My life, my life
Makes me wanna run away
There's no place to go
No place to go
All the confusion
It's an illusion, like a movie
Got nowhere to go
Nowhere to run and hide
No matter how hard I try, yeah

~ 50 Cent, Adam Levine and Eminem ( My Life )

1

It was a very long trip, 3 hours and 27 minutes. But Rachel had built her hopes, she had picked them up, one-by-one and made a decent tower out of it. But now she had two main reason for ending this case. And she needed to end it real quick.

' Once we get Ryan, it'll all be fine. He had been in the prison and no news of him has surfaced. He is fine, I know he will be just fine. All he needs to do is say the name and the place and it will all be over, over in a jiffy. ' she thought as Andrew drove them to D.C Prisoner Legal Service, Dupont. After they landed on D.C Airport.

One of the reason was to save Ryan from being wrongly accused or giving evidence to the fact that he was been controlled by someone else. And another of reason was her father. Her mind had been exploding with all the thoughts surfacing in her mind. She was constantly thinking about him. And she wanted to stop. Stop it all. 

Margaret had proved to be a rather weak person in reality. All that facade, it hadn't really gotten into her. But what could she do, Rachel sympathised with her. Margaret was younger than Rachel yet it failed to answer Rachel as to how did Margaret get promotion at such a superior position. She had of course written down and given permission for Rachel and her team to fly to Washington. All they had to do was to show their badges and the permission and go get Ryan. 

Taking a left here, they were getting close to the prison. Grace had been trying to get information from the undercover team. But they were sloppy and didn't show interest in any activity. However, they had hopes. After driving to about 5 minutes more, they reached the prison department. It was cold but fortunately the sun was out and ready to save the day. Lucky for Rachel because she did not pack a single warm cloth.

They parked the vehicle and everybody moved out of the car. Taking the short steps of the brownish building same as their Headquarters at Sacramento, it was brick colour and there were small glass windows. Rachel could see people in blue T- shirts going out, talking on the phone. Some were taking out the prisoners, some were taking in. She moved out in front and to the desk. The whole room was dark with very little lights,

' Budget and politics ' thought Rachel,

She stood in front of the desk, everyone else sat down except Victor who sood up with Rachel and folded his hands. A worker came from the other side, between him and Rachel there was a net like window. He looked at Rachel and then at Victor. Rachel showed him her badge and Victor showed him his gun kept neatly in it hold on its hip. The worker looked at both the objects and his face gleaned down.

" Coppers " he said, Rachel nodded.

" What are you here for? " he asked, 

" We need to speak with Ryan Holster his is a felon here. " said Rachel,

" Sure is, gave us one helluva scare. Tell you what that guy needs a doctor. Scribbled all over the wall, wouldn't leave his cell. Marky had to bring his food to him. Kinda Psychic type jus' tellin' ya " spoke the worker,

" We'll see to that, here is the permission paper. Now please " said Rachel with tapping on her watch,

" Yeah, yeah " said the worker, he began scribbling something on the paper while Rachel eagerly waited. After a few minutes, the worker came out from the door and motioned them to come with him.

He opened the door and invited them to the interrogation room. Here criminals, guilty or not, can meet with their lawyers, family, police etc. It had a vending machine and a soda dispenser along side a water dispenser. The worker told them to sit down and wait. 

Worker went up the stairs and checked his clipboard. Along with other papers, he had scribbled on side of one, 217. He looked at the number and began checking the numbers on the cell. Only the last two digits mattered, because 2 was because of the second prison they had made. He walked slowly and 15. . . 16. . . here came, 17. The worker paused between 16 and 17, he looked and said a small prayer. Then he moved to cell number 17.

He reached the cell, there was the guy. Peacefully sleeping on bed, he had never seen such a free or rather a confident person like him. That guy was like an ordinary or a frequent celler. Yet, it was hard for him to see that Ryan was first time admitted to a jail. He knocked at the door and began opening the latch. Ryan woke up. Dark circles had formed and he had taken over a weird smile which was oddly satisfying to the worker. 

" Is the police? " he asked yawning, the worker nodded.

" Well then it must be Rachel " said Ryan, he got up and stood in front of the worker who looked at him with an astonished and confused look, 

" What? Just handcuff me and take me down. You are wasting time officer " said Ryan with a voice of the fat ol' jailer who scuttered away when he first encountered Ryan. The worker handcuffed him and took him down.

They reached down and the worker opened the door, Rachel rushed to meet him and so did they others. Worker unhinged the cuffs and looked at Rachel, who assured him non- verbally that he could go and that she would take care of him. They worker was rather willing for it. 

" It's good to see you Ray " said Ryan and he hugged her, Rachel ot an instant shock when he did that, 

" Wait, Ray? How did you know that? " she asked,

" well. . . I don't know " said Ryan

" Things are getting weirder " said Rachel to victor, who nodded. Ryan sat down on the chair smiling at everybody.

2 

Ryan looked at the vending machine. Rachel looked at him.

' Look at that, one of the most violent criminals acting like a baby ' She thought,

He went towards the machine, slapping it on one side with his palms, he made the chips bag fall into the delivery tray. Andrew and Grace looked at him with a face which was almost expressing total confusion and an unhealthy mixture of Smart and Awesomeness. Victor looked at him with his hands folded. Ryan then took out the cup and poured out the fizzed drink. Then he returned to his seat. He noticed that everybody was looking at him in surprise,

" Don't worry, just needed some food. You may continue " he said, 

Rachel looked at everyone else and then spoke, " Ryan, you have been accused of murder and attempted murder of President of the United States Of America. "

" Wrongfully " said Ryan opening the packet of chips.

" Uh, yes. Can you tell me the exact details of the crime which you committed? " said Rachel picking up her small pocket notebook and pen. 

' This is will be the end, Just say it out. ' she thought 

Ryan ate a few chips and then drank the soda, putting down his cup he smiled at her and said,

" I don't know. " 

Rachel looked at him, just stared at him with a lost hope. The last candle of hope extinguished by a bird which flew past. A coming to tide suddenly took a turn. A life coming back suddenly decided to give up.

" What?! , What do you mean you don't know? Of course you know? Somebody set you up. That's what you wanted to tell me right? Back at Sac. You wanted to tell that to me look," she said, then she sat down and bend towards him.

" Look I am sorry if I didn't listen to you, but this is a national case now. More than that it's become a threat. Please Ryan Holster, If I ever did wrong to you now is Not the perfect time for revenge. " She said, 

Ryan looked at her with a sorry face, 

" I don't know anything. I can't tell you who it was, I can't even remember what I did. " he said putting his head down.

" Ryan, Ryan relax you've got it in here, " Rachel tapped on his forehead, Andrew and Grace got up and surrounded Ryan.

" Now all I want is that you close your eyes and try to remember, just remember the sight. Just remember it" said Rachel, she did not want to lose hope so quickly, 

Ryan closed his eyes and took a deep breath and tensed his eyebrows, Rachel crossed her fingers behind her back. 

' Please, let this end. This is been too long. ' she thought

Ryan's breathing became paced and paced, his face scrunched up into a ball of tension as he tried to focus and focus. But nothing came, nothing occurred. It was a white sheet of paper. 

" I . . . can't!! " said Ryan in a frustrated tone, he opened his eyes with a lost hope. He looked at Rachel,

" I can't. . ." he said again, 

" Oh my god, Oh My God!! Ryan you were our only lead. " began Rachel in a frustrated and rather scary tone,

" Boss calm down " said Grace, 

" Calm down?! This man is supposed to say a name, a Bloody Name!! that's all. . . and there he is looking and acting like a complete loon. No wonder you will ever be anything Ryan. " she said, all her tension, her worries and her anger just blurted out from the mouth. Just like that, in one go, it was all out. All the melted wax had dribbled into solid rocks and she was throwing them all at Ryan, all at once.

" Boss, relax. Sit down " said Andrew, Victor drew out a chair from another table, Rachel sat down with a heavy thud, placing her hands on her head. 

Ryan looked at Rachel with a worried look, 

" Maybe I am mad, maybe I need a Psychiatrist. But don't go on insulting like that " he said,

Rachel heard him but said nothing,

' Needs a Psychiatrist does he? And like we have time for that. They don't even have them here--'  Her thoughts were interrupted. 

" Charlotte. We can call Charlotte, yes, yes, yes!. We can call her and didn't she tell that he was been controlled. She could prove it, then at least there will be some research to do. " she said, 

She turned to Grace and said, " Call Charlotte. Ask her to come to Washington D.C now "  

Grace dialed Charlotte but it didn't even ring. She tried it again with the same result. 

" Charlotte isn't picking her phone." said Grace,

" UH. . . .. . Then we are doomed " Rachel said, 

" No, maybe if we let him loose and let him roam a bit. Maybe they'll catch him and then we'll catch them " suggested Victor.

"No, it's too risky. People already saw his face and they'll probably kill him if they see him. " said Rachel,

" Well then let him at least walk around the crime scene, the white house. Maybe he'll remember something, we will disguise him. Good " said Victor,

Rachel reasoned with herself, one side this was complete madness but on other they had run out of their options. The trial was to happen in 3 days. Lawyers had been rushing like winds at this case, providing evidence on evidence and try their level best to impress the judges so they had preponed the trial. They had to act on the plan or else it was over. She gathered everyone, except Ryan.

" Fine, but we'll keep a close watch. He does anything to anyone and we act. If someone causes harm to him we make an arrest. Clear? " she said,

Everyone nodded, including Ryan. 

.

STOP!! I was about to spill the beans. This journey gets its final act as another 3 chapters close Ryan's story. I hope you enjoyed the journey with Ryan 'till now. And let's hope that Ryan doesn't get killed by someone in the next chapter.

Vote on the story if you liked it, and comment on your favourite part. 

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Sherlock Holmes