Jack In The Box

Riley

“You’re an FBI agent?” I gave him an incredulous look.

“Yes, ma’am.” Ezra said.

I looked at Flint and Scott, trying to see if there was any hidden joke in this but they appeared to be serious.

“Maybe you’re lying to me.” I said.

Ezra reached for the back pocket of his jeans and produced a badge. He let me inspect it for a minute. “Maybe the badge is fake too.”

He chuckled. “Agent Flint and Scott would vouch for me. If that’s not enough, I can try to get in touch with the Bureau head in Virginia which may take some time.”

I stared at him for a good few seconds deciding that my rage had overpowered the relief of being alive and not having to die at the hands of a psychotic murderer. “I would have died of heart-attack; did that possibility ever cross you, Agent Wolfe?”

“I apologize about that.” Ezra said giving me a smile, not having even a twinge of remorse.

“I need answers starting with why you are in WoodVille’s impersonating as Jack?” I asked.

Ezra sighed and touched his gun. He noticed me looking and said. “It’s a service weapon. Don’t worry.”

I didn’t say anything. He pointed towards a vacant chair. “Sit down, Miss. Frazer”

“I said I need answers!”

“I said sit down!” Ezra ground out. The mask of control was slowly slipping.

I sat down despite myself, not because he’d practically ordered me to, but mostly due to exhaustion. The two other Agents, Flint and Scott settled down a few chairs behind me. Ezra hoisted himself up on the table.

“Let me start from the beginning.” He said. “I know Jack didn’t kill our mother, but he’d been accused of it and the murders that followed after. I know my brother is quite capable of killing but he wouldn’t take innocent lives. His methods are wrong; he took the law into his hands.” Ezra said in obvious frustration.

“I was in Quantico when I first heard about a series of murders; almost similar to the three people Jack had killed.”

He continued. “I couldn’t believe at first but it was all being pointed at him as if Jack had finally gone completely mad and went on a killing spree. Agent Flint and his partner were handed the case and I couldn’t help myself. I kept hounding them for answers they didn’t have. Agent Flint believed from the start that it’s Jack who’ was behind everything.”

“Agent Flint is wrong.” I said turning in my chair and saying it loud enough for the two of them to hear it.

“Well, unfortunately he doesn’t share your sentiment or even mine” Ezra retorted, an indirect hit at Flint. “So when I started meddling in the case, there was a meeting at the bureau and the Chief wasn’t happy with what I was doing. He thought I was going to try and hide the evidence in favor of my brother.”

“Would you?”

Ezra shook his head. “I wouldn’t dream of doing it. Let’s be clear on this, Miss. Frazer—”

“Call me Riley.” I said.

“Riley, I’m not on Jack’s side. I’m with the law and if Jack happens to the person behind this debacle, I’d be the first person to shoot him dead.” He said it with such conviction that I believed he was telling the truth.

A giggle escaped my lips. “I’m sorry.”

“Something amusing?”

“Nothing, it’s just that Jack said the same thing about you. He phrased it differently.”

“I do not harbor any misconception that Jack might not be behind all of this, and neither should you.” He said. “After mother died, I was in Quantico under training. I had to take up an operation and stage my own death which I did. The operation was involved with a mafia syndicate. Drug lords, human trafficking’s, you know that type of stuff. If they found out I was with the FBI, it would’ve blown my cover. Lives of children and women were at stake. I couldn’t take a risk.”

you let your brother

seep into his expressions. “Yes, that’s the price I paid, and

joke with their lives. The brothers were two sides of the same coin. One twin was a powerful man

me I could help them in the Wolfe murder investigation since I was a key element. They knew that I knew my brother more than anyone else and that made things easier for them. That’s when I decided to get caught by the police. I never told them I was Jack, they

you

shook his head. “Unfortunately, not

me and chase after me like that? I really

to start spilling. I thought if I gave you a bit of a scare, you’d tell me Jack’s

you even if I

to do what I’m going to tell you to. You will get in

would I do

that’s what’s

scream now. “Don’t you see? The killer wants to frame Jack! If we bring him here, you’d give the killer a perfect reason to commit another murder. The killer is not an outsider. It’s someone

arms over his chest, “how do

took place in WoodVille’s but the murders that happened in the hospital are done by a person who knows every single hidden exit

surveillance cameras there?”

of those areas are not

supposed to tell us about this, or at least Dr. Aaron Shaw.” Ezra appeared to be thinking for a minute and

done that, Ezra and we failed to find

it again. I’ll prepare the

“Roger that.”

towards me which kept reminding me of Jack and how jarringly obvious the similarities between them were. “So,

have a

“Actually, you

torture the number out of me.” I made a

acquired a means to contact

being like any one of us and humans are bound to get exhausted when they reach their limits. In

a number.

between us and put it on speakers. It continued to ring. It hit voice

twin brother, I have Riley with me. If you don’t call this number back in one hour, I’ll send you a picture of what

Don’t come here!”

ended the voice message and his eyes were menacing. “If you blow this, Riley, understand that I won’t

just told him the truth! I’m sure he

and he definitely won’t show up. My only chance is

don’t understand what’s

you’re scared?” Flint asked from the seat behind me. I’d almost

“Scared of what?”

and Ezra exchanged looks like school boys who had dirty magazines hidden in their bags. “Are you scared that Jack may not show up? The possibility that

people say.”

started ringing. Ezra chuckled, his gaze snapping to the wall clock. He pressed answer. “How’s life as

jovial tone, you’d think he was asking his brother about his

I swear on our dead mother, I’ll slaughter you.” Jack said in dead-pan voice that made me

that. It depends on how fast you make it

me that, you imposter! I’m not your brother!” I could hear Jack’s venom from a mile

but this wasn’t a soap opera. Ezra had deceived Jack into thinking he was dead for a couple of years. Surely, Ezra

come to the location, leave your weapons at the door. Each one of em.” Ezra said. “If I get

me a location and I’ll be there.”

you taking me?” I asked Ezra as he told me to get inside an

who is taken as a hostage.” Ezra

realizing at first, I placed my hand on his. He grabbed my other wrist and