Chapter 8 – The Interview
The next day, Frank, Danny, and Erin were able to have the day off so they could be at the house for Jamie's interview; Linda, unfortunately, wasn't able to get off work to be there. The cameramen and the rest of the crew had gotten there early, with Henry letting them in and pointing them towards the living area where it would take place. The rest of the Reagans arrived not long after. Jamie had dressed in some casual, yet professional, attire and was getting touched up by the makeup and hair people and fitted with a microphone. His family could tell he was nervous as he began pacing around the dining room and wringing his hands together as the crew got set up. There was a knock on the door and while Frank went to go answer it, Danny walked up to his brother. "Hey, you doing okay?" he asked softly, his brows furrowed a bit.
Jamie looked up at him. "Yeah, just…just nervous is all," he confessed as he blew out a breath. "I haven't really talked about any of this since the trial…"
Danny gave him a comforting look. "Well just remember that we're all here to support you and to take deep breaths," he said as Jamie did just that. "And if at any point you want this to stop, don't hesitate 'cause I'm not afraid to kick these people out."
"Thanks," Jamie said as he let out a small chuckle and shook his head.
By this time, Frank and the newest arrival had come up to the brothers, who were now joined by Erin and Henry. "I'd like you all to meet—"
"Maggie Lantz," Erin interrupted her father, shock on her face. "Wow, I've seen all of the broadcasts that you do, you really do a good job," she rambled on as she shook the reporter's hand.
"Wow, thank you so much," Maggie replied as she smiled. "You must all be family," she said as she gestured around the small group.
"This is my father, Henry," Frank introduced as he went around the semi-circle. "My older son Danny, my daughter Erin, and my younger son Jamie."
Maggie smiled and shook hands with each family member, stopping when she got to Jamie. "Jamie, it's so nice to meet you," she greeted warmly as she shook his hand.
"Thanks, it's nice to meet you too," he said as he gave her a small smile.
By now, the crew was finishing setting up as the makeup and hair people worked on Maggie. Once she was done and also fitted with a microphone, she had gestured for Jamie to head on into the filming area he chose. "You four are of course welcome to stay if you want to, but we do ask you to be silent while the cameras are rolling," she told them, receiving nods in return. Each member then found a place to sit that wasn't too far from view of Jamie. "Alright Jamie," she said as she stood next to him. "I'm going to ask you about that night and some other questions, okay?" she told him gently. "And whatever else you want to talk about, we can do that too. Sound good?"
Jamie was looking away but looked at her when she was done. "Yeah. And I'm sorry if I seem anxious or if it shows on camera because I am really nervous about all this…I've never done something like this before, especially not about what happened that night…"
Maggie gave him a reassuring smile. "It's completely okay to feel nervous Jamie," she said as she put a comforting hand on his arm. "We can take this however slow you need. That's the beauty of this not being live; we can set whatever pace you need."
Jamie gave her a small smile in return as they sat down in chairs across from each other. "Oh," he said before he sat down. "I do have these that I was wondering if you guys could show somehow…" He reached into his pocket and pulled out some photos, giving them to the reporter.
She reached for them and silently looked at each photograph, a small smile on her face as she stared back at the grinning faces of Dave, Tony, Luke, and a younger Jamie throughout their your friendship. "These are really sweet Jamie," she told him as she looked back up. "We'll be sure to add these later tonight in post," she continued as she set them on the table next to the two of them, spreading them out so each one could be seen. They were seated in two chairs across from each other as the crew finalized everything and everyone made sure things were good to go. "I'm just letting you know how this works; I'll be doing an introduction to who you are and what we're doing later at the station that will come on before this interview when it airs tomorrow, okay?" she asked, which received a slight nod of the head. Once they got the all clear, Maggie asked him, "Okay, you ready?"
Jamie looked off behind her to his family as he took a deep breath and slowly let it out. "Ready as I'll ever be," he replied.
She nodded once as she smiled and then started the interview once she got the thumbs up from the director.
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The interview went better than Jamie had thought, and in the end, he was glad that he went with channel 7 and Maggie Lantz. She didn't rush him, she was very patient and let him take as much time as he needed on his responses, especially during the tough memories, she avoided talking about the person behind the crime as much as possible, and she asked him about his friends. There were even a couple of times where he felt tears threatening to fall…and he was very thankful that his family was there for him, since he did look over to them for support at certain points.
After getting praise from his family and the crew had all left, Henry had broken out some of the good stuff that he saved for special occasions for all of them to have, as the whole process went on longer than they had thought. After that, they had all agreed to come back over the next night so they could watch the airing of the interview.
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Thursday was like any other day, except Jamie was a big ball of nerves all day. He had told Eddie about the interview and what time it would be on, where she told him that she wouldn't miss it. When it got closer to the time, he went over to his dad's, arriving just as his siblings were. They had decided to let Nicky babysit the boys at Danny and Linda's place, since Jamie wasn't quite ready for them to know about what happened yet. They had gathered in front of the television, anticipation and nerves running throughout the room. Frank gave his youngest a reassuring smile as Danny put a supportive hand on Jamie's back as the news started.
"Hello, and welcome to the six o'clock news, I'm Maggie Lantz," the reporter said as she addressed the camera. "Our top story tonight, Jameson Reagan, the boy who survived that horrible night ten years ago, is now a grown man and a respected officer of the NYPD, following in his family's footsteps of wearing the badge and protecting our city. For the first time since he had to testify against the triple murderer, Jamie has asked us here at KTVB channel 7, for a one-time exclusive interview. Throughout the video, you'll see photos that Jamie provided for us of him and his friends, David Acree and Anthony Russo, who were 16, and Luke Hatchett, who was 17 at the time of their deaths. I met Jamie and his family at his father, Police Commissioner Frank Reagan, and grandfather, former Police Commissioner Henry Reagan's, house, where we sat down for our interview." The video then cut to Jamie and Maggie sitting in the living area where they again said their introductions. When Jamie saw himself on the screen, he took in a deep breath and slowly let it out.
"So Jamie, can you tell us what happened that Halloween night almost a decade ago?" she asked gently as the camera focused on him.
Jamie let out some air as he looked down at his hands as he started. "Well, the day started off like any other. School was normal, but it was Friday, so everyone was excited for whatever plans they had that night." He looked back up, but failed to meet her gaze, as he had a far off look in his eyes. These were memories he hadn't thought about in a long time. "Justin Wilson had…invited Dave, Tony, Luke, and myself to his house that night to watch some scary movies and to sleep over. He said his dad would be out so we'd have the place to ourselves…we were all pretty excited about it, but I didn't think my parents would let me go. They had never met the Wilson's and knowing that there would be no adult there, they were pretty strict about that kind of stuff." Jamie had looked up at Maggie now, at his family that sat behind her. He swallowed the lump he had before he continued. "I asked them immediately when I came home, and they were pretty hesitant about it, but I was a pretty good kid, nothing like my brothers," he said as he revealed a small smirk and looked over at Danny, who had a similar look on his face. "I assured my parents that if anything went wrong, I'd call them right away…I begged them to let me go and when they said 'yes' I was surprised but so thrilled. I packed up my stuff and had my brother Joe drive me to the house…" he trailed off as his smile faltered, the faraway look coming back as he reminisced.
"Justin Wilson's house?" Maggie asked softly.
Jamie nodded his head as he clenched his jaw. "Everyone was already there when I arrived…they were playing some zombie video game. Luke loved video games, he was always so good at them," he said, smiling softly as he recalled his friend's fondness of the activity. "When he beat the level, we had switched gears and started watching some movies. Justin," he paused, hating to even say his name, "had told us that he had rented all of the scary movies the rental place had. Dave picked out IT first, knowing Tony didn't care for clowns…we used to hound him about that, but it was all in good fun and Tony knew it too. I remember we just went through movie after movie and we ordered some pizza as the night went on…and I remember the storm outside was getting worse and worse too. Even some of the thunder was scaring us because it was just so loud." He took a deep breath before continuing. "At one point, Luke went upstairs to use the bathroom and while he was gone, the power had gone off. Justin…he went outside to check the power box and was only gone for a few seconds. When he came back in, he said it was because of the storm…that's when I realized that Luke hadn't come back from upstairs and when I mentioned it…Justin—he had volunteered to get him. That's when the investigators believe he did it…" Jamie paused again as flashes of Luke's dead body in Justin's room flashed through his mind.
Maggie looked at him with concern. "I know this is incredibly hard for you to talk about and I can't imagine what you had to go through at such a young age," she told him.
He nodded again and looked at her. "There's not a day that goes by where I don't think about that day or my friends. For so many people, what happened that day is just something they heard about and were shocked about, but once Halloween is over, they're able to move on like nothing ever happened." He looked back down and shook his head. "For me, it'll never end…I've been able to live life normally again, but those memories, the flashbacks, even just Halloween decorations, it all comes back in full force every year. But I'm lucky to have my family with me…they've been with me every step of the way throughout this whole process; ten years ago and even now as everything becomes public knowledge. I'll always be grateful for them," he said as he glanced over at his loved ones in the back, all of them with smiles on their faces.
Maggie gave a similar smile as he talked. "What happened after Justin went upstairs?" she gently prompted.
Jamie blew out a small breath. "The rest of us were still in the living room when we heard a scream, so we all ran upstairs and followed the flashlight that Justin had and when we walked into his room, we saw—we saw Luke…I had checked for a pulse and didn't find one. We had thought maybe it was some joke one of them was playing but it wasn't…They started blaming each other, but I told them that wouldn't do any of us any good and we had to call the cops. So Tony and I went down to the kitchen where the phone was, and Justin said that he and—Dave would check the rest of the upstairs in case someone had broken in somehow. Tony and I got to the kitchen, and I tried the phone, but it wouldn't work because of the storm. But it was so bad that night, that I knew we wouldn't be able to do anything until it let up…so I told Tony that we had to stick together. Then we…" Jamie let out another shaky breath, trying to not let the tears fall. "We heard another scream, and I told Tony that we needed to check it out, but he refused to move, to leave the kitchen. So I—I left him where he was…and that decision has haunted me ever since and will continue to haunt me for as long as I live…I don't know what would have happened if he had come with me or if I had stayed with him, but…" He closed his eyes as he continued. "I always blamed myself for leaving him…even though the cops believed Tony didn't die until—until after I had escaped the house."
He opened his eyes again and looked at the photos that were next to them. "I went back upstairs by myself and ran into Justin who was freaking out, saying something about Dave being dead too…he said they had split up and that's must have been when it happened. I went into the master bedroom and sure enough, there was…there was Dave, just like Luke…I just couldn't believe it. I thought all of this was some nightmare." He took another pause as he looked up at the reporter in front of him. "I tried calling out to Justin, but he wasn't in the hallway anymore…and I called down to Tony, but there was no response there either. And I heard this noise and when I turned around, there was this figure wearing a clown mask and a bloody knife in his hand. I was so shocked that I just stood there, and the guy was able to come up to me and swipe at me with the knife, but I moved just in time and only got a superficial cut across my chest. We fought and I was able to get him to drop the knife, but then he punched me to the ground and was about to stab me; but then I got him to the ground too and I was able to run down the stairs, but I tripped at the bottom and ended up getting a sprained ankle. The next thing I know, the guy was on top of me and choking the life out of me…I was eventually able to get him off by kicking him and I got up and went towards the front door…That's when Justin—the guy turned me around and stabbed me…he took off his mask and there was Justin, smiling at what he had just done…" Jamie looked over at his family again as he felt more tears wanting to fall down. "I punched him and as fast as I could, I ran out of that house and towards the nice neighbors who saved me…" he finished as he nearly chocked back a sob.
Maggie shook her head. "I'm so sorry you had to go through that Jamie…but you showed how strong you are and what a fighter you are too. No wonder you followed your family into law enforcement." Jamie let out a soft chuckle as he wiped his eyes with his hands. "You originally went to law school to be a lawyer, like your sister, right? What would your friends say if they saw you today, your career as an officer?"
"Yeah, being the youngest I guess my mom didn't want another male going into that field, having to worry about if they'd come home from work or not. So she was the main reason why I went to Harvard, but deep down, I just always knew being a lawyer wasn't for me." He looked up as he thought about the rest of the question. "I don't think they'd be surprised…whatever stories I heard from my family I would go around and tell them too and they could always see the excitement I had. I think—I know they'd be proud of where I'm at in life right now. I'm doing what I love and enjoy, and that's what matters," he finished as he looked at her.
"What do you think they'd be doing if they were here?" she asked gently, brows furrowed.
He let out another shaky breath as he pondered about what she asked. "I think…Luke would be doing something with video games or computers; he was kind of a nerd like that," he smirked. "He owned every video game console that ever existed and he loved tinkering with every computer he could get his hands on…He was so smart. Dave would have been an athlete or maybe on the comedy scene…I swear that kid was a natural when it came to sports. Any sport he played and he would dominate it. He was on the baseball team, basketball team, football team, he played hockey for fun, he liked to run, he did everything. And he was so funny too, always making jokes and cracking all of us up until we were crying and our sides were hurting. He was a popular jock but he was also the class clown; everyone loved him. Tony—" he paused for a beat and then continued. "I think Tony would be some sort of doctor, whether that was with animals, people, or kids. He loved animals, every type of animal…and he was so great with kids. My niece and nephews were little back then, and he always knew how to quiet them if they were being fussy, he would play with them and they just loved him…I think more than me," he said as he let out a sad laugh. "He didn't think he was, but he was smart enough to get through any kind of med school…I think he'd be great at any of those positions. I think they all would be…"
Maggie smiled softly. "It sounds like they were great guys."
Jamie looked at her. "They were…they were the best. I just—I wish I knew why that night had to happen because they didn't deserve any of that. They didn't deserve to die…" he told her as he looked off in the distance again. "But that's why I wanted to do this…so many people have forgotten or don't care about the ones who were taken away from us; all they care about is the person who did it or the one who survived it and…I never wanted to be associated with any of this. That's why my name was kept out of everything. Dave, Tony, and Luke…they were my best friends; but more than that, they were someone's son, brother, grandson, and nephew—like me…" He looked over at his family again as Erin and Linda wiped tears from their eyes. "They're the ones people need to remember," he continued as he looked back at Maggie, at the camera. "Not me and definitely not the person who killed them…those three guys are the important ones from that night. I don't care about being the 'John Doe' from 'The Halloween Massacre;' I care about being a good cop, I care about being a good son and grandson and brother and uncle, and I care about being a good friend. I've made mistakes in life and I'll continue to make mistakes because that's all part of being human, but I won't ever stop trying and fighting for the things and the people that I love."
"Thank you Jamie…all of that was very well said and I'm sure your friends would have appreciated all of the things you said about them," Maggie told him as she reached over to put a comforting hand on his arm. Jamie smiled at her and nodded as she straightened back up.
The news then cut back to Maggie at the station with her closing thoughts about everything that happened.
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After the news had ended, Jamie had felt the weight come off his shoulders as his family all hugged him or patted him on his shoulder and back. They had stayed at the house for a while before they all had left for their respected homes, after Erin had picked up Nicky from Danny's place. Jamie had even gotten a nice text from Eddie, saying that she thought the interview went really well and was done very respectfully. He had sent her his thanks as he had gotten home, changed into more comfortable clothing, opened one of the beers that was in the fridge, then sat down on his couch as he absentmindedly watched whatever was on the tv at the moment. He was glad all of that was done, he hoped, and couldn't wait until the next day was over…when everything could hopefully go back to normal again. Once his beer was gone, he had turned the tv off and gone to bed.
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Halloween, the day Jamie dreads every year. 'It's just a normal day,' he thought as he got ready. 'It'll be over before I know it.' That's what he kept telling himself as the day went on, and soon it turned into evening as dark clouds came rolling in. He had gotten some texts and calls throughout the day from family and friends, but luckily none from unknown numbers. It seemed that people have finally left him alone after his interview with channel 7, which he was grateful for. Eventually it came down to figuring out what he was going to do for dinner, which he had no idea what to do, considering his kitchen was pretty bare. 'Chinese kind of sounds good right now…' he thought as he decided to order take out from his favorite Chinese restaurant. Knowing it'd be faster to just go there and get it himself, he grabbed his phone and keys and put on his jacket to head out. He walked into the apartment complex's parking garage towards the Chevelle when a hand suddenly went over his mouth, muffling his yell that came out. He tried fighting off his attacker but stopped when he felt a prick on his neck; it didn't take long before everything soon went black…
A/N: Yes, I am that evil...muahahaha! *wink*