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Chapter Twenty Two
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2024-10-29 19:42:56There 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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Jack In The Box Chapter Twenty Three
"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
Jack In The Box Chapter Twenty Four
"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
Jack In The Box Chapter Twenty Five
"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 get 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."
Jack In The Box Chapter Twenty Six
"If your brother is dead, then who is that man in the asylum?" I asked."It can't be Ezra. I...I was there with him when our car crashed. I was the only one who survived...unless...""Unless what?""Unless he didn't really die and was in hiding for a long time." Jack said."Do you think he killed all those people?"I knew I'd voiced Jack's concern because he went silent on the other end. A beat later, he said. "I have to go. I'll talk to you later. If that man pretending to be me is in fact, Ezra, you need to be very careful. If they call me vicious, then it's only because they haven't met my brother yet. Alert the authorities and for godsake, Riley, don't go alone in his room again."I didn't mention the part where I kissed him. I realized that bit could wait."I promise, I won't." I assured him."This makes things more complicated.""But—."Before I could say another word, Jack hung up on me.He rea
Jack In The Box Chapter Twenty Seven
"What revenge?" I asked."My parent's marriage was more of a business deal between two partners. Our grandfathers were associates who decided that marrying my parents was good for the business. I think my father was quite smitten with my mother. Her, not so much but they still ended up getting married."I waited for him to go on. He continued. "She didn't conceive us until after ten years of their marriage. They were trying for a baby for a long time until there was a miracle.""My father found it suspicious when she was pregnant. There was probably a DNA test or something, I'm not entirely sure about the details but my father found out Ezra and I weren't his.""What do you mean?""After a few years into the marriage, my mother was having an affair with her former lover, the one she'd initially wanted to marry. She loved that man and couldn't forget him. Antonio Ruiz. We called him Uncle Tony. He was also my father's friend. We were an outcome of l
Jack In The Box Chapter Twenty Eight
I waited to see if there was a punch line, some clue to see if he'd made a crack but Jack's expressions remained the same. He wasn't laughing; in fact, his face remained stoic. With a lot of people, I could easily figure out what they were thinking but with Jack, I always encountered a brick wall. I could only see what he decided to show me."I can't decide if that's a joke or if you're serious," I said."I'm not really in a mood for jokes lately. So far I've been telling you the truth.""You're telling me you killed three people and enjoyed doing it." I waited; my blood was turning to ice.A few seconds passed, he was still holding me and staring intently at me. I pulled away and started to scramble off the bed when Jack caught my hand and pulled me back into his arms. My bare front rubbed against his chest. His other hand went into my hair; his mouth was hot on my neck. "Stop it." I pushed my palms against his chest, but he was so strong and didn't even
Jack In The Box Chapter Twenty Nine
Ken was standing in the doorway, dressed in scrubs, giving me a weird look. "What are you doing, standing there so awkwardly?" I had to remain calm. "I was just making breakfast." I said, and then a little louder, "KENNETH, if you were going to come home EARLY, why didn't you call me? I would have made breakfast ready!" "Why are you screaming at the top of your lungs? I'm right here and I can hear you just fine." He said, obviously irritated from a twenty-hour shift. "Well, thought you were going to fall asleep any minute. Just making sure you're awake." I said. He eyed the half-eaten plate of eggs on the table. "Sometimes you act really strange, Riley, do you know that?" I tried not to take offense to that. "How would you like your eggs?" "Scrambled, if you can. And thanks. I'll just go get a shower first. I smell like a fucking animal farm." He said, slipping off his coat and then stripping out of the blue uniform t-
Jack In The Box Chapter Thirty
As soon as I heard Maddy's name, I texted Ken to let him know what was going on and rushed quickly to the hospital. The entire drive I began thinking, what if Maddy was dead in a gruesome way? Would I be able to come out of the trauma?When I arrived at the hospital, the receptionist told me she was admitted due to having injuries. Maddy was propped against the bed, connected to the IV, a large bandage on her neck. Her eyes were tear-stricken and she looked exhausted. I was so relieved to see her alive, I went to sit in the chair beside her bed."Maddy, what happened?" I asked.She appeared to be in some kind of a shock. "I was attacked." She choked out a reply.Maddy stared at the distance as if she saw something that didn't exist. "I was just going to get some medication for a patient. It was dark in the room so I switched on the lights and when I went to the cabinet, someone hit me from behind. When I regained consciousness, the man was dragging me by
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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
Jack In The Box Epilogue
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
Jack In The Box Chapter Forty Three
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
Jack In The Box Chapter Forty Two
"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
Jack In The Box Chapter Forty One
"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
