Disclaimer: None of these characters belong to me

Chapter 7

Jessi and Roxton give their loved ones ultimatums. Ned finds something in Jack's office.

Later on that evening, Veronica watched as Ned prepared to leave for the Journal. She folded her arms.

'I can't believe you have to be there this time of night!'

Ned gave her a wry smile. 'The news waits for no man.'

'Or morning, apparently. I feel badly.'

Ned put his arms around her. 'Because of Jack?'

'Not exactly. I'm sorry Ned, but that guy was a weasel! I think that there has been some distance between Finn and I.'

Ned still didn't understand. 'What do you mean?'

'Ned, I don't think Finn and Jack were seeing one another.'

Ned let go of her. 'Why? I mean, Jack brought those flowers for her. Why would he lie?'

'I don't know. But when Finn went outside with him tonight, I just got the feeling that she didn't want to go with him.'

'What do you think was going on?'

Veronica shook her head. 'I don't know. That's the problem. I've been so caught up with the wedding, and learning how to fit into 'proper society', that I haven't been there for Finn.'

Ned touched her hand. 'Veronica, Finn knows you're here for her. She knows we all are. But, I don't think it would hurt to find out what was going on with the two of them this evening. I have to go.'

Ned kissed her, pressing one hand behind her head. He then let go of her.

'I love you.' he said.

Veronica smiled, touching his cheek.

'I love you too. Go on. Go and make news! I'm going to find Finn.'

Ned grinned and walked over to the door. He opened it and left. Veronica walked over to a window and watched Ned climb into an automobile. One of these days, she was going to ask Ned to teach her how to operate one.

'Vee?'

Veronica whipped around! Finn was standing on the second to bottom step.

'Finn. I was just coming to look for you.'

Finn nodded and walked down the remaining steps.

'So I heard.'

That was all that she said. Veronica began to feel a bit uncomfortable. Had Finn overheard her and Ned?

Veronica smiled softly and walked over to her.

'How are you feeling?'

Finn shrugged. 'Worried. Challenger is in with Jessi now and I don't think it looks good. She's just going to have to toughen up, you know?'

'Actually, Finn, I was asking about you, yourself. Jack's death must've been awful. Maybe you should just get some sleep, you know?'

Finn was so tempted to tell Veronica that she could give a damn about Jack Farrell's death! That the man was probably rotting in hell as they spoke! That if she had carried out their plan, Finn would someday be joining the bastard, flames licking at her feet!

'I'm not tired. I've been trying to think of a plan to trap this ape creature. That's probably the best thing we could do for Jack right now, you know, to avenge his death.'

'Why did you go outside with him tonight?' Veronica found herself asking. The words just came tumbling out before she could stop them.

'Excuse me?'

Veronica put her hands on Finn's shoulders.

'I have been running through my mind, everytime I ever saw Jack and you in a room together! I would swear the two of you barely knew one another! And it just seemed like he was forcing you to leave this house with him this evening! You can tell me if he tried to do something to you...'

Finn jerked away!

'Leave it alone, Vee! Just worry about marrying the perfect man, and leave me alone! I'm fine!'

Finn turned and walked back upstairs. Veronica stayed rooted in place, her mouth agape. Finn had sounded so sarcastic just now! Was it possible that there had been something between herself and Jack Farrell?

Veronica looked away from the stairs. Maybe her own wedding, was a painful reminder to Finn of a love lost?

She shook her head. She had survived as long as she did on the plateau, alone, by trusting her instincts. Whatever was between Finn and Jack, it wasn't love.

****

Challenger watched as Jessi sat with her back to him. They were in a spacious room that Marguerite had so generously had made up. He walked over to the back of her chair.

'Jessi, I know that the interrogation frightened you...'

Jessi stood quickly. She turned to face him.

'George, do you know why I patiently went along with John and your plans to escape to America? I mean, my first instinct was to force you to go to Scotland Yard and make you clear up this nonsense.'

Challenger looked taken aback.

'Jessi, dear, that kind of logic wouldn't have worked anyway and I...'

'George! '

Challenger kept quiet.

'I went along with this idiocy, because there was and still is a part of me, that feels guilty for what my sister did. Especially to Roxton and Marguerite.'

Now Challenger spoke.

'Good Lord, Jessi, none of that was your fault! Charisse lied to me, she was planning on telling you I was dead. Yes, she did do great harm to Roxton and Marguerite, but, in the end, Marguerite would've just found out sooner rather than later, that there already was a Lady Roxton.'

Jessi clasped her hands together primly.

'That doesn't change the fact that my sister was a murderer! What she did to Marguerite's mother, and Marguerite were unspeakable. I wanted to help right whatever wrongs that had been done by her visit to you all. I thought if I could help, in any small way, with this ape creature, the slate could be wiped clean.'

Challenger didn't answer. He sensed his wife had more to say.

'But what happened tonight told me that we are in over our heads! The creature has followed us and killed another! We're bringing more pain and destruction to everyone's life here! I want you to return to London with me, George. Let's talk to the police and clear up this foolishness!'

Challenger walked over to her. He rested his hands lightly on her shoulders.

'Jessi, surely even you can see, that that's now how life works! The authorities are not going to understand why I...we, ran. The fact that they could even conceive that Roxton or I had anything to do with these horrible crimes, means that all logic has left them! We are going to have to trap this creature to clear our names.'

Jessi began shaking her head wildly! She pulled away from him.

'I mean it, George! We leave tomorrow, or I leave alone. And I will stay alone.'

Challenger's eyes widened. Jessi had never spoken in this manner to him before...ever! She had always been quietly supportive of his every venture. It was almost as if the woman had snapped! And why? He was the one fighting for his very reputation, his very freedom! He was the one that had been stuck in a lost world for three years!

'I will find another room to sleep in, until you can think more rationally.' Challenger said. He walked over to the door and opened it. Marguerite was just about to walk by, when Jessi said something else.

'I am thinking rationally. Either you return home with me tomorrow, or you don't return at all.'

Marguerite stopped in her tracks, looking directly at Challenger. Challenger looked back at her. He did not turn back to look at his wife, but merely stepped out of the room, closing the door behind him.

Marguerite put an arm around him. She smiled.

'Come now, Professor. I think I have another room to spare.'

****

Once Marguerite had Challenger ensconced in another bedroom, she began to walk down to Greta's room. Her mind was on Challenger.

He had looked so sad, and had said very little, as Marguerite herself, made up his room. From the little she had overheard, it was clear that Jessi had had enough of this 'adventure'.

Actually, Mrs. Challenger had made herself clear after the police interrogation, that she was about to have a melt down of sorts. Marguerite wondered how the marriage had survived as long as it had, with Challenger always taking off for one locale or another, in the name of research. It had to be hard on a wife.

Marguerite reached Greta's room and stopped short. Roxton was rocking Greta to sleep. They were both sitting in the rocking chair. Roxton did not appear to see her. Marguerite coughed softly. Roxton looked up slowly, then stood up, walking over to the crib. He then gently laid Greta down in to it. Roxton then slowly backed away, turned and walked over to her.

'I assume you were coming here to get her off to sleep. The task is done.'

Marguerite smiled at him. 'Yes, but I am also sleeping in here tonight.'

Roxton looked around. There was a small bed that he had assumed was for the nurse. He looked back at her.

'You're going to sleep on that tiny thing?'

Marguerite folded her arms, staring at him with amusement.

'Yes. There is an ape creature running loose. I want to be here to keep an eye on our child, that's all.'

'Well, then, I'm staying too.' Roxton said stubbornly.

'Oh, I see. And where are you going to sleep, on the floor?' she asked, smiling.

Roxton walked past her and sat down on the bed. He then patted the space next to him. Marguerite walked over and sat down next to him.

'What is this, John?'

'What this is, is the time for us to lay all of our cards on the table. Challenger and I have decided to trap the creature. After, I need to know what's going to happen.'

'Happen?' she asked.

'Meaning, are we going to get married here and raise Greta? Or are we going to get married here and move back to London? Or are we going to get married here and live somewhere else? It is your choice, Marguerite, but the operative word is 'married'. I'm sorry we couldn't do it before Greta was born, but we can't live the rest of our lives without one another because you're afraid of what people might think of Greta.'

'Me!' Marguerite yelled, then put a hand over her mouth. She looked over at Greta. She was still fast asleep. She then looked at Roxton again.

'John, you could've let Emma die alone. I'm not saying that would have been right, but, there was a part of you that cared that you still be seen as a gentleman. So don't pretend as if you don't care about what society thinks and...'

Roxton suddenly kissed her. Marguerite felt herself responding to him, as she always did. She lost sense of where she was, and just barely managed to push him away.

'John...'

'I'll renounce my title.'

Marguerite jerked away and slowly stood up.

'What?'

Roxton stood up. 'I will renounce my title. I'll give it to some other male relative. Whatever I have to do to make this easier on you. Of course, there will still be talk about my giving up my title for the great Marguerite Von Bubrik, but I....'

'I love you.' Marguerite said quietly, then turned away and began to weep. Roxton was more than a bit horrified to see this particular reaction. He turned her around and pulled her into his arms.

'What is this all about? Why the tears? Is the idea of never being known as Lady Marguerite Roxton, too much to bear?'

Marguerite grabbed his face and kissed him again. She then let go of him.

'I can't ask you to give up your title, or your name, or anything!'

'You're not asking, Marguerite. I want this, what we have now, more than I've ever wanted anything! I don't want our daughter to be ashamed or live under any scandal either. We'll just be one happy, normal family. You, me, Greta and whatever other children we may or may not have.'

Marguerite said nothing. Her eyes left his and focused in on the crib. Roxton turned her face towards his.

'Have an answer for me tomorrow, Marguerite.'

Marguerite touched the hand that was on her face.

'An answer?'

'As to where we will be married. Because I can assure you, a marriage will take place between us. Just the where and when are missing...and not for long.'

Roxton took his hand away from her face.

'I'm going to check around the house, just to make sure it's secure. When I return, let's figure out a way for of the two of us to sleep in that little bed.'

Roxton then turned and left the room. Marguerite didn't take her eyes off of his back until he left the room. It was good having him here with her...and Greta. She didn't feel so alone anymore. Though, Ned, Veronica and Finn are her family. She slowly sat down on the bed, her mind on wedding gowns. Should she dare wear white?

****

Ned began boxing up all of Jack's belongings. His desk had been a mess. Actually, it was a real disgrace.

As he idly packed things up, Ned wondered what his own father had seen in Jack. What had he seen in his character, that let him run the paper during Ned's own absence?

His mind began to focus on Veronica's dislike of Jack, and how she had always said he was after Ned's job. That Jack had been angered by his return from the plateau. That Jack felt he should've been running the paper, not Ned.

How Veronica could sense all of that in a man she barely spoke to, always made him feel a bit insecure. If there was any truth in it, then he had to wonder how he would make it in this world, when the next predator came along. He had battled prehistoric creatures, but the ones with human skin, still managed to get over on him.

Ned sat down and began examining some of the papers on Jack's desk, looking for what was important to the paper, and what was not. It was while he was doing this, that a piece of paper fell to the floor.

Ned stopped what he was doing and reached down to pick it up. He glanced at it, then looked at it, hard. The paper was a check. It was made out to Jack Farrell for the sum of $1,000 dollars. It was from Vivian Malone, Ned's mother.

Ned blinked his eyes hard. What the hell was his mother doing giving Jack that type of money?! He looked at the date. His mother had wrote it two days ago!

Ned was still staring at the check, when low and behold, Jack's door opened, and Vivian Malone walked in. She stopped short when she set eyes on her son.

'Neddie? Neddie darling, what are you doing here? Are you alright, you poor thing!'

Ned allowed his mother to kiss him and ruffle his hair, as if he were still a child. He discreetly hid the check under some papers on Jack's desk.

'Mother, it's the middle of the night. What are you doing here at the paper?'

Vivian sighed, her eyes looking around the room. They then went back to Ned.

'I heard about Jack. Darling, one of our competitors has scooped you. I assume that's why you are here.'

Ned smiled thinly. 'Yes,but what are you doing here? I know you weren't about to write the account of his grisly death.'

Vivian looked him up and down. 'Neddie, can we please stop this? You have used that insolent tone with me ever since you returned from that God awful place with that jungle girl!'

Ned stood up. 'Her name is Veronica, mother! And you'd better get used to calling her that. I have been so ashamed of the way you've been treating her...why are you here again?'

Vivian pursed her lips. 'Darling, I heard about that dreadful ape creature and was worried. Worried that you could've been hurt.'

'I'm fine, mother. How did you know I was here?'

Vivian took a shaky breath. 'Why are you badgering me in this manner? I just assumed you'd be here! Where else would you be? Your Assistant Editor was murdered right in front of you, I presume! And whether you believe it or not, this family owes Jack a great debt, for running this paper for your father!'

Ned pulled the check out from under the papers and pushed it in her face!

'So, is this what this check was for? To repay him for running the paper for Father?'

Vivian scratched her ear. She then snatched the check.

'No, Neddie. Jack was checking into something for me. The money was so that he could be discreet.'

Ned folded his arms. 'God help me if that money was about digging up dirt on Veronica...'

Vivian rolled her eyes! 'Oh for goodness sakes, Neddie! There is more to the world than Veronica Layton!'

She stopped and took a deep breath. It was obvious her son did not believe her.

'Neddie, I'm going to tell you something. And this is going to be very hard for you to hear. And I did want to spare you.'

Ned sat down and yawned. When his mother did not speak right away, he shrugged.

'Okay, mother. Go on, let's get this over with.'

Vivian sat down as well. She was silent for a long time, then spoke.

'The money was for Jack to do some checking...'

'Into Veronica's past?'

'No. I wanted to know the identity of the couple that was murdered in London, by the ape creature.'

Ned looked at his mother with surprise.

'Good God! Why would you want to know a thing like that?'

Vivian stood up. 'If you were a true journalist, you'd want to know as well, son. Their identities were not released for a good reason.'

Ned had to admit, he was mildly curious. Maybe these people had a connection to the plateau.

'What was the reason?'

'Besides the fact that they both came from money, they were also both married to other people.'

Ned raised a brow. 'So two people are having an affair and happened to get killed in the park? Mother, what does this have to do with why you paid Jack?'

Vivian suddenly grabbed Ned's hands!

'Neddie! The woman was Gladys!'

Ned stared blankly at his mother for a moment, before snatching his hands from hers!

'Gladys?! Don't be ridiculous! She married someone else when I didn't...'

Vivian touched his cheek. 'She had to get on with her life. We all did. Your father stopped hoping that the son he wanted to run his paper, would return. He took Jack under his wing. I suppose Gladys was not happy in her marriage, or else she would've never been in such a dreadful situation...'

'You're wrong, mother! I would've known!'

'Her family didn't want it to get out right away! Oh, I'm sure by now it's common knowledge. Darling, if you weren't so distracted by that Layton woman, you would've known this by now. The Boston Journal was your father's dream, his legacy to us. We have to be up on the news or we won't stay in business long.'

Ned shook his head.

'You've just told me that a woman that I loved, and had planned on marrying, was ripped to shreds by some creature...just go, Mother. Just go.'

Vivian watched him for a moment, then turned and left his office. She stopped in the hallway and looked back at her son. Ned had stood up and was now staring out of the window.

She was sorry she had to do that to her Neddie. Yes, the news about Gladys had been dreadful. God, if only Neddie hadn't went on that damned expedition! With the money Glady's had, combined with Malone family money, the two could've created a dynasty!

But, it had served a purpose. For Ned may have thought she was insensitive just now. But he would've truly despised her, if he had found out that his own mother had paid Jack Farrell to seduce away his fiancee. Vivian ripped the check up, turned away and walked out.

Meanwhile Ned stared out on to the street. Gladys was dead. Jack was dead. The ape creature was here for him, not Challenger or Roxton.