CHAPTER SIX
The sign on the gate read: Jalyssa Cole, Private Investigator.
Kane frowned under his mask, taking in the weather worn sign, the faded lettering. Just what the hell was Steve thinking?
"Oh, she's home." Steve muttered, slowly pulling into the driveway, his voice sounding disappointed. "Well uh, let's go in then."
They had gotten out of the truck and taken maybe one step towards the modest, one story house when the door flew open with a bang.
A woman with long red hair came storming out, a .22 in her hands and apparently the safety was off. If the flash of anger in her deep blue eyes was any indication, she wasn't pleased to see them.
"Lyss, now honey-"
"Don't you 'honey' me, Steve Austin!" She interrupted, eyes shooting back and forth between the men. "You have some nerve showing up here after that shit you pulled!"
"Now, lemme explain-"
"No, get the hell offa my property before I blow you to Hell and back! That goes for your little friend too!"
Kane recoiled in shock. Little?
Steve took a step towards her, hands flying up when the end of that rifle came swinging to meet his face, blinking as he stared into the barrel. "Just, let me explain. Okay? My 'little' friend needs your help."
"He needs a lot more then just my help if he's hanging with the likes of you, snake."
Sighing, Kane glared at Steve, wishing he didn't rely on his mask so much, the glare would be much more effective. "What did you do to her?"
Steve coughed, looking a tad bit ashamed.
Jalyssa began to laugh, sounding completely insane. Suddenly she stopped, her eyes ice cold.
"I uh, kinda- well, I left-"
"He left me standing at the damn alter is what he did!"
Kane groaned, shaking his head.
***
He watched her sleep, green eyes taking in the trails her tears had glazed over her pale face. Heaving a sigh, 'Taker reached out to gently push a tendril of her black hair behind her ear. Physically, she had wanted him. He hadn't taken her by force. Emotionally, Fallon had likened his love making to rape.
He scowled, shoving that thought from his mind. What was it about this woman that constantly demanded his attention? She wasn't the most gorgeous of woman, he admitted that. Though she was beautiful, her eyes were what instantly captivated one's attention. It was the fire that constantly flashed in them, entrancing the unwary. Though he had seen the embers burning low in those eyes he could look into non-stop. The fire was leaving Fallon.
Ten years ago, that was exactly what he wanted. He wanted to break her. Possess her. Own her soul. He wanted to see nothing but dead pools of obsidian every time he looked into her eyes. He had hated her for the piercing stare she had, making him feel like he was nothing to her. Someone who was worthless.
Now that he had broken her, he found he didn't want that at all. He wanted her to smile at him. See her eyes light up when he walked in the room. Snorting, 'Taker shook his head, already knowing that would never be. Any love Fallon might have had for him had died a long time ago.
"Mark?" She whispered, her face scrunching.
He inhaled sharply, studying her. It took him a moment to realize she was still asleep. "I'm here, darlin'." He murmured, leaning down to kiss her cheek. "I'm here."
"The baby…" She cried softly, a tear slipping from beneath her closed lids. "Our baby is gone."
His heart broke in his chest, reaching down to brush away the tear.
***
"So let me get this straight, you brought you're friend here just to tell me you need me to find some broad?" Jalyssa demanded edgily. She was now sitting behind her desk in her home office, Kane and Steve standing across from her. She ignored the masked man's growl, dropping her hand pointedly on the .22 that lay across her lap.
"Somethin' like that." Steve agreed, not in the mood to tempt her to shoot him. As if she needed further provocation.
Kane shot the smaller man a look.
"You tell her then." Steve said exasperatedly, throwing his hands up in the air. "I don't even know the entire story."
Jalyssa arched a red eyebrow, staring at Kane, folding her hands across her desk expectantly.
"I don't know where to start…" Kane mumbled, not used to being thrust into the center of attention like this, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly.
"You could start by telling me why you wear that ugly as hell mask."
Steve had to intercept Kane before the man could even take a step forward, noting how Kane's entire body had gone rigid. "Don't be a bitch, Lyss." He ordered gruffly.
"Just curious."
***
Chris frowned, his cell phone between his ear and shoulder, busy sorting through paperwork. "It's not enough, Vince." He said during a pause, blue eyes narrowing angrily. "You think calling him back to work is going to do shit? He's left her alone before, he'd do it again."
"Chris, I really don't see what else I can-"
"Call a damn press conference and get this shit out in the open is what you can do!"
"That would destroy the company!" Vince sounded aghast.
Chris closed his eyes, heaving a sigh. "How many times do I have to tell you, I don't care about your reputation or the Fed's rep anymore? All I care about is my friend coming home to her son and fiancée in one piece and not a fucking body bag!"
***
Jalyssa had listened to Kane without interrupting him, jotting down certain things that popped out at her. When he finally fell silent, she whistled, shaking her head and blinked her blue eyes incredulously. "That is some story, man." She said at last, not entirely sure what to think. "And it most definitely is NOT a storyline?"
"Want the pictures from when she was hospitalized in 2000?" Kane asked dryly.
"No thanks, nothing I can't get myself." She said absentmindedly. "She's blind now?"
"Yes."
"How'd it happen again?"
"Official report says assault. Inofficial is assault by the Undertaker."
"Any proof?"
Kane sighed, shaking his head. "Fallon wouldn't say who did it but everyone knows-"
"Everyone knows nothing. If she ain't willing to put his ass behind bars then I'd say you have no case." Jalyssa said, frowning. "Look, I'd like to help you. BUT. It sounds like Fallon isn't prepared to help herself, I'm not wasting my time."
Steve had remained silent up until now, finally clearing his throat. "Lyssa, it sounds to me like she's too scared to say anything." He said evenly, holding up his hands when she glared at him. "Look at the facts. The guy kidnapped her several times, has a history of violence and rape against her, even married her for chrissakes. You telling me you wouldn't be scared of someone like that?"
She looked like she wanted to tell him 'no chance in hell' but hesitated, finally nodding. "Yeah, I would be too." Jalyssa admitted quietly.
"So can you help us?"
"I can try."
***
"Do you think about it very often?"
Fallon looked up from the pillow she had been crying on, frowning at 'Taker. "Think about what, moron?" She demanded crossly.
"The baby." He said quietly.
"No."
"You dream about it."
She frowned. "What the hell is this? You want me to say I miss the old days? Guess what? I don't. We had a few good months out of a year and a half of sheer fucking hell, 'Taker. I don't love you, I never did and I'm GLAD that kid died. Hear me? GLAD!"
He completely snapped.
Fallon scrambled out of the bed as he approached, beginning to laugh hysterically. She spat in his face when his hand wrapped around her throat. "Go ahead, you've been torturing me for a decade, haunting my goddamn dreams, kill me and end it." She taunted.
"Oh no, my dear. That would be too EASY." He snarled.
***
Jeff groaned when his phone rang, going to sit up but feeling Gavin's weight on his arm. Sighing, he gently rolled his son away, snatching the phone off the hook before it could ring again. "Hello?" He whispered groggily.
"Jeff?"
He shot out of bed, completely awake now. "Fallon, honey, where are you, baby?" He demanded, tears filling his green eyes.
"I don't know." She whispered, sounding like she had her hand over the phone. "I don't have a lot of time, he's downstairs."
"You're in a house?"
"I think so, I'm not allowed out of the bedroom…" She trailed off awkwardly.
He gritted his teeth, automatically knowing what that meant. "Fallon, we're looking for you right now, honey. I promise, you'll be home with me and our son soon. Hear me, just… just hang on, baby, okay?"
"I will. Is Gav- how is he?"
"He's fine, baby." Jeff lied, hearing the panic creeping into her voice. "He just misses you, but he knows you're comin' home. You are comin' home, Fallon." He asserted, trying to inject a confidence in his tone that he didn't feel.
"I have to go." She said suddenly, her voice sounding distant. "I love you, Jeff. I-"
Jeff stared at the phone in his hand, the dial tone mocking him.
***
Shadow was running out the door the minute she seen Kane getting out of a black truck, flying into his arms. "You could have called!" She scolded, tugging off his mask to kiss him.
Jalyssa stared unabashedly, seeing faint traces of scars marring his cheeks before his hair blocked her vision as he stooped to kiss the smaller woman.
"That's his wife." Steve said, knowing Shadow from before his retirement.
"Oh, I'm impressed. I thought wrestlers left their women at the alter."
He gritted his teeth.
"My mistake."
"Fallon called." Shadow said, glancing round at Steve and nodding, her gaze returning to her husband. "Two nights ago."
"We know where she's at?"
"No, she didn't know according to Jeff." She reluctantly stepped out of Kane's loving embrace, letting him put back on his mask, turning her attention on the woman. "Who are you?"
"Jalyssa Cole, who the fuck are you?"
"What is she-"
"She's a private investigator." Steve said quickly before a fight could break out.
Chris came walking out of the house followed by Matt and Jeff, Gavin and Dante inside eating their lunch. "Steve, nice to see you man, but why are you here?"
"Kane recruited me."
It took several seconds before anyone cottoned on why. Nobody commenting on that desperate move.
"I uh, introduced him to a P.I., figured she might be able to help ya'all, since the cops aren't doin' a damn thing."
"You said this- Fallon- called?" Jalyssa asked, glancing at the other woman, wishing she knew her name.
"Yeah, Jeff can answer your questions better, he's the one who answered the phone when she called."
"Let's go inside." Jeff murmured.
Jalyssa took one look at him and was shocked at how gaunt and ill this man looked. Jeff, the fiancée, she remembered from what Kane had told her. From his and Steve's description, she expected some happy go lucky idiot who happened to be incredibly good looking. This didn't fit the bill. This guy was pale underneath his fading tan, almost yellow. His eyes were bloodshot with deep circles underneath them and hollowed cheeks. She guessed by the belt that barely held his pants up, he had dropped a lot of weight and all very recently.
This Fallon woman must've been one very special bitch.
***
"Making phone calls are we?"
Fallon had been staring out the window, wondering idly if she could squeeze through the metal bars even if she got past the glass when she heard 'Taker. "Yep. Had to let my future husband know I was still alive." She said flatly, not even wincing when she felt his hand painfully grip her shoulder. "Why are you doing this? You know I don't love you, what good am I too you?" She whispered, still refusing to look at him.
His green eyes surveyed the bruises that marred her body, almost regretting losing his temper and giving them to her. Though when he recalled her words about the child he had wanted so badly… That child had been lost, though she had had another. His son. His son who was being raised by another man. "You will suffer my pain." He said quietly, gripping her hair and pulling her head back so she was staring at him. "Every heartache I've endured will be yours. I've spent many years mourning what once was and could have been. It's time you mourned with me."
Fallon seen the lone tear on his cheek and didn't know what to say.