When Terror Strikes Part 14
By: Stacy L.
PART 14
Toni Brigatti was pacing her office down at the Chicago Police Department. She couldn’t help but worry. She felt as if something bad was going to happen tonight…that dream kept haunting her even while she was awake. Gary Hobson was in danger, but how and from whom? She was sure that Gary’s involvement with Miss Riley was a big part of it. She was an abused wife…her husband was after her, stalking her and according to what Paul Armstrong had told her, has been attempting to abduct her child and harm her for some time now…and Gary Hobson managed to get himself right smack dab in the middle of it all. What was with that guy? Why did danger always seem to follow him? Gary was excellent at walking into trouble. When would the man learn to mind his own business and stop trying to help people? Soon Toni hoped…but then again she rather loved that particular quality of his…his willingness to unselfishly sacrifice himself for the sake of others. It was a very endearing quality, indeed. One that drew her to him…
The ringing of her telephone suddenly pierced the air so Toni quickly picked up, “Hello?”
“Is it safe to talk?”
“What?”
“I have some information for you…”
“You do?”
“Yes…meet me over at the Civic Opera House around quarter ‘til eight.”
“The Opera House? Got it. I’ll be there.”
Then the phone went dead. The person was one of her informants out on the streets. He had some information pertaining to the case she was presently working on. She had to meet him. His information could make or break her case. But why meet at the Civic Opera House? Now she’d have to get dressed up or she’d stick out like a sore thumb. Damn, she hated dressing up…never quite felt comfortable in fancy clothes. She decided to head home and change. It was six-thirty now…not much time left.
* * * *
“Hey boss, guess who just arrived at the target site?” asked Thompson over his cell phone. Jack felt himself getting excited, “Hobson right?”
“Yep. He’s a bit early…wonder why.”
“Probably checking the place out. Keep watching him. This could be just a coincidence.”
“No problem boss. Been following him a while so has our good buddy Armstrong…don’t think he realizes I’m still shadowing Hobson though.”
“Good. Keep it that way. We don’t need Armstrong interfering. If this works and Hobson attempts to put out that fire then my plans will work out great. Any luck locating my wife yet?”
“No. She’s still in the area though. Collins is looking into that.”
“Good, good. Thompson, stick with Hobson and see what he’s up to. Let them know what happens.”
“Sure boss, no problem.”
Thompson shut off his phone and looked up. He saw Hobson at the back door of the Opera House. Why was he here? Was it just a coincidence that Hobson ended up here in the first place or did he really have a sixth sense? Thompson was very interested in finding out those answers. He watched as Hobson turned glancing around him as if to make sure that he was completely alone. Then he stepped inside the theater. Thompson slowly made his way to the door hoping to give Hobson enough time to leave the vicinity of the door. He slowly eased the door open peaking inside. He saw no signs of Hobson anywhere. He slipped inside preparing to continue his pursuit of Mister Hobson.
* * * *
Gary decided to visit the Opera House and check it out. The paper said the fire was to occur in an hour and a half. Gary planned on stopping that from happening. He glanced around assuring himself that he was alone then slipped inside. He paused as darkness fell all around him. He waited as his eyes adjusted to the dim light. Once they did he pulled out his newspaper reading the article again: “Fire broke out in the old Civic Opera House around 8pm last night causing wide spread panic and fear. Many of the patrons were injured when the fire alarm was sounded that sent the patrons into a panicking frenzy. Police are still investigating the blaze and believe it originated near the back of the theater…”
Gary walked in looking around for any signs of tampering or anything out of the ordinary. He again glanced at the article then at the paper. He checked the back of the theater but found no signs of any kind of tampering or possible igniters. After looking a while longer he decided to leave and come back closer to the time the fire was schedule to ignite at.
Gary stepped out the same door he had just entered a short time ago and directly into Detective Armstrong. Gary stopped in shocked surprise. Armstrong eyed him up suspiciously as if waiting for Gary to explain himself and his actions. Gary laughed nervously then said, “Uh…I suppose you’d like a…uh…an explanation…”
“How could you possibly explain breaking and entering?”
“I didn’t break anything. The door was unlocked. I just took a look around.”
“Do you like theaters, Hobson?”
“Do I like theaters? Well, uh…yes, yes I do.”
“You do?”
“Yeah…”
“Really?”
“Yes… Can I go now, Detective Armstrong?”
“Hobson, give me one good reason why I shouldn’t just hull your ass down to the station right now.”
“You…you can’t.”
“And why can’t I?”
“Well because…you just can’t.”
“Then you had better explain to me why you decided to enter the Opera House through the back door instead of the front door like everyone else.”
“What can I say? I have a thing for old theaters.”
“Hobson,” Armstrong replied in that voice that indicated to Gary that he wasn’t buying a word of what he was saying and he wasn’t in the mood to be averted from his question. Gary looked up at him feeling a bit nervous. He quickly ran his hand over his hair then mentally cursed as he made that nervous gesture again. Gary laughed nervously then said, “Look Armstrong, I’d really love to chat but…”
Armstrong stopped Gary as he placed his hand on Gary’s shoulder. Then he said, “Answer my question.”
Gary looked up at him then said, “I like the ambience of an empty theater. Can I go now? I have a lot of work to do…”
Armstrong hesitantly caved then said, “We’ll talk later Hobson.”
“Sure…”
Gary quickly evacuated the area fearing that Armstrong would call him back.
Armstrong cursed. Damn, Hobson did it again! Why couldn’t he stay mad at that guy? Why did he cave so easily when confronting the man? Armstrong hated that and became angrier with Hobson then he had been earlier. He searched for Gary and cursed when he realized Hobson had eluded him yet again. He headed to McGinty’s in hopes to catch Gary there.
Armstrong yelled at himself got losing Gary. How was he supposed to protect the man from harm if he kept losing him? He couldn’t help but sense that Wallis was closing in and would soon make his move. It was only a matter of time and Armstrong planned on being there when Wallis made that move. He was sure Wallis would go for Hobson. If not to kill him then to find out where his wife had suddenly disappeared to. Armstrong shook his head and made his way quickly to Gary’s bar. He hoped Hobson was inside but had a feeling he wouldn’t be there.
* * * *
Armstrong entered McGinty’s searching for any sign of Hobson but came up empty. He decided to go upstairs and check out Hobson’s place. He walked up the stairs and knocked on the door. Hobson wasn’t home yet. Damn, where was he? Where would he have gone? He headed back downstairs angry now that he had lost Hobson. With Wallis closing in Paul couldn’t afford to lose the young man. Wallis could strike at any time.
As he reentered the bar he saw Gary’s friend Marissa. He approached her. Marissa turned at the approach of footsteps. Paul spoke up, “Miss Clark…”
“Oh Detective Armstrong, how are you?”
“Fine. Fine. I need to speak with Hobson.”
“Gary’s not here.”
“Yeah I know. I know. I need to find him. Could you tell me where he went?”
“Why do you need to find him?”
“He wouldn’t accept protective custody so…I took it upon myself to watch his back.”
“Oh…”
Marissa was glad for that. Armstrong was willingly keeping an eye on Gary. He needed it. She felt better about the whole situation now knowing Detective Armstrong was nearby. She responded, “He didn’t tell me where he was going. He did say something about the Opera House though…”
“Yeah. We, uh, bumped into each other there.”
“You did? How? He wasn’t going there until later tonight.”
“Later tonight you say? Why?”
“He said he had something to do.”
“Something to do? Yes well, Hobson seems quite busy. He’s always running some where and helping someone.”
“Wh…what do you mean?”
“Do you know that your friend has an uncanny knack for stopping things before they happen?”
“Wh…what are you talking about, Detective?”
“How does he do it? Is he psychic or something? What’s this big secret of his and why does he carry that newspaper everywhere with him?”
“Uh, Detective Armstrong, maybe you should ask Gary those questions. I really have to…get back to work.”
“Really?”
“Really…”
Armstrong noticed how Marissa started acting odd as soon as he began questioning about Gary’s…sixth sense. She knew something of that he was sure. He also knew she would never tell him. Whatever secret Gary Hobson carried with him Marissa must also know about. Paul was determined to solve the mystery of Gary Hobson. He would not give up until he got his answers. He was one who could never turn away from a mystery. He had to solve them. He would hopefully soon solve the one concerning Gary Hobson.
He looked at Marissa then said, “Thank you for your time, Miss Clark.”
“No problem. Thank you for watching Gary’s back.”
“You’re welcome.”
Armstrong then left McGinty’s heading back towards the Civic Opera House. Marissa had mentioned that Gary planned on going there later tonight. Perhaps Armstrong could locate him there.
* * * *
Brigatti got dressed in a red dress and prepared to arrive at the Civic Opera House. Out of all the places in Chicago her informant could pick to meet why did he have to pick that place? Her informant was rather odd. She again surveyed herself in the mirror then sighed heavily glancing at her watch: seven twenty-five. Well, she should get going. She grabbed her pocket book then headed to her destination. She hoped that her informant had some helpful news. She needed to solve this case and soon.
* * * *
At quarter ‘til eight Gary arrived at the Opera House. He had to find that fire and put it out before it created wide spread panic. He had dressed hesitantly in a black rental tuxedo. He didn’t own a tuxedo. He owned suits from when he worked at the brokerage firm but rarely dug them out to wear. He hated dressing up but knew it was the only way he could casually enter the Opera House without sticking out in a crowd. He fumbled with the collar of the shirt yet again. Collars always felt as if they were choking him. He then walked casually across the street to the entrance of the Opera House. Once inside he made his way casually towards the back of the theater. He had to locate the ignition point of the fire before it was too late. He surveyed the area looking for anybody out of place then again glanced at his watch: thirteen minutes. He had thirteen minutes left. Where would the fire start? He continued looking around.
* * * *
Gary was so focused on his task at hand that he failed to see another man observing him from a distance. Jake Peterson watched the young man from his present locale. There was Hobson now what was the guy up to? Jake stared intently at Gary Hobson wondering about the man. Why did Jack want this guy alive so badly? What was so special about him? His boss usually quickly eliminated those who created problems for him, yet Hobson remained alive and well. He knew that the main reason Hobson was still breathing was due to the fact that Wallis knew he could use the man and possibly get information out of him otherwise the man would be dead.
As he watched Hobson investigating the back of the theater he realized the man was probably searching for evidence pointing to a fire. Jack had said the man had some kind of second sense or something. He hoped Hobson wouldn’t locate his ignition fuel: a time-delayed fuse up near one of those big burgundy curtains lining the back theater walls. If he couldn’t watch the fire do its work then he at least wanted to see it ignite. Hobson, as he noticed, was very persistent and to Jake’s surprise the places Hobson looked were perfect spots to start fires from. How could Hobson know which areas to search? The young man seemed to have some knowledge, however small, of where fires would be likely set up to start. He also noticed that Hobson had a fire extinguisher with him. Obviously the man was expecting to put out a fire. Jake looked at his watch again…not long until show time. He found himself getting excited about seeing the fire ignite even though Hobson would most likely be there to quickly put it out.
* * * *
Gary intently scanned near the curtains. He’s had several experiences putting out arson fires and had at least accumulated some knowledge of where to look from those times. He found that he was glad that he at least knew where to start searching. He searched for ten minutes still with no luck. Okay so where would be another good place to start a fire from? He stood back and glanced around the expanse of the theater both behind the curtains and in front of them. It occurred to him that there was one more area he didn’t look at near the far right of the curtain by the wall. He pulled the curtain aside as he heard someone say his name. Gary didn’t respond as his hand brushed against something. He heard a feminine voice question, “Hobson, what are you doing here?”
“Not now…”
“What? Why do you have a fire extinguisher? Gary wha…”
“Uh oh…” just as he said that a blaze ignited. Gary jumped back as the curtain caught rapidly on fire. For a moment he just stared at it surprised he even located the source. As the fire started to quickly travel up the curtain devouring the fabric in a frenzy Gary quickly pulled the fire extinguisher up and sprayed the blaze until it fizzled and died. He felt his breath coming rapidly and sweat beads on his face. He did it! Thank heavens he found it on time. He lowered the fire extinguisher then turned around. He stopped dead when his eyes clashed against the intense stare of Toni Brigatti. She was staring at him, unable to move, a look of confusion and surprise in her eyes. Gary quickly approached her discarding the extinguisher he questioned, “Brigatti? Brigatti are you all right?”
He got no response from her so he gently gripped her upper arms questioning, “Brigatti?”
She blinked then focused on him. Gary sighed in relief saying, “Are you all right?”
“Gary? Are you real?”
Gary laughed then responded, “Yes I’m real. Are you okay?”
He felt her start to shake under his gentle hold and became suddenly very concerned for her. It was unlike her to get like this. Gary didn’t hesitate as he pulled her against his body and wrapped his arms protectively about her. To his surprise she didn’t pull away from him…yet. Gary questioned again more softly, “Are you all right?”
She nodded her head against him. He continued, “Why are you here?”
“Meeting with an informant…just finished when I saw you over here.”
“You met him alone? Brigatti, that’s very dangerous. You shouldn’t have come alone. What if he would’ve…?”
“Gary…”
“What?”
“How did you know?”
“Know what?”
“The fire…about the fire?”
She felt chills once again climb her spine as she again remembered, all too clearly, seeing that fire ignite right before Gary. Seeing the fire had sent her head long into her nightmare of people panicking and racing out of the theater, of Gary being outlined in fire and of him being ripped so cruelly from her arms…she couldn’t block out those visions as they flooded her mind. She had been so caught up in them that she had just started shaking when Gary spoke her name. She held him tighter remembering now how in her dreams he just vanished. She heard Gary’s voice breaking through those images and listened as he said, “Right place, right time I suppose…”
What was he talking about? Oh that’s right she had asked him a question. How he had known of the fire. She realized he again avoided giving her a direct answer and replied, “Why are you always so secretive? What are you hiding Gary Hobson?”
Gary responded with nervous laughter, a typical response
from him especially when he was bending the truth even if it was a little. She
remembered the day he had been hooked up to that lie detector test and
questioned on whether or not he had killed Scanlon. He had been arrested near
the body of the unlucky columnist, a gun lying near Scanlon’s body. Scanlon was
a sleazy columnist writer for the Chicago Sun-Times and he often tried to
destroy people by revealing their dirty little secrets. He had discovered
something on Gary and was planning on publishing it before he had been
murdered. Hobson was provided a motive when that piece of information arose.
His opportunity arose when he called Scanlon to say they needed to talk and
warned him to veer away from the railroad tracks that evening. The mode, of
course, was the gun at Hobson’s feet when he had been arrested over the body.
Toni shivered now as she recalled that time so vividly. Gary had been on the
run from the police. They were certain he murdered Scanlon, but it was soon
discovered that Scanlon had information regarding a murder for hire operation
in which police were involved. It was discovered that Hobson was innocent all
along. He was nearly killed by the police and murdered by the detective
committing the crimes in the process. At that time Toni had mentioned to Paul
of how Gary was a bit odd and secretive but that didn’t mean he was guilty of
murder. Now here he was again acting odd and secretive. What was he hiding?
What was this huge secret Gary felt he must keep hidden form the world…from
her?
Toni suddenly realized that Gary still held her. How long had they been standing here? She never pulled from him? She hated to admit it but being held by him felt so damned good and oh so right. She deeply inhaled his manly scent and found her mind suddenly flying to another part of those dreams, a part in which she asked him to make love to her and he had accepted. Toni couldn’t help but notice just how much the temperature suddenly arose in this place. God she wanted him, needed him. She could feel every fiber of her being pulled taut as she felt a sexual charge singe the air. She swallowed hard and spoke, “Let me go.”
Gary was as caught up in those mixed emotions as she was. She smelled so good and felt so right in his arms. He was aware he no longer needed to hold her, but just couldn’t make himself release her. She had ceased shaking and now her breath increased. Obviously he wasn’t the only one being held captive in these strange, foreign feelings. She felt so warm, so alive, so good in his arms. He heard her ask him to release her, but he noticed that neither him nor her made any attempts to pull away from one another. He looked down into her eyes seeing her desire and want there. She looked into his and saw her own desires and wants reflected in his own. God she wanted him to kiss her and he wanted to kiss those lips of hers.
Before he realized what he was doing Gary bent down and captured her lips gently kissing her. She responded automatically kissing him back. He heard a low groan escape and wasn’t sure if it was him who made the utterance or her. He felt lost in that kiss. His mind became cloudy and felt as if it were drugged…drugged with her presence. He had no idea how long they stood there kissing one another but when he realized the kiss was making him weak in the knees from its intensity he pulled away immediately uttering, “I’m sorry. I’m sorry…”
He pulled from her but still stood in close proximity, very close proximity. He didn’t touch her now though because he knew that if he did he wouldn’t be able to stop himself next time. He noticed her chest heaving as her breathing came out rapidly. Obviously she had gotten as caught up in that kiss as he had. Gary again spoke, “I…I don’t know what came over me. I’m sorry,” then broke eye contact staring at the floor.
Toni couldn’t believe herself either. Gary’s kiss nearly blew her away. Damn, Gary Hobson was one hell of a good kisser! She found herself even now craving that kiss again, wanting him to kiss her again. Well, she had fooled herself into believing there was no sexual tension between the two of them. Hell, that kiss alone dissolved that false belief. Even now she ached for him, burned for him. She had to get herself under control. She looked at Gary watching as he stared at the floor as if something on the floor had him thoroughly engrossed. She smiled as she noticed the shyness in the man before her. Gary was always shy around her. She knew that he had been interested in her but he didn’t push the issue. They had dated for a short time but her job interfered and they decided to break it off. Now she desired to renew that relationship. She wanted to get to know this man before her, this man with so many secrets, this man with a heart of gold who was willing to risk his own life to save that of another.
She lifted her right hand pressing it gently against the side of his face watching as Gary’s eyes widened. He had been unprepared for the touch. She continued to smile warmly as she cleared her throat saying, “That’s all right Gary.”
He glanced back up surprised that she pressed her hand against his face. He looked into those beautiful eyes of hers and could feel himself losing an inward battle. He couldn’t keep denying his true feelings for the woman before him. He wanted her and he needed her. He wanted to give their relationship another shot. He felt so uncomfortable though still waiting for her to slap him for kissing her. Brigatti had one hell of a punch. He knew that he shouldn’t have kissed her. It had been a mistake. Instead of dampening his emotions for her the fire within only increased and raged. He shook his head in disbelief. Toni broke the silence by continuing, “So you doing anything tonight?”
Gary stared at her as he stuttered, “Wha…what?”
Toni continued to smile admiring his nervousness. The man was so nervous and shy around her and those traits only made him so much more appealing. She softened her voice as she again questioned, “Are you doing anything tonight?”
Gary continued to stare at her trying to make his mouth work to answer her question realizing that her tender hand still cupping his cheek was providing him with one hell of a distraction. He finally managed to make his mouth move as he answered, “Uh…no, not anymore.”
“Do you want to go get some coffee or something?”
Gary smiled at her giving her that handsome boyish grin of his that she so loved. His beautiful eyes also went a shade darker, the green of the iris’ sparkling with happiness and tinged with desire. She could feel her insides quiver as she saw that deep desire in the man’s eyes. She had a sudden urge to lean up and kiss him but held back. Gary was still holding his head slightly bent and occasionally glancing nervously at the floor. He then answered, “Uh…sure, sure…sure, coffee…coffee I… I can do that…sure.”
Toni smiled as she heard the classic Hobson stutter. She loved the way he got all tongue tied at times. He sounded so damned sexy when he did that. She continued, “All right then let’s go.”
Gary licked his lips before shaking his head and anxiously replying, “Sounds good.”
She lowered her hand back to her side and turned to walk away. Gary hesitated before reaching over to encompass her right hand in his left hand waiting on edge for her to either yank away or glare at him. She did neither. Instead she glanced at him smiling coyly and setting his heart beating overtime. Was that interest he was seeing in those beautiful eyes? He smiled broader before allowing her to lead him from the Opera House feeling better than he had in a long time.
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