Gary Hobson

 

                                                               When Terror Strikes Part 2

                                                                                                                 By:  Stacy L.

 

PART 2

 

As Gary followed the officer into the Chicago Police Department he was overwhelmed with feelings and strong emotions. His last visit here was not exactly pleasant. In fact, he preferred to forget about all the things that occurred when he had been brought here and accused of murder. Gary shook those feelings off then focused on the present. He followed the man to a desk where he was asked to take a seat. He wasn't very fond of this place. People always thought he was crazy or something in here.

 

The officer asked the young lady to take a seat near his desk. Gary didn't look up at her. She looked at him though. He didn't look like a violent person, but she definitely recognized his voice. Could he have been the one attacking her last night or was he just a stranger who had tried to help? Today he strictly tried to help. She noticed that he looked rather exhausted. He seemed nice enough though.

 

One of the other officers approached the stranger saying, "Well hello Mister Hobson. It's been a long time, so what is it this time? Flying saucers?"

 

Those comments grated on Gary's nerves. He was definitely not in the mood for jokes so he snapped back, "Very funny. Do you mind?"

 

"Not at all."

 

The officer left and Gary inhaled deeply to regain his composure then rolled his eyes. Amanda was wondering what that was all about. Gary saw the officer who brought him in return and asked, "Do you mind if I just get some coffee?"

 

"No go ahead. Word around here is you're not a runner."

 

"Gee, thanks for the confidence in me."

 

Gary quickly got a cup of coffee then took his seat to the left of the officer. The officer said, "You've been accused of attacking this young lady. Care to tell me where you were last night around 11:30pm?"

 

"Around eleven-thirty? Taking a walk."

 

"At midnight?"

 

“I couldn't sleep."

 

The officer, Doug Michaels, looked at the man before him, he didn't doubt the man had difficulty sleeping. He had bags under his eyes and looked as if, at any moment, he might drop over. The officer said, "Look Mister Hobson, I know you don't like answering questions but I have to ask them. You have a pretty good standing in this department. There are a lot of officers who respect you..."

 

"That's a first."

 

"Seriously Mister Hobson...You know how this works."

 

"Yes I do. Go ahead."

 

"All right then...tell me how you happened to be in the park just as this young lady's purse was stolen."

 

"Right place..."

 

"Right time sort of thing..." interrupted the familiar voice of Detective Paul Armstrong. Gary had hoped not to run into the man. He was a good cop but also very curious. He was bound and determined to find out just what small secret Gary Hobson had that he felt he couldn't share with the rest of the world.

 

Gary glanced up at Armstrong briefly then said, "Hello Armstrong. It's been a while. How's your family?"

 

“They're doing good, Hobson. So what brings you here? You haven't been back since..."

 

"Yes I know," Gary quickly responded, cutting off Armstrong's statement deliberately.

 

"You don't look too good."

 

"I'm fine."

 

"Are you?"

 

Gary didn't answer the question instead he looked back at the officer questioning him. He requested, "Can we please get this over with?"

 

"Certainly."

 

Paul interrupted, "What's he in for?"

 

"This young lady accused him of attacking her late last night in Grant Park."

 

"Hobson? Is she positive about this?" Armstrong asked speculatively.

 

The woman spoke up, "Yes I...yes."

 

"Did you see his face?"

 

"Well no I…"

 

"Then how can you be so sure Hobson's the guy?"

 

"Because...I recognize his voice."

 

"His voice?"

 

"Well yes."

 

"And what did he say to you?"

 

"He asked if I was...okay... Look I know he was there. I know it!"

 

"Ma'me," interrupted Officer Michaels, "we can't hold him based on that. Not to mention that you said he helped you today..."

 

"Well, someone attacked me!"

 

Armstrong eyed up Gary, who refused to make any sort of eye contact with him. Armstrong questioned, "Hobson, were you at Grant Park last night? Were you?"

 

"I took a walk."

 

"It's a simple question, Hobson. Why won't you answer it? Look, you have this uncanny knack of always showing up where there's trouble. You have a sixth sense sort of thing going on with you. You won’t tell me what it is…how you know what you know. How am I supposed to help you if you don’t trust me?”

 

“I told you I couldn’t sleep, so I took a walk.”

 

“Were you in Grant Park last night?”

 

Armstrong watched Gary like a hawk. He was positive that Gary didn’t attack this lady. He had thought Gary guilty once before and almost got him tried, convicted and not to mention killed when the man had been totally innocent all along. He was determined not to make that kind of a mistake again, but he knew that Gary was hiding something. He knew Gary wasn’t being totally truthful with him. He could tell now that Gary was speaking the truth but he was also omitting a fact or two. Paul had no doubts in his mind that Hobson was in fact at the park the previous evening. It all fit…Hobson always showed up where there was trouble. He also knew that Gary was no assailant. He knew that Hobson was already innocent, so why did the man still insist on being so secretive all the time? Gary looked guilty as sin sitting in that chair. He had been there all right, of that he had no doubt, so why not just admit it? He sighed heavily before saying, “All right look, I have a feeling that you were in that park last night and you did approach this young lady…”

 

Gary glanced up at him and he cursed. He always noticed that Hobson had a gentle face. Damn that was one of the things that made his working with Hobson so difficult. The man was inherently good, a little strange, a little odd and most definitely secretive but good. Gary Hobson had a gentle soul and a kind heart. He shook his head before continuing, “…but I also know that you didn’t attack her. If anything you attempted to help her.”

 

Gary watched Armstrong intently causing Armstrong to mentally curse. Damn, Hobson’s eyes were so revealing! Another reason he often found it difficult to speak with the man was because his eyes were so readable. They often say that the eyes were the windows to the soul and in Gary Hobson’s case those words were so true. He wanted to get angry with Hobson for again remaining silent and giving very little aid to the police, but he just couldn’t do it. He noticed a difference in Hobson…a difference he hadn’t noticed before now: the man was totally exhausted. He had seen Hobson tired when he was on the run, but he had never seen Hobson this tired before. He could tell that the man hasn’t been sleeping very well. Circles hung under his each of his eyes and his entire body screamed of the weariness in him. He wanted to question Hobson more, to demand answers, but found that he just couldn’t do that right now so he chose to say, “All right Hobson if that’s how you want to play it, all right. If you should decide to speak up give me a call. You know where to find me. Michaels release him.”

 

“But…”

 

“Let him go. He’s not your attacker.”

 

“But how…?”

 

“Just trust me on this, will you? Let him go.”

 

“Fine.”

 

Gary spoke up, “Hey Armstrong…?”

 

Paul turned to look at Gary and noticed that he wanted to speak but he still hesitated so he replied, “Go home and get some rest Hobson. You need it.”

 

“But…”

 

“That’s an order Hobson… Give me a call later and we’ll talk then. For now just go home and rest.”

 

Paul turned from Gary and started to leave. Gary spoke out, “Thank you.”

 

Paul simply glanced at Hobson, nodded his head then walked away.

 

Finally, Gary was told that he could leave. He made an immediate beeline for the exit when the woman from earlier, Amanda, said, “Hey Mister Hobson? Mister Hobson?”

 

Gary stopped and looked at her. She looked up at him feeling a little bit nervous and uncertain. She then blurted out, “I’m sorry…”

 

“Look…”

 

Gary stopped abruptly as he noticed the clock hanging above the exit doors. He saw the time and suddenly remembered about the accident…the accident he had to stop from happening. It was to occur around three. He had to go.

 

The woman questioned, “Mister Hobson are you all right?” as she noticed the sudden look of urgency in the man’s face.

 

Gary spoke up rapidly uttering, “I gotta go,” and started to quickly make his way towards the exit doors.”

 

“Wait…wait I wanted to apologize. I’m…”

 

“I have to go.”

 

“But…”

 

In the next instant Gary was gone, running out the door and down the sidewalk. All Amanda could do was stand staring at the vacant spot where Hobson had been only a mere moment before.

 

                                                                            * * * * * *

Later that evening…

 

Gary had managed to successfully avert the accident and the ATM robbery. After that he had to run around doing little odd and end things the paper requested. He glanced at his wristwatch: 9 pm. Great another late night. Gary found himself walking aimlessly down the still busy Chicago sidewalks heading back to his bar McGinty’s. He knew that he could’ve hailed a cab but he decided just to walk. He felt relief flood through him, and an overwhelming desire to just drop into bed, when he could see the sign for his bar up ahead. He quickened his pace ready to settle down for a long night of much needed rest.

 

What he didn’t notice was the black Chevy Cavalier sitting along the street opposite the bar. Inside the car was a man who suddenly perked up upon seeing the illusive Mister Hobson enter his place. Finally…he had waited here all evening trying to make certain that this Hobson guy in fact owned the place. He smirked evilly as a plan started taking root in his mind…so this was the guy? This was the guy who was seeing his girl? Well, he’d fix that right up. Jack Wallis never made a promise he didn’t intend to keep. He had told her not to even try to leave him or she’d pay severely. He had been searching for her and had caught up to her in Michigan just as she had up and moved again. It took him a little longer to track her down this time but finally he had located her new residence right in the heart of Chicago. She would pay for running from him and involving herself with this Hobson guy. He’d make sure of that. He was positive she and Hobson had a thing. The guy kept popping up to help her. One of these days Hobson would show up and not walk away…one of these days.

 

He had to be patient, especially now. He had followed her to the Chicago Police Department earlier today where he was positive that she had told them of her…situation, so getting close to her wouldn’t be easy. He also wanted to make certain that she did have feelings for this Hobson guy. Only if she cared about him would his plans to trap her again work. He’d have to be patient, but he would get her back where she belonged. With that final affirmation he started up his car then pulled out onto the road heading to the hotel where he was presently staying.

 

                                                                            * * * * * *

Gary entered McGinty’s and saw hi friend so he walked over to her. Marissa smiled then turned saying, “Hi Gary. How are you?”

 

“Tired. I think I’m just going to go upstairs and go to bed, Marissa. Will you be all right down here or…?”

 

“I’ll be fine. You go upstairs and get yourself some rest.”

 

“Are you sure? I can stay and help.”

 

“Gary, go get some sleep. Oh by the way Detective Armstrong called.”

 

Gary halted then questioned, “What…what did he want?”

 

“He called to check on you. It was strange that he suddenly called after all these months…”

 

“Yeah strange…”

 

“He said he ran into you at the station this afternoon…”

 

“Yeah well…”

 

Gary fell unusually silent, worrying Marissa, which prompted her to ask, “Gary?”

 

Gary spoke up surprising Marissa as he said, “I ran into that woman again.”

 

“The murder victim?”

 

“Yes.”

 

“Where?”

 

“She was in the park.”

 

“What? Again?”

 

“Yes, I don’t know why she was there.”

 

“Well, what were you doing at the park?”

 

“Stopping a mugging.”

 

“A mugging? Who was the…?”

 

“It was her Marissa. Someone tried to steal her purse.”

 

“Well maybe that was just a coincidence…”

 

“A coincidence? Two days in a row within hours of each other attacks were made on her. Last night it was someone trying to kill her. Today it was somebody trying to mug her. What will it be tomorrow someone grabbing her? I mean…”

 

“Gary what is it?”

 

“I still think there’s something more going on here Marissa. I think someone is after her.”

 

“But who Gary?”

 

“I don’t know but… It seems kind of odd that I had to help her twice.”

 

“Gary?”

 

“Yeah,” answered Gary sleepily.

 

“Never mind. Why don’t you go upstairs and get some much needed rest?”

 

“I…”

 

“Please Gary. I know you’re completely exhausted. Go.”

 

Gary smiled at Marissa then said, “Good night Marissa.”

 

“Good night Gary. We’ll talk about this woman more in the morning…AFTER you get some much needed sleep.”

 

“Thanks. Good night.”

 

Gary then headed upstairs after grabbing a bite to eat in the kitchen. He trudged up his stairs and into his room. This time he didn’t make it to the shower. His bed just looked so inviting. He walked over and plopped down on the bed on his stomach. Not even five minutes after lying down he drifted off to sleep.

 

Marissa walked up to check on him a half hour later. She was surprised to find his door wide open. She entered his home ready to call his name when she heard movement and the sound of bed springs creaking softly. She walked over to the bed and sat down beside her friend. She went to pull his covers up over him when her hand brushed against his foot. He was still wearing his shoes. Marissa removed his shoes, being careful not to wake him then she pulled his covers up over him. As she turned to leave she heard crinkling like paper under her feet. She bent down and picked up the paper realizing that it was Gary’s newspaper. Obviously he had been so exhausted that he simply went to bed and fell asleep rapidly. She smiled, glad that he was finally getting some much needed rest. She placed his newspaper on the counter then left, quietly closing the door behind her.

 

                                                                            * * * * * *

 “Good morning Chicago! It’s another…”

 

Gary’s hand snaked out from under his covers and literally slapped the alarm into silence. Where was he? It suddenly dawned on him that he was still fully clothed. Why didn’t he change his clothes or shower? Why hadn’t he…?

 

“Meow!”

 

THUMP!

 

Gary jerked his head up off of his pillow and glanced at the alarm: six-thirty. He heard the cat meowing again then begin to paw at his door. He winced as he moved his left arm sending a flood of prickly needles up and down the length of it. Great his arm was asleep, obviously he held it in the same position for a good while.

 

He slowly got up shaking his arm vigorously in an attempt to rid it of those prickly needles that signified his arm was, in fact, asleep. He glanced around noting his jacket lay balled up in a heap on the floor. He must’ve been so tired the previous night that he had just went straight to bed and literally collapsed onto it. He rubbed his eyes, yawned then stretched his arms out. He felt a little better than he’s been. He went to his door and left the cat in. He scarfed up his newspaper then began scanning over the front page of it while closing his door with his other hand. He didn’t see anything on the front page…yet.

 

He began to walk slowly to the counter dragging his feet the entire way. He was still very weary. He had managed to get some much-needed rest, but his body still wanted and needed more. He opened his refrigerator, pulled out his milk container and poured some in the cat’s bowl not even bothering to look up from his newspaper. After he scanned the front page a second time he threw his paper onto the counter then started a pot of coffee. Coffee seemed to be a popular drink for him lately. He remembered his friend telling him the caffeine would only give him energy for a short time then make him even more tired, but he didn’t think too long on that. He needed something to invigorate himself and coffee would do the trick. He decided to get a shower since he hadn’t managed to make it that far the previous night. After showering he got dressed then poured himself a nice cup of coffee. He again picked up his newspaper beginning to read through it, as his eyes focused on an article requiring his services he grabbed his coat and headed downstairs. He had quite a few things to do. He entered the bar and walked over to the counter. Marissa looked up then said, “Good morning Gary. How are you feeling today?”

 

“Uh well…better…better…”

 

“You still sound tired.”

 

“Yeah well…the paper is still demanding that things be done.”

 

“Gary, you need to sleep…”

 

“I will. I will. I just have to…do a few things first, that’s all.”

 

“A few things?”

 

“Well…yeah…”

 

“Just how many…things do you have to do?”

 

“Oh well…several.”

 

“Gary…”

 

“You know what Marissa, I have to go okay? I’ll be back later.”

 

“Gary…”

 

“I’ll be back.”

 

“But Gar…”

 

Too late he was gone out the door. He again managed to successfully dodge Marissa’s questions. She hated when he did that. She knows that he probably won’t be back for quite a few hours. He didn’t want her to worry; Marissa understood that. She wondered if Gary even realized that when he dodged her questions he only succeeded in making her more worried than not. He did sound better but she sensed that he was trying to cover up how drained he really did feel because he didn’t want her to be constantly troubled. Marissa sighed heavily then went to the office to work on the books.

 

Gary meanwhile raced out the door feeling a tad bit guilty for avoiding Marissa’s questions and concerns regarding his well-being. Marissa had enough things to worry about she didn’t need the added burden of his problems to keep her busy. He hated just leaving like that maybe he should apologize to her later for being so rude to her.

 

Gary continued walking down the street arguing in his mind about what he should’ve done when he suddenly felt anxious. He felt as if he were being watched. He had felt that way once before when his best friend Chuck Fishman had hired someone to follow him around and film him making saves. Chuck’s idea was to present a show to the network studios in Hollywood in which a man gets a special…magazine, conveniently delivered by a dog… He wanted actual footage of Gary’s saves to give the networks a look at how believable such a show could become. In the end Chuck made money off of a series of Cheerleader movies.

 

Gary stopped as he felt the hair at the base of his neck rise on end. He glanced around but saw no one…a few cars parked along the street, the typical crowd of pedestrians racing to their destinations and a CTA train heading off into the distance. There were tons of people but no one seemed to be focusing on him. Gary again made a quick sweep of the area but still saw no one. The sense of foreboding didn’t disappear though, which left him feeling nervous and unsure. He was positive that someone was watching him, but who and why?

 

He tried to ignore the sense of being watched by again walking, fast now, down the sidewalk. When he turned the corner by a building the sense of being observed by someone was gone. He released the pent up breath he had been holding. He didn’t like the feeling of being quietly observed. It made him nervous and feel uneasy. It also sent millions of questions into his mind. He knew that Chuck would never pull a stupid stunt like that on him again because the first time it nearly destroyed their friendship. He couldn’t think of anyone else who’d want to spy on him. He briefly thought of Armstrong but quickly disposed of that idea. So who was left? Gary had the oddest feeling that person out there surveilling him had dangerous intentions. He hoped that his instincts were wrong in that respect. The last thing he needed was some maniac spying on him.

 

Gary continued on heading to the train station. He didn’t have any pressing business to attend to for at least another hour or so. He decided to walk in hopes that the brisk air would also aid in making him more alert. It was a chilly morning in Chicago but the sun was shining, so that helped keep the coldness from seeping into his bones. As he walked he noticed that the fresh air was indeed helping him wake up and feel more alert. By the time the clock neared his first save of the day he felt ready to take on the whole world.

 

He quickly rushed to the store where a young man was going to wind up with a broken leg. Gary successfully saved that man from spending some time in the hospital. As the day went on it was much the same thing: helping people mainly from getting severe injuries. By the time he returned to McGinty’s he was ready to go to sleep. He was very glad that he had no more mysterious run-ins with the lady he had saved two days in a row…that, in Gary’s mind, was a very good thing.

 

Once in his room he laid down on his bed stretching himself out the full length of the mattress. He lay on his stomach resting his head on his pillow. It wasn’t long before his eyes drifted shut and he fell captive to a peaceful slumber.

 

 

Next:

 

     PART 3

 

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