Chapter 39 (Alyssa)
I learned the world was unfair at an early age. I knew that the bad guys sometimes won and that the good usually paid the price for their sins.
What I don't understand, is why I was forced to learn the harsh lesson twice in my life and why it had to involve the two men I loved the most.
Ford's living his life free as can be while Jackson's sitting in a jail cell.
For murdering Lilly's killer.
Ford attempted to get him for the murder of DeLuca but Ricardo and I vehemently fought those accusations without incriminating Lou-Lou.
Besides, it's not like anyone would be able to find her even if we did give her up. She skipped town right after killing DeLuca and no one's heard from her since. Not even Ricardo.
I have no idea what the story is between the three of them, but something tells me that Lou-Lou needed to kill DeLuca way more than I ever did...and that's saying something.
As fucked up luck would have it, the secret wire Ford was wearing in the warehouse didn't support his claims that Jackson killed DeLuca, either.
Ford couldn't pin that on him no matter how hard he tried.
Unfortunately, the tape didn't get any incriminating evidence on Ford himself, the tape just magically happened to 'pick up' right when Jackson walked in and admitted to being a killer. Then it cut off.
And since Ford played both sides of the fence, he claims that he was working undercover at the warehouse. And since he did call for backup he's not being investigated.
But little did Ford know...I have my own brand of justice that I want to personally serve him.
After tracking down and talking to a few of my dad's old friends who are still members of the FBI, it was finally going to happen.
Jackson was right...I'm not a killer. My soul isn't tarnished, but my childhood was.
I make sure that I have everything in place before I walk into Ford's office. I'm surprisingly feeling calm. The look on his face tells me that he most definitely wasn't expecting me, but he's pleased nonetheless.
“Alyssa,” he says.
He stands up from his desk and it's so reminiscent of that day, nausea overwhelms me.
I fight through it, though and take a deep breath.
He walks around his desk and smiles at me. “I knew you would come to your senses. I knew you would realize that I was only protecting you and I knew you would forgive me sooner or later. I love you, Alyssa. Everything I did was for you.”
I just stare at him, dumbfounded. It's never occurred to me before that Ford might be downright delusional.
Or maybe, he's lied so much that he just can't tell the truth from all of the different worlds he's created.
When I don't say anything, he takes a step closer to me.
I stand there silently urging him to dig his own hole. “I couldn't let you be with Jackson, sweetheart. I had to make him go away. You belong to me, you always have.”
He reaches for my hand. “I divorced Penelope for you a few months ago. I wanted to take you on vacation after I got rid of DeLuca and surprise you. We can get married now just like you always wanted. I'm choosing you this time.”
I try my hardest not to grin. This is turning out even better than expected.
“You were really going to get rid of him for me?”
He kisses my wrist. “I'd do anything for you.”
I reach up and touch his cheek. “I have a question.”
“Yes?”
“At what age did I first belong to you, Ford?”
He blinks and makes a face. “Come on, Alyssa. Don't be stupid. You remember that night in my car by the docks. You promised to be mine forever.”
I lean into him and nuzzle his neck, my nausea getting worse the closer I get to him. “I know it was around my birthday, but I'm having trouble with my exact age. I was hoping you could refresh my memory.”
The look on his face is priceless as he pushes me away. “Nice try, sweetheart. Are you really that dumb that you don't know the law?”
He walks back to his desk. “Bit of advice, never try to school a federal agent on the law.” He crosses his arms over his chest and gives me that movie star smile that makes me want to hurl. “The age of consent in New York is 17.”
He sits down and props his elbows on the desk. “And I hate to break it to you, but even if that night was illegal; New York's statute of limitations is only 5 years from the time you turn 18. You're 24, Alyssa. Your time has run out.”
He props his feet up on his desk. “In other words, you're screwed. Besides, we never had intercourse when you were 17, anyway. You were 21 the first and only time I fucked you.”
I don't know which is worse, how much thought he's obviously put into this, or the smug smirk plastered on his face.
A smirk that I can't wait to wipe off.
I take a step forward and smile sweetly at him. “Hmm. You know what? You're right. I'm sorry, Ford.”
He opens his mouth to say something, but I cut him off. “I'm sorry the night you put your hand down my panties and touched me in your car, that I was only 17.” I put my finger to my lips. “Or maybe even 16 depending on the exact time.”
I take another step forward. “On second thought, No. I'm not sorry. Because I was too young to be making the adult decision to let you touch me like that. And we both know, that as the only adult in the car; you should have known better than to touch me like that.”
He stabs his finger in the air. “Save your breath because it doesn't matter. You've got nothing on me.”
He sits up in his chair and snickers. “It doesn't matter that I was the first man to see and stick my fingers in that innocent, virginal, tight little pussy of yours before you became a whore. It doesn't matter, Alyssa...because you're too fucking late.”
I sharpen my eyes in his direction and reach for the goblin on my necklace. “Does it matter that it was in Jersey, Ford?”
I can see the wheels spinning in his head and I continue, “Because those docks were technically in Jersey territory.”
I open my arms wide. “And you know the great thing about Jersey?”
When he doesn't answer I proclaim, “There is no statute of limitations for sexual assault. And there is no deadline for filing sexual assault charges.”
His jaw practically hits the floor. “And just so we're clear here, Special Agent. You did just fully admit to sexually assaulting me and penetrating me with your fingers when I was a teenager. And given your position of power and authority as an officer and the fact that you had a gun on you...do you know what that means?”
He slams the desk with his hand. “Knock this shit off, Alyssa. You wanted it. You dressed like a little whore and you begged for me that night. It was all you.”
I ignore him. “It means that it's technically aggravated sexual assault. And do you know what that's punishable by?”
I look up to the heavens and smile. “Up to 20 years in prison.”
I start unbuttoning my shirt. “And there's plenty of proof, including phone records. And let's not forget that you gave me a car when I was 17. In addition to your ex-wife who's willing to testify.”
I undo the first 3 buttons and I open my shirt. “And there's the fact that I'm wearing a wire and just caught every disgusting thing you said.”
He charges after me, but the door opens and in walk a few men in uniform. I wave to my dad's former friend who now lives in Jersey and is an officer there.
“Ford Baker you are under arrest. You have the right to remain silent...” the officer's start to say as they handcuff him.
I walk over to him and put my hands on his cheeks.
“How could you do this to me?” he whispers.
I look at him hard and say, “You only did it to yourself, Ford.”
“But why?”
My grip tightens around his cheeks. “Because sometimes in life, sweetheart. The good guys win.”
I let go of him but he leans his forehead against mine. “Do you know what they do to cops in jail, Alyssa?”
I grab his face again and stare into his eyes. “I'm not sure. I imagine it will be harsh, though. Given they don't take kindly to cops who commit sexual assault on children.” I wrap one hand around the back of his neck. “And with that handsome face of yours...you're probably going to be passed around like a little whore.” I lower my voice and whisper in his ear, “But if I were you, I'd be even more worried...because I hear that you're going to be sharing a cell with Jackson.”
When I back away his face pales and he starts trembling.
I kiss the goblin and look at him one last time. “I think my father would be really proud of me right now.”
And then I slam the door.
***
“I knew you could do it, sugar,” Momma says as she wraps her arms around me.
I hug her back. “I almost tossed my cookies like five different times in there because he made me so sick.”
She gives me a peculiar look but I shift my attention to Tyrone.
It pains me to see him in his wheelchair. Although the damage wasn't as extensive as the doctor's initially thought, he did lose the ability to move his legs. With time, they say he'll be able to drive a car and possibly even walk with special equipment one day. He's adjusting much better than the doctors expected him to...but then again, they don't know Tyrone's perseverance and inner strength.
Shelby's been by his side the whole time and I know that's exactly where she'll always be.
I just wish I was able to get Jackson out of jail so he could be here for him too.
“I know you do,” Tyrone says, while looking at me. “And I'd be lying if I said I didn't feel the same way.”
I didn't realize that I had spoken my last thought out loud.
I sit down next to him. “I'm worried about the trial. His lawyer’s good, but he's not the best. Especially since he refuses to spend any of the money in his bank account because he wants me to have it.”
Which of course, I adamantly declined.
Tyrone closes his eyes. “Too bad people's perceptions of killers is so black and white. I mean, yeah—he murdered someone...but he's not a bad person. And if everyone knew what actually happened, they would realize that. But even if they did; who knows if the jury or the rest of the world is going to really believe it. They'll probably think it's all some kind of act.”
I thumb the goblin on my necklace and think about this for a moment. “I know, I just wish everyone could see the real him.”
The idea hits me like a semi-truck.
I stand up and look at Tyrone. “I know how to do that. I think I figured out a way to help Jackson. It's a long shot but it's—” I start to say before everything fades to black.
***
I wake up to four sets of eyes staring at me: Momma's, Tyrone's, Shelby's, and a man wearing a white lab coat that I vaguely recall seeing once before.
Never mind that though, I have to finish telling them my plan.
I quickly sit up in bed. “We all know how the media affects people's perceptions of things, right?”
They all stare at me like I'm bonkers.
“I think she might have a neurological issue of some kind,” Tyrone says while looking up at the doctor.
Momma pats my head. “You do know you're in a hospital, right?”
I roll my eyes. “Yeah, I know; I probably passed out again or something. Maybe I'm sick again. Whatever. This is more important—”
The doctor approaches me and cuts me off. “Young lady, I have important rounds to make. So, if you don't mind I'd like to speak with you.”
I hold out my hand. “Just fork over the prescription for my antibiotics and I'll be on my way, Doctor. I have important stuff to do.”
He sighs “I think we should probably speak in private, this time.”
“No. I'm fine,” I insist. “I really need to go back home so I can save my boyfriend who's currently in jail.”
His eyebrows shoot up. “In that case, I really must insist that we speak in private.”
He looks at Momma but she shrugs. “I ain't leaving if she doesn't want me to.”
I hold out my hand again. “Put it here, Doc.”
He pinches the bridge of his nose before he reaches inside his lab coat and hands me a large bottle of pills.
I stare at the bottle of prenatal vitamins and blink while Momma gasps with tears in her eyes. I try handing them back to him. “I think this is a mistake.”
He focuses his attention to his tablet. “No mistake. Your HCG levels are consistent with being around 4, maybe 5 weeks pregnant. You'll need to have an ultrasound to confirm this, of course.” He moves his glasses up his face and looks at me. “By the way, you're anemic so you really need to start eating more meat in addition to the iron pills I'll be prescribing you. I think that's why you fainted. Either that, or you stood up too quickly and your blood pressure plummeted.”
I jump up from the bed, horrified. “I'm not pregnant, Doctor. I'm telling you, there's been a mistake.” I lower my voice. “I'm on birth control.”
Out of the corner of my eye, I notice that Tyrone appears to be in deep thought before he says, “Did you use a backup method while you were on those antibiotics?”
My hand flies up to my face and I sit back down on the bed.
Fuck a duck. That was an entire two week period of unsafe sex. How could I be so careless?
I look at Tyrone and he smiles. I've never wanted to strangle someone for being so goddamned smart and perceptive. Momma starts jumping around the room acting like she won the lottery. “I'm gonna have a grandbaby.”
I can't share in her glee, though. Shelby's eyes meet mine and she gives me a sympathetic look.
At least she understands.
Maybe it's the hormones, but the dark cloud is over my head with a vengeance and I bury my head in my hands and cry. I miss Jackson so much. He should be here with me right now.
“Everyone out. Now,” Tyrone shouts, causing everyone to startle.
Open mouthed, everyone, including the doctor, leave the room.
He rolls his wheelchair by my bed and reaches for my hand. “I'm not going to sit here and tell you to keep this baby or to get rid of it, Alyssa.”
I squeeze his hand. “Thank you. Because right now, I have no idea what to do.”
“What I'm going to tell you, is what Jackson would tell you.”
“What do you mean?”
“He'd tell you that he'd hold your hand the entire time. And he'd remind you that you're stronger than you think. He'd tell you that he'd respect whatever decision you end up making. He'd also tell you that he loves you.” He puts his hand over his heart. “And that's what I'm gonna do, Alyssa. Because no matter what happens...you're not alone and you have me. If you want to cry, if you want to shout, if you want to punch my face in so you feel better. Whether you want to keep this baby or not, I'll still be there.”
“Me too.”
I look up as Ricardo enters the room.
He looks at Tyrone then back at me. “Tyrone told me you were here. I know I haven't been around much in the last few weeks. I've had to take care of some business. But, I have good news.”
“I'd love some good news right about now.”
Ricardo smiles. “I've just hired the best lawyer on the East Coast to take Jackson's case.”
“How can you afford that?”
“You probably don't want to know. But, I'm going up to the jail this weekend to see Jackson and tell him. I wanted to see if you wanted to go with me but—” his voice drifts off and he looks uncomfortable.
I look down. “Should I tell him?”
Tyrone considers this for a moment before saying, “It's up to you. You don't have to make any decisions right this second. You still have time.”
“How good is this lawyer?”
“Excellent.”
“I hope so, because I want to put Jackson's video confession out into the world. I want the world to know who Jackson really is.”
Tyrone's eyes open wide. “You still have that?”
“Yeah. I never intended to use it against him. I just...the video made me fall more in love with him. When he talks about Lilly and how they grew up, how much he loved her and what happened when he found her, you just know that it was raw and honest. Every single word he uttered in that video showed Jackson's soul. He spoke straight from the heart.”
Tyrone's eyes are gleaming. “I never thought I'd say this, but we need to use that video. Influence the media, get people to hear what happened. It might not change their minds completely and there will still be people out there wanting him to serve time, but I think a majority will agree that he was justified.”
Ricardo snaps his fingers. “I agree. Upload that sucker on youtube right now.”