- SKX: Welcome to consciousness, my friend. Though you won't enjoy it long. We were good in the beginning. But you turned out to be kind of a failure, didn't you? You still don't get it? I've been using you, Ethan Thomas. I watched you, and followed you, and used you to find the serial killers you so desperately sought and then killed them. OK, I must admit, I was a bit dramatic. Killed them the same way they killed their own victims. Bit of fun, you know, I got good at it. Shame it ruined you at the Bureau, but somethings are unavoidable. Of course... since you're no longer going to be any help, there's no reason to go on this way... how would you prefer you die? I didn't like the Torturer's methods much. Too risky. Perhaps a slit across the throat like the Roadside Carver. Short and sweet. Or maybe the Bone Cutter. Neatly dissected the body, removed the internal organs and labeled them for the police to find. Oh yes, he was one of mine too. You were so close to him. But I got there first. Perhaps it would be better if you lost a finger like the Match Maker!
- [Cuts off Thomas' left index finger]
- Dickenson: [Leading Thomas into the office building] Come on, let's go. Body's rottin' as we speak. The patrolman on duty said there was a mannequin involved. Just like the Match Maker. Whole damn city's crawlin' with sick killers. God, and why do they always have to kill in such maggot-infested dumps? Why can't they pick a nice spot without addicts and gang-members for once? And some place not so damn dark.
- Rosa: I think I've got something, Thomas. The newspaper clippings you found in the room at the Metro Station. Each of the articles talks about a serial killer, a serial killer that was on your case list. Nine names were mentioned, of those, seven of the nine were crossed out in each of the clipping by a black felt tip marker. The only names that weren't crossed out were the Match Maker and the Torturer. Of the names that were crossed out, all those cases have gone cold.
- Ethan Thomas: And now you can cross off the Match Maker. Wait. Are you implying there's someone stalking serial killers? So, what, he goes around killing killers and he marks off their names in his little personal diary?
- Rosa: Sounds ridiculous, doesn't it?
- Ethan Thomas: It does, but it adds up. It almost makes sense. Hold on.
- [Sounds of police megaphone and tear gas grenades are thrown in]
- Ethan Thomas: Ah shit! Rosa, I have to call you back
- Ethan Thomas: [Malcolm is driving Ethan home] I can never go back, can I?
- Vanhorn: No. Not to the Bureau. Not to your old life. Thomas, you have looked into the face of hate, the visage of evil. Know that hate is in your soul, too. It is, sadly, everywhere. Mastering one's fear and controlling one's hatred is perhaps the most difficult thing one can do.
- Ethan Thomas: Well, at least it's over. It's dead. And the killing will stop.
- [Noises from the trunk]
- Ethan Thomas: Stop the car.
- Vanhorn: No, no, you still don't understand. He's done unspeakable things, even though those he killed were killers themselves. But he isn't responsible, he's not in his right mind, he's...
- Ethan Thomas: Stop the goddamn car now!
- [Malcolm stops the vehicle]
- Ethan Thomas: Open the trunk!
- Vanhorn: [the trunk is opened, Leeland is tied up inside, Ethan draws his gun] Thomas, don't! He was a good boy, we were all good people. We were able to fight it back, most of us. My nephew was not as strong. He fell victim, and destroyed so many things. We fought to save him. I must continue to do so.
- Ethan Thomas: I don't care whether the sick fuck is in his right mind or not!
- Vanhorn: Think of what you are doing. Both of you have a chance for redemption.
- Ethan Thomas: Redemption! Listen, old man. You used me just like he did. You, you used me to save your precious nephew, a serial killer. You... you're no better than he is!
- Rosa: Receiving image data. You're a lucky man, Thomas. I'm still here.
- Ethan Thomas: Thank God. I thought they would have suspended my lab access.
- Rosa: They still might. It hasn't occurred to them yet.
- Ethan Thomas: I didn't kill those guys.
- Rosa: I know, Thomas. Well, I'm not certain what I do or don't know, but I'm pretty sure I still trust you. And that goes a long way.
- Ethan Thomas: Understood. So, what about the photos?
- Rosa: Well, no standing on ceremony then. Huh. It's a picture of you, Thomas, in your apartment. I remember that hideous sofa from last year's Christmas party. It had to have been taken from across the alley.
- Ethan Thomas: From within the Metro Station?
- Rosa: It appears so. I'm also seeing smudges across the face of the photo. Locate a good sample and transmit it to me.
- SKX: [Holds Ethan up] How does it feel to be on this end of the gun? But listen you bastard, don't mess this up for us. We are both on the same path of righteousness.
- Dickenson: [From outside the room] Thomas!
- SKX: And the path takes strange turns.
- Dickenson: [Busts the door down with Becker] Freeze, police! Drop the weapon now!
- SKX: [Shoots the officers] Be ready for death, Agent Thomas. It shall come visiting again.
- [Throws Ethan out of the office window]
- Ethan Thomas: [Searching library archives] Eight years ago would put the kid and the teacher at the same school in 1997.
- Rosa: [Searches computer] Anderson, Carl. There are a lot of Carl Andersons but I bet this is our guy. He was enrolled, or sentenced, to an educational rehabilitation center for the severely troubled. St Joseph's Secondary on Northeast Fifty-second and Fremont. It's been closed for five years and no wonder, that's one of the worst parts of town. Christ, the cops have just been letting it go to hell for years.
- Ethan Thomas: What about the faculty?
- Rosa: Doesn't list occupations. Just a list of names. I'll take it back to the lab and see what I can find.
- [Serial Killer X can be heard outside the room]
- Rosa: It's him! He's been listening to us.
- Ethan Thomas: [More hostiles outside] It looks like we've attracted other unwanted attention.
- Dickenson: Becker! No smoking at a crime scene!
- Becker: I don't smoke!
- Dickenson: Well, someone was.
- [Kicks office door open]
- Dickenson: It's coming from in here! Dang it. I can smell the cigarette smoke.
- [Noises from above]
- Dickenson: He's right above us! Call for backup, now!
- Becker: This is Office Becker, we need backup immediately, 4th and Stark. Potential homicide suspect still in building.
- Dispatch: Officers are on their way. ETA ten minutes.
- Becker: Copy that.
- Dickenson: Becker and I will head up the fire escape, you wait here for backup.
- [the lights go out]
- Dickenson: Shit. Okay, now he's playin' with us. Change of plans. Becker, secure that door. Thomas check out the building and get these lights back on.
- Becker: [Busts open a door leading further in] All clear Agent.
- Dickenson: Sooner we finish up here, the better. Let's go! Oh, and for Christ's sake, be careful.
- Dickenson: Thomas! Thomas! Answer me! What's happened? We heard an explosion.
- Ethan Thomas: Yeah, yeah, I'm fine. Fusebox shorted. I seem to be trapped over here and I believe the suspect has my gun.
- Dickenson: What! How the hell did that happen? Here. Take this fire axe and chop your way out.
- [Throws fire ax to Thomas]
- Dickenson: You can always find an entry tool somewhere around to get you past barriers. You can even use things like an axe and a sledgehammer as a weapon. They do a great deal of damage but they're slow. Swinging a lead pipe busts heads faster if that's what you prefer.
- Ethan Thomas: Thanks.
- Dickenson: Yeah, you need the tips. Becker and I'll go 'round the other way. Try and stay in one piece. Oh, and one more thing. If you find yourself in a sticky situation, use your taser to temporarily stun your target. If you're close enough, you'll find it a great way to disarm the slug of his weapon.
- Vanhorn: Thomas, It's Malcolm. How are you doing; is the investigation going well?
- Ethan Thomas: It's going as well as it can be. Wait, what are you doing here? How did you know where to find me?
- Vanhorn: Just a coincidence. Saw you from across the street.
- Ethan Thomas: Coincidence? I don't know what your game is, Vanhorn, but I've got a job to do. If you'll excuse me.