Brenna counted the passing moments by the tick of the car cooling down around her. Her cell phone was dead now and she had no source of light. The surrounding darkness and claustrophobia of the small space was beginning to wear on her.

It was getting noticeably cooler by the minute. She couldn't know exactly how long Herrick had been gone but it seemed like a long time. Her fingers ached and she'd broken a nail which in her attempts to find a way out. The sharp smell of coppery blood filled the small compartment.

Despite her best efforts she had failed to gain her freedom. She'd managed to kick out the back taillight and now had small 6" in diameter window to the darkness beyond. For twenty minutes she'd tried to reach the trunk lock in hopes she could somehow jimmy the lock with the nail file but was unable to get that far.

She'd briefly thought of yelling for help from the hole but in the solitude of the park at this time of the night and season she risked only alerting Herrick to her escape efforts. Consequently the only thing she'd accomplished was creating a greater entrance for the cold air to invade her prison and make it even more uncomfortable.

Currently she kept watch through her small window with her ears cocked for Herrick's return. If he didn't notice the taillight damage immediately she might be able to stab him or harm him enough to give her a chance when he opened the trunk. She prayed someone else, preferably Mac, would get there before he returned.

She'd relaxed a bit in the fetal position, really the only position allowed in the tiny space, watching out the window when she suddenly heard a twig snap in the darkness. Brenna sprang into full alert straining her ears to be ready for any further sounds.

To the right of the car she heard more twigs snapping and movement of someone approaching. The noise would lead her to believe they were coming from the woods and not any road. The foot steps grew louder as they grew closer and she heard the instant whoever it was stepped onto the dirt of the roadway from the brush.

"Please be Mac, please be Mac," she prayed silently inside her head as she tried her best to be absolutely silent and still. Her breath sounded loud around her and her heart thumped crazily inside her chest. If they kept coming from that direction they'd pass directly in front of her access hole and she'd have her chance.

Then again, if it were Mac or some other deputy out looking for her, she'd risk stabbing her rescuer in the leg instead. Her resolve wavered but then solified. If it were Mac he'd more than forgive her understanding the circumstances she was in.

The steps closed in on the car and whoever it was began to whistle. Brenna's blood chilled. She felt confident no one out searching for her would be so nonchalantly whistling as they did so. No, this unusually upbeat whistling seemed to point toward her abductor and confirmed for her more than anything prior that he was a very dangerous man.

She heard the crunch of gravel just beside the car and stilled herself further waiting for the exact moment. She'd only get one chance at this and she'd need to do as much damage as possible but not lose her weapon in the process.

A jean clad leg came into view and Brenna jabbed. There was some resistance and then it pushed further. The leg immediately pulled from her as it's owner began to scream obscenities and took her weapon with it.

"Damnit!" she couldn't help but exclaim.

She could hear the man still moving a lot and yelling profanities directed at her a few feet away. Considering he knew who to blame he likely had a hand in putting her there and wasn't some innocent bystander. Funnily enough this gave her comfort but not for long as someone was not shoving a key into the lock of the trunk.

She positioned herself the best that she could in a readiness to spring up as soon as it opened. The lock clicked and the lid began to move. Brenna pushed up with all her might with her legs and sent it flying upward out of the man's hands.

In an instant she was up and moving. A tall male blocked her path but she decided to keep the momentum she'd come up with and simply charge him. He wasn't expecting it and lost his footing as her body hit his. He went down and she landed on top of him inadvertently driving her knee into his face. A sick crack told her she'd broken his nose which was totally worth the pain she'd sustained in the process.

Not pausing to check if he was truly incapacitated she was struggling to her feet without pause and in forward momentum. This proved Newton's first law of physics when a hand suddenly clamped down on her ankle bringing her to a sudden and forceful halt.

Brenna had no time to bring her hands up and her face came down into the gravel of the road forcefully. She could saw stars for a moment and tasted fresh blood in her mouth but immediatly started trying to crawl forward.

His hand remained firm on her ankle and he pulled her back forcefully with a loud male grunt of passion. Brenna rolled onto her back and began hammering her loose foot down on his hand striking herself several times in the process.

It worked his hand came free and she immediately scooted away and rolled ot her knees. She was on her feet and running up the road when she was hit from behind and sent sprawling once more.

"Stop fighting!" A male voice roared behind her as if by simply sounding menacing he'd get his way.

Brenna began to screech in return yelling words she didn't use in everyday life and explaining to him exactly what he could do with his request.

The man got his arm around her chest and flipped her onto her back using his legs to pin her legs and his arms to pin her hands. This brought her face to face with the eerily nondescript features of Tony Herrick.

"What the hell do you want you freaking psychopath? What are you going to do to me?" She continued to struggle to free herself.

"I"m not a psychopath. I'm an artist. YOU! You have made people think I'm a psychopath. YOU said it was a crime. YOU have police looking for me when all I am is an artist."

"You can't burn down people's homes! Some day there is going to be someone there and you are going to kill them or you'll set a forest on fire and burn down other people's homes. You aren't an artist you sick freak. You are an arsonist; a criminal!" She was screaming into

He released one hand to cover her mouth and she bit him. He shifted just enough in his recoil that she got a leg free and wasted no time in bringing her knee up into his groin. Herrick doubled over and she wiggled away from him and began to run. After a few yards she took a hard right and bolted off into the woods hoping the rough terrain would be more difficult on him.

She ran into the woods as fast as she could and not take herself out on a tree. She couldn't risk looking around or behind her. Something large and furry came running out of the darkness and under her feet causing her to stumble.

"Shit!" she yelped as she went down. The creature was upon her and she brought her arms up to protect herself from attack. In a moment she lowered them in confusion when nothing came at her.

The sound of deep growling drew her attention behind her. She saw Herrick advancing then she saw Reego dug in between them with his hackles up and his teeth bared.

Reego! So that meant Mac was nearby somewhere.

Herrick didn't stop. He barely blinked at Reego; his eyes leaving Brenna for only a second before returning.

"Stall!" she thought.

"Hurting me won't stop anything. The police already know. You'll just go to prison for life instead of a few years for arson. It won't help you."

"I know, but it will make me feel better. You ruined everything and there has to be some consequence for that." He smiled at her but kept moving.

Brenna was shocked by his candid cold reply. It finally broke through to her that he had completely gone off the deep end. There would be no reasoning with him or making him see sense. He had one goal in mind.

Back on her feet Brenna backed up slowly. Herrick was within 10 feet of her now and Reego's growls were menacing. Mac took one final step and Reego launched himself onto the man. He had Herrick's left arm firmly in his teeth and blood ran from his jaws.

Herrick screamed and Brenna heard a sharp snapping sound before she saw a glint of moving metal. In Herrick's loose hand he now held an extendable baton type weapon. He swung it and hit the dogs soft middle.

Reego let go with a wimper and backed off still growling. Herrick took another step in her direction and Reego sprang again this time catching him at the throat.

Herrick flailed and swung his arms at the dog trying to loose him. Brenna heard his blows land on the dog's body but he did not let go. Herrick sank to his knees and continued to swing. He swung the baton once more and Brenna heard a sickening thud and then he shoved Reego's body to the side.

Brenna shrieked out of pain and worry for the body on the ground not moving. "You bastard!" She screamed. She wanted to run to Reego but Herrick was advancing. His shirt was coated with blood and it was still coarsing from a ragged, dark, wet looking wound.

He raised the arm with the club in the air and she heard a sharp pop followed by the smell of gunpowder on the air. Before her Herrick stopped and fell to his knees. He kept his eyes locked on hers as he crumbled to his side on the ground.

There was a lot of commotion. First Mac and then a man in a deputy uniform broke though the trees. Mac ran to her side. The other man went straight to Herrick and placed his hand on the undamaged side of his neck.

"Gone." He announced matter of factly then turned his back on them as he started talking into his radio mic.

"Baby, are you ok?" His eyes scanned her face taking in the abrasions and cuts. Her lip felt swollen and stung when she licked it.

"I'm ok. I swear but Reego," she grabbed his hand and pulled him behind her to the place where Herrick had thrown the dog.

He lay on his side panting heavily and whining softly.

"Oh Reego." She stroked his ear softly as tears poured down her face. "Thank you."

She looked at Mac then. "My car is the closest. It's just back that way. You carry him and we can get him to a vet."

"Brenna, you're hurt too. Just calm down right now."

"NO! He saved my life! He can't die damn it! Get him up!" She didn't think she could carry the large dog such a distance, especially without hurting him but if Mac didn't get moving she was sure as heck going to try.

Mac knew when he needed to just follow orders. Brenna looked like she was coming apart at the seems. Arguing would do no good. Carefully he manuevered his arms under Reego's body and lifted him from the ground.

Three other deputies had materialized from the woods while they'd been attending to Reego.

"We're taking him to the vet. He's hurt bad." Brenna announced in a no nonsense voice. "I'm fine and I'll answer anything, fill out anything you need later."

She stalked away with Mac following trying to step lightly to not jolt Reego's broken body anymore than necessary.

"It's going to be ok pal. You did good. We are going to take care of you." Reego whined sadly into the darkness.