Title: Never Lose Faith 3/4
Rating: PG
Setting: Mt Thomas, set a week after Jonesy's stabbing
Summary: This is basically a TJ and PJo fic (so please read if u r one of the couple's fans!) and it's based on the aftermath of Jonesy's stabbing and tells a different story of Jo's kidnapping.
Note: Sorry it has taken me months to write chapter 3 and 4 but things get hectic this time of year... had exams, camp, then in the hols had Xmas shopping to do and all that stuff and now in the new year thought it was time to finish it! Ok, here we go:
NEVER LOSE FAITH 3/4
It was 9am on a warm and sunny Tuesday morning. Jo had been missing at least 11 hours now. It seemed ironic to Tess how such a beautiful day could actually be one of the worst in their lives. The whole week had been one total mess. Evan had been stabbed and had lost his spleen. He was recovering well though and was back at the station on desk duty. Her relationship with him had taken a dramatic twist though when they'd shared a short burst of passion before she came back to her senses. As if her problems weren't stressful enough already, she now had a missing constable to add to the list. Not knowing whether she was hurt or even alive was eating Tess up inside. Yet life went on as it did every day. The sun rose, the birds sang and the Heelers were back at work.
Putting her Sergeant's mask on, she decided she could not delay the meeting any longer and pushed her thoughts away to a small corner in the back of her mind. Her job had to come first and right now her job was to find Jo. Calling all the Heelers over, she began briefing them.
"Alright, so Jo has been missing around 11 hours. She was last seen at 6pm here at the Station. We presume she drove home and was attacked as she walked through the front door. She was then dragged to a blue Mitsubishi outside the house and driven away. PJ and Ben were able to get the rego and it appears to belong to a bloke named Stephen Forte". Tess held up a photo of Stephen and stuck it up on the white board. "We checked him up on COPS and he's had priors for assault and theft. Right now he's our main suspect. Ben, PJ, can you get a warrant to search his house?
"Will do Sarg." replied Ben as he put on his hat and walked out the door. "Coming PJ? He yelled back through the open door. "Yeah" sighed PJ hesitantly as he dragged himself outside. After they left, Tess continued, "We also found that Marco is missing as well. It doesn't look like he was kidnapped too as all his possessions are gone. It's most likely he knew what was going to happen and fled. Jones, can you send out a report on the radio? We're looking for a dark red Ford, rego FJL 285. We need to find him as soon as possible".
"Yeah I'll get right on to it Sarg." Replied Jonesy only half-heartedly.
With that, Tess packed up her file and strolled back to her desk. As she sat down, Tom came up behind her and put a comforting hand on her shoulder.
"You're doing well Sergeant, this is tough on all of us." Soothed Tom. Forcing a smile, Tess replied, "Then why do I feel like I could be doing more?" "You're doing all you can Tess, how can we expect more from you? Although it's hard, we're just going to have to wait now." "Wait. For what? For all we know they could have killed her!" exclaimed Tess. "I don't believe that for a second. Why would they go to all the bother of kidnapping her just to kill her without getting anything in return? They haven't asked for a ransom yet. We'll find her. When he got no reply, he gave her a quick pat before confining himself back in his office.
Jo's disappearance had impacted hard on all of them. Everyone had held themselves together though and were working as best they could to find her. It wouldn't take long for someone to crumble under the pressure though. He could only pray that they'd find Jo before that time.
"Got the warrant." Called PJ as he barged through the station door.
"Oh good, Ben and I will go over right now," said Tess as she grabbed the warrant off PJ. "Tess, we got the warrant, Ben and I are going," grumbled PJ as he tried pushing Ben out the door. "PJ, I don't think it's such a good idea letting you go..." said Tess, "Tess, you stay here, I'm going. I won't do anything drastic either," said PJ, pushing past Tess, "Alright, Alright but don't let me regret this..." muttered Tess as PJ and Ben walked out the station door.
"Damn her" cursed PJ "Bloody Tess, why shouldn't I be out here!" "PJ, You know why Tess didn't want you to go, so just cool it ok? Blowing off steam isn't gonna help! You're not the only one suffering," said Ben grouchily. "Yeah I know," sighed PJ as he calmed down, "Sorry" he said wearily before flopping into the passenger seat. "Let's go".
They'd been working in silence all morning. There were so many things Evan wanted to say but he just couldn't seem to find the words. The timing wasn't quite right either. Jo's disappearance was the topic of the day, he'd be the last thing on her mind. Desperate to break the silence, Jonesy asked, "So... what're you thinking about?". Stupid, he thought. Of course she was worried about Jo, he was too. Still he couldn't help but indulge in his memories of the night before. He had been so close to winning her love, yet again she had pulled away from him. He hadn't even spoken to her about it yet. After another minute of silence, she finally replied, "Jo, and you and every other problem in my life...
"Me? Problem? Right." Mumbled Jonesy, taking his eyes off her and concentrating on the paperwork in front of him instead.
"Yes, last night was a mistake ok? I shouldn't have let it get that far..." replied Tess coolly.
"Let it get that far? Tess, we hardly got through the friking door!" groaned Jonesy.
"I don't want anymore... flings. I don't want a relationship. I don't..." muttered Tess, unsure of what to say next.
"You don't what?" interrupted Jonesy, obviously pissed off, "Don't wanna be with me? Don't love me? Bloody hell Tess we both know that's not true". Looking back at her he could see unshed tears gathering in her eyes and instantly regretted bickering at her. She didn't need this arguing, not today.
"Evan," she pleaded, "Just give it up ok? I don't need this... you. I can't be with you now or ever alright, so just stop it...". "Right" muttered Jonesy, turning back to his own desk.
"...This is horse shit! First you guys tear my place apart and now your dragging me into the bloody cop shop! I got better things to do you know!" yelled a coarse female voice, interrupting Tess' thoughts. "Yeah yeah, don't we all" groaned Ben.
Curious as to what all the hubbub was about, she stepped outside the station to find Ben and PJ with a short, blond female with bruises all over her arms and face.
"What's all the commotion about?," she demanded to know.
"Found her at Stephen's house, presume she's his girlfriend. We searched the place but there was nothing there, no sign of Stephen or Jo..." said PJ quietly as Ben took the girl inside.
"Right, well she must know where Stephen is, I'll interview her," said Tess, following Ben inside.
"I'm asking the questions ok PJ?" asked Tess, knowing PJ was likely to blow up like a big red balloon and loose his cool.
"Yeah sure," replied PJ, even though he had no intention of doing so.
Keeping an eye on PJ, Tess sat down and began the interview. "Alright, so what's your name then?" she queried. When the girl didn't speak though, she continued, "You're not doing yourself any favours by not talking to us. We're not after you or anything you've done ok? We're just looking for Stephen and we thought you may be able to help us." Again, silence. Noticing PJ was growing a deeper and deeper red, she hurriedly went on, "Did Stephen give you those bruises on your arms and face?" silence. "If he did, he's not worth protecting. One of our colleagues is missing and we believe he's holding her hostage. Her life could be in danger, we really need your help to find her..." silence.
"WHERE IS HE? You must know where he is, you're his girl aren't you!" bellowed PJ, unable to contain his anger any longer.
"I DON'T KNOW!" shouted the girl back with tears forming in her eyes. "I don't know ok? I'd help you if I could but I can't. You don't know what he's like, he's so angry and violent. I tried to leave him yesterday but he bashed me up and said he'd kill me if I left him! I'm scared of him..." she whimpered, letting the tears flow. "We can help you..." "Sophie" she replied. "Sophie we can protect you from him, we just need your help in finding him," said Tess. "Believe me, I have no reason to protect him, I'd tell you if I knew where he was.
"Ok then. Well thank you for your time Sophie," replied Tess, wrapping up the interview.
"That's it! We're just letting her go!" shouted PJ when she'd gone.
"She doesn't know where he is PJ," said Tess calmly as she sat back down at her desk.
"And you believed her?" he queried. "Yes as a matter of fact I do PJ, she honestly wanted to help us." she replied.
"Yeah but we're still no closer to finding Jo, are we?" muttered PJ as he sat on Tess' desk.
"We're gonna find her mate, something's bound to come up soon, you'll see," said Jonesy coming out of the kitchen. "Made you coffee anyway" he said placing two cups on Tess' desk. "Thanks Jonesy" smiled Tess, "Yeah thanks mate" PJ said glumly.
Brrrrrrring brrrrrrrrrrrrrring hummed the telephone suddenly. "Mt Thomas Police, Senior Constable Stewart speaking," said Ben as he rushed to answer the phone, "...really... yes that's him, we'll be right over. Thanks" said Ben and hung up the phone. "Cops at St. Davids picked up Marco speeding on the highway, looks like he was heading for Melbourne," Reported Ben.
Shocked by the sudden good news, PJ stood up too fast and spilt the coffee all over the floor. "Ah damn it!" cursed PJ whilst wiping himself with a tissue, "So are they holding him at the station?". "Yeah, we've gotta go pick him up" said Ben, "Alright, I'll come with you Ben," said Tess, picking up her jacket. "Tess..." complained PJ, "No PJ, you get cleaned up. Seeya later," she said and followed Ben out the door.
Back in his office, PJ was trying his hardest to keep his mind on work yet thoughts of Jo kept leaking into his mind, destroying his concentration. Throwing his pen down in frustration he leant back in his chair and covered his face with his hands. He had been an emotional roller coaster today, he didn't know if he felt angry, anxious, bitter, scared or all of them at once. All he knew was that it was slowly tearing him apart. If only he'd told Jo what he felt for her earlier. For all he knew it could already be too late...
"Got him," yelled Ben as they entered the Station with Marco.
"Good, I'm gonna join in the interview ok?" requested PJ
"Fine, you can come in, but I'm asking the questions again ok?" replied Tess, not in the mood for another argument, "Take him into the interview room Ben" she said as she turned towards the Boss' office. "Boss?" she asked as she peeked her head around the door. "Come in Tess" he said as he beckoned her in. "Any developments?" he asked, "Yes, Marco's been found. He's in the interview room right now if you want to sit in," said Tess. "Yes alright then," said the Boss, following her out the door.
"Marco, you may not be aware of this but Jo has gone missing. She disappeared around the same time you did actually. You wouldn't happen to know anything about that would you?" asked Tom.
By now Marco was sweating profusely and was shaking in his seat. "Yes I do and it's all my fault she's gone!" he whined.
"Marco, what do you mean Ôit's all your fault'?" asked Tess.
"I have a gambling problem ok? I needed money!" continued Marco, "Stephen leant me some and now he wants it back..." "But you don't have the money," said Tess, "So they kidnapped Jo. Is that what happened," "Yes. They knew she was my girlfriend and took her..." "The warnings on the red cards, they were meant for you?" asked Tom. "Yes, all of them," responded Marco. "So when did you leave the house?" asked Tess. "I got home last night to find the place in pieces. There was a note on the door... I panicked! I packed my stuff and left straight away..." said Marco. "Wait a second, the note, what did it say?" interrupted Tess. "It said he's got Jo and he wants his money," answered Marco, "How much," queried Tom. Marco looked down at his lap for a few seconds before replying, "I borrowed 30 grand, but Stephen is really pissed now... He want's $100,000".
