Jack still sat asleep in his chair as he faced the silent TV. The light of dawn finally began to shine in through the window. It was a restless sleep filled with dreams and nightmares. As the sun began to shine brightly through the window of his apartment, he gradually returned to the waking world. Drowsily he got up and made his way into the kitchen. He fumbled with the coffee pot, and finally got it started. As he leaned against the counter with his head down, he listened to the sound that the coffee maker made and wondered if he could ever find a way to survive this disaster. All the way to the kitchen he had wrestled with the idea that it had all been a dream. A horrible nightmare. But as his mind pulled itself back fully into the waking world it became more and more clear that the nightmare from the night before was in fact a reality. Dead. They were all dead.
He glanced at his watch and stared at the little blinking dots in between the six and the fifteen. Penelli would be on his way to work by now. Jack walked into the bedroom and grabbed his phone.
“Yello.” Penelli answered.
“Penelli. Jack.”
“I heard. God man, I’m sorry. Is there anything that I can do? Are you doing okay?” Jack was startled. News normally traveled fast around the precinct, and even precinct to precinct, but Penelli wasn’t even at work yet.
“I don’t know. I just called to let you know what happened.”
“Captain Howe called me about an hour ago. He thought that you might call and wanted me to be prepared.”
“Then he told you about the blood?”
“Your blood?” Penelli asked.
“Yeah. On the back door.”
“Yeah, I think he mentioned it.” Penelli said.
“You know that I couldn’t have-”
“Jack. You don’t have to explain anything to me. You know me. And I know you like my own brother. It’s just a detail that they’ve got to iron out, Jack. You know how it is.”
“Yeah but-”
“Don’t worry about it, Jack. I’m on the case, and I’ll let you know when we get anything, okay? You just relax. Chill out, and get your head on straight, you hear me?”
“Yeah. I’ll be okay.” Bullshit, he thought.
“If you need anything...anything at all, you know I’m here.”
“Thanks, Penelli. If you hear anything, or if you find out-”
“Don’t worry, Jack, I’ll call you. You know, we take of our own.”
“Thanks.” Jack said as he hung up the phone. ‘Take care of our own’, Penelli had said. Jack wished that he had been there to do just that the night before. Maybe everyone would still be alive. He poured himself a cup of coffee, took a sip, and then sat the cup down on the counter. The phrase, ‘take care of our own’, continued to run through his mind, like he had heard it before, and that it meant something. Then suddenly he remembered. It was the last time that he had talked to Tracey, or more accurately, the last time she had spoken to him. As angry as she had been, he could not get a word in edgewise. But he clearly remembered that she had told him that he had to learn to ‘take care of his own.’ Seconds passed as he stared blankly at the cup, before he finally broke down in tears. He slammed the cup into the sink, where it exploded into shards. He laid his head on the counter and sobbed.
Hours had passed by the time Jack finally got himself together enough to drive. He had showered twice, tried to sleep, and tried to eat. But he knew that the crime scene still sat there. That the blood of his loved ones still sat there as it congealed inside the house that he loved. On the furniture that he and his beloved wife had picked out together. On the couch where his two precious children had sat, as they held one another in fear. Where his brother had fallen to the carpet. The more he tried not to think about it the more it became the focus of his thoughts. Tracey had said to ‘take care of his own.’ Penelli had said that we ‘take care of our own.’ Now it was time for him to take care of his own. It was his duty as a husband, a father, and a brother to scrub those stains. To try and cleanse the wrong that had been done. To do something. Anything. Anything besides sit in this lonely apartment and crucify himself for not having been there when they needed him the most. He absentmindedly gathered some cleaning materials from under his sink and left.
When he arrived at the house, his mind wandered back to the night before and all of the commotion and emotions. He sat in his car for a moment and cried, before he finally wiped his eyes and got out of the car. He sat the bucket from under his sink down beside the front door. He inserted his key into the lock, opened the door, and quickly stepped towards the alarm keypad. The keypad beeped insistently until Jack had entered his code, and then it fell silent. As Jack returned to the front door to get his bucket, the coppery smell of stale blood reached his nose. It caused his empty stomach to turn. He braced himself as he grabbed the door frame, and took a few breaths of fresh air before he reached down and picked up his bucket. He began to shut the door, but remembered that if he did so it would automatically re-arm the perimeter alarm, and decided against it. If he suddenly needed to run out the backdoor for fresh air, he didn’t want to set the alarm off.
Jack made his way to the kitchen, careful not to look into the living room as he passed by. In the sink, empty glasses sat, where Tracey had left them the night before. One by one he sat them on the counter, and then emptied the items that he had brought from his bucket. He sat the bucket down in the sink, and began to fill it with water. As the water trickled into the bucket, he added some cleaner to it, and then a large sponge. Satisfied that he had enough water, he started the long walk into the living room. Blood was still everywhere, but the M.E. had left no other evidence that the room was once filled with bodies. As Jack kneeled beside where his brother had lain, tears began to flow down his cheeks. He reached into the bucket, and brought out the soaked sponge, and slowly began to clean the puddle of blood that had once given his brother life.
Hours passed as Jack slowly and methodically cleaned first one mess then another. He had cleaned the carpet where his brother lay, and then worked furiously on the couch where his children had been huddled. He dripped as much water from his eyes as he did from the sponge. Finally he was at the last spot in the room. He stepped over to the wall where Tracey had fallen. He crouched on the floor and he began to scrub the smeared wall, when suddenly he had a feeling of being watched. Jack felt a silent presence in the room, and more on instinct than fear, he quickly drew his weapon and whirled around as he rose. Ted stood in the doorway, his hands at his side.
“What are you doing here?” Jack asked as he flipped the safety off of his weapon. He stepped towards him.
“I just heard.”
“I don’t give a shit what you heard. What are you doing here?” Jack said as he stepped even closer, his firearm aimed steadily at Ted’s head.
“Look, Jack, I don’t want any trouble. I just-”
“Stop stalling asshole, and answer me! What are you doing here?” Jack’s arms shook with rage, much like the confrontation the day before. Ted could see the anger in Jack’s eyes, but it was the wildness of that look that caused him to slowly raise his hands over his head as Jack pushed even closer. The barrel of the gun was now inches from Ted’s face, and Jack’s finger was taught on the trigger. Ted knew that if he sneezed, he was a dead man.
“I’m sorry Jack. I just came to say I’m sorry.” Ted said sincerely. Jack faltered for a moment. The sincerity in his voice unsettled Jack. “I heard what happened, and no matter what you think...I still care about you...about what happens to you.” Jack’s anger flared again.
“Bullshit!” He yelled. Suddenly Ted took advantage of the momentary distraction as Jack’s emotions welled up inside him. He brought his hands down, and struck Jack’s hand. The gun sailed across the room. An explosion echoed through the small room as Jack’s gun went off when it struck an end table. A bullet hole appeared in the wall where Jack had been cleaning. Jack tackled Ted, a
nd they tumbled into the hallway. Jack climbed up on Ted and punched him in the face. Stunned, Ted bucked Jack back into the living room, and tried to get up. As soon as Jack landed, he scrambled for his gun. Ted saw his imminent demise in the near future, and leaped onto Jack to stop him. Jack once again smacked Ted in the face, but Ted held him even tighter. Finally, wild with rage, Jack managed to free one leg, and kicked Ted in the jaw. A bright flash of light went off in his head, and in that instant, he released his hold on Jack. In a fraction of a second, Jack retrieved his gun. He pounced on Ted. As he straddled his still dazed assailant, Jack pushed the barrel of his gun against Ted’s forehead. Again his finger tightened on the trigger. Ted froze. Slowly Jack rolled off of him, but continued to hold his gun steady. As he stood up, Ted dared not to move. Jack backed away a few steps, and continued to stare down the barrel of his weapon. He eyed Ted as his chest rose and fell slowly.
“I want answers.” Jack said, as he finally calmed down enough that he had stopped shouting.
“I’ll tell you what I can. What do you want to know, Jack.”
“Why? Tell me why you lied to them? Tell me why you ruined my life?”
“I can’t discuss it, Jack.”
“You damn well will discuss it, and you’ll do it now!” Jack said as he crowded Ted again.
“Look, Jack. That’s still top secret.”
“You don’t even work for the Army anymore, Ted. Try again!”
“Not the Army, no. But it’s still a branch of the military, and what you’re asking about, is still classified information.”
“I’ve had it with you, your lies, and your damn bullshit!” Jack said as he approached Ted. His hand began to tremble, as he stopped beside him. Ted looked up into his eyes as if he hoped to find some sentiment of mercy, but only found cold hard hatred.
“Jack, I want to-”
“Shut up asshole. I don’t want to hear any more of your damned lies. You’ve done nothing but lie to me and I-”
“That’s it damn it!” Ted said. He began to stand up, and ignored the gun which held him under constant surveillance.
“Sit back down or I’ll-”
“You’ll what! Blow my head off? Fine! Do it!” As he began to stand, Jack tried to push him back down, but Ted resisted.
“I don’t want to kill you, Ted, but I’ll-” Finally Ted got to his feet and began to aggressively approach Jack. Jack stepped back, confused at his actions, and though Jack was still armed, Ted matched him step for step.
“Do it, Jack! Just shut up and do it! I am sick and tired of your damnation for what I had no control over! I’m fed up with all these years of hating myself for what I was ordered to do! You have no idea how many times I’ve picked up my own gun, intending to blow my own head off for what I did to you! So just shut up and do it!” Ted was in Jack’s face. The veins in his neck pumped as the adrenaline rushed through his body.
“What the hell are you saying?” Jack asked as he shook his head. The onslaught of information had overwhelmed him, and even though he still held his gun in his hand, the fight was over.
“Do it, Jack! It won’t change a single thing, but if it gives you peace of mind, then by God, do it!” Ted knelt down on one knee and bowed his head in front of Jack. “Do it Jack! Finish this! End it!”
Jack was shocked at the sudden change in Ted’s attitude and his actions. And even as his mind tried to accept what he saw and heard, Ted reached up and grabbed the hand which held the gun. He aimed Jack’s weapon at his own head. Suddenly the rage fled out of Jack as confusion flooded in. He pulled his gun away from Ted, and stepped back. He stared at Ted. For so long he had thought of nothing else but having his old nemesis in a situation just like this. But now, he realized, it was all wrong. He didn’t want to kill Ted. He just wanted to understand what had happened. He wanted to realize what it was that had driven his friend to turn against him so unjustly. He wanted to ‘end it’ all right, but not this way.
“No.” Jack said quietly, as he stared wide eyed at Ted, as he still knelt on the floor. “This isn’t the answer.”
“Isn’t this what you wanted, Jack? My head on a platter? Well you’ve got it.”
“No. I don’t want you dead. I just want answers.” Ted looked into his eyes, and a slight smile begin to twinkle in them.
“In that case, put that damn gun away and let’s talk.”
“The truth? Or more bullshit?” Jack asked, his gun still in his hand.
“The truth, Jack. Probably more than you want to hear.” Jack eased his gun back into his holster as Ted stood up and straightened his clothes. He looked back up at Jack after he had composed himself. “You got any beer?”
“Uh...I’m not sure.” Jack began as Ted turned and walked out of the living room. Jack stood there dumbfounded, when suddenly Ted popped his head around the corner.
“Come on man. Do you want answers or not.” Ted motioned for him to follow, and in a near state of shock, Jack did. He followed Ted into the kitchen and sat heavily in the chair that Ted had pulled from the kitchen table. Jack stared blankly at him as he opened the refrigerator, and then returned to the table with two long necked bottles of beer. He twisted off the top of the first bottle. Ted expertly flung the cap into the trash can, after it ricocheted off of the wall, and then sat the beer in front of Jack. He opened his own beer, took a long drink and sat down across from Jack.
“What happened?” Jack asked. His beer still sat in front of him, untouched.
“No questions. Just listen and you’ll understand. What I’m about to tell you is beyond top secret. Even the CIA has no idea what’s going on. This is between you and me, Jack. If anybody ever finds out, then I’m as sure as dead.” Jack nodded quietly and finally reached for his own beer. Ted paused and took another drink from his. He eased the bottle back to the table and began.
“Ten years ago, Jack, there was a murder. A guard. Remember?” Jack nodded. “He was one of our guards. High security clearance, top secret and all that crap. One morning he was found dead inside the locked lab.”
“But the body was found outside.” Jack interjected.
“No, that’s where we moved the body.”
“Damn it! I knew it!”
“I know you did, Jack, and that was part of the problem. Your superior was actually on our payroll. His job was to make sure that nothing would jeopardize the project. When you reported to him that you thought the murder had been committed elsewhere, that’s what started the ball rolling.”
“How so?” Jack asked. He had finally shaken the daze that he was in.
“Even though we didn’t know who had killed the guard, it sparked a full scale cover up. They approached me after speaking with your boss, and asked if I thought that you would go along.”
“No way.” Jack said.
“Exactly. I told them that there was no way that you would. So orders came down for me to kill you.”
“What the hell?”
“That’s pretty much what I said. But it gets worse. This was so important to them that if I didn’t do it, they had other plans.”
“Like what?”
“What I heard was they were planning on making it look like an accident. And unfortunately they were talking about not just taking you out...but Trace as well.”
“My God! What could be so fucking important. What kind of secret bullshit were you hiding.”
“I’ll get to that in a minute. So anyway, my boss stepped in. He had come up with a solution that would stop them from doing anything so drastic. He had the dope planted, instigated the search, and arranged for you to have the option of taking the honorable discharge. The problem remained however, that you would never cop to the charges, and would never accept the discharge. It was my assignment to make you accept it.”
“By testifying against me?”
“Exactly. I knew if you were backed into a corner, you wo
uldn’t have any alternative but to accept the discharge. No matter how innocent you were, I knew you wouldn’t put Tracey through what a court martial would do to you. Or twenty years in the brig. True, you lost your job. But with the honorable discharge, your credibility was still intact. And you and Tracey were still alive. The drug charges were dropped, and the case sealed.”
“And here we are now, ten years later, and it was all for nothing.” Jack said. He hung his head as his eyes began to tear up again.
“Not exactly, Jack. That’s why I’m here. The project that we were working on has finally gone on-line. After all these years of deception and deceit, finally it’s about to payoff as no one has ever imagined.”
“I don’t get it.” Jack said as he looked up.
“Look, you’re a cop. What if I told you that I could guarantee you would be able to identify and catch every murderer.”
“What’s that got to do-”
“Never mind that. Just answer the question. What if you could catch every single crazy ass sick bastard out there?”
“Well…we’d be busy as hell. And the prison system would be overwhelmed. But, yeah, that would something amazing. But it’s ridiculous. There’s no way to-”
“Okay, so it would be a good thing. Let’s make it one better. What if I told you that you could stop every murder that was going to happen?”
“Going to happen…as in before it happened. Look Ted, I don’t know what you’re smoking but there is absolutely no way-”
“Jack. Just answer the question. What if you could stop a murder before it happened?”
“That…that would be…phenomenal.”
“Jack. What if I told you that there may be a chance...all be it a slim one...that your family might not be dead.”
“Man, how can you say that to me? I saw them...dead....lifeless...holding each other...” Jack broke down again, as the haunted memories of the night before overcame him.
“Pull yourself together and listen to me.” Ted reached over and grabbed Jack by the shoulder. Jack slowly looked back up at him and they locked eyes. “I’m telling you that there is a chance that we can save them, Jack. A chance. If I can prove to you that it’s possible, will you help me?”
“But there’s no way-” Jack said as he tried to pull away from him. Ted’s hand held him firm.
“Jack. Listen to me. Would you be willing to help?” Jack continued to fight, but he could not break Ted’s intent stare no matter how hard he tried.
“It’s not possible, Ted. They’re dead!”
“Damn it Jack! Are you going to walk away from this? Be there for them Jack. Help me. Help me to take care of our own.” Ted’s words pierced Jack’s heart like a burning lance. After so much had happened over such a short period of time, that phrase had become a catalyst. It pushed at Jack when nothing else could reach him. “Damn it, Jack. We have a chance!”
“Okay! Okay. Okay. Whatever I have to do, I’ll do it. I don’t know how, or why, but if there’s even the slightest chance. I’ll do whatever it takes.”
Chapter 20