Gavin wasn't sure whether to feel relieved or indifferent to finding out the suited man had actually been a piece of shit. Upon returning to his room, still shellshocked by the experience, Jack had gently led him through to the bathroom and helped him bathe. Losing himself in the slide of skin and tangle of tongues was the only way Gavin could keep a grip on reality. Had he really shot a man? A helpless civilian? Tears stained his cheeks as he came, shuddering against Jack's shoulder and clinging to his neck. Jack had hushed and reassured him afterwards, telling him how good he'd been and how pleased the Hickory Killer was. The Hickory Killer's pleasure wasn't exactly Gavin's priority, especially not while trying to hold on to what little sanity he had left.

He still couldn't work it out. Had he pulled the trigger? Or was it the Hickory Killer? He'd held his hand, keeping his aim steady as he'd stared wide-eyed down the barrel. A shiver ran down his spine at the memory of those wide hazel eyes, lit with a frenzy of terror at what he knew was coming. The memory of tingles on his skin made his stomach churn. Warm fingers pressing and circling his nipples, a light touch making his side ache. He could still feel the trigger against his finger. Who pulled it? Was it me? Was it him? Did I just kill a man?

He knew nothing about him. Was he an average Joe, or a dressed up criminal? Did it even matter? Whoever he was, he'd had a life. Were there people who would miss him? Friends? Siblings? A wife? Were there people relying on him for survival? Parents? Children? Did the man have a steady job? Was he part of the underground? Did he deserve to die? Who am I to decide that? I'm a phcking cop, not God! Even though there was no blood on his hands, he could feel the stickiness there. He balled his fists, trying to ignore it.

"You did the right thing, Gavin...He was a terrible human being, with hundreds of lives on his hands." Another serial killer? "His fraudulent practices made many suffer. He stole millions, leaving families destitute, children homeless, invalids without the funds to pay for their care." Alright, he was a piece of shit, but that still didn't justify killing him. Arresting him, using the proof to take him down, that was justice. Vigilante justice was illegal for a reason. Much as he could understand those who took things into their own hands, that didn't make it right. I didn't even know the guy was a piece of shit when I-He didn't even know if he'd pulled the trigger. Telling himself it was for Kitty didn't even help anymore. It didn't feel like it justified it. But Kitty definitely would have died if I hadn't! The Hickory Killer had already proven how ruthless he could be. "Think of how many people you've saved."

That didn't justify it! Not even saving Kitty really justified it. Guilty or innocent, the weight of the life on his conscious was just as heavy. How did the Hickory Killer live like this? Why didn't he feel it? Each new body seemed to make his step lighter, freeing him of his daily repression. All Gavin could think was that he'd been wired wrong. This couldn't be learned behaviour. How could any normal, sane human being murder another and not feel shitty about it? Strong hands on his hips dragged him back against a firm pelvis, both of them covered with towels. Gentle kisses assaulted his neck, doing their best to soothe him.

"You did the right thing, Gav...Kitty is safe. Think of all those people he's been stealing money from...He can never hurt anyone else...Never leave more children out on the streets, or take from the sick and dying...You stopped that." I stopped that? He had stopped that. Maybe that was better. Less suffering was good, right? The needs of the many and all that..."Good boy, Gav." With a pat on his ass, Jack ushered him through to the bedroom so they could dress. Staying with him had become a regular occurrence. He rarely left unless it was mealtime or the Hickory Killer was paying a visit. Gavin shivered. That usually led to bad things.

Jack cupped his cheeks when they were done, sharp eyes scanning him. He was looking peaky, which was to be expected, considering how long he'd been locked in the windowless room. Vitamins were added to his food to compensate, but it really wasn't a substitute for fresh air and sunshine. With any luck, their situation would change soon. It shouldn't take too long. By his estimation, Gavin had been waning for some time. He would doubtless come around to their way of thinking soon enough. Gavin closed his eyes as Jack's cool hand caressed his stubble, thumb moving to linger on his bottom lip.

"You're almost there, Gav." Gavin wasn't sure what he meant by that, but he accepted it with a nod anyway. Patting his cheek, Jack left him. Gavin wasn't sure where he went or what he was doing, but it gave him time to rest and reflect. He was actually given a lot of time to rest and reflect, maybe two days, before the next sick little game began. Like before, Jack led him to the little room down the hall. Unlike before, the chosen victim wasn't gagged. She was also a woman. Older. Perhaps the age his mother would be if she were still alive. Like the last man, she was impeccably dressed.

She had clearly dyed red hair. It was that rich orange shade that was just a bit too perfect, a bit too clean. It was styled in a loose perm that reached her ears, with a side swept fringe across her brow. The dye was given away by her dark eyebrows, which made her brown eyes look even darker. She had lines around her eyes that were clearly hidden with makeup, and the stiffness of her brow suggested Botox, if not surgery. She wore deep red lipstick; a contrast to her white woollen skirt and jacket. Long red nails were visible as she bunched her hands and pulled at the ropes, much as Kitty did. She had no shoes. They'd probably been lost getting her down there. She was certainly putting up a fight with the chair.

"No-no-no-no! Let-me-go! Let-me-go!" She was clearly terrified, wailing like a banshee and making her already running mascara even worse. Gavin couldn't blame her. She'd been kidnapped and tied to a chair. It was obvious that something was up. "Please-please! My husband! He has money! He'll pay anything you want!" From the sparkling earrings and rings she was wearing, he didn't doubt it. Even in the dingy, bloodstained basement, he could tell she wreaked of money. She reminded him a lot of those rich people from his father's funeral. She wouldn't look at him twice if she passed him on the street, but as the only free man in the room, she was fixated on him. Imploring him.

"I see you've met your next quarry. Excellent." Gavin swallowed hard as the woman stared at him, mouthing pleas under her breath as sobs wracked her body. A sick feeling welled in his stomach. So far, he'd been faced with scumbags, but what if she was normal? Was she normal? She didn't look like a psycho. Am I thinking that just because she's a woman? Possibly, but sooner or later, they'd test him on an innocent target. It was just a matter of time. She could be that person. It was easy to believe it as she wailed and sobbed, occasionally looked at Kitty, who was quietly sniffling to her left.

"P-please! I can pay you! Just let me go!" She certainly put a lot of stock in that. Unfortunately, the Hickory Killer had never been motivated by money. Gavin swallowed, green eyes darting to Kitty. She looked terrified, but unharmed. Something he was getting used to. Licking his lips, he walked to the table and picked up the gun, loading it as expected and clicking the safety off. Maybe if he did it quickly, it wouldn't be so bad. He took a shaky breath, still facing the wall as he gripped the gun and closed his eyes. "No! No! Help! Help-someone-help!" The woman was frantic as he turned around. Who wouldn't be? She was tied to a chair, and he was holding a gun. It didn't take much to figure out how the story ended.

"That's it...You know the choice you have to make." The woman eyed Kitty, lips pursed in an angry pout. Gavin gritted his teeth as he took aim, trying to swallow the sick feeling rising in his throat. The woman looked between him and Kitty, shaking her head in disbelief.

"Please! You can't do this! I-I can give you anything! As much money as you want...What can she give you? T-this is your big chance! Y-you want a private jet? I can buy you a private jet! You want jewels? Paintings? D-drugs? I can get it for you!" Gavin closed his eyes and sighed, trying to block out her helpless pleas. It was somehow easier when they were gagged, when he didn't have to listen to them. Throwing Kitty under the bus was a dick move, but he understood it. Anyone else would probably do the same if faced with imminent death. "Please-please! Y-you can't do this!" Gavin flinched as the door behind him clicked. He didn't dare move as a warm hand landed on his waist.

"Blah-blah-blah, she does go on, doesn't she? You can stop this, Gavin." Something in the woman's demeanour seemed to shift at the sound of his name. She mouthed it, testing it on her tongue as her eyes searched the room. Something seemed to click as they widened, hope flooding her chest.

"Gavin? Y-you're that missing sergeant from the TV! I-I know you-I-I mean your brother! I've been friends with his mother for years!" That didn't exactly ingratiate her to him. He'd met Mrs Kamski once, and she was undoubtedly the most unbearable, self-indulgent bitch he'd ever met. It didn't help her, but it also didn't make him want to shoot her more. Gavin stiffened as the hand slipped beneath his top, caressing the scarred skin of his abs and teasing the curve of his waist. A grunt slipped through his teeth as the second hand circled the painful wound on his side, ghosting over the neat stitches.

"Quite the catch, isn't she? I would have invited Mrs Kamski herself to join us, but alas, she was out of town." Gavin shuddered at the thought, unsure he could stomach shooting Elijah's flesh and blood, even if she was an old crone. "So, what will it be, Gavin?" The Hickory Killer's hand trailed down his arm to support his shooting hand again. "The trophy wife..." Gavin trembled as the Hickory Killer moved his hand to aim the gun at Kitty instead. "Or the child?" The chuckle in his ear made him shudder in disgust. How could he get off on this? It was sick!

"Sh-shoot her! Pull the trigger! I'm more valuable! I can get you out of here! You can go anywhere!" Gavin winced at the shrillness of her voice. He was beginning to understand why the Hickory Killer had left her un-gagged. It was tempting to put a bullet in her head just to shut her up. She continued to implore him while Kitty sobbed and the Hickory Killer laughed, moving his aim back and forth between the two. Gavin heaved a frustrated sigh as he pulled against the Hickory Killer, keeping his aim on the redhead. "Y-you can't do this! You can't do this! Do you know who I am?" She seemed positively indignant.

"Why don't we tell him who you are, Mrs Ardry? Or perhaps you prefer Jessica Campbell? No? Audry Cunningham? Isabella Longly? Eva Bonnet? Felicity Funnel?" Gavin frowned at the list of names. They meant nothing to him, but they certainly meant something to Mrs Ardry, if that was her real name. She seemed positively horrified, red lips stammering as the Hickory Killer laughed. "You certainly came a long way without being caught! Such a pity to have so many dead husbands at such a...ripe age." She swallowed, less sure of herself as she looked at Gavin. She's a black widow? But she looked so normal! Then again, killers often did. It was why they were so scary. The darkest monster was the one who could blend in with a smile and charm you with ease. "Does that make it easier for you, Gavin?" Yeah...Yeah, it sort of does. If he had to kill someone to save Kitty, better that it was someone who actually deserved it. "Good, Gavin...Take your time..."

Pulling the trigger was easier said than done. Despite his determination to follow through, and the knowledge he'd done it before, he couldn't help hesitating. It didn't help that Mrs Ardy was now sobbing and shaking her head, screeching pleas and protestations of innocence. The whole time the Hickory Killer was holding his hand, fingers gently teasing the wound in his side, pulling his ass against his pelvis. Gavin shuddered as he felt the familiar bulge grinding his ass. Warm breath whispered against his ear, reassuring him, praising him.

Kitty's cries reached his ears, desperate little sniffles of denial as she screwed her eyes shut. She didn't have to watch. This was his job. Mrs Ardry was frantic, screaming and shrieking for help and struggling against the bindings as hope slipped away. She'd killed a string of men. Her death was sort of justified. It shouldn't be my decision! It shouldn't be, but it was. He had a choice between her and Kitty. A murderess or an innocent. It was a no-brainer. I'm not a judge and jury! I shouldn't be doing this! Kitty would die if he didn't. Shit-shit-shit-shit-He screwed his eyes shut.

"That's it, Gavin...All you have to do is pull." The Hickory Killer nipped his ear, gripping his hand and stroking his trigger finger. A deafening crack filled Gavin's ears, green eyes wide and staring as red splattered the floor. "Good boy."