Hidden Sanity

Legal Blindness

When the sun was soon to lift up, television networks were already preparing themselves for the airing of their morning shows.

And inside the most influential network in their country, members of the media and reporters are talking about new ideas to feed the public so they will appear more promising. Another reason is because they have an officer who is a politician. The whole country was focused on the dirty business of the government. That’s why they were longing for other things to specify in the news so the attention of the people would be directed to the case instead of sickening political issues.

It normally happens.

The officer said, “The people are too fed up by the government issues. We should try something different.”

“What shall we report instead of government issues, sir?”, a crew responded with a question.

“The mission is to make the people forget the politics of this country and let them show that it’s not just about us. There are also millions of crimes going on around the world so we are not the only bad people doing horrifying things. It’s not only the government who does crimes to people. People also do this to people.”

“Good point sir, so any idea what to shell out this morning?”, the crew bowed his head down a little bit and his eyes looked up at the officer, trying to avoid the view from his eye glasses, wanting a clearer view of the officer’s face.

The officer stood up and said “The eye of the country is focused on Jack’s mysterious case now. The girl named Christine Rover, murdered, would bring the press from everywhere to his small town, plus the FBI, probably private detectives hired by a network, and an army of curiosity seekers. This would take a back seat to a giant manhunt for the killer of Christine Rover. The story had a rather comic and tilted twist to it for the local people. Rings a bell?”

The reporter suddenly talked, “Right! It would hype up our show if we could broadcast right from the scene of the violence, talk to the people involved.”

“But no notion that it could be dangerous? Right. That was a great idea”, the cameraman spoke sarcastically.

“Then make him a guest to a show. A man who had lived in crimes knew the techniques, we might be able to read something into what had happened that cops wouldn’t and couldn’t see.”,said the producer.

One of the lights men barged in. “Wait. Why do we need to have him in a show? He’s a serial killer! We don’t even know who he really is and we could only be assured if we are lucky enough to get him in front of the cameras.”

The officer said “Because people are so credulous, young man! They will persist in believing things that are obviously false!”

“Then what are you planning to do? Pretend that we interviewed the killer to achieve higher ratings? I’m afraid no one’s going to buy that, sir.”, replied the lights man.

“That means we need to let them buy that! You get it?” He replied with terrorizing eyes.

The lights man stepped backward while saying, “Good. Then just update me when everything’s well planned…” then he walked out of the room. He was followed by one of the news reporters. The girl ran after him and said “Hey, not afraid to get fired huh?”

The man looked back and stopped walking. He said “Oh, hey. Well they’re stupid.” He smiled.

The girl chuckled. “What makes you think that?”

“You know what, at first I thought I was wrong about my negative insight to the government. But now, I was not. Government is clean but the real problem is the people inside it. They’re all freaks and insanely attached to power and authority. That builds the evil of the society. Too much possessions that they already forgot how to use their minds.”

“I’m not sure that all of the people are like that inside the government.”

“Oh well then I’m sure we got one inside our building though.”

The girl said “I like your humor.”

“That’s not a humor.” He smiled.

“You leave me a good thought of you back there.” She looked daunted.

“Really?”

“Yeah.”

“Anyway, I hope they would succeed in their plan. I’ll just do my job and that’s all I could give to their mission.” He walked away and the girl walked with him. The girl smiled and so did the guy.

The plan spread around the building, informing everyone that there have been changes to the morning news report today. It has been officially set that Kinley’s case will be the headline. Most of the members agreed to it and some are just going along the flow. Perhaps they only care about their salaries, of what will make it higher.

The officer sat down on his office chair and leaned his back on it. He showed an evil smirk and said, “This is going to be larger than CSI, fellas.” He looked confident about it.

Meanwhile in Def Media Corporation, Jack arrived. He walked his way to his office, head up with his suit and tie. He’s definitely looking good even when he’s frowning. He always was, people just get used to it.

He called in Alice to his office.

When she entered, Jack said “Hi. Can you get me today’s newspaper?”

Alice replied “Sure, sir.” She took one from the lounge and went back to his office to give it to him. She felt very uncomfortable facing her boss after the incident last night. Until, she heard Jack scoff. She looked at him and saw his half grin while reading the news.

“Trying to use the case? Some weaponized greed again? They’re disgustingly overfed.”

“Sir?”

Jack looked at her. “Media is making this all worse.”

“The Jack Kinley issue?”

“Yeah. See, everybody’s updated. Good try.” He absolutely knew the plans. He had a good mind for guessing and analyzing, indeed.

Alice said “Uhh…. Anything else sir?”

“Oh, yeah. Make me a coffee please.”

“Right away, sir.” She went out of his office to make him a coffee in the storage room. She couldn’t stand the atmosphere inside Jack’s office. Jack certainly gives an unexplainable feeling to his employees.

She made the coffee taste good to impress him. Before going out of the storage room, she fixed herself and made sure that she looked good before she gets in the way to his office.

Alice said after a minute, “Oh my God! Why am I even doing this?! What is with you, Alice?!” She rumpled her hair again and went out without checking how she looks instead. She brought the coffee to his table and said, “Here’s your coffee, sir.”

Jack said “Thanks.” He sipped then he looked at her. “Wow. This tastes good. I never regret hiring you as my secretary.”

Alice felt herself blushing. “Thank you.”

“Are you naturally good at making this?”

“Not my talent. Just a hobby.”

“Impressive. And—” He stared at her face. “You look chic today. Nice hair as well.”

“Hair?” She found it very ridiculous that he found it nice when she just messed it up lately.

“Yes, unless you want me to check out other things like your body or something.”

“Oh, please.” She glared.

Jack laughed. He leaned his elbows on the top of his table, put his hands together and rested his chin on them. He said “How are you?”

“Me? Why?”

“Nothing. Is it that bad to ask?”

“I—I’m fine.”

“I’m glad you are.”

“Of course, I am.”

“I couldn’t sleep last night. I kept on waiting for your call in case of emergency, you know.”

“Really?” She was moved deep inside. She realized that he has a good side.

“Yeah. Anyway, call me anytime you need me, okay?”

“Okay.”

“Don’t wander alone at night again, alright?”

“Fine. You’re the boss.”

Jack chortled. He said “Yeah, I got things to do. Presentation will be on the day after tomorrow. It’s pretty toxic nowadays.”

“Yes, I understand. Good luck. Hope we won’t fail.”

“We won’t.” He smirked. Then Alice left his office. Jack’s eyes followed her wherever she’s going. He stood up and went closer to the window. He hid through the blinds as he secretly watched her.

Alice passed by Joe and Joe talked to her so she stopped. Joe said something to Alice that made her laugh. Alice stared at his eyes when he talked. Her smile sparked when Joe is speaking. Joe laid his arm on top of her shoulder. He murmured something to Alice’s ears and Alice hit his shoulder slightly while laughing hard. Maybe a joke or something. And finally, they had gone through their own ways. They separated.

Jack now had his eyes on Joe. Joe entered the pantry. Jack looked back at Alice and saw her smiling face even when Joe is not around already. Joe gave her a good day, he thought. He didn’t like it. He didn’t want the feeling.

He took the cup of coffee from his table, drank it all and brought it with him as he went out of his office. He was headed to the pantry. He clenched his fist. His eyes full of anger.

He entered the pantry and caught him there, making a coffee for himself. He checked out if there was somebody inside the office who was looking at him. Later, he found out that no one’s looking. Therefore, he silently closed the door.

Joe saw him and said “Good morning, sir.”

“Hey. Who are you again?” He acted frigid toward him even though he clearly remembered his name. He just did it to make himself look unmindful of everything that’s happening outside their office.

“Joe Schmidt, sir.” He politely answered.

“Oh right.” He looked at him, put his cup on the sink. “Making a coffee?”

“Yes. How about you, sir?”

“I’m…. kind of hungry. I’ll make a sandwich.”

“Alice could do it for you, sir. You don’t have to make one by yourself.”

“No… It’s okay. It’s okay. Just so you know, I learned making a sandwich by myself when I was a kid. It’s not that hard, right?”

Joe was hushed. He knew it was sarcasm.

Jack took a loaf of bread on the table and opened the wrapper. “You know Alice?”

Joe shyly said “Yes, we applied here at the same time.”

“I see… Did you know what happened to her last night?”

“No?”

“I thought you know her? Anyway, tell her to be more careful.”

“She didn’t tell me about that.” He looked curious and eager to know.

Jack picked the knife from the knife rack. He dipped it into the sandwich spread container and slowly whipped it to the bread, emphasizing what he was actually holding that time. He was looking at Joe. Very threatening look. He said “You should know that.”

Joe noticed the look from his eyes and felt fear inside him. “Should I know something?”

“No.” He licked the knife with some of the spreading in it. “You just have to be alert.”

Joe couldn’t decode what is running on Jack’s mind. He tried to break his fear by pulling out a joke. “It’s not like you’re going to hurt her, right?”

Jack stared at his eyes after and slightly smiled. “What makes you think I won’t?”

Joe rapidly became serious. “Wait. What?”

Jack hooted. “I’m kidding.” He put the knife on the table and grabbed the sandwich that he made for himself and walked away. And just before he closed the door, he said “Just tell her to be careful.”

It left a different impression on Joe. He felt something else, something unusual.

Jack went back to his office and worked all day. Alice didn’t see him anymore after making him a coffee lately in the morning. Jack was on and off the building, catching up for certain people he had to meet. Alice sat on her station and felt empty because she had nothing to do anymore. Her job was done so what is there to do next? She couldn’t just stay around and do nothing so she looked for something to do and that was to research Jack Kinley’s case over the internet. She saw horrible photos of some of the victims. Her brow puckered over what she saw. It’s seriously disgusting. She was bemused about the horrendous events that she didn’t know before. She wondered how she possibly ignored all of it.

The photos were tattooed on her mind. She had read about how he does the killing and she thought that she will never keep an eye off him this time, now that she almost got into one of the terrifying moments in her life. She didn’t notice that time has passed by and it’s already evening.

She saw that Morrie and the other staff had already left. She was so caught up by the case that she didn’t know that some had already left the office. She panicked a little bit.

She glanced at Jack's office and saw that it’s closed. She sighed and looked down. She didn’t know why she felt quite sad about it.

But not until, Jack went out of his office with his small bag. He saw Alice standing from her station and looking so staggered. He said “Oh you’re still here?”

“I…”

He saw her questionable look right now. “What are you doing?”

“I was about to go home.” She smiled a bit then packed her bag.

Jack walked closer to her and said “Are you feeling well?”

Alice backed down, moving away from him. “I’m okay.”

“Okay.” He turned around and walked. Alice looked intently to him as he walked. Then Jack looked back at her. Alice immediately looked away but she’s too late because Jack caught that one.

Jack smiled. “Uhhh….. Okay.” He gusted air from his nose and gave a silent laugh. Alice felt so embarrassed. She wasn’t able to speak.

Jack said “Would you… Would you mind if… I ask you out tonight?” He leaned his arm on her station’s wooden wall.

“Ask me out for what?” She looked at him.

“To eat dinner outside?”

“Right now?”

“Does ‘tonight’ sound like ‘tomorrow night’ to you?” He looked at her eyes with a smile on his face.

“No. I mean… why?”

“Just want to eat with you.”

Alice thought that it was going to a different level now. She can’t help but to think about things that she shouldn’t be thinking about. She’s afraid she would assume too much. But she still said “Sure.”

The danger moment had passed, but Alice feared that it could come again and that she might even get herself into trouble. Probably, she wanted Jack for her protection that’s why she came with him tonight.

Or could it be more than that?

Jack said “Good. I got the wheels. I’ll drive us there.”

“Where are we going?”

“A restaurant where I usually eat at.”

“Alright.” She kept it cool between them. She acted strong and hard to please.

As they got out of their building together, she rode his car and she can’t forget how good it smelled inside. Alice got the feeling of attraction especially when Jack wore off his coat and threw it at the back seat. He looked handsome even with just long sleeve polo and a tie. She looked away to get rid of temptation.

Jack couldn’t stand the silence between them so he played music. He played a song from Télépopmusik.

Alice said “Oh gosh! You have good taste in music. I love their songs too.”

“Nothing will ever replace the classics.”

“You’re right about that. Do you listen to Joni Mitchell? Guns ‘n Roses?”

“Are you kidding me? Those are my favorites. Proof?” He played a song by Joni Mitchell.

Alice said “Oh! Nice! ‘California’! That’s my favorite before!” She finally got something in common with him. Same taste in music.

Jack hummed along the song then said, “This only proves how old we are right now.”

Alice laughed. “Hey, not so old! We are only in our 20’s! Late 20’s! The bands that we like are way off our generation today. They’re way too past that.”

“Yeah. I like the old jam.”

“Me too. Honestly, I thought you don’t listen to music. I thought you were some kind of an emotionally unavailable sociopath.”

Jack cackled. He couldn’t believe Alice would say it straight like that. He said “Well… at least not mentally retarded.”

Alice chuckled at his feedback. She thought “That was one of the nicest things about Jorge, that you could say anything you liked to him and he never took offense or got hurt. He did not, however, simply laugh it off as she had expected, but returned to a more subtle attack.”

They reached the place after a few minutes. It was not too far to travel the way through. Jack opened the car’s door for Alice. Alice truthfully felt touched to his deed. She never thought Jack was a gentleman.

Jack formally stepped backward to let Alice walk in first. He did everything a man does to a lady on a date. And if he didn’t do it that way, Alice would never think it was a romantic date going on between them tonight.

Later when they were both seated, he ordered foods right away by calling the waiter. He paid the bills like the foods he ordered only cost cents.

With Jack, everything is hassle free. That’s what Alice thought. Everything is possible with Jack. In addition to that, he was a CEO that’s why he is valued by anyone.

In a while, the foods were laid down on their table, they ate it calmly, still trying to act like real grown up people in society. Just like real businessmen or women.

When they just emptied their plates, they had gone to a deeper conversation.

Alice made the first move. “Do you often eat here?”

“I do. Whenever I feel blue.” He slackened off his tie.

“You mean less like a man?”

A bitter smile appeared from Jack instead. “I grew up alone, never been able to be with my parents.”

Alice felt sorry for what she just told him. She asks “Why?”

“I don’t know.  I couldn’t remember. Rumors said they left me when I was very young. I didn’t know why. Maybe they loathed me when I was young or maybe they just couldn’t take the responsibility.”

“That’s unreasonable. Why would they loathe you?”

Jack didn’t reply. He tucked his lower lip. He just didn’t feel like talking back to that question. He stared at the dripping glass of soft drinks at the table. He watched its sweat drops.

Alice said “You have the heart of a rich man with a mysterious past. I was impressed. Because all I have is my honesty and my courage.”

Jack looked at her. “That’s very attractive.”

“What is attractive?”

“You, being honest every time, I find that very attractive.”

Alice started to get a different vibe. She brushed it off by saying “I don’t know. For me, it’s the cruel side of me. It’s not attractive.”

“Come on, Alice. You are!” He gazed deeply into her eyes.

Alice didn’t want to think that Jack actually likes her. She thought it was his boss flirting with her, testing her if she would fall for his trap. Might be a test for promotion or a higher payment for her salary. She shrugged and said “Then I guess it’s only you who knows that.”

Jack smiled, leaned his elbows on the table and touched his earlobes. His smile leisurely faded.

Alice felt the sudden changes in his mood so she insisted on talking, besides, she also wanted to know more about him. She asked, “You didn’t see your parents? Ever?”

He answered without looking at her. “Not that I remember.”

“Do you have an idea where they are now?”

“I don’t know. I only care about the people who raised me though.”

“Who did?”

“The orphanage?”

“Ohh… I see.” She stared at his meek face, learning that Jack was a different person. Jack had a painful background. She must not have judged him before. “Is that the reason why you act cold towards everyone?”

Jack had his head down when he slowly smiled. A manly smile. “I have this thing… I steer clear of myself to get attached too much to a person… because they always end up leaving me.”

“So you treat them all equally? Like everybody was just another person around you in a day and nothing else more? Is that it?”

“Not that I treat them like they won’t exist the next day. I just don’t care too much to someone because nothing is permanent. Come on, even the sun leaves you at night.”

“It’s there. You just can’t see it.”

Jack looked up to her. “That’s the exact point. They stay… but unseen. Just like my parents.”

“I’m so sorry about your parents.”

“You shouldn’t be sorry. I am not sorry myself. My dad’s a d**k. What should I be sorry about?” He joked.

Alice laughed. Jack asked “So how about you? Do you have them like that too?”

“Not a d**k. Mine’s quite cool. I live far away from them. They’re from Pittsfield. I go there when I have a day off.”

“You’re not saying you want one, aren’t you?”

“I hope you’ll let me have one though.” She poked fun.

“Sure. I’ll give you one right after the presentation.”

“Darn it! Thanks!” She instantly cheered up.

“Do you have any siblings?”

“Yup. A 4 yr. old adorable girl.”

“What’s the name?”

“Mary.”

“Sounds adorable. So are you… kind of babysitting in your house? What?”

Alice giggled and said “You are funny! I don’t babysit all my life, because you know, I have work.” She joked around too.

“I should really give you a day off then.”

Alice folded her hair at the back of her ear while chuckling. “Right…” She accepted the joke. Jack saw it as a view of perfection when Alice did that to her hair. She looked so gorgeously fine.

It was a great night between them. They spent 2 hours inside the restaurant. Talking about their backgrounds and getting to know more about each other, made a good deal between a secretary and a boss and also a comfortable relationship. Alice began to trust Jack. His image was completely cleared out to Alice. After all, Jack gained a point.

When it was already late at night, Jack drove Alice to their  place.

“Better to make sure you’re home safe, right?” He said after they reached their building. Alice gave him a different look in her eyes. Jack beamed delightfully at her and entered the building.

As they were in front of their apartment, it was plainly awkward, for Alice at least. She didn’t know what to say.

Until, Jack initially spoke, “I had a good time, Alice. Good night.”

“Me too. Good night.” She opened her door.

“Call me when you need me, alright?”

“Noted.”

“OK. Bye.” He opened his door and entered. Alice entered her apartment too after Jack did. Then she unexpectedly received a phone call. She shivered. The trauma is still in her.

She was too afraid to pick it up and hear the ghastly voice of the man who called her last night. But slowly, she dug up her phone from her pocket, attempting to look at the number while her heart was beating fast.