I sit on the edge of the master bedroom bed and study the suitcase and laptop. I can here Brian in the bathroom, brushing his teeth. I could take what I need now and run. Would I make it to the door? I know he is watching me. He is still skeptical and I doubt he's going to let me out of his sight. I could run but I couldn't drive on these analgesics.

I hear the sink turn off and Brian switches off the bathroom light. I feel the weight in the bed shift as he crawls on top of it.

"What's wrong Samantha?" he asks as he wraps his arms around my waist and kisses the back of my neck. I grab his hand and squeeze it gently.

"Nothing" I tell him and he pulls me closer. I can't get the image of the look Jack gave me out of my head. I lie down and stare up at the ceiling as Brian turns the light off. The light coming through the windows looks like bars stretching across the ceiling. They are the bars of my cage, my prison. I can't really remember the last time I slept in this bed. It's even harder to remember a time when he was in it with me.

Under the covers, Brian rests his hand on my stomach and then slides it along my thigh and then slips his hand down the front of the pajama bottoms. The room suddenly feels cold and empty, I get a shiver and my stomach churns. I stop his hand.

"No strenuous activity" I remind him of the doctor's orders and Brian's hand retreats as he sighs and rolls away from me. "I'm just going to go take a painkiller" I mutter as I get up out of the bed "you want anything while I'm up?" I ask from the bed side

"Yeah, bring me a glass of wine. I want red wine not white and I'd like it warm, there should be a bottle in the pantry."

In the kitchen, I smile at the wine in the pantry. It's the same wine that was served at our wedding. His favorite wine. I poor a glass and then grab my medication. I don't need more yet but I take out three capsules, much more then my prescribed dosage but not an overdose. I snap the capsules and let the medication fall into the wine. Red wine would mask whatever taste the analgesics left. I stir it to make sure there is no texture in the wine. I clean up and then take the wine back to the room. From the door I see hi rummaging through my suitcase. What is he looking for?

"The reading light is in the front pocket" I say to him with a smirk as I walk in with his wine. He jumps up right and closes the suit case

"Thanks" he says holding up the small hand held reading lamp. He rolls over the bed and pulls a book out of his bedside draw. He pretends to start reading as I hand him the wine. I admire the book; it's upside down but is titled: the complete home guide to medication. Not exactly a bedtime story.

"You aren't having any?" he asks as he takes a mouth full

"Alcohol and medication" I say grimacing and he nods understanding. He finishes his wine quickly and then hands me the glass to take back to the kitchen. I take his glass to the kitchen, and wash it. When I return I find his book on the floor and him passed out on his pillow. He looks so cute when he's comatose.

Jack is fishing on his deck, when he hears Brian's convertible park in the drive way. He ignores the car and continues fishing. He hears footsteps on the planks of his deck that stop beside him. He recognizes the scent and closes his eyes and prays for strength.

"Where's your capture?" he asks with disdain

"Jack I don't have the patience for the scornful banter right now" I say as I hear Brian approaching behind me

"Ah here's the son of a bitch now" Jack smiles looking back at Brian

"Jack, I've only come to give you your clothes back" I explain as I hand him the neatly folded clothing

"Sorry about the shirt, I was a bit clumsy" Brian remarks with a snicker and Jack clenches his fist. I shoot him a warning glare and he looks at me curiously. He studies my feature's looking for the clue.

"We have to go now Jack. I'll miss you" I say to him as part of the show for Brian. Brian takes my arm and just to spite Jack, he places his hand on my ass as we walk away.

Jack's blood boils as he watches them walking away. As the car drives off, he goes to throw the clothing in the lake but he notices the clothing has an unusual square shape. He moves the shirt and finds a creamy coloured leather book. The book looks like an organizer or a daily planner. He opens the book and a note falls out. Picking up the note, he reads it:

Jack
I need you to call the highlighted numbers.
Tell them about Brian; tell them they don't have to worry about him.
I can't let him get away with what he's done to them.
I was never alone in this.
I'm sorry I hurt you but I couldn't tell you what I was planning.
You never would have let me do it.
I had to make you hate me.
But I never stopped loving you.
I have never stopped loving you as long as I've known you.
Sam

Jack breathed deeply and then tucked the note into his pocket. He then opened the book and read the highlighted names. All women's names. Lisa, Tiffany, Annabelle, Michelle, Jasmine, Vanessa, Kyle, Tina, Jane etc. these names continued on. He stopped reading and started counting. When he finally finished the book he had counted 36 names. 36 tortured girls. 36 lives ruined. Jack was saddened by the names but I thought came to mind.

"36 penalties" he said with a grin

AN: okay so it's shorter than my last few. I promise to have more up soon.