I wanted to reach out and smooth the tension from Jonah’s face, but my story wasn’t over. “That was the monster I was married to. If I so much as had a hair out of place I would be whipped or burned and sometimes both. That night changed me forever, in more ways than one. I ended up pregnant with Sam, as a result. At first I wanted an abortion. I didn’t want his child in my body. But this was not just his child, it was mine! Tom figured it out soon enough and the psycho actually acted happy about it. He treated me better for the most part, until after Jacob was born. Then it all started over again.”
I paused for a short moment. Telling my story to Jonah was much easier than I thought it would be. “When I delivered the baby, a nurse saw the marks and tried to get me to talk to her. But I wouldn’t. But she knew what the marks were and gave me a card with just a phone number. She told me to call this woman, said she could help me if I needed it. I kept that card, but was so scared he would find it. After a bad beating one night, he left me alone and I could hardly take care of the baby. I was desperate, so I called the number and talked to the wonderful woman on the other end of the line, Kathy. She helped me calm down. We talked many times after that night. Always after the beatings. She promised me she could help me and Jacob disappear and no one would ever know. At that time, I didn’t believe that, I couldn’t.”
An understanding started to dawn on Jonah’s face, but I didn’t know what exactly it was about. I just continued talking, I couldn’t have stopped if I wanted to. “Then he was fired from his job and brought up on charges for carrying with the intent to distribute cocaine, armed criminal action and so many other things. I thought I would be free. Jacob was around three or four then. Tom was in jail and we had the house to ourselves. Tom wanted me to alibi him and counted on spousal privilege protecting him. But the prosecution made me testify because I had filed for divorce and I did know about him dealing and the guns. My testimony helped to seal his fate and he went to jail. I was so happy until I noticed we were still being watched. By everyone. People on the streets, at the stores, cops everywhere. I knew we had to run. And we had to soon. I called Kathy and she took care of everything. We were able to just disappear and start a new life here. It wasn’t easy but we did it.” I finished my story and felt drained. Exhausted and somehow lighter. Telling someone everything, trusting Jonah had helped me.
Then we talked about the van, comparing notes. Jonah asked more about my story and who the men stalking me might be. We talked about all of it. He asked me to write down all the information that I could remember on Tom, including the prosecuting attorney’s name. When we were done, he simply picked me up cradling me in his arms and lay down holding me in bed. No sooner had I closed my eyes, I was asleep. Exhaustion took over me.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Jonah
As I lay there and held her, I screamed inside for vengeance. For blood. I vowed, I would find this demon and I would kill him, slowly. It was exactly what Frank and I had suspected. Worse actually. Never in my life had I heard of such torture to one person. A person you were supposed to love and honor. I did my best to hold in my feelings as she gave me every single detail. I wanted them. As she spoke them, I took them in. I wanted her to give them to me. I could carry them for her.
Something changed in me that day hearing all of it. I could tell she held nothing back. She needed that release. My Ally was one of the strongest people on earth to have endured what she did for years. And then to have the courage to take her child, leave everything behind and run not knowing what was around each corner.
No wonder she trusted no one. Especially me, a man. I was honored that she chose to finally let me in. I worked hard for her trust and I would die before anyone got near my family again. It was time to tell Shane, Frank, Frannie and Brent. Ally had one hell of a team on her side. She was no longer the young lonely girl she once was. She was more. Strong. Brave. Resilient. I was proud to call her mine. If he wanted to come after her? Let him fucking try. He had no idea who he was up against this time.
Rolling her gently to her side and tucking her in to let her rest, I got up and called Shane to set up a meeting so we were all on the same page. When I opened my phone, I realized I had turned the ringer off and swore silently at the missed calls over the last twenty minutes. I hadn’t wanted anyone to disturb Ally and me. Instead of listening to the voicemails, I called Shane directly and he didn’t answer. Flipping through the missed calls, I saw Frank’s number and a feeling of dread enveloped me. Something had happened and it wasn’t good. First thinking of Sam, I tried Shane one more time and he finally picked up.
“Jonah! Thank God! Brent just sent a unit to head toward your place because you weren’t picking up your phone. Ally and you are both safe?” Shane asked with urgency.
“We’re fine. What’s happened Shane?” I demanded.
“You’re not gonna like it, bro. Just listen and remain calm until I am done. Ally’s place was broken into sometime last night, but no one was home thankfully. Frannie stopped by to pick up more clothes for Sam and she discovered it. The place is trashed Jonah. Sam’s bed, the couch, everything. But, it’s what was written on the walls that has us the most concerned,” Shane said in full control of the details, easily falling back into his role as a police detective.
Thankfully, I was downstairs in the kitchen as he filled me in because a slew of curse words flew from my mouth.
“What was written on the walls, Shane?” I asked in trepidation.
“Jonah, that’s just it. Do you remember the murder investigation that was sent for us to take a look into? It was the same message here as it was at that crime scene. “Not Forgotten and Not Forgiven. We have a serious problem. Whoever is after Ally is hardcore and not afraid to kill to get what they want. And what is the connection to the woman? She and Sam need to be under full police protection from now on. And she needs to go in to speak with Brent. He can’t hold back now and I don’t think you want him to for that matter. Frannie, Frank and Sam are at his place for now but they will be heading to the police station as soon as possible. You and Ally need to do the same. I’m sorry, bro, but we have to get some answers from Ally and get a handle on this before someone else gets hurt or killed,” Shane informed me.
“I have the answers we need. We will be there shortly. And Shane? Thanks man, we will need to close ranks and call in everyone who owes us favors. This is my family we are talking about,” I said to Shane. He became so quiet I almost thought he had hung up.
“About damn time, Jonah. About damn time.” I heard the smile in Shane’s voice as I hung up.
Son of a bitch! Things were escalating faster than I had expected. But I couldn’t push Ally until she was ready to talk. I had to wake her and let her know what was going on. Then we needed to head to the station.
When I woke Ally as gently as possible, I filled her in on what happened, leaving out the part about the unsolved murder and the message on the wall of the crime scene and her walls. “Ally, baby,” I whispered as I shook her awake. “I need to tell you something. Stay calm and know that I am going to protect you and Sam.”
“What’s happened, Jonah? Just tell me,” she said as she sat up abruptly.
“Frannie stopped by your place to pick up some clothes for Sam. She found that someone had broken into your place sometime last night. They trashed it.”
“Why would someone break into my place? I don’t have very much worth stealing. What if we had been home? Would they have hurt us?” She paced the floor as her voice rose in pitch.
“Calm down. Whoever it was knew no one was home. That’s why they broke in. Don’t worry. I will keep you safe. I swear on my life. But you have got to remain calm. You can’t let Sam see you like this.”
“Take me to my place. I have to see it for myself. I have to know what he found.”
“You can’t go there right now. It’s a crime scene.”
“It’s my damn house. If you don’t take me right now, I will walk there my d
amn self.”
“Like hell, you will.”
No amount of talking would change her mind. She would not listen to me. I called Shane from the car to fill him in and let him know that I couldn’t convince her to skip stopping by her place.
On the drive over, she sat as straight and rigid as an ironing board. I knew the wheels were turning in her head and there would be no calming her. She needed to think and feel her way through this. Hopefully she would realize that she was indeed not alone and she had no need to run. She had Frank, Frannie, Shane, and me. Between all of us we had enough experience, knowledge and backup to take on a small country. So, let the motherfucker try.
As we turned the corner onto her street, the police had her place marked off with crime scene tape. There were marked and unmarked cars lining the block. And a couple of forensic vans were parked in the driveway. Looking over at her as we found a place to park, confusion filled her eyes.
“Jonah? What’s going on? Why would the police bring in the Crime Scene Unit and forensic team for a simple home burglary,” she asked me with confusion and worry tinging her voice.
Should I tell her? I had to if she is going in there. Fuck.
“Ally, there is something else. It wasn’t a simple break-in. They ransacked the entire place, tore up Sam’s bed and the couch, but whoever did this also left a message. Painted on the living room wall in red are the words ‘Not Forgotten and Not Forgiven.’ Does that mean anything you?”
The color drained from her face as she gasped, flung open the door, grabbed her crutches and almost fell out of the Suburban. Cursing under my breath, I got out and ran around her side to help. She shoved me away. “Just move, Jonah. I need to look for myself.”
Stunned by her actions, I prayed that she wasn’t shutting me out again. Falling into step with her, we approached her front door. Stopping and staring, she just stood there for a few seconds, mentally preparing herself to go in.
“Baby? I’m here with you. You are not alone.” Stepping in front of her so we would be face to face, I said it again more firmly this time. She needed to hear me. “You are no longer alone, Ally. I am here with you every step of the way.”
I gently lifted her up the few steps onto the porch and set her back down. I could see it was important that she face this head on.
“Jonah?” Ally whispered to me. I leaned into her so no one else would hear.
“There are two things I need to get from in there and it has to be now. Are you willing to help me with that? It would be breaking the law, Jonah, and I don’t want to involve you in this part. I cannot leave here without them.” She spoke with such conviction that I knew it wasn’t something trivial, it was something she couldn’t live without.
“I told you, I am in this one hundred percent. You are mine. I will protect you with my life. I have your back for now and for always.” It was my oath to Ally.
“I don’t want you to get in trouble or hurt because of me, Jonah. I will protect you too. I love you. Please know that,” she said with conviction and pure honesty.
What did she mean that she would protect me? Was she planning something? Good, this woman needed to have confidence in me to protect her. I would keep her safe.
I opened the door and let her go in first. She gasped and dropped her crutches. Her hands flew to her mouth, but they didn’t trap the desperate words that tumbled out. “No, no, no, no, no. God no! He’s found us. Jonah, he is coming for us and he will kill us. He never loved Sam either, wouldn’t even let him call him dad. Help me, Jonah, please. I have to get these two things,” she begged me.
“Where baby, and what am I looking for?” I questioned her quietly.
Shit, she just started moving and left me to follow. Why wouldn’t she just let me do it?
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Ally
I had to get the plate number I had written down that night I saw the van, the secret cell phone and Grams’ gun. It was all I had left of her. Walking into the kitchen, I gasped. Everything was thrown everywhere. Looking up at the cabinet over the fridge, it looked as if it hadn’t been touched.
I leaned into Jonah and whispered about my locked gun case and its location. He nodded an affirmative. He would get it while I went to the laundry room. The laundry room was just as bad as the rest of the house. Looking up at the shelf where the phone was hidden, I was shocked because the shelf wasn’t there anymore. Damn it. I peeked over my shoulder at Jonah, who had secured the gun but someone was coming. I signaled that I needed more time, so he played interference as I searched through everything on the floor. Bingo! Now where the hell was I going to put it? I didn’t have my purse or any pockets. Seeing the duct tape, I grabbed it and tapped it to my thigh, underneath my dress. I quickly went back out to Jonah.
“I’m ready, Jonah. It’s not here. Let’s get going to the station so I can see Sam,” I said as I hurried toward the door.
“What was the other thing you were looking for Ally?” he questioned me.
“Oh, it was some baby pictures of Sam. I only had a few left and I was hoping to salvage them. No such luck. Let’s go see my baby now please.” I left as fast as my crutches would allow.
I needed to see and talk to Sam and make sure he was safe. With certainty, I knew once I arrived at the police station, I would be questioned relentlessly. But I also needed to find some time to myself and make the call. I didn’t have a choice. If I waited any longer, the people that I had come to love could be hurt or even killed.
Arriving at the station, I went right to find Sam, who seemed to be having the time of his life talking with of bunch of uniformed police officers. I walked up to him smiling. He came running, stopping just short and giving me the most amazing hug ever.
“How are you, Mr. Man? Did you have fun with Grandma Frannie and Grandpa Frank?” I inquired.
“Boy, I sure did, Mom. We went to the movies, ate lots of popcorn and then went to miniature golf after. Then we went to eat burgers and have ice cream. I was so stuffed I almost burst,” Sam excitedly informed me.
“Oh, my that does sound like a wonderful time. I hope you said, ‘Thank you’ to them both,” I said smiling down at him. He nodded his head in response.
Jonah waved at me to get my attention and I saw a man I didn’t know standing with him. He was almost as tall a Jonah, but very lean, with brown hair and eyes. He gave me a sympathetic smile. That was not a good sign.
“Hey Sam, can you go over and sit with Grandma and Grandpa for a while? I need to talk to some friends for a bit.” He spun around and headed in their direction without complaint.
Walking over to the open door where Jonah and the stranger waited, I preceded them into the room. There was a long table with chairs around it. Notebooks and pens were scattered about and a file lay on one side. I looked back at the men with a questioning look. The man with Jonah told me to sit wherever I wanted. Seating myself, the officer came around and introduced himself as Brent. Both men sat down, Jonah next to me and Brent across from me. My nerves were on edge and I wished one of them would just start talking.
“Ally Brent is one of my oldest friends. He is in charge of this investigation. You can trust him, I swear to you,” Jonah said to me with sincerity.
“It’s nice to meet you, Brent but, I have to be honest with you. I do not trust police officers in general, but I will help in any way that I can,” I told him nervously.
“Now that we are all comfortable, could you please tell me your full name?” Brent queried.
“Ally Lynn Black,” I replied.
“No, it’s not. What is your real name please?”
Breathing through my nose I said, “Sarah Lane. I was married to Thomas Lane a now convicted felon. I will be thirty on my next birthday and I have one child, Jacob, who is eight years old.” I gave more information than was asked because I wanted this over with quickly.
“Why are you using the stolen identities of deceased people, Ms. Lane?” Brent looked at me waiting for
my answer. I wasn’t sure how much to say. The underground was a godsend for us. It needed to stay off the radar because some of the women and children that they helped disappear, could only be helped by breaking some laws. I for one, would not destroy their service. I sat there thinking of what to say.
“Jonah filled me in on the events of your past and why you are hiding. I did some checking and so far, everything has been the truth. You were married to Thomas Lane, had one child, Jacob and then Thomas was convicted of several felonies and sent to prison. It seems your testimony was pivotal in putting him behind bars. But what I don’t understand is why you disappeared into thin air and how. These are stolen identities, which is in fact, breaking the law, Ms. Lane. In order, for us to help you, I need to know everything. No detail is too small.”
As Brent finished, I looked at Jonah shocked. Questioning him with my eyes he simply said, “This is your story to tell, baby. You trusted me with the truth. I swore to you that you could trust me and you can. It is up to you how much and what you want to tell him. But know this. Brent is one of the good guys too. He could never be bought or coerced into anything illegal. He is indeed a man of honor and you need not fear him.” Jonah squeezed my hand in reassurance as he finished.
Taking a deep breath while holding Jonah’s hand, I told Brent everything. Giving a full disclosure on my past twice in twenty-four hours was terrifying, but oddly freeing at the same time. When I finished speaking, I stood quietly. Jonah looked at me with confusion.
“Jonah, could you help me show Brent what Tom did?” I wasn’t sure I had the strength to show a stranger the ugliest evidence of my mistakes. Turning my back to Brent and lowering my shawl, I let Jonah gently pull down the back of my dress. It took every drop of strength I possessed to stand there on display. Though I felt like cowering, I straightened my back and stood still. I wouldn’t give Tom the power to continue to hurt me.
TRUE HERO: A Romantic Suspense Novel (True Hearts Series Book 1) Page 15