TBITC Chp. 28
Jack knew that interrogating Rick at the Delko's beach house wasn't a good idea, but he felt he had no other option. At the moment, he had no other secure locations within the city to conduct the kind of interrogation that he wanted to. The downside was that the cops weren't exactly going to stay out of this. Sure, it was Stetler and they all hated him, but Eric had been right when he said they couldn't condone what was going to be done. Jack understood that, and he could agree with it in certain circumstances. He wasn't a sadist who got off on inflicting pain on others. It was simply an expedient way to get the information he need, nothing more. And if they were ever going to get Sam back, the gloves were going to have to come off. Period, end of discussion.
By the time they got back to the house, it was just after eight in the morning and the others were already awake. Worse still, the women and two remaining children were on the back deck. "Great," Mike muttered from the driver's seat, "What're we gonna do about him?" he asked, jerking his thumb toward the back of the SUV where Stetler was hogtied.
"We're going to march him to that shed over there." Jack said, pointing to a shed fifty feet from the back of the house.
"You want us to march a bound AIB detective past three CSI's, a Medical Examiner, and a paramedic?" Ken asked from the backseat.
Jack turned and nodded. "Yeah, I do."
The former Navy Seal shook his head in amazement. "You really are crazy, or you love that little boy like he was your own, and you really are willing to do whatever it takes to get him back."
Jack looked away. "Ten years ago, I failed to protect my son. I'm not gonna make that mistake again. As long as we get Sam back, I don't care what happens to me. If its heat you're worried about, I'll take it."
Ken turned to his friend, smiled sadly and squeezed his shoulder. "Well, what're we waiting for? Let's get this over with."
000
It turned out not to be as difficult as they thought. What it boiled down to was ignoring the group, acting tough and not deviating from your objective. And it helped that Stetler was too groggy, both from the booze and the tranquilizer, to know what was going on. After they deposited their prisoner in the shed, they walked back to the house and went inside without a word to the group.
Alexx waited five minutes, and followed them inside. She found them in the study, with Horatio, Frank and Pavel. They deep in conversation, but stopped and turned when she entered. "Jack, could I talk to you for a minute?"
He hesitated, knowing where this conversation would lead and what it would be about. But then he decided it was better to face the music and let Alexx speak her mind. "Sure; you wanna go for a walk?"
"Thanks."
They left the house and started down the driveway. Jack waited for Alexx to speak. "So, you think Rick kidnapped our son?"
Jack's train of thought came to a screeching halt at the phrase 'our son'. Where the heck had that come from? He was so caught of guard that all he could manage to get out was a rather feeble. "Wha…What?"
"Sam sees us as the parents he's never had, and…" she stopped, the words catching in her throat. She cleared her throat and started again. "and whether you believe it or not, I think God gave us a second chance. If you think differently, then look me in the eye and tell me you wouldn't give everything you have, everything, to have the life that you had with Jenny and Matt back."
Jack looked at her, and the tears running down her face. He felt a wetness on his own face, and knew that it wasn't blood. Damned if she wasn't right.
Several minutes passed before Jack found his voice. "So what are you saying?"
"I'm saying do what you do best. And I won't blame you, because I know that you'll get Sam back or you'll die trying."
Jack considered Alexx's words and hugged her. "So is that your way of apologizing for calling me a bastard?"
She laughed, and it was sweet music to his ears. "Yeah, I guess so."
000
