Chapter 32

"How's it going?" Matt asked as he came outside and sat down next to his brother.

"Horrible. Is she okay?"

"She'll be all right. She's got a lot to think about."

"She hates me." Jeff said miserably.

"She's hurt but she doesn't hate you. She sent me out here to make sure you're okay."

"Really?"

"Yea, but don't go running up there. She's working on accepting everything and I don't want you to go up there and screw it up." Matt told him. And Jeff nodded.

"I really messed up this time."

"No more than usual." Matt said trying to lighten the conversation.

"If she takes me back, I'll make it right." Jeff looked at his brother. "I know I can do it. She means everything to me."

"I know." Matt said as Tony came out.

"Jeff, you have a phone call."

"You picked up my phone?" Matt asked angrily.

"I let it go to the machine but she sounded very urgent. So I thought I should pick it up."

"She?" Jeff questioned him.

"It's Meg."

"What the hell does she want now?" He demanded getting up.

"She sounded scared. I think you should take it." Tony told him. Jeff went inside and took the phone.

"What is it?" He grumbled into it.

"Jeff? I'm sorry"

"Meg, I don't want to hear it. You've caused enough problems."

"I know but Jeff listen to me."

"I really don't have time for this." He cut her off.

"Someone broke into the house."

"What? How?"

"I went to the store to get some more boxes and when I came back the front door was kicked in."

"What happened?"

"I don't know really. I went inside and I thought I saw someone in the kitchen but when I got there, there was no one. When I turned to get out of the house someone grabbed me."

"Did he hurt you?" Jeff asked as he motioned for Tony to pick up the other phone.

"No. He said he had a message for you and that I was to tell you immediately or else."

"Meg, what did he say?"

"He said you can't stop him. He said that it was time. Jeff what is going on?"

"It's going to be okay. What happened next?"

"He pushed me to the ground, and ran out the back door."

"Did you see what he looked like or where he was headed?"

"I don't know. It all happened so fast. I got up, locked the doors and called you."

"Look out the window and tell me if you see anything." Jeff went to the window to look out. If this guy had already left his house he would be here soon.

"Oh my god. I see him!" Meg shouted into the phone. "He's out back by your bike. Jeff what am I supposed to do?"

"All right listen to me. Hang up and call the cops, okay. I'm on my way."

"Jeff, I'm scared."

"It's going to be all right. Just call the cops and stay inside. I'll be right there."

"Okay. Hurry." Meg hung up.

"You're not going anywhere." Tony said and called out for Pete.

"What do you mean I'm not going? This guy is there! We have to catch him before he even has a chance at Jess"

"She going to call the cops. He didn't hurt her. The safest place for you is here." Tony told him as the phone rang again. Tony motioned for him to pick it up.

"Meg?"

"Nope. Sorry but I see you got my message."

"You son of a bitch!"

"Temper Temper" He taunted. "You know, you have a really nice bike. I'm gonna enjoy this." Jeff heard smashing coming over the phone. Wow, that's not gonna get you anywhere."

"So you wrecked my bike, I'll buy another." Jeff told him.

"Is that what you'll do when I have Jessica? Just get another girlfriend? Oh wait, that's what you did last time."

"You're not gonna lay a finger on Jessica!" Jeff yelled into the phone.

"Of course I will. It's destiny. Now if you'll excuse me I'm just gonna finish with your bike, then I'm all set." The phone went dead.

"What's going on?" Matt asked.

"He's at the house. He's coming for Jess. We got to get over there."

"I already told you you're not leaving." Tony said.

"I'll go check it out." Matt said.

"No." Jeff told him. "I will. Look Tony you stay here with Matt and Jessica, make sure she stays safe. I'll go over with Pete."

"You can't go over there. He's gunning for you." Matt said.

"Matt, please, I'll be fine. I have to do this. I want you to stay here. Don't let him get to her. I just need to know Jess we'll be safe. You got to do this for me please." He put his hand on his brother's shoulder.

"Fine." Matt relented. "But be careful."

"You too and call the cops, get them here quickly. Shane and Shannon too; this guy's been planning this for awhile. We're gonna need all the help we can get." Jeff said as he and Pete headed out the door. Tony picked up the phone and called the cops while Matt headed upstairs t get Jessica. When he opened the door and didn't see her, he panicked.

"Jess! Where are you?" He shouted.

"I'm in the bathroom. I'll be right out." She called and Matt let out a sigh of relief when he saw her come out. "I was just taking a bath, what's wrong?"

"Get dressed. You have to come down stairs."

"Why what is it?"

"I'll explain after you're dressed, just hurry." The panic in his voice alarmed her and she ran back to the bathroom and threw her clothes back on her wet body. She came out and Matt was still waiting for her. She followed him downstairs and saw only Tony peering out the window.

"Will someone please tell me what's going on?" She demanded. "Where's Jeff?"

"Why don't you sit down?" Tony said to her.

"I don't want to."

"Jess, please." Matt took her hand and led her to the couch.

"Matt, tell me what's going on." She pleaded with him.

"We got a phone call a little bit ago. It was Meg. She said that someone had broken into the house. It was him."

"Are you sure? I mean maybe she made it up."

"He called the house right after." Tony spoke up. "It was definitely him."

"Where's Jeff?" She asked and Tony and Matt looked away from her. "Where is he?"

"He went to the house."

"You let him go there?" She yelled. "What the hell is wrong with you?"

"He didn't give us a choice." Matt told her. "He was adamant that he go stop him."

"What about the police? Why didn't anyone send them?"

"We called the police and Meg did too." Tony told her.

"Jeff didn't want to chance him getting away. He figured he could get there sooner." Matt said.

"And do what? Get himself hurt? How could you let him go?"

"Jess, it's going to be okay. Pete went with him and he's good at what he does." Tony said trying to calm her down.

"Why didn't you go with them?"

"You're his main target." Matt said.

"He said that?"

"He told Jeff he was coming to get you." Tony said. "But we're not going to let this happen. You're safe here."

"But what about Jeff?" She said as the tears built up in her eyes.

"Look, everything will be fine." Matt said trying to reassure both of them. She was right, he thought to himself. He never should have let him out the door. If something did happen to his brother, he'd never forgive himself. Matt went over to her and wrapped his arms around her. "Come here. I'm sure Jeff we'll be back before we know it."

Tony went back to the window leaving Jessica and Matt to just sit on the couch and wait. It felt like forever until they finally saw flashing lights approach. Tony opened the door for the cops to come in.

"Did you find him?" Jessica asked the first cop as soon as he came in.

"Jess, let them come in." Tony said to her.

"Another car was sent to the other location. Are you the one who called it in?" The officer asked Tony. He nodded and went off with the officer. Matt let go off Jessica's hand and approached another cop.

"Sir, my brother went over to the other house. He's been gone for about a half an hour."

"As soon as we hear anything we'll let you know." The phone rang and everyone stopped. Matt went over to pick it up but the cops stopped him.

"That could be Jeff." Matt told them.

"All right pick it up on three." One of the officers told him as he went to the other phone. Matt followed his directions and they picked up the phone at the same time.

"Hello?" Matt said hoping to hear his brother's voice.

"Matt? It's Meg."

"Meg what's going on? Is Jeff there?"

"No. I was just calling to let Jeff know that the cops arrived. Did he leave already?"

"He left awhile ago. Are you sure he's not on the property anywhere?"

"Matt, he never came."

"What about the guy who broke in? Where is he?"

"I don't know. I saw him destroying Jeff's bike and then he went off. I couldn't see him anymore. Do you think Jeff's okay?" She questioned. Out of the corner of his eye Matt saw Jessica staring at him intently.

"I'm sure he's fine. Listen I got to keep the phone clear so he can call back. Make sure you stay with the cops." Matt said his goodbye and hung up the phone. Jessica came over to him.

"He didn't get there?" She asked him but Matt couldn't respond. He knew that it only took five minutes to get to Jeff's house from his. He reached for her and wrapped his arms around her trying to control his own fear. Without letting go, he looked to the nearest cop. "Find my brother."

"We will." The officer said and stepped outside to make a call.

"Why don't you guys sit down?" Tony came over to them and escorted them back to the couch then went back to the cops.

"He'll be okay." Matt said. He squeezed her hand but got no response. He looked her and realized what she was doing.

"Jess, look at me. Don't do this. I need you to stay with me here. No shutting out." She continued to stare off. Matt grabbed both her arms and shook her. "Honey, please, for me? You got to help me out. I need you." He pleaded with her. Responding to the desperateness in his voice she looked at him.

"I'm sorry." She whispered.

"It's okay. Just please, I can't go through this alone."

"I'm here." She nodded. They looked up expectantly as they heard someone at the door. It was only the officer who had stepped out to place the call. They both stood up holding on to one another as he came over to them with a look of concern on his face.

"There's been an accident. Our patrol car found a car that had apparently been run off the road."

"Jeff, is he okay?" Jessica asked him.

"When the officers arrived at the scene, a Peter Donnelly told us that they had been run off the road. Apparently, after impact someone came to the car and pulled Mr. Hardy out."

"Where is he?" Matt said.

"I'm sorry sir, right now we just don't know. It appears your brother has been abducted."

"He has him." Jessica turned to Matt. She could see the fear and pain in his eyes. He said something but she couldn't register it. She struggled to catch her breath as the room started spinning and this time she couldn't stop it. This time the fear was too real. Jeff, I need you she thought to herself as she could feel the darkness surrounding her. The last thing she remembered was Matt reaching out to catch her as her world went black.