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Chapter Sixteen
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2024-10-29 19:42:56When I woke up the next morning, I noticed another tray of food placed at the edge of the bed with a badly cooked omelet, hash browns, sliced kiwi and a glass of OJ.
Ritualistically, I brushed my teeth first, had a quick shower and pulled on a t-shirt from the wardrobe. I was actually starting to like Jackson's choice of clothes that he'd bought for me.
I reached out for the tray of food before sniffing it. The omelet tasted alright, but a little on the saltier side. Jackson was a bad cook indeed. When I was done eating, I climbed out of bed reluctantly and made my way out of the bedroom to find Jackson sprawled on the couch with a book in his hand.
I recalled all the events of the previous night and how I continued to accuse him even after he'd repeatedly told me he was innocent. I realized that lashing out on him wasn't going to get me anywhere. If anything, I had to stay calm and find another way.
There was one thing that was clear, Jacks
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"Do you know how to use a gun?" Jackson asked me as he pushed the curtains away to look outside the window. "No." "Obviously you can use a knife to save your life, right?" What the hell was with his rhymes? "Yeah. I guess." He opened the kitchen cabinets, the ones that were stocked with too many jars. He reached out for one and pulled out a gun from it. A gun out of a large empty cookie jar. I stared at him appalled. "What? I keep my guns where no one can find them." He handed me a butcher knife. "Take this, and go to my room. Stay hidden until I tell you otherwise." "But..." "If I don't come for you within ten minutes, stay hidden." He instructed. His expressions told me this was a serious matter. Whoever was outside the door could be dangerous. On second thought, Jackson had always been the king of threatening, killing and harassing people. How bad could be the person standing
Jack In The Box Chapter Eighteen
"Mr. and Mrs. Miller?" I asked Jack in a mocking tone. "That's what popped in my mind at that moment," Jack said as he placed my bag and his on the carpeted floor. "Besides, I thought Mr. and Mrs. Wolfe would have been too suspicious in case the guy had checked the news." I threw open the bathroom door and was surprised to find it clean despite the fact that the Motel looked like it was a movie set out of a horror movie. I started to sit on the bed, "Wait!" Jack interrupted me before I sat down. He pulled the sheet off and checked the mattress after he'd thoroughly inspected it, he passed me a slow grin. "Just checking for bed bugs, you never know what type of creatures lurk in places like these." I snorted. He was right. And just like that, it hit me. There was only one Queen sized bed in the room and it was way smaller than the king-sized bed I occupied in Jack's cabin. Suddenly, I started to feel nervous about sleeping in one bed. N
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I woke up in the morning to find myself nestled between Jack's arms. I brought my hand to his face and brushed the locks of dark silky hair and sighed. His caramel-colored skin glistened in the sunlight that streamed from the open drapes.When Jack opened his eyes, I was still staring at him. Amusement was clear on his features. In a sleepy, husky voice, he said. "I want to be inside you again."My heart thudded against my chest rapidly. "Shower first."He chuckled. "You didn't even pretend to decline this time."I gathered the bedsheet around my naked body and started walking towards the bathroom when one end of the cloth got stuck somewhere, I glanced back to see Jack holding it."Let go," I said.He grinned. "What's the point of hiding something that I've already seen?"My cheeks caught fire. I was blushing a lot this morning for someone who was encouraging and moaning his name. Last night was different, the room was dark. Now it w
Jack In The Box Chapter Twenty
I was feeling drowsy, and every part of my body was aching. I opened my eyes slowly to find myself in unfamiliar surroundings. It took me a while to realize where I was until the scent of disinfectant and medicines permeated the air. The walls were painted sky blue; an IV was attached to me. I was wearing a hospital gown. I hadn't even realized back then that I'd been injured too.There were flashes of the accident. We survived the accident and I was saved from being badly injured when Jack has wrapped his arms around me, cushioning me from the impact and taking the hit himself."Riley!""Jack, you're injured. We have to get you to the hospital immediately!"I hurried to the car that was now lodged into a tree and pulled out the First Aid kit and a shirt from my bag. I disinfected his wound as much as I could, tore the fabric and wrapped it tightly around his wound to stop the bleeding.As a nurse, I knew how to disin
Jack In The Box Chapter Twenty One
I'd taken ample amount of rest that evening and when I woke up it was already dinner time. I was served white rice, boiled veggies and some gravy on the side.Any motivation I had about life had already left the building. I couldn't imagine how during the time I worked here, fed this particular dinner to patients and thought nothing of it. I felt sympathy for all those people I'd forced to eat it, day in and day out.I'd forced most of the food down my throat when Aaron entered the room. He had a worried expression on his face as he took a seat next to the bed. "How are you feeling now?" He asked."Better." I lied.He nodded. "The medicines will make you drowsy but it will help you with the pain."What about the pain stabbing in my heart? Will the medicines make that pain go away as well?"I hope so," I said, pushing the carrots back and forth in my plate.I didn’t appreciate the look that Aaron was giving me; it was filled with
Jack In The Box Chapter Twenty Two
There had never been anyone from my colleagues in the hospital who'd infuriated me as much as Dr. Paul Bennett. I always had an urge to smack that condescending look off his face just as I was feeling now.Paul still had my hand in a firm grip. I tried to wiggle free. "Let go!""What the hell were you doing?" He asked.I snatched my hand away. "It's none of your business!"I noticed that although I'd managed to shrug his hold off me, he was still holding the strip of pills.Paul gave me a lopsided grin, leaning against the desk right next to the cabinet and trapping me. I had no space to dodge him and leave."Of course it's my business when you're obviously sniffing around in the wrong place.""Give that back to me, Paul." I said, trying to snatch it from him but he raised it higher, keeping it out of my reach. He was so tall, it was impossible for me even if I jumped.I imagined Paul to be a bully in high school. He had to be,
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"FBI Agent Flint Knight." The tall handsome man introduced himself. "I'd like to start the interrogation now, I prefer to question you alone, Ms. Frazer without having your colleagues in the same room. If you can ask Dr. Shaw to wait outside." "Aaron..." "I can hear you just fine, Agent Knight. I'll be in the other room." To me, Aaron said, "If there's anything you need, don't hesitate to call me." I nodded. The door of the room closed. Agent Knight was blond, emerald eyes and clean-shaven. He also had a sharp jawline, and although he wasn't movie-star handsome, there was something so attractive about him that would bring any woman to her knees. Probably the way he carried himself and the radiating power of authority. The room was also occupied by two other men. An equally attractive African-American and another Hispanic. Detectives Scott and Sanchez respectively. They were watching me intently, like hawks. Agent Scott was poised with an iPad, typing
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"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 a death penalty for his crimes.Jack had to have a motive to come back. Or, I was thinking too much into this, and Jack c
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"My name's Jackson Wolfe, but you can call me Jack. What's your name, beautiful?" I had to be imagining this, right? I mean, Jack can't be sitting here beside me, looking as hot and badass as an action hero, and giving me that panty-melting smile and voice as smooth as silk. Surely, I'd taken my imagination too far, or I'd had far too much to drink. I sipped on my Sangria. Jack's smoldering brown eyes assessed me from above the rims of his glass. Two can play a game. "I don't talk to strangers," I told him. "Oh, come on. Let me buy you a drink at least." He continued. I was acting really tough by not acting desperate but all I wanted to do was curl into his lap and have his mouth over mine. Even thinking about it, made my knees weak. "I already have a boyfriend," I informed him and waited for his reaction. To see the surprise on his face or even disappointment, but he just smiled like a sly fox that he was. "You do, huh
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I probably hadn't been to a party in ages; at least not since that Halloween party last year and here I was today, dressed up in a rose-gold sleeveless sequin dress that had a long slit starting from mid-thigh until my ankles. I had a lovely pair of glitter heels to go with it and my hair was just done in simple beach curls. If I should admit, I looked downright fucking hot, excuse me for my crude language.It was my birthday today; I'd just turned twenty-six and Ken was acting as if he had forgotten all about it. He'd called me from work and when I thought he was going to wish me, he'd said he was calling to ask if I was making his favorite dinner tonight. I'd hung up on him mid-sentence.Had he forgotten about all the three-story cakes I baked for him? Had he forgotten how far I always went to call up his friends and set up his birthday party? How about the special edition volumes of the stupid comic books I gifted him all the time? And when it came down to wishing h
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Aaron raised his bloodshot eyes towards me and sighed in relief, "Riley, oh thank god, you're here."My mind was reeling with possibilities.Why was Aaron here?Could it be possible that he was the killer and he was trying to trick me into thinking he was the victim? Or perhaps he really was the victim and I was not seeing clearly into this."Aaron, who...who did this to you?"His hair looked like he hadn't washed it in a long time; his fingers were covered in dirt and there were angry red marks of the rope cutting through his skin. His eyes were bloodshot as if he hadn't slept in weeks. As if that wasn't enough, he seemed like he'd been beaten."Riley, you shouldn't be here." He whispered, his eyes darting around the darkroom in a panic. "He could come back any minute. You need to get away from this place."If I thought he was the killer before, the thought left my mind at that time. He was bound to a chair, completely helpless
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"Do you think I'm scared of your threats?" Ezra asked. "You can try pulling the trigger, and forget about saving your brother or mine."My fingers on the gun faltered for just a fraction of a second and then tightened around it again. I pressed the gun to his side. "Keep driving to the location."Ezra opened his mouth to say something, and then thought better of it and pressed his lips together; he kept his eyes trailed ahead on the road. And then I noticed as he slowly reached for his phone that was wedged between the seat and his thighs."What the hell are you doing?" I demanded."We need backup, we don't know how far this guy has gone to set us up for a trap in that abandoned place so unless you want us all to be toast, you would let me call Agent Flint."I thought of that for a moment. Was Ezra telling the truth? What if he called Flint just so he could hand me over to the agent so he could be free to go there alone?"You're lying," I sa
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"I need your help." I heard Ken's voice on the other end of line. The call was on speakers so Jack could hear every word of the conversation too.My gaze met Jack's who silently mouthed me to say yes to Ken's request."What do you need help with? And where are you right now, Ken? Tell me everything starting from the beginning."Ken didn't give me an answer for the longest minute and I started to wonder if he had hung up the call like last time. "Ken?""Look, I don't know where I am and I can't give you more details. All I know is that I may or may not have much time left. I need you to do something for me.""What?""You will get a text message on your phone right now that has an address. Jackson needs to be there, without the police or the FBI.""Why Jackson?""That's the killer's deal. He would let me go in-exchange for Jackson." Ken said, and then in a soft voice, he added, "I know what Jackson means to you, Riles. If you dec
Jack In The Box Chapter Forty
"Where are we going?" I asked. I was hit with a feeling of nostalgia as I climbed into a black BMW. This wasn't an old car, it appeared new and I wondered if it belonged to Jack or if he'd stolen it."Is this your car?"Jack smiled as he slid behind the wheel. "You ask too many questions, Cotton-Candy." He reached behind me, pulled the seat belt and secured it in place, his face coming close to mine. He pecked my lips and ran his forefinger over my lower lip lightly. "Your lips are swollen, I guess, I'm partly to blame for it."I blushed and looked out the window. "Are you going to tell me where we are going?""I have an apartment that was registered with an alias. You'll stay there for as long as this matter settles once and for all.""No," I said. "Take me home, to my apartment.""I wasn't giving you a choice, Riley.""I know you weren't, but I can't always let you make decisions for me. This concerns my brother. If he is the killer
Jack In The Box Chapter Thirty Nine
"You have to get me out of here," I said."Not now, Riley. I can't." Ezra said. "It's safe for you to stay in the facility. There are guards outside. You're safe there. The police are going after Ken. Until we have him in custody and get a confession out of him, you will remain locked up.""So you're leaving me here?""We don't have a choice. Jack's awake and I have enough pressure from the chief of the bureau to find the killer, wrap up this case and get on with it. I can't have you running around trying to help me only to get yourself in more trouble." I had never heard Ezra more pissed in his life. "Besides, you're Ken's sister and that makes you a suspect too.""It's funny how my roles keep changing. I turn from an innocent victim to a lunatic murderer having blackouts to a suspect who conspired with her brother in the killings. That's very nice. I guess the FBI can learn to keep some consistency."Ezra heard the jibe loud and clear. "I'm doing
Jack In The Box Chapter Thirty Eight
"You've got to be kidding me!" I stared at Ezra in disbelief. "Did Ken say that?" I may have forgotten how to blink. I shifted my gaze towards Flint to see if he would crack into a smile and declare that it was Ezra's idea to play the joke. No such thing happened. I had turned from suspect to victim and now I was reduced to being an actual murderer by my own brother. I stared at the grey walls of the interrogation room. A table separated the distance between me and the FBI Agents. Ezra was the first to speak. "Would you like anything to drink, Riley? Tea, coffee or water?" "I just need an answer." "The answer to your question is yes. He didn't outright say you killed all those people but he suggested that you may have something to do with it." Ezra explained keeping a poker face. I couldn't guess what was going on in his mind. And something else was different. They thought I was deranged. I didn't like the look
Jack In The Box Chapter Thirty Seven
The field was surrounded by roses, but when I looked closely the roses were all dead. There was just one that had bloomed to its highest quality, the rose that Jack was holding between his fingers. He was looking into the distance at the growing mist. I climbed to my feet and stood there, wondering how I'd managed to get here. The place was completely deserted and it seemed like there was a void beyond, like nothing else existed other than the field of dead roses."I've been waiting for you, Riley." Jack’s voice was deep, I couldn't forget that voice. I'd missed hearing him speak since the last week. He had a smile on his face, but I couldn't be sure what was going on in his mind. He was difficult to read as usual.He raised his hand towards me, beckoning me to come to him. I started walking with shaky legs unsure of myself. Contrary to his appearance in the hospital where he wore an ugly hospital gown, here he was dressed in a black suit, a
