2016

Tree Hill, North Carolina

(Three Weeks After The Funeral)

It was a race against time. Everyone was in a huge rush, busied by their own agendas but all tied to basically the same thing…

Mouth McFadden had been up since the wee hours of the morning. After a shower, brushing his teeth and hurriedly dressing, he had gone into the nursery room to see his baby daughter, Ella. The little girl was sleeping peacefully and soundly as the loving father carefully straightened her bed covers.

"I love you, little precious one", he whispered, just staring at her.

The room was silent until he heard soft, small footsteps approaching.

"You look so tired", she observed, helping him with his tie.

Mouth sighed.

"It'll be all over soon, Gigi."

"Is today the day?"

He nodded solemnly.

"Sometime this afternoon."

"How do you feel about that?"

The young husband shrugged.

He still didn't know.

"Confused. This is the hardest part of the job, babe. I definitely didn't sign up for days like this."

"I know but it's your job to uphold the law. You do what you have to do, even if it hurts."

"I just wish I was one hundred percent sure. I mean, the evidence is all there and it's damning. The cop in me says it's all over and that we're doing the right thing. But my heart…Gigi, I just can't shake this unsure feeling inside."

"All you can do is your job, Mouth. From then on, it's in the hands of the courts. Innocent until proven guilty."

The law of the land. Taking a deep breath, Mouth kissed his wife's forehead before glancing at the clock. It was time to go. The couple said their good byes as he climbed in the car and drove the short distance to the police station. Tucker was already there, waiting on him and in an unusually chipper mood.

"I've got good news and bad news, kid. What are you in the mood to hear first?"

Mouth shrugged.

"The good news, I guess."

"Today a murderer's freedom ends. All our hard work will pay off finally."

Mouth swallowed hard.

"And the bad news, sir?"

"Today another murderer, a co conspirator, if you will, continues to walk the streets. It's a goddamn shame really, if you ask me. I guess all that hard work didn't pay off after all."

"You win some, you lose some", Mouth said in a voice drenched with sarcasm.

Tucker smirked.

"It ain't over. I didn't hear no fat lady singing, did you?"

Mouth sighed.

"No, sir. I guess I didn't."

"Good. Grab your cuffs and put on your vest. It's time to lock up the bad guy."

The time had come. The seconds were ticking down slowly. The end, one possible end was surely near…

"Mommy, I have something to tell you", Landon said, a frown on his adorable little face.

Haley put down her book.

"Come over here, sweetie and sit on my lap. You know you can tell me anything."

"Promise you won't get mad?"

She raised an eyebrow.

"Scout's honor."

"I spilled my red juice on the carpet. I didn't mean to."

It was a random accident like children often had. Haley sighed as she ruffled her son's hair.

"No big deal. We'll get it all cleaned up, okay?"

Rather than bother the zillions of housekeepers and other hired help, Haley reached in the pantry for spot cleaner. She gave Landon a chocolate chip cookie and placed him in front of his favorite television program as she kneeled down and began scrubbing at the stain. He wheeled in behind her, quiet as a snake scooping out its innocent prey. Finally he reached down and gave her butt a playful swat as she screamed.

"Sorry, I thought you were the maid", he joked.

Haley rolled her eyes.

"Very funny, Nathan."

"What are you doing?"

"Landon had an accident. He spilled his juice."

"We hire people to take care of that sort of thing, you know."

"No, you hire people. I take care of our son and I don't mind cleaning up after him."

"You're in a mood."

"I'm fine. Really", she sighed.

Her husband nodded and smirked.

"Good. I was beginning to think it had something to do with Jake Jagielski being in town."

Haley froze as her heart stopped.

"What? Jake's in town? When? Why? Nathan…"

She turned but he was already gone. Haley tried to breathe. What the hell was happening? Why would Jake come back to Tree Hill?

Each passing minute left her closer to him but each passing minute was another minute wasted in the race against time…

The SUV sped along the highway. With sweaty hands, Peyton maneuvered in and out of traffic. She knew the route well but she had never driven it in such distress. In fact, everything had been a blur. She had woken up that morning alone in the large empty bed. After getting up, she had checked on the children who were downstairs still in their pajamas eating breakfast.

"Dad made it for us", Mason announced.

Peyton smiled and yawned as she ruffled her son's hair.

"Morning grub for you three but none for Mama? That figures. Where is your dad anyway?"

Minnie grinned as she pointed towards the door and Micah looked right at their mother.

"Dad's gone", he stated simply.

It was enough to send shockwaves through Peyton. She looked outside and his vehicle was gone. And so was her husband without a trace. No good bye and just the clothes on his back. Then she found it. A note on the kitchen counter.

Dear Peyton,

By the time you read this, I'll be long gone. You might not understand it now but it's the right thing…the only thing. I'm doing what I have to do, for our children and our family and especially for you. I'm sorry I didn't tell you earlier but I couldn't risk you or anyone trying to talk me out of this. It's not easy but it has to be done. I love you, I love Micah, I love Mason and I love Minnie. Always. Take care of my babies.

Jake

She knew what the cryptic message meant. She knew what Jake was doing and she even thought she knew why. But she couldn't let him. Peyton had to stop it before it was too late. So she summoned Nancy and the minute the sitter arrived, she was in her truck headed northeast. Music played in the background but her mind was on other things. It had gone too far, a situation out of control and only she could stop it before her husband made the biggest mistake of his life…

Time. Time was of the essence. Every hour, every minute, every second counted…

The plane couldn't fly fast enough. In First Class, Brooke shuffled in her seat.

"How much longer before we touch down at the New Brunswick County airport?" she asked the friendly stewardess again.

"Approximately one hour, ma'am."

Brooke but her lip. One hour. Sixty whole minutes. Would it be enough? Would she get there in time? She closed her eyes as she recalled the conversation she'd had earlier with Jake. He'd barely let her get a word in edgewise. But his intentions had horrified her. He had hung up before she could protest but Brooke Scott was not one to be easily deterred. In hot pursuit, she was on an airplane almost immediately.

It was funny almost, or at least ironic. She was the widow. Her husband was dead. She should have been the main one clamoring for justice. But she wasn't. The weeks following the murder had changed her inside somehow. Bringing a killer to justice wasn't the utmost in her mind at that critical moment. Saving Jake Jagielski was. Innocent or guilty, she couldn't let him go down for the crime. The two had bonded over the years, the infidelity and betrayal callously played out by their respective spouses had made them strong and united. In some ways, Brooke had more allegiance to Jake than she'd ever had towards Lucas.

Looking out the window, she fought back tears and mouthed a little prayer. Please God. Just let her get there. Let her get to her friend before the cops did…

Whose side would time be on?

He felt calmer than he had in days, weeks even. So he had gone to the one place where there had always been peace. He laced up his sneakers and went to the court by the river. The fresh air and the familiarity was a welcoming change. Bouncing the ball against the asphalt, he sank shot after shot in the hoop. For hours he played the game by himself until he heard the engines roaring around the corner, lights and sirens blinking. But he never moved. He just kept on shooting the basketball.

In minutes, he was surrounded by squad cars. Several officers hopped out, drawing their weapons. Detectives Tucker and McFadden were the last to emerge.

"It's over, Jake", Mouth said quietly as he stepped onto the court.

Jake hit another basket.

"I know", he responded softly.

Just then, a cab rounded the corner. The back door opened and out hopped Brooke Scott.

"Why, Jake? Dammitt, why? Why would you do this? Don't…"

"Well, well", Tucker smirked. "Two for the price of one."

She looked at him and rolled her eyes.

"Please. You don't have shit on me. Come one more step with those cuffs in your hand and by the time my attorney finishes with you, I'll have your badge and your ass."

He smirked.

"I'm biding my time, sweetheart, biding my time. Your day will come."

"It's okay, Brooke", Jake nodded.

Mouth sighed as he approached his friend.

"Jake Jagielski, you have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be held against you in a court of law. You have the right to an attorney. If you cannot afford an attorney, one will be appointed to you. Do you understand these rights?"

Jake looked away as the metal clasped around his wrists.

"I do", he answered.

They led him to the waiting car, the one that would take him to be processed at the city jail. But before he could be helped inside, the SUV barreled around the bend and a frantic Peyton, jumped out.

"Jake! No!" she screamed.

"It's okay."

But it wasn't okay. Nothing was okay as they were preparing to lock him up. The distraught wife fell to her knees sobbing.

"Why?" she wailed.

"I love you", he whispered and then he was gone.

Brooke looked over at Peyton.

"Get up!"

"Jake…" she cried out.

Brooke marched over and forcefully pulled the blonde up by her arm.

"Jake is gone, they just hauled him off to the big house and it's all your fault by the way!"

"Brooke…"

"Save it! I don't want to hear you right now! All you have to do is wipe the snot from your nose and help me figure out how we're going to help your husband out of this mess. If you want to save Jake, pull yourself together. A bunch of tears aren't gonna keep him from a conviction!"

Peyton struggled to keep it together. It had been a long time since she and Brooke had done anything together. Lucas had torn them apart and in a roundabout way, he was now bringing them back together. They drove off into the night in Peyton's SUV and a few miles up the freeway in a sprawling beach house, a young mother had fallen asleep on the couch, her son in her arms. Haley stirred and smiled at a sleeping Landon, preparing to carry him off to bed in his own room. She picked him up just as Nathan wheeled in as the 11 o'clock news was starting.

"…And in breaking news, startling revelations in the investigation of the Lucas Scott homicide. This evening a surprise arrest, as Atlanta businessman and former Tree Hill resident, a man once considered one of Scott's closest friends has been detained and according to local police, charged with one count of first degree murder. We take you to a statement released by Detective Marvin McFadden…"

There on the screen was a nervous looking Mouth staring at a written statement from behind a podium.

"…At 7:04 p.m. the Tree Hill Police Department charged 28 year old Jake Jagielski with the pre meditated murder of Lucas Scott. He is the prime suspect in the case, however there are several more persons of interest yet to be arrested that may have valuable information in solving this case once and for all. We please ask that anyone with any knowledge about this murder, please come forward."

He looked right in the camera with that last statement as if he were speaking directly to Haley herself.

"Oh my God…"

Nathan just smirked.

"Put the boy to bed, Hales and crack open the champagne. Case closed."