Bless the Child Page #4

but I'll take you|to our computer lounge...

and you can e-mail him directly.

Before I found New Dawn, I didn't|have any respect for myself.

I didn't think|I mattered to anybody.

And Eric helped me learn|to will what I do...

and to stop letting|others judge me.

[ Man ]|Eric helps you tap into this power.

I mean, he changed|my whole life.

[Thunder Rumbling]

[Answering Machine Beeps]

Maggie, this is Cheri Post. I got|your number from the hospital.

I know where the kid is.

Meet me at the diner|at Stanton and Essex at midnight.

Do me a favor.|Bring some cash, okay?

This is all you brought?|I can't get out of the city on this.

Cheri, where is she?

Literally?|Of course not.

Well, Eric does-- and so do|the sick fucks that are in with him.

So would you if you'd|seen what I've seen.

- Like what?|- Eric's got this religion,

only it's more like|the opposite of religion.

I thought it was all bullshit|at first, but I've seen it work.

They can predict|the future,

even make things happen|to people, bad things.

What does this|have to do with Cody?

About a year ago, they all started|acting a lot weirder than usual.

They started hunting down kids--

six-year-old kids, boys, girls.

But they all had to be born|on this certain date.

They'd take each kid|and put them through this test,

and if they failed,|they'd kill them.

''The slaughter of the innocents,''|they called it.

Only Cody isn't like|the other ones.

She's the one they've|been looking for all along.

So instead of killing her,|Eric's gonna try to change her--

to make her just like him.

See? So he can use her power.

She's just a little girl.

She's more than that,|at least she's gonna be.

Gonna be what?

I don't know.|A saint, a prophet.

She's gonna lead people to God,|Maggie-- a lot of people--

only Eric|won't let that happen.

If he can't turn her,|he'll kill her.

- Cheri, where is she?|- [Thunder Rumbling]

Do you promise|to get her out of there?

- Yes.|- You're gonna need this.

[Thunderclap]

[Man Laughs]

Hello. Hello?

[ Screaming ]

[ Shrieks ]

Cheri.

[ Screaming ]

Come in. Crazy people|like an audience.

Is that a self-diagnosis?

No, just|a popular theory.

I had a half a dozen transit|cops here this morning.

They think the concussion makes me|a less-than-credible witness.

They're having a hard time believing|you because they didn't find a body.

- You lied to me.|- Excuse me?

You think what's happened to Cody|is connected with the murders.

How many children are dead?

Five, that we know of.

''Slaughter of the innocents.''|Does that ring a bell?

- Where did you hear that?|- From the girl they killed.

- What did she mean?|- Well, it's from the Bible.

When the three wise men|told King Herod...

that the star over Bethlehem...

was the sign that|the Son of God had been born,

Herod sent his soldiers|to kill all of the children...

that were born on that date.

But then an angel appeared|before Mary and Joseph...

and warned them to escape.

And what date|are our innocents born on?

- December 16, '93.|- You son of a b*tch.

- It's different with Cody.|- You should have told me!

It's different with Cody.|We know who took her.

And you haven't done|anything about it.

Have you even found where|he's keeping her?

Maggie, his organization owns...

dozens of different properties|all around the country.

He lives like a textbook paranoid.|He keeps moving all the time.

You could put out a warrant.

Come on, Maggie.|You don't think I want this guy?

I do. But if I make a move without|grounds, it'll blow the whole case.

And there won't be|a second chance here--

not for you,|not for Cody.

That's a composite|that we got of the killer...

from two very strong eyewitnesses.

- Do you recognize him?|- No.

- But Eric could still be involved.|- Yeah, it's possible.

How many children have been killed|since Cody disappeared?

None.

I'm going to help you,|Maggie.

I'm gonna make a request to have|an officer outside the door...

- for the next couple of days, okay?|- Okay.

There is one other thing.

The hospital said|that they found this on you.

Those kids tried to kill me|last night. I wish I had used it.

Well, you didn't|get that from me.

Lord, I could use|a little help here.

[Rustling]

Oh, sorry.|You all alone in here?

- Yeah.|- Look, if I'm disturbing you--

No, that's okay.|I'm done for tonight.

Oh, man.

- I don't know how you do this.|- What?

This kind of work.|Day after day.

It's gotta wear down|a man's spirit.

The worst thing is knowing|that he's still out there.

And we're running out of time.

You'll catch him.

- I got a good feeling about this.|- You do, huh?

You're wrong|about one thing though.

What's that?

You're not working|alone tonight.

A good man is never|alone in this world.

I'm sorry.|Can't you tell me who she is?

[ Chattering, Indistinct ]

Hey, how about|watching my car?

[Whispering, Indistinct]

[ Shrieking ]

- [ Squawking ]|- [ Chittering ]

[Clanking]

Hello?

Jenna, it's Maggie.

[Footsteps]

Maggie, if Eric|finds you here--

Do you have any idea|who this man is?

- Maggie, I'm begging you.|- Cody. Cody.

Cody, hi.|Hi!

- Cody miss Mim.|- I missed you. Are you all right?

Cody go|to dentist tomorrow.

Tell 'em don't make|Cody go to dentist.

No. How would you like|to get up right now and leave?

- What do you think you're doing?|- I'm taking Cody.

- And I want you to come with us.|- No. No, Maggie.

No. Maggie, I've watched him|with her. He's very gentle.

Maggie.

What a surprise.|You should've called.

Unfortunately, it's almost time|for Cody's nap.

Come here, Cody.

Sit down, Maggie.

It's all right, Jenna.|It's okay.

Actually, uh,

- I'm a little tired myself.|- [Eric]No! Stay.

We'll have drinks.|Stuart!

Stuart!

I think Maggie'd|like a drink.

Oh--|Unless you have to run.

No. I'll stay.

I don't care|for a drink.

I've been trying to reach you|for the last couple of days,

and I really don't|understand why--

There are certain forces|in this country, Maggie,

that don't want me empowering|the younger generation.

I have to protect my privacy|and my family any way I can.

Well, the reason|I dropped by is, um,

they're having an Easter egg|hunt at Cody's old school.

And I thought it would|be really fun if we went.

- Why don't you run get your coat?|- Actually, Maggie,

things have changed|since last time we spoke.

Originally, we'd hoped some kind|of visitation might be worked out,

but your attitude|has made that impossible.

[ Sighs ]|I knew you wouldn't give her up...

without getting|something in return.

- You have nothing I want.|- How about my silence?

- Go on.|- I'm no fool, Eric.

I didn't imagine what|happened to Cheri.

- I know she's dead.|- No one's saying you're a fool.

It's just obvious you're not well.|[ Chuckles ]

So, I'm scared.|You've accomplished that.

But I'm not likely to make a deal|and break it the way she did, am I?

You let me take Cody and Jenna|and leave right now,

and that's it--|it's over.

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