minds on Toscano and what he may or may not be doing. He has eighty percent of you while I get twenty. Call me selfish, but I want a hundred percent. I was hoping that’s what I would get tonight. As usual, everyone else got it. Ryker, Toscano, Terry. When is it going to be my turn?"
Mike sighed. He didn’t realize what his obsession with Toscano was doing to her. Some how he had to change that.
Pulling her into his arms, he said, "I’m sorry, baby. I didn’t mean to shut you out. Hell, I didn’t even realize I was doing that."
"Well, you are. It hurts, Mike. I know you’re trying to protect me, but every day that goes by is a day that pulls you further away from me. I’m scared that I’m going to lose you."
Mike kissed the top of her head. "I’m sorry I make you fell that way, Jill. You have to believe I love you. Even if I’m too stupid to show it. I promise I’ll try harder not to choose Toscano over you. I don’t want to lose you. Especially like this. Please, will you forgive me?"
Jill looked at him. He looked so sad, she didn’t have the heart or the right to say no. Not that she would have. She knew she was being unfair to him. Mike was trying so hard to keep it all together. Maybe harder then she was.
"I forgive you," she said. "Can you forgive me?"
"For what? You didn’t do anything wrong."
"Yes, I did. I had no right to be angry…"
Mike ran his hands up and down her arms. "You had every right in the world. You asked for one night. That isn’t much to ask for. I had no right to let Toscano or anyone else take that away from you. For that, I’m deeply and truly sorry."
Jill clung to him as he held her tight. "I love you, Mike," she said. "I should just be grateful for what I have right now."
"You deserve better, babe. You deserve more. I promise, I will make this up to you. I don’t know how, but I will make it up to you."
Jill forced a smile. "Don’t make promises you can’t keep, Danko. Just promise me, when this is over, I’ll get my husband back. Right now, that’s the only promise I want."
"You have it. I love you, babe. Please, don’t ever forget that. Toscano is making me crazy right now, but it doesn’t change how I feel about you."
Jill pulled away and turned back to the glass doors. Suddenly she felt chilled and not because of the cold.
Finally, she looked at Mike. "Is all this going to end, Mike? Is Ryker really going all out?"
"After Toscano broke in tonight, when Ryker saw how close I came to losing you tonight, he’s pulling out all the stops. There’s not going to hole deep enough for that sick son-of-a-bitch to slither into. We’re gonna get him, baby. It’s just a matter of time."
"The evidence you have, will it be enough to send him to death row?"
"The D.A. thinks so."
"What do you think?"
Mike smiled as he gently tugged on a lock of Jill’s hair. "I think I should start showing my wife just how much I deeply love her."
Jill looked at him, hope clearly evident in her eyes. "You don’t have to."
"I want to. This time, I’m gonna get it right. I may not have been able to give you one night, but I’ll give you as much as you want."
"As if we had no tomorrow?"
"Yeah. Even though we’ll have a lot of ‘em."
"Sometimes, I wonder," she muttered.
Mike ignored her comment as he bent his head down and kissed her. Gently at first and then more passionate as Jill responded. Gathering her into his arms, carried her all the while kissing her to the bedroom.
Tonight, he was determined to make all of her fears disappear and to show her the love she should have been given for days.
When Jill saw the telephone on the floor, she knew, for a few hours anyway, Mike was all hers. Heart, body and soul. For now, it was enough.
***
Later that night, Mike was jerked awake when Jill, in her restless sleep kicked him.
Sitting up, he turned on the light. Jill was in the midst of a violent nightmare.
He reached down to wake her up when she suddenly sat up and screamed. He started to pull her into his arms when Jill lashed out at him, punching him wildly.
"Don’t touch me!" she screamed. "Don’t hurt…"
Realizing she was still dreaming, Mike said, "Jill, it’s me. It’s Mike. You’re having a bad dream."
Suddenly Jill stopped fighting as she realized who was holding her. "Mike?" she asked, confused.
"You were having a nightmare," Mike explained, as he pulled her closer. "I tried to wake you up."
"Did I hit you?" Jill asked, mortified when she saw the rising bruise on his cheek and eye.
"Yeah. Don’t worry about it. I’ve had worse."
Jill burst into tears as he held her. "I’m so sorry, Mike," she cried. "I didn’t mean…"
"I know, baby." Mike held her as she buried her face in his chest. "It was just a bad dream. You’re safe now."
Mike rubbed her back as she slowly tried to pull herself together. She’d had nightmares before, but never so violent, at least in her mind as the one she’d had tonight. The fact that she’d lashed out at Mike, the man she loved, devastated her.
Finally, when her tears subsided, she looked up at him and said, "Can you forgive me? I never…"
Mike kissed her tenderly. "Baby, you were still dreaming. You had no idea who you were hitting. I’ll survive. Okay?" When Jill didn’t reply, Mike said, "You want to talk about it?"
Jill roughly pulled away from and got out of bed. "No!" she said. "I don’t want to talk about it! I don’t want to relive it! I don’t even want to think about it!"
"Jill, it might help if you…"
"No! You would only end up hating me! I can’t…"
Mike got out of bed and went to her. As he pulled her into his arms she started to shake.
"It was a dream, Jill. I could never hate you. You’ve got to believe that."
"I’m going to get some ice for your eye." Jill pulled away and headed for the kitchen with Mike hot on her heels.
"Jill, will you forget about the eye."
"I can’t. Everyone at the station will think…"
"I don’t care what people think. Jill, all I care about is you. Talk to me. Please. It can’t be that bad."
"You have no idea, Mike. It felt so real."
Mike pulled her into his arms. "It was just a nightmare. It wasn’t real."
"He was raping me," Jill blurted, burying her face in his chest. "In the dream, he was raping me. I tried to fight him…"
Mike felt a knot in the pit of his stomach. God, he thought what is going on in that head of hers?
Gently, he pulled away and looked at her. She was clearly terrified. "Is that why you came out swinging? You thought…"
Jill nodded. "When I felt your arms around me, all I could see was Toscano. I’m so sorry, Mike. Please believe me."
Mike leaned down and kissed her. "I know, babe. It was just a horrible dream you never should’ve had."
He led her to the couch and sat down. "Start at the beginning," Mike said. "You talk about it, maybe you’ll feel better."
Jill looked at with tears in her eyes. "How can I feel better knowing I had hit you?"
"Babe, it wasn’t me you were hitting. Jill, do you think that’s what he’s going to do to you?"
"When you told me he had broken into our apartment last night, I was so grateful I didn’t wake up. There’s no telling what he would’ve done." Jill looked at Mike. She needed to know the truth. She needed to know everything. "Were the victims…"
"Yeah, babe. They were raped before being killed. Some were worse than others depending on how much they fought him. Alex fought like a tiger. That’s why…"
"I hate him, Mike. I hate what he did to four families, what he’s doing to us. I’m never going to let him do that to me. I’ll kill him first."
Mike pulled her close. "I’ll never let him get that close again. I’m sorry I left you alone last night. It’ll never happen again."
"I told you, it’s not your fault. Toscano’s crazy. He doesn’t…" Jill looked into Mike’s eyes. "You don’t hate me because of…"
He gently kissed her. "It was the nightmare from hell, babe. How could I hate you for that?"
"Well, all the shrinks say…"
"Who cares what the shrinks say? Half of ‘em are crazier than their patients. No one knows you better than I do. This wasn’t intentional. I gotta tell you something, though."
"What?"
Slowly Mike grinned. "You have one hell of a right hook."
Jill forced a smile. "When is this going to end? What if everything Ryker and Taggert had found out about him or will find, doesn’t put him on death row? I can’t go through this again."
"I know, baby and I won’t put you through this. We’ll get him. Maybe not tomorrow, but we’ll get him."
"What about Miss Galina? With the threat of going to jail about to hang over her, what if she still won’t help?"
"She’ll help or get charged with conspiracy to commit murder in the first degree as well as accessory to murder in the first degree."
"She’s not killing anyone, Mike. Will all of that stand up in court?"
"Not only will it stand up in court, but she can get a hefty prison sentence. Listen, babe, she knew what he was going to do. She claimed it was all talk. Even if it was, she should’ve gone to the police. Especially after the first murder. Instead, she took off. She hasn’t even called us with an address. Galina is helping him, Jill and I want her. If it wasn’t for her, you wouldn’t be going through this."
"She’s loyal, Mike and probably confused."
"Why are you defending her?"
Jill thought about it. Finally she turned to face him. "I don’t know. Maybe it’s because if it was you, I’d do what ever I could to protect you."
Mike stared at her in disbelief. "Even at the expense of four lives, you would still protect me? Why?"
"A) because I love you and B) I don’t think you could be capable of four horrible murders. Maybe that’s it, Mike. Maybe she can’t be convinced he’s a cold-blooded, sadistic killer."
"After tomorrow, she’s gonna believe it. Ryker’s determined to nail Toscano no matter what the cost."
Jill tried to stifle a yawn. She was so tired that she could barely keep her eyes open, but going back into the bedroom was something Jill wasn’t ready to do.
As if reading her mind, Mike said, "You want to sleep out here? I’ll make up the bed if you want."
Jill looked at him gratefully. "You don’t mind?"
Kissing her passionately, he said, "I’ll sleep on hot coals if it would make you feel safer."
Jill smiled. "You don’t need to do anything that drastic. I’ll go get some sheets. Do you want a blanket?"
"Yeah. As long as you promise not to hog it all."
"Scouts honor."
Mike kissed the inside of her wrist. "You were never a scout," he said, with a smile.
"I always wanted to be."
Jill stood up and headed for the couch as Mike watched her. Hopefully this time tomorrow, Jill’s nightmares both real and imaginary will be over.
***
The next morning Mike entered the station, wearing sunglasses to cover his black eye after he promised Jill that he would. It wasn’t because he was afraid of what anyone would think, it was because he never could say no to her.
As usual, lately, he missed briefing and headed for Ryker’s office after he changed into his uniform.
He knocked on the door and poked his head in. "Can I see you for a minute?"
"Come in," Ryker said. "What’s with the sunglasses?"
Mike took them off as he sat down. Seeing the look on Ryker’s face when he saw the black eye, the younger man explained, "Jill had a nightmare early this morning about Toscano. She was still asleep when I started to hold her. She freaked out. It was an accident."
"Is she okay?"
"For now, yeah. Who knows what tonight will bring, though."
Ryker shook his head as he leaned back in his chair. "I’m sorry you two are going through this."
"Lieutenant, I was dealing with it until Toscano dragged Jill into it. Every time she closes her eyes, she sees him. And her mind, God, it’s like her worst fears are coming to the surface. Especially when she’s asleep. Like when Toscano broke in last night. I thought she was okay. I mean as okay as can be expected, but she dreamed Toscano was raping her."
"God. Is that why she lashed out?"
"Yeah. In her dream, she was literally fighting for her life. Sir, she didn’t know the women had been raped before they were killed. I never told her, but you don’t have to be a rocket scientist to figure it out. It’s gotta stop. I don’t know how much more she can take."
"Did you tell her about the doll?"
"No way and I hope she never finds out. That’s why I don’t want her to testify. If we ever get Toscano to court. I can’t put her through any more of this. She doesn’t deserve it."
"You right, she doesn’t. Today, it will end for both of you. Sanborn went to pick up Miss Galina. She’s going to spend some time in jail thinking about her actions.
"Taggert is got a warrant to search her apartment. If we find on piece of evidence that shows that Toscano had spent five seconds in her apartment, she will be charged with aiding and abetting, accessory before and after the fact as well as harboring a wanted man. The D.A. is going to throw the book at her."
"What about Toscano?"
"If she doesn’t turn him over, we will turn every dive in this town upside down until we find him. The car he’s driving and the tag number is being broadcast every fifteen minutes."
Before Mike could reply, Ryker’s phone buzzed. Pressing a button on the speaker, he said, "Yeah, Older, what is it?"
"Sanborn just came in with Miss Galina and Taggert is on line one."
"Have Sanborn put her in room two and not to leave her alone. Get the DA down here. Did she call a lawyer?"
"Yes, sir. He’s on his way."
"Good. Let them stew for a few minutes. Older call Detective Austin and tell him to bring down those pictures Danko gave us. I want her to see first hand, what her ‘friend’ has done."
"Yes, sir."
Pressing another button, Ryker said, "Go ahead, Sam."
"I’m at Galina’s apartment and guess what I found?"
"Toscano was at her place last night and every night this week?"
"Yeah. The doorman and the desk clerk will testify to it."
"Good. That’s all I need. I’ll call you with that bastard’s address and the D.A. will get a warrant to search every square inch inside and out as well as his car. Keep your people close by."
"Yes, sir."
Ryker hung up and looked at Mike. "Let’s go give that woman a reality check."
Mike grinned. "Yes, sir."