Conspiracy

Disclaimer: I own nothing

A/N:

Chapter 13 (Garnering Support)

"You will have to figure a way legally."

The words pounded mercilessly on her brain as she approached the studio where Sikowitz said Jason worked at. Their talk revealed the sense of urgency, but the trouble with the lack of evidence they had to move on the women. They could potentially get David, but they needed to access the risk of Lanie and Rebecca-but Jade wanted to get Trina and Tori to safety first.

She had ideas, and since Sikowitz said he couldn't pull them out legally or without tipping off David and the two mothers involved, she had to go about this strategically.

There was a way she could pull Trina from the danger zone sooner, but it would be difficult. Sikowitz was going to talk to the martial arts instructor at Hollywood Arts about aligning her class with Jason's studio, to make the class take the trip-but regardless it would be a while before they could make the trip.

The loophole was easier said than done: Jason was in charge of camp counselors, and he was still looking for some. A camp counselor would be able to teach, to provide assistance in daily activities, but they would need adequate training. In just a mere week or two, he would be off to train those accepted, and they'd be gone until the time of the camping trip-leaving adequate time for Sikowitz to conduct a full investigation on David, Rebecca, and Lanie.

"Once I get past Jason, I need to convince Trina." She muttered to herself and stopped before the door of the studio. Her eyebrows moved in together and her lower lip pouted as her heart began to pulsate. "I'm rushing, going about this backwards I know, I just…there's no way in hell Trina will do this if Tori's left behind."

That said, there was no way Tori would leave if Trina were left behind. She did have a plan for Tori, however, and that plan could be easier than what she was doing for Trina.

On her way over, she remembered Tori having mentioned something about Ian going on a long trip with his parents, it was to be a scientific study of the environment-they would be traveling across the country.

Jade wanted to contact Ian, have him and his mother suggest that Tori join them for this trip.

The final step would be ensuring that the girls were able to leave. Holly's personality resonated with Jade, she was confident the woman would not hesitate to send her daughters away if it meant their safety. She just needed to do this in a way that David could not control the situation.

Hence, the reason Sikowitz would be chatting up the martial arts instructor. That instructor could make the trip a requirement for her students. David was a stickler for rules and order, he made sure the girls got to school for a reason, and that would mean he'd have to let Trina go on a required trip. Then Trina wouldn't be able to turn down a required trip.

"All the planning's in my mind." She took a deep breath and put her hand to the door. "Putting it into action is the rough part."

As she pushed the door, she could hear the sounds of men and women grunting and shouting. The stench of sweat hit her like a tidal wave, catching her off guard for a moment.

"My nephew works there as the senior most student." She scanned the area carefully. The building was about the size of a full gym, and it was built like one on the inside as well. Some were working out on machines while others were sparring with one another. "The head Sensei leaves him in charge, but I wouldn't call Jason a sensei just yet. Still, he's very much like one-hard to miss when he's on the job."

"So where is he?"

She looked to a sign beside the door and rolled her head to the right. There were many room numbers and indicators of where various classes were held. When she caught the martial arts room, she was delighted.

Eager to find Jason, she hurried down the nearest hallway, rushing until she came to a room that was larger than the area she had just come from. It had a blue mat that spread across the floor.

"Proper pose. Straighten up." She could hear Jason's voice, full of a commanding tone. Her eyes flew in his direction and landed on him. He was standing in the corner, helping a student with a white belt. "You need to keep your center of balance at waist level."

She started to approach, but with slight hesitation, and stopped when she saw his eyes turn onto her. He straightened up and folded his arms across his chest. "Can I help you?"

Jade stammered to get her response out, and forced herself to clear out the roughness she felt in her throat. "Yes." There was no question Jason was an attractive man. His strong shoulders were broad, his chest seemed large and the uniform he had seemed to cover what muscles she found herself wanting to see. "Sorry, I should introduce myself."

"Jade West. Uncle Erwin told me a little about you." Jason unfolded his arms and walked forward. His deep brown eyes locked onto hers, peering down his sharp nose. When he extended his hand, she stared at it as if she didn't know the gesture. "It's an odd place to talk, but he did call me to inform me that I should talk to a martial arts instructor at Hollywood Arts-and that I should be expecting you."

"That's right." She placed her hand in his and gasped at the firmness of his grip. After the handshake, he pulled back and crossed his arms again. "There's a girl in that class that needs to go on that trip, but there's another issue…"

"If my uncle's involved, I guess that would mean it has something to do with an investigation?" Jason let the student know to keep practicing, then motioned for Jade to follow him as he began walking. "I don't know much about the situation, but I am willing to talk to that instructor. As for an individual student, what can be done?"

"It's urgent, but I think you can help her." Jade stopped at a wall that was out of earshot of others in the room. Jason brought a hand up to his chin and leaned to the side a bit. "She's highly athletic, she's been involved in martial arts for several years…I think she'd make a good addition to your team of camp counselors."

His eyes slanted a bit and his fingers swept away from his chin by about an inch. "No." Her heart stopped. She could feel the world shattering around her, and started to demand an answer, but refrained knowing he might respond on his own. "I don't know this person. A camp counselor there needs to be proficient enough, they need to be trained other than the training they're going to go through at the camp training…I can't simply bend the rules for anyone."

"But it could be a matter of life and death. You're in charge of the counselors there, you could train her." Jade brought her hands up and closed them together, pleading with him as she'd never pleaded for anything as much. "Please consider this, Jason. She needs this, Trina needs this. The sooner she can be gone, the better! She'll be good, I've seen her in action and she is good."

The tension in Jason's face seemed to soften and he glanced to the side before moving his hands behind his back. "I haven't seen her in action, so I cannot make a judgment until I have. If she wants it, I will consider a direct application. Is she even a black-belt?"

"I…" She didn't remember, and of course she couldn't say. There was a chance Trina was less than that, but would it matter? "Maybe you should just meet her and decide for yourself?" This man had a strong way about himself, and it made her nervous, just as nervous as she had been when she was being stared down by Trina.

There was a sobering emotion in his eyes, though. One of softness that seemed to negate some of the toughness that acted as a barrier around him. It was the same look Trina had, and it made her curious. Was there a scar that Jason bore as well? Everyone had something in their closet, but if there was anything she could utilize to get him to sympathize with Trina and aid her, she needed to use it.

As Jason turned his back to her, his uniform shifted a bit around the neck. She caught a glimpse of a scar, partially concealed by his collar. Her brow furrowed and she spoke swiftly, hoping to catch his attention. "She's had a tough life, I'll say that about her." He stopped and turned his head over his shoulder. "Been in a fight or two, I can't say she has any physical scars, but she might have a few emotional ones. That makes her insanely focused, devoted, driven…stronger…and she needs this more than anything, Jason. Have you ever been in a situation that left you broken? Hopeless? Scarred?"

Jason scoffed once and turned his head away. He rolled hi8s shoulders and tugged up on his uniform. "Tell her that I'm willing to meet with her and if she's truly interested, we'll see what happens. I have a little less than two weeks before I leave to start training all the counselors, so if she wants to have a spot, she'll have to talk to me before then."

She watched him walk off and held back a confident cheer. Maybe she could get his help after all, but she wasn't able to relax just yet. As tough as convincing Jason was, she still had to talk to Trina.

"Thank you," she whispered.

Her next task was less harrowing mentally, though she was still nervous. Walking up to Ian's home, part of her felt invincible after talking to Jason, but there was still a chance this could go wrong.

She met with Ian and his mother outside in the front yard. He was mowing the grass while she was working on trimming the hedges beside the home. His father was pushing a large trash bin to the curb. "Getting housework done, Ian?" He looked up from the mower and raised an eyebrow.

"Well we are heading on a vacation in a couple of weeks." He hung his elbow over the handle of the mower and crossed his right ankle over his left. "What's going on?"

"I just wanted to talk to you and your parents." Ian was wearing a loose, white shirt with grass stains, and faded blue jeans. His mother walked over, she was tall and wore a sun hate that shaded her smooth complexion. Her clothes were also covered with dirt and grass.

"Anything we can help with?" The woman asked.

"You're going on a country expedition kind of thing?"

"Yes." The woman pat her son's shoulder and smiled at Jade. "We want to teach Ian as much as we can. Biology and chemistry is everywhere, and there's so much to explore."

"Is there room for anyone else?" Ian straightened himself up and furrowed his brow as his mother pursed her lips.

"Mom's friend is tagging along." He crossed his arms and shrugged. "Veterinarian expert, I guess she's there to explain some stuff about wildlife and stuff that we come across. We're taking her vehicle, it's larger and can make the trip." Ian's chest expanded slowly and his right eyebrow drifted up beneath his bangs. "Why?"

From the sound of it, this could be a perfect opportunity for Tori to learn a few things herself. She took a deep breath and dared herself to come out with what she wanted without beating around the bush. "Have you considered taking Tori with you?" Ian swayed to the right and his mother gasped as though she had just received a startling idea.

"Ian dear, that girl could learn from Jenna. Victoria wants to be a veterinarian, right?" Ian turned his head to his mother and sept his right hand out slightly.

"I haven't heard anything about it from Tori. I'd like to ask, but I'm not sure how much she'd be willing to take that trip. It would be a long trip, and she'd be away from her mom and her sister. There's no way she'd go for that."

"I can talk to her," Jade replied. Not only could she talk to Tori, but she could definitely get Holly on board. As long as both girls knew the other would be somewhere safe, they'd go-and they would go if Holly insisted. There was no doubt in Jade's mind that Holly would insist both go off somewhere safe. "I'm willing to bet their mom would be all for it. But what about you, Mrs. Dennison?"

"I'll have to think about it," The woman replied. She scratched her chin and started to hum. "I do like the girl, she is nice in her way, and quite taken with our Ian." Ian closed his eyes and let out a heavy, embarrassed sigh.

"Mother…"

"I really hope you'll consider." Jade saw the woman look up, so she held the mother's gaze with a sense of urgency. She needed this woman to understand how important it was that they take Tori along, but without revealing too much. "You would be giving Tori her only chance, her one chance, this education could be the most significant thing for her-the best thing for her life."

When she put emphasis on the final words, she saw Ian's eyes enlarge and his lips separated suddenly. "Is something going on?" He asked in a hushed whisper. His mother looked over with concern, but also with a puzzled glance; she'd not heard his urgent question.

Jade smiled at him while holding her teeth together and sucking the air in between her teeth. "Tori needs this, Ian. Please consider."

"Yes." He exhaled and looked to his mother, then back at Jade. His arms fell to his sides and a crease formed on his forehead. "Anything. I'll talk to her, see if she wants to come along."

"Talk to Holly too."

"Now hold on," Mrs. Dennison started, "I still haven't given this much thought. We do need to discuss-"

"Something's going on Mom." Ian turned to her and she started to grow silent. "I can't tell you what's been going on with Tori, but you have to trust me. If Jade here is insisting like this, then this is important…"

"Is your friend in trouble?"

"I…I can't say. Just, let's talk to her and her mother, okay? Please?"

The woman's lips pressed into a thin line and she nodded once. "Alright dear." Jade closed her eyes and released the breath she'd been holding in the back of her mouth. "If you feel so strongly about it, I will talk to Holly."

"Let me set that up," Jade announced. There was no conceivable way of getting Ian and his mother into the Vega home, but surely she could find a way to get the girls-and their mother-out of the house. "I'll find a way to get Holly and the girls to the school. You can talk to her there."

The woman nodded and walked over to her husband to let him know what was going on. Ian looked strongly at Jade and his muscles tensed. "If you need me to, I'll find a way to put that monster in the house out of commission. Knockout gas, whatever you need…"

She held her hand up and shook her head. "No Ian." He inhaled sharply. "You don't need to do anything that will put you in a bad situation."

"It's Tori's life we're talking about, right?"

Jade reached forward, placing her hand on his forearm. When she made eye contact, his muscles started to relax. "It is her life, and right now, she needs you to be there for her. I know you want to protect her, keep her safe, but you're not going to do that by going after David…"

"If she's in any danger-"

"That's why I'm asking your family to do this, Ian. Let me handle the rest. Please." He furrowed his brow and ran his hand over his neck as she pulled away from him. "I'm working with an investigator on this. We just need those girls safe now, before we can move on David."

"Fine. Just…"

"We'll save her Ian. We'll save them. I have to do that, I have to believe that I can help somehow. Trust me. Work with me but be patient-be there for Tori. That's what you can do."

"What if she doesn't agree to even going on this trip?"

"She will. Even if she doesn't, Holly won't let her daughters remain in harm's way if there's a way for them to be safe." This could very well be the first chance that either daughter could reach safety. Yes, they had to be careful about how they did this, and to do this without David catching on.

If the school forced the camping trip, and Jason recruited Trina as a camp counselor, David would be unable to turn it down. As for the Ian's family vacation, Jade was certain he couldn't do a damn thing about that either.

He was losing control. She heard that in his voice when talking to Lanie. The man didn't sound like he wanted to kill the girls, which amazed her to a point. There was a chance he'd listen to Holly if she made things clear about Tori's going on this trip.

Regardless, once the girls were out of harm's way, Sikowitz may be able to act on David at least. Jade wasn't certain entirely, but the reason he was hesitating on David was because of Lanie and Rebecca. They could hurt the girls, and Gary wasn't allowing Sikowitz to go after David now that he was sure those two women could still threaten his daughters in retaliation for David's arrest.

There was still much to be done.

So there's a chance, and perhaps hope. However neither girl is going to leave unless they know the other will be safe-but they may not have much choice if Holly insists. Which she most definitely would. The good thing appears to be that David is hesitating in his own movement, which does buy a little bit of time, and maybe just enough for Jade. The trick is getting Trina and Tori to agree. Trina may very well win Jason over, he's at least considering the idea. What are your thoughts? Ian and Jason may prove to be valuable allies, and if both girls are a safe distance away, Sikowitz and Jade may be able to pursue David, Rebecca, and Lanie. I don't think we're done with the Senator just yet either-currently that woman is the most powerful person here, do you think Jade could possibly find a way to ally with Andre's mother?