Biding Time

Quick note: I am on the home stretch. This will be the buildup for the finale.

It had been a couple of days. Jack went through with delivering some of the blackmail evidence to the press. Chris and Eve were right about Jack's initial idea about Hildy doing the honors, as it would have put her in danger, something that Jack shouldn't think of doing. Now that the delivery had been done, the question was what Jack could do.

Senator Copeland approved of Jack's idea about exposing Hennessey, as he was the one not only behind Frank Slate's murder, but also had some figures of Grant City wrapped around his little finger. But Hennessey's world was about to crumble very soon. In the case of Copeland, while Jack was given the okay to take out the mastermind, sending Hennessey to jail would have been another viable option for taking him down.

Jack had stayed at Eve's hideout. Eve suggested the idea, as no one would likely find Jack there, with Eve not having been found there. The one thing that Eve was skeptical about was Shadow staying with them, but Jack had said that Shadow was well trained and housebroken that he would go to the bathroom outside of the building. Eve provided a bowl for the dog and then bought food for him, as she had a dog before.

Inside the hideout, Jack and Eve lied in bed together after having a moment together, as the two lied naked under the covers, rubbing their fingers all over each other with a lot of embrace and then kissed each other. After that last kiss, the two lied on their backs on the bed.

"Wow, that was incredible," Eve said as she breathed continuously from the sex.

"Tell me about it," Jack said as he tried to catch his breath as well.

"Must have been a lonely time in prison, huh?" Eve said.

"You don't know the half of it," Jack said. Since escaping prison, Jack may have been focused on trying to solve his father's murder, as well as getting caught up in other things. It wasn't like he had not gotten any action of that sort, with Jack having slept with Ruby and Hildy in that time.

"So tell me, Jack, have you thought about what you will do after all of this is over?" Eve said after turning her body over in the bed to look at Jack. "You never answered my question that one night."

"That's a good question," Jack said. "I wonder if I could get back on the force, or if I should leave Grant City. I know that all this shit will be cleared, but what I will do next, that's one thing I should find out."

Jack then turned to look towards Eve in the eye as her red hair was messed up from the sex they had.

"What about you?" Jack said. "I asked you the same thing that night, but you said you don't know. Do you ever see yourself living a normal life again?"

Eve sighed at that question. "It's not that simple, not for me."

"Tell me something," Jack said. "I saw your photos. I saw that picture with you and that man. You said you were married once. Did you ever live a normal life before?"

"I tried to," Eve said. "But things couldn't work out for me."

"That night when we killed Patch, he got into your head," Jack said. "I know you have a way of reading people, but I saw a side of you that I never thought I'd see from you. What was the deal with you and Patch?"

What Jack said put Eve in a bind. That night at Peaceful Shores Cemetery, Eve was close to crying after Patch had rubbed it in her face about killing her brother. It made Jack wonder if Eve had some kind of history with that mysterious assassin.

"I'll tell you what, one day, when we go out for that drink, then I could tell you the full story," Eve said. "But right now, all I could tell you is that Patch and I, we had a lot of history."

Something told me that Eve was close with Patch at some point. Jack thought. It was clear that she didn't want to talk about it.

"But that man, your ex-husband, is he…?" Jack said.

Eve nodded her head. "Yes, he's dead. All I will tell you is that we had our problems, but then I heard he was killed. I will tell you everything one day."

"But do you ever see yourself leaving this life that you have?" Jack said.

"I don't know what the world has to offer me if I live normally," Eve said. "With the life I've led, I can't see myself getting a regular 9-to-5 job and settling down. Tried it, but it just didn't work."

Jack looked away for a bit as he sat up in the bed. So many things came to mind in that moment.

Just then, I saw how alike Eve and I were. My parents were killed, I had nothing to lose. Her brother was killed, as was her ex-husband. It surprised me that Eve had tried to settle down but things just didn't work out for her. She had nothing to lose. But according to her, as well as Hildy, I have a little more to lose.

"You could always start over," Jack said.

"I don't know about that, but you can," Eve said. "You could always settle down with your doctor. Maybe be a cop again and make a difference in this city. But me, I fucked up my life a long time ago. There's no turning back from that."

One thing that was puzzling to Jack about all of this was that despite sleeping with her, Eve mentioned that Jack could probably settle down with Hildy after everything was over. Jack and Eve may have connected with one another, but it was implied that Eve wasn't the type to settle down, not with the life she led.

"It's not too late, that's all I could tell you," Jack said.

"I don't know about that," Eve said as he got out of bed, completely nude as she stretched out her arms a bit.

"You'll have to tell me sooner or later about your history with Patch, Eve," Jack said. "I know you saved my life from that big guy, as well as from Fahook's assassins, but don't forget that I save you from Patch almost shanking you in the back. Just remember that he had you right where he wanted you so that he could make his move."

Eve knew that Jack was right. She may have saved Jack multiple times, but Jack saved her life, too. Maybe this was a step to repaying her debt.

"All in good time, Jack," Eve said.

But Jack also knew that whatever history Eve had with Patch was personal. So personal that she wished not to share it. She may have promised that she would tell the story one day, but at this moment, it wasn't the right time.

"I do have one question, though," Jack said. "When was your first kill?"

"The first time I ever killed someone was when I was 10 years old," Eve said. "When I was a child, my family lived in Hong Kong. My father served for the People's Republic of China, while my mother was a housewife who cared for me and my brother. My father got into some shit with the Triads, something about a debt. They said that in exchange for his life, they would have my mother work as a sex slave. My father would have none of it, but then the boss knew that he had children. My father was very protective of us, my mother, myself, and my brother."

Jack lied there as she stood before him in the dark room as she walked around looking towards the floor.

"But one of the Triads was a sick man, talked about using me and my brother for sex-trafficking. They were so insistent because they knew that my father was in debt with them. One night, some Triads came to my home. My parents told my and my brother to hide. I can still hear the screams and the sounds of flesh being cut, as well as blood splattering all over the walls."

Eve looked down and her voice broke a bit as she continued. "One of them looked through the house for me and my brother. My mother handed me a kitchen knife to protect myself and my brother. One of the Triads found us. He grabbed my brother first, because he was younger than me. Another grabbed me. One tried to touch me in some places, but I bit him in the arm and picked up the knife and stabbed in the stomach. I shook hard when I did it, but then I saw the man with my brother. I ran right for him holding the knife and jammed the knife in the back. My brother broke away from him, but I got on his back and stabbed and cut him so many times until he couldn't move. The other man lied there as he bled out, but I then went right for him and cut his neck open and watched as blood dripped from his neck and his mouth. I stood there frozen for a couple of minutes until my brother grabbed me."

Jack looked away and breathed a bit as he couldn't believe what he heard. Eve told him that sometime after, she and her brother had moved out to the United States with some relatives of her father, as their uncle lived in the states.

"So how did you get all those skills?" Jack said.

"That's a story for another day," Eve said.

As violent as Eve was, Jack saw that she had a heart. It was as if this life she lived wasn't her first choice. Jack saw some common ground between himself and her, and the two connected that way, but if Eve suggested that Jack go with Hildy, it was like she was saying that he wouldn't want to be with someone like her.

But Jack wondered what he would do soon. If Hennessey was about to go down, he hoped that his life would be back in order.

The next night, a couple of Grant City police officers pulled up in front of Razwell Autos. It was long after business hours. They went towards the front door and pushed the button to the intercom that went to the apartment upstairs.

"Hello, may I help you?" A male voice said, likely Mike's voice.

"This is the police, I need to have a word with you," said one of the cops.

The two cops waited out as the darkness of the night sky darkened the streets of North Field West with so little life on that night. The only lights that were seen were of traffic lights and the street lights glaring over the lifeless streets. Footsteps were heard followed by the sound of a door opening.

"Hello, officers, to what do we owe this pleasure?" Mike said.

"Is your sister Hildy Razwell staying here?" the other cop said.

"Why? What's wrong?" Mike said.

"Answer the question," cop 1 said.

"I…haven't seen her," Mike said.

The cops looked at each other with a look of suspicion.

"Out of my goddamn way," cop 1 said as his partner followed him up the stairs.

"Hey, you don't have a warrant," Mike said.

The main cop turned around. "You want a warrant? Here's your fucking warrant!"

The cop flashed a piece of paper to Mike, who said nothing in response. The two cops stormed right into the apartment where Hildy and her mother Allison were watching TV together and talking. The TV had a news report about the corruption of Grant City's Deputy Police Chief Dick Hennessey and having some blackmail evidence, as well as evidence that he may have been behind framing an innocent person, as well as the murder of former GCPD detective Frank Slate.

"Ms. Razwell," the main cop said, to which both ladies looked up. "You're coming with us."

Allison responded, "Wait, what did I do?"

"Not you," cop 2 said, and then looked towards Hildy. "Her."

Hildy's eyes widened and her jaw dropped as she looked up at the two policemen. "What? What are you talking about?"

"We have reason to believe that you have aided and abetted an escaped convict," cop 1 said.

Hildy's eyes widened some more. "What?!"

"Does the name Jack Slate ring any bells?" cop 2 said.

Both Mike and Allison looked at Hildy with confusion. Both had to have been aware of Jack escaping prison, but neither of them was aware of Hildy helping him out. A chill ran through Hildy's veins as she started breathing hard and her eyes shifted upwards.

"Relax, ma'am, we're just taking you down to the station for some questioning," cop 1 said.

Allison stood up. "Wait, my daughter didn't do anything!"

Cop 2 yelled. "Sit the fuck down, you drunk bitch!"

Allison's eyes widened with an expression of "how does he know?" On top of that, she suspected how unprofessional this cop was being.

Mike and Allison looked at each other like this seemed so sudden and off to them. Both cops got Hildy to her feet as she trembled and breathed hard. Without any warning, cop 1 put Hildy's left arm behind her back as cop 2 handcuffed her when he did the same to her right arm. Mike and Allison continued to look on with so much shock and confusion, but Mike stepped in.

"Hold on, I want to see that warrant," Mike said.

"I already showed you the warrant," cop 1 said.

"No, I need to see that warrant," Mike said.

"Fine," cop 1 said. "Here."

He slapped the "warrant" against Mike's hand as the two cops walk Hildy away out of the house. Mike looked at the "warrant" and it was merely a brochure for The Den of Iniquity. Inside, it also contained a picture of Hildy in a stripper bikini with the name "Faith" on it.

Mike then stormed out of the apartment and ran down the stairs, shouting towards the cops as he tried to call for their attentions. By the time Mike got out outside, the police car sped away, with the blue and lights shine and the siren blaring.

"FUCK!" Mike yelled.

By that point, Allison had gotten outside to join her son.

"Something is not right about this," Mike said. "I wish there is something we could do."

Mike told his mother to come on inside. They couldn't believe what had happened. The two cops illegally arrested Hildy. They pretty much kidnapped her. Mike knocked over a chair.

"Calm down, Mike," Allison said.

"They fucking took her!" Mike said.

If only they could find a way to reach Jack, but Hildy had often spoke to him while he called her on a landline phone, but they had no way to reach him. There was nothing they could do.

On that same night, Eve drove Jack to the Bay Bell Hotel with Shadow also in tow. Jack needed to come by to pick up some things he had left there after the night Ruby, along with Meeshaka and Shadraka came to kill him.

Jack walked towards the front door and it had police tape on it. Jack had brought a flashlight with him. Shadow also followed him, as did Eve. It appeared that the Bay Bell was temporarily closed as over at the front desk, some blood stains were seen on the wall where the chair would be, as well as bullet holes.

Looks like the twins didn't hold back the other night. Jack thought.

This was likely the twins' dirty work. Jack saw how they were when one of them shot Eve as she fell out of a window, which she survived. He saw how they were when they dunked him underwater. He also saw how proficient they were in that shootout at the cemetery.

Multiple outlines of bodies were on display in the lobby with more blood strewn. Some of the other outlines implied potential witnesses who saw the twins mercilessly gun down the poor receptionist. It could have been other guests, security, and possibly maintenance.

Much to Jack's surprise, the power was still on. Jack, along with Eve and Shadow went up the elevator. As soon as they got off, they headed towards Jack's old hideout. Jack turned on the light and saw some stuff lying around, including the gun that Ruby was about to use to shoot him with the magazine on the floor and the bullet as well.

"You sure you need anything else?" Eve said.

"I can't just leave some stuff lying around, you know?" Jack said.

RING! RING! RING!

Out of the blue, the phone rang. Jack had been away from that hideout for a few nights by that point. Who could have been calling? He only used that phone to call Chris and Hildy, as the number was private and wouldn't be traced. So why was he receiving a call?

"You better pick it up," Eve said.

"Could be a prank call or something," Jack said and picked up. "Hello?"

"Jack Slate, this is Senator Copeland."

If Copeland had called him at a pay phone in Cold Rock Creek, as well as other unlikely areas, it should come as no shock that he would reach him here.

"Talk to me, I already delivered Hennessey's files to the press. What more is there for me to do?"

"More than you think. One of my confidants spotted a couple of crooked cops taking away a Miss Hildy Razwell. They suspect that they work for Deputy Chief Hennessey, which also means that they work for Fahook Ubduhl."

Jack looked up with a shocked look in his eye. Eve saw it with an expression of "this can't be good."

"Where are they headed?" Jack said.

"I have reason to believe that they are headed to Warden Air Force Base," Copeland said. "Sources have told me that Fahook is planning to leave the country soon. My suggestion is that you go find Razwell."

"What about Fahook?" Jack said.

"I got that covered," Eve said.

"Is Eve Adams there with you?" Copeland said.

Jack had a confused look on his face. "Yes, she is."

"Good, she could help you on this," Copeland said. "One of you could take out Fahook. Make sure he doesn't leave the country."

"We're on it," Jack said.

Jack hung up the phone. Things have gotten real now. He knew that there were calls to make. One person owed him big time for this. He punched in the number.

"Hello, Mr. Blanjov, I would like a favor to ask. Yes, this is urgent."

Meanwhile, the police car had rolled up to the outskirts of Grant City. Hildy woke up. It turned out the two cops had knocked her out with chloroform as she sat up and looked out the window. There were lots of pine trees scattered everywhere, as well as rocks and hills. She looked to her right and saw a 747 jet on a runway.

"The police station doesn't go out this way," Hildy said.

"Did we say station?" cop 2 said.

"No, you must have been hearing things," cop 1 said.

Hildy knew she was kidnapped. If only there was a way to get out of this, but how?

Author's note: Okay, now we're headed into the big climax. It may go up to at least two chapters, maybe three, and then I will do the epilogue with some final words. This will take some serious brainstorming as I have some ideas. Hell, I had a hard time deciding on how Jack was going to receive the information of Hildy being abducted, as no one had a number to call him. Keep this in mind, Jack mainly called through landlines, as well as pay phones to prevent himself from getting traced.

The bit with Hildy's "arrest" was inspired by Training Day when Alonzo and Jake went to search the house of a guy named Sandman. The wife asked to see the warrant, and Alonzo handed her a Chinese restaurant menu.

I must note that the opening bit with Jack and Eve was an idea that I had for a while. I had done something like that in a draft for a previous chapter, except I went into a little more detail during the sex bit. Like the other parts with Ruby and Hildy, I implied it rather than go into detail. I also wanted to touch on Eve's backstory a bit. I know it was late in the story when I did it, but I felt it was necessary.

Again, I will brainstorm the next couple of chapters. I may make it a three-part finale. I did say that I will do an epilogue, too. Stay tuned.