Jude fetched the paperwork from Oscar's former office. He didn't want to stay there, although the idea of what he could do with Zero on that table was intriguing, but he still had all his stuff in his own office. The meeting that was supposed to be yesterday and which he had to cancel, was turned to a hell lot of paperwork he now had to go through. He hoped Zero didn't want to celebrate his new contract any time soon.
He had been working only for couple of hours when Zero stormed in. Jude held back a sigh as he gave up on going through the arena's rental contracts.
"What are you doing here? I went to look for you from Oscar's office." Zero asked with amused smile on his face, clearly he didn't mind walking around. He sat down opposite to Jude and leaned backwards, trying to relax.
"The office isn't quite my style. Besides all my other work is here." Jude pointed towards the papers on his desk hinting that he really had work to do, but as usual, Zero ignored it.
"Don't you have anyone to take care of your work? I mean, you are in control of all dozens of staff members here and you're still doing two men's job." Zero was worried about Jude's coping. He stressed easily and by doubling his workload he was sure to snap at some point.
"It's only temporarily." Jude only said rubbed his neck. He was happy to be working. "Besides once Jelena gets back, who knows when I'm able to get a job I like."
"What do you mean?" Zero frowned. "Can't you just make yourself a little updated contract?" Jude was really getting tired of watching Zero wave towards the desk like the contract didn't take any time at all to prepare.
"No, I can't. Jelena is still officially in charge. I can't just make myself a new contract. It doesn't work that way." Jude saw Zero's disappointment. "It's okay, I'll find something else. I'm sure something comes up at the arena."
"Become my agent again." Jude almost startled when Zero jumped forward in his chair and blurted out the offer.
"Your agent? But I…" The proposition was so sudden that Jude didn't know what to say.
"Think about it Jude!" Zero placed his palms to the table. He was so excited by the idea that it was hard for him to stay put. "We could be working together. You could work your way up if the opportunity comes. And let's face it, Jude, you were my best agent ever."
Jude looked up at Zero and he could see how Jude's mind worked with the idea.
"Team Zero?" He offered his hand across the table.
Jude bit his lower lip before taking eye contact with Zero and smiled. "Team Zero!" He echoed Zero's words and took his hand. They both smiled and Zero crawled above the table to give Jude a deep kiss.
Jude broke it soon when Zero's hands traveled to undo his tie. "No, seriously, I have to work. We…" Jude took hold of Zero's hands and carefully pushed them away. "…can continue this…" He looked Zero up and down with a little lust in his eyes which made Zero smile. "…after you sit there, quietly for the next two hours." Zero's face fell by the idea.
"Two hours?" He sat back down and crossed his arms like a little boy whose mother had denied to give him some candy. Eventually he smiled and shook his head. "The things I do for you, Jude." He said and took a magazine which was lying on the table.
Jude smiled back at him and continued working.
It was past five p.m. when they were interrupted by Jude's secretary: "I'm sorry, Mr. Kinkade but the police want to talk with you."
Both Jude and Zero looked at each other.
"Okay, sent them in." Jude said and soon two criminal detectives walked inside.
"Mr. Kinkade?" The other said and looked between the two, soon settling to stare at Jude. "We would like for you to come to the station."
"What for?" Zero had asked before Jude even opened his mouth.
The detective stared at Zero before recognizing him. "Ah, Zero, isn't it? My son's a big fan." Then the man cleared his throat and went back to business mode. "We would just like to ask some clarifying questions about the night Jelena Howards was shot."
"Of course." Jude arranged the papers he had left to a neat pile before getting up and following the detectives. "I meet you at home." He said as he passed Zero and gave him a quick kiss on the lips. Zero nodded at him and watched them go.
"We hoped you'd have some more information about the night of the shooting." Detective Jones said as he sat with Jude in the questioning room.
"I'm sorry but it's still blurry." Jude had tried to remember who he had seen that night but his mind was blank.
The detective frowned at his answer. "Are you absolutely sure?"
"Sure, why would I lie about that?" Jude tried to find a reason why they didn't believe him.
"The thing is, Mr. Kinkade. That we found the gun which was used to shoot Jelena, at the floor next to you." The detective showed him a photo of the gun. It was a simple handgun and there was nothing particular about it. "Do you recognize it?"
"No. I don't own a gun. You don't think I shot her?" Jude asked half joking, but one look at the man told him he had hit the nail. He felt his stomach drop.
"There were your fingerprints on the weapon." Jones simply said and Jude felt himself start panicking.
"My fingerprints? But I've never touched a gun before in my life." Jude pointed towards the picture and then a thought hit him. "Why an earth I would leave my fingerprints to the gun and then hit myself to head if I had shot her?"
"I don't know. You tell me." The detective crossed his arms and looked at him eagerly.
"I…" Jude looked at the photo again. He realized he needed to remember who the actual shooter was. He tried to remember, really tried, but all he could see in his memory was a dark figure coming raising a hand and hitting him. "I was framed. I would never shoot anyone."
"With that I disagree." Jones took the photo away and leaned against the table. "From what I've heard you had a significant motive to kill Jelena Howards." Jude looked up to the man as if he was crazy. "She sacked both: you and your father. The team had been on Kikade's possession for many years. It was your legacy."
Jude couldn't do anything but to shake his head and smile nervously. The detective was all wrong. He didn't shoot Jelena. He barely even knew her.
"It doesn't make a man take a gun, you think?" Jones smiled shortly at him. "We also know that she was planning on trading your boyfriend, Zero, which I had the pleasure to meet with. By taking out Jelena, you as the second in command, you were given a change not only to take the team back, but to secure Zero's place on it."
Jude felt his head spin. He tried to find words to defend himself, any words, but nothing came out of his mouth. He kept on replaying the events of that night in his head: Zero hitting the banner, Jelena lying on the bloodied floor, figure coming at him, pain, Zero hitting the banner, Jelena lying on the floor, figure coming at him. It was then when Jude made out the face of his attacker. He had to take a good grip at the edge of the table to ground himself. He closed his eyes briefly and swallowed, feeling detective Jones eyes on him.
"I didn't shoot her." Jude was finally able to say but he couldn't tell the name of the real culprit. He just couldn't.
Detective Jones looked a little disappointed as he leaned back on his chair. "And you have no idea who did it?" He then asked and gave Jude a stern look.
"No." Jude lied and looked down at his hands. His knuckles were turning white and he quickly put his hands back to his lap. "I still can't remember."
"Okay." The detective sighed. "You're free to go." He waved his hand towards the door.
"What? Really?" Jude couldn't believe his ears.
"Look, I was only harassing you so you could remember something about the guy who hit you. The fingerprint doesn't prove anything since anyone could've framed you. Besides we found your blood on the end of the gun. You were hit hard with it. The real culprit had tried to wipe it off but he missed a spot."
Jude let out a breath he was holding. "So I'm free to go?" He still clarified, sure that if he walked out he would be dragged to the cell instead.
"Yeah, yeah…" Jones muttered. "Besides we've already made an arrest."
"Who?" Jude asked, fearing the answer.
"Sloane Hayes. The gun was registered on her name."
Jude nodded at the man and walked outside. He couldn't remember a time he had enjoyed fresh air as much.
Zero was jumping to the walls when Jude told him about the questioning.
"How could they suspect you? That's ridiculous!"
"They didn't suspect me, not really." Jude explained. He watched Zero pacing around before walking to him and taking hold of his shoulders so that the man would settle down. "They only tried to scare me so I could remember who really did it." The touch worked and Zero seemed to relax a little. "And it worked."
"What? Who?" Zero leaned closer to him, not wanting to miss his answer.
"Oscar." Jude hated how hard it was for him to say it out loud.
"Oscar?" Zero echoed. "Oscar, as Oscar himself? Not one of his henchmen?"
"No, it was Oscar himself. God knows why. Maybe he has lost his connections after he got arrested." Jude voice was a little desperate.
"So, what's wrong? They are arresting him, aren't they?" Zero asked and tried to get Jude to look at him.
"I didn't tell them." Jude shook his head and withdrew his hands from Zero's shoulders.
"Why not?" Zero asked taken aback by Jude's actions.
"Cause I couldn't. Not yet." Jude tried to find a words which would make Zero understand. "Oscar knows how to deal with law enforcements. My testimony doesn't guarantee his arrest."
"But it would still cause suspicion on him. Sloane is arrested instead of him." Zero couldn't care less about Sloane, but he wanted to cause some remorse on Jude so that he would do the right thing and take Oscar down.
Jude just shook his head. "I know but I can't do it yet. Think about it, Gideon. This is the only solid way to get Lionel out of Oscar's reach. If I tell him what I remember, he must sign divorce papers so Lionel can get out."
Zero pondered about the idea for a moment. "Okay. I get it."
Jude smiled at him. "I knew you would. I'm going to call to Lionel and go see Oscar after that. I want her and her lawyer be ready for it."
"You're not going alone. I'm coming with you." Zero followed Jude to the kitchen where Jude had left his phone.
"No you won't." Jude put the phone down and turned towards him. "I won't have Oscar know that you're part of this. The less in the line of fire, is better."
"So what, I just stay here and wait for you to come back? Who knows what he could do?" Jude turned his attention towards his phone again and dialed Lionel's number. Zero was annoyed that he didn't get his attention while he was talking.
Finally Jude turned to him. "I won't have you there. Oscar won't do anything to me." With that Jude put the phone against his ear and walked away.
Zero cursed under his breath. He understood why Jude didn't want him there; that he wanted to protect him, but that's just why Zero hated the idea. He was being protected but who was protecting Jude?
Jude stopped just outside Oscar's room. He took a steadying breath before walking in. Oscar didn't look surprised when he saw him.
"Son! What do I owe the visit?" Oscar stood up and waved towards the chair across his desk for Jude to sit down. The way he said the word 'son' made Jude sick.
"You probably know why I'm here." Jude ignored the gesture and stopped to the middle of the room.
Oscar's smile faded, but only slightly.
"I remembered it was you." Jude said bluntly and waited for Oscar's defenses to drop but the man only grinned.
"I admit it." He said and shrug his shoulders. "I hit you, but that doesn't mean I shot Jelena."
Jude couldn't do anything else but to stare at him.
"Think about it, Jude. I could've found Jelena's body, see the gun there and pick it up in shock. Then I would've heard you walking closer and hide into the darkness of the room. Once I saw you, I knew you wouldn't believe me if I told you that I only happened to found her. So I had to hit you, to get out of there." Oscar sat down by his desk and entwined his fingers.
Jude let out a dry laugh. Who was this man kidding? "I knew you would squirm your way out of this." He huffed in disappointment. "I don't care about your excuses. Let's see what the police has to say about my statement." Jude turned around to leave but Oscar stopped him.
"What do you want from me?" Oscar corrected his position in the chair and looked sternly at his son.
Jude smiled and quickly collected himself before turning around. "What I want is for you to sing these divorce papers…" He walked to the desk and put four pieces of paper in front of Oscar. "…and leave Lionel alone."
Oscar didn't even touch the papers. "So that's it? Why should I trust, after I sign these papers, that you won't go straight down to the police station and tell them about your story?" His voice had lowered down, and as little as Jude knew his father, he knew it meant business.
"I guess it's up to you." Jude looked straight into his eyes, those eyes he had inherited for himself like his mother had once said, and refused to back down.
Oscar stared back at him and laughed. "You're too smart for your own good, Jude." He said then and looked down at the papers. "I presume that Lionel's secured financially for life after I sign these papers."
"She gets half of your money and half the personal property. The house is all yours. Either that or a tiny cell. Your call." Jude was proud to find out that his voice stayed steady, regardless of the inner turmoil.
"Fine. I sign it." Oscar took a pen and wrote his name down. "Will that be all?" He asked and pushed the papers towards Jude.
"That'll be all. Pleasure of doing business with you. As usual." Jude said sarcastically and took the papers.
"I'll be seeing you soon." Oscar called after him. Jude wanted to ask what he meant but his pride didn't let him turn around anymore.
Zero couldn't describe how relieved he was to see Jude walk inside. He went straight to hug him and felt Jude smile against his shoulder and wrap his hand around his hips.
"Did you miss me?" Jude asked teasingly.
"Always." Zero answered without hesitation and pulled back just so much that he could press a kiss on Jude's lips.
They stumbled towards the bedroom and tore each other's shirts off at the process.
"It's late…" Jude managed to say between the kisses and Zero just pulled him harder against him. "You have a game tomorrow." Jude continued reluctantly not really wanting to depart from Zero but he knew that the man needed his sleep before the game.
"Don't care." Zero mumbled as he made his way down on Jude's neck.
Jude opened his mouth to say something but only a gasp made out as Zero concentrated his attention on Jude's nipples. "Me neither." He whispered then and pushed Zero on top of the bed.
Jude met with Lionel in their usual coffee place the following morning. She screamed in delight and ran to hug him when she saw him.
"Jude! My hero!" Lionel squeezed so hard that Jude was struggling to breath. "I don't know how you did it, but I owe you big time!" She finally let go of him and escorted him to her table next to the window.
"I did what friends do." Jude said humbly as he sat down. "Have you heard anything about Jelena?" He was a little ashamed that he hadn't gone to see her. But he supposed that she didn't even want him there, so it wasn't probably such a big deal. It still didn't stop him for feeling guilty.
"She's recovering. Too fast for my taste." Lionel rolled her eyes to her own statement. Jude knew she hadn't visited Jelena either, but cause of Lionel's curiosity, she knew everything that was going on. Lionel then leaned forward. "But did you hear that the police has arrested Sloane?" She asked and hoped to see shocked expression on Jude's face but the man just nodded. "You did? Since when?"
"Since I went to questioning yesterday." Jude admitted. He felt little guilty for not telling Lionel sooner, when she looked at him with wide eyes.
"Is it just me because it seems to me that you don't tell me everything these days." Her voice was steady but there was accusing tone in there.
"I'm sorry but yesterday got a bit hectic. How can I make it up to you?" Jude said it half-jokingly but when he saw Lionel's face, he knew she wasn't.
"You could help me pack my stuff." Lionel said with a flirty smile and Jude could only smile and agree.
"Are you sure Oscar is out?" Jude had parked in front of Oscar's house and eyed it suspiciously. He really didn't want to run into the man after their confrontation last night.
"For the last time yes!" Lionel huffed, frustrated since Jude asked the same question for the third time. "Are you coming or should I leave you here frowning?" She was already outside ready to close the door when Jude quickly got out too.
The house was indeed empty when they entered. Jude had calculated that he would've enough time to help Lionel with her stuff and then do some work before the Devils game started. He soon, however, had to dismiss the idea of working when it took forever for Lionel to gather all her belongings, which was a lot. She had dresses, shoes, jewelry, shampoos, make ups and some more clothing. Just when Jude was about to lift the first box from Lionel's bed, his phone rang.
Jude cursed and quickly checked who was calling: Pete Davenport. Jude frowned, since he couldn't think of any reason for Pete to call him. He answered anyhow, thinking it might be important.
"Jude, it's me, Pete." The head coach started, sounding a little on edge.
"What can I do for you?" Jude put the phone between his ear and shoulder, prepared for a long call.
"Sloane asked to meet you." Jude was just about to pick the box up but stood straight instead.
"Why me?" He asked, a little worried for what she had to say.
"I don't know. Can you, please, just come?" Pete sounded tired. He'd probably hadn't slept at all after Sloane was arrested. Jude felt guilty again, but he told himself, that Sloane's arrest was only temporary. He would fix it soon enough, until Lionel was safe away from Oscar.
"Sure." He found himself saying and Pete sighed in relief.
"What's up?" Lionel emerged into the room as Jude hang up the call. She had thought that Jude would be already taking the second box downstairs but the first one was still untouched.
"I just got a call from Pete. Sloane wants to meet me." Jude answered and looked apologetically at her. "I'll come back and help you right after the game, alright?"
Lionel looked around and sighed. She had really hoped she could get away from this house as soon as possible but it couldn't be helped. Oscar would be gone until tomorrow. He was meeting his acquaintance in Boston. "Okay. But I'll be there watching the game as well. So can I hitch a ride after that?"
"Always." Jude smiled and kissed her cheek. "I'll try not to be late."
Jude sat nervously in front of Sloane. He was sure she knew, that he knew, the real shooter. The way she looked at him screamed at him to spill all that he knew. But when she started to talk her tone was soft, a little worried, but not accusing and Jude relaxed.
"I'm sorry I had to drag you all the way down here just to talk." Sloane apologized.
"No, it's okay." Jude found himself smiling at her. He still remembered the time when they waged war against each other over Oscar. They had gone so far from that moment. Actually Jude found Sloane very nice, like a motherly nice kind of woman. She always smiled and talked softly with the ones she cared about.
"I just hoped you could tell me with a little bit of detail what happened that night. You were the one who found Jelena, right?" Sloane looked desperate as she leaned forward.
Jude had to collect his thoughts before answering. He wasn't sure what he should tell her at this point. "I really can't tell anything more than I told the detectives." He started and saw the disappointment in her eyes. "Listen…" He reached out across the table but stopped his hands before he could touch hers. "…I can promise that you'll get out soon." Sloane frowned and was about to open her mouth but Jude quickly interrupted her. "No, don't ask me how I know it but I want you to trust me on this, okay?"
Just when Jude had said those words the detective, who had questioned him as well, walked inside. "You're free to go Sloane Hayes. The district attorney didn't lift any charges."
Sloane looked at Jude in disbelief but Jude looked as surprised as she was.
"How is that possible? I thought you had enough to prove that I'm guilty?" Sloane asked as the detective opened her handcuffs.
"We did." Mr. Jones said between clenched teeth. "But somehow the crime weapon has disappeared, so we can't lift charges based only on motive." He continued and slammed the opened handcuffs to the table. "But we'll find it soon enough." He added with a threatening voice.
"Until then." Sloane marched outside, leaving Jude still sitting there with a dumbfound expression on his face. He glanced up to the detective who was staring at him angrily. Jude quickly got up and followed Sloane outside. She had stopped to wait for him a little way down the hall.
"Thank you, Jude. Whatever you did." She said with sincerity that made Jude uncomfortable.
"I really don't know what just happened." He confessed but Sloane just shook her head and smiled.
"Thank you." She said once more and hugged him. Jude wasn't used to hugs and even Sloane's arms felt oddly skinny around him compared to Zero's. "I'll owe you one." She said before walking towards a room which one of the officers showed her to get her things. She was the second person to say that to him. Jude didn't know what to do with so much gratitude.
Jude was feeling pretty good as he sat down behind the wheel. The feeling turned to stress in a moment he checked the clock and realized he had already missed the start of the game. Zero had tried to call him five times. Jude threw his phone to the passenger's seat and drove towards the arena, hoping that he would at least see the ending of the game.