Jadie
Disclaimer: not mine, although I was reading about a case of virtual kidnapping that sounded fascinating…
Warning: Mild Swearing………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
THE TAPE
(The tape recorder starts to play and for a few moments there is silence before Agent Don Eppes speaks.)
Hey, first off if this isn't the FBI listening, this needs to get to the FBI right away…
(Don continues giving the address to the FBI office and the agents involved in the case, still thorough despite the dire situation.)
(Don's voice is strained, fraught with ragged gasps—in the background a small female voice can be occasionally heard, but what she actually says isn't intelligible. Don and the witness's footsteps are heard throughout the tape; sometimes they are running and then only Don's labored breathing is heard, other times they walking and Don is speaking, but they never stop moving.)
(After a moment)
Hey guys, I hope I can manage to get out of this damn mess before you guys find this…this is a last ditch attempt to tell you guys what I need to…
(Long pause, the shifting of gravel underneath feet is heard)
The killer…it's Jadie's mother…she doesn't know her mothers whole name only that her first name is Nadine. She a Caucasian woman, large build, at least six feet tall, short blond hair, extremely well muscled…
(Another pause, Don and Jadie's footsteps are heard picking up speed, and Don is swearing under his breath. He continues speaking, his voice hushed and gravelly with weariness.)
Dammit…she's…that psychotic bitch is trying to find us…following us in her damn car…I don't think she actually see us but she's too close for comfort… I…dammit…it's a stretch but I think she's had military training…if not she's done this many times before…she's no amateur…
(Here there is a long silence, Don and Jadie can be heard running and stopping then running again. Don's breathing develops a wet sounding hitch, as if there's fluid in his lungs and there is now periodic coughing, muffled by probably a hand or an arm. Finally after a few minutes that drag by like years Don and the witness stop and Don breaths heavily for several moments, catching his breath, before speaking again.)
I…I'm not so sure that the two of us are going to make it through this…I…it's strange…I think the kid…Jadie…I think she's been ready for it to come down to this for…a long time now…and now I'm not so sure if I'm ready for the possibilities…I…
(Don laughs softly here. There is no humor in it…it is wry and tinged with regret. It is the laugh of a condemned man.)
I sure as hell hadn't planned on dying today…I wouldn't have…
(Don's voice develops a catch, like he's on the verge of tears, he continues speaking, his voice now thick with emotion.)
I wouldn't have left things the way I did with dad and Charlie…I…tell them I said I'm sorry…for everything…
(Don's footsteps falter here, and his voice is faint when he finally does continue speaking.)
Dad, I love you so much…and Charlie, I love you too and I'm sorry that …that I treat you like a kid sometimes…and that sometimes …I do that because I don't want to look and see that you weren't just my genius kid brother anymore but a …perfectly capable man…and I just wanted to make sure you stayed safe…I guess it was the older brother in me that didn't want to see you have to deal with the stuff I do…I'm so sorry…you meant more me than I ever told you and I never said that I was proud of you…and I am Charlie, I always will be…
(Another long silence; Don's breathing is becoming more and more shaky. It sounds like he might be crying, but it isn't clear. A short time later Don takes a couple deep breaths and when he continues his voice is still strained and his breathing is still labored but there is a determined air to it now.)
I'm going to keep moving and try to lose this bitch…I'm not dead yet and I don't plan on giving up.
(Don's voice picks up a hint of anger here.)
I'll try to make it to the office…better yet a hospital…both me and the girl need a little patching up…until then we gotta keep moving…this bitch is relentless…she's more than prepared to kill me and Jadie and make a run for it…
(Jadie is heard hushing Don with a frantic 'shhh'…Don takes shallower breaths and is as quiet as he can be and Jadie isn't heard at all. Distant in the background, the faint murmur of a running engine is heard and another voice is barely heard although it's clearly yelling, it's coming from a long way away. It's female voice and it sounds like she's calling for her 'little toy' and her 'toy's new guard dog.' It's a cruel and merciless voice, containing no emotion. After several minutes, the voice fades and Don lets out a shaky sigh of relief.)
She's driving a …a black Buick…I can't see the plates…
(Don's voice fills with sarcasm.)
…Nice car for a killer…must have a good day job…
(A long silence. Don's footsteps are becoming more irregular, and Jadie's light steps are heard more clearly as if she's walking right next to Don, trying to make sure that he doesn't collapse.)
(Don speaks once more.)
Well, I guess that's all the pertinent information…Megan…David…Colby…you guys are all damn good agents…make sure this bitch doesn't get away…I hope you guys don't have to listen to this…I hope that I can back before…you find this…and …
(Don's breath catches again, and he grunts in pain.)
(A humorless chuckle escapes from Don.)
I guess…this might be goodbye…I hope not…but just in case…don't blame yourselves…if this ends bad…and don't let Charlie or my dad blame themselves either…nothing they could…have…done…
(One final pause.)
I love you guys…
(Don's voice trails off…)
(The tape recorder stops.)
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NOTE: how cruel am I? Very much…I like to keep you on the edge of your seats…muh-hahahaha