Chapter Five
2:00pm
Tyler walked into Jack's room to see Anne asleep in the chair and Father Walker pacing with his rosary.
"Hi, I think I know what happened but we need to get him to talk," he said quietly.
"He was up a couple of hours ago. I don't think he'll talk in front of Anne."
"Okay, let me wake him and see where he is."
"Jack? Wake up; I need to talk to you."
"Uhm, hi Tyler," Jack said, struggling to sit up.
"Relax, Malone. I need to interview you."
Jack looked at Anne sleeping in her chair.
"We can go to the solarium," Father Walker suggested.
Jack nodded and started the process of getting out of bed with Tyler and Father Walker's assistance. They walked out of the room and Jack headed for the nurse's station.
"I'm taking a walk. My friend fell asleep and I didn't want to wake her. If she asks, we're in the solarium."
"Of course, Mr. Malone. Good to see you up and around," the nurse replied.
Jack smiled and walked down the corridor, followed by Tyler and Father Walker. They arrived at the empty solarium and Jack chose a chair in the corner. He sat down and waited for the two other men to sit next to him. Tyler removed a mini disc recorder and set in on the table between them.
"Ready?"
Jack took a breath and then nodded.
Hitting the record button, Tyler began.
"Special Agent John Michael Malone, my name is Agent Tyler Simpson and I am conducting this interview on Saturday, Sept 9, 2006 at St. Vincent's Hospital in New York. Present in the room is Father Sean Walker. Please tell us of the events when you went to The Right Folk Gallery on Thursday, Sept. 7, 2006."
"I went to the gallery around ten-thirty to interview William Farrell, Jessica Lambert's assistant. My team was investigating her disappearance."
"Please tell us what happened."
"I walked into the gallery, the door was unlocked. A security bell rang briefly as I crossed the threshold. As I looked at the art, I moved further into the gallery space, finally coming upon a door marked private. I knocked on the door and walked in."
"You were shot in the shoulder and fell to the floor," Tyler said.
"Yes, I woke up and saw a man holding my gun on me, telling me to stand up. He called me Mr. Ness. He told me to call him, Al."
"Right for Al Capone, Elliot Ness's nemesis."
"We walked out of the gallery to his apartment. I held my arm down, hoping that you could follow the blood trail."
"Unfortunately, it rained that day," Tyler commented.
"We got to his apartment building and I leaned on the railing, covering it with blood before we entered the building. Then we climbed up three stories and I entered the apartment."
Tyler sat forward as this was the information no one really had. Father Walker sat near Jack, watching his behavior.
"He told me to walk in and sit down on a chair that was facing the bed. That's when I saw Jessica. She was bruised, naked, tied down, but pink; still alive. I was about to pass out from the pain from my shoulder when Al removed my shoes and taped my ankles and then my wrists to the chair. Then I must have passed out I guess 'cause when I woke up he…he was starting to rape her. I shut my eyes and began to recite The Rosary. I tapped the different beads with my finger on the arm of the chair. Al broke off from what he was doing and stood naked in front of me. He heard my tapping and broke my index finger." Jack said, closing his eyes at the memory.
"I understand now," Tyler whispered.
"What?" Father Walker asked.
"Jack kept repeating Hail Mary when he was upset. That was where he was interrupted while reciting the Rosary."
Tyler looked at Jack and noticed the tears staring to fall down his face.
"Malone, you know you need to do this. What happened next?"
"He…he went back to her and I…I couldn't stop it. I heard all of it until there was silence. Then he told me I was next. I opened my eyes and saw her on the bed, covered in blood. He took a shower. When I heard the water stop, I waited, thinking about what I could do to save myself."
"Okay Jack, keep going," Father Walker whispered to the man who was all but sobbing in front of him.
"Al told me to open my eyes. He accused me of planning something, and then he started to hit me. I couldn't get out of the way. When I woke up he was gone. I started to tear through the tape with my teeth but it took over an hour to get my right hand free."
Jack paused, getting his emotions under control.
"The rest I think you know."
"We have him in custody, Jack. We just needed your statement," Tyler said softly.
"Did he…did he say why he did it?"
"No, it was completely random. She was just there. You were fallout."
Jack nodded, looking at the floor.
"Uhm, I need to get back to my room," he said softly.
"Of course," Tyler said, hitting stop on the recorder.
They walked Jack back to his room. Anne was standing, looking out the window when the door opened. She walked to him immediately and pulled him into a careful hug.
"Malone, I need to get your statement to Vivian. I'll try to see you tomorrow. I spoke to Dr. Randolph on my way in. He says you'll be released before noon. He just needs to check your shoulder."
"Thanks, Tyler," Anne said.
"I'm going to get a cup of coffee," Father Walker said, walking out with Tyler.
She held him tightly, feeling the bandages under her grasp. Anne felt him breathe, felt his hands on her, and tightened her own.
"You okay?"
"I missed you, I'm sorry."
"Why are you sorry?"
"I asked Vivian not to call you immediately. I wasn't sure where my head was at. I know now that I should have had you here. I want you in my life."
"Good, because I want to be with you, too."
They pulled apart and Anne helped Jack out of his bathrobe and back into bed. He held her hand for twenty minutes, looking at her in silence until he fell asleep.
Sunday 12:00pm
Anne arrived with a paper bag filled with Jack's clothes and found him sitting on the edge of the bed.
"Hi."
"Hi."
"So I brought some clothes. Can you handle getting dressed?" she said, putting the bag on the end of the bed.
"Uhm, yeah everything except the shirt I think," Jack said, looking down at his left arm, which was in a sling, now.
"Really? Okay, why don't I lay out your clothes and –"
The door opened and Tyler walked in.
"Hey, buddy."
"Hey, Tyler."
"Hello, Annie. How is he today?" he asked, embracing her.
"Well, we were discussing getting him dressed to leave. Can you help? There was a bit of a debate!"
"No, I said I could do everything but the shirt," Jack said, slightly irritated.
"And I beg to differ!" Anne retorted, her voice rising slightly.
"Okay, what have you got for him, Annie?" Tyler said, trying to diffuse the situation.
"Shorts, running pants, zip-up sweatshirt, and driving moccasins."
"Give us five minutes, please."
Anne left the room, flashing a small smile at Tyler on her way.
"Okay, you're on. I'm just here in case you fall," Tyler said, sitting in the chair.
Jack grunted as he stood. He reached into the bag and laid the clothes out. Pulling at the tie of his gown, it fell to the floor. Naked, he took his shorts and grimaced while he leaned over to put them on. Tyler looked at the bruises peeking out from under the bandages and closed his eyes briefly. Jack grunted again as he pulled on the running pants. Slipping his arm out of the sling, he then slowly put the sweatshirt on; pausing several times when the pain overwhelmed him. Finally he zipped it to his sternum, set his left arm in the sling and eased his feet into the moccasins.
"Sit here, while I get a wheelchair," Tyler said, helping him to sit in the chair he just vacated.
"Thanks."
"You're welcome," Tyler said, leaving him alone.
Anne looked at Tyler as he walked out of the room.
"Well, he's dressed but it wasn't pretty. Give him a minute to gather himself. I'm going to snag a wheelchair."
"Oh, okay," She said, looking at the door.
Anne waited for a few minutes and walked in. Jack looked over at her and held out his hand towards her. She walked towards him, her hand stretching out for his. He took her hand and brought it to his lips for a kiss.
Tyler walked in, pushing a wheelchair. Carefully, Jack stood, crossed the few feet to the wheelchair and sat down. Anne picked up the shopping bag and put it in the wastebasket before following Tyler and Jack into the hallway. Jack received copies of his discharge papers and a prescription for pain meds. They headed to the elevator to go downstairs to street level.
"I'm just around the corner," Tyler explained as he set the brakes.
"Okay, no speed records," Jack joked, standing slowly.
Anne stood with Jack as Tyler returned the wheelchair to the lobby of the hospital. A few minutes later, he rejoined them and the trio walked down the block.
The drive home was uneventful, but the three story walk upstairs was almost their undoing. Jack stood at the bottom of the stairs and although his apartment building was neat and clean, he had a flashback to Al's tenement. Backing up until he hit the door, his face went white.
"Jack?" Anne asked.
Jack closed his eyes tightly and then opened them. The plain clean white walls greeted him. He wiped his face with the sleeve of his sweatshirt and started to walk to the bottom of the stairs. Anne went in front of him and Tyler brought up the rear. At every landing they paused for Jack, finally getting to his apartment. Anne unlocked the door and let Jack walk in first. He took a few steps and then stopped, seeing a photo of him and the kids from two years ago.
"Give me the prescription and I'll go get it filled, Jack," Tyler requested.
Jack reached into his pocket and pulled out the prescription.
"I don't have any money on me, or my wallet for that matter," Jack started awkwardly.
"I got this, Jack. I'll be back in a few minutes."
"Thanks."
Tyler walked out of the apartment, leaving Anne and Jack alone. Walking into the kitchen, Jack took a glass out of the cabinet and opened the fridge.
"Do you want any o.j.?" he asked.
"Yes, please," Anne said, walking into the kitchen.
He handed her a full glass and pulled another one from the cabinet. With his right hand he poured the o.j. almost to the top. He put it back in the fridge picked up his glass and turned to face Anne.
"Cheers."
"Cheers."
They sipped their juices without conversation until they were done. Jack put his glass in the sink and was barely able to stifle a yawn.
"That's it, Jack. Off to bed."
"I am not going to argue with you, counselor," Jack said, heading to his bedroom.
She put her glass in the sink and followed him. He was in the bathroom when she walked in, so Anne pulled the comforter off the bed, stacked the pillows, and opened the window. It was a cool day, overcast, but not raining. Jack walked back into the room wearing just his shorts. He held his left arm awkwardly, the sling loosely held in his right hand. Opening the second drawer of his dresser, he pulled out a tattered cotton short sleeved button-down shirt and then walked up to Anne. She took the shirt from him, carefully guiding first his left arm and then his right arm through the appropriate holes. Grasping the sling, she slipped it over his head and then let him put his arm in it.
"Hello?" a voice called.
"In back, Tyler," Anne replied.
Starting at the bottom, Anne buttoned Jack's shirt slowly. She stopped about midway.
"This way you can take it off yourself," she reasoned.
"Thanks," he replied, panting now against the pain.
"You decent?" Tyler called from the hallway.
"Yes," Anne replied.
Tyler walked in and stopped, seeing Jack's pallor.
"You don't look so good, Jack."
Anne looked at him as well as and saw the sweat in his hairline that hadn't been there before. Tyler walked to his side and helped him into bed with Anne's assistance. Opening the pill bottle, Tyler shook out one pain pill and put it in Jack's right hand. He tossed it into his mouth and swallowed it dry before Anne could return from the bathroom with a glass of water. She handed it to him anyway and he took a few sips before lying back on the pillows, his eyes closed, trying to relax into the pain from his shoulder. Within minutes he was asleep.
Anne and Tyler walked back into the living room.
"What are your plans? Are you able to stay with him?" Anne asked.
"Yeah, I was only supposed to be up here for two days, but now my boss has directed me to stay in New York until Jack's on his feet and the case is airtight."
"All right, then, I'll call you later. Thanks," she said, kissing him on the cheek.
"You're welcome, Annie."
Tyler locked the door after Annie left and took a deep breath. He looked at his wristwatch, saw that it was only three, and then tried to remember the last time he had slept more than half hour at a time. He took off his phone, emptied his pockets, kicked off his shoes and barely made it to the guest room before he collapsed into a deep sleep.