Author's Notes: Thank you for the kind reviews, I didn't mean to guilt you into reviewing, I simply needed a bit of motivation to write this chapter. I am already working on the next one because this ends in a tense spot. I promise all will end happily and hopefully within a week max. I'd aimed originally for 50 chapter, but this definitely is going to be more like 55ish. Another little note, this chapter now puts me to a total for all my writing of over 200K words! Reviews are appreciated.
Chapter 50
Age: 34 Years 7 Months
"Ma'am I need you to stop hitting Agent Grant," Bailey told Sofia and gently touched her shoulder as Sofia continued reigning blows with her purse on Grant's head.
"Agent Malone is right Momma," Samantha said sweetly. "Agent Malone is the one who hurt Jack, not Agent Grant."
At that Sofia shrugged and turned her handbag on Bailey and yelled, "Nobody hurts my son!"
Watching for several moments in amusement, Jack finally brought a halt to Sofia's attack before any agents interceded. Laughingly he told her, "Momma that's enough. Please stop."
"Hhhhmf," Sofia grumbled at Bailey giving him one final blow and moving over to Jack and Samantha.
"If you could please refrain from hitting our agents, I'd appreciate it Ma'am," Baxter instructed. "Now, let's start off by who exactly are you two?"
"I'm Konstantine Konstinappolis and this is my wife Sofia. Jack and Samantha are our childrens."
"Excuse me, I must have misheard, my head is still ringing from being hit with a purse," Grant interrupted. "But what in the hell do you mean, they're your children?"
Sofia shot him a menacing look as she reprimanded, "I am disapprovinged of your language. First honeymoons, they stay with us and we make them family. Bad parents keeps them apart. I am mothering Jack from then on and glad when daughter comes to senses and they marries again."
"Hah!" Bailey snorted. "Jack probably bribed them or brainwashed them."
Sofia took a step towards Bailey, when Samantha gently stopped her. Reluctantly Sofia sat down and asked, "What is makings you say such nasty things to my Son? What has he ever done to you?"
"What has he ever done to me?" Bailey shouted in disbelief.
Since she hadn't offended Sofia yet, Rachel inquired gently, "Are you aware Mrs. Konstinappolis that your Son is Jack-Of-All-Trades? He has killed no less than twenty people and very likely more."
"You have absolutely no proof of any such thing," Branson informed her.
"Then give us some evidence of where you were," Baxter suggested.
Konstantine piped up, "They were with Sofia and I in Memphis. Children come to get married. We have big fancied wedding planned but they not want to wait, so they ties knot early and have big wedding for Momma laters."
"Then why didn't you contact authorities when you were reported missing, Dr. Waters?" Baxter demanded.
Before Samantha could respond, Sofia interjected, "Televisions not work in their room and we are not liking the televisions. The children were startings the honeymoon early and not goings out, you understand my meaning"
Jack cast a look at his wife and then at his adoptive parents, trying to conceal his amazement. If they were lying for them, then they knew who he really was, Jack thought. Sweet Momma and Poppa who he had shielded carefully, not only knew who he really was but apparently accepted. Could it be that the three people he loved and cared about most in the world, actually loved and accepted him? The idea of his adopted parents and Samantha caring about him, knowing who he really was seemed incomprehensible.
"Prove it," Bailey growled. "Prove that you've really known him all this time and that they stayed with you."
Sofia lifted her purse and Grant eyes her warily. Opening her purse, Sofia took out a photo album and opened it up. Everyone leaned forward to look as she showed them photo after photo of Jack. Some were with herself, some with Konstantine, and others were with their relatives. There was no mistaking Jack's dark eyes and honey colored hair.
Samantha's heart clenched as she looked at the photos showing all the years she'd missed with Jack. Photo after photo showed the progression of years she'd missed. Although he was smiling in some of the photos, his eyes held a deep sorrow and she ached for him. It helped knowing he'd had Konstantine and Sofia, but it still wasn't the same as if Samantha had been with him. When Sofia turned the album to a series of pages that had been taken at their wedding reception, tears that had been gathering in Samantha's eyes began to fall.
Burying her face in Jack's neck she clung to him and sobbed. Jack longed to wrap his arms around her, but couldn't with the handcuffs. Softly he murmured that they were together now and nothing would change that. Nodding Samantha tearily agreed and leaned her forehead against his and kissed him. In that moment, whether they believed he was Jack or not, everyone in the room had no doubt of Samantha's love for him or that she wished to be with him.
"As you can see from Mrs. Konstinappolis' photo album, there is a long standing relationship between them and the Newquays," Branton stated, gesturing at the photo album.
"Indeed," Erikson seconded and opened his briefcase. Handing a document to Baxter for his examination Erikson announced, "That is a copy of the illegally obtained marriage license that Mr. and Mrs. Newquay acquired with false Ids as teenagers. Which illustrates that the couple have had a long standing and consensual acquaintance. So there is no grounds to keep harassing Mr. Newquay with false and libelous accusations of abducting Samantha Waters."
Baxter bit his lip thoughtfully, he'd been warned in Washington that he'd better resolve this mess and fast. The press was running wild with supposition ever since Branton's press conference. With Samantha Waters married to Albert Newquay, the press was implying that the kidnapping was a lie concocted by Bailey Malone. Either Malone would be sacrificed or there had to be damning evidence against Albert Newquay.
At last Baxter spoke, "While I am inclined to agree that perhaps the kidnapping charges are nothing more than a misunderstanding-"
"What!" Bailey bellowed.
Shooting him an annoyed look, Baxter continued, "Although the kidnapping may be nothing more than a misunderstanding, the more serious accusations have yet to be answered. During the time of the Donald Lucas trial a lot of unpleasant rumors about Dr. Waters took hold in the press. We need definitive proof that Mr. Newquay isn't Jack-Of-All-Trades and that you aren't merely in collusion with him Dr. Waters."
"Mrs. Newquay," Samantha corrected.
"Very well, Mrs. Newquay," Baxter amended. "We need to prove that your husband can't be Jack-Of-All-Trades."
"My clients, have cooperated fully," Branton said calmly. "Mr. Newquay has submitted to a DNA test-"
"Which is inaccurate because the son of a bitch had a bone marrow transplant!" Bailey huffed. Imploringly, he begged, "Sam don't do this. I care about you. We all care about you. Don't throw your life away for Jack of all people!"
Ignoring Bailey's outburst, Samantha looked at Baxter and inquired, "What would it take to convince you that he's not Jack-Of-All-Trades?"
Jack looked at Samantha and then shifted his eyes to Konstantine before suggesting, "Why not ask me where I was during each murder?"
"Very well, where were you when Tom was killed?" Grant asked trying to push Sam into breaking.
"When was that?" Jack queried innocently.
"May 5th of 93," Rachel prompted.
"Our Son was staying with us at the time," Konstantine announced.
Bailey shook his head and wondered, why in hell were these people alibing for Jack! Couldn't they see he was evil? Jack was trying to pervert Sam's goodness and had gotten her to lie and betray her coworkers. This simply couldn't be happening! Maybe the good guys didn't always win, but damn it Jack couldn't get away with this!
"If they really consider him a Son, then they would lie for him," Bailey argued.
"Don't insult our family!" Jack growled. "No one insults my Samantha or my family. I protect what's mine Malone. You would do well to remember that."
"Not in handcuffs you can't," Bailey taunted.
Just you wait Malone, Jack thought. I will make you suffer for attacking what's mine. One day I won't be in cuffs and I will taunt you with what is most precious to you and make you beg. Beat me and imprison me, but God himself couldn't keep me from protecting those I love.
Samantha smiled wickedly at Bailey and quipped, "What you see as freedom is in reality imprisonment and what you see as imprisonment is in reality freedom."
"That's my Samantha," Jack purred, increasing Bailey's fury.
Sofia grabbed Branton's arm and whispered in his ear, after a moment an unholy smile crossed the lawyer's face and he said, "While it would be possible to get a one or two people to risk their lives and freedom by lying for the Newquays, surely you would agree that getting say twenty people to do so would be impossible wouldn't you?"
Bailey didn't like the sound of it as Baxter nodded and replied, "Yes I think that would prove Mr. Newquay innocent; but we only have the Konstinappolis' here."
"No you only have two of the Konstinappolis' here," Branton clarified. "Erikson, I believe there are a few other Konstinappolis' waiting outside."
The room remained silent as Erikson left for several minutes, with Grant and Bailey looking daggers at Jack and Samantha. Sofia and Konstantine were smiling happily at their adopted family as the Attorney Generals and the Deputy Chief of the FBI looked frustrated. In the corner George and Grace whispered inaudibly deciding to leave the moment the drama finished and have a good stiff drink. As Jack's remaining lawyers looked pleased and bemused, Rachel wondered if she hadn't made a mistake and should go back to her old job as a DA
The silence was broken by the noise of a large group of people approaching and Erikson lead them in announcing, "There are 20 members of the Konstinappolis family here who will vouch that Mr. Newquay was attending a family gathering on the date of Tom Waters death. Furthermore, they will all alibi Mr. Newquay for the dates of all the Jack-Of-All-Trades murders."
"No! Don't you people see what you're doing?" Bailey hollered.
"Quiet Malone," Baxter commanded. "Whether I believe them or not, no jury in the world is going to see past the number of people alibing Albert Newquay. Personally I don't know what I think, but the people and the press believe Donald Lucas was Jack. There is no way we can pursue any legal action against this Jack without opening ourselves up to more lawsuits than we're already at risk for given your abuse of Mr. Newquay."
Bailey froze in disbelief and fury as Grant asked in shock, "You're just letting him go?"
"That is precisely what I am saying," Baxter confirmed. "Agent Grant, uncuff him. Mr. and Mrs. Newquay you have our sincere apologies and you're free to go."
A cheer went through the room from the Konstinappolis family and Sofia and Konstantine hugged their adopted children. Jack's financial help and business advice had enabled his honorary siblings to attend college and establish themselves in their own businesses. In addition to owing him much of their good fortune, Jack had over the years become very much a part of their family. When Konstantine chartered a plane for them all and Sofia spoke to them, they all agreed, this was about family. Only Sofia and Konstantine knew who Jack really was and kept the information to themselves to eliminate any concerns their other children might have had.
Throwing her arms around Jack, Samantha held him close and cried, "Oh Jack! It's finally over! My poor wounded darling!"
"My Samantha," Jack murmured happily.
Bailey finally unfroze as he watched the exchange between Jack and Samantha. It was all Jack's fault! Bailey thought angrily. Years of seeing Sam tortured and instead of hating the man, she loved him! Sam couldn't love me, but she can love him? It's not supposed to be like this! I love her, I've been there for her and instead of seeing how much I care, she wants him! Jack has perverted her goodness, he's ruined her! It's up to me to save Sam from Jack.
Drawing his gun, Bailey fired at Jack. Together, Grant and Rachel wrestled the gun from Bailey. Samantha screamed as crimson spread rapidly across Jack's white shirt and he collapsed against her...
