Title: Nevermore
Chapter: 7
Author: Evidence
Rating: PG-13
Author's Notes: Big props to D and thanks to E for the kind words that swelled my head (especially seeing what a great author you are) and of course Maple Street.
Jack noticed that something was up when he got back in the office. Vivian was extremely quiet and wearing a worried expression. Martin was nowhere to be seen and the other workers seem to be concerned about Martin's "demeanor". He cast his eyes about the office looking for a certain blonde but she was missing.
"Um, Todd, have you seen Samantha?" He asked one of the F.B.I.'s handwriting experts who happened to be passing by.
"Oh she went out a few minutes ago. I heard her say something about a bench." Todd said.
"Thanks." He went back to his office, took a seat in his chair and covered his eyes. He could see her in the interrogation room so clearly. All he wanted was her but she couldn't be his. He sometimes wondered what would have happened if he had met Sam before meeting Maria, how different his life would be now. Of course there would be no Hanna or Kate and that thought made his heart hurt. The marriage, the pain, the trying to get back together was all worth it for those two girls. He would do anything for them. He was willing to give up his life whether by a bullet or by staying married to their mother. They were too precious to let down.
"Jack," Danny said sweeping in. "Did you hear the news?"
Jack opened his eyes and removed his hands. "What news?"
"Sam went to visit cousin Thomas and he revealed some info."
"What?" Jack was slightly angry that Sam had gone to see Thomas Spade before running it by him but also curious to what information the man had to give.
"Thomas claims that Podena told him where he buried the bodies- his uncle, Harry Podena's farm in Altamont."
"Altamont..." Jack said slowly a memory flooding back.
"You know where Altamont is?" Danny questioned.
"Yeah...I've been there once," He purposely left out the words: with Sam.
"Do you want me to head up there? Jack?" Danny looked at his boss who was lost in thought.
"Um, yeah do that. Take Martin if you can find him."
"Great, on our way." Danny walked out, his shadow exiting last.
"Altamont," Jack said out loud. He saw glimpses of a trip so long ago. Samantha had wanted to go apple picking, the thought still made him laugh. They stayed at a little inn like a real couple, their names on the register. They had spent a wonderful fall weekend together enjoying each other and the surrounding area. He had been prepared to ask her to move into the small hotel room he was currently occupying at the time.
Then the phone call came. Maria. Hanna was sick with meningitis. He left Sam at the inn and headed home. He went back to Maria. Samantha began dating a doctor. It was over or so they kidded themselves until he made the final decision after the OPR investigation. Now they were at this weird state of finally realizing their feelings for each other but unable to do anything about it.
He sighed heavily. Then made a decision. He needed to talk to Sam. Waving to an anxious looking Vivian, Jack started out to the place where he finally broke it off- the bench.
"Agent Fitzgerald, can I help you?" Trisha, the secretary who wore flower pins each day, said.
"I need a minute with Director Van Doran," Martin said looking at the black iris pinned to the woman's gray blazer.
"She's at a meeting uptown...can I take a message?"
He removed the cassette from his pocket. "Just give this to her. Tell her that Vivian Johnson didn't think she would like listening to it but I thought she might find it...interesting."
"Okay, will do!" She smiled warmly at Martin.
He walked away turning around to see Trisha writing a note and placing the tape and note on Van Doran's desk. He felt like going back and saying he had made a mistake...he was just about to when a flash of Jack and Sam went through his head. Stifling a tear he turned on his heal and walked away.
Jack was so preoccupied with his thoughts that he didn't notice the figure on the bench until he was on top of it. Blonde hair, long body...then realization struck.
"Sam!" he yelled feeling for a pulse. A nice sound pulse was answering him. Blood was trickling down from her head. "Sam!" he yelled again.
The eyes fluttered.
"You're going to be okay," he said taking out his cell to call for an ambulance. "This is Jack Malone I need an ambulance at Foley Square, an agent is down." His eyes moved from Sam's body to a cab sitting quietly at the curb. The windshield was gone. There seemed to be no driver.
"Jack," he heard her moan.
"I'm here, shhh," he instructed, putting his hand to her shoulder.
"Podena," she whispered, "He was here."
"What? God...you're okay though."
"What about the cabbie?" she asked opening her eyes slowly.
Jack turned to look at the cab, drawing his gun. "I'll be right back." He moved swiftly to the yellow vehicle. When he approached he could see an African American male slumped over into the passenger seat. He opened the door and felt for a pulse. None. Turning the man over he saw blood shading his tan t-shirt. A gun shot. Jack knew instantly where Podena had gotten the gun- Sam. He sighed deeply and headed back over to the bench thankful that Sam was alive and reasonably well and worried that Podena was still on the loose.
"I'm telling you, you need to throw all your money away and start again. It's the only way you'll stop drowning."
The guard shifted uncomfortably in his seat. "I can't do that."
"Yes you can," Thomas Spade exclaimed, "Money will eat through you and soon you'll be nothing but H2O and bones."
The guard shook his head. He had been gambling lately to cover some loans he had taken to build his dream house and now he was in major trouble. Spade was off his rocker but something that he said making sense to him. "Do you think if I sell my car, I might be able to pay off some of my debts?"
"Sure, cars are evil you know. They want to run your life. Especially BMWs." He whispered the last part.
The guard nodded.
He had shown the badge so quickly; the guard couldn't make out the picture. "Agent Ross," he lied, "I've been brought in to question Thomas Spade."
He had been let in so easily- what lax security. He wasn't even dressed for the role. His face had been plastered on various TV screens but no one at the detox center could place him. He would have killed the pretty blonde if he hadn't found her badge and saw her last name. Thomas Spade was going to help him, a family member in the FBI would be an asset. On top of that he would be his bargaining chip for the eventual capture. Then Franklin Podena would always be remembered for he was about to go out with a bang.
To be continued...