Part 12: Episode Nine: Hot Pursuit

OK, Keith, why don't you check out the back of the house? I'll look around here.



Sonny?



Sonny, I don't see her anywhere in here.



I see it. Thank you, Pointy.




Can you still hear me?





Damn it.

I have to make sure. Just give me a minute.

OK, Sonny. Let me know when you're finished.







I'm done here.




I hate to say this, Sonny, but the fact that she wasn't there is a good sign.

I know. If he were going to kill her, there's no reason he wouldn't have just done it right away. They were alone in there and it would have been easier. I know.



I just don't understand why. And I need to know if I'm going to get her back.

I have a theory on that.



Tell me.

He has to go after Colby, He's on the list. But he wants you, too. He wants you most of all.



And?

If he just goes after Colby, you might leave it to the local authorities. But what could make you chase him? What could he do to make certain you'd come after him?



And he just happened to leave a tube of lipstick lying around in the apartment. Which you just happened to get the address for out of a dead man's hand. A dead man that also was lying on top of a death threat for you.



...

He's trying to make you angry. If he killed Marie you'd want blood, but you wouldn't need to chase him personally to get it. But if you have a chance of saving her...



So what am I supposed to do? Not chase him?

I don't know, Sonny. I think you might have to chase him anyway.



...



Thanks, Keith.



I know what I need to do first. The evidence has to be turned in at the desk. And there are two other things I have to take care of.





I think the word you're looking for is "angry".


You give the victim list to John, and he reads it in astonishment. When he sees your name, he gasps and says, "Whoa, Sonny, you must really be scared."

You turn in Colby's business card, and you tell John who Colby is.

You hand the corner of the envelope to Big John and tell him how this was held in the hand of a dead guy.

Carefully, John takes the blood sample that you got from the trunk. You request identification analysis.

You request identification analysis of the blood sample you got from the Motel.

"My, my, we've been BUSY, haven't we?" Big John says, smiling.



These are... the burglary guys?

Right.




Did you guys work a burglary recently where some guns were stolen?




How about the prints we got from the gun we recovered for you?



Thanks. I'll see you.

So where to now?



Here.

Practice? Now?



I smashed my gun against the wall at the motel. I need to make sure the sight is correct.

...



It also gives me time to think. Happy?

Alright, Sonny, take your time.



I need to ask you a question.

Go ahead.



Ugh. Terrible.

I guess you were right about the gun.



Do you remember when all this started?

Yes. It wasn't actually that long ago. Although it feels like months.



I couldn't get into my locker. I asked you about the combination.

I remember that.



Do you remember that card I picked up from my car?

Vaguely?



The combination was written on that. But you never looked at it. You never asked me to look at it, either. So how did you know what it was?

...



Better. I'm waiting.

I don't think I can really explain that in a way that would make sense to you, Sonny.



I figured you'd say that. But you have some way of knowing things you shouldn't know about.

...sort of.



Much better. So, tell me. Tell me if Marie is okay.



I can't do that, Sonny. It's not possible. I can't make you know more than you know right now. You're going to have to trust me on that.



Guess I don't have a choice.

I'm sorry.



Me too.



So, what now?



I'm going to take the bait.



I knew you would. If there's any way to get her back, Sonny, we will. I promise you that.

I guess that will have to do. Come on, we've got to hurry.



He doesn't like flying, does he?

Most planes won't let him smoke.

Ah, of course.



It's nice how he pretends he brushes his teeth.

...



Just trying to lighten the mood a little.

Don't.



Do you even have that much?




Hey, he's useful for something after all.

I probably should have talked to Hall before leaving the station.

Maybe. It might have just taken more time.



You know, you might not be as far behind Bains as you think.

What?

Do you really think he got on a plane with a hostage? He must have driven. It'd probably take a day or so, and your flight will be faster than that, so you might be catching up.



Good point.



Here are your tickets, gentlemen. The flight will be boarding at Gate 12, up the escalator and to your right.

Thanks.



What will you do when you get there?

Talk to the local police, let them know I'm in pursuit of a dangerous fugitive, and offer my assistance.



And then you shoot Bains?

Arrest. I'm going to arrest Bains.



I'm glad you remember that.



I'll tell Casper he has to stay behind.

...

Right. Sorry.



Now we just have to wait for Keith to get through security and for our plane to start boarding.

Great. Who's this douchebag?



He looks familiar somehow.

I keep feeling like he should be... bigger?



...



...


Do you know when the bus to Coarsegold will arrive? If you get a chance, call my producers at Sierra and tell them I might be a little late. Say that I've run into woman troubles, and I'm tied up right now.

Sir, I'm going to have to respectfully ask you to stop talking to me now.



I am going to board the plane now. I'm going to walk through this skybridge and it had better be there when I get to the end. I'm sure Keith will catch up.



Hey, Sonny! I'm right behind you!



They fly the friendly... swamps?

I don't know and I don't care. Where's my seat?



There you go.

I hope they get going soon.



Pointy, no!

What is he doing?

I don't know. He sure seems excited about something. I guess he's never been on a plane before. Here, let me offer him some cookies he can't eat.



Oh, good. That didn't take long.



Did you remember to fasten your belt?

Who do you think you are talking to?

Alright, alright, fine.

So now we just hope for an uneventful flight.

I'm sure it'll be fine. What's the worst that could happen on a plane like this?



A horrible crash that kills everyone?

Well, okay, but that isn't very likely.



Someone could shoot us down.

That's even LESS likely.



Nothing for me, thanks. Unbuckling that belt was relief enough for me.



I would like seventeen beers.

Keith, we're on duty.

Okay, fifteen.



Anyway, the plane could get attacked by terrorists.

Yeah, right.



Holy shit.

What?



You have to be fucking kidding me. No way. NO WAY.

What are you talking about?



Look over there.

Wha-



Oh my god. I didn't mean it. I didn't mean it!

What did you do? This is your fault somehow for saying that. I know it is!





Okay, there is no way this is real. That's the kind of name you give a place in Vegas.

That gun looks awfully real to me.




Well, Sonny, do we feel like listening to the captain?

For once, we do not.




Sonny, if you do not shoot these people right now I am going to be very cross with you.

Alright.

I was joking!

I'm not.



Do you understand exactly how awful a day I am having? Just drop your gun and nobody has to get hurt.



She slipped away from him! He's not putting down his gun! Do it!



Here comes the other one! Once more!



Well, glad that's over with.




...

Oh, for God's sake.






So, coincidentally nobody is around to help you again. Except Pointy, it looks like.

What have we got there, boy?




What.



WHAT.

Bomb instructions.

But... but... in his turban... and...

Shh. Shhh. It's okay. Come on, I have to search the other one quickly.




I guess those will come in handy. So where should we look for the bomb?

Well, they came from the back.



I cannot believe this. I cannot believe this shit.

That's great, but could you shut up and help me find this bomb so I don't die?



Okay. If it's back here, it's got to be hidden in one of those things. Start checking them!






Well, only one place left.




Careful there, Sonny.

This is such a terrible idea.

Yeah, but the alternatives are worse.



109? Almost TWO MINUTES?

You seem... upset?

You're damn right I'm upset! It won't take you more than twenty or thirty seconds to disarm that. Where's the drama! You should wait until there are only forty seconds to go. You can try and finish just as time runs out.



Or I could do something that might help.




What are you doing?

Well, if the paper explains how to build a bomb, by doing everything on it backwards I should be unbuilding the bomb.



My God! It's just crazy enough to... still be COMPLETELY CRAZY!

I've got to cut some wire. Do you have a better idea, smart guy?



I guess not.

So shut up. This is really hard.




Well, you don't seem to be dead yet. Maybe it's working.

That's very comforting, thank you.





Way to go, Sonny!

Hold the applause. This is just a distraction from the real work.




Well, you did save a lot of peoples' lives, Sonny. Just take it easy until we get to Steelton. Maybe take a nap.



That is literally true.

Thanks, Keith. Come on, back in our seats.



Next time on Police Quest: The Final Confrontation!

Is someone going to clean up those bodies at some point?
























Well, he's asleep. But I still shouldn't be doing this.
























I'm probably breaking several laws. Maybe even several laws of physics. Oh, well.

























Is someone there? It's dark... where am I?

Shhh. It's me. Sonny's friend.

Quick, get me out of here!

I can't. I can't touch anything unless he's here. But I knew you could hear me. I just wanted to tell you he's on his way.

I knew that already. Just... tell him to be quick. I... I don't know how long I've got. I'm all alone and it's dark and I don't want Bains to come back here.

I'll tell him. Don't worry. He'll be here soon.