"If you love him so much, who would you choose if you had to pick between Jack or Aaron?"
"I… I couldn't…"
"Kate," Jack called, "it's okay." He knew Kate would choose Aaron. Biology or not, Aaron was her son and she'd always choose his safety over all else. He'd expected nothing less; in fact, it made him love her even more.
"Please!" Kate cried, tears flying down her cheeks and onto the sand. "Why are you doing this?"
"I think that little boy is my brother and he belongs with his family."
If Kate had a drink, she would have spit it out comedically. Instead, she stood in shock. "Aaron has nothing to do with your family," she said calmly. "There was no affair with your father; nothing ever happened."
"Then who was the father?" Kenneth demanded. "It wasn't Doctor Dreamy over there," he rolled his eyes, his chin nudging in Jack's direction.
"No one you know," Kate tried to remain calm, even when Kenneth's gun was pointed at her. "Please," she spoke softly, "a little boy needs his mother."
Jack watched helplessly, every moment burning it's way into his brain, engraving it with the horror of all of this. Kate's lower lip quivered and fresh tears slid down her cheeks. He knew better than to move to her side; he'd be shot dead before he could reach her. He had a sinking, nauseating feeling that this would be the end for one or both of them. He didn't see this ending victoriously for them and he suspected Kate had the same sickening suspicion.
"Who's the father, Kate?" Kenneth pressed harder.
"Kate, just tell him!" Jack yelled, praying Kate could read his mind. All she had to do was say a name, any name. Hell, he would have overlooked it if she said Sawyer's name. "Was it the man you killed?"
"No," Kate said in a low voice. She didn't look up, unable to make eye contact with either man. She had loved Tom, deeply. And she had killed him. She had once tried to tell Jack but he said he didn't want to know. He told her that it didn't matter what happened. And yet, with one quick glance she knew all of that was a lie.
Jack stared, shocked. Wayne, she knew. Kate had explained the situation to him when the buzz about the trial and her past came up. But she didn't mention dead boyfriends; especially boyfriends she had killed. "Kate," he sighed, his mind racing with questions, with doubts. In return, he didn't get a response. She didn't lift her head; she didn't look at him or speak. And he knew, there was nothing left to say. The woman he loved had killed someone she loved. He didn't want it to, but it changed how he saw her.
Kenneth chuckled at Jack's reaction, knowing instantly his plan had worked. "Was it your ex husband? Kevin?"
"No."
Jack hated this feeling, like he was spiraling out of control. Ex husband? Kate had never mentioned a marriage, not even when Jack confided to her about his own marriage and divorce. Had she faked a relationship to avoid being caught? Had he helped her commit murder? Did her marriage to Kevin and Tom's death have anything to do with each other?
"So who?"
"I don't remember his name," Kate finally spoke. She hoped this would work. He wasn't out to take Aaron, he was out to break up Kate and Jack. He was using her romantic past to create uncertainty. She hoped Jack would be able to stay level headed until she could explain. If there was an explanation.
"Go on," Kenneth smiled, enjoying her suffering.
Kate decided to give him what he wanted. After all, Jack knew Aaron wasn't hers; he knew any story about the child's father would be a lie, didn't he? "I needed a ride. I didn't have money," she said flatly. She knew she needed to sell the humiliation.
"You sold your body for a taxi ride," Kenneth moved close to laugh to laugh in her face.
"It was more of a sign of gratitude," she mumbled. She didn't know why she felt so defiant, it wasn't true. Still, she felt compelled to have the last word.
"You're a whore," Kenneth turned his attention to Jack. "Do you hear who this woman really is? The woman you love? The woman you know so well?"
"I'm beginning to see I'm not," Jack kicked a clump of sand.
"Please, let him go." Kate flicked a tear from her cheek. "Please. Your issues are with me, not Jack."
"Fine. Go." Kenneth waved a hand at Jack, releasing him. When Jack had walked into the darkness, Kenneth turned to Kate. "You, too."
"I thought you were going to kill me," Kate admitted.
"Did you want me to kill you?" Kenneth pointed the gun in her face. "I said go."
She kept her head down as she walked away. She had felt safer next to Kenneth. It was safer to see what was coming; to keep him in front of her. Now, every step felt like a land mine as she wondered if this would be the moment he fired a bullet. "Jack!" She yelled when she was out of Kenneth's range. She was suspicious that he let them go so easily. Hadn't he wanted to kill her? Why had he let them go without hurting them?
"Who are you?" Jack yelled. He made her jump when he approached.
"You scared me," she put a hand on her heart, feeling it pound heavily.
"I mean it, Kate. I don't know you at all. I guess I never knew you," he looked lost; he looked sad, broken. "I'm glad you're okay." With that, he walked off without her.
Suddenly, Kate understood why they were let go. Killing her was pointless. The damage was already done.