Jack In The Box

“You don’t seem like you’re in a good mood. How’s the interrogation going so far?” Ken asked me the day after I went to see Jack. Since I was a suspect in the Jackson Wolfe case, I was temporarily suspended. The stealing of a surgical knife and sleeping with the enemy was enough to put me on the officials shit list. I poured milk into the bowl of cornflakes and added some freshly cut strawberries.

“If I didn’t know better, I’d think you’re mocking me.” I settled down on the table in my PJ’s. Ken had just walked out of the steaming bathroom, shirtless. He had something that looked like claw marks across his shoulder blade. “How did you get that?”

“Someone brought a feral cat in the clinic a few days back.” Ken said, brushing it off like that was nothing. He was prone to getting abused by non-cooperative animals, the kind that looked cute as a button until they barred their teeth and clawed your face.

“They have no reason to suspect you. You’ve told them the truth.”

“Which is not good enough to prove me innocent.”

“Aaron told me Jack is co-operative throughout the thing, which is kind of suspicious. He didn’t try to attack anyone, didn’t even give them the usual death glares. What’s up with him?”

I knew why. “I think he’s giving up, Ken. He’s had enough.”

Ken shook his head. “That’s too theatrical. Do you think Jackson, the one who is so famous for killing over a dozen people is just going to give up because he is tired of interrogation?” He gave a laugh. “You’re thinking wrong, sister.”

“Oh, so you have it all figured out?” I asked, folding my arms over my chest. “Let me listen to your theory Amateur Detective Ken Frazer.”

“I think Jack has an accomplice.” And then he quickly clarified. “Not you, but someone else.”

“Like who?”

Ken appeared to be lost in thought for a moment. “Someone among the asylum staff of course. The ones who appear to not be very close to him, but probably are.”

He paused. I said. “Go on. I’m listening.”

“Think about it, when Mad-Dave was killed Jack was in a straight-jacket, confined to a high security room. Next Nurse Roxy turns up dead, Jack could have personally killed her and left the body for people to find, almost mocking the FBI and the police. That or someone killed her upon his orders.”

I hadn’t given Ken the credit, but he was smart.

“Anyone you suspect?” I asked.

“Paul.” He said point-blank.

“Why Paul?”

“Paul pretends to hate Jack’s guts but him and Jack seem like they have been cut out from the same cloth. They could be faking the hate thing going on between them.”

The theories could be true or complete horse-crap, but I wasn’t going to mention the horse crap part to my baby brother. He seemed very excited in playing detective and I didn’t want to hurt his feelings.

“That could be the case, or Jack is really innocent and someone is framing him. And me. Doing the killing job and making it look like he did it.”

Ken raked a hand through his hair frustratingly. I could tell he was angry. “What bullshit did he feed you when you were together?”

“He was honest.”

“You fucked him, didn’t you?”

It was my turn to stare hard. “I never made it my business to ask you who you sleep with or not, and I would appreciate if you could do the same.”

“Oh, I’m going to make it my business if my sister sleeps with a criminal.” Ken said.

“That’s enough.” I pointed at the breakfast table. “I prepared your lunch box. Don’t forget to take it.”

His golden blonde hair flopping over his face in curls. He looked like a grown up baby. “If he knocked you up, I swear, I will kill him.”

“The baby or Jack?”

He said without

your lunch and get the hell out of here.” He probably saw that I was going to explode

spent the afternoon discussing the case again with James. He gave me his valuable insight and I told him what Ken had told me. James said he had the same idea in his mind, but the case was complicated. Whoever the killer was, he wasn’t leaving any traces of evidence behind which made things even more difficult. While the officials blamed Jack, they still did not have valid proof. It was based off speculation made from the previous murders which

needed to pick some groceries. My apartment

most shops closed by nine p.m. It was already eight forty

a presence behind me so

distance. And I couldn’t be wrong, it was the same car I’d seen

Was it following me?

trailing towards the car but I realized it

I pulled my jacket closer as if that could shield me from whatever

it?” I called out at

with me! I’ve had enough!” I yelled, unable to keep the frustration out of my voice. “I’m not

was shaking. Jack had warned me before that I could be the killer’s next target for reasons that

be very

had given me just

gun and don’t hesitate to shoot. Remember, one second of hesitation, Cotton-Candy

to find James in his BMW, the window rolled down. “I realized its not safe for you to be

was pretty apparent on my face. I threw one look behind me before I climbed into the

my mind.”

“Changed your mind about?”

drop me home and

Riley. Why do you wanna go

have to talk

without anyone knowing?” I asked Bobby, the nurse on the floor who was assigned to Jack to bring the food, keep his

was assigned to a male nurse. I didn’t want to imagine a female nurse watching him

nurses wouldn’t approach Jack

me suspiciously. “Depends on how much money we are

trick. He had magic fingers that worked anywhere to retrieve keys and have rooms unlocked. Ironic, they had

about fifty.” I was trying my

to the desk, and ask Tory if she could allow you to visit

was being

they wouldn’t let me talk to him alone. Please Bob...” I’d used his nickname on purpose.

be an added suspect along with you. probably fired.

“So?”

That’s a

lot for just a few minutes.” I

and I both know how hard it will be for you to see him without a little help which you ain’t getting in this

was right. “Fine! Get the

the floor where they kept the criminally insane. There was tight security outside Jack’s room. I wasn’t even surprised to see the numerous locks set on that particular door. He’d been transferred

to the security guard. A few seconds later, the guard

your distance as far away from him as possible.” Bob warned. “He may be in chains,

opened the door. “Hey Jack, look whose

cooed like Jack was four. “Don’t be a bad little boy, alright. Bobby’s just gonna be outside incase the

to piss Jack off. Bob gave Jack one

with a mask trapped to his mouth for obvious reasons. I detected a different aura from him altogether. Something had changed between the last time I’d seen him

I ran my fingers down his gruff jawline. He stared at me motionlessly. He probably didn’t see it coming as I leaned in and pressed my lips to his firmly and kissed him. He remained stoic

ended the kiss abruptly, saying. “You made a mistake

straight into his eyes. Something was

thing to you.” I said. “Why did you

Riley. What’s going on