The school day went without a hitch, in fact it was normal.
Aside from meeting the former senator in person, which left an uneasy feeling in her stomach, Jennifer was surprised the day was as easy as it was.
Macy had even spoken to her in class, which was out of the ordinary, but made Jennifer happy to know the girl was warming up to her.
After the bell rang, Jennifer was going to be heading to the Wildlife Conservation Center.
She gets in her car after school, calling Jonathan. She was happy to hear his voice after the long day.
" …Are you sure you wouldn't like for me to go with you?" Jonathan asks.
" No, I'll be alright darling. You finish up at the office and I'll be home before you know it." Jennifer replies.
" What a way to keep a man waiting and longing for more." Jonathan teases her.
" Would you like me to pick up something for dinner on my way home? Does anything sound particularly appetizing" Jennifer asks.
" Yes actually. A beautiful redhead." Jonathan chuckles, knowing he was making his wife blush on the other end.
" You tease." Jennifer giggles as she rolls her eyes. " Maybe we should skip dinner and go straight for dessert in bed." Jonathan teases her again before she scolds him.
" Jonathan!" Jennifer exclaims, unable to hold back her laughter.
" I'm only teasing…well partially. A pizza would be great." Jonathan replies, getting serious after a while, but still smiling as he thought about his wife and her body.
" Pizza huh? I think that sounds reasonable, and I think dessert can be arranged, too if we have room." Jennifer teases him now, smirking as she does so.
' I'll make room." Jonathan says with a hint of playfulness in his voice.
" Until tonight, my darling." Jonathan hangs up.
Jennifer shakes her head, smiling madly like a school girl as she makes her way to the Wildlife Conservation Center.
It was a bit of a drive, but Jennifer knew it would be worth it, especially with the new information she acquired before school began that day.
After three hours on the road, Jennifer pulls up the long winding road towards two big rod iron gates.
The trees and the winding dirt path made it seem as though she was out in the brush of Australia.
She stops right at the booth where an attendant was there to greet her.
" Hello Mrs. Hart! Always a pleasure seeing you here." Joe, the elder volunteer says as he greets her with a smile.
" Hi Joe, great to see you too." Jennifer replies with a smile. " Is Charlie here? I was hoping to meet with him."
Joe nods his head before pointing towards the winding path that would lead to the center which was hidden behind trees. " He's been here since 6:00 this morning!"
Jennifer isn't surprised at that. " He works harder than anyone I know." she remarks, as Joe nods his head.
Charlie put his all into the center. " That he does. I'll let you get to it, Mrs. Hart. See you on the way out." he waves Jennfier off.
She drives up the steep path, unaware that a few miles down the road there is a van camped out, keeping watch on her every move…
Jennifer parks her car and sees the elder man, dressed in khaki and a wildlife center green polo top, sitting on the side of the golf cart making some notes.
His head pops up as he notices who's parked beside him.
" Hi Charlie!" Jennifer exclaims as she steps out of her car.
" Jennifer! Great to see you!" Charlie says, grinning in delight as he tosses aside his paperwork.
He hugs her and peers over her shoulder around him before whispering in her ear.
" We need to take our conversation elsewhere. Let's go inside. I'll explain more in a moment."
Jennifer maintains the smile on her face, unsure of who might be watching or listening for that matter and follows her friend inside, making small talk as they walk through the center.
" How's Jonathan doing? I haven't seen him in ages." Charlie asks as he leads them inside.
" He's doing just fine. Busy, actually." Jennifer replies, smiling as she thinks of her husband. She hopes Charlie doesn't notice the slight blush on her cheeks as she can't help but remember the conversation they had not too long ago.
She tries to shake the thought from her mind and focus on keeping up with Charlie's pace.
The Wildlife Conservation center is vast. The main building they were walking into houses many photos, artifacts, displays, and a help desk, along with many offices that overlook the vast amount of land outside. There are tall floor to ceiling windows giving the public and whoever works in the building the chance to view the wildlife and the natural beauty of the property.
Jennifer stole a glance as they headed to a corner office. It wasn't Charlie's office but she knew he had his reasons for his quick pace and his quiet demeanor.
He shuts the door, ensuring nobody has followed them in before ushering Jennifer to a chair.
He makes his way behind the desk and shuts the blinds, but doesn't take a seat.
Jennifer takes stock of the room. Unlike Charlie's office, this one is bare, except a few plaques on the wall, a computer and a telephone, both of which had been unplugged from the wall.
" It isn't safe here." Charles told her.
Jennifer raises a brow. " What do you mean?"
She was very confused and wanted to know the reason for his behavior.
" I'm sorry for my behavior, Jennifer. You must think I'm crazy and I've lost my marbles, but it's quite the opposite. I know this wasn't the welcome you were expecting. Some strange things have been going on around here and I'm afraid I've been dealing with some unwanted guests wandering around the property." he begins.
" Unwanted guests?" Jennifer questions, keeping her eyes on her friend.
Charlie has yet to sit down. He seems on edge and nervous. He rests his weight on the edge of the desk, still keeping his voice low before speaking up once more. " I think my office has been bugged. Ever since we've started questioning about the funds, I've had a few people let me know how they feel about my prying." he crosses his arms now.
" Would one of those people happen to be Richard Markston?" Jennifer asks, keeping her voice low, now intrigued.
He nods.
" Have you phoned the police?" Jennifer asks, her brain still processing the information.
He nods." They have an officer keeping his eyes on this place at night. So far, they haven't found anyone or anything, but I just can't explain it. I know we are being watched. This place is valuable and someone doesn't want us to continue to be operational. I just don't understand where all that money is going. Without it, we are going to have to shut our doors."
Charlie is frustrated at the situation, upset that the organization is crumbling beneath his hands and several angry donors have voiced their frustrations to him, wanting to cut ties with the center.
" How's the article coming along? Any new leads?" Charlie asks, almost desperate.
Jennifer had told him she was working on an expose about the funneling of funds and embezzlement happening within the foundation. Up until recently, she didn't have any leads until her friend Carolyn had supplied her with some very damning evidence.
Carolyn and Charlie were the only two she told about the article, along with her editor Jerry, of course.
" Not a thing. Until recently, actually." Jennifer says, hoping she can reveal her findings and the dots will connect.
Charlie sits silently for a moment, racking his brain as he runs a hand through his white hair.
Jennifer bites her lip, unsure if it's even safe to continue speaking on the matter, especially if someone is listening in.
" Well, I recently started a new position in the journalism department at Cliff View High and a friend had some rather interesting information about someone they believe is tied to this situation.I think you need to see it." Jennifer pulls out the manilla folder carefully before sliding it over to Charlie.
He takes it from her and looks back up at her.
" I'll take this home and read over it. Do you mind?" Charlie asks.
" Not at all. Those are the copies." Jennifer replies offering up a smile to him.
" You're not going to expose this person are you?" Charlie questions his friend once more, not wanting to say a name…just in case there happened to be someone listening in. He was certain this office was safe, but didn't want to take a chance.
" I have to. If not, he won't be stopped and he doesn't mind stepping on toes to get where he wants to be." Jennifer is sure she wants to publish, why wouldn't she be?
" I don't think it's a good idea. Not yet anyways. After all, the big donor fundraiser is coming up in 3 months and I don't think risking our closure would be suitable without the opportunity for someone to line their pockets would be the best move. Do you?" Charlie replies, hopefully Jennifer is taking the hint.
" You have a point. It will be the biggest night of the year." Jennifer agrees.
" This event is always the talk of the town." Charlie says.
Jennifer agrees before checking her watch, realizing the time.
Jonathan will be expecting her and she does need to go before it gets dark. After all, if someone is watching, she doesn't want to be trailed going home.
The two are interrupted by a knock at the door. Both Charlie and Jennifer glance at the door, unsure who is on the other side.
" Come in." Charlie calls, gripping onto the edge of the table.
" I'm sorry, Mr. Feldman. It's just me. I realized I left a few things at the office yesterday and I heard voices and I realized it was you. I'm sorry to interrupt."
Jennifer notices she's got a few stacks of papers in her arms. The girl seems young, maybe early 20's if she had to guess?
" Not to worry, Liza. By the way, I want to introduce you to my good friend and a big supporter of our center, Mrs. Jennifer Hart." Charlie motions to Jennifer.
Liza smiles down at Jennifer, shifting all the papers to clutch under her arm and extends a free hand to Jennifer.
" Wonderful to meet you. I've heard Charlie mention you a few times." Liza replies with a grin.
" Nice to meet you as well. Oh really?" Jennifer turns to Charlie, a brow raised, wondering what cheeky comment he has made.
" You're known around here as the Animal Lady." Liza replies with a chuckle.
Jennifer had to smile at that name. " Truer words have never been spoken."
" I'd best be going. I have a few things to work on. See you next week, Mr. Feldman. Mrs. Hart." Liza bids them farewell before heading out of the office.
" She seems nice. What is her role here?" Jennifer asks.
" She is our marketing manager and event planner. She's a hard worker. Just out of college." Charlie replies.
" Wonderful. She seems like a great fit for the center." Jennifer replies before standing up.
" I think I'd best be going. Jonathan is expecting me home and dinner. It was great to see you Charlie." Jennifer says as the two leave the office.
" You too, Jennifer. Always a pleasure. I'll get back with you on things. In the meantime, I hope to see you and Jonathan at our fundraiser. I'm sure you'll be there, won't you?" Charlie asks.
" We wouldn't miss it!" Jennifer replies with a smile.
" Good." Charlie responds, before holding the door open.
Jennifer waves him off and gets back to her car. She sighs, now wondering if he knew more than he let on. She would have to tell Jonathan everything when she got home.
Jennifer made it down the path and saw Joe waving to her before he faded out of site.
…..
She makes it back to her home a bit later than intended and hopes Jonathan won't be too upset with her.
She knocks on the door with her foot, her hands full so ringing the bell wouldn't do.
" Just a minute!" Jonathan calls.
He gets up from the couch with Freeway hot on his heels. Upon opening the door, he smirks as he sees his wife standing with a pizza box in her arms.
" Hello-ah! I have brought-a you dinner!" She says in her best Italian accent.
" Well now, dinner with a beautiful Italian, we'd better not let my wife find out." Jonathan winks before grabbing the box from her arms.
He bends down to kiss her deeply once her arms are free.
" Hello darling." He murmurs into her lips in a gentle whisper.
" Hi darling." Jennifer replies back, now looking up at Jonathan.
He pulls Jennifer close and the two make their way into the kitchen.
Freeway Junior barks, eager for attention from Jennifer.
" Hello baby." she bends down to pet him.
"I see my men have missed me around here." Jennifer says once she goes to pour herself a glass of wine as she flicks her gaze off Freeway Junior to her husband.
" You have no idea." Jonathan replies with a smile, bringing over a plate and setting it down on the table in front of his wife.
He joins Jennifer at the table and they sip their wine catching up on each others' day.
" How was your meeting with Charlie?" Jonathan asks as he takes a sip of wine.
Jennifer was mid-bite when Jonathan asked her the question. After swallowing, she answers.
" It was the strangest thing. Charlie was paranoid. He told me that some strange things have been happening around the Wildlife Center. He's convinced his office was bugged." Jennifer says, her eyes wide.
Jonathan raises a brow. " By who?"
Jennifer shrugs. " He wasn't sure. He thinks because he's been trying to track down who's been embezzling that money, people are after him. Carolyn gave me some interesting information about Senator Johnston that points to him. I shared the information with Charlie before I left. We weren't able to talk much, but I have a feeling he'll phone once he's had a chance to read over everything."
" Would you care to enlighten me on those documents Carolyn gave you?" Jonathan asks, thinking about how he could be of some use to his wife in helping her with one of her favorite causes.
Jennifer nods before walking over to the counter where she had her purse laid out. She grabs the copies from the folder and hands them to Jonathan.
He looks over them, interested by what's been shared. He recognizes a few of the names across some of the documents, even though they have faded. There were photos as well of the former Senator posing with several different people in suits. He flips a few pages in to find financial documents and various notes scribbled onto the pages.
" Jack Perryman owned that printing company we used to use for Hart Industries. Look at this photo." Jonathan ushers Jennifer to his side.
She stares at the photo her husband has pointed out, not realizing in the photo that the man shaking the Senator's hand was an old friend of Jonathan's that passed away in a car crash a few years ago.
" That crash was not an accident. It seems as though once questions became directed at the Senator he was able to silence anyone in his path. He profited heavily on that company." Jonathan was still saddened by the loss of his friend and now he wonders if after all these years, if they could prove that Mr. Johnston had anything to do with it at all, that the family could finally find the closure they needed.
Jennifer squeezes her husband's shoulders gently before replying, " Darling, Charlie advised us to wait to make our move. He told me not to publish the article until after the fundraiser. That way the proof is concrete."
" I didn't think about that. Darling, is there anything I can do to help you?" Jonathan asks, looking up to meet his wife's gaze.
" I'm not sure. I have to keep a low profile at school. I can't let on that I am working on the article or that I suspect him. He and Principal Morris are very close." Jennifer replies.
" I see. Darling, are you- safe there?" Jonathan asks, worries.
" Of course I am. He's not dangerous, Jonathan." Jennifer reassures him.
" Yet." Jonathan replies, a hint of worry in his voice and in his eyes.
…
TBC….