Chapter 34:

Tara and Sue stood listening for a good hour, while Ben made his way through his first victims. It made Sue feel like she was going to be sick, but knew that she needed to tough it out if she wanted to hear what happened to her brother and his family. As hard as it was going to be, she needed to know.

Ben had just gotten to the point where he had moved to the northern United States from Arizona, and Jack decided to take a quick break. So far, he had admitted to 14 murders in the last 6 years, and now many cases would be solved, and families could heal. He was feeling ill at all the information and he could hardly imagine how Sue was taking it all.

He walked into the room, and saw both Tara and Sue looking sick with what they had heard, and both very drained. Neither of them talked, but both had solemn looks on their faces. Myles came in right behind Jack.

"This guy is sick." Myles said. The girls nodded in agreement. "I hope he realizes he's never gone to get out."

"We should get a psych exam on him as soon as possible. He can't be right in the head to do all this, and then actually admit it." Tara answered too. Jack noticed Sue's lack of involvement in the conversation, knowing that this must be ten times worse for her.

"Could I… talk to Sue for a second alone?" He asked quietly. Tara and Myles didn't seem surprised, and left the room. Sue was still looking through the mirror into the interrogation room, as if the man who had destroyed her family was still sitting, only feet away.

"How can someone become that sick?" She said quietly, still staring through the glass. Jack moved closer and she turned to look at him.

"I'm just surprised he's confessing." Sue nodded.

"They always do when they get caught, the serial killers. Simon did." Jack's back tensed up. Sue hadn't mentioned him since she had gone to the AUSA to testify against him. He had always wondered the effect it had had on her. He knew it still gave him nightmares, seeing the man crouched over her, her screams and cries, the look on her face after he had shot him. Jack woke out of his reverie and asked,

"How are you doing?"

"O-K" she signed back. "You?" He shrugged.

"I would be better if I could be in here with you, especially for the next part."

"I would be too." Sue said, looking wistfully into his dark, sad eyes. There was a knock at the door. Levi jumped up on Sue, and Jack said,

"Come in." Myles poked his head in the door.

"We should get this over with." Jack nodded, and turned back to Sue, as he heard the door click shut again.

"I'm really proud of you. You're doing great, but please – if you can't handle it, walk away. Don't let him destroy you too." Jack leaned in and kissed her softly on the lips. They broke off, and Tara walked in. Sue whispered before Tara came over,

"I love you." Jack leaned over and kissed her on the cheek again.

"I love you too." He mouthed, giving Tara a small supportive smile on the way out. Tara went next to her friend again, and touched her on the shoulder.

"Ready?" Sue nodded.

"Ready."

-----

Jack's stomach clenched as the time had finally arrived and Ben had moved on to his two West Virginia murders. He was gripping his coffee mug firmly, wishing he could see through the one way mirror, and make sure Sue was alright. Myles gave him a quizzical look but Jack motioned for him to continue.

"You said there were two murders in West Virginia. What about the second?"

"One of my finest moments – I met this man named Ben, and his wife Grace at a church meeting. I figured of all places, a church would be a great place to meet people." Sue felt like she wanted to throw up. Going to a church to find people to kill. How could God let things like that happen?

"They were very nice to me, when I told them I was new to the neighborhood." Ben grinned malevolently. "I saw them in the parking lot afterwards, fighting. The kids were crying and I knew immediately it was all an act. I was going to put those children out of their suffering. I made my move that evening. I hid in their basement for hours – Ben had left the door open, when he had taken out the trash. I knew he had to be silenced first. Then I got Grace, so she wouldn't be able to protect the kids. Last but not least, I saved those children."

Myles shot a look at Jack, who was quite pale, and gripping the coffee mug so tightly, his knuckles were white. They had both been disgusted with the previous stories, but for some reason, Myles was surprised that Jack had taken this one almost personally. He had done it the same way, done the same things, and Myles didn't understand what was really going on, but decided to continue on.

"What about the ones in Washington." Ben continued to explain what he had done. Jack started to tune him out more and more. He was too busy with his own thoughts, and was drained after hearing the same stories over and over again. The last one had really woken him up. All the things Sue had told him became more and more real, and he just wanted nothing other than to strangle the man sitting only a little bit away.

Ben had gotten to explain the last murder, all of which had been recorded. He sat there smugly, as if none of it had matter, as if he had done nothing wrong. The way he had talked about saving the children would have made anyone's skin crawl. Jack tried to pull himself together. They were almost finished, and he just wanted to see Sue.

"What about Jaden Colson's fingerprints. We know he died years ago. We also found his brother's fingerprints as well and we know you planted them. Why?"

"He doesn't exist anymore. He was the one who made purpose in my life, gave me a reason to go on and accomplish what I was meant to do. Avenge him the same way; his family had appeared happy, but really, in truth, his life had been a secret hell."

"How did you meet Jaden Colson?" For the first time, Ben French actually frowned.

"I was Jaden Colson." Myles turned to look at Jack, both surprised.