Seated in the conference room Jack watched Jennifer carefully as Chase explained what would happen to her. Seeing no sign of discomfort or nerves he decided she was as ready as she could be.
"Miss. Wilde, are you absolutely sure that you can do this?" Jack asked reassuringly, knowing what the answer would be.
"Yes, without a doubt."
"Great, Chase has some paperwork for you to sign, and once that's done we'll get started."
Biting her lip Jennifer nodded.
Up in his office Jack called Carol, dialling the number with some hesitation, knowing he had to stay clear of entering Mark into the conversation if he could help it.
"Hey Jack I hoped you would call," she answered chirpily. It immediately put Jacks mind at ease.
"Really, why?"
"Well it's the anniversary three days from now, I thought we could make plans."
"Yes, of course," he replied, his tone a little darker as the events which would marked the anniversary entered his mind. "You got any ideas?"
"Sure. I thought we should go out for a spot of lunch, then visit the graves and if you're up for it go for a drink afterwards."
Jack chuckled as she listed her plans, the same they did every year, claiming they would begin a new ritual the next year; only it never happened. "That's a great idea," he mocked, pleased to hear Carol giggle down the line too.
"Good. Pick me up at 12, I'll make a reservation in Marko's for 1."
"Okay," he said nodding as he scribbled the time and date down, three days from now.
"I gotta get going Jack," she paused, "thank you for calling."
"Carol," Jack stammered, not wanting to make her angry with him but no being able to stop himself from asking, "you okay?"
"Yes Jack, I'm fine," she said warmly, before softly hanging up the phone.
Jack tossed his cell onto the desk as he smiled to himself, pleased that things seemed to be okay now. Still seated at the telephone table in her home, Carol wiped at the tears which had continued to fall silently throughout the duration of the conversation. Sobbing out loud she pulled her knees up to her chest and drew her arms around them, hoping Mark wouldn't hear the noise she was making.
The guard roughly jostled Wilde awake before stepping out of the room, leaving Jack alone with his prisoner.
"Don't I get a shower man," he whined sleepily.
"You were lucky to get a cell, don't push your luck."
"Okay," Wilde gulped, knowing he wasn't out of the dark yet. "You check the information I gave you, you know its right."
"Yes, and seeing as though you were such a good sport we need you to do something else."
Standing up with curiosity he edged closer to Jack while maintaining his distance, "what's that?"
"You are taking me to the Foo Bar, where you're gonna introduce me to Daniel and Michael Wilkes."
Wilde was too shocked to respond. Shaking his head his jaw dropped open as he muttered incomprehensible things to himself over and over, as though he couldn't comprehend what was being asked of him.
"Got a problem with that?"
"Yes, hell yes," he blurted out. "I'm a little guy in this, it aint my business to be introducing people to him."
Changing the subject Jack asked, "you know Neilson?"
Looking down at the floor Wilde nodded his head.
"How often is he in the bar?"
"Often," he grumbled.
"Any specific pattern?"
"Evenings till late," he said, still not meeting his eyes.
"Good. Lets go," Jack said, cuffing Wilde's hands then getting the door. Jennifer could be herd already.
"Get your hands off of me," she wailed, Wilde's head immediately shot up.
"Move," Jack ordered, grabbing his arms and pulling him out into the hallway.
"I didn't do anything," Jennifer cried as Chase struggled to keep hold of her.
"Jennifer," Wilde roared, confused and scared at the sight of her. "What the hells going on," he said, beginning to fight against Jack who urged him on. Jennifer had stopped at the sight of Wilde, looking at him with hurt eyes.
"Forget about her," Jack growled, "she's been held for harbouring a terrorist, concentrate on yourself."
"What? Because of me?"
Stopping Jack turned to look at him as a grin spread over his face, "what do you think?"
"You have no right to do this," Wilde screamed as Jennifer started to wail again, shouting for him to help her. Tears streaked down her face, Jack was more than impressed, Wilde looked like he might cry too.
"Don't do this," he pleaded, his restrained hands tugging on Jacks shirt.
"Lets step aside for a moment," he whispered, Wilde nodded eagerly as Jack led him back into the cell.
"She's insurance," Jack stated, saying nothing more. Wilde was confused.
"But I confessed?"
"Yes. But she's my insurance you wont try anything at the bar. You will introduce me to the Wilkes brothers, and we will find out when this is going down."
"I promise I wont try anything, leave her out of it!" Angry tears of frustration filled his eyes but refused to fall.
"I know you wont. Because if you do, she goes down with you."
Pouting and shaking his head in desperation Wilde said nothing.
"You understand me?"
Wilde reluctantly nodded.
