THE RITZ CARTON HOTEL-PARIS
Jennifer Hart was excited, this last minute decision to Join Jonathan at a conference was something she thought she'd never get to do but she managed to complete her writing assigment ahead of schedule and had actually surprised him on the Tarmac just as he was boarding Hart 1, Their driver pulling up as The Flight crew was preparing to close the door.
She'd run up the stairs to the gateway and nearly got the door slammed in her face, it wasn't the Flight Attendant's fault because she just wasn't expecting Jennifer to be there but Jennifer made it through the door and was told Jonathan had gone back into his office, she nodded and asked for them not mention that she was on Board to Jonathan, she wanted to see the expression on his face..
She took her usual seat and waited for him, however when she realized halfway through the flight that he was probably napping and probably wouldn't come out of the office until they landed.
Jennifer knocked on the office door and waited for him to call "Come in," When he didn't answer, she opened the door and saw him sitting at the desk with two glasses of champagne.
"What took you so long?" He asked Picking Up Two Glasses
She had to laugh, "How did you know?" taking the glass from him.
"I saw you running across the tarmac," He put his glass down and pulled her face to his, kissing her so hard she nearly dropped the glass.
She melted and they both sank to the floor, making love felt about as natural as breathing or sleeping to them and just to ensure privacy, Jonathan reached up and locked the door.
After they finished dressing and re-took their seats, They finally landed and it was like they were back on their honeymoon, kissing in the limo until they pulled up in front of the limo.
Jonathan hadn't wanted to leave her to attend the meeting in Central London but he knew that it would be boring for her, leaving her behind he said would only be for a few hours and when he was done, they'd go back to the spots that they shared on their first date. Dinner Dancing and back to the Ritz.
She was excited that they would paint the town red, she showered and was sitting at her dressing table putting on makeup when the TV, which had been put on while she showering flashed a breaking news that a Jewelry Store had been robbed and there were currently six hostages including Wealthy Industrious Jonathan C. Hart.
She wasn't sure if she'd heard right but when the reporter repeated his name, Her Heart instantly stopped and for a moment, she couldn't breath.
What was he doing there? More importantly, was he alright?
She wouldn't wait for the answers instead she quickly dressed in a pale blue cardigan and matching pants, quickly clipped her hair back because it was damp and slipped on her high heels.
When Jennifer arrived at the Jewelry store, a crowd had already formed and the police were on every corner. No matter how many times she said her name, they refuse to give answers and would tell her to move back to the crowd.
Somehow she'd managed to move with the crowd to a sidewalk across the street and slipped under the caution tape to where it appeared the main Police Officer as in charge.
She rushed over, just as another Police Officer was about to grab her arm, she yelled, "My name is Jennifer Hart, My husband is one of the hostages,"
The Police Officer nodded seeing the pain in her eyes and the cracking of her voice, "She's okay,"
Jennifer exhaled, "Thank you, now please Tell Me what's happened?"
"We've established there are three robbers and six hostages including your husband and the security guard, we've been getting limited information and in order to free the hostages, we need to establish some connection,"
"I'll go," She said the words before she even realized.
"Mrs. Hart, I can't risk you getting hurt. As a civilian, you would need to get assurances to go inside." The Police officer said putting his hand on her shoulder
"Sir, You either authorize me or watch me go in blindly, either way I'm going to rescue my husband even if it means going down in a hail of bullets" Jennifer was adamant.
The Police Officer exhaled, "Fine but please put on a flak jacket and let us wire you up so we can at least get some intel,"
Jennifer nodded and was taken to a Police Mobile Unit where she was instructed to remove her top to accommodate the jacket so it wouldn't be obvious then the microphone was taped to her back. She then put her shirt back on and was told that she had to be careful of pulling out the wires.
Jennifer swallowed and agreed, then was sent out to walk back to the Jewelry Store.
The Jewelry Store had a large Bay window so she could see, although limited that Jonathan was leaning against a glass cabinet. For a moment she sighed with relief and was just climbing the stairs when an explosion inside knocked her off feet and back onto the pavement, she wouldn't remember hitting the pavement but when she came to, she saw that there was nothing left to the Jewelry Store except smoke and flames.
"JONATHAN!" She screamed, "JONATHAN," she tried to get up but realized that something or someone was pinning her to the ground.
It was a Police Officer, different than the one in charge but he must have seen what was about to happen and threw his body across hers.
"Let me up, please!" She begged.
"I'm so sorry Ma'am, But I can't, there's nothing we can do." The officer's voice did little to sooth her and she watched as the Firefighters rushed in to fight the flames. Jonathan surely must have gotten out.
Hours later, there was still no word on whether or not Jonathan Hart had been inside the explosion or was taken out the back and Jennifer had stood there for hours, hoping against hope.
Eventually the Police took her back to the hotel, there was nothing that they could until the Fire Brigade declared the building safe enough to enter and begin the investigation.
She had long stopped crying, she was just stunned and she wasn't even aware that her clothes were dirty and ripped, that she had a cut on her forehead and her hair was all over the place, nothing else mattered.
When the Police left her sitting in the Living Room, she waited until she heard the door closed and picking up the large vase of Roses, threw it against the wall.
She went to the bathroom and turned the light on, when she looked at herself in the mirror, she saw that she was a hollow version of herself already and it frightened her to her core.
She turned on the water and waited for the steam to build up but it took so long she fell asleep on the floor of the bathroom.
Jennifer was dreaming, they were back at Willow Pond and Max was downstairs making one of his famous breakfasts downstairs while she and Jonathan were upstairs, usually making love. She could feel his breathe on her neck and the cold silk sheets beneath her.
Suddenly she heard knocking, "Max, Go away," the banging was getting louder and louder.
She opened her eyes and looked around, realizing she wasn't in California and that it wasn't Max at the door, she slowly got up and realized that when she'd turned on the shower and fell asleep, the tub had overflowed.
But she didn't care, Maybe it was Jonathan and he'd just lost the hotel key.
Jennifer practically ran to the door, "Oh Darling!" She threw it up open to find two police officers.
"Mrs. Hart?" They both looked so solemn that her heart instantly shattered and she dropped to her knees.
"Jonathan, Oh Jonathan," She screamed until She faded into oblivion.
The American Hospital
Two Nurses walking toward the Cafeteria were discussing a new Patient that had been brought in following an accident.
"The New Patient up on 6?" The Red headed Nurse said , "The Poor guy, he's lost his vision and his memory"
"How awful, All they know is He's American and that he had a wedding ring on that said "Charlie," a blonde nurse replied.
