In preparation for Agent Sufern, the Tracy's had pulled the dining table to the middle of the room; between the kitchen and the sitting area. Virgil had brewed another pot of coffee, and everyone, sans Alan, had a cup. Alan had opted for water, not needing to be jittery from caffeine.
Scott answered the door, showing his dislike of Sufern right from the get-go; Sufern did his best not to balk from Scott's imposing figure.
Virgil cast a discreet glare at his oldest brother, before greeting Sufern, "Agent Sufern, please have a seat."
"Thank you…" Sufern trailed off, not knowing anyone's name.
"I'm Virgil," Virgil supplied, "And this is John and Gordon," he pointed to his brothers, who waved at their introduction, "And you already met Scott."
"Ah, yes," Sufern cast a quick glance at Scott, "And Mr. Tracy is where?"
"In the bedroom with Alan," John said sitting at the table, "Alan needed a minute to prepare himself."
Sufern took a seat next to John, and nodded. Virgil sat on Sufern's right. Gordon sat on the other side of Virgil, and Scott on the other side of John; Gordon and Scott being at the ends of the table.
Jeff opened the bedroom door and led Alan towards the table. Sufern stood up as Jeff neared him, "Agent Sufern," Jeff said shaking hands.
"Mr. Tracy," Sufern returned the greeting, "Alan," he added holding his hand out to the blonde.
Alan looked at the hand, before tentatively shaking it. Scott and John watched the exchange gauging Alan's mood. Virgil and Gordon sat ready to intervene on their youngest brother's behalf should Scott or John give any indication something was wrong.
Jeff kept a supportive hand on Alan's back as they all sat.
Sufern cleared his throat, "So, Alan," he started readying a pen and pad of paper, "Tell me about Tuesday."
Alan furrowed his eyebrows in confusion, "Where should I start?"
"Let's start with your morning," Sufern said formally.
"Uh," Alan frowned in thought, looking at the table top, "I woke up early with Fermat to get breakfast," Sufern nodded as we wrote what Alan said. "Then went to class, I guess," Alan shrugged unsure what to say.
"What were your classes like?" Sufern led Alan.
Jeff, Scott, John, Virgil knew that Sufern was just trying to break the ice, making Alan feel more comfortable talking, but Gordon and Alan were lost as to why Sufern was asking about Alan's classes.
Alan looked at Scott for support, and Scott nodded for him to continue, "Um, like any other class. I went to English then Science then Math…then Fermat, me, Jake, and Rob went to get lunch."
"What did you eat?"
"I…I don't know, we ate it really fast," Alan mumbled.
"Okay," Sufern looked at Alan, who was still studying the table, tracing the grains in the wood, "Why did you eat so fast you don't remember what you ate?"
John cast a sideways glare at Sufern; he really didn't like the man's tone.
"We wanted to get to the bus," Alan looked up quickly, then back down.
"And where was this bus taking you that wanted to be there so quickly?"
Alan lifted his head and swallowed nervously, "I think that one is obvious," he said frowning at the memories that were starting to creep into his mind.
"I just want your version of the day," Sufern replied indifferently.
Alan noticed the glares Sufern was getting openly from Scott and discreetly from John, taking some comfort in his brothers' closeness and protectiveness, he answered, "We were going to the park for art."
"And what did you do for your art?"
"A tree –"
"You have the picture," Scott growled, "Why don't you look."
"Scott," Jeff warned; Scott just sat back and continued to glare.
"Yes, I have seen it," Sufern said coolly, "But I would still like Alan to tell me."
"I drew a tree and clouds," Alan cast a glance at Scott, "Not much to say if you've seen it."
"Alright," Sufern nodded, "Tell me about what happened at the park?"
Alan chewed his lip, "There really isn't much to say," he said, pausing to collect his thoughts, "I was sitting on the wall and my picture was pretty much done…" Alan took a shuddering breath.
"Take your time, son," Jeff murmured in his ear.
Alan found a very interesting swirl in the wood and began tracing it; bouncing his leg nervously, he continued, "Someone came up behind me and…" another shaky breath, "And they wrapped an arm round my neck. Their other hand held a cloth to my face that smelled weird."
"What did it smell like?" Sufern interrupted.
"I don't know," Alan mumbled, "Like alcohol or something."
"Alright, what happened next?"
"Well I tried to get away," Alan said like it was obvious, "But I got really tired…then nothing."
"You passed out?"
"I guess," Alan looked at John nervously, "I don't know."
"It's alright, Al," Virgil said, putting a comforting hand on Alan's, "My guess is he used an old anesthetic, called ethanol, it would have made you tired and fall asleep."
Alan nodded and bit his lip; Virgil gave him a small smile then sat back again. Sufern pursed his lips, unhappy with the interruption, "What happened next?"
Alan licked his lips and reached for his cup of water. Picking it up with a slightly shaky hand, Alan took a few slips then put it back down. Twirling his cup with his left hand, Alan finally replied in a small voice, "I woke up."
"Where were you?" The agent pushed.
"I don't know," Alan stopped the cup, still speaking in a low, scared voice, "I couldn't see."
"What do you know? What did you hear, feel, smell? Anything you remember will help Alan," Sufern insisted.
"I was tied up on the floor," Alan ground out; getting stubborn in response to Sufern's pushing. Doesn't he know I want to forget! I don't want to think about Billy or his stupid rope! Alan thought angrily to himself.
"How long were you on the floor?"
"How should I know?" Alan retorted, "I woke up on the stupid floor then the guy that put me there came in."
"What can you tell me about him?" Sufern asked his voice formal and unsympathetic.
"He can talk," Alan said sardonically, starting to shield himself form the memories.
Sufern looked at Alan with a look you give a misbehaving child, and voice to match it, "What did it sound like? Was it deep? High? Rough? What?"
Not liking how Sufern was throwing so many questions at his only baby brother, while Alan was obviously having a hard time with answering any questions, "He had a deeper voice, but not bass," Gordon cut in.
Virgil, agreeing with Gordon's reasoning, added, "Tenor would be a good description."
"If your sons cannot keep quiet, Mr. Tracy, I am going to have to ask that you make them leave," Sufern said in a condescending tone.
