Jack In The Box
Chapter 47: Bonus Chapter 2
EZRA POV
I should’ve been in my hotel room packing, better yet, spending my final hours in WoodVille screwing the bartender I’d met at the club, instead a new discovery had forced me to first talk this out with my brother before I drew up any conclusions. My gut feeling told me that what I’d witnessed and seen was wrong, but I knew in my heart that it could as well be true.
“Sir, I’ve been instructed not to let any visitors disturb Mr. Wolfe at this hour.” Lynn followed me, hot on his heels, dabbing a handkerchief on his forehead.
Poor Lynn and the other house staff. They’d thought I’d died during one of my missions, and I’d made sure to keep my existence from public knowledge. I was someone who worked from the shadows, and so, my agency had completely wiped out my remnants from this mansion. I had no reason to live here after I’d joined the FBI because unlike Jack, this place haunted me. I couldn’t look at the shed outside without thinking of our mother; I couldn’t even step towards the same floor as my father’s room because I often thought he’d still be there inside, sitting in his usual chair, smoking a cigar.
When I’d turned up at the mansion, months later, Lynn and the staff had nearly survived a coronary. They thought they’d seen a ghost, and I had to quickly explain what had happened. I’d claimed back my old room, the one on the same floor as Jack’s but my room consisted of less things and even lesser furniture.
I knocked on the door of Jack’s room, scratch that, I rapped on the door with angry thumps.
The Jackass better be awake.
“Sir...But...”
“Lynn, please remind me who I am.” I told the butler.
He opened his palms as if to ask why I was even asking this question. “You are Ezra Wolfe, sir.”
“And what does that make me?” I asked.
“An important member of this house.” Lynn looked like a kid giving his best answers to win Who wants to be a Millionaire?
“Right. So, if the owner of this house, my brother wishes not to speak with me, he’d have to throw me out himself, which he can’t because it’s my house too. You’re not losing your job so...pretend like I’m not here and run back downstairs.”
Lynn huffed. The door of the room opened and a very sleepy Jack walked out of the room. I could see Riley sleeping on her side, the white comforter drawn up to cover the lower half of her body. It’s no wonder his phone was switched off.
“It’s four a.m, Ezra. What the fuck do you want at this hour?” Jack asked, barely opening his eyes. No shirt on, just a pair of jeans, unzipped and unbuttoned.
I had barely even slept, because my new partner had called me to discuss this new undercover case. I had a flight in two hours but this conversation needed to happen.
“Lynn, I need breakfast.” Jack said. “Eggs would be good.”
“It’s just four a.m, sir.”
“I can read time.” Jack replied, grumpily.
“Get me a strong coffee, black.” I told him and the butler was dismissed.
I turned my gaze towards Jack. He closed his bedroom door carefully behind him, like making the slightest sound would wake up the sleeping baby in his crib. Yeah, right.
“Jose Fisher.” I said.
The name was enough to remind him what had happened. Jack watched me, his demeanor as cool as a cucumber. Anyone else would have been fooled, not me.
“Who’s that?” He asked.
“You should try enrolling into a better acting school because you’re definitely not passing any auditions any time soon, brother.”
“Don’t talk in riddles.” He snapped. “Say it clearly.”
“Jose’s body was found in a ditch last night, butchered beyond recognition. Let me paraphrase that in a better way. His eyeballs are missing, Jackson and so was his penis. His organs laying in a pile beside him.” I told him. “The new FBI recruit puked his guts and almost called quits when he looked at the mess.”
“Who do you think did it?” Jack asked, watching me closely. “Certainly it’s not Aaron because he’s dead. Maybe it’s someone else?” He leaned against the doorframe. I knew that posture, he was trying to intimidate me, dominate me even.
“I won’t play your game, Jack. It probably charms the fuck out of Riley, it does nothing to me.”
“Get to the point, hermano. I need to get back to Riley. She’d probably start missing me.”
said and watched as
with the same darkness in his eyes.
Good Lord!
to debunk the suspicion
for fuck’s sake! I’m an FBI Special agent, Jackson! You have no idea what
his closed room door. “Lower your
you thinking? Killing
suspicion of the murders.” Jack said coldly. “I’d checked his records, he’s been reported of sexual assault more times than you could count but the hospital authorities didn’t want to report it because they didn’t want to be involved
told me about this. There’s a way
the right way to go then I wouldn’t have to hunt our mother’s killers down and kill each one of em. One of us
see it, Jack was always surrounded by darkness, it was about time he let it consume him. After he’d killed the people,
eyeballs out! How angry were
woman, and saw some dirtbag try to soil her, you’d do the same
wouldn’t. Don’t compare me with you.” I said
more people than I have, don’t deny it.” Jack said, hitting
a different case. I
protecting innocents
take a shot, point-blank not butcher them like they are animals brought
realized there was no point in arguing with him. What was done was
you plan to do? Pull this up in the police department? Put me back in the asylum or maybe prison this time. You know,
asked Riley
changed a lot of things. I didn’t
Ezra? The company? We’ve talked about this a dozen times. I don’t want it. This entire fucking murder spree happened because of it,
was a warning that I should be taking, but damn him if I was even a
interested in the company. I’m interested in my brother’s well-being and keeping his sanity
hope you’re wrong.” He
you killed Mad-Dave,
twitched upward. “How do you
especially if it concerns you. What was the reason
talking shit about me, about mom, I couldn’t handle it. I’d noticed
because it was fun.” I completed the sentence for him. “You tried to mess with Aaron’s head and
“Correct.” Jack said.
even know what to say.” I
Riley’s happiness away from her,
the master manipulator doing
my breath. “Neither Dave nor Jose were innocent, and what you did to them, while
into a knowing smile. “I
going to be wiped completely out of existence. It wasn’t the first time that I hadn’t reported back what wasn’t needed.
eyes are on you, Jackson. You kill the mail man next for eye-fucking Riley, and I’ll have you go where you’re supposed to
loud and clear.” Jack
open and we stared at Riley in disbelief, hoping she hadn’t heard any bits of the conversation. Her brown hair
leaving tonight?”
I’d previously seen Jack with. Those women looked like models. And at first, I’d been a little confused, maybe taken aback that Jack had been
her hand. Jack placed a hand possessively around her waist and kissed the top of her head. It was new to me, to see Jack showing compassion towards one woman. She looked at him like he was her entire world. A twinge of jealously sparked inside me, wondering if I’d ever find someone like that in my life who would look like that
myself before
tell Riley what I’d learned. “Go back to sleep, Cotton-Candy.”
goodbye to Ezra.” She turned to face me. “I don’t know when I’ll see
This case is deep undercover as well, and I can only hope it’s not as bizarre as what I had to do
She pulled out of
I was going
call my phone. My assistant will answer. Code word: Cotton-Candy. I’ll leave whatever mission
hope that situation doesn’t rise.” Riley giggled. “Jack proposed me! You have to
miss it.” I assured
care of her.” I told Jack, giving him a last warning