A call to Margaret at the library blew Nick's mind. The Book Killer had struck again.

"This is bullshit! Kurtz was the killer."

"Apparently not." Audrey sighed. "Anyway, you aren't involved any more - unless you want to continue stacking shelves for free."

"No. You know what, I was right after all - it's that kid's father."

"Nick, you will only get yourself in a bind with the police."

"I'm a PI, I can investigate."

"An unlicensed PI."

"Details."

******

With Margaret's help at the library, Nick poured over the books and notes left by the killer. Naval references, all of them. That's why he was so sure it had been Kurtz. There had been five killings, three before he had come on the scene, and he spread the books out and studied their covers.

Undersea Warfare/Day of the Avenger/All Liars Must Die/Blame/Final Pursuit

There had to be a message, he felt, shuffling the covers around. Then he thought he saw what it was.

All Liars Must Die/Undersea Warfare/Day of the Avenger/Final Pursuit/ Blame

A vendetta against the US, using a sneak sub attack. When it failed, vengeance was taken, and Roth was to be the last and to also take the blame. Kurtz sure had a great motive, and the bit with the spear, but he's dead. That left daddy.

He needed a drink.

******

Roland's look was unhappy to say the least, growing even more so when Nick explained what happened, and why. Having to admit a NDA prevented him from revealing more, only made Roland double down on unhappy.

"I called you in to fire you, and now you're sitting there telling me my client is this- this Book Killer! Are you out of your mind?"

"No, but he's behind them. Roland, I've laid out as much as I can. I'm handcuffed by that DNA."

"So I'm supposed to just accept your word! This man is a very powerful, respected businessman."

Frustrated, Nick said, to hell with it, to himself - let the damn chips fall where they may.

"Okay, Roland, I'll show you proof, but I expect your backing when the Feds come calling."

******

The papers spread across Roland's desk, had his jaw hanging down. His company had been catering to an enemy of his country - a terrorist!

"I can't believe this." He fumbled.

"You better, 'cause I'm bringing the bastard in."

"What? You?" Roland's hands flew up in restraint.

"Damn right. Get him in here and I'll confront him with this, and everything else I've learned."

"NO! Absolutely not!"

A knock at the office door halted Nick's reply.

"What? Come in!" Roland fumed.

"A message for Mr. Roth, sir."

Nick took the note and stood abruptly. "Bastard!"

"What? What is it?" Roland flustered.

"Your respected businessman says, 'All Angels General are about to find one fallen.' He's going after Audrey."

******

The cruiser raced behind Roth, siren blaring right into the emergency driveway. Nick was out of the car and through the doors before the police could stop him. He skidded to a halt at the nurse's station.

"Audrey Turner - where!"

"Sir, you can't-"

"WHERE!" His hand slapped the counter.

Nick took the stairs two at a time to the second floor - shouting police close behind. He went straight to another station, receiving a terrified point down the hall.

"Audrey! Where are you?" He stopped dead in front of a small lounge area. She was crouched on a chair in front of the red-headed client, the tip of a small spear resting on her shoulder.

"Mr. Roth. Not quite how I intended this to go, but it can still be satisfying."

"Let her go."

"Hah! Not likely."

The two policemen burst into the lounge, shouting their commands, guns drawn.

"You'll put those away unless you want to see an arterial fountain from this lovely lady's neck."

"Drop it!"

"Do as he says." Nick stood in front of the officer.

"You get your hands on your head and turn aro-"

In a flash, the gun arm was blocked aside and Nick's fist connected with the officer's nose. He spun him around, seizing the weapon and aimed at the cop's partner.

"Please, do us both a favour." He shoved the officer into his partner after the gun was dropped, and the two policemen left the lounge.

"Bravo, Mr. Roth. I can see why Kurtz failed."

"So he was the killer - run by you."

"He served the purpose. His anger and disgrace made him the perfect tool."

"Now what?"

"Now, Mr. Roth, both you and your lovely lady here die. And so you know, my name is Ethan Barton."

"A lousy traitor and terrorist - and all because I stopped that stupid attack twenty odd years ago."

"Stupid!"

The hand with the spear came up in an instinctive gesture, and immediately Audrey lunged for the floor. Nick rushed the man, and in a few clumsy steps managed a punishing kick to his shin. With a roar of pain, Barton limped from the lounge and down the hall.

"Oh, Nick, thank go-"

"Not now, Aud. You'll be fine." He took off, skidding on the terrazzo floor, after the escaping man. The limp was slowing him considerably and as Nick was gaining, an elevator door suddenly opened,and an elderly man emerged in a wheelchair.

Without skipping a beat, Nick grabbed the handles, and with a violent shove, sent the man and chair flying down the hall, where it connected with Barton, sending him crashing into a cart of dirty meal dishes.

The patient sat gobsmacked as Nick made profuse apologies, and slipped some money into his shaking fingers.

******

"Who were those men"

"CID."

"Again?"

"Loose ends."

"That's how I feel after that business at the hospital."

"He was getting away! I knew you were okay."

"I'm so relieved." Heavy sarcasm. "Your mother called. She wanted you to know how proud she was of her Nicholas."

"I'll bet. Listen, are we okay? When I got that message I nearly went nuts."

"Really? You were really worried?"

"Well, yeah . . . you're my only source for homemade Adobo and Lumpia."

END

I want to thank all who read this, and graciously ignored the skips and jumps I made to stay within the prescribed word count. The combining of the prompts (save one) into one story is on me - the team running the challenge said it was okay to try if I wished.

I think we all had our doubts.