by Lisa B
I want to thank everyone for the words of encouragement....It's greatly appreciated.
Lisa B
Chapter 60
The house was alive with a flurry of activity. Jane and Brenda were busy shoving clothes into suitcases. A hasty family meeting had been held to decide what action to take. Everyone was in agreement whatever was going on with Bodega was pushed to the back burner. Jax, Brenda, Jerry, and Julia would be leaving for London immediately. There was still no word about the body count from the bombing. Julia was antsy to get a move on.
British MI-5 was reporting this was a terrorist attack. Several groups were claiming to behind it...including some fanatical factions of the PLO and the IRA. Barrett Industries had strong holdings in Northern Ireland and was recently in negotiations with Israel. It could also have been just a random act of violence. On the surface, it did not seem connected to Brenda's stalking or the game that was being played on the stock market.
The group started to converge in the living room. John sat huddled with Jax and Jerry. The women were tying up the loose ends associated with mobilizing the crew.
In hushed tones, John asked, "Do you have any idea who could be behind this?"
Jerry and Jax both shook their heads no. Then Jax piped in...."There has been an increase in terrorist activity lately....it could be just a coincidence...who knows."
Jerry continued..."That's why we want to go to London. Barrett Industries continues to be the target. It's too coincidental for me. Jax.....Where the hell is McGillen?"
"Damn, I don't know......Joanne, could you come here please." Jax motions for Joanne and Brian to join the group.
"Where's McGillen?"
Joanne looks at Brian before answering. She had dreaded filling them in about the plane crash ever since Julia broke the news about the bombing. "Well...sir....I've been trying to get a hold of Jock but he seems to be out of range on the cell phone. And they've been unable to contact him on the radio."
"Out of range....Where the hell is he?" Jerry and Jax shout in unison.
Brian and Joanne survey the room to see if anyone noticed the yelling. Luckily, the women were too preoccupied to care what the men were talking about. "I think's better if you keep your voices low." Joanne commands the men. "There's been an accident. Jock went to meet a courier at the airport. He was bringing us phone logs......The plane went down."
Jerry lets out a low whistle...."When did this happen?"
"We found out just before the news of the bombing. Jock went out with the rescue party to find the plane." Brian answered.
The men huddle closer. Jane and Brenda notice the change in the atmosphere of the room.
Brenda whispers to Jane while Julia makes some phone calls, "What do you think is going on over there? I get the feeling something else has happened." She nods towards the huddled group near the fireplace.
Filled with a growing sense of fear, Jane agrees with her daughter-in-law. "What ever it is...it's not good. John always gets that look when something has gone terribly wrong. Brenda...see if you can get close enough to find out. I have a feeling the men would like to keep us in the dark."
Brenda smiles cospiratorially at Jane and walks up to the group of men. They all stop talking when she gets within earshot and switch gears entirely when she joins them.
"Dad, we'll be staying at the London apartment to help Julia. Once things start to settle down, we'll set up camp at Devonshire. We've only been able to get bits and pieces of the damage from the CNN reports." Jax outlines their plans to his father.
"Good, good.....Brenda...." John makes a point of welcoming her to the group so she won't be suspicious. "join us. Jerry...." he hits Jerry on the leg..."move over you big lug and let Brenda sit next to her husband. We we're just going over the game plan."
Jerry grumbles and walks over to the fireplace refusing to sit so closely to Brenda.
Smiling sweetly at John, Brenda says..."I caught what Jerry was saying.....So..." she turns her attention to her husband.."how long do you think we'll be staying in London?"
Brenda notices how John and Jax eyes meet momentarily before he answers. "I'm not sure darling....we were thinking maybe it would be best if you stay here with mother. We were hoping you could get Julia to stay here too."
Indignantly, she answers...."Julia and I have to go....The bomb went off in Barrett Tower....our employees are going to expect Julia to show up and see the damage first hand. Is there something you're keeping from me....Jax....you can't really believe Julia and I would stay behind."
Jax pats her hand. "I understand. It's just...well.. Julia has been so emotional. It would be such a strain, but of course you're right....the employees would expect Julia to be there. But Brenda...." his tone becomes stern..."once the initial assessments are made, I don't want you staying in London. I'll have Brian take the two of you to Devonshire. MI-5 still hasn't found out who set the bomb. Don't fight me on this."
Brenda shakes her head in agreement. She gets up to go back to the packing. "You're sure there's nothing else?" she questions one last time.
"Sure."
Jane waits on the front porch for Brenda. Gazing out at the richness of the Alaskan countryside, she wonders how anyone could bomb a building. She said a silent prayer no one was hurt too badly. According to the reports, the bomb went off before rush hour. Rescue crews were still looking through the rubble.
Jane turns when she hears the front door open. "Well...?"
Brenda walks up beside her putting her arm around Jane's waist. "They're lying through their teeth. Something else has happened but for some reason they don't want us to know. Jax tried to convince me to stay here with Julia."
Jane leans forward and graps the railing her knuckles turning white. "Then they're afraid...and they don't know what will happen next. You'd probably never guess from looking at the place, but this is practically Fort Knox. I noticed that the troops had been brought in. The place is crawling with security."
"Jane...I don't see anyone."
Jane takes a deep breath and sighs...."over there..." she nods towards a clump of trees...."see the outline of the building just beyond the trees...it looks like a cabin. That's the command center...men with semi-automatic weapons have been filing in and out of there all morning. Most of them are dressed in camouflage.....I saw at least 20 of them fan out around the perimeter while you were talking to the men. So is Jax letting you go to London?"
Brenda strains her eyes to see the cabin. Distracted by her determination to spot at least one man hiding in the woods, she answers..."Yes....he said he wants us to go to Devonshire while he and Jerry figure out what's going on."
In a moment of weakness, Jane puts her arm around Brenda's shoulders. "Then he's locking you up in our English Fortress. Heaven help us."
Brenda notices the tears in Jane's eyes.
Inside the house, Joanne is busy trying to get Jock on his cell phone but there is no answer. After discussing it with the Jacks men, it's decided that Joanne will stay behind. Brian will escort the family to London. Joanne and John will take a company helicopter to hook up with the rescue party.
"Dad...are you sure it's a good idea for you to go with Joanne....remember your heart trouble? Lady Jane will be suspicious." Jax tells his father.
"Don't you worry about your mother. I've been handling her for over 30 years without advice from you or Jerry."
Jax laughs..."that's my point....I think it's been more like she's handled you!"
John good-naturedly cuffs his son...."Seriously, she knows I have some rigs that are ready to start bubbling. I'll tell her we're checking on the oil fields."
"I don't know" Jax doubts his father's ability to pull one over on his mother. "She's a smart one."
"Yes..she is...."
Having decided to join forces, the women come back into the house and confront their husbands. Jane starts the tirade..."Listen you old coot, if you think you are going to lock me away with paramilitary types watching my every movement...you had best fill me in...or We are going to jump ship...Vamoose...Hi-Tail it out of here....Understand?"
Flabbergasted more by the comraderie exhibited by the two women than by Jane's words. Jax and John begin slapping each other on the back and exchanging hugs. Finally, the Jacks women had started to work together.
All I have to say is.....flattery will get you guys everywhere...lol. Thanks
for the words of encouragement. I'm glad people are liking the story 'cause
I'm having fun writing it!
Lisa B
Chapter 61
"And just why are you two idiots, grinning like fools. I don't find anything funny about this situation." Jane bristles at the men. "Keep it up and I'll...I'll cuff the two of you."
Jax and John burst into another gale of laughter. His face beet red from the merryment, Jax drops onto his knees in front of his mother. When he finally composes himself, he begs..."Mother...puhlease...not the cuffing...anything...." John giggles behind him..."anything but the cuffing."
Holding his laughter inside, John straightens up and agrees..."Surely Mother...you don't plan on cuffing the boy in front of his wife. Think of his pride....next thing you know Brenda will be cuffing him every time he turns around. Are you sure this is the type of precedent you want to set....My mum didn't cuff me in front of you until we were married at least a year."
Jane and Brenda stand glowering at the men. Tapping her foot on the floor, Jane waits for them to settle down. Brenda bites her lower lip to keep from laughing. She could smell the potential in the air. This was a golden opportunity to mend some of the burnt bridges with her mother-in-law. If ever there was a time for the women to stick together, this was it.
Walking up to the group, Jerry innocently observes...."On your knees....what are you doing Jax, begging mum not to cuff you again?" With this Jax falls to the floor unable to control his laughter while John collapses on the coach. Jerry looks on perplexed as Jane storms off into the kitchen with Brenda following on her heals.
Julia hangs up the phone and walks up to the men. Finding nothing particularly funny, especially since she just got off the phone with the detectives in London, she snaps at them, "How can you joke at a time like this? A tragedy has occurred and I feel like I'm a million miles away from where I need to be. That was London on the phone, so far everyone they've found is alive but there are at least a dozen people still missing. Don't you understand?!!" She yells.."I need to get back there."
Composing himself, Jax draws Julia into his arms and murmurs, "Julia, I'm sorry....we weren't trying to be callous. It's just...well...you know how much I want the past to be just that....The past....and well, Dad and I were just so happy to see Mum and Brenda together without Mum trying to rip her hair out or something." he pauses giving time for his words to register..."the plane is fueled and ready to go. We were just about to load up and head for the airport. I'll go get Brenda." Jax goes into the kitchen to face the women.
John pats Julia on the hand. "Forgive us my dear....we're just fools at heart....I'm an old fool and he's a young one...but are intentions are good."
Bursting into tears, Julia welcomes the embrace of Mr. Jacks. It was times like that this that she sorely missed her father. John sensing her need for a strong male to lean on consoled as a father would. Leading her to the coach, he tried to calm her fears....such a heavy burden for a young person to bear.
While the others were preoccupied, Jerry slipped upstairs for some privacy. It would take about a half hour before the entourage was ready to leave. He called Emily Thompson.
"Emily....it's me Jerry.....yes...we are closer to the truth. But there's been a problem....a bomb was planted at the Barrett building in London. Security has been beefed up at all our facilities just in case there is a connection. I'm flying over tonight."
He closes his eyes and listens to her warnings. Emily had been feeling apprehensive since Karen's accident. She would break out into a cold sweat everytime she tried to convince herself it was a fluke...one of those terrible accidents that shatter lives. She was convinced there was a tie to J&J Jacks and the Brenda's stalkings. He steeled himself for her reaction to the next information he was about to give.
"Emily....Jock McGillen thinks Remi Bodega is behind the problems at Barrett Industries." because he was listening he heard the sharp intake of her breath....he paused a moment longer waiting for her response. When none came, he continued. "He also thinks Bodega may be connected to Karen's death. He had a courier bringing in phone records to see if they could uncover a connection. The plane the courier was on crashed. Jock's out with the rescue party now. I'm sure in his mind this cements the connection." He pauses again wondering how Emily will respond to the news.
After what seemed an eternity, Emily answered...."Have you told them about Isabella yet?"
She had said the words he had been afraid to think. That somehow this was all connected to his friendship with Isabella. It had hammered at him ever since the meeting that it was truly his fault Karen had been killed and now the bomb in London. Emily Thompson was the only person he had confided to about his liason with Isabella. During one of their many talks over the past couple of days, he had bared his soul. They had become kindred spirits...each helping the other to overcome the pain, the agony each day held.
"No" quietly, he answers her question.
And then Emily Thompson did something that few people would have the courage to do. Instead cursing him, she advised him...."Don't tell anyone yet. Your connection to Isabella maybe why he is now after J&J Jacks but no one knew about your brother. It doesn't explain what's been happening to the Barrett sisters." choking back the tears she continues..."Jerry...you don't know if there was a connection between Karen and Bodega as a way to get to you.....and even if you do prove it...how could you have ever known that Karen would be hurt. God's will be done......it's too late to save Karen...hopefully it's not too late to save Isabella. If you tell the other's the truth, you and I both know, if Bodega really is behind all this, he will kill her. Jerry, that's a burden you wouldn't be able to bear."
Jerry hangs his head down and cries. Regaining his composure, he finishes his conversation and promises to call her from England. After washing his face to erase the evidence of his pain, he joins the others back in the living room.
********************** Damascus Syria ********************
Reeking of whiskey, Remi forces himself into Isabella's room. She lies sleeping huddled on the floor. Her eyes still swollen from crying. He wets his lips intoxicated by her body but forces himself to control his desire. He shoves her with the toe of his shoe. When she doesn't budge, he pushes a little harder..all the while wanting to spread her legs and mount her. But Remi had learned long ago, that focusing on instant gratification got you no where. He was after the big prize. There was money to be had and he intended to get it. Everything was falling into place perfectly. Now was not the time side tracked. He shoves her again. Finally, she sits up still groggy with sleep.
When she looks in his eyes, she knows he's drunk. She's seen that look a million times before. Instinctively, she draws her legs up to her chest becoming a smaller target for his potential wrath. He gets down on his knee in front of her, leering as he glimpses the outline of her chest....he reaches out to touch it but stops himself. Measuring his words carefully, he says..."Ah my dear, it won't be long now before I have it all. You miscalculated when you lost faith in me. Together it would have been so much easier....no bloodshed....Romero International would have been enough. We could have made it into the company you have always dreamed it could be." he spits on the floor next to her.."But instead you betrayed me for that weak playboy you call your brother. I made you what you are. I had the connections. Once we hooked up, the money was pouring in....too bad you got on your high horse and thought you were too good...you and your precious family. You weren't thinking of them that first night I had you in my bed." His eyes burn a whole through her shirt and he places a hand on her thigh.
She cringes sure that he is about to rape her to prove his manhood. She is repulsed by the feel of his hand on her body and ashamed that once she had longed for it. Before she realized what type of man she had married. Instead, Remi stands up and heads for the door.
Before he leaves, he says..."Don't get any ideas.....your white knight will never be able to save you now....I made sure of it. It pays to know your enemies....." he laughs maniacally has he goes into his room to sleep it off.
A cold wave passes through, Isabella's body. She shudders. Wondering what
he
meant.
Pieces
of My Heart-62