Disclaimer: None of this belongs to me.
Chapter 5-Secure
"That should do it," announced Grace gleefully clapping her hands together.
"You're telling me," groaned Jessie. "This place has enough booby traps and surveillance to prevent even the Pope from coming near the stupid stone now."
"Like the Pope's even gonna want to try. I'm not sure it's safe in here anymore. This place could blow any second now with all the wiring we set up," added Jonny as he too surveyed the display room of the London Museum.
Race chuckled. "This is the London Museum, guys. No one's gonna be stupid enough to try and break in here and steal the stone. They'd have to be first class idiots to even consider it."
"Or completely insane," muttered Jessie under her breath.
"Yeah," agreed Jonny, "I can think up a couple of guys who fit that description."
The small group glanced up as Dr. Quest and Estella entered the display room with museum curator. The man was thanking them for setting up the security system, as well as bringing the stone to London. Apparently it was a great honor.
Jonny swiftly began to edge away from the room and motioned for Jessie to do the same. Together the pair silently vanished from the room and down the hall.
"Where are we going?" asked Jessie curiously.
"Hadji's been acting kinda funny since yesterday. I don't think it's a good idea leaving him alone," replied Jonny with a shrug.
Jessie made a face. "So what, you want us to follow him around like he's a criminal?"
"No…I wanna follow him around if it looks like he's planning on looking for Anaya."
"Anaya? Are you joking? He told Corbin that he hasn't seen her—and I'm inclined to believe him. Jonny, Hadji's our friend."
"I know he is, but he tends to make really bad choices when it comes to Anaya."
"This coming from the guy who thinks he can trust Jade," grunted Jessie as they pushed the museum doors open and stepped outside.
"Yeah, yeah. I still don't see why you don't trust her. She's been around for days now—nothing's been stolen," argued Jonny.
"Yet. You just wait and see, hotshot. There's something goin' on, and I for one am not gonna get sucked into that woman's web of lies."
Hadji chuckled as he suddenly appeared before his friends, startling them. "I see you two are still having the same quarrel. It seems I cannot leave you two alone anymore."
"Hadji, Jonny thinks you're consorting with Anaya again," stated Jessie bluntly, crossing her arms in front of her chest.
Jonny groaned. "I do not! I just…well…you've been acting kinda weird since last night, Hadj, and the last time you were like that was when you first met Anaya."
"I see." Hadji took a deep breath and glanced around to be sure no one would overhear him. "I was not lying when I told Mr. Corbin that I had not seen Anaya for a long time. Unfortunately, that is no longer the truth. I saw her last night outside the hotel. I do not know what her intentions were—she disappeared in the blink of an eye. However, I have thought it over and I believe that the Zins are indeed after the Immortal Stone."
"Great," murmured Jessie rubbing her forehead. "Sounds like we've got the whole gang after this stone. Man, don't the bad guys ever take holidays?"
"Not when it comes to immortality," said Jonny with a shake of his head. He turned to Hadji with a thoughtful look. "You know, we should hunt around for the Zins and see what they're up to."
"You want us to spy on them?" demanded Jessie. "Is that even wise? My dad is still having conniption fits over the Central Park deal. He's never gonna let us play spies for the day."
"Who says he has to know? Come on, if he calls us on the cell we just say we're hanging around with Hadji—visiting the sights or something. No one has to know anything so long as we don't get caught," pointed out Jonny. "Come on, Ace, it'll be fun."
Hadji sighed. "Jonny has a point, Jessie. It would be helpful to see what the Zins are up to."
"Oh, you just want to make sure Anaya isn't involved in this mess. Men, you're always so damn gullible when it comes to a pretty face!" muttered Jessie darkly.
Jonny chuckled. "You have the prettiest face around, Jess."
"Shove it, Quest, or I'll kick your ass." With that Jessie strode down the sidewalk, with both Hadji and Jonny gazing after her.
"Told ya she wants me," teased Jonny.
Hadji smirked. "Almost as much as an antelope wants a tiger."
An Hour Later:
"I see her!" hissed Jessie. Hadji and Jonny glanced up from the newspapers they had been staring at to see what Jessie was talking about. The red head jerked a thumb down the sidewalk to where a pretty dark haired woman walking away from them.
"Are you sure it's her? All I see is her back," murmured Jonny with a yawn.
Hadji, on the other hand, was already moving. "It is her!" he called back. "I know it is."
"Told ya," smirked Jessie brightly. Jonny glowered at her as he tossed his newspaper to a passerby. He quickly grabbed Jessie's hand and pulled her down the sidewalk to catch up with Hadji.
Together the trio swiftly maneuvered through the crowded London sidewalk at a safe distance behind Anaya. Hadji stopped short, causing both Jonny and Jessie to bump into him, when Anaya slipped down the mouth of an alleyway. Half a second passed before Hadji stepped into the alleyway. Jonny and Jessie exchanged a bemused glance at the reckless behavior of their friend before they too headed into the alleyway. What they found put Jonny on edge, and put Jessie into giggles.
Hadji was lying flat on his back with a very stern looking Anaya sitting on top of his stomach. The Asian glanced up at Jonny and Jessie with raised eyebrows, waiting for someone to break the silence.
Jessie grinned. "I could've told ya she knew we were following."
"Whose side are you on anyway, Jess?" grumbled Jonny folding his arms across his chest. Jessie shrugged nonchalantly as Anaya got to her feet and helped Hadji back onto his.
With a deep frown Anaya studied her three pursuers carefully. "You should be more careful. London is crawling with Surd's men. They'll find out that you're looking for trouble—and trust me, they'll give you trouble with a capital T."
Hadji sighed as he brushed the dirt off his clothing. It seemed Anaya was indeed mixed up with something sinister. "I had hoped you were not a part of another evil plot, Anaya. I thought perhaps you had changed."
"Family comes first, Hadji. You know that," murmured Anaya softly. "I have to protect them too…not just myself. But you know that if I could I would give anything to put this type of lifestyle behind me…but I can't. My dad and sister need me. I can't turn my back on them."
"I know," said Hadji. "I only want you to know that I am here for you, Anaya. If you can ever find it in your heart to leave your family, I will care for you."
"Gee, that's sweet, Hadj," interrupted Jonny, "but could you save the mushy stuff for later? We aren't here to watch you and Anaya play kissy face all night or whatever the hell it is you think you wanna do—we're here for some answers." Jonny turned to face Anaya with a dark look on his face. "Are you after the Immortal thingamajig?"
Jessie snorted. "Stone, hotshot. It's a stone. And that's not the important issue. Who exactly is after the stone? I want names."
Anaya made a face. "It would be better if you did not concern yourselves with the Immortal Stone. In fact, it would be best if the three of you were to get as far away from that stone as possible. It isn't safe. That gem will be the downfall of your lives and that of your families."
"Save it for someone who cares, would ya? Who's after the damn stone?" demanded Jonny taking a step towards Anaya. Instinctively, Hadji placed himself between his best friend and the Asian girl.
It was a moment later when Anaya finally answered. "Surd, Rage, and my family. At least they are the ones that I know of first hand. Now that word is getting out about the Immortal Stone, there will be others thirsting for its powers. It is only a matter of time before London comes under attack by greedy fools and power hungry men."
"Great," muttered Jessie. "It looks like we've bitten off more than we can chew this time around."
Jonny nodded in agreement as he ran a hand through his hair. "As long as we stick together as a team we should be alright though."
The group lapsed into a silence that was quickly broken by the ringing of a telephone. Jessie blinked in surprise as she dug her cell phone out of her jean pockets. "Hello? Mom? Whoa, whoa, whoa, slow down. What's going on? Whaddya mean dad's being an insensitive asshole? What the hell is going on? You're what? Why? Mom, mom—okay, I'll be there in a couple of minutes. I love you too. Bye."
"Problems?" teased Jonny as Jessie hung up.
"My mom's going back to South America. Apparently she and dad came to blows over Jade. So now I have to return to the hotel to say good-bye before she kills my dad," replied Jessie.
Jonny shook his head. "Alright then, I guess we better head back before the fireworks start without us."
"You two go on without me. I will catch up soon," said Hadji. Jonny looked ready to protest but Jessie quickly grabbed his arm and dragged him out of the alley. As soon as they were alone Hadji turned to look down at Anaya with a serious look in his eyes.
"I must know something, Anaya. Does our team already have a snake it its midst?"
Anaya hung her head. "You can't begin to understand the amount of danger you and your friends are in Hadji. I want to help you—I really do, but if I say anything my life will be forfeit. I…I love you, Hadji, but I can't tell you any more. I just can't."
That was all the answer Hadji needed.
The Hotel:
"Mom, just because dad is blind when it comes to women, doesn't mean you have to throw a hissy fit and leave—isn't that like giving up?" asked Jessie as she helped her mom drag a couple of pieces of luggage down the hotel stairs.
Estella snorted. "That bitch has your father right where she wants him. Jade will be the downfall of mankind, you mark my words, Jessica. I don't like her being around you. There's something fishy about her—and it's not her perfume. Call it a mother's instinct, but that evil, conniving, backstabbing woman is up to something!"
"And so you think leaving will solve all your problems?" prompted Jessie dryly.
"I would rather that you went back to South America with me, but your father has already threatened to get lawyers involved if I even suggested it to you."
"Great, why don't we call involve the C.I.A. while we're at it?"
"Corbin already talked to me—he assured me that my daughter was in the most capable hands in the world. Nothing will happen to you so long as you stay with your father," grumbled Estella as they reached the lobby. Jessie rolled her eyes. She had grown used to her parents' flair for dramatics when it came to custody of her. The C.I.A. and family lawyers were usually called nine times a year after another marital tiff.
On the other side of the lobby Jonny was being hit with news of a different kind. "What do you mean you're taking Dr. Lin out for dinner?"
"Race and Jade will be with us," pointed out Benton wryly.
"Yeah, but that makes it a double date because we all know how Jade and Race can act together," replied Jonny making a face at the thought of Jade and Race alone together—or anywhere near each other for that matter.
"Would you rather I took Grace out alone?"
"No—I'd rather you didn't take her out at all."
Benton sighed. "Son, Grace and I are old friends. It would be rude not to take her out to dinner to catch up on old times. We've been so busy with the Immortal Stone, that business has taken precedence over every aspect of our lives. If you'd rather, I can cancel this dinner and you and I can take in the sights."
Jonny quickly shook his head, his mind thinking back on the last disastrous tour of London where he had been bored to tears with his father's lectures. "What's dinner between a couple of friends, right?" asked Jonny with more cheer than he felt. "Go ahead and have a good time."
"Gee, it's nice to know I have your permission to have some fun."
"That's what I'm here for, dad."
Back on the other side of the lobby Jessie was glaring at her father as he made his way over to her and Estella. Race took Jessie's dark look in stride as he picked up Estella's luggage and made his way out of the hotel entrance.
Estella sighed and turned to her daughter. With tender hands she moved a strand of red hair out of Jessie's eyes. "I'm going to miss you, mi amor. Keep me up to date on everything, alright? And be careful, Jessie. Jade is dangerous. I don't know what I would do if anything were to happen to you."
"Don't worry, mom, I've got it covered. You take care of yourself too." The two embraced with tears in their eyes. Estella broke away and strode out of the hotel just as Jade entered the lobby. Jessie bit down on her tongue as the petite woman joined her.
"Is your mother leaving already? That's a shame, I was hoping to catch up on the old times with her," murmured Jade smoothly.
"Fuck you," said Jessie simply.
"My, my, what language. I wonder what your father will think of it."
"You stay away from my father!"
"Perhaps it's not your father that I want," replied Jade with a sly smile. Jessie's eyes followed Jade's gaze over to Jonny and Dr. Quest.
"Do anything to Jonny and I swear to God I'll kill you," hissed Jessie.
"Don't make promises you can't keep."
"It's not a promise. It's a fact."
"Is it now? You're a bit too sure of yourself, Jessica. What makes you think you could ever protect the ones you love?" challenged Jade.
Jessie's jaw tightened. "You don't know the first thing about me, Jezebel, but I'll be more than happy to show you what I'm capable of if you even think about hurting Jonny."
"You aren't even in my league, kid."
"Wanna bet?"
Across the lobby, yet again, Jonny was struggling to keep his temper in check as his father listed off the various reasons why Jonny shouldn't make a big deal about Benton having one meal with Grace. Jonny was about to interrupt his father and point out that a man his age shouldn't be allowed to date when a commotion on the other side of the lobby caught their attention. Both Quest men turned in confusion to the source of the noise only to see Jade flat on her back, trying to push Jessie off of her.
"Jessie!" Jonny was already moving just as Race re-entered the hotel lobby.
"Goddammit!" cursed Race as he too headed over to the fight.
Jessie had her hands firmly latched onto Jade's hair, and was tugging with all her might as Jade scratched at Jessie's face with her nails. Jonny quickly swooped in and grabbed Jessie around the waist and pulled her off Jade. Jessie kicked angrily as she tried to entangle herself from Jonny's iron grip.
"You're running out of chances, Jade!" seethed the red head as she finally gave up and glared down at the bane of her existence, who was being tended to by Race. "You screw up and I'll make sure no one ever finds your body!"
"Just try it!" shot back Jade with a look of pure hatred. The look vanished as Jade allowed herself to be wrapped into Race's arms in a hug.
Race gave his on-again, off-again lover a quick kiss on the forehead and helped her to her feet before turning his wrath on Jessie. "What the hell did you think you were doing? That's not how I raised you to act! Pull another stunt like this again and I'll ground you until you're thirty!"
Jessie took the tirade without batting an eye. "If you want to keep her around, go ahead. But don't expect me to like it."
"As long as you're with me you'll do as I say, young lady!"
"I hate you!" Wrenching herself out of Jonny's arms, Jessie turned on her heel and stormed up the stairs in a visible retreat. Jonny didn't miss a beat. He was hot on her heels before Race could say another word.
"What's your problem, Jess?" asked Jonny as he followed Jessie up the stairs. "You've been off the wall since Jade showed up. I know you don't like her, but usually you don't show it."
"Let's just say that woman is pressing all my buttons this time around. No one else is around when it happens—so it's always going to be my word against hers. And we all know who you men will believe," growled Jessie as they reached the door to her hotel room.
Jonny groaned. "That's not true, Jessie."
"Oh really? Then how come I'm the one always getting yelled when something happens between me and Jade? I know she's pretty—but that's really all she has going for her. Jade is a crook. Nothing will ever change that, and one way or another I'm going to prove she can't be trusted."
"And if you're wrong?"
"I'm not wrong, Jonny. I am anything but wrong on this one, and if no one chooses to believe me then obviously this isn't the place for me."
Jonny studied Jessie suspiciously. "What do you mean?"
"Dad can only tell me what to do as long as I'm with him. If he chooses Jade over me, then obviously I'm going to go live with my mom permanently," replied Jessie.
Groaning, Jonny said, "Jess, you turn eighteen soon. You'll be able to do whatever you want then."
"Jonny, if you had a choice, who would you rather have around, me or Jade?" Jessie waited as Jonny lapsed into silence. Normally this would have been a no brainer, but both teens knew things had changed. Jessie gave Jonny a sad smile before disappearing into her hotel room. Jonny sighed and pressed his head against the closed door, listening to the sounds of the locks clicking shut.
Turning around Jonny leaned back against the door and slid to the ground, his mind and heart racing. Why hadn't he said anything? Would he really be tempted to keep Jade around instead of Jessie?
Shaking his head, Jonny buried his face in his hands with another groan. No matter what he decided now, he and Jessie would never be the same.
A/N—I can't believe how long it took me to come up with this chapter. I had it outlined weeks ago, but for some reason couldn't get myself to write it out. I think because it really was an uneventful chapter. It's definitely not one of my favorites. Don't worry, the action should be picking up again very soon. I hope to get the next chapter up sometime later this weekend.