TuckerEstron's Journal: Hunting Rabbit (Part Five)

Through the next few weeks, I led Rabbit to believe he was manipulating me further and further into suicidal depression, until finally I told him I'd had a huge fight with my parents and had finally decided it was time to "be done."

Rabbit delighted in the news. Almost immediately he started giving me security advice--how to make it look like I had just gone for a trip so that no one would suspect suicide or murder.

We agreed on a tentative date in early January. I told Rabbit I wanted to meet him at a bus station. Jeff cautioned me that Rabbit might try to change the plan at some point in an attempt to regain control; but he never did. I suggested to Rabbit that I wanted him to bring me yellow roses to welcome me to Texas. He thought that was a nice touch.

Finally January arrived. Jeff sent me plane tickets, and I was on my way to the Special Crimes unit to help with the bust. In the very last IM conversation, Rabbit asked me to tell him if this was a sting. I assured him it was not.

Once in Texas, I got a crash-course in the procedure we'd be using for the meeting and arrest. There was a police officer assigned to keep me safe, another assigned to intercept Rabbit if he tried anything aggressive, and a bunch of others with various tasks. I was given a digital tape recorder to capture any conversation with Rabbit. We went over the plan for the next day several times.

That night, I had a hard time sleeping. I was nervous--what if I did something wrong? What if Rabbit just didn't show up? I tossed and turned until daybreak, when our plan went into action.

Two undercover officers and I boarded the bus to Houston. We carefully avoided giving any sign that we were together, in case Rabbit had an accomplice on the bus. I listened to my headphones and tried to look casual.

At the Houston bus station, I stepped slowly down the bus's stairs. I was watching for Rabbit and simultaneously wondering how many of the people milling around were officers assigned to the case. I had only gotten a short distance when a white-bearded man approached. "Little one?" he said.

"Rabbit!" I exclaimed. "It's really you!"

Rabbit put his arm around me and hugged me. "Welcome to the big city," he said. I'm told I looked like a deer in the headlights when he touched me. All I could think was, This man wants to kill me. This man wants to kill me.

"So, lucky 13?" I said, trying to get him to say something incriminating on tape before the arrest. "Twelve before me?"

"We'll talk in the car," Rabbit hissed as he tried to hustle me down the hallway and out. I noticed he was keeping his head down, trying to avoid security cameras.

Just then there was a voice behind us. "Excuse me, sir." Someone touched Rabbit's shoulder, and we both turned.

A badge flashed, and an officer quickly pulled me out of the way. I saw the look on Rabbit's face: incredulous, shocked, terrified.

And it was over.

encore! encore! (nm)

[turg]

nm

You are one brave lady

[MonTemplar]

Nuff said!

MT.

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