I'm feeling really lazy right now, and didn't want to post this, but I know
if I don't post it now, I'll be even lazier later, so what the hell? I'll
post now.
So, let me know what you think, chapter 17 is like my second favorite chapter ever! And I mean ever! So be ready for that. Thanks to Screech for beta'ing, and please let me know what you think, I appreciate all of your feedback.
Another double update, you all should feel happy, I almost didn't give you this one!
[16] -- The Next Day [Friday]
He glanced at the clock, 10am, which would mean it was 7am in Los Angeles. He knew Sydney wouldn't be up yet, she'd probably be up in another hour to go running and then to class, but he figured Michael would be.
Picking up the phone, he looked up Michael's cell phone number and dialed it, waiting for him to answer.
"Hello?"
"Mr. Vaughn, how is everything going?"
Michael quietly told someone he would be a second, and Jack realized that possibly for the first time ever Sydney was awake this early.
When he had finally gotten away from Sydney, he cleared his throat and continued, "Jack, there's something I forgot to tell you the last time I talked to you, but when I first got to Sydney's apartment the first night I was here, I of course searched it from top to bottom."
"What I didn't tell you was that when I got to her bedroom, the sliding glass door leading to the balcony was wide open, something I doubt Sydney would leave open all day long. It looked as if someone had been in there and escaped out the door when Sydney and I arrived in the apartment."
"When I went out on the balcony to see if maybe they were just hiding out there, I discovered that the two apartments next to hers have balconies within jumping distance of hers."
"But I have it all taken care of, all the windows, doors and any other ways to enter the apartment have been locked, and I'm making sure they stay locked."
"What does Sydney think about all this?" Jack asked.
There was a slight silence before Michael spoke again, "I haven't told her yet, I wanted to wait until I spoke to you first so I wouldn't frighten her."
"Sydney's a lot stronger than you give her credit for, just tell her and see how she reacts," Jack told him, "Now, besides that, have you asked her who her neighbors are on either side of her?"
"No I haven't," Michael replied, "But I think we can pay them a little visit before we head to the campus this afternoon."
"Why, what time is her first class?"
"Noon, and then at three, so we can just pay the neighbors a visit right before we leave."
"That sounds like a plan to me," Jack answered, "But that's not why I called in the first place."
"Why did you actually call?" Michael inquired, "I was kind of wondering that myself."
"Well there hasn't been a break in the case as of yet, so I'm taking the weekend off and coming to LA. Not that I don't trust you with watching her, I just think that with everything that's going on I should be with her for a little while."
"I understand Mr. Bristow," it just felt like a time he should call him Mr. Bristow, "Would you like me to alert Sydney that you are coming, or do you want it to be a surprise?"
"No, just tell her," Jack replied, "I think she'd want to know."
"I can do that right now," Michael told him, "So when can we expect you to be here?"
"Not until later tonight, probably eight your time."
****
Twenty minutes later, Jack had acquired his flight online, the ticket was waiting for him at the desk at Washington International Airport.
Since he had gotten off the phone with Michael, he had made numerous phone calls to everyone he was supposed to meet that weekend, canceling everything and claiming there was a family emergency, because if you thought about it, that wasn't a lie, his daughter's life was on the line.
He told Rose she wouldn't have to be back in the office, and just hook up the answering machine before she left, anybody who needed to get in touch with him would leave a message and he'd get back to them on Monday afternoon.
Plus, he had redirected basically everyone who was important to call his cell phone, and after that he left the office needing to pack, he had a flight to Los Angeles to catch in less than seven hours.
~&~&~
So, let me know what you think, chapter 17 is like my second favorite chapter ever! And I mean ever! So be ready for that. Thanks to Screech for beta'ing, and please let me know what you think, I appreciate all of your feedback.
Another double update, you all should feel happy, I almost didn't give you this one!
[16] -- The Next Day [Friday]
He glanced at the clock, 10am, which would mean it was 7am in Los Angeles. He knew Sydney wouldn't be up yet, she'd probably be up in another hour to go running and then to class, but he figured Michael would be.
Picking up the phone, he looked up Michael's cell phone number and dialed it, waiting for him to answer.
"Hello?"
"Mr. Vaughn, how is everything going?"
Michael quietly told someone he would be a second, and Jack realized that possibly for the first time ever Sydney was awake this early.
When he had finally gotten away from Sydney, he cleared his throat and continued, "Jack, there's something I forgot to tell you the last time I talked to you, but when I first got to Sydney's apartment the first night I was here, I of course searched it from top to bottom."
"What I didn't tell you was that when I got to her bedroom, the sliding glass door leading to the balcony was wide open, something I doubt Sydney would leave open all day long. It looked as if someone had been in there and escaped out the door when Sydney and I arrived in the apartment."
"When I went out on the balcony to see if maybe they were just hiding out there, I discovered that the two apartments next to hers have balconies within jumping distance of hers."
"But I have it all taken care of, all the windows, doors and any other ways to enter the apartment have been locked, and I'm making sure they stay locked."
"What does Sydney think about all this?" Jack asked.
There was a slight silence before Michael spoke again, "I haven't told her yet, I wanted to wait until I spoke to you first so I wouldn't frighten her."
"Sydney's a lot stronger than you give her credit for, just tell her and see how she reacts," Jack told him, "Now, besides that, have you asked her who her neighbors are on either side of her?"
"No I haven't," Michael replied, "But I think we can pay them a little visit before we head to the campus this afternoon."
"Why, what time is her first class?"
"Noon, and then at three, so we can just pay the neighbors a visit right before we leave."
"That sounds like a plan to me," Jack answered, "But that's not why I called in the first place."
"Why did you actually call?" Michael inquired, "I was kind of wondering that myself."
"Well there hasn't been a break in the case as of yet, so I'm taking the weekend off and coming to LA. Not that I don't trust you with watching her, I just think that with everything that's going on I should be with her for a little while."
"I understand Mr. Bristow," it just felt like a time he should call him Mr. Bristow, "Would you like me to alert Sydney that you are coming, or do you want it to be a surprise?"
"No, just tell her," Jack replied, "I think she'd want to know."
"I can do that right now," Michael told him, "So when can we expect you to be here?"
"Not until later tonight, probably eight your time."
****
Twenty minutes later, Jack had acquired his flight online, the ticket was waiting for him at the desk at Washington International Airport.
Since he had gotten off the phone with Michael, he had made numerous phone calls to everyone he was supposed to meet that weekend, canceling everything and claiming there was a family emergency, because if you thought about it, that wasn't a lie, his daughter's life was on the line.
He told Rose she wouldn't have to be back in the office, and just hook up the answering machine before she left, anybody who needed to get in touch with him would leave a message and he'd get back to them on Monday afternoon.
Plus, he had redirected basically everyone who was important to call his cell phone, and after that he left the office needing to pack, he had a flight to Los Angeles to catch in less than seven hours.
~&~&~