Brutal Honesty-Part Ten

He silently swore to himself several things: he would never fall in love, he would never kill again, and he would never speak of his true identity. Ever. Again. Dimitri smiled at the thought that no one would ever again have access to his most vulnerable self. After all, Storm was leading him right to his employer herself, and then he would have the opportunity to kill the both of them. All in a day's work.

"Are you walking to the car or are you stopping to think?" Storm asked. "Thinking is dangerous, Youngblood, very dangerous." The warning was not lost on him.

He scowled and picked up a newspaper someone had discarded. The headline jolted him out of his anger at himself immediately. Dimitri Youngblood Identified as Murderer of Swift, Ephraim, Parks, and Wilkinson; Sought by FBI. "Holy crap," he muttered. He dropped the newspaper like it was acid and gradually increased the speed of his footsteps along with his heartbeat.

"The People know. Soon, too, will those who seek you. I suggest you continue with that which you are writing. And fast. The car is already three blocks away. Have you yet finished?"

Dimitri chose not to respond, instead retrieving the notepad and pen from his pocket. There were only a few scribbles on the pad. He crossed some more out, trying to think of the right words. But nothing came to mind.

Casie Schwartz walked back to her office, frowning. She picked up the phone and turned it over, staring at it. Should she call Natalie? Maybe Natalie was busy helping another agent on this case...or another one. You never knew with Natalie. So fickle, and always so calm. Finally, she decided to call. Natalie's cell number was ingrained in her memory. Just another number...

"Casie?" a familiar voice asked. "Is this Casie?"

"Mom?" Casie answered incredulously. She could plainly hear sobbing on the other end of the line.

"Oh my god, Casie, oh my god," Casie's mother took a deep, shuddering breath.

"Mom, what's wrong?" Casie demanded. "And why do you have Natalie's cell phone?"

"Natalie was kidnapped."

"What?!"

"The kidnapper left her phone at my house, and I just now found it. I was trying to decide whom to call: you, the FBI, the police, your father at work..."

"Mom, I am the FBI," Casie reminded her dryly. "Still, how do you know she didn't just leave it there? Someone leave a note or something?"

"Worse. They left a signed ultimatum. Shall I read it to you?"

"Go ahead," Casie said numbly, not believing her partner had been kidnapped. So that was why she hadn't been at the meeting.

"Dark clouds approaching

Sea tempest coming

She covers herself

Tries to hide

But God sees everything

She runs and runs

To cities far away

Never stops

Until the storm catches up with her

Carries her away

Ends this poor life

Is forgotten, too soon

"The signature at the bottom, Casie, it says "The LORD is a jealous God, filled with vengeance and wrath.  He takes revenge on all who oppose him and furiously destroys his enemies!  The LORD is slow to get angry, but his power is great, and he never lets the guilty go unpunished.  He displays his power in the whirlwind and the storm.  The billowing clouds are the dust beneath his feet.  At his command the oceans and rivers dry up, the lush pastures of Bashan and Carmel fade, and the green forests of Lebanon wilt.  In his presence the mountains quake, and the hills melt away; the earth trembles, and its people are destroyed.  Who can stand before his fierce anger?  Who can survive his burning fury?  His rage blazes forth like fire, and the mountains crumble to dust in his presence.  The LORD is good.  When trouble comes, he is a strong refuge.  And he knows everyone who trusts in him.  But he sweeps away his enemies in an overwhelming flood.  He pursues his foes into the darkness of night." (Nahum1:2-8).I don't like this, Casie. Go home."

"Mom, are you okay?"

"Casie, I'm fine. Go home," she repeated. "Lock the doors, stay safe."

"Mom, for god's sake, I'm an FBI agent. I'll be fine. And tell me before you go, has anyone tried to contact you?"

There was a moment of silence before Casie's mom broke into sobs.

"No," she conceded. "Just the poem." She hung up, leaving Casie bewildered. She burst back into the meeting room. Only Kelsy O'Donnell was still there.

"Oh my god," Casie whispered. O'Donnell gave her an odd look.

"What now, Schwartz?"

"Natalie...she's been kidnapped. By the killer."

"What?" O'Donnell looked at Casie sharply. "How can you be sure?"

"Another poem was left...another poem I wrote. And there was a quote from the Bible, something about wrath and death...I don't like this. No ransom demand, either. My mom is scared to death; she wants me to go home."

"You can go, if you like," O'Donnell said.

"But I don't think that would be the wisest decision..."

"You must make your own decisions. Haven't you learned that, yet?"

"I know, it's just that..." Casie trailed off.

"Just that what?" O'Donnell asked impatiently.

"If Dimitri Youngblood has kidnapped Natalie Schultz, then I should probably stay here and continue with the investigation. We're sure to receive a ransom note of some kind, eventually. I wonder if the poem counts..."

"Schwartz, you are the agent on this case. Not me. I suggest you make your decision and make it quickly. I have many matters to attend to." O'Donnell swept the last of her papers into her arms and left the meeting room, leaving Casie quite alone.

Her mind told her to stay at the Hoover Building, that important work was being done. But her heart, it said something different. It told her she needed to go home, that going home would answer all of her questions, resolve her doubt, close this case. And she had been trained to listen to her gut instinct, not to her mind. Home it was.

<a href=http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.jsp?articleId=281474977216831&nav=Namespace>Part Eleven</a>