Джордан Шор - The Search

“I want to cooperate,” Jack responded. “But it’s hard to cooperate when you’re accusing me of crimes I didn’t commit.”

“I know you didn’t kill Nancy. I could tell by your reaction,” Smith said. “So, let’s talk about Andrew Townsend, and see if we can find some more answers together.”

“Okay.”

“You were seen grabbing his neck,” Smith said. “Is that true?”

“No, that’s inaccurate. I grabbed his collar,” Jack asserted. “Julie can’t see very well without her contacts.”

Agent Smith face dropped. “Contact lenses?”

“Yes, she told me she couldn’t see very far without her contact lenses, and I saw her squinting all the time. She probably lost them in the lake when swimming to shore.”

“I see. But you’re certain you didn’t scratch Andrew’s neck?” Smith asked, and glanced at Jack’s fingers again. “I couldn’t help noticing your nails are quite long.”

Jack looked at his nails. “I’ve been living in the woods for almost two weeks. They weren’t that long to begin with, and I’m absolutely certain I didn’t scratch Andrew’s neck. I grabbed his collar. That’s all.”

Agent Smith seemed to be studying Jack’s face.

“I believe you, Jack. You see, Andrew had some scratch marks on his neck, and it would appear he’d been in a fight. So perhaps you’re right, perhaps he did startle Nancy, and she scratched his neck and then hit him with a rock,” Smith said, and nodded firmly. “In that case, we’ll find his DNA under her fingernails once we’ve located her body. I think you’re in the clear. I don’t think you have anything to worry about.”

Jack smiled.

“See…” Smith extended his hand toward Jack. “Now we’re cooperating. We’re sharing information, and we’re finding answers.”

“I want to cooperate, and I’m sorry for losing my temper before,” Jack said, and glanced at the empty chair next to Agent Smith.

“I don’t blame you,” Smith said. “He gets on my nerves too.”

Both men smiled and looked at each other.

“So, let’s talk about Kevin Anderson, and see if we can’t resolve this matter, once and for all.”

“Okay.”

Agent Smith studied Jack’s face. “Did you hurt him?”

“No, I didn’t hurt him.” Jack’s eyes dropped slightly.

“You’re lying to me, Jack,” Smith said harshly. “I’ve been doing this for more than thirty years. You can’t lie to me.”

“It’s not what you think. I didn’t—”

“It was just an accident. I understand,” Smith interrupted.

“Well, yes, it was an accident. But I didn’t hurt him physically. I hurt his feelings,” Jack replied in, a trembling voice. “Big time.”

“What?” Smith sounded angry.

“I saw Kevin board the plane with his wife, and I saw guilt was eating him up. I felt sorry for him. So I told him, his wife’s death wasn’t his fault. And when he wouldn’t talk to me, I kept pushing him, and then suddenly he cracked. His face looked completely destroyed all of a sudden. Then he walked away. I think he just gave up.”

“What do you mean, he gave up?”

“I think he just gave up, and looked for a place to die.”

“That doesn’t make any sense, Jack. His daughter and son had just lost their mother. Why would he give up?”

“I agree, it doesn’t make any sense,” Jack responded. “But, I don’t know what to tell you. Kevin had this look of resignation. Kind of like a dog who knows its time has come.”

Agent Smith frowned, and appeared puzzled by the response. “You think he found a place to die? Kind of like an old dog?”

“Something like that.”

“I see. And do you have any idea where we could find his body? Are there any specific landmarks you can think of?”

Jack frowned. “What do you mean?”

“You are familiar with the terrain out there, so do you know of any places, Kevin might have gone, to seek his final resting place? For example, a cave or…”

Suddenly, Agent Smith’s eyes widened and then he leaned forward.

“A cave? Is the body in a cave? Where’s the cave, Jack?” Smith pointed at Jack. “Your twitch gave you away. Now, don’t you lie to me. Tell me where the cave is.”

“It’s not what you think.” Jack had a look of defeat. “The cave is in Alaska.”

“What?”

“A cave is the reason I flew to Alaska,” Jack said. “I wanted to see if I could find a cave I used to visit as a child.”

Agent Smith’s expression shifted, and he appeared more sad than angry.

“You violated your parole just to visit a cave from your childhood?”

Jack looked startled. “I didn’t violate my parole. The plane was destined for Anchorage. It’s not my fault I’m in Canada.”

Agent Smith tilted his head. “You can’t leave the state, Jack.”

“I can’t leave the country.”

“No … ” Smith sounded dejected. “You can’t leave the state.”

Jack had a look of resignation and appeared to be heartbroken, much as when he identified Nancy in the picture.

“You’re all right?” Smith asked. “You didn’t hurt yourself when you climbed that mountain, did you?”

Jack looked confused, and then he shook his head.

“You didn’t sustain any injuries? You don’t have any recent scars, do you?” Agent Smith asked, and then focused on the massive scar on Jack’s neck.

Jack frowned. “I didn’t bleed, if that’s what you’re asking?”

“That’s exactly what I’m asking,” Smith responded. “The thing is. There were no injuries or blood on the dead body that you allegedly took the blazer from, and if you didn’t bleed, then where did the blood on the jacket come from?”

“What blood?”

Agent Smith looked at his notebook. “You were seen returning to the lake wearing a black blazer much like the one Kevin wore. The blazer had a significant amount of blood on one of the sleeves. How did the blood get there, Jack?”

“I didn’t notice any blood,” Jack answered. “And Julie never mentioned it.”

“You find it peculiar that she didn’t bring to your attention that you had blood on your sleeve?”

“No, I understand if she was scared. But I don’t know how I got blood on my sleeve.” Jack shivered. “Wait a minute—perhaps I got blood on the sleeve when I took Andrew’s pants. The jacket was so big I almost lost it at times. Perhaps it was Andrew’s blood on the sleeve.”

“I see.” Agent Smith studied his notebook. “Did you get Andrew’s blood on your hands?”

Jack hesitated. “I didn’t have any blood on my hands.”

“You were seen washing blood off your hands in the lake.”

“No, I didn’t wash any blood off my hands. But I washed my hands frequently. Julie must have confused the soil on my hands with blood. Like I said, she didn’t see that well without her…” Jack trailed off and never finished the sentence.

The two men kept staring at each other, and neither of them flinched. They appeared to be having a staring contest. Eventually, Jack began to smile.

“What lake?” Jack asked.

“What?” Agent Smith responded, and looked uncertain.

“In what lake did I allegedly wash blood of my hands?”

Agent Smith’s eyes started to wander.

“You’re lying, aren’t you?” Jack said. “Julie didn’t say any of this. You’re just making it up as you go along. You never suspected me of killing Nancy or Andrew. You were just trying to get on my good side. And you shared the information about the pilot, hoping I would open up to you.”

Agent Smith glanced at his notebook. “I’m not lying.”

“I bet you’re looking at a blank piece of paper, aren’t you, Agent Smith? There are no notes, are there?” Jack raised his eyebrows. “Let me see the notes and prove me wrong, why don’t you?”