Jack In The Box

Riley

Jack was admitted to the hospital. We didn’t want to risk putting him in WoodVille’s in case the killer was someone from the staff and waiting to kill Jack so we’d taken him to another one recommended by Ezra. I was seated beside Jack. His eyes were closed, his body propped against a hospital bed connected to an IV. His chest rising and falling in a slow rhythm. It was the most peaceful expression I’d seen on his face, other times that I’d been with him; I’d watched him wake up at odd times, reach for the gun and aim it at nobody. He didn’t even sleep a wink.

I pushed his hair back away from his face which is when I heard the sound of boots approaching and a presence in the room.

I turned around to see Ezra standing behind me. He passed me a worried look. “What did the doctor say?” I asked.

“There’s nothing to worry about. Jack’s out of danger.” He said.

I didn’t trust Ezra to tell me the truth. He could be lying to make me feel less worried about Jack. “I’ll sit here beside him until he wakes up.” I said. “Can you get me some coffee?”

He eyed the empty cup on the table. “Coffee is the last thing you need. Get some rest. You’ve been awake all night. I’ll sit here.”

“What time is it?”

Ezra checked his watch. “It’s three p.m.” He put his hand on mine. “You can trust me. He’s my brother.”

I had lost my will to argue and wanted to stop thinking for a moment and actually get some sleep. I decided to stop being stubborn and head home. “Call me as soon as he wakes up.”

Ezra nodded. “I will.”

That day I spent most of the evening sleeping. When I woke up, it was already past eight p.m. A feeling of dread washed over me when I remembered the events of the day. I was exhausted beyond a limit and all I wanted to do was go back to sleep and forget about everything.

I called Ezra to ask him how Jack was doing and he gave me a thorough report about his health. The doctor said Jack was still under anesthesia and would wake up in an hour or so.

The entire unit of the police force and the team of FBI agents were waiting for Jack to wake up.

He had a name.

As time passed, the killer got more time to cover his tracks.

How were they going to find out the killer?

My stomach growled, I decided to make myself a sandwich and walked into the adjacent kitchen area. I pulled out veggies and a jar of mayo from the refrigerator. I’d taken two bites of the sandwich when my phone started buzzing on the coffee table.

I dropped the half-eaten sandwich back on the plate and ran to the coffee table to answer my phone, thinking it was Ezra calling to tell me Jack was finally awake.

Disappointment washed over me as I realized it wasn’t Ezra calling.

It was Maddy.

“Hey Maddy.” I said on the phone. “What’s up?”

After the attack in the hospital, Maddy hadn’t been herself. She’d avoided talking to me, and appeared more stressed than usual. I’d chalked her behavior up as just another phase for someone who’d gone through a difficult time. I’d asked her time and time again to tell me what had happened the night she was attacked but she said she couldn’t remember.

remember or didn’t

she was being, considering

there?!” I heard Maddy’s voice on the other end. She

“Is everything alright, Maddy?”

to my

I asked. “Um, okay,

continued, “It’s about the killer, and it’s

need to hear more. I was already half way out of the kitchen. I reached for my jacket and the car keys hanging against the hook.

be waiting. I’m so

I’ll be there in

talk about that night. I could use some information that would lead Ezra

I had almost forgotten that my brother was back after

I

“Alright, but come home soon. It’s not

I just nodded. “I’ll be

rain started pouring down in full swing. I couldn’t even see the road clearly through the windshield, and it didn’t help the fact that there was a

The rain was coming down hard and I noticed an ambulance at the side of the road with a car that was

little melancholic even though I didn’t know the person who’d

went static

street was eerily silent. I peeked at the mirror and noticed how messy my hair had become. I climbed out

seconds later I rang the doorbell again. Then I knocked the door a few

so scared that

Riley.” I called

No answer.

my ear to the door. There was no sound

I’m outside.” I knocked again, harsh

reached for my phone and dialed her number.

What was her deal?!

probably intuition. I reached for the door-knob and turned it.

town to attend a distant relatives wedding so she was living alone until the next week. The kitchen counter was covered with an opened packet of chips and sliced

would be typical

you upstairs?” I called

of what appeared to be wine and a dog-eared book, the one that she’d

having a great night so far, so what had caused her to call me up

possibly be

not trust anyone,

repeated in

to be cautious. I walked up the stairs and reached the first floor. I headed straight for her bedroom at

and knocked on the door first. When she didn’t answer, I opened the door and walked inside the bedroom. The bed appeared to be slept in. A bathrobe was

obnoxiously loud rock music track coming from the

Again, Typical Maddy.