A/N (per RRSherlock pending threat of death) "Danger – Cliff Ahead."
Increase in profanity due to confrontation.
Chapter 7 – Instruction
Jack McCoy couldn't recall the last time he had such a colorful visit. To the children's delight, Meagan came home just as 'Uncle Joey' was about to give them piggyback rides down one at a time. Fortunately, neither man had to explain the possible change of plans to her as they walked her down to her apartment, all items in tow.
On the walk back up, Merle Hans opened his door and insisted on chatting with 'Joey' for a few minutes before the evening news was on.
Afterwards, the two men visited for a couple of hours. Some of the things Jack learned about the former Chicago detective were enlightening to say the least.
"So that's how you can afford your 'better-than-average' sense of style despite a police officer's salary? I wish my folks taught me that before I left Chicago."
"Well, that's the difference between us Italians and you Irish. Nothing personal."
"None taken." Jack said. "I'm just impressed, that's all."
Joe leaned back, swirling the drink in his hand. "In all honesty, how much of your father would you say you were, Jack?"
"I refuse to answer on the grounds that it might lead me to drink. A trait, by the way, that I've learned all too well from him." Jack returned the query. "How about you?"
"Enough to make the old man proud, I'd hope. Of course, you'll notice that I've deliberately chosen not to pass those lessons on to any children of my own."
"Well, I'm sure Meagan would let you into the family as one of the uncles." Both men chuckled.
"Seriously, Jack, you've done a great job with your daughter. I don't know if you see that or not. It shows with the way kids were drawn to you at that carnival, too."
Jack gave a nod of thanks. "What I wouldn't give to ensure her safety completely, though." He leaned forward, folding his hands before him. "What are your thoughts about those pictures?"
"It's either someone you work with who would have put them in the box after hours or someone conned into doing it with gloves on, because they only found your prints and mine on them."
Jack leaned back, shaking his head. "I don't accept that. They're good people, Joe. I can't see any of them doing something like this."
"Well," Joe said, taking his turn to lean forward now, "that's good to know because, I got a call from Munch at the 1-6 who tells me that Mr. Zamora wants to kill you."
Jack visibly collapsed at the unspoken news. "You found her?"
"The SVU team found her days ago. It was only a matter of identifying her, which your phone call allowed. Munch says he'll keep me in the loop as they find anything."
"It was Bruner, wasn't it?"
Joe shook his head. "You can't assume that-."
"Gut feeling, Joe. What was your first thought, seriously?"
Fontana looked back at his glass. "I think you think you've been surrounded by too much bad luck, or that you brought it with you moving here. The Zamora girl had her own problems before this. But, if it helps, I'll get a copy of the autopsy report and see if that seals it one way or the other."
Jack contemplated something. "You know more about this than what you've told some others, don't you?"
"Like what?"
"Logan alluded to it, too. Munch, well, he…" Jack pressed on. "Just how many of you guys hold on to extra cards that none of us are aware of, that I'm aware of? Because there are times I feel as if… I feel as if I'm surrounded by Keagan times too many."
Joe wasn't going to insult his host. "Munch and I share reports back and forth frequently, like some things he learned about Keagan recently. As for other…details, I received two video tapes courtesy of Ms. Wendy Douglas at the beginning. I let Munch see them to find out what he could add. We both in turn let one other see them. It wasn't meant to be a 'behind-your-back' kind of thing, given the state of mind you were understandably in. Logan and Stabler were the only other ones; I swear."
Jack accepted the explanation. "That adds new meaning to Logan's words, then. You don't mind if I have no intention of ever seeing them, right?"
Joe shook his head. "Not at all. Here's what gets me, though Jack. Who is to say that the one who gave you the stills isn't the one with… Never mind."
"No, you're not allowed to drop it now. Are you saying there are more tapes? That whomever…" Jack got up to get something from the kitchen.
"I'm sorry I said anything," Joe said. "It's out there and I can't take it back. There are some of us who speculate that there are more tapes out there. Tapes currently in the possession of the guy you're having a challenging time recalling."
"Don't apologize," Jack said. "We can only control what's in front of us, here and now. I intend to go forward with my life and demons be damned."
------
"Where did you learn to play cards like that?" Lennie asked as he watched Erin chalk up another win.
She shrugged. "Dad would bring home these boring movies sometimes. The oldies that featured any sort of a game, I'd jot down the game then teach myself how to play it. So, I learned gin rummy because of "The Apartment." Actually, that wasn't so much a boring film - sad at times, but not boring."
Lennie looked at her, amazed. "Does your father know this?"
"Nope. Never saw fit to tell him or my mother, either. Oh my gosh, my mother! Lennie, will you give my eulogy when the time comes? If he told Mom, then I'm definitely dead."
Laughing, Lennie said, "I don't think either parent will kill you." In a more somber tone, he said, "Look, your father's allowed to worry about you, all right? There's no expiration date on that kind of thing, so you're stuck with it for life."
Erin shuffled the cards preoccupied with something. "Lennie, do you think it's wrong of me to have assumed that he'd move in with me after ignoring him for so long? I mean, if your children did that to you, would you probably turn down an idiotic idea like that?"
"What kind of guidance do you want with that answer, Erin? There's a time when a child should be acknowledged as the adult they are and live their own lives without worry or appeasement. I'm sure your father would accept your invitation. Then again, you heard what he said the last time you were here having a heart-to-heart."
"He's stubborn; I'll give him that."
Lennie chuckled. "He says the same about you, so there."
"May I use your phone? I want to call him and wish him good night."
Lennie pointed to the phone as he cleared off the table. Erin dialed her cell phone number, waiting for an answer. "Your purse is buzzing," he said. A nod from Erin, Lennie took out the source and showed it to her.
"Bastard," she said, hanging up one phone as she stared at her own.
Lennie turned to conceal the smirk on his face. Hell, he hated the things as much as Jack did and silently gave the other man kudos for the smooth move. "Let me see that," he said, trading her phones. He knew Joe would answer.
-----
Joe finished his side of the phone conversation, then handed the cell to Jack. While father and daughter talked, Joe scanned the rest of the room out of curiosity. There weren't many things in the apartment, he noticed. What little there was did speak volumes of who the owner was.
"You may have chosen wisely in not having children, Joe," he said, returning the phone. "You'd think our roles were reversed the way she carried on."
"So long as you don't develop a complex from it," Joe said. "Look, I'm going to get going here. I'll swing by Keagan's place and see if we might not be lucky this time. I'd offer to let you come along, but then your kid would have my head for letting you get away with murder."
"Joe, you're an officer of the law," Jack deadpanned.
He nodded. "That's what would make your kid's lecture a pain in the neck to endure. Stop by the precinct tomorrow, will you?"
--------------
"Seems to me," Jack said during the morning walk, "that you were wrong about 'Joey,' Merle."
Mr. Hans shook his head. "I've been wrong about many things lately; like how safe it is around here anymore."
Jack drew back a few paces. "Someone told me this is New York, murders happen. Do you seriously think you'd be safer in say, San Diego or Atlanta? Where there's life, there's death. Where there's death, there's life."
Merle pivoted on his heel and stared at Jack. "You're getting a bit ahead of yourself, aren't you? Those heavily philosophical discoveries aren't supposed to be found until you reach my age, boy."
Jack shook his head. "Ignore the ignorant boy behind you," he said, quickening his pace slightly.
"You get to my age, things look differently." Jack laughed. "What's so funny?"
"Now I know why my daughter hates that saying. It doesn't sound any better with you saying it than when I do."
Merle laughed along with him, then gestured ahead saying, "Well, let me try telling her anyway. I bet she'll listen to me."
Jack was surprised to see Erin approaching them from around the corner. "I told you I'd meet you at the precinct this afternoon."
"I'm sorry. Instinct told me I couldn't trust you. You're stuck with me the entire day, Dad."
Merle pursed his lips as he turned to go back. "On second thought, Mac, maybe you won't make it."
They watched as the older man headed back alone. Jack couldn't help but wonder if that was what he was setting himself up for by pushing family away.
"You won't make what, Dad?"
"Sense, dear. I probably won't make sense." He embraced his only child, thankful that she was safe, thankful that she was aware of the extended family she had here, so she'd never… "Do you mind working along side your old man for a couple of hours until this afternoon?"
Erin looked at him. "Sure. But, what's going on this afternoon?"
"An appointment of sorts, it's nothing serious."
"Speaking of appointments, Mom wanted me to ask when your next scheduled one is with the doctor. If it's after I leave, you're in trouble."
He rolled his eyes. "If your mother's pushing me, then that alone is trouble, dear. Fine, I'll make an appointment when we get to the center. Satisfied?" Erin shook her head.
----
Dennis and Jack exchanged silent greetings as the director continued with the impromptu meeting. "So, that is what's happened; that's what is going on. Sylvia's in charge, but I'll still be in reach if you need me. Any questions?" None to be had, the meeting broke up in uneasiness.
After a moment, Dennis made his way to Jack. "I never… You know…"
"Don't worry about it. If there's anything I can do, all right?"
"It's been one hell of a time, hasn't it, Jack? Just when you think you've learned all of life's lessons, a nasty curve ball is thrown your way."
The only thing Jack could do was listen, hoping things wouldn't get any worse.
------------
"So, you haven't made a follow-up appointment because?" Nina asked as they walked quickly toward the courthouse. Nina was scheduled to testify at one trial while Alex was assigned to work another.
"Because I looked up the number and learned it's an alternative medicine clinic, that's why," Alex said. "I'm not sure I feel comfortable with acupuncture and such, you know?"
Nina stopped Alex before they went up the stairs to the trial rooms. "Look, either you follow the doctor's instructions or get ready to pay the consequences. It doesn't take a law degree to see the logic in that."
"Well, I'd also rather wait until my regular doctor gets back."
Nina made a face. "Wait, who did you see last time, then?"
Alex shook her head. "That's beside the point. The point is, I'd rather wait and see than make an unnecessary appointment, that's all."
-------------
"Is this really necessary?" Benson asked as she posted all the available photos they had of the many Jane Does. "You'd think we would have found a pattern by now, guys. There is none."
Munch pulled five photos off the board, ignoring Olivia's look of annoyance. "These marks here, on the chest - anyone see anything familiar about them?
Elliot took two from Munch's reach. "Damn it. And these two vanished when?"
"About a year ago for the first one, almost a year and a half for the other," John said.
"But, the bodies didn't turn up until the last eight months or so. Where have they been in the meantime?" Fin asked. "We already staked out the location Borgia got for us and the one Fontana and Cassady found."
Olivia shook her head. "Guys, there's no physical evidence to connect them, aside from a pattern that looks eerily similar to Bruner's. Do you really want to jump to conclusions here?"
"Liv's right," Elliot said. "Bruner's learned to cover his tracks with the exception of the cutting." He looked over the board trying to find other pictures. "Let's take these five certain ones and see where the dots connect."
Fin grabbed the remaining three pictures. "Did we add the Zamora photo to this?"
"I'll work that one," Munch said.
"You're not taking it because it's become personal to you, are you?" George Huang said, walking up on the group. "If you are, then-."
"Hey, George," John said, looking down his nose and yet over his glasses, "the day you tell me how to do my job is the day I tell you how to do yours, got it?"
Huang didn't flinch as he looked up. "I'm just reminding you of the necessary boundaries – for sanity's sake, John."
----------------------
Jack left the precinct in a fouler mood than when he entered. The fact that Logan and Fontana thought they could corner him into giving a description of the sixth man, still, irritated him. To watch his daughter go through a similar battery of questions, by Detective Cassady, at least, wasn't quite, yet somewhat, painful.
At least Detective Green was able to corroborate Erin's story about the night in question. He had even taken it upon himself to initiate a canvassing of the area to see if they could get any possible leads. The hope in Green's voice alleviated the aggravation that threatened to lose Jack his.
"Let's get a bite to eat, Dad," Erin said, taking his arm in hers.
She tried to distract him during dinner about her life back in Maine, and the joys of being one's own boss. He chuckled at the thought of her clashing repeatedly with any boss that tried to give her specific instructions for any task.
"Order me dessert, will you?" she asked, excusing herself to go to the washroom.
Jack was debating his own choice when someone brushed up against his arm. He looked up but didn't see the passerby clearly. On the table, near his hand, a napkin was left, with writing on the underside of it.
She's safe.
He pocketed it just as Erin sat down. "You're not sore with me, are you, Dad?" she asked, starting in on the plate in front of her. "I tried to get out of it and-."
"Go," he said. "Your mother won't leave you alone otherwise. I promise to give you a note from my doctor as proof of attendance, all right?"
"She wants me to spend the night. I told her-."
"Spend the night. You might get a decent night's sleep for a change."
Erin smiled. "You know, there's no place like home. As selfish as this might sound, I'd like you to come with me."
"To your mother's? Are you sure you didn't have anything to drink?" He winked at her before she could say anything. "Let me think about Maine a bit longer, all right, Erin? You know me; I need a 'pros' and 'cons' chart to weigh the options."
"On the pro side, you can list 'no cons to deal with,'" she said.
Jack shook his head. "Are you sure you weren't meant to be a lawyer?"
---------------------
The following day went without major incident – his daughter escorted to her mother's thanks to Danielle; a sane day at the center, save for the startling news that Spencer thought about quitting his internship already; and no other notes or photos to react to. The visit to the doctor's proved to be a waste of time, in Jack's opinion. At least he had the results ready to put his daughter at ease.
The only spice added to the night was the fact that Merle Hans had, at last, asked Greer Richter out on a date. Between that and the Cantors and Marronis attending the all-school concert, something Jack wasn't quite energetic enough to attend, it dawned on Jack that this was the first time in a while that he had a night to himself.
As he sat down to read his book, there was a knock on the door. Jack ignored it until it continued in a steady rhythm. He saw no one there when he looked through the peephole. Even then, the knocking persisted. Against his better judgment, he opened the door.
"Hello, Jackie."
Jack stood his ground, refusing to call out for help or slam the door in this intruder's face, even as common sense told him to do so.
"The least you could do is let me in, don't you think?" Despite his best efforts, Jack took the few steps back necessary to let him in.
"You do seem to have the most interesting people stopping by lately. I don't know if I like that, but then who am I to judge? You're probably making up for lost time, I suppose." He took a seat in the armchair, folded his hands and waited. "You're awfully quiet, tonight, Jackie. I don't even get a 'hello' from you?"
"Why are you here?" Jack said at last.
He clicked his tongue. "You're not even going to ask me how I found you? All right, then I'll get to the point. Someone wants to see you. Tonight."
Jack shook his head. "I don't-."
"You don't have a choice, Jackie."
---
Jack glowered at the man before him. Part of him wished he could have granted Fontana's request in a one-on-one meeting with Keagan. Part of him was glad the officer or anyone else from his support group wasn't around.
"How dare you," Jack said, aware of the trickle of blood in his mouth from biting his tongue furiously. "My daughter wasn't part of your 'pawn collection.' So help me, you can't possibly think of a reason why I shouldn't kill you."
"Oh, come on, Jackie. You're mad at me because I did you a favor in getting rid of that old lady. Seeing you on the balcony with her… No, no, no, I'm not going to let her take you from me. The younger girl was an extra, if you will."
That revelation stunned Jack. "It wasn't… You bastard!"
Keagan laughed. "Oh, where is the Jackie that I've loved?" Adrian approached Jack, slapping him across the mouth. That close up, Jack could smell the alcohol on Adrian's breath. The trickle grew into a dribble now. "To think how I longed to kiss that mouth. Instead, you spit at me and send your pathetic pigs after me. If anyone's justified to murder, it's me, love."
"Sit down." Keagan sat.
Jack looked over his shoulder, acknowledging the other man's presence and control. The voice was so commanding, so authoritative; it didn't surprise Jack why he obeyed the orders still. "You've won," Jack said, looking from one man to the other. "I give up."
Adrian cackled. "No, you give yourself to us completely. I own you and there's nothing you can do that will change that. You may not want me, but remember, I chose you; even if you refused to choose me."
"I'm neither father, Adrian," Jack said, finding strength in the nerve he struck in his captor. "Who in their right mind would want to call you their son?"
Adrian lunged at Jack, backhanding him with his fist. This time, the blood streamed down his chin and unto his shirt. "I'll make you call out!"
While Jack spat out the blood in his mouth, the other captor forcibly sat Keagan down. "You're a little late for that, aren't you," Jack said, glancing at Keagan.
"Shh, Jackie," the other captor said. "Or I might be forced to reconsider the choices."
Jack watched as a gun was placed in one of Keagan's unsteady hands, bringing a smile to Keagan's face. Keagan tightened his hold on the revolver, finger poised to fire.
"What are you doing?" Jack asked, struggling against his restraints.
"Jackie, that's not what we taught you."
He refused to give in, had no intention of giving in. He would not beg them.
Keagan's words slurred, "C'mon, Jackie. For old time's sake, say the words. If not, I just might fire anyway. Then you'll know real pain."
Jack focused on Keagan's eyes. "Then, fire."
"Tough guy in the end," his captor said, gloved hand still holding Keagan's. "So be it. Everybody dies."
A shot rang out.