Unseen Part Four
Rated: PG

MacGyver and Pete dug into more records, this time from the chemistry labs at The Phoenix Foundation.

“So you’re saying that several chemists employed by Phoenix were questioned at the time of the murders,” MacGyver said, staring at the computer screen.

“Yes, thoroughly,” Pete said. “They were implicated but exonerated shortly afterward, a lack of evidence and sufficient alibis accounting for their activities during the times of those murders clearing them of any wrongdoing. Their backgrounds were checked as well, and all came back clean. I know my people, MacGyver. We only hire employees after an intensive screening process, especially given the highly sensitive nature of the information that is being dealt with daily.”

“I know that, Pete, but maybe this person has no prior criminal history,” MacGyver said. “It would fit with the profile of the suspect. Whoever committed these murders was careful to avoid detection, operating under disguise and using a method of killing that would leave little forensic evidence behind beyond the chemical composition of the poison. They were highly skilled, intelligent, and professional, with scientific knowledge. It would have to be someone with that kind of background. What did the psychological report on the killer suggest about motives?”

Pete sighed. “Something rather similar,” he said. “A pathological sociopath operating under the arrogant assumption that his mind is vastly superior to others because of his highly specialized skills, intelligence, and training, using his knowledge to destroy others merely for the sadistic, perverse thrill to see if he can get away with it and not get caught.”

MacGyver nodded. “Makes sense,” he said. “I wonder why he stopped, and so suddenly.”

Pete shrugged. “Maybe he thought the police were getting too close to discovering his identity,” he said. “Maybe the thrill lessened and he grew bored and dissatisfied. Or, maybe he died. Nobody knows for sure. They were just relieved that the killings had stopped. People grew increasingly paranoid and panicked over the news reports and were afraid to walk in public. It really affected the psyche and the economy of the entire city. The murderer may have only killed a few random people, but he managed to paralyze an entire population in the grip of fear.”

MacGyver frowned at the data staring back at him on the computer screen. “Inventory records for all toxins and hazardous materials handled at the Phoenix lab from that time period are all accounted for,” he said. “If someone did tamper with these records, they would have to have high security clearance otherwise they would never have access.”

“Are you saying that someone fabricated or altered those records somehow?” Pete asked.

MacGyver turned away from the screen and looked at Pete. “I don’t know,” he said. “But I am saying it is possible. That woman came to me. Why else would she do that unless someone at Phoenix was directly involved? It’s as you said—maybe the killer is closer than we think, perhaps someone we know on staff.”

“But who could it be?”

“I don’t know. As we know, the killer’s profile suggests he will do anything to avoid suspicion, remaining as anonymous, ordinary, and inconspicuous as possible. While killing for him provides a thrill, he is not one to openly gloat about it, revealing his guilt. He’s not an amateur, and he’s not that brazen or stupid. Killing for him affords him with a private pleasure, one he shares with no one. That he stopped killing might have meant that he felt that was all he could get away with before risking getting caught.”

“So it only makes him that much more difficult to find,” Pete said. “No wonder the police gave up. I mean, it’s going to be next to impossible to ever find him.”

“Maybe,” MacGyver said. “Maybe not. That woman did come to me, after all. She must have confidence that I can find him, or she never would have bothered trying.”

“Have you seen any more from her in your dreams? Anything that might be helpful or provide us with some clues?”

“No, I haven’t seen her in awhile,” MacGyver said. “I think she gave me all the information she knew. She would never have known who her killer was, anyway. She just wants me to find him, to bring her and the other victims some justice at last.”

Pete raised his eyebrows. “That’s quite an interpretation,” he said. “Remember, this is a vision you’ve been seeing, and we don’t even know if it is real or if we can trust its validity.”

“I know Pete, and I know how you feel about this kind of thing. I feel the same way. But you have to admit that this is more than merely a coincidence. Why would I suddenly start seeing visions of this woman whom I’m never met and never even seen a picture of until recently? I had no frame of reference. I didn’t even know about the case until you told me and I read the article. I was out of the country during most of that time operating under a communications blackout so I wouldn’t risk compromising my position and the mission, remember?”

“Yeah, I know. Still, the timing seems strange. Why now after six years of silence from this killer? Why did she pick you?”

“I don’t know, Pete.” Sighing, MacGyver rubbed his face with his good hand, feeling drained, haggard, and exhausted, his physical condition further limiting his energy resources. “I do know that if I am ever going to catch this guy, I’m going to have to do more investigating besides reading a bunch of old records and reports.”

“What are you saying?”

“I need to go to the Phoenix laboratory, see if I can find anything there.”

Pete laughed slightly. “What? How are you going to manage to do that? You can barely move, let alone walk. Not to mention it’s almost past three o’clock in the morning. I can’t believe I let you stay up this late in the first place. You should be resting in your condition.”

“Pete, I’ve got to know if there is any truth to this,” MacGyver said. “I won’t be able to rest until I find out for sure. Besides, we could be close to finding this guy before he’s able to slip out from underneath us again. I’ll use my crutch. I’ve been through enough physical therapy sessions by now that I’m sure I can use it with little difficulty.”

Pete noticed the firm, focused determination on his friend’s hard, set, intense face. Even though he was weakened by injury he looked healthier and more energetic than he had been in awhile.

“You’re really certain about this, aren’t you?” He asked. “You think you’ll find something.”

“I do. I can feel it. We’re close. It would be better to go there now, anyway. It will be easier to search when there are few employees there except for security personnel.”

“All right,” Pete said. “But you’re going to need backup, just in case.”

MacGyver smiled. “I know that,” he said. “I need you to drive me, remember?”

***

Pete pulled MacGyver’s jeep up to the parking lot near the underground laboratory. Under dim lighting and the darkness of night, it didn’t look like anything special, and certainly not a restricted access area under heavy guard, protecting national secrets.

“All right, I want you to stay here,” MacGyver said, grabbing his crutch.

“What? But MacGyver,” Pete said.

“Give me an hour. If I don’t come back after that time, then you’ll know something is wrong.”

Pete was about to protest again, not sure how MacGyver expected to wander the facility alone and unaided, impaired as he was, barely able to walk, but he knew his resourceful friend would manage to find a way to overcome his obstacles somehow, and that he would never allow him to help him, taking away his independence. He was stubborn and there was no way he would relent.

“All right,” he said, sighing, his voice filled with worry. “Just be careful.”

“You’ve got it,” MacGyver said, smiling at him. Opening his door, he carefully lowered himself, leaning heavily on the crutch.

Pete watched him as he limped toward the secure entrance of the lab, each step looking as if it required intense effort, his steps halting and unsteady. In the dim lighting he could see an occasional grimace of pain on his face as he struggled. He knew it would have been easier had he come along to help him, but he also knew that MacGyver never did anything the easy way.

“I hope you know what you’re doing, Mac,” he said to himself, sighing deeply, watching as his friend presented his access card and disappeared behind the doors shortly afterward.

***

“Hey there, Gimpy!” a security guard called out when he saw MacGyver hobbling down the corridor of the laboratory, groaning and panting with exertion, his face red and beaded with sweat.

The guard was a nondescript man of medium height and average appearance, nothing remarkable or striking about his features that would ever make him noticeable or memorable. Still, he was a friendly man, and MacGyver knew who he was, having encountered him frequently during his visits to the lab.

“Hi there, Carl,” he said, slightly out of breath.

Carl examined the casts and bandages covering half of MacGyver’s body. “Wow man,” he said, whistling. “What on earth happened to you?”

“A motorcycle accident,” MacGyver said. “A hit and run.”

“Jeez, I’m sorry. Are you all right?”

“I will be,” MacGyver said, smiling through his pain, his teeth tightly clenched, gritting them. “Eventually, anyway.”

“Well, what are doing here, and so late? Shouldn’t you be in bed, resting?”

“Probably,” MacGyver said, grinning and winking.

“If you’re here to see anyone I should tell you this place is deserted around this time of night,” Carl said. “Not much goes on around here and no one is really here except us security guards, you know.”

“I know,” MacGyver said. “I’m not here to see anyone.”

“Did you need access to any of the labs?”

“I might,” MacGyver said. “Actually, I’m here to conduct a search.”

Carl raised an inquiring eyebrow. “Of what?” He asked.

“Oh, I don’t know really yet,” MacGyver said, looking around. “I’m not sure. Records, inventories…I just thought I’d have a look around, you know.”

“May I ask why?”

MacGyver looked at Carl. He had known the man for years and had probably shared more information with him than some of his senior colleagues, feeling he could trust him.

“All right, I’ll tell you,” he said, “but you have to keep this information in the strictest of confidence.”

Carl smiled. “As always,” he said. “Whatever you say.”

“I’m here on an unofficial mission of sorts. Do you remember the case of a serial killer known as ‘The Unseen?’”

Carl’s expression remained bland and calm, unreadable. “Sure,” he said. “Of course. Wasn’t that the guy that was sticking people with needles and killing them with poison?”

“Yeah, that’s the one,” MacGyver said. “I think the killer might be connected to Phoenix somehow. That’s what I’m here to prove.”

“And how do you intend to do that?” Carl asked, his tone flat, his face still expressionless.

“I don’t know yet. The evidence has to be here somewhere. I just have to look and try to find it.”

“How can you be so sure it’s here? Didn’t the police clear all Phoenix scientists of guilt?”

“They did, but that doesn’t necessarily mean anything. This person operated in the shadows.”

“Why are you so convinced it’s someone from the Foundation?”

MacGyver shook his head, a shy, embarrassed smile on his face. He liked and confided in Carl, but he wasn’t about to tell him about seeing a vision of one of the victims appearing before him and asking for his help in finding the killer. “Well, let’s just say it’s a long story,” he said.

“I see,” Carl said, scrutinizing MacGyver with his eyes. “Why now? Didn’t this happen like six years ago or something?”

“It did, but they never caught the person responsible. I’m hoping with the new evidence I find they can reopen the case and possibly apprehend him.”

Carl smiled and nodded. “Why don’t you start in one of the chemistry labs on the lower level?” He asked. “I’ll ride down in the elevator with you. It looks like you could use some help.”

“Thanks, I appreciate it,” MacGyver said.

They got in the elevator. The doors closed and MacGyver pushed the button for the next level down. Carl used that moment of distraction to his advantage. With his victim off his guard and in a position of trust, he managed to grab MacGyver’s crutch from him and hit him hard from behind with it, the blow sending him crashing to the floor of the elevator, unconscious. He grinned cruelly down at the crumpled body, his eyes empty and reptile-like.

“It appears I have some planning to do,” he said.

To be continued…

Another wonderful read.

Ack!!!!!!
Never trust the lonely security guard!!!!! They are all evil!!!!!

Pete will have to come rescue Mac's sorry ass XD I do wonder, what would have made the "Unseen" stop... oh, the suspence keeps me on the edge of my seat!!

Thanks MacsChick for another thrilling chapter! Can't wait to read the rest of this story, but they again, you already know that