No extended version of this chapter, but I did write one of the memories that Race mentions. Didn't end up working with the flow of the chapter, but I'll post it as an outtake later. Happy Thanksgiving!
Jade let out a frustrated grunt when she found the safe house to be empty. She knew it was a long shot that they would still be using the first one, but she had to try. Bartlett had taken her phone and all her money. When she had freed herself of the handcuffs thanks to Phil's quick thinking, she did a scan of the room. But no luck finding her belongings. She had managed to lift a wallet on her way out of the hotel, but the cash barely covered the cab she took to the other end of the island. No one carried cash anymore.
"What now?" she said out loud to no one. She had no money. No phone and no idea where they were. All she had was Phil's pocketknife. She headed back outside and listened to the calming sounds of the crashing waves. She needed to think of a way to track them down without tipping off the FBI. She needed to get to Race and help him.
'Temple,' she decided. 'No one knows he's here. Not even Phil.'
"Alright," she whispered. "Now I just need to find a phone. How much does it cost to make a collect call these days?"
XXX
All the agents in the hotel were in the largest conference room available. There were not enough seats to accommodate them. Phil stood and moved to the front of the room. Bartlett had just finished a briefing on the details of the case and had let everyone know he was stepping aside in the best interest of the investigation. It was the first time most of the agents in the room were hearing any of it. Phil gave them all a moment to settle down. He turned to Bartlett, who was now sitting to his left and nodded his thanks.
'This will due,' Phil thought as he looked across the room. There were sixty highly trained men and women staring back at him, but he knew he had some convincing to do. Most of Bartlett's people still had their arms crossed over their chests.
Pictures of all five girls were on the screen. Phil shifted so the pictures were in clear view to all.
"I recognize this isn't what most of you were expecting and that may be frustrating," Phil addressed right out of the gate. "That's understandable, but I'm gonna ask you all to put any of those feelings aside and focus on them," he pointed at the girls. "We don't know much about our assailant, but we know quite a bit about his victims. All strong beautiful women that did not deserve to be ripped from their lives," Phil paused and thought of Jessie. "Those of you who know me know that I came here for personal reasons," he moved to stand beside Jessie's picture. "This young woman is my goddaughter and I'm close with her family. I want her back safe. I want all of them back with their families for Christmas. But we do this by the book," Phil ordered. "I want every agent in this room to step up and work together. You are all highly trained. I want you out there. What are we missing?"
"What about Bannon?" one of them asked.
Phil sighed. "He's not the one any of you should be focusing on," Phil stated patiently.
"So you're okay with him running around rouge?" the agent challenged. "You want us to look the other way?"
"What's your name?" Phil asked.
The young man stood. "Agent Ritter...sir."
"I didn't say that," Phil started. "Agent Ritter, if you can explain to me why finding Bannon before finding those girls should be the priority I'm all ears. I'm having trouble getting there myself." Phil paused to see what the agent would do. When it was clear he was done speaking, Phil continued. "Who has a lead? Who has a theory? I want to hear it all."
Another of Bartlett's agents stood to address the room. "I'm Agent Clarin. This has been all over the news. The local sheriff's department has been flooded with calls. Concerned citizens calling about everything from a car backfiring to any stranger they see on the streets. I've been sifting through the details and there are a few worth following up on, but the locals are backlogged. Reports of loud music on a continuous loop. Reports of lights on in buildings that are closed for the holiday. Things like that. I think we should intervene."
"Yes," Phil agreed. "Most likely that they haven't checked yet?"
"Fort Clinch. Big state park. Fourteen hundred acres. They don't have the resources. A lot of places to hide. It's a big tourist attraction, but many parts of it, like the museum, are closed around the holidays."
"What did the report say?" Phil asked.
"A woman that lives within throwing distance of one of the park's entrances reported seeing a silver SUV drive in and out several times. Said she's lived there thirty years and has never seen that much activity the day before Christmas, let alone from what appears to be the same car. That's just one of many reports. I haven't had a chance to read all the details yet, but this park is far and away the location that shows up the most in the data."
"Alright," Phil considered and then looked at Agent Monroe. "Can you pull up the map, please? On the screen, is a map of this island. Based on the case history…and the two bodies that have been uncovered, we have strong reason to believe the girls are still on the island. I've split the island into three sections. We'll do a good old fashioned grid search and flush this asshole out. Areas highlighted in red represent hot searches, but really I view the whole island as a hot search until we have more information. I want everyone wearing vests at all times. I want to move quickly and quietly. Avoid alerting the residents if at all possible. We need the element of surprise. Agent Monroe will assign everyone to a section of the island. The park is in section two. I'll lead the team taking that section. Agent Clarin, you're with me. I want to be mobile in twenty. Get moving," Phil ordered.
XXX
"Mark…accept the damn charges," Jade found herself yelling over the operator.
"I'll accept them," he grumbled.
"Thanks sweetie," Jade crooned once it was just the two of them. "I need your help."
"Why the hell would I want to help you ever again," he challenged. "I'm still recovering from the last time."
"Because I pay you well," she growled. "And by my estimation you still owe me. The kid's a pussycat compared to me. Don't make me come to you to collect," she warned.
There was a long silence before Mark answered. "What do you need?"
"I need to track a prepaid phone," she informed him. "Maybe a few."
"Do you have the number?" he asked in annoyance.
"No," she snapped. "But I have an idea on how to get it if luck is on my side. I'll need you to pull credit card records for Gregory Temple the last few days and see if the phones show up. If yes, dig into the level three data from the credit card company and get the UPCs. I trust you're capable of finding the numbers and tracking them once you have a unique UPC."
"Of course," he snipped. "But don't you spies always use cash?"
"Only when we think someone is looking. And I did say this plan would require a bit of luck. Now get to work," she ordered.
"Fine."
"Great. I'm also gonna need you to come pick me up."
XXX
'Oh. Fuck me,' Temple thought. 'I'll never live this down. Sorry, Racer.'
XXX
Phil said a silent prayer as he gathered with twenty agents around the northern most entrance to the park. He turned to address his team one last time before they started. He scanned the semi-circle that had formed to make sure they were all wearing vests and had confident looks on their faces. Some of them seemed so young to him. Satisfied, he smiled.
"Personal phones off and comms on," he reminded. "Let's do this and get home to our families."
XXX
"I'm awake," she sat perched on top of him, giving him a full view of her body. 'So perfect,' he thought happily. Like he did each time she took off her clothes for him.
"Put some clothes on," he licked his lips and rubbed the tops of her thighs.
"I wasn't expecting that," she deflated.
"Trust me. I'll make it worth your while, my girl."
She gave him a sideways glance. "What do you have planned?" she wanted to know.
He put both hands behind his head and stared up at her freely. "The sooner you cover up this…mmm this true work of art," he flirted. "...the sooner you'll know."
She raised any eyebrow. "Are you SURE you want to leave this bed? I'll make it worth your while to stay."
He sat up and kissed her. He could not resist. "You make it worth my while no matter where we are, baby. No matter what we're doing," he professed. "That's why you're my queen."
She smiled against his lips.
"What?" he asked.
"I just think it's cute that you're trying to sweet talk me back into my clothes," she laughed.
"Was hoping you'd say that I'm your king," he whispered.
"Hmm...well, I bow down to no man," she whispered back. "You should know that by now."
"I seem to remember you making me a promise earlier," he teased. "Agreeing to do exactly that. Whatever I want all week."
She gave him an odd look and then slowly crawled off him and out of the bed. "Your first request is for me to get dressed? Interesting choice, babe."
He watched her get dressed with a huge grin on his face. As soon as she was finished, she turned toward him and put her hands on her hips. He had not moved. "What are you doing?" she asked.
"Seriously questioning my decision making skills," he laughed and then got up to get dressed.
XXX
"Where are we going, Quest?" They had been walking along the beach for about twenty minutes, holding hands in a casual silence.
"Baby, are you cranky?" he teased and squeezed her hand. Then he pulled her close and kissed her softly. He lingered and kissed her again, biting her lip lightly. "I can make you feel better."
"How?" she swallowed. She looked nervous. He loved that he still had the ability to make her nervous.
"Take off your clothes," he whispered fiercely and her breath hitched. "I want to watch you."
She hesitated and furrowed her brow. She looked a little uncomfortable. He was about to change his mind, but then she pulled the t-shirt over her head and met his gaze.
Jonny's gaze shifted to follow the path of her clothes as they left her body and dropped to the sand. "You literally make me go weak in the knees," he praised, trailing his eyes from her ankles to her lips. She had her bottom lip between her teeth and her hands folded in front of her. It made him lick his lips. She was adorable.
He removed his shirt in that way that men do, reaching behind his neck to grasp the collar and pulling it over his head. He dropped it and then saddled up in front of her with a grin. He placed his hands on her hips and his forehead to hers. "Kiss me," he ordered.
She did as he asked and hooked her fingers in the waistband of his pants. He pulled back only long enough to tell her to take off his pants. She did not need to be prompted to remove his boxers. The slight chill in the air went unnoticed and the fear of getting caught was not there. He lifted her up and then eased her down into the soft sand.
"I'm so in love with you," he whispered, rolling them over until his back was against the sand. "I want you on top. I still want to watch you," he told her. He stared as she sat back on his thighs. He reached up with both hands, pushing the hair out of her face and behind her ears. "I want to see your face, beautiful."
She pumped his dick to full attention with a little help from her mouth. "No more teasing," he breathed after a few minutes.
She gripped his bent knees for leverage and then sank down on him with a sigh. His hands found a home on her breasts as she moved over him. "I'm not gonna last long," he admitted. The combination of her body on full display and the exhibitionist nature of their tryst had his body lit up.
"Me either," she moaned.
XXX
"That was so much fun," she giggled against his lips. "I love you. Are you sick of hearing me say that yet today?"
"No," he whispered back. "You look perfect in the moonlight," he admired. "So gorgeous. So beautiful. Are you sick of me telling you how beautiful I think you are?"
"Nope...How did you know we wouldn't get caught?" she suddenly asked.
"I didn't," he grinned. "… but I knew the probability was low and I REALLY wanted to do it so…" he trailed off.
"Oh my God," she laughed. "You're crazy. Let's take a picture?" she asked.
"Hmm," he considered. "But then I have to let you get dressed," he complained.
"I'm getting sand in uncomfortable places…." They were curled up together against the sand dune.
"Ok," he conceded. "…but I have a condition."
"Anything you want, baby."
"Jonny?" Race interrupted the memory.
"Yeah," he cleared his throat. "Yes? I can give you an update in a few minutes. I changed my approach…"
"You're crying," Race pointed out.
Jonny took an unsteady breath, closing his eyes tight and then wiping angrily at his face. "Fuck…I'm sorry, Race."
"It will be okay, kid. I promise you." Race said it quietly.
"Who are you trying to convince?" Jonny asked sullenly. Race did not respond. Jonny glared at the door to the dealership. Willing someone to show up. He had been stuck in the car for too long. Race had parked it in a narrow alleyway. Between two high-rise buildings in the business complex across the street. They were close enough that they would see someone approach the door, but far enough away that no one would see them unless they were looking for people hiding in an alley. It was Christmas Eve, so despite the relatively early hour, there was no one around. Everyone was home with their families.
It was after five and the sun was beginning to set. Jonny stared at it sadly, fighting the urge to start crying again. He could feel the fear ratcheting up inside him with every hour that passed. Like the mercury rising inside a thermometer. It seemed tangible and measureable to him. "I've never felt this afraid of anything," he admitted.
"I know," Race agreed. "But it'll be fine," he promised again.
Jonny knew what Race was trying to do and wanted so badly to be comforted by it. "How do you know?" he asked for assurances.
"Because we're all fighters," Race said simply.
"I think I've cried more in the last two days than my whole life," Jonny huffed in annoyance and then pointed to his head. "Up here, I know exactly what I need to do. What I WANT to do to be strong for her, but I keep…I thought I could do this," he shook his head. "I thought I was stronger than this. It's probably good I decided not to join up," Jonny tried to laugh it off. "I always thought I'd be able to survive it. Hell Week and all. I was SO convinced of it, but now I know otherwise. I'm drowning."
Race sighed. "The last few days have proven to me that you'd pass with flying colors actually. Not that I want you to try. Hell Week has nothing on this, Jonny. I'd know. You're not drowning, kiddo. You're surviving."
"Trust me," Race added when Jonny stayed silent. "The tears are more of a physical reaction right now than an emotional one. When's the last time you slept? It's just your body's way of telling you to slow down. That's one of the most difficult parts of this job. Pushing through when your body's not doing what you tell it to. Most people can't do that. Most people give up when their bodies tell them to quit."
"How do you manage it so well?" Jonny asked.
"By doing exactly what you've been doing," Race said. "You keep moving. No matter how much you want to stop and crawl into a hole."
Jonny stared out at the setting sun again. "Another day without her," he whispered. Every minute that passed where she was not safe was a mark on his soul. That was not new, but it had gotten even harder since he saw those pictures. He tried to push it aside. Dwelling did not help anyone, but the images kept crashing back to the forefront of his thoughts. The weight of knowing he was responsible for putting all this in motion…
Jonny kicked the glove compartment in frustration.
"Jonny. Come on."
"I can't just sit here," he growled. "I understand what it means if he comes back here. I saw the pictures of Lisa. Race…"
"I know," Race interrupted. "I know." He reached over and placed a hand on Jonny's shoulder. "It's going to be okay," he promised yet again. "Have I ever lied to you? Have I ever let either of you down? I DO NOT plan on starting today." He felt Jonny tense.
"I need you to know something," Jonny started. The tone of his voice caught Race off guard.
"What?" Race tightened his hold on Jonny's shoulder.
Jonny struggled and barely got the words out. "It was my idea."
"Listen…"
"I took her out there," Jonny rushed. "On the beach. It was my idea. She didn't even want to go. She wasn't supposed to be part of this. A psychopath fixated on her because I wanted to…," he kicked the glove compartment again. "I'll never forgive myself."
"Don't do that," Race warned.
"We're gonna get her back," Jonny whispered, trying to convince himself. "And then I promise you, Race. I'll spend forever trying to make this up to her. I swear it," he declared.
Race gave Jonny's shoulder a final squeeze and let got. "Learn from me and don't do that," he advised softly.
"Don't do what?" Jonny asked.
"Blame yourself for things that are out of your control," Race explained. "Let the 'what ifs' twist you up so bad that you're impossible to be around or talk to. She's gonna need you to help her move on."
"Of course."
"She won't move on if you won't, Jonny. How could she?" Race rationalized. "The only person at fault here is that sick bastard. If you let the guilt take over," Race paused and then continued in a far off voice. "…you'll ruin it. You'll push her away without realizing it. So far that she won't be able to find her way back to you. You'll lose her. Don't let that happen because, trust me, if you do you'll wake up one day and regret it forever. Don't be an idiot."
"You're only saying this to make me feel better," Jonny accused.
Race responded by digging into his front pocket and pulling out a ring.
"Is that..." Jonny started.
"Yes," Race sighed, tossing it into the center console. "It's a reminder to not be an idiot."
The car was quiet for a while as Jonny absorbed his words and what was just admitted. "Thanks."
Race shrugged. "I don't want to see you make the same mistakes I did. Just focus on making her happy. You're good at that."
Jonny smiled. "She makes it easy for me."
"No she doesn't." Race laughed.
"She does like to keep me guessing," Jonny admitted and laughed too. He got quiet again after the laughter died down. "You know how much I love her, right?"
"I do," Race nodded. "I remember the exact moment I knew for sure."
"When?" Jonny asked out of curiosity.
"Ask me when you have a little girl," Race responded. "You won't understand before then."
An image of her flashed across Jonny's mind again. Hovering over him with that look on her face that was just for him.
"Let's take a picture?" she asked.
Jonny's heart jumped into his throat. 'He was there watching us. Could we have caught an image?' He knew it was a long shot, but one he could not ignore. He glanced at Race and considered. Race would not be happy that he had kept her phone. 'Fuck it,' he reached into his back pocket, grabbing the phone. He balanced it in one hand trying to figure out what he wanted to do next. Turning it on would be a risk. All of their phones had been modified at Race's insistence. It was not easy to disable the GPS. Not to mention the cell towers that would be pinged as soon as he turned it on.
"What the hell are you doing?" Race asked.
Jonny explained.
"No," Race insisted.
"He could…"
"No," Race ordered. "What's the probability there's an image…let alone a usable one?"
"Small," Jonny admitted.
"The likelihood our location is pinpointed?" he challenged. "This place ends up crawling with agents and that psycho is tipped off?"
"I get it," Jonny said dejectedly, putting the phone back in his pocket.
"Give me the phone, kiddo."
"No," Jonny shook his head. "I won't turn it on. I promise, but I can't let you destroy it."
Race was about to argue when Jonny's computer began pinging like crazy. "What is it?" he redirected instead.
"Give me a sec," Jonny requested, scanning the information on his screen quickly. "Trying to figure out who owned the shell corporations was taking too long so I had IRIS search for any properties in a fifty mile radius purchased through any of those corps instead," he explained.
"Good call," Race offered. "What did you find?"
Jonny looked at him hopefully. "Two properties on the island," he smiled.
"Nice work," Race praised.
"What now?" Jonny rushed. He felt like this was the break they had been waiting for, but got worried again after glancing at the clock. "We don't have much time. Probably less than an hour if he sticks to his pattern. Call in the cavalry?"
Race mulled it over for a few seconds. "No," he said. "That doesn't feel like the right move. He's unpredictable and underestimating him would be a mistake. We don't know what he'll do if he gets spooked. I think the element of surprise is our best chance."
Race pulled out his phone and started to dial the number from memory.
"Who are you calling?" Jonny asked.
"Phil," he answered. "He and I will split the locations." Race did not say it out loud, but he could not be in two places at once and there was no one he trusted more than Phil to act on his behalf. "I'll call Temple to come back here and watch this place with you."
"NO WAY," Jonny yelled, but bit his tongue when Race put a hand up.
"Shit," Race barked. "No answer." He took a deep breath and then lifted the phone to his ear again. "I'll call your dad and have him track Phil down."
Jonny opened the car door and started to walk away to get Race's attention. It worked. Race opened his door and followed.
"Get back here now," Race threatened.
Jonny walked back toward Race as he spoke. "We have a small window. Don't waste time trying to track down Phil. Besides, don't you think my dad's phone is tapped? Wouldn't calling him risk alerting everyone? Didn't you JUST say her best chance is if we take this guy by surprise? Don't compromise on that for my benefit. I won't let you."
Jonny was right. If it were anyone else with him, Race would already be in route to one of the locations. "I'll call Temple," Race conceded. "He can take the second location. You'll sit on this place. DON'T ARGUE WITH ME. This place is still our best lead. Someone needs to stay."
Jonny leaned against the front of the car and nodded. He did not like it, but knew Race was right. Someone needed to stay. "I'll do whatever you say as long as you put her safety first," Jonny promised. "That's all I ask?"
"That's all?" Race scoffed, dialing the burner he had given Greg. Secretly hoping that Phil would see the missed call and respond quickly. As the phone rang, Race pressed his hand into the center of Jonny's chest to keep him by the car. "Come on, Greg." On the third ring, he picked up. "Finally," Race said in annoyance.
"This is Deputy Carlson speaking. Who is this?"
Race hung up immediately and then took the phone apart, lifting the nearest manhole and tossing the pieces in. "Temple was picked up by local police," he announced, running a hand over his face in frustration. "Fuck. Fuck."
Jonny followed Race as he moved to the back of the car, opening the trunk and zeroing in on a black duffle bag. Race rifled around for a few seconds and then pulled out two phones. He tossed one phone to Jonny and used the other to call Phil again. Right to voicemail. He did not leave a message, trying to decide what he wanted to do next. He hung his head and collected himself. 'Think Bannon. What's your best option?'
When he looked up, Jonny was staring at him. Determined. Jonny went for the duffle bag next, moving things around until he found what he wanted. He pulled out a third phone and turned it on. It was an iPhone. Not one of the simple burners. "Is this Temple's phone?" Jonny asked, pulling the charger out of the bag too.
"Probably," Race shrugged.
"Perfect," Jonny said. He slid down the alley to open the driver side door and reached across the console for his laptop. Then he made his way back to Race.
"What are you doing?" Race asked as Jonny balanced the laptop on the duffle bag and connected Temple's phone.
"Hacking his phone," Jonny answered simply.
"Why?" Race asked.
"Give me a minute."
Race watched impatiently as Jonny worked. He also tried Phil again and barely resisted the urge to leave a message with only a string of curse words when Phil did not pick up.
"I'm in," Jonny announced, pushing his laptop aside and digging through the duffle bag again. He grabbed three button-sized cameras, turning around to show Race. "Motion activated," he said. "Temple has an app on his phone. I know it's not a perfect solution, but we set up the cameras around the door. They'll activate if he shows up and we can connect to the feed through the phone. We'll get an alert. Could get back here before he leaves if he shows up, but we'd have his picture to run through facial recognition at a minimum."
Race took the cameras from Jonny. "Let's go," he sighed, running toward the door he had been staring at for the last few hours as fast as he could and calling Phil again as they went. He pocketed his phone when they got there. "Don't touch anything," he ordered, spinning around and deciding where he wanted to place the cameras.
Jonny stood back and watched Race meticulously place two of the cameras on either side of the door, hiding them in the overgrown flower beds. Then he kneeled in front of the door knob and carefully unwrapped a hair.
"Jesus," Jonny whispered when he realized what he was seeing.
Race picked the lock with precision and disappeared behind the door a moment later. Jonny did not follow. He bent down using the flashlight function on Temple's iPhone to confirm what he suspected. A red hair. "Sick fuck," he stood and turned in a circle. The adrenaline pumping hard through his veins.
'Keep fighting. We're coming for you, baby.'
Race emerged from the building and knelt back down to make sure the door was left as they found it. Then he popped up and grabbed Jonny by the forearm, running back to the car at full speed.
Race went straight for the duffle again and unceremoniously dumped all of its contents across the floor of the trunk. "Tell me about the locations," Race demanded as he picked through the items and decided what he needed.
Jonny reached around Race and grabbed his laptop, pulling a map up and clearing a space so they could both huddle over the screen. "One is only a mile away," Jonny spoke fast, pointing at the map. "It's an active contract manufacturer, called Houston's, which is why it wasn't on any of our original lists. I remember passing by this place earlier. There were signs outside. It's been shut down for maintenance. I'm sure it's been a ghost town the last few days with the holiday. That must be where they are, Race. It's perfect. He can get back and forth between these two spots easily. The second place is a single family home across town. Here," he pointed. "146 Everwood Drive."
Jonny wanted to go to Houston's. Every instinct he had was screaming at him to sprint that short mile and save her, but he knew Race would not go for it. And he knew that Race would not fail her. Ever. He did not have as much confidence in himself.
"I'll take the house," Jonny offered. "I'm pulling up the blueprints for Houston's now."
Race pursed his lips, stepping away from the computer and trying Phil again.
"Race!" Jonny insisted, setting the computer down and squaring himself with his mentor. "Make a decision or I'm going there to get her myself."
Race grabbed Jonny by the shoulders with both hands. He held him at arm's length, staring at him and taking deep breaths. Trying to figure out what the hell he should do. "You'll come with me," Race eventually said. "That's where she is and I'll need the back-up. It's a large facility."
"No. We're not taking that chance," Jonny said. "It's one man. I don't care how fucked in the head he is. You don't need my help to take down one man. And I can do it without you too…if I have to. The house is small. It won't take long to confirm. I'll clear it and then head right to you."
"Jonny…"
"Trust me," Jonny interrupted.
"Kid…" he tightened his grip.
"Trust me," Jonny said again more firmly. "Let me go. You have to let me go."
"You're my bestest friend."
"Even more than Bandit?" Race asked in mock surprise.
"Yeah," Jonny giggled.
"Jesus Christ," Race hung his head. "Alright. Alright. Give me the iPhone." Jonny handed it over to Race, who opened the app and made sure he knew how it worked. Then he put it in his back pocket and pulled out his burner.
Jonny pushed by Race, thinking he was calling Phil again. Then he stopped in his tracks when the phone in his back pocket started to ring.
"Put it on vibrate," Race ordered. "If he's at that house. You call me. Immediately. No exceptions. Okay?"
"I will," Jonny nodded. "I promise."
"Keep your head on straight," Race continued and handed Jonny the car keys. "He's careful. Park a few blocks away. Check the entire perimeter for cameras before approaching. Check the doorknobs before entering. How much do you remember about picking a lock?"
"Enough," Jonny said.
Race grabbed a pin tumbler lock pick set and handed it to Jonny.
"Okay," Race sighed. "Give me your gun." Jonny hesitated until he saw Race holding out his. "I want you to take this one instead." They traded.
"Why?" Jonny questioned, giving it a once over and then slipping it in his waistband.
Race shrugged. "She's always brought me good luck," he said quietly.
"Alright," Jonny swallowed. "You'll call me as soon as you have her?" he asked. "So I can hear her voice? Please?"
"I will," Race promised and then paused.
"What else do I need to know?" Jonny jumped in.
"Just don't do anything stupid," Race added.
Jonny laughed. "I'll try my best not to be an idiot. Be safe," he nodded and turned away. He was ready to end this. As ready as he was ever going to be.
Then Race unexpectedly tugged him back and pulled him into a tight hug. Jonny returned it in full force. The emotions of the last few days crashing around him again. "Don't do anything stupid," Race said again.
"I promise I won't," Jonny responded. He loosened his grip, but Race did not. "Race?"
"It'd kill me if something happened to you too," Race added quietly. Seriously. "Don't you dare do that to me, kid."
Then Race let go, slamming the trunk closed as he passed the car and starting at a full sprint toward Houston's. He had to let go and trust Jonny. The only thing on his mind now was Jessie and doing whatever was necessary to get her out.
'Hang on, Ponchita.'
XXX
Jessie could hear screaming and crying, but could not place the voice. She could hear the clicking of a camera. She felt a tear fall down her face. She felt cold and wet and confused. She tried to scream when she felt the palm of a hand pressing down hard on her stomach. A hand she did not recognize. She felt lips against her ear and tried to jerk her head away.
"Stop struggling," he whispered. "You're tearing up your wrists. Don't hurt yourself. I want to do that."
She tried to ask what was happening. She tried to remember. She could not even remember falling asleep.
"I had to give you an extra dose, beautiful girl. You're dangerous. I can tell. It turns me on."
She felt him move away and then heard screaming again.
'NO,' she screamed inside her own head. 'Dad…where are you?' she thought. 'I want my dad. I want my dad!'
So if anyone reading this has any opinion on who should save Jessie - let me know. I honestly have not decided. Still. I plan to write both and then decide -that will be fun to write!