Chapter 7: Nightmare
Spring came early in the mountains. The work on the lodge was completed quicker than expected due to early spring. Jennifer and Hailey moved back into the lodge. Cody knew their stay at his cabin was temporary, so he had been supportive of their move. Cody had not realized how much he enjoyed having them around, now that they were gone something was missing. Cody decided to keep his distance from Jennifer and Hailey. He missed them and knew nothing could come of a relationship with Jen. So, he had not seen them for a couple of weeks. Alex noticed his father was a little moodier and shorter with him.
"Dad, Hailey, and I are going fishing tomorrow, would you like to come with us? I know Hailey misses you and keeps asking to see you," Alex explained.
"Alex, I told you before, I am going into town tomorrow. I have some things I need to take care of and need to get some supplies from the store," Cody said a bit frustrated.
Alex responded, "Maybe you can come with me next time."
"We'll see," Cody said.
Cody arrived at Matt and Robin's house. Cody wanted to talk to Robin, they have always been close, and he could confide in her.
"Cody, it so good to see you," Robin said, she gave her favorite brother-in-law a nice big hug. "Have you seen Jennifer lately?"
"Not for a couple of weeks," Cody said a bit sad.
"What is it Cody, what is wrong?" Robin asked.
"Robin, you know how devastated I was when Lizzie died?" Cody asked, Robin nodded. "Now that Jennifer and Hailey have left, my heart has been aching so much. I never wanted to feel this way again."
"Cody, they have not gone anywhere, they are still here." Robin said.
"Robin, I have fallen in love with Jen. I want us to be together and the four of us to be a family."
Robin said, "So what is stopping you?"
Cody seemed a bit lost, "I feel like I am betraying Lizzie. I loved her so much; how could I ever replace her? "
Robin said with concern, "Cody, Lizzie would want you to move on. She would not want you to spend your life alone. Cody, you will always have a place in your heart for her, but you have a big heart and room for both."
Cody looked at Robin, "Shortly after Jennifer moved in, we kissed, and we almost slept together. She panicked and we stopped. We had both shared a lot with each other and got caught up in the emotions. Things were awkward for a while, but we talked, we decided we should just be friends. Her husband hurt her so badly she does not think she could ever be with a man again. That kiss just woke something up in me I have not felt in a long time."
"Cody, at Christmas you and Jennifer went out on that date. You told me things went well and the two of you kissed. You asked her if she would like to go out again and she said yes. Talk to her, the two of you have gotten so much closer since, she probably just needed to take things slow. Like you, she just needed to wake that part of herself up again. I have seen how you look at each other. I am pretty sure she is in love with you too."
"The other issue, she is still married. I want to marry her, what if she will never be free to marry me?" Cody said.
"Cody, see how she feels about you and go from there. If she wants to marry you as well, maybe there some way to get her husband to divorce her."
Robin gives him another big hug, "Thanks Robin I will try to talk to Jennifer soon. I should get going."
Cody made a stop at the cemetery where Lizzie and his daughter are buried. He visits her grave and sits on the ground next to her head stone like he has done so many times. "Lizzie, you know I love you so much, and I miss you. I want to let you know I have met someone. Her name is Jennifer, she is someone I met when I was a teenager, when I was about Alex's age. I have fallen in love with her. She had a very difficult life. She is a little bit broken like me. She has a beautiful little girl, Hailey. She is 11 years old. Just a little older than what our little girl would have been. They have been staying at the cabin with Alex and I since last fall and she has filled such a void I had without you. For the first time in a long time, I feel whole again. I didn't think I could ever love again, but I love Jennifer very much and I want to marry her if she has me. Robin says you would be okay with me moving on, I think you would be. If you are not, I hope you can forgive me.
Our little boy is growing up so fast. He will be driving soon. I picked up some of the information today on what we need to do to get his permit and license. He had his first date in December and now has a girlfriend. He started playing basketball on the high school team. I think we will need to leave the mountains and move back to Tahoe full time. Matt has been hounding me about it, and I think he is right. I will need to see what Jennifer thinks about it if she wants to move forward and have a life with me. I may not be coming back as often, but know I will be thinking about you, my love."
Jennifer is shopping at a local supply store. There is a man who is following her in the store. Jennifer does not notice him. Suddenly Jennifer physically runs into Cody. It has been few weeks since they have seen each other, and it is a little awkward.
"Oh…. Hi Cody", Jennifer said.
"Hi Jennifer," Cody was not sure what he should say to her. Feeling a little uncomfortable. Then Cody remembered what Robin told him, "Jennifer how would you like to grab some lunch and catch up?"
Jennifer responded, "That would be great. It would be nice to talk to another adult."
Cody and Jennifer went to check out their items; after placing the items in their cars, they went to a local diner situated in the same parking lot.
After Cody and Jennifer left the store Roy went up to the clerk. "Can you tell me the name of the gentleman who just checked out. I think it was an old friend and I cannot quite remember his name…. Charles…. Chuck…. Cody?" Roy asked.
The clerk said, "That was Cody Hawkes."
"That is right, Cody Hawkes. Was the woman with him, his wife?" Roy asked.
The clerk replied, "No, I think she recently moved here, but I don't know her name."
Roy left the store and spotted Jennifer and Cody walking towards the diner. Roy's blood boiled as he pulled out a birth certificate for one Hailey Elizabeth McCoy with parents Jennifer McCoy and Cody Hawkes.
"Lover boy, your days are numbered. Jenny, I am going to see you tonight and remind you that you are my wife, and you belong to me," Roy said under his breath as he got into the car and headed up toward the lodge. He knew right where he was going as he was already watching Jennifer and Hailey at the lodge from a distance.
Jennifer and Cody were having a good time talking, after they broke the ice, both started feeling quite relaxed in each other's company.
Cody asked, "So how as it been living up at the lodge?"
"It has been a bit quiet. Some of the rangers have been in and out, but I have missed you and Alex."
"Jennifer, I have missed you and Hailey too," Cody bit nervous. "Jennifer, we talked about just being friends. I want more than friendship with you. I want a life with you. We can take all the time you need and go as slow as you want. I don't want to scare you off, but…. I have fallen in love with you."
Jennifer paused, "Cody, I am pretty broken, I am not sure how much I can give to you."
"Jennifer I would rather have pieces of you, than none of you. I have learned the hard way that life is short, and I don't want another day to go by without you. I want you in my life," Cody said.
"When we went out the night of the Winter Fling, we kissed, I thought you had feelings for me and then you seemed to back off. What happened?" Jennifer asked.
"Matt reminded me that you are married. And what happens if you leave. He was trying to protect me from heart ache. Heart ache I have been feeling the last few weeks. I also felt like I was betraying Lizzie."
"Matt does have a point. I don't know what will happen. We've never really been able to stay anywhere for over a year. We have already been here nine months." Jennifer was getting a bit nervous as well, she was going to confess something to Cody, she was not sure how he would take it. "Before Matt made the offer for us to stay at the lodge. I…. I… was thinking about leaving. Leaving Hailey behind with you. I figured you could give her so much more than I could. You could give her the type of life she deserved. I…. I was thinking of confronting Roy. It was the only thing I could think of to keep her safe." Jennifer started to cry. "But I could not abandon my daughter. When Matt offered the lodge, it gave me some time to get the courage to leave her and see if my feelings for you would go away."
Cody started to hold Jennifer's hand, "Jen…. Jennifer, I am glad you did not leave. From what you said about him, I doubt he would have ever let you go, if he did not kill you first."
"If I stay and he finds us, it will be more than me he could hurt. He could hurt any of us. What if he hurt Alex, Hailey, or you. I think it would destroy me."
"Jennifer, we can figure this out. Let's sit down and look at our options. If we need to, we can bring Matt, Robin, or Josh in to help us. We will figure out a way to get him out of your life. I don't want to give up on us."
Jennifer just looked at Cody. "Okay, I can go and get the evidence I have on Roy, and we can look it over. I know Alex is over at the Lodge with Hailey today. If you are free tonight and tomorrow, why don't you come join us for dinner. Then tomorrow we can get the evidence and go over it. I've been wanting to have you over to thank you for everything you have done for us. I don't know what would have happened to us, without you. " Jennifer asked with a smile on her face. She was so hopeful he would say yes.
Cody was just as hopeful and with a smile on his face, "I loved to, I have missed your cooking and your company. So, it is a date?"
"It's a date," Jennifer smiled.
As they walked out of the restaurant. Cody placed his hand on Jennifer's back to lead her out. He walked her to her car and gave her a light kiss on her lips. Jennifer had her back up against the car.
"Cody…I have hard time, sometimes expressing how I feel, I guess afraid of being hurt or getting hurt by someone." Jennifer took a deep breath. "Cody, I have… I have fallen in love with you as well." Then she reached for the back of his head and gave him a passionate kiss on the lips. For the first time in what seemed like a lifetime, she was wanting someone in her life again.
"You love me too," Cody asked smiling.
"Yes," Jennifer smiled, and Cody kissed Jennifer harder with tung. He could tell she wanted him, and he wanted her.
Back in the mountains, Alex and Hailey were having a good time fishing together. He liked acting like a big brother to her. He was trying to teach Hailey how to fly fish. She learned quickly and they caught plenty of fish for dinner. They walked into the house only to find they were not alone. Roy was there waiting for Jennifer.
"Hailey, I am sorry to scare you. I am an old friend of your mother's. My name is Roy. Did your mom tell you I was coming?"
Hailey shook her head no.
"Who is your friend?" ask Roy.
"Alex Hawkes," Alex explained, but he was getting an uneasy feeling about Roy.
"Is your father Cody Hawkes?" Roy questioned.
Alex said uneasily, "Yes."
"So, you are siblings? Roy asked.
Alex and Hailey both said, "No". They looked at each other confused.
Roy pulled out the birth certificate and handed it to the pair. They both read it. It had Hailey's first name and birthdate. Her mother's first name and Alex's father's name.
"That is not possible." Alex explained. He could see the anger burning in Roy's eyes. Alex tried to quickly think of a way to get Hailey and him out of there. He had to protect Hailey from Roy. Questions were going through his mind. Could Hailey be his sister? Did his father know? Roy was making him very uncomfortable. "Hailey, I almost forgot, we need to put the fish in the ice chest and feed my horse. Roy we will be right back." He put his arm on her back to start leading her out.
Roy stepped in their path and pulled out a gun, "I don't think so, the two of you are not going anywhere. We are going to wait right here for your mother and lover boy."
Roy tied Alex and Hailey up to the dining room chairs.
Jennifer's car pulled up to the car park. She grabbed the bags and carried them into the lodge. She saw Alex's horse was in the corral, so she was happy he had not left yet. Jennifer wanted to take a shower and freshen up before Cody arrived. She was nervous and excited to move forward in a relationship with him. Jennifer walked into the house calling for Hailey and Alex.
"Hello sweetheart," Roy said in a cold voice. Jennifer just froze where she was and dropped her bags. Jennifer knew that voice, she was terrified. Roy came over to her and put a hand on the side of her cheeks and started to kiss her. "It's been a long time." Roy continued to kiss her. "What no kiss for your husband?" His voice was getting cold. He pushed her back against the wall and kissed her more and Jennifer started to kiss him back as she trembled. "That is more like it. You are mine and will always be mine." He then moved his hand to her throat and started to choke her. "Now we just need to wait for lover boy."
Cody was back at his cabin. He was feeding the animals, showered, and saddled up his horse. He had a big smile on his face. He had not been this happy in a long time. The feelings he had for Jennifer he never thought he would feel again. He began to head up to the lodge where he and Alex would spend the night.
Roy had Jennifer by the hair and dragged her into the eating area where Hailey and Alex were tied up. Roy threw Jennifer onto the table. Jennifer pushed herself up and she turned to face Roy.
"Let them go, they have not done anything. It is me you want to hurt," Jennifer said. Roy pushed Jennifer's face hard into the table and pushed himself up against her. He reached down and started to undo her pants. Jennifer knew exactly what he was going to do. "Please, not here, not in front of them."
Roy pushed up against Jennifer some more Roy whispered to Jennifer with his mouth up to her ear. "I will have you when and where I want. You are a whore and a tramp. When lover boy gets here, you are going to watch him die. Then you are going to watch his kids die."
"His kids?" With that, Jennifer saw the birth certificate with Cody's name on it lying on the table next to her. Jennifer put Cody's name on Hailey's birth certificate, so her husband would not think Hailey was his daughter, but now that she is here with Cody her plan will haunt her.
"Roy…. I have never cheated on you with Cody. He was someone I knew when I lived here with my grandfather. I was sixteen the last time I saw him." Roy pushed into her more. "Augh…You are Hailey's father, not Cody. Hailey was conceived when we were together. I had her birthdate pushed out three months, she was born November 11th and not February 3rd. You would be killing your own daughter. Please let them go!" Jennifer pleaded.
He grabbed both her arms and turned her to face him. "You kept my daughter from me. My own flesh and blood" the anger was building in Roy. He hit her hard across the face and knocked her to the ground. Her cheeks were red, and her lip was cut with blood dripping out.
Hailey screamed for her mother and was crying. Roy screamed to the kids, "SHUT UP! SHUT UP!"
Jennifer was trying to figure out a way to get Roy away from the Lodge. Away from Hailey and Alex. She knew Cody was on his way. If she could get Roy away from the Lodge. Cody could save the kids and get help. Most importantly Alex and Hailey would be safe. Jennifer looked at her daughter, then at Alex and up to Roy. She got all the courage she could muster. It did not matter what happened to her if the kids were safe. She knew if she were to die, Cody would take Hailey and raise her as his own.
"Roy, it is me you want to hurt. Not your daughter. I have the evidence of what you did, and I can take you to it. Then you can do whatever you want to me, and you can leave them alone." Jennifer pleaded.
When Roy first found out Jennifer had a daughter years ago, he thought she was his daughter. She was the right age. Jennifer and the girl had disappeared before he got a hold of them. When he found the birth certificate, he was angry and wanted nothing more than to hurt his cheating wife and her lover.
"My daughter." He looked at Hailey who continued to cry. Pausing for a moment thinking. "You will take me to what is mine and then I will remind you of your wifely duties. When I am done with you, I will come back for my daughter and take her home with me. You will never see her again."
Jennifer said, "It is in a cave about 4 miles from here, it will be dark before we get there." Jennifer grabbed a few things they might need like flashlights, water, and a blanket. "Please let me say goodbye to my daughter," Jennifer pleaded.
Roy shoved her out of the lodge, Roy would not let Jennifer say goodbye to her daughter. Her daughter she will never see again. Jennifer cried as they left.
As Roy pushed her away from the lodge Jennifer screamed, "Haily, I am sorry. I love you."
Cody arrived at the lodge and put his horse in the barn. He grabbed his saddle bags and rifle before heading into the house.
Cody was about to say something when he walked into the lodge, and he knew something was wrong right away. He could see that there had been a struggle.
He heard the muffled sounds of Hailey crying and Alex yelling for help as Roy had bound their mouths up. Cody put down the saddle bags and pulled his rifle out ready to shoot. Cody walked quietly throughout the lodge. Seeing no one, but he could hear some small whimpers and the banging of chair legs coming from the pantry. He carefully opened up the pantry door to find Hailey and Alex tied and bound up. He was stunned and quickly lowered his gun. Cody quickly untied the two kids. Hailey was crying and Cody reached and hugged both kids.
"Hailey, where is your mom?" Cody asked.
"He took her, he took her!" Hailey cried.
"Hailey, take a deep breath, who took your mom?" Cody is trying to stay calm.
"Dad, it was some guy, he said his name is Roy."
"Momma said he was my father," Hailey said confused.
"Dad, there is more". Alex picked up the birth certificate and handed it to Cody.
"Jennifer told me about it. I will explain later. First we have to find your mom." Cody said looking at Hailey who was looking confused. "Do you guys have any idea where he was taking her?"
"Dad, she said that she had some things that belonged to Roy, and she was going to take him to it. She said it was in a cave about four miles from here," Alex stated.
"We need to get a hold of the rangers" Cody ran to the office where he knew the radio was. He found the radio was smashed to pieces, along with the phone and internet equipment. Cody knew his phone reception was not good near the lodge, but he checked any ways. "Damn!" Just as expected.
Cody and the kids ran to where Jennifer's car was parked. The tires were slashed. Cody ran back to the lodge and pulled out a map of the area, Cody highlighted the area in a four-mile radius from the lodge.
"I am going to start looking for Jennifer here and work my way around here. I want you guys to take the horses and ride to the ranger station as fast as you can. Have them split up into two groups and start searching here and here. I want you to take my phone. Keep checking to see if you can get reception. Most likely you won't until you get close to the station. Alex, do you understand?"
"Yes dad, I understand." Alex said.
"Good, I want you to keep Hailey safe," Cody said with both arms on his son's shoulder. "Hailey, we will find your mother and bring her back. I know things might be a bit confusing right now, but we will explain everything. I am not your father, but I wish I was." The little girl gave him a hug.
Alex and Cody saddled up the horses and the two kids got on and road off in the direction of the Ranger Station. Cody only had his rifle on him for protection. Cody started to track Jennifer and Roy. He hoped that he was right as to where they were heading.
Jennifer led Roy through the mountains towards the cave. She prayed that the kids would be safe. She tried to go as slow as possible to give Cody as much time to get to the lodge and get the kids out of there before Roy returned. She knew as soon as she left with Roy she would not return, she would never see her daughter, Alex or Cody again. Her only concern was for their safety.
After almost two hours of walking through the mountains Roy and Jennifer reach the cave. It was dark out by the time they got there and was getting colder by the minute. Roy made Jennifer carry some wood into the cave and had her build a fire to warm up the cave and give them the ability to see.
"So where is it?" Roy demanded.
Jennifer carefully walked back into the cave and pulled out a box that was placed carefully up on a tall ledge. She carried it back over to Roy. He grabbed the box from her. He set the box down on the ground and opened it up. He took all the papers and photos and threw them into the fire and watched them burn.
"Are there any copies anywhere else? Is this everything?" Roy demanded questioning her. He was in her face. Jennifer was shaking her head no, crying. As he demanded Jennifer kept walking backwards until she couldn't go any further. Her back was up against the wall of the cave. Roy's hand went around Jennifer's throat. Her face was turning red, she could not breathe. She thought this would be the end.
"You have denied me the right to have my wife warm my bed. You please me tonight and I will let those little brats go." Roy commanded.
"And Cody, you will leave him alone?" Jennifer pleaded.
"It all depends on how much you satisfy me," Roy smirked.
Jennifer did not want to, but she began kissing Roy, but if it could save Cody and Alex then she had to. Jennifer knew what Roy liked. She trembled as she did it, like so many other times she had with Roy in the past. When they were finished, she rolled away from Roy and she felt dirty and ashamed.
Roy leaned over her, kissing her on her shoulder, "Your always such a good fuck." Jennifer just closed her eyes and tensed up. Jennifer's heart was breaking. She loved Cody and just felt like she betrayed him.
Jennifer was just lying on the floor of the cave. Roy got up and got dressed. As he got dressed, "Jenny, you made it so easy for me to find you this time. When you signed over the property from your grandfather, I knew you came back here." Jennifer just started to cry. Then she started to get up, "No sweet heart, you are going to stay just as you are. So, when they find you, lover boy will know that I had you and you will always be mine." Roy punched her in the face, then he kicked her in the ribs and stomach. He took off his belt and used it as a whip. Whipping her across her bare back. Jennifer just screamed in pain. Then he got the bright idea to leave a mark on her, he grabbed a stick from the fire and burned her back with the hot tip. Jennifer screamed in agony as her flesh burned.
Cody was tracking their movements, he made it close enough to the cave to see dull light shining and could hear her screams. He had to get to her fast before it was too late. The rangers were also closing in. Cody spotted Jasper and Kelly and the three of them moved closer.
Back in the cave. "Jenny you were always so gullible. I told you, if you ever cheat on me, I will kill your lover. I will fulfill my promise and kill Cody Hawkes. I also told you, if you ever left me, I would kill you. The only thing I will miss is how good you make me feel when we fuck." He gave her one last kiss. He grabbed Jennifer by the hair and slammed her head against the floor and she went unconscious. He began to gather his stuff. He gave her one last kick in the stomach. Jennifer had nothing left. She moved from the force of the kick.
Roy pulled out a gun, "Goodbye sweetheart." He knelt beside her. "You took my daughter from me. Now you will never see her again. She is mine and will never leave my side." Roy started to pull the trigger. "Hmmm… second thought, killing you will end your suffering too soon. I want you to slowly feel your life leave your body." Roy untriggered the gun.
"High Mountain Rangers, drop your weapon," Jasper shouted.
Roy turned toward the entrance and saw Jasper, Kelly and Cody all pointing their rifles at him. Roy moved his arm with the gun and pointed it at the rangers. He started to cock the trigger of his gun. A gun shot rang out and Roy fell to the ground. The smoke was lingering out of Jasper's gun.
Jasper ran over to Roy; he kicked the gun away from him. Jasper checked Roy, "He's dead".
At the same time Cody and Kelly ran over to Jennifer, seeing her naked badly beaten body.
"Jen…Jennifer wake up." Cody cried. He quickly took off his coat and threw it over Jennifer's naked body, so she could keep warm. "Jennifer please wake up."
Kelly had her paramedic bag and started to assess Jennifer's injuries. "Jen, can you hear me. Jen, can you hear me." Kelly tried to get a response from Jennifer.
Kelly got the radio. "Lady Hawke to base. Come back base."
"Base to Lady Hawke, this is Bird Dog, come back." voice on the radio called.
"We have found Jen. She is in very bad condition. We are requesting medivac evacuation at the cave near Crescent Ridge. Please send Avila ASAP. Lady Hawke out."
"Copy that, Avila is on her way. ETA 15 minutes. Base out," David stated.
"We also have a deceased person here. I believe it is Roy McGovern, but not confirmed yet." Lady Hawke out.
"Lady Hawke, are you all okay?"
"Yes, Jasper, Cody and I are all okay. Lady Hawke out."
Cody just wanted to pull Jennifer up in his arms, but with the extent of her injuries it could do more harm than the comfort he could give her. Cody was just softly talking to her. Telling her she will be alright. That the kids are safe at the ranger station, and that he loved her.
Kelly looked over at her brother, "Jasper are you okay?"
Jasper was a bit silent, but just shook his head yes. He had never shot or killed anyone before. He did what he had to do but was in shock. Kelly did not like how Jasper looked. So, she ran over to him. "Jasper look at me. I think you are in shock. She grabbed a blanket and rapped it around him. She told him to sit and to put his head between his knees. Then she ran back to Jennifer. Kelly and Cody started to address the cuts on Jennifer's back.
Chopper landed on the helicopter pad with medical crew awaiting to grab their patient. Jennifer was quickly transferred from the chopper to the hospital's gurney. Kelly had radioed Jennifer's condition to the hospital staff.
Cody was just shaking; he told Jennifer earlier in the day that he loved her and could not be losing her already.
Robin, Matt, Alex and Hailey showed up at the hospital and met Cody in the waiting room with Jessica. Cody saw them walk in the room and he slowly got up. The two kids ran up to Cody and hugged him.
"Is my momma, okay?" Hailey asked.
Cody knelt to her to get to her eye level. "Your mom was hurt very badly. The doctors and nurses are doing everything they can for her. We just have to wait and see."
"What about that man who took my momma, my father?" Hailey's voice faded with the last part.
"He will never hurt you, your mom or anyone ever again," Cody answered back and gave the little girl another big hug.
"Code, can I talk to you?" Matt asked. Matt and Cody stepped away. The kids sat down with Robin. "How did she look?"
"Matt, its bad. When I approached the cave, I could hear her screams as he beat and burned her. When we got into the cave, I thought she was dead, she was lying there naked on the floor. I am pretty sure he raped her," Cody said with tears coming down his face. Matt gave Cody a big hug. Cody just cried in his brother's arms.
The sheriff walked into the waiting room with Jessica, "Code, I am so sorry. Keep me posted on how she is doing. I must go back to the scene with Jessica and the sheriff for the death investigation. We will need to get your statement, but it can wait. Robin is going to stay here with you."
A few hours had passed. Hailey was asleep in Cody's lap. "Momma?"
Cody comforted Hailey. "Your mom is a fighter; doctor says that she is resting now."
Hailey asked, "Can I see her?" Alex started to stir as well.
"I am afraid not. I want you and Alex to go with my sister-in-law Robin and get some rest. I will give you a call in the morning and give you an update on your mom as soon as I get one." Cody said. Hailey shook her head yes. Hailey turned to give Cody a big hug around his neck, and he gave her one back. Cody gave Alex a hug as well. "You did good tonight son. I am proud of you."
The chopper landed near the cave with Jessica, Matt, and the Sheriff. Since the shooting involved a cop and federal officers the local FBI will be on the scene. Matt brought the sheriff along as it involved his family. Matt had to stay out of the investigation, so it did not look like they covered anything up. The FBI was already on the scene. Jasper had to turn over his rifle and badge while the investigation was under way. Both Kelly and Jasper had given their statements to the FBI. Jessica was to give her statement as to what she saw.
Agent Jones came over to Matt and the Sheriff, "I want to let you know, according to Officer Kelly Hawkes and Officer Jasper Hawkes the shooting was in self-defense. We still need to talk to a Cody Hawkes; I understand he is your brother, and the victim Ms. Jennifer Montgomery. Is there anything you can tell me about her?"
"Has it been confirmed that the deceased is Roy McGovern?" Matt asked.
Agent Jones responded, "Yes, it is Officer Roy McGovern of the Miami police department."
"The victim's legal name is Jennifer McGovern; she is the wife of Officer Roy McGovern."
"Jennifer McGovern, you said. Your children said her name was Montgomery."
Matt said, "Roy McGovern is the estranged husband of the victim Jennifer McGovern. Jen has been running from her husband for nearly twelve years and has used several aliases. According to Jen, Roy was physically and mentally abusive towards her. Also, Jen was aware of some illegal activities conducted by Officer McGovern. She may have had some proof."
"We have found some scorched documents in the fire as well as some drives in his bag that we will be doing some analysis on. How well do you know Mrs. McGovern?"
Matt responded, "I met Jen when she was twelve years old, shortly after she moved in with her grandfather. Her parents were killed in a car accident. I had many interactions with Jen and her grandfather after that. My wife was close with Jen for a while when she was a teenager. Jen and her grandfather were guests at my wedding. I saw her when her grandfather passed away, I helped her with the arrangements for the funeral and closing the lodge up as she was not expecting to return anytime soon. I saw her briefly in San Francisco a year or so later. She would have been about twenty-one or twenty-two at the time. Then I did not see her again until this past fall. She has been living with my brother Cody and his son Alex up until a couple of weeks ago. Jen turned over the Lodge that her grandfather built to the High Mountain Rangers after she could not pay the back taxes and the property was going to be auctioned off in the spring. She been staying at the lodge until she can figure out her next steps."
"How long have you known she been living under an alias?"
"Since about Christmas. She was looking at a job we had posted at the station. I could not hire her as she did not want to go through the background checks. We told the rangers to watch out for Roy as he was her estranged husband, and he was very dangerous. We did not give them any other details."
"Can you tell me the events of this evening?" Agent Jones asked.
"I was working in the Commander's office when I heard a commotion coming from the front office. Hailey, Jen's daughter and Alex, my nephew came into the ranger station frantic. Officer David Tao and Josh Cutler had met them at the front door. They had ridden up on Alex and my brother Cody's horses. It was dark by the time they got to the station. Normally they would not have been riding the horses after dark. Hailey was crying that he took her mom, he was going to hurt her. Josh got her to calm down and told them to slow down. I came into the room just in time to hear my nephew explain what happened. He gave us details that Roy had taken Jen to some cave four miles away. He gave us the map that his father had given him. Showing where Cody was going to search and where he wanted the rangers to search. When they had gotten back to the lodge after fishing, Roy was there waiting for Jen. Alex tried to get Hailey and himself out of there, but Roy pulled a gun on them. He then tied them up. When Jen got there, he said he was her husband. He kept referring to my brother Cody as her lover boy."
Agent Jones, "Was Mrs. McGovern having a sexual relationship with your brother?"
"I don't believe so," Matt said. "Alex mentioned that Roy had Hailey's birth certificate and Cody was listed as Hailey's father. So that might be why he was calling him lover boy. My brother would have been very happily married at the time of Hailey's birth. Cody and his wife were expecting a baby as well about that time. Jen had confirmed with the Ranger's that Roy was Hailey's father, but Hailey believed her father died in a car accident a couple of months before she was born. Alex was under the impression that Cody was aware of the birth certificate, but said he was not her father."
"Your brother had not told you?" Agent Jones asked.
"No, I was not aware of it at all." Matt said.
"It seems like Mrs. McGovern is good at lying. Why would you think she was telling the truth about Officer McGovern?" Agent Jones asked.
"You can get an instinct for someone. I have known her since she was a child, so I know it's not in her nature. If you had seen how difficult it was for her to tell me what she went thru, you would know she was telling the truth."
"Thank you for your directness, Director Hawkes, I will be in touch. We will need to set up interviews with the other rangers in the morning, say about nine a.m. at the ranger station. I think we are done with your team for tonight. I will have questions for your brother, Mrs. McGovern and possibly their children to confirm what you have said."
"See you at nine a.m. tomorrow." Matt confirmed.
Matt went over to his children and gave them both hugs, "let's go home," Matt stated.