Hidden Sanity

Drag Her In

She went to work and Joe blocked her way. He said “Alice! I found out something! I traced something from the case. You need to know this immediately.”

“How? Did you search for them one by one?”

“Yes, each victim!” He looked like he really wanted to let her know about it immediately. Alice won’t doubt Joe. He’s one of a smartass man for him not to possibly do it within one night. She wanted to talk to him and know everything that he’ll say, but their company’s encoder hastily walked toward her and said, “Ms. Alice, the vice president said that he needed the papers from last week on his desk and said that he has something with him for you to do. He needs the papers right now. It’s urgent, he said.”

Alice looked at Joe and said “Joe. Tell it to me, later! I mean, tomorrow!” She’ll be with Jack later so it’s better off tomorrow. “I’ll check that out! I have to go now.” She ran to her table and searched for the papers to bring them to the vice president. The encoder sticks with her for assistance.

Joe was left in the aisle, looking at Alice being so active. She never ran out of activities to do. She’s the busy type of person.

He thought “When can I ever have long talks with you again?” Hopelessly, he just stared instead.

Alice had jam-packed tasks the whole daytime. She almost wanted to lie on the ground and rest for a while. Her body was shaking, caused by fatigue. But she was glad that it was all over at noon time. She reached out for the cafeteria and grabbed some food to eat. That was the only solution for her instant recovery. After taking her lunch, she felt better. Then Jack called her out to proceed in his office. He was right on time.

So then, they went out of the building with a strategic way of exit for them not to be caught going out together. She rode beside Jack in his car, trying to think about anything but why she was here. It was always a different air when she’s with him. Jack wore his suit off. That left him with a white long sleeve and a black tie. He was an eye candy for Alice. She couldn’t resist not looking at him, at least once a minute. But she handled herself very well to control her emotions from coming out mentally and physically.

The ride went on. They were headed south and had almost reached the rest stop where Kinley’s friend worked. She stared out the window, watching the scenery go by. Thankfully she had moved away. Everything around the place began to look so scary for her, thinking that it was a place for sinners like Kinley. She looked at the surroundings, the pine tree forest, even the signs along the road marking the towns and distances between them.

“You’re quiet,” Jack said.

She looked at him and then back at the pavement in front of the hood of his white Bentley.

“Changed your mind?” He probed gently. “Because if you have, it’s OK. I’ll turn around right now and take you back to your apartment.”

“No,” she said softly. “I need to do this. It’s just that I’m nervous.” She rubbed her sweaty hands together.

He kept his eyes on the road, yet he was totally attentive to her. “There’s really not much to tell. All I got with me is, knowing that Rodrigo Lopez, the one that I’m going to interview now, is a very close friend of Jack when they were together behind bars. He knew a lot about him. And the connections of Kinley’s victims before………I know this sounds silly”—he looked at her—“considering what I do for a living, this is not really my thing, investigating and stuff, but I like to try to respect the victims' families. I did not go far from asking them anymore. Besides, what if it really is just a sick coincidence?”

It was a very wise excuse to escape the subject. Of course, he couldn’t talk to them personally. He’s the suspect.

She knew he was as certain as she was that it wasn’t but she could have kissed him for offering that glimmer of hope. “Guess we can safely check him off then.” She wiped her damp hands on her jeans.

Jack said “But I only touched on the possibility of my research. I’ve learned a great deal more about serial killers since I read that article. They’re like that. They work up to their crimes. Improve on their technique.”

“Now you made me feel worse. Thanks!”

“I know. I’m sorry.” He said it in one breath. He laughed.

Alice held her breath then she exhaled loud enough for Jack to hear her. She thought that maybe the FBI got her name wrongly on the list like what Joe said. Maybe it wasn’t Kinley who’s behind her before. Maybe it had nothing to do with Kinley. Maybe she was safe.

Alice looked up as Jack covered her hand which rested on the seat between them. She said, “Please tell me the FBI was wrong about it and they got my name wrong. It was not Kinley behind me. I know I sound like a fool, but I just need to hear you say it.”

“My honest opinion is that I don’t agree with the FBI. I understand their legal position. I understand why they can’t do anything lawfully without evidence, but I think they’re lying if they say that without finding the connections first or whatsoever on the first place before reporting it to you. Must they tell you about it when they already got their facts straight and proven? It’s their job to work on the investigation, not you. Scaring you unintentionally was a total d**k move.”

“You’re right.” She frowned, staring out the window.

20 minutes later, he parked on the side of the parking lot near the tractor-trailing out of view of the main building. He cut the engine.

“I’m going in ahead of you.” He looked at her. “I imagine this place, open seating in the main dining area. Are you familiar with it?”

She nodded.

“Give me a couple of minutes, and then you come in and take a different booth. Sit facing me so that Kinley’s friend won’t be facing you when he sits down to talk. Keep quiet and don’t draw any attention to yourself.”

Again, she nodded.

He grabbed his smart key to go. “Alice, can’t you really just sit here in the car?” He sounded so protective but just too sexy for a boss. Quite unexpectedly, he really was bossy but it was for Alice’s sake. He suddenly appeared to be an expert at this even when he’s not.

But she was even more determined to go and carry it out. She knew Jack didn’t understand her need to know about Kinley. Anyone couldn’t understand because they didn’t know what that event left to her. No one could understand. But she had to do it.

“I’m going,” she murmured. “See you inside.”

He hesitated for a second, and then climbed out of the car. He walked up a long brick sidewalk toward the main entrance and disappeared into the building.

She checked her watch when five minutes had passed. She got out of the car and got inside too. At the lobby, she turned into the food court, which was bustling with lunch business.

Alice immediately spotted Jack, but she made a point not to make eye contact. She spotted several suitable empty tables. Still keeping her head down, she walked to the self-serve soda fountains and made herself a drink. She couldn’t bear the thought of eating anything, but she didn’t want to draw any attention to herself by sitting alone without seeming to have a purpose there. Besides, it would give her something to do while sitting in the booth. She paid for the drink and slipped into a booth. Once settled in the booth, she took a sip of her soda while her gaze was straying to Jack who was busy fixing himself to look professional as possible.

But how come nobody from inside the prison notices him? He stayed there for a long time and it’s impossible for them not to be familiarized with him.

Watching him like this, Alice couldn’t help but notice what a nice looking man he was. She definitely had a thing for him. She was rusty with the male-female complexities, but she was pretty sure he was interested too. She just didn’t know if she’d have the guts to do anything about it.

She glanced at her wristwatch. In a minute, Lopez would be here in this very room. She felt as if she was under water. Sounds were odd, hollow. The people around her appeared to be moving in slow motion.

Her back was to the entrance so that she could face Jack. She didn’t dare to turn around, but she suddenly got a cold feeling. The hairs raised on the back of her neck. She felt a different kind of presence.

He was already here.

She watched Jack. His expression, as he glanced up and beyond her, confirmed that it was Lopez.

Alice spotted Lopez out of the corner of her eye an instant later. He was a young man; short and walked with confidence. Very much like Jack. Alice swallowed hard. She stared at the table in front of her. Her head down as she grabbed for the soda. What if he saw her and somehow she appeared to be familiar and he recognized her? She was being paranoid, of course. She knew Lopez wouldn’t recognize her as he didn’t even catch a glimpse of her as he walked by.

“Mr. Lopez.”

Alice watched from below her lashes as Jack half stood and offered his hand to Rodrigo. Jack indicated with his hand that Lopez should sit, and Lopez slid into the bench across him.

She was sitting over 5 feet away from them. Lopez hadn’t even noticed her.

“As I said on the phone,” Jack said smoothly. “I’m going to ask you a few questions about your friend Jack.”

Lopez put his hands together at the top of the table, seeming to be harmless. “Yes, and this is for what again?” He spoke with his Spanish accent.

“I’m working on his case and someone I know received a call from the FBI, stating that she was your friend’s next target. Did he mention it to you even before he went out of the prison?”

“I can hardly remember his face now. That was years ago.” He shrugged.

“You didn’t answer my question, Mr. Lopez.” He frankly spoke.

“For that, he didn’t mention anything about it. I had a bad memory if ever he did. But I know he’s always hunting for someone.”

“Someone? Did he tell you that it’s a girl?”

“He always hunts for girls. Girls he knew.”

“He knew? But don’t you think he has the possibility to change his MO and look for a stranger instead?”

He smiled. His yellow teeth appeared. “He always changes his MO.”

“Particularly for?”

“A new victim… He was the cleverest man I knew in my life.” He rubs his hand. Not so dirty for a long time imprisoned man. “We often talk about our victims. It was a hell of a fun to talk about it.”

“He was charged guilty for murder, right? Did he tell you why he was doing it?”

Lopez looked at him in the eyes and said, “Sir, he was a psychopath!” Then he smiled as if the idea was very funny.  It was all around the city for him not to be aware of.

He took in the insult and continued the questions. “Did you know his history and why he became one?”

“I didn’t know about it. He was too aggressive to tell that kind of stories to me. Besides, he’s already crazy, how could I believe anything he would say to me in case?”

“But I believe he still has his mind, how could he think of his new MO every time if he already lost it? Not that it will come from a crazy man… Those were smart plans, Lopez.”

“Well……… he talked like a normal man to me before.”

“Please tell me Mr. Lopez, did he tell you anything about the killings he has done?” He asked like he never wanted to repeat it one more time to him.

“He did.” He stared at him mysteriously.

Jack waited.

Lopez said “He mentioned to me that those are the people who got in his way that he can’t help but to kill them right away. He had fun doing it. He told me how happy he felt doing it.”

“Even with no mercy?”

“He has no mercy, sir.” He smiled wider. He knew Jack very well.

Alice heard that last statement from Rodrigo Lopez, so her heart pounded even faster. She couldn’t even look at them while they’re talking, afraid that Lopez might look back. She can’t stop thinking about the possibility of Jack Kinley killing her with no mercy.

Jack moved on to the harder questions. Closer to the point kind of questions.

“Did he tell you anything about Alice Simone?” He directly said.

“Alice Simone? Not that I’m familiar with… I have a bad memory, as I said. But…….”

“But what?” He leaned closer to hear what he’s saying because Lopez’s voice was starting to lessen in volume.

“But he was looking for someone when he’s still staying here with me. He frequently looked at a picture of that particular woman.”

“Did he say his intentions?”

“Not a single drop of information. He was too mysterious in his cases and plans. He never told anybody about it. He made a plan, did it, and that’s how everybody was able to be aware of it. It was an achievable tyranny when it comes to Jack... Always ruled out.”

“He was rehabilitated, right? Don’t you think he was a better man than before?”

“Could a good man enter rehabilitation? He was wicked! Maybe he suppressed himself a little inside that small room but he would never escape the hospital if he was already a better man.”

Jack thought that what he said was dreadfully true. He made his point very clear.

Jack said, “He’s out now and he’s hunting for another one. Do you think it’s possible for him to kill more?”

“I knew about that one. Heard it from the news. It is very possible. But days have already passed. He could have killed someone already but seeing that he’s not yet giving a hand back to it, I guess he’s a little sorry and mulling over his faults years ago.”

“Is that possible?! Is it even possible for that bastard to feel sorry?” He raised his voice a little.

“He was rehabilitated, young man.” He boldly said.

“He’s really out of his mind. No one can read what he’s trying to do in the current situation.” He frowned. “Did you know anything about his background? From his record? Nothing?”

He stared at the table and said, “He’s a man in rebellion… Had a very huge hatred in his eyes as he entered the prison, flaming like fire…”

Jack looked at Lopez’ eyes and he wasn’t able to say anything back to what he said. He thought it was a serious warning from his description of him.

And for the first time since Lopez’s arrival, Jack glanced her way. Her lower lip trembled and for a moment she was afraid she’d fall apart, but she managed a half smile.

Alice ground her teeth and lowered her gaze into the soda again. She was squeezing the cup so hard.

Jack made an effort to talk, “Could you say a little advice to me on how to deal with Jack Kinley?”

“He’s dangerous. But I can give you a piece of advice.” He murmured.

“Please do.”

“I…….. He….” Rodrigo looked like he was not comfortable to say it. He kept on looking at the people around the cafeteria. He felt very disturbed about the eyes of the guards and the security cameras watching them.

Jack had read his move. He knew that he wanted to say something but can’t say it out loud. As a result, he gave Rodrigo a paper and let him scribble his words on it. Very secretly, they did it. No one even noticed, even the guards. They made it appear like nothing suspicious is going on.

Jack kept the paper in his pocket right away.

Rodrigo said to him, “Personal discoveries will always happen like that, hardest to reconcile, but given that there’s far more media than one can experience in their lifetime nowadays, it’s very possible now.”

He replied with, “If we all have media in our brains, I don’t know if we’d even be the same kind of being as we are currently… I don’t expose myself too much to that. They’re poisoning people’s minds.”

They had gone to a deeper conversation.

“I love how your mind works…” Rodrigo compliments him. Jack looked at his eyes, identifying the potential of him for being like Jack Kinley. Looking deeply into his eyes, he searched for answers. Answers for the mystery in Jack’s life. He wondered how it feels like seeing the suspect itself through those eyes. He probably knew a lot and had seen a lot from him.

Almost half an hour had already passed. Pretty unbelievable, it seemed like only seconds.

Time’s up.

“Well, sir, it’s been real nice talking to you.” Rodrigo slid off the bench seat and stood at the end of the table. “But I gotta be clockin’ back in.” He offered his hand and shook Jack’s.

Lopez turned away from Jack.

Alice lowered her gaze, stooping her head over the table, and gripped the soda cup. She wished she could make herself invisible.

Lopez was walking past her now, a little closer to her side of the aisle than he had been when he came in.

He noticed her weird gesture so he glanced at her but didn’t see her whole face. Just a quick look.

Alice held her breath. Then he was gone. Did he notice her?

Alice looked up to see Jack watching intently. His eyes were asking her if she was OK. She knew he couldn’t get up yet, not until Kinley’s best man was gone. She took a deep breath and counted to ten. Alice couldn’t wait for him. She had to get out. She jumped up, stealing a quick glance over her shoulder to see if Kinley’s friend was gone. She hurried for the exit.

Jack strode down the sidewalk toward her.

“You alright?” He put his arms on the side of her waist.

She nodded.

“You sure?” He caught her chin and lifted it.

She met his gaze, fear in her eyes. “Let’s get out of here,” she said shakily. “I think I could use a drink.”

Jack gave her a quick kiss on the lips that surprised her. “Me too.”

It was already dark when they got to a place to eat in. They went to a restaurant and decided to take out their orders and just eat it at Alice’s house since she also had to stay in there for Mary. Hitting two birds with one stone. They ate the food on their way to her house because it’s a long drive to go to Pittsfield and they were too hungry to wait until they got there. The night had fallen even before they got to her house. It was a good dinner inside his car anyway. Later on, they arrived at her place.

Jack was the first one from the office to ever visit her house. Alice looked for Mary and caught her sleeping in her room. She looked sweet as an angel. She kissed her sister’s forehead then left her room. She carefully closed it, not even making a noise to awaken her.

She went to the living room to get with Jack. They were now drinking their beers on Alice’s terrace. Jack told her what went on through the whole interview. It made her feel more scared but a little bit relieved about knowing that Jack was put to rehabilitation before by being repentant about his crime. She thought that he was still disciplined enough to do such a crime again. It was a positive message.

Jack said “Don’t think too much about it, Alice. Let’s just forget about it.”

He slipped his arm around her shoulders and she slid closer. “Come to think of it, not early as odd as some, I’ve met some incredibly bizarre people.” He smiled. “They are very wicked but they changed later on… They’re not killers, but they’re humans as well. You know what I’m saying?”

“Yes. I get your point. Thank you for making me feel a little bit better through that.”

“The FBI got you covered up though, why don’t you just calm down and stop looking for him by yourself. He doesn’t seem harmful based on what Rodrigo told me. He kills for a reason, of course, I believe that. And I see no reason for him to take you.”

“Now you see, there’s a difference between the two of us.” She looked at him. “I’d have had to go see him. Tell him what I thought about him. Tell him how much I hated what we had done to innocent people.”

“I think that’s one of the things I like so much about you, Alice. You’re a woman with serious balls.”

She turned to look at him and he caught her by surprise. It was a hell of a day and they conquered it together. Jack couldn’t resist it anymore. He pressed his mouth to hers, and she responded with the pent-up emotions of the day. She forgot how embarrassed she was to him after their first kiss. All she wanted now was another one or maybe a lot of them. She just wanted it to happen again, with him and her.

She rested her hand, still holding the beer bottle, on his shoulder and let go of her thoughts of Kinley and of her family. Of Joe. She let herself feel…… and she had to admit Jack felt damned good.

The kiss ended too soon, and she licked the bottom of her lip, gazing into Jack’s green eyes. The deck was cast in shadows, lit only by the security lamp at the edge of her property, but she could see that he was studying her.

Her whole body was revved up and she suddenly felt jumpy. She could taste s****l tension in the air between them. A million thoughts were rushing through her head, but one prevailed. She wanted to put down their beers, take Jack’s hand, and lead him to her bedroom.

Did she dare? She’d been a virgin when she met her ex before and had never slept with anyone else but him. Never really wanted to try again until now.

Jack waited, and she knew he knew what she was contemplating. This had been building since he started helping her. She had felt it when she met him along the streets when the killer was behind her, when he had brought her to his car and calmed her down for the night.

She held his gaze, wanting to say something, but not sure what. Mostly because she didn’t know what she wanted. “I think we’re thinking the same thing.”

“Oh, yeah?” His voice was husky and so damn sexy. It felt so good to be wanted by someone who wasn’t just trying to manipulate her.

Jack took her beer out of her hand and placed it on the deck along with his. He reached out to brush a lock of hair off her cheek. It was an innocent enough gesture, but it sent her blood pulsing.

God, she needed to get laid.

But her little sister, Mary, was asleep upstairs. And Jack lived in New York. She wasn’t going to sleep with him just because she was horny. She wasn’t that kind of person.

She smiled tentatively, knowing she had made her decision…… at least for tonight. “You need to go.”

He smiled back with an “I almost had you” grin, and she laughed.

“OK, you almost had me swayed,” she murmured, her own voice lower than usual.

He brushed his fingers against her cheek. “But no go tonight, eh?”

She leaned toward him and kissed him lightly on the lips. “No go tonight, Jorge.” She rose from the glider, leading him by the hand. “But I’m thinking about it, thinking hard.”

He grabbed her around the waist. “Let me help you, then.” He covered her mouth with his again, and didn’t let up until she swayed in his arms, dizzy from lack of oxygen.

“Jorge,” she panted, resting her hands on his chest. She was pushing herself away from him as much as trying to push him away from her. “You have to go.”

“I’m going.” He let go of her, raising his hands in mock surrender. She was relieved he was taking her rejection with a sense of humor. “I’m going already. I just wanted to let you know what you’d be missing.”

She walked him to the door. “When are you going back to New York?”

“Tonight, maybe? I don’t know yet.” He leaned against the open door. “But I thought I’d hang around here for a day.”

“You don’t have to stay to protect me,” she said quietly, wishing right now that he could stay forever, or at least long enough for her to figure out how she felt about him. “I’m not afraid of him, you know. Not now that I knew what a sorry son of a b***h he is.”

“I understand.” He kissed her on the cheek and gave a single wave by the hand. “That’s not why I want to stay.” He brushed his fingertips over her lips and walked out. “Talk to you tomorrow.”

Alice felt giddy knowing that Jack and she certainly had the same thing in mind. She wished he stayed but she pushed him away. It was a battle of emotions inside her that kept her pushing and pulling. She didn’t know how to deal with her feelings. It was a dilemma of being a formal secretary and a nasty woman in her late 20’s. Everything’s doubtful for Alice.

Jack backed out of Alice’s driveway and wound his way out of the neighborhood. Their apartment was a few miles away. As he signaled to turn left, he shifted in his seat. He was so hard for Alice that he couldn’t get comfortable. He had really wanted to stay and make love to her. If he had pushed, he knew he could have won her over. But for once, this wasn’t about winning Alice. It wasn’t about laying on the charm and getting her into the sack like all the others. It was something else.

He knew it was the only way he could have Alice. He could see it in her clear brown eyes, taste it in her kiss. The funny thing was, for the first time in his life, the idea appealed to him.

Alice was different.