“Tarzan Triumphs”

A short story based on the WB Series, “Tarzan”

By Greatblueheron

***

Prolog:

The two men squared off in the ring, each looking for the advantage that would over come the strengths of the other. They circled each other like to gladiators of ancient Rome waiting for the signal to attack. One man had the height and weight advantage for sure, he was a mountain of bone and flesh, the second was the picture of speed and agility from years honing his physical prowess for survival in the jungle where one miss step was not mere defeat but your life that hung in the balance. No trace of fear marked his handsome bronze face, but instead a smile denoted the pleasure that he was enjoying with the pending battle. His muscles were knotted in anticipation of the call from their master to strike.

***

Chapter One

The bell rang and the cadets that circled the circle cheered on the two combatants and they moved to attack. “Your friend going to get killed, Rory out weights him by at least 70lbs. and his reach!” exclaimed Special Agent Calvin “Well I wouldn’t count John Clayton out just yet, you haven’t seen him in action, someone might need medical attention, but I don’t think it will be John”, Sam said. Rory swung a tree trunk of a right arm toward Tarzan’s jaw, but only caught a breeze and his victim and sprung to the left cleaning out of target range. With a sweep of his leg the impact and surprise took Rory by surprise and he tumbled hard to the mat.

Regaining his wind the big man rolled back to his feet, rage crossed his face and he swung again at John only to find that those lighting quick reflexes had served their master again. John leaped on Rory’s back and his strong right arm encircled the man’s massive chest from under the right arm disabling it from effective use. The left arm was across the throat cutting off his victims air supply and as his knotted muscles tensed Rory made an unsuccessful attempt to dislodge this animal by dropping backward and on top of Tarzan. The impact winded him, but never did he relax the grip that he had on his victim. A growl erupted from deep in his chest and Rory was rolled on his stomach. His face a crimson red from lack of air as Tarzan spoke, “KA-GODA, do you give up?” The man nodded and Tarzan relaxed his grip, stood up and helped Rory to his feet.

Tarzan relaxed his death grip on the man’s windpipe and rose to his feet. As he turned around he could he the faces of the many recruits that had come to watch the demonstration of fighting techniques. Rory was still on the ground trying to catch his breath when the victor extended his hand to assist him up as well. “What in the hell just happened, I have never in my life seen anything like that, what kind of fighting style did you?” “Fighting style?” “You know what martial arts were you trained in?” Sam swung his legs over the ring ropes and approached the two fighters. “John, did you have fun, you looked like you were having fun.” “Yes Sam, you were right, it was fun.” “Well I was going to give you a towel or something, but you didn’t break a sweat.”

“Rory my man, don’t feel bad, you should have seen him take down an 800 lb monkey with that move. “What do you mean an 800 lb. monkey, no one could take a gorilla with his bare hands.” “I had a knife then, it I lost it when I was taken.” “And Rory is glad that you left the knife in Africa John.” “Yeah, a knife that explains it, that would make all of the difference,” Rory said as he rolled his eyes in disbelief. “I think I will hit the showers, I need a break”. and with that Rory stepped out of the ring and left the training room.

“Monsieur Clayton, we have another test lined up if you will follow me when you are ready”. John nodded and stepped over the ring rope followed closely by Sam. Leading the way out of the room was Lieutenant Paul d’Arnot, instructor at the academy and a good friend of Captain Morgan. Paul was assigned the special duty of setting up a series of test for John’s fighting, tracking and athletic abilities. He was also requested to provide special training for John at the request of his good friend. “The fighting technique that you have is quite remarkable and your reflexes extraordinary.” “I survived with by senses and strength, but strength alone will not make you a match in the jungle, many creatures are stronger. But they can not plan ahead or work with weapons, that is our advantage.”

Chapter 2

Lieutenant Paul d’ Arnot was a fit of about 35 years of age. He had a strong if not handsome face with a neatly trimmed mustache and light brown hair. He seemed taller then his 5’9 inch frame due to his shoulders back posture that denoted a lot of years in the military standing at attention. His blue eyes shown an intellect and maturity beyond his years. He had come to the FBI on special assignment some years ago and stayed as an instructor and worked special assignments that called for his expertise. Captain Morgan had met him on one of those assignments where the FBI and New York Police Department worked together on a special task force.

John Clayton was a complete mystery to him. Undisciplined, uneducated, but there was something that drew him to the young man. Perhaps it was John’s complete honesty in everything that he said and did, naive as he was, it was refreshing to see in view of the corrupt nature of most of the people that he came in contact with on assignments. His friend had asked him to work with John, to help him find a place and give him the training that he would need to work special assignments when the time came for John’s special abilities. Still, the sight of his pupil walking barefoot around the FBI training center was enough to bring a smile to his usually serious expression.

“Monsieur Clayton, this next test will be to determine strength and speed, the object is to get to the top of that five story building in the quickest time. We have place a series of obstacles inside the building and you will have to determine the best may to get to the roof. There is some broken glass so you will want to put your shoes back on.” John turned to Sam with a question on his face and then smiled. “No, I will be fine, Lieutenant.” “Alright, the test begins now.”

He turned and John was already out of sight, but to his shock he was not going toward the entrance to the building. Instead, his student was climbing the outside of the structure as if there was a ladder. Within minutes he was at the top and waving back at the gawking on lookers. “Guess that is not what you had in mind, but you did tell him to use the best way to the roof, got to give him credit for that,” Sam laughed. “I see that I will need to be very specific with him in the future least literal translations cause any future mistakes. Sam waived for John to come back down and his decent was as rapid as this climb.

Suddenly there was an eruption of gunfire across the property, John bolted past Paul and Sam in the direction of the smoke. “Shit, we forgot to tell him about the practice range! John! Hold on, its alright, they’re just practicing.” The would be rescuer turned and faced back in Sam’s direction and slowly walked back. “Sorry Sam, I hate guns, they always bring harm to someone.” “Hey, my bad, I should have told you, it’s just the practice range, no one is in trouble.” Special agent Calvin reached out to touch John’s shoulder, but John recoiled from the unsolicited contact. “Sorry, I was just going to congratulate you on a job well done with the fight and climb. That was some exhibition.” John simply nodded back.

“Lets take a break before we get to the next round why don’t we and have some lunch,” Sam suggested sensing some tension in the air between John and Special Agent Calvin. “You hungry John, I know that I could eat and drink something.” “Yes.” “Agent Calvin, you see to the next test and I will show our guest to the cafeteria.” “Alright, see you in an hour back at the warehouse.”

Chapter 3

“My god, Jed, did you make this coffee! Jane exclaimed. “Why, a little strong for your taste?” “A little, I am going to need a throat transplant and may not sleep for a week.” Jane pushed the mug a little farther away in jester. “Sorry, Jane, guess I’m use to needing the extra caffeine from all of the midnight shifts, I will try to tone it back a little. We better get to morning briefing and see what bad guys are up to today. They walked to the briefing room and the Captain was already there waiting on stragglers. “Glad you two could join us, hope I didn’t interrupt your morning latte. “Sorry Captain.”

“Ok, listen up people, we have a new game in town and their taking out the competition. We have three dead known drug dealers and two of them are in our zone. Both of the victims were found eviscerated and neck tied so it looks like someone does not play well with others so stay alert and get your ears to the streets, this probably won’t be the last killing before it’s over. All leave requests are hereby cancelled and plan on being here until I get some answers. That means you too Porter. Now hit the streets, I want every source we have contacted that will still talk about these murders. Porter, Cary I need to see you two in my office.

The briefing broke up and the bullpen was a flurry of action as phone calls were made and detectives hit the streets. “Jed, I got to make a quick call to Kathleen movers are coming tomorrow and it looks like we’re pulling an all nighter. The Captain’s face was as stern and Jane had every seen it, he was not the most jovial man anyway, but this was different. “What’s going on Cap, there’s more to this than you obviously discussed in the open briefing?” “DEA is coming in on this one, there is international drug connections and I think we are going to have a blood bath on our hands before this is over. A lot to people including innocents could be hurt in the process. Since Sam is in Virginia with John, I am teaming you two up to be liaison between the department and the DEA, but these murders are our case and don’t let them forget that.

“What about the warrant for Greystoke, that’s suppose to be executed soon?” Jed said. “You two are too close to that, I don’t what you two or Sam anywhere near that investigation, there are issues outside of the department tied up in that case and the Feds are coming into the mix.” “But Captain!” “No, Porter, I don’t what you getting involved, you may have to testify and your involvement would only compromise your testimony, understood.” “Yes, sir.” “Alright, get to work, your DEA contacts will be here this afternoon, I want you to get with the Coroner’s Office and see what they have come up with.

Jane went to her desk to make a phone call. “Kathleen, I have a problem, I can’t get off for the move tomorrow, Nikki and I marked the things that we wanted to take with us the rest is going to storage.” “Don’t worry, I will have some of the staff there to supervise, what’s going on?” “I’m sorry, I can’t talk about it. Have you heard from John?” No, but I didn’t except to, he is not much for the telephone, I’m sure his is fine, he and Sam are probably having fun with some guy time. They’ll be back at the end of the week and I’m sure we’ll get filled in on their trip to Quantico. I still don’t know why they are so interested in John that worries me. He is still so naive when it comes to many things, I’m glad that Sam is with him, and he is such a good friend to John. “We are going to have company next week, my cousin William Clayton is coming for a visit from London, I would love it if you and John can join us for an evening. “Cousin?” “Yes, my father’s brother’s son.”

The call ended and left Jane with concerns too, Lt. D’Arnot was a friend of the Captain’s, but the FBI taking an interest in John brought a very uneasy feeling to her stomach. John had been manipulated and jailed by his Uncle in the past and their lives had had enough violence to last a lifetime. Still, John seemed excited to have a purpose and the training would be good for him, to help him fit in to her life. But it was something that was not in her full control and that scared her.

John would never be happy sitting around the mansion day after day waiting for her to come home from work and she couldn’t see him in a business suit working in the corporate offices of either Greystoke or the newspaper that Kathleen owned. He was born for a purpose, to protect the innocence that was his reason for getting up each day. How could she expect him to understand her need to continue in her job as a detective and not understand herself that that was who he was? No, I they were going to have a life together, John needed to find his place in this world. Besides this city needs Tarzan.

Chapter 4

The cafeteria was a buzz with talk about this strange visitor and the results of the morning tests. Paul moved them to a quiet corner of the room as he could sense that John was not comfortable in large crowds of strangers. Many of the intended private conversations were quit clear to John’s sense of hearing though he did his best to concentrate on his lunch and ignore the gossiping around the room, much of which centered on him.

“Monsieur Clayton, tell me about yourself, where do you come from and where were you trained?” “Why do you call me Monsieur Clayton? My name is John.” “I’m sorry, I apologize, and introductions are in order of course. I am Lt. Paul d’Arnot; I was born in France and joined the French army at 18 years of age. I spent a great deal of my career in Africa including the Congo during the civil war. I came to the United States about three years ago on special assignment and decided to stay on. I have been teaching combat and tactical techniques at the academy for the past two years. Is there anything else that you would like to know about me, John?” “Do you have a mate?”

“A mate? Oh you mean wife, no, I regret to say, I am not married. I am married to my job and never had the time, I guess.” John stared into Paul’s face, he liked this man. “Are you married, John?” “Not yet, but Jane and I will be married soon.” “Jane?” “Yes Jane Porter, she works with Sam.” “So she is a detective?” “Yes.” “Tell me about your self.” “I was born here, but lived in the jungle since I was 6, my parents died in a plane crash.” “It is remarkable that you survived, John.” “I don’t like to talk about it.” “I understand, back to the issues at hand, can you read and write?” “I can read a little, writing is harder, I know my letters, but my spelling is not good, it is hard to stay inside and study. My last teacher was a bad man, so I have not been studying as much lately.”

“Well we can work on that if you like, reading and writing are important here, much like following tracks in the jungle were important to you then. Your fighting style is quit unique and the way you climbed the building is something that I have never seen, but there is more that you need to survive here. There is much that we can learn from each other, if you want.” “I do. I trust you, you have an honest face and are a good man.” “I like to think so, and Paul smiled.”

“Hey John, Sam piped up, why don’t you tell Paul about how you hunt?” “Sam, we all will get a chance to see that first hand in the next test, I think.” “Sam, what do you think I need to focus on with John, is there something that he has shared with you and we can work on?” “Hey, you can teach him how to drive!” John and Sam both laughed and Paul looked like he missed the punch line of an inside joke.

Back in New York in a dark part of town, two men as evil as they come are gloating over a successful night. “The plan is working well, they will be pleased with our process, the word is spreading and the slime is running for their pathetic lives. It was over too quick, I like it when they scream.” “Well know, we will have to see if we can provide you with a little more entertainment, but for now we are waiting on further instructions, so don’t get it into your head to have fun on your own like you did the last time in Paris, Rokoff.” “Alright, but your taking all of the fun out of it, Paulvitch, but if the cops get too close the bets are off.” Nikoas Rokoff was as cold blooded a killer as the Russian mob had on their payroll, but he enjoyed his work a little too much sometimes. He needed this assignment to go well or it might be his last.

Chapter 5

“John I am going to show you some chemicals to scent, each one of them will be hidden in the warehouse and I want to see how fast you can find them.” Paul brought over a small vial with a white power at the bottom. “This is cocaine, it’s a drug so don’t get any of the power on you, just take the scent so that you will know what it is.” John took the vial and held it a while and then returned it to Paul. “What is it used for?” “It’s illegal, John, bad people sell it to other people and get them hooked on it.” “What is hooked?” Sam stepped closer to his friend. “Hooked is like a prisoner, it makes people sick if they can’t have it so they get crazy trying to have it. Dealers sell it to kids too?” “Kids, why would someone hurt children,” John scowled. “For money John, bad people do it for money.”

The next scent is a chemical used in explosives, it’s called C-4. It looks like putty, and is harmless by itself, but if added to a fuse it can explode and cause a lot of destruction.” Paul handed the small ball of C-4 to John. “I had playdough when I was little, it looks like playdough.” “Yea, playdough that can take your whole house and convert it to a pile of firewood,” Sam added. “We have two more scents, the first is marijuana and the second is heroine, both are illegal drugs like the cocaine. Let me know when you are ready to track.” John handed the vials back to Paul and nodded.

Within thirty minutes, John returned to the waiting men with four packages in his hands. Three were small and the fourth was a larger box. “Very good John, inside of the larger box is a reward, but you have to figure out how to open it first without damaging the box itself. It’s a game. John went to a nearby table and bench to work the puzzle. “Sam well ran this same test earlier, with two different dogs and handlers, John finished the test in ten minutes faster than it took the best dog and handler. “Great, so what, he’ll have a career checking bags at the airport? What exactly is it that the FBI wants from John Clayton? John does not understand how dangerous these things or people can be. John is my friend, and he has been shot, tortured, drugged and manipulated since his Uncle brought him from Africa, I don’t want him hurt again.”

“I promised Jane, my partner, that I would keep John safe.” “I won’t lie to you, Sam, the FBI is very interested in having John available for special assignments, he could be very useful in unique circumstances, but I understand your concerns.” “No I don’t think you do, John has a lot of special gifts, but he is also naïve when it comes to human treachery. Sure he can find explosives, but picking them up and making a dinosaur out of it will get him blown out of the city.” “I know that, Sam, that is in part the reason for the tests, to understand how John could help and to determine his weaknesses.”

John returned with the box opened and a set of keys in his hand. His face reflected the smile that he probably displayed after opening a Christmas gift. “Does this fit a car?” “Yes John, it does, if you will walk down to the driving course that we passed on our way back from lunch and ask for Lt. Sammy Briness. She is waiting to give you a driving lesson.” John left toward the driving course, not at a walk but in a dead run. “Hope her insurance is paid up”, Sam smiled.

Chapter 6

It had been two days since the first murders had hit the City and it had been that long since Jane had gotten any sleep. She had not eaten much, how could she? With the death toll at six the smell and sight of the dead clung to her, how she missed John, needed him to be with her, to hold her in his strong arms and make those thoughts leave her mind. Sam was coming back, Captain’s orders, we needed every resource available to stop this blood bath.

John stayed in Virginia to continue the work with the FBI, Sam assured her that he would be in good hands. But still she worried. There was still so much that he did not understand about the world and he was so far away. It would not be much longer, Saturday would come and he would be here and back home at last. She had spent many years learning to be strong, independent, but he had taught her how to be vulnerable to him and he made her feel safe and loved in a way that she had never known.

After she long shower, Jane sought the comfort of their bed, but before lying her tired body down she picked up a sweater, his sweater for the company. It was a poor substitute, but she hoped his scent would bring her comfort and a peaceful night away from the horrors of the day. She lay down and placed his pillow sideways in the bed with the sweater over it and wrapped her arms around it and drifted off to sleep.

In her sleep she conjured up her love and saw him, as he was that first time. How they both trembled with the touch of each other, the need in his eyes, pleading for her to not hold back from him as she had done so many times before. His smell was on her and it drove her body to that place where pain and pleasure blurred together. The curiosity of his innocent touch exploring every part of her, tasting and scenting her until she thought she would die if he did not complete her. The both had waiting, so long to be together this way, to be joined.

As the powerful of waves covered her she opened her eyes to watch that handsome face, the clenched teeth in that perfect mouth, and those eyes that looked back at her with such raw desire and desperation as he reached the completion of this his first journey. When he began is decent back to earth she was that his angelic face was covered in tears of joy, tears that they also shared that night when at last their love was complete. After the journey all was love and warmth as they held each other and she slept in peace and security as she did tonight, wrapped in the memory of their first night and only the scent of him that lingered on his sweater.

Chapter 7

The walls of the dorm room were closing in on him tonight after a day of testing in a classroom. John enjoyed the physical challenges of earlier in the week but today had been all books and writing. Paul said that it was important to determine all of his skills including those, but it left him feeling the need to get away, to be free of these walls. Sam had gone back to New York and he was alone except for the time that he spent with Paul. He could feel the eyes of the other men in the dorm watching him and could hear their whispers about him. The sleeping quarters contained semi private rooms but the shower facilities were shared on each floor. During his shower the many scars that he bore raised questions among the already curious trainees.

John keep to himself for years in the jungle raised by apes had not provided him with a basis for social skills that might have been his had his life been different and his parents had survived. An air of mystery that hung around him and for reasons known to Paul and his superiors, they had not shared all of John’s background with anyone that did not need to know. Still with Sam gone and Paul having other business to attend to that night, John took to the streets and walked and then ran, letting the wind in his face ease his feelings of confinement and loneliness.

Some of the trainees had decided to go to town and blow off a little steam and passed John running down the street. “Hey, Mark, I got an idea stop the car and I’ll see if I can get John to go with us.” “Why would you want to do that, that guy gives me the willies with all of the scars on his body and the way he keeps to himself.” “Johns ok, besides I think that we could have a little fun with him, introduce him to some of the entertainment in town if you know what I mean.” “Hey, bet that would bring out the jungle in him,” Johnny laughed. “Well he probably won’t come anyway, he pretty such sticks to himself and doesn’t talk much.” “ Pull over ahead of him and let me try.”

Mark pulled the car over about twenty feet ahead of John and Johnny yelled out the window. “Hey John, were headed to town to have some fun, it would be great it you would come too.” John had really wanted to be alone, but he was lonely too and this was the first time that the other men had treated him like one of them so he agreed and got into the back seat. “Where are you going?” “There’s a club in town, you know music and ladies.” John sat back and listened to the men laugh and joke on the way, he knew what a club was, Sam had taken him to one. The loud music hurt his ears but it was fun watching the people.

“So you’re from New York, John, what do you do there?” “I live with my Aunt and protect Jane.” “Unemployed huh, Jane your girlfriend?” “Yes”. “Don’t talk much do you?” “I talk when I have something to say.” ‘I don’t have much practice at conversation, not much to talk about, my Aunt told me that it makes me appear rude, I don’t mean to be.” “Where do you live?” “Well Mark here is from Jersey, and I’m from South Carolina.” “What area are you working in?” “Area?” “You know what work are you going to be doing with the FBI, Mark here is studying forensics and I’m hoping for a field assignment.” “I don’t have a field, I am only here for some tests and training and then I will be going back this weekend to the city.”

“Well I know that you will get on, can’t be unemployed forever, besides they have you training with the best, Lt. D’Arnot is crackerjack at field work. Heard that he helped take out a lot of bad guys on special assignment. “He is a good man, he is friend’s with Captain Morgan, Jane’s Captain.” “So Jane is a cop?” “Detective”. “Ok, so you live with your Aunt, your girlfriend works, but you don’t and you don’t know what you are going to be doing?” “No.” “Gee wiz to be living the life of a kept man, how can I sign up?” “Get shot out of a tree and kidnapped for starts.” “Huh?” John just turned his head and looked out the window.

Chapter 8

Wendy was a girl that had been around and was use to having her way. Her looks usually got her what she wanted and this time it landed her Jake, a marine of three years from the local base. Jake was a good looking fellow with muscles in all the right places, but he was not treating her like the princess that she thought she was. They came often to this club to meet up with other marines, but often Jake was so busy trying to impress his friends that she was left alone feeling neglected. She sat alone at the table while Jake demonstrated she prowess at a game of darts and she decided it was time to make him pay for his lack of attention.

Across the room sat the men from the FBI academy drinking and laughing, except for one man that seemed out of place. It was easy to spot the college boys of the FBI, they took grooming as a serious occupation, but the other man had the mane of a lion and a distant look of loneliness that mirrored her own. For one brief moment their eyes connected and she was drawn to his Greek like features. There had been friction before between the marines of valor and the FBI college boys and she was about to have some fun adding gasoline to the fire.

John slipped his tequila sunrise and listened to Johnny and Mark talk on about the work that they hoped to do, girls that they had known and scanned the room taking in the people and activity. There were couples on the dance floor, men playing darts and pool and many people like himself drinking to fill in the empty spot that came from not having a special someone with them. As he watched and listened his eyes met those of Wendy and caught a smile from her as he caught his glance. Their glances had met several times, but this time she rose from her table and walked across the smoky room. She knew just how to move to make the most of her feminine assets. “Hey, my name is Wendy, would you like to dance?”

"Go on John give the lady a twirl." Wendy was not one to take no for an answer and pulled at John's arm until he was on his feet. She led him by the hand and to the center of the dance floor. The music was slow and sensuous as she put her arms around his neck and moved against him maintaining contact at the hips and ran her hands though his long mane that spoke of an animal attraction.

John's head was spinning from the alcohol and the smoke in the air. The smell of this woman filled his nostrils, but her act took him by surprise and he tried to move her back away from him by placing his hands on her hips. The dance floor contained many couples lost in their own movements so the angry marine coming toward John and Wendy was not noticed until a split second before his hand reached to grab her arm.

"What the hell do you think your doing Wendy, making a fool out of me with this long haired hippy?" John's hand removed the man's hand from her arm and moved to block between them. "Leave her alone." "Who the hell are you to tell me to leave my own girl friend." "Leave". "I'll leave, I'll leave you a reminder of why the marines are first in battle!"

"No Jake, leave him alone!" But Jake's rage at her teasing and John's firm resolve to block his path toward her was too much for Jake's temper. He swung to make contact with John's jaw, but missed entirely and John ducted to the left and pushed him from behind as the forward motion sent him sprawling to the floor. Humiliation fueled another attack and rage dulled his reaction time as John sent him to the floor in the other direction without more than a turn and push.

Mark and Johnny saw the altercation, but were hesitant to get involved. All they needed was a bar fight on their record to get them kicked out of the academy. But from the other side of the room Jakes' fellow marines were moving to take the hill was they circled unseen behind John. Or so they thought. John in two punches left both men a reminder of the lord of the jungle. However, it did distract his attention enough so that he missed a chair flying toward his head.

The sound that the chair made was sickening as it impacted John's skull and the blood was now streaming down his face. It was at that moment that the local police department and marine police arrived to pick up the troublemakers. John was down on one knee with blood in his eyes blurring his vision when an armed grabbed his shoulder. His instinct told him to dislodge the hold, but the other officers quickly took offence to John's insistence that he not be cuffed. With a great deal of difficulty they managed to subdue John and get him in the back of the police cruiser.

Chapter 9

“He’s in rough shape, better swing by the hospital and have him checked out before we book him, just incase he has a concussion. I got his wallet, I’m going to call this in his ID and see who we’re dealing with. Central dispatch this is car 12; we have a detainee in custody and need you to run a background. Name, John Clayton Jr., New York address 8 Park Avenue. “Did you say Park Avenue?” “Yeah, Park Avenue, never figured him for a rich kid?” John’s reply was to lose the contents of his stomach.

“Car 12, I have a report for you, John Clayton Jr. arrested for detainment, charged with resisting arrest and escape custody of the New York Police Department, charges withheld and charged with murder, charges dismissed. Also, there is a note to contact the FBI in the event of detainment.” “Ok, we are at the hospital, the detainee was injured in a bar fight, better ring the FBI and let them know.” “Chuck, I don’t know who we have in the back seat, but don’t take any chances getting him out of the back, if the FBI wants him, he is probably dangerous.” “Let me go, I didn’t do ….”. With that, John passed out and slumped over in the back of the cruiser.

Johnny and Mark missed being arrested and started to slip back to the academy hoping that their involvement in this nights trouble would go unnoticed by their superiors. “Mark, we can’t just go back, John was attacked, he did everything he could to avoid the fight and we did nothing wrong.” “You sure the Lt. is going to see it that way? We got his pet project drunk and arrested, I for one don’t want to throw away everything I worked for on a chance.” “We can’t do that, John was hurt and you talked to him, he doesn’t understand how everything works, I’m going to the police and tell them what happened, you do what you think is right.” “Ok, Johnny, you win, but don’t say that I didn’t try to talk you out of this.”

So the would be friends of John Clayton, Jr. followed the cruiser to the hospital and Mark dropped Johnny off close to the parked patrol car in front of the emergency room and went to park their car. Johnny approached the officer as he exited the passenger side of the cruiser. “Sir, may I have a word with you?” “What do you want, I’m a little busy.” “It’s about my friend, John, that you have in the back seat.” “Your friend?” The officer looked at Johnny with suspicion and eased his hand down to his revolver.

“The fight, it was not John’s fault, he didn’t know that that girl belong to someone, she came over to him and came on to him. That marine started the whole thing; John only pushed him out of the way when he tried to punch him. Look at his hands, you’ll see that I am telling the truth, there won’t be a mark on them.” “Who exactly are you that I should believe something you say, that guy has a police record that is more then a little disturbing for a rich kid.” “Rich kid?” “Well he lives at a pretty ritzy address in New York anyway.” “I’m Special Agent in Training Johnny Macke, John and I are in training with the FBI, here is my identification.”

“I don’t know about the record, but I can tell you that John is unique and that he did not start that fight, he was hit from behind by one of those goons.” Special Agent in Training Mark Thatcher is parking the car; he will give you a witness report as well. Johnny looked into through the window of the cruiser and noticed that John was slumped over in the back. “John!” “Please help him!” The officer nodded and as Johnny moved into the back seat to check on John the other officer went into the emergency room to get help.

Johnny what’s going on, Mark asked as he walked up.” “John’s passed out and vomited; help me get him up before he chokes. One of the officers went inside to get help. Go around to the other side and help me get him up.” “On it.” The emergency room crew came out of the automatic doors followed by the officers as Mark opened the door to the cruiser and got into the back seat. He touched John’s throat checking for a pulse and turned his face to ensure that his airway was clear. The smell in the vehicle made his stomach turn was he tried to focus on John’s injury. “John, it’s Mark, can you hear me, buddy.” John emitted only a moan as his eyes struggled to open. He took out his handkerchief and cleaned John’s face of the blood and vomit as best he could.

“Johnny and I are here, don’t worry we’ll get you fixed up. Got to get you up before you choke, man. Can you guys get these cuffs off of him, please?” “I don’t think so, he has a history of assaulting the police and escaping custody.” Mark looked at Johnny with a question on his face as he held John up from behind. The emergency room crew moved Johnny out of the way. “We have restraints and the cuffs will have to come off so that we can lay him on the stretcher.” “We will be responsible for him, please can we hurry this along, and I think that he may have aspirated, his breathing is a little rough.” Mark pled.

The officer finally conceded and handed the key to Mark to unlock the cuffs and the two friends helped place John on the stretcher. The arm and leg restraints were place on him by the emergency room crew. “Is that really necessary?” “It’s for our safety and his, he’s been drinking and could hurt himself or someone else while he is confused from the head injury. “We need to stay with him.” I can allow one of you to be with him.” “Mark, give the officer’s your statement about what happened, I’m going to stay with John, I don’t want him waking up in a strange place without someone he knows near by.” “Ok.”

“Hold on one moment the officer said as he picked up John’s hands to examine them. “Ok, your story seems to check out, there is not a mark on his hands, I still have a lot of unanswered questions about John Clayton Jr. and he better be on his best behavior while I get to the bottom of this.” They pushed the stretcher into the emergency room with Johnny and one of the police officers walking behind.

Chapter 10

“It took some time but we finally got a lead on one of the murders, there was a witness, but she’s terrified. We got her in a safe house under lock and key, Jane I want you and Jed to get over and talk with her, we need to find out all we can and I think she might open up to another woman. The Captain said. You need to get in civilian clothing, I don’t want to take any chances that the location of the safe house will be compromised, Sam you will have to hang back, but stay close.” “Ok, Captain”. “Jane you get changed, I need to speak to Sam for a minute.” “Alright, I’ll meet you at the car”.

“What’s up Cap?” “Sam, I got a call this morning from my friend at the FBI that John was picked up by the local police in Virginia, evidently he got into an altercation in the local bar. He was taken to the hospital with a possible concussion. My friend Paul is on the way there to get this straightened out, but I don’t want Jane’s head worrying about that right now. We are dealing with a group of bad guys that play for keeps and any distraction could get someone killed. Now I’m going to get an update latter on and I will let you know if there is something that she needs to deal with. Until then, please let me handle this, ok?” “All right, but when she finds out that we hid this from her I’m going to need protection and a safe house.

When Sam walked up to the car Jane sensed that something was wrong, but she shook off the feeling and tried to stay focus on planning how to get the witness to open up. “Ok, Sam, you drop me off a couple of blocks away and park, don’t want anyone to see us together to raise suspicion. “In that neighborhood, we would be better off his you dressed like a streetwalker, you look a little too clean,” and he messed up her hair. “Alright, I bet you have just been waiting for a chance to do that, lets go.”

In the emergency room John was taken to a room for security away from the confusion of the triage area. He seemed to be blissfully unaware of the activity around him, a doctor asking Johnny questions, a clerk trying to get insurance information, and a nurse setting up to start an IV. The doctor laid out the orders for x-ray, blood work and examines the gash in the patient’s forehead. As the clouds over his unconscious mind began to slowly lift he muttered his thoughts, “You killed her, their dead, they’re all dead.”

As the nurse began to insert the IV needle into John’s arm his body tensed and he felt the restraints. Every cord and muscle in his body and face leaped into action to free him from this new prison. His quick and sudden reaction caused the instrument tray to go flying across the room and the staff sought to pin his body down. The strain restarted the blood flow from the wound in John’s head that had begun to finally clot. “Back off!” Johnny shouted. “He’s just confused, please.” Johnny pushed the nurse aside and spoke to John.

“John, it’s me, you know my scent right, and you told me that that’s how you remember friends.” He turned to the medical staff, “I asked you to back off, get your hands off of him.” Johnny placed his hand in front of Johns face and John strained to see through the sweat and dried blood. “No ones trying to hurt you, John, I won’t let them, Mark’s here too, we told them that it was not your fault, you did nothing wrong. We won’t leave you. “Please, my the straps, before my Uncle comes again.” “Your Uncle, John your in Virginia, remember.

John’s face reflected the dawning of reality as he remembered where he was. “Why can’t I move?” “They were worried that you would hurt someone or your self, you were knocked out.” I think you gave the nice medical staff here quit a start John; maybe an apology would be in order. John turned his head to the right and saw the nurse backed up to the wall of the room. “I’m sorry if I hurt you.” “Doctor, I need you to remove the restraints, John knows where he is now, right John. John made the slightest nod, “Please.” “Ok, but if the patient gets disoriented again, we may have to put them back on. The doctor and nurses need to examine your head and this nice young lady is going to put a needle in your arm. So be a good boy and hold still.