Without a price
Chapter 5
When Jason came into his penthouse he saw Sonny was leisurely waiting for him on his sofa, slowly drinking a glass of brandy. It had been unusually quiet in the mob business lately, having no recent threats or enemies that had dared make a move on Sonny's territory. That was one of the reasons why Jason had the time to go help his sister last weekend, other than she sincerely needed somebody's help; not that she would admit that.
Ignoring how tired he actually was, he greeted his boss and best friend. Sonny did the same and invited Jason to sit. "You have been hard to find as of lately," Sonny commented.
"Yeah, I know. I think I have everything together now though." Jason told him, feeling kind of guilty for not being around but he knew Sonny did not care as long as he did not do it too often.
"That's good," Sonny answered, "I know you were worried about Emily. I assume that all is well on that account?" Sonny was one of the only people who Jason could reveal any worries or foreseen problems he had.
"As well as can be expected," Jason replied. "Is everything okay on the home front?" Jason assumed that was Sonny was here on business.
"Yes, though I do not trust this activity silence. I asked Stan to look into it," Sonny explained to Jason, who needed a small update from his two days off.
"Do you think your enemies are planning something big in secret and are just waiting to strike when your guard is down?" Jason asked, also feeling amiss about his lack of duties.
Sonny nodded and stood up, placing his brandy glass back on the table. "Carly says I am overreacting and that I should just take this opportunity to relax and spend time with the kids. It is entirely possible she is right and that this is just a slow time, but I do not want to take that chance, at least without credible evidence."
Jason nodded too, understanding that reasoning. Sonny would never want to look vulnerable, for his sake and his family's. "Should I be on guard then?" Sonny slowly considered Jason's question.
"It would not hurt," Sonny agreed. "Until I hear something back from Stan though, it seems you will have some time off. Will you be able to handle that?"
"I have a personal lead I need to follow anyway," Jason responded, that being the explanation that he is okay with some time off.
Sonny looked his way curiously. "Does this 'personal lead' have to do with Sam's recent adoption?" Jason could not deny that assumption, so he said nothing but Sonny quickly continued anyway. "I do not see how that is of any relevance to you Jason. Sam will be upset if she finds out you are getting into her business like that."
"I know," Jason replied, "and I am sincerely hoping I am overreacting but the normal adoption takes at least a month. Sam's was only short of two weeks, whoever wanted this private adoption wanted Eleanor adopted quick. This person did not even want their name to be on the forms, deciding on going anonymous."
The last sentence caught Sonny's attention, canceling any thoughts of talking Jason out of this investigation out quickly. "No name?" He asked, hoping he was just hearing things. He too felt some responsibility for Sam though he rarely involved himself as much as Jason.
"Yeah, but apparently had no trouble allowing it to be known they are female and had black hair and brown eyes." Jason said, again surprising Sonny.
"That is strange, "Sonny decided. "Even that description may be useless. If this individual is indeed mysterious, they may have even gone as far to get colored contacts or dye their hair afterwards so they could not be tracked back to the adoption." Jason also considered that factor in the adoption but did not see how it would help at the moment.
"I considered that too," Jason verified and continued "and I am completely aware that this is none of my business anymore but somehow I feel tied to the situation. I don't know how or why, but there is just an unshakable feeling that I know the anonymous adoption requester." It did not make any sense to him so he had not told anyone of his instinct until today.
"Instinct is not something to take lightly Jason. It has saved my life on many occasions" Sonny warned him. "What else does your instinct say?"
"Just that Eleanor unknowingly brings danger to Sam and the person who put Eleanor up for adoption in the first place." He did not mean, did not want to feel this way but he did. It was truly something he wanted to let go but couldn't.
"It would not hurt to further check out the adoption then, just in case you are right. It will need to be kept silent though, between me, you, and Stan who can probably help with tracking the original guardian of Eleanor." Sonny concurred, now wanting in the investigation, which was probably not in his best interest but he needed something to do.
"Stan would be of help." Jason approved, the investigation would go smoother with others helping.
"I will get him on the job after he checks out the silence, until then you are on your own," Sonny replied and Jason nodded. "Getting some sleep would not hurt though." Sonny recommended, opening the penthouse front door and leaving on his own accord.
Taking that comment to mind, Jason walked to the stairs and climbed them. Sleep was badly needed so he steered toward his bedroom and closed the door behind him.
Meanwhile, Kelly's was facing its busy hours. It was lunch time and many people came in to grab a quick lunch before heading back to the office. Lucky and Emily, between the long lines of people, was seated trying to listen to the news that was currently playing on the counter television.
Neither of them could collect much so they turned back to their meal. "I can't believe officer Murphy is dead. He was going to retire in a month for goodness sake!" Lucky shook his head, not understanding the death.
"Luck has a poor way of showing it," Emily commented with a small shrug, putting some fries in her mouth. Deaths of co-workers were normal for Emily who dealt with some dangerous stuff. A cop dying in the line of duty, however, had become less than normal so every police officer took offense much more than any soldier would.
"That is an understatement," Lucky murmured, "meanwhile his killer is walking the streets! No one will be able to stand for that for long." While he was never close to Officer Murphy, actually only knew him by name and popularity it was hard to accept a fellow cop's murder.
"Which is why there is an intense murder investigation taking place," Emily reminded him.
"I know, but we haven't got anywhere and it has been a week already." Lucky complained, blaming the world for his failure to help really.
"You can't rush these kinds of things Lucky, no matter how strongly you feel. The National Guard is the same way. When we have to deal with natural disasters it's not like we can work too late at night when there is no sunlight. Thus, some patience is needed," Emily pointed out to Lucky, using an exclusive example.
"I know, it's just so hard though. We are looking through our files for a description of a male above 6'2 with short black hair but that is like looking for a needle in a haystack." Lucky clarified, frustration eating him up.
"Well, when you are looking for every known criminal it will take forever. Someone needs to tighten the criteria they are looking for." Emily suggested, finishing her hamburger and pushing away her plate.
Lucky looked to Emily, asking "How do you suggest we tighten the search criteria?" Lucky learned to value Emily's opinion early in their friendship, which is why he made lunch plans with her. She might just bring fresh ideas to the investigation.
"Well, it is well known that people who do the crime once usually end up doing it again in most cases." Lucky nodded, catching her line of thinking.
"So add cop killer to the search criteria?" Lucky questioned her, wanting to verify her recommendation.
"Yes," Emily said, continuing with some caution to her idea "of course that could lead the police department completely off course."
"I'll take the chance," Lucky stated, opening his wallet to place a twenty dollar bill on the table to pay for the meal. "Do you think your commander would allow you to help with the search instead of the paperwork you need to do?"
"Actually, he suggested I just do that before lunch. He wants me to verify that there is no need for the National Guard to step in the investigation unnecessarily." Emily informed him.
Lucky was not happy about that as someone had personal interest, probably too much but he would take what extra help he could get while he could get it so he did not disagree with Emily's Commander's call.
Throughout that day and late into the night they worked hard but Emily could not come up with a reason not to help yet. She would have to do more research tomorrow but she needed sleep like the rest of them so she headed toward her car, prepared to drive home. She could have taken Lucky's offer to sleep at his apartment but she declined because it would have involved with sleeping near a screaming infant (Cameron).
Besides, Elizabeth was almost impossible to deal with recently. She was probably having another affair and was trying to hide it, which she was doing quite poorly. Lucky knew of course, but was letting Elizabeth think he didn't for a while, hoping to see her conscience show she was guilty. Emily doubted that though, Elizabeth didn't feel guilt, she plain did not care that she was destroying Cameron's chance at a family and a father and continually ruining her and her son's lives in the process. Then again, she had been doing that for years so it was not new. (A/N: When I said I tend to bash Elizabeth when she shows up I meant it).
Opening her car, she climbed in her SUV and started it. She drove the hour's drive home and parked the car. Walking warily up the stairs to her apartment, she opened the door and entered, hearing the echo of her phone ringing. Wondering who in the world could be calling her at this late hour, she went to her kitchen and answered it-and regretted it immediately.
Author's note: Okay, so the chapter is a bit short but I really wanted to end it with a cliffhanger. School starts Monday so I can't be sure when I will update next but I wanted to do two more updates before school started and I did that. That will just have to do for now. I love all the reviews, so thank you for all your positive feedback on the story. I really do appreciate them; they make me feel motivated enough to write other chapters (or attempt to when I have Writer's block).