Chapter 56

Alone in the bedroom, Jessica glanced down at the prescription bottle in her hand. It was a small vial that thanks to Shane's years of torment, she had come to know well. Jessica still couldn't believe her luck in finding them. After putting the newspaper back in the drawer, the night Shane went out, she continued with her search desperate to find a way out. She leaned down and opened the cabinets underneath the sink. As, she looked around at the various cleaning supplies that were there, she found herself faced with a new dilemma.

How far did she want to go? She could easily slip any of these into Shane's food but was that what she really wanted to do? Most of these bottles could kill him. He deserves this, she thought trying to rationalize it. He had stalked her, terrorized her and was keeping her in this house against her will. Not to mention what he did to Jeff. But even with all that, she knew she wouldn't be able to go that extreme.

"There has to be another way." She said aloud and pushed the bottles out of the way. That was when she saw them. They were hidden all the way in the back and if she hadn't have moved the other bottles she never would have seen them. Somehow Shane had gotten his hands on her sleeping pills. She didn't know why he had bothered since he hadn't used them on her, nor did she care. All she knew was that they were just what she needed. It wouldn't kill him but it could give her a chance to knock him out if she used them right. She took them upstairs and hid them underneath the bed, praying that Shane would never realize they were gone. So far he hadn't.

A sound from outside the room brought her back to present time. She quickly put the bottle back underneath the bed and pretended to be asleep. She heard his footsteps come towards her and waited. Feeling his touch on her shoulder she pretended to wake.

"You're back already?" She asked sitting up. "Did everything go okay?"

"Everything went fine. I got what you needed and a few extras."

"Really? What did you get?"

"Patience." He warned her then gestured to the bag on the floor. "This should help you get ready. I hope I chose wisely."

"I'm sure it's fine." She went over to it and started looking through it. She pulled out the box of hair dye and looked to him.

"Don't worry about that. It's just in case we need it."

"Is anything wrong?"

"No, not yet but there may come a time when we have to get out of here, and we'll need a fresh start." Seeing the concerned look on her face he went over to. "It's just a precaution. There's no reason for concern."

"Good because I hate to leave this place, especially after all the work you've put into it." She smiled at him.

"Well, I didn't mean to wake you. I just wanted to bring your stuff in and make sure you were okay. I'll let you get some sleep for our big day."

"Okay." She said and let him kiss her cheek before he left the room.

She was surprised that he was willing to leave so quickly. There must have been more going on then he wanted her to know. She glanced at the hair dye, and shook her head. They must be closing in on us, she thought. Now Shane was trying to come up with a new plan of escape, meaning she definitely had to get out of there before he took them even further away.

"This had better work." She said softly walking over to the window. Hopefully, by tomorrow night she'd be free and back in Jeff's arms. She glanced out at the surrounding areas lit up by the moonlight. He's out there somewhere, maybe even nearby. She looked up at the sky and made a silent prayer that everything would go as she had planned, before turning from the window and heading back to bed.


Matt studied his brother's face in the moonlight. After arriving back at Vince house everyone rushed them for information. Jeff shrugged them all off and went out back. Seeing the look on his face, only Matt followed him out. He waited patiently until Jeff finally told him everything that had gone down in the interrogation room.

"So that's where we stand." Jeff said finishing. "We're no closer to finding her, Jess is planning something that we'll probably put her in even more danger, and thanks to Meg, Shane's got all the backup he needs. I just don't know what to do."

"Miller thinks they're somewhere local, that he's sticking to familiar areas, right?"

"Yea, so?"

"So we start checking those areas. We'll talk to Stephanie, or even Vince, and find out where the used to hang out. We can find her before anything else happens."

"Yea, right." Jeff said sarcastically. "And we'll just happen to show up somewhere at the same time he does. Come on Matt, be real that's not going to happen."

"We'll ask around, show their pictures. We know he's been around town, maybe someone seen something else."

"Like what?"

"I don't know!" Matt yelled at him. "Maybe they've seen his car, or anything. God, why are you being so stubborn?"

"I'm not being stubborn. I'm being realistic."

"Look, she hasn't given up so why should you? Jess is out there and she's still fighting." Matt said trying to lift his brother's spirit. "I get it. We've all hit that point where we wanted to give up."

"I'm not giving up. I wouldn't do that to her. I'm just…" He looked away.

"Scared?" Matt asked knowingly. Jeff wanted to say no, but he knew that was not true. Up until now he had always had something to focus on. Whether it be trying to free himself from Shane or getting out of the hospital. But now, all he had to focus on was her and that idea that he might not find her. The thought that he might lose Jessica scared him.

"What if she doesn't pull it off?" He finally asked his brother. "What if she makes it worse?"

"She won't. You just have to believe that she's thought this through and she knows what she's doing. Besides we may even find her before she has to do something. We just can't give up. It's got to work out." Neither one said anything for awhile and just sat there with his own thoughts.

"Look," Matt started, interrupting the silence. "Why don't I go inside and let them know what's going on. Maybe Steph can even come up with some places for us to start. You just take a few minutes. Come in when you're ready." Jeff nodded to him and then watched Matt head back inside. Staring up at the stars he thought of Jessica.

"We're going to find you babe; we have to." He spent a few more moments outside before heading back in. Amy and Matt were waiting for him. "What's going on?"

"Vince is on the phone with Miller trying to find out what they're going to do. Stephanie had already gone home to check on her kids but I spoke to her. She's going to come up with some places we can check out. She'll be back in the morning." Matt told him.

"Wait. What about tonight?"

"Jeff, we don't know the areas and its dark outside. We wouldn't be able to see anything. Besides, it's been a long day. We could all use a little rest." Amy said.

"But we're wasting time!"

"It will do you good to rest." Vince said coming into the room. "You just got out of the hospital; you can't be at full strength."

"I'm fine."

"You'll be even better after you rest. I spoke to Agent Miller, he already has people out. Why don't you rest a little and then when Stephanie returns we'll all start out fresh."

"Come on Jeff, you've been through a lot today. Just a few hours, besides, we need to go out there at full strength and you look like crap." Matt said agreeing with Vince. He knew Jeff was close to losing it. Even if he wouldn't admit it, Jeff needed a break.

"Well, I'm putting my foot down." Vince said. "No one is going out tonight so you better all head to your rooms and rest. And don't get any ideas, I'll be watching." Vince warned Jeff before walking away; ending the discussion.