Chapter 149 – End of a Long Day

Doug got up and moved over to sit next to Nathan, but Nathan got up and motioned for Doug to take his seat. He then knelt down. Both Doug and Jack turned to face Nathan.

"What?" Jack asked.

"I am going to go out that side door by the bar." Nathan said. "When I text you, I want you to quietly and quickly come out. Don't take your eyes off Elizabeth. If I don't text you within five minutes of going out that door, I want you to text Katie 'the cows are in the creek'. You got that?"

"What?" Doug asked.

"It doesn't need to make sense to you." Nathan said. "What I asked is, do you understand?"

"Yes." Jack said.

Doug nodded. Jack nodded again and pulled his phone out. Nathan nodded. He patted Doug on the back and went out the side door. As soon as Nathan had stood up, Doug leaned over and looked at Jack.

"What is going on?" Doug asked.

"We need to get out of here." Jack said. "But we need to wait until the coast is clear. I am going to assume that they are trying to get us out of here without creating a scene."

Elizabeth overheard and stiffened.

"I promise." Jack said. "We will keep you safe."

"Okay." Elizabeth said.

Jack was looking at his phone while Doug was looking around. It was getting close to the time when both Jack and Doug's phone beeped.

"Let's go." Jack said.

Jack stood up and pulled Elizabeth up. He wrapped his arm around her and made it look like they were going to sneak out for a few minutes. Doug waited and counted to ten before he got up and followed them. As soon as they were out the door, Nathan and what Jack assumed were undercover agents were right there. Doug joined them a moment later.

"Move." Nathan said.

The four of them quickly moved toward the car where Andrew was already waiting. Nathan opened the back door and was watching while the other three quickly climbed in. Nathan quickly shut the door and climbed in the front seat. Andrew immediately pulled out and turned to go out the far side of the track.

For the second time that day, Elizabeth was scared. Jack could tell that she was upset. He quickly wrapped his arms around her and pulled her as close as he could while still remaining buckled up.

"I am sorry about this." Jack said. "We will be fine. We will be back at the farm in a little bit. I am sure everyone else will be along shortly."

"Jack." Nathan said.

"What?" Jack asked.

"Please text your grandfather that we are clear and heading back." Nathan said.

"I got it." Doug said.

Doug texted James and John. Jack held Elizabeth. They were quiet the rest of the ride back to the farm. Andrew pulled up to the house.

"Are you going to be okay if I head back to the hotel?" Andrew asked.

"We will be fine." Jack said. "Just make sure that we get in the house."

"Of course." Andrew said.

Jack and Doug got out. Jack reached back in and helped Elizabeth out of the car. Nathan sat there for a moment. Jack, Doug and Elizabeth headed up the steps. Jack quickly thumbed the lock and went in. Jack turned a few lights on. He then went back to Elizabeth and pulled her to him. He kissed her and then pulled back a bit.

"I am sorry that everything is crazy right now." Jack said. "Are you okay?"

"I am now." Elizabeth said.

Jack gave her a dimpled grin. She leaned in and gave him another quick kiss.

"Alright." Doug said. "Enough. If I am going to have to play chaperone, I want you to behave."

Elizabeth giggled. Jack turned his head and stuck his tongue out at Doug. That only made Elizabeth laugh harder. A few minutes later Nathan came in. Jack and Doug looked at him.

"What happened back there?" Jack asked.

Nathan motioned toward the table, so the four of them sat down.

"Several things happened." Nathan said. "When they took Bouchard away, he let it slip that he wasn't the only 'brother' there." The undercover identified at least three other frat brothers that were there. Also the guy that you were creeped out by, he was the guy from this afternoon. Chris wanted you guys out of there and safe, before the undercover agents made their move."

"So they were going to arrest the guy?" Elizabeth asked.

"Yes." Nathan said. "They were also going to detain the other frat brothers for questioning."

Jack could tell that there was something that Nathan wasn't sharing, but he wasn't sure that he wanted to ask.

"How is this going to affect tomorrow?" Doug asked.

"Not sure yet." Nathan said. "I know that we will probably have a few more security at church. At least we are going there and straight back here."

"Thank you for keeping us safe." Elizabeth said. "I am going to change."

She got up and moved from the table.

"Elizabeth." Jack said.

She turned to look at him.

"If you want, I can put your jewelry back in my safe." Jack said. "Otherwise there is a safe in Laura's closet. Your thumb print should open it."

"I will try that first." Elizabeth said.

"We will be down in a moment." Nathan said.

Jack watched Elizabeth walk away and turn down the stairs. He waited another few moments, then he turned back to Nathan.

"What aren't you saying?" Jack asked.

"I picked up on it as well." Doug said. "I assume that you didn't want to scare Elizabeth."

Nathan let out a harsh breath.

"The guy." Nathan said.

"A professional, like I said before." Jack said.

Nathan nodded.

"Elizabeth or Jack?" Doug asked.

"Unclear." Nathan said.

Both Doug and Jack nodded.

"Doug, I have a question for you." Nathan said.

"Shoot." Doug said.

"What was Jacy Pennybaker talking about?" Nathan asked. "She said it had to do with your older brother and her step siblings."

"I was trying to figure it out myself." Jack said.

Doug closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

"I have no idea." Doug said. "Jack can attest to this that David has hardly been home since he graduated."

"True." Jack said.

"Can you think of anything?" Nathan asked.

Doug closed his eyes again and was thinking. He opened them and looked at Jack.

"Maybe it had something to do with what happened at Christmas." Doug said.

"Maybe." Jack said.

"What happened at Christmas?" Nathan asked.

"David was home." Doug said. "He went out with some friends. He got into an altercation. I don't know the details. You would have to have someone talk to Dad. All I know is that he got a call from a couple of officers and he left. When he returned, he had David with him and he was angry. I asked David about it later that night and he told me to mind my own business."

"Sounds like David." Jack said.

"What does that mean?" Nathan asked.

"You need to understand a few things." Doug said. "I don't know how much you caught last night. I am eighteen and will be nineteen on October 27th. My sister Danielle is nineteen and will be twenty on September 17th. David is twenty and will be twenty-one on October 25th. We may only be two years apart in age, but we are worlds apart. David has always been the one to push back against my parents. My grandfather has pushed pretty hard for David to go to medical school and eventually join his practice.

Don't get me wrong, David is smart enough to do it, but he doesn't always apply himself. He graduated near the top of his class and if he would have actually tried, he could have been the top. He is going to school at Florida State because that was where his girlfriend went. He could have gone to any school that he wanted. He had been accepted to several top schools all over the country. David doesn't come home much because he doesn't want to have to deal with my grandfather and him pushing to apply himself."

"So what is he going to school for?" Nathan asked.

"Your guess is as good as mine." Doug said. "He has changed his major several times. He is living with his girlfriend and two other people. Mom and Dad aren't happy with the situation, but there is little that they can do."

"I see." Nathan said. "So you think that this thing at Christmas might be what Jacy was talking about?"

"It is the only thing I can think of." Doug said.

"I will talk to Devin and see if he can talk to your dad." Nathan said.

"Thank you." Doug said. "Let's head downstairs. I want to grab late scores."

"I want to check a few things as well." Jack said. "I also want to make sure everyone else gets back safe."

The three of them headed downstairs. Jack went to his room to change and grabbed his laptop. He remembered about his clothes, so he put them to soak in the second sink in the bathroom. On the way back to the sitting area, he knocked on Elizabeth's door. She opened it and smiled at Jack.

"Did the lock work?" Jack asked.

"Yes." Elizabeth said.

"I just wanted to check and say goodnight." Jack said. "We are going to wait for everyone else."

"Okay." Elizabeth said. "Goodnight."

Elizabeth took a step closer and gave Jack a quick kiss. Before it could get too intense, Jack stepped back.

"Goodnight." Jack said in a husky voice.

Elizabeth smiled and shut the door. Jack went to sit with Doug and Nathan. He opened his laptop and tried to work, but he kept thinking how close Elizabeth was. He saw the scores that he wanted and then he stood up.

"Where are you going?" Doug asked.

"I need to think and focus for a bit." Jack said. "I am just going to go sit at the counter upstairs."

"Okay." Doug said.

Jack went upstairs, poured himself some iced tea and sat down at the counter with his laptop. He had only been up there about five minutes when he heard the front door open. He looked over and saw Lee and his grandparents coming in. He nodded his head that he saw them.

"JP." John said.

"Sir." Jack said. "Everything alright?"

"Yes." James said coming in behind John.

"Where is everyone else?" Gran asked.

"Doug and Nathan are downstairs." Jack said. "Elizabeth went to bed."

Gran nodded and came over to the kitchen. She sat down next to Jack.

"Are you guys okay?" Gran asked.

"Elizabeth was a little shaken." Jack said. "But I am pretty sure it was better when she went to her room."

"How are you doing?" Gran asked, giving Jack a pointed look.

"Trying." Jack said. "A lot has happened, especially today. Lots of memories, lots of emotions."

"I am sure." Gran said. "Are you going to be here for a bit?"

"Yes." Jack said. "Can you watch the kettle? I want to change. Also, is your shirt and vest soaking?"

"I can watch the kettle and yes." Jack said.

Gran nodded and headed to her room.