A/N – Aww! Thanks everyone for the reviews. I'm definitely planning on doing a sequel once this one is finished. You guys rock!
Chapter 29:
The forest was dark, and beckoned to Jack to go further and further into the blank abyss. He could hear the voices of the nearby stream. He could see the distant eyes staring back at him in the night. He ran as fast as he could until he reached a gap in the woods. Blood was splattered on the trees and a sodden rope lay on the ground. He went beside the hushed river, searching. Her body floated in the moonlight. Jack's heart stopped as he jumped into the frigid waters, dragging her out of the frozen hell that had claimed her. Her body was limp and void of any life. He was too late.
---
The mechanical beeps woke Jack up suddenly. But it was more than that. He sensed someone's presence. Surely enough, Jack turned around to see Dr. Jake.
"Hi. I'm sorry if I woke you. You sure looked like you needed your sleep." Jack just nodded, grateful that he had been awoken from the thoughts that had clouded his dreams. He turned to look at Sue. Still pale, still bruised. But still alive.
"How is she doing?" Jack asked the doctor.
"Actually, I was wondering if we could step into the hall for a second?" Jack looked at Dr. Miller questionably, but followed.
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D and Myles were about to enter the interrogation room. Bobby stood; tense, behind the mirror, watching his former friend in his orange jumpsuit and handcuffs – wearing a grin of pure malevolence. Joshua Cain had revealed nothing. He refused to give any information, which didn't surprise anyone. They knew his involvement was solely with the drug deal. He would serve his time. The drugs were recovered out of Pratner's warehouse in LA. He wasn't their concern anymore. James Crydle was just like Cain. He wouldn't talk, but they had enough evidence to assure that he never walked free. Charged with attempted murder, he was guaranteed life without parole.
Now it was their turn to talk to Greg. It had been over 10 hours since Sue had been found, near death, floating in a river. She was still unconscious at the hospital, and as far as they knew no news from the doctors yet. Jack was staying with her, refusing to leave her side once he was finally let in to see her.
Once again, Lucy had been torn between her family and Sue. She hated the thought of abandoning either. Thankfully her father had been recovering when she returned to DC and had found out Sue had been kidnapped by Greg. She had rushed to the hospital as soon as Sue was found, and held vigil with Jack in the waiting room until the middle of the night. Dr. Jake Miller entered the waiting room and spoke to them both. It was still early. Tests were still being done. She was in stable condition, but still unconscious. Then Lucy got a phone call from home of her fathers failing health. Assured that Sue would be okay, and with Jack promising not to leave her side and call if anything happened Lucy caught the first flight out before the sun had risen, feeling the pressure of the walls crumbling in around her, from all sides.
Bobby knew there was no way he would be aloud in when Greg was interrogated. D wasn't even sure if he should be behind the glass, but left the decision up to Bobby. The fact Ted consented to let D and Myles question the s.o.b was miraculous. At least Jack wasn't around to tear the guy apart, limb to limb. Though he didn't show it, Demetrius wanted to pound Greg for hurting someone he really cared about. His senses, however, took hold knowing that the chance of Greg walking free outweighed his desire to inflict pain on the bastard.
Myles entered the room, with D close behind. He wanted to wipe the grin off the mans face. He wasn't even remorseful, willingly caught to flaunt what he had done to their friend.
"So... Gregory Halstern. Otherwise known as Landon Miller and Brendan Pratner. We meet again." Greg just smiled, with his crooked grin that sent shivers up Bobby's back. He never noticed how wicked that face actually looked.
"So, you caught me. Big deal – I got what I wanted. James would've killed the girl by now. It was too bad though, she was quite pretty and we never got to have as much fun as I wanted. But I'm sure James will, before he disposes of her." He exclaimed. A loud thump was heard against the mirror on the wall. Greg turned to his reflection, unable to see the fury and hatred behind the glass. "Ah – Bobby. Why don't you come in here and face me like a man." Myles shot a look at the glass, his eyes telling Bobby to stay put. Bobby wanted to beat the little bastard, but refrained from moving, knowing he needed to keep his cool. D continued on.
"Why Sue – why did you take her? There were other ways to communicate with Cain. Why risk getting caught?" D asked.
"It wasn't a risk. I didn't care if I got caught. Or Cain. It wasn't even about Sue. Why don't you ask Bobby? He should know. It's his fault. He ruined my life and this was my revenge, and I got it. Of course, the plan was to get Bobby as well, but things don't always end up as you want. I wanted him to know what it was like to lose someone. Have you found the bitch yet?"
"That is none of your business! Answer the God damn questions. Why did you do it?" exclaimed Myles in fury.
"Oh." Greg paused, "Oh so you found her. I hope she was dead. I trust James. He would've gotten the job done. How did she look? Did you see the stab wounds? That was from me. Quite proud of them actually. Did he beat her? Did he get away?" A gleam of insanity shone from his eyes.
"We ask the questions here. Now I'm giving you one last chance to answer." D glared at him with hatred burning in his heart.
"Fine. I guess Bobby didn't tell you the story. Probably too embarrassed that he's actually worse than I am. Bobby and I used to be friends, once upon a time. I had the life back then. I was studying hard at school, getting good grades. I had a great job, good friends. The most wonderful girlfriend named Jessica. One night, we were all heading to Bobby's for a late night party. I was already there and called up my fiancée to come join the party. I had just proposed the night before and was an ecstatic groom to be. She was on her way to Bobby's house when she was hit by a semi and killed. Ever since then I've vowed to get my revenge on Bobby for killing my Jessica."
Myles looked at D. This guy was crazy. Bobby looked through the glass, at the man who blamed him for the death of his fiancée, confused. He had had no idea the story behind Jessica's death.
"How was that Bobby's fault?" Myles inquired.
"It was at his house, his party. He knew that she was going to die on her way there. He knew it was dangerous driving on those roads at that time of night." His arguments made no sense. Greg was clearly losing it. He obviously had needed someone to blame for the tragic death and found Bobby to be the best person for the job, only to make it an obsession. He continued,
"I wanted Bobby to suffer. I had originally planned to take him and kill him, after the deal. The deal really had nothing to do with anything, only a good excuse for his death. I was going to make it seem like he had walked in on the deal and Cain had murdered him. But then he introduced me to Sue, and I saw that he cared about her. So I put her to good use, letting him feel the pain of losing someone he loved. I didn't care if I got caught, as long as my revenge was complete first."
D just shook his head. All those terrible things had happened to Sue, and in the end it had had absolutely nothing to do with her. She was lying at deaths door in the hospital because of a man who wanted revenge for a tragic and innocent death that happened years ago. Greg deserved to be thrown in prison the rest of his life.
"That's all we need from you. I hope you rot in prison." Myles said, disgusted with the specimen of humanity in front of him. The guard entered the room and pulled Greg up from his seat. He just continued to grin as he walked out the door to his cell. The DA had every intention of giving him life in prison without parole, same as James. He would die without his freedom. The punishment didn't seem enough, however, compared to what Sue was going through.