Chapter 2

Jeffrey grabs his jacket. " Please let nothing have happened to my Marah. " Jeffrey flashes on her beautiful face looking back at him when he sent her away. He needed to first return to the Beacon and pack some of his stuff. He hoped that he could get a flight but looking at the time somehow he didn't think that would be possible not with the storm. Jeffrey pulls out his cell phone and tries to call the airlines. He gets an answering service saying that flights are not open until 6:00am at the earliest due to the weather. Jeffrey then calls a private charter service that he knows about. He pleads his case and even uses his badge to get the flight out. The receptionist says that he can have a flight in the morning at 6:00am then a connecting flight with JFK International Airport at 7:00am. Jeffrey agrees to it.

….

Jeffrey arrives at the Beacon all ragged. It was nearly 2:45. He still couldn't believe the letter that he had gotten from Jean Paul. He had tried to call Jean Paul's number but there was no answer. He had left a message on the answering machine. There had to be something wrong. He knew that there was something wrong with that picture yet did he do anything ? His gut was telling him that she was in trouble. Why did he not go to her ? Jeffrey walks over to the desk.

" Hey Jimmy."

" Mr. O'Neill. I'm surprised to see you here. "

" Yeah…I guess so. I presume that I still have my suite here."

" Of course. Would you like your mail ? "

" Sure thanks…. I can never get away from this stuff can I ? Never mind. It's been a long night. "

Jeffrey grabs the stack of mail from the young man's hands. He turns to head up the stairs.

" Oh Jimmy… "

" Yes sir ?"

" I would like a wake up call in my room for 5:30am please. "

" You do realize that is only in a couple of hours sir. ? "

Jeffrey laughs, " Well the ragged never sleep I guess."

" Of course sir. "

" Good. And Jimmy don't call me sir. It makes me feel old. Just Mr. O'Neill will do fine. "

" Sure…. Mr. O'Neill."

Jeffrey heads up the stairs to his suite. He opens the door and looks around the room. Home sweet home. This had been his home for so long once he had first gotten to Springfield. It was just supposed to be another room in another town. Another case. It wasn't even close to that. A dinner party had changed all of that. Soon afterwards a game of cat and mouse began between him and Marah with him being the mouse. She had been persistent and had worked down his wall. Everything had changed for them on New Years Eve that year. He had realized that he had fallen for her. He wasn't sure how it happened but it had. She had come into Olivia's wearing a one-sleeved red sequin gown. She had looked absolutely beautiful but sad. He had wondered what could make such a beautiful creature sad. All she had wanted was him. That night was supposed to be just a gift but it turned into so much more. He wished that he could have given all of himself to her but that damn case….Jeffrey throws his briefcase on the bed. It lands with a thud. He had wanted so much more with her. He still loved her there was no denying it. Jeffrey notices the light blinking on the answering machine. Jeffrey sits down and presses the button.

"Jeffrey...it's Marah. I know you never expected...(crackle, crash of thunder and lightening. ) to hear my voice again but...( crackle, crash of thunder) I don't know who else I can call. I need your help again one last time..."

Jeffrey heart drops into his stomach hearing the fear. He listens to the sounds outside. The weather is rough and ragged. The phone call is disconnected. Marah's voice is coming in and out. The rain is pounding down on the car and he can hear the lightening and thunder.

" Jeffrey... help me... I need your help... Please !...Oh god they found me. "

Jeffrey touches the phone stilled by the fear in her voice. Marah ? Marah's voice then becomes muffled on the line. Marah's voice was still there but it was more distant and distorted.

" How did they find me ?... I can't stop them.( metal crashing on metal, tires squealing.) They're pushing the car... Oh my God... The trees they are trying to push me off the road...Help me Jeffrey ! "

Jeffreyscreams Marah's name.

" Marah darling... I'm right here. I'm coming to you hold on. Please hold on. " Jeffrey touches the phone. He had never felt so helpless in his life. The last time he had felt this overwhelmed was when Marah had been charged with Carrie's murder. There was nothing that he could do to help her. He felt so frustrated.

" Let nothing happen to her. " Jeffrey grabs his jacket but he couldn't leave yet there was no way. He had to get to Paris to find her. He had to know what had happened to her. Jeffrey continues to listen to the phone call. He hears the sceetch and groan of the brakes as metal hits metal. Marah tries to put the car in reverse but no luck. He could hear the squeal of the small car as it's being pushed.

" JEFFREY ! " ( crunch and crash of metal as it hits a tree )

The line then goes dead silent. Jeffrey grabs his jacket and rushes out the door. He rushes down the stairs. He had to get to Marah one way or another. There had to be some way.

" Hold on Marah. I'm coming. I'm coming. " Please let nothing have happened to her.

Renee Boudoin had grumbled when his wife Marie wanted him to go out and check the horses. They were fine he had tried to reassure her. He understood it had been a nasty storm that had come into the area overnight. The rain and wind was making the old farmhouse groan with the pressure. It would be fine in the morning. He had agreed again after she had pushed him. Their horse Mystique had just given birth to a new foal. She wanted to make sure that it was o.k. Renee had grabbed his jacket and boots and had opened up the old screen door. The rain was pouring and pelting the ground. Renee steps out. The wind slams the door shut. He pulls the collar of his work jacket up around his neck to keep the bitter wind off. He runs over to the old wooden barn that was close to the edge of the forest. Just as he opened the door there was a crackle and a flash of lightening. There was a loud whinney that came from inside the barn.

" Mystique my beautiful are you o.k. ? "

The beautiful black and white appaloosa horse was rushing back in forth in her pen neighing and whinneying.

" I know. I know it is not weather out there fit for human or beast. Everything will be fine my pet. The storm will pass and you will see it will be wonderful tomorrow morning. Everything will be fine in the morning. "

Renee lightly touches the muzzle of the horse scratching it. He passes her a couple of carrots that he grabbed from the house. She brushes them away. The horse continues to act agitated as if trying to tell him something.

" What is it my beautiful ? Lightening is fine right. " Renee looks beside the tall horse and sees the black foal sleeping. It had a jagged strip of white down it's back hence the name. The horse continued to whinney and moan. He had been born during the last storm that had come through the valley.

" What is the matter ? "

Renee then heard the sound. It was a moan in the distance beside the hay bales close to the back door. It wasn't animal but it wasn't quite human either.

" Who's there ? This is private property. " Renee heart starts beating faster as he walks over and grabs a pitchfork from the wall. He tentatively walks over to the spots where the moan had become more consistent.

" Who goes there ? "

Renee looks down and sees a young woman lying down on the ground. She's soaked to the bone. Her clothes are torn and dirty and she has a nasty cut on her forehead. Her ankle also looks swollen and bruised. She was just wearing only one red shoe.

" Miss...are you alright ? "

" NOOO please don't hurt me...I'll give it to you just don't hurt me... Jeffrey I need you. " She curls up in a fetal position. She brushes her chestnut brown hair away from her face. She looks terrified like a wounded animal.

" Everything is fine. Everything will be fine. Marie ! "

Renee bends down and picks up the young woman. She tries to fight him but is so tired she stops. Renee tries to console her to calm her down talking to her like a small child. She leans against him. She's soaked to the bone and light as a feather.

" Jeffrey I knew you would find me. I knew that you would. "

" Everything will be fine. You're safe now. No one will hurt you. " Renee holds the woman close to him. The young woman must be disoriented because of the cut on her forehead. He grabs a horse blanket and wraps her up. Renee rushes up to the house and opens the door.

" MARIE ! I need some help here. I need some blankets. "

" Renee ? What happened ? " Marie stops in her tracks seeing her husband soaked carrying the young woman. " Where did you find her ? "

" I don't know. I found her in the barn. This is why Mystique was so agitated. I found her over by the hay bales. She's badly hurt and her clothes are torn. I need to lie her down somewhere. "

" You can put her in the Francois' room. "

Renee walked up the stairs to the second level and opened up the door to the bedroom. Francois was their oldest son. He was away at university.

" I need some blankets. "

" I'll get them. "

" We should call the doctor. She has a nasty gash on her forehead and a sprained ankle I think... "

" The lines are down. They will be till morning. What happened ? "

" I don't know. I just don't know but something or someone frightened this poor child. "

Renee holds his wife close to himself. What could have happened to this young woman for her to be out in this weather alone? and who are what was after her ?