Jack In The Box novel Chapter 35

Riley

“Jack will wake up soon, right?” I asked Ezra. “Right?”

Ezra stared at me with the familiar eyes. “I don’t want to lie to you, Riley, but I can’t guarantee about that. He could wake up tomorrow, a week later or even after ten years.”

“That can’t be true.” I said the words barely out of my mouth. I wiped a tear that was sliding down my face. “There has to be some other way!”

“The damage is done. The killer got what he wanted. There were two key people who knew his identity. He killed one of them and the other slipped into a coma. Everything turned out in the killers favor.”

“So what are you going to do? Just give up?!” I asked.

“No. Of course not! The investigation will go on with or without Jack.” He squeezed my shoulders in assurance. “Everything is going to be okay. You’ve gotta be strong.”

“How could I?” I whispered.

My best friend was dead, and the man I loved had slipped into a coma with a possibility that he may never wake up. I didn’t think I could remain strong much longer. I was alone in this, and the killer was out there.

“Can I see him?” I asked.

Ezra shrugged. “Riley, it’s best for you not to.”

“But I really want to! You can’t stop me!”

And of course he didn’t. The next hour I was walking down the long hallway of the hospital ward towards the room Jack was admitted in.

When I entered the room and saw Jack lying there with all those wires connecting to his body. It was heartbreaking and I couldn’t bear to see him like that. I sat there for a few hours until Ezra told me I should leave.

“But what if the killer comes here and tries to hurt Jack?” I asked.

“We have two security guards outside the room. A doctor and a nurse who makes regular rounds. The killer won’t be able to get in. I have told hospital staff to not allow any visitors apart from you and me.”

I looked at Jack. Ezra sighed, understanding my dilemma. “Go home, Riley.”

Maddy and I had often discussed what I would wear at her wedding as her maid of honor, but never in my worst nightmares had I imagined I would be picking a dress from my wardrobe for her funeral. I was wearing the same dress I’d worn during my parents funeral. I looked at myself in the mirror. My brown hair was pulled back in a bun, my face looked tired with puffy red eyes. Like I cared.

I cried that morning, I’d let loose the floodgate that was bound to open but I’d been holding back. I almost fainted but Ken caught me in his arms before I could hit the floor. He held me tightly in his arms while I let all the tears free.

Ken didn’t say a word to reassure me; he never said a word when our parents died too. We communicated better through the silence.

It was cloudy that morning; the sky was painted an ugly shade of grey as if my feelings were being conveyed through the weather. The air was damp and breezy. I was seated in the middle aisle of the church where I’d met a few nurses who’d been friends with her. Most of the WoodVille’s staff was here, including the director, Dr. Liu.

I saw Dr. Paul Bennett seated in the last aisle, all by himself wearing a black suit. His reddish blond hair combed neatly. His eyes were vacant; no sign of sadness or remorse. Maddy surely wasn’t too close to him, but I knew they got along better than he and I did. Suddenly, his eyes met mine for a fraction of a second before I turned to the front.

The church basked in hushed conversations. Everyone was dressed in black, their faces white as sheets. I hated this feeling; it was like nothing was going to be okay ever again. No matter how happy you were in life, one day it was coming to an end. For some people it would be tragically early, for some later in life.

The most important thing was to live life to the fullest, without regrets and I guess Maddy had done just that. She was reading a book, having a glass of wine and preparing dinner while hogging on chips.

I giggled thinking of it, and just then realized that it wasn’t the best thing to do at a funeral because all heads turned to face me.

“Sorry.” I mumbled.

I spotted Maddy’s parents who were talking to a distant relative. Her mother was especially distraught, sobbing into her handkerchief. Tears rolled down my cheeks as I remembered how she used to joke around and make fun of things, especially the other nurses. All this seemed so unreal. The funeral service went slowly. I had already tuned out the Ministers words as he recited the rehearsed speech.

Maddy would have had something to say about his hairstyle.

I said a few words in memory of Maddy, it was short and sweet, cutting straight to the point. I couldn’t complete because I was going to cry again. Everyone’s faces mirrored sympathy, Maddy’s mother held onto her father and sobbed harder.

I said my last goodbye to Maddy, staring one last time at her face, thinking she would blink her eyes open any minute. While I placed her favorite flower in the casket, I noticed stitch marks on her neck. I stayed until after all the mourners had paid their respect and the casket was lowered into the ground.

My heart broke as I watched the soil being shoveled on top on the casket. The rain began pouring. I took a few steps back and took shelter by a large tree. It didn’t help much as the water drops soaked into my clothing. I felt a presence beside me, and I wasn’t soaking in the rain anymore.

“I’m sorry about what happened to Madeline.” Paul Bennett stood disgustingly close, holding the umbrella above our head. His strong perfume assaulted my nostrils. He shocked me further by extending his handkerchief towards me. I stared at him, flabbergasted. What if he’d doused that handkerchief with poison so that I’d die taking a sniff?

“Well, I’m sorry too.” I responded, dabbing the cloth under my eyes despite of myself.

I wasn’t really in a mood to talk right now, and definitely not with someone like Paul, but I really didn’t want to make a scene in my best friend’s funeral.

“Is there a reason why you’re being so nice? Forgive me, Dr. Bennett, but it’s a little nauseating. I don’t like you.” I reminded him, handing his handkerchief back and taking a side step away from him.

“Let’s bury the hatchet, Frazer. We started on the wrong foot, I said some horrible things which I shouldn’t have and I apologize for that.” Paul said, taking a side step towards me.

I never thought I’d see a day where Paul Bennett, my mortal enemy would apologize to me.