They eventually prepared themselves for sleep, and lay in the bed cuddled together like kittens, saying nothing. Margot fell asleep feeling his heartbeat against her back and his light breath on her neck. Jack fell asleep feeling her soft waist beneath his arm and smelling the flowery, warm scent of her hair.
Chapter 8 -
The next day Jack and Margot had a late breakfast at a local greasy spoon. As they sat in the cafe booth, munching on pancakes and coffee, Margot couldn’t help but recall the shooting at The Early Byrd. She remembered seeing Jack’s wounded arm in their getaway truck, and seeing it again when he came out of the shower to take her. She felt herself flush with heat thinking of that moment.
“Jack…,” Margot began to speak.
She wanted to tell him how much he meant to her, how appreciative she was for his help, and how much she regretted that they wouldn’t know each other after today. But the emotions all coalesced together into a ball that got stuck in her throat.
“Margot, it’s okay. Me, too.” Jack reached his hand out to hers and squeezed her fingers in his palm.
Margot fought the tears that were threatening to well in her eyes. She didn’t want to face her future with sadness, or feel like a victim of circumstance anymore. She didn’t want tears, only steps forward into a future she couldn’t imagine yet. Still, she was going to miss him. She regretted that she would never know him better, almost as much as she cherished knowing him the way she did now. She felt heavy and strong at the same time.
“Are you ready to go,” Jack asked her?
“Yeah, I’m ready,” Margot said, and she couldn’t help notice how much she really meant it.
An hour later they pulled up to the address Frank had given for the meeting. It was an abandoned air strip on the outskirts of the city. There were a few broken down planes and vehicles littering the strip, and a large hangar with a newish car parked inside of it.
“Frankie must be in the hangar. He’s a real nerd for planes,” Jack said, driving their dilapidated Beetle towards it.
“Frank’s a great guy Margot, you’re going to be in good hands. You know I wouldn’t let you go if I didn’t know you were going to be okay, right?”
“Yeah I know. I doubt I’ll like Frankie as much as I like you though,” she said, smiling.
“I hope not,” Jack said, laughing softly as he parked the car beside the hangar. Margot thought she saw him blushing a little. She got out of the car and walked over to Jack.
“Before we meet Frank…,” Margot said and reached her hands to his face. Jack leant down and kissed her slowly and warmly, then hugged her close to him for what felt like a very long, very short time.
They began to walk towards the strange car, and as his eyes adjusted to the darkness Jack saw the familiar shape of Detective Mueller. He was pointing a gun at Frank, who he’d gagged and bound down on his knees.
“Jesus,” Jack said and pushed Margot back out from the hangar as Mueller fired off a missed shot at them, pulling his gun.
“Stay over there,” Jack said to Margot, who was hiding behind the side of the building. Jack peeked around the corner into the hangar and Mueller fired off another round at him.
“Mueller, what are you doing here,” Jack shouted?
“Nice to see you too, partner,” Mueller said. “You know what I’m doing here. I can’t let you and the broad leave Malone, you know that. The Fed’s alive for now. I’ll let him live if you give me the girl and surrender.”
“I can’t do that Mueller,” Jack said, peeking into the hangar again.
Mueller fired at him but missed, and as he aimed at Jack again, Jack pointed his gun at Mueller’s shoulder and fired.
“Shit!” He heard Mueller yelp as the bullet lodged into him. He staggered back and put his hand up to his wound. His hand was covered in blood as he pulled it away. Jack steadied his aim at Mueller’s head.
“I could shoot you again Mueller, but I think I’d rather arrest you,” Jack said. “It doesn’t have to get any worse. You’re injured, you’re bleeding, and I have my gun aimed right at you. Just drop your gun, and we can both walk out of here.”
Mueller was bleeding but a heavy flow of adrenaline was masking the pain. He would still be able to aim. He would rather die than give Malone the satisfaction of arresting him. It was time to gamble.
“You know Jack that makes a lot of sense. I think maybe you’re right. It looks like you win super-cop.”
Mueller began to raise his hands slowly.
“Drop the gun Mueller,” Jack said, focusing his aim on Mueller’s chest.
“Alright Jack, take it easy,” Mueller said, smiling. “I’m putting down the gun.” He continued raising his arms but didn’t let go of the gun. He suddenly snapped his aim onto Malone to fire a quick shot, but Malone fired first and hit Mueller in the chest. Mueller fell to the ground. It was hard for him to breath. Jack had hit him in the lung. Blood sputtered from Mueller’s lips as he gasped for air. Jack walked over to him swiftly, kicking the gun away from Mueller’s hand and looking down just as his body stopped struggling for air and the light left his eyes. Jack leaned down to check his pulse and found nothing.
He walked over to Frank and untied his hands, then went out to Margot and offered her his hand, pulling her up from the ground.
“Is he dead,” Margot asked?
“Yeah,” Jack said grimly. “He’s dead.” He never liked Mueller, but he didn’t savor killing him.
“Holy shit Jack, I’m sorry I couldn’t warn you faster.” Frank came out of the hangar towards them. “I parked the car and got out, next thing I know that fucker hits me over the head with his gun and everything just fades to black. I never saw him coming.”
“It’s okay Frank. Are you okay?”
“Yeah, I’ll be fine,” Frank said, rubbing his head.
“That was just a small taste of the kind of violence that Pop is promoting in Gravity. You can see his influence is not insignificant. That dead guy was my partner on the force.”
He reached into his trouser pocket and pulled out a flash drive.
“This has all the evidence I’ve been able to get on Pop. Tax fraud, blackmail, prostitution, gambling. The list goes on. And Margot here can testify to his taking a hit out on some pros that were killed last week.” Jack looked at the other man intently. “Frank, some real bad guys are going to want her. She needs some heavy supervision.”
”No worries Jack, I’ve got the message. I’m calling in for some back up right now, and I’ve already got the okay from my supervisors to offer her witness protection.” He took out his phone and hit a number on speed-dial. He looked over to Margot.
“It’s nice to finally meet you Margot. I’m Agent Frank Bradshaw. I’m glad Jack’s taken such good care of you.” Frank said, reaching his hand out to shake hers.
A voice on the phone responded to Frank’s call.
“Hey Joe, it’s Frank. I’m gonna need some back up. I’ve got a witness here that needs to be put in protection, and a detective that needs some transportation. I’ve also got a body. We’re gonna need a bus, alright?” He gave the voice their location. “Thanks Joe,” he said, before hanging up the phone.
“Don’t you worry, Margot. You’re going to have a whole team of agents taking care of you now. Jack, are you sure you’re going to be safe?”
“Yeah Frank, I’ll be fine. I need to get back to Gravity. And when you guys come in to get Pop, I want you to let me know. I want to be there.”
“Sure thing kid,” Frank replied.
A half hour later the back-up arrived to take Margot and Jack away. They said goodbye to each other and hugged briefly. Jack watched as Margot was helped into an unmarked car by Frank and another agent. He waved to her through the car window and watched as they drove off. He looked over and saw the EMS team loading Mueller’s body into the back of an ambulance. He walked over to a car with two agents that were going to drive him to a train station so he could get back home.
“Are you ready to go sir,” an agent asked?
Jack looked to the car Margot was in as it drove off down the road. He felt sad and tired
“Yeah, let’s go,” Jack said, opening the car door and getting in the backseat.
Epilogue –
Six months had passed since Margot entered witness protection. To everyone around her she was Jenna Wyman now. She lived in a beautiful studio apartment on the fourteenth floor of her building. She had a Golden Retriever puppy named Ralphie who kept her company while she painted at night, and a gallery debut coming up in three weeks. During the day she worked as an art teacher at a local private school.
Tomorrow she would finally be able testify against Pop in open court, and put her past fully to rest. Frank and another agent would be escorting her during her plane ride in the morning. She would testify in the afternoon and be whisked back home immediately after.
She laid her outfit for court out on her bed. It was a white and grey V-neck blouse, a black skirt that stopped just above her knees, and soft, flat black shoes. She poured herself a second glass of red wine in the kitchen and stepped out onto her balcony. The sun had set and the city below her was specked and dashed with lights and the busy motion of cars. After tomorrow I’ll be free forever, she thought.
When Margot was called to testify she walked up to the witness box slowly. She could see Pop sneering at her from behind the defendants table. She looked at him coolly, with an emotionless gaze. He had no power over her any more. She was unafraid.
She testified fully and truthfully to all she knew about Pop and his organization, and withstood cross examination well. The prosecuting attorney looked heartened afterwards and smiled graciously as she walked by him on her way down the aisle to the courtroom doors.
Margot walked out of the courtroom and as the door closed behind her, she looked up and saw Jack sitting on a bench in the hallway, wearing a black suit and tie. He was there to testify.
He stood up when he saw her, his blue eyes flashing in recognition. Margot’s heart skipped a beat and an unnamable mélange of feelings swelled into her head.
After a stunned moment, she resumed walking until she was beside him, and silently reached for his hand. Jack smiled, feeling her soft fingers surrounding his, and looked at her. Her eyes were unbearably full and there were tears welling in them. He opened his mouth to speak.
“Jack Malone.” A court officer called out forcefully to Jack from the open courtroom door.
Jack looked over at the officer, then looked back at Margot. The tears were running down her cheeks now, but she looked exquisitely happy. She let go of his hand and turned to walk down the hallway. Jack followed her with his eyes as long as he could before the courtroom door took her from his view.
Love and Gravity Page 6