Blackbird Fly (Part 14) / Voices (Part 7)

Jack and Mitchell meet Timothy

By Rick Henry Christopher Published 2 years ago • Updated about a year ago • 5 min read

Image created by RHC using Starry AI, Microsoft Word, and Photoshop

(Links to the previous chapters of Blackbird Fly and Voices can be found at the end of this story)

New Developments

“Ray, Emily, Jack,” Sheryl yelled from the living room of the safe house. “Come downstairs. I have some news to share with you.”

The three quickly made their way downstairs. “What’s going on, Sheryl?” Ray asked.

“I just finished speaking with Agent Tandy. He’ll be meeting us here in about an hour to brief us on new developments in the investigation.”

“Did he give you any idea what the new developments are?” Emily asked.

“No, he just said he wants to speak with all of us together.”

Agent Tandy’s Visit

The entire family sat in the living room, waiting for Agent Tandy’s arrival. When the doorbell rang, Sheryl stood up and walked to the door.

Agent Tandy, dressed in a black suit and tie, stepped inside, addressing the family. “Hello, Sheryl, Ray, Jack, and Emily.” He looked at each of them as he said their names. “I have some very good news for you.”

That got everyone's attention. Their ears perked up.

“That’s great to hear, Agent Tandy,” Sheryl said. “Please, have a seat.” She gestured toward a chair near the sofa. “Can I get you anything? A soda, some water, tea?”

“No, thank you. I’m going to be upfront and quick. I have a tight schedule today. Agent Cole will be here in about three hours with a van. Pack up your belongings—you’re going home tonight.”

“No way!” Jack exclaimed.

Sheryl raised her eyebrows. “But just yesterday, we got that threatening phone call. The one telling us to watch our backs.”

Tandy nodded. “Yes, and as you know, the phone line in this house is closely monitored. We were able to trace the call back to Sheriff Sampson. He almost got away with his crimes, but he got anxious and made the mistake of calling this number to threaten you.”

“But the number is unlisted and protected,” Sheryl pointed out. “How did he get it?”

“The agency leaked it to him. We knew he was getting desperate as the investigation closed in. Sampson has been arrested and is in custody. It will be a very long time before he sees the outside world again.”

“Will I get to see Angelita tonight?” Jack asked.

“She’ll be back home in two days. She’s been in protective custody in Seattle.”

Jack sighed in relief, with a smile forming on his face.

Sheryl hesitated before asking, “What about Xochitl?”

Tandy fell silent for a few seconds. “She’s no longer with us.” He exhaled. “A detailed report is being drawn up for you. It will include what happened to Xochitl, Angelita, Willy Sampson, his brother Tom, and Mitchell Gannon and his brother Jim.”

Jack’s expression tightened. “Mitchell? What happened to him?”

“He’s in the hospital at the City of Orange Men’s Correctional Facility.”

“Can I visit him?”

“You’ll have to call the hospital.”

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Three hours later, Agent Cole arrived with a van to take the Sampson family back home.

Jack Visits Mitchell

The next morning, Jack woke up early to visit Mitchell Gannon. Visiting hours started at 8:00 AM.

At the hospital, Jack entered Mitchell’s room and found him reading a book.

“Hey, Mitchell!” Jack called out.

Mitchell looked up. “Jack! Jack Amsbury, come on in.”

Jack took a seat near Mitchell's bed. “You look beat up.”

Mitchell let out a dry chuckle. “I 'was' beat up.”

“Who? Who would do such a thing to you?”

“Sheriff Sampson.” Mitchell answered.

Jack’s eyes widened. “Really? He sent his thugs after you?”

Mitchell shook his head. “No. He beat me up himself. With the butt of his gun.”

Jack leaned forward. “Why?”

“To shut me up.”

“Huh?”

Mitchell sighed. “First, he blackmailed me. and told me he’d pin Xochitl’s death on me. Then he came up with the plan to get those photos of you—to silence you since you were asking so many questions after Angelita disappeared.”

“But… you cooperated with him. Why would he beat you up?”

“Because he brought me to the safe house. He wanted me to knock on the door and lure you out so he could abduct you. But his plan failed because an FBI agent arrived seconds after us."

Jack’s stomach turned. “How did he even find out about the safe house?”

“I’m not sure.”

Nurse Pearl

Just then, Nurse Pearl entered the room, addressing Mitchell and his roommate, Timothy. “Breakfast will be served soon.”

Timothy suddenly began pounding on his mattress and kicking his feet. “I’m not eating that trash. You pigs can keep your slop!” He shook the bed so hard it rocked.

Nurse Pearl’s voice was sharp. “Timothy, this is your last chance. One more outburst, and you’re going back to solitary confinement.” She pulled a syringe from her cart and injected him with lorazepam.

Jack was stunned.

Mitchell smirked. “That’s Timothy. He’s a lunatic.”

From behind the drawn curtain around his bed, Timothy mumbled, “I heard that… I’m gonna ge—” His words slurred as he drifted into sleep.

Nurse Pearl shook her head. “He won’t be bothering anyone for the next hour.”

Jack's eyes met Pearl’s. It was an intense stare - like they had known each other before.

“Thank you,” Jack said. “He’s a disturbing individual.”

Pearl simply smiled and walked out to continue her rounds.

Mitchell's Confession

Jack turned back to Mitchell. “So, uh, where were we?”

Mitchell nodded. “The safe house.”

“Right. You did show up there. You rang the doorbell.”

“I did. That was about a week after Sampson brought me there. I decided to go on my own to warn you about him.”

“We were told not to answer the door for anyone who wasn’t an agent. That included you. I wanted to speak with you but I couldn't”

Mitchell sighed. *“What I didn’t know was that Sampson had me tailed. They followed me to the safe house. When he found out I went there, he dragged me to his basement and beat me up and left me there for about a week. One of the FBI agents found me when they searched his house.”

Jack clenched his jaw. “The man is pure evil.” He hesitated. “So, who killed Xochitl?”

Mitchell’s face darkened. “The sheriff’s older son, Tom. He forced himself on her and had his way and then killed her.”

Jack felt his stomach drop.

Mitchell’s voice was hollow. “I was in the car with Tom, Willy Sampson, and my brother Jim. It was Tom’s car - the green Impala.”

An orderly entered, setting Mitchell’s breakfast beside his bed.

Mitchell barely glanced at it. “Tom threatened us and swore us to secrecy. I saw the whole thing happen in the field behind the Vons grocery store. She was so scared. She was crying. I felt so bad for her. I wanted to do something. But Tom was much bigger than me, and my brother Jim was on drugs. He helped Tom hold her down. Willy stayed in the car. But he knew what was happening.”

Mitchell's voice wavered. “I was in tears. I still have nightmares.”

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Links to the previous chapters of Blackbird Fly:

Part One: https://vocal.media/chapters/blackbird-fly-xrl46g04bk

Part Two: https://vocal.media/chapters/blackbird-fly-part-two-little-angel

Part Three: https://vocal.media/chapters/blackbird-fly-part-three

Part Four: https://vocal.media/chapters/blackbird-fly-part-four

Part Five: https://vocal.media/chapters/blackbird-fly-part-five

Part Six: https://vocal.media/chapters/blackbird-fly-part-six

Part Seven: https://vocal.media/chapters/blackbird-fly-part-seven

Part Eight: https://vocal.media/chapters/blackbird-fly-chapter-eight

Part Nine: https://vocal.media/chapters/blackbird-fly-part-nine