Chapter 4

Jonathan pulled up in front of Harry Jones' home. It was a small house, in a quiet neighborhood of Los Angeles. Jonathan got out of his car and walked up the front walkway. He rang the doorbell. It was opened by a middle aged woman with graying hair and glasses.

"Mrs. Jones?"

"Yes?"

"I am Jonathan Hart. Your husband services my grounds. May I come in?"

Mrs. Jones was a little taken aback. "Yes, but of course." She opened the door wider to let Jonathan in.

"Won't you sit down, Mr. Hart? Can I get you anything?"

"No, thank you, Mrs. Jones. I won't be staying long. I am afraid I have some bad news."

Mrs. Jones' hand flew to her mouth.

"Your husband was killed today when he was on his way to my house. The police are looking into it."

Mrs. Jones began to cry. "Why Harry?"

Jonathan took her in his arms and held her. "Mrs. Jones, I am very sorry. I will take care of the funeral expenses, and if you need anything. please don't hesitate to ask."

"Thank you, Mr. Hart."

"You are welcome. I will be in touch."

Jonathan left. He got into his car and checked for messages. There was one from Sarah, asking to meet him at his office. He called his secretary, Deanne.

"Mr. Hart, here, Deanne.. Have the Townsend people been there yet?"

"They just left, Mr. Hart."

Jonathan swore under his breath. "OK, I will try to call them. If you see or hear from them again, please tell them to meet me there."

"Yes, sir."

Jonathan hung up and sped towards his office. He arrived shortly, and parked in his reserved spot directly across from the elevators. Jonathan jumped out of his car, and quickly went inside the elevators and rode up to the top floor.

From her desk in the secretarial pool, Natalie watched Jonathan as he strode by. He seemed to be very intent on reaching his destination quickly. He usually greeted his employees with a smile or at least a nod, but not today. Natalie tried to smile at him and catch his eye. Jonathan walked past her work station and headed for the elevator. He punched the up button. Natalie watched him as he got into the elevator and rode up to his office on the top floor. "Soon, my love, we will be together. It will be alright. You'll see." Natalie sighed. Her typing forgotten for the moment, she daydreamed of herself and Jonathan Hart together.

The Angels were once again on their way to the office, when the car phone rang. Sarah was in the front seat and answered. She wasn't sure how to answer.

"Um, Townsend Associates? "

"This is Jonathan Hart."

"Yes, Mr. Hart. This is Sarah."

"Sarah, I would like you and your associates to meet me back at my office. My secretary will let you in this time. Just come on up."

"OK, Mr. Hart. We will. We will be right there." Sarah put down the phone. "Mr. Hart wants us to go back to his office," she told the others.

Kianna looked for a break in the traffic, flipped a U turn, and headed back towards Hart Industries.

Once back at Hart Industries, the Angels once again got into the elevator, and rode up to Jonathan's office. They were again greeted by Deanne. She picked up the intercom. "The Townsend people are here, Mr. Hart."

"Send them right in."

"Mr. Hart will see you now. " Deanne got up from her desk and led the way over to Jonathan's office. She opened the door and gestured for the Angels to go inside.

Jonthan rose from his desk as they came in. "Please. Sit down." Jonathan indicated the chairs in front of his desk. The Angels sat. Jonathan sat after they were seated. He leaned back in his chair, put his hands under his chin, and put his index fingers together, as he looked at the Angels. "What have you found out?"

Lisa and Kianna looked at Sarah. They were nominating her for the job as spokesperson for the group. She took a breath and began. "Mr. Hart, as you know, the vehicle that took your wife away was a van, more than likely belonging to your lawn service. " Jonathan nodded. "Mrs. Hart and your dog were drugged with chloroform. We have pictures of the footprints around your house and in Mrs. Hart's study. They belong to a person who might be small in stature. The crime lab is running the fingerprints through the computer right now. Other than that, we really don't have much to go on."

"We've discussed the possibility of interviewing your employees to see if any of them might have a grudge against you or Mrs. Hart," Lisa said. "We'd like to start doing that as soon as possible."

Jonathan nodded again. "It is late in the day, so you may start in the morning. I'd like you all to go undercover as my employees, so as not to arouse suspicion." He reached for the intercom. "Deanne, I'd like you and Stanley to come in here, please."

"Yes, sir, Mr. Hart."

In a few moments, Deanne and Stanley appeared in Jonathan's office. Deanne had her notepad. Stanley was short and mousy looking. His hair was balding, and he wore glasses. Stanley was wondering why he had been summoned to Jonathan's office. Usually, he was asked to bring files or figures in. Stanley's questions would soon be answered. Jonathan indicated that they should sit with the Angels. He introduced them all. "Deanne and Stanley are two of my most trusted employees, " he said. "You can tell them any thing." The Angels nodded.

"Now, I supposed you two are wondering why I've asked you in here," Jonathan said to Deanne and Stanley. "I do not want this to leave this room. Mrs. Hart was kidnapped this morning." Deanne and Stanley gasped. "So far, I've been able to keep it out of the media, and I'd like to continue to do so. These three ladies here," he indicated the Angels, "work for Charlie Townsend. I have hired them to help find my wife. Starting tomorrow, I would like them to pose as employees to see if anyone on my staff might be responsible. Stanley, where do we have job vacancies?"

"I would have to double check to be sure, but I think there is an opening in the mail room, one in the typing pool, and one on the janitorial staff."

"Ladies, which job would you like?"

"Mail room," said Lisa.

"Typing," said Kianna.

"I guess that leaves me with the janitor," Sarah said.

"Alright, ladies. Most shifts start at 8:00 in the morning. We will plan on that. I realize that you are still new at this. Now, in order to be less conspicous, you'd better leave your new cars home. Ride the bus or drive whatever you drove before Charlie let you have those cars. You want to be able to blend in easily."

"Yes, sir," all three Angels said.

"Stanley and Deanne will show you where to report," Jonathan told them. "See you tomorrow."

"Bye, Mr. Hart," the Angels said as they followed Stanley and Deanne out of the office. Each of them was shown where they would be working, and then they left. Once in the car, they had a conference.

"Ok, we probably shouldn't be seen together in the office," Sarah said.

"We'll have to either have walkie talkies or wait until after the office closes to compare notes," Kianna added.

"True," said Lisa.

"Let's go back to the office and see if Scott has any walkie talkies stashed anywhere," Sarah suggested. The Angels drove back to the office and made plans for the next day.

Sarah drove her VW bug home. She would've liked to have driven the Trans Am, but needed to leave it at the agency for now. She'd have to go back in a cab to get it later. Sarah unlocked the side door of the beach house and went inside. She went through the little hallway and into her bedroom. It used to Kris', but when she moved out, Sarah took it over. Kris had signed on with a Broadway touring company of Les Miserable, and she was thoroughly enjoying it. Jill had bought another house a little ways down the beach. Sarah saw her quite often. She liked living alone, but she was glad she could see at least one of her sisters from time to time. Sarah slipped off her leather jacket she had been wearing, and hung it up in the closet. She pulled out her pajamas and robe, and quickly changed into them. She slipped on her favorite slippers, and picking up the manila file folder she had brought in with her, she went out into the kitchen. She ws unprepared for the sight of someone leaning into her fridge. Sarah quietly put the folder down and sneaked up on the intruder. She raised her arm for a karate chop, when the person turned around. The would be karate yell turned into a shriek when Sarah saw who it was.

"JILL!" Sarah put her hand on her chest to slow her beating heart. "What are you doing here, and why are you in my fridge?"

Jill smiled her trademark smile at her youngest sister. "I forgot to go grocery shopping. There is nothing to eat at my house, and I was hungry, so I came here. And I wanted to hear how it went at the office today."

"You think I've had time to go shopping? With all the partying, and seeing Kris off? I started a new job today, and it will be a while before I get paid." Sarah referred to her family's festivities of celebrating her police academy graduation, and Kris leaving with her Broadway touring company.

"Aw, come on, Sarah! I'm hungry!" Jill whined.

Sarah looked in the fridge. "What happened to the milk and the lunch meat I had in here this morning?" She looked at her sister accusingly. Jill grinned sheepishly. "Jill, if you're going to keep doing this, you're going to have to help with the groceries!"

"Tell you what," Jill said, ready to make amends. She hadn't meant to eat her little sister out of house and home. "I'll spring for a pizza. Any kind you want."

"Deal, and you set the table." Sarah loved ordering her older sisters around. She figured it was payback for when she lived with them and they told her what to do. She picked up the phone and dialed the local pizza delivery service. Sarah placed the order, and then hung up.

"So, how was the job?" Jill climbed onto one of the bar stools.

"I can't tell you much, because it's confidential, but guess what kind of cars we've got!"

Jill squealed and ran to the window. "That's your VW!"

"I know. I need it for a little while longer, because of the case we're on. But I've got a Trans Am at the office." Sarah pulled the makings of a salad out of the refrigerator, surprised Jill hadn't eaten those as well.

"So, how about the job? Do you like it?"

"So far. Lisa, Kianna and I went to the office like Charlie told us to. We got a stack of forms to fill out, and then Scott showed us to our new cars. I got a Trans Am, Lisa got a Corvette, and Kianna got a Camaro."

"Whoa, Charlie's taste in cars is definitely improving."

"That's what I said too. Scott got a Ferrari."

"I want to see it!"

"Yeah, and you'd probably try to drive it too. "

Jill started to pick tomatoes out of the salad. Sarah slapped her hands back. "Leave those alone. I want some too. Anyway, we were filling out the forms, and we got our first case right away."

"Really?"

"Yeah, an old friend of Charlie's."

"Charlie has a lot of old friends."

"He sure does. Let me ask you something. This guy owns his own company. He has tons of employees. We need to interview them. How do we do it?"

"Well, you'd want to find the ones who would be the most obvious."

"But it's like looking for a needle in a haystack! Tomorrow, we're going undercover in his main office."

"Just keep your eyes and ears open for anything suspicious." Jill looked in the wine rack on the counter. It was empty. "Do you have any wine?"

Sarah rolled her eyes at her sister. "Jill, you know I don't drink. We used the last of the wine at the party the other night, and I didn't bother to buy any more. There's probably some soda in the fridge, if you haven't drunk it all."

Jill looked inside the fridge. "It looks like the soda is gone too."

"Water it is, then." The pizza arrived. Jill paid for it and tipped the driver. "This is nice," Sarah said. "I haven't gotten to spend much time with you lately. We'll have to do this more often, as long as you don't empty out my fridge!"

Jill grinned around a mouthful of pizza. Some things never changed.

It was night. Jennifer sat on her cold prison floor and thought of Jonathan. She wondered where he was, and how he was. He must be worried sick about her. Of course, he would leave no stone unturned looking for her. The door opened, and bright light entered the room. Jennifer winced and turned her head away. Natalie entered with a tray of food.

"Jenny, oh, Jenny...I brought you something to eat," she singsonged. She knew Jennifer never liked to be called Jenny. She always wanted to be Jennifer. She was too good to use nicknames. Natalie looked at Jennifer with a smirk.

"Oh, Jenny, I saw your beloved Jonathan today. He never said a word about you. He must be glad that you're gone. You're a dead weight around his neck. He could be buying me jewels and furs, and taking me to exotic places. Soon, Jenny, I will free him from you."

Jennifer's eyes widened. Natalie placed the food in front of Jennifer. She untied Jennifer's hands and removed the gag. "Bon apetit, Jenny.Don't try to get away. I'm going to lock the door behind me. I'll be back in a little while to get your dishes. " Natalie left. Jennifer looked at the food with contempt. She wasn't hungry to begin with, and the condition of the food lessened her appetite even more. There were cold, greasy french fries, a cold, greasy burger, and a warm can of soda. Jennifer pushed the food away. She looked down. Natalie had untied her hands and removed the gag, but she had left her feet tied. Did she dare...? Jennifer started to reach for the bonds on her feet, when she heard Natalie coming. She pulled her hands back and busied them pretending to eat. Jennifer heard Natalie rattling the doorknob, and closed her eyes against the bright light she knew would come. Natalie entered. She looked down at the untouched plate.

"Oh, Jenny, you really need to eat. Here, let me help you." Natalie picked up the burger and held it in front of Jennifer's mouth. Jennifer turned her head away. "Oh, you don't want it? Come on, little baby, eat the nice hamburger."

Jennifer slapped the hamburger out of Natalie's hands. The burger flew across the room. Jennifer tried to leap to her feet, but they were tied. She fell over. "Why, you...!" Natalie cried.

She grabbed Jennifer's hands and tied them together. She walked across the room and picked up the burger. Burger in hand, she approached Jennifer. The look in her eyes was menacing. "You didn't eat the burger. Now I will MAKE you eat the burger." Natalie smashed the burger into Jennifer's face, trying to force it into her mouth. Jennifer kept her lips tightly closed.

"OK, since you don't appreciate good food, and didn't eat your dinner, there will be no breakfast for you tomorrow. My father taught me to never waste food, because we couldn't afford to. That plate of food is going to sit there until you eat it." Natalie left the room, and turned out the lights. Alone, Jennifer sobbed in the darkness. She had never felt so alone and miserable in her whole life. She wanted to be home. She missed Jonathan. She wanted to be with him and to feel his arms around her. She missed Max and Freeway. She just wanted to go home.

Natalie went into her bedroom and sat at her desk. Jennifer was so uncooperative! Natalie didn't remember Jennifer being that way in school. She was always so respectful and obedient to those in charge. But then again, none of them had ever tried to kidnap her. Natalie chuckled to herself. She got out of her chair, and went over to her bed. Kneeling down, she reached under and pulled out a scrapbook. Natalie sat on her bed and looked through it. It had pictures and articles of Jonathan and Jennifer. Natalie sighed as she looked at the pictures of Jonathan. She picked up a pen and drew a heart around his face. She went over to her bookshelf, and picked up a photo album. Natalie looked through until she found a picture of herself that was about the same size as one of the pictures of Jonathan in the scrapbook. She cut her face out of it. She found a picture of Jonathan and Jennifer together, and glued her face over Jennifer's. Natalie looked at the picture for a moment, and sighed. She returned to her desk and reached into a drawer for a piece of paper. Natalie sat down and began to write.

"My darling Jonathan..."

Natalie finished her letter and put it into an envelope. She addressed it carefully. She would drop it into the mailbox at the office tomorrow.