24. Jax

Jax

I get inside and stop dead. The light flickers on, and Descario, Wayland, Eddie, and Doctor Sparrow stare at me.

"See, she was just out for a walk," Dad says angrily.

Descario stalks towards me. She spins me around and throws me up against the bookcase while she pats me down.

"What's going on?" I cry out.

"Save it for someone who's going to fall for you whines," Descario hisses. "What did you do with Jacob Keylore?"

I shudder. "Jesus, Descario, I haven't seen him in days. I haven't done anything. I was just walking."

"In the dark? In the cold?" Wayland asks with an inflection in his voice that makes me feel sick.

"Detectives, I think this is highly improper. Jackie is under my care and supervision. She simply isn't capable of hoisting Keylore off and murdering him. Don't be ridiculous!" Sparrow interjects testily. "She is a very sick individual!"

Descario lets me off the bookcase but grips my upper arm and hoists me to a chair before she pushes me into it.

"Where were you tonight?"

"I was going to go to bed about two hours ago, but I was feeling upset, and so going with Doctor Sparrows' suggestion, I decided to engage in mild physical exercise to soothe my nerves." I bare my teeth and snatch my arm out of Descario's grip. "In short, Detective, I went for a walk in the garden of my own family home. "

"Do. Not. Fuck. With. Me," Descario snarls.

I raise an eyebrow and wait.

"I think, Detectives, that I'm going to have to call our lawyer. We've tried to do this the right way and be fair with you, but I think this is bordering on obsession now. You want my daughter to be guilty so badly you've stopped searching for the actual killer," Eddie snaps out. He lifts his phone to his ear and dials a number. "Yeah, Richard, I need you. Of course."

"We're going to need you to come down to the station," Descario says.

"Absolutely out of the question, Detectives," Sparrow interjects and steps between Descario and me. "Now, I've been patient, but I'm going to have to insist you stop harassing my patient. You're doing irrevocable damage to my patient's recovery."

"Your patient is our suspect, who doesn't have an alibi for both the times I'm searching for. Again."

Wayland leans into me, his hot breath near my ear. "We're going to lock you up nice and safe in a six by six. And then, I'll know that I've got you right where I want you."

I shudder and keep my eyes fixed on the bookcase across from me, hiding that his words are having an effect.

Richard walks in and glances at Eddie before he focuses on Descario. "Are you arresting her?" There is no emotion in Richard's voice.

Descario glares. "How did you get here so fast?"

"That's really none of your business, but if it will serve to get this over faster, I live across the road. Spitting distance." Richard's voice gets colder.

"Really?" Maria Descario eyes Richard with pure frustration.

"Yes, Miss Descario."

She glares at Richard .

"Seeing as she isn't under arrest, get out of this house, and don't return until you have a warrant," Richard barks out. "One more complaint against you, Descario, and your career is toast. Do you really want me to push this?"

"No, sir," she bites out and casts an absolutely wrathful look at me.

Richard glances at Wayland. "Your boss is waiting for your phone call. I've already sent in a message outlining this behaviour."

Sparrow curls an arm around me and pulls me with him. "You'll come to the hospital for a checkup."

"Uh, I don't think that's necessary," Eddie says when I shoot him a pleading look.

"She'll need monitoring and therapy. It's better if she is with me close enough to attend to her," Sparrow says and strokes my arm in a way he never has before. It sends chills to my stomach and causes bile to rush up my throat. I panic, looking at Dad, then Richard.

The detectives look grossed out and reluctantly move to the door. "She's not leaving this property!" Wayland growls. "Not tonight."

I could kiss him!

"Detective, you can't-" Richard begins, but I jump forward.

"I'll stay here. I won't leave." There is no way I'm losing this opportunity. "I promise."

The four men stare at me. Descario is looking at her hands. When she looks at me, I almost think I see pity, but then her eyes harden, and she jerks her head.

"Wayland, let's go. If you leave this property, Jackie Blackwell, I will arrest you. Is that clear?"

I nod. "I won't leave. And my name is Jax Shade."

Richard snorts. "Eddie, we need to speak privately. "

"Thank you, Richard. Thanks, Dad," I say.

"I'll be right back, Jackie," Eddie says. He gives Sparrow a long look and then follows Richard out of the room.

Sparrow sits down opposite me and sighs heavily. Disappointment drips from him like tar.

"Jackie, Jackie, Jackie. You know the center is the best place for you to be."

I shrink into myself, affecting the same beaten down woman he always sees. "I'm sorry. I just…I'm scared."

His face flickers with smug masculine pride before he hides it behind a mask of fake sympathy. "Of course, you are. But I'm here. I'm going to look after you."

"I didn't know. Promise. I didn't have anything to do with it," I say, knowing, anticipating what he's going to ask next.

He crouches down, glancing at the empty doorway before he rests his hand on my thigh. My skin crawls.

"Of course, you didn't," He gushes, stroking the hand up my thigh. "Did he leave you a message, any kind of message? A note, maybe?"

I shake my head and think of the guys dying, forcing those tears to my eyes, and letting out a short, hysterical sob.

"There, there, Jackie. It's going to be okay. I'll protect you. Now, I'm going to be back first thing tomorrow morning, and we're going to do some really deep work and check to see if you have repressed memories."

My willpower crumbles at his promise.

"You think that will help?" I ask meekly.

He clasps my hand and squeezes it. "I really do. And as soon as you remember what it is you've forgotten, it can all end."

I stare at him, wondering what the hell that even means. He leans in close, and I have to fight the urge to recoil .

"We just need a few more details, and we can put this story together, you and me, Jackie. Once we know Louis' identity, we can have the freedom we've craved."

I can't hide the shivers. But he stands up when Eddie clears his throat. Sparrow gives me a long look that suddenly feels possessive and then turns and walks to the door.

"I'll see you tomorrow," Doctor Sparrow says softly.

Has Sparrow always been this creepy? His overtures of care have undertones of flirtation. I go over the last few years in my mind, but I'm too confused. I'm stunned by his behaviour.

It's got to be him.

"Jackie!"

I jolt and glance at Eddie. "I'm sorry."

"This is not your fault," Eddie says and sits on the arm of the couch. "I'm getting concerned about the way these people are interacting with you…it doesn't seem professional."

I muffle a bitter laugh. "I'm okay."

"Jackie…when I walked in, Sparrow was leaning towards you…does that happen often? Does he touch you frequently? Has he made you do things?"

My face flames, and I look down at my hands. "It's not like that. He doesn't want me, he wants information."

"He shouldn't be your doctor if he's being unprofessional. Using his power to sexually abuse you-"

"No, wait. It's not like that." My panic surges. I twist in the seat and grip his hands. "Dad, trust me on this. Don't call anyone, don't make a scene, it will make it worse."

"Jackie!" my dad says, aghast. "You can't allow these people to behave like this."

"He's the lesser evil," I say and then wonder if it's true. "If he does anything again, I'll tell you, and I promise I will go with you and complain. "

Eddie sighs heavily and puts his head in his hand. "I can't protect you, can I?"

"Dad, I've learned this really valuable lesson in life. The integrity of laws and justice are only as good as the people who wield the power, and humanity has so many failings."

Eddie shakes his head.

"Dad, what happened to River? Years ago, I heard he died…"

Eddie stands up and paces away from me. "It was an awful time. Business wasn't doing well. Jeraldine was drinking a lot. The girls were going through this period of just being awful, and River kept disappearing."

I stare at him. He looks like the memory ages him.

"I got a call from the hospital. He'd overdosed. I was so surprised I just kept asking over and over if they were sure. I got to the hospital, and he looked so young on those white sheets. My son." Eddie shakes his head. "He was shooting up meth, but he didn't know it was cut with Fentanyl. The doctors explained to me that it was probably an accident. Thank god the paramedics were close. They saved him. When he woke up, we spoke, and he told me what was going on. I sent him to a treatment center, and when he came home, I worked really hard to make up for what I'd missed."

I put my head in my hands. "Was it my fault?"

Eddie makes a strangled sound. "It was a lot of things. But it was no one's fault. He just wanted to escape for a few hours. It was recreational. He wanted to have fun, not die."

"Did he change after?"

"Yes."

My heart jumps.

"He tried harder to be part of the family. He started looking after Andy and Stevie. We hung out more. River spends time at home. He stopped hanging out with Titan and the people I suspect sold him the drugs. He got a second lease on life, and he didn't waste it. Sure, he's still a bit of an adrenaline junkie, but I think that's a personality trait." Eddie laughs. "I'm so proud of that boy."

"Me, too," I mumble. I stand up and stretch. "I'd move if I thought Sparrow wouldn't follow me."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, he followed me here from the city."

Eddie shakes his head. "Uh, no, Sparrow and I went to school together. He's a year younger than I, but I assure you, he was born here."

My entire world tilts violently. "He's from here? He was born and lived in Hurricane?"

"Yes."

"Does he have a child, family, relatives?"

Eddie shrugs. "I have no idea. He's not been in my circle of acquaintances. Maybe."

My stomach heaves, and I clutch a hand to my belly as I stagger towards the door.

"This night has been a nightmare." I pant, and the image of Jacob comes into my mind. I don't want him to die. Please, let me be able to save just one person.

Eddie's arms wrap around me, and I find myself leaning into him as ice races through my body, leaving me chilled.

"My friend is going to die," I whisper.

Eddie hushes me and pats my back. "I'm sorry."

"I can't stop him," I say.

"I know that, too."

"I'm sorry I brought all this on you."

"I'm not. You are my daughter, and whatever trouble appears is worth it to have you here."

He lets go of me and steps back before he wipes my cheeks.

"Go to sleep. Tomorrow is going to be a better day. It has to be. "

He turns away from me, but I grab his elbow. "Did Sparrow have anything happen to him in his life to make him the way he is?" I joke. "Maybe a near death experience?"

Eddie chuckles, but then he hesitates and turns slightly. "There was this one thing that happened. A few years ago."

I tense. "Yeah?"

"He was in a car accident with his friend. They were on the way out of town. I remember it clearly because the weather was actually nice, and I remember thinking, ‘Fancy crashing your car in this weather'."

"Did he die?"

"Oh, no. He didn't die. He was in hospital for a month, though his injuries were serious and extensive. After that, he left town but came back, I think, six months later. And started practicing here."

I gulp. "But he didn't die?"

"No, I don't think so. But his best friend did for a few minutes. It was widely touted as a miracle."

"His best friend?"

"Yes. Those two never spoke a kind word to each other again after that day. Even though they see each other a lot lately. But you wouldn't know they'd ever been friends if you hadn't seen them before the accident."

I stiffen and stare at Eddie's face.

"Who?"

"Detective Wayland. He and Sparrow were best friends for their entire lives, right up until that accident. It was tragic. Anyway, enough reminiscing, go to bed. We're going to have them over here first thing in the morning. An unpleasant day."

I barely manage to murmur a goodnight as he leaves, leaving me alone, struggling to breathe as the last six years realign themselves with the new information .

"Remember, if you need me, just call," Dad says from the other side of the room as he retreats for the night.