1 Love Is Patient, Kind and Above All True
1.1 Chapter Thirty
"Mr. Morgan! Gianni told me you were looking for me. What can I do for you?" Manisso spoke calmly, glancing over to Elizabeth.
"Rosco. Where is he?" Jason quietly demanded.
"Rossssccoo? Mmmm, I'm not sure I know who you're talking about."
"Listen, Manisso, if you know who you're dealing with it would be in your best interest to start talking," Jason threatened.
Manisso? I knew I knew that name. He was a contractor in Italy when the Nam's were living here last. He was 'found' dead floating down the Sienne. Or so Lee thought.
"Look mister, I'm not sure who you are or who you're working with, but I don't know anything," he said casually.
Jason lifted him up out of the booth and pressed him against the wall. "Obviously you don't know who you're dealing with. I'm sure you're familiar with the Nam's, aren't you?"
"No," he squeaked, and then clearing his voice said much firmer, "No. I have no idea who you're talking about.
Jason noticed even in the dim lighting, that his face paled. "Yes, I think you do," he paused. "Do you know anything about Rosco? I think you're in over your head."
The man began to squirm. "Hey, I don't know any Rosco!"
Jason could see him lying through his teeth. He thought to himself, 'Better scare him a little. He doesn't seem the type to crack very easily.' "You don't know Rosco. Okay," he paused again. "Well, let me paint you a picture of the people you're dealing with. Now, it happens that there's a man named Lee Nam who happens to hold a wealth of power. His daughter happens to be missing. Actually she's been gone for about, hmmm, let me think, oh, about 5 days now. Now this Rosco whom you don't know has kidnapped this girl. I'm pretty sure if this Rosco guy had a plan and he wanted help he'd come to the man whom he'd helped a little while ago, fake his death. What do you think Manisso?"
Jason felt the struggle cease between this man and his brute strength. "I…I didn't…I didn't know!" he exclaimed.
"What didn't you know?" Elizabeth exclaimed, stepping forward into the foray.
Jason shot her a warning glance. It worked, she backed down.
"What didn't he tell you?"
"He didn't tell me what he needed it for!" he cried. The once determined and strong man collapsed into a shamble of tears. He aged in those few moments and Jason noticed the grey hairs and the creases in his face from worrying so much.
Jason didn't know how to deal with that. He wasn't expecting him to break down.
"Tell me what you know," he commanded.
"He'll kill me!" the man sobbed.
Jason looked around the secret room and the crowd of people that once inhabited the room had left. "I'll hurt you before he even gets to you, if you don't tell me what you know!"
The man refused. He seemed to gain back the composure he'd lost and sat up straight. "You provide me with a passage out of Italy, then I'll tell you what you need to know," he stated.
Jason knew the look in the man's eye. His fear of Rosco consumed him far worse than Jason could. And Jason understood. He'd seen Rosco's handy work. Jason could do nothing, but agree.
***
Elizabeth had never seen Jason threaten a man before. Oh she'd seen him protect himself or her from Sorel, but never threaten a defenceless man. Is he really that defenceless? He helped Rosco kidnap Jaime! But Elizabeth couldn't help but shiver in light of the new side she'd seen of Jason. This is the side he's never wanted me to see.
It saddened Elizabeth that it seemed he led a double life. Jason wasn't anything like the man that stood threatening Manisso, but working in a business where everyone wanted to take what you had, it was just a part of Jason. Elizabeth knew that it didn't consume him. She even, in some way, loved that part of him. In a way, Elizabeth felt safe knowing that Jason could protect her, that he would do anything to protect her.
"Elizabeth," Jason nudged her shoulder. "We're taking him out back. I've got a car there. Follow me and don't get too far behind. The crowd will separate us and time is against us. We need to find Jaime and we need to find her fast."
"Why? Do you think Rosco's hurt her? Killed her?" Elizabeth felt her breath catch in her throat at the last question.
"No. I don't think he wants to kill her. But I'm worried about her Elizabeth," he paused. "I mean, he hasn't even contacted Lee. He's got to be up to something."
Elizabeth followed Jason who held Manisso in front of him.
***
Nikolas fully intended to keep Gia all to himself that night in the club. He hadn't known Venice to be such a modern city. He had kept dreaming of all the old movies he'd seen -- with clay buildings, everything brown or beige. But Gia had found ways to open his mind about Italy.
She had been the one to discover this nightclub. Wrapping his arms around the stunning woman in front of him, he kissed the nape of her neck. "You know Gia, I can think of better ways to spend our evenings," he chuckled suggestively.
"Oh, Nikolas!" she laughed and pulled him closer to her, wrapping her arms around his neck. "Dance with me this last slow song, and we'll go back to the hotel."
"It's a deal!" he said kissing her again, but on the shoulder this time.
As the he slowly twirled her across the nightclub, trying not to bump into the mass of bodies, something caught his eye. Elizabeth? He was about to call her over, when he realized she was not alone. Not that he was expecting her to be. He looked around for Jaime, but realized that she was not with Elizabeth. Nikolas then did a double take. Jason? Elizabeth's here with Jason?
Nikolas shook his head. No! It couldn't be. Could it? Then Nikolas got his answer. The man in the leather jacket walking ahead of the following Elizabeth turned around to speak. Jason.
"Honey?" Gia whispered into his ear. "What's the matter?"
"Huh?" Nikolas replied. "Oh, uh, nothing honey. Let's go back to the hotel."
Nikolas guided his fiancé out of the nightclub.
***
Elizabeth remained quiet the entire drive to nowhere. She didn't know exactly where they were, but it was deserted and had no buildings except one old rickety shack. Jason had been on the phone the entire time they were driving, but he was whispering so quietly that she couldn't make out what he was saying.
Elizabeth followed Jason as he took Manisso out of the car and guided him to the old shack. The old man held his head up high as he entered the dark room. She knew he must have been scared out of his mind. Elizabeth knew she was, and she wasn't even part of the conspiracy.
"Where are we?" Manisso demanded.
"We're somewhere safe for the moment," Jason answered. He turned and dead- bolted the door behind him.
"Jason, " she asked quietly, tugging on his leather jacket, "Where are we? And what are we going to do with him? Or should I say, what are you going to do with him?"
Elizabeth knew Jason wouldn't hurt the old man, but she knew they needed to find Jaime soon. She looked at her watch. It was 12 a.m. Oh, another day, another ulcer to worry about. Elizabeth didn't know how much more worry she could do.
Jason had pulled a string hanging in the middle of the ceiling. A bright light filled the wooden shack. It was pretty much empty, it had a couple of crates stacked against the walls and a worn table.
Elizabeth suddenly realized how tired she was. She leaned up against the weather worn walls and closed her eyes. Elizabeth listened as Jason spoke to the man.
"Tell me where Jaime is and whatever else you know about Rosco's plan and I'll let you get on a plane that's been chartered to get you the hell out of here."
There was silence for a moment, and then Manisso's tired voice spoke. "How do I know you're not going to turn me over to Nam's men, or just blow up the plane while I'm in it?" he challenged.
"Because I'm not going to," Jason stated firmly. "One way or the other, I'm going to find out what happened to Ms. Nam. It's either going to be easy on you, or very, very hard."
"I want to arrange my own plans and then I'll tell you."
"That's not going to happen," Jason said very calmly.
"Well, I don't trust your kind."
Elizabeth couldn't let this go on forever. "Manisso, right?" Elizabeth asked, walking towards the old man.
Jason glared at her, warning her to stay out of this. Elizabeth kept her eyes on Manisso and ignored his stares. "Listen, Jason's telling the truth. I know you don't have any reason to trust us, but I'm telling you the truth. We just want to find Jaime. We don't care if you pay for what you did or didn't do. We just want to find Jaime."
Manisso seemed to study her. His mouth pursed together and he seemed to debate under his breath whether to trust the blue-eyed American girl.
"Please. Help us find her. She's done nothing to you."
Manisso opened his mouth to protest, but then he thought better of it. "All right. You've convinced me. I will trust you. I don't know about this man here, but you I trust."
Elizabeth smiled at the man. "Thank you. You won't regret it."
Manisso faced Jason. "You put me on that plane and I'll tell you everything you need to know."
Jason nodded and smiled at Elizabeth in approval.
Elizabeth smiled back and winked. 'I told you so!' she mouthed.
1.1 Chapter Thirty
"Mr. Morgan! Gianni told me you were looking for me. What can I do for you?" Manisso spoke calmly, glancing over to Elizabeth.
"Rosco. Where is he?" Jason quietly demanded.
"Rossssccoo? Mmmm, I'm not sure I know who you're talking about."
"Listen, Manisso, if you know who you're dealing with it would be in your best interest to start talking," Jason threatened.
Manisso? I knew I knew that name. He was a contractor in Italy when the Nam's were living here last. He was 'found' dead floating down the Sienne. Or so Lee thought.
"Look mister, I'm not sure who you are or who you're working with, but I don't know anything," he said casually.
Jason lifted him up out of the booth and pressed him against the wall. "Obviously you don't know who you're dealing with. I'm sure you're familiar with the Nam's, aren't you?"
"No," he squeaked, and then clearing his voice said much firmer, "No. I have no idea who you're talking about.
Jason noticed even in the dim lighting, that his face paled. "Yes, I think you do," he paused. "Do you know anything about Rosco? I think you're in over your head."
The man began to squirm. "Hey, I don't know any Rosco!"
Jason could see him lying through his teeth. He thought to himself, 'Better scare him a little. He doesn't seem the type to crack very easily.' "You don't know Rosco. Okay," he paused again. "Well, let me paint you a picture of the people you're dealing with. Now, it happens that there's a man named Lee Nam who happens to hold a wealth of power. His daughter happens to be missing. Actually she's been gone for about, hmmm, let me think, oh, about 5 days now. Now this Rosco whom you don't know has kidnapped this girl. I'm pretty sure if this Rosco guy had a plan and he wanted help he'd come to the man whom he'd helped a little while ago, fake his death. What do you think Manisso?"
Jason felt the struggle cease between this man and his brute strength. "I…I didn't…I didn't know!" he exclaimed.
"What didn't you know?" Elizabeth exclaimed, stepping forward into the foray.
Jason shot her a warning glance. It worked, she backed down.
"What didn't he tell you?"
"He didn't tell me what he needed it for!" he cried. The once determined and strong man collapsed into a shamble of tears. He aged in those few moments and Jason noticed the grey hairs and the creases in his face from worrying so much.
Jason didn't know how to deal with that. He wasn't expecting him to break down.
"Tell me what you know," he commanded.
"He'll kill me!" the man sobbed.
Jason looked around the secret room and the crowd of people that once inhabited the room had left. "I'll hurt you before he even gets to you, if you don't tell me what you know!"
The man refused. He seemed to gain back the composure he'd lost and sat up straight. "You provide me with a passage out of Italy, then I'll tell you what you need to know," he stated.
Jason knew the look in the man's eye. His fear of Rosco consumed him far worse than Jason could. And Jason understood. He'd seen Rosco's handy work. Jason could do nothing, but agree.
***
Elizabeth had never seen Jason threaten a man before. Oh she'd seen him protect himself or her from Sorel, but never threaten a defenceless man. Is he really that defenceless? He helped Rosco kidnap Jaime! But Elizabeth couldn't help but shiver in light of the new side she'd seen of Jason. This is the side he's never wanted me to see.
It saddened Elizabeth that it seemed he led a double life. Jason wasn't anything like the man that stood threatening Manisso, but working in a business where everyone wanted to take what you had, it was just a part of Jason. Elizabeth knew that it didn't consume him. She even, in some way, loved that part of him. In a way, Elizabeth felt safe knowing that Jason could protect her, that he would do anything to protect her.
"Elizabeth," Jason nudged her shoulder. "We're taking him out back. I've got a car there. Follow me and don't get too far behind. The crowd will separate us and time is against us. We need to find Jaime and we need to find her fast."
"Why? Do you think Rosco's hurt her? Killed her?" Elizabeth felt her breath catch in her throat at the last question.
"No. I don't think he wants to kill her. But I'm worried about her Elizabeth," he paused. "I mean, he hasn't even contacted Lee. He's got to be up to something."
Elizabeth followed Jason who held Manisso in front of him.
***
Nikolas fully intended to keep Gia all to himself that night in the club. He hadn't known Venice to be such a modern city. He had kept dreaming of all the old movies he'd seen -- with clay buildings, everything brown or beige. But Gia had found ways to open his mind about Italy.
She had been the one to discover this nightclub. Wrapping his arms around the stunning woman in front of him, he kissed the nape of her neck. "You know Gia, I can think of better ways to spend our evenings," he chuckled suggestively.
"Oh, Nikolas!" she laughed and pulled him closer to her, wrapping her arms around his neck. "Dance with me this last slow song, and we'll go back to the hotel."
"It's a deal!" he said kissing her again, but on the shoulder this time.
As the he slowly twirled her across the nightclub, trying not to bump into the mass of bodies, something caught his eye. Elizabeth? He was about to call her over, when he realized she was not alone. Not that he was expecting her to be. He looked around for Jaime, but realized that she was not with Elizabeth. Nikolas then did a double take. Jason? Elizabeth's here with Jason?
Nikolas shook his head. No! It couldn't be. Could it? Then Nikolas got his answer. The man in the leather jacket walking ahead of the following Elizabeth turned around to speak. Jason.
"Honey?" Gia whispered into his ear. "What's the matter?"
"Huh?" Nikolas replied. "Oh, uh, nothing honey. Let's go back to the hotel."
Nikolas guided his fiancé out of the nightclub.
***
Elizabeth remained quiet the entire drive to nowhere. She didn't know exactly where they were, but it was deserted and had no buildings except one old rickety shack. Jason had been on the phone the entire time they were driving, but he was whispering so quietly that she couldn't make out what he was saying.
Elizabeth followed Jason as he took Manisso out of the car and guided him to the old shack. The old man held his head up high as he entered the dark room. She knew he must have been scared out of his mind. Elizabeth knew she was, and she wasn't even part of the conspiracy.
"Where are we?" Manisso demanded.
"We're somewhere safe for the moment," Jason answered. He turned and dead- bolted the door behind him.
"Jason, " she asked quietly, tugging on his leather jacket, "Where are we? And what are we going to do with him? Or should I say, what are you going to do with him?"
Elizabeth knew Jason wouldn't hurt the old man, but she knew they needed to find Jaime soon. She looked at her watch. It was 12 a.m. Oh, another day, another ulcer to worry about. Elizabeth didn't know how much more worry she could do.
Jason had pulled a string hanging in the middle of the ceiling. A bright light filled the wooden shack. It was pretty much empty, it had a couple of crates stacked against the walls and a worn table.
Elizabeth suddenly realized how tired she was. She leaned up against the weather worn walls and closed her eyes. Elizabeth listened as Jason spoke to the man.
"Tell me where Jaime is and whatever else you know about Rosco's plan and I'll let you get on a plane that's been chartered to get you the hell out of here."
There was silence for a moment, and then Manisso's tired voice spoke. "How do I know you're not going to turn me over to Nam's men, or just blow up the plane while I'm in it?" he challenged.
"Because I'm not going to," Jason stated firmly. "One way or the other, I'm going to find out what happened to Ms. Nam. It's either going to be easy on you, or very, very hard."
"I want to arrange my own plans and then I'll tell you."
"That's not going to happen," Jason said very calmly.
"Well, I don't trust your kind."
Elizabeth couldn't let this go on forever. "Manisso, right?" Elizabeth asked, walking towards the old man.
Jason glared at her, warning her to stay out of this. Elizabeth kept her eyes on Manisso and ignored his stares. "Listen, Jason's telling the truth. I know you don't have any reason to trust us, but I'm telling you the truth. We just want to find Jaime. We don't care if you pay for what you did or didn't do. We just want to find Jaime."
Manisso seemed to study her. His mouth pursed together and he seemed to debate under his breath whether to trust the blue-eyed American girl.
"Please. Help us find her. She's done nothing to you."
Manisso opened his mouth to protest, but then he thought better of it. "All right. You've convinced me. I will trust you. I don't know about this man here, but you I trust."
Elizabeth smiled at the man. "Thank you. You won't regret it."
Manisso faced Jason. "You put me on that plane and I'll tell you everything you need to know."
Jason nodded and smiled at Elizabeth in approval.
Elizabeth smiled back and winked. 'I told you so!' she mouthed.