Chapter 31: Operation: Mind Control

Contingency plan.

She heard too much. A lot of things she didn't need to know. Things that could ruin him and Darren. Their career, their life, everything.

He could have stopped Darren from blurting out their secrets, but too late. In fact, she could've called the cops already.

Dammit. Too risky. He needed to do something now. There was no time for procrastination or feigning optimism. Jenson swore in his head and slid a pill into his pocket. He should maintain control of the situation. Not let more shit hit the fan.

Before rushing out the door, he glanced at Darren in the corner. The guy remained on the divan, clutching his phone, facing the wall, and lying on his side, almost in a fetal position. Darren seemed sedated now, no longer crying or hysterically shouting things no one should hear about.

Two wolfsbane pills in one gulp usually did the trick for half-bloods like them. A physical outburst that intense warranted that much dose.

He would bet Darren wasn't taking his meds the past couple of days. Thus the hostility. Just being reckless and stupid all over again. The guy didn't even flinch that there was someone else in the office.

"Stay in here."

Darren didn't say anything. Probably pretending to be asleep.

"Get some sleep." Jenson shut the door and locked it from the outside with an old padlock, taking no chances, just to make sure Darren wouldn't escape. They would have to deal with the other things later.

While he stood alone outside his office kitchen, Jenson took out the pill and stared at it. At first glance, it looked normal. Nothing suspicious. The usual caplet shape. A bluish-lavender shade. Barely half the size of his thumb.

It wasn't cheap or easily accessible, but considering their kind's limited population and their dire need for "treatment," it wasn't really surprising how scientific pursuit mixed with capitalist greed again.

It was basically a potent sedative, a neurotoxin inhibitor, and a painkiller all in one. In short, a good way to avoid detection and bloody rampages.

Constant medication and self-discipline. It wasn't a one-off deal. Never been. Just cons of their genetic abnormality.

"How is he?" Jessiah watched him as he stepped into the small kitchen slash dining area. She sat in the corner chair while gripping her phone, her eyes squinting at him.

"Fine," Jenson sighed. Something about the way she sat quietly and alone made him feel like a predator honing in on its prey. Or maybe it was just the slight nervousness and anxiety leading his thoughts into a darker route.

"You sure?"

"Talked him out of it. He's exhausted. Gonna be snoring in a minute."

"So, he's staying here overnight?"

"No." He walked towards the small fridge to grab the pitcher full of juice. She prepared it for him earlier. "I'll drive him home."

"So...um..." Jessi cleared her throat, her voice hushed by some uncertainty. "Should I report it to security?"

"No. No need." He turned his back to her and poured juice into a clean glass. As quietly as he could, he crushed half of the pill with his thumb. "Sorry it startled you," he sighed, swiftly pouring the powdered pill into the glass of pineapple juice. "He just drinks too much sometimes."

"Yeah," she murmured with a quick sigh. "I noticed."

"Thanks for stayin', and for dinner." Jenson stared at the powdery substance as it dissolved and mixed with the pale yellow liquid. His heartbeat picked up the pace while he stood still next to the fridge, patiently waiting with his back to her. Not a lot. It shouldn't taste weird.

It wasn't a guaranteed solution to his problem, but he had to try. In high doses, the pills would be toxic to an ordinary human—especially the dosage for purebloods—but he had to try at least. Desperate times. Desperate measures.

On the other hand, he could try convincing her it was just another bender, but she'd heard and seen too much, and he didn't have hypnosis skills. Unlike Magnus. Anyways, it was just a pinch of the drug. It shouldn't cause heart paralysis or fatal respiratory issues, like the back labels warned.

He wasn't planning on seizing her phone or scaring her to stop her from contacting the authorities. Nor did he plan on physically restraining her to stop her from getting out of his office. That would only escalate the problem.

It would definitely cost him her full trust, too. "You okay?" He stood beside her and handed her the cold glass.

"Yeah. Thanks." Jessi nodded faintly before she drank the juice in slow gulps, barely moving in her chair. Her lean arms and shoulders looked tense under her blazer. Her voice sounded faint, and she still seemed uptight.

It was none other than the shock. After what she saw and heard from him and Darren just minutes ago, he couldn't blame her and her reaction. Most likely she was planning to call the police after Darren's violent behavior. The physical assault was just undeniable. "Need a ride home?"

"No. I'll get a cab."

"You sure?" Jenson took a deep breath as he stood closer to her with his hand splayed on the table. He smelled a hint of fear in her scent. He also recognized the bewilderment in her brown eyes, but she was putting on a calm expression for him. "I can drive you to your place. No biggie."

"No. It's fine. Thanks." She put the glass down on the table. "What time will you leave tomorrow?" Her brows scrunched when she stared at him. "Your flight, I mean. 'Cause I gotta prep your things for the travel. I just read the updated list of travel requirements."

Unbelievable. Still in PA mode. He grinned to himself and almost shook his head in disbelief. The woman just liked her job way too much. "You don't have to. I'll do it."

"Okay."

"Just go home. Sleep it off." Jenson glanced at the almost empty glass beside her pale hand.

"You should, too."

"Don't worry about it. Try to enjoy your weekend, for once." He put on a smile and looked her in the eye, waiting for something in her blank expression to change. He needed to check for dilated pupils, chest pains, shallow intakes of breath, some neurologic symptoms, or anything serious. So far she still looked and sounded normal. He held in a sigh of relief.

"I'll try," Jessi mumbled after looking away. Then she got busy on her phone for a moment.

He stood beside her while peeking at the screen.

She wasn't calling 911 or anything. Just scrolling through a social media app.

"Did you...call the cops?" he asked after a minute or so of total silence.

"No." She looked up from her phone to stare back at him. "Should I?" she murmured with a slight pout.

"No. It's fine. I'll sort him out."

"How did he..." She glanced away again and scratched her brow. "Why was he saying he didn't 'kill her'? Did he mean that girl, Ramona?"

"Yeah." Jenson sighed and crossed his arms, minding the confusion in her pretty eyes. "He told me he's been having nightmares. Then he drinks too much when he can't sleep and it just..." He swore under his breath. "Doesn't end well most of the time."

"I can imagine." She scoffed and shook her head weakly.

They both fell silent when he didn't say anything more. Well, she didn't need to hear a more specific recounting of the highly suspicious incidents concerning him and Darren. Or Magnus' involvement.

"So she's dead? Not missing anymore?"

"Sadly." He watched her closely while sitting next to her. If he lied about the whole thing, she would find out eventually. Then she would no longer trust him and his word. He'd rather give her half-truths now than worry constantly and deal with the repercussions of his big lies later. "I heard her parents buried her in their hometown months ago."

Jessi tutted and reclined, her expression one of disappointment.

"He thinks it's somehow his fault. Must be 'cause of the nightmares."

"How did she die? Do you know?" she asked with a steady gaze focused on her phone screen.

"Overdose."

"Shit."

"Yeah. He told me she was a runaway teen once," he mumbled.

"And she was pregnant?"

"According to the medical report. DJ just found out."

"And the parents? They know already?"

"Yeah, most likely."

Jessi sighed out loud and palmed her forehead.

"It was an accident," he clarified. "She was abusing drugs since she was a teenager." Or at least that's what Darren and Magnus said. Jenson got up from the chair, but her hand clasped his forearm before he could walk away from the table.

"Wait. So, it was...definitely Darren's baby?" she muttered, staring into his eyes now, seeming eager to hear more direct answers.

"He thinks so." He stood still next to her while blocking off the keen urge to swear.

Best case scenario: the pill was already working and she would forget about their entire conversation by tomorrow morning.

Worst case: her memories of everything that happened today would stay intact and she would be sleeping off the aftereffects of the drug during the entire weekend.

Absolute worst case: she wouldn't wake up from her sleep and it would be too late before she ended up in the nearest emergency room.

Shit. Starting tonight, he should check up on her every few hours. Jenson grabbed the glass beside her hand and drank the rest of the juice. Good. Still fresh. Even for someone with a highly sensitive nose, the cold drink tasted fine.

"He's fine. Just needs a lotta sleep," he commented in a more relaxed voice, imagining Darren falling asleep now.

"I'm worried about him, honestly." Jessi covered her mouth with her fist and blankly stared at the doorway.

"I'm thinkin' of taking him to rehab when I get back from New York. Just, y'know, insurance." He sat beside her again, waiting for her to look him in the eye, anticipating her next reaction. When she didn't respond, he breathed out a sigh. "He's no killer, Jess. Just a troubled guy with issues."

"Yeah," she murmured before looking away, seeming a tad doubtful. "I won't tell anyone if you don't want me to."

"Thanks." Whew...

"But in case, you're gonna report it..." Jessi got up from her seat and grabbed her phone. "You can use the CCTV footage as proof."