Now, their house burnt, it is the best opportunity for the killer to hop in. With Eric and Catherine and little Ben, he can attempt his moves on them.

2. Chapter Six
All Those Traps
Margery rushed hearing the news. They moved temporarily into a
motel room. Eric was surprised to see her visiting them after he found
out the suspect for the drug lord hunt. He didn’t look her in the eyes the
whole time. She sat across the table and touched lightly on his hand. He
slowly raised his eyes over her aged skinny hands. The engagement ring
his father surprised her with was missing. The ring has left a light mark
off the long twenty five years of marriage.
‘Is it the man who killed the boy in the neighbourhood?’ She asked, her
voice softened.
‘I don’t know yet’
‘Can I tell you something son? If you don’t mind me asking’
‘go on’
‘you should move somewhere else away from here. It won’t be safe for
Cat and Ben with all this hooligan investigations’
‘why do you say that? I’m a cop. I’m here to stop them from making
chaos. Isn’t it strange than someone living in a bloodshed city
suggesting others to stay away from criminals? Look, you are living in
White Field, and all I could see and hear is that people die daily because
someone sat on the wrong table. What happened to you?’
‘I’m just saying for your family’s safety. Don’t get upset about it’
‘I’ve had this burning in my head for a while but I have to spit it out for
real. Honestly, why are you still staying there? Do you live with them or
between them?’
‘what do you mean by that?’ her face turned.
‘I’m not suppose to discuss classified informations, but seriously, I
found out a number from a drug dealer connecting to Margery
Mathews. what’s going on, seriously?’ Eric looked deeply into her eyes
like a lie detector. Her forehead dripped sweat. She looked away from
him and took a deep breath.
‘who did you get it from? what’s her name?’
Eric looked surprised ‘what? it’s not a she. it’s a he. what’s with all these
connections?’
‘let’s not make a big deal out of it. What is that man’s name? Tell me’
‘Luke Rampart, he was selling drugs to this girl in the street. He shot at
the cops, but missed it’

3. ‘Hmm’ she fell silent for a moment thinking. ‘He a white male with a
dragon on his shoulder?’
‘Yeah, exactly? How do you know him? Why did he call you?’
‘Look, it’s not what it looks like. I first saw this man wounded knocking
on my door. He told me he got shot by a burglar and he wanted
immediate assistance. I let him in and took the bullet out of him. It was
no big deal. He said he could still recognize the man so he felt like he
was in danger. So, I told him to file a complaint to the cops. He hated
cops. They once forced him down breaking his jaw. I gave my number
and calmed him down. I told about you and whenever he gets in
trouble, he called me. He used to bring me groceries and stuff so I didn’t
have to buy them my own. Then one day he disappeared. I thought he
might have got killed or found a new life. And you’re saying that he
tried to call me when you people surrounded him like SWATS’ She
stared at him for a while.
‘How could’ve you saved him from that?’
‘I wouldn’t have to help him this time though, he left me with saying
farewell’
‘This is going to make my files a bit more complicated. You will be
questioned for his connection. You can’t ever say this story in front of
Smith. He won’t believe shit. What am I gonna do?’ He stood up and
went for a beer. It was empty. He slammed the fridge door hard. And
then walked back and forth of her scratching his head. She looked at
him suspiciously. ‘You’re not gonna put me in jail, son?’
‘There must be another way’
‘If this won’t bother you much, let me suggest you one way’
‘Alright, spit it out’ he said sitting roughly on the chair. It squeaked.
‘You said only John and you know about this. What if you could make a
slight change in the number, if you could find the next digit in this
town?’
‘That’s the only way I’m thinking. John can be trusted. I’ll figure
something out. Mom, you better not speak about this to anyone else’
‘I know’
She stood up and walked out of the kitchen. Catherine walked in the
same time. ‘Oops, I’m sorry’ she said ‘It’s alright honey, we’re finished
talking’ Margery said and left the motel kissing Ben goodbye.
‘You alright honey?’
‘She said we should move to another city. Probably a transfer would
take us far away from here’ and kissed her.

4. ‘Honey, Ben’s got friends here. It would be hard for him to find new
ones’
‘I’ll think about it, first I have to find out the messenger. Check the
camera footages and all that crap’ he held her tight just as when Ben
walked in ‘I’m hungry, when are we going home daddy?’
‘Soon enough bunny, just a couple of weeks and our home will be new
and furnished’
It was getting dark outside. He could hear Margery’s Chevy grinding
out of the parking lot. He came outside the room and watched the
surroundings. They were in the corner room. The green arrow shaped
bulbs saying “Zac’s Motel” was constantly glowing midst of the
darkening sky. Two black trucks parked near his car reflected the lights.
A cold breeze passed through his greying hair. He stood there for a
while catching the wind. A group of kids on their bicycles passed a
yellow Porsche parked opposite the motel.
Eric got inside quickly and started packing things up. Catherine
asked why ‘We’re being watched’
‘By whom?’ She shouted. Recently after Nuhman’s murder he was this
guy with pressure on his head screaming and suspecting small things
and making a mount out of a molehill.
‘You know who burned our house?’ he said while zipping his suitcase.
‘It’s the man I found a briefcase from. You know what the message was?
He was warning me to return it. He dares to kill anyone for it. And the
stupid as I am, I never looked into his god-damn files’
‘But why don’t you call someone from your office? John and Phil could
come stay in the other room for a while’
‘That’s not gonna happen. It seems like I can’t trust anyone I know.
They all sell us out at the last moment’
Just then, someone knocked on the door. They panicked. Eric took his
gun off his pocket and slowly looked through the peep hole. It was
John.
John has come to inform about the updates of the phone trace. He
had to give some information about it to Smith. They both walked out of
the room to his car. The Porsche was not there this time.
‘I must give something to Smith, he ordered me to give the files. I
postponed it for tomorrow’ John said when they were inside.
‘I was wondering about that. I talked to her. It isn’t her fault. She has
nothing to do with that’
‘That won’t help. Smith doesn’t hesitate to ignore this reason’

5. ‘I know. I know that. What if we put some one else. what’s the closest
number to hers?’
‘I’ve already checked that. I didn’t know you would ask me that. It’s a
little bit complicated and risky to take that step. And also, it will create a
whole town chaos. Imam Rizwan, 312-452-452-7, there is no other
number closer to hers than his. But, unfortunately, we can’t put him into
this mess. It’ll shake the Muslims’
‘Oh, God. I can’t think of anything but go on with it. If Smith finds out
Margery’s number, then he’ll begin to suspect me of crimes in the city’
Eric said with a deep sorrow voice.
‘Alright then, it’s done. But, must be careful about the mob’
‘Thank you John. What else is there? Did you notice the Yellow Porsche
outside over there while coming?’ He pointed straight towards the
window.
‘Yeah. I noticed. What about it?’
‘I think someone is really watching each and every step I take’ He
pushed the seat back and leaned.
‘Don’t bother about that. It won’t be what you think. Don’t stress your
mind with unnecessary matters. Take some rest. I gotta show you the
files we found from the truck. It’s frightening interesting’
‘What about it? I think my house was burnt because of that. I must find
that bastard’
‘Hey, I told you. That must be other raged criminals. This man has
kidnapped thirteen girls and photographed their naked bodies for fun.
He didn’t even use them. But, he tortured them to death. Each and every
files, girls under age fifteen, all of them. We searched that house with
four officers just now and found cocaine, used syringes, marijuana and
drugs that, in my knowledge, is not sold around these streets. I think he
must’ve been out of storage and got pissed off when Rick said no drugs’
‘Then let’s find out what William has to say about it’ Eric said and
lighted a cigarette.
‘Alright then. I’m gonna take off. See you tomorrow’
‘Thanks man, for coming’
‘No problem. Take care’ John stepped out of the car and went to his
motor bike. Eric stayed in the car for a while thinking about the dramas
he has to do the next day. He slowly slipped into a deep sleep.
*******