NEMESIS… Chapter 4 - The Road Less Travelled…
"I want to speak to Jesse!" Cami said in an excited voice as she stood in the reception area of Community General later that afternoon.
"Jesse who?" Asked the rather annoyed receptionist.
"Jesse Travis, duh." She said sarcastically. And although being a teacher should have taught Cami to behave like a grown up she just didn't have it in her.
"Hey Cami!" Jesse called as he spied her in the waiting area.
"Hey Jesse." She said rushing up to him and hugging him causing her books to spill all over the place. "Want to go for dinner?" She asked as she bent to pick them up.
"Um sure okay." Jesse said as they walked towards the elevator and to his office. "Oh darn, I remembered that I am supposed to drive Mark home as part of the car pool to work program." He said with a sigh.
"Oh well we can drop him off on the way. I'd like to have dinner by the beach anyways." She smiled.
"Wow, okay." He beamed as they stepped off the elevator and headed towards Mark's office.
********
"So let me get this straight. Shane said he shot the guy and the guy died but you are saying now that the gunshot didn't kill him and that someone slipped him rattlesnake poison to make sure he was dead and that's what killed him?" Mark asked in disbelief at what Amanda had told him.
"Well the gunshot wound did kill him but someone also gave him the poison just to be sure." She said sitting down in front of him.
"So there was someone else in the house with them and they didn't know?" Mark asked in horror.
"I guess so." Amanda said slowly. "Now rattlesnake poison is very rare in liquid form and can only be found in very select stores in…"
"Chinatown!" Mark finished. "Did you tell Shane yet?"
"No not yet. I think I'll do some phoning around into Chinatown tomorrow and see if I can't find a solid lead for them. Or at least one that Steve and I can establish before I pass it over to Shane." She smiled.
"You like him don't you." Mark smiled.
"Oh yes Mark I really do." She said happily.
"Is it serious?" He asked.
"Well we have both agreed to take it slow for now, mostly for CJ's sake. But Mark, when that man was attacking me and then I heard him threaten to kill Shane when he was done with me all I kept thinking was, 'I have to get free and save him'." She said looking down. It was already a few days past her traumatic experience but if she closed her eyes she could still feel the terror emanate through her.
"Well then that is a good thing. No sense rushing into things." He sighed.
"You mean like Steve and Jade?" She said with a smile.
"Yes exactly like Steve and Jade." He laughed. He was about to continue when Jesse and Cami walked in.
"So when are Jade's parents coming to visit?" Amanda asked.
"Not sure now, they were supposed to come this weekend, but Jade said things might be postponed until the following week as her dad has some work to finish up." Mark said.
"I guess with his station he rarely has the time to just take off and go someplace." Amanda said.
"Hey guys!" Jesse said as they walked into the room.
********
"Why on earth do you keep staring at that picture?" Shane asked as they finished up their paperwork at the FBI forensic lab.
"I have seen this woman before, but I just can't place her." She said pointing to the woman with the short black pixie hair cut standing beside their Asian hitman. "It's bugging me." She said softly.
"So how are things going with Amanda?" Jade asked changing the conversation as she shifted herself in the uncomfortable wooden chair she was sitting in.
"Great so far, but we have both decided to take it slow and see how it goes from there." Shane said putting down his paperwork and looking at her.
"And do you think it will work this time?" Jade asked simply.
"Man you know how to push my buttons don't you!" He said in a huff.
"Shane, let's be serious, your voice of reason filed for early retirement long ago." She said returning his angry stare, "so someone has to do it."
"Oh yeah like I tell you what to do in your life with Steve!" He said getting up. "Yeah like when you made a complete ass out of yourself at BBQ Bob's by dragging him into the back room!" He yelled, "what's the matter, not getting any lately?"
Jade in her anger stood up and gave him a slap on the face. He stared at her and she stared right back. Then they both suddenly became fully aware of the curious pairs of eyes peeking into the room trying to see what the big commotion was about.
"Jade I am sor…"
"Shane please forgive…"
They both stopped and stared at each other then broke into laughter causing the onlookers to finally depart and go about their business as usual.
"Look Shane let me. Sorry for the uh slap." Jade said putting up her hands to stop him from talking. "I think Amanda is great and I think you're handling this better than I give you credit for, as least better than in the past. But it's not really my place to tell you what to do and how to do it." She said softly, "I can hardly do that for myself."
"I'm sorry for the BBQ Bob's comment. That was totally uncalled for. However you and Steve want to show your affection for each other is up to you, who am I to stop you?" He said slumping back into his chair. "But you were right you know, this is different from all the others in the past. And yes I really do like Amanda. But I don't want to rush things with her. I don't want to give her a reason to walk away. And at the same time I find myself scared at the thought of having to commit long term to her and CJ." He paused. "And I'm glad that you're my voice of reason. Hell if we left it up to me I'd probably be married to some bimbo named Candy down in Vegas three times over!" He laughed softly.
"Yeah I know what you mean." She sighed, sitting down in her chair across from him. "It's so easy for me to tell Steve how much I want to spend the rest of my life with him, when I don't even know if I'll be alive tomorrow to commit to him." She put her head down on the desk and sighed heavily.
"What's really bugging you?" Shane asked.
"The fact that I just can't seem to walk away from the job. The thrill of the chase, the hunt, the takedown." She said as she felt herself getting sad. "I don't know how to make the choice of one or the other."
"Did you ever talk to Dean about that? The job?" Shane asked with curiosity.
"Sometimes, but Dean was so different to talk to, not like Steve. But I have never faced an opponent like Schuler before. I mean deep down inside I have this feeling that he is up to something and that whatever he plans will bring an unhappy ending for me, for all of us." She said sadly.
"For one thing, we don't know if Schuler is back, but if he is I'm sure your dad is on top of it and will let you know if anything develops. And for another thing, as with Carmen, fate has not written your destiny. Just because it shows you a road doesn't mean you have to travel down it. Take the one less travelled and see what surprises await you." Shane said firmly.
Jade looked up at him and realized that what he said was indeed the truth. Schuler would win only if they let him, and she had vowed long ago that anyone associated with Carmen would never win. She smiled at the thought and they got busy finishing their work so they could go and spend time with the people they loved.
********
"So how exactly can I help you?" Steve asked the male stranger.
"I want you to come with me." He smiled.
"Wh-what?" Steve asked with a stunned question.
"Come with me! What is the matter Detective, deaf?" He mocked.
"If you'll excuse me I have to go and meet someone." Steve said.
"Actually that person sent me." Schuler said. Playing with his mind would be easy.
"Jade sent you?" Steve asked in an annoyed voice. Who the hell is this guy anyways?
"Yes Agent Marshall said to meet you here and give you this." He said handing him a small piece of paper with an address on it.
"What is it?" Steve asked.
"You're the Detective, I have great faith in your abilities to find out." He laughed. And when you do you'll be very sorry!
"Uh, thanks." Steve said as he took the paper with some hesitation. "Who are you?"
"An informant." Schuler smiled. Yes an informant for death!
He took the paper and turned to leave when the man said, "happy hunting Sloan."
Steve turned and looked back to see his strange smiling face. "What the hell was that all about?" He wondered as he walked back to his car aware of the stranger's eyes watching his every step. But I think I'll check it out before I tell Jade. He got into his car and drove to his precinct.
"Hope you like your final resting place Detective!" Came Schuler's sinister reply.
Schuler watched Steve pulled away and then the empty streets were filled with his wicked laughter. It seemed to bounce off the abandoned buildings long after he drove away.
********
"This place is awesome Jesse." Cami smiled as they sat at the small seaside restaurant later that night after they had dropped Mark off at home.
"Well I'm glad you like it. I come here a lot." He smiled.
"Oh yeah with who?" She asked in interest.
"Oh sometimes with Mark or Steve or by myself." He said slowly.
"Well I guess that will change now that you have met me." She said enthusiastically.
"Did you fall from heaven or something? Because you're amazing!" He beamed at her words.
"Perhaps." She smiled.
"So where did you live before LA?" Jesse asked.
"Oh I lived with my parents in Chicago." She said.
"Oh the windy city, cool. Do your parents still live there?" He asked.
"Um no, no they don't." She said sadly looking down at her plate.
"Oh well wherever they live, I'm sure they probably come and visit you all the time. I can't wait to meet them." He said happily.
"Oh you can't meet them." She said quickly.
"Why I think they'll like me." He laughed softly. "I don't bite or anything."
"No you don't understand." Cami said with tears in her eyes. She was about to say something else when she decided she couldn't take it anymore and got up and ran out of the restaurant.
"Cami?" Jesse called as he got up and ran after her.
He finally caught up with her as she sat on a bench out side the restaurant and was softly crying. Jesse walked up to her and gently sat down beside her.
"Cami?" He asked softly.
She looked up with tears in her large eyes and said, "you can't meet my parents Jesse."
"That's okay, there is no rush. I was just kidding." Jesse said with a small smile.
"No you don't understand." She said getting up and walking away. Jesse caught up with her and grabbed her arm and stopped her.
He pulled her close and said, "what is really wrong?"
"My parents are dead!" She stated with tears. Jesse pulled her close and hugged her and said softly, "it's okay you can tell me when you are ready." And they just stood there with her softly crying and him just happy to be holding and comforting her. He kissed the top of her head and she smiled to herself, 'I finally found my prince'.
*********
"Hey Mable, is my dad in?" Jade asked into the phone.
Mable looked up at Nickel's door, which as still closed due to his meeting with Jake.
"No I'm sorry darling he is not in. Shall I have him call you?" She asked totally ignoring Nickel's request to have Jade put through no matter what.
"Um okay thanks." Jade said as she hung up. She stared at the phone receiver which made Shane say, "not the answer you were hoping for?"
"Not exactly. My father's secretary just called me darling." Jade said with a strange look.
"Mable? Maybe she likes you." He teased.
"Oh yeah, she's my number one fan." Jade said sarcastically, for she too was well aware of the stares her father received from his secretary. And although it sometimes worried her she knew she mother was more than capable of handling things like that.
"Come on let's finish this." Shane said impatiently. Jade nodded and they were soon putting things away and heading for the car.
"Oh by the way, I like the truck you decided to get." Jade commented at his choice of Black F150 Supercrew. "But since you consider yourself such a stylish man, why didn't you buy a car?"
"Can't ram through walls with a car and expect to live you know." Shane laughed as he got out his keys.
"Okay I'll remember that when I consider mine." She said as she rolled her eyes.
"And when is that going to be?" Shane asked as he motioned to the Black Crown Victoria she was still driving, thanks to the FBI.
"When I decided you'll be the third to know." She laughed. With that the two agents got into their vehicles and headed in different directions.
********
"Did Jade call?" Nickel asked Mable as he disappeared into his office.
"Uh, no. Perhaps she's busy. I'll try her tomorrow for you if you like." Mable offered.
"That would be terrific." Nickel said as he headed for the door.
Mable just watched him leave and sighed. "He should be rushing home with me!" She stated angrily.
********
"Perfect!" Jade smiled to herself as she looked at what she had chosen to wear to see Steve.
Half an hour later she pulled into his driveway. She carefully made her way up the stairs and knocked on the door. "Where the hell did my stomach butterflies come from?" She asked herself nervously. "You'd think it was a first date or something." She laughed.
Steve had planned to tell Jade about the meeting with the stranger, but when he opened the door and saw her, his brain turned to mush and any sensible thoughts seemed to disappear into the air, rapidly.
"Hey Ja…" was all Steve managed when he opened the door. Followed quickly by, "WOW! You look absolutely gorgeous." He smiled feeling his body temperature start to rise as he took in the sight of her. Jade had on a simple black tank dress which emphasized her well formed body in all the right places; sheer black nylons and black high heels. She choose a silver sparkly throw instead of a jacket, and she got the reception she hoped for.
"Thanks." She said with a big smile ad she stepped inside. Steve still hadn't stopped staring at her.
"Wow, I have never seen you look this good." He said pulling her close, "at least with clothes on." He said making her face turn even redder.
"Glad you like." She smiled as she kissed him.
"What is the occasion?" He asked as he took her hand and pulled her to the kitchen.
"Well I'm having dinner with this incredibly sexy man and thought he deserved the best." She said with a sly smile. She was about to take her shoes off when he stopped her.
"What? You don't want me to take my shoes off?" She asked mischievously, "please give me one good reason."
He pulled her close and whispered in her ear, making her blush inside and out. "Oh well if I had known that I'd wear them more often." She smiled as they embraced for a long kiss.
"Hey where did this bruise come from?" Steve asked as he spied the mark on Jade's arm as they sat on the couch in front of the fireplace later that night. She had taken her shawl and shoes off and was draped across his body. "Occupational hazard." She sighed as she leaned against him letting his cologne play with her desires.
"The Asian place?" Steve asked. "What did you find there?"
"Besides a dead body? Well two guns for one thing. In fact I have some prints I want you to run." She stated looking at him.
"Okay bring it by tomorrow." Steve stated as he ran his hands up and down her shapely legs.
"I also found some photographs, disks and some very unique torture devices." She laughed as his light touch tickled her knees.
"Oh really? Sounds like my kind of guy!" Steve teased as he tickled her side.
"Oh very funny." She started to laugh. The she turned around and lay on his chest.
Steve stared to rub her shoulders gently and started to play with her hair.
Sometime later Jade asked, "how come you never ask me about Dean?"
"What?" Steve asked startled.
"Dean, why don't you ask me about him." She asked as she twisted her body around to face him.
"Well I guess because I figured that when you're ready to tell me you will." Steve said pulling himself to a sitting position. "Look Jade, I don't even pretend to delude myself into thinking that just because you have met me you'll forget this past love. And I don't want you to forget him; he is a part of your past, a part of your life. But I also don't want his memory to hold you back from being with me. I don't want any part of you locked away from me because of him or anything else for that matter. I want to be with you and know all of you. And when you're ready you'll let me into that part of your life. I'm sure of that."
Jade just stared at him in amazement. She tried to say something but was lost for words. She looked away as she felt her eyes start to water.
"What is it? Why are you sad?" Steve asked softly. "What did I say?"
"Sad? I'm not sad." She said turning back to face him with happy tears streaming down her face. "I'm happy. You have no idea how worried I was thinking about how I would tell you about Dean and my past, about what I would say or how to say it or even when to say it. I thought you might be mad or resentful or something other than understanding. You have just lifted a huge weight off my shoulders." She sighed with a smile as she wiggled back into his warm embrace.
"Glad to be of service." Steve smiled he looked down at her.
"And I will tell you all about him. But right now," she said looking up at him and then grabbing his neck and bringing him down to her, "all I want to do is kiss you for being so understanding." And she did.
********
"So I told my friend Julia about you today." Amanda said as she sat in Shane's arms on her leather sofa that same night after CJ had gone to bed.
"Who is Julia?" Shane asked he played with her sleeve.
"She is CJ's kindergarten teacher and my long-time friend. She said she want's to meet you." Amanda smiled.
"Oh yeah? Sure, why not." Shane said casually.
"She thought you were black." Amanda stated.
"Do you think it's a problem?" Shane asked seriously.
"Not for me, and that's all that matters." She said twisting around to smile at him.
"That's what I want to hear." He said as he reached down and tenderly kissed her. He started to whisper Italian phases in her ear and by the way she responded he knew he said the right things.
********
"Okay time to do some digging." Amanda said as she sat in front of her computer and started to dial shops in Chinatown that sold Rattlesnake poison the following morning.
"Okay time to find out who lives here." Steve said as he held the piece of paper in his hands.
********
"So how was supper with Cami last night?" Mark asked as they headed back for their car after their golf game later the following afternoon.
"It was great until she got up and ran out crying." Jesse stated.
"Crying?" Mark asked in shock.
"Yeah she said her parents were killed when she was young. It was a horrible story. Her mom and Shane's were sisters. She said even today Shane can't talk about it, he finds it too hard. So she was sent to live with another aunt in Chicago." Jesse said as they sat in the car. "So then she cried and I cried and then we kissed and then we…" Jesse was interrupted by Mark's laughter and remarks.
"That's okay Jesse, I get the picture." He laughed.
"Oh oh yeah," he laughed. "But she got really excited when I mentioned Disneyland."
"You know speaking of Disneyland, I found a gold token beside my mailbox this morning." Mark said with a laugh.
"Wow you too huh! Those must be popular things." Jesse said.
"Why is that Jesse?" Mark asked with a worried voice.
"Well Steve said that Jade found one in an abandoned grain warehouse and then Amanda said she found one, or rather CJ found one outside their house a few days ago. You know before the attack." Jesse said.
"Oh my god." Mark managed.
"What is it?" Jesse asked in a panic as Mark started up the car and started to drive away heading for Canyon Road.
"Remember when I said what you're looking for is usually right in front of you?" Mark said as he started to punch numbers on his cell phone.
"Yeah so? What does that have to do with Disneyland tokens?" Jesse asked not catching Mark's meaning.
"Well I think what we're all looking for is right here." Mark said.
"Disneyland Resort how can I help you?" Asked the reservation agent into the speakerphone.
"Mark what are you doing?" Jesse asked.
"Did you have a reservation by the name of Schuler in the last month or so? First name Richard?" Mark asked excitedly.
"You don't seriously think that…" Jesse said but was cut off by the voice on the other end of the line.
"No I'm sorry sir. Is there anything else I can help you with…?" She asked.
"How about White?" Mark asked not wanting an answer.
"Uh, Mr. White?" Came the voice with a pause, "yes we had a Mr. White here for a few weeks." She said.
Mark looked at Jesse as the terrible realization started to dawn on them.
"Oh Mark, we have to warn Jade and Shane!" Jesse said suddenly reaching for his phone.
"Sir? Will there be anything else?" Came the voice again.
"Mark you better slow down." Jesse said as he noticed Mark's car picking up speed as they made their way down Canyon Drive.
"I uh can't." Mark said as he applied the breaks but they wouldn't respond.
"What?" Jesse asked in a panic as he started to dial 911.
"Uh, Jesse we might have a problem here." Mark said in a hurry. "Miss can you call the police and send them to Canyon Drive." Mark said into the speakerphone.
"Come again sir?" She asked.
He tried the brakes again but they would not work as the car sped towards a sharp curve.
********
"Bye bye Doctor Sloan, see you in hell!" Schuler laughed as he watched with binoculars as Doctor Sloan's car sped down the hill towards its inevitable destination - a fiery grave.
********
"Mark!" Jesse screamed as he put his arms up to cover his face as the car sped towards the edge.
"Oh my g…" was all Mark managed as his car went over the edge and the two doctors screams were heard to the top of the hill, which made only one person smile.
