Jennifer was yelling now, she was convinced the child with Elliot was their daughter, hers and Jonathan's.
"I knew it, I knew he would do something to get revenge for me leaving him" she screamed "He won't get away with this, I'll kill him myself... I swear to God I'll kill him myself!"
"Jennifer, you need to calm down Darling."
"Calm down, how am I supposed to calm down, I've just seen that mad man with our little girl, the baby we thought we'd lost."
"Ok, I know you're shocked and upset, but if you don't calm down she might not be the only baby we lose. We have our little guy in there to think about too." He said rubbing his hand over her abdomen before taking her in his arms. He lifted her chin, forcing her to look at him, her hazel eyes were full of tears which quickly spilled down her cheeks.
"Jonathan, please..." she pleaded with him "Please believe me, it's her, it's our Aubrey. I know you think it's just grief but it isn't." Jennifer lifted her hand and placed it over her heart "I carried her and I gave birth to her, I looked in to her sweet face and fell in love with her... I know she isn't dead. Please Darling, you need to do something. He's crazy, if thinks we're on to him he'll disappear and we'll never find her. You have people working for you all over the world, get someone there to watch him until we can fly to Kenya!"
"Jennifer, you can't fly to Kenya..." Jennifer switched from pleading with him to being furious with him.
"I can and I damn well will, with you or without you. Get something done about him Jonathan, I'm deadly serious." Jonathan knew by the way her eyes changed colour she was serious, they were almost golden like a lioness. Jennifer felt like a threatened lioness that had to do whatever it took to protect her cubs – both of them. "I won't do anything to put our baby in danger, but right now his big sister is out there in the clutches of that maniac and we need to get to her."
Jonathan didn't know what to think. He knew that Jennifer had never been convinced that their baby had died, but her ex boyfriend kidnapping her and raising her as his own was so farfetched that his rational mind couldn't process it. As he struggled to get his head around it Jennifer left his arms and headed to the phone, picking it up she called her agent Marcia.
"Marcia it's Jennifer, can you get a recording of the news report that's just aired about Elliot Manning? I know you have contacts at the network and I really need it couriered to the house as soon as possible, at whatever the cost. I can't explain why but please, it's an emergency." Marcia knew Jennifer well and understood from her voice that this was majorly important. "I also need to speak to the reporter, can you pull some strings for me... please Marcia?" Marcia confirmed that she'd sort something out and they disconnected.
Jennifer was the one in control now, she was being driven by an unseen force – a Mother's love. Jonathan watched her and knew that there was no way she was letting go of this so he had no choice but to go along with her. Part of him believed her but the other part needed hard evidence. She was right that she'd had a connection with Aubrey that he hadn't, they'd made their peace with what had happened in the months they were apart, but the truth was that he'd only known of his daughter's existence hours before she was born. Maybe that was why he didn't feel what Jennifer did.
Putting down the phone Jennifer turned to look at her husband. She loved him with all her heart but even that wasn't as strong as what she felt for her babies. She knew he would be trying to rationalise it but she didn't need him to think like an intelligent businessman, she needed him to think like a Daddy!
"Jonathan?"
"I'm on it." Was all he said and while Jennifer ran upstairs to pack some things he got on the phone to Frank, the Hart Industries Pilot and had him prepare a flight plan for Nairobi, telling him they'd be flying on to somewhere further in to the bush but he didn't know the exact location yet.
It took a couple of hours to get the recording of the show, and as Jonathan signed for it the phone rang and Jennifer answered. It was the reporter that they'd seen interview Elliot and she thanked him for calling. They talked about the location of the Wildlife Preserve and the little girl that Elliot claimed as his own. Jennifer told him that she was the child's Mother and that Elliot had taken her, all the while praying that he wouldn't think she was crazy. She didn't tell him Elliot was the child's Father, but much to Jonathan's devastation she didn't tell him he wasn't. Jonathan knew he was Aubrey's Father and he understood why she'd mislead the reporter, but it still hurt.
The reporter was aware of Jennifer's work and was also a client of Marcia's so he felt he should show her some loyalty. He explained where the Preserve was and he told Jennifer that he hadn't spent much time around the little girl as Elliot had been over protective of her, but that she seemed well looked after. He said she had red hair and blue eyes and was a beautiful little girl. He wished her luck in finding Elliot and getting her little girl home where she belonged, but warned her that there were a lot of corrupt officials in that area of Kenya and they should be prepared that Elliot had a lot of them in his pocket.
The nearest Hart Industries employee to Elliot's compound was 4 hours away, and Jonathan knew if they contacted any US Government Agencies for help they'd be told to back off. He knew that wasn't an option, he also knew that Jennifer was relying on him to make this right but he couldn't do it on his own so he phoned her Father and had him call in favours from friends in high places who had connections in East Africa. Stephen Edwards was as shocked as they had been, and much like Jonathan he'd needed to be convinced, but he would do anything for Jennifer so he took a chance on her instincts.
The recording of the interview didn't show much of the little girl, and they didn't have any idea what their baby would look like now, but Jennifer was certain she was looking at her child. Her belief and her determination ensured Jonathan's motivation and within hours they were on their way. They had to fly to the UK first to re-fuel and then on to Nairobi so the whole journey would take at least 20 hours but fortunately with their own jet they had all the comforts of home and Jonathan hoped Jennifer would be able to relax knowing they were on their way, and that she would sleep for a good chunk of the journey. He was still concerned for her and their unborn child and he had no idea what they were facing when they got there.
Jennifer did manage to sleep off and on and while she did Jonathan researched Manning. She had been right that he had a reputation as a bit of a mad man, there were reports of violence and extreme behaviour going back years, and he'd once served a short jail term. He didn't seem the kind to forgive and forget so Jonathan could see that he wouldn't take kindly to Jennifer leaving him. The more Jonathan read the more angry he became and he was so engrossed in the files he'd been emailed that didn't hear Jennifer come up behind him and only realised she was there when she touched his shoulder. Turning round in his swivel chair Jonathan looked up at his wife. Despite her earlier bravado she looked frightened, sad and vulnerable and he reached to pull her gently down on to his lap. Jennifer put her arms around his neck and laid her head against his and Jonathan held on to her as her body shook with sobs. Taking a deep breath he swallowed the lump in his throat and rubbed her back gently. After a few minutes she stopped sobbing and Jonathan continued to hold her.
"Come on sweetheart, it's going to be fine. If the little girl Elliot has is ours then we'll have her back with us soon." Jennifer didn't react to the IF this time, her mind was on other things.
"Jonathan we'll be complete strangers to her, what if she's frightened of us? If he's been raising her he'll be Daddy to her. Getting her back is going to be hard enough, but once we do how do we deal with that?" She lifted her head and looked into his face. Jonathan didn't have the answers for her.
"I don't know sweetheart. I guess we just have to deal with it as it happens."
Their re-fuelling in the UK didn't take more than an hour and before they took off again Jonathan went out on to the tarmac and Jennifer watched from the window as a car pulled up and two men got out. Jonathan shook hands with them and after a brief conversation they followed him up the steps on to the aircraft. She stood up from her seat as they stepped in to the cabin and Jonathan introduced them to her as British agents that her Father had organised to accompany them. They took their seats so the aircraft could take off again and once they were airborne the three men started to discuss Elliot and tactics. Jonathan glanced at Jennifer and she stood up and excused herself to the bedroom. She knew she probably wouldn't sleep but she didn't want to hear about her former lover's strange behaviours and violent past. She lay on the bed and as she turned on to her side she felt the strongest movement yet from their unborn baby, she put both hands on her bump and spoke to the little one.
"Sweetie, you are very precious to me and to your Daddy, you've given us hope for the future after the darkest days of our lives. I promise I won't do anything to put you in danger, but I believe that your big sister is still alive and we need to do whatever it takes to get her at home with us where she belongs." The tears which hadn't been far away all day returned, but Jennifer continued to stroke her bump and talk to the baby, explaining everything that had happened to them. She knew that she was only doing it so she could verbalise her feelings but it did help and the baby moved all the time she was talking. Eventually she drifted off to sleep again and she seemed quite peaceful when Jonathan joined her a few hours later.
He dozed for a couple of hours then got up to prepare for landing. They'd been given clearance to land at an airstrip within a few miles of the compound, but not before Jonathan had parted with a considerable amount of money via his credit card. He hated to wake Jennifer up but he had to for landing and when he did he explained that they weren't landing in Nairobi but a few miles from the Wildlife Preserve. Jennifer's rollercoaster of emotions took another twist as she swung back to being angry and determined again. She was just a few miles away from her little girl, her first born child.
She knew that she shouldn't getting so keyed up but all those months of grieving and wondering were just too much and if someone or something didn't give her answers soon, she was going to wind up hurting herself, the baby and quite possibly a pain in the ass ex-boyfriend
Pacing in the hotel room after leaving the plane, Jennifer was anxious, although she knew she couldn't do anything at the moment she felt like she had to do something
"Darling, your going to make you and the baby sick if you don't stop for a bit" Jonathan said from the bed
"I know and I'm sorry but I just can't help it" Jennifer said
"Hey! Don't be sorry, We'll get through this together but i just don't want you to get your hopes up in case it's not Aubrey," Jonathan said hugging her
"It is her ..I know it is .." She said falling into his chest
"A mother's instinct," Jonathan said
"I feel like her heart is calling out to me..is that stupid? i mean she was barely a day old," Jennifer mumbled
"It's not stupid ..you know her better than anyone and She is calling out for both of us," Jonathan rocked her
"I know i didn't include you when we were talking to that reporter but i just felt so rushed and I didn't want that reporter to know what we are planning, I wanted him to think of it as a custody case...You are her father," Jennifer said
"I know Baby , I know what you meant," Jonathan kissed her forehead
They laid down in bed together, each one lost in their own thoughts
"Can you imagine what's it going to be like with a two year old and infant?" Jonathan
"Yes, Max better start childproofing the house when we get home ..We're totally unprepared for one baby let alone two," Jennifer smiled
"But it'll be great, we'll put up a giant swing in the yard and a tree house where we can camp with the kids and we'll take them all over the world, I want our kids to know this world really know it..I want them playing in the sands of Cairo and to view the Eiffel Tower and to Meet the Pope," He stopped when she kissed him
"I love you" She said "and thank you ..
"I love you too.." Jonathan said rolling her on her back, "but what are you thanking me for?"
"For being the most wonderful husband in the world.." Jennifer
"Speaking of Husbands ..you know one of these days we should probably get the license and make it official official" Jonathan kissing her neck
"I know but i think we've more than practiced for our real honeymoon," Jennifer laughed
They laughed and make love..
The next morning, they went to the police department to find out what they could do to get their baby back
"Hello my name is Jennifer Hart, this is my husband Jonathan and we're interested in getting some information on Elliot Manning," She spoke to a female detective at the front desk
"Take a seat for a moment and a Detective will be right with you," The officer said
They said nervously on a bench like two kids waiting to see the principal
"Darling, i think you better do all the talking.." Jonathan said
"Why?" Jennifer asked surprised that her husband, the self made millionaire was stepping back
"Because your in Mama Bear mode and I think it's better for you to speak for both of us ..." Jonathan said rubbing her back
She nodded and prepared herself
"Mr. And Mrs Hart?" a young detective named Jefferies came to the hallway and took them into his office
"How can I help you," He settled himself into his desk
Jonathan took Jennifer hand and squeezed
"Almost two years ago, our daughter was less than a day old was taken from the hospital by an Egyptian Man, who tried to flee and got into an accident, there was cause to believe our daughter was in the car with him but because the car was incinerated in the accident there was no human remains to be found and so we were lead to believe that our daughter was killed, however we have now cause to believe that she is alive and Elliot Manning has her." Jennifer stopped to take a breath
"Why do you think Elliot Manning has her?" Detective Jefferies asked
" Because a recent interview with Elliot showed him with a little girl with red hair and blue eyes, now Elliot Manning most certainly does not have red hair or blue eyes," Jennifer said
"But he could be married to a red haired blue eyed woman," The Detective pointed out
"Sir, do you have a VCR?" Jonathan piped up
"Yes, Why?" The Detective was curiously
"Play this and tell me that child on it does not resemble my husband or I," Jennifer's patience was down to nothing
He took the tape, looked at his watched and realized he had a department meeting so he promised to watch it and escorted them out of his office promising that if he did see the resemblance and after some minor research, he would get right back to them
"Darling, Let's go" Jonathan said taking her hand after thanking the man
She suddenly felt about 10 years old and exhausted even though it had been an hour
"Let's get you into bed, I don't want you or the baby to be completely stressed out," Jonathan kissed her forehead