CURIOSITY PART VII
Community General Hospital—6.43pm
Jesse could swear he was hearing Haley's voice. It sounded so much like her. He could feel her touching him. But Jesse couldn't respond. He couldn't move or wake up or get out of the fog that threatened to drag him away all the time. Jesse tried so hard to pull himself out but it was so much hard work. He could hear Jesse's voice. He had heard Mark's voice earlier. When was it? A few hours ago? A few days? Weeks? Jesse didn't know. He wanted to get out. He was confused. And all the time there was Haley's voice echoing in his ears. He didn't know whether to be happy about that or worried.
Jesse remembered her touch. He remembered when she touched his cheek down in his prison cell as he called it. She was talking about it. You remembered me talking to you in the warehouse when we were alone. Jesse did remember.
He had just about recovered from Marcus's electric torture. His breath still came out in rasps but he had just about stopped shivering. He was cold though, sitting in just his short sleeved shirt and hospital gown. He was in an uncomfortable position and he had stopped crying a while back. Jesse had forced himself to stop and think about the hopeless situation. He stopped thinking that his tired feeling at the hospital was the last time he'd ever see Mark, Steve and Amanda again. He'd never work as an intern with the job he loved and the people he loved. Jesse had felt as though his life was suddenly disappearing and that was what made Jesse cry. But now, after his painful experience with the electrocution, he had calmed down and come to terms with it. He was willing to fight to the end.
As he sat thinking, shuffling his numb feet that were still tied and hands that were tied to the piping, the door opened. He prayed to God quickly that it wasn't Marcus. He prayed to be spared for a small time until he had recovered and thought of something. He knew it wouldn't be until tomorrow that they noticed him missing and by then it would be too late. Marcus knew that in the morning people would come looking for him and maybe piece things out. Mark could piece anything out. They had to 'dispose' of him before anyone could find out.
So Jesse prayed and closed his eyes, putting his forehead on his knees and clenched his fists. He expected to hear no sound but that device press into his arm again and the hell start. But that didn't happen. There was the sound of clicking on the cement floor. Someone knelt by Jesse and he closed his eyes, scared as he could ever remember, on the edge of his nerves. Someone put their hands on his shoulder. And then all he could register was the faint feel of someone kissing him on the neck.
Suddenly, he had a horrid thought. Driving away, he sighed partially with relief when he saw it was Haley. But there was still an angered feel inside of him. He couldn't believe the cheek of it. Even in the last few hours she was still trying to scrape a kiss.
"Why don't you run back to Marcus," Jesse said. "You'd get more love out of him." Jesse couldn't believe he said that.
Haley retreated back like she was frightened. Her eyes widened. "What?"
"You heard me!" Jesse shouted struggling. "Go to Marcus. He loves you more than I do. And it's far obvious that you love him more than me. You've used me as your little scapegoat for long enough. Don't think you can get any more out of me." Jesse was left breathless after that outburst. The torture had drained him.
Haley came back. "I love you, Jesse. I love you more than Marcus."
Jesse looked up at her and shook some of the hair that strayed into his eyes. He narrowed his eyes. "If you loved me more than Marcus you would untie me and help me out of here." Jesse knew it was a fruitless plea.
Haley's eyes widened in shock. "If there was anyway I could get you out of here I would but it's just that it's Marcus. He'll kill me, Jess, and then he'll kill you. He doesn't care who gets hurt." She sat down beside Jesse but didn't look at him. "I'm scared, Jesse. When I first met him he was so nice to me and treated me great. Now I know what he's doing, what he's done and what he plans to do, I'm scared. He's not afraid of hurting anyone, not even me."
Jesse let out a long breath. "Then help me get out. I could talk to my friend, Steve. He's a cop. He'll help you. He'll give you protective custody."
Haley sighed. "A lot of good that did Day Passer."
Jesse sighed. His argument was getting him nowhere. "Please help me, Haley. I could help you as well. Why are you letting him take over your life like this? You could just stay with me instead and we could get rid of Marcus."
Haley looked up at him. "So do you believe that I still love you."
Jesse shrugged and looked up at her. She saw hope in her eyes but what he also was something that he had seen no amount of in someone else's eyes. There was definite fear through the hope. Jesse knew she was scared witless and that she was too scared to even do anything for herself. He nodded slowly, looked into her sapphire blue eyes. Even in the darkness of the small box room they seemed to lighten up. "Yes I do." He closed his eyes and rested his head against the wall oft the room.
Haley leaned forward and made him look at her. "Good, then you'd know that I would do anything to help you if it didn't mean risking both of our lives. If we went then you'd know he'd come after us and there are people everywhere."
Jesse nodded. "Yeah, I know." He leaned forward to kiss her and she kissed back. He missed kissing her for so long even though it had only been the day before last that he'd seen her. She put her hands on his shoulders and kissed even harder. Jesse thought he'd finally felt better that day. He didn't think things were looking up but he still had Haley…not that she had proven it yet. Jesse hoped that he could spark something off so that Haley would help him get out of this situation. He felt her hands move down and undo several buttons on his shirt. "Haley!" he whispered. "Now isn't the time or the place."
Haley looked down. "I know, I'm sorry."
Jesse sighed and shook his head, feeling guilty for the way he'd snapped at her. "No, I'm sorry too. I shouldn't have snapped at you like that. It's just…I'm scared too. I'm scared that I'll never see you again and we'll never have the chance to do that again."
Haley nodded. "I know."
The door suddenly opened and Carlos stepped in. He laughed for a second at the scene on the ground and Jesse's shirt half undone. "Looks like you two love birds have got practically everything you need." He leant down towards Haley. "You got him right where you want him, you know." He winked.
Haley stood up and slapped Carlos across the face. "Grow up." With that she left the room with Carlos laughing behind leaving Jesse alone again in the darkness.
Sloan's Beach House—Next Day—9.29am
Mark sat back in one of the deck chairs in house. He and Amanda had decided to take a little time off so they could try and find out Jesse's attacker more carefully. Steve was supposed to come in a minute. Mark sighed and looked at the autopsy report of Day Passer. "Poor guy," he said miserably. "I wonder how long he was staying with Jesse and if they got along at all."
Amanda shrugged. "We'll soon find out. Either way we're not here to help Day Passer anymore. No one can help him. We're trying to help Jesse by finding this guy and if Jesse—" She stopped and corrected herself. "When Jesse wakes up, he may be able to tell us more." Amanda picked up another newspaper clipping and read through them all again. Despite what she had said, she was fascinated about the story of Day Passer. She wanted to know more about him.
She was still reading when Steve arrived and walked up the stairs. "Boy, you won't believe how much stuff you can dig up about this guy and what is on that tape." He put down a tape recorder with the tape they found at Jesse's apartment inside. Then he sat down beside Amanda and opened his file. "A very interesting man this Marcus Lavoy. I thought I recognized his name. He owns some part of LA. One of the biggest crime lords in California." Mark raised his eyebrows in surprise. "Originally, he was set to have split from the mob and started his own business. He's one hell of a rich guy and gets practically everything he wants."
"Sounds like a regular kingpin," Mark said.
Steve nodded. "No kidding. Any opposition, he gets rid of, any threat, he gets rid of, any curious girlfriend…he gets rid of."
"Whitney Ives," Mark suddenly said.
Steve nodded. "I went against the captain's orders to get all this stuff. Whitney Ives was Marcus's girlfriend. Last year around August, Lavoy was doing some heavy drug shipments. And anyone who got in the way was killed off. Whitney Ives saw the murder of a normal man working at the docks. When Marcus found and she ran off, he tried a few hits on her. When police finally got evidence on him, they got Whitney Ives as their star witness. The defendant was none other than Day Passer. The case notes go on like that in the newspaper clippings. We know that Day Passer went missing, what happened to Whitney Ives, we don't know."
"But Marcus Lavoy is up here now trying to find Day Passer. Day Passer did something to make Marcus want him and put him in the witness protection program. Marcus found out somehow he was at Jesse's and got him and tortured him that night to find out where Day was." Mark sighed. "They got to Day then."
Amanda gasped. "Torture?" she asked in disbelief.
Mark nodded. "Pete pulled me aside and filled me in on a few details. There were strange burn marks on Jesse's arms. The skin had peeled off. Now, we don't think it was burning because there are two puncture marks there which show electrical torture." Amanda's mouth opened in shock but she didn't do anything. Steve remained silent. "Then there was such a beating that would have been almost too much. After all this, he probably gave in and told him where Day was."
Steve nodded. "And I think I know who told Marcus about Jesse and Day. It was Marcus' latest girlfriend."
Mark was about to ask who, when Amanda suddenly said, "Haley."
Steve raised his eyebrows in surprise. "It has to be," Amanda said. "Maybe it's in your files but don't you remember when we were talking to Haley yesterday after I asked her about the photos on her mantelpiece. She mentioned him being in Nevada and we know that Nevada was where this case was set." Steve thought back to yesterday.
-----------------
"You have pictures of your ex-boyfriend here?" Amanda asked surprised.
Haley smiled and sniffed. "Maybe some love never dies. Jesse says it's not a problem as long as he's somewhere there."
Amanda laughed and put the photo down. "Sounds like Jesse."
Haley turned around. "Anyway, he's long gone now. Last time I knew, he was in Nevada or somewhere like that."
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Steve nodded. "You're right Amanda in that sense. It is Haley." He handed the file over to his father and Amanda. "Recognize the guy?"
Amanda nodded. "This was the ex-boyfriend on Haley's mantelpiece." Steve nodded. Amanda suddenly felt sick and put the file down. "That means that Haley was lying to Jesse all along. She just tried to make herself get close to him so that he could find out about Day and the whole operation. She used him and then sold him off to Marcus when all the information was collected."
Mark frowned and put a hand to his chin. "I'm not so sure it was totally like that." The others looked at him. "I mean, in a sense that how she felt about it. I really think she felt something for Jesse. When she came to the hospital yesterday, she spoke very passionately about how she felt for Jesse. I really think she loved Jesse and was guilty about what she'd done. She was crying when she left the hospital, I saw it myself."
Steve shut the file. "She has a professional mobster as a boyfriend, dad. She can act out anything she wants. I'm going back to talk to her later." He pulled the tape recorder towards him. "This was Day Passer's. He kept records of practically all important conversations he had. There are ones with him and Jesse, one with Anders and other little things. Here have a listen at some of them." He rewound the tape quickly and turned it on. There was a few seconds delay as the starting tape ran and then voices were heard across the speakers of the recorder.
"Jesse, Day, how's it going for you," a strange man's voice asked.
"Great thanks," said someone else who they presumed was Day.
Jesse's familiar laugh came across. "Yeah, it's like having a roommate and I haven't had one of them since collage."
There was the sound of indignant hurt. "I hope you won't treat me like that."
"Like what?" Jesse asked.
Some roommate you can toss around." Both of them laughed.
"Excuse me, gentleman, when you have finished you jibing, I would like to give you some warnings. This is equally dangerous for both of you. Jesse, it's your responsibility to lookout for Day. Anyone hanging around, any strange accidents, you call me all right? Whatever you do, don't call from Jesse's phone. Call from a mobile or payphone."
"Yeah, sure, Anders," Day's voice said lightly.
The other voice sighed. "Day, I know this is laboriously boring for you now after nine months. But still keep a lookout."
"Don't worry, Anders, Jesse will look after me," Day said and they laughed.
"And Jesse," Anders said, "I know you really didn't want to do this because you have a lot of commitments but I appreciate it. It's not often we can find someone like you to help us."
Jesse sighed. "Yeah, well, I'm in it now. Besides, we may have some fun."
The conversation stopped there.
There was another short one after that. "Hey, Day," Jesse's voice ran through. "You okay?"
"Yer, just fine," Day said.
"Are you raiding my fridge again."
"Hey, I haven't got anywhere to go so I gotta eat something." Jesse sighed. "So, how's work at the hospital."
"Same as usual. I gotta check on a patient in a second. Just calling to make sure my apartment is till intact."
"What from hitmen?"
"No, from you," Jesse answered teasingly and Day laughed.
"Hey, Jesse, you gonna be back early. There's a game on tonight."
"Maybe. Just gotta see how my shift turns out and if no causalities come in."1 "Cool."
The next one. "Hi, Jesse, that you?"
"Yeah, what brings you to call me at---nine at night, Anders?"
"Checking up. That is my job you know. Nothing strange happening."
Jesse laughed down the other end of the phone. There was the sound of something boiling. It seemed Jesse was doing two things at once. "Err…nope. Everything is running like clockwork here. No strange calls and so far, no bullets in my apartment."
"Not amusing Jesse."
"I know, I'm just trying to calm myself."
"Is Day there."
"I'm here, Anders, don't worry. I'm still alive." Jesse and Day laughed.
"Well, it seems that you two appear to be getting on fine. Day finally found someone he got along with. I'll leave you to your cooking, Jess."
"Yeah, bye."
The last one Steve decided to play. "Anders!" Day practically screamed down the phone.
There was a silence. "Day, is that you?" Anders got angry. "I told you not to call me in case it was an emergency. Are you calling from Jesse's house?"
"Yes."
"Damnit, Day, I told you not to call from his house. It could lead both of you into danger. Do you not pay attention to anything I say."
"This is an emergency, Anders, and it could mean both of our safety. Someone broke into Jesse's apartment. His room is trashed and there's this strong smell in the room."
"Well, maybe someone raided his apartment," Anders suggested.
"No!" Day cried. "It's worse than that. Jesse would have come back home by now, I know it. He doesn't work past one in the morning so he would have been here. They've got him, Anders, I know it. Oh God, they're gonna hurt him, Anders, they're gonna hurt him bad."
"Now, Day, what's important is your safety…"
"And what about Jesse's!" Day screamed down the phone. "You got him mixed up in this without a choice. Now he's in trouble and he doesn't matter."
"No, that's not what I'm saying, Day. What are the chances that Jesse's got? Remember the other three? We wouldn't have time to find Jesse before something happened. The best thing to do is to get you out of there. I'm going to send someone over to pick you up right now."
"Okay but make it…" Day cut off.
"Day!" Anders shouted, but there was no answer. "Day, talk to me, God Damnit!" Still, Day didn't say anything.
To Steve, Mark and Amanda, Anders was now talking to someone else. "Where's Jesse?" he demanded quietly.
"In a place of happiness," the man said.
"You mother—"
"Don't even try it, Passer. I've got you right in my sights. I could shoot you right now but that would suck the fun out of it. You want to know what I've done to your little friend? Yes, we got him and yes, we got the answers out of him. It took some time and some roughing up but we got there. He said you'd be back later tonight to the apartment."
"You can let him go now."
"I'm afraid it's a little too late for that. You see, the damage has already been done. We had to do it all tonight otherwise we wouldn't get paid so the hard part had to be done tonight. A seven-day torture was done in less than a few hours. As you can imagine, it wouldn't have been really pretty…"
Anders screaming at him down the phone but Day paid no attention. "I hope you rot in hell," he whispered.
"You'll go there first, though."
The conversations ended with the sound of a shot, which made them all flinch. The tape clicked itself off and Amanda took a deep breath. "That's the last phone call Day made. It must have happened on the night Jesse was kidnapped." Mark shook his head and Amanda and Steve looked at him. Mark seemed very deep in thought about something. "Mark, what's wrong?"
Mark sighed and took his hand away from his forehead. "I was just thinking. This Day Passer fella seemed like a very nice bloke. From the conversations, he and Jesse seemed to get along really well. It was just like one big ball to them. They were both concerned about each others safety. It was as though they were real roommates." Amanda and Mark nodded. "When Jesse wakes up he's going to be heartbroken over Day's death." He glanced at the tape, hoping that he'd never have to let Jesse hear that.
