Lots of talking this time!

Jesse's POV

Jeremy and Lukas walked into the dinning room and I insisted Jeremy to sit. Lukas had a mixture of confusion and suspicion written on his face. "Can I get you anything, Jeremy? Coffee, maybe?" I offered. "No, but thank you for the offer, Mrs. Porter." I nodded and took a seat. A moment of awkward silence passed before Lukas said "What do you know?". Jeremy took a deep breath and twined his hands together before giving his answer.

"I know a lot of things, but I suppose I should start with the fact that there's a good chance that I know who your children's captor is." He said in a calm voice.

I felt tears form in my eyes as he spoke those words. He knows? How...? Who? What, when, where? He knows who has them...? I don't understand...I looked over at Lukas and he too had tears in his eyes. His face of confusion and suspicion had now changed into shock. "H-How...?" I asked. I knew that he saw the desperation in my eyes as I said that, because his face softened, as if he was silently apologizing.

"Well, surely you remember ten years ago when you fought against that band of criminals? Well...your children's captor was one of them. Specifically, the one that hit Jesse with a shovel."

How would he know that? I mean, him knowing the story of our return to the Games arena doesn't surprise me. It's famous after all. But how would he know that the man who hit me with a shovel is the captor? How would he know? And why would he come to us instead of the police? "How would you know that?" Lukas asked. He read my mind. I don't understand... "Because I was one of them...I was one of the criminals. Jesse, the man who hit you with a shovel, his name is Cain. After we were all sent to prison, he finally realized that he lost everything. And that he wouldn't get to be free for the next five years. But with every passing day that he rot in that prison, he grew crazier and crazier. He- He couldn't stop rambling to himself about you, Mr and Mrs. Porter. All he could think and talk about was his plan to get revenge on you. I decided to stay away from him...that was one of the best decisions I made at that time." Jeremy explained.

So he's saying that this man named Cain, kidnapped my children all because he wanted revenge? That's the reason why?! I sat there...motionless. The tears that I held back began to fall down my cheeks endlessly. Realizing how distraught I was, Lukas pulled me close in a hug. As I cried into Lukas' shirt, Lukas questioned Jeremy. "Why would you help us?" Lukas asked. It was a bit of a rude question but Jeremy didn't seem to take it personally.

"Because the moment I was released from prison, I vowed to turn my life around. And four years ago I got married to the love of my life who was able to see the good in me and look past my criminal past. And just a few months ago I became a father to my baby girl, Kasie. I don't know what I'd do if something like that happened to her, so I want to help you." Jeremy explained.

"Thank you, and congratulations. But why would you tell us this first and not the police?" Lukas asked, no longer suspicious.

"Because I worry that they'll recognize me and make me a person of interest. So when you tell this information to the police, please don't tell them that you got it from me unless you absolutely have to. Please, I don't want my wife to become suspicious. Deal?" Jeremy said before extending his hand out to us.

Lukas hesitated for a moment, taking the deal into consideration. I didn't know how we were going to avoid telling the police about who told us the information, but we'll find a way. We always do. I confidently grabbed Jeremy's hand and began shaking it, striking the deal. I didn't care if I had to avoid telling the police, because the information we just gained is now invaluable. Me and Lukas graciously thanked Jeremy. We will forever be greatful to him. Jeremy said "You're welcome" before standing to leave. But just as he did, a look of sadness washed over him. I was confused as to why, did we do or say something wrong maybe? No, I don't think that's it. I know that look. It's all too familiar to me. That's the look you make when you look back on sad memories, or memories that are happy but for whatever reason they now make you want to cry. It's the look that you make when you're left breathless. It's the face of recollection. Jeremy slowly sat back down in his chair and looked at us. Me and Lukas stayed silent in anticipation.

"There is something else that I should tell you about Cain. I'm sure that you'll never fully understand, but I feel awful for him." Jeremy admitted. And he was right, I didn't understand. And based off of Lukas' expression, he didn't either. But Jeremy continued before we could question him.

"Cain is a good man, or at least...he was ten years ago."

"Ten years ago? But he was still a criminal then. He still is. Since when was he ever a 'Good man'?" Lukas shot back. He didn't believe it, and I myself struggled to believe it also.

"Because he never stole out of greed. He never became a robber, a criminal, because of greed. He stole because he felt that he had to. He stole to provide for his poor, cold, starving, wife and twelve year old son. He tried everything, he tried begging, getting a job, locally mowing lawns and washing cars, but nothing worked. At least not enough. So he finally resorted to stealing...and he hated it, he hated stealing. I could see it in his eyes in every store, every bank, every jewelry store that we robbed. I knew that with every dollar he took, he grew more and more guilty. But that never stopped him...and it worked...his family was provided for, just like he hoped." I was speechless...but he continued--"That's the reason he accepted the deal that you, Mr. Porter, offered him; riches beyond our wildest dreams. I believe that when he hit Mrs. Porter with a shovel, he did it out of desperation, a last and desperate attempt to better provide for his family. I don't think he want crazy because  he couldn't experience freedom, I think he want crazy because all he wanted to do was provide for wife and son, and he blamed you for taking them away from him..."