Chapter 38 Mark's View
Mark had woken up the next morning to the phone ringing. He groaned and squeezed his eyes shut.
"Manda? Can you get that?" He asked. Then his mind snapped awake. He was mad at himself for that. He grabbed the telephone.
"Hello?" He asked angrily.
"Mark? Are you okay?" Erickson asked. Mark sighed.
"Yeah, I'm fine. Sorry." Mark got up and walked to John room as Erickson talked to him. Apparently there had been another game. Erickson hadn't gotten there yet, so he couldn't give details, but he wanted Mark to meet him there.
"Alright. I'll be there shortly." Mark said, then hung up. He starred at John who was asleep. "What am I going to do with you?" He asked. He didn't have nay close relatives to ask. Neither did Amanda. Mrs. Perkins was gone. Linda was obviously out of the question even if he were that desperate. He did have two cousins that lived close. Lindsey and Rebecca. But Lindsey had been in jail for the past three years for something he wasn't sure about. And Rebecca, well..they never really liked each other. But what other choice did he have?
He walked to the kitchen and opened the phone book. It took him nearly ten minutes to find her name. Finally, he found Rebecca Link. Good thing she wasn't married. He never would've found her. He dialed the number. Three rings later she picked up.
"Hello?"
"Is this Rebecca?" He asked.
"Depends on who's calling." She replied. He laughed a little.
"This is Mark Hoffman." He said. "Remember me?" Silence.
"Oh yeah!" She said finally. "How are you? It's been a long time."
"Yeah. It has." He said. "Look, I know this may be asking a lot. And I know we haven't talked in a really long time, but I need a favor."
"Oh no, are you in some kind of trouble?"
"No. Well, somewhat. Nothing illegal or anything. It's a long story that I don't have time to explain right now. Look, I have a son, and-"
"You had children?" She asked, amazed. "Wow. Are you married? Or did you just knock someone up?"
"No!" He sighed. "I'm married. But listen, I have no one else to call, and I was just wondering if you could watch my son for and hour or two." Silence.
"Where's your wife?" She finally asked.
"Currently unavailable." He replied.
"Look, Mark, I-"
"Rebecca, if you can't do it, please just tell me."
"Mark, I just don't understand what the situation is." Mark sighed.
"My wife is missing. I need to go to work and help them out with the case that could help find her. So if you could please-"
"Mark, why did you tell me? Just give me your address and I'll be straight over."
"Look, if I leave the door unlocked and leave, could you be over within the next five minutes, because I really have to leave."
"Sure thing Mark." Rebecca replied. Mark gave her their address, then hung up. He walked back to John's room. He was still asleep.
"I'll see you later, buddy." Mark said. He went back to his room and quickly got ready, then left.
When he got to the crime scene Erickson was already there.
"What took you so long?" Erickson asked.
"John, I needed to find a babysitter." Mark said. Erickson nodded in understanding.
"Mark, do you remember the Jigsaw game, where those six people were tied to a merry-go-round?"
How cold I forget? I set it up. Mark thought.
"Yeah."
"Well, look at this one." Erickson led Mark inside the building. There were six people chained to the wall by their ankles. In front of each person was a shotgun. And next to each person was a handgun. All of the people were dead. Of course.
"The first woman there is Liza Carter. She's an alcoholic. Arrested twice for DUI. The second woman is Jamie Prince. A drug addict. That man is Harold Benedict. He's a compulsive gambler." Erickson explained. "That's Oscar Sin Clair. A drug dealer we've been looking for. That's Peter Jacobs. He's also a compulsive gambler. And that's Alexis Greene. She's a prostitute."
"Was there a tape recorder?" Mark asked. Erickson nodded and handed it to him. Mark hit play.
"Hello all. I suppose you are wondering why you are here?" The tape began. "All of you are here because of your crimes. All of you, are neglecting the chance you have at life. So now, we are going to see if you deserve your life. In front of each of you is a loaded shotgun, and every thirty seconds one will got off. They will fire in a random order. Next to each of you is a handgun. There is only one way to save the others. Shoot yourself." Mark scowled at the dead bodies. "If you shoot yourself, the other guns will stop, and the others will be saved. And if you are considering murdering someone else to escape, know that will not work. Good luck, let the game begin."
"Very John-like." Mark mumbled.
"What was that?" Erickson asked.
"Huh? Oh, nothing. Look, there isn't really anything I can do around here. So, I think I'll go back to the station and check on Amanda"
"Alright." Erickson said. "I left the computer on."
"Thanks." Mark replied. Then left.