Getting close to the end now! Just a few more chapters maybe, then it's finished. Thanks for sticking with me! Miriam is going to go head to head with Cho and she has no idea what she'll be up against.
Bridge of Sighs
Chapter 29
Cho vs Miriam
Lisbon crashed as soon as she got home. As much as she wanted a tall glass of red wine to sip while she soaked in the bathtub, she took two aspirin instead to combat her headache. It was just from tiredness and as soon as her head hit the pillow she knew she'd be out for the night. She filled the tub with scented oil and lit a few candles to encourage a relaxing mood, sorry that Jane wasn't there to share it with her. Ah well, he couldn't soak in the tub until his leg healed, so it didn't really matter she guessed. 40 minutes later she was towelling off and slipped into her pajamas and nearly fell into the bed. Within ten minutes she was snoring lightly, the sleep of someone who is no longer afraid she will lose the love of her life.
Miriam's night had been much rougher in the jail cell at FBI headquarters. She had endured the humiliation of having to wash herself all over, in the sink, then use the toilet, again, while an impassive guard sat nearby keeping an eye on her. The agency didn't want any of their prisoners killing themselves with bedding or clothing while awaiting their trials, so she was constantly scrutinised. Once Miriam had finally drifted off into a fitful sleep, she was shocked awake by screaming and cursing, the sound of a fight and someone being subdued. Miriam sat up and watched as another prisoner was half walked, half dragged to a cell beside hers. A young woman with a bloodied face, torn clothing and wild, bleached hair was cursing out her guards as they opened the cell door and tossed her inside. A stream of invective aimed at the men and their families followed the guards out of the hallway.
Miriam stood blinking in the low light staring at her new neighbor.
"What are you looking at bitch!" screamed the younger woman.
Miriam turned away, not wanting to be drawn into a conversation that she knew would lead to a long night of screaming and curses, this time aimed at her.
"Think you're better than me bitch? Do ya?" yelled the young woman. Miriam sighed deeply, knowing that no matter what she did, her neighbor would taunt her for the rest of the night. And that is exactly what happened. Hour after hour, every foul insult that could be used was used against Miriam, who resorted to putting her pillow over her head to block out the noise. The guard came over and yelled at the hysterical new prisoner every so often, but mostly concerned herself with making sure the prisoners were still alive by the end of her shift. By the time the guards changed at 7am, Miriam was exhausted, having stayed awake all night. The young woman who had remained hysterical and violent all night was now sleeping peacefully on her bunk. Miriam eyed her with hatred. Today was too important for her to be tired and frazzled. Today she had to convince the interrogating agent that she had done nothing wrong and was in fact, a victim herself.
(Austin General Hospital)
Jane woke up early, filled with anticipation. Normally the last person he wanted to see was a doctor, or anyone in a white lab coat for that matter, but today, he wanted to be visited by his doctor as early in the morning as possible. Waiting around for good or bad news was never easy, but today especially he wanted to be outside these four green walls and on his way to the FBI building to watch Miriam squirm while Cho did his best to unsettle her.
A nurse came in and proceeded to check his vitals again. By now he knew the routine and submitted without making a pain of himself. This was just another step closer to being sprung. Then the nurse did something that took Jane by surprise.
"Time for this to come off and see how things are looking" she smiled as she took a pair of scissors out of her pocket and snipped the end of the long winding piece of gauze on his head. Gradually she unwound the long cord of flimsy fabric and balled it up in her hand. When at last she reached the end, she carefully peeled away a bit of gauze that was stuck on some dried blood on Jane's scalp. Jane whispered a soft "ow!" as it came away from his matted hair.
"OK, let's see if the rest comes off so easily" the young woman muttered.
Jane sat perfectly still, anticipating a painful experience, but after some gentle pressure, the wadded up piece of bandage came away from his line of stitches with a minimum of pain. The nurse took a cotton ball and wet it with distilled water, then gently sponged the incision line clear of dried blood to see how the wound was healing.
"It looks very good, nice and clean" she pronounced, discarding all of the bloody dressings in the garbage.
Jane instinctively raised his hands to feel the stitches but the woman stopped him.
"Don't touch! You need to keep the stitches clean and undisturbed. If you like, you can have a shower this morning, just don't make it too long. Pat the stitches dry with a soft old towel and be gentle, OK?"
"OK" Jane smiled. "But what about my arm and leg?"
"They're next" she said. As Jane watched, she proceeded to unwrap the gauze wound around his calf, exposing a line of stitches across the back of his leg. Just having the bandage off felt much better, less constricting. Then she asked Jane to take off his pajama top and she set about taking the white gauze holding the bandage in place off his upper arm. After inspecting the incision, she threw away the bandages and smiled at her patient.
"Everything is healing well. Keep the incisions clean and don't touch them unless to pat them dry with an old soft towel. By next week all the stitches can come out of your arm and leg. The ones in your scalp can come out today or tomorrow."
"Does that mean I can go home today?" Jane asked hopefully.
"The doctor will be coming around in the next hour or two. He'll let you know if you can go home."
She washed her hands in Jane's sink and was soon on her way. Jane lay back relishing the feeling of the cotton of his pajamas on his newly exposed skin. His hair felt dirty after everything he had been through, so he wanted desperately to take a shower. He decided to wait and see if he could go home, and if so, he'd shower there. If not, he'd have a shower after the doctor left. Either way, he looked forward to standing under the hot water. Lisbon said she'd be in early with breakfast so Jane settled down to work out a particularly difficult puzzle until she showed up.
Teresa pulled up to the hospital with a tray of coffee, tea, warm muffins and some mixed fruit. If Jane was going to have to stay in the hospital, she wanted to make sure he ate something and didn't just brood all morning. If he was set free, he needed to eat something more than a stale cookie and lukewarm hospital tea. Either way, Teresa would make sure his stomach was full and satisfied.
Just as his stomach was starting to rumble from hunger, Jane's door swung open and his lovely Teresa sailed in with a smile and a delicious breakfast in hand.
"Your timing is perfect!" Jane announced, patting the bed for her to sit down next to him.
"Your turban is gone!" she said, pleased to see his head bandage free.
"Yup, arm and leg unwrapped too. Things are looking up" Jane informed her as he took a sip of his tea and reached for a muffin. "Now if the doctor just comes in with good news I'll be a happy man."
"You can be a happy man just for surviving Miriam Hoekstra" said Teresa, biting into her muffin.
Jane stopped mid-chew and looked at Teresa thoughtfully. "Yes, you're right of course. Going home would just be extra nice today."
They spent the next 20 minutes enjoying their food and being together. By the time Lisbon was throwing away all of the wrappers and napkins, there was a light tap on the door and a man popped his head inside the room.
"Mind if I come in?" said the doctor.
"We've been waiting for you" said Jane, waving the man inside.
"I see you're on the mend" the doctor said, examining Jane's injuries with satisfaction. "These look good" he mumbled to himself, checking the lines of stitches. Then he listened to Jane's heart, checked for a fever, examined his eyes for signs of the concussion healing. After a thorough examination he made some notes on his Ipad and then folded his hands across his ample belly.
"How're you feeling this morning?"
"Fine, no dizziness since yesterday noontime" said Jane honestly.
"Have you been up for a walk today?"
"Yes, to the bathroom and back, then a short walk around the room. It went well, no spins" Jane continued.
"Ok….Ok…" the doctor said, making more notes on his Ipad.
"Well, it seems you're well enough to leave us and convalesce at home" the doctor told Jane.
"Excellent!"
"But...no working, no heavy lifting, no exercise, just complete rest for two weeks. Got it?" said the stern doctor.
"Oh I'll make sure he follows the rules" said Teresa, stepping forward and holding Jane's hand with a beaming smile. "If he knows what's good for him he'll do as you say!"
The doctor smiled at Teresa and turned back to Jane. "Looks like you have quite the nurse there! If you want to get dressed, I'll sign the papers to let you out of here in the next half hour. Take care" he said, smiling at both Jane and Lisbon as he headed for the door. "Remember, go home, do nothing!" he warned Jane, then he was gone.
Jane reached up and grabbed Teresa in a bear hug. After he kissed her for an inordinately long time, he stretched and started to get off the bed.
"I brought you fresh clothes and took the others to the cleaners. Sorry, but your suit jacket was ruined" Teresa explained.
Jane just shrugged. "It was an old one anyway. Gives me a good excuse to upgrade my wardrobe" he said, walking over to his small closet to find his clean clothes waiting for him.
"I'll shower at home. I don't want anyone here to change their minds about letting me go so let's get a move on!" Jane said seriously. He really wanted to breathe some non recycled air as soon as possible. Lisbon kept herself busy gathering up his few possessions while he got his clothes on, then they just sat and waited for someone to come in with his discharge papers. 20 minutes later a nurse came in with some typed instructions for Jane's care, and the papers for Jane to sign. Then, they were on their way. The ride to Teresa's condo was a happy event, with both Jane and Teresa chatting about everything and nothing, just being grateful to be well and together once again. As soon as he entered the house, Jane headed upstairs to bask in the warm spray of the shower. He was contemplating washing his hair carefully when the glass shower door slid open and a delightfully naked Teresa stood behind him, sliding her arms around his torso and kissing the spot between his shoulder blades.
"Well hello there" Jane smiled as he turned around and kissed her eagerly.
"Welcome home" Teresa breathed as she rested her head on his firm chest. They stood silently under the hot spray holding each other before she eventually pulled away from Patrick and took the shampoo bottle in her hands.
"Need some help?"
"Please…" Jane sank down onto his knees facing Teresa, kissing her gently on her flat stomach and running his hands gently up and down her backside. He loved her completely.
Teresa gently washed Patrick's wavy hair, careful to leave his stitches undisturbed while she rinsed away the last traces of dried blood. She also made sure his injured arm and leg were thoroughly clean as well. Then they just enjoyed each other for another 15 minutes. Jane was both elated and aroused by his beautiful woman, wet and warm and so very very close. As soon as he could towel off he had her in bed and under him. As they slowly made love, all of the tension and stress of the last few days evaporated. Patrick surrounded Teresa's small body with his larger frame, his arms and legs wrapped around her like a security blanket. Their bodies moved in a slow, sensuous rhythm, gradually building in intensity until both climaxed at the same time. Afterwards, still wrapped up in each other's arms, they fell into a light sleep as they didn't yet want to climb out of the warm bed. When they finally roused themselves an hour later, Teresa checked the time and suggested they eat something before heading over to meet Cho at the FBI.
Jane followed Teresa downstairs wrapped in a robe and made tea while she laid out a light lunch. She wore her long football jersey and nothing else, and watching her move around the small kitchen, the sight of her sorely tempted Jane to toss her over his shoulder for another round of lovemaking instead of eating, but practicality won out over passion. They needed to get going if they were going to witness the interrogation of Miriam Hoekstra.
(FBI)
Cho arrived at work early, eager to get through some paperwork and assignments before he started in on Miriam. Every time the elevator doors slid open, he glanced up to see if Jane and Lisbon stepped out. When they hadn't come by 12 pm, he feared Jane had been told to stay another day in the hospital. Sighing in regret for his friend, he placed a call to have Miriam brought upstairs and put into Interrogation Room #2. Just as he put the receiver down and he reached for his coffee, the elevator doors slid open again and this time, Teresa and Patrick walked out beaming a smile for Cho and Wylie. Jane was wearing his tropical shirt and dark pants looking relaxed and happy to be out of the hospital at last. A dark line of jagged stitches peeked out from underneath his short sleeve, revealing the slash line on his muscled upper arm. Except for the large blue/black bruise coursing down the one half of his face he looked rested and immensely pleased to be back in the bullpen arm in arm with Lisbon.
"Jane! So good to see you!" Wylie called out, standing to shake Jane's hand as he strolled up to his desk. "How're you doing?"
"Wylie! I'm better. Good to be here" Jane replied, smiling at the young man. A few other agents stopped by to greet Jane and welcome him back. Cho stood up and waited for Jane and Teresa to make their way over to his desk.
"Glad you could make it. Are you out for good or just a day pass?" Cho teased Jane.
"I'm a free man. I just have to stay away from work or Teresa will ship me back to the hospital."
Cho smirked at Lisbon and grabbed some paperwork.
"Glad to know someone's keeping Jane on a short leash."
"Yes I am. One peek at a case file and he goes back to finish out his sentence in the hospital."
"I'm standing right here guys…"
While Cho and Lisbon had a good time poking fun at Jane, he was actually thrilled to be there getting teased. It was so much better than the silence of his green room.
"So, what's happening with the interrogation Cho?" Jane asked, curious to know when it would begin.
"I just called for Miriam to be brought up."
"Good. Let's see what she comes up with today" said Teresa. She was sure Miriam would weave a strange and fanciful tale.
"She'll be here in a few minutes so best get into the viewing room before she sees you Jane."
Jane nodded, taking Teresa's hand as they headed for the small room behind the interrogation room to watch Cho and Miriam through the two way mirror.
Taking their seats behind the mirror, Jane turned to Lisbon and grinned. This is where he needed to be today. Much as he desperately wanted to be in that room with Cho, it was Cho's show today. Jane was just an observer.
Within a few minutes, the door to Room #2 opened and Miriam was led in by a young guard who handcuffed her wrists to the table. Then he stood by the door until Cho showed up. A moment later Cho entered and signalled to the guard to wait outside the closed door. Cho never gave Miriam the courtesy of a smile or greeting. Instead he came in and sat down, studying some documents in his hands while she sat watching him, ignored. Jane grinned at this tactic. It was a sure way to make Miriam come to Cho, not the other way around. After what seemed like five minutes of being ignored, Miriam couldn't stand it anymore. She wanted attention. She looked nothing like the self-assured woman Jane had met at Hoekstra Importing not that long ago. Now she was dishevelled, with badly combed hair, no makeup, and dark circles under her eyes from a lack of sleep. But her attitude had not changed. She was still feeling very self-important.
"Well are you going to talk to me or do I get up and leave?" she demanded imperiously.
Cho glanced up at her, then let his eyes pause on her manacled wrists.
"You could try…" he said, then went back to his papers, purposely letting her stew.
"Down to Cho business…" laughed Teresa, getting comfortable in her chair.
Miriam immediately felt like a fool. Of course she couldn't get up and leave. Now she looked like an idiot and this agent hadn't even asked her one question yet! She bit her tongue and waited for Cho to make his next move. They hadn't even begun and she was already exhausted. Finally Cho shoved the papers aside, folded his hands on the table and stared at her.
"I'm a victim here you know" Miriam began uneasily, eager to get in the first comment, keen to turn Cho to her side.
"How so?"
"Well just look at me! Look at this cut on my arm! Who do you think did this to me?"
Cho eyed her slash mark and then turned his gaze back to the petulant woman.
"I think you did that to yourself for dramatic effect. Along with the poison on the knife edge, it would look pretty convincing to the untrained eye" Cho told her.
"Nonsense! My nephew Calvin slashed me, just like he did his sister and poor Agent Jane. If he wasn't dead, Agent Jane would tell you the same thing, may he rest in peace."
"Oh I'm resting peacefully Miriam…" whispered Jane, staring intently at the woman.
"Adrianna told us that you slashed her arm before you threw her down the well and left her for dead" Cho informed Miriam. She didn't flinch but took this news in stride. She'd been preparing for this very subject.
"Well of course she said that. She still loves her brother, no matter what he did, and she wants to protect him even if she lies about me. She knows what Cal did and would rather commit perjury than do the right thing and tell the truth" Miriam explained. "She needs to go to jail for lying about Calvin's part in all of this."
"So Cal slashed himself to look victimized, as well as you, Mr. Jane and Adrianna, then planned for Jane to be killed on the bridge after he threw his sister down the well. Have I got that right Miss Hoekstra?" Cho asked her again. A camera recorded their session for the court.
"Yes, exactly. Poor Adrianna must be shocked and confused. I can't tell you how happy I am to know she survived what he did to her." Miriam shook her hands and raised them up, showing Cho the handcuffs. "Are these really necessary? After all, what can I do to you, such a big strong man?" she flirted.
Snorting in derision, Cho leaned back and crossed his arms across his chest. "Those will stay on. You pose a flight risk. Get used to them."
Miriam's sweet expression fell off her face and she slammed her wrists back down on the table in anger. Cho was getting under her skin. The man showed no emotion, like a robot. How could she convince him to ignore the evidence? She was getting concerned about her ability to sway this man.
Cho got down to business.
"What made you attack Mr. Jane in the kitchen Miss Hoekstra?"
"I told you I didn't! Cal had a knife and was threatening Adri and I. Then Agent Jane came to the house and got taken hostage by Calvin as well. When your agent tried to help Adrianna and I, Calvin attacked him with the knife and Agent Jane fell on the floor. It was awful, so much blood...I was terrified! I always thought Calvin was a sweet, kind boy, but I was wrong. Now I can see that he was cruel."
Cho kept his gaze levelled at the woman and from his expression, she knewhe didn't believe a single word she said.
"So Calvin fooled everyone for years, and was the mastermind behind four deaths, according to you."
"Yes! He killed his parents and his grandparents. I think he was planning to kill Adrianna and I so that the business would be his. He would be a very rich young man as soon as Adrianna was out of the picture. But your Agent Jane stuck his nose in our affairs and made Cal push up his plans to kill us. If only Agent Jane had survived, he could tell you this himself! He'd tell you I'm telling you the truth!" she shouted, getting worked up dramatically in the telling of her fanciful tale.
Jane noticed she said that he had "stuck his nose in our affairs". Her anger with him was seeping out even as she pretended to mourn his passing.
Behind the two way mirror, Teresa snickered and turned to Jane. "You need to be resurrected from the dead to scare the crap outta her!"
"Oh I plan on re-joining this earthly coil before she goes back to her cell" Jane grinned. The woman was digging a deeper and deeper hole for herself by the minute.
"Miss Hoekstra, how do you explain a stamp in your passport dated the same weekend that your parents died in a road accident in Amsterdam two and a half years ago?" Cho asked the woman.
"I go to Amsterdam regularly, for business and pleasure."
"What were you doing in Amsterdam the weekend your mother and father died?"
"That was a long time ago and it's a painful time for me to talk about" Miriam said. Cho pressed her.
"That may be so, but you need to tell me why you went on that trip after telling everyone you were visiting a girlfriend out of town."
Miriam looked at Cho as if he could read her mind. Damn the man, what else did he know?
"Well, yes and no. I was going to go out of town to visit an old friend of mine, and that's what I told Cal and Adrianna, my brother too, but then Mamma called me from Amsterdam and asked me to fly out and keep her company. She wanted to stay longer and send Pappa and the grandkids home without her, so she could be with me for a few days. She wanted us to have a little holiday just for ourselves."
"So your mother called you? Is that right?" Cho confirmed.
"That's what I said Agent. It was my mother's idea that I come."
Cho zeroed in on her statement. "When?"
"I told you, she wanted me to fly out and join her on that Saturday. My father and the kids were returning the next day, Sunday."
"No, when did your mother call? What day, how soon before Saturday?"
Miriam grew flustered. She had to come up with a plausible answer.
"I don't remember! She called. That's the important thing."
"Well if that's how it happened, why is there no record of a phone call to your home number, the business number, or your cell phone? There is no record your mother called you from her cell phone or from her hotel. How do you explain that Miss Hoekstra?"
Miriam waved off Cho's question.
"I have no idea where she called from. She could have been in a store for all I know. And before you ask, I don't remember where I was when she reached me. So, you'll just have to believe me" she said with a self satisfied grin.
Cho looked through some papers, then turned his attention back to the smug woman, who clearly had relaxed and felt like she was more in control now.
"When did you book your ticket on the KLM flight to Amsterdam?"
Miriam wasn't expecting that question. When did she book her flight?
"I don't know. How should I remember which day I booked a flight so long ago? And why does it matter anyway? Mother called when she got to Holland and I booked my flight right away."
Cho had her concerned.
"So your mother called, invited you to stay a few days with her and you booked your flight right away, is that correct?"
"Do you have a problem understanding English Agent? That's what I said."
Cho ignored her insult and pulled up a sheet of paper, holding it out for Miriam to inspect.
"Then how do you explain these booking dates with your name on them?"
It was a list of passenger names and flights. With a sinking feeling Miriam read the document.
