Chapter 36

Jessica was watching her eighth video when she heard on a knock on her door.

"Jess?" Matt called out.

"Come in." She wiped the tears away from her face.

"You okay?"

"Yea. I just needed to be alone for a second." She told him. Matt looked down at the screen and saw his brothers goofy grin flash across it. "I thought it might calm me down a little."

"Did it work?"

"I don't yet." They both stared at the monitors and finished watching the clip. "I feel useless Matt."

"I know the feeling. No one around here will let me do anything. Hell, even my dad got to at least go out and look for him."

"It's probably better that he isn't just waiting around like the rest of us."

"Yea." Matt agreed, fairly sure that he wouldn't be able to handle the worried look that his father had been giving off earlier.

"I don't get it. Why hasn't this guy even called yet? If it's me he wants than you would think that he would have at least made contact." Jess said to him.

"He called once." He said and she glared at him. "It was earlier, before you came back to us."

"What did he say?"

"He wanted to talk to you. I told him that wasn't going to happen."

"And?" She questioned him.

"That's it. He hung up without saying anything else. He wasn't even on long enough for them to get a trace."

"When he calls back I want to talk to him."

"I don't think that's not a good idea." He told her.

"Why not? He's obviously using Jeff to get to me. If I talk to him then maybe I can get him to release Jeff or at least tell us where he is."

"Then what do we do? Exchange you for him?"

"If that's what it takes!" She shouted.

"No way! Jess, there is no way I'm going to allow that. Jeff would kill me. Besides, think about it. As long as this guy hasn't reached you, Jeff is still safe. If he thinks he's going to get you then who knows what he'll do."

"So what else do we do?"

"We keep doing what we are doing and the next time he calls, I keep him on longer."

"I'd be able to keep him on longer." She reminded him.

"Forget it Jess. We're not putting you in harm's way. I'll figure out a way to keep him talking. You want to give it another try with the cops?"

"Give me a few more minutes." She glanced back down at the screen. "It's the closest I can get to him right now." Matt nodded as he watched her click on another video.

"Come down when you're ready." He said and left the room. After another couple of videos Jessica felt she was finally ready to give it another try. As she went to the door she heard her cell phone go off. Only Stephanie has this number, she thought to herself and she knew that Steph was still downstairs.

"Hello."

"Finally," She heard his voice say through the phone. "I was beginning to think we were never going to talk again."

"Where is he?"

"Oh, don't worry. In fact, I'm looking at him right now. He's fine, just a little blood."

"If you hurt him…" She started to warn him.

"You won't do a thing. It's not in your nature, that's why I love you."

"Stop saying that!"

"Now, I know you're upset, but there's nothing to worry about. I just wanted to make sure you were all right."

"Why would I be all right? I want you to let Jeff go."

"Sorry sweetheart." He laughed into the phone. "It's not time yet."

"Then why are you calling?"

"Like I said, I just wanted to talk to you."

"Well, I'm done talking so unless you have something important to say, just hang up like you always do."

"Maybe I will."

"No, wait." Jessica said giving up on trying to be strong. "Please. Let him go."

"I knew you'd come around."

"Who are you?"

"You're going to find out, soon. Then we'll be together." Jessica started to listen to him carefully, trying to recognize the voice.

"Do I know you?" She asked him.

"Of course you know me. We've been together for almost three years now."

"No," She stopped him. "I mean, have I already met you?"

"Do you really think I'd want to spend the rest of my life with you if I didn't already know how perfect we are for each other?"

"So we have met before." Jessica repeated.

"You're trying to figure out who I am. Very good, that shows you still have your wits about you. Don't worry, when I reveal myself everything will be okay. I know that you will be happy with what you see."

"Then we can live happily ever after?" She questioned trying to play him.

"Absolutely." He said as Jessica contemplated her next move.

"Why wait?"

"You're saying you're ready?" He asked and Jessica paused. She knew that she should have already gone down to the cops, but then he might hang up. This is the only way, she thought to herself. She took a deep breath.

"I'm ready."

"Good, now listen carefully. I want you to leave that house. Take Matt's car, make a right after you get off the Hardy farm and keep driving. I'll call with more directions in fifteen minutes. I don't think I need to say this but I will. Come alone. If I see anyone with you or near you, you'll never find Hardy, at least not alive. Do you understand?"

"Wait, how am I supposed to get out of here and take Matt's car without anyone knowing?"

"Well, from what I can see, Matt's in the kitchen with the cops so you just have to take care of Stephanie and Amy."He told her.

"You can see us?"

"I told you I can see everything. I'll take care of Stephanie. You better act quickly." The line went dead. Jessica looked down at Jeff's face on the screen then grabbed her cell to leave. She paused, thinking about what she was really doing. They're going to be furious with her, she thought.

"I have to do this." She said trying to convince herself. "For Jeff." She quietly opened her door and looked down stairs. True to what he had said Matt must have been in the kitchen because she saw only Amy and Stephanie talking on the couch. She went down the stairs trying to think of what she could do to get out without anyone seeing her. Stephanie cell phone rang.

"Hey! How's it going?" She said and listened to the voice on the other end. "What? Okay hold on?" She looked to Amy. "I'll be right back." Stephanie went into the bathroom for privacy leaving only Amy.

"Hey Ames." Jessica said from the stairs.

"What's up?"

"I'm a little hungry. Do you think you can bring me up something to eat?"

"Sure, no problem. I'll be up in a few."

"Thanks," Jessica smiled back at her feeling a twinge of guilt as she watched Amy walk into the kitchen. Jessica seized the moment to head to the door. She grabbed Matt's keys that were lying on the table and ran out the door. She took one last look at the house then starting the car she pulled out of the driveway. She made a silent prayer, that no one saw her so that she wouldn't have anyone following her. Clutching her cell phone, she turned right off the Hardy property and kept going, waiting for the phone to ring.