To Catch a Killer
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The local police arrived at the scene several minutes later and took as much control as they could. Once Megan was in the safe hands of paramedics, Kellen took Ezra back into custody, as his furlough had ended and he was back off to prison.
Several weeks later, Ezra sat in the same meeting room he had first met Kellen in, awaiting a different, but all too familiar visitor. After several minutes of waiting, the well-dressed figure of William Carlton entered the room and sat down.
"Oh how nice it is to see you in those clothes again," Carlton grinned, looking at Ezra's orange scrubs.
"I'm sure you were chomping at every bit to get me back here, weren't you?" Ezra replied. "Although, I thought you would be down in the dumps seeing as you don't get to put that evasive little needle in my arm like I know you want to."
"Why would that be a shame? Megan Mickelson is alive and well, some thanks to you."
"So what do I get out of the deal now, Carlton? Reduced sentence? Perhaps satellite TV in my cell?"
"You don't get shit. I may be indifferent towards the ending of this ridiculous situation, but the governor is pissed. It was a low-key thing that you were out in the world, but it almost got out because of what you did. It would've been disastrous if it had. You know it, I know it, and lord knows that he does too. Not to mention he has to explain why one of the most sought after serial killers in Texas history, besides you, won't ever see the inside of a jail cell."
"Because a jail cell would spend useless tax dollars on a person not worth the effort. Besides, the governor is a God fearing man from what I know. He should see it as the killer rotting in hell."
"Whatever you want to think, Ezra. Either way, the governor isn't buying it, and there's no way in hell you'll be able to talk to him yourself, so just call this a wash and go back to your life of obscurity among the horde."
"I wouldn't be so quick to dismiss, Carlton." Ezra grew a smug smile. "As you just said, it would be a great burden if the story of me being let out was made public, and lucky for me I have ways to make it public. If I so choose that is."
The lawyer leaned over the table and shot Ezra a dark stare. Ezra could tell it was the man's best effort at looking genuinely evil and terrifying. It was a rather laughable attempt in his eyes.
"Don't rock your boat, you piece of shit," Carlton said
"I was about to say the same to you." Ezra leaned in as far as his cuffs would let him go and shot off his own death stare out of his dark eyes. He could see the emotion within the lawyer shift. "What I want is simple: a transfer. I am not a fan of this Texas heat, nor the people I am stuck here with. I think I have proven with mostly decent and good-natured behavior that I am not a threat nor a flight risk."
"So what are you saying exactly?"
"I want out of this state, and out of the maximum security prison system. I want a normal prison and normal weather."
"Are you insane?" Carlton asked, sounding much like a cornered beast, unsure if it will cower or attack yet.
"No, I'm just a man who knows what he wants and knows how to get it. You give me what I want, or I will work my magic and get this little story painted on every news channel in the land. I think the former is the far easier option, but that's just me."
"You shifty prick. Where would you even want to go?"
In that moment, Ezra thought of Kellen. Back in DC again, working at her desk on some other, new case. A case she was probably knocking out of her own little park. But, Ezra figured a desk job had to be boring. He could see it in her eyes when he was with her, the field was where she belonged. A thought passed through his mind that speaking with him again might make her life at the desk more interesting, and being closer to that federal wasteland would make it easier. As much as she tried to hide it, Ezra could also tell that she didn't hate their experience together.
"I hear DC is nice this time of year. Middle of the US road, not too hot, not too cold." Ezra knew the latter wasn't exactly true, but weather was the furthest thing from his mind when he thought about Washington.
"Why DC?" Carlton asked suspiciously.
"No reason," Ezra replied. "Get it done."
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