His Prisoner

Revelations [19]

Meredith 

The night that my parents died, Jack comforted me as I cried my heart out. He was there when no one else was. He was like my rock. He took all my emotional outbursts and handled them with tenderness and care. Jack never left me in the weeks and months that I suffered from their deaths. 

That is why as I stand stunned in my living room, I can't quite believe what I'm hearing.

No one has said a word since Eliot's announcement. 

"He killed your parents Meri. Jack killed them."

It's hard to forget a statement like that. You can't just un-hear it. It repeats in your brain like an overplayed song. 

Eliot is still standing in front of me but he's turned around to face me. Jack is behind him looking like a deer caught in the headlights while Chase shifts from foot to foot beside me. It's an awkward atmosphere, no one has anything to say. I'm speechless. I have no idea what to say or what to believe.

"Meri..." Eliot murmurs my name softly, his eyes pleading me to believe him or maybe even just pleading for me to say something. Anything.

"What?" My voice comes out strained and quiet. 

My heart is pounding against my rib cage. I can't seem to breathe properly, the air being knocked out of my lungs from that simple yet harsh statement. I know Jack is a bit crazy and possessive but a murderer? He was one of my parents closest friends. He was always here. I practically grew up with him until he took guardianship once my parents died. 

I look over Eliot's shoulder to stare at Jack. For once he hasn't got an angry scowl on his face. He actually looks worried.

"Tell me, please tell me that he's wrong." I breathe to him.

Jack opens his mouth to speak but nothing comes out. He just stares at me with bloodshot eyes. 

"TELL ME HE'S WRONG JACK!" I scream while pushing Eliot out of the way.

"Meredith... your parents died in a car accident. I was with you that night." Jack rushes out. He not so discreetly sends a glare over in Eliot's direction.

"That's not telling me he's wrong! Tell me that you didn't do it, Jack. Fucking tell me now."

"They died in a car accident."

"SAY YOU DIDN'T KILL THEM JACK! YOU'RE NOT SAYING IT!" I shove Jack hard in the chest and he stumbles back into the wall. 

I'm breathing heavy as I stare in disbelief at his slumped figure against the wall. A slumped figure that isn't denying he killed my parents. In that moment I feel my whole world crash around me. 

"Oh my god. You killed them. You really killed them." I gasp holding a hand to my chest.

"The police said it was an accident." He argues. I shake my head.

"No. I don't know what they said because they didn't speak to me. They asked to speak to you alone. It was you who told me about their accident." 

I don't know why I've never thought about it before. When the police arrived, I was sent to my room and it was Jack who told me about the accident. I never saw a police report or spoke to them myself. I only ever knew what Jack told me. I realise now that the police visited us a lot after the accident but they never wanted to talk to me, they always asked to speak to Jack alone.

"They were suspicious of you." Everything seems to come together in my head. I can't stop all the little pieces fitting together.

"Meredith, this is ridiculous. You're going on the word of someone you hardly know. I've been around all your life! Your parents trusted me with you." He growls as he grabs the bottle of whisky.