The Guardian

to watch. Damn that Guardian asshole. Of course, they couldn’t really prove anything. He didn’t want anyone following him home and finding his collection.
    He was tired of this. He had been giving it a lot of thought and had a plan. There were just a few details to work out and he knew that it would work. Once he got what he wanted, he wouldn’t have to worry about going out anymore. He’d have all he wanted right there at home.Chapter 43
    Halloway and Griffin were having lunch at The Coachman’s on DI and Eastern. They sat discussing their case load and a few speculations.
    Steve the owner was good friends with John. Every time John went there, John insisted on paying. Every time, Steve would refuse. So, they just left a big tip for the waitress.
    They liked the Coachman’s because it was a small, quiet little Italian restaurant. The fact that it reeked of atmosphere was a plus. The lights were always low, with red candle lighting giving it a comfortable, romantic, intimate feel. The bar was to your left as you went in. You went down two small steps into the dining area where there were only four booths and about a half dozen tables. It was perfect.
    As they sat there eating, they quietly discussed they’re new unobtainable, unsolicited partner.
    “So, what is it about this guy anyway?” Laura wanted to know
    “Like what exactly?”
    “Christ John, every time we turn around there’s some sick-nut-job turning up with a brand on his forehead for some sicko kiddy rape or something. We can’t put a finger on him. It’s like he’s a phantom or something.”
    “He’s definitely a slick operator, that’s true. But quite honestly, I’d rather concentrate on the other piles of shit we have to deal with and let this guy help take care of this stuff for us.”
    “Come on John. We can’t just let this guy run around snagging all the baby rapers. I realize that he’s doing good, only in a bad way. I’m afraid that he’ll make us look bad.”
    “Is that what this is about? He’s making you look bad.” John was smiling as he slurped his pasta.
    “Damn it, no, you know me better than that. It’s just that we’ve been lucky so far. We’ve been damn lucky we don’t have a rash of copy cats or some other nut bag going after him.” Laura was trying to calm down. She hadn’t touched hardly a bite since they’d gotten their orders. “We’ll be lucky if dead bodies don’t start showing up soon.”
    “Look, we’ve got every officer that’s available and some are volunteering their free time and we can’t catch him. What makes you think some revenge freak is going to outdo us?”
    “Well he sure knows a hell of a lot more about us than we do about him. How does he operate under the radar? And how does he find all these perverted pedophiles?”
    “You got me. We’ve been watching the courtrooms. We even tried setting a sting, but nothing. He’s just too damn smart I guess.”
    “Honestly, I don’t care if we get him or not?” Laura said.
    “Truthfully, I agree. It’s not at the top of my list. Like I said, he’s doing us a favor.”
    “Ya, he’s helping us. He’s also helping the University Medical Center. But he’s breaking the law John, what about that?”
    “And so were those pieces of shit out there preying on those little kids. They were breaking the law too and the courts were letting them go. It’s a lesser of two evils as far as I’m concerned. These sickos are doing long term, permanent damage to young, innocent children. These are children, who by the way are defenseless. Add to that the fact that these monsters are grown men who know better. They do these vile things with total disregard for the consequences. All they care about is satisfying their own, greedy needs. You gonna eat that?” He asked, pointing at her plate.
    As they sat their finishing their lunch, across town on SR160 towards Pahrump was a man in his big, comfortable, compound estate. He was working vigorously preparing his domain so that he could have the ultimate sleepover. He would be in control then. He’d take the power right out of the Guardians’ grasp. Then watch them squirm. They’d know he wasn’t the hot shot they thought he was. Within the next 48 hours, the Guardian was going to be the least of their worries.
    Chapter 44
    The Guardian sat and listened to the news while he did his usual routine. He was on his row machine as he always did at this time of the day. He had learned a long time