Judge, Jury, & Executioner

Chapter 18

Reaves closed the door behind them as Maddox paced back and forth. He knew it wouldn't be easy for her, but he didn't have a choice.

Right after the accident, Reaves was pulled out of the flaming car by Ian. He told Reaves he wanted to talk, but that Reaves was a target since he was on the jury. Ian told him he was the next juror targeted since he was connected to the police.

Reaves talked to Drake and they had Liam make the burns look real. They couldn't tell Maddox because, well let's face it, she's a horrible liar. Reaves needed her to look convincing. Which meant lying and making her think he was actually dead. Which sucked. He wanted to say something but he couldn't.

McGregor wanted it to look legit when he got arrested and taken to the FBI safe house. Reaves needed to ensure his family would be safe and not targeted to make him commit suicide. So he faked his death.

As soon as Reaves stepped away from the door, he saw Maddox shaking her head.

"I thought you were dead," Maddox said.

"I thought you hated me?" Reaves replied.

"Not that much."

He stepped back right before she slammed a fist into his face. He stumbled backward.

"That's more like it," Reaves mumbled. "Come On Maddox, I'm the cute irresistible puppy you can't get rid of, remember?"

"Not even if I throw a stick?"

Reaves saw a pain in her eyes that he'd never seen before in anyone's eyes, but his. The day his wife died. Maddox folded her arms and then he tried to ignore the look.

He explained the reason he faked his death and why they didn't tell her. The pain was still in her eyes.

"I'm sorry we had to do it that way. But the entire jury is in danger. And they need to be put in protective custody. Or whatever Greyson can get done. All of their lives are in danger," Reaves said.

Maddox nodded along. She wasn't saying much. Then she cleared her throat and pulled out her phone.

"I'm sorry, Ryan," Reaves said.

Maddox looked up from her phone and he saw she was clenching her jaw.

"It's fine," She said before looking back at her phone.

Reaves walked towards her and pushed the phone down. She looked up at him and he didn't understand what she was on the verge of.

"Maddox, you hate me. You said it yourself. You weren't a little happy I . . . died," Reaves said.

Maddox crossed her arms again, "I-I Uh, I just," She looked at him and He wasn't sure what was going to come out of her mouth, "I push everyone away. For some reason or another, and your the only person who pushed back. I thought I hated you, when I was really just trying to protect myself."

"From what?"

"Pain. Like today."

Reaves lifted her chin up and looked her in the eyes.

"Hey, I will never put you through that again. And you never have to push me away," He said.

Maddox looked back into his eyes and they both froze for a moment.

"I don't mean to interrupt, as much as I wanna see Sloan's and Foxx's real life counterparts in action, but McGregor is getting uneasy," Drake said interrupting.

Reaves stepped away and then followed Maddox out of the room. Ian was standing rocking back and forth on his heels.

"McGregor, What is it you wanna tell us?" Maddox asked.

He looked around before stepping forward, "I gave the Nickels permission to roll on the Clovers. As long as they didn't include my name."

"Wait, why?" Drake Asked.

"I don't have the stomach for this. Never have. And murder? That's just a small thing they've done. You don't know what I've seen. Wished I hadn't. I don't want anyone else getting hurt. The Executioner? He's not doing this for me. I didn't give him the job. Either he's doing it on his own, or someone in my organization hired him without my knowledge. And if that's the case, my life is in danger. Either way, I have a number to contact them and you can have it. Take my phone. Leave me out of it."

Maddox looked at him confused. Reaves felt the same. This just got more complicated.

"So, do you know who the Executioner is?" Reaves asked.

"No. No one does. My father did. But he died."

Reaves looked at floor. The Executioner could be anyone.

"You need to call McNaughton and have him sequester the jury. All of them, including me. But the Executioner won't know I'm there. Which means, if he tries anything, I'll throw him off," Reaves told Maddox.

Maddox nodded and then pulled out her phone. She walked off talking on the phone and Drake looked at Reaves.

"How'd she take it?" Drake Asked.

"Pretty well. Considering I took a punch to the face for it," Reaves said before walking to the kitchen.

Ian followed Reaves as Reaves opened the fridge and looked for food.

"You care about her?" Ian asked.

"Not like that. She hates me, and then she thinks I'm funny. Mostly she hates me though," Reaves explained.

"Sure. That's why she about killed me after you supposedly died."

Reaves closed the fridge and squinted at the cabinet.

"Really?" Reaves asked as he leaned forward on the counter towards Ian.

Ian looked at him and raised an eyebrow.

"If I were you, I would quit wasting time. Tell her the truth. And then she'll prolly tell it back," Ian told him.

Reaves looked at him and nodded, "One problem. She hates me."

Reaves walked back to the living room and Maddox joined them. She didn't look happy.

"McNaughton said he's contacted the judge about sequestering the jury, unfortunately the Judge is ready to call off the case with three jurors dead, two actually dead. So McNaughton is in an emergency meeting with the Judge and the Nickels counselor. Either way, the rest of the jurors are in danger. They all need to be put in protective custody. Got any ideas?" Maddox asked Mull.

Mull stood and contemplated what she told him.

"We've got what? Nine jurors. That's at least two agents per person. And maybe some extra NYPD help?" Mull Asked.

"Sounds good. Where should we put em?" Drake added.

Mull waved his finger and as an idea came to him.

"The FBI has a hotel for federal cases. It's a public hotel but they let us reserve rooms for the jurors because most of the time they have to be sequestered. So, I can pull some strings and get them put in there. All of their phones and any electronic media must be taken away. Tell your boys in blue to remember that," Mull said stepping away with his phone.

"I'm going to go with them," Reaves told Maddox.

Reaves could tell she didn't like the idea. Fortunately, she couldn't come up with a better idea. Which made her shake her head.

"Fine, but do not make me call your daughter and inform her your dead," Maddox said.

"You could just tell me to be careful," Reaves replied.

"Screw this up and I'll be the one shooting you."

Reaves nodded before mumbling, "That's more like it."