Jack In The Box

Chapter 24

“Jack has been caught and they are bringing him back to the asylum.” The male Nurse Marvin told me

on the phone.

“Jack? You mean Jackson Wolfe?” I asked.

“Yes. Him. There’s no other Jack in the same wing, remember?”

Oh god.

“When are they bringing him?”

“Tonight. The officials are not taking any chances this time. They are flying him through a chopper. Did

you know our hospital has a Helipad? How cool is that?”

I couldn’t be bothered about a Helipad at the moment when I had more pressing matters to think about,

starting with how the hell had they managed to find Jack? Unless, they found him because he wanted

to be found. There was no way that Jack could ever surrender on his own accord, not when he

believed that he was innocent.

Being caught only meant that he would be prosecuted, and most likely get hanged for his crimes.

Jack had to have a motive to come back. Or, I was thinking too much into this, and Jack could have let

his guard down and walked into a trap which seemed as likely as me winning a lottery. My gut feeling

was that Jack had got himself caught on purpose.

“Marvin, please call me when they bring him in.”

In the meantime, I arranged for an attorney, his name was James McIntyre. He wasn’t the best in the

country, but I trusted him and he was Maddy’s recommendation. He had won many cases and there

was no doubt in my mind that if push came to shove, I knew James wouldn’t rest until he had fought

dirty by my side.

During afternoon, James met me in a cafe where we discussed about the case. I told him the truth,

what had happened while I was with Jackson and when the truth spilled out I couldn’t omit the sex part.

James didn’t seem happy about it, he said sleeping with Jack had complicated my side and proving me

innocent would be more difficult in court.

“So whose side are you on?” He asked taking a large bite of his powdered donut, smearing all the

white powder above his upper lip, making it seem like a white mustache.

I couldn’t hold it in and laughed.

“Remember something funny?” He asked, skeptical.

I waved a hand, I wasn’t going to tell him about the powdered mustache. “It’s nothing.”

“Honestly, I’m not sure whose side I’m really on. I lived with Jack for a few days, and he didn’t seem

like the person that people make him to be. He is dangerous, I have no doubt about that but I don’t

think he killed anyone. He was quite vulnerable when he told me about his mother’s death and I believe

him, James. He cried in my arms that night and I’ve never seen Jack like that. If he really is a

psychopath, he wouldn’t have any feelings.”

James continued to look at me, he was measuring his words. I knew it. The powdered mustache was

kind of distracting. He said. “I’ve seen people like him all my life in this line of work, Riley. They tend to

analyze people and strike when they see a weakness. From what I hear, Jack sounds manipulative. He

could have faked those tears to have your attention. Psychopaths think we are foolish. They also think

they are superior.”

“I’ve worked with patients that had anti-social personality disorder and Jack to me, doesn’t seem like

any of those.” I pointed out.

“And that’s why he’s higher on the spectrum. High functioning psychopaths, the intelligent and

educated ones. They can become who they want, Riley. CEO, doctors, lawyers and that’s why they

deceive people easily.”

I sighed. What he said actually made sense, but I didn’t want to admit it.

“I have to go to the station and I’m already dreading it. Agent Flint won’t leave a stone upturned and he

is hell-bent on putting me behind bars. He thinks I helped Jack escape last time, which is true but he

also thinks the kidnapping is staged which is not true.”

“We have some alibi, Riley. You are in safe hands.” He said smiling. I took pity on him and wiped the

powdered sugar off his lips.

He cleared his throat. “Thanks.”

“You’re welcome.”

The interrogation had turned into a screaming match. Poor James, he’d turned from attorney to referee

in point five seconds after the first question.He’d specifically told me that they would do their best to rile

me up and make me furious, to see if I fumbled with words and gave them the confession they needed.

None of that happened so they had wasted their precious energy. Agent Flint was literally breathing

fire. If he thought he could scare me with his dirty tactics, he thought wrong.

“No matter how many times you’re going to ask me that, Agent Knight, my answers are not going to

change. I. Did. Not. Kill. Anyone.”

James kicked me under the table, leaned in and whispered. “He’s doing it on purpose to make you

angry. Let me handle this. Just keep quite.”

Agent Flint’s continued to stare at me with impassive expressions. No one could depict what was going

on in his mind. “Miss Frazer, I hope you don’t blame me for grilling you for the information but this is all

part of my job. You are the missing piece to this puzzle and only you can help us understand what is

going on. If you confess to everything right now, I promise you on my—”

James cleared his throat. “Agent Knight, you and your team has been harassing my client here under

the pretense of an interrogation. It’s been two hours and you still haven’t gotten anything from her.”

“Because she’s playing by his rules.” Flint interrupted James.

“Miss. Frazer has said nothing but the truth until now. She went to the cabin that night under duress

and what transpired after that wasn’t part of any plan. She’s not on Jackson Wolfe’s side.”

“And neither is she on ours. Makes no difference really. Tell me, Riley, did you also sleep with him

under duress?”

“That’s enough Agent! You’re straight up bullying my client now. I will not have you pressuring her like

that.”

“Agent Knight. This is a colossal waste of your time. Believe me. You’re not going to get any new

information from me. I’ve been honest with you with everything that I’ve told you until now. If you still

think I’m Jack’s accomplice...”

James threw me a warning look.

Flint looked at James and back at me. “Yes, Miss Frazer?”

“Then prove it.” I said.

“Do you understand what you’re saying?”

I smiled. “Yes. I’m quite aware. I’m challenging you, Agent Flint. If you think I killed the nurse and

helped Jack, please prove it. Try and find the evidence. I’m sure you have a team of experts at your

disposal.”

“Riley.” James warned me.

Flint and I played a game of who-stops-staring-first and he lost because he blinked and looked away. “I

promise you, Miss. Frazer, if you are involved in this in any way. I will not hesitate to put you under

arrest.”

“Please. Don’t hold back.” I said.

“We are done for today, if we have any leads, we will contact you again, Miss. Frazer. And if you

remember something, I’m just a call away. I hope you will co-operate.”

I turned to leave, when the agent called me out again. “A word of advice. You may feel like he’s a good

person now, but once he’s got what he’s wanted from you, you’ll be nothing more than a body in the

morgue.”

“Thanks for the warning.”

When I walked out of the station, I threw up my breakfast. Just the thought of Jack playing mind games

with me made me sick. I was on the verge of tearing up.

“Did you see the way he was talking to me?” I asked James. “Like I’m Jack’s whore.”

James regraded me with concern. “I’m pretty sure he talks like that to every suspect.”

“It’s not just about that, James. They don’t trust me. It’s clear as day. He thinks I’m in it because I’m

obsessed with Jack because he’s a killer and because he’s a multi-millionaire.”

“Are you?”

I gaped at him. “You’ve got to be kidding me!”

“You said they are bringing Jack in tonight.” James started changing the subject.

I nodded.

“Do you really think he didn’t kill all those people?” He asked.

“My gut feeling says he didn’t, but I don’t even know anything anymore. I want to believe Jack isn’t lying

to me.” I said. “I want to talk to him. I’m not his nurse anymore so it’s going to be difficult to meet him.

I’ll just go as a visitor.”

James agreed that was the best alternative. Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.

I stayed awake half of the night and mentally I wished Jack escaped again before they brought him

back to the asylum because I knew what fate awaited him if he came back.

He would be grilled and tortured both mentally and psychically by the officials in hopes of finding out

the truth.

A little after midnight, I received a text from Maddy.

Jackson’s here.

My heart began thumping in my chest. It had been a week since I last saw him and it felt like forever.

I couldn’t sleep most of the night, thinking what I was going to say to him the next day. The call last

time hadn’t gone well so I wasn’t betting the meeting would be a great idea.

I wore a casual jeans and a top. Left my hair in natural waves because I knew he liked it that way and

applied lip gloss.

I had goosebumps rise on my body as I made my way inside the asylum. The receptionist eyed me

warily, but said he was allowed visitors.

The visitors room was a cozy little area with chairs and couches. The coffee machine sat idle for people

to help themselves. I was sure once you tasted the hospital coffee here, you’d realize your dog could

make a better one. Only two other patients were in the room with their families. Some patients were so

ill that they were shackled to the chairs.

I noticed Cody the man-child seated in the corner, wearing his favorite Angry Birds t-shirt and jeans.

The panda stuffed toy was beside him. If you looked closely, Cody didn’t seem older much older than I

was. He could be anywhere in his mid twenties to early thirties. I’d heard that Cody had a very severe

accident when he was younger and since then he suffered from post-traumatic disorder and his mind

never developed into adulthood. Otherwise, he was quite a good looking guy. I’d heard rumors that the

nurses were crushing hard on him.

When Cody saw me he smiled and pointed at me. “Ri. Ri.”

My heart squeezed.

He mostly never addressed me, but he had his good days and his bad days. Today, he seemed like a

good one. His mother was seated beside him who beamed at me as I approached them.

I said hello and told her I was a hospital employee.

“Mommy, this is Ri Ri.” Cody told his mother. “She draws nice little flowers and cats for me.”

He giggled in the way innocent four year olds do.

“Do you? That’s very nice of you Nurse Ri Ri.” His mother said.

“It’s actually Riley. Cody is such a sweet boy. In fact he’s my favorite here.” I said.

Cody may have grown a Pinocchio nose there, his face light up with pride. “I like you too, Ri Ri. Come

sit with me.”

His mother excused herself to go to get a coffee refill. I sat down beside Cody. He stared at me open

mouthed. “You smell nice, Ri.”

“Thanks.”

He scooted closer and kissed my cheek and then a little closer to my lips. After that his palm started to

move towards my breast. I caught his hand before that and stood up.

“Cody! You’re not supposed to do that!”

A few months back, he’d done the exact same thing and I wasn’t able to stop him that time. When his

mother walked back with her coffee, my face was probably burning.

“Why not?” He asked. “I like it. You’re so soft. Let me touch it.”

His mother stared at me with regret, understanding dawned her. “Please don’t tell the doctors. I’m sorry

on his behalf.”

“I understand Mrs. Sanders.” I assured her. “It’s not his fault.”

It really wasn’t. Cody stared at me with unabashed longing. Even though Cody had a mind of a child,

his body was that of an adult which had physical adult needs like any human being, and his childlike

innocence didn’t allow his mouth to have a filter.

Mrs. Sanders’s eyes began to water. “I know he has needs. He’s not a child anymore. I was wondering

if I can take him to a--”

I shook my head. “The doctors said there’s a possibility he may become normal again.” I looked at

Cody who was talking to his Panda. “I’m sure he wouldn’t want you to do that if he knew better. I

suggest you to wait some more time and I’ll talk to a doctor who can help him with this.”

“Riley” Someone interrupted us. I glanced back to find Tory, who was in charge of the visitors room.

“They won’t bring Jackson down here, not when there’s a risk of him escaping again. All his visitors are

supposed to go to the room.”

“Alright. I will go upstairs.”

“Wait.” She said before I could leave. “He doesn’t want to see you.”

“What?”

“Jackson is not taking any visitors and he specifically said he doesn’t and I’ll quote ‘I don’t want to see

Riley.’” I could see Tory passing me the sympathetic looks, ones that bordered to pity. “Riley, whatever

happened in the cabin, if I were you I’d think of it as a nightmare and let it go. People like Jack, they

seek power and can go to any extent to achieve their goals. You cannot trust him. He’s got what he’s

wanted and now he doesn’t want to see you.”

I refused to believe that but I didn’t say another word and walked out of the room. I wondered if Jack

didn’t want me to see him because he didn’t want me involved in this. If he wanted to end whatever that

was between us, that was fine by me but I needed answers. I walked into the lobby and was speaking

with Maddy who was consulting me about another patient who refused to eat meals when I saw some

guards clearing people from the way and manhandling a restrained patient. It was Jack.

The slight stubble that he had last time was gone, his face was clean-shaven and his dark locks were

cropped. As if he sensed me looking, his eyes met mine and held my gaze for a couple of seconds

before looking away.

“Where are they taking him?” I asked Maddy.

“To the police station. The FBI is going to sit him down around the clock and get a confession out of

him.” She said. “He looks like he’s had enough, doesn’t he?”

I bit my lip from screaming because I realized what Jack was going to do. He was going to give the

killer what he wanted.

Jack was going to confess to the crimes.