Jax took one last look at Jess sitting on the couch in the clubhouse, a cloth filled with ice clutched to her fist as she stared down at a magazine, before following his brothers into the chapel. He was worried about her, but a part of him couldn't help but being proud of the way she'd wailed on that croweater for Lux. He'd have to find the girl later, make sure she wasn't going to be an idiot and press charges or something. That was the last thing they needed right now.
He took a seat, looking around at the grim faces staring back at him. Zobelle had been a nightmare for them the last time they'd dealt with him, but this time they all knew what they were up against and it wasn't pretty. He looked at Tig, his tortured but determined face showing how much he really cared about Lux, and Jax found himself actually feeling grateful for that. He was not the only one taking this personally.
"What's the news from Rosen?" Jax asked, opening the meeting as he looked across the table at where Clay sat at the end.
"Lux's alibi partially checked out," he said, "Cameras put her walking into the church around 6 in the morning and then leaving close to 7. But Luann's time of death came back at 5 AM. Cause of death was a blow to the head, probably by a baseball bat. She was dragged out of the building and left out front before the building was set on fire. If Lux had her car, she'd still have had time to do that and get to the church by 6."
"But she didn't do it," Tig said harshly.
"Of course she didn't do it," Clay responded, "I'm just telling you how it looks."
"But you said if Lux had her car. She said her car never left the parking spot," Jax said.
"We checked the cameras out front of TM," Juice said, "Her car leaves, takes off about 4:30. You can't see who's driving. The passenger seat was facing the camera and you can't get a good look at the driver. It returns this morning and the driver did a good job of hiding from the cameras."
"We all know this was Zobelle," Jax stated through gritted teeth, "He likes to get to us through our women."
"Got to all of them except Gemma in one swoop," Juice said. Jax shook his head.
"Nah, he fucked up with Gemma last time. It backfired against him. She's not scared of him and he saw Jess and Lux – both old ladies and daughters – and he made sure they would be," he said angrily. That was why he had shot up Jess and Lux's apartment. He'd given a lot of thought to Zobelle ever since he revealed himself. He knew exactly where that fucker's head was at. They all nodded in agreement.
"So we also know that baseball bat is going to come back with Luann's blood and Lux's prints," Bobby said, "Zobelle wouldn't plant evidence like that unless it was smoking gun." Jax nodded.
"So the question becomes how do we prove it and what do we do about it," Jax said.
"First step is to find the motherfucker," Opie said, turning to Juice.
"He's gone completely underground," Juice responded, "No sign of him since he showed his face at Cara Cara."
"Unfortunately we're in a position where we need him alive. At least until we can prove Lux didn't kill Luann and get her off," Jax said in frustration, "Juice, you got a list of properties with ties to Zobelle?" Juice nodded.
"Yeah, but there's at least 50. Some are functioning businesses, others are warehouses or abandoned houses. It'll take forever to hit them all," he said.
"See if there's any way to narrow it down," Jax told him, "He's gotta be close by, so check the properties within 200 miles. Cross off any businesses. Let me know what's left." Juice nodded and Jax sighed.
"Alright I think that's all we're going to be able to do tonight," he said miserably, "But the sooner we figure this shit out, the better. We don't need any more problems than we already have. Luckily the niners are being cool about waiting for their guns, but the others may not be so understanding. And if we wait too long to sell, the Irish Kings might have to pay us a visit and nobody wants that."
Everyone nodded in agreement as Jax hit the gavel again and they filed out of the chapel. Jess looked up as the chapel doors opened, smiling as she saw Jax and he held his hand out to her. She stood, taking his hand in hers and he led her back to his dorm.
They walked inside and Jax sat down in the recliner opening his arms for Jess as she crawled into his lap, leaning her head against his shoulder.
"When are we just going to be able to be happy together?" she asked, recalling how she felt when they'd first gotten together. How she couldn't stop skipping and smiling. She just wanted that feeling back, but her heart was so heavy at the moment she wondered if it'd even be possible. Jax sighed, wrapping his arms tightly around her.
"When this is over," he replied.
"Is it ever over?" Jess asked desperately, "Or is there always just one more thing?" Jax shook his head.
"It'll be over," he assured her, knowing as he said it that he was lying through his teeth. But he knew she didn't need truth right now. Not today. Today, she needed some peace. She looked up, shifting her weight so she straddled him on the chair. He smiled up at her, running his hands up and down her back as she looked into his eyes.
"Take my mind off of everything," she begged him, "Distract me." He wrapped his arms around her, pulling her tight against him as his lips roamed up her neck. She smiled, allowing the horrible day to be forgotten while she focused on the one thing in her life she was truly happy about: Jax.
SOASOASOASOASOASOASOA
Jess awoke the next morning, allowing herself as many seconds as she could to think that yesterday had just been a horrible nightmare. It was a wonderful feeling as she felt her heart begin to repair itself, knowing that she'd be going to work today and seeing Luann.
But it was short lived. Reality came crashing down on her all too soon and her heart ripped once again, though not as badly as yesterday. Jess felt like maybe every day it would be a little less painful, get a little easier, until it became just a constant minor pain, like an annoying head ache you can't get rid of. It doesn't cripple you, but it still hurts.
She stood up quietly, careful not to wake him, as she made her way out of the dorm room and down the hall towards the kitchen to get some coffee. She saw Gemma sitting with Abel on the couch and stopped in surprise as she saw Rosen sitting next to her.
"There she is!" Gemma said, bouncing Abel on her knee, "Jess, Rosen needs a word with you." Jess stared between the two of them, wondering what on earth an attorney would need with her before nodding once and turning into the kitchen to pour a large cup of coffee. She took a few sips before walking back into the room and Rosen stood.
"I was hoping we could speak somewhere privately," he said and Jess looked toward Gemma.
"Use the chapel," Gemma said, pointing at the large redwood doors. Rosen gestured toward the doors, waiting for Jess to walk towards them before following her inside. Jess sat nervously in one of the chairs on the far side of the table as Rosen took the seat across from her. He set his briefcase on the table, popping it open and pulling several files out before finally looking back at Jess.
"I'm not sure if you're aware, but on top of being the club's attorney, I am also the executor of Luann's will," he began. Jess raised her eyebrows at him in surprise, nodding slowly as she waited for him to continue.
"Luann came to me several months ago to change both her and Otto's will," he said, "With Otto in prison indefinitely, she left everything… to you." Jess stared at Rosen, barely able to process what he had just told her.
"What?" she asked in disbelief. Rosen nodded, closing his briefcase and setting it on the floor as he flipped through several files.
"In liquid assets, so all of Luann's savings, stocks, bonds, property, and possessions, it comes out to right around $500,000," he said and Jess balked at him, her eyes widening. But it seemed he wasn't through yet.
"She also left you her portion of Cara Cara," he said, "She owned 80% of the business, the Sons owning the other 20%. With her share of the insurance money from the fire, it comes to 2.5 million dollars."
Jess continued to stare at him, part of her wanting to tell him to give it all to charity. That she did not want to profit from Luann's death. The other part of her thought about what she could do with 3 million dollars. She could take the money and she, Jax, and Abel could start over somewhere else. Somewhere far away where murder wasn't just another Tuesday and they didn't live in a constant state of fear.
"Of course it'll be up to you in terms of rebuilding Cara Cara," he said, "As 80% owner, you hold the deciding vote. But if you decide not to rebuild, you'll need to take that up with the Sons." Jess nodded, barely registering anything he told her.
"I, um, I also have her personal effects for you," he said hesitatingly, "The items found on her person when they brought her body in." He handed over a small plastic bag containing Luann's wedding ring, large hoop earrings, and her charm bracelet. Jess stared at the pieces of jewelry for several moments before setting the bag aside, staring back at Rosen.
"Thank you," she said softly and Rosen nodded, standing up from the table and reaching his hand out. Jess stood as well, shaking his hand and grabbing the plastic bag he'd given her before making her way out of the chapel and back to Jax's room. He was awake when she walked in, still lying in bed. He smiled, patting the bed next to him and she smiled back at him. She set the bag down on the desk in the room and crawled back in the bed, cuddling next to him.
"I missed you," he said grinning. She smiled, looking up at him. She didn't tell him about the money. She didn't know why she wasn't telling him, but something told her she needed to figure out what the hell she was going to do with it before she made that particular announcement. The secrets just seemed to be piling up.
"What was in the bag?" he asked and Jess glanced sadly at the bag lying on the desk before turning to look back at Jax.
"Luann's personal effects. Rosen brought them over this morning. It was just her jewelry. I wonder if they'd let me give Otto the wedding ring," Jess mused.
"You'd have to call Stockton and get it approved," Jax told her. Jess nodded, thinking about the charm bracelet in the bag and her body began to feel as if it were filling with pressure as she blinked back several tears. Jax ran his hand gently up and down her arm comfortingly as he let Jess cry into his chest, wishing there was some way he could make everything better for her.
SOASOASOASOASOASOASOA
Later that afternoon, Jess decided she needed to go see Lux. She hadn't seen or spoken to her since she saw her at the police station the day before and her outburst while Lux was getting arrested was still weighing on her. She now felt more than just the simple "I'm sorry" she'd thrown out while visiting Lux in jail was needed when you accuse your best friend of murdering your step mother. As she walked up the stairs to her apartment she found she was nervous to talk to her.
She walked into the apartment to find the living room empty and laughter coming from Lux's bedroom. She froze, remembering Tig was staying here while Lux was under house arrest and debated running out. But before she could decide, Lux tumbled from her bedroom, laughing and wearing a short skirted black and white striped outfit, the monitor firmly attached to her ankle.
"I'm pretty sure we have whipped cream in the fridge," she shouted over her shoulder as she began walking down the hall. She stopped when she saw Jess, grinning broadly without the slightest hint of embarrassment.
"Oh, hey, Jess," she said, "We were just playing a little jailbird and naughty guard." Jess raised her eyebrows at her, smiling back as she shook her head.
"You guys are crazy," she said and Lux's grin widened as she shrugged, continuing on down the hall and turning into the kitchen. Jess followed her in while Lux dug through the fridge.
"It makes it easier if we can joke about it, you know?" Lux said and Jess nodded as she took a seat at the bar in the kitchen. Lux finally closed the fridge after grabbing a can of whipped cream and walked over to stand on the opposite side of the bar from Jess.
"So I wanted to apologize, again," Jess said, "You know, for what I said to you." Lux shook her head.
"I get it, Jess," she said, "Luann had just died. No one should be accountable for what they say after something like that." Jess gave Lux a small smile, shaking her head and wondering what she'd ever done to deserve a friend like Lux.
"Anyway, I'm more upset about my family all thinking I'm a junkie again," Lux continued, shuddering. Jess nodded.
"Yeah, I… uh… I didn't know that about you," she said. Lux shrugged.
"Not something I really want people to know, you know?" she said, "It's not something I'm particularly proud of. I actually liked that you didn't know that about me." She sighed, shrugging.
"But you're okay now?" Jess asked tentatively. She'd seen what hard drugs could do to a person through Daisy. She didn't want that for her friend, too. Lux nodded, giving Jess a small smile.
"Heard you kicked the shit out of that croweater that brought the blow," she said. Jess laughed, shaking her head.
"I don't know what came over me," she said. Lux nodded.
"I do," she said, "You love me." Jess rolled her eyes.
"Yeah, I guess I do," she said. Lux laughed, nodding. Her smile faded as she leaned over the counter, closer to Jess.
"I'm really scared, Jess," she said quietly, "I feel like the cops have it out for me or something. They're not even looking for any other suspects. And I just know that bat is going to come back with my prints on it somehow and then what'll I do?" Jess frowned, nodding sympathetically. She was terrified for Lux, but she knew how she felt was nothing to what Lux was feeling.
"They'll figure it out," she said, "You've got the best guys on your side. We know who really did it. They'll find a way to prove it." Lux nodded confidently, much more confidently than Jess was sure she felt.
"You're right. Of course you're right," she said.
"Lux! You got that whipped cream yet!?" They heard Tig call from the back, "My balls are the size of California here!" Lux grinned, shaking her head.
"Oopsie," she said, "Gotta go. I tied up the naughty guard." Jess laughed, watching as Lux grabbed the whipped cream and pranced back to her bedroom.
SOASOASOASOASOASOASOA
Jess walked back across the street to the clubhouse to see Jax in one of the bays, working on a car. He was bent over the hood, peering into the engine and Jess stopped behind him to appreciate the view for several moments before walking up to him, wrapping her arms around his waist from behind. He set the wrench he was holding down and turned around to look at her, leaning against the hood of the car as she stepped in between his legs. He smiled at her as he grabbed a rag from his pocket to wipe the grease off his hands.
"How's Lux?" he asked.
"Scared," Jess replied, "But hanging in there." Jax nodded, sighing.
"I don't know what to do about this, Jess," he admitted, "I got no ideas on how to prove it wasn't her." Jess nodded, glad for the opportunity to be the strong one for once; to be his comforter.
"Her trial is months away," she said, "I know this guy is smart but there's no such thing as a perfect murder. He fucked up somewhere. We'll figure it out." He smiled down at her, cocking an eyebrow.
"We?" he asked. Jess nodded.
"Hey, I'm the one that found Abel, right?" she said, grinning, "Maybe I'll solve this one, too." Jax's smile widened as he nodded.
"I hope so. Because apart from finding him and torturing out a full confession, I got nothing," he said.
"Well glad to know there's a backup plan just in case," Jess said lightly. Jax gave her a small smile but he didn't laugh and Jess's grin faltered as she looked up at him.
"What?" she asked. He shook his head, leaning down to kiss her lightly on the forehead.
"I just can't believe you're still here," he said. Jess froze, thinking for a split second he'd heard about the money and had read her mind about her idea of them getting the hell out of Charming. But then she realized he was just talking about everything else that had happened. She shook her head.
"I knew what I signed up for," she told him, "And right now, you're about the only good thing I've got going in my life." He smiled at her, wrapping his arms around her.
"Back at you," he said softly, kissing her again. They didn't pull apart until Gemma cleared her throat from behind them and Jess turned around to look at her.
"I was going over to Luann's to pick something out for her to wear at the funeral," she said, and Jess felt the small bit of happiness she'd been feeling with Jax turn to ice, "I thought maybe you'd want to come." Jess nodded, turning back to look at Jax and give him one final kiss. He gripped her hand, looking down at her.
"You gonna be okay?" he asked. Jess nodded as she walked off to follow Gemma to her Cadillac and climbed in the passenger seat. Neither said a word the entire drive to Luann's house and as they pulled up and stepped out of the car. Jess gazed up at the house remembering, briefly, that it was hers now. It was a sprawling Spanish style home sitting in a cul-de-sac, the detached garage connected to the house by an archway. Jess glanced at Gemma as she strode purposefully up to the front door that stood under a large archway and Jess quickly followed her.
They walked inside to find a beautiful and immaculate home. This didn't surprise Jess, as she knew Luann wasn't here often enough to make a mess. She took several moments to look around, wishing she could have visited Luann here while she was still alive, instead of under these circumstances. She took a deep breath as Gemma walked through an archway on the right and down a long hall, Jess reluctantly following behind.
She ran her hand along the couch as she passed it, picturing Luann sitting there watching TV or reading a book, anything to pass the lonely time. She knew Luann hadn't been happy in her life and Jess wondered why she didn't reach out to her more than just at work or family dinners. Why did she and Luann never have lunch or rent a movie?
Because Jess had thought there'd be time. She didn't know that their time together would be cut so short, not even a year into knowing her and much less than that since she found out about her connection to Luann through Otto. She felt tears brimming her eyes as she pictured Luann in this house, cooking dinner with her, sitting down to a nice meal as they talked about their day. She had loved her. And now Luann was gone.
Jess brushed the tears from her eyes as she walked into the room she'd seen Gemma duck into, which ended up being Luann's bedroom. Jess could hear Gemma rustling through clothes in Luann's walk in closet but Jess didn't join her. She stared around the bedroom – at all the pictures of Luann and Otto around the room: their wedding day, sitting on a motorcycle, standing in front of Cara Cara. Luann looked so happy. Her eyes were bright and shining and Otto was beaming standing next to her.
Jess's eyes then fell upon Luann's bed, the sheets and comforter in tangles from the last time Luann had slept there and Jess gasped, feeling as if the walls were caving in on her as she collapsed onto the ground, sobbing. It wasn't fair. Nothing about this was fair. She needed more time with Luann and her heart was broken for her father, for Otto, who she knew loved Luann more than anything else in the world.
Gemma rushed out of the closet at the sound of Jess's cries and frowned as she saw her huddled in a ball by the bed, crying. Gemma sat next to her, wrapping her arms around her as she pulled Jess close to her and let her cry until Jess ran out of tears.
"Someone needs to tell Otto," Jess finally whispered after her tears had subsided. She wiped her cheeks, knowing her makeup was smeared by now but not caring.
"It's been taken care of," Gemma told her gently. Jess looked over at Gemma, her eyes wide.
"He knows?" she asked. Gemma nodded, "I need to see him. I need to talk to him." Gemma nodded again, running her hands comfortingly up Jess's arms and Jess curled into her, wishing that she were Luann.
"That can be taken care of, too," Gemma told her. Jess nodded, and eventually her sobs subsided and she sat up straighter, sighing. She stood, walking to the closet that Gemma had abandoned to see all of Luann's clothes hanging up. She didn't know what to pick. She didn't know what would be appropriate. Her first thought was a tasteful dress, and Luann had a few hanging in her closet, but Jess had never seen her wear any of them and none of them seemed like her. Gemma joined her soon, holding up a black and red floral patterned corset with a black shrug and Jess grinned, nodding.
"That's Luann," she said. Gemma smiled back at her, nodding as she looked back at the outfit in her hand.
"Yeah, it is," Gemma agreed.
They rode back to the clubhouse in silence. Jess felt Gemma continuing to glance over at her but she ignored it until they had turned onto the street TM was located on and she finally turned to Gemma.
"What?" she asked. Gemma glanced at her pensively before turning her eyes back to the road.
"Have you heard about Luann's will?" Gemma asked. Jess raised her eyebrows in surprise, knowing Gemma wouldn't be asking about Luann's will if she didn't already know, or at least strongly suspect. And Gemma always trusted her intuition.
"Yes," Jess admitted, offering no further information.
"And?' Gemma pushed. Jess sighed, shrugging. She was going to find out one way or another.
"She left me everything," Jess murmured. Gemma nodded, and her lack of surprise affirmed Jess's suspicions that Gemma was part psychic. She was silent as she pulled into the parking lot of TM.
"What are you going to do with it?" Gemma finally asked as she put the car into park. Jess shook her head.
"I don't really want to talk about that right before we bury her," she said. Gemma stared at her for several more seconds before finally nodding and, without another word, stepped out of the car.
SOASOASOASOASOASOASOA
Luann's funeral was several days later. The California sun had appropriately decided not to attend and the misty rain and dark skies mirrored Jess's mood. She sat somberly in a white fold out chair in the front row at the cemetery, staring at the casket containing Luann. She wasn't aware of when, but at some point during the burial service she had reached over to grip Jax's hand and he had laced his fingers with hers as she cried quietly.
She gazed down at Luann's charm bracelet in her hand. She had wanted to bury it with Luann, but was now having a hard time letting go of it and knew she couldn't part with it. This was the most personal item she had left of Luann's. She clutched it tightly in her fist, letting a choked sob escape her lips as the casket began to lower into the ground and she stared at it as Jax released his grip on her hand to wrap his arm around her shoulder, allowing her to turn and sob into his shoulder.
The service began to disperse as people hurried to get out of the rain, but Jess and Jax sat there several minutes longer until they were the last ones left. Jess finally stood, walking up to read the tombstone mounted at the end of Luann's grave and a renewed sob escaped as she saw what had been engraved upon it.
LUANN DELANEY
February 19, 1961-March 24, 2013
LOVING WIFE AND MOTHER
Jax walked up behind her, reading the tombstone as well as he wrapped his arm around her shoulder, holding her close to him. She hugged him tightly, thankful that he was there for her and she finally gazed up at him, wiping her eyes.
"Your dad is buried here too, isn't he?" she asked. Jax nodded, pointing several rows away. Jess nodded, grabbing his hand and leading him silently over to the row he had pointed out, walking until she saw the grave with John Thomas Teller spelled out across it. She stopped in front of it as Jax looked sadly down at the headstone, gripping Jess tightly in his arms. After several moments, he pulled away from her, crouching down next to the grave and placing his hand on the tombstone.
Jess watched him before looking down once again at the bracelet in her hand, going through all of the charms represented on the bracelet. She saw the crow charm she had on there and smiled sadly. It was one of the only charms they both had on their bracelets. She looked for the Cara Cara charm, the only other charm they both had, and frowned as she didn't see it right away. She went through each charm on the bracelet individually, searching for it, and finally found an empty, broken ring. The Cara Cara charm was missing.
"Jax," Jess said, her heart thumping in her chest. Jax looked up at her, rising from his position and walking over to her.
"What is it?" he asked.
"Luann's bracelet. The Cara Cara charm is gone," she said, holding it out to him to show him the broken ring, "See – it should be on this ring. But it's like it was ripped off." Jax frowned.
"I'm sorry, Jess," he said, obviously unsure why she was so panicked about the charm. Jess shook her head.
"No, Jax, look, that charm was ripped off the bracelet," she said, her voice rising in excitement. He looked at her, his eyebrows raised.
"Where are you going with this?" he asked.
"It must have happened after she died!" she said, "Or when she died. Whoever killed her ripped the charm off her bracelet, as a souvenir or something." Jax frowned, looking at her sympathetically.
"Jess, it probably just fell off," he said. Jess shook her head.
"No, when charms just fall off the ring doesn't look like this. See, it's all bent out of shape and broken," she said, holding it up to him. He eyed it warily.
"Maybe it got caught on something," he said, "I'll bet the charm's sitting on Luann's dresser or something and she didn't have time to get it fixed."
Jess shook her head, sure she was right as she stared down at the bracelet. Whoever had killed Luann had taken that charm with them and she was going to prove it. She just had no idea how.
Author's Note: Thanks for reading! Please review and we'll post a new chapter on Wednesday! :)