A Fresh Start
Chapter Seventeen
After dropping the boxes off at the loft, Jeffrey goes to Towers to met Mallet. "Welcome to Towers. May I help you?" The hostess asks
"Yes, I need a private table, over by the balcony if available." Jeffrey says, looking around the restaurant.
"Yes Mr. Mayor, right this way." The man says, "How many will be joining you?"
"One." Jeffrey replies, as the man takes a couple of menus and leads Jeffrey to a table close to the balcony.
"Will this be alright?"
"Yes, thank you." Jeffrey says, taking a seat
A few minutes later, Mallet walks in. After stopping at the front and asking for Jeffrey's table, he walks over. "Jeffrey." He says, sitting down
"Mallet, how are you?"
"I'm good, and you?"
"Just, perfect." Jeffrey says, with a smile.
"That's a change." Mallet says, looking over at him.
"Yes, but what can I say? Did you talk with the juror?"
"Yes, he claims that Doris met with him before the trial and offered him a deal."
"Did he say what the deal was?"
"He said that she told him if he would make sure the jury returned a guilty plea for Josh then she would guarantee that his son wouldn't face felony possession charges."
"He was the only one?"
"I don't know. I have my detectives looking into it."
"If he was to make sure the jury returned a guilty verdict, he had to be the foreman." Jeffrey says, as their waitress walks up to the table
"Are you ready to order?" She asks
"I'll have a steak, medium rare, small salad and bake potato, butter only, and a glass of Boudreaux." Jeffrey says
"I'll have the same, but I want the steak medium well and no wine." Mallet replies
"Yes sir." she says, jointing down the orders before she takes their menus and walks away.
"What was his name?"
"A Mr. Morris Freidman."
"Yes, that was the foreman." Jeffrey replies, remembering man. "So, he talked the juror's into returning the guilty plea. Doris had to do more than that."
"What do you mean?" Mallet asks, as the waitress brings their food.
"She would need more than just the foreman to swing the jury. The foreman has a lot of say in deliberations, but to swing a jury Doris would need more than one juror, to vote for a guilty plea."
"We'll know more when I get the report back from my detectives. Have you been able to locate Gillespie?"
"No, I've been busy the last few days. I'll get in touch with my contact to see what is going on with the search."
"If we can't find a connection through the guy Alan paid off to kill Tammy, do we give up on him and go after Doris herself?"
"I think we need to try to get both of them, but if it looks like we can't then we can go after Doris and offer a deal if she'll tell us about the deal with Alan."
"That sounds like a better plan, and if we can't get one of them then at least we'll get one or the other."
"I would prefer both, but if I have to I'll settle for just one. But if I know Doris, if she's arrested, she's going to realize that if she's convicted she'll face a serious problem if she's sent to prison. Most of the prisoners there, she sent."
"If she goes to prison, she'll be gone in no time. Should we say something to the governor about this?"
"No, he wants both of them, so we wait to make sure we can't give him both before we settle for only one."
"Are you going to the benefit Friday night?"
"I haven't decided." Jeffrey says "It depends on when Sam will get in town."
"Sam, who's Sam?"
"And old friend."
"And old friend, male or female."
"Female, we worked together in the agency. In fact, we were partners."
"Why is she coming to Springfield?"
"We're…. Well, we're dating." Jeffrey says, smiling slightly
"Dating, what about Olivia?"
"We broke up about a week ago."
"A week ago, and you're dating someone else. You work fast."
"Sam and I were together when we were in the agency and then some things happened and we lost contact until last week."
"So, you're dating your old partner." Mallet says, pushing his plate back.
"Yeah." Jeffrey replies with a smile, taking a sip of the wine. "How's Dinah?"
"She's doing fine. She's really enjoying her job at WSPR."
"She always did love the attention of the media." Jeffrey replies. "Have you heard anything about Matt and Vanessa?"
"No, Matt's working on some big project for Lewis and I don't want to know what Vanessa is up to."
"If there's not anything else, I'm going to have to go. I've got some phone calls to make." Jeffrey says, raising his arm for the check.
"Alright, I'll check in with the detective and we'll see if Doris pressured any of the other jurors."
"I'll let you know when I talk with my contacts again about Gillespie."
"Good." Matt replies, following behind Jeffrey as they walk through the restaurant.
When Olivia reaches the docks on 5th Street, they are deserted. She doesn't want anyone overhearing this conversation and it possibly getting back to Jeffrey. Walking along the dock, she sits down on one of the benches. She's only there for a few minutes before a man about 6'3 with long black hair and black eyes, strong angular face, sits down beside her
"I was surprised to hear from you so soon after our last conversation."
"I know, but I have another situation for you to handle. I want you to handle it personally. Don't get someone else to do it, like before."
"That wasn't my fault."
"Whatever, I don't have time to argue about that, I need you to handle this one."
"Alright, what do you want me to do?"
"I need you to find out some information about a doctor my boyfriend has been seeing. Her name is Dr. Sam Whitley. She's about 5'6 around 150 lbs. She has red hair and blue/green eyes. I want to know everything about her and I do mean everything. When you have the information, you'll get further instruction." Olivia says, staring over the water.
"The same price?"
"Yes, and if you find something damaging, there's another $50,000 for you."
"She must have really pissed you off."
"She's trying to take my man as well as my daughter from me. " Olivia says, standing up. "Contact me the usual way when you have the information.
"I will." Simmons says. Olivia leaves, being careful that no one sees her.
After getting back to his room, Richard falls asleep with Cassie in his arms. He doesn't sleep well, with dreams of Jonathan as a baby, and Jonathan being abused by Alfred. And Jonathan waiting for him to rescue him, he woke up very groggy later that afternoon.
Cassie didn't sleep well either, having woken up every time Richard would move or sigh in his sleep. She too woke up groggy when the nurse came in to leave Richard's tray for dinner. Lifting the lid on the tray, he sits it back down and pushes the table back."
"You have to eat." Cassie says, taking the lid off the tray.
"I'm not hungry." He says, laying back and closing his eyes.
"If you don't eat, you'll slow your recovery." Cassie says. "Please just eat a few bites of this." She pleads but he ignores her. "Alright, I'll leave it over here and if you want it later it will be here." She says, moving the tray to the stand by his bed.
"What was he like?" Richard asks, looking over at her.
"He reminded me of you, not at first, but later, especially when he was with Tammy. But he was impulsive like Reva. And he could be reckless, but never with Tammy. He treasured her. And he was so good with Sarah, like you were good with Tammy and RJ. And he tried to be a good husband to Lizzie, but he couldn't. He wasn't in love with her. In that respect, he really reminded me of you."
"Who did he look like?"
"Well, he had you dark hair but he had Reva's smile and even a little bit of yours. He had a great laugh, just like Reva. And once he got over his anger he was so sweet. But he didn't pull punches. He told the truth and he didn't back down. His hair was long and he had tattoos but he loved Reva and he loved Tammy and Sarah. I would like to think he loved me too."
"All I can see is that little blonde boy that I held in my arms and said good-bye to in San Jamar. All I can hear is his little seven year old voice, asking me to fix his toy plane, and then asking to come save him." Richard says, with tears in his eyes. "How did I not know what Alfred was doing to him? I saw him a few times before we left San Cristobel and he always seemed happy. I didn't know he was being abused and tortured every day of his life."
"Richard, they hid it from you and Reva." Cassie says, sitting down beside him.
"But I was his father. I should have known." He says, reaching up to wipe the tears away. "I should have been there."
"You thought he was being taken care of. And Marissa did love him and she tried to protect him, but Alfred abused her to. In fact, he killed her."
"He killed her."
"Yes, they found her washed up on a beach in San Cristobel. It was never actually proven before Alfred was killed, but Jonathan was sure that he had."
"So Alfred is dead?"
"Yes, he was killed in a boating accident after he kidnapped Tammy to get to Jon. He forced Jon to steal from Lewis after he had spent all of Jon's trust fund, which he forced him to turn over to him when he became of age."
"My god! That was nearly ten million dollars. It probably was ten million with interest. And I let that man raise my son."
"This is not your fault." Cassie says, lying down.
"Yes, it is Cassie. I gave my son to that man."
"You and Reva both did what you thought was best at the time for Jonathan. You had no way of knowing that Alfred would do the things he did."
"I wanted him with me Cassie, do you remember? I wanted Jonathan with me."
"I know but there was Edmund. And there was the fact that Jonathan had spent his life with Marissa and Alfred and by all appearances when you and Reva found him, he was well taken care of and loved." Cassie says, taking his hand. "You didn't abandon him. You and Reva had to make a choice and you chose what you thought was the right situation for him.
"Maybe be you're right…."
"Of course, I'm right." Cassie says, squeezing his hand.
"But you know what the worst part is. I'll never get to tell him I'm sorry. I'll never get to tell him that I loved him. That I didn't know he was being treated that way."
"He knows Richard. Reva made sure he knew how much you loved him. How both of you would have been there if you had known what Alfred was doing to him, he knew, I promise you he knew." Cassie says, hugging him.
"Will you stay with me tonight?" He asks "I don't want to be alone."
"Of course I will, if you'll try to eat something, please." She says, sitting up and looking at him.
"Okay." Richard replies, as Cassie gets up and brings his tray to him.
He ate most of the meal, although he didn't really taste the food. He ate it because he had too. And he ate it for Cassie. When he finally reaches the point that he can't force anymore down, he pushes the tray away. Cassie takes it, putting it in the hall for the nurses to pick up.
"I know you had some trouble sleeping this afternoon. Do you want me to ask Sam about giving you a sedative?" Cassie asks, as she walks back into the room. Richard doesn't answer her so she goes over to him. When she touches him he feels cold and clammy and it scares her. Walking over to the door, Cassie leans out and calls "Nurse, could you come here? Something is wrong." She says, as the nurse walks over to Richard's room. Stepping back Cassie lets her in, following her to Richard's bed she stands on the other side as the nurse examines him.
"Mr. Winslow." The nurse says touching Richard's forehead and it feel cool to the touch.
When she turns to leave, Cassie asks. "What's happening, why is he not responding?"
"I'm going to get Dr. Whitley." The nurse replies, leaving the room without telling Cassie anything.
Cassie reaches out to touch him but he still feels cold and clammy to her touch. "Richard can you hear me?" She asks, reaching up to brush his hair back from his forehead. "If you think this is a joke, I'm not laughing." She says as Sam walks into the room.
"Cassie, what happened?" She asks, as she walks over to Richard.
"I don't know. We were talking about Jonathan and then he asked me to stay tonight and I told him I would if he would eat his dinner. He ate most of it. I took the tray out into the hall and when I came back I said something to him but he didn't respond, so I touched him and he felt cold and clammy so I went to get the nurse." While Cassie has been talking, Sam is examining Richard. "What's going on?" Cassie asks.
"I think he's having a form of a…."
At that moment, Richard moans softly and slowly blinks his eyes as he looks around the room. "Where am I? He asks.
'You're in the hospital." Sam replies. "Do you remember anything Richard?"
"I remember eating and then that's the last thing I remember." He says, looking over at Cassie.
"Do you know who she is?" Sam asks.
"That's my wife Cassie."
"Do you know who you are?"
"I'm Richard Winslow." Richard replies. "And you're my doctor. Dr. Sam Whitley."
"That's right. Do you remember what happened today?"
Richard took a couple of minutes to answer the question and for those couple minutes Sam thought he had blocked out what Cassie had told him about Jonathan and Tammy. "Cassie told me that my son and daughter are dead." He replies softly, looking over at her. "They were killed a few months ago."
"Okay." Sam says. "I'm going to order a couple of tests for tomorrow morning but I'm going to start you on a mild dose of anti-seizure medication."
"Seizure medication!" Cassie says
"Yes, I'm fairly certain that's what just happened and starting him on the medication will get them under control. If the test show that it wasn't a seizure then I'll stop the medication, but I'm sure that I'm right."
"Okay." Richard says, as Sam makes a note in his chart before she leaves the room to get a nurse to fill the order.
"I'll be right back." Cassie says. Nodding he lays back and closes his eyes. He feels drained. "Sam." Cassie says, as Richard's door closes.
"Yes." Sam says, turning around as Cassie walks up to her.
"Are you sure it was a seizure?"
"Yes."
"But I thought that with seizures, you shake and pass out and stuff.
"There are several types of seizures. The ones you are describing are grand mall seizures and a lot of patients have those, especially patients with epilepsy and some patients after a traumatic accident like Richard's. And then there are seizures where the patient just seems to zone out, for lack of a better way to describe it. That's what Richard did. Sometimes they last for a few seconds and then sometimes they can last for a few minutes." Sam says, as the nurse walks up to her.
"You wanted to see me Dr. Whitley."
"Yes, I need you to give Mr. Winslow a shot of Dilantin. I've made the necessary notes on his chart. He's to get the shot twice a day from now on."
"Yes ma'am. I'll take care of it."
"Thank you." Sam says, turning back to Cassie.
"Was this caused by the accident?"
"It might have been, but if it was it would have manifested a few days after he came out of the coma. The tests we run tomorrow will give a clearer picture."
"So, this was brought on by what I told him today."
"I think the stress and shock of finding this out triggered the seizure."
"And you're sure there isn't any brain damage for the accident?"
"I don't think so, but then there might be. The brain is a very complex system to diagnose. There is a lot we don't know about it. The tests that I ordered for tomorrow will be able to tell us if the seizure was caused by the accident or if it is like I suspect and it was caused by the stress of this afternoon."
"He's been really restless since this afternoon. And he's been upset, understandably, about Jonathan and all the things that happened. When he took a nap this afternoon he didn't sleep well."
"I can prescribe a mild sedative, nothing too strong because the seizure medication could make him drowsy as well."
"Thank you. "
"You're welcome." Cassie starts to turn away to go back to Richard, when Sam reaches out to stop her. "He'll be alright. This happens sometimes in stressful situations."
"Do you think it's permanent?"
"No, if it's like I suspect and this was caused by the stress of this afternoon once he learns how to deal with it, the seizures will go away. We will know more when we get the test results back."
Cassie nods. "I'm going to go back and sit with him. He wants me to stay tonight?"
"If you want I can have a bed brought in for you."
"No, I think he wants me to sleep with him."
"I understand. I'll have the nurse bring him a sedative. Are you going to be able to rest?"
"As long as he's taken care of, I'll be fine." Cassie says. "Thank you."
"Don't tire yourself out Cassie, I know he needs you. But you can't be there for him if you're worn out and tired."
"I'll be fine."
"If you need anything, come to me." Sam says, laying her hand on her arm.
"Thank you." Cassie says, giving her a quick hug.
"You're welcome." Sam says, hugging her back before Cassie returns to Richard's room and she goes to write the orders for the sedative on Richard chart.
Sam hangs around the hospital for another couple hours, just to be sure that Richard doesn't have another seizure. She is just leaving when her cell phone starts to ring, pulling it from her pocket of her lab coat she smiles as she recognized Jeffrey's number. "Hi." She says, as she walks across the parking lot to her car.
"Hi, you sound tired." Jeffrey says, leaning back against the cushions of the couch.
"I am. it's been a long day."
"Are you home?"
"No, I'm just leaving the hospital." Sam says, as she slips into the driver's seat and puts her Bluetooth on "Give me a second." She says, taking the phone away from her ear and connecting to her Bluetooth. "Can you hear me?" She asks, as she starts the car.
"Yes, why are you leaving now? It's almost eight."
"I know. I stayed a little later this evening to keep a check on Richard.
"Richard! What happened?"
"He had a form of a seizure this afternoon around six." Sam replies, pulling out of the parking lot and heading towards home.
"A form of a seizure, was it because of the accident?"
"I don't think so. The test will tell me for sure tomorrow. But I think it was caused by stress."
"Stress!"
"Yes, he overheard me and Cassie talking this afternoon about Jonathan and Tammy."
"And that's how he found out."
"Yes, at first he didn't want to believe it. But then Cassie told what happened. He really took it hard, so hard that he passed out."
"He passed out!"
"Yes, but he was only out for about a minute. Anyway, when he came to Cassie asked us to leave them alone and they talked for awhile before they went back to his room. He's walking without the cane now."
"What about the seizure?"
"I think the stress of finding out that Jonathan, Tammy and Sarah are all dead caused it."
"Are they permanent?"
"No, I think once he finds away to deal with this, they'll stop."
"Are you sure they're not because of the accident?"
"No, not 100% certain, there's that possibility but it would have manifested before now, within a matter of days from when he woke up from the coma."
"Well, it's only been a little over a week since he woke up. Maybe the accident did more damage than we thought."
"The cat scan I ran on him right after he woke up was clear. No signs of brain damage. I've ordered more tests so we'll know for certain when I get the results back."
"How is Cassie?"
"She's fine now." Sam says pulling into her parking place at the apartment. "But she was really freaked out when he didn't respond to her."
"Did you give her anything to calm her down?"
'I offered, but she wouldn't take it. She said she would be alright as long as Richard was alright. She's a strong lady." Sam says, walking up to her apartment door. She stops and Jeffrey can sense that something is wrong.
"What's wrong?"
"My apartment door is cracked?"
"It's cracked."
"Yes."
"Go back to your car." Jeffrey says, adrenaline filling him. "And call the police."
"Jeffrey." She says, reaching out to push the door open.
"No, do it Sam."
"Alright." She says, backing away from the apartment. She never takes her eyes off the door until she turns the corner. When she turns the corner, a small man with blonde hair and scar along his right cheek slips out of Sam's apartment. When she reaches her car she says, "I'm going to have to hang up, if I'm going to call the police."
"Okay, but you call me back the minute you get off the phone with them and don't go in the apartment."
"I won't I swear." Sam says. "I'll call you back." She hangs up and dials 911.
"911, do you have an emergency?" A woman's voice asks.
"Yes, someone has broken into my apartment. I need an officer sent out here."
"Could you give me the address?"
"393 Miller Rd. Apt 3D."
"And your name."
"It's Sam Whitley."
"Okay, Ms. Whitley, I've dispatched an officer. Are you in the apartment now?"
"No, I'm in my car in the parking lot behind the apartment." Sam replies. "I was on my way in when I noticed the door was cracked."
"Stay where you are and an officer will be there in a few minutes."
"Okay."
"Do you need me to stay on the line with you?"
"No, I'll be alright here." Sam says, locking the doors.
"If you need anything more, call back."
"I will." Sam says, hanging up. She waits a couple seconds and then dials Jeffrey's number.
"Hello." He says, before the first ring stops ringing. "Sam."
"Yes." She says, looking around.
"Did you call the police?"
"Yes, I called 911 and they're sending an officer to investigate."
"Don't go near that apartment."
"I'm not, I swear. I'm locked inside my car and I won't leave until the police come."
"Are you sure you closed the door this morning?"
"Of course I closed it. I locked the dead bolt. I have no idea how someone got in, or why they would break in. I've lived here for twelve years and never had a problem." Sam says, as a squad car pulls up beside of her, light flashing. "The officer is here."
"Call me back after they leave."
"I will." Sam says, opening the car door as she hangs up the phone.
"Excuse me, ma'am, are you the one that reported the break in?"
"Yes." Sam replies. "My apartment is through here." She says, leading the officer through the walkway to her apartment door.
"Did you go inside?"
"No." Sam replies, standing back as the officer pushes the door open
"Police." The officer calls, as she reaches in and flips on the light.
When she gets a look at her apartment she gasps. Everything has been totally trashed, paper, cushions, trash, drawers everything has been tossed on the floor.
"Wait here, I want to make sure that the prep isn't still in the apartment."
"Yes sir." Sam says, standing just outside the door as the officer makes his way through the mess, checking the kitchen, bathroom, bedroom, the bedroom closet, the linen closet in the bathroom, under the bed and in the hall closet before he goes back to the door.
"It's clear." He says. "Can you take a look around and tell me if anything is missing?" He asks as he pulls out a note pad.
Sam looks around quickly, "At first glance, I don't see anything."
"Do you have any idea who would do this?"
"No, I've lived here for twelve years and I've never had a problem before."
"Do you have any enemies?"
"No, not that I know of."
"Have you had any confrontations with one of the neighbors lately?"
"No, I keep mostly to myself." Sam says. "I work long hours, so I'm late getting home. I don't see my neighbors that much."
"Do you always lock the door before you leave?"
"Yes, along with the dead bolt. I don't know how they could have gotten in."
"Well, it doesn't look like it was forced open." The officer says, walking over to the door. "Are you sure nothing is missing?"
"As far as I can see, but this place is a mess." Sam says, looking around the living room.
The officer nods. "I'll file a report and have a detective look into it. He may want to ask you some questions. I need your full name, phone number and address.
"It's Dr. Samantha Whitley; 433-4038 is my cell number."
"And where do you work?"
"I work for the federal government."
"Which agency?"
"One of the intelligence agencies
"So it would be better to contact you on the cell phone."
"Yes."
"I'll file the report and a detective will be in contact."
"Thank you." Sam says, walking over to the door.
"Are you're sure you should stay here tonight?" The officer asks. "Do you have someone you can call?"
"I'll be fine."
"If you want, I can have an unmarked car park out in the parking lot.
"I'm sure, I'll be fine." Sam says, as her cell phone starts to ring
He nods again. "If you find anything missing, or something else happens call this number." The officer says, handing her a business card.
"Thank you. "Sam says, pulling her cell phone from her pocket. As the officer leaves she answers the call. "Hello."
"Sam, are you alright?"
"I'm fine, the police just left."
"Did they find anything?'
"No, this place is a mess. It's like whoever broke in was looking for something."
"Is anything missing?"
"Not that I can tell, but everything is turned over, drawers are emptied in the middle of the floor, the furniture is turned over, the cushions have been searched. It's a complete mess."
"I called Noah. He's going to come out tomorrow and look around. Do you have any idea who would have done this?"
"No, I've been here twelve years and I haven't had a problem."
"Until… now." Jeffrey says
"What are you thinking?" Sam asks, catching the change in his tone.
"There is someone who might have done this."
"Who?"
"Olivia."
"Olivia! She's in Springfield. She is in Springfield, right?"
"Yes, but she is furious about you and me and that I moved out of the Beacon."
"Even if she is, she's in Springfield. How could she have broken into my apartment? How would she find out where I live?"
"She could have paid someone to do it. I don't want you staying there tonight. Either go to the agency or get a hotel room, but don't stay there tonight."
"Okay." Sam replies, recognizing that tone and knowing it was useless to argue. "I'll find a hotel." Sam says, walking into her bedroom, even though has been ransacked.
Grabbing her back pack, she throws some clothes into it before she grabs her purse and her keys. Walking out, she looks back at her apartment one more time amazed at how thoroughly someone had gone through her stuff before she pulls the odor closed and locks it.
"Sam, are you still there?"
"Yes, I was just grabbing some clothes." Sam says, walking back down the walkway to her car. "I'm going to get a hotel room."
"I want you to call me when you get checked in."
'I will." Sam says, unlocking her car door and tossing her purse and backpack in the seat next to her.
A few minutes later, Sam finds a hotel room in downtown Reston that still has a room available, after checking in." She calls Jeffrey as she is on her way up to the room.
"Hello." He says, answering the call on the first ring. While she was getting the hotel room, he had been on the phone booking a flight back to Washington DC.
"It's me." Sam says, walking down the hallway to her room.
"Did you get a room?"
"Yes, I'm at the Best Western in Room 211." Sam says, unlocking the door and walking in.
"I'll be there as soon as I can."
"You're coming here." Sam asks, sitting down on the bed.
"Yes, I've got the first flight tomorrow morning."
"I'm fine."
"No, you're not." Jeffrey replies. "Besides I want to look into this myself."
"What time is your flight?"
"5 am."
"I'll pick you up at the airport."
"No, Noah's going to do that and then we'll come and get you. You need to rest."
"I don't know if I can." Sam says, as the reality that some one had broken into her apartment begins to hit her. "What if they followed me here?" Sam says, getting up and making sure the door is locked, along with the window.
"I doubt that they did. But I'll be there before eight tomorrow morning."
"Okay." Sam says, still a little unnerved by the whole thing and Jeffrey knew it.
"Try and get some sleep."
"Okay."
"I love you and I'll be there in the morning."
"I love you too. " Sam replies, suddenly feeling very, very tired.
They hang up but Jeffrey can't go to sleep. He keeps seeing Sam, huddled in the corner of a hotel room, terrified that whoever broke into her apartment is going to break into the hotel room. Finally, around two am he gives up trying to sleep and picks up the phone and dials a number. Reva sleepily answers on the third ring. "Hello."
"Reva, its Jeffrey O'Neill. I'm sorry to call this late."
"It's two in the morning Jeffrey." Reva says, glancing at the clock.
"I know, and I wouldn't call if it wasn't an emergency. I need to get to Washington DC, like last night. I have friend that's in a bit of trouble. I was wondering if I could use the Lewis jet."
"The jet. I guess it's in town. "Reva says, as Josh turns over and asks "Who's on the phone?"
"Jeffrey." Reva says, lifting the phone so Jeffrey doesn't hear her.
"Jeffrey, what does he want? And why is he calling at two in the morning?"
"He needs to use the jet to get to Washington DC. He has a friend in trouble.
"Reva, are you there?" Jeffrey asks
"At two in the morning." Josh asks, as Reva returns to Jeffrey.
"Reva." Jeffrey says.
"Yes, at two in the morning." Reva replies, before returning Jeffrey's call. "Jeffrey, let me call the pilot and I'll have them get the plane ready." Reva says.
"Thank you Reva." Jeffrey replies clearly relieved.
"I'll get back to you."
"Okay." Jeffrey replies. "I'll appreciate this so much Reva."
"It's alright." Reva says, ignoring Josh's glare. "I'll call you back." She says, just before they hang up.
"What are you doing?"" Josh asks as she dials the pilot's number.
"I'm calling the pilot." Reva says, as she waits for him to answer.
"It's two… no it's after two in the morning. How do you know this is truly an emergency?"
Reva looks over at him. Her expression looking like he has grown two heads. "Do you honestly think he would call us in the middle of the night and ask to use the jet and it not be an emergency?"
"It's Jeffrey O'Neill, how can you know what he says is the truth." Josh asks, as the pilot finally answers the phone.
"Hello." He mumbles.
"Chris, its Reva."
"Yes, Mrs. Lewis."
"How quickly can you have the jet ready?'
"Within an hour." Chris replies, instantly awake. "Is there something wrong ma'am?"
"I have a friend that needs to get to Washington DC. Would you get the jet ready, please?" Reva replies, still ignoring Josh's glare.
"Yes ma'am. I'll have I ready within the hour."
"I'll call him and let him know." Reva says, pushing the covers back as she hangs up the phone.
"Where are you going?"
"To DC with Jeffrey."
"Why? Did he ask you to?"
"No, but something is telling me that Jeffrey needs me to come with him."
"Why? He's a grown man and a federal agent, for Christ sake."
"And there are ways I can help that no one else can."
"Reva."
"I'm going Josh. Now you can come along or you can stay." Reva says, dialing Jeffrey's number, he answers on the first ring. "Hello."
"Jeffrey, the plane will ready within the hour."
"Thank you Reva. " Jeffrey says. "I can't tell you how much I appreciate this."
"You're welcome, and I'm coming with you."
"You don't have to do that."
"If your friend is in serious trouble, I might be able to help." Reva says, while getting dressed as Josh watches.
"Thank you. I'll come by and pick you up in about five minutes."
"Okay. " Reva says, hanging up as she turns to Josh. "So, are you coming?"
"No."
"Okay." Reva says, throwing some clothes into a traveling bag. "He'll be here in about ten minutes." She says, zipping up the bag.
"You don't have to do this. And I think it's…."
"Yes, I do." Josh looks at her but doesn't say anything. "I don't know when I'll be back." She says, as the door bell rang.
"Reva, what if he's using…?"
Reva leaves the room, half expecting Josh to follow her and try to stop her from going. She opens the front door, just as Jeffrey is about to knock again.
"Are you ready?" He asks.
"Yes." She replies, walking out and pulling the door closed behind her.
"Is Josh okay with you going?"
"He's fine, come on." Reva says, walking towards Jeffrey's truck. They pull out of the driveway a few minutes later.
17.15