The Guardian

nothing we could do.”
    “I presume that it would take a considerable amount of time to do this type of damage to someone.”
    “Oh yes, and I would think that he had to have been taken somewhere very isolated. No human being could withstand this type of torture without screaming his head off.”
    “I don’t suppose there’s going to be any chance of getting information from him?” Halloway was really grasping at straws here. He pretty much knew the answer before he even asked it.
    “I doubt it but you never know. He’s been severely traumatized and his mental state is very fragile right now. I wouldn’t plan on anything for; oh I’d say at least a month maybe longer.”
    “Thanks again Doc, you’ve been a big help.” Halloway said as he handed him one of his cards. “If you think of anything or you need to reach me, just call this number here, it’s my direct line.”
    “You’re quite welcome and I will, now if you’ll excuse me I must get back to my rounds.”
    They shook hands again and Halloway turned and headed for the elevators. Well that certainly was a bust. He had gotten little else but a medical update and virtually no hope for getting information from the John Doe. Maybe the CS guys got some prints off of him and we could at least find out who he was and start profiling his background. Somebody out there had a serious hate for him and he wanted to find out who and why.
    Chapter 7
    He walked out of the courthouse knowing exactly what he had to do. It was the same old story. Trial after trial, it was the same thing. Very few of them ever got what they deserved. This one was no different. The one big difference was that Charles Radcliff had been getting away with too much for way too long. It was time to put an end to his rampage.
    Standing off to the side, unnoticed by anyone, he watched as Charles Radcliff walked out of the courthouse and down the steps. He wanted to walk over and slap that arrogant, self-righteous smirk off of his face. He watched him as he walked out to the grassy area, looked up, and arms spread wide and shouted, “Thank you Jesus!”
    Well, he thought, you may be thanking Jesus right now but soon you’ll be praying to and begging for mercy from God almighty.
    Charles put on his sunglasses and headed towards the small lot across the street to his car. The Guardian was following, staying back being careful not to be noticed.
    Charles had a nice car, a BMW, Z4 Coupe. The VA paid him pretty well. He lived alone and figured he owed himself a few luxuries. Even though he lived in a town that thrived on it, he never gambled or hung out in the casinos, clubs or bars. He hit the little button on his remote, the lights flashed, it chirped twice and he climbed in. Of course you couldn’t see him; he had the windows done in a black out limo tint. That had a two fold purpose. He would brag to everyone about how it cut the heat by 35 percent and saved the interior from the tortures of the sun. The real reason was he wanted to keep his passengers from being noticed. What Charles didn’t notice was the dark figure that had been following him from the time he entered the courthouse. He had watched him through his trial. He watched him as he left and was watching him now. No, Charles Radcliff wasn’t the only one who had patience and predatory skills.
    Charles pulled out, turned north onto Las Vegas Blvd. and headed for home. The sleek, black motorcycle pulled out behind him, ready to fulfill the fate that Charles wasn’t even aware awaited him.
    He had a house out in the Summerlin area. Most people called it the Snoberlin area. It was the upper crust area. They weren’t the extremely wealthy, just the better off than most variety. Either way, they were damn full of themselves.
    Once on the freeway, it was easy for the Guardian to stay back far enough that he wasn’t noticed. It didn’t matter; The Guardian already knew where Charles lived. He’d been following this piece of shit for some time now. The frustration was almost more than he could bear. He felt that surely the courts would see to it, the parasite he was, was removed from society. But, no, that didn’t happen. As usual the legal system had worked in favor of the predator. Well, that was okay. There was a new sheriff in town. He would be judge, jury and executioner. Charles Radcliff’s reign of terror was about to come to a very abrupt end.
    They came up to Summerlin Parkway and exited heading north. With the