| “Mind and Heart; Body and Soul” by Kazroo Part 9 "Xerox" Jane and Sam spent the next week working with the few pieces of the puzzle they had. It wasn't an official case, so anything to do with the missing parolee, and what possible connection there was to Richard Clayton, had to be investigated between calls.
"What do you need a diagram of a keyboard for?" Jane half-smiled, took in a deep breath, and released it as a laugh. "John alphabetized my keyboard. I haven't been able to use my computer in days. He thought he was helping me." "You have got to get that boy a hobby." "Porter," the captain yelled as he left his office. "There's been a break in at Kathleen Clayton's. She requested you two." "Come on, Sam. A break may have found us." Upon arriving at Kathleen's, Jane charged up the stairs, and into the foyer. Kathleen picked up her arrival instantly. "Detective Porter, thank-you for coming." With a tilt of her eyes, Kathleen made it clear she wanted to talk to Jane privately, and Jane conveyed her intentions to Sam, who engaged the officers on the scene, and drew them away. "What happened?" Jane half whispered. "The security system detected a breach, but no one showed up on the tapes. Nothing important is missing, but given Richard's assurances that he hasn't given up…" "You're right…There's no chance John set off the alarm, is there?" "That's the first thing I checked. He could have avoided the cameras, but he wouldn't hide from me. Have you gotten anywhere with what Richard may be planning this time?" "We're working on something, unofficially. We've gotten a bit of a run around from one lead." "Anything I can help with?" "Don't take this the wrong way, but do you know Dr. Liam Daniels?" "The plastic surgeon?" Kathleen inquired with a raised eyebrow. "That's him." "Not personally, but I know plenty of his work." "By reputation, would he do something he shouldn't if the price was right?" "I can find out." Jane smiled at Kathleen, and resuming a normal volume said, "OK, if you find anything missing, we can update your report. Maybe you should have your system checked." "Thank you Detective Porter." As they exited Kathleen's front door, Sam asked, "What was with all the whispering?" "Let's just say there's more than one way to skin a plastic surgeon." "She knows the good doctor?" "No, but she's in the right circles to find out about him." "Oh, so we're using the celebrity entrance." Jane checked her watch, and got a worried look. "Go see John, or your mind will be there all afternoon." "Thanks Sam," Jane smiled.
"Hey, Nick," Jane warmly greeted, "How's it going?" "Fine. Do you know your keyboard is screwed up?" "John." "I figured - he's OK, by the way, but I think he's really bored." "I know. This isn't fair to him. He'd wait forever for me, and all I can do is tell him he needs to stay safe." "Do you really think it's that dangerous for him to just go out?" "If it was just criminals and con artists he'd be fine. His uncle-that man will stop at nothing to control John." "Maybe you could go away for a while. This time there's nothing hanging over your heads." "When did my little sister get so insightful? I'd better get up to John; I can't stretch my lunch break today." Nicky continued on her way, and Jane sped to John in the apartment. "John?" Jane inquired as she cracked the door open. She heard a pair of feet make a solid landing, and soon John came bounding from Jane's bedroom. "I saw you with Nicky." "Yes, you did. She thinks you're bored." "What does that mean?" "That's a word we use to describe someone who has nothing to do." "Oh…if you're here…I'm not bored." John approached Jane and ran his finger down the center of her lips and didn't stop until he reached the start of her cleavage. "Mmmm, John, I still have to go back to work." John paid no attention to her words. He ran his hands down Jane's arms, and drawing her closer, traced her neck and jaw with the tip of his nose. All the hairs on Jane's neck came to full alert, and she nearly sucked all the air out of him with a kiss she couldn't deny herself. Desire sparkled in both their eyes. Jane clamped her jaw tight, hoping she could reign back the stampeding physical urges that were trying hard to control her next movements, but John was making no such attempt. "John, wait. Something has happened. Someone broke into Kathleen's house." John acquired a distraught look. "She's OK," Jane hurriedly spit out. "Was it Richard?" "It doesn't look like it." "I want to go. We should stay there tonight. I would hear if someone came back." "OK, we can do that. Would you like to go now - I could - John - WAIT!" John had galloped off to the window, and was gone before Jane could get there. "Oh, John." Jane was quickly on her phone - Kathleen's number a speed dial must. "Kathleen, it's Jane. John took off headed for your house - I told him about the break in. Could you call me when he shows up?" "Sure. Should I be expecting you later?" "John wants to stay at your house tonight, and I told him we would." "I took your advice. Someone will be checking my security system tomorrow. I still can't think what this person would have wanted. Oh, Jane, wait - Dr. Daniels has a shady past, and it turns out he and Richard attended the same prep. School for a year - until Daniels got expelled. If my brother needed some secret surgery done, you've found the guy he'd ask." "Thanks."
"That's the good news bad news face, so spill." "OK, good news - Dr. Daniels is shady and connected to dear Uncle Richard." "Bad news?" "John bolted out my window after I told him about Kathleen's break in, and Kathleen still hasn't told me he got there…What else have you found?" "I've got Ripton's complete file." "OK, hit me with the facts." "James Ripton, age 27, 13 separate arrests for various assaults - including 2 on arresting officers, one parking meter, and one ex-girlfriend's SUV. Here's the picture." Sam handed Jane the mug shot, and she stared for a moment. The wheels in Jane's mind were spinning. "Jane?" "There's something familiar."
"Is he here?" "He's here. I'm sorry. He wanted to make sure I wasn't hurt, so I stayed with him until he was convinced." Jane pressed a hand to her chest in relief as she exhaled, and bowed her head. "Come in. John will be glad to see you."
"Hi John," Jane said, slipping the shoes from her feet. "I made a new place for us here," John informed Jane, and took her by the hand. A collection of vines had been woven to almost create walls for a small room within the garden. A thick, soft blanket was arranged on the floor. As they stepped into this realm, it closed around them, providing perfect seclusion. "You said you didn't want sleep up high, so I made this." "When did you have time to do this?" Jane said, looking around, amazed. "Thank you." Streaks of moonlight provided the only illumination, but it was all they would need. John sat, and beamed up at Jane. He raised his arms, his hands extending palms up, and Jane pressed her palms to his and intertwined her fingers with John's. He slowly pulled her lower, and she knelt, straddling him. The normally dominant John gave Jane complete control. She slowly pressed his shoulders to the blanket-covered floor, and uncovered his body, inch by inch. He felt no need to be the one in control. Jane studied John's now completely unadorned body. Her hands followed her eyes, and his taught muscles slipped along under her touch. John could wait no longer, and took Jane, pulling her hips to his. John's hands wandered to Jane's thighs, first stroking the fronts, then gripping them from behind, pulling Jane ever closer. As apogee neared, John lunged upward, and Jane encompassed his neck with her arms to keep from falling back. John's head was pressed solidly to Jane's chest, and each time he exhaled the moisture in his breath left a damp patch on her skin. John's hands now settled on the small of Jane's back, and it send a nerve impulse through Jane, prompting her to wrap her legs tightly around John's back. They were twined together, neither wanting an end to the pleasure. They felt so safe in this jungle chrysalis. The wilderness surroundings brought out the inner beasts of desire within them, and without sheets to be tangled in, or a bed to fall off of, they found a whole new level of rapture. For that time, they had been freed of all civilized thoughts, allowing only for primal passions. John fell back, Jane still totally wrapped around him. She slowly released her various grips on his body, and stretched out on top of him. "I may have to reconsider my thoughts about spending nights here," an exhausted, but exhilarated Jane declared. She rolled onto her back and pulled John on top of her. "You know how to create a perfect place," Jane quietly voiced, her hands wandering across John's perfectly sculpted back. "You can make me forget the world. I wish this was everything." Jane's introspective side was forcing itself into her brain. How much longer could each night of passion top the one before? Would they even have the chance to find out, or would Richard tear them apart? Did 'soul mates' exist? Jane decided the answer to that must be yes. There was no other explanation. She'd been in love, but it had never been like this, and she couldn't lose this. Jane pressed her eyes shut, and held John as tightly as a spider wrapping a fly. He melted into her, oblivious to Jane's inner fears at that moment.
"Porter - my office, now," the captain commanded. "Take a look at this," he said as she stepped through his doorway. On the video screen was footage of a man, looking very much like John, beating a couple in front of a midtown hotel. He was vicious and precise with his movements. "He disappeared up the side of a building according to witness reports. It looks like your favorite Clayton is back to his wild ways." "It can't be him." "You can account for all his time yesterday?" "Most of it." "Well, unless you can find me a witness that said for sure it was someone else, we're gonna have to pick him up." "Captain, I assure you, the time I can't account for him was well before sunset. Look at the tape - the sun was down; it wasn't him. Don't put him in a cage; not yet. Please," Jane implored. "I shouldn't let you talk me out of this…take the tape to the techs, see what they can pull off it. Make sure John Clayton isn't left alone. I need concrete proof should there be another attack. I'm putting my ass on the line - don't get it kicked." "Thank you so much. I swear…" "Stop swearing, get working." "Right." "Come on speed dial…Kathleen, is John still there?" "Yes, why?" "There's been an attack. It looks like John on the tape. Wait, that's it." "What's it?" "The picture of the guy we think got the face lift courtesy of Richard, I thought I'd seen him…he looks a little like John, and with surgical help…" "He could look a lot like John." "Kathleen, don't let John out of your sight. I've got an idea, but I have to run it by my boss. I'll call you right back." Jane picked up the file about James Ripton, and knocked on the captain's door. "Cap, I know how to prove it wasn't John Clayton who beat up those people." "Close the door." "I know this isn't a nice place to spend the night, but I will be back before morning," Jane soothed as she slowly disengaged from John's arms, leaving him on the narrow, gray cot in the cell. "Why can't you stay?" the sad, nervous John quietly uttered. "This is the only way to catch the person Richard has pretending to be you. He needs to think you're not with anyone. I think he's watching me and Kathleen, and when he hears that you aren't with either of us, he will again try to make you look bad." "OK." "Sam will be in the next room. No other cops will come near you, and I will come back as soon as I can." Jane slowly walked backward, out of the cell, and closed the door, separating her from John. He ran to the bars, reaching through, touching Jane one last time before she got too far away. "It's OK," she said, caressing his hands, slowly withdrawing until their fingertips pulled free from each other. "Stay calm." Jane walked out of the precinct, and appeared to be heading home. At the same time, Kathleen left her house, leaving no obvious alibi for John. Richard's spies both reported in, and again Richard gave the command "Xerox". Richard's John copy went to work. He zeroed in on a vulnerable couple, and as he let his fists and feet fly, he was blocked at every turn. That "vulnerable couple" was comprised of two cops, both black belts. They quickly subdued their attacker. Jane got the call, and sped to John's side, opening his cage, and they embraced. The fake John was brought and put in the cell next to where John had been. He was struggling, and began to yell. "You con't puit me in 'ere. I 'aven't doone anything. Kape your 'ands off me," his odd blend of an accent got stronger the louder he yelled. He was John's mirror image, if he hadn't opened his mouth, the difference would have been imperceptible. John looked straight at him through the bars, and withdrew to Jane's arms. "Can we go?" "Yes, John, we can go." As Jane took John out of the holding area, she said to Sam, "Maybe someone should give Richard a call. He may want to claim his nephew." Sam smiled at her, and nodded. "We'll get him for this. He's only so slippery for so long." "I wont muy loyah," the look alike demanded as John, Sam, and Jane took the lead for leaving the area. Sam made the call to Richard Clayton. "Mr. Clayton, sir, it seems we have your nephew in custody for a violent assault. I thought you might want to arrange for his defense." He recognized Sam's voice, and knew he wouldn't call if the real John were the one in jail. He was far too loyal to Jane to take that step. "I'm afraid he's no longer my concern," Richard curtly remarked, and hung up. "Damn," Richard cursed, "this should have worked," he seethed, clearing his desk with the swipe of his arm. "He has some damn guardian angel - it's those accursed women. Porter, and my sister. Who will rid me of these vile abominations? I beseech someone, free me from the conniving of Jane Porter and Kathleen. Rid them from my life." A shadow crossed the light of Richard's slightly ajar door. "Wish granted," a hushed voice hissed. |