Wages of Sin part 4

Danae

Disclaimers/Warnings: see part 1

“You little bastard!”

“Hello to you, too, Alex.” Kit grinned at the man in the doorway. “Aren’t you going to invite me in?” He swept past the seething man and into the cabin.

“How do you do this?!” Alex demanded, running his hands through his dark brown hair.

“Like the new traps.” Kit tossed his backpack on the sofa and then plopped down beside it.

“Damn it,” Alex muttered.

“Alex, calm down. It’s good, really good, but the day you beat me at this game, white boy, is the day I turn in my tribal membership card and check myself into an old folks’ home. Look, I’m not here just to piss you off. Pete needs you back in D.C. We got big problems.”

“One day, Kit, you’re going to get hurt out there.”

“Well, if you’d get a damn phone or at least bring a laptop up here, I wouldn’t have to trek through your forest of surprises.”

“I come up here to be left alone. Pete knows that.”

“This time, it’s important.”

“All right. What is it this time?”

Kit told him the whole story as far as he knew it. When he was done, Alex had a stunned look on his face. “What?”

“Tell me that you’re kidding. Tell me that you and Jess cooked this up to get on my nerves.”

“Wish I could. I’ve got to head back out to Washington state where Jess is. Frank and Rico are out of the country. Besides, I think Pete specifically wants you. He really needs you, Alex. He wouldn’t ask if he didn’t.”

“You shot a colonel.” Alex gave him a measuring look.

“Yeah. So?”

“Just like that? Shot him?”

“Yeah. So?”

Alex grinned. “I’m rubbing off on you, my friend.”

Kit returned the smile. “Maybe.”

“Well, bugger me, what a mess.”

“No kidding.”

“I’m packing. I imagine you can find your own way out of here.”

“I got in, didn’t I?”

“Yes, again.” Alex sighed.

Kit laughed. “See you soon, Alex. Take care of yourself.”

“You too, you little bastard.”

Kit laughed again as he collected his backpack and left his friend to pack.

Jade met them at River Haven the next morning. Jesse Riviera was sullen as Simon introduced the young man to his girlfriend. Simon knew Riviera was very unhappy about the idea of committing Blair but Simon could see no other way. After one night of taking care of Blair, he was more convinced than ever that he was completely unprepared and unsuited to meet Blair’s needs. Even with Riviera’s help, it was exhausting and they had only bathed and fed him. He needed so much more than just someone to take care of his physical needs. Jade agreed with him. If there was to be any hope of recovery, he needed to be treated by professionals. Simon filled out the necessary paperwork with Riviera burning holes in him with his eyes and Jade rubbing his back and assuring him it was the right thing to do. He finally reached the place for his final signature. He hesitated, sighed, then signed the paper, and handed it back to the woman behind the desk quickly before he could do something stupid like change his mind. The director, Dr. Martin, took the papers from him and called for the orderlies to come and take Blair. Simon fended off a moment of panic as she made the call. He got up from his chair then and knelt down in front of Blair Sandburg. “I am so sorry, Blair. It’s for the best. When Jim gets back, we’ll…” He stopped. What would they do? What could they do? Could Jim fix this or would Blair spend the rest of his life in this place?

Jesse got up and left the room. Jade followed him. Simon could only think that she meant to comfort the young man. He stayed with Blair, however. He wanted to be there to make sure the men coming to lock his friend away treated him gently. They came then, and they did seem gentle enough. As they led him out of the office, however, Blair suddenly turned and lifted his eyes to meet Simon’s. It was the first really conscious thing Simon had seen from him since his rescue. And his eyes—Simon felt as though the oxygen in the room had been sucked away. He gasped. Blair knew. He knew what was happening to him. Simon wanted to say something, say anything to try and explain why he was doing this, but he could not speak. He could only shake his head helplessly. He followed them out of the office and stood in the hallway, watching Blair watch him. Then, as though in defeat, Blair’s legs folded and the orderlies found themselves carrying their patient rather than leading him. Simon moved to go to him but Dr. Martin stopped him with a hand on his shoulder.

“Captain Banks, he is in good hands.”

“He was aware. He knew.”

“It’s not unusual for a catatonic to have brief moments of awareness. We will take good care of him.”

Simon nodded. “Thank you, Doctor.”

“You’re welcome.” The woman smiled.

Simon nodded again and turned away. He walked slowly toward the exit, his legs feeling like lead weights making the trek painful and hard. Then again, perhaps it was not his legs that were heavy but his heart.

He was alone with his wolf now. Even the snake and the jaguars were gone. But still, he knew better than to let his guard down. He would not be taken again. Perhaps the cougar would come back soon. He thought he could remember it promising to come back. He would just have to hold on until then. He curled up with the wolf, nuzzling the soft fur. It whimpered and touched its nose to his chest. In the meantime, he was relatively safe. Confused, trapped but safe. He cast wary eyes on the jungle surrounding him once more to reassure himself that he and the wolf were truly alone and then he let his eyes slide shut. He needed to rest.

Pete took a deep breath before stepping into Jim Ellison’s prison. It had been his final demand of MacNamara. He wanted to see Jim. Of course, he was relatively certain that Ron had made sure that Jim knew that Pete had accepted a deal. It was Pete’s hope that he could make the man understand that he was not selling him out, rather he was trying to secure Blair’s future and Jim’s in his usual roundabout way. Unfortunately, Jim was not known for his understanding and willingness to listen. “Here goes nothing. Or everything,” he whispered.

Jim looked up at him immediately. He rose from his cot. “What are you doing here?”

“Making sure you’re okay. Hoping to make you understand.”

“I understand, Pete. Somebody may as well benefit from my worst nightmare, right?” So he did know.

“Stop being a prick, Jim. You know, you always had trust issues.”

Jim laughed. “And you don’t think my trust issues are warranted with you? Need a reminder?”

“No, but you do. I came after you, you moron. This mess was of your own making. I could have let you rot out there with Rose and Adler, but I didn’t. I could have taken that file at face value and decided you deserved whatever you got. I could have gotten Blair out and left you there. But I didn’t.” Pete moved closer and lowered his voice. “I’m not giving up now, Ellison. Oh, and so you know, the money’s for Blair, you jackass. Hang on, Jim. This ain’t over yet.” He stepped back. “I better go. Hopefully, I have someone waiting for me in my office.”

He was almost out the door before Jim said anything. “Pete?”

“Yeah?”

“Thanks. However this goes, thanks for taking care of Blair.”

Pete nodded. Ron met him outside. “You really going to give that money to that hippie kid?”

“I don’t think it’s any of your business what I do with the money.”

“You’re getting soft, Pete.”

“You think so, huh?”

Ron laughed a little. “Hey, Pete, I know this didn’t turn out the way you wanted but it’s for your country, man. No hard feelings?” Ron held out his hand.

“For my country?” Pete could only stare at the man for a long minute. “Who the fuck do you think you’re kidding? This has nothing to do with my country, Ron. This is all about you, a power trip for Ron McNamara. As far as no hard feelings? To borrow Jesse’s words, what have you been smoking, Ron? Of course, I have hard feelings.” Pete shook his head. “If you think for one minute that I don’t, you’re a fool. One day, Ron, one day.” Pete walked away, knowing that the implied threat would weigh on the pasty-faced man’s mind.

A half hour later, Pete walked into his office to find Alex Morrow waiting for him there. “Alex, I’m glad you came. Sorry to interrupt your holiday but we have work to do.”

“Who?” Pete had always been thankful for the man’s no-nonsense approach.

“Ron MacNamara.”

“Your CIA guy?”

Pete nodded. “He fucked me over. I want him worried. I want him scared.”

“Not dead?”

“Not yet. Maybe later. Right now, I just want him to know that his continued good health is in imminent danger.”

“What’s the point?”

“I need him alive for a little while longer. He doesn’t know it yet but he’s going to help us out. Make him willing to help us out, Alex. As a matter of fact, I’d really like to see the bastard on his knees, begging to help.”

Alex smirked at him. “I think I can handle that.”

“Oh, I know you can. Let’s get busy.”

Alex gave him a two-fingered salute then left. Pete hit the intercom button. “Maggie, get me Senator Adams on the phone. Tell him it’s urgent. Tell him I can give him a name for his investigation.”

“Are you sure, Pete?” the woman’s voice came back to him from the little box.

“Yeah, I’m sure.” He sat back in his chair. “So you think I’m getting soft, Ron? Have to do something about that little misconception.”

Simon looked up just in time to see his office door fly open and a very angry Kit Chase storm in. Jesse was right behind him. “Ever hear of knocking?”

“What the hell are you thinking? Why is Blair Sandburg in a mental hospital?”

“Because he’s catatonic.”

“Cat—he is not catatonic. He’s--- confused, pissed, scared to death, but definitely not catatonic.” Chase slammed a hand down on Simon’s desk.

Simon took a deep breath and decided to attempt to remain the calm one in the situation. “I hate to point this out to you but he just sits and stares at nothing. He’s completely withdrawn from reality here. He’s catatonic. Look, Chase, I don’t like this any more than you do but Blair needs help--”

“You’re right. He needs help. Not a padded room!”

“This is a good hospital. Jade says the doctor is good and she’s going to be working with Blair as well.”

“Who the hell is Jade and why should I care?”

“Jade is Dr. Jade Thomas.”

“His girlfriend,” Jesse whispered from over Chase’s shoulder. “A shrink.”

“I want to talk to her. She doesn’t understand.”

“No, you don’t understand, Kit. Blair needs real help. Not--”

“Yeah, yeah, mumbo-jumbo, Jess told me. You really have no idea, do you? And I don’t have time to explain it all. Just let me say this, my mumbo-jumbo is just as valid as your shrink girlfriend’s ‘talk about your feelings and it’ll all work out’ crap. More so really in Blair’s case. I have a better shot at reaching him than her or those hospital shrinks.”

Simon shook his head. The man was not going to listen. “Okay, I’ll call Jade and you can talk to her. Maybe she can get through to you.” He reached for his phone.

“Don’t bother. Never mind. Neither of you are going to listen to me. I’m wasting my time. Have a nice day, Captain.” As quickly as he arrived, he was gone.

Simon caught Riviera’s eye. The man just gave him a look that clearly said, “I told you so,” then followed his friend. Simon sighed and rubbed his eyes. He picked up the phone anyway. He wanted to hear Jade’s voice. She answered on the second ring.

“Hey, Baby. Got a minute?”

“For you? Sure.” Simon’s day was looking up already.

“What are we going do?” Jesse asked as he followed Kit to their rental car.

“Hey, Jess, did you know you were adopted?”

“Excuse me? That’s not even funny, man. My older sister used to tell me that all the time. Bitch. I still hate her.”

“Jess, get over it. Life’s too short. Now, listen. You were adopted by a nice Jewish family named Sandburg.”

“What the hell are you talking about, Kit?”

“You just got back into the country to find that your brother has been committed. Are you getting my drift now?”

“I’ll get the paperwork.”

“God, I love working with you!”

Ron whistled as he got in his car. He was calling it quits early for a round of golf. He smiled as he placed the key in the ignition, but instead of roaring to life with the turn of the key, the switch only clicked at him. Then the doors locked. He tried the handle. The door would not open. Then the high-pitched whine began and he knew he was about to die. Then nothing. The door locks popped back and the whine stopped. He looked around, incredulous that he was still alive. He fumbled with the door handle again and this time it released. He almost tumbled out of the car then stood looking at it as though it was a snake about to strike. The ringing of his cell phone nearly gave him a heart attack.

He snatched it from his pocket and answered. “Hello?” His voice shook and squeaked so he cleared his throat and tried again. “Hello?”

“Gotcha.” That was all the person said. Ron left the car where it was and took a taxi home.

“We have to wait for the night shift. The day shift has seen you and besides, it’ll be easier to pull off. They will hesitate to call this Dr. Martin person in the middle of the night. The doctor on call may just sign off on it and we can get the hell out of there,” Kit explained.

“What if they do call her and she comes in? She’s definitely seen me.”

“Then we wing it.”

“Whenever you say that, you make me very nervous.”

Kit only smiled at his best friend. “Don’t worry, I have no intention of pulling another ‘Alex’ on you. I’m not going to shoot up the place. I just may have to break in the damn place and take him out.”

“Most people break out of the loony bin, Kit. Leave it to you to break in.”

Kit grinned. “What are you trying to say, Jess?”

“Oh, nothing.”

Jim stared at the bare wall in front of him. Institution white, that was the color. When he was a sentinel, he could have seen every flaw, every spot that was missed, every stray piece of lint or dust caught in the paint, every blemish. It would have been a distraction at least. In fact, maybe he would have gotten lost in a zone as he inspected that wall. Then what would his captors do? Without his guide, maybe he would have gotten so lost that he would never come out. What could they do? What would it matter anyway? But Jim was not a sentinel any longer. He was an ordinary man. He had told them that but they did not believe him.

You’ll work for us as a sentinel or you’ll rot here. You will not leave this place except as an employee. He could still hear the fat man’s words in his ears, his non-sentinel ears.

He was not without hope entirely. Pete had said that it was not over. Simon would not give up on him either. Yet, what could they do? Simon, probably very little. He would annoy the hell out of them though. Jim smiled slightly at that thought. Then there was Pete. Jim sighed. Knowing Pete, it would be illegal, unethical, underhanded, or just plain dangerous. Or a combination of any or all of the above. But a couple of things were certain. Whatever it was, Jim would probably not be going back to his life in Cascade and he would definitely be alone. There would be no Blair waiting for him outside this prison if or when Pete worked whatever con he would undoubtedly come up with. No, Blair was in a different kind of prison and Jim had put him there. He had been feeling sorry for himself and now he was ashamed of himself. He turned his thoughts to the man who had been his best friend and then for the first time in longer than he cared to remember, Jim Ellison prayed. Not for himself, but for the mind and soul of Blair Sandburg.

Jesse answered his cell phone. “Yeah?”

Kit watched his face break into a slow, sneaky smile as he listened to the person on the other end.

“Not a problem, Alex. Here’s what you do.”

Kit turned his attention back to the documents that Jess had drawn up. Thanks to a little computer hacking, Jess had found out when Blair had signed the paperwork that would give Ellison or Banks power of attorney and then created a new power of attorney that would negate the first one with the name Jesse Sandburg on it. Kit grinned as he contemplated his role. He was going to get to play lawyer. Jesse had printed out all sorts of legal stuff for him to read so that he could sound authentic. He knew all about power of attorney and legal guardianship and the like now. He also knew about adoption. Jesse had even drawn up fake adoption papers to “prove” that he was Blair’s legal next of kin. Jesse was nothing if not thorough.

“So? Think it’ll work?” Jesse’s voice broke into his thoughts.

“Of course it will work.”

“Pete says that every time. It never works when he says it.”

Kit laughed. “Ain’t that the truth? But I’m not Pete. It’ll work. What’s up with Alex?”

“He wanted to redirect a phone call so that it would appear to come from somewhere where he wasn’t. Simple stuff.”

“You little computer geek.”

“Ah, you’re just jealous.”

“And you’re delusional. Maybe I can just exchange Blair for you.”

“You’re so damn funny, Kit.” Jesse slapped him in the back of the head as he passed by him. “I’m hungry. Being sneaky makes me hungry.”

Kit chuckled then sobered as he looked back at the papers in his hands. “This has to work.”

Ron was certain that he had closed his garage. As the taxi came to a stop, he stared at the slightly open garage door.

“Sir? That’ll be fifteen dollars and fifty cents,” the driver announced.

“Yeah, yeah.” Ron pulled a twenty from his wallet and handed it to the man. “Change, please.”

The driver frowned at him but counted out four ones and handed them to Ron. He reached for the change and Ron waved at him dismissively and got out of the car.

“Jackass,” he heard the driver whisper before he slammed the door. He started to turn back and demand the driver’s name but the car sped away before he could.

He stood in his driveway for several minutes just looking at that garage door. Finally, he shook his head. “Paranoid, Ron, old boy. You’re getting paranoid.” He started to move toward the house then but a shrill sound coming from the garage stopped him. Suddenly, the garage door slammed down and then came the explosion that knocked Ron off his feet. “Son of a bitch!” he screamed as he scuttled along the ground to get further away from the flames.

An hour later, the captain of the fire squad approached him with a lump of melted plastic that might have been a container of some kind. “Sir, here’s the cause of the fire. You really shouldn’t store this kind of stuff near an electrical outlet. When your garage door malfunctioned, it shorted out the outlet where it was plugged. The sparks hit this stuff and up it went.”

Ron would have protested that he had never seen that lump of whatever. He would have asked what kind of stuff had been in it, but he knew it would do no good. There would be no trace of a third party. It would be ruled an accident no matter what he said. “Thank you. I’ll remember that in the future.”

The fireman nodded. “At least you still have your house. Good thing that garage wasn’t attached. Try to have a good night, sir.”

“Yeah, thanks. You too.” He watched as the man climbed into the big red fire engine, and it pulled away. He sighed. His phone rang. He grabbed it from his pocket. “Now listen, you bast--”

“Anytime, anywhere.” Then silence.

Quickly, Ron hit call return. The phone on the other end rang. “Ron MacNamara’s office.” His secretary’s voice startled him.

“Frances?!”

“Yes, Ron? Where are you? Your car is still here.”

“Never mind that. Frances, is there someone in my office?”

“No.”

“Nobody? Are you sure? Have you seen anyone out of place?”

“No. Ron, what’s going on?”

“Go in my office and then pick up the phone in there.” He waited as she did as he asked.

“Okay, now what?” she asked.

“Nothing out of place?”

“No. Well, there’s an envelope here.”

“Open it.”

She sighed. He could hear the paper rustling. Then she giggled.

“What? What is it?”

“Somebody’s being funny today. It’s just a sheet of paper with one of those goofy smiley faces on it and the line ‘have a nice day.’ Somebody’s trying to play a joke on you?”

“Yeah, I guess. Something like that. See you tomorrow, Frances.” He hung up. “Damn you to hell, Peter Devereaux.”

Alex walked into Pete’s office with a satisfied smile on his face. The man’s usually somber expression had been replaced by an expression of mischief. It was nice to see. Alex was all too often too serious. Pete often teamed him with Kit and/or Jesse just so he could see Alex smile occasionally. He and Kit worked well together from the start. It had taken Alex longer to warm up to Jess, though, probably because their personalities were so opposite. Jess was laid back. Alex was intense. Even with the twinkle of trouble in his eyes, the intensity was still there.

“I predict that you will be hearing from Mr. MacNamara any time now.” Alex tossed a file on Pete’s desk and then folded his lanky frame into a chair.

“You’re my favorite person.” Pete grinned as he flipped through the real and complete story, complete with notes on a sentinel breeding program and possible genetic research to create new sentinels from non-sentinels.

“Right, for how long this time?”

“Until Maggie brings me my dinner, then she’ll be my favorite person.” Pete closed the file.

“Figures. Anyone ever told you that you are a fickle bastard?”

“My ex-wife. All my ex-girlfriends, as a matter of fact.” The phone rang and Pete held up one hand and waggled his eyebrows at his friend and operative. “Could it be?”

“Could be.”

“Should I let him sweat?”

“Nah, seen him sweat. It’s not pretty.”

Pete finally picked up the phone on the fifth ring. “Hello? Peter Dev--”

“You son of bitch! I know it’s you. Don’t push me, Pete!” the voice on the other end screamed.

“Ron? Buddy, is that you? How are you doing?” Pete winked at Alex who chuckled softly.

“Do not bullshit me, Devereaux! You’re fucking with the wrong person!”

“Ron, I’m not fucking at all. If I were fucking, I wouldn’t have answered the phone. Women kinda get pissed about that kind of thing.”

“I will take you and your operation apart, Pete!”

“Oh Ron, you’ll do nothing of the kind. See, here’s the deal. I have an appointment with Senator Adams in two days. You remember him, right? Head of the Oversight Committee? Well, he’s been very concerned about corruption in your little organization and I just happen to have some very interesting information for him. I keep very detailed files, Ron. I take note of names and dates and places and such. Not to mention, I have a very complete copy of your file on your last little operation. I wonder what the good senator would think about your plans. He’s a pretty conservative guy, right? Family values and all that? A human breeding program isn’t gonna sit well with him.”

The man’s whole tone changed. “What is it you want from me?”

“Well, let’s see. How about the Eiffel Tower and the Taj Mahal? Gift-wrapped, of course. And Ron, don’t get the cheap kind. I hate that cheap stuff that rips if you look at it hard. So annoying.”

“Damn it, Devereaux, just get to the point!”

“Well, Ron, ask a stupid question and get a stupid answer. You know damn well what I want.”

“I can’t just let Ellison go! Don’t you understand what we could do with somebody like Ellison?”

“Tell it to Senator Adams, Ron. Good-bye, Asshole.”

“No! Wait! I’m not at the top of this, Pete!”

“Okay, give me a name. I’ll give him to Adams.”

“I can’t.”

“You can’t because there is no one to give me. You’re it. Your choice. Give it up and release Jim or I’ll turn over everything I have on you and it doesn’t stop just at this operation, Ron. You told me you have stuff on my men? Well, did you think that I wouldn’t have anything on you to use as an equalizer? I protect my guys, Ron. So, what’s it gonna be? Jim’s not doing you any good anyway. He’s not a sentinel anymore. If you turn him loose, you can go after Barnes. I certainly won’t stop you. Don’t, and it’ll be you going down, not me.”

“You’ll keep your mouth closed and call off your men?”

“Sure. I have someone else I can give Senator Adams that will make him just as happy. Oh, Ron, there is something else. Blair Sandburg.”

“What about him? He’s nuts.”

“That may well be but I refuse to let him be remembered as a fraud. You and I both know he’s not. He never lied.”

“Yeah, but what do you expect me to do?”

“Well, I have a few ideas about that, but I need to talk to Jim first. I’ll get back to you. You can just have Jim brought to me here. Soon. And Ron, try to weasel out and I’ll bury you.” Pete hung up the phone.

“Do you think he’ll live up to his end?”

“Oh yeah, I think he will. We have a history, Ron and me. Besides, he’s too afraid of prison and of you not to. However, when this is all over, he’ll come after us.”

“Then we need to eliminate that possibility, don’t we?” Alex asked.

“Maybe. You know, Jesse would have a screaming hissy fit if he heard us talking this way.”

Alex smiled. “The kid’s such a boy scout. We just won’t tell him.”

“Like he wouldn’t find out. You can’t hide anything from Jess. You should know that by now. At any rate, let me think about it.”

Alex nodded and left, leaving Pete to worry about how best to deal with MacNamara.

“But--” The flustered nurse shuffled through the papers again.

“But nothing. Mr. Sandburg would like his brother released immediately. We could get a court order if we have to but that certainly would bring your facility some unwanted and unflattering attention.”

“You don’t understand! He’s catatonic!”

“That is beside the point. Mr. Sandburg has the valid power of attorney for his brother. Jesse wants his brother released.”

“I can’t authorize that!”

“Then I suggest you find someone who can.” Kit folded his arms across his chest. This was going to work. He felt like a jerk trying to intimidate the petite woman but it had to be done. He had to get Blair Sandburg out of this hospital. She fumbled with the phone and paged a Dr. Schiller.

“I want to see Blair now,” Jess demanded as she hung up.

“Um, I think he’s in the rec room right now.”

“Where is it?”

“Down that hall but, sir, you shouldn’t go in there.”

“Thank you.” Jess started down the hall. Kit followed. So did the nurse, repeating over and over that they were not supposed to go in there. Jesse veered right and stormed through a set of double doors. It took them a few minutes to locate Blair. As a matter of fact, Kit bypassed him twice before he recognized him.

“Shit,” he whispered.

“What?” Jesse asked.

Kit pointed and Jesse finally saw. “Oh my god.”

“You cut his hair,” Kit snapped.

“Dr. Martin felt it was best. It’s easier to take care of that way.”

“You better go find that doctor,” Kit told her. He left the woman standing there and made his way over to Blair. An orderly moved toward him but one look sent the man back to his original position. He knelt in front of the wheelchair. He swore under his breath. They had Sandburg strapped to the chair. Apparently, he had been that way for a while.

“Oh man.” Jesse’s presence registered then and he turned to look at his friend.

“Help me get these restraints off and let’s get him out of here.”

Dr. Schiller picked that moment to enter the room. “What the hell is going on here?”

Kit stood and stalked toward the balding man. Schiller took two steps back. “We have papers that give Jesse Sandburg the right to remove his brother from this hellhole.”

“Mr. Sandburg’s records don’t mention a brother.”

“He’s adopted.”

“I need to clear this with Dr. Martin and Captain Banks.”

“Really? Why don’t you go call them then? While you do that, I’ll make some calls too. A TV station or two. The newspaper. Maybe the good folks of Cascade would like to know that you strap down catatonic patients and leave them there until they soil their clothes. That’ll look real good on the front page and the five o’clock news, won’t it? I tell you what you need to do, Dr. Schiller. You need to sign that release before you piss me off.”

Only minutes later, they were leaving River Haven. With Blair Sandburg.

Jim eyed the pudgy man with suspicion when he opened the door to Jim’s prison. “What now, MacNamara?”

“Come on out of there.”

“More ‘tests?’”

“No, you’re leaving.”

“I’m what?”

“Leaving.” MacNamara pushed a fifty-dollar bill into Jim’s hand. “There’s a taxi waiting outside. He knows where you’re going. Now, get out before I change my mind.”

Jim stared at him. “What is this? Will the gate guards be getting a message that I’m escaping? What? I can’t be a sentinel so I get shot escaping?”

“You’re not escaping. You’re being released. We made a mistake, Mr. Ellison. We’re sorry.”

“Who the fuck are you and what have you done with MacNamara?”

“You ever hear that saying about not looking a gift horse in the mouth? Try taking the advice and get out while you can.”

“Where is the cab going?”

“What’s with the freaking questions, you moron? Just go! Devereaux is waiting.”

“Pete?”

“Yeah.”

Jim laughed ruefully. “What’d he do? What’s he got on you?”

“Are you leaving or should I tell him you’re happy here and wish to stay?”

Jim did not bother answering the man. He marched purposefully toward the door. He stopped, however, just at the threshold and turned back. “If I ever see you again, they won’t find the body.”

“I don’t think that’s something you’re going to have to worry about, Mr. Ellison.”

Jim wondered what he meant by that but decided against hanging around to find out. He quickly located the exit and strode out of the building. The sunlight almost blinded him for a moment but he made out the bright yellow cab easily. He got in. “Where are we headed?”

“Downtown, sir. The Markham building. That’s what the other man said.”

“Okay, let’s get going.” Jim could only hope that he was not walking into a trap.

“Arrest him!” Simon Banks’ voice boomed across the bullpen. Jesse braced himself. That order was for him. He knew that. He had known it when he walked into the building, but he had to try and make the captain understand why they had done what they did.

Jess smiled crookedly at the black cop in the backward baseball cap who approached him. Jesse thought he remembered the man’s name. “I’m not going to resist, Detective Brown.”

“Sorry, kid.” The man took him by the arm.

“Get his ass in here!” Banks yelled.

Brown led Jesse to the captain’s office and over to one of the chairs in the room. Captain Banks was pacing. Jess watched him. Brown started for the door and Jess had the insane urge to beg the detective to stay and protect him. He did not, though. He had to face Banks with a brave face, not cowering behind one of the captain’s detectives.

“Sit down,” Banks barked at him.

He sat before he even realized that he had moved.

“I should have you locked up in holding right now. Want to tell me why I shouldn’t?”

“Simon?” Jesse’s response was pre-empted by the appearance of Banks’ girlfriend.

“Come on in, Jade. Riviera was about to tell me where he and Chase have Sandburg.”

“No, I wasn’t,” Jesse stated calmly. “I was about to tell you why what we did was right.”

The woman smiled at him. “Jesse, I know you’re worried about Blair but--”

“I’m not worried about Blair at all. Not now. I was worried about Blair.”

She smiled again. She was pretty when she smiled. He could definitely see Banks’ attraction to her but she was getting on his nerves. She was just too damn nice. It was like she thought she was dealing with some brain-damaged child. “Blair needs help.”

“He’s got help.”

“Okay, this is not getting us anywhere. Riviera, where is Blair?”

“Safe with Kit.”

Banks took a deep breath. Jess could only assume it was in an effort to keep from killing him. “Where safe with Kit?”

“You don’t understand. We couldn’t leave him in there.” Jess changed direction. He was not here to be interrogated. He was here to explain. He was here to make the captain understand.

Suddenly, both of them were talking at him and he could not understand either of them. He threw up his hands to silence them. “They cut his hair!” he shouted at them.

“What?”

“Jesse, a haircut is hardly reason enough to remove him from the care of trained professionals.” The good doctor was smiling at him that way again.

“Wait.” Banks waved her off. “They cut his hair?”

“Yeah.”

“Simon, I’m sure there’s a good reason for it. All that hair would hard to take care of…” her voice trailed off as Banks turned away from them both to stare out of his window. “Simon, honey, it’s just hair. It grows back.”

“There’s more,” Jesse spoke up. He could not have them thinking that it was just the hair.

“What?”

“They had him strapped to a wheelchair. Apparently, they’d tried to force feed him ‘cause he was covered in food and…” Jess paused, not quite sure how to say this last part delicately.

“Finish.” Banks ordered.

“They hadn’t let him up to go to the bathroom.”

Jesse and Dr. Thomas jumped as Captain Banks cleared a shelf of books near the window. “Son of a bitch!” the man screamed. “I thought you said this place was decent!” He turned on his girlfriend.

“Simon, I… I’m sure it’s an isolated incident. I haven’t heard about anything like this from River Haven before.”

“Oh, so only Blair gets treated this way!”

“No! That’s not what I meant. Surely, there’s some explanation for it. Maybe they got sidetracked and didn’t get back to him to clean him up. I don’t know! They have the best reputation in the area. Simon, I’m sorry.”

He seemed to calm down a bit then. “I know. I’m sorry too. I know you aren’t to blame. But somebody is, and I will be finding that somebody. You!” Jesse sank farther back into the chair as the man’s angry glare turned to him. “Where is Blair?”

Jess shook his head. “You’d better go ahead and take me down to holding because I’m not telling you.”

“You’ll go to jail first, huh?”

“Pete’ll get me out.” Jess raised his head defiantly.

“Seem pretty sure.”

“Yep.”

Banks ran a hand over his face. “I don’t have the patience for this, Riviera. Just bring him to my house. You remember how to get there?”

“What for?”

“Simon, what are you thinking?” his girlfriend asked as she moved over to him.

“I’m thinking that it’s about time that I start taking some responsibility here. I think it’s time that I behave like the friend Blair needs instead of shoving him off on somebody else.”

“Simon, you can’t deal with the psychological damage--”

“Then I suppose I’ll be seeing a lot of you then?”

The doctor smiled again. This smile was better, prettier. “I suppose so then.”

“Good. Riviera, you and Chase have Blair at my house by the time dinner rolls around, say six o’clock, and I’ll cancel the APB and whitewash your visit to River Haven. I have room enough for all of you if somebody doesn’t mind the couch.”

Jess felt the tension flow out of his body. He smiled. “Yes, sir. Thanks.”

“Get out of my office.” He waved toward the door.

“Yes, sir.” Jess made a hasty exit for two reasons. One, before Banks changed his mind and locked him up and two, he had good news for a change.

Part 4b