Thanks again for the continued support on this case file. This upcoming offering is one of my favorite chapters, especially after Mariel sprinkled some of her magic dust on the "Samantha remembers" scene (something about past perfect tense?) Anyhoo, I hope you enjoy it!

Chapter 7 – Action And Reaction

Jack and Martin were still twenty minutes from the warehouse when Samantha's assault team hit the office building. The large team worked quickly and took two thugs by surprise, arresting them without incident.

As the team continued to search the building, Samantha untied Jennifer and called for an ambulance. She was weak, had a busted lip, and was scared to death, but otherwise seemed fine. "Charlie. Please. You have to help find my little brother. Willie might have him. Please."

"It's all right, Jennifer. Charlie is safe at our office. He's the one who told us where we might find you."

Jennifer cried tears of relief. "He's crazy. Willie is crazy. He has a warehouse full of stolen guns. You have to stop him. He will kill anyone who gets in his way."

Just then, an agent came in to report to Samantha that the building was clear. Only two men had been found. Her jawed dropped at the realization. She raced outside and phoned Jack. She had to warn him.

Hitting his speed dial number, she drummed her fingers nervously on the hood of the car. "Come on, Jack, " she pleaded. "Answer the phone."

"Malone."

"Jack it's me. Listen carefully. We have Jennifer. She's fine. But we only got two men. You have to wait for backup, Jack. You are way out numbered. I'm on my way with the bulk of this team. Wait till we get there, Jack. Do you hear me? Jack?"

On the other end, Jack strained to hear. The signal was very poor and the reception was full of static. All he heard was a word now and then…have Jennifer…fine…numbers…team.

He snapped his phone shut. "I forgot we have shitty signals around this damn airport. But I'm sure I heard her tell me they have Jennifer and she's fine. That should give us some bargaining power."

Samantha pressed the phone to her ear. "Jack! Jack! Can you hear me?" The phone went dead in her hand. I'll see you back here in a few hours. Drinks are on you this evening.

She jolted into action, ordering all but five officers to proceed immediately to the other warehouse. Barking out directions, she jumped into her car, throwing the blue bubble light on top as she sped out of the parking lot.

-xxxxx-

She tried Jack's cell phone again….still no answer. "Dammit Jack! Pick up, already!" She nudged the accelerator a little harder, not questioning that her thoughts were only on Jack, not Martin.

Her mind reeled as she ticked off the facts. Wilkinson and his henchmen numbered at least ten strong. Jack probably thought only two or three were at the hideout. Wilkinson had made it clear he wanted Jack's head on a platter for interfering and she was sure Martin would just be collateral damage. She was still at least fifteen minutes away with police and FBI agent backup. Martin and Jack were both in grave danger.

The events of the last few days made her question her loyalties and made her question where her heart really stood. Scenes at the restaurant and office played out again in her mind.

The night before, she'd walked into Luigi's while Martin was trying to find a parking place. Standing in the small alcove, she'd heard a familiar chuckle and turned to see Jack walking towards her with a stunning brunette at his side. Instant jealousy washed through her, then was instantly squashed by her question of why? She was with Martin (wasn't she?) And Jack? Well, he was obviously moving on, too. Looking for a place to hide until they passed, she had found herself trapped as Jack looked up and caught her eye.

"Hi, Sam. Where's Martin?" he'd asked.

Samantha had frowned. Why had he assumed she was with Martin?

Unaware of her disquiet, Jack had made introductions, "Debbie, this is Agent Samantha Spade. We work on the same team."

Work on the same team?…Samantha's frown deepened. It sounded so clinical…

"Pleased to meet you, Samantha," the woman had said with a friendly smile. "How long have you worked under Jack?"

Fighting the urge to return a very smart-assed response, Samantha had opted for "Oh, about four years now." And had looked Jack straight in the eye as she'd added sweetly, "I love being under him."

She had questioned her actions even then. Why had she been blatantly flirting with him, right in front of his date? Jack had noticeably blushed as he'd guided Debbie to the door.

"See you in the morning," he'd said. "Tell Martin…to be careful"

That last line had been delivered with a wink, a smile, and this with his eyes giving her a good once-over.

She'd stopped, shocked. What had just happened!

When he'd seen her in the office the next day, he'd smiled sheepishly and ducked his head like an embarrassed schoolboy. Her heart had fluttered. What was going on? Who the hell was Debbie?

Then Danny and Martin had left to testify in a court trial, and said they'd be gone all afternoon. And Reggie's school had called to tell Vivian he was running a high fever and was complaining of a severe sort throat, so Jack had sent her home.

That had left them alone in the office. The tension had been so thick you could cut it with a knife.

She had been tracking down leads from known associates of Wilkinson's from prison, when Jack materialized at her desk. She'd had no idea he'd been watching her from the hallway for several minutes.

"Hey. NYPD just called and they've found Jennifer's brother. They're bringing him in. Should be here in a few minutes. I'm hoping he can give us something on where Wilkinson hangs out. This is the closest connection we've found."

Nodding her concurrence, she'd replied, "Great. His school buddies said they saw him several times with someone fitting Wilkinson's description. Hopefully, we can get him to talk, but if Wilkinson threatened him, he might be pretty tight-lipped."

Jack had nodded as he'd moved to sit on the edge of her desk, saying, "Yeah. You're right. In which case, you should lead the interview. He'll probably be more willing to open up to you, than to me." Leaning closer, he'd added, "I know I would, if I were in his shoes."

There it was again! She took the opportunity to ask, "So, did you have a good time at Luigi's?" And then, trying to sound casual, she asked, "Do I know Debbie from somewhere?"

He'd looked up from the case file and tried desperately to read her eyes while ensuring he masked his own from reflecting his true thoughts. "Ummm. It was okay. And yes, I think so."

She'd scoffed. "Well, that's a cryptic response. Where do I know her from? Company picnic? District Attorney's office? The coffee shop?" The tone of her voice had given her away. He'd seen the jealousy in her eyes.

Rubbing his chin with his left hand, his voice had softened to nearly a whisper when he'd answered "No. She's my cousin. My Dad's brother's girl. She's here doing research for the newspaper she works for back in Miami. I thought you met her a few years ago."

He'd paused, and then tentatively touched her fingers with his left hand. "Is everything all right with you? How is your life going? Are you happy?"

Her eyes had focused on his bare left ring finger. The indentation was gone, and the white line had already tanned over. Debbie was his cousin. Her heart had beat faster, and her mouth had become suddenly dry. "Tell Martin to be careful." Damn!

A voice brought her out of her reverie. He'd been saying her name. "Samantha? Sam? You okay?"

Snapping to, she'd answered, "Yeah, fine. And my life it…Well, it's…I guess you could say...well, frankly, it's been better."

The look in her eyes had been clear. He'd known that look, but she was supposed to be with Martin. "Oh. Well promise me you will let me know if there is anything I can do...okay?"

Then her desk phone had rung. It had been the NYPD. Jennifer's brother was on the way up.

tbc