VCTF Headquarters: Interrogation Room...same day
Patrick was pacing in small circles around the interrogation room. When they told him Jessie had arrived and was coming down to see him he couldn't stop smiling. That, of course, ended when she walked in and he saw how upset she was. "What happened?"
"Why didn't you tell me they think you killed all those people? You should've told me."
"Because I know you...you get all defensive and sarcastic...and I wanted you to be totally relaxed. I didn't want you to think before you answered." He walked over and put his arm around her. "Look, you're tired-"
"Are you kidding me?!" She pushed his arm off her. "You should have told me. I could've handled it."
He reached out for her shoulder again. "You're right Jess, I'm sorry. I just didn't want you to feel like you had to protect me. C'mon sit down with me for awhile." Patrick led her over to the table, pulled a chair out for her and sat down next to her. "Tell me about Blue's race." He smiled, hoping that telling the story would change her mood.
Observation Room
Bailey, Sam, and John walked into the observation room to find Robert Gibson sitting on the counter talking on his cell phone. He gave them a small wave and continued on with the conversation he was having. They walked over to the two-way glass and saw Patrick and Jessie talking contently. They were both laughing as Jessie was telling Patrick something. Sam reached over and turned the knob on the speaker, that was on the wall, so they could hear what was going on in the room. She wanted to see how Patrick and Jessie interacted with one another, but she also wanted John to see it too. To see that his father had changed.
"...after he won and they took him to the winner's circle..it was great...he looked so happy. I swear he was smiling."
"Bet you Sal won't sell him now."
"Actually he said I could have him...that's okay isn't it?"
"Sure, we'll have something built for him at the country house. I'll have Robert get started on it right away."
Sam couldn't help but noticed that Patrick was beaming with happiness. Every time Jessie smiled, his smile got bigger. She looked over at John and saw in his face that he had noticed something too. She put her hand on his shoulder.
"He's changed." John nearly whispered, his eyes never leaving Patrick and Jessie. "That's definitely not my father in there."
Sam put her hand on his shoulder. "Well, maybe you could get to know this father."
"I don't know..." His voice trailed off and they continued to watch and listen.
Interrogation Room
"...Robert has a hotel room for the both of you..."
"You're not coming with us?"
"No, they could hold me for one more day before they have to either press charges or let me go. It'll be alright. I'll be out in the morning." Jessie gave him a half smile, but he could tell she was upset. "Hey, one day, I promise."
Jessie nodded. "They don't like you very much, do they?"
"Probably not, but a lot of people don't kiddo, it's the business."
"But they live here, they don't even know you."
"It's okay, so what if they don't like me." He laughed. "They're not the first and I'm sure they won't be the last."
"I don't like it." She said quietly.
"Hey," Patrick wanted to change the subject. "Maybe on the way back we can stop at Brenda and Rick's and get some fishing in before winter." He smiled when she brightened up a bit. "We'll send Robert home and just hang there for a couple days, just the two of us, sound good?"
"Yes." She answered happily.
"There's something else I have to tell you." He wasn't sure he should tell her about John, but he didn't want her to find out from anyone else. "John's here."
"Really?!" Jessie was suddenly excited about the possibility of meeting her half-brother. "Did you see him? You talked to him?"
"I did," Patrick said evenly.
"It didn't go well." Jessie reached out and put her hand on her father's. "I'm sorry, Dad."
"I got to tell him I was sorry." Patrick half smiled. "At least I did that." He looked down not wanting her to see how sad he was about the situation between him and John, but she saw it, and before he could look back up, she hugged him. "You are just what I need today." He whispered playing with the curls of her hair.
Observation Room
"I'm uh...I'm going back upstairs." John turned from the two-way glass and quickly left the room.
"Watching them.." Bailey said after John left. "It must be hard for him."
Sam nodded. "Jessie has the relationship with his father that he wanted. It's hard for him to see that his father changed and that he's missed out on something."
"Bailey," Nathan said walking in. "Boston P.D. just called...there have been two more murders. Same pattern as the others."
"Who was murdered?" Robert asked hanging up his cell phone and finding this conversation more interesting.
Nathan looked at his notes. "Paul Saint James."
Robert nodded. "He uh...borrowed money from Patrick."
"The other is Susan-"
"Grey." Robert finished for him. He shook his head. "This is not good. Susan Grey is the woman Patrick's been seeing for the last two years. This is not good." He repeated and looked at Bailey. "Patrick is going to go ballistic."
"What hotel is Jessie staying at tonight? I want to get men posted over there asap."
"The Radisson on-" Robert realized what Bailey was telling him. "Do you think they're gonna target Jessie too?"
"We have to cover all the angles. With the death of Susan Grey, they are getting more personal."
"I am not looking forward to telling him this," Robert said quietly.
"We'll go in with you," Sam told him. "He has to help us stop these murders before it's too late."
"He will." Robert opened the door to the Interrogation room and the four of them walked in.
"What's going on?" Patrick asked not liking the look on Robert's face.
"Jessie we have to talk to your Dad and ask him a few more questions. I need you to go wait upstairs, where we were earlier, okay?" Bailey pointed Nathan out. "That's Nathan Brubaker. He'll stay with you until we're done."
"I'll see you in the morning." Patrick caught on that they wanted her out of the room so they could tell him what happened and he nudged her along. He could see she was worried about him. "Everything will be alright."
She nodded but she didn't really believe him. "Okay."
Patrick stood up. "C'mere and give your old man a hug." She did and he kissed her forehead. "Now, don't worry about me...I'm going to be fine. Get some sleep tonight." He put his hand under her chin and pushed gently so she would look at him. "I mean it, Jess, you need to get some rest."
Jessie knew something was up, but she also knew that no one wanted her there to hear it. It made her angry and scared. "I can't come back later?"
"We'll see how everything goes. It's very possible." Bailey answered.
"Maybe I'll see you later then." She told him as she walked out, not completely hiding the anger in her voice.
When Bailey was sure Jessie was out of the observation room he turned to Patrick. "There's been two more murders."
"Associated with me right? Who was it?"
"Paul St. James," Bailey told him.
"Paulie...I loaned him money a couple times. He's always been good for it...he was almost paid off on his current loan." Patrick explained to them. "I liked him. Who's the other one?"
"Susan." Robert looked down at the floor not wanting to see Patrick's face.
Patrick's face fell. He shook his head. "No...no not Susan...God, please tell me it's not her, Bobby."
"I'm sorry, Pat." He said softly reaching out for his friend's shoulder.
"This is NOT happening!" Patrick shouted, tears welling up in his eyes. "She had nothing to do with my business...she was completely innocent!"
"We think whoever is committing these murders is targeting you personally...it's not your business they're trying to shut down...it's you." Sam walked over to him and put her hand on his arm. "The victims are going to be close to you now. You have to help us so we can stop them."
Patrick looked into her big blue eyes and knew he could trust her to tell him the truth. "Do you think they'll hurt Jessie?" New tears formed and fell from his eyes. "They'll try to kill her?"
Sam nodded, her eyes watery around the edges. "Yes."
"I'll do whatever it takes," Patrick told her. He turned to Bailey. "You'll help protect her...keep her safe?"
"We will." Bailey thought for a moment. "We'll release you so you can stay at the hotel with her tonight...tomorrow we'll all head to Boston to figure this out."
"Thank you."
"I'll have someone take you back to your cell while Robert and I work on your release. You'll be out of here in a couple hours."
Patrick nodded. "Thank you, thank you both." He said looking at Sam.
Tbc...
