Chapter 32
Liv and Jackson stood face to face, their voices raised in a heated exchange. Liv”s determination to breach Emily”s home before the arrival of SWAT and the fire department clashed with Jackson”s growing concern for their safety.
“We can”t just wait around while Michael might have my Uncle Fred in there, possibly dying,” Liv cried.
Jackson”s fists clenched at his side, frustration evident in his voice. “And what if this is exactly what Michael wants? What if it”s a trap?”
Liv shook her head, her resolve unwavering. “Uncle Fred”s life could be in danger, and I won”t sit back and do nothing!”
Turk stepped forward, attempting to defuse the tension between them. “Liv, Jackson has a point. We need to approach this carefully. We don”t know what we”re walking into.”
But Liv was adamant, her eyes flashing with determination. “I understand the risks, but I can”t just stand by and wait.”
Jackson”s frustration boiled over, his voice rising to a shout. “And what about your safety? What about the safety of everyone else involved?”
Liv”s jaw clenched as she met Jackson”s gaze, her own voice trembling with emotion. “We have to do whatever it takes to save my Uncle Fred and stop Michael before it”s too late.”
With a heavy sigh, Jackson relented, his shoulders slumping in defeat. “Fine,” he conceded. He looked at Turk with a helpless expression.
As they prepared to breach Emily”s home, Liv knew the risks they were taking, but she also knew time was running out.
* * *
With cautious steps,they breached the cabin and scanned the dimly lit interior. The flickering light cast eerie shadows across the walls, revealing row upon row of Jackson’s pictures. Jackson’s expression darkened as he took in the pictures of himself lining the wall, his eyes narrowing with concern.
“Michael... he”s crazy,” he muttered under his breath, a shiver running down his spine at the thought of what kind of person could be capable of such obsession.
Turning to the others, his voice was filled with urgency as he explained, “This type of arsonist, the kind who fixates on their victims like this... they”re the most dangerous kind. They”re not just out to set fires; they”re out for revenge, for destruction. And they”ll stop at nothing until they get what they want.”
His words were a stark reminder of the danger they were all facing. With Michael out there, consumed by his twisted obsession, they couldn”t afford to let their guard down for a moment. They had to find him, stop him, before he could hurt anyone else.
Their attention was drawn to Chief Lamply, bound and gagged in the corner of the room. Turk rushed to free him.
Their relief was short-lived as a series of pops echoed through the cabin, each followed by an eruption of flames that licked hungrily at the walls and ceiling. Jackson ripped his sling free and pulled Liv close to him.
“Jackson, if we give it oxygen, the flashover will incinerate everything in its path,” Turk said. The flames were closing in on them with terrifying speed.
“I know. Any ideas?” Jackson scanned the room.
Lamply lifted the dining room table with all his strength, using it to hold off the oncoming flashover as flames engulfed the room.
Jackson”s voice cut through the chaos, a desperate plea. “It”ll kill you!” he yelled over the roar of the flames, his eyes wide.
But Lamply, his gaze locked on Liv and Jackson, shook his head defiantly. “I”m sorry,” he shouted, his voice barely audible over the crackle of the fire. “Get the hell out of here.”
Turk grabbed a chair and smashed it against the window, shards of glass scattering as he created an escape route. Liv and Turk helped Jackson through the window, their hands gripping tightly as they pulled him to safety. Then Turk shoved Liv through and followed.
They emerged from the burning cabin, gasping for breath. They watched as flames devoured the cabin, knowing Lamply was still inside, sacrificing himself to save them.
Tears welled in Liv”s eyes as she turned away. Jackson knew she was unable to bear the sight of the inferno consuming the man who had been so important to her after her dad died. He wrapped a comforting arm around her shoulders, offering silent support as they watched the flames rage on.
“We have to go,” Liv urged, her voice heavy with emotion. “The fire department is on its way. There”s nothing more we can do here. We need to get to the Waverly estate. Michael has to know we are onto him.”
As they rushed toward the Waverly estate, Liv dialed the Waverlys” number and pleaded with them to evacuate immediately. Silas and Jule, shaken by the news, agreed to leave, but Sinclair adamantly refused, insisting he wasn’t going to be moved by the threat.
Despite his protests, the three of them resolved to stay behind and ensure Sinclair Waverly’s safety. Jackson insisted they work in two-person shifts and was able to convince Liv to lie down for a few hours.
As time passed, tensions mounted. Sinclair was responsible for so much pain and suffering in their town. “You”re a coward, Sinclair,” Jackson spat, his voice dripping with contempt. “Too afraid to face the truth.”
Sinclair”s eyes flashed with anger as he recoiled from Jackson”s accusations, his fa?ade of indifference crumbling at the accusations. “You know nothing,” he snarled, his voice laced with venom.
Before the argument could escalate further, a sudden noise from the doorway interrupted their confrontation. Michael Wheaton stood surveying the scene before him. He brandished a gun, his eyes wild with fury.
Michael snarled, “Old man, tie up Turk and Jackson, quickly.”
“What? Young man, what”s going on?” Sinclair’s hands shook.
Michael’s rage exploded. “Just do it. Now.” The gun waved between them.
In a panic, Sinclair began tying up Turk and Jackson, who winced in pain as his wounds were aggravated by the sudden movement.
“Michael, what the hell are you doing?” Jackson pleaded.
“Yeah, man, calm down. No one else needs to die,” Turk added.
Michael held the gun and paced back and forth, his eyes wild with intensity. “You both shut up! This is happening whether you like it or not!”
As Turk and Jackson struggled against their bonds, Michael”s actions became more erratic, his grip on reality slipping farther away.
Jackson swallowed hard. “Michael, please, you don”t have to do this.”
“Yeah, whatever it is, we can talk it out.” Turk’s eyes darted around the room.
Ignoring their pleas, Michael”s desperation reached a breaking point.He confronted Sinclair with damning evidence uncovered during his investigation. As they stood face to face, Michael”s voice dripped with accusation, “I figure I’d give you a gift before you leave this earth.” His tone was cold, his eyes burning with fury. “The fire that killed them all—Silas was behind it.”
Sinclair”s expression twisted with shock and disbelief as Michael revealed the truth. “How... how could you know?” he stammered, his voice trembling with fear.
“I talked to the old town council before I took care of them,” Michael spat, his words laced with venom. “They confessed Silas ordered the fire. Christopher wasn”t supposed to be home. It was supposed to kill the grifter and her kid.”
With a single gunshot, Sinclair Waverly fell to the ground, his lifeless body sprawled out on the floor. Michael set the house ablaze, his white phosphorous bombs igniting a deadly inferno.
* * *
As the fire roared downstairs,Liv awoke to the scent of smoke, her heart pounding as she raced downstairs, the heat intensifying with each step. Flames danced hungrily around her as she entered the inferno.
In the center of the blaze, she heard Michael”s voice, distorted by anger and madness, as he unleashed a deranged rant upon Jackson. Liv”s blood ran cold as she realized the true extent of Michael”s instability.
“Jackson, now you need to die, just like your father,” Michael sneered. “And Turk will die as collateral damage, just like Chuck Everhart did. Yes, Lamply killed your father and Liv”s dad to preserve the council’s evil deeds. When you”re dead, I”ll blame the fire on you, Jackson. A broken mind because of your dead father.”
Liv”s breath caught in her throat. Her Uncle Fred, the man who was there for her when she grew up. The man who must have felt he needed to be there for her and her sisters out of guilt. She had no time to think about that. They were in danger.
Her heart pounded in her chest as she scanned the room, her eyes darting from one face to another in search of a way to intervene. Panic clawed at her insides, threatening to consume her as she realized she was running out of time.
Her gaze fell on Michael, his eyes alight with psychosis as he ranted and raved, oblivious to the insanity he was causing. But then, just as she was about to act, her eyes met Jackson”s across the room.
In that moment, a silent understanding passed between them. They would stop Michael before it was too late. With a tiny nod from Jackson, Liv knew what she had to do.
But as she moved to intervene, she realized with a sinking feeling that Michael was positioned in front of Turk, his body shielding him from her line of fire. With her mind racing and adrenaline coursing through her veins, Liv had to act quickly. She couldn”t let Michael continue unchecked.
Taking a deep breath to steady her nerves, she steeled herself as she formulated a plan.
She made a split-second decision and tackled Michael to the ground, the force of their collision sending them sprawling amidst the flames.
They grappled for control. Liv”s hands closed around the gun, her strength bolstered by adrenaline as she fought to wrestle it from Michael”s grip.
“Michael, please. This isn”t you. You don”t have to do this,” she begged.
“Stay out of this, Liv. You don”t understand what I”ve been through.”
“I know, Michael. I know you”ve been through a lot, but this isn”t the answer. Let”s talk about this.”
Michael”s eyes flashed with anger as he struggled against Liv”s grip, his fingers tightening around the gun. “There”s nothing to talk about. You don”t know what it”s like to feel so lost, so alone. My whole life has been a lie.”
“I know it”s been tough, but hurting others won”t fix anything. We can help you, but you have to let us.” She coughed hard.
Michael”s expression softened for a moment, a flicker of doubt crossing his features as he met Liv”s watering eyes. “You really think you can help me?”
“Yes, I do. You have to let me try.” She held on to the gun.
For a moment, Michael hesitated, his grip on the gun loosening slightly. In that moment, Liv saw a glimmer of a chance to reach the man she once knew.
But before she could say another word, Michael”s resolve hardened again, his eyes filled with pain. “I”m sorry, Liv. But I can”t go back now. It”s too late.”
With a sudden burst of strength, Michael pushed Liv away, sending her sprawling to the ground as he raised the gun again. She found her feet and grabbed the crystal ashtray that had previously held Sinclair Waverly’s cigar butt. When her eyes met Michael’s, she swung. The ashtray struck his head with a thud, and he collapsed to the ground.
The smoke grew thicker by the minute. With a choking breath, she turned her attention to freeing Turk and Jackson from the fiery prison that threatened to consume them all.
“Turk, get Michael out of there. We can”t leave him behind,” Jackson coughed.
“But he”s the one who started this fire! He doesn”t deserve?—”
“I don”t care, Turk. No one deserves to die like this. We”re getting him out now!”
Turk hesitated for a moment. “Alright, I”m on it!” He leaned down, grabbed the unconscious Michael and threw him over his shoulders.
Meanwhile, Liv and Jackson, their bodies battered and bruised, supported each other as they stumbled toward the exit. The heat of the flames seemed to intensify with each step. “Hang in there. We”re almost out,” she said.
“I”ve got you. Just keep moving,” he encouraged her.
Their breaths came in ragged gasps as they pushed through the pain and exhaustion, fighting to escape the fire.
“We got him out. He”s alive,” Turk choked.
Jackson nodded as he looked toward Liv, their eyes meeting in silent understanding.
They collapsed onto the ground, exhausted and shaken.
Brad arrived with a police contingent, his eyes widening in disbelief at the sight of Michael in custody. With a nod of gratitude, he allowed the firefighters to get to work.
As the Waverly Junction Fire Department extinguished the blaze, Liv”s gaze never wavered from Michael, who now sat, handcuffed, in police custody as the flames gradually succumbed to the relentless onslaught of water.
Jackson sat beside her. “You did it,” he said softly, his voice tinged with love. “You stopped him.” He kissed her gently.
Liv nodded, her eyes still fixed on Michael. “But at what cost?”
“We need to make sure Michael gets the help he needs,” he said, his voice firm with resolve. “He”s sick, Liv. He needs professional care.”
Liv nodded. She couldn’t believe, even knowing how much Michael hated him, Jackson wouldn’t turn his back on him. She leaned into Jackson and returned his kiss.
As the last of the flames were extinguished, Brad approached them. “You need to get looked at. You all ate too much smoke.”
With a weary smile, Liv said, “Thanks, Brad.” She stood between Turk and Jackson, a sense of closure settling over her.