Jorge struggled against the ropes that bound him and also thee handcuff that bound his hands together. "Let me go!" Jorge shouted, "I am an officer of the law goddamnit."
"You used to be an officer of the law," Jazz corrected. "Your behavior lately has put pay to your career. You'll likely spend many years in prison and I can't think of anyone who deserves it more, except a mass murderer. We're not about to let you go Jorge. I mean, seriously, you attacked me, you threatened to kill my fiancé and our dogs. You held a gun on Dave for godsakes. You lost any right to call yourself a law enforcement officer the second you attacked us. You act like you're above the law when nobody is."
Jazz fell silent and simply gazed out the side window,
"I don't know why you're complaining now. You brought this fate on yourself," Dave told Jorge from the driver's seat his tone totally unsympathetic. "You refused to go see a psychologist from what I understand, so he could help you get over your issues. You refused to stop harassing Jazz and myself. You then committed the ultimate act of evil by attacking Jazz and holding the gun on me. You threatened to shoot me if she didn't cooperate, not to mention Jasper and Amy. If I hadn't closed our puppies inside the building then you probably would have kicked them out of the way maybe even shot them and if that had happened you certainly wouldn't have won yourself any favors."
"What do you know?" Jorge sneered in the nastiest voice he could manage. "You stole what rightfully belonged to me! You come to town here in your designer clothes and stole Jazz away. You with your charming smile and your smooth talking. You lured her off the right path, the path where she would've married me."
"No, I certainly wouldn't have," Jazz agreed interrupting Jorge's rant with a hard glare in the rearview mirror for good measure. "It certainly further proves that you don't love me at all, like you claim. Dave didn't lure me off the right path you piece of dog shit. I never would've married you in a million years. I would rather remain single, have no children for the rest of my life then be married to the town idiot that cares for no one and nothing except himself, certainly not me. I am a possession to you, not a person.
"Apparently, you do not love your mother, as you never would have done all the things you have done over the last few years if you did. If we had married and had children you probably wouldn't've cared for them anymore then you did the woman you supposedly loved. I've told you this before but you refused to listen or at least absorb what I said. Luckily, I won't have to deal with you for much longer, thank God."
"I do love you," Jorge protested, as he struggled to break free of the handcuffs. "I always have."
"No you do not," Jazz told him sharply with a shake of her head and a sad expression. "If you really did you wouldn't have done all the things you've done that hurt me emotionally. You never would have threatened to shoot our dogs or Dave himself. You never would have harassed me and embarrassed me on multiple occasions ever since I returned to town. I'm sure your mother taught you better and apparently you didn't absorb any of her lessons or not enough to do any good."
"Also, you would have realized that I didn't feel the same way about you that you think you feel about me and backed off realizing I didn't return your feelings. You never would have made so many nasty comments to all my friends as well as myself and Dave. You acted like a little boy that was denied an ice cream cone and then pitched a fit when he didn't get what he wanted," Jazz explained while glaring at Jorge through the rearview mirror.
"Did you really think you're behavior would get me to go out with you? I mean, really? What kind of sense does that make? All you managed to do was earn my deepest disgust and hate. I mean you were willing to kidnap me, keep me prisoner for an unknown length of time and hurt those I love. That's not love Jorge, that's possessiveness.
"Do you really think that most of the town wouldn't have to looked for me?" Jazz continued. "My family, your captain, other law-enforcement and all my friends. You might've gotten off worse if you had actually succeed with your cockamamie scheme. Do you really think that I can just disappear and no one look for me? It's a damn good thing that you're not much of a planner.
"The people here in town are not stupid and they would have realized that you had disappeared as well and they all know about your obsession with me, as you haven't exactly been very subtle. I have no doubt that they would come to the proper conclusion and realized that you had kidnapped me or possibly murdered me and hid the body. Captain Bloodworth isn't stupid and he did used to work for a big city police force. I'm sure he saw this kind of thing all the time."
Jorge was silent as he had no excuse for his actions over the last four years. Nothing that would wash with Jazz, Captain Bloodworth or his fellow officers anyway. He didn't even take Jazz's family or her friends into consideration and he should have, as they would be just as angry as everybody else, maybe even more so.
Still, he was angry enough to do Jazz and Dave serious harm if he got the opportunity. Jazz was right that Captain Bloodworth wouldn't be fooled when he had learned of his and Jazzlyn's disappearance if he had actually managed to pull it off. He had made his feelings known over the last few years and caused many public scenes. Captain Bloodworth wasn't stupid he would immediately suspect who had been involved in Jazzlyn's disappearance, especially when he couldn't be located anywhere in town. There were only so many places he could take her where they could hide at least in the area.
He knew he wasn't exactly the most popular person in town he had made sure that with his behavior insulting everyone behind their backs and even to their faces. He was sure that a lot of people would be glad to see him get his comeuppance.
~~~Dave and Jazzlyn~~~
"Well, you've finally gone too far this time Jorge," Captain Bloodworth told his subordinate shaking his head in disappointment. "You'll be going to jail son and you've made such a pest of yourself that no one's going to miss you or feel sorry for you. You attacked Jazz Lincoln, holding her prisoner, while pointing a gun on her fiancé David Rossi. You actually fired off a couple of shots and just because you didn't hit anyone, doesn't mean that a crime hasn't been committed. My men have already found where your bullets buried themselves in opposite sides of the alley behind Jazz's Stupendous Delights."
Jorge hung his head in shame, embarrassment turning his cheeks and neck red.
"The only reason you didn't hit anyone is because of your aim. Your aim was poor to begin with, but due to the fact, you were so enraged when you heard about Jazzlyn Lincoln's engagement your aim was bound to be worse, because you weren't thinking straight and were probably consumed by rage. You ought to be happy you didn't actually hit Dave."
"And why should I be happy? Shooting him would've ended the problem," Jorge said sounding petulant, like a child who hadn't gotten his way.
"Because son, then you would be going to trial for murder, which likely would have been a lifetime sentence," Captain Bloodworth told him frowning at his former subordinate. "I mean, come on Mason, you're not this stupid. Do you really want to be facing a murder charge? Or even one of attempted murder? The consequences would be far worse and you know it."
Jorge didn't answer and Captain Bloodworth frowned again. Had Officer Mason always been this uncaring or was it fairly recent? The captain thought back and finally came to the conclusion that Jorge had always been a bit of a loud mouth and a bragger, but he hadn't exactly been uncaring until Jazz Lincoln had returned to Moonlight Gorge. He never would've been a great detective if he had made it that far, but he would've been a decent one if only he had gotten over his obsession with Jazzlyn. That's what had caused his officer's downfall, his feelings of hurt when Jazz had turned him down for a date and probably feelings of inadequacy as well.
It had probably taken his officer a lot of courage to ask her out in the first place at least the first time and when Jazz had rejected him, no matter how kindly it had been done, that had likely been the start Mason's downfall.
Jazz had called him when he was asleep in his bed and told him what had happened. She had promised to bring Jorge to the station. They had actually arrived before he had and Jorge was already in the interrogation room in his own handcuffs. Dave and Jazz had then told him exactly what had occurred, how they had gone outside to let the dogs pee one last time, how they had both heard a slight scuffling sound, but didn't have a chance to defend themselves. How, Jorge had held Jazz as a prisoner and had held a gun on Dave. How, Jorge had threatened to shoot Dave and the dogs if she didn't come with him like a good little girl. Jorge had talked to her as if she was a non-entity, not like she was a person, which only would have made Jazz furious, as she hated being ignored or treated as stupid.
Apparently, Jorge hadn't known Jazz well enough to know that she would never cooperate with someone like him, no matter the consequences of defiance.
The captain snorted silently at that, because if Mason had truly loved Jazz he would have known her well enough to know that she wasn't about to allow him to hurt those she loved. She would've fought him till her last breath. Jazzlyn Lincoln was no pushover and this was something that Jorge should have known since they known each other since they were children.
"I should've shot him," was all Jorge said with anger and disgust in his voice. "Then she would've been mine."
"No, she wouldn't have been son. She would've killed if you tried to control her and you should know this, as you've basically known her all your life. If you really expected her to just comply, especially after you killed the man she loved then you're even more stupid than I believed."
"I am not stupid," Jorge shouted finally looking up with rage on his face.
"Then prove it." Captain Bloodworth challenged. "I call it stupid to keep chasing after a woman who's already turned you down, multiple times. I'm sure a lot of people have advised you to give up, even before David Rossi showed up. You don't even know enough about Jazz to realize that no, she was not playing hard to get. She's not the type that does that. When she tells you no, she means it. You took a natural crush on a beautiful girl when you were both teenagers and turned it into an obsession, which is why you're in this predicament. You just couldn't let her go could you Mason? You really expected Jazz to just date and then marry you. I can see now that you'd probably order her to stay at home and be a housewife, even if that's not what she wants. You're the man after all you're bring home the money."
"That's all women are good for," Jorge finally snapped with a sneer. "Being housewives, raising the children." Jorge didn't really mean that of course, but it was too late as the words were out in the open before he could stop them.
"Well, son, if you weren't going to prison no woman would want anything to do with you with an attitude like that, especially not one as independent as Jazz Lincoln," Captain Bloodworth said looking grave and a little resigned. "You'd kill the woman you supposedly loved, maybe not physically, but on the inside where a person's dreams reside."
Jorge looked like he was ready to say something but then hung his head remaining silent.
"There is no hope for you," Captain Bloodworth said shaking his head sadly after studying his former officer. "It's apparent you don't know a thing about women much less ones as independent as Jazz. Jazz has found a real man one that will treat her properly, listen to her opinion and treat her like a person, not a nonentity. I'll look forward to their wedding in a few months.
"Your mother is so disappointed in you Jorge. She wanted me to tell you that, as we've talked to her already," Captain Bloodworth added with a sigh. "Marion is a fine lady and has told me that she's very disappointed in the way you've been acting. She raised you better and you disregarded every single thing she tried to teach you."
"You leave my mother out of this," Jorge finally shouted clenching his hands into fists, even though they were cuffed in front of him. He looked like he wanted to hit something but was prevented due to the cuffs.
"Ah, so you do care about your mother," Captain Bloodworth offered.
"Of course, I do," Jorge said in a tone of contempt glaring at his former captain.
"Then why would you disrespect her by turning into someone that just makes nasty comments about others? Someone who harasses a woman who was only trying to be nice to you way back when you were teenagers? Someone who has continued to harass her ever since she returned to her hometown and only got worse once the man she's marrying came into the picture. Someone who went ballistic as soon as he learned about that woman's engagement to that same man? Someone who held a gun on her fiancé and threatened to shoot him if that woman didn't come with him like a good, little girl. If you really loved your mother then why didn't you absorb her lessons on etiquette? On how to treat other people? She taught you to respect others, to be polite, to be a gentleman. Your actions over the last four years are not the actions of a caring son, one who loves his mother."
Jorge said nothing, because his captain was right in everything he had said. He had become his father, he realized. He was suddenly glad the bastard was dead or he probably would've killed him given half a chance. He realized suddenly in a startling moment of clarity that Jazz had every right to hate him, as he'd been a major pain in her life ever since she had returned to town four years ago. He wasn't sure how Jazz had kept her temper so well considering. Even as nice she was he doubted very much she'd ever completely forgive him for his actions. He had threatened to kill her fiancé after all as well as her dogs. Jorge never even thought about David Rossi's possible feelings since he also had nearly been harmed by his actions or anybody else's other then Jazz and his own.
If there was one thing that he knew about Jazz it was that she cared deeply about her friends and family. Threatening to kill the man she loved not to mention the puppies that she and her fiancé had bought recently had likely only made her hate him more. She definitely wouldn't have forgiven him if her fiancé had been killed or either of the puppies. She'd likely have marched right up to him and broken at least his nose if not other parts of his body. Jazz could be violent when she felt great anger. He was now glad he had not succeeded in killing her fiancé, though he doubted Jazz would believe him if he ever told her so. She'd have every right to be skeptical considering.
Captain Bloodworth left the interrogation room without another word and just minutes later a detective appeared and escorted him down to one of the cells that would be his new home until his trial.
Nothing was said during that entire short journey and nothing really needed to be. The detective unlocked the cell and pushed Jorge inside before closing the door and locking it again. He then turned around and left Jorge alone to his thoughts never having spoken a word.
Jorge sat down on the uncomfortable cot and burst into tears, when no one was around to see him.
~~~Dave and Jazzlyn~~~
"Well, bringing up his mother certainly changed his attitude," Dave told Captain Bloodworth.
"I knew it probably would son," Bloodworth said.
"Basically, the captain means that families from small towns tend to be closer to each other," Jazz explained. "We're not like a big city where the parents are working all the time and simply don't have the time to be close to their children. That's not to say that they don't love their kids, just that people are so busy working that a lot of other things get pushed to the side."
"Like their relationship with their kids," Dave said an understanding.
"Yes, I've seen it again and again, back when I worked on a big city police force," Captain Bloodworth said. "A lot of parents in the big city ignore their kids or at the very least they don't listen to them when they tell their parents something and just dismiss whatever they say as unimportant. Whatever the kids say might as well go in one ear and out the other. This is not always true of course, as some parents in the city are close to their kids and listen to them, but unfortunately, a large percentage of them do not pay attention."
"I understand," Dave said and it was clear from his expression that he did.
"It's certainly did change Jorge's attitude," Jazz said, "when you brought up how his mother was disappointed in him."
"I think Jorge genuinely understands the wrong of what he's done now. I think bringing up his mother made him realize that he's been a big disappointment to her because of his attitude and actions. Kids in small towns are raised with old-fashioned manners. Of course, that doesn't mean that every kid takes the lessons to heart or that there aren't other bad influences," Captain Bloodworth said.
"Like Jorge," Jazz said with a rather sad expression.
"Unfortunately yes," Captain Bloodworth sighed. "He could've been a decent detective if he had passed the exam. Not brilliant, but decent if not for his general attitude and lack of manners. He turned out a lot like his father I'm afraid. Wiley Mason was rude, demanding and to full of himself, much like his son. He was also a layabout and drank too much. At least alcohol abuse isn't one of Jorge's many problems."
"So what happened to him?" Dave asked curiously.
"He basically was so drunk that he fell into the gorge outside of town. Broke his neck. What he was doing so far outside of town we never did figure out as nobody knew. Much like his son Jorge though, he's hardly missed or thought about, other then in relief that he's gone," Captain Bloodworth explained. "Jorge was only around 11 or 12 when that happened. "I doubt he was any easier on his family then he was on anybody else."
"I see," Dave said. He thought that somebody had probably helped him fall into that gorge. He could be wrong but he doubted it. It wasn't his problem though, so he continued to listen to the conversation.
"And lack of attention to detail when it comes to an investigation," Jazz was saying to the captain by the time he tuned back into the conversation. It was clear that Jazz was thinking back to being a suspect in the murder of a tourist four years ago and how Jorge had never looked for any other suspects.
"Not to mention letting his feelings get in the way of conducting an investigation properly," Dave added. "I know I wasn't here when he was so sure that Jazz had committed the murder of that tourist, but I've certainly heard enough about it to form a pretty good idea of what happened. If Jorge had bothered to find other suspects, she would've been cleared a lot sooner, maybe even within 24 hours. He let his personal feelings get in the way of doing a proper investigation, just because he was angry at Jazz's rejection, no matter how nicely it was done. A police officer should never allow their personal feelings to get in the way of doing the job right, not just throwing the first suspect under the bus. I know it happens, but it shouldn't, as any professional should be able to keep an emotional distance, go by logic and evidence not their feelings.
"Unfortunately, one of his numerous faults," Captain Bloodworth said responding to Dave's comment. He looked pensive. "He also doesn't really care about justice, which you need in order to be a good officer of the law. Those that are passionate about seeing justice done tend to be really good at their jobs."
Dave was absolutely right about Jorge so he must be pretty good at figuring people out, Bloodworth thought. He would probably make a good police officer if he cared to take it up as a career, but Captain Bloodworth didn't see that happening which was unfortunate. He wasn't about to make the suggestion though as he thought Jazz probably wouldn't appreciate it. While policework in a small town like Moonlight Gorge wasn't often dangerous, just occasionally, he doubted that Jazz would appreciate his suggestion or that Dave himself would take him up on it. That didn't mean that he couldn't use Dave as a resource when required since he had a good head on his shoulders and seemed to know how to read people.
"Why don't you to go home. It's late. You can fill out statements tomorrow once we've all had some sleep," Captain Bloodworth suggested to the pair.
"Considering it's nearly 3 in the morning yes, I'd say it's late, " Jazz said looking at her watch suddenly feeling very tired as the adrenaline from her earlier fright had worn off finally.
"Call me anytime, late afternoon would be good and Jazz I would consider letting others open the bakery for you tomorrow. I'm sure they can handle it for one day," Captain Bloodworth told her.
"Good idea, captain," Jazz agreed. She didn't bother to argue with such a sensible suggestion, and she could use as much sleep as she could get considering the stress she'd been under the last few months at least. "I believe I'll take you up on it you let Adella handle it tomorrow."
"Very good," Captain Bloodworth told her pleased. "You need to give yourself a break occasionally, especially when you've been under a tremendous amount of strain for sometime."
It didn't need to be said who had been a big part of the stress she had been under.
"You take care of her, Mr. Rossi," Captain Bloodworth ordered Dave who nodded.
"I will," Dave promised the captain solemnly, before escorting Jazz out of the police station.
The captain watched them go and thought that he was going to really enjoy getting to know David Rossi better, as it was clear that Jazz adored him. He was also polite and respectful of others. Of course, it was clear that Rossi adored Jazz too and that was the way it should be. David Rossi was everything that Jorge Mason was not. Intelligent, well educated, polite, respectful, kind and generous. That last one he had discovered when he visited the puppy mill like he had promised and Mr. Garcia had told him about Dave's donation. Even now renovations were underway to make the space better for the dogs and Mr. Garcia was looking to buy the empty lot next door to give them more room. He wouldn't have known about Rossi's generosity if only because David Rossi hadn't said a word about what he'd done. He certainly hadn't bragged about it like Mason would have if he had done something so kind and generous, as unlikely as that was.
No, Rossi just quietly went around making people's lives better and no one likely knew it except Jazz, as he doubted that the man had kept something like that from the woman he intended to marry. He might even have discussed it with her before he had done it. If that was the case that definitely put David Rossi miles above Jorge Mason, and so he would definitely look forward to their wedding in a few months.
~~~Dave and Jazzlyn~~~