Jack In The Box

“You don’t seem like you’re in a good mood. How’s the interrogation going so far?” Ken asked me the day after I went to see Jack. Since I was a suspect in the Jackson Wolfe case, I was temporarily suspended. The stealing of a surgical knife and sleeping with the enemy was enough to put me on the officials shit list. I poured milk into the bowl of cornflakes and added some freshly cut strawberries.

“If I didn’t know better, I’d think you’re mocking me.” I settled down on the table in my PJ’s. Ken had just walked out of the steaming bathroom, shirtless. He had something that looked like claw marks across his shoulder blade. “How did you get that?”

“Someone brought a feral cat in the clinic a few days back.” Ken said, brushing it off like that was nothing. He was prone to getting abused by non-cooperative animals, the kind that looked cute as a button until they barred their teeth and clawed your face.

“They have no reason to suspect you. You’ve told them the truth.”

“Which is not good enough to prove me innocent.”

“Aaron told me Jack is co-operative throughout the thing, which is kind of suspicious. He didn’t try to attack anyone, didn’t even give them the usual death glares. What’s up with him?”

I knew why. “I think he’s giving up, Ken. He’s had enough.”

Ken shook his head. “That’s too theatrical. Do you think Jackson, the one who is so famous for killing over a dozen people is just going to give up because he is tired of interrogation?” He gave a laugh. “You’re thinking wrong, sister.”

“Oh, so you have it all figured out?” I asked, folding my arms over my chest. “Let me listen to your theory Amateur Detective Ken Frazer.”

“I think Jack has an accomplice.” And then he quickly clarified. “Not you, but someone else.”

“Like who?”

Ken appeared to be lost in thought for a moment. “Someone among the asylum staff of course. The ones who appear to not be very close to him, but probably are.”

He paused. I said. “Go on. I’m listening.”

“Think about it, when Mad-Dave was killed Jack was in a straight-jacket, confined to a high security room. Next Nurse Roxy turns up dead, Jack could have personally killed her and left the body for people to find, almost mocking the FBI and the police. That or someone killed her upon his orders.”

I hadn’t given Ken the credit, but he was smart.

“Anyone you suspect?” I asked.

“Paul.” He said point-blank.

“Why Paul?”

“Paul pretends to hate Jack’s guts but him and Jack seem like they have been cut out from the same cloth. They could be faking the hate thing going on between them.”

The theories could be true or complete horse-crap, but I wasn’t going to mention the horse crap part to my baby brother. He seemed very excited in playing detective and I didn’t want to hurt his feelings.

“That could be the case, or Jack is really innocent and someone is framing him. And me. Doing the killing job and making it look like he did it.”

Ken raked a hand through his hair frustratingly. I could tell he was angry. “What bullshit did he feed you when you were together?”

“He was honest.”

“You fucked him, didn’t you?”

It was my turn to stare hard. “I never made it my business to ask you who you sleep with or not, and I would appreciate if you could do the same.”

“Oh, I’m going to make it my business if my sister sleeps with a criminal.” Ken said.

“That’s enough.” I pointed at the breakfast table. “I prepared your lunch box. Don’t forget to take it.”

His golden blonde hair flopping over his face in curls. He looked like a grown up baby. “If he knocked you up, I swear, I will kill him.”

“The baby or Jack?”

both.” He said

lunch and get the hell out of here.” He probably saw that I was going

James. He gave me his valuable insight and I told him what Ken had told me. James said he had the same idea in his mind, but the case was complicated. Whoever the killer was, he wasn’t leaving any traces of evidence behind which made things even more difficult. While the officials blamed Jack, they still did not have valid proof. It was based off speculation made from the previous murders which

I told James to drop me off in a small supermarket where I needed to pick some groceries. My apartment wasn’t that far, so I decided

nine p.m. It was already eight

faint footsteps and a presence behind me so I stopped and

was no one, but a car at the distance. And I couldn’t

Was it following me?

walking, my eyes trailing towards the car but I realized it wasn’t moving.

presence. I pulled my jacket closer as if that could shield me from whatever

called out at no

me! I’ve had enough!” I yelled, unable to

could be the killer’s next target for reasons that if I was hurt, threatened even,

stay vigilant, Riley and be

given me just in case I needed to protect myself. He’d taught

pick up the gun and don’t hesitate to shoot. Remember, one second

the window rolled down. “I realized its not safe for you to be walking home alone so I waited outside and followed you. Hop in and you’re

fear was pretty apparent on my face. I threw one look behind me before I

my mind.” I

“Changed your mind about?”

don’t want to cause you trouble, James. You can either drop me home and I’ll drive

almost nine, Riley. Why do

have to

to get me in the room without anyone knowing?” I asked Bobby, the nurse on the floor who was assigned to Jack to bring the food, keep his room in order, stuff

a little glad Jack was assigned to a male nurse. I didn’t want to imagine a female nurse watching him getting

wouldn’t approach Jack without a ten-foot long

on how

always did the trick. He had magic fingers that worked anywhere to retrieve keys and have rooms unlocked. Ironic, they had assigned Bobby as Jack’s

I was trying

down to the desk, and ask Tory if she

was

already know they wouldn’t let me talk to him alone. Please

If I’m caught doing this, I’ll be an added suspect along with you. probably fired. No risk is worth hundred dollars, not where Jackson Wolfe

“So?”

a concession

lot for just a few minutes.” I said. “One-fifty, or I’ll find another

“Two-hundred. You and I both know how hard it will be for you to see him without a little help which you ain’t getting in

was right. “Fine! Get the

insane. There was tight security outside Jack’s room. I wasn’t even surprised to

hidden, while he talked to the security guard. A few seconds later, the guard walked into the opposite direction. Bob signaled me

distance as far away from him as possible.” Bob warned. “He may be in chains, but I still don’t

when Bob opened the door. “Hey Jack, look whose

be a bad little boy, alright. Bobby’s just gonna

grinned and winked at me. He was doing it on purpose, to piss Jack off. Bob gave Jack one nasty look and walked

reasons. I detected a different aura from him altogether. Something had changed between the last time I’d seen him and now. His dark eyes watched me intently. Every fiber in my

him. Almost reflexively brushed his hair away from his face. His forehead now had a small cut. I ran my fingers down his gruff jawline. He stared at me motionlessly. He probably didn’t see it coming as I leaned in and pressed my lips to his

abruptly, saying. “You

was staring straight into his eyes. Something was

same thing to you.” I said. “Why did you get yourself caught, Jack?

tell me, Riley. What’s going on between