Chapter 27 Chapter Twenty-Four

Massachusetts, Boston Friday, June 9, 2006 ten: twenty-five in the morning Jack returns to court, and Craig still doesn't show up.Jack pulled Alexis aside and told her everything that had happened since talking to her last night, as quickly and as tactfully as he could.She just didn't believe it at first, but when she heard the evidence of Craig's crime, she was extremely shocked.At this time, her professionalism prevailed, allowing her to analyze the situation objectively.In this state of mind, it was she, not Jack, who suggested that time was running out, and that now was the time to start if he still wanted to get to church on time.Jack promised to call her in the afternoon, then grabbed his travel bag and rushed to the elevator.

Jack ran wildly across the court yard and down the two flights of steps into the street.Fortunately, the battered Accent was still parked, but a parking ticket had been pinned to the windshield wipers.The first thing to do is get the paper bag with the gun out of the trunk.Jack estimated that he would return the gun on the way to the airport, so he asked Latasha how to get to the police station early in the morning. The police station was not far from where Jack had parked, just around the corner, but had to make a U-turn in the middle of the road.Jack made a quick U-turn, then checked his rearview mirror to make sure there were no police cars on his way.Jack has learned from several painful experiences that when driving in Boston, as long as you miss a turn, you often can't turn back.

The return of the gun went well.Liam was written on the bag.The police officer on duty readily accepted Flanagan's name without asking any questions.After finishing his work, Jack happily ran out of the police station.His car was still parked at the door, double-parked, and the engine was not turned off. The signs on the Airport Expressway were clearer than the rest of the city, and soon Jack was driving into a tunnel.Fortunately, the distance from downtown Boston to the airport is relatively short, and Jack arrived in no time.Following the signs, a few minutes later, Jack pulled the car into the Hertz car rental company's parking lot.

Jack drove the car into the driveway, and there were signs showing the specific steps for returning the car, but Jack ignored it, and ignored the staff walking around to assist customers to return the car.He didn't want to make a long story with the company about the damage to the vehicle.He believed that the Hertz car rental company would definitely contact him.He picked up his travel bag and caught up with the bus bound for the waiting room. He thought the car would start soon, but the car just sat there with the engine off and no driver.Jack looked anxiously at the time, it was past eleven o'clock.He knew that if he missed the 11:30 Delta flight, it would all be over.

The driver finally came and joked while asking everyone which gate to go to.Jack was relieved to learn that Delta's gate was the first stop. The next headache is to buy air tickets.Luckily, Delta Air Lines has dedicated ticket windows.Then there is the security check, but this is not a big problem.After the security check at 11:20, Jack put on his shoes again, trotted all the way through the airport hall, and rushed to the boarding gate. Jack wasn't the last to board, but it was close.As soon as the passenger behind him boarded the plane, the cabin door closed.Jack took the first empty seat he could find so he could get off the plane as quickly as possible in New York.The problem is, this seat is in the middle, with a scruffy student on the left with a Walkman so loud Jack can hear every note, and a businessman in a pinstriped suit on the right, with a laptop on a small table in front of the seat and Blackberry phones.When Jack said he wanted the middle seat, the man gave him a disapproving look.Because it meant moving his carry-on luggage away from the coat and briefcase that had been in the middle seat.

Jack sat down, put his carry-on at his feet, rested his head on the back of the chair, and closed his eyes.Although he was exhausted, he couldn't fall asleep anyway, not only because the volume of the Walkman sitting next to him was too loud.He kept replaying the conversation with Alexis in his head, too brief to be reassuring.Only then did he realize that if he didn't tell others, no one would know about Craig's betrayal of his career and family.It was too late to apologize to Alexis.Instead, he thought, maybe it would be good for Alexis and the kids to know the truth.But he still couldn't feel at ease.Not knowing what will happen next, the chances of the family working together to tide over the storm are slim.Thinking of this, Jack felt more and more that appearances were unreliable.In the eyes of outsiders, the Boman family is almost perfect: the parents are experts, the children are beautiful, and the house can be featured in fashion magazines.But there are cancerous tumors inside, and who knows.

Attention all passengers, the radio in the cabin suddenly rang.I am the captain of this flight.I just received a notification from the ground tower that the New York area is currently in a thunderstorm zone and cannot take off or land.Hope it doesn't last too long.As soon as there is news, we will keep you informed. Oh shit!Jack cursed in a low voice, put his right hand on his forehead, and massaged his temple with the pads of his fingers.The combination of lack of sleep and anxiety is giving him a headache now.Being a realist, he began to consider the consequences of not making it to the wedding.Laurie's attitude was already very clear.She had said she would never forgive him, and Jack believed she would.Laurie doesn't make promises easily, but once she promises, she will do what she says.Thinking of this, Jack began to suspect that the reason he stayed in Boston for so long was not to understand Patience.The mystery left by Stanhope is subconsciously wanting to escape marriage.Jack took a deep breath.He didn't believe he really had this kind of thought in his subconscious, but he couldn't be sure.All he knew was that he wanted to get to church on time.

The radio in the cabin rang again, as if he knew what he was thinking.I am the captain of this flight.Just received the notification from the ground console, it can take off and land normally.We'll do our best to make sure everyone arrives in New York on time. After an unknown amount of time, Jack was awakened by the shock of the plane landing at LaGuardia Airport.To his surprise, despite his anxiety, he fell asleep; to his embarrassment, he drool a little while he fell asleep.Wiping his mouth with the back of his hand, he felt the hard stubble on his chin.He ran his hands over the rest of his face, feeling that he urgently needed to shower and shave.But he glanced at his watch and felt that it was too late.It was twenty-five past twelve.

Jack shook his body like a dog to get the blood circulation back to normal.He smoothed his hair with his fingers again, and suddenly found that the businessman tried his best to hide in the direction of the aisle, and looked at him with strange eyes.Jack felt that this was another proof that he really needed a bath.Although Jack wore a full set of high-density polyethylene paper protective clothing during the autopsy, the body was buried in the ground for eight months, and he had no time to take a bath after the autopsy. The smell can be imagined. Jack suddenly realized that he was shaking his legs frantically, and even put his hands on his knees, he couldn't stop his legs.He remembered that he had never been so anxious.The problem is, he still has to sit still.He'd rather be on the runway right now, running with the plane.

The plane slid towards the waiting room at an extremely slow speed, and then slowly approached the boarding gate.After an unknown amount of time, Jack jumped up from his seat as soon as the bell to unfasten his seat belt rang.The businessman next to him was about to take his travel bag from the luggage compartment above the seat when Jack pushed him aside and walked straight ahead, making him glare.Jack ignored him, greeted people all the way, and finally moved to the cabin door.After waiting for a long time, the hatch finally opened, and Jack was the third to get off the plane. Jack pushed aside the two passengers who got off the plane first, and ran all the way along the boarding aisle.Once in the departure lounge, he went straight to baggage claim.After picking up his luggage, he ran all the way to the door of the waiting room, only to find that there had just been a heavy rain outside, and hot steam was blowing towards his face.He was the first passenger out of the terminal on the flight from Boston to New York, and he thought he wouldn't have to wait in line for a taxi.But this is not the case.The flight from Washington, D.C. to New York had just arrived ten minutes ago, and some passengers were waiting for taxis.

Jack calmly walked to the front of the line and said loudly, I am a doctor and I have an emergency to deal with.Both points are true, but they are not related to each other.The people waiting in line looked at him silently and seemed a little annoyed, but no one objected.Jack jumped into the first taxi. The driver is on the phone.Jack couldn't tell whether he was Indian or Pakistani.He called out his address on 106th Street, and the taxi sped away from the airport. Jack looked at his watch. It was eighteen minutes to one.In other words, forty-eight minutes later he had to show up at the Riverside Church.He wanted to rest on the back of the chair for a while, but he couldn't relax.To make matters worse, after leaving the airport, they will encounter red lights at almost every intersection.Jack looked at his watch again and felt the second hand racing across the dial, much faster than usual.It's fifteen minutes to one. Jack became more and more nervous.He began to wonder if he should go straight to church instead of going back to the apartment.The upside is getting to church on time; the downside is that he's dressed too casually and hasn't shaved or showered. The driver finally finished the first call and was about to make the second when Jack leaned over and said, I don't know if I should say this, but I'm really in a hurry.Then he added another sentence, when we get to the place, if you are willing to wait for me downstairs, an extra tip of twenty dollars will be added. I can wait if you want, the driver happily agreed.He speaks with a typical accent of the Indian subcontinent, which is quite nice. Jack leaned back in the seat and buckled his seat belt.It's already twelve fifty. The next problem was with the tollbooth on the Tri-District Bridge.A car without a fast pass took the fast lane and couldn't back up because there were too many cars behind it.The surrounding cars honked their horns desperately, and some people shouted and cursed loudly.At last the problem was solved, but another five minutes were wasted.It was already one o'clock when Jack finally arrived in Manhattan. Jack became more and more anxious.The only good thing is that it takes his mind off the catastrophe facing Alexis and Craig.Malpractice lawsuits are unfortunate; murders are fatal.The family is going to suffer for years, and it's unlikely to end well. The driver was very familiar with the terrain, passed a secluded road in Harlem, and quickly passed through the city.It was exactly fifteen past one when the car stopped in front of Jack's building.Jack opened the door before the car stopped. Jack ran up the front steps and burst through the front door, startling some of the workmen.The whole building is being renovated, and the world is full of dust, which cannot be avoided.Jack ran across the hall to the apartment where he and Laurie had been staying during construction, rubble strewn across the floor and puffs of smoke rising. Jack used the key to unlock the apartment door and was just about to enter when the construction supervisor a few floors up spotted him, yelling to talk to him about the plumbing.Jack shouted that he had no time to talk at the moment.After entering the house, Jack threw his carry-on luggage on the couch and began to undress until he reached the bathroom door, leaving a long line of clothes on the floor. He looked in the mirror first, and couldn't help frowning. His cheeks and chin were covered with stubble, as if painted with soot; his eyes were red and sunken.He couldn't make up his mind whether to shave or take a shower, and it was definitely too late to do both.After a quick calculation, he decided to take a bath.He leaned into the bathtub and turned the hot and cold faucets to the maximum at the same time, but only a few drops of water came out: it seemed that the water pipes in the whole building were broken. Jack turned off the tap, sprayed himself with a lot of perfume, and ran out of the bathroom.When he entered the bedroom, he hurriedly put on his underwear, put on his dress shirt, put on his tuxedo, took the buttons and cuff buttons, stuffed them into his trousers pocket, and stuffed his pre-tied black bow tie into the other pocket, and then put on his formal shirt. Put your shoes in, put your wallet in the back pocket of your trousers, and put your phone in your jacket pocket.Having done this, he ran downstairs and into the hall. In order not to stir up dust, he slowed down, but the construction supervisor saw him again and shouted that he insisted on talking to him.Jack ignored him at all.When he went out, the taxi was still waiting for him.Jack crossed the street and hopped into a taxi. Riverside Church!Jack yelled. Do you know which street it is?the driver asked, looking at Jack in the rearview mirror. 142nd Street, Jack answered succinctly.He began to put on the studs clumsily, accidentally dropped one on the chair, and soon rolled into the gap between the cushion and the back of the chair, where he could no longer find it.Jack tried to put his hand in the crevice, but couldn't get in, so he gave up and wore the rest of the stud, the bottom buttonhole being left blank. Are you rushing to get married?The driver asked while continuing to look at Jack from the rearview mirror. Hope so, Jack said and started working on the cufflinks.After finally putting on one, I started to deal with the other.He couldn't recall the last time he wore a tuxedo, it felt like a lifetime ago, when he was an ophthalmologist.After putting on the cufflinks, Jack bent down, tied his shoelaces, and dusted off the dust on his body.The final step is to button the top button of the shirt and put on the pre-tied bow tie. Looking very energetic, the driver said with a bright smile. Needless to say, Jack said with his usual sarcasm.He turned sideways, took out his wallet from the back pocket of his trousers, looked at the meter, took out a few twenty-dollar bills to pay for the car, and prepared two more.As soon as the car was on Riverside Drive, he threw money into the passenger seat through the gap between the front and rear acrylic partitions. The brown-gray tower of the riverside church gradually came into view.Compared with the buildings next to it, this Gothic building stands out from the crowd.Several black luxury cars parked in front of the church.Except for a few drivers resting by the side of the car, there was no one else.Jack looked at his watch.Thirty-three past one.He was three minutes late. Before the car stopped, Jack opened the door.Without looking back, he thanked the driver, jumped out of the car, and rushed up the church steps in two steps, buttoning his coat as he ran.Laurie suddenly appeared at the door of the church, wearing a white wedding dress, she was as beautiful as a fairy, and there was magnificent organ music behind her. Jack couldn't help but stop and watch.He thought Laurie was more beautiful than ever, indeed radiant.The fly in the ointment was that at this moment, she was crossing her hips, clenched her fists, and was looking at him angrily.Her father, Dr. Montgomery, was there too, looking dignified but serious. Jack!Laurie's voice was a little annoyed, but clearly relieved.you are late! Hey, Jack held out his hand and responded.At least I'm still here. Laurie couldn't help laughing.Get off to church, she ordered jokingly. Jack climbed the remaining steps and took Laurie's extended hand.Laurie moved closer, looking him up and down, her eyes full of concern. God, you look so bad. Don't compliment me like that, Jack pretended to be shy. You came here unshaven? It could be worse than that, he volunteered, hoping she didn't realize he hadn't showered in thirty hours. I don't know if it's right or wrong to marry you, Laurie's smile is back.My mother's friends will be shocked when they see you. I would be terrified too. Laurie smiled wryly.You, your nature is hard to change. I disagree with this statement.I feel like I'm already changing.I did arrive a little late, but here I am.Will you marry me? Laurie's smile widened.Of course I would.I made up my mind years ago and have been waiting for you to speak. I don't know how to express my gratitude, thank you for waiting for me. You only showed up at the last moment, which makes people nervous, and there must be some well-prepared rhetoric. I'd love to tell you all about it.To be honest, the outcome of this incident was completely beyond my expectations.You won't believe it if you tell me. I'd love to hear what happened too, Laurie said.But now you had better hurry into the church and stand by the altar.Your best man, Warren, is very annoyed.He came out fifteen minutes ago and said he was going to spank your ass, that's what he said. Laurie pushed Jack into the church, and Jack was immediately overwhelmed by the magnificent organ music.He looked at the long aisle in the middle of the church, hesitating for a moment.He was really intimidated.The right side of the church was so full that there were hardly any vacant seats; the left side was almost empty, but Jack could still see the way.Sordano and Xie.Mark Gervin.Jack couldn't tell whether the priest, priest, priest, rabbi, or imam stood at the altar, and he didn't want to know.He wasn't interested in organized religion, and he didn't feel that there was any distinction between good and bad religions.Warren stood next to the pastor, looking dapper in a tuxedo.Jack took a deep breath and stepped forward into a new life. The ensuing ritual was chaos for Jack.He was gently pushed back and forth, constantly being reminded in his ear what to do next.He was in Boston the other day, so he missed the wedding rehearsal.For him, everything is the first time. His favorite part of the whole wedding was running out of the church, because it meant the ordeal was finally over.He rested in the car for a while, but it was too short.It's only fifteen minutes' drive from the church to the grass lounge where the reception was held. Receptions are less intimidating than weddings.If he hadn't been so sleepy, Jack might have found the reception interesting.After a good lunch, some drinks, and a few dances, he felt like he was going to pass out.But before he passed out, he had to make a phone call.He got up and left the table, found a relatively quiet place at the entrance of the lounge, and called Alexis. Married?After figuring out that it was Jack calling, Alexis asked this in the first sentence. Done. congratulations!That's great.I'm so happy for you. Thank you, said Jack.I'm calling specifically to apologize.I made your life worse.You asked me to go to Boston to help Craig, indirectly to help you.In the end I was not helping.I am so sorry.I feel like an accomplice. Thank you for going out of your way to apologize, Alexis said.Craig's actions are his own responsibility, and so are yours for exposing them.I think this will come to light sooner or later.To be honest, it's good for me to know the truth.It makes any decisions I make so much easier. Did Craig go back to court afterward? No.I don't know where he is either.The arrest warrant has been issued, the police have searched the house and confiscated all his files, including his passport, so he can't run far.No matter where he goes, he can't escape the law after all. Strange to say, I felt sorry for him. I feel sorry for him too. Has he come back to see the kids?Have you called? No.I'm not surprised at all, he doesn't kiss the kids in the first place. I don't think he's close to anyone.Maybe even closer to you. Looking back now, I don't think he even kissed me.It's so sad.I personally feel that his father should be responsible for this. Notify me in time if there is news!Jack said.We're going on our honeymoon soon, but I'm going to keep my phone on all the time. This afternoon, I received a bad news.A week ago, Craig mortgaged our house to the bank for several million dollars. How can you mortgage without your signature? sure.When he first bought a house, he insisted that only his name be written on the real estate certificate, saying that it was convenient for paying taxes and insurance.I didn't even bother with him at the time. How many millions in cash? no.The bank said it was remitted to a foreign account. If you're short of money, just let me know.I'm relatively well off because I haven't spent much money in the past ten years. Thank you.I made a note of this.Economically there should be no problem.I can work part-time in a private clinic to subsidize my family. The two exchanged a few more personal words before Jack hung up the phone.Instead of returning to the dinner table immediately, he began to think about the injustice and impermanence of fate.He and Laurie are going on their honeymoon to welcome a new life.Alexis and the children face bleak prospects and emotional pain.Jack felt that after all these, a person would either become a carpe bliss, or become a devout believer, one of the two extremes. Jack stood up.He chose the former, and now wanted to take Laurie home.