Sunlight peeked into the room through the half drawn curtains and flooded over Scott's face, blinding him with unsettle pain. He rolled over and nearly fell out of bed; that woke him up for the day's routines. Scott slipped out of bed, walked to the bathroom and did his daily routine is a much lighter note then usual. He realized that since arriving in Edgefield, this had been the first full night of sleep he had gotten besides the very first night. He seemed much more relaxed with a confident air. He felt like this was going to be a good day for him.
Walking into the other room, Scott picked up his switchblade and magnum, fitted the holster over his shoulders, and started downstairs at a brisk walk. Surprisingly, he was much more relaxed today then he had thought. The stairs creaked as he moved and before long, Scott stood in the kitchen with Gene standing against the opposite corner talking to Matt. Matt always seemed to get there on time but today he was early.
"How's Melissa doing?" Gene asked in a soft sympathetic voice as he pulled waffles from the toaster and threw them onto a plate. "I'm sorry to hear what happened Matt. I knew she was a good friend of yours. Hell, I knew her too. Not as well as you, I'm sure, but in a small town, everyone knows everyone else."
Matt nodded understandingly and rubbed his forehead. "It took the doctor's a while to remove the bullet from her back but luckily it didn't hit anything vital. She was awake and talking this morning, but she was still groggy from surgery. The doctor's said she's stable for now and they said she'll probably be all right. We have a cop outside just in case that bastard decides to return and try anything. I don't think he will though. He's been beaten. In fact, I think we actually scared him yesterday."
"Good, let's hope you did," Gene said happily, finally turning to see Scott. "I hope you scared him away for good. Oh, hey Scott. Good morning."
"Morning Gene," Scott said, pulling his coat over his shoulders and standing out the collar. "Morning Matt. Ready?" The other man nodded and opened the door.
"Would either of you like anything to eat before you go?" Gene asked, taking his plate and walking to the table. "I got waffles. They're hot and delicious." Both detectives waved it away and muttered their thanks before leaving the kitchen behind.
The bright sunlight of the new day hit Scott right between the eyes like a bat and made him blink in pain. Rubbing his head as he started towards the Mercedes, he said, "It's good to hear that Melissa's doing all right. I'm glad to hear it Matt. I'll have to get some flowers or something and bring them to her myself."
"Thanks Scott," Matt answered, opening the door and getting in with Scott mimicking him on the opposite side of the car. The engine started and soon the two detectives were starting down the road and towards the department for yet another day of wild goose chasing and no adventure. Scott hoped they wouldn't repeat anything that happened yesterday. "So, did he visit you last night?"
Scott laughed happily and shook his head. "No he didn't. I think we finally scared him away. I hope for good but I don't want to get ahead of myself. That would only be in our dreams Matt. I'm sure he'll be back in no time. But I finally got a good night's sleep, it was odd."
"Yeah, that would be a wish come true," Matt sighed sadly and turned at the light. "But I don't think we've seen the last of our friend yet. If only we knew a little more about him. Damn, I'm tired of wandering in the dark of this goddamn case!" He shook his head and looked at Scott. "When we do find out who he is Scott, I'll make sure he suffers and gets exactly what he deserves for what he did to Sarah and Melissa." He sighed and calmed down a little. "So, what's on the agenda for today?"
Scott sighed and rubbed his eyes, trying to wake himself up the rest of the way before reaching work. "Well, we're going to go down to Lake Clearwater. I think we'll find David Poole down there. I can't be certain but I think it's worth a try. The man did tell me about Ms. Livingston and he wasn't lying. I don't think he's lying about this either."
"Lake Clearwater?" Matt asked in amazement. "All the way on the other side of Plum Branch?" Scott nodded quickly, without even thinking it over. "That's quite a way out Scott. Do you think we'll find Mr. Poole out there?"
"Yep, I'm sure of it," Scott said, looking over at Matt with confident eyes. "The man said we would and he was right about Sarah so I don't think he's wrong about David. At least it's a lead. The only one we ever had was with Melissa and you see what happened there." He looked over at Matt and shook his head. "Sorry Matt. It's just that this is worth a shot, if only that."
"What do you think the Sheriff will say about it?" Matt asked, pulling the Mercedes into the parking lot of the department. "Do you think he'll let us go?" He pulled into a parking space and cut the ignition off.
"Don't know," Scott answered, getting out of the car with Matt doing the same. "But like I said, it's worth a try isn't it?" Matt nodded and both detectives walked into the department.

"Lake Clearwater?" Sheriff Pitts laughed, drinking heartily from the Diet Coke sitting on his desk. "That's an least an hour away Detectives. You can't possibly think this man did all that just to get rid of one body when we have another one. He wouldn't have gone that far. No one in there right mind would think of that. No criminal is that smart."
"Most murderers are brilliant sheriff," Scott corrected the man confidently. "We found Sarah Livingston's body almost as far out sheriff. This man would have put them wherever he could find a place to hide them. The further away from the us, the better. I feel strongly about this Sheriff Pitts. I think it could be a good lead that we're looking for."
Anthony laughed and put the Diet Coke back down on the desk. "I don't know Scott. We need you here at the department in case something new shows up. You two are the current detectives on the case and I don't want you both out there if something new should show up. I think we should stay here for now. Don't you think that's better Scott?"
"Actually sir, I don't think that's better," Scott replied calmly. "You told me that you wouldn't doubt my decisions again sir. I'm not really supposed to be here. I'm just here to help you with your case that I think this department is quite capable of completing itself. If you didn't see my record Sheriff, I don't exactly enjoy being back in Edgefield. It's not one of the high points of my life and I'm still trying to forget about what happened here seven years ago. So if you don't think my help is useful-the only reason I'm here mind you-then I'll pack up and leave as soon as possible."
"No, I don't want you to leave Scott," Sheriff Pitts said suddenly, standing up with the force of a terrified man. "No, I did say that I wouldn't doubt you again so I won't. And yes, I know what happened seven years ago Scott. I'm sorry about that and I'm sorry that you have to remember by being back." He turned to Matt with disappointed eyes. "What do you say Detective Night? Do you think it's a good idea?"
"Of course I do sir," Matt answered calmly. "I wouldn't doubt any of Scott's decisions and I'm behind him one hundred percent."
"Very well," Sheriff Pitts said, finally giving in and waving his hand as he fell back into his chair. "Yeah, we can handle anything that comes up here but I want you two back as soon as possible. And if you find anything, contact me first. No one else. I'll get in touch with the rest of them in need be. Understand?" They both nodded yet Scott found it strange that Anthony didn't want anyone else to know unless he was told first. That was all right; at least he let them go and see what they could find. They turned and left the office. Soon they were in the Mercedes and heading out towards Plum Branch. Heading out towards Lake Clearwater where Scott was afraid of what they might find.

An hour of driving finally brought them to a rocky peninsula jutting out into the lake. The sun was high in the sky and cast a bright hot light down on them but that didn't stop them. The Mercedes was parked on the crest of the steep twenty foot hill overlooking the peninsula and in Scott's eyes, it had been hell to get down there. But they had made it and found no one down there. Obviously today wasn't the day for camping but speed and pontoon boats rode the waves out on the lake without a second glance at the two detectives. Waves crashed on the rocks covering the cove but Scott saw nothing. This was the right place, wasn't it? Surely he had heard the man correctly. The man wouldn't start lying to him now, would he?
Matt thumbed a peppermint into his mouth, offered Scott one, which he declined (he was too occupied with this search), and then jammed his hands into his pockets. "We're at the right place, aren't we?" He looked out over the water with his sunglasses covering his eyes and Scott got the impression of a detective in a movie. "I mean, he did tell you, right?" He looked over at his partner but Scott was too absorbed with his search. "Right Scott?" He raised his voice.
Scott seemed to be pulled from a tired trance. "Oh right Matt. He said to look here, at this exact spot. But I don't see anything, do you?" Matt shook his head and shrugged. "Only one thing left to do." He pulled out the switchblade and whipped the blade out quickly, not wanting to waste anymore time. "It's time to end this damn case once and for all." With that, he drove the knife into the rocky ground, closed his eyes, and slowly turned the handle.
Visions flooded his head, exactly how they had when he was searching for Sarah Livingston. They were only quick glimpses of what was hidden beneath the dirt and rocks of the peninsula. He hoped they'd be enough to put two and two together; enough to finally caught this damn serial killer.
David Poole buried beneath red clay and rocks. He was already in a state of decay but it wasn't too bad, at least not yet. Pain flashed in his head but he didn't his best to ignore it. Pain sometimes appeared but in order to get his job done, he had to deal with it. David's hand was shattered and mangled badly. Scott guessed that it was the work of David's sledgehammer that had been used against him. Ribs were crushed and his left arm was shattered in two places. His pelvis was broken and his lower back was dislodged.
"Poor bastard got all hell beaten out of him," Scott whispered, keeping his eyes closed. But this wasn't what he was looking for. None of it was. He concentrated and softly asked, "Where is he?"
Ten paces in front of you, over the small incline, and then three paces to your left, a small voice in his head spoke up. Scott smiled in satisfaction and opened his eyes. Sighing, he pulled the blade free and stood up, brushing dust from his pants. "It's this way." He started across the rocks while closing the switchblade and stuffing it back into his inside coat pocket.
Matt followed with a frown but eagerness hidden in his eyes behind the sunglasses. Scott knew the man was ready to get through with this case as soon as possible. Hell, they both were. Scott jumped over the small incline, quickly followed by Matt on his heels. Scott briefly stopped and muttered, "Three paces to the left. Got it." He counted out three quick paces and kneeled down in the dirt again, with Matt circling around him and kneeling down across from him with the frown still on his face.
"Is this where he is?" Matt asked, cautiously beginning to dig into the ground. "What's he look like?" He threw a couple rocks aside and started moving faster as Scott carefully began helping him.
"It's not good at all," Scott answered hoarsely, coughing as dust flew up into his face. "The man really beat him badly with that sledgehammer of his. He looks awful. And he's already starting to decay and his body's broken all over. Don't expect a pretty sight?"
"Hell Scott," Matt laughed, pushing more red clay aside, "I never expect a pretty sight. I've worked here too long to expect one. I know what kind of work this is and that's why I'm doing it. Because no one else will." Scott nodded and coughed again.
The red clay and rocks were hard to dig through but soon the two detectives were kneeling in front of David Poole's dirty body. Only his blue overshirt was visible but they knew it was him. Who else could it have been? "There's our pal Matt," Scott said weakly, standing up and stretching his back. He heard it pop and pulled in air sharply as a small pain shot through his side. "I guess it's time to radio for backup. Let's see what Sheriff Pitts has to say about this."
"I'm on it Scott," Matt replied, starting back up the peninsula and towards the hill with the Mercedes. It would take a couple minutes to climb the ridge but once at the top, Matt would have no problem radioing in with the new information.
Scott sat down on the rock face, wiped sweat from his forehead with the back of his dirty hand, and sighed deeply. Perhaps this case was finally beginning to get somewhere after about a week. Perhaps the man visiting him almost every night was beginning to get a face to him. If only it worked so well, Scott wouldn't have a problem with his job. But as it was, nothing was that simple in any part of his job.

The Plum Branch division to arrive on the scene. There were ten policemen in all, an ambulance, and of course, Sheriff Anthony Pitts; this time accompanied by the Plum Branch Police Chief, Rick Thompson. Not too many policemen have arrived from the Edgefield department but then again, it was an hour away and Scott didn't expect too many to show up.
Sheriff Pitts and Rick Thompson braved their way down the steep incline of the hill and met the two detectives around David Poole's body. The coroner was present and the paramedics were already lifting the dirty, mangled body up onto a stretcher with a sheet hiding the decaying flesh. But it did its job and only hide the flesh, not the smell. Mr. Poole's body reeked of month spoiled meat mixed with sewage. It stung the nose and watered the eyes.
"You found him here Scott?" Sheriff Pitts asked, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. He gripped the sheet in one chubby hand and threw it aside, exposing the decaying, broken body again. "And you found him like this? Broken like this, I mean?" Scott nodded, answering both questions at once.
"Jesus!" Rick Thompson exclaimed as he studied Mr. Poole's body. "Whoever did this had suppressed angry it seems. I'm not Psychologist but this was the mark of a true madman." He looked up at Scott with a questioning look and then swung his gaze over to Matt. "How'd you find him detective?"
"With his ability probably?" Anthony answered, raising an eyebrow to Scott. Mr. Thompson looked as confused as a child on a difficult math test. A child that hadn't studied the material at all. "Sorry Chief," Sheriff Pitts continued, "but this is Detective Scott Edenfield, the Specialist from Atlanta. I completely forgot that you hadn't met him yet. He's a semi- psychic and the lead detective on this case." He turned to Matt." And this is Detective Matt Night, the first detective in our department to follow up on the case."
"Oh yeah," the Chief answered with a smile slowly spreading across his face. He held out his hand, first to Scott and then to Matt. Each man took it and gave it a brief shake before releasing it. "I've heard much about you Detective Edenfield. It's a true honor."
"Thank you Chief."
"So, he was mangled like this when you found him?" Anthony asked in a somewhat knowing voice. Both detectives nodded as he covered David's body again and beckoned the paramedics to continue on their way. They obeyed with the coroner and Rick Thompson soon following. The Plum Branch Police Chief said his goodbyes and then sparked a conversation with the coroner, asking questions about David. This left the two detectives and the sheriff alone on the rocky peninsula. "And you used your ability to find him?" Scott nodded but eyed the man weary. "Interesting." Sheriff Pitts smiled, walked around the two men, and stopped on the point of the land, staring out at the rolling waters of the lake. The waves crashed against his shoes but he paid them no heed.
"What are you getting at sir?" Matt asked curiously, pulling his hands from his pockets and crossing his arms. "More evidence? A lead perhaps?"
Anthony laughed and turned to face them with a small smirk on his fat face. "Very interesting indeed, Scott. A lead?" He thought it over for a second before muttering, "Perhaps detective, but just maybe. It just strikes me as odd, that's all. That of all the places on this huge lake," he threw his plump arms out to his sides as if he were free falling backwards, "you chose to look in this spot Scott. And you were right! It's odd, that's all."
Scott didn't like what the sheriff was hinting at; he didn't appreciate it at all. Not after he'd done so much work on this damn case already. The mere fact that he was back in Edgefield was enough work, mentally. But he wasn't about to tell Sheriff Pitts that the killer was visiting him almost every night No, that would just make him look even more mentally unstable. That was the last thing he wanted in this time.
"It might be, but we found him, didn't we?" Matt answered, giving each man a sidelong glance. Scott was glad that the man knew not to speak of the killer visiting Scott. He knew he could trust Detective Night. "We got a lead Sheriff and we found one of the victim's bodies. I think that's a good day's work. We should celebrate!"
"Perhaps," Sheriff Pitts muttered and started back across the peninsula; heading straight for the inclined hill. "Follow me detectives. You two have nothing more to do here." They followed and were replaced by crime scene investigators as they began their standard sweep of the crime scene. "I need to talk to you Scott." Scott didn't like the hidden tone in the sheriff's voice.
Soon Scott stood next to the Mercedes with Matt and Sheriff Anthony Pitts beside him. Matt leaned back against his car and crossed his arms. "What did you need to say sir?"
Sheriff Pitts turned his balding head to Matt, wiped sweat from his brow, and laughed. "Ha, I need to speak to Scott, not you detective." A frown of disappoint briefly crossed Matt's face, but the man didn't let it show for long. 'But since you're here, I guess you can hear as well. It concerns you in a way detective."
This troubled Scott. He didn't know why but the way the sheriff spoke made him raise an eyebrow in question. Scott didn't even notice the man, in his finely cut business suit and red tie, approach the car and remove his sunglasses from his middle-aged face. With short gray hair, dark eyes, a short gray beard, and a smirk of hidden knowledge, he could be described s Death.
"I need you to speak to him Scott," Anthony said, nodding towards the business man.
Scott turned his attention to the man and reluctantly shook his offered hand. His voice was deep and had traces of a Scottish accent. "It's an honor to finally meet you Detective Edenfield. I'm Doctor Edward Rowlandson. I'm a Criminal Psychologist with the Plum Branch Division." He paused and withdrew his hand. "I need to speak with you Scott. It's about the case." Giving Matt a quick glance that studied him up and down, as if the man were afraid of him, he mumbled, "Let's take a ride."

Matt pushed himself away from the Mercedes in alarm when he saw Scott and the doctor from Plum Branch get into the doctor's BMW Z3 Roadster and start down the dirt road towards the highway. He immediately turned to the sheriff with questioning eyes, still hidden beneath his sunglasses. "Where are they going?"
Sheriff Pitts laughed again and turned to face Matt as he started walking away. "Don't worry Matt. They're not going to kill him." The joke wasn't comforting in the least bit. Anthony clapped Matt on the shoulder and answered, "Relax detective. They just want to talk to Scott for a while. That's all. They're bringing him to the Plum Branch Department and he'll be back on the case in no time."
"I'm going there then," Matt replied, opening his door and pulling the keys from his pocket. "He's my partner and he learns anything about the case, then I have a right to hear it too." He saw Sheriff Pitts walk towards his own car and get in. Perhaps he was going there as well but Matt didn't care.
Closing the door and quickly sticking the keys into the ignition, Matt threw the Mercedes into Drive and started down the dirt road towards the highway. He didn't know when Sheriff Pitts' car followed; all his attention was on the road. He had only been to the Plum Branch Department twice but he wasn't worried about that. He'd find his way no matter what.

The parking lot was full but Matt found a space with no problem. As he started across the pavement to the front of the building, he noticed that the sheriff's car was already parked and cooled down. All right, so he may have taken the long way around but that didn't matter. He was here, wasn't he?
Opening the door, Matt walked into the lobby and started towards the offices of the officers in the department. The secretary jumped up and started towards him. "I'm sorry sir, but civilians aren't allowed back there without an appointment with an officer. If you wait here, I'll take your name and notify one of the officers. They're be with you in no time."
Matt didn't slow. He pulled out his badge and said, "Detective Matt Night with the Edgefield Division. I need to speak with Dr. Rowlandson immediately. Do you know where he is?"
"Sorry Detective, I didn't know," she replied with a softened voice. "Yes, I do know where he is. But it might be a problem to speak with him at the moment sir. He's in Interrogation Room Two. I don't know how long he'll be."
Matt skid to a stop and turned to her with a bewildered face. "Interrogation Room?" She jumped at his sudden movement but finally nodded. "I'm sorry. It's just that, well, that doesn't sound right. Thank you but I'll find my way there. I'll just wait back there for him, all right?" She nodded and returned to her desk.
Damned if he knew his way there. But luckily, after about ten minutes of wandering the halls of the department-and sadly, it wasn't that big-he somehow found the room and stepped into the observation room with the one way mirror in front of him. What he saw confused him to the point of fury. In the interrogation room, Scott sat at one side of the table with Dr. Rowlandson at the other. Two guards were posted at the door as if Scott was a criminal! The cop in the observation room didn't even notice the anger on Matt's face.
As Matt watched this madness-this nonsense-Sheriff Pitts pushed the door open and walked into the observation room, stirring a fresh cup of coffee that he held in his hands. "Ah, Matt. It's good that you could make it. Please, have a seat."
Matt didn't even listen to him. He immediately threw the offer aside. "What the hell's going on here Sheriff?" He turned on the older man with angry in his eyes, but suppressed anger nonetheless. Suppressed anger since Sheriff Pitts was his boss. He pointed to Scott and repeated, "What's going on here Sheriff? Are you interrogating him? Are you interrogating Scott?" He couldn't believe any of this. It was as if he had stepped into a bad nightmare and didn't quite know his way out. As if everyone had suddenly turned on him; all his friends were suddenly enemies.
Anthony laughed and shrugged. "Well, I guess we are Matt. Why detective? Does that bother you?" He paused, but only briefly, not allowing Matt to even open his mouth to answer. "Dr. Rowlandson just wanted to ask Scott a couple of questions concerning the case. There's no harm there, is there detective?"
"Yes, I think there is a little harm there, sir." Matt couldn't control the volume of his voice now. He was furious at this very notion; he couldn't control his anger towards the sheriff, the doctor, or the departments. Even though he knew they were on his side against the true killer in this case, they acted as if they were temporarily against him. "You're actually questioning Scott?" He laughed in spite of what was happening. "Do you honestly believe he killed Sarah and David? He's the head detective on the case for Christ's sake! How can you even think of questioning him?" Matt turned to look through the glass, rubbing his forehead. He didn't even realize he was still laughing. "Jesus, Scott was there when the man-the true killer!-shot Melissa! I saw the man with my own eyes Sheriff! And it wasn't Scott! The man knocked Scott out!"
"Or so Scott tells us," Sheriff Pitts replied calmly, releasing the spoon and taking a sip from the steaming coffee. "No one saw the 'true killer'," he made brief quotation marks with his hands, "knock Scott out. Sure, you may have seen him but that man could have just been a dummy that Scott paid to take his place for the day. To true any attention away from Detective Edenfield. The man could have merely been a hired man that Scott himself hired. As a detective, you should pick up on these things Matt. I expected more from you." Matt was speechless. He couldn't find his words; he couldn't believe he was hearing this. "And Scott claims to be a semi- ! There are no such things as psychics! He's just pulling our chain to make us believe him. He knew exactly where to look for both bodies, he found them, and he claims he used his ability to find them. Ha! As if that could actually happen, Matt. Think! He's pulling your chain too and you're falling for it. Follow me Matt. We're both from the Edgefield department; we need to stick together with our arguments against him. Two are more powerful then one Matt. What do you say?"
"No!" Matt yelled back angrily, turning his full attention to Sheriff Pitts with bewilderment and uncertainty floating in his eyes. "Hell no! I'm not going to turn against Scott! He's not the killer! Why can't you see this? Hell, he was in Atlanta when they all went missing! How the hell could he have done it then?" Was Sheriff Pitts serious about this?
"He could have had someone kidnap them and then he killed them, which still makes him the murderer Matt," Sheriff Pitts said, walking to the window and looking out at Scott with the coffee still in his hands. "That man you claim to be the killer could have kidnapped them. Scott's hired hand."
"You can't do this Sheriff," Matt vainly argued. "You have no evidence against Scott and you're not going to get any!"
"We don't have any yet, that's true Matt," Sheriff Pitts smiled at him with a look of anger of his own, "but we'll find something sooner or later." Turning to Matt, with that damn smile across his face, Sheriff Pitts continued, "Are you sticking up for Scott, Matt?" Detective Night nodded proudly with bewilderment now covering his entire face. "Very well. But I just want you to know that I could have you arrested for aiding a criminal."
"Very well," Matt replied. "But I'm not going to agree with you. I don't think-not for a minute-that Scott killed those people. And no one's going to change my mind." He met Anthony's gaze and held it in a firm gaze of his own. He wasn't going to back down; not when he was apparently the only sane one left.
Sheriff Pitts nodded sadly and muttered, "Very well, if that's how it's going to be Matt, then I'm sorry." Detective Night got a little alarmed but said nothing, only listened to what the man had to say. "Since you seem to be aiding Detective Edenfield, you leave me with one choice Matt. Remember when I told you that we'd have to deal with it Matt?" Detective Night nodded, but slowly, trying to take everything in at once. "Well, I'm going to deal with it right here, right now Matt. I'm going to need your badge and gun Matt. I'm putting you on temporary leave from this case until you come to your senses." The man's voice was calm but firm.
Matt's eyes widened in anger and surprise. He was completely taken aback for what the man said. "You can't do that Sheriff. You have nothing against me that you could use to back it up. You can't put me on leave until you have a case against me. You can't do this."
"I'm the Sheriff Matt! I can do whatever I damn well please. Now, are you going to cooperate or do I have to send you into that room next for questioning. Maybe you'd like to join Detective Edenfield in a cell if it comes to that. Would you like that?"
Matt sighed and mumbled, "No sir." He took his badge from his back pocket followed by removing the magnum from it's holster. He had his Beretta at home so he wouldn't be left completely unarmed. The Beretta was his and no one had any right to take it from him. "Here." With anger in his eyes and voice, Matt placed both items in Sheriff Pitts' hands and stepped back in calm fury. "Before I leave, I just want you to know that you're making a huge mistake Sheriff."
"We'll see Matt," Sheriff Pitts replied with a larger smile on his face. "We'll just see about that." As Matt started for the door of the observation room, Anthony said after him, "Have a good day Detective."
Matt left the room behind him and started for the lobby, with the parking lot beyond it. Something was going on here; something was wrong. And no one was acting like they should have been. They had all suddenly turned on the man that had done the most for this case. Matt left the Plum Branch Department behind him, pulled his keys from his pocket, and got into the black Mercedes. As he turned the ignition on, he gave the building one last furious look and then turned onto the highway, heading straight for Edgefield. Something wrong was going on here and he'd have to find someone that would help him. He didn't know how much help Dr. Samantha Keen would be but she was one of the last ones that he could trust apparently. What was happening here? The only thing he knew was that he had no choice but to leave Scott Edenfield behind in that department with his enemies all around him. He hoped Scott would be all right; things had turned against him in a single heartbeat.