Natasha is a preacher’s wife and an inspirational speaker. She gets paid to speak at conventions and at other locations that wants to teach self-worth and the great effects of positive thinking. Most of her money is made from online paid courses and videos, or so Charli claims. I haven’t watched any of Natasha’s speeches on television, in person, or on a computer. I really don’t have time with so many responsibilities at home and with the Tudor Estates Society. The only time I can watch anything is at night and while I’m in bed. And by then, I’m usually too sleepy to keep my eyes open.
Natasha smiles at me with open arms. Her sincerity is always true. I never have to worry about if she’ll stab me in the back. Rumors never suit her. Makes me wonder how she’s managed to stay friends with Charli so long. Whereas Natasha could be considered a true saint, Charli could be considered a devilish sheep – if ever one existed – in wolf’s clothing.
“Joslyn, how are you?” Natasha asks.
“Trying to hang in there,” I reply.
“If you need anything, or if I can help in any way possible, just let me know.”
“I will. Thank you, Natasha. How is Kian doing?”
Kian is her husband.
“As he would declare on the pulpit, blessed from morning to morning.”
“Good. Glad to hear it.”
“Joslyn,” Charli says as she enters the room with a binder in her arms. “You’re here bright and early.”
“Did you forget what we talked about last night?”
“No. I have what you need.” Charli places the binder on a glass table that’s overrun with papers, and she takes out her cell phone from her purse that’s in the midst of it all. “Justin said that he would text me the information. Let me see if he’s sent it already.”
“How is Harlan doing?” Natasha asks while Charli is checking her phone.
“He’s still in the hospital, but he’s alive. I think he’ll pull-”
“I got it,” Charli announces with a lift of her phone. “I can always depend on Justin, my handsome lawyer. He found both of their addresses, Joslyn. You know what? I just realized something. I should have just sent it to your cell phone last night. I don’t know what I was thinking.”
“It wouldn’t have mattered. I lost my cell. The police supposed to be looking for it, but I don’t think they found it. Can you write it down for me, please?”
“Of course.” Charli rips a pink sheet of paper from a notebook, scribbles the information down quickly, and hands me the note.
Her writing is terrible, but I manage to make out that Gia’s parents live north of Rincon, Georgia, and Joshua’s mother lives in Meldrim, Georgia. The street addresses doesn’t sound familiar, but I won’t have any problems finding them with the GPS in the car.
“Thank you so much, Charli. What about the visitation? Is that set up for tomorrow?”
“Justin called Gia’s lawyer. He won’t allow it.”
“What are you trying to do, Joslyn?” Natasha asks.
“I want to see Gia Briggs.”
Natasha quickly glances over at Charli and then at me. “Why do you want to see her?”
“She knows who’s taken my son,” I answer. “I plan on asking her about the kidnapping.”
“Did the police tell you that?” Natasha crosses her arms, giving me a serious look.
Why do I have a feeling she doesn’t agree with me?
“Gia is the only one alive who’s tried to kill my family, and it only makes sense that she would try again.”
“Joslyn, I think you have your information wrong.”
“No, Natasha, I don’t.”
“She hasn’t made any outside phone calls to anyone while in prison,” she remarks. “The only visitors she had since she’s been in there is me and her lawyer. And the guards keep her away from the general population with absolutely no contact with them at all. She’s not responsible, Joslyn.”
“You’ve been to the correction facility and talked to her yourself?” I ask with peaked interest. Ideas are forming in my head. Maybe, I’m going about trying to see Gia the wrong way.
“Every other day, if I can.”
“Can you get me in there?” I ask.
“Only immediate family, her lawyer, and her spiritual leader can visit. I’m her spiritual leader.”
“Fine, tell whoever’s in charge of visitation at the prison that she has a new spiritual leader.” I point to myself. “Me.”
Natasha gives me a disapproving look. “I will not and cannot do that.”
“I understand that you have a bond with her, and you’re only trying to protect her-”
“I’m not trying to protect her, Joslyn,” she says hotly. “I’m only telling you the truth.”
“She was trying to kill my family, Natasha. I deserve some answers.”
“I know what she tried to do, but that doesn’t mean she kidnapped your son.”
“Her and her boyfriend went into my house where my babies were sleeping, and they tried to burn it down…with them in it. Do you hear what I’m saying? Do you understand the seriousness of her actions?”
“Yes, Joslyn, I hear you, but-”
“She’s still at it, Natasha. Doesn’t matter what you say about her. You won’t convince me otherwise.”
“Gia regrets what she’s done.”
I shake my head. “No, she doesn’t.”
“She didn’t know your children was in the house. As a matter of fact, she totally forgot you had kids.”
“She regrets nothing, Natasha.”
“I’ve spoken to her. I’m telling you, she feels terrible for what she almost did.”
“There are only two things she’s sorry for. The first was they got caught, and the second, her boyfriend was killed. And I’m willing to bet my life if she was given another chance, she’d do it again.”
“You’re wrong about her, Joslyn. You’re wasting energy on a woman that has nothing to do with the disappearance of your son.”
“And you’re wasting energy on the exact same woman who wouldn’t take two seconds to speak up for you given the same situation.” I wait for a reply. I found the truth that stings, and Natasha is appropriately quiet. She’s beginning to disgusts me. I shake my head with disappointment and continue, “Can’t believe you’d stand there and speak on her behalf! She’s no saint!”
“Never said she was.”
“And I don’t want to hear any more about how sorry you think she is! She’s sorry alright, a sorry ass human being! How you can stand to keep company with someone like that?”
Natasha presses her painted red lips together and looks away. Good, I made my point, and I don’t feel bad about cussing at her, either. I meant what I said, and I’m not going to apologize.
“I have to get going,” I reply to Charli. “Thank you for your help. Don’t worry about calling your lawyer again. I’ll speak to Gia’s lawyer myself. I’ll get in there one way or another.”
“Sure,” Charli says uncomfortably. “Will you keep me updated?”
“I’ll try. Have fun at the fair today, and tell all the ladies I said hello.” I head for the door.
“Cancelled,” Charli remarks.
“What?” I ask, turning back around.
“The fair has been cancelled,” she adds. “Forecast calls for bad lightning, thunderstorms, and rain most of the day. Can’t go on a Ferris wheel in a lightning storm.”
“Oh,” I remark.
“Always next year,” Charli says with a small smile.
I nod, pulling open the door.
“Good luck, Joslyn.”
After giving Charli a nod of thanks, I leave and get back in my car. I take deep breaths to calm the heat that’s threatening to cook my insides. Can’t believe that Natasha Mathis. Gia tried to kill my family, and Natasha has the audacity to speak up for that woman. Gia is pure evil, needs to be in the electric chair for murdering old people and trying to kill children. Perhaps, my longtime first impression about Natasha i
s totally wrong. She might have a side to her that’s worse than Gia. At least, I don’t have to deal with her that much.
I shake off my temper and push the issue down to the pit of my stomach. Moving on is all I can do at this point, anyway. I look at the street addresses on the piece of paper. Charli’s handwriting is nearly unreadable. Guess she’s not entirely perfect. I start my car and head to the hospital. Sure do hope my efforts will pay off today.
Chapter Fifteen
Harlan’s condition hasn’t changed. He still looks very swollen. His eyes are crusted on the edges. His lips are chapped. I forgot to stop and buy lip balm. I’ll get it before I come back to the hospital. Honestly, I feel so helpless when I’m around Harlan, and I can’t stand watching him in his immobile state, unable to do for himself, unable to get up and live for his family. It’s just not right.
At least with Davian, I’m not helpless. I can be more involved. I can actually do something to try and get him back, and I will. I won’t stop until my baby’s home.
After giving Harlan a kiss and a stroke with my cheek on his hand, I leave the room. Sarah is eagerly waiting in the hallway to rejoin her son. She doesn’t even say anything to me as she quickly enters Harlan’s room. Terrence is sitting on a bench on the other side of the hallway. He wasn’t there when I first got to the hospital. I’m relieved to see him.
“How’s he doing?”
I shake my head. New tears burn at my eyes.
“It’s going to be alright, Joslyn.”
Terrence has more hope than I do right now.
“Got to stay strong, Sis.”
“I’m trying,” I remark, wiping the tears away with my hands. “I’m trying.”
“How about Dave? Any word?”
“No, nothing new yet. Terrence, look, I need your help today. I was wondering if you can drive me around.”
“Alright. Where did you want to go?”
“I want to speak to Gia’s parents and Joshua’s mother. I want to go to their houses.”
He stares at me like I’ve grown ten noses and lost an eye.
“Terrence, did you hear me?”
“I’m not sure,” he says while standing up. “I think I heard you wrong actually. I thought you mentioned something about going to see Gia and Joshua’s families. But you know, I’m getting old, and my hearing is playing tricks on me.”
“I’m being very serious.”
He stares at me again. I nod my head, confirming my last statement.
“That’s a bad idea,” he comments.
“Why?”
“What are you going to do when you see them?”
“I’m going to ask them if Gia and Joshua know the people that took my son.”
“And what do you think they’re going to say?”
“I’m hoping they’ll admit to it and tell me who the kidnappers are.”
“Joslyn, I’m going to say it again...”
“It’s a bad idea,” we say unison.
“Good, I’m getting through to you,” he adds.
“Give me a good reason why it’s a bad idea.”
“I’ll give you a bunch of reasons. First off, you’re not a police officer. Number two, you’re not a private detective. Three, your husband, my brother, killed Gia’s boyfriend, the very same guy whose mother you want to go see, and last, their families might call the police on you if you show up at their door.”
“They won’t call the police. Gia’s family hates her now. I bet her parents are more than willing to give me details about her friends, and the same goes for Joshua’s mother.”
“Why would they do that? You’re not making sense, Joslyn.”
“Because they feel guilty about what Gia and Joshua tried to do to my family?”
“Joslyn, if they feel bad, they still won’t talk to you. And if they knew the people involved, they won’t tell you that, either.”
“You don’t know that for sure,” I reply defiantly.
“You’ll be lucky if they let you say one sentence to them before they slam the door in your face.”
“I have to try.”
“No, you don’t, not really. Let the police handle it. It’s their job.”
“That’s the problem,” I yell. “They’re not doing their job!”
Terrence looks up the hallway, where a doctor is looking at us suspiciously. I apologize with raised hands, and the doctor goes back to reading his clipboard.
“Don’t do this,” Terrence pleads.
“My mind is made up.”
“Tell the cops to go talk to them.”
“They already did, and they didn’t get anything from them.”
“You think you can do better?”
“Actually, I do,” I reply with not as much confidence as I wanted.
“God, this is crazy. It’s so crazy. It’s out of this world crazy. You’re crazy.”
“Are you going with me or not?”
“If I say no, you’re going anyway?”
“Yes,” I answer while crossing my arms.
“Joslyn, let me call Detective Sawyer or Detective Richardson.”
“Absolutely not,” I reply. “They’ll try to stop me, and I’m not having it.”
Terrence scratches his head and blows out. “Have you called the families and told them you’re coming over?”
“No, I’m going to do a surprise visit.”
“Man, Joslyn, you’re going to get us shot. I swear, I’m going to be pulling lead out of my ass for the next ten years while I’m in prison.”
“You’re being dramatic for no reason.”
“Good reason, Joslyn. A very good, good reason.”
“Look, Davian has been gone for twenty-four hours. I haven’t heard from him at all. I don’t know if he’s alive or dead. I have to do this. Do you understand? I have to.”
Detective Richardson’s suspicions of me being involved is another reason I have to see these families, but I won’t admit that to Terrence. I fear that he might believe the detective, and he won’t help me for sure.
“Okay,” Terrence replies with a slap of his hands against his pants. “I understand.”
“Are you with me or not?”
“Yes, I’m with you.”
I’m not convinced. I hold up the car keys to see if he’ll take them. He does. Yes!
Chapter Sixteen
Terrence can’t drive fast enough to Rincon. There’s really not too many people on the road, but he’s going the speed limit. I’m fidgeting in my seat. I just know talking to Gia’s parents are going to lead to something. It makes sense that she would be involved, seeing how she tried to burn down my house and kill my family.
All of a sudden, Terrence stomps on the brakes. We’re on August Road just north of Savannah, Georgia, and the traffic has come to a standstill. Of course, I’m ready to get out and see what the holdup is.
“Still think this is a bad idea,” Terrence sings as he taps the steering wheel.
“Then you should have stayed at the hospital.”
“There’s no way I was going to let you do this on your own, Joslyn.”
I reach over to honk the horn. Annoyed with what I’ve done, Terrence pushes my hand away. The driver in the car in front us peers in his rear view mirror.
“Don’t do that again,” Terrence remarks.
“Can’t we drive on the shoulder?” I ask impatiently.
“Joslyn, you’re acting insane right now.”
“If you had a son that was kidnapped right in front your eyes, what would you do?”
“I don’t know,” Terrence says.
“Exactly. You have no idea because you don’t have children, and you’re not in my shoes.”
“I get what you’re saying, but you have to be sensible, too. If something happens to you, then what?”
“Nothing is going to happen.”
“You don’t know that,” he says. “You’re going by the seat of your pants, and you have no idea what you’re getting into. And I c
an’t believe I’m doing this with you.”
“We’ll get what we need to find Davian. You watch.” I’m not really confident about what I said, but I am definitely nervous.
Terrence turns on the radio. As I’m about to turn it off, I hear my husband’s name mentioned. I turn it up.
“Mr. Montgomery is in stable condition at Savannah Hospital, but sources tell us that he is in a coma. We tried to contact Mrs. Joslyn Montgomery, his wife, for her a statement, but every attempt has been unsuccessful.”
“Who is their source?” Terrence asks.
I shush him.
The radio announcer continues. “Detective Athena Sawyer is currently working the kidnapping of Davian Montgomery, Harlan Montgomery’s eldest son. She advised that the investigation is still in high gear, and they believe they are making good progress on finding the kidnappers. Now, let’s get to our holiday traffic report.”
I turn it off. “That is a bone face lie. Detective Sawyer haven’t made any progress. She has no clue as to who took Davian, and Detective Richardson has got it all wrong.”
“Got what wrong exactly?”
I’ve said too much. My mind is racing to come up with a lie. “He just doesn’t know what he’s doing,” I weakly reply.
“Oh,” Terrence says. “Well, I want to know who their source is. I haven’t spoken to the press about Harlan’s condition. Mom won’t do it, and neither will Jeremiah. As for Dad, he’ll tell them to kiss off before he gives them the time of day.”
“Jackie won’t speak to the press, either. What about Dr. Bryant?”
“The doctors can’t release private medical information without permission from the family or the patient,” Terrence remarks. He squints his eyes and squeezes the steering wheel, as if he’s choking it. “I better not find out who told them, or I’m going to have a few words with that individual.”
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