Chapter 14:
Sue got home and closed her door, happy to be home. She went into her room and changed into more comfortable clothes before settling on the couch, her laptop in front of her. She re-read the letters, trying to pull out clues of where this might strike again, until something hit her. What if these were not the only murders? She reached over and grabbed the phone, pulling out a business card, and dialing its number.
"Hello? Agent McDougall? This is Sue Thomas. We met earlier this week." She grabbed her notebook and started to scribble down notes, getting the information she needed.
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Jack motioned for Troy to sit down. He knew Troy would take into consideration that he wasn't as fast a signer as Sue or Lucy, but he was worried that he wouldn't catch everything.
"What's going on?" He signed.
"I ran into Sue tonight. She told me not to tell anyone, but it was strange." Jack frowned and looked at him.
"Where was she? What was she doing?" He asked back.
"She was at a park. I was surprised to see her. She was talking with someone, but I couldn't see who. They left and she kept sitting there. I went over to talk to her because I had never seen her in that part of town before, especially at night." Troy explained.
"What did she say?"
"That she was doing FBI work, but I didn't believe her - it looked like she was crying and when I asked where you were, she wouldn't answer me. She said she had to go because someone was expecting her to call them."
"Do you know who?" Jack inquired. Troy shook his head no. Both men's head were reeling with possibilities. Troy got his attention.
"She wasn't working on a case, was she? Something's wrong with her?" Jack nodded.
"Let me know how I can help."
"Thanks Troy." Jack remained seated for a while, processing all the thoughts in his head, more confused than ever.
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Sue considered taking one of the sleeping pills, contained in the bottle she had left on the table in front of her. She knew she could use a good night's sleep, but didn't want the side effects of grogginess, especially when it was so important that her mind be sharp. She looked at the clock, which glowed 9pm. It was still early, but Sue knew she was too tired to focus any longer. She decided to compromise and take half a pill. She curled up on the couch, cuddled in a blanket, watching the TV. She had always been very in tune with her body, careful to eat right and exercise enough, and as she sat there, she felt that something wasn't right. She felt odd but pushed it aside as stress from the case and the events of the last week.
Only 15 minutes later, Sue could feel her eyes drooping and unfocus. Too tired to get up, she reached over for the remote to turn the TV off, spilling her pills on the floor as she moved. Sighing and too exhausted and comfortable to clean up, she decided the couch would be her bed that night and that once morning came she would pick up the pills. She rested her head and within moments she was fast asleep.
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"Did I see Troy here awhile ago and didn't you leave to go home about an hour ago?" Bobby asked, as Jack took his seat.
"I did. Troy came to see me about Sue." Jack explained. Tara, Myles, D and Bobby all got up and headed moved to Jack's desk.
"What about?" D asked.
"He ran into Sue in a park, on the bad side of town. She had met with someone, but Troy doesn't know who."
"What would she be doing in a park, meeting with someone, when it's dark out. Sue wouldn't do that." Tara said surprised at the news of what Troy had told Jack.
"It's not like her, but then again, she hasn't been herself for days."
"Something could have happened to her. If she's going to be reckless with her safety, we've got to keep a closer eye on her." Myles said concernedly. Tara quickly added in,
"On a side note, still no luck finding where she went, but I'm working on it as much as I can."
"Hey Jack." Dimitrius said, "Sue left a few files here that she might need, since I know she wanted to go over the police reports again. Maybe you should drop them off?" Jack took the files from his hand, before grabbing his coat and things.
"What about the incident in the park? Should I mention it?" Jack asked his friends.
"If she finds out that Troy came to us, Sue is not going to be happy, especially with Troy considering she told him not to say anything to us. She's obviously hiding something, and if we tell her what he said, it might destroy any chance of us finding out more, in case there was a possibility of her going to Troy for help. Maybe she'll talk to him, if she realizes that Troy is suspicious of what she is doing." Bobby suggested. Myles agreed but added in,
"Maybe we should make her think Troy is suspicious. Maybe we should get Troy to ask her what it was all about, with the threat of coming to us – it might force her hand."
"Good idea." Dimitrius confirmed. "Jack – you head over there now, see if she's okay, drop off the files. Myles and Bobby, on your way to work tomorrow, maybe make a stop at Charlie's and talk to Troy. See how he's been doing lately."
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Jack could tell that Sue's lights were still on from outside her door, though he still knocked, not wanting to disturb her privacy. He knew she was home, as he could hear Levi barking just on the other side of the door. Jack waited, but after a few moments, he started getting worried when she didn't come and answer the door. That was, unless she had looked through the peephole and knew it was him and didn't want to talk. He reached for the door handle, and was surprised to find it turn easily, unlocked.
Levi jumped up onto him, eager to see another face. He knelt down and stroked him until him calmed down.
"Where's Sue buddy?" Jack had always been amazed at how Levi always knew exactly what they were saying. He followed the dog into the living room, where Levi started barking, and Jack's heart stopped. Sue was lying; deathly pale and collapsed upon the couch, and from what Jack could see her breath was shallow and barely present. Beside her lay an open pill bottle, its contents scattered across the floor next to her limp hand. Jack rush over to her motionless body in panic, feeling for a pulse and desperately praying that she would wake up.