Everyone came to the living room, and sat down. Jennifer focused on feeding Jagger a bottle, while Jonathan took a look outside.
Pretty soon, there were cops all over the place, coming in and out.
Lt. Grey came in.
"Jonathan, Jennifer. What's going on?"
Jennifer looked up at him with tears in her eyes and on her cheeks.
"Lt. Grey, this is my Aunt Marnie. She was watching the babies tonight. When we got home, she said Jessalynn was no longer in her crib. We simply cannot find her anywhere in this house. She just learned to crawl but she's never crawled out of her crib or out of the room, even".
She started to cry really hard.
"Jennifer, we'll find her".
He sat down and looked at Marnie.
"Tell me what happened".
"I put the babies down for bed at 8, just like we do every day. I kissed them both goodnight, and I covered them with their blankets. I made sure that Jessalynn had her lovie and her favorite blanket, and I did the same with Jagger. After they were both asleep in their cribs, I closed the door and came downstairs, and I read this book right here in this chair until 11:30. Then, I got up, and headed to the kitchen and started making up the bottles."
"Did you hear anything unusual, or see anything unusual?"
"Yes. I thought I heard them come home. I thought I heard a door close. But I came out here to the living room, and called for Jennifer and Jonathan, and they weren't here".
"So what happened next?"
"I finished making the bottles, and then went up to give them to the babies. And when I went into the nursery, Jessalynn was gone. And a few seconds later, Jonathan and Jennifer came in."
"You didn't see or hear anyone outside? You didn't have any strange visitors or strange phone calls?"
"Nothing".
Jonathan came in just then.
"Darling, what did you find?"
"Well, they didn't come through the gate in the back, that's for sure. Whomever this was, came through the side gate. I found Jessalynn's blankie on the ground just on the other side of the gate".
"You mean, someone has her?"
That was more than Jennifer could take.
Jonathan came over and took Jagger, and tried to console Jennifer, but it was no use.
Just then, Rachel and Jack came in.
"Hey, what's going on? We heard on the police scanner that there was some trouble at your house".
"Someone kidnapped Jessalynn while we were out tonight".
Marnie was crying pretty hard, and Rachel went and knelt by her.
"Aunt Marnie, this isn't your fault. It could have happened to me or even Jonathan and Jennifer. Don't blame yourself. And the police are going to find her. A baby that cute can't stay hidden, that's for sure".
Marnie patted Rachel's hand and grasped it.
Jonathan handed Jagger to Jack.
"Do me a favor, will ya? Take him upstairs to our room and rock him to sleep. There's a bassinette in the corner, just put him in that."
"You got it. Come on, little buddy. Let's go talk about airplanes and football teams and your smoking hot Aunt Rachel".
Jonathan put his arms around Jennifer.
"Darling, we are going to find her. I am going to call in whomever I have to-"
"Jonathan, I've got this. Just let us do our job".
"Herschel-you better do it damned fast. This is my daughter we're talking about and I'm not taking any chances!"
***Several hours later***
Jack got Jagger back to sleep, and then Jonathan managed to move him to their bathroom without waking him up.
Jennifer was quiet, and not speaking to anyone. Jonathan and Herschel worked it out that a patrolman was going to stay in the house at all times, in case a ransom call came in. There were also going to be several officers stationed outside, around the property. Jonathan had agreed to wait and see if there was a ransom note before he held a press conference.
After everything was as calmed down as it was going to be, Jonathan got Jennifer upstairs while Rachel got Marnie upstairs.
"Jennifer, Jonathan, I can't apologize enough".
Jennifer just hugged her.
"Rachel, you and Jack can bunk in the room next to Aunt Marnie's if you want".
"Thanks".
She gave Jennifer a hug goodnight and promised her they would talk in the morning.
Everyone headed to their respective rooms.
Jonathan helped Jennifer out of her dress, and slipped her shoes off her feet.
He started to peel her stockings off her legs, when she suddenly jerked away from him.
"No! I can't do this right now! I just want my little girl back".
"Baby, all I was trying to get you to do was change clothes. That's all. I'm tired too, now come on. We need to rest".
She angrily got up and headed to put on a nightgown and then came back to bed.
He was changing out of his tux.
He quietly put on some pajama pants, and then joined her in bed.
He gently wrapped his arms around her and held her for a few minutes.
Jennifer started softly singing "You are my Sunshine", just like she sang to Jessalynn every night.
Jonathan just held her, as she cried.
***The Next Day***
Jennifer and Jonathan hardly slept at all. She kept getting up and going to make sure Jagger was still in the bassinette.
Around 5 a.m., she finally went downstairs and made some coffee.
She was just about to pour herself a cup when Rachel appeared.
"Hi."
"Hi. I'm so glad you're here".
Jennifer turned and gave her a long hug.
"We'll find her, Squishy."
Jennifer teared up, and nodded.
"Did you rest any?"
"Some, I guess".
"Can I make you some breakfast?"
"I'm not hungry".
Jonathan came in the kitchen then, with Jagger.
"Morning".
"Morning".
Jennifer took Jagger and held him and loved on him some.
For the rest of the morning, Jennifer was either holding Jagger, or sitting next to whomever was holding him. She barely let him out of her sight.
Jonathan was in constant talks with the police and the FBI.
Around lunchtime, Jonathan came over to Jennifer.
"Darling, we haven't gotten a ransom demand. So, in order to find her, we need to consider having a press conference".
"I'm open to doing whatever it takes to find her, but not at the expense of Jagger's safety."
"We can increase security here. I'll hire as many firms as it takes for you to feel comfortable".
She nodded.
One of the officers indicated that a visitor was approaching.
Jonathan went and opened the door.
"Hi, I'm Agent McRainey with the FBI."
"Hi, I'm Jonathan Hart. This is my wife Jennifer, and our friend Rachel, and our son, Jagger, and our Aunt Marnie, who was watching the children when Jessalynn disappeared".
"Mrs. Hart, do you mind if I ask you a few questions?"
"Not at all".
"Think back, in recent weeks, days, whatever. Do you remember any strange occurrences?"
"Well, everything has been out of whack, so to speak, because Jonathan went on a trip and couldn't get in touch with us and couldn't get back, and during that same time, Jessalynn was hospitalized and I was spending all my time at the hospital with her."
"Do either of you have any enemies, or can you think of anyone who would be out to get you, or would want to hurt you?"
"Holden McAlister".
"Tara Bowman".
"Tucker Collins".
"Grant Barlow".
"Ok, wow. That's a pretty good list. Have you been in contact with any of these people recently?"
"As of about a month ago, Holden McAlister was still in prison. Tara was too."
"Tucker Collins is on the loose, as of a month ago. But he hasn't contacted us or anything. Grant Barlow is his twin brother, and last I heard, he was in New York posing as Tucker Collins".
"When Jessalynn was hospitalized, did anyone approach you at the hospital, or express an interest in Jessalynn that you thought was out of the ordinary?"
"Not really. There was a girl who was a baby buddy, that came and sat with Jessalynn a couple of times. Other than her, the only ones around us were family-Rachel, myself, my father, and her doctor, Susan, and the nurses".
"What do you mean by baby buddy?"
"It's a division of the volunteer program, and they come and sit with the babies who don't have anyone to hold them, or they will come and hold the babies if the parents need a break."
"How many times did she sit with Jessalynn?"
"At least two, maybe three. Her name was Misty. She was very sweet".
"Ok, we will follow up with the hospital and investigate the nurses and the volunteers. What is the name of the doctor?"
"Susan Kendall. She's a personal friend as well as our doctor".
"Great. I'll meet with her and the nurses, and pull the footage from the hospital and be in touch".
"Thank you".
"Please, find my daughter".
Jennifer's voice cracked, as the tears rolled down her face.
Jonathan put an arm around her and tried to comfort her.
"It's going to be ok, darling. It will all work out".
"No, Jonathan, it won't. It won't be ok till we get her back".
Jennifer got up and headed upstairs.
Jonathan walked the agent out, and then headed upstairs to check on Jennifer.
He heard her in the bedroom, crying.
"Darling…"
"Save it Jonathan. I can't deal with anything other than knowing that she's going to come back home. What if she's scared, or hurt, or thinks we abandoned her? What if the person isn't nice to her and she thinks we put her with those people on purpose?"
"Well, if we hold the press conference, then hopefully we'll be able to reach someone who will know something and we can rescue her before any of that happens".
After Jennifer calmed down, they went back downstairs and tried to prepare for the press conference.
They were sitting in the living room when the officer watching the front came in.
"Ma'am, there's a man outside who insists that he's supposed to be here. He says his name is Max".
"He lives here. Let him in, please".
A few minutes later, Max came in.
"Mr. and Mrs. H! What's with all the cops all around?"
"Max, sit down. We have something to tell you".
"What is it, Mr. H.?"
"Last night, while Jennifer and I were at the company ball, someone came in and kidnapped Jessalynn. The police are all around because we are investigating and trying to protect Jagger".
"I'm sorry, Mr. and Mrs. H. Is there anything I can do?"
"Not a thing, Max".
Jennifer went into the study and called her dad.
"Hello?"
"Pa, it's me. Jennifer. Listen, I wanted to tell you something before you see it on the news, but last night, Aunt Marnie was watching the babies for us, and somehow, Jessalynn went missing. We are probably going to hold a press conference later today, so I wanted you to hear it from me first".
"Sweetheart, it's going to be ok. Do you need me to fly back out?"
"I don't think so. The house is a little crowded as it is. I appreciate it though, and you're always welcome if you decide to come".
"How's Aunt Marnie?"
"She feels horrible. I don't blame her, but I think she thinks I do".
"Well, tell her to call me if she needs me. And tell Jonathan that if I can help, to please call me. I'll put whomever I have to on this".
"Thanks Pa. I love you".
"I love you too, sweetheart".
She hung up and went back to the living room.
"Jennifer, can I get you anything?"
"No Aunt Marnie. I was just talking to Pa. I wanted him to hear it from me before he saw it on tv".
"Good idea".
"He said to call him if you need him".
"I just can't imagine when the person came in. I mean, nothing out of the ordinary happened at all."
"It's not your fault, Aunt Marnie. As big as this house is, they could have come in at any point. Maybe even before Jonathan and I left, who knows?".
"I just hope she's ok".
Marnie grabbed another Kleenex.
Jonathan came in and found Jennifer.
"Press conference is set for 2 p.m. at the office".
She nodded.
"I called Pa. He said if we need any additional help, that he will send whomever he can to help us, all we have to do is call".
"Good, good".
"Do you know what you're going to say during the press conference?"
"I have absolutely no idea. I just hope that I'm coherent".
***Later that Afternoon***
Jennifer and Jonathan were just about to head to Hart Industries, to have the press conference. Jennifer was picking some pictures to take with her of Jessalynn.
Rachel came upstairs and knocked on their door.
"Jennifer? Jonathan? Dr. Kendall is here. She's asking to see you".
"Ok, I'll come down. Do I look ok?"
Jennifer had changed into a pair of black palazzo pants and a bright green blouse and black flats.
"You look gorgeous, just like always".
"Darling, can you check this tie?"
She nodded, and then walked over and straightened his tie.
He leaned forward and kissed her forehead.
"I love you, we will get through this, no matter what the outcome".
She hugged him back for a moment and then they all headed downstairs.
"Jonathan, Jennifer, hi. The FBI agent just left my office, and I had to come over and make sure you were ok".
"You're sweet to come, thank you".
Jennifer leaned forward and hugged her.
"So, I feel like I must tell you, I gave them the information about the volunteer that was sitting with Jessalynn. She's the same volunteer that had to be removed from the floor the day you guys went home."
"Really? She seemed like a sweet girl to me. Very happy".
"Yes, that was always my perception as well. But she apparently had some mental issues brimming just below the surface, and something just triggered her and she had a breakdown".
"We are about to have a press conference. We don't know who has Jessalynn, but someone does".
Jennifer began to cry.
"If I can do anything for either of you, please, don't hesitate to call me".
Susan hugged both of them, and then headed out.
"I'll stay here with Jagger and Max and Aunt Marnie, Squishy. Jack can drive the two of you to the office".
"Good idea. Thank you, Mushy".
They shared a long hug, and then Jennifer, Jonathan, and Jack headed out.
***Hart Industries***
Jack pulled them up into the parking garage, and then Jonathan and Jennifer got out, and headed straight to the press bay, where all the press conferences were held.
Stanley was waiting for them.
"Hello, Mr. Hart, Mrs. Hart. The press is all assembled, and getting set up. We are on schedule to start in about 5 minutes".
"Thank you, Stanley".
"Mrs. Hart, can I take those photos for you?"
"Yes, thank you".
Stanley took the photos and went and put them on the table next to the lectern.
Lt. Gray was ushered into the room where Jonathan and Jennifer were.
"Hi, did you find anything?"
"Not yet. The FBI is interviewing everyone they talked to you about. We were able to confirm a few things though. First off, Tara and Holden are still in their respective prisons, and as of yet, have no connections to this. The prisons are reviewing their phone call records though, and will get back to us if they hear anything concerning. Also, Grant Barlow has been arrested for posing as Tucker Collins, and is in custody. So far, he has maintained that he has no knowledge of his brother's plans. It seems as if Tucker promised him half a million dollars in exchange for him staying home with the ankle monitor on, and he accepted".
Jennifer leaned against Jonathan's shoulder. He wrapped an arm around her.
"Why are they doing this to us?"
"Who?"
"Everyone. Tara and Holden, maybe not so much. But why did Tucker Collins have to come back into our lives? Why can't we just have some peace?"
"She's right. Jennifer's dealings with Tucker took place years ago. Same with my dealings with Grant Barlow. And it seems like just when we finally get the dust settled, here comes someone else to kick it up again".
"I'm sorry. I promise you, we are doing everything we can".
Stanley came back in then.
"Mr. and Mrs. Hart, we are ready to begin".