From his home he did runaway,
after stepfather he did slay.
With three bullets he shot him down,
after mother's dead body he found.

He met a mercenary band,
with whom he traversed distant lands.
With one he didn't get along,
still somehow he managed to belong.

When each one so taught him their skills,
he told them to call him Rigel;
for if his true name became known,
he feared into prison he'd be thrown.

When he grew out of his teen years
he was looked upon as a peer,
except by one known as Lansing,
who continued on his harassing.

Still in missions he did take part,
'til the day this all came apart;
for there arose certain events,
to whose outcome near tragedy lent.

As the only one from them saved,
Rigel was left to dig the graves.
Back to the U.S. he did go,
where he hired out his skills solo.

Reconnoitering does reveal
the best setup to make the kill.
Later, his guise changed from before,
electronic device opens door.

Once inside, the scene he prepares.
This he goes about with great care.
From out of a pack he does take
a plastic object in form of snake.

He plants it in a place just right,
to put target within his sight.
When he's sure that it's been seen
he releases his round sure and clean.

Whether he used a knife or gun
the warning became number one;
though it let the mark get prepared,
t'was through a snake's warning he was spared.

That was when idea to him came:
so from this practice spread his name;
for planting plastic snake was sure
both serve to warn as well as to lure.

Soon as "The Serpent" he'd be known:
his reputation now steadily grown.
Not just any hit would he make.
He was prudent in whose life he'd take.

His other life seemed almost bland;
for he worked as a handyman.
One day, when at his bank did stop,
donated pay for a fallen cop.

Not long after this he received
a vendetta from one who was grieved.
Thus having accepted the contract,
it wasn't long before he was packed.

No matter how the end it came,
the routine was always the same:
make sure the snake the mark did see,
then carry out hit efficiently.

At an hour that is most late,
outside a window he does wait.
The snake poised just ever so right
to put target in range of gun sight.

As the target does sight the snake,
he, a response, prepares to make.
In midst of firing he does stop,
when glimpse of badge marks her as a cop.

The next day a package he sent,
despite thoughts of angry client,
to detective's home with a note:
clue to who put out contract, he wrote.

Packed and ready he was to go,
but t'was something he didn't know;
for a bullet happened his way,
and it certainly wasn't a stray.

To detective he had to go
and share with her what he did know.
Soon arriving at Peter's place
he confided, in part, face to face.

While his story he did relate,
she promised to investigate;
wondering what part he did play,
based on what he did and didn't say.

As over case files she did pour,
one fact she just couldn't ignore;
this Rigel Danforth was involved -
whoever else was must be resolved.

All parolees accounted for,
who would want to even the score?
As one by one her leads dwindled,
curiosity the more kindled.

The fingerprints they could not lead
to the one at core of deed;
being that they were not on file -
to find out the truth could take awhile.

Still they must relate to some case;
though there was nothing she could trace.
Having a woman at the core
made only more difficult the chore.

Going forth a shooter to find,
thoughts of Lisa are on his mind;
feelings within him awakened,
of which he couldn't be mistaken.

Rigel resourcefully tracks down,
to an unlikely part of town,
a handle on most certainly
is the contractor's identity.

Chasing him down an alleyway;
here Rigel seeks to make his play.
Just as he has him dead to rights
the other tosses cat in gun's sights,

Rigel stills his trigger finger:
his sworn target doesn't linger.
Rigel follows him in pursuit,
but in delay has lost his route.

T'was one direction he must go,
for this thing he truly did know;
he must arrive there in all haste,
as he had not a moment to waste.

Inside of her house he did gain:
on his course Rigel didn't wain,
for her situation was dire,
as she had already taken fire.

Detective Peters on the floor,
the gunman sought to shoot once more.
A distraction is what Rigel needed,
so with snake warning interceded.

This, to the other, challenge gave,
as Rigel sought her life to save.
While Danforth took most careful aim,
his aspirant also did the same.

As two shots rang out in the night,
only one did taste of lead's bite.
The gun shot right out of his hand,
the other cut his losses and ran.

Rigel,too, thought that he should go,
and was quite ready to do so,
when a bullet out of nowhere
came quite near to parting Rigel's hair.

Though it closely grazed his forehead,
Rigel didn't end up as dead.
Quickly snatching the plastic snake,
it was a large gamble that he would make.

As Rigel's bullet rang out clear,
Lisa Peter's partner drew near.
The bullet which hit it's target
caused receiver to spill his regret.

While this in course was taking place,
away from scene Rigel did race;
fully aware that he'd be sought,
he wouldn't risk himself being caught.

When taken into custody,
he supplied name accordingly.
The would be killer was aware
that next time his life wouldn't be spared.

Waking in a hospital bed
many questions ran through her head.
Her partner answered each in turn,
as of the proceedings she did learn.

The main player in murder plot,
Lisa's life for lover's, she sought;
for while in prison his own life took:
t'was plan of vengeance his mistress cooked.

When Serpent chose to bail out,
she felt she was hard pressed, no doubt.
Ms. Prescott then turned to locals:
one has proven to be quite vocal.

Along with evidence obtained,
which with a search warrant was gained:
Monica Prescott was found out
beyond any reasonable doubt.

The Serpent's disappeared from scene.
Efforts to find him's proven lean.
T'is most likely that he's long gone,
though our search for him will carry on.

Even with all points bulletin,
locating him is uncertain.
For even if using same name,
we have no knowledge from whence he came.

His reasoning I just can't say,
Isaac went on to relay.
Detective Ward covers it all,
while in disguise, Rigel views from the hall.