Author's Notes: Hope you're enjoying the story. Reviews are appreciated and inspire me to update faster.
Part 27
Age: 27 Years 8 Months
Jack stood listening politely as Samantha's Father spoke patronizingly to him. Dr. Walter Anderson had made a presentation earlier along with several of his colleagues and now he was hitting up Jack and other wealthy individuals at the gala for financial backing. Although Jack had every intention of giving Walter the money he wanted, Dr. Anderson was unaware and pitched his theories yet again to Jack. Actually Jack was more than well versed, but he deliberately curbed his tongue to refrain from betraying too much.
"You're surprising knowledgeable Mr. Newquay. One seldom meets a layman with so much knowledge in the field."
Dismissing the comment, Jack replied"Oh I have read a few articles and have some minor interest in the medical field. But then I don't have a wife and family to occupy my time. Do you have family Dr. Anderson"
Walter was reluctant to discuss his daughter, even though he felt he'd acted for the best, he felt uneasy when he recalled the past. Perhaps this Newquay fellow was testing him, he was part of the family that had paid him to deal with Samantha's baby. At last he answered"I have a Daughter. Several years ago I had some dealings with Senator Newquay, is he a relation of yours"
"Distant. Or rather was, he's deceased. A Daughter? Tell me about her" Jack invited. Any chance he had to gain more information about Samantha was welcome, even from a source as boring as her Father. And recently he'd discovered in his Father's books that the Senator had given Walter a large amount of money the year he and Samantha were parted. Jack was curious if there was any relation between the two events. A while back, Jack attempted to get some answers from his Mother, but she seemed to be degenerating mentally and a couple months ago, Jack had hired a man to supposedly be her butler, but was in fact her keeper. Johnson locked the iron grated doors on the Savannah house and kept a close eye on Miriam.
Reluctantly, Walter took Sam's photo out of his wallet and handed it to Jack"That's Sam."
Smiling, Jack breathed softly"Samantha."
"Did you say something"
"Your Daughter is lovely. I'm sure she'll make some man quite fortunate one day."
"She's married, but to be honest I don't much like the fellow."
Forcing a smile, Jack thought, that makes two of us.
Throughout the afternoon and into the evening Jack coaxed every bit of information out of Walter he could and wrote a check for two million dollars without blinking. Walter thanked him profusely and mentally decided if Sam ever got tired of Tom, to try and introduce the pair. As the evening wore on, Jack continued to monopolize Dr. Anderson's time and after plying him with a great deal of alcohol and slipping a Dr. Trades special into his drink, got him to open up about some of his secrets. Before the night was out, Jack had the name of a town called Otis where Dr. Anderson had participated in some unethical experiments. The town's people had never fully recovered and would likely be easy for him to control.
Age: 28 Years 3 Months
Jack read the newspaper article over and over with fury. Eight months ago, Jack had injected Vera Lewis and her dog with an active strain of rabies which killed them both. He had left a clear message for Samantha by killing the woman who as a girl had gotten his Samantha into trouble over taking a rose. Samantha kept identifying his creations, yet she refused to admire them properly. According to the paper, Samantha was leaving the FBI to spend time with her family.
They are not your family, Jack thought. I'm your husband, not Tom. How can you leave me like this? I have created one of the greatest puzzles of all time, just to show you my love and instead of accepting my offerings, you turn your back on me? Why Samantha? Why do you refuse to accept what I'm giving you? I found out what you did to Billy Watkins, you have violence within you. Even as young as we were I knew what we could do together. You're meant to create, just as I am Samantha. How could she ignore him like this?
After reading the article, Jack followed Samantha, Tom and Chloe to dinner that evening. Quietly Jack observed through the restaurant window, carefully concealing himself. Waiting until they were served, he used his cell phone and ordered the florist to make the delivery he'd arranged. Two dozen blood red roses with the thorns still attached were laid in Sam's lap with a card reading, You're Mine. Tom looked angry and Jack smiled. Punching in the number for the restaurant, Jack waited as a phone was brought to Samantha at the table.
"Samantha" Jack murmured sibilantly.
Repulsed and intrigued, Samantha prompted"Jack"
"That's right. Enjoy your chicken cacciatore, my Samantha" Jack told her and hung up.
Looking at her plate and then looking around the restaurant, Samantha no longer felt hungry. The meal was finished in silence except for Chloe's chatter. After Chloe was put to bed, Tom attacked Sam.
"What the hell was that all about tonight"
"Tom, you know I can't help what Jack does"
"Can't you? You know Sam, sometimes I wonder if you don't enjoy that freak's attention because you sure can't do anything to stop it"
"Tom, that's not fair. I left the FBI, what more can I do"
"Sometimes I wonder if you don't know God damned well who he is"
Appalled, Sam demanded"What is that supposed to mean"
"You know, I used to think you were frigid. But then one night I heard you calling out his name in your sleep."
"Tom I have nightmares sometimes"
Interrupting, Tom snapped"Oh no, Sam. Not nightmares. You know, sometimes you cum in your sleep. You make sounds you've never made for me and over and over you cry out his name."
"I'm going to bed" Samantha told him coldly.
Grabbing her arms roughly, Tom pushed her up against the wall and kissed her hard.
"Tom! You're hurting me" Sam cried out.
"Am I" Tom rasped. "Isn't that what it takes to excite you? You don't cum for me, Christ, you don't even get wet. But at night, when you're dreaming of your precious fucking Jack, you get plenty worked up."
"It's not like that" Samantha retorted angrily.
"Isn't it? I'm a nice guy Sam. Some women might actually find me attractive, but not you. Why"
Pushed to the breaking point, Sam screamed"Because I don't love you" Then she began to sob"I tried to love you, but I can't."
Running his hand through his hair, Tom took a step back"Sam"
Running away from him, Sam slammed the bedroom door shut and locked Tom out for the night. Sobbing on the bed, Samantha ripped her unnatural feeling wedding rings off and took the Alpha ring from around her neck and slid it on her finger. The ring felt right, Jack was the only man she ever would belong to. Maybe, she should divorce Tom. And do what? She thought having someone loving her and giving her a child would help the hollow feeling and it didn't. What was there for her?
Early the next morning, Sam replaced the Alpha ring on it's chain around her neck and shoved her wedding rings back on. She would keep her thoughts to herself for a couple days and make a decision then. Pushing aside the agent that was supposed to guard her, Samantha went for a run. The May morning was rather warm and she stripped off her windbreaker and ran in her sports bra. Behind Jack followed as always watching over her, but when Samantha stopped to take a break, he saw the finger shaped bruises and his eyes narrowed. Originally he'd intended to kill his rival in November for his anniversary with Samantha; but instantly amended his plans. How dare that oaf touch his Samantha!
That evening, Samantha had stopped to meet with Bailey Malone for dinner to discuss Jack's dinner phone call the night before. Waiting until he was certain Chloe was tucked in, Jack pulled a latex mask over his face and using a silencer shot the officer who was watching the Waters house. Efficiently, Jack picked the lock as he had many times before the house had round the clock security and entered. Making his way to the bedroom, Jack found Tom and ripped his mask off.
"Who the hell are you"
"Me? I'm Samantha's husband. Her true husband. But you probably know me better as Jack" he taunted.
Foolishly, Tom took a swing at Jack which he easily ducked and a moment later grabbed his usurper around the neck and snapped. As Tom fell to the floor, Jack bent over, slipped off Tom's wedding band and pocketed it. Sliding back on his mask he started to leave when he heard a sound in the hall. Spotting Chloe, Jack simply put his finger to his lips to shush her and waited for her to return to bed. Quickly Jack made his get away and once he was safely away slipped his mask off and smiled...
