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  “No. The report stated one body,” John said. They came upon the mutilated body, most of the flesh gone, picked from the bone like a chicken wing at happy hour. Part of the victim’s face was still intact as well as his hair and scalp. "Victim was definitely male," John stated.

  To the left of the body was a pair of shredded jeans and t-shirt, torn to bits and soaked in blood. Todd knelt down to the body and examined what was left of the face. "Bite marks. Deep. A mountain lion or black bear would be my guess."

  "I think you are correct. Looks like the job of a mountain lion, maybe a few," John said. Todd turned the body a bit so he could examine the back.

  "John, he was handcuffed. Also, there are torn ropes underneath. I think he was handcuffed and tied up to a tree." John looked up and saw what looked like a small sack hanging from a limb about seven feet off the ground. John took out a pocketknife, cut the sack down and opened it up. It contained blood-soaked raw meat. Probably beef. He found another about ten feet away from the first and another perpendicular from the first two about fifteen feet to the north. "John, these sacks were bait as was the extra blood smeared everywhere. Whoever did this wanted to draw out the mountain lions with the scent so they would find the victim, who, going by the state of his clothes, appears that he was soaked in blood as well. It actually was a very clever setup."

  At that moment Officer Gallo approached the crime scene, stopped at the tape and said, "We have an identity, forty-eight-years old-Seth Boyd from Mill Creek."

  CHAPTER NINETEEN

  Tracy Alvah had breast cancer that had spread to her lymph nodes. The oncologist estimated that she had three months to live. She called Silas and informed him that they needed to discuss something very important in person. He immediately booked a flight and planned to stay the weekend.

  Silas approached his mother’s house in Cedar Park, Texas. He entered and found her sitting on the couch in the living room.

  “Hi Tracy,” Silas said as he sat down next to her

  “Silas, could you please call me mom, at least once before I’m gone?”

  Silas gave her a cold stare and asked, “What is it you wanted to discuss.”

  “Silas, I’m dying. I have only a few months left. There is something you need to know. I’ve kept it from you all this time because I was ashamed. I also worried about how you would feel about me if you knew. Silas, you have a brother.”

  “What?” Silas said with a look of confusion and shock on his face.

  “His name is Gabriel. Gabriel Crimson. I gave birth to him when you were two years old. It was an accident, Silas.”

  “Where is he?”

  “I put him up for adoption. I had to. I could not handle another child. I couldn’t support him.”

  “Was it my father?”

  Tracey looked away as tears streamed down her face.

  “Silas, Pastor Jennings was the father. I never told him he got me pregnant. I was afraid what would have happened. He was a good man. I sinned. We both sinned. I could not abort the baby. That is not the way of the Lord. I had him and let him go.” She buried her face in her hands. “I’m sorry Silas.”

  It happened instantly. The heat. The fury. The red. An intensity flashed in Silas’ eyes that he could not control.

  “Mother, how could you?”

  One silent moment before Silas had his hands around her throat, his mother smiled. For that fleeting moment, she was happy. Her son, her baby, for the first time since he was a boy, called her “mother”. She struggled for air for a few moments, then the pain eased and her face relaxed as it turned blue. Silas released his grip on his mother’s throat, and she faded to black.

  CHAPTER TWENTY

  “John and Julie, Jacqueline and I have an announcement to make, followed by a question." The two couples were at Canlis, a high-end Seattle restaurant, where they enjoyed dinner and a lovely, talented pianist. When everyone had finished eating, Todd took over the conversation with his declaration. John looked at Jacqueline, then Julie and finally back to the source itself, Todd. "Jacqueline and I are getting married and we are expecting our first child," Todd proudly stated.

  "Congratulations!" Julie beamed.

  "That’s wonderful, I’m very happy for you both," John added. "Thank you, we are so excited!" Jacqueline said as Todd hugged

  her and gave her a small, gentle kiss on her lips.

  "Now, John and Julie, we have something important to ask. Would you be the Godparents of our child?" Todd said.

  "We would be honored," John said.

  Todd smiled and stood. "Now I would like to make a toast to the best partner and friend a new, inexperienced detective could possibly have. To my mentor and confidant, John."

  "Here, here," the ladies said as they all touched glasses.

  "Thank you Todd, but I am not kissing you." That brought laughter from the whole table. "In all seriousness, you two are about to enter a different phase of your lives. Parenting is challenging, confusing and even exhausting at times, but relish every second. I have heard that there is nothing as lonely as a house emptied of the innocence of children's laughter and joy. Once it is gone, it's gone forever. I plan to soak up every ounce. I recommend and hope that you two do the same. Not that I would ever be content, but just maybe my soul can survive the rest of my days with those memories."

  "We will take that advice and remember it forever, thank you, John," Jacqueline said.

  "One more question, pops," Todd stated. "Will you be my best man?"

  "Nope," John said as he winked at the ladies. "Of course. If I’m not there to keep your rookie ass in line who will be?" John raised his glass in one last toast. "To new beginnings. Now let’s get another round. But only sparkling water for you, Jacqueline.”

  CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

  “The husband-to-be has arrived," John said as Todd walked into the station Monday morning. "Not to mention father-to-be."

  "We had an enjoyable evening. Jacqueline is quite fond of Julie."

  "Yeah, they seem to have really hit it off," John said. "Julie is very excited to help with the baby."

  “Yes, that would be a terrific thing. Jacqueline is very nervous about motherhood."

  "Well, I think that is an absolutely normal response from an expectant mother," John said.

  "Maybe, but she has something in her past that really makes her nervous about the whole package. Marriage, motherhood. Some scar that is there that I can’t seem to eliminate."

  "Eliminate?" John interrupted. "You cannot nor should you eliminate scars my friend. They are there for a reason. Scars are eternal memories and reminders of wounds we have conquered emotionally and physically. They are there to remind us of dangers that exist, but not to paralyze us. We heal. Jacqueline has healed. It is time for the next chapter in her life, you, marriage, and motherhood. It is your job as a man to help, hold, and guide her through this transition. We cannot forget or change the past, but we can conquer it. That is how we grow as people." At that moment Captain Johnson stormed out of his office and yelled, "Shootout at the Northgate Mall! The perp has a hostage. Strap on your vests. Let’s go, men, hustle!”

  John and Todd scrambled to gather their gear and their senses. On the way out John grabbed Todd by the arm. "Where’s your vest junior?"

  "Oh, shit. Almost forgot."

  "No, you did forget. I reminded you. Head in the game rookie."

  “Thanks, man," Todd said as he grabbed his vest, strapped it on and headed out the door after John.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

  11:28 a.m.

  By the time John and Todd had arrived at the Northgate Mall, it had already been shut down and closed off. No way in. No way out. The perp had taken a light machine gun into the mall and open fired on the unsuspecting consumers. There were bodies splayed from the Sunglass Hut to the food court, blood everywhere, a few already dead and another ten to twenty seriously injured. The perp had taken a hostage and barricaded himself i
nside Victoria's Secret. Why he did it, no one had discovered yet. The police were setting up in the Bath and Body Works directly across from Victoria's Secret. John and Todd entered through the back entrance that connected to the parking lot. "Good morning. I am Detective Corbin and this is Detective McGrath," John said as he approached the group of officers huddled together discussing tactics.

  "Hello detectives, we were instructed to hand the lead over to you two. I am Officer Wilson. This is Officer Taft, Officer Bianco, and Officer Getz."

  "Good morning, officers," Todd said.

  "What does he want?" John asked.

  "He has asked for safe passage out and a car waiting for him."

  "Why?" John asked. "He had that before he shot up the mall. I’m not buying it. It’s just a diversion. He has other plans."

  "Sir, he claims once he is out he will free the hostage. We shouldn't do anything to disrupt the hostages’ safety."

  "I will consider your thoughts," John said. "Any info on the perp or the hostage? Identities?"

  "He is in his thirties. Caucasian. No ID, yet. Female hostage in her twenties. No ID. "

  "Alright. I need communication with him," John said.

  "He has barricaded the front of the store with racks turned on their sides. He reaches through and drops a note out when he wants to communicate. We do the same to respond."

  "Why not snipe him when he comes out front?"

  "He is very careful. He has the lights off and he uses her as a shield when he moves," said Wilson.

  "Okay. Give me all the notes up to this point with our response.”

  "Will do, sir."

  John stepped away from the group to talk to Todd, who was alone staring through the mall into the other side to get a glimpse of the shooter. "Spot him yet?"

  "Nope, he is burrowed in there with her somewhere. What’s your feeling partner?" Todd asked.

  "Get ready for a campout, we are in this for the long haul. His priority isn’t to escape. His intention is to take out as many of us as he can with him when he goes down."

  12:13 p.m.

  John had read and analyzed all of the communication up to this point and was implementing a plan in his head. He took one of the index cards and wrote a note to the perp:

  Sir. Are you okay? Does anyone need medical attention? I know things got a bit out of control here, but no one else has to be hurt. Including you. Let's think about how we can resolve this situation with everyone remaining safe.

  John handed the note off to Officer Getz who cautiously crept over and dropped it through the racks. Ten minutes later a note appeared from inside. It was brought directly to John:

  I want to talk to your young partner there. Officer Mcgoth is it?

  "He's watching us. Probably has a pair of binoculars." John looked at Todd's tag which had Mcgrath printed under his badge number. "Todd, you will be writing the notes from now on."

  John handed Todd a pen and some index cards. "Here. I am going to turn away. When I do, give it a minute then start writing. Ask him what we can do to resolve the situation."

  "Got it," Todd said, then John walked away.

  Sir. This is Detective Todd Mcgrath. Is there anything you need? It’s imperative that everyone remains safe from this moment on. I want to help you.

  The shooter replied:

  Todd, I want you to personally escort me out of here and straight to an automobile that I can drive away in. At that point, I will release my hostage into your custody.

  Todd and John read the note together. When done, Todd took a few steps forward and looked across the mall into Victoria's Secret. John followed. "Todd. No. You are not doing this."

  Todd turned around, looked John straight in the eyes and said "Yes, John. I am."

  1:23 p.m.

  John and Todd discussed the alternatives and although John was steadfast against the perp’s demands, Todd was determined to go through with them. "John. If I do not do this and he kills her, how do I live with myself? How do I ever look Jacqueline in the eyes again? How do I bring up my child like a man? I have to do this."

  Although John understood and agreed with everything Todd said, he was still against it. He couldn't live with himself if anything happened to Todd on his watch.

  We might be able to meet your demands, sir. But, we need something from you. Your name and the name of the innocent woman you are holding in there. Also, we need to see her at the front of the store and talk to her. If you meet these requirements, we will go forward with your plan.

  The shooter replied:

  My name is John. John Doe. You will have to accept that. Her name is Stacey Williams. An all American beauty of a woman. Married. Mother of two. She is not too fond of me right now because I interrupted her shopping day with her mother, who, by the way, now lies dead in the middle of the mall, but she will get over it. I will bring her out in fifteen minutes.

  While waiting for the perp to appear with the woman, John checked on the name Stacey Williams. John Doe was telling the truth. Twenty-seven, housewife, mother of two. One child in kindergarten, one in second grade. A resident of Seattle. Husband is the vice president of production at Universe Vault. "Inform the husband. I assume the children are in school," John stated when he received the info. Finally, a silhouette appeared behind the racks. "Stacey, this is John Corbin, are you okay?"

  "Yes. He killed my mother! Get me out of here please!" she screamed as she started to cry.

  At that point, John Doe yelled, "Enough," and pulled her back into the depths of Victoria’s Secret.

  Todd stepped forward and said to John, "It’s time. I need to do this.

  John bowed his head and against every instinct he had, looked at Todd and said, "Okay.”

  2:02 P.M.

  Sir, we are willing and ready to uphold our end of the bargain. We will have a car waiting for you and I will personally escort you out. Please understand there is no need for more bloodshed. We will have shooters all around waiting for you to make one wrong move, so be very careful. Let’s you and I come out of this alive, friend.

  The shooter replied:

  Meet me in front of this store in thirty minutes.

  As Todd was getting prepped for the escort, John said, "Todd, do not take any chances. If you feel threatened or unsafe at any time get out of there. We will take him out."

  "Yeah, you will, along with her. I can’t have that. There are moments that define a life. We live our whole lives for a few chances to make a difference. This is one of those moments. I must conquer it, even if it takes my life and you know what John, you would do the same." John lowered his eyes, shook hands with Todd and walked away

  2:19 p.m.

  John Doe appeared, leading Stacey out in front of him with his arm around her neck and his MP5 pressed to her temple. "I'm coming out slowly. Any funny stuff, I kill her!" John Doe yelled as he stepped through the entrance of Victoria’s Secret and a few feet into the center of the mall. Todd walked out of Bath and Body Works, toward the shooter and his captive. "Sir, I am Todd McGrath, I will escort you out."

  "Yes, Todd, I know who you are. I want to know where all your buddies are so I know that I can trust this. I want them all to step forward, out into my line of sight, so I know their positions." Todd raised both hands and waved his colleagues forward.

  "Wait, Todd, I don't like...," was all John Corbin was able to get out of his mouth before John Doe yelled, "Allah Akbar," and opened fire on the uncovered officers. What happened next was slow motion perception, or what athletes refer to as time slowing down and seeing the action unfold frame by frame in your mind. John saw the bullets sprayed all over his men. Blood splattered everywhere. The last snapshot in his mind was Todd falling to the floor in a heap of bullets and blood. Then, in one motion, John dove behind the counter, drew his Glock 22, leveled, steadied, and pulled the trigger. The .40 caliber bullet traveled through the mall, past the downed officers, past Todd, whizzed past the scr
eaming face of Stacey Williams and ripped through John Doe's forehead right between the eyes and exploded out of the back of his head, sending skull and brain fragments everywhere. John Doe fell to the floor, missing half of his head, just like the bird that was John Corbin's first kill so many years ago in the woods with his father.

  2:23 p.m.

  Mayhem ensued. Stacey ran away unscathed, screaming. John called out for the medics. He ran to Todd who was on the floor, groaning helplessly. One bullet had torn through his shoulder and one through his leg but his head remained intact. What saved Todd's life, up to this point, was the vest that John had reminded him to strap on. There was at least a half dozen indentations on the vest from the sprayed bullets. "I need the goddam medics here now!" John screamed as he held his hand over Todd's wounds to stop the bleeding. Ten seconds later, a sea of medics flooded the area. A pair came over to work on Todd. "At least two bullet wounds that I can see," John informed them.

  "We will take over from here, sir," a medic said.

  "Will he make it?"

  "He has lost quite a bit of blood. We will do our best, sir." They worked on Todd for a minute, then strapped him to a gurney and wheeled him away. Bianco and Getz were both dead. Taft was wounded and taken away. Officer Wilson was unharmed.

  "Sir, I’m sorry. I didn’t think it would go down like this," Wilson said.

  John put his hand up. "Enough. It is done now. I should have followed my instincts. That mistake has cost us lives and might have cost me my partner. You take over, I’m heading to the hospital with Detective McGrath."