back. Storm jerked and slammed against the wall. Andrew tried to reach out, but was frozen in place. He saw Storm collapse to the floor, driving the arrow in further. Andrew screamed, but no sound came from his mouth. His eyes were drenched with tears as Andrew closed them. When he opened his eyes again, the room was empty and dark. The killer didn’t want to see Storm’s face. Either it was someone that knew her, like Wyatt who still had feelings for her. Or it was a cowardly bastard afraid to face an innocent young girl.
Deputy Miller remained posted by the front door. Deputy Brown entered through the back door while at the same time Talia came in the front of the house. They both drew their weapons. Talia didn’t say word, but motioned that they would go into the dining room first. They each took up a position on the sides of the entrance to the dining room. Talia counted off to three on her finger and they spun into the opening with weapons ready. No one was there. Talia was visibly disappointed. The next room was the kitchen.
Andrew was finished in Storm’s room. He left the room and was about to go back down stairs. He saw a couple of shadows enter the dining room. Suddenly Andrew dropped down on his belly. They were looking for him. Andrew withdrew silently back into Storm’s room. He didn’t bother to close the door as it might give him away. Andrew couldn’t afford to be caught in the house. It would finally give Talia reason enough to have his license suspended, or worse, jail. He walked over to the dormer and slowly opened the window.
There was no sign of Andrew in the kitchen, so they continued by going back to the foyer. Talia indicated they would precede upstairs. She was the first to go followed by Deputy Brown. Slowly, and with caution, they walked up the stairs. First they searched Peter’s room and next they went to Storm’s. Talia carefully pushed the door open some more. She motioned to Deputy Brown and instantly they stormed the room. Andrew wasn’t there!
“Damn it,” Talia cursed.
“Maybe he was never even here,” Deputy Brown put away his weapon.
“Check the window,” Talia ordered just as she noticed it was open. Would Andrew have been so desperate to climb out on the roof? That’s what she thought that day at the Sheriffs department building. But he wasn’t on the roof then, nor now, Talia suddenly realized. Andrew had hidden somewhere. Talia snapped her fingers realizing that Andrew was hiding under the desk in the records room that day. Talia spun around just in time to see movement in the hallway.
“Let’s go!” Talia barked. “He’s heading down the stairs.”
Andrew leapt to the floor from the last two steps, rolled and stood to his feet once more. He didn’t bother to look back and kept on towards the back door. Andrew threw open the front door. The area was clear. He hesitated a moment and could hear Talia and the deputy giving pursuit. Andrew bounded outside and jumped off the top step. He sprinted into the dark woods and swiftly faded out of sight.
Talia and Deputy Brown, weapons still drawn, clamored down the stairs. The back door was already open.
“Hurry!” Talia bellowed.
They quickly exited the house. Talia searched the area with her flashlight. There was no sign of Andrew. She had no way to prove that he was even there. Next time, she would be ready. Next time, Andrew Knight wouldn’t get away.
Andrew observed Talia and the deputy as they stood on the back door steps surveying the area with flashlights. When the beam flashed his way, Andrew dove down on the snow and blended in as best he could. It must have been enough, because they gave up and went back inside. They headed to the front of the house.
“Did you find anyone?” Deputy Miller asked.
“No,” Talia cursed.
Talia and her men walked up to Father Michael.
“Let him go,” Talia commanded.
“Thank you,” Father Michael said, rubbing his wrists. “May I go now?”
“Yes Father,” Talia replied. “You may go.”
“Thank you,” Father Michael said. He got in his car and drove off.
“What now?” Deputy Nash asked.
“Keep the area secure,” Talia ordered as she walked to her own car. She turned, and with an icy tone said, “If you catch Knight anywhere on the grounds, take him out.”
“You’re not serious,” Deputy Nash choked.
“Don’t hurt him,” Talia replied. “Just arrest him.”
“Yes Sheriff,” all three replied.
Talia got in her car and drove off to the end of the driveway and stopped once she’d reached it. Talia looked at her reflection in the rearview mirror. “You look tired,” she said. “I know,” her mirrored self answered. “What are you going to do about Andrew Knight?” Talia asked, staring into seemingly lifeless eyes. “What do you think?” came back the mirrored reply. “I can’t say,” Talia said, this time looking away. But an answer did come from somewhere in the dark, “You know what has to be done.” Talia didn’t answer the voice, but instead drove back to Bayport.
Andrew walked back through the woods to where he had parked. A sudden shiver ran up his back. He spun around, searching the blackened trees. Nothing was there. Andrew couldn’t shake the feeling that he was being watched. He had only gone a few more steps but suddenly froze in place. There were fresh boot prints in the snow heading towards the Higgins house. Andrew knelt down to examine them. He could tell from the depth and distance of the tracks, it appeared that the person was in a hurry, almost at a full run. Andrew stood and took off in the direction of the tracks, but he was careful not to be noticed as he kept close to the cover of the surrounding trees.
The moon was finally showing its face from behind the clouds. Its light reflected off the snow, illuminating everything on the ground.
Andrew came to an abrupt stop and silently dove behind a large oak tree. The reason for this was that someone dressed in black was crouched behind another tree watching the deputies patrol the area. Andrew peered from behind the tree to observe them. The person had on a long black coat and a hood covered their head and features. Could this be Night Blade or was it Wyatt. Andrew wasn’t sure if they were armed or not. Andrew ducked back behind the tree. Had the person seen him? He waited for a moment and went back to spying. They were gone! Andrew searched the area, but saw nothing. He stood and that’s when Andrew heard a branch snap behind him. Just as he stood up, they started to withdraw two swords. Andrew didn’t give them time to attack but leapt into the air and hit the person with a combination spin snap kick. They stumbled backwards, letting go of the swords. Andrew rushed, ready to finish them off, but they quickly recovered, jumped in the air and hit Andrew with double round house kicks. Andrew stumbled to his knees and tried to shake off the affect. He recovered and scrambled to get the swords at the same time they did. The two of them rolled entwined in a death grip, each trying to gain control of the swords. It ended with an elbow jab to Andrew’s head and they claimed the prize. Andrew jumped up and seeing a thick branch, managed to grab it just as they swung the swords at him. They were relentless, and seemed to grow angrier with each blow Andrew blocked. The attacked escalated as they threw several kicks along with thrusts of the blades. Andrew blocked each with his own counter move, but grew worried as the swords chipped away at the branch. Then with one final horrific blow, the branch split in half! Andrew tossed it aside and reached for his sidearm. His attacker with skilled precision removed the gun from his grasp and flung it some distance away into the snow. Unarmed, he faced his attacker, waiting for the final assault. Andrew immediately drew back as they slashed the blades at his chest. He stumbled a bit and tried to recover, but it was too late. They somersaulted in midair landing behind Andrew and drew the razor-sharp blades across his back slicing open his coat, and punching him in the back of the head with the sword handles. Andrew sunk into the snow face down.
Deputy Brown was on his rounds when he heard noises coming from the woods. He called for Deputy Miller to join him.
“Do you hear that?” Deputy Brown asked as soon as Deputy Miller joined him.
“Yeah,” Deputy Miller answered. “It sounds like a fight coming from somewhere in the woods.”
“Let’s go,” Deputy Brown ordered drawing his service piece. Deputy Miller did the same. The two deputies took off in the direction of the noise.
As the deputies arrived, they were horror-struck to see the masked attacker slash Andrew across the back and hit him on the back of the head. They saw Andrew fall face down into the snow.
“Freeze!” they barked, pointing their weapons at the masked attacker. Instead, the person bolted off into the
