Her best friend’s genuine concern for her as she searched her eyes set her body trembling and the threat of sobbing rose to the brink.
Buffy rubbed Jenna’s upper arms briskly—the first warmth even the shower hadn’t given her. “Never mind all that for now. Let’s sit by the window.”
Jenna nodded, thankful for the hand offered. Her friend led her out of the bathroom, leaving her to stand alone while she pulled two chairs over to a small table by the window.
“Come sit here.” Buffy took her hand in hers and walked alongside her to be seated.
Jenna gratefully accepted the coffee in her trembling hands.
Buffy reached over and tucked a lock of her unkempt hair behind her ear. “You look like shit.”
Intense heartache and anger rendered her immobile, stuck in a cesspool of self-loathing and confusion. She shook her head and closed her eyes, unable to hold back the tears any longer. “I don’t understand any of this. Jack said I sent him an invitation, and that there was a man in bed next to me? I can’t remember any of it!”
Her friend rubbed her back. The attempt to comfort her had the exact opposite effect, making her queasy. “Maybe we should phone the police and get you to a hospital. We can talk on the way.”
Panic rose up in her and she grabbed her friend’s hand, squeezing hard. “Oh God, please no. I checked everything in the shower, and I seriously doubt I had sex last night. Besides, I can’t face a hospital...I need to find Jack...” Jenna set her cup down, sloshing coffee up the sides. A pathetic groan escaped her dry mouth as she tried to keep the very real threat of puking again at bay.
“Okay, okay, if you’re sure you weren’t....that you didn’t have sex, we’ll find Jack first. I’m not sure what’s going on with you, but we’ll get through this together.” Buffy shook her head and took her cell from her pocket. “Try and drink some of that coffee. I promised Charles and Twyla I’d call once I found you.”
Buffy got up and opened the door to stand just outside and make her call. Her voice muffled as Jenna held her coffee between both hands and sipped at it. Slowly, the caffeine worked its magic, and she regained some appearance of being in control over her emotions.
Her friend returned to sit at the table next to her. “What the hell did you do last night?”
“I don’t remember anything before Jack waking me up.”
Buffy sat quietly, listening to her, but her gaze kept going to Jenna’s arm. Then her eyes opened wide and she practically jumped to the edge of her seat, reaching over to grab Jenna’s upper arm and turn it gently. “You know what? I don’t think you were drunk at all.”
“How can you say that? Trust me, this is about as bad as a hangover can get.” She shrugged at the faint bruise her friend showed her. “So, I probably banged into something.”
“Look closer.” Buffy tapped a red-polished nail in front of a tiny dark speck in the center of the bruise. “That’s a needle track. Unless you got a flu shot yesterday, odds are you were drugged.”
Jenna gripped the arms of her chair, and closed her eyes to stop the room from spinning. She trudged through the murky recesses of her fragmented memory.
I was standing in Daniel’s office…
She broke out in a cold sweat.
A slight breeze…
“Daniel!”
Her hand flew to her chest, and she swallowed the sour bile that threatened to choke her.
“Daniel drugged you?” Buffy took her hands and squeezed them reassuringly.
Having her so close was nauseating, and she pulled her hands away and waved a hand in her face, feeling like she might faint. “Please, I need some air.”
Her friend got up and scurried behind her to open the window. Jenna breathed in deeply. With each breath, the nausea passed and the oppressive weight lifted.
“I was in his office after Twyla and you tore out of the ranch. He said he knew I was up to something…” She grabbed a corner of her shirt and wiped the sweat from her face. “He said he wasn’t going to stand back and let me ruin his life.”
Buffy jogged to the bathroom and returned with a damp face cloth. She moved in to wipe her face, and Jenna stopped her, taking the cloth from her hand. “Thank you, but I’m feeling a little claustrophobic and need some breathing room.”
“Of course, I’m sorry.”
The last thing her best friend needed to be was sorry.
“Did you see the needle?” she asked and returned to her seat on the opposite side of the table.
Jenna pressed the cold cloth to the back of her neck. “No, but I remember something, like a bee sting on my arm...and then everything went black.” The cloth quickly grew warm as she rubbed her nape and chest.
“The bastard set you up! He did all this so you’d lose one of the most important people in your life…Jack!” Buffy balled her hands and shook her fists. “We really should call the cops.”
Jenna gently covered her fist with a hand. “No way. I don’t want to have to explain all of this…” Her cheeks burned as she turned her head to look around the disheveled room. “They’ll think I’m some psycho drug addict or worse.”
Despite the marching band in her head, and the dredge from the bottom of a sewer that threatened to fill her mouth, she got up, a tad too quickly and swayed.
“Oh God, somebody shoot me and put me out of my misery.”
“Let’s get out of here.” Buffy stood and picked up both coffee cups. “If you don’t want to call the cops, or go to the hospital, where do you want to go?”
“For starters, I’d like to go home and get out of these clothes, and then I’m going to do what I should’ve done a long time ago.” Jenna put a hand on Buffy’s shoulder on the way out of the room.
“And that would be?”
“Tell Jack everything.”
Jack drove around aimlessly for quite some time before swerving to the shoulder of the road, spewing gravel as he came to an abrupt stop, and pounded the steering wheel.
“What the hell am I doing?” He looked back over his shoulder for oncoming traffic. The second the coast was clear, he shot back onto the asphalt and peeled a U-turn, filling the air with smoke and the stench of burned rubber.
None of this makes any sense. If Jenna wanted to end things between them there was no way in hell she’d be so manipulative and hurtful. Yes, I know I saw a man in bed with her, but I also saw the hurt and confusion in her expressive eyes. No, there’s definitely more to this story.
Less than an hour later, he sat on the back deck of the estate, nursing a hot cup of coffee Twyla brought out for him before leaving them alone to talk.
“Buffy called shortly before you arrived, so I know what’s going on.” His mouth set in a grim line before proceeding. “Jenna doesn’t remember anything. Did you really find a man in bed with her?” His big hands opened and closed, clenched so tight, his knuckles turned white.
“I’ll never forget turning on the light and finding her in bed with another man.” He paused and took a few deep breaths. “Jenna was out cold, and the guy shot out of bed and jumped into his jeans pretty fast.”
“Please tell me you landed a fist in his face.” Charles’ face turned red with anger as he clenched his teeth.
“No.” Jack shook his head, pissed at himself for missing the chance. “I was in shock. I couldn’t speak never mind deck the guy.”
“What was Jenna doing before he left the room?”
“I had to wake her up. Like I said, she was out cold. It took her a few minutes to realize I was even there. All I could smell was stale booze, and what I saw… You know, looking back, I didn’t see a shred of guilt in her expression. All I saw in those green eyes of hers was fear and confusion. But all I saw was red. I didn’t even give her a chance to talk.” He raked his fingers through his hair.
Charles got up and started to pace. “I’d lay money on Howard or Daniel, maybe even both of them being behind this somehow. Besides, do you really believe our Jenna is capable of someth
ing like that?”
“Ugh!” Jack hit the deck with his fist. “In my heart I know Jenna wouldn’t do this to me...but I can’t dismiss what I saw with my own two eyes.”
“And that’s exactly what he wanted to happen.” Jenna stepped out onto the deck and rushed to kneel at his feet.
Jack searched her tortured expression for a clue as to how he was supposed to feel. His heart wrenched seeing her in such a sick-looking state.
“I was drugged,” she stated breathlessly as she pushed up the sleeve of her shirt and pointed out the puncture mark. “Daniel drugged me and set it up to look like I was screwing around on you. You have to believe me.”
“Oh God, Jenna, do you remember anything at all? Did that guy….” His words caught in his throat.
“No, I don’t think so.” She bowed her head, but not quick enough to hide the pain that darkened her eyes.
Jack lifted her chin and gazed into her tear-filled eyes. Could I be any bigger of a jerk? He gathered her in his arms and pressed his lips to her damp cheek. “Oh God, Jenna... I’m so sorry I doubted you... doubted our love.” He swallowed the huge lump in his throat as he helped her up and held her at arms’ length so he could see her face to face. “Please, can you find it in your heart to forgive me? You have every reason not to...it’s just...I was so excited to get your invite...and then I opened the door...and...” His voice cracked as he drew her to him and captured her lips in a heartfelt kiss. He pulled back and took her tear streaked face in his hands and looked into her beautiful green eyes. “I’m sorry. I’m begging you for the opportunity to make it up to you, each day...every day, for the rest of my life.”
Jenna furrowed her brow as she listened to Jack apologize, so intensely; his fear of losing her was almost tangible. This man, who only a short time ago walked in on her in bed with another man…
“Please Jack, you have nothing to be sorry for. Any man would’ve reacted the same way, perhaps even worse. You didn’t go home...you came here?”
He shook his head solemnly. “I drove for awhile trying to makes sense of things before I turned around and came straight here. Any man doesn’t share the love we have between us. How could I think for one second you’d do something like that to me?”
“Um... hello people!”
Jenna glanced past him at Buffy. Twyla went straight to Charles open arms, and her best friend looked from them to her and Jack and scowled.
“Let’s try to have a little compassion for the only one flying solo out here.”
A fleeting moment of dead silence preceded a burst of explosive laughter, shattering the wall of tension. Jack sat on a deck chair and pulled her down to sit on his lap, squeezing her hand so tight, like he feared if he let go she’d run away.
The aroma of chocolate chip cookies, straight from the oven wafted out to them. Charles was quick to offer Edna a helping hand with a tray laden with fresh coffee and cookies.
As much as she loved Edna, and her baking, if the delicacies came any closer to her, she’d be spilling her own cookies right then and there. She held up a hand to ward off the plate being passed to her, shaking her head while holding her tummy.
Jack rubbed her back. “Are you still feeling poorly?”
She feigned a smile. “That’s putting it mildly.”
Edna cupped the side of her face in her weathered hand: her eyes brimmed with moisture as she kissed her cheek. “Thank God you’re okay. I’m glad you’re home.”
She pressed her lips firmly together and nodded, for fear if she opened her mouth to speak, she’d let loose the torrent of tears that lingered precariously on the edge of her already tattered emotions.
The housekeeper pressed a damp hanky to her mouth and retreated back into the kitchen.
“So, I guess the question is, where do we go from here?” Buffy grabbed a cookie and sunk her teeth into it as she flopped back in a lounge chair.
“Before we do anything, there is so much I need to tell you.” Jenna tugged her lip with her teeth.
She turned towards Charles. “Please, can you help me? Jack needs to know everything… and I mean everything.”
While he sipped at the much needed dose of caffeine, Charles filled him in about their troubles with Howard Meed and Daniel.
Jack hardly believed all that had gone on without his knowledge. “Wow. Why did you keep me in the dark?” His gaze narrowed on Charles. “Why didn’t you let me know what those two jokers were up to?”
He raised his hands in defense. “I’m sorry, but I couldn’t break Jenna’s trust, and she didn’t want you to worry about her, not with you being so far away. She feared you might hunt them down and do something that might land you in trouble.”
“Both of those assholes could use a good foot up the ass.” He released Jenna and clenched the arms of the deck chair, grinding his teeth. Jack caught Charles’ sideways glance, a smirk plastered on his face.
His body relaxed and he laughed at Jenna. “Okay, maybe you had a point.”
“Jenna was just looking out for you. In case you haven’t noticed, she’s crazy in love with you.”
Jack wrapped his arms around her and nuzzled the crook of her neck. “The feeling is mutual.”
Charles eased back in the swing next to Twyla, cookie in hand.
“I vote we pay Daniel and that weasel Howard Meed a visit.” Jack curled his lip in a snarl.
Jenna set her coffee mug down heavily. “And that’s exactly why I didn’t tell you anything. I didn’t want you behind bars for beating the crap out of them, even though both deserve it.”
Jack‘s snarl turned to a grin. “Okay, I get it.” He took her hand in his and gently stroked it. “We have to do something. The guy can’t get away with this bullshit.”
“I agree. The two of them need to pay dearly for what happened at that motel. But let’s not forget Angel is still living on the ranch. Her well-being has to come first before anything,” Charles added as he brushed the crumbs from his shirt front.
“Yes, Angel needs to be safe. The problem lies in that she’s a very perceptive lady. It may take her longer to process different situations, but there’s no denying she’s very smart. The poor girl just found out she has a sister, and soon will have to deal with losing Daniel.” It worried her to think of how her sister would react to losing him.
“Getting your sister away from Daniel is the best thing for her.” Jack took a sip of his coffee. “Unfortunately, God only knows what’s been going on in that facility over the past twenty years. Least of which is having those girls brainwashed with some kind of hero worship of the guy.”
Jenna put a fist to her mouth and gagged. “It makes me sick to my stomach just thinking about it. I pray we don’t uncover the worst case scenario.”
Twyla reached across Jack to hold Jenna’s hand. “Diane got my job there, and she worked there many years before. She would never be quiet if she saw him do this to the girls.”
Jenna smiled. “Bless you. I so needed to hear that.”
“She’s right. What if we’re looking at this from the wrong angle? What if sex has nothing to do with any of it? What if it’s all about the money? It’s possible he’s manipulating those girls in a loving way as a ploy to get what he’s really after?” Jack suggested.
“You might be on to something. Maybe my mother wasn’t the only one paying cash. I mean, it’s possible my father isn’t the reason behind that arrangement.”
Jenna welcomed the security of being in Jack’s arms. Something she thought she’d lost forever only a short time ago. She glanced over at Charles, who appeared to be entranced with Twyla, and loving every minute of it.
He must’ve sensed her gaze on him for he looked up and smiled her way.
“You did good, my friend. She’s a keeper.”
He grinned sheepishly and held Twyla’s hand up for all to see the stunning sparkler on her ring finger.
“Oh my God!” Jenna jumped to her feet and threw her arms around the newly engaged couple
. “I’m so happy for the two of you.”
Buffy clenched her hands. “Screw Daniel. He’s not going to ruin any more lives. If he wants to fight dirty thinking he’ll win, he picked the wrong opponents.”
“I suggest we try and get Doctor Gilmore over here first thing in the morning. That way, we’ll all be on the same page and can try and figure out exactly where to go from here.” Jenna looked at Jack, dreading the answer to her next question. “When do you have to head back?”
He winked and smiled suggestively. “Right after our meeting with the good doctor.”
Heat rushed to her face and down to her nether regions. “I was hoping you’d say that.” Her eyes filled with happy tears. Thank God I didn’t lose you.
Jack stood and scooped her up in his arms. “And on that note, if you’ll excuse us.”
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Luckily, Dr. Gilmore was more than happy to come out to the estate before his work day at the ranch began. He walked into her father’s library and right over to sit behind the desk. Once settled in the chair, he looked up at Jenna and his cheeks instantly turned red.
“I-I’m sorry. How presumptuous of me. I guess its force of habit to be the one behind the desk.” He made a move to stand.
She put her hand out to stop him. “It’s perfectly fine. Can I get you something, perhaps a cup of coffee?”
“Maybe later. I have to say I’m more than a little curious as to why you were so adamant I come out here rather than meet at the ranch.”
Jenna took a seat next to Jack and gave Charles a nod to begin, having allotted him the task of bringing the doctor up to speed.
The psychiatrist listened intently as Charles told him of their quest to uncover the truth behind Daniel, and how Howard Meed fit in to the whole sordid ordeal. His face remained void of expression until he got to the part about Jenna being drugged. His posture grew rigid and his bushy eyebrows arched as he stroked his stubbly jaw.
Jenna shuddered and kept her gaze trained out the window in an attempt to keep her anger at bay.
“Well, that’s quite the story.”
Angels In Red Page 23