Chapter 13

Jana had decided her best course of action was to get out of town. She was rushing around her apartment packing when there was a knock on the door. She was too consumed with her task to think too deeply about who was at the door. So she didn't give a second thought to opening it.

As the door came open, she saw Sophia and Warrick standing there. When she saw the badges, she instinctively shut the door before anyone could say a word. Then she swore under her breath. Go ahead; make yourself look guilty, she scolded herself.

Warrick and Sophia exchanged a look to confirm both had just seen what they thought they did. Both would have thought the brief glimpse was of Alex, but they both knew she was locked in a cell. Sophia was about to knock again, when the door reopened.

"Can I help you?" Jana asked.

"Are you Jana Sparkman?" Sophia questioned.

Jana paused, trying to think of a good lie, but nothing came. She never had been any good at lying; it's why she wanted a patsy to begin with. "Yes, I'm Jana. Can I help you?"

Sophia smiled only slightly, trying to seem friendly. "I'm Detective Sophia Curtis and this is Warrick Brown from the Crime Lab. We were wondering if we could talk to you for a few minutes."

Jana looked at her watch and then back up at Sophia. She was trying to buy herself a few moments so she could figure something out. She knew they only reason they could be here is that Alex remembered something. "S-sure," she replied, stepping out of the door and closing it behind her. She didn't want to invite them in; they'd see the bags.

Sophia was a little taken aback that Jana stepped out of the door. "Wouldn't you be more comfortable doing this inside?"

As Jana stood there, Sophia took a closer look at her. She could see the differences between Alex and Jana. Jana's face betrayed her age and their eyes and mouth were slightly different. Jana also didn't have the scar on her cheek like Alex. But she could definitely see how someone might mistake one for the other.

Jana looked back at the door and then once again towards Sophia. She let out a small sigh. She knew it was better to do it inside where her neighbors couldn't see. "Alright," she finally said, opening the door and ushering them inside.

Sophia and Warrick noticed the bags sitting beside the couch. "Are you going somewhere?" Sophia asked.

Jana picked up the bags and then took them down the hall. She disappeared with them into a room and coming back she said, "Oh, I'm going to visit some family." She stood leaning against the wall with her back facing the hall.

Sophia could tell she was lying. "Ok, well, we'll try not to take up too much of your time. So, let's get right down to business. Where were you late last night, early this morning?"

Warrick stood next to Sophia, letting her speak. He looked around the room, trying to see if anything might be out of place. After meeting Jana, he realized Alex might really be innocent.

Damn it, Jana thought. Alex did remember. "Home, watching TV," she hesitantly responded.

"Anyone who can verify it?" Sophia questioned. She could see the anxiety in Jana's face.

Jana shrugged. "Sorry, I haven't been very social since the divorce." As the words left her mouth, she knew she had said too much. She switched positions, putting one arm behind her.

Sophia picked up on the way Jana said 'divorce' and the change in her position. "When did you divorce?"

Jana swore at herself silently. "Oh, it's been about a year," she replied, trying to dismiss the subject.

"What happened?" Sophia asked.

Jana had gotten impatient, more so with herself than Sophia. "Am I in some sort of trouble?"

Sophia shook her head. "Just some standard questions. So, no one can verify where you were last night?"

Jana paused again, thinking. Only this time she wasn't trying to think of a lie; she was wondering if she pulled her gun would they fire if she didn't. She looked at the door and then back to where Sophia and Warrick were. She didn't know if she could make it.

"Jana?" Sophia interrupted her thoughts. "Is there anyone who can verify?"

Jana sighed and stuck her free hand in her pocket, making sure she had her keys. "Sorry, I'm trying to think if anyone came by." She gave a weak smile, grasping the handle of her gun behind her back. This was not the way she wanted it to end.

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After his conversation with Greg, Nick wanted to speak with Alex. It was obvious Greg knew that he had kissed Alex and it left Nick wondering what his response with Alex had been.

"I can't believe they have you in here," Nick said, as he came up to her cell.

Alex held up her hands and shrugged. "Formalities. Plus, from what I've been explained, the hair evidence can be explained away. I could have planted it." She laughed a little.

"You know they found enough drug residue in your system to prove you were unconscious for most of today," he informed her.

She nodded. "You still really shouldn't be here," Alex told him. "It's an ongoing investigation."

He rolled his eyes. "I know. I just…had a conversation with Greg and needed to talk to you."

"Oh," Alex grimaced. She could guess how badly the conversation went.

"So he knows," Nick responded.

Alex nodded. "I had to tell him. We were…interrupted by your call." She saw the look of hurt on his face. "Not like that," she tried to reassure him, not understanding why she felt the need to explain. "We weren't…didn't…haven't…anyway, he wanted to know who it was. I told him and we got into an argument over it. I told what happened and he kicked me out."

Nick shook his head. "That jerk."

"He's not a jerk," Alex defended Greg. "He was just being human."

Nick couldn't believe after all that had happened, she was still defending him. Then, something struck him about what she had said. "Wait, haven't what?"

Alex blushed and quickly looked down. "It's…I…just…"

"Ohhh, ok." Nick understood without her having to say the words.

She looked back up at him and tried to change the subject. "So what happened during your conversation?"

Nick frowned. "I have one less friend."

"I'm so sorry, Nick," Alex replied. "He's taking his anger at me out on you."

"Alex," Nick said softly, trying to fight the emotion welling up inside as the reality of the situation sunk in. "I'm the one who kissed you. I betrayed our friendship. He has a right to be mad at me."

Alex looked him straight in the eye and shook her head. She could see the tears threatening to escape. She wanted to say so much but wasn't sure how to express it. Before she could figure it out, Nick's phone rang.

"Stokes," he answered, trying to keep his voice steady.

Alex could hear the voice on the other end, but not what it was saying.

"Alright, I'll be there," he responded to the voice and then hung up his phone. "I have to go," he told her.

"Ok," she replied. "You know where I'll be." She gave him a weak smile.

He returned her weak smile and left. She placed her head in her hands and let out a few silent sobs. After all the pain and heartache she caused, she was beginning to wonder why she'd ever come to Vegas to begin with.

Elsewhere in Vegas, Jana was wondering how she was going to get out of Vegas. Her hand was wrapped around the handle of her pistol, but there were still two people between her and the door. And a cop killer she was not.

She cursed her ex-husband. This was all his fault. If only he had been faithful, she never would have had to kill Erin. If she'd never killed Erin, she would have never known how much she liked killing. And then she wouldn't be here, pondering the end result of pulling her gun.

Sophia and Warrick exchanged concerned looks. Jana had been quiet for a few minutes now, but what was even more disconcerting was the fact that they couldn't see one of her hands.

"Jana?" Sophia asked once again.

Jana knew it was now or never. She quickly drew her gun and alternated where she pointed it from Warrick to Sophia. Both went for their own guns.

"Oh no, I don't think so," Jana said, still waving the gun back and forth. "I don't want to have to shoot you, so take out your guns and toss 'em on over." Jana knew she didn't sound very authoritative.

"Just calm down," Sophia spoke softly, not moving.

"I said toss your guns over here," Jana repeated, becoming agitated.

Warrick and Sophia once again looked at each other. Sophia nodded to Warrick and they obeyed. Neither knew how stable Jana might be, but both figured she really didn't want to shoot anyone.

After they complied, Jana had another thought. "Ok, and now your keys."

Warrick and Sophia both dipped into their pockets and then threw their keys towards Jana as well.

She was pleased with herself; this was easier than she thought. She smiled and started walking towards the door. She was still alternating her gun between Warrick and Sophia. After she passed the place where they were standing, she turned and walked backwards towards the door. She wanted to make sure the gun was still pointed at them.

Sophia knew she couldn't let Jana get out the door. If she did, there would be no way to prove Alex's innocence, of which Sophia was now sure.

As Jana fumbled with the door handle, Sophia made a quick move towards her. Jana saw her coming and leveled the gun at her. Warrick saw what was happening too late. Jana shut her eyes and pulled the trigger.