Chapter 9

Jack sat his desk staring out the window. He watched as the cars drove down the busy streets and the people walked down the sidewalks. Jack swallowed hard as he thought of Sue. He closed his eyes and leaned against his desk.

"Why does it seem like we just keep missing this guy?" asked Jack. Hall walked beside him down the bust D.C. street and shrugged.

"I don't know Jack." Said Hall. "I don't know how some of these guys heads work." Jack always had a weird feeling about his case.

"It's just, this guy has raped, beaten, and killed 5 women. There has to be something we can do." Said Jack. "We can investigate this farther!" Hall shook his head.

"Just drop it Jack. We will never find him." Said Hall. Jack stopped in the street and watched as Hall continued on. Hall stopped and turned around.

"Jack.." said Hall. Jacks hook his head.

"How can you just let this go?" asked Jack. "This guy is out there!" Hall shook his head.

"Not anymore Jack." Said Hall. "Just drop it and move on."

Jack opened his eyes again and took in his surroundings. We still in the office with only 6 hours gone by since Sue's disappearance. Emotions all of a sudden began to fill within him. He felt horrible. He noticed Lucy in the corner at her desk. Her eyes were red and sore. She looked up at Jack and gave him a week smile. Jack knew he wasn't the only one taking hard.

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Brightness filled the room. Sue blinked hard as she felt her eyes burn. She opened them again to see a man in front of her. He snapped a picture with a camera he was using.

"Get up." The man said. Sue blinked but did not move.

"I said GET UP!" He kicked her hard in the side. She cringed with pain as she tried to tell him she couldn't see his lips. She could barely see the outline of his features.

The man moved in closer but was then pulled away. The light then dimmed and Sue could see two people.

"Idiot, she's deaf." Said the man. Sue recognized the second man as the guy she had seen in the park.

"Ready?" asked the second man. He was holding a small camcorder. The first man nodded then turned to Sue.

"Hello there Sue Thomas." Said the man. Sue pushed herself back against the closest wall. The man came forward and grabbed her arm.

"Get up." He said. Sue obeyed and got out of the box. The moment she left the box the man grabbed her shoulder.

"Ready." He said. Sue watched as the other man turned on the camcorder and began to talk, never putting the focus on himself. Sue watched intently reading the man's lips.

"I'm sure you remember me Jack and my little friend here, Amar." Said the first man. "And now for your viewing pleasure." He then pointed the camera at Sue and the man named Amar. He turned to look at Sue.

"Goodnight Sue." Said the man. He then punched her hard in the stomach. Sue fell over and hit her head on the cement.

For the next few moments Sue couldn't help but cry. The man beat her and beat her. Her whole body ached with pain. She tried to make herself sleep, think of something other then the pain of each kick and punch. But there was nothing.

Suddenly the sharp bursts of pain stopped. Sue opened her sore eyes and let more tears fall out. Amar stepped back and grabbed the camera from the other man.

"There." Said Amar. "That should be good enough for your old buddy Jack." That's all Sue saw before she was shoved back into the box and she fell asleep.

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Lucy and Tara were sitting at her desk trying to find anything recognizable from the photo they were sent of Sue.

"I don't know if we are going to find anything Tara." Said Lucy. "It's just a box." Tara threw down her pen and ran a hand through her hair.

"I know, but we should at least try." Said Tara. Instantly another beep went off.

"Jack he's contacted again!" said Tara. Jack looked up from his desk.

"What is it?" he asked.

Tara opened the email.

"It's a video." Said Tara.

"Put it on the big screen." Said Bobby. They all turned in their chairs. As Tara began to play the video.

Firstly all they could see was a wall, then a wavering voice filled the room.

"I'm sure you remember me Jack and my little friend here, Amar." The camera then focused on a man.

"Amar!" said Lucy outloud.

"And now, for your viewing pleasure." The voice said. The camera then zoomed in on two figures. One was Amar, the other was Sue. She was laying on the ground. Amar then punched Sue in the stomach. Lucy as well as everyone else gasped. Jack stood as the man continued to beat her.

Jack could see every tear and scream coming from Sue as every second passed by.

"Stop." Said Lucy quietly. Jack could feel the tears filling his own eyes as he watched her continuously become kicked and punched. He got up and left his seat leaving the terror of Sue becoming a human punching bag behind him.

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Lucy opened the door to the conference room.

"Jack?" she asked. Jack looked up from his seat. Lucy let out her breath as she looked into his eyes. He's face was red and his eyes were quivering.

"Jack…" said Lucy. She sat down in a chair beside him and let a tear fall down her cheek.

"I know." Said Jack. "I know I should be the strong one here." Lucy nodded.

"You are strong." Said Lucy. Jack shook his head.

"No I'm not." Said Jack. "Look at me, I'm a mess." Lucy let another tear fall down her cheek.

"You just care." Said Lucy. Jack took a deep breath then placed his head in his hands. Lucy watched as the man sniffed into his hands. He looked up at her.

"I should have told her." Said Jack. Lucy looked at him quizzicly.

"Told who what?" asked Lucy. She watched as a tear fell down Jack's cheek. She instantly knew what he was going to say. Pressure filled inside her and she gave a smile.

"Sue." Continued Jack. "I should have told her... should have told…" he stopped giving Lucy a look.

"You can tell me Jack." Said Lucy. Jack nodded and took a deep breath. He stood from his chair and straightened out his tie.

"I should have told her." Said Jack one last time. He gave Lucy a nod then exited the room. Lucy gave herself a smile knowing she was finally getting somewhere with Jack and Sue's relationship.