TBITC Chp. 42

After leaving Kenwall's office, Jack drove to his apartment. Once there, he went to his bedroom, stripped off his suit, and went into the bathroom. Placing his 1911 on top of the commode, he turned on the showered and stepped in, letting the water wash over him. He closed his eyes and thought about where everything was headed based on this new development.

As much as he wanted Clavo to suffer for what he had done, he knew that if the bastard was willing to go to such lengths as to have to child's own mother get custody of him just so he could get the boy back, then the man would never stop. Until he was dead.

As Jack lathered his body and hair, he thought about what this new plan would take. He knew that Mike, Kenny and Joe would be on board. Mike had told him a few days' earlier that Anya was having nightmares at least twice a week, probably more. Slowly, Natalia had been able to ascertain what had been done to the girl that she now saw as a daughter. When Mike recounted what his girlfriend had told him, Jack could feel the rage coming off the former Navy Seal in waves. And he understood it, because he felt it as well.

As much as he hated to disappoint Alexx, this was the only option. He turned the shower off and stepped out, wrapping a towel around his waist. He heard his cellphone's vibration reverberating against the wood of his dresser, and quickly padded over, grabbing it.

"Hello?"

"Hey, Jack. I got bad news, brother." Frank Tripp's voice said in a somber tone on the other end of the phone. SITU and robbery/homicide divisions had merged and Jack had been partnered with Tripp. He liked the arrangement because he figured Tripp could bring him up to speed on police procedure and he was a good man, someone Jack respected.

"Lemme guess. A body?"

"Yeah, but it's worse than that. The body's been i.d'd. as Janet Monroe."

Jack's hand tightened around the phone. This development wasn't what he wanted to hear. "Ok, give me the address."

After receiving the address and disconnecting the call, Jack dress in beige chinos and a light blue polo shirt and dark brown dress shoes. Instead of carrying his full size .45, he went to his biometric gun safe and opened it, selecting a Springfield Armory Champion Operator compact 1911. The Kimber's Pavel had given him had some issues, so he'd switched to Springfield Operators, a full size and the champion he was now carrying. Threading the belt through the nylon holster and magazine pouches, Jack checked himself in the mirror. Satisfied everything was where it should be, Jack grabbed his keys and wallet and left his apartment.

He quickly found his new car, a silver 2009 Dodge Charger. Though he'd liked his mustang, it wasn't an ideal family car. But he still wanted to have horsepower if necessary. So, he'd sold the Mustang to a collector and purchased the Charger. But part of the reason he'd done it, the part he'd never admit to anyone, was to show Alexx that he was serious about wanting to start a family with her and Sam.

He pulled up next to the coroner's van, put the car in park and got out. He meandered through the maze of police vehicles and ducked under the yellow tape, flashing his badge to the uniform on duty. He found his partner, and his father standing over the body. The night M.E., was processing the victim. No words were exchanged, because they didn't need to say anything.

He refused to acknowledge her name, because doing so would make her human and Jack refused to humanize anyone who would sell their child, their flesh and blood to a pehophile just to support a drug habit. He had to give the woman some credit. The gunshot wound to her head appeared to be self inflicted. "Agent Caine?" the M.E., asked, bringing Jack out of his revelry. Jack looked at the man and saw he was holding a folded sheet of notebook paper in his gloved hand. He took it, read it quickly, then swore. Frank and Horatio turned, 'What?' expressions on both their faces. Instead of handing them the note, Jack said. "She knew that Clavo would take Sam from her once she got custody, and she wasn't going to risk that. She said that she wanted to do one decent thing for her son, and that she wants Clavo dead." He summarized.

The three men stepped away from the body and crossed the yellow tape, getting as far away from the scene as possible. Once they were out of earshot, Jack turned and said, "HQ, one hour. If you're not there, I'll understand."

Without waiting for a response, Jack turned and walked to his car. He got in and pulled out his phone, typing a simple text. He hesitated, his finger poised over the 'send' button. He knew that once it was sent, there would be no turning back and it might cost him everything he held dear. But then he thought about everything Sam and Anya had suffered. Everything Alexx had suffered. Thought about when he found them in that filthy, disgusting room. And in that moment, he knew he had no choice. He punched 'send', put the car in reverse and back out. As he drove away, a smile crept to his lips, and he couldn't help thinking that this was going to be fun.

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