Chapter 33

Matt still couldn't believe what was happening as he sat down in front of all the people who had come. After being notified of what was going on, Vince sprang into action and within a few hours he was down there with his own security team, some of their fellow wrestlers, and even a doctor to check up on Jessica.

Matt looked up to Jessica's room where she now was. Until today, the only time he had ever seen someone actually faint was on TV or in the movies, so when she had Matt didn't know what to do. The cops had wanted to take her to the hospital but Matt refused. He knew how she felt about hospitals and he didn't want her to be too far away. This way he'd be able to make sure she was okay and still help in finding Jeff.

The cops had put out a massive search for Jeff but there was still no sign of him. The only information they were able to get was from what Pete could recall after the accident and the fact that it looked like Jeff had been dragged away from the vehicle. They were looking to see if they could get any clues from Jessica about her stalker but Matt told them to wait until she awoke on her own. He didn't want anyone to send her over the edge and thankfully Vince had agreed with him.

Right now they had all assembled to start to do some searching of their own. Each lost in thought, not a person talked as they were waiting for Vince to come back downstairs. Matt himself was tired of just sitting around and couldn't wait to feel like he was actually helping. He looked up as he finally saw Vince come down.

"How is she?" Matt asked when Vince stood in front of the.

"Not good. We had her awake for a little bit but she wasn't really making too much sense. She only wanted Jeff."

"It makes sense." Matt told him. "Whenever she'd start to lose it, Jeff was the only one who could calm her down; get her to see clearly again."

"Well, we have her sedated for now, so she won't do anything foolish. Stephanie's going to stay up there with her and keep trying. As for the rest of us, I say we start sectioning off the property and the town to start looking. Matt can you think of anywhere around here that might be a good place to hide out?" Matt came over to the map, that had already been laid out and pointed to some key locations.

"Okay." Vince said after Matt was done. "Everyone will go out in two's. No one alone and no one plays hero. If you see anything, I want the police called immediately. Matt, I think that maybe you should stay here and hold everything down."

"With all due respect sir, this is my brother. I've been sitting around doing nothing but waiting all day. I need to do something."

"Dude, we understand but what if anyone calls?" Adam asked him.

"I don't know." Matt sighed. His frustrations from the events of the day were obvious to everyone.

"Hey look buddy," Shannon finally spoke up. "We're going to check everything out, we won't miss a spot. But I really think that you should be here. Besides, when Jess comes to and sees that you're not here as well, who knows what she'll do." Matt finally nodded but everyone could see he was not happy.

"Just find him." Matt told them.

"Okay, we'll meet back here in four hours." Vince told them all. "And remember to be careful." Matt watched them all leave and again was left to himself. He walked aimlessly around the house then looked up the stairs. He was tempted to go check on Jessica, but he didn't want to wake her. It was better that she was out of it, that way she wouldn't have to deal with feeling so helpless, like he did. The phone rang and Matt went into the kitchen where the police had set up shop. They motioned for him to pick up the phone.

"Hello?" Matt answered hoping to hear his brother on the other end.

"I want to talk to her." The voice said menacing and Matt felt his blood boil.

"Yea, well I want to talk to my brother."

"That's not going to happen, at least not now. Put her on."

"You're not going to get to her. I won't let that happen." Matt yelled into the phone.

"Funny, that's what Jeff said." He laughed.

"Who are you?"

"I want to speak to Jessica."

"Forget it."

"That's bad news for your brother." The voice warned and then hung up. Matt looked to the cop at the computer.

"Sorry, it wasn't long enough for us to pinpoint where it was coming from." Matt slammed down the phone and walked out of the kitchen. Needing some air he walked out the front door letting it slam behind it. He had to do a double check when he saw Amy coming up the front walk.

"Hey. I got here as soon as I could." She gave him a hug. "Any news?" Matt shook his head and hugged her tighter.

"I don't know what to do. My brother's missing; Jessica's lost it and I'm spending my time spinning my wheels and talking to some ass who just wants to taunt us all."

"Has he called again?"

"Yea. He won't say where Jeff is just that he has him and wants Jess."

"Do you think he wants to exchange them? You know, Jeff for Jess?" She asked.

"I don't know what he has planned, but you know that's not going to happen. I think he's using Jeff to get to her, to control her."

"It's gotta be hard for her."

"Yea. When they told us, she passed out. Now all she does is ask for Jeff. I just don't know what to do." Matt ran his hand through his hair.

"Why don't we go inside?" Amy took his hand and led him back into the house.

"Jess is upstairs with Stephanie, if you want to go check on her." Matt said as they entered the living room. Amy looked at him and saw his tired face. He looked like he had aged overnight and she couldn't blame him. Matt and Jeff were the closest of any two brothers she had ever met, and she knew how much Matt had always thought it was his responsibility to take care of him and protect him. Now he looked guilty, like this was his fault.

"I think I'll stay here." She said and sat on the couch, gesturing for him to sit down. "How are you, really?"

"I messed up." Matt said shaking his head. "I should have done more."

"Like what?"

"Like stopping him from leaving the house, or even stopping the two of them from hooking back up. I saw what was happening."

"Matt, everyone did but do you really think any of us could have stopped them. They're not kids."

"Yea, but…"

"You couldn't have done anything, even if you wanted to and you know it. So don't feel guilty."

"I failed them both and now it may cause Jeff his life."

"It will work out, you just got to have faith." She leaned over and hugged him.

"You know you didn't have to come down." Matt said finally giving her a little smile.

"I wanted to. So whatever you need me to do, I'm here. Do you want anything; a drink or something to eat maybe?"

"No, I'm fine but do me a favor? Check on Stephanie upstairs, see if she needs anything."

"You don't want to check upstairs?"

"I can't face Jess right now." Matt told her. Amy nodded and went upstairs. She knocked gently on the door and Stephanie opened it then came outside.

"Anything?" Amy asked her.

"Not yet. I don't even know what to tell her if she does wake up. How's Matt?"

"Not good. I've never seen him like this, so defeated."

"I know. I've seen the same look on Jess." Stephanie told her.

"Well, they both have to snap out of it, you know. It's not gonna help find Jeff if all they do is spend their time moping around and feeling guilty."

"So what do we do?"

"I'm gonna go down there and give Matt a little tough love. I suggest you do the same with Jess. Maybe then the cops can get her to remember something so we can figure out who this guy is because until we do we're at a standstill. Whoever he is, he's not willing to reveal himself, at least not now. We need her."

"Tough love?" Stephanie questioned her. "Do you really think that's the way to go with Jess? What about sending her over the edge?"

"Look, play it by ear but we have to do something." Amy told her. "I'm going to check on Matt." Stephanie nodded, and turned back to the door. She took a deep breath and went back into the room.