Chapter Seven
They walked in, Eddie holding Max's hand and Jamie's arm around Eddie's shoulders. It was hard leaving April with her grandpa but both Eddie and Jamie felt this was best.
Max's teacher greeted Jamie, "You must be the famous Daddy we hear so much about. Max talks about his Police Man Daddy all the time."
Jamie smiled, offering her his hand. "Yes ma'am, Jamie Reagan. Thank you for everything you're doing for Max."
"He's a treasure I haven't had one so talented in all my days as a teacher...but you and your wife are concerned?"
"Yes when Max comes home and goes to practice he goes off into his own song and we're concerned he won't learn that way."
"Max is still very young to be reading," the teacher explained. "He's picking up quickly by his ear. He wants to try new things, his playing is beyond the baby books but his reading isn't so he's frustrated. We did give him a different piece to play, and he's doing it with a radio now." The teacher explained. "Mr. Toad is his reading level but Mozart is his playing level. We chose a Disney song for his recital piece. He'll be doing "I Just Can't Wait to be King."
Jamie smiled at his boy, "So we shouldn't be concerned that Max changes the song when he practices at home?"
"Yes and no," the teacher replied. "When he practices this piece tell him the song and just let him go, no TV or other noises..."
"Thank you we are worried about his focus on the song he's supposed to be doing," Jamie looked down at Max smiling.
"I play good," Max told his father, sort of defending himself.
All three adults laughed at Max's show of confidence, Jamie lifted his son. "You do play well, buddy. You play very well," he kissed Max's head.
Max went off with his teacher and Jamie put his arm around Eddie. "Who is he? Is he here?"
Eddie turned scanning the room pointing Mick out standing in the back with his daughter. "Right there with the little girl in pink."
Jamie nodded and pulled Eddie in close, he kissed her deeply as Mick looked. "Make an introduction."
Slipping her arms around his waist Eddie smiled casually glancing over. "Oh hey Mick this is my husband Jamie."
Mick smiled, "it's so nice to meet you, Jamie. This is my little Ava."
Jamie smiled, "it's nice to meet you Ava." to Mick a light nod arm wrapped around Eddie.
Ava was a pretty girl...and she held into her father. She smiled and hugged Eddie. Jamie smiled. "I had to come hear Max..."
"He's a sweet kid and so talented...I'm surprised you haven't come sooner being his father and all."
"I'm a Sergeant in the NYPD and I work days to be home with my family..." Jamie replied. "I think Max is starting…I'll be seeing you." Jamie raised an eyebrow and went into the rehearsal.
Max played like a champ, he didn't deviate once and was so proud of himself when he slid off his little bench. Jamie scooped him up for a big group hug, "I'm so proud of you, you did so great!"
Max smiled, "I'm hungry…' Jamie shook his head. "You want to get a hot dog?"
"Yeah!" Max smiled and gave Jamie a huge hug.
They picked April up then got hot dogs and fries with chocolate milk. Max practiced a few more times at home and did a great job staying on task and playing his song with no distractions.
When the children were in bed, Eddie got ready for bed and slid into the covers. "So, how did that last bit of chat with Mick go?"
"It was okay," he replied. "I mentioned what I did for a living, gave him a strong handshake, so we'll see. Something about him rubs me wrong though, you don't get that vibe?"
Eddie sighed, "I didn't at first,' she admitted. "But after the kiss and then…when he didn't stop it did start to bother me. The most of what bothers me though, is Ava?"
Jamie turned on his side, "What about Ava?" Eddie had very good radar and being a mother only enhanced that for her.
"She's too familiar with me. She keeps clinging to me when we are together. It's like she wants to talk to me, but she doesn't have the words to do it…" Eddie bit her lip.
Jamie slid out of bed, his feet hitting the floor with a thud, "Where are you going?" Eddie asked.
"To get my work laptop," Jamie replied. "Something's just not sitting right."
Jamie ran Mick's name through the system then sat with Eddie and waited. "Benefits of being a Sergeant," Jamie smiled. After just a few minutes, the computer spit out a match. "Isaac Putnam," Jamie replied. "AKA Mick Rafferty, Thomas Davis Smith, and Abel Donovan…he's been convicted of a few counts of lewd conduct…"
"That explains it then," Eddie replied. "But it doesn't explain about Ava. Why would the courts let him have sole custody of her…and why the alias?" Eddie got out of bed and started to pace.
"No but together we'll figure it out Eddie." He stood catching her in his arms pulling Eddie closer against him.
Eddie tipped her head back and waited for Jamie to give her a kiss on the lips. "I can't just...you're right it's weird and the more we discover, the more confused I am."
"I know we make a good team together remember? We'll figure it out." Jamie met her lips softly reaching to take her hands cupping them.
Jamie knew just how to distract his wife, he led her to their bed, kissing her more and more deeply, their tongues meeting and dancing wildly.
Eddie fell back slowly pulling him down with her not breaking their kiss until a minute later
"I Love you Jamie." She whispered brushing a hand through his hair
They fell together and slowly made love, they could distract each other so easily. Jamie was tender and sweet, ever conscious of their baby growing inside Eddie.
Eddie laid her head against his chest looking up at him while their fingers interlocked. Joining their bodies, they both smiled with a deep sense of contentment.
Jamie dozed but Eddie's mother's heart was in over time. She got up and found April's bed empty.
Eddie's heart jumped turning and rushing out of the room starting to look for April in every corner
Max's door was open a tiny bit, Eddie pushed the door open to check on him. There was April.
Stepping in Eddie's breath caught. There she was laying on the bed beside her brother, now both fast asleep, the blanket over April
Eddie tucked the quilts over them tightly and kissed their little foreheads. Then it hit her... She rushed to the computer and logged in to the system. She typed in her search criteria and soon the computer spit out the computer spit out the results of her query. Eddie scrolled down searching each title.
She finally scanned in the picture of Ava with her and Mick. She couldn't sleep until she figured this out.
The computer searched coming up with a few new hits that Eddie began to sort through.
Finally, there it was...there it was...Ava had been reported missing from her home in Wisconsin...she had been kidnapped.
"Jamie!" Eddie nudged him with cool hands. "Jamie wake up...wake up."
"Hmm Eddie? What's wrong what happened?" Jamie sat up looking at her attentively.
"Look at this!" She held the computer out for him to see. "Look, with blonde hair this is Ava. That's Ava!"
Yawning quietly Jamie turned to the computer widening his eyes in recognition. "Your right that is her can I see that Eddie?"
"She was reported missing, Jamie..." Eddie told him. "In Wisconsin, she is a kidnap victim, right under our nose. We have to do something..."
Jamie threw the covers back scanning the article. "We have to get her to talk and since you have a bond with her she'll most likely talk to you."
"He barely let's her near me and she is only two... I think we need to take this through channels. Maybe your Dad or even Danny?"
"I'll ask. I'm going to email the article to both then I'll call early in the morning and see what they can do." Jamie sighed pulling Eddie close.
"He doesn't hurt her," Eddie replied. "She's not a victim like that, she has none of the signs. You think he's just a desperate Dad?" Eddie didn't want to think he was anything else.
"It's possible but still we have to get to the bottom of this Jamie. Please call your father and ask him tomorrow morning first thing. "Eddie sat on his lap
"Yes, I will...heck he's up now..." Jamie replied. "I'll get started on this and breakfast, get some sleep you are doing it for two now."
Eddie smiled laying back on the bed. She knew having Frank's help they would find out the real truth about Ava.