Part I- Chapter 20: FRIDAY, THE THIRTEENTH

Chapter 20

Friday, the Thirteenth 

 

(Ó 2007)

In six days time, Jared’s condition had stabilized enough so that Lieutenant Hatton could have the first interview with him to discuss the events of the evening of his attack. There was a mutual understanding arranged between the Lieutenant, David and Noel that all were to be present at the interview, for all had a mutual interest in this affair. This arrangement did though draw some protest from Mitchell Bartholomew, which in turn drew more suspicion from both David and Noel towards him. 

Their initial suspicion occurred when they learned of Mitchell’s insistence that their involvement in this investigation was to be strictly kept from of public knowledge. However, Mitchell’s behavior towards the attack on his son, his only child, began to bring the level of mistrust of him even higher.

 

To begin with, every day and evening, around the clock since Jared’s attack, candlelight vigils were held outside of the hospital where he was recovering. Hundreds of teary-eyed young women, (and even a minority of teary eyed young men), stood outside, lit candles in hand, singing praises and saying prayers for the complete recovery of their handsome critically injured and wronged prince.

Mitchell had saw to it that these vigils were seen on all the networks, that interviews of the people attending these vigils were in all the newspapers, and quotes from them were either printed, or heard on the radio. Mitchell then involved the best personnel from his public relations department at MB Media. Moreover, the involvement of his finest attorney’s drew even more skepticism from David and Noel.

 

Mitchell placed himself in charge of everything that had to do with the news information of his now paralyzed son. Everything released to the press was to be authorized by him first, including interviews of the doctors and the police. Instead of making decisions with the medical staff looking after Jared, he was conducting one of his media events. All concerned were strongly commanded of what they could and could not say to the media. The extent of Jared’s injuries were kept from the public for the first few days, until David set in motion a plan to throw a wrench into the Mitchell Bartholomew machinery.

While observing all of Mitchell’s influence on the news one night, David turned to his partner and asked, “Are you thinking what I am?”

“Sure am, answered Noel, “what’s his problem? He’s more concerned about what goes out in the news than in the condition of his kid. He’s acting like he’s covering up something.”

“Exactly,” David said, “you willing to cause a little hell?”

“How’s that?”

With that, David and Noel deliberately committed one simple “mistake” that enraged Mitchell Bartholomew. They allowed themselves to be “caught” being seen going into the hospital three days before. There was an immediate media frenzy. Why are the two Chicago detectives from the recent serial rapist case, now involved with searching for the man who rendered them handicapped, involved with the investigation of the attack on Jared Bartholomew? Why were they even in Evanston?

To say that Mitchell Bartholomew was irritated by this “mistake” was a colossal understatement.

It was like déjà vu, for both David and Noel, now in Jared’s hospital room. Jared on the roto-bed with the halo brace attached to his head and shoulders, lying at an angle, staring straight up to the ceiling. Beside his bed, to the right, was the machine that monitored Jared’s vital signs. His heart rate, blood pressure and breathing. Separate small green screens indicated with waving lines all these signs.

David heard from the doctors that Jared was able to breath on his own, and he had some slight movement in his right hand. David told them that he was luckier than the last two he was involved with.

Jared had not spoken with anyone since the attack. The only person he did speak somewhat with was his father, and that was always done in private. The rest of his time, he spent in the exact position that he was in now, arms outward and staring up in a somewhat comatose state.

Yet again, there was video and audio equipment in the room to record the interview. There was a closed circuit television next to the camera, and it faced Jared’s bed. Jared would occasionally glance at himself on the screen, and force himself to not cry out, because his father was also in the room. He insisted on being there, always. In addition, present in the room was the Bartholomew family attorney, Mr. Lawrence George, along with the neurosurgeon in charge of Jared’s case, Dr. Brandon Hector.

Lieutenant Hatton was to conduct the interview; David and Noel were allowed to participate in the questioning.

Lieutenant Hatton posted police guard outside the hospital room door. He then shut the door and drew down the shade, then stepped over to the side of the bed next to Jared to make sure that the angle of the camera was just right. He saw that both he and Jared were on the screen and was satisfied. After all adjustments were made, he announced, “OK, we’re ready to begin. Are you ready Mr. Bartholomew?”

For the first time since the incident, David, Noel, and Lieutenant Hatton heard the labored voice of Jared Bartholomew as he answered, “Yes.” His eyes then opened wider and he seemed more alert. However, his stare remained upward and to the ceiling of the room.

“David, could you please hit the RECORD button for me?” The Lieutenant asked.

“Sure thing.” David then pressed the button and the whirring noise from the recorder started.

Lieutenant Hatton waited for five seconds, and then said, “I’m Lieutenant Arthur Hatton, Kenilworth Police Department. Today’s date is October 13, 1995, and we are conducting the initial interview of Mr. Jared Bartholomew on the details of the attack on his person, on the evening of October 7, 1995. Joining me on this interview Sergeant David Todd, Chicago Police Department, and Sergeant Noel Jaworski, also of the Chicago Police Department.” The Lieutenant paused briefly, then continued, “Also present with us to witness this interview are Mr. Mitchell Bartholomew, the victims father, Mr. Lawrence George, Bartholomew family attorney, and Dr. Brandon Hector, the neurosurgeon in charge of Jared Bartholomew’s surgery and recovery.”

Lieutenant Hatton then faced Jared and began, “Mr. Bartholomew, let me start out by saying how sorry I am that we are gathered here on these circumstances”.

“Thank you.” Jared said in an audible whisper, still staring upward.

“Now at anytime you need to take a break, just let me know and we’ll stop.” Hatton said, “We have plenty of time.” He turned to the doctor, “And if you also believe he needs a break Doctor, please feel free to intercede.”

“I’ll do that Lieutenant.” Dr. Hector said from the back of the room.

Lieutenant Hatton the stood close to Jared’s bed and said, “Mr. Bartholomew, can you inform me of the events that happened to you on the evening of October 7^th, of this year?”

Jared’s eyes never broke away from their upward stare as he slowly spoke, one small sentence at a time, “I was standing on the lawn, - - - of our back yard. I was watching, - - - the boats on the lake. I was lost in my thoughts, - - - I guess. Next thing I knew, - - - his hand was around my mouth, - - - I could not move my head.”

Jared then went silent; he was in a deep meditation in his thoughts. The memory of his attack had been going repeatedly in his mind since it happened. In addition, the conversations, and instructions, from his father when he found him, played simultaneously along.

“Mr. Bartholomew?” Lt. Hatton asked, bringing Jared back from his thoughts.

“It was as if my head, --- were in a vice,” Jared then said, continuing to stare at the ceiling, “he was so strong, --- at one point, he held me off the ground, --- my feet were just an inch or two, --- from the ground. He lifted me up, --- from the ground, --- held me there, - - - like I had no weight, --- no weight at all.”

David and Noel both made a slight glance at each other.

Jared again went silent, staring at the ceiling. The voice and the words of his attacker still played their round the clock repetitions in his head.

- - - “You have no idea why I’m here, do you?”- - -

“Mr. Bartholomew?” Lt. Hatton asked.

“Yes?”

“Please continue. He had his hands around your mouth and head. Then what happened?”

- - - “Go to your knees, I’ll help you down.”- - -



 “He made me lie, - - - down on the lawn,” Jared began, “ in fact, --- he helped me down, --- strange, --- he seemed gentle, --- like he was concerned about me, --- at that point. He instructed me to, --- lie face down. He made me place my arms, --- outward, --- to my sides. Like I was going to be, --- crucified, --- something like that.”

Jared then went back into the on again, off again trance. He was going back and forth in his memories, then back to the reality of everything in the room around him.

- - - “I’ll snap your neck like a pencil - - - ”

Jared began to breathe sighs repeatedly through his mouth. The memories of his attack and his fathers’ reaction were whirring like a blender. 

“And once he had you to the ground?” Lt. Hatton asked.

Well, Lieutenant,” Jared answered, this time though, even as his stare was still to the ceiling, he had a sarcastic tone in his voice, “I believe that you can see, --- what happened, ---, once he had me to, --- the ground.”

“He then just,” Lt. Hatton said, “just …, injured you then?”

“Yes, Lieutenant, --- he then just, --- crippled me.” Jared’s tone had the slight sound of anger.

The Lieutenant then paused, let out a sigh of his own through his nose, and then asked. “He didn’t speak to you at all?”

The memory of Jared’s own words, repeated to him, mocked to him, by his attacker played in his head.

- - - “Your so beautiful, not a hair on you. - - - You and your mama? I’ll have you sent back to Mexico so fucking fast.”- - -

The Lieutenant continued, “I mean, he just came there, made you go to the ground, then paralyzed you. You didn’t say anything to him?”

“I told him, --- that if he wanted money, --- there was a lot in the house.”

“And did you tell him where the money was?”

“He never gave me, --- the chance.”

“But, you told him about the money before he injured you?”

“Yes.”

“By any chance, did you tell him how much money you had?”

“Jared!” Mitchell Bartholomew said strongly, to make his son stop.

Lt. Hatton turned to Mitchell, “Is there a problem Mr. Bartholomew, Mr. Bartholomew Sr.?”

“No,” Mitchell said, “I just, well, I don’t think it would be wise to let anyone know about any valuables in my home.”

“Don’t worry about that sir,” Lt. Hatton said, with a smile that Noel would have said looked like that of a used car salesman, “everything is confidential here.” He then turned his attention back to Jared. “So Jared, may I call you Jared? To help avoid any confusion during the taping.”

“Yes.”

“So, Jared, did you tell your attacker how much money was in your house?”

“Yes, I did.”

“How much did you say you had in the house?”

Jared hesitated; he now had the instructions from his father flowing in his head. He felt his father’s stare from across the room, however, he decided to not comply with his fathers wishes, and answered, “a half million.”

Lt. Hatton suppressed his feeling of surprise and showed no emotion, and continued as if what he just heard was everyday conversation. “You told him you had a half a million dollars in cash, in your house, and he attacked you anyway?”

“Yes.”

Lt. Hatton took a long pause, he then asked, “Jared, can you tell me why anyone would want to do this to you?”

Jared was silent; he again was deep in his thoughts.

- - - “Always remember why this happened to you.” - - -

“I mean,” the Lieutenant continued, “can you tell me of anyone who would have a grudge or vendetta against you? Someone that you have a suspicion of that would do such a heinous thing.”

David watched Jared’s face. He seemed agonized in his thoughts. In addition, Jared’s right hand began to twitch. It would suddenly flex open, and then shut. David’s suspicions grew and he glanced over at Noel. Over the years they had both grown together to the point where each one knew what the other was thinking. Both men would just give a small nod to show each other that they were both in tune to the same thought. Both David and Noel now believed that there was more to this than what Jared was telling the Lieutenant. There was something far deeper.

Both David and Noel now believed that it was indeed “The Dark Man” who had attacked Jared. However, the question remained, why?

“N-no, Lieutenant,” Jared then answered, “I don’t know of anyone, --- anyone personally, --- with a grudge against me.”

- - - “Always tell the truth, --- on everything that you have done.”- - -

David then spoke out, “Excuse me, sir? May I intercede here?”

Lt. Hatton looked to David and said, “Be my guest Sergeant, come stand right here though.” The Lieutenant guided David to the spot where he was to stand, “There, now you’re on camera.” He pointed to the television screen to show David.

David then looked down to Jared, “Good morning Mr. Bartholomew. I’m Sergeant David Todd, Chicago Police.”

Then for the first time, Jared looked away from the ceiling and focused his eyes on to David. “I’m in the media business, --- Sergeant, --- I know exactly who you are.”

“Really? I’m flattered. However, I’m sorry to say that I have to meet you under these conditions.” David said without smiling. David believed that when you were bullshiting someone, to do so with a serious expression. He believed that when you smiled while doing this, that anyone could see right through what you were really trying to do.

“That’s OK, --- thank you.” Jared answered.

“Do you know why my partner and I are here then?”

“No, Sergeant, --- I do not.” Jared said, his hand slightly jerked then, and that caught not only David’s attention, but Noel’s as well. Jared mind was filled with the voice of his attacker, again using his own words against him.

- - - “You? - - - I’ll make sure that every kid in your school, every kid in your life, knows that you are the kid who let himself be butt fucked.” - - -

“Well sir,” David then said, “my partner and I have a suspicion that your attacker just may be someone that we are looking for.” He paused for a few seconds to let his words sink in to Jared’s mind. “As you probably know, two men that we were searching for were attacked in a similar fashion as you. Now, we have no idea if this is the same attacker, or someone doing a, what we refer to as, ‘copy cat’ crime.”

Jared returned his stare to the ceiling; however, it seemed that he could not control the twitching of his hand. The more emotional Jared seemed to become, the more his hand would either twitch, or pump open, then closed. David paused again; he still had the serious expression on his face, still looking down to the paralyzed man on the bed. David did feel some sort of guilt for what he was doing to Jared, but he had grown suspicious of him. Why him? Why was Jared Bartholomew attacked? Furthermore, why was he attacked by “The Dark Man”? After all, the “Dark Man” stopped two men who are considered the lowest form of life on the Earth. Jared Bartholomew was a complete opposite of what Billy Freeman and Raul Ortega are. Jared’s silence was stirring David’s reservations even more.

Jared seemed to drift away in his thoughts again as he stared straight up.

- - -“BUTT FUCKED!” - - -

“Mr. Bartholomew?” David asked.

“Y-yes? What?” Jared answered, coming back to the reality of the room.

“Are you alright? Would you like a break already?”

“N-no. No. --- Please continue Sergeant”.

“So, how long would you say your conversation was with him?” David asked.

“Conversation?”

“Yes, from what you said before. You told him that you had a half million in cash in the house; from the way it sounds, you had some sort of conversation, am I correct?”

“It wasn’t really a, --- conversation”.

“Then let me rephrase.” David said, now stepping behind the bed so that he would be somewhat in Jared’s view, “What was spoken of between you both that led up to your telling him about the cash in the house?” Jared’s hand pumped closed, and then sprung open again.

- - -“Do not resist me” - - -

“He really didn’t, --- say much to me,” Jared said calmly, “he made me go to the ground, --- he told me not to resist him, --- he made me lie down, --- on my chest. I really just told him about the money, --- because I thought that’s what, --- he really wanted.”

“He really wanted?” David asked instantly, “What do you mean by what he really wanted?”

Jared took a deep breath. David looked to the machine that was monitoring his vital signs; the heart rate was up slightly. David sensed that he struck a nerve. He paused to wait for Jared’s answer. David would now rely on his patience to get to where he was going.

“I don’t understand, --- Sergeant.” Jared responded.

“When you told him of the cash in your house, how long afterwards did he assault you the way he did?”

“A few seconds.”

“A few seconds?”

“Yes.”

“Now, I’m curious,” David said now moving back to the original position at the side of the bed, “this man attacks you, leaving you completely immobilized; he knows there’s a substantial amount of money in your house, but, --- he just goes away. And you just now yourself used the phrase, ‘what he really wanted’.”

A tense silence came over the room, David played it the best he could, and he looked at every other person in there, pausing at each face for a couple of seconds. Noel gave him that look of acknowledgement, knowing what he was after. Then David came to the face of Mitchell Bartholomew, he looked angry and concerned. Finally, David broke the silence with another question. “Jared? By any chance where you expecting someone at your residence that evening?”

“He doesn’t have to answer that!” Mitchell barked out.

David calmly turned to him and said, “I beg your pardon?”

“I said, he doesn’t have to answer that!”

“Why not?”

“Because, well,” and then Mitchell turned to his attorney, “Larry, step in on this!”

“Whoa now,” David said holding up his hand in the ‘stop’ position, “I’m confused here counselor, I believe the younger Mr. Bartholomew here is the victim, not a suspect, am I correct?”

“Yes,” Lawrence George said, “but, the privacy of the Bartholomew family is a priority here and ---,”

“Privacy?” David said with some concern, “This man here was viciously attacked, and are we all not here to investigate that crime?”

“Why yes of course” Larry said.

“Well then I believe that the senior Mr. Bartholomew here, with his insistence on interfering with the answers of the victim, his son, could be also interfering with an official police investigation, correct?”

“Well I would have to say, yes, that is correct.”

“Why you cocky son of a bitch!” Mitchell yelled, and stepped right up to David point his finger in his face, “Who the fuck do you think you are, talking to me like this? Do you know who I am?” All the time he was pointing his finger in David’s face, David stood there with an emotionless expression, looking straight back at the now reddening face of Mitchell. “If you value your little piss ant career at the CPD, you’ll do this the way I want, you fucking hear me!?” 

Mitchell then realized that the video cameras were still running, “Turn that fucking thing off! Now!”

Lt. Hatton then hit the off switch to the video camera and then maneuvered his way between Mitchell and David. “Calm down Mr. Bartholomew, sir. If you don’t right now, I’ll be forced to remove you from this room.”

“What?” Mitchell said surprised, “What did you just say to me?”

“You heard me sir,” the Lieutenant said calmly, “the Sergeant here is correct, this is an official police investigation, and you have no power here to conduct it. Your son is the victim, not the suspect. He is the victim of the crime, and the only witness. You are interfering with an official police investigation.” The Lt. turned to Larry George, “Tell him counselor.”

“I’m afraid so Mitch,” Larry said to him, “do as they request.”

David looked at Mitchell and said, “Not only this investigation, but the other one my partner and I are involved with. There may be a link here.”

Mitchell stood there staring at David. The Lieutenant calmly said, “Sir, would you please return to the back of the room and not interfere again?” Mitchell looked at Lt. Hatton, and he then said, “Please?”

“OK Lieutenant,” Mitchell responded, he then looked at David right in the eye, “I’m not forgetting this asshole.”

“I’m quite sure you won’t sir.” David said in a deadpan tone. Mitchell then returned to the back of the room. Lt. Hatton then returned to his place next to the video equipment and switched the camera back on.

“You can continue Sergeant.” The Lieutenant said.

David turned to look down at Jared, he was still staring at the ceiling, but now his eyes seemed to dart around. It also looked as if he were trying to hold back tears.

“Thank you, now where was I Jared? Oh yes, by any chance were you expecting someone that evening?”

Jared stayed silent.

“Are you alright Jared?” David asked, “Did all the excitement here disturb you?”

Jared then seemed calm, he even smiled somewhat, and asked, “What makes you think, - - - that I was expecting someone Sergeant?”

“Well Jared,” David said, “it’s like this. There you are, all alone that night, all the staff gone to a party, which you arranged. The manner in which you were attacked? Well, it just so happens that my partner and I are looking for someone who committed the exact same crime. When we arrived on your estate that afternoon, I noticed that the lights were on in your guesthouse. During this investigation, I questioned the house staff. They told me that there has not been anyone in the guesthouse for months. That you and your father have the keys for that house.”

David now noticed a small sardonic smile coming to the face of Jared Bartholomew. David glanced over to the monitor and saw that his vital signs were all normal, that of someone who was in a calm state. “Please, continue Sergeant.” Jared said.

“Well, there really isn’t that much Jared. Mom and Dad are gone until late in the evening, the staff has been conveniently sent away on an all expenses paid party also that night, and the guest house was lit and unlocked.” David now saw as Jared stopped his stare to the ceiling, and turned his eyes towards him. “Simple arithmetic really. All I need to know is if the person you were expecting was the one that attacked you.”

Jared let out a small laugh, “I doubt that very, - - - highly Sergeant.”

“Then you were expecting someone?”

“Jared!” Mitchell burst out.

“Mr. Bartholomew, please! I will have you removed.” Lt. Hatton said.

“Let me just say Sergeant, --- that the person I was expecting, --- was not the man, --- who attacked me.” Jared said.

“I just don’t understand then Jared.” David said, “A man paralyzes you, knowing that a large amount of cash, and I may add, other expensive valuables are in your home, you are all alone, and yet, he takes nothing. He doesn’t even enter the house. Why?”

The tense silence returned. Jared heard the man’s voice again.

- - - “My, my sweetheart, do you know how really beautiful you are? I’m going to show you honey.” - - -

“Jared? David asked.

“Yes.”

“I’ve established now that you kept the fact that you were expecting someone that night. You kept that from all of us. What else are you keeping from us?”

“Jared!” Mitchell screamed.

“What did he say to you Jared?” David asked, remaining calm, “What else did the man say to you?”

“G-D Damn it! Stop! Right fucking now you bastard!” Mitchell screamed at David. Mitchell then stepped forcefully towards David. David stood his ground, if Mitchell was going to strike him, he would let him, fortunately though, Noel and Lt. Hatton got in between them.

There was a momentary melee with all involved, then Dr. Hector shouted out, “I’m sorry, but I’m going to have to insist that you all leave this room, now! Damn it, this is a hospital, and that is my patient! All of you! If you cannot conduct yourselves in a civilized manner, then all I can say is, out! Now!” Dr. Hector stood there pointing to the door. Everyone went silent, but all complied with the doctor‘s command.

David looked back at Jared as he left. Jared was still looking back to him, and continued smiling.

Once in the hallway, Dr. Hector gave everyone a lecture, which was actually his demands, on how he expected them to behave in the hospital, and if he should decide if the interrogation would continue. Noel stepped in, and with some of his diplomacy, convinced the doctor to let them continue. He promised him that everything would run smoothly.

Lt. Hatton then called for a half an hour recess, so that everyone could calm down, and for he, David and Noel could prepare their next approach. David watched Mitchell as he stormed down the hallway to the elevator. Mitchell angrily pressed the button and waited. Once the elevator arrived, he looked towards David, and shot him an irritated expression. He then stepped inside and the doors closed behind him.

“You are crossing some dangerous boundaries here Sergeant,” Lt. Hatton said calmly, “need I remind you who that man is?”

“Oh come on Lieutenant,” David said turning to him, “with all due respect, you know the bullshit is running deep here. I’m mean Jeezus, the pile of the bullshit we’re getting in there is as bad as those crummy ass movies my wife watches on those women‘s cable networks.”

   

Noel then added, “You know there is something else going on in there, the fact that he threatened Dave with his job shows that.”

Lt. Hatton sighed, looked down to the floor and then to Noel, “You don’t think I know this. What can we do? Mitchell Bartholomew is a powerful man, with powerful friends. My Chief made sure to let me know that he wanted Jared to be handled with kid gloves.”

“I know he’s a powerful man,” David said calmly, “which means that he believes he can treat us all as if we are stupid; that we just have to go along with his wishes and desires. That we all have to sit there and be treated as stupid, to take it, to keep in our place.” David paused to let his words sink in to the Lieutenant, “But there is something more here. Something being held back that the Bartholomew boys don’t want to be revealed.”

“And what makes you believe that?” Hatton asked.

Noel answered, “Because Dave and I both now believe that the man who attacked Jared is the same man who crippled Raul Ortega and Billy Freeman.”

“Your vigilante?” Hatton asked surprised.

“Yes sir,” David answered, “just from a thing or two Jared said. But for our guy to go from the extremes of Raul and Billy to the likes of Jared Bartholomew, now that is another mystery.”

“Are you two sure of this?”

“Not totally, yet.” Noel said, “But, when Mitchell and his crew get back, tell him that you decided that Dave was is not going to continue interviewing Jared, but that I am. Dave and I went over this before we came here, we got an idea of what to do, but we had to have a reason to believe it’s our guy first.”

There was a moment of silence between them all while Hatton thought it over. Finally, he looked to the two of them, “OK, we’ll go with what you have, we’ll do it your way. I’m not going to deny that I’m curious to what’s going on here. I’d like to get to the bottom of this also.” Then the Lieutenant stepped over close to them and added silently, “Besides, between you both and myself, I can’t stand that Bartholomew son-of-a-bitch, if you can mess up whatever it is he’s got going on in there, well then, I’d like to see that.”

Smiles came to all three men. David then said, “Alright then Ski, when Daddy Bartholomew gets back, ladle on that Cubby fan charm, then do what we discussed.”

“And what is that you both discussed?” Hatton asked.

“Oh come on sir,” Noel said smiling, “you’re just gonna have to trust us.”

“Why do I feel so uneasy?” Hatton said.

“If it will ease you any,” Noel answered, “it really isn’t nothing that elaborate. I think Barty Junior in there is just dying to get something out of his system. He’s beyond the point of no return, if you know what I mean.”

The three men then waited quietly for the remainder of the allotted half hour. They sat in the hard, uncomfortable chairs that seemed to be always custom made just for hospital waiting rooms. David leaned back in his and rocked slowly back and forth with his eyes closed, meditating on what he and his partner were about to do. It was something so simple, but always seemed effective.

Soon, the three men heard the voice of Mitchell Bartholomew suddenly fill the hallway as the elevator door open as he spoke to his entourage. He was calmer, but still had the authoritative tone in his voice. The three detectives stood and exited the waiting room and met the Bartholomew party halfway up the hall. Noel was leading them as he stepped right up to Mitchell.

“Mr. Bartholomew,” Noel said courteously, “we’ve all discussed this sir, and we thought, that is if you don’t mind, it would be best if I took over the interview of Jared.”

Mitchell looked at Noel skeptically then glanced to Lawrence George, and then back to Noel

“Like I said sir,” Noel said as if seeking Mitchell’s approval, “if you don’t mind sir.” Mitchell kept his skeptical look at not only Noel, but to David and Lieutenant Hatton as well. Noel the looked to Dr. Hector, “I promise you Doctor, I’ll do nothing to start up any melee like we just had. In fact, I really only have a couple of things to discuss.”

There was a moment of silence between the two groups. Finally Mitchell said, “Alright Detective?---”

“Jaworski sir.”

“Alright Detective Jaworski, I’m willing to give you all second chance. But, I’m warning you, choose your questioning carefully.”

“Yes sir, you got it.” Noel then turned to David and the Lieutenant, “Let’s go guys.”

With that, everyone returned to Jared’s room, to find him, as he was when they left him, still in the position of staring straight up to the ceiling. He did not make one attempt to acknowledge anyone’s presence, he completely ignored them. All that could be heard were the sounds of the group of men moving back to their positions, some muffled words between them and the shuffling of their feet.

Noel went to a small hospital bed table where he left his satchel when he first arrived. He unzipped it and retrieved a file folder from inside. He then looked to Lieutenant Hatton and said, “I’m ready when you are sir, if you want to turn the camera back on.” He then turned to the direction of Jared and said, “How about you Mr. Bartholomew? You ready to continue?”

Jared let out a sigh and answered, “Yes Officer.”, and made it sound as if he were very bored with all the proceedings.

“Let me know when you’re ready,” Hatton said to Noel, “then I’ll switch it on.”

“Sure,” and then Noel stepped up to Jared’s bedside. He looked down at the now fallen prince, and Noel did feel some sympathy for him. “I’m Sergeant Noel Jaworski sir; I’ll be conducting the interview from here.”

Jared continued his stare to the ceiling and sighed, “I also know who, - - - you are Sergeant.”

“Well, yeah I guess if you know about my partner, you’d know about me. We’ll discuss whose better looking on camera later.” With that, Jared did show a slight smile.

Noel looked to everyone in the room. He saw that his little quip had somewhat put everyone at ease.

“Listen Mr. Bartholomew,” Noel said, stepping right up and as close to the bedside as he could, then looked to everyone in the room, “in fact, this is for all of us here. My partner and I are here because of another crime that happened in the city some months back. We’re here just to see if this is somehow connected with the younger Mr. Bartholomew’s attack. Granted, the attack we are investigating happen to two men who were of, shall we say, less than desirable. But, the attacks were similar.” Noel now saw he had everyone’s attention. “The attack on Jared happened in Kenilworth, this is a matter for the Kenilworth Police. We were asked to come to see if there was any connection whatsoever.”

He paused to let his words sink in.

“We’re not here to argue,” Noel continued, “or to have any pissing contests. Were just here to see if by chance, repeat, by chance, if the man we are looking for did this to Jared.” Noel then held up his file, “I think that we can clear this up quickly, within a few minutes. If that’s so, then my partner and I are done here, and we’re gonna leave. OK?”

Noel looked around to all in the room, there was a brief moment of silence, then all nodded ‘yes’ in agreement, including Mitchell.

“OK then,” Noel said, “Lieutenant, would you please then turn on the camera?”

Hatton then switched the camera on. Noel looked to the television monitor to see if he were in proper position.

“Good morning Mr. Bartholomew, “Noel said, “Just for the video record, I’m Sergeant Noel Jaworski of the Chicago Police Department. I have heard and read your statements of the events on the night of your attack. I’m really just going to be brief here. In fact, the only question I have for you is if I read something to you, can you tell me if it at all sounds familiar to you?”

“I will do, - - - my best Sergeant.” Jared sighed. Noel then took a half step back from the bed and opened the file in his hand.

“Mr. Bartholomew,” Noel said, “this is a statement from one of the witnesses from the attack on the men that Sergeant Todd and I are investigating. May I read it to you?”

“Yes, - - - please proceed.”

“Noel looked down to the page and began to read. He would read each sentence slowly, one at a time, and look to see Jared’s reaction to each one.

“OK then,” Noel began, “let’s see, oh OK, right here. The following is a statement from the witness, and I quote, ‘Always remember why this happened to you’.”

Jared’s eyes suddenly widened in reaction. It was the words that he had flowing through his head for almost two weeks. It was as if it were a total surprise, it was so strange to him to hear the words again coming from a different voice. David looked to the monitor of Jared’s vital signs, and saw that his heart had begun to beat faster.

Noel then said the next sentence slowly and distinct, “Always tell the truth on everything that you’ve done.” Now Jared’s lips began to quiver and his eyes began to fill with tears. Jared’s head was now echoing the words as Noel spoke them, in the voice of the “Dark Man”.

Noel then continued, “If you do not do this, I will return to you,” Noel looked up to Jared, his tears now began to flow down the sides of his face, “and I will make this worse for you. I promise you.” Jared’s breathing was now becoming labored and it hitched.

Mitchell began to slowly take steps forward towards his son, who was now on the verge of breaking down.

Jared tried to use everything that was left in him to keep from crying, however as Noel continued to read the words, Noel’s voice was now speaking in harmony with that of the “Dark Man”.

“I will be watching you always,” Noel continued, Jared was now beginning to sob, “do you understand?” Jared was ready to burst out crying, then Noel read the last of the statement, however Jared knew the words, “I will be watching you, - - - always.”

Noel now looked down at Jared as he went into a full-scale crying convulsion. Noel then decided to let him cry and get it out of his system. He looked behind him and saw a box of Kleenex on the drawers behind him and pulled out five tissues, then turned back to Jared and blotted the tears from the sides of his face. Noel had accomplished what he and David were trying to confirm. That Jared Bartholomew was indeed a victim of the “Dark Man” vigilante. But why?

That answer soon came when Noel asked Jared, “Were these words spoken to you, Mr. Bartholomew?”

What came next was not the answer that Noel was expecting, he was expecting to hear just a simple answer of “Yes”, but what Jared said put an expression of total confusion on Noel’s face.

“You, - - - you don’t understand,” Jared said stuttering, “I, - - - I can’t help, - - - myself because, - - -I love, - - - I love them. I love them, - - - so much.”

Noel was totally confused, “What?” he asked, “Them? Them who?” now totally taken aback. Something new had come, something very different had just thrown from way out of left field; the subject had been totally changed. “Who’s them?”

“Jared,” Mitchell now said quietly but sternly, “that’s enough son.”

Jared now for the first time shifted his eyes to Noel, he was getting himself back in somewhat control and said, still stuttering, and his voice was in a somewhat whisper as he answered, “my, --- my, --- boys.”

“What?” Noel asked, he felt as if he was having a conversation and the subject was changed right in front of him, “Boys? What boys? What are you talking about?”

“Jared! Stop!” Mitchell now said more sternly, “Stop son, stop right now.”

It was Mitchell calling him “son” that began to stir Jared’s anger. His eyes shifted to his father, his stare showed his disapproval of his using that title on him. He then looked back to Noel. Noel could see the anger on his face, then was amazed by when his eyes met him, his expression went very calm, and Jared said, smiling, “The boys? Why, - - - all my beautiful little, - - - boys. My, - - -”

“Jared!” Mitchell yelled, “Damn you, I mean it! I’m telling you to stop!”

Jared’s stared bolted back to the ceiling and he said calmly, “Shut up dad, - - - and don’t you fucking dare, - - - demand me to fucking do, - - - anything.”

Mitchell then lunged towards the bed and pushed Noel aside. He stood over his son he would make sure that he would see his face, which now was about twelve inches from Jared’s. “Listen to me Prince Charming, this isn’t about you anymore you sick little fuck, this is about the family, this is about everything else, so shut the fuck up now!”

“Get the fuck away from me, - - - asshole.” Jared said. Noel observed as the anger return to his face, now it looked as though it was mixed with something else; that something was hatred. “Look at you Mitchell, - - - you’re standing over a cripple, - - - and making demands on him.” There was a tense silence between them, and then Jared said, “Do you know how, - - - ridiculous you look?”

Mitchell then stood up and backed away, he then said, “And do you know what you’re doing?”

“Get out Mitchell,” Jared said to his father angrily, “Get out now.” Jared then called out, “Larry! Dr. Hector! Get him, - - - the fuck away, - - - from me!”

“I think we should ALL leave the room again.” Dr. Hector said.

“NO!” Jared snapped, his eyes darted to his father, “Only HIM! Everyone else, - - - can stay.”

Mitchell again stepped to his sons’ bedside, “Jared. Son. Listen to me. Why do you want to do this? Do this to yourself?” He then again stood over his son and said calmly, “Son, think what this will do to you mother.”

Jared snapped, and then screamed, “AAAAAHHHHH! YOU! - - - YOU!, - - - You MOTHER- - - FUCKING - - - BASTARD!” Jared then began to breath hard, and yelled, “Since when do YOU, - - - give any sort of shit, - - - about my mother?” Jared looked at his father, gritting and bearing his teeth, “Don’t you dare use her, - - - you fucking PIG! JEEZUS! If you, - - - only knew, - - - how much, - - - HOW MUCH, - - - that I, - - - fucking HATE YOU!”

The room went silent. The only sound heard was that of Jared’s labored breathing from both between his teeth and through his nostrils simultaneously. Mitchell had an expression of complete surprise on his face as the words from his son hit him. He knew in his heart that his son was not that fond of him, but hate? His son actually hated him? For the first time in his life, Mitchell Bartholomew’ was hurt emotionally.

Mitchell stepped away from his sons’ bedside, looked to him and asked solemnly, “Why are you doing this son?”

The word “son” began to bring out the anger and hatred again, but it was Noel who said, “I believe I can answer that.” He stepped over to Jared’s bedside, placed his hands on the side of the roto bed next to Jared, looked into his eyes and said gently while nodding his head, “He’s inside of your head, … isn’t he?”

Jared’s expressions of anger disappeared, his eyes then slowly moved to Noel and they began to well with tears. Jared’s bottom lip began to quiver, and the pain of holding back his crying was pounding in his throat. However, he managed to say, “Yes.” The word seemed as if it were squeezed out and labored.

“And the words I just read to you; you keep hearing them repeated to you, over and over again, correct?” Noel asked calmly.

Jared felt, for the first time in two weeks, that somebody knew what he was experiencing. “Do you know, - - - how to make it stop?” He asked pleadingly.

“No. No Jared, I don’t know how to make it stop.” Noel answered like he were consoling him, “But, the last two guys, they learned how to live with it.”

“How was that?” Jared asked, he was anxious for an answer of something that would rid him of his torment.

“Well,” Noel said nodding his head, “the two guys before? I believe that they can live with it, …” Noel then gave a look around to everyone in the room, he was expecting another outburst for what he was about to sat, “because, well, they did, and still do I might add, everything that their attacker told them to do.”

Surprisingly, there was no outburst, the room remained silent. Noel, David and Lt. Hatton looked at Mitchell, he had an expression of anguish on his face, and however, there seemed to be a tone of acceptation underneath.

Noel then focused his attention back to Jared; he looked to the file in his hand and said, “Always admit to everything that you’ve done.” Noel then walked over and gave the file to David, then back to Jared’s bedside. “Jared? Can you tell me the reason why you were attacked?”

Jared returned his stare to the ceiling; he was in deep thought of what he had to do next. He did not answer.

“Jared?” Noel asked again gently, “these boys you mentioned, did they have anything to do with this?”

Jared’s face seemed tense, then he sighed and said, “Yes, - - - I suppose, - - - they do.”

“Who are ‘the boys’, Jared?”

“Jared?” Mitchell meekly broke in, “Please son, you don’t have to do this.”

“Step over here father!” Jared said calmly, yet annoyed. Mitchell complied and stepped to the bedside. “Look at me, - - - you fucking idiot.” He said sternly, “Take a good look. Do you see me? Do you even, - - - comprehend, - - - what’s happened. I’ve been like this, - - - for two fucking weeks! And this is the way, - - - it’s now going to be, - - - from now on, - - - forever. And just because, - - - the great fucking, - - - Mitchell Bartholomew, - - - doesn’t want it, - - - to be this way, - - - isn’t going to, - - - put me back, - - - to where I was, - - - you arrogant prick.”

Mitchell didn’t say a word. He just backed away and stopped next to Lawrence George and nodded, he then stepped to the door of the room to leave.

“That’s right mother fucker!” Jared yelled, “If it won’t, - - - go your way, - - - just leave it. That’s OK, - - - just leave, - - - that’s right, - - - get the fuck out, - - - you pig!”

As Mitchell walked out of the room, the nurses at their station looked up from what they were doing and directly at him. They couldn’t help but to hear the muffled sounds of all of the commotion that was coming from the room. Mitchell looked very downtrodden, he went to the waiting area, sat down and placed his face in his hands, and began to weep quietly.

Meanwhile in Jared’s room, David joined Noel along with Lt. Hatton at the bedside. The Lieutenant then asked, “Mr. Bartholomew, Please answer the Sergeants question, are ‘these boys’ the reason behind your attack?”

Jared stared up in thought, then answered, “Yes, - - - they must be.”

“And, who are these boys, sir?”

Jared’s eyes looked to the Lieutenant, they now had a slight gleam of joy in them, a smile then came to his face as he answered, “Why, Lieutenant, - - - they are my, - - - little men, - - - my little loves, - - - they are my little, - - - ‘Lolita’ boys.” Jared smile then grew.

David’s mouth dropped slightly open as he said, “Oh God,” under his breath. Both Noel and Lt. Hatton looked at him; all three men now had the same notion. David then asked, “Mr. Bartholomew, these ‘boys’ you speak of? By any chance, have you done anything to them that may be considered illegal?”

“I think, - - - it’s wrong.” Jared whispered, but loud enough for all to hear.

“What’s that sir?” David asked.

“That society has, - - - made my expressions, - - - of love for them, - - - illegal. I love them, - - - so much.” Jared said in his true belief. “I need to, - - - be with them, - - - and show my love, - - - to them. They are, - - - so beautiful. Why should, - - - my form of, - - - love be, - - - made wrong?”

David looked to Lt. Hatton, Hatton looked right back to him, and David said, “It’s your jurisdiction sir, . . . it‘s your call.”

Hatton raised his hands to his face and rubbed his eyes. He had to make a decision here that was create a media firestorm. He stopped rubbing his eyes and looked to Jared, as if he could give him some advice for what he had to decide. He then asked, “Mr. Bartholomew, just how far did you show your ‘love’, as you call it, to these boys?”

“As far as, - - - anyone else could, - - - would, - - - in their situations.” Jared answered smiling contently.

Hatton turned from him and looked to both Noel and David. He then looked to Lawrence George and Dr. Hector. “Dr. Hector? May I ask you to leave the room? I believe that what I may do here? Well, it would be best if only the Sergeants and Mr. George be present.”

“I’ll, . . . I’ll be right outside, if anyone needs me, Lieutenant.” Dr. Hector said in a nervous yet surprised tone from what he had just witnessed. He then stepped quietly from the room and to the nurses’ station.

Hatton then turned to Jared, “Mr. Bartholomew, before I continue, I feel that, and with your attorney present, inform you of your rights.”

Jared began to laugh, “Am I being, - - - arrested Lieutenant?”

“That depends sir, on the answers I get from you.” Hatton said, and then began to give Jared his Miranda rights. When finished he asked, “Do you wish to waive your right to remain silent?”

Jared began to act as though relieved, “Yes, - - - Lieutenant, - - - I’ll be more than, - - - happy to tell you, - - - what you want to know.” Jared now smiled fully. “I believe though - - - that the handcuffs - - - won’t be - - - necessary.” He would not cry again.

“You don’t have to answer anything, you know that Jared.” Lawrence George said.

“Oh Larry, - - - like I just told Mitchell, - - - look at me.” Jared answered his counselor, “What do you, - - - think that their going, - - - to do? Send me, - - - to jail?” He strained his eyes to see the face of his attorney, Lawrence’ expression was that of great disappointment in his clients, as well as his long time friend’s son. “Besides, - - - even if they do, - - - what’s the difference now, - - - where I am, - - - what they do?” His eyes went to the three police officers, “Ask me, - - - what you wish.”

David started, “Mr. Bartholomew, these boys, were they all minors?”

“Yes.”

“Under the age of eighteen?”

“Yes.”

“How much younger?”

“All are between, - - - eleven and fourteen, - - - that is my preference.”

“Were all of these, let’s say, ‘liaisons’, voluntary on the boys side of it?”

“What do you mean, - - - by that Sergeant?” Jared answered.

David stepped closer to Jared and then said, “Let just cut to the chase sir. Were all your ‘encounters”, well, were all the boys willing to participate?” David leaned over Jared, “I mean sir,” he said with a scornful expression on his face, “did you have to persuade some of these boys aggressively? Did you pressure any of them? Even force yourself on them?”

“There were those, - - - that I would say, - - - that I had, - - - to, - - - let’s say, - - - ‘win over and convince’, - - - I prefer to think of, - - - it as, - - - seduction”

Over the next few hours, Jared confessed to the three police officers all the details of the secret side of his life. He told them that there were hundreds of boys that he had sexual relations with, not only in Illinois and America, but also all over the world. He told of the arrangement with his father, of how company funds were used to finance his trips to Bangkok, Brazil, Ukraine, and Middle Eastern countries, all under the guise as “Business trips”, “public relations” and even “promotional tours.”

The matter of Jared’s “seductions” became a priority with David and he confronted him with it. “Where in the Chicago area would you find these boys that you, in your words, ‘seduce’?”

“Through the foundation, - - - mostly.”

“The foundation?”

“My youth project.”

“The Bartholomew Youth Project?” Lt. Hatton asked.

“The same.”

For the first time, Lt. Hatton showed a bit of anger, “Are you telling us that you created and used your youth project just so that you could scout for pre-adolescent boys?”

Jared’s eyes moved to the Lieutenant, his expression was somber and relaxed as he said, “Oh come now Lieutenant, - - - don’t judge me so, - - - harshly.” It was the tone of his voice that revealed the complete narcissism of Jared. In his mind, he has done nothing wrong. His pedophilia was completely normal, and all who thought against it were the ones who were wrong. In Jared’s mind, all anyone needed was to listen to how he felt about “his boys” and they would understand. If they did not, if they refused to, then, to him, they were all ignorant, unenlightened, judgmental fools. It was the fault of society itself that he had to keep his desires of how he loved, and more importantly, whom he loved so clandestine.

David then asked, “Who was it then that you were expecting that night? It was a boy right?”

“Yes.”

“What’s his name?”

“I can’t tell you, - - - I never did get, - - - the chance to meet him.”

“You never met him?” Noel asked, “You don’t know what he even looks like?”

“No.”

“You were at your estate all alone,” Noel continued, “waiting for a boy that you’ve never seen?”

“Yes.”

“Well then, how was he getting to your place? On his bicycle?” 

Jared went silent and returned his gaze to the ceiling. He knew that he may have just crossed a line and said too much. The room was silent for a half a minute, and then David asked stone coldly, “Was he being delivered?”

Jared let out a small sigh through his nostrils then looked over at David. David could see it in his eyes, he has been caught with something, and he had given up just a little too much information.

“Jared,” David said, “answer me, was this boy being delivered to you by someone? You might as well just tell us, we’ll find out anyway.”

Jared looked at David’s face, knew that what he had said was true, and simply said, “Yes.”

This boy was being pimped to you then?” David asked.

“On Sergeant, - - - ‘pimped’ is such a, - - - harsh term isn’t it?”

David was not impressed anymore by Jared’s charm. He remained stern in his expression, and cold in his tone of voice, “This boy was being delivered to you by his pimp then?”

Jared tried to remain silent and stared up once again to the ceiling. However, David kept his own stare right on Jared. He never took his eyes off him, and Jared felt it. Jared had nowhere else to look except for the ceiling and to David. Finally, after a minute, Jared looked to David and meekly answered, “Yes.”

“What is this pimp’s name?” David asked immediately.

“That Sergeant, - - - not only I can’t, - - - tell you but, - - - I will not tell you, - - - ever, - - - never.”

“Never?”

“That is correct, - - - never.” Jared answered sternly.

“And your father,” David continued, shifting focus onto Mitchell, “He knew all about this aspect of your life, he allowed it? He financed it?”

“My father, knows all, - - - the aspects of, - - - my life, - - - he and I, - - - have a relationship, - - - of mutual blackmail.” Jared said contemptuously, he looked to the ceiling and said, “But, it gets us what, - - - we both want.” Then tears started to come to Jared’s eyes, but he clinched his teeth to control his emotion and spoke through them, “You should have seen him, - - - when he found me.”

David saw the emotion in Jared’s eyes and noticed that his fingers on his right hand begin to slightly tremble.

“I heard them calling, - - - for me.” Began Jared as he spoke slowly through his clenched teeth, “I was trying so hard, - - - to answer them. I was there for, - - - hours. After awhile, - - - I could smell my, - - - own piss. Mitchell saw the open, - - - back door. Mother was right, - - - behind him. When they found me, - - - mother, - - - she, - - - she let out a shriek. Father yelled at her, - - - to call for help. She ran up to me, - - - and I yelled to not, - - - touch me. Mitchell grabbed her, - - - by the shoulders, - - - and pushed her towards the house, - - - and yelled at her again, - - - to call for help. As she ran to the phone, - - - and went in the house, - - - I heard him call her, - - - a dumb bitch, - - - under his breath.”

Jared then licked his lips and swallowed. David could tell that he was thirsty and turned to the bedside table behind him to reach for the sea green plastic hospital water jug and poured some ice water into one of the Styrofoam cups. He placed a bendable straw in the water and turned to Jared. He brought the straw to his lips and Jared took four long slow swallows. David then placed the cup on the table, turned back to Jared to let him continue.

“Thanks.” Jared said, his voice sounding refreshed. “Anyway, - - - Mitchell kneeled down, - - - next to me. I told him what happened. I, - - - told him what the, - - - man said to me. I told him, - - - that he knew, - - - about me. About my, - - - boys. There I was, - - - all I had been seeing, - - - for hours, - - - was the grass in my face, - - - trying to keep my, - - - head from turning. Smelling nothing but, - - - fresh cut grass, - - - and urine. I could feel it, - - - getting cold but, - - - I could only feel, - - - it on my face. I knew what, - - - happened. There I was, - - - paralyzed, - - - and do you know, - - - what was that bastard, - - - concerned with?”

Jared’s eyes looked to David, and he just said, “No Jared, what?”

“That fucking family, - - - image, - - - he wants.” Jared said somewhat angrily. “He told me, - - - ‘don’t worry son, - - - we can cover this, - - - we can manipulate this, - - - we can use this, - - - just leave it all, - - - to me.’ It was then that I, - - - realized then that, - - - it was true.”

“What was true Jared?” David asked.

“That I really, - - - do hate my, - - - father’s guts.” Jared answered as his lips began to quiver. He swallowed hard and composed himself. “The Bartholomew family, - - - image. Family? - - - what a fucking joke. Everything, - - - that everyone sees, - - - is staged, - - - and played out. For what? For the advancement, - - - of the status, - - - of the great, - - - Mitchell Bartholomew. We are nothing, - - - different, - - - from all those other, - - - fictitious families that, - - - you see on TV. All fake, - - - bullshit, - - - all a put on, - - - that ‘the public’, - - - will place us on, - - - some fucking pedestal, - - - to make us, - - - American royalty. That was all, - - - that pig, - - - was concerned, - - - with.”

“So your father knew all about this?” David asked.

“Yes.”

“You told him right there, all the details of the attack?”

“Yes.”

You told him everything that your attacker had said to you?”

“Yes.”

He knows about your relationships with all the boys?”

“Yes.”

“Did he know about the boy that was being delivered to you that night?”

“Yes, he did.”

“Did he help to pay the person delivering that boy?”

“Yes, - - - Mitchell supplies the money, - - - for all family matters, - - - it was part of our, - - - agreement.”

David looked to the back of the room to see the faces of Lt. Hatton, Noel, and Lawrence George. The attorney was stunned by everything that he was hearing. However, since Jared waived his right to remain silent, and was cooperating, there was nothing he could do. However, the human side of the lawyer was taking precedent; he was having doubts whether he should defend not only Jared, but Mitchell as well. He knew Jared since he was born and Mitchell even longer, and now to see the evil side of his not only clients, but friends as well, was overwhelming him.

David turned back to Jared and asked, “Did your father know about the children you were with from you foundation?”

“Yes.”

“And he let it continue?”

“Yes.”

David took a moment before he asked his next question, “There were boys who resisted you?”

“Yes.”

“And boys that you were having relations with over a period of time, and then stopped, what about them?”

“Well, I had, - - - to do something, - - - about those, - - - little snots.” It was how Jared answered that amazed the all the others in the room. He answered like a woman who was speaking of a scorned lover. “They refused my love, - - - and my affection. I was so, - - - good to them. I did so, - - - much for them. And this is, - - - how they treat me, - - - in return? I, I, - - - gave them my love, - - - damn them.”

“Did they threaten to tell anyone?”

“Oh, yes, - - - they tried that.”

“Tried?”

“Yes.”

“And did you have any threats of your own in return?”

The voice of the “Dark Man” then began to fill Jared’s head.

- - - You and your mama? I’ll have you sent back to Mexico fucking fast. I’ll have you both sent to Juarez, and I know some people there. What I do with you? There will be a hundred guys a night doing that to your mama. - - -

“Jared?” David asked.

“What?” Jared said, coming out of his thoughts.

“Did you have any threats of your own in return?”

“He knew.”

“Who knew”

“The man who, - - - did, - - - did this.” Jared eyes glanced quickly down to his own body.

What was that?”

He knew, - - - that I had an argument, - - - with Tave.”

“Who is Tave?”

“One of the little, - - - snots who turned, - - - on me and, - - - left me.” Jared said, again like a scorned lover.

“How do you know this?”

“Because he repeated, - - - everything I said, - - - to Tave, - - - word for word.”

David gave a quick look to Noel, who then nodded back to him. “He knew of this argument you had, he knew of this boy?”

“He repeated other things, - - - that I said, - - - to others.” Jared said, and then told everyone in detail of the other things that the “Dark Man” had confronted him with.

David paused again for a moment, and then asked, “When boys like Tave would, let’s say, ‘break up’ with you, what would you do besides threaten them, did you offer them anything?”

“It’s what my father, - - - taught me, - - - with our money, - - - it can get you all, - - - that you need, - - - the money can, - - - buy a lot of, - - - silence.”

The interrogation continued for another hour. More details of Jared’s attack came to surface as well as more details of his secret life as a pedophile. When finished the four men gathered outside the room for a conference.

“This,” Lt. Hatton began, “was far more than I was expecting.” He then looked down the corridor and saw Mitchell sitting on his chair in the waiting area. He appeared extremely downtrodden, sitting up in his chair, hands folded on his knees and his head bowed down. Hatton then looked to Lawrence George and said, “You know what I have to do now, don’t you?”

“Yes, yes I do,” answered Lawrence, “can I ask we do this quietly, and then get Mitchell out of here before we make any announcements.” 

“That I can do, let me phone my chief and inform him, he’s going to want to get down here.” Hatton then turned to David and Noel, “What about you guys?”

Well, sir, I hate to say this,” David said, “but, we believe it would be best now for us to be out of the picture tonight.”

“Yeah sir,” Noel added, “there’s gonna be a huge shit storm here in the next few hours, we already brewed up a small one by being seen coming here.”

David then said, “Yeah, everyone out there is suspicious just with that. The office and building for Jared’s foundation are in the city, so we’ll go back and handle that part of it.” David then looked down the corridor to see Mitchell, still frozen in his downtrodden state. “We’re gonna have to contact all the parents whose kids are involved with that.”

“Past and present.” Noel added.

“Maybe Ski and I should cut out now,” David said, “see if we can leave without being seen.”

“You both think that this was done by your vigilante?” Lt. Hatton asked.

 David nodded his head as he answered, “Yes. Yes I do.”

“Me too.” Said Noel.

“Thing is,” David said, “More questions came than answers.”

“OK then,” the Lieutenant sighed, “I’m going back in this room, with Mr. George here, and I’m going to arrest Jared Bartholomew for suspicion of sexual battery of a child for starters, then I’m going to arrest his father for aiding and abetting, plus being an accessory, also for starters. That should give you boys about fifteen, twenty minutes. Long enough?”

“More than,” David said, “I’m sorry it has to be like this, but, we’ll be in contact.” With that, all four men exchanged handshakes, and David and Noel went to the elevator. After they entered, and the doors closed, Lt. Hatton and Lawrence George returned to Jared’s bedside. Then, with his attorney present, Lt. Arthur Hatton informed Jared Bartholomew that he was under arrest.

When Noel and David reached the top open floor of the hospital parking lot, Lt. Hatton and Lawrence George left Jared’s bedside, stepped from the room, walked the short distance down the corridor and stopped in front of an extremely depressed Mitchell Bartholomew.

Mitchell was sitting still with his face buried in his hands. He sensed the presence of the two men and slowly looked up to them. His eyes were bloodshot from crying, he timidly asked, “Yes, what is it?”

Hatton was somewhat surprised by Mitchell’s demeanor, the tough firebrand of a man from a few hours ago appeared, in a word, vanquished. “Mr. Mitchell Bartholomew,” Lt. Hatton said in an authoritative tone, “I must inform you sir that you are under arrest; you have the right to remain silent . . .”

As Lt. Hatton read him his rights, Mitchell Bartholomew just stared ahead quietly, and surrendered to the circumstances around him without any quarrel.