Second Chances

Justice is serve

Jack rushed to the young man and checked his pulse. The young man didn’t have a pulse, so Jack began compressions while they waited for the ambulance. The young man regained consciousness and Jack was extremely relieved. The ambulance arrived and the young man was taken to the hospital.

Jack drove in the ambulance with the young man. He didn’t want to waste any time. Once the young man was safe in the ambulance, Jack showed him a picture of Susan. Jack asked the young man if she was the woman who paid him to have him killed. The young man answered, “Sorry dude. My girl needed an abortion, and I didn’t have any money. You know how messed up drug baby came out!" Jack asked him again, “tell me if this is the lady that paid to have me killed?” The young man asked Jack to get the phone closer. He took a look at the picture and nodded.

Jack was happy and furious at the same time. He was happy to finally have a witness to prove that Susan tried to kill him, but he was upset to learn that the woman he had been sharing a bed with, tried to kill him. Once, the young man got better. Jack was able to get a writing confection out of the young man.

Jack rushed to the station and was able to put together a case against Susan. The Lieutenant helps him acquire the arrest warrant for that same night. That night Jack went home like any other night. He walked in and had his dinner. Then he just waited for the Lieutenant to show up and arrest Susan.

Suddenly, someone knocked on the door. Jack jumped up excited, “I got it.” He opened the door and found Lieutenant Bill and another officer. Jack told them that Susan was in the kitchen. The officer walked in to make the arrest. When Susan saw the officer walking in the kitchen, she became unhinged. She grabbed a carving knife and began to threaten the officer. Jack had to intervene. He surprised Susan from behind. He wrapped his arms around her. She tries to break free and stab him with the knife, but Jack ends up taking the knife away. Then Jack asks her to go with the officers and she refuses. Jack was happy to cuff her himself. He read her the Miranda rights, “You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to an attorney. If you cannot afford an attorney, one will be provided for you. Do you understand the rights I have read to you? With these rights in mind, do you wish to speak to me?” and handed her over to the Lieutenant.

Susan screamed, “Why are you doing this Jack?” Jackie was walking into the house and heard her mother screaming. She rushed to her mother but wasn't allowed to approach her by the officer. Jackie grabbed Jack's arm and asked, “Dad, what is happening? Why is Mom in handcuffs?” Jack caressed Jackie’s face and said, “I’m sorry, sweety” Then he looked at the Lieutenant and told him to take Susan away. Jackie cried loudly. She tries to go after her mother and Jack holds her. Susan cried, “I didn’t do anything, Jack help me.” Jack turned around, holding on to Jackie. The Lieutenant and the officer walked Susan to the patrol car and drove away.

After a few minutes, Jack lets go of Jackie. Jackie began to punch his chest with the side of her hand, screaming, “why did you let them take her?” Jack let Jackie punch him for a little bit, then he hugged her and told her, “I’m sorry sweetie.” Jackie was breathing heavily and crying. Then she pushed Jack away. Jack let her go and Jackie ran to her room crying. Jack felt bad for his daughter. He tried to have the Lieutenant come before Jackie was back, but that night Jackie was home earlier than usual.

Jack feels great relief, he is finally free from Susan. All he could think of now was Alanna. He wanted to run and find her. He wanted to have her in his arms again. Then he rushes to his room and pulls the mattress off the bed. He broke his bed and took everything outside. He wanted to destroy the bed where he had to lay next to that woman. Jack found the box of oils that he bought for Alanna. He plunged to the floor thinking about the day he had her tied up on his bed. He grabs the box and placed it gently out of the way.

He took the trash bags and bagged all of Susan’s stuff. He wanted to take any residue of that woman out of his house. He wanted her totally gone.

That night Jack slept in the guest room. He slept until noon. He hadn’t slept like that since the last time he slept next to Alanna. He was still sleeping when the door was slammed open and Jackie walked in screaming, “why is my mom’s stuff in the trash?” Jack woke up, rubbed his eyes and in a calm voice, he said, “Your mother is never coming back to my house. I’m sorry if this is hard on you, but know that I will never do anything to intentionally hurt you.” Jackie frowned and replied, “Don’t worry, I’m leaving too.” Jack jumped out of bed and grabbed Jackie’s hand. He grabbed her chin and lifted her face. Jack looked at his daughter's eyes sadly. Then he kisses her forehead and tells her, “Sweety I love you; this has nothing to do with you.” Jackie moved back and looked at her father with tears running down her eyes. Jack’s eyes became teary. Then Jackie turned away and left the room. Jack followed her to the living room. Jackie had the front door open. She had her luggage, and her two friends were helping her carry everything out. Jack felt bad but there was nothing he could do. Jackie was an adult. If she wanted to leave, that was her decision.

Jackie left crying. Once the door closed, Jack was alone in his house. The house that he built with his father. He was happy that he didn't lose it to Susan, but now it was empty. Jackie had moved out. He had no one to share it with. He stood in the dining room staring at the pool thinking about Alanna. With all that was happening, all he could think was of how to get Alanna back. He yearns for her touch, her soft skin, and he misses her hugs. In her arms, his problems always seemed so small. At that moment, he wished he could hug her.

Jack started working out every morning again. He began to spend a lot of time at work. He wanted to make sure that Susan paid for what she did, but Alanna was always on his mind. Every day Jack called the funeral home at noon because he knew Alanna would be there giving food to Homeless Bob. He begged Carol to put Alanna on the phone, but Alanna left stick orders. She didn’t want Carol to pass her any calls from Jack or even mention his name. Jack sent Alanna flowers with long notes and Carol had to throw them out without letting Alanna see them as Alanna requested.

After the young man that tried to kill Jack was better, he was arrested for the death of the other young man. The young man asked to see Jack so he could apologize again. He felt horrible about the whole ordeal. He killed his own cousin by accident the day he shot Jack. He had never killed anyone, so he asked his cousin to help him. He offered his cousin part of the money and drugs to convince him. They were scared, but they were too high to realize what they were getting themselves into. Jack felt bad for the troubled young man, so he helped him. He was able to get the young man a plea deal that ordered his girlfriend to check into rehab and have him serve only ten years in prison and five on parole.

The rumors of Susan's trial got to Carol, so when Jack calls one day, Carol asked him about his ex-wife. Jack explained that it was an ongoing case, so he wasn’t allowed to give her much information, but he told her that he had finally got divorced and that Susan was out of his life for good. Carol knew how much Jack made to Alanna and she felt bad that her moral compass was keeping her away from him, but Jack wasn't married anymore so Carol did something that Alanna may hate her fore.

After Alanna called Carol to tell her that she was going to be away for the weekend, Carol called Jack to the station. Jack wasn’t there, so she left him a message. Carol didn’t want anybody to know what the message was about, so she only left an address. When Jack got to work that day, he was informed that Carol had called and left an address for him.

Jack didn’t take time to think about anything. He took the weekend off and rushed home. He packed a bag and got in his car. He drove fast and passed a few red lights. He was stopped by a traffic officer but when the officer saw his uniform, he let him go with a warning. Jack got back on the road and in no time, he was back in the city where he met Alanna. The smells, the sounds, even the cool breeze reminded him of Alanna and that magical weekend that they spent together. Jack began to think, “why did Carol send me her? Is this Alanna’s idea? Did Alanna plan this, so we could have a do-over?” Jack checked into the same hotel where he met Alanna, hoping to find her. He asked if she was staying there but the receptionist said that they didn’t have anyone with that name.

Jack went to his room, took a shower, got dressed, and decided to wait for Alanna in the restaurant. He waited at the bar. After a few drinks, he began to wonder if Alanna was really there. He was thinking of leaving when he saw her. She walked into the restaurant wearing a long white dress. She had her hair down. Jack stared as she fixed her hair behind her ear and smiled. Then Jack realized that she was in the arms of a man.

Jack stood up and gasped. He couldn't believe that the rumors were real, and Alanna was seriously dating someone. Jack looked at the guy. He looked slightly younger than Jack. Jack was happy to see that he wasn't as big as he was. He whispered to himself, “I can take him." Then Jack saw Alanna smile and the guy gently holding her as they walked to the table. Jack sat down again and thought, "What kind of joke is this was I sent here to be tortured?"

Jack stared at Alanna and the man. He saw them laughing and feeding each other. Jack tries to hold himself back from exploding. Jack talked to himself while watching Alanna being loving and attentive to the guy, "Maybe Alanna is happier with him. Maybe she should be with him, not me. I should let her be happy." Jack took a sip of his drink and threw out the glass. He sees the guy leaning and kissing Alanna passionately. Jack tried to control himself, but he couldn't sit and watch someone else kiss the love of his life. Jealousy took over him. His eyes fired up. Jack banged the cup on the bar and made a fist. He followed the guy to the bathroom. Jack haunts the guy like a lion going after its prey. He walked slowly and tried to avoid being seen by Alanna.

Jack opened the bathroom door and there he was. The man that was holding the woman he loved in his arms! He stood right next to Jack washing his hands. Jack thought about all the things he had done lately and how violent he had become, so he tried to stay calm. The man finished washing his hands, and Jack realized that he was going to miss his chance. Jack rushed to the door and locked it. The man became upset and demanded that Jack open the door. Jack put his open palms up as if he surrendered. Then he asked the man, "body can we talk?"