Part 18
I cannot believe this! He has to be the guy. He has to be!! Thank god I'm holding Donna's shoulder. If not I think I just might fall over. Am I holding her too hard? Nah, I don't think so.
"Allison, he's not worth brooding over." I notice Jane starts speaking. Allison? Oh, the disguise for CJ. Hmmm….Allison actually suits her. I mean suits her blond self.
"Well, I'm not. I'm ge..getting drunk instead." CJ says. Wow, she's doing the whole slurry voice we get when we are drunk.
I notice the table filled with beer bottles and some glasses. I wonder where they dumped all the drinks.
"Come on, you're getting Stan all moody. Isn't she, my little pumpkin?" Pumpkin? Jane places her hand on Sam's face and oh my….she tickles the back of his neck. Wow, Sam's getting more than he bargained for.
I just noticed McCain slightly tilting his head. I'm sure he's trying to get a better view of them.
"He's definitely listing to y'all." Woods announces.
"Look, we came here to have a good time. You needed to get out. Let's go dance. You're supposed to be having fun and not wallowing in self pity." Jane says back to CJ.
"Oh god. If you wanna have a good time, go ahead. Go dance! Just..just stop bugging me."
"All right. Have it your way. Let's go Stan." Jane puts her hand on Sam and drags him away.
"He's getting up. He's getting up!!"
"We can see that Mr. Lyman. Don't have to announce it. Okay, Ms Cregg, He's moving again……….he's going towards the bar. Riedel, move to the right! We need him on the monitor."
We can see McCain back on the monitor again. He's clearly waiting for the bartender. I let go of Donna's shoulder.
"Ah, blood circulation resumes." Eek, didn't realize I was cutting Donna's circulation.
"Shh." That earned Woods a death glare from Donna. If only he averted his eyes from the screen, he could've seen it.
I now can see McCain holding a drink. He's walking away from the bar now. He's walking to the side of the bar. He comes in and out of the monitor. The detective must be having a hard time following him at the right range nonetheless.
Ah, McCain finally stops. What the….Woah….
"Yeah Baby. We hit the jackpot!" Woods exclaims.
"Oh my god. He's actually…..Josh!" Donna exclaims and grips my arm.
We could actually see McCain somewhere in a corner taking a little bag and putting some kind of powder into the drink. Well, not really some kinda powder since we know WHAT it actually is. That son of a…..Arrggghhh!
"All right Ms Cregg. Stay focused. He just drugged the drink. We got him!"
We can see McCain moving again. He seems to be talking to a waitress walking by. He puts his head down and says something to her. The waitress moves away with the drink in her hand. Riedel is following the waitress now. I hope he's keeping an eye on McCain as well.
Man, our plan is working! It actually is working! With all the odds against it, who the heck would've guessed. The drink was handed to CJ.
"Wow. I can't believe that just happened. I mean I saw it but…….does she have to drink it? Is it necessary? I mean we got him already. It's obvious what's gonna happen next." I see Donna's point. But I think the police know what their doing.
"Yeah but the last thing we need is him getting some leeway. There are no witnesses for all the other cases. It's hard to pin him as a serial rapist with just what we have. We're looking to get him hard. Maximum penalty." Woods makes sense.
He places his microphone back and speaks to CJ. "Ms Cregg. We have your back. I promise. We'll be following you. You have your earpiece. He's just one guy. But it's up to you to drink it." With that CJ takes a big gulp from the drink. Man she's brave. She didn't even flinch.
"God, I can hardly breath." Donna says as she places her hand on her heart. I know how she feels.
We can see CJ getting unfocused. Her eyes are struggling to be open and she's swaying a bit. My god, this would have been the same thing Donna endured. And now Donna can see what happened to her. All her answers are right in front of her face. I hope this doesn't make things worse for her. That's the very last thing she needs.
"He's approaching her." The monitor now shows McCain on the move. We can see Jane and Sam as he passes by them. Even from this screen, we can see that their eyes show fear and incredible apprehension.
McCain approaches CJ. He whispers something in her ear for sometime. We can't hear it. He's far from CJ's microphone.
"All right, he's taking her. Everyone leave as soon as he leaves the club but make sure it doesn't seem obvious. McGregor, Seaman, stand by." Woods says, using those walkie- talkie things to address the other two cops who are going to follow McCain.
We see him leave the club. Woods jumps back into the driver's seat and asks us to keep an eye on the monitor. I noticed hands grabbing what's left of the drink CJ had and pouring it into a plastic bag. That has to be Riedel collecting evidence.
We hear knocking at the back of the van. It's Sam and Jane. The detective follows just behind them.
"Okay guys, let's go." Detective Riedel gives the go and gives the warning to the officers at the apartment.
"Okay, he's finally moving. It seemed like he must have been looking for her address." We can hear McGregor on the speaker again.
Officer Woods started to drive according to the other cop's directions.
"You guys were great." Donna says to Jane and Sam.
"Well, I just hope everything will be alright with CJ. That's all that matters now." Jane responded.
"I just can't wait till we get that bastard. And it's so close." Sam continues.
I put my arm on Sam hoping he'll understand how much I've appreciated what he's done. He gives me a knowing smile.
"We're here. He's fallen for the bait." Yes!!!! He's come to the house as we expected. God, I hope he hasn't hurt CJ.
Officer Woods parked the car further away from the house. He comes to the back and clicks a bunch of switches and connects several wires. And voila, the images of the house appear on the screen. He can switch to different areas of the house by clicking the number of the corresponding security camera.
Detective Riedel was communicating with the police officers who were apparently at the back door of the house.
I can now see McCain dragging CJ into the house. He then opens the doors at several rooms. Woods switches the camera numbers pretty fast.
"Okay, this is it. Standby guys. He's at the master room." I hear the detective telling the cops at the house.
Oh dear god. He's putting CJ on the bed in one of the rooms. He's starting to unbutton her blouse.
"Come on! They've got to go in now!!" I shouted. What else do the cops need?!
"All right. Get in there!" Finally!
Gross! He's starting to lick or suck her face. Arrghhh…if I could just go in there myself and punch the living daylights out of him.
"Get him! Get him!" Sam exclaims.
We see the cops go in and point guns at him. He raises his arms upright. They handcuff him. I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding.
"We've got to go get CJ." Donna says to Riedel.
"Don't worry McGregor and Seaman are taking her straight to the hospital. We're taking her to Potomac Hospital not GW, so that it will be less likely for her to be easily recognized."
"Alright. I wanna go with her." Donna says.
"Yeah, me too." Sam joins her.
"I wanna go give a piece of my mind to McCain."
"NO!!!" Wow, talk about ganging up on me.
"Josh, we don't want him to see you. We don't want him to know any of us were involved. It's the only way to retain Donna's privacy. Being who you are, this is the last thing you need. And Donna, Sam…..we want to remain discrete. They're going to find out about the date rape drug. The last thing they need is a reminder who CJ is. I'll go. I'll be on the cell with you the whole time. I promise. I'll also make sure no one finds out who she is." Jane makes a lot of sense. I've got to calm my boiling anger down.
"That's going to be hard isn't it?" I ask her. CJ is the press secretary after all. I guess we didn't really think this through.
"Good thing not many people know her as Claudia. And I have a doctor friend at that hospital who knows we're coming in. He'll make sure all the records are kept confidential and there's no leak." Jane says. Wow, I guess she thought this through.
"We'll drop Jane at the hospital. Good job guys. We did it. It's over. Ms Moss, I hope this gives you some form of closure that I'm sure you needed. Thank you all for all your help in getting this guy what he deserves."
"No, thank you detective, and officer. There's no way we would have gotten to this point without you." Isn't that so like my Donna?
"Yeah, thank you. I don't know how to repay you." I say to them.
"Well, cutting off income tax could be a start." We all laugh at Officer Wood's comment.
Later than night Sam, Donna and I went into the police station to give our statements. We managed to meet the other cops that helped us and thanked them.
Jane called from the hospital and told us that they pumped out some of the toxin from CJ and took a blood test. CJ's also awake but weak and tired. The hospital is releasing her tonight itself due to the special help provided by Jane's doctor friend. Whoever he is, I should express my gratitude. Donna made sure Jane brings CJ to my place so she can spend the night with us. I completely agreed with Donna. Which is why, at 2am, I'm helping Donna make up the guest room for CJ.
"Hey, CJ okay?" I ask as Donna finally enters my bedroom.
"Yup. I didn't want to leave until she fell asleep. I'm sorry."
"That's okay. Thank god it's Sunday tomorrow. CJ's not going to the office at all."
"Yeah, I know. That's good." Donna slides under the covers with me.
I just realize I didn't even hug or kiss Donna the whole day. Even when everything ended. I suck.
"Come here." I stretched out my arms towards her as she leans in.
"It's over darling. It's finally over. How do you feel about it?"
"I do feel like a huge weight has been lifted off me. Honestly, I literally feel lighter. I think I'm breathing better as well. I didn't even know I've not been breathing properly all this while." Donna laughed a little and so did I.
"But…."
"But what Donna?"
"I just don't want to feel too happy or burden free. After all, he's not sentenced yet. Heck, we don't even know what he's pleading. I mean, it could go on….."
"Donna, stop. It's over. They pinned him tonight no matter what. Don't think about all that stuff. Just let it go. Feel free to be burden free for the rest of the night at least."
"Okay. I will. I'm just going to relax and fall asleep in the arms of the man I love. Isn't life just perfect?" Oh yeah baby. I'm so da' man.
Sunday went on well. We were in the office for about five hours. Donna and I just relaxed the rest of the day. Much needed rest I must say.
"Joshua, Leo's office now! I told you about a minute and a half ago!"
"Alright Donna. I'm going. Geez, give a guy a break at 7.30am on a Monday morning, will 'ya." Man, she's strict.
I walk into Leo's office to see, as usual, Toby, Sam and CJ all there before me.
"Finally, you decided to join us Josh." Leo sounds kinda mad. Well, he always sounds mad but this time he seems really upset.
"Sorry." Well, what else can I say?
"Okay, as you can see I'm really pissed. You know why? Because you didn't fix it as you said you would." Leo points at CJ. What is he talking about?
"What…..didn't I fix?" CJ looks as confused as me.
"The reporter asking about my senior staff going to bars, asking odd questions. He contacted me again. Says something about you guys investigating some guy who drugged people in the bar. What the hell is going on? And don't give me some crap. We are not leaving until I get the truth, the whole truth."
"And nothing but the truth?" Hey, I can't help it. Okay, maybe I should shut my mouth for a change. Leo starring at me. I try not to look directly coz I think his stare just might kill me.
"Damn it. That guy….he said..."
"I don't give a damn what he said to you. Or whatever deal you proposed. He obviously decided not to take it and continued to pursue this. Probably because it's worth being pursued. So, just tell me what the heck is going on!?" Leo cut CJ abruptly.
"Don't look at me, I'm just as clueless as you." Toby speaks up.
"Josh? Sam?" Leo looks at us only causing us to look anywhere but his eyes.
Argh…we are not in third grade anymore. I have to speak up.
"It's someone else's privacy involved here Leo. That's why we can't say anything Leo."
"Look, I don't think you heard me. I don't give a rat's ass. We have a country to run and I don't have time to waste. Who's going to tell me now?"
Leo is responded by silence once again. I look up to see him rubbing his face.
"Do I know this person?" Do we say something? Do we not? CJ looks at me and so does Sam. I think they are expecting me to give an answer to Leo.
"Your looks tell me that I do know this person. So, I want to hear from this person by the end of the day. And that's a whole day longer than I should give you."
"Leo, it's not that simple. I can't…." I start but am cut off by Leo. Which is fine by me as I wouldn't know how continue anyway.
"It is that simple. We have to go to the Oval now." Leo opens his side door and leaves.
Toby glares at all of us. I'm guessing Sam and CJ are feeling just as guilty and helpless as me. Just when we thought it was all over. Don't we deserve some break? I think we do.
CJ and I decided to join Sam at his office as soon as the meeting was over.
"We need to talk to her. It's the only way." Sam says. Like hell.
"No way. She's just letting all of this go. We can't put her through this. We have to protect her."
"I understand that Josh. Believe me I do. But I'm with Sam here. We haven't got much of a choice Josh. You saw how Leo was. There's no other way out of this. And you know how hard it is for me to say this." Great, CJ's against me as well now.
"I'm supposed to protect Donna, Ceej. I couldn't before but now I have some control over this." I only just manage to get that out as I hear someone clearing his throat which caused all of us snapped our head towards the door.
"I'm sorry to have eavesdropped." Shit. Just when we needed more problems. It was Toby.
"Well you did, didn't you?" I snap. Ok, maybe he didn't totally deserve that but I just can't help it.
"For what it's worth…I mean I don't have a clue what's actually going on. But I know it's Donna you are protecting. I know Donna and I know she's a fighter. She can handle a whole lot more than you are giving her credit for. I witnessed that first hand after Rosslyn. How she took care of you and indirectly, all of us. Give her a chance to decide whether she could talk to Leo. Just give her the chance to make the decision herself. If you don't, you know Leo will find his ways and Donna would probably eventually find out. You think she would forgive any of you for that?" Ok…..Alright…Maybe he has a point.
"Well, that's just my opinion. Just remember you have until the end of the day." With that, Toby leaves the room.
TBC……….
