The Witness

Day 15

The Witness

TIME: 7:48 pm

In the infirmary, Dr. Julie had begun to treat Carolyn's wounds when Katy suddenly collapsed. Dr. Julie was unable to save her and the quick death was shattering. At the bank drive thru near 309 Meeting, Nick was still in a shattered frame after witnessing Gwenda's death.

Nick: Gwenda.

I swallow as I realise how vulnerable and alone I am, totally helpless. Who are these black-clad women, and are there any other officers on their way to help, surely the gunfire must have attracted someone's attention.

I struggle against the cuffs for a moment but it just hurts my wrist, and I can't stand. Not that I'd risk that. My best chance is to remain as little visible to these people as I can.

Tears mist my eyes as I look at Gwenda's form, lying still in the street. There are three other bodies, but my eyes are all for the one.

Deb: I look around the drive through area. I look at the lone man restrained to a post. I cradle my suppressed MAC-10 in both hands and approach the man cautiously.

Nick: My heart thuds as I see I've been noticed. Swallow dry mouthed, looking from one shooter to the other.

Monica: From the street I run briskly toward Deb. I raise my eyes raise seeing the lone man, passes Deb and approach him. "Oh, look, this is funny." My youthful face shows incredible excitement.

Nick: Lick my lips. "I'm, the security police have cuffed me here, I don't know." I pause a moment. "I've been set up, I think."

Monica: I breathe rapidly, ignoring his words. I press the tip of the long silencer against his cheek.

Nick: "My name's Nick Vissiter, I'm a reporter, please." The silencer is still warm from all the shooting she has done and I shudder at its touch. Unable to do more than squirm against the post I am cuffed to.

Deb: I touch Monica's shoulder and pull her back.

Nick: More afraid of the more withdrawn Deb.

Deb: I speak to Monica. "You know your orders, stay calm."

Nick: But they are both killers, and I know I'm on a knife-edge. "Please, help me get free."

Rachel: From the sidewalk I approach behind Monica and Deb. "What is going on here?"

Nick: Another, dressed as the other two, My heart starts to race again. "I'm a reporter, I've been researching the security police, it's been in the local press."

Rachel: I turn to Deb and Monica. "Watch the streets."

Deb: I obey.

Monica: I obey.

Nick: I swallow.

Rachel: I still hold my machine pistol. "Alright, mister, who the fuck are you?"

Nick: Knowing that Rachel is the key danger, or my salvation today. "I, I told your colleagues, I've been set up, I think, by the security police. Maybe because I've written about them. I was arrested and cuffed here by one of them, the one just across the street, lying on the sidewalk.

Rachel: "I guess that's the least of your worries now isn't it."

Nick: "I guess it is, miss."

Rachel: I step back several steps and speak on a radio.

Nick: "Please, I'm no friend of the police, and I think I've been led here to be part of this, whatever it is."

Rachel: I turn back to Nick. "Answer my questions when I ask you otherwise shut up."

Nick: Swallows again, and licks lips, nodding.

Rachel: I speak to the radio. "Yeah he witnessed everything, but there's something strange."

Nick: Tongue flickering out to lick lips, but biting back the words I want to say. Straining my ears to hear.

Rachel: I listen to the radio and then turns to Nick. "What is your name?"

Nick: "Nick, Nick Vissiter."

Rachel: I listen to the radio again then ask Nick. "And what exactly do you do?"

Nick: "I, I'm a reporter. I've been investigating the role of the Security Police and the Zones. I've written about them."

Rachel: I speak to the radio. "He says he's a reporter, writing about the Security Police."

Nick: Listening, trying to catch the whisper coming from the radio. Trying to gauge the mood of the woman speaking to me.

Rachel: I listen to the radio.

Nick: Someone at the other end of the radio is obviously going to decide my immediate fate. My chest heaves as my heart thuds.

Rachel: I turn to Nick. "Mr. reporter, you are to come with us."

Nick: "Us, where?"

Rachel: I ignore Nick and call out "Deb!"

Nick: I look from Rachel to the killer who has taken least part so far, and warily looking around for the young one who menaced me with her warm gun.

Deb: I walk over and speak quietly with Rachel. Then I walk quickly to the dead agent who cuffed you. I use my stiletto knife to cut parts of her silk like uniform top off.

Nick: Swallows painfully. These are dangerous women, but I have no choice. Well, none that leave me alive.

Deb: I walk back to Rachel.

Rachel: I talk to Deb.

Nick: Straining to hear.

Deb: I walk over to Nick with the pieces of the uniform.

Nick: I realise that this is the woman who shot the police agent who cuffed me. I shrink back as Deb approaches.

Deb: I take one piece of the fabric and make it as a gag I tie it behind your neck.

Nick: Gagging at the fabric biting into my lips and neck.

Deb: I fashion a large blindfold from the other piece, also securing it tightly behind your head.

Nick: I mumble in the darkness.

Deb: I set the safety on the machine pistol and put it in the holster on my left hip.

Nick: I try to decipher the quiet sounds I hear.

Deb: I pull on your cuffed wrist. "Alright mister, time to stand."

Nick: I feel myself yanked upwards and try to scramble up, legs stiff. Manage to get one leg under me and push myself upwards with some support. Mumbling into the gag and nodding.

Rachel: I talk to Deb. "Okay, let's get moving."

Nick: I tense up ready to be shoved around.

Deb: I hold the cuffed wrists.

Nick: Still uncomfortable with cuffed arms behind me, I stagger a little on stiff and slightly numb legs.

Rachel: I speak to Nick. "Alright mister, walk with us, any funny moves and you'll end up like other witnesses."

Nick: "Gnnngh" Nodding.