Unexpected Love (Jo's Story)

by Nikki Williams

  “He is filled in,” Angela tells me when she walks into my office. “He was a little upset that you weren’t there, not really sure he has any trust in anyone but you.”

  “Well, I have been helping him since this happened so that is understandable. He knows to contact Ryan if he needs anything?”

  “Yes, I made sure that he had Ryan’s number. He told me to tell you that he will contact Ryan as soon as they make contact with him.”

  “Good that is exactly what I want him to do. Hopefully that is soon.” We spend most of our afternoon in the board room going over things that we know and planning on where we are going to check out. At about 3:30 Ryan’s phone rings.

  “This is Detective Parker,” he answers it. “Yeah, did they make contact with you?” He looks at me. “Perfect, keep me posted.” He hangs up. “They made contact with him already. He is meeting someone named Lincoln at 5:00 in Square Park.”

  “Good, ok, so far so good. Do we know who Lincoln is?” I look around at the rest of them and they all start looking through files.

  “Lincoln Dobs, he is pretty high up there from what I can tell,” Bob says. “Looks like maybe third, possibly second in command. He was caught last year with a lot of coke on him. But got off for some unknown reason.”

  “Good, he is getting their attention already. That is what I was hoping for. Ok, let’s get eyes on Square Park. Ricky, I think you should post outside the front gate. They know me so I cannot get close. Ryan, why don’t you and Jean go in as runners and see if you can get close enough to get an ID on this guy, make sure he is who we think he is.” They all leave the room and go to get ready.

  “How you holding up?” Chief walks into the room.

  “So far so good, they are doing what I was hoping they were going to. He has a meeting at Square Park at 5:00, so we are going to try and get in before they do.”

  “You’re not going down are you?”

  “In the van, but not visible no. I don’t think I will be able to show my face at all on this one. I get to be the watch dog.”

  “Good, keeps you safe,” he smiles at me.

  “All you damn worry warts in my life, I will die of suffocation before I do anything else,” I laugh and go out the door. I walk down to the van that Bob has gotten and get in. I look around and laugh. I never wanted to be doing this from here, but there is way too much at risk for me to get out. I take a seat next to Bob and we head out. Angela and Alicia get in a squad and follow us. “Angela, I want you to post about two blocks north of the park entrance and keep a low profile. I will let you know if we need you.”

  “Got it boss,” she answers. I watch in the mirror and see her pull off before we get too close to the park. I look at the clock and it is 4:30.

  “Ryan, you and Joan set?”

  “Yep, all set and ready to go. No sign of anyone yet.”

  “Ricky how you holding up?”

  “Good, got a good view of the entrance.”

  “Perfect, Bob and I are coming into position now; we will have eyes in a few minutes.” Bob pulls over about a half block away from the entrance and I jump in the back and get the monitors fired up. I check everything and it looks like I have a good sight from where Ricky is sitting. I look around and wait.

  “Boss, I think I see Lewis,” I look up to the screen that is Ricky’s view.

  “Yep, that is him, good. Ryan, try and keep an eye on him if you can. I want to see if they do an exchange.”

  “Ok,” I see on Ryan’s monitor that he gets up and starts running. I can see Lewis at a glance when Ryan passes him. He definitely doesn’t look like the same guy that I have been talking to the last few days. I can tell he has gone back into the dealer mode.

  “Jo, that’s Lincoln,” Bob points to the screen. I see him walk into the park. He looks very sketchy.

  “Ok, good,” I look up at where Ryan is, I can’t see him on that monitor.

  “Joan, see if you can position close enough to Lewis and allow me to get some pictures. Lincoln is entering the park right now.” She gets up and moves. I can tell that she has taken up some stretching not far from where Lewis is standing. I see Lincoln approach him. They talk for a little bit then I see Lincoln hand Lewis something. I snap the pictures from the monitor and next thing I know Lincoln is turned around and gone. I see Lewis look around almost like he is looking for a sign that we are there. “Ok guys, let’s move out of there meet back at the station,” I go back up to the front seat along with Bob and we are gone. I wonder what Lincoln handed to Lewis. Probably an order from up above him is my guess. About an hour later I am sitting in the board room uploading the pictures when Ryan walks in.

  “Jo, Lewis called. They gave him a pick up point and date.”

  “Already?”

  “Yeah, it is tomorrow morning. You think this is the one?”

  “Where is it?”

  “Some house address up town.”

  “No, I don’t. I think that is probably just for him to pick up to sell. We can’t nail them with that, we have tried. We need their shipment place and time.”

  “You want me to have him do it?”

  “He has to. He has to play along with them. If he doesn’t he puts everyone at risk.”

  “Ok, I will let him know.” Ryan walks back out of the room and down the hall. I am looking at the pictures and going over some of the files that Captain Williams gave me when my phone rings. I look at it and see that it is Jake. I look at the clock and it is 6:30 already.

  “Hey,” I smile when I answer.

  “Hey baby,” he says really soft.

  “What’s up?”

  “Just calling to check on you. I haven’t heard from you all day.”

  “The life of a detective on a hot case,” I laugh. “We have been really busy today. How was your day?”

  “Really good, coach busted my ass at practice, now I'm sitting on the couch wondering if I should make something for dinner for myself or if you are coming over.”

  “Well, I guess there is really nothing else that I can do here, I can come over.”

  “Good, I could use some relaxation with you.”

  “Me too,” I smile. “I will head out soon. You want me to stop and pick something up?”

  “No, I will order something. What are you in the mood for?”

  “Not sure, why don’t you surprise me.”

  “Ok, sounds good, see you soon.” He hangs up. I just sit there looking at my computer for a minute. I just need something to break with this so I can nail these guys and move on from this. I close my computer and grab it. I walk back to my office and I see Ryan sitting at his desk talking on the phone. I walk in.

  “No, we have been busy today; I told you we have a really big case right now that’s all. Listen you want me to come and pick you up? We can do dinner?” I see him smile at me. I assume that he is talking to Molly. “Ok, I will see you in a little bit.” He hangs up.

  “They tend to be a little overwhelming sometimes don’t they?”

  “I take it Jake called you already too?”

  “Yeah, just got off the phone with him. I'm headed there now, he is ordering us dinner then I will probably pass out,” I laugh.

  “Tired?”

  “Exhausted!”

  “That’s what happens when you take time off,” he laughs. “Hopefully this will be a quick one.”

  “Honestly I will just be happy if we get out of this with no one getting hurt.”

  “Yeah, I know what you mean.” He grabs his jacket. “Come on I will walk you out.” I smile and grab my jacket and go out the door. He turns off the lights and we head out of the station. I walk to my car and get in and head toward Jake’s house. I'm really looking forward to just relaxing in his arms after today. I have been up since 6:00 this morning and I am overly tired. I pull into his driveway and type in the code to get in. I see Ryan pull up behind me. I pull up the drive way and park and so does he. I wait for him to walk up the sidewalk to the front do
or. I see Molly watching out the front window. She runs to the door and opens it.

  “You were both still at work?” She looks sternly at us. I smile and decide to let Ryan deal with her and walk right past her into the house. I see Jake sitting on one of the chairs on the porch and see that he is on the phone. I walk out the door and up behind him.

  “I don’t know mom, all I know is he was getting taken out of rehab today. He is on his own to keep the shit out of his system. I am not going to babysit his ass.” I hear him take a deep breath. “Because I don’t trust him that’s why. It is more than just Molly and I, Jo stays here too. And what if the girls come back and he is here. If he brought that shit into my house I would kill him.” I walk up next to him and sit in his lap. He looks at me and smiles and I can instantly see him relax. “Listen mom, I don’t want to talk about this anymore. Jo is here and I want to spend time with her,” he rubs my arm. “I will, goodnight mom,” he hangs up the phone. “My mom says hi,” he says then pulls me into a kiss.

  “Hi back,” I smile when he pulls away from me. “Miss me?”

  “Of course I did,” he looks at me.

  “Good, I'm glad.”

  “How did things go today?”

  “Pretty much the exact results we were hoping for. Hoping that things keep going this good. If they do this may be over soon.”

  “I like that idea.”

  “Jake, there is someone here with food,” Molly pokes her head out on the porch.

  “Ok,” he scoots me off his lap and goes into the house. I sit at the picnic table he has sitting on the porch and watch as the sun gets lower. He comes back out a little while later with some Chinese food. “Here,” he sets something in front of me.

  “Thanks,” the smell of the food is amazing. I realize that I haven’t really eaten much all day. I take a bite and feel the stress just go out of my body. I feel so much better sitting here then I did the entire day at work.

  “You like it?”

  “Yes, it’s amazing. I haven’t really eaten much today.”

  “A little busy?”

  “Yeah, just a little. I don’t want to talk about my work. How was practice?”

  “Long, I didn’t get a whole lot of down time today. They think that I am playing better so they are working me harder. Its good though, pushes me to my limit so they know what I can handle.”

  “Do you play this weekend?”

  He smiles at me, “you should probably get a schedule to look at and maybe follow. No, we don’t play this weekend. I have a game in Denver next weekend.”

  I look up at him, “does that make me a bad girlfriend that I didn’t know that?”

  “Just shows how out of the loop you are when it comes to football. I bet Lizzy knew that,” he laughs.

  “Yeah, I'm sure she did. She has become obsessed with football the last couple weeks.”

  “Can you blame her? I mean she is my biggest fan.”

  “Oh you think so huh?”

  “Yep, it’s obvious you want me for other things, she likes me because I play football.”

  I just shake my head and keep eating. I hear the door open and I hear Ryan and Molly come out. “What are you guys up to?” Molly sits down next to Jake.

  “Eating,” he looks at her.

  “Want to go to a movie with us?”

  “No, not really. Was hoping to just relax.”

  “Oh come on big brother, your such a fuddy duddy!”

  “Call me what you want Molly, but I had a long day and so did Jo.”

  She looks at me, “you don’t want to go to a movie?”

  “No, not really. Like Jake said, it has been a really long day. I have been up since 6:00 and at work since 7:30. I'm just ready to relax and possibly go to sleep.”

  “It’s like 7:00, how can you be ready for bed?”

  “Molly, its fine, let’s just go,” Ryan tries not to sound irritated but fails. I know he is exhausted too.

  “Why don’t you guys just stay here and watch a movie in the theater? Rent something I don’t care.”

  “Really?” Molly perks up.

  “Yeah, Ryan looks exhausted and I'm sure it would be less crowded. Get whatever I don’t care there is like a mile long list of stuff you can rent.”

  “Thanks,” she kisses his cheek then gets up and grabs Ryan’s hand and they go toward the house.

  “Nice save,” I smile.

  “The guy looks almost as tired as you. What did you guys do today?”

  “Well I didn’t get to do anything exciting, but Ryan got to run like twenty laps to spy on a meeting.”

  “What kind of meeting?”

  “One of the guys wanted a meeting with Lewis.”

  “Already?”

  “Yeah, we are moving along pretty good with this.”

  “Good,” he finishes his food. “You want something to drink?”

  “Sure, I will take a beer.”

  “Ok, I will be right back,” he gets up and walks into the house. I just sit there and look out over the back yard in a daze. This day has been a long one. I am just ready to crawl in bed and lay in Jake’s arms. “Hey, you alright?” He sits next to me and hands me a beer.

  “Yeah, just enjoying the quiet, I don’t get this very often.”

  “I bet not. And after all the crap with my brother I bet it is nice to not have to deal with cooking, cleaning, and all that good stuff.”

  “I'm not gonna lie, it is amazing!”

  “So, what do you want to do?” He wraps his arms around me and starts kissing my neck.

  “Honestly?”

  “Yes,” he looks at me.

  “I would like to go up to your room, put on one of your t shirts and crawl in bed and watch a movie.” I see him smile.

  “Sounds perfect to me,” he stands up and puts his hand out for me to grab. We walk up to his room and I sneak a peek in the theater and see Ryan and Molly all snuggled up on the couch. I smile, I hope they don’t get crazy into it like Jake and I. I'm sure he will be cautious after what he just went through with Hailey.

  “How long is Molly in town for?”

  “I'm not sure; my guess is she has something this week. I don’t know her schedule depends on what her clients want. I think she might be working in town this week. I heard her on the phone earlier with someone talking about ordering some stuff for a job she is working on. I don’t really know, I try not to pry in her business.”

  “Yeah, I was just wondering because I know that if she expects to see a lot of Ryan this week it probably won’t happen. I'm actually surprised he is here, he was going to be helping Lucas at the restaurant in return for a place to stay until he can get a place of his own.” I sit down on the bed and take off my shoes.

  “You should rent him your place and move in with me.”

  I look up at him in shock. “I think that would be a little fast, us moving in together.”

  He smiles, “I was kidding Jo. I know it is too soon.”

  “Besides, I don’t think I want to move out of the school district the girls are in. They already have a few friends that are in school with them.”

  “Oh yeah, well that is good.”

  “Yeah, Abby is so excited for school to start.”

  “I bet she is, they had a lot of fun with Bridgette and Morgan last week.”

  “Yes, they did, and now that I know they only live a few blocks from me I will have to take the girls over there to play more often.”

  “So what do you want to watch?” Jake grabs the remote.

  “Not sure, find something good I'm up for whatever.” I stand up and go to my bag. “I need a shirt,” I smile at him.

  “Oh, yeah,” he walks to his dresser and grabs out a shirt for me. I look at it and it is a team shirt.

  I smile, “should I have expected anything else?”

  “Hey, it has my name on it and everything,” he laughs. I shake my head and go into the bathroom and change. I put on my shorts that I grabbed and then his s
hirt. It smells like him. I smile at my reflection. I look at the hook next to the sink and see the locket that he got me from Virginia Beach. I haven’t worn it since Saturday because I didn’t want it to get lost with all the stuff going on especially at work. I walk back out and see that he has changed into shorts and climbed into bed. I crawl in next to him. He smiles at me and moves his arm so I can lie on his chest. “How about some “Die Hard”?”

  “Love those movies,” I smile.

  “I figured, that’s why I stopped on this one.” He puts his arm around me and pulls me close. He pulls the blanket up over us then turns off the lights.

  “Setting the mood or something,” I smile at him. He looks down at me and gives me that smile.

  “You have no idea how tempting it is right now,” he says then goes back to watching the movie.

  “You and that damn smile,” I snort then wrap my arm over his stomach and snuggle up to him. I feel so good lying here next to him. I am almost asleep when my phone pings for a text.

  Hey, Lewis just called me, they are changing his exchange to tonight at 10:00 at the warehouse location by the station…what’s the game plan?

  It is Ryan. I get out of the bed and see that his car is still parked outside. He is still here someplace. “I have to go talk to Ryan,” I say to Jake and walk out the door. I see him sitting on the couch when I walk down the steps. “Where is Molly?” I ask him when I am behind him.

  “She is taking a phone call for something with work. Lewis just called me like five minutes ago freaking out wanting to know what to do.”

  “He has to go. You and I have to go; I don’t want him there by himself. Call Bob and Jean see if they can meet us at the station. We have about an hour. Tell them to meet us as soon as possible.”

  “Ok,” he grabs his phone out of his pocket, “should we just take my car?”

  “Yeah,” I yell as I am running up the steps. I go into Jake’s room and right into the bathroom to get dressed again.