Title: Nevermore
Chapter: 9
Author: Evidence
Rating: PG-13
Author's Notes: Thanks to D and Maple Street and those encouraging review especially from Eolivet.
Vivian knew that trouble was brewing. Her stomach was flipping, her throat felt dry. Her legs shaked slightly as she walked down the hallway to Director Paula Van Doran's office. She had always respected Van Doran and considered her a friend as well as boss but now she worried what she was going to say. Vivian knew Van Doran had called both her and Martin into the office because of the tape. Vivian was angry with Martin for not only fucking up Jack and Sam's careers but her own as well. The usually thoughtful young man had hurt others on his road to revenge for a woman who he should have realized he never had. His naivety had caused the FBI office to be in these personal shambles.
"Hi, Trisha," Vivian said trying to smile.
Trisha was more subdued than usual. "Hi, just go in."
Vivian entered trying some yoga deep breathing to calm her nerves. "You called for me."
Van Doran looked up from her desk. "Where's Fitzgerald?" she nearly barked.
"Martin went with Agent Taylor to Podena's uncle's farm in upstate New York."
"I guess I'll have to deal with him later. But you can tell me," she fingered the tape, "what's so special about this tape?"
Vivian swallowed unable to find her voice. She had worked so hard, been so loyal, gave so much of herself to the job and now she was about to lose it all.
"What's on the tape Agent Johnson? I can only imagine. Something that you would be willing to steal. Something that Fitzgerald was willing to lose your friendship for. What is the great secret on this tape?" Van Doran's voice rose.
"I'm afraid you'll have to listen for yourself...I won't tell you." Vivian's heart pounded.
"Loyal to your friends huh? Are you protecting Jack?"
Vivian gave no response.
"Fine, I guess I'll just have to listen to it myself." Van Doran reached back grabbing a black CD/tape player from the area behind her desk. She inserted the tape and pressed play. Thomas Spade's voice loomed through out the room.
"Um, excuse me." Trisha broke in threw the intercom.
"Trisha, can this wait, I'm busy right now." Van Doran paused the tape.
"I'm afraid it can't. I just took a phone call from the detox center. Franklin Podena killed two guards while impersonating a FBI agent. He took Thomas Spade with him."
"Oh, God," Vivian said turning to leave.
"Where are you going?" Van Doran demanded.
"I have a job to do," Vivian said hoping that she did.
After Johnson's departure Van Doran pressed play on the tape deck side. The interrogation filled the office. She couldn't help but think that something pretty damaging must be on the tape for Vivian Johnson to steal and refuse to cooperate. She thought about Martin and the rumors of his dating Samantha Spade. Van Doran of course knew of Sam's involvement with Jack. The interrogation was ending. Vivian had been willing to risk her career for Jack. For Jack and Sam. Van Doran pressed the stopped button and removed the tape. She figured what was on there. She liked Jack, she actually liked all the people involved. Holding the tape up, she reached in and pulled out the black ribbon. No one would be able to listen to it.
"I'll keep your secret too, Jack," she said going back to the business of the day.
"Thanks for the ride," Franklin Podena leered at the cab driver.
"please, don't kill me," the driver said meekly.
"Oh don't worry, I'm not." Podena said. He put the gun to the back of the man's head and pulled the trigger.
Thomas screamed. Blood and brain matter was on his face, arms, it covered his body.
"I guess he won't get his tip," Podena said laughing. "Get out."
Thomas did, slipping on blood. Podena had made the cad driver bring them to a warehouse; gray, abandoned looking with broken windows and live-in pigeons. The coldness of the floor went through Thomas's sneakers chilling his feet.
"Where are we?" Thomas asked.
"Alien headquarters," Podena laughed again.
"Someone always knows the sins you commit and then later they make you pay Franklin." Thomas swallowed hard as he spoke.
"Oh I'll pay but you and Samantha Spade are going with me to hell."
"Not Samantha her heart is pure."
"No one's heart is pure."
"Sam's is. The infection cleansed her."
"What is she sick or is that some of your strange shit you're always sprouting?"
"A little of both." Thomas said with a shrug.
Podena opened a faucet. Tan water flowed out. "Here Thomas clean yourself up."
"Thank you." Thomas said, scrubbing with a bar of soap his face. Out of the corner of his eye he saw a bottle- clear and beautiful.
Podena picked it up. "I almost forget I left this here. Want some Vodka, Thomas?"
Thomas swallowed hard. He had to resist, the alien colonies were inside of it. "Noooo, thanks."
"You sure?" Podena opened it, the smell entering his nostrils. "One swig won't hurt." Podena gulped down a mouthful and extended the bottle out to Thomas.
"It's evil, I can't." He had tears in his eyes.
"It's not evil, you drink this all day. Just yesterday, I brought you a bottle." Podena eyed him like a snake looking at his prey.
"it's different now. The alien center I was at did a mind transfer on me. I can't touch that poison anymore."
"Thomas…" Podena's angry was growing.
"I can't. I'll die if I do. It's like a bomb in my chest." Thomas nodded his sweating head.
"Fine then," Podena said putting down the bottle and slamming the end of the gun into Thomas's head. He fell quickly to the ground lights dancing around in his mind. Podena grabbed the bottle, opened Thomas's mouth and began emptying the contents into him. Thomas fought trying to push Podena away, trying not to swallow the poison, trying not to drown. Eventually he gave him and swallowed the rest Podena poured in.
"Here you go. Good boy." Podena put the empty bottle on the table. "This will be the home of our little bomb. What a great show it will be. I can see the front-page now- "FBI agent killed in explosion". Maybe someone will morn for you, Thomas." Podena looked down. Thomas Spade was passed out on the floor, a familiar situation for the young man. "When you wake up the real fun will begin."
He dialed the number after leaving the detox center. He had wanted to be beside her even though he knew she wasn't hurt badly but he also knew he had a job to do. He had toyed with the idea of checking in at the hospital face to face but the phone was more impersonal and that was probably best given the situation. He asked for her doctor and was revealed to hear that she had only needed three stitches. The doctor's next question served to shake him up.
"She can leave the hospital now. Are you coming to pick her up?"
Jack paused thinking of being alone in the car with Sam. Her lips still burning his own from the morning. The feel of her close to him again. No he couldn't risk it, he had too much to lose. "Um, Vivian Johnson will pick her up in a few minutes." He turned and looked at Vivian who was interviewing a guard who had lived for he had been lucky enough to avoid Podena. It was better this way, better for Vivian to pick her up.
Samantha looked in the mirror at the black stitches on her head. The scar would be small at least. She was upset that Podena got away and worried about Thomas in the detox center. But one happy thought filled her mind- Jack would pick her up from here. After her experience she wondered if the time was right to tell him her feelings. Maybe there was some chance they could be together. Sam smiled at her reflection, Jack could make even dismal days wonderful.
Podena left Thomas unconscious on the floor. He headed out to gather some supplies for his bomb making activity. From on the floor Thomas Spade slowly opened one eye.
To be continued…