"Has everything checked out ok?" Wilson asked. "Stepping past the man in a business suit."
"Yes sir," he answered as he gave Goren the once over.
"He's ok, he is taking the first shift. Did you get everything on the list I gave you?" Wilson asked looking through the mini fridge and through the cabinets.
Goren watched Wilson look over the food and drinks like a worried employee and thought she must be more to him than just a witness or was she just demanding. Either way this was going to be interesting.
"Yes sir, but.." the gentleman started.
"Damn you bought the wrong tea," yelled Wilson he grabbed the tea bags and threw them in the garbage. "I told you she only drinks lemon lift herbal tea!"
"I went to two stores and they didn't have any. I'm sorry," he explained.
"Well maybe you need go to a few more stores then," ordered Wilson as he pointed to the door.
The man looked at Goren and then Wilson and walked out the door. Goren looked at Wilson as he continued to check out the room.
"Is she very demanding?" Goren asked as he followed Wilson around the room.
"What?" this question through Wilson off guard. "Uh no, she is just going through a lot and I.. we just want her to be comfortable," he replied looking uncomfortable with the question.
"I don't mean to be nosy but were you two involved," Goren waited for him to knocked his head off at the suggestion, number one rule in law enforcement never get involved with a witness. But he had a feeling, Wilson might have broken that rule when Jessica was most vulnerable, this angered Goren.
"Why in the hell would you ask that? What do you have some sort of fantasy after seeing her picture? Do you think I bang all the beautiful women who are witnesses to major crimes?" yelled Wilson as he walked right up into Goren's face.
Goren tried to remain calm he was famous for invading people's personal space, but didn't like it when people invaded his. He took two steps back, "Look if I am going to protect this woman, I need to know her mind set, if you two are involved or were involved and it ended badly she probably has a problem with law enforcement and that would include me, that would be a problem," asserted Goren.
Wilson calmed down and sat down in the nearest chair. He put his elbows on his knees and buried his face in his hands then he looked up at Goren. Goren thought he might cry.
"The Moran case was my case. I have been after him for years. When he shot those thugs on the street corner and didn't know there were witnesses it was the big break I had been waiting for. Jess was with a woman and her two kids; she was working at a battered woman's shelter. They were leaving the shelter late and witnessed the shooting. I worked with the witnesses getting statements and trying to protect them. I fell hard for Jess; she was beautiful, sweet and intelligent. But I knew as long as this case was going on I couldn't act on it. Then after Mrs. Johnson, the other witness, and her children were killed. It was decided that Jess would be put into witness protection, new life, and new identity. I would never see her again. I had to tell her how I felt about her. So before she left I went to her apartment and told her I had fallen in love with her. I tried to hold her and kiss her, but she pushed me away. I asked her what's wrong; she asked me, "Are you going to quit your job tomorrow? Leave your family forever; never speak to them or your friends again? What type of job would you do if you can't do this one?" I froze she was right what could I offer her; she saw the indecision in my face and asked me to leave. That was the last time I saw her," cried Wilson. He wiped his eyes and finished inspection the room. "The rules are, no phone in room, use your cell phone only. She has a computer but the Internet has been disabled. She knows she can't contact anyone from her old life. We are using her old name, to keep her new identity secret. I don't even know what it is, or where she is now living. You are to stay in this living room but the door between the living room and the bedroom is to remain slightly ajar, she has been told these rules. When she is in the bathroom she can close the door but it must remain unlocked. There is a second bathroom through there for you to use. We have extra food for you, but if there is something you would like just jot it down and we will have it brought up the next day. Any questions," Wilson concluded. Wilson's eyes pleaded, hoping Goren didn't ask him anything else.
"No, that just about explains everything," Goren could see the hurt in his eyes. He wondered why Wilson would put himself in the position of seeing her again and causing himself so much hurt.
Wilson's cell phone rang, "Hello, ok, we are ready," he hung up the phone. "She is here they are bringing her up now."
Goren noticed Wilson perked up, fixed his hair and looked like a schoolboy getting ready for the prom. "How long has it been since you seen her?" He just had to ask.
"Eight months," Wilson said simply, he began pacing back and forth.
Wilson jumped for the door when he heard the knock. He looked through the peephole and opened the door. Two men walked in first an older man with white hair and an middle aged man with brown hair, first was probably FBI, second most likely a US Marshal.
"Everything is in order sir," declared Wilson as he looked at the white haired man, then he tried to look past him. "This is Detective Goren, he will be taking the first shift," Wilson turned to Goren.
"Hello Detective, I'm Special Agent Victor Portman," he shook Goren's hand. "I'm sure Wilson told you how important this assignment is to the US Attorney's office and the FBI."
"Yes, sir he has," Goren replied he then looked toward the door he saw her walk in. He gasped, he wasn't sure if it was out loud he looked to see if anyone was looking at him, but they weren't they were looking at her, especially Wilson. She avoided making eye contact with him, she walked in with another older gentleman as she wheeled in her suitcase. Wilson went to grab it, but she refused to relinquish control of it and continued to walk toward her room.
"Jessica, hold up a moment," instructed Portman.
She stopped with her back to everyone and pivoted and stared at Portman. Goren noticed her eyes, they were more piercing in person than on the picture but still he couldn't remember where he saw them before. She was so beautiful, but so sad, she didn't smile she just looked at him but didn't respond she was like a robot.
"This is Detective Goren, he will be here with you most of the night until the next Detective comes on shift, remember the rules," ordered Portman.
She looked at Goren their eyes locked for a moment; chills ran up and down his spine. She nodded in understanding and turned to go to her room, leaving a crack in the door as ordered. Goren now understood how Wilson felt, how Wilson could so easily fall in love with her.
"Ok, I see we are leaving her in capable hands. We will be back once the trial is over to bring her back home," said the first US Marshal. As they both turned to leave.
"Wait up I will leave with you. Are you coming Wilson?" Portman turned to Wilson.
Wilson looked toward Jessica's door, "Uh, I still have a few things to go over with Goren, you go ahead. I will check in with you tomorrow." After the men left Wilson locked the door behind them. Then he went into Jessica's room and closed the door.
Goren wondered what Wilson was going to do. He is supposed to be protecting this witness, what if Wilson started something? He would have to take down an FBI agent? The guy who gave him this job? Goren stood close to the door just in case he was needed to be the voice of reason. The walls were thin so he could here them talk.
"What do you think you are doing?" demanded Jess.
"I just wanted to see you, talk to you," pleaded Wilson.
"Why what's the use, why put yourself through this Mark? You need to move on," she insisted.
"I love you Jess, I thought about what you said, maybe I could leave all this," he pleaded.
"Jess is dead. She no longer exist, Maggie is here now," informed Jess.
"I will love her too," insisted Mark.
"You don't know me, how can you love me, there are things about me you couldn't imagine in your wildest dreams that would repulse you. Believe me its better you walk away, no, run away and never look back," Jess pleaded. "Besides I don't love you. Please just leave."
Wilson came out the room and didn't say anything he just walked out. Goren couldn't tell if he was crying or not. He felt sorry for the guy, but then he wondered about what Jess said, what could she have done that would repulse anyone. She had peaked his curiosity now he was determined to find out. Everyone had skeletons in their closet Lord knows he did. What was she hiding?