"He's right Emily. We need to go for now," Eden said and gave Charlie a hug.
Emily walked out of the office and returned with a bag. "These are Christmas gifts for you, Jenny and Maddy. Please tell her we love her, Dad."
"I will and thanks for the gifts. I love you too, Em." Charlie kissed his daughter. Emily picked up her boom-box and they left the office. Charlie stood in the office doorway and watched Eden and Emily leave through the main front doors.
"I guess that was another surprise," Julia said approaching him.
"One Jenny didn't need today. I'm feeling so lost, Julia. Should I go to her now or give her space?"
"Lisa, her old friend, is exactly what she needs now. Shadow was just saying he needs a long walk, Charlie."
"Julia, we don't pay you your true worth."
"Funny you'd bring that up. I was just thinking …"
He returned her smile. "Come on Shadow, we need to chase some seagulls."
*****
Lisa opened the door, took one look at me and pulled me inside. Maddy was napping, thank God, because I was a mess.
"I'm thinking this wasn't one of the good days," she said as we walked to her couch.
"Just this morning, Lisa, I actually felt like I was getting a foot hold. The pieces were starting to fit and I was drawn to the vision of a life, apparently, a disillusioned vision that was only in my head. Top secret information, espionage, spies, that’s not who I was any more than I'd be willingly to stick my hand into a hornet's nest! I thought Watson Investigations searched for and saved children. Then, if that wasn't enough, this drop-dead gorgeous woman comes into the office with Charlie's other daughter…"
"You met Eden and Emily?"
"Yes, I met Eden and Emily. So my life is looking over my shoulder to secure both life and love!" I started pacing.
"That's where you're off the rails, Jenny. Charlie is devoted to you. No contest, no threat from Eden."
"Yeah, right. My vision is intact! What's next, Lisa?" I turned back to face her. "What new skeleton comes out tomorrow?" I didn't know who I was, who this Jenny of a month ago was, or if I wanted to wear her shoes.
Chapter 7
The chilly, overcast day on the beach didn't slow Shadow down from chasing the gulls or returning the driftwood Charlie tossed. Having Jenny home for Christmas had been an answer to his prayers and the returning warmth between them so encouraging, it made the setback this morning so hard hitting. Why did I push so hard getting her back into the current investigation? He wondered, kicking himself. Bringing them back together was his first and foremost goal. It should have been dates, two, three and four, a New Year's Eve embracing the woman he loved, not unlocking the door to Watson Investigations.
He looked around finally and didn't recognize his surroundings. He'd been so deep in thought, he figured, he'd walked over a mile down the beach.
"So buddy, how do we get her back?" he asked Shadow. "You've literately saved our lives before, got any more magic for us now?" Shadow barked in response and started running back toward Watson Manor. "Hell, even you know I'm headed in the wrong direction, buddy."
Charlie turned for the walk back and as the really special moments he and Jenny had shared passed through his mind, he wished a record feature for playback for Jenny was available. "What? Too easy, Lord?" he asked. "Yes, I'm thankful for Christmas, and am just praying a special Valentine's Day is on your agenda for us."
It seemed Shadow had lost interest in returning the piece of driftwood and was running ahead then looking back as if saying, "Hurry up!"
"I wish it was that easy, buddy," he called ahead to Shadow. Letting go of the woman he knew just weeks ago was his brick wall. She was the product of who she had started to become again plus all they had shared over the years of their marriage. His Jenny was on a different path now, and he couldn't take her back to the beginning on that highway headed west to give her all the same shared steps to bring her back, to bring her home.
He still saw in her the woman he'd fallen deeply in love with then, and knew he wanted to win her love again. He too had become a different man than the one on that highway headed west where she found love. Was he now the man she could love again?
Charlie walked into the lobby of Watson Manor and glanced at Julia behind the reservation desk. She nodded her head toward Lisa's unit which told him that Jenny was still in there. He went into the office and saw the message light flashing on his desk phone and sat down.
"Price here. I hope Jenny is doing well. We need to meet. Call me at 555-3421 as soon as you get this message."
Charlie entered the number on his desk phone.
"Charlie, can you get away to meet me?"
"Yes, Mr. Price. When and where?"
"There's a Denny's in Morgan Hill, south of me, north of you. Hour-and-a-half?"
"I'll be there."
"I was so sorry to hear about Jenny. How is your wife doing?"
"Physically on the mend, she's been at home since Christmas. I'll see you in ninety minutes." Charlie gathered up the files on his and Jenny's desks and walked out to Julia.
"I've got to meet our client, Julia. Should I cancel?"
"No, go Charlie. You and Jenny worked really hard to get a major client for Watson Investigations. She just needs time."
"I don't want her to feel abandoned, especially after today."
"I'll let her know, and we're here for her. Go, Charlie."
*****
Charlie found a booth in the back of the Denny's Restaurant and arrived early to get up to speed on Jenny's files. The waitress topped off his coffee cup the third time when Walter Price slid into the booth across from him.
"Thanks, Charlie, for meeting me on such short notice and with what's going on with Jenny. We are in the critical phase now to get our patents in."
"I understand, Mr. Price. I'm sorry we've lost a couple of weeks of surveillance here. Initial indications on the ten engineers hasn't shown us any suspicion." Charlie passed the surveillance log across to him. "Can you give me a focus on this list, your primary thoughts of people to look at?"
Walter pulled a pen from his pocket and studied the list. He circled five names and looked at Charlie concerned. "I don't mean to be callous here, Charlie. But, I need one hundred percent now and need to know that I've got it."
"When we first met, Jenny and I were at that one hundred percent. Currently, you have my full focus, but fifty percent of Watson Investigations."
"Jenny's not onboard?"
"No, I'm it for now. So you need to decide if that's enough, Mr. Price. Of course, the fee will be split in half."
"Please, it's just Walter. I'm in a bind here; let's stay the course for now if you can. But, I'll need to know immediately if you have to drop out. Will you do that?"
"Yes, Mr. … Walter, I'll pick up surveillance tonight with a focus on these top five. Thanks for giving me a solo shot at it."
"Ok, I hope this was a good decision." Walter slid out of the booth. "If you can get more eyes on these engineers, let me know."
"I'll try." Walter turned and walked out. Charlie hadn't planned to be on the job that night, but thought maybe it was better for Jenny to have some time alone. He called Julia and let her know he was working and wouldn't be home until late.
"Jenny has my number … if she needs to call me."
"I just told her you were meeting your client. She just took Maddy upstairs," Julia said.
"How'd she take it?"
"You two need to have a real heart to heart in the morning, Charlie."
"I can be home in an hour."
"Actually, I think this works well for you both. Just be here tomorrow."
"Thanks, Julia. I never meant to put you in the middle here."
"Not in the middle, Charlie. I love you both so much. You couldn't get rid of me if you tried. Be safe, and back here in the morning."
"Goodnight, Julia." He ordered an early dinner to hold him over and couldn't find resolve in his ch
oice to be there and not home.
Charlie had just pulled to the curb at nine-thirty outside of John Avery's apartment, his fourth stop when his phone rang. "Hello, this is Charlie."
"Hi daddy, bed time," Madison said.
"Well this is special, Maddy. Thank you."
"You missed story time."
"Yes, sorry Maddy. Daddy is working. Did mommy read one tonight?"
"Manny Stanley one. Mommy doesn't remember when Stanley talked?"
"We have to help mommy remember. Give her a big kiss and hug for me, OK."
"Big kiss, hug too. Night Daddy."
"Good night Maddy. I love you."
"She needed to hear your voice," Jenny said. Charlie heard her relay to Maddy, "Daddy loves you, and says goodnight." The call was silent a few minutes and he waited. "Charlie, I'm back. Julia told me you're working tonight. I'm sorry … today was more than I was ready for."
"I know, Jenny. Don't give up."
"Where are you?"
"In San Jose, outside one of the engineer's apartment building. Looks quiet here."
"San Jose? Is that far?"
"I'm sorry. I have to remember you're new to the area as well. San Jose is ninety minutes northeast of us. I've got this and one more tonight. I'll be back late."
"We can talk in the morning," she said in a neutral tone without emotional inflection.
"Jenny! Jenny, are you there?" he asked and realized she had ended the call. "Shit, what the hell am I supposed to do here!" The empty seat beside him failed to answer that question, but the answer did come from the Spyware Inc. Model 2750 setting in that empty seat when it started beeping. Jenny had purchased the equipment over a year ago and it had proven itself in their last case. The first week on this case they had attached tracking devices on all of the engineer's cars to monitor their movement. Charlie looked at the screen and noted #7 was moving. John Avery seemed to be in for the night. He turned on the interior light and opened the file. #7 was Steve Chandler and he started the truck to find him.
Usually, they did surveillance in the non-descript Honda they had purchased for just that reason. Charlie had replaced the totaled Honda after Jenny's accident with its clone, but hadn't put the tracking monitor back in it. His large Crew-Cab pickup was hard to miss, but it was night, the equipment was there, and there was activity to follow. The drawback with the equipment was the five mile range and #7 was moving fast off the screen. The plus side with the equipment was he knew that at four plus miles away he wouldn't be seen by #7 weaving through traffic while he closed the distance between them.
Charlie was heading north on Interstate 101, away from Marina which didn't help his frame of mind. His call with Jenny had him distracted and frustrated that they were moving further apart, rather than closer. Her last comment, 'We can talk in the morning' sounded like a hammer coming down to him.
He settled in on a half mile distance behind #7 after five miles of catching up. Traffic was light at that time night leaving the San Jose area. He dropped back to increase the distance between them, reminding himself 'his truck wasn't the blend-in Honda'.
The beeping stopped suddenly which signaled Charlie the car he was following also stopped moving. He slowed to sixty miles per hour and passed #7 who was parked on the side of the road. He couldn't stop without sending up a red flag to them and drove to the next off ramp. He saw a gas station and pulled in to fill up. The #7 dot was off the screen, out of range, and he got out of the truck to fuel it. He checked the monitor when he'd finished and there was no sign of #7. The mini-mart attached to the service station promoted fresh coffee and he went in for a cup.
#7 was beeping again on his screen when he got back to his truck. He set the twenty ounce cup in the center console cup holder and started the truck to re-engage with #7. He glanced at the file again and #7 was a five year old white BMW. The beeping dot was getting closer and he had to wait to see if it took the exit or continued north on Interstate 101. He saw a white BMW on the off ramp and the beeping dot confirmed it was #7. Fearing the BMW was coming for gas he drove his truck to the rear of the mini-mart out of sight. He was pleased with the decision to get out of sight as the #7 flashing dot stopped beeping just off center screen. He sipped his coffee as he waited for Steve Chandler to fill up as he had.
There was a knock on his window and he turned, startled. A young woman wearing an apologetic smile asked, "Sir, can you help me?" Charlie lowered his window. "I'm sorry to bother you. Like a fool, I left home without my purse. Could you please spare ten bucks for some gas?"
He watched her a moment and then relaxed. "Sure, we've all been there, Miss." He reached for his wallet and pulled out a twenty dollar bill. He put his wallet away and noticed she'd moved a step away, toward the front of his truck. She's cautious, he thought as he held the money out the window. "Here you are, Miss."
A large man appeared in his driver side window holding a big pistol. "We need to have a talk, Mister," the man said opening the door. "Easy now, get out slowly."
Charlie got out and found there was another man standing there and a van pulled alongside with Jack's Plumbing written on the side. The gun never left its position inches from Charlie's head as the other man bound Charlie's wrists and pushed him into the van.
"You follow us in his truck," the man said to the woman. Charlie got one last look at her before he felt the needle go into his neck, saw the van door slide closed between them and everything went black.
Chapter 8
I got out of bed finally, giving up on sleep any time soon. I'd been hard on Charlie, selfishly forgetting we were all in this confusion together. The night stand digital clock informed me it was 2:10 in the morning. After I'd put Maddy to bed, I pulled all the photo albums out and walked through the life I'd obviously shared, but still had no recollection of. If I hadn't seen my own face in those pages, those albums could have been purchased from a stranger's garage sale.
I called Charlie and the call went to voice message. He'd said late. Late was midnight, not two in the morning. I opened the bedroom door and Shadow was there looking up at me. I felt lost because I didn't know if trouble between us had sent him away for a night before. Were there bar buddies he met with? Was Eden a refuge? Anger flashed with a vision of them together in a place I couldn't take him. "No," I told myself in frustration. That's not the man I shared Christmas and our daughter with. Julia would know if I should feel anger or worry. She knew the man I had just begun learning about. I needed to calm down. I'd learned things were hitting me in extremes. I'd gone into our kitchen and poured a glass of wine. The sleeping pills my doctor had prescribed, but I hadn't needed before then were at the end of the counter and I took two. Shadow moved into my lap when I sat down on the living room coach. I'd give Charlie until three and then wake Julia for answers.
"Mommy, Mommy, wake up, Mommy." I heard Maddy saying when my eyes opened. She was shaking my arm as I sat up right and looked around.
"Is your Daddy in his room, Maddy?"
"Daddy working, not home." I stood up and felt so dizzy I collapsed back onto the couch.
"Mommy needs a minute, Maddy. Then we'll find daddy together." My head started to clear. I tried again to stand slower and was able to take her hand and we crossed the room to Charlie's bedroom. He'd not been there. Moving faster, I grabbed a robe from beside my bed and we all went downstairs to the office. The door was locked and I'd left my keys and phone upstairs. Panic hit me and I picked Madison up and ran back to our level. It was light outside and 6:30 that morning when I called Julia.
"Hello, Jenny what's going on?"
"I knew it; I was rough on Charlie yesterday. Did he ever stay away after we'd had a fight?"
"Charlie, no way. I don't recall more than a disagreement between you two, never a fight."
"He didn't come home last night, Julia!"
"Hold on a minute Jenny." I heard her call out to Stan. "Charlie was on surveillance last night and didn't go home." There was silence for a long time.
"Jenny, Stan's on his way over and I'm right behind him as soon as I get Timmy off to school."
"I'll be in our office, thank you, Julia." That slammed me into a wall of frustration from all that I didn't know about Charlie or us.
"Don't worry. He'll probably get there before we do," Julia said before ending the call.
I put the phone down and got Madison and myself dressed. We took some breakfast cereal and bowls down to the office. The folders I'd seen the day before were gone from both of our desks. I'd set Madison up at Charlie's deck with the bowl of dry cereal and turned on my computer. It was just booting up when Detective Stan Edwards walked through the door.
"Julia filled me in on the day you two had yesterday. The last thing Charlie is; is a runaway sulker. Chief Walker is ten minutes behind me, Jenny. When did you last talk to Charlie?"
"Last night, around nine-thirty. He said that he had one more place to check and he'd be home late."
"Any indication where he was?"
"San Jose, outside one of the engineer's apartment building. The files are gone, Detective Edwards. They were here yesterday morning when Charlie was explaining the case."
"He was meeting with your client, I imagine he took them with him." Edwards walked over and sat beside me. "Jenny, I'm Stan or Edwards. I realize you don't recall it, but we are way beyond formality."
"Ok, thanks. I'm looking for something to start with on my computer. Damn it! I don't even recall the man's name or his company that hired us!"
"We'll find him, Jenny. I understand you took the case in early December."
I was going through my emails and noticed a new email account was set up and opened that. "Here it is, Stan. Walter Price, CEO of Branson Systems in San Jose."
"A special email account? Sounds like heavy monitoring in his company's system. Jenny, ask Mr. Price about their meeting yesterday. Don't mention Charlie is missing yet."
I type in a general 'getting caught up' email and sent it off to Walter Price.
Watson Manor My Journey Home (Watson Manor Mystery Series Book 4) Page 4