While Naomi and Rick had returned to the Living Room Jackson had not gone to their bedroom. Well that was not correct he did for a short while but now he was found in the weight room working on the bag. The earwig was in his ear listening to Sophie doing a once over in Naomi's apt.
Sophie was easily let in.
"That has to be fixed" She said in his ear.
Jackson just grunted when punching the bag.
"Quit the color commentary. You know what needs to be done. Make sure you do not move anything out of place. Sophie." Jackson growled.
"Yes Dad" Sophie said humoring him.
She had done many an investigative breaking and entering before.
Sophie was almost done when she was looking through the family album and taking pics to run through the Database.
"Did you know her maiden name was McKenzie?" Sophie said.
"No I did not why does that have anything to do with this job of protecting Card?" Jackson asked.
"Well maybe…Naomi has a younger Brother Jason who was in jail and not a very nice guy either." Sophie said.
"So what did you find Sophie?" Jackson asked.
"Well I have left the resident and was confirming a few things. I'm coming there." Sophie said.
"Wait Sophie you know Kate is in a delicate condition. She still does not like seeing you. She still thinks you were a bad guy." Jackson said. I'll meet you in the garage. You can tell me what you need at that time. Card is safe and Erica is just darling."
"OK I'm pulling in now. I'll wait for you in the car." Sophie said.
Jackson wiped down then threw on a windbreaker and exited the loft unseen.
Sophie was waiting when he slid in beside her.
"Ok Sophie what is so important that we had to meet in such freezing conditions?" Jackson asked.
"You remember that I told you Jason McKenzie is a bad guy?" Sophie asked.
"Yes I recall that conversation so please explain this urgency?" Jackson asked his protégé.
"It is worse than I thought. He was Hal Lockwood's cell mate. He also worked for the Bracken Family. However, he was not one of the 57 other detainees we got off the island. I think he is still loyal to Carmen." Sophie said.
"That is bad…" Jackson said.
"No what is really bad he was Special Forces like Coonan. He got the Big Chicken Dinner out of the Corps then he disappeared." Sophie said.
"You are holding something back… What is it?" Jackson said.
"He was second shooter at the cemetery. He was Maddox's back up." Sophie said.
Jackson said nothing stunned over that revelation.
"So you see why I needed to come?" Sophie said.
"Yeah…I need to go and talk to Naomi. It is very important. Thanks Sophie now get out of here before you are seen." Jackson said getting out of the car.
Jackson made a big deal of reentering the loft.
"Brrr it is so cold out there!" Jackson said as he took off his windbreaker to show his sweats.
"Dad you went out in this weather?" Rick asked being alarmed his Dad was outside.
"Yeah I had a run but the last few blocks were a bit of torture when my sweat began to cool." Jackson said.
"Dad let me help you up the stairs to the Jacuzzi. It should be hot still." Rick said half carrying his old man up the stairs.
Rick helped him into the warm waters.
"Are you comfortable Dad?" He asked. "Is there anything else I can do for you?"
"Son you can sit we need to talk." Jackson said.
"Sure Dad what do you need to discuss?" Rick asked.
"Son you know Sophie and I are …" Jackson started.
"Here for Card's protection…Yes Dad you have made that point very clear." Rick said.
"Right so once I knew of Naomi I sent Sophie to do a bit of Recon." Jackson said.
Rick did not like where this conversation was going.
"Please Dad… You did not discover that poor Naomi was actually an Axe murderer?" Rick quipped.
"No worse…Did you know Naomi's maiden name was McKenzie? That she has a Younger brother named Jason McKenzie. That he was a protégé of Dick Coonan? He was also a loyal member of the Bracken cartel and still probably loyal to Carmen?"
"Dad this worries me." Rick said.
"Son I'm not finished." Jackson said. "He also was the second shooter in the cemetery. And he was cell mate to Hal Lockwood. He is deep in this conspiracy to end your wife. I think he would use Naomi. We need to question her about her younger brother. There is no other way to do an adequate threat analysis." Jackson said.
"Yeah we do…Dad she knows who Card is! She taught the violin when Card was 3 years old. She had recognized her." Rick said.
"So she might be loyal to the Bracken's too?" Jackson asked.
"No she was sacked due to her over concern about the raising methods of Carmen. There is no love lost there believe me." Rick said.
"I see well I guess we need to talk to Naomi discretely." Jackson said. "I'm warm enough now. Please hand me that robe."
"Here you go Dad…" Rick said. "Get dressed I'll meet you in the Living Room."
\\\\\
Rick returned to the Living Room to find Naomi and Kate deep in discussion.
"Hey Rick how is your Dad?" Kate asked.
"Oh he is a tough old guy He should be ok." Rick said. "So what did I miss?"
Rick rubbed his hands together.
"Oh Rick did you know Naomi is a McKenzie?" Kate said almost laughing. "One of the Ohio McKenzie's…?"
"Wait a minute…Is that not part of your family Kate?" Rick asked.
"Yeah my dearly departed Mother was a McKenzie before she married my Dad. Rick she is from old Franks' Brother's Eric's line that moved to Ohio." Kate said.
"Wait was that not the line which had those unusual members?" Rick couched the term as diplomatically as he could.
"Yes that was us…The Black Sheep of the McKenzie line." Naomi laughed since in their family tradition was Old Frank was the Black Sheep not his Brother Eric.
"Black Sheep is right" Rick muttered under his breath.
"So Kate has Naomi told you she used to teach Card the violin?" Rick asked.
"No Rick it did not come up." Kate said. "Really you knew Card before?"
"Yes I thought I recognized her but Card's name kind of threw me off. It was not until I met your Husband was I able to place that Card was Caroline grown up. She still had some of the same passive mannerisms that I recall." Naomi said.
So Naomi how did you end up teaching her? Rick asked.
"Well I was just here in New York along with my younger Brother Jason. Somehow he got employment with the Brackens doing something. I did not ask. When it came to my younger Brother it was best not to know. Anyway he told me that his employer's family was looking for a tutor. I was working at the Met but the concert season had yet to start." Naomi said.
"Really you worked at the Met?" Kate asked.
"Yes for 14 years I'm 3rd chair in violin. But it is a part time gig. So I needed work. He came to me and said the family wanted to meet me." She said.
"So obviously you met and hired…How long did you teach Card?" Rick asked.
"Only long enough to go into labor with Erica. Josh had baled on our marriage long before she was born." Naomi said.
Rick grimaced thinking about how close it was for him and Meredith in having Alexis.
"I thought I would never make it to the hospital in time. I believed I would have her on the Estate. Josh was out of the country when she was born. He did not even call until 3 weeks later." Naomi said bitterly.
"So what happened once you recovered?" Kate asked.
"Well Jason my Brother came to the hospital room with a check. He said my services were no longer needed. It was a big number. I took the check and that was the last time I saw my Brother. Later I heard through the family he was arrested for murder. I lost contact after that." Naomi said.
"Are you sad you are no longer in touch? It seems like many of the Men in your life walk out on you." Rick said.
"At one point Rick I would have said I was sad but no longer. My Brother became someone I no longer recognized and was glad he was gone. Josh what can I say about him? His loyalty is to others not anyone in his family though. So to answer your question No I'm not sad in the least." Naomi said.
"So you have had no contact from either recently?" Rick asked.
Kate was concerned. There was something about Rick's questions set off her radar.
"No it was not until Kate was wheeled in the OR had I set my eyes on Josh again and not one word or note from my on the lam Brother." Naomi said.
"How did you know he was on the lam?" Kate asked the police Lt now has taken an interest.
"I read the papers…He escaped when Hal Lockwood did. Lockwood was his cellmate." Naomi said.
"What? How did you know that?" Kate asked.
"It was in the papers…I was not caught up reading them since OR work is very time consuming. After your surgery the chief of surgeons gave all the crew the week off. He said we deserved it. So, I had the time and I read the papers. I recognized first the picture of my Brother next that of Lockwood." Naomi said.
"I see so that was the only time?" Rick asked.
"Well no I thought I saw him briefly about a year later in the hospital. He was with that Maddox fellow. Maddox was on the Bracken Estate when I worked there. I recognized him too." Naomi said.
"That is when Mr. Smith died." Rick whispered to Kate.
"So you are sure you could place them both in the hospital on this date?" Kate asked.
"Yeah…what is this all about?" Naomi asked.
"We always knew Maddox was not working alone…Naomi just confirmed it was her Brother." Rick whispered.
Kate inadvertently touched her scar. Soon she was rushing to the Bathroom.
"Excuse me Naomi I must…" Rick apologized then chased after his wife.
At this point Jackson came down. He had been listening to their conversations due to the bugs he planted in the room. He knew Sophie had done the same to Naomi's apartment.
"Hi Naomi so sorry I was away. Are you having a good time?" Jackson said.
"Oh yes Jackson both your Son and his wife have been keeping me very entertained." Naomi said goodheartedly.
"That is good…I want you to know Card is very important to this family…I want to go with you to discuss security upgrades. I know you can not afford it but luckily I know some people in HUD which could help in this matter. I know Erica will get bored of coming here every time they want to play. I am offering her the chance to play at her house while she and Card would be perfectly safe. I know you know who Card is actually." Jackson sweetly said.
"Who told you?" Naomi said feeling a bit threatened.
Jackson laughed.
"Rick did Naomi there are no secrets anymore in this family. Secrets almost destroyed the foundation. I will not let it happen again." Jackson forcefully said. "Besides you are Kate's family that makes you part of this one. Let us help you."
"Thank you Jackson…I have much to think about…It is time for Erica and me to depart." Naomi said. "Please offer my deepest apologies for our abrupt leaving."
With that said Naomi went unaccompanied up stairs to Card's room. She knocked at the door
"Erica?" She called out.
No one answered so she opened the door. There was no one in the room. They were both gone!