Jackson sat down on the bed beside her as he watched her trying to be brave. “Let it out.” He hugged her. “You don’t have to be brave right now.”
“I can’t cry anymore.” Gracie was pensive as she admitted that to him. “I’m mad. I'm frustrated, and I feel lost.” She turned the teddy bear over in her hands and noticed that one of its eyes was missing; fingering the empty spot, she looked up at Jackson. “You mean a lot to her, Jackson.”
“I know.” Jackson finally acknowledged what he had always known. “She told me once that she wished I was her father.”
Gracie smiled for the first time since that morning. “She told me that, too. I never had the heart to discourage her from feeling that way.” She stood. “I want my daughter back.”
“Me too, now, please go lay down.” Jackson watched as she left Bea’s room, “And leave your phone on.”
“I was going to.” Gracie took a pillow and blanket from the closet and then put them back up when Jackson had started to reach for them.
“Gracie?” Jackson let his arms fall back to his sides as he looked at her puzzled.
“I have a king-sized bed.” Gracie noted his look, but wasn't thrown off her train of thought. “Just keep on your clothes.”
“Thank you, I think.” Jackson followed her down the hall.
“Don’t mention it. I just can’t ask you to sleep on that hard couch again.” Gracie went to her bathroom and slipped on a set of sweat clothes before slipping underneath the covers. “Tomorrow is the last day of school.” She held the teddy bear close to her as she tried to close her eyes.
She tossed and turned as sleep evaded her while thoughts of Bea and Mark swam in her mind.
“Gracie.” Jackson turned over to lie facing her. “You need to try to sleep. You ain't going to be any good to her or yourself if you don’t.”
Gracie sat up in the bed. “I need to walk.” She threw off the covers and slipped into her tennis shoes as Jackson turned on the lights. “I have to do something.”
“Fine, we’ll walk.” He stood and walked right into Annie as he strolled through the hall in the dark. “We're going for a walk.”
Annie was looking at him in wonderment. “Did I miss something?” Annie watched as Gracie came out of her bedroom.
“I’ll tell you about it later.” Jackson watched as Gracie walked in a trance around them. “It's the kind of story you’re used to.” He caught himself looking at Bea’s room.
Annie watched them as they exited the front door and then went to check on Garrison. She noticed that Bea’s door was open and peeked into the room. Turning on the light, she noticed that the bed hadn't been slept in. ‘What had Gracie been holding?’ Annie asked herself as she looked around in the little girl’s room. ‘The teddy bear.’ The clock beside Bea’s bed was reading three thirty. Annie walked out of the room, wide-awake, and tramped into the kitchen as her mind wheeled. She turned on the coffee pot and listened to the quietness that surrounded her.
Why hadn’t she picked up on anything earlier? She had seen the expression on Kim’s face when she had stopped off at her house to pick up Garrison. She had watched the whole family get into the car and tear out of the court. Annie had assumed that Bea was with them.
She stepped out on the front porch and watched as Jackson walked up and down the court with Gracie. They walked to the edge of the driveway as Gracie tried to walk away again. Jackson put a firm hand under her elbow and led her back to the house.
Annie held the door open for them as Gracie walked in first followed by Jackson.
He looked at the clock and then at Annie. “Have you figured it out yet?”
“Not enough. Bea’s not here, and Gracie is walking around like a zombie.” Annie studied her roommate. “I think I would like to be informed.”
“Bea was taken by her father on the school playground.” Gracie whispered as she looked down at the stuffed animal she hadn't put down since she had been home.
“Garrison didn’t say anything about what happened at school?” Jackson glanced over at his cousin as he stifled a yawn.
“Come to think of it, Garrison didn't say much of anything all evening.” Annie had thought he was quieter than usual, but hadn't pried. “You haven’t slept, that much is obvious. Have you eaten anything?”
“What if he doesn’t feed her?” Gracie walked into the kitchen and started to take everything out of the cabinet as they watched her. Jackson walked over to her and took her hand, noticing the tears had come back.
“You can’t think like that, Gracie. Not now,” Jackson walked her over to the couch and made her sit down. “There has to a silver lining somewhere.”
Gracie just stared at him. “There is no silver lining. There’s no rainbow.” She stood up angrily. “There is money, and Bea is worth everything I got.” She threw the phone down and held her hand out for the check that Jackson had taken from her earlier.
Jackson shook his head as he picked Gracie’s phone back up. “Let’s go get sleep first.” He pointed down the hall towards her bedroom.
“No!” Gracie sat back down on the couch and stared at the blank television screen. “Did they issue an Amber Alert?”
“I’m sure they have.” Annie talked to her in the soothing voice that she used at work. She heard the alarm going off in her bedroom and left them long enough to turn it off.
Gracie had turned on the television, and she saw Bea’s school picture appear on the screen. “Oh, my God, this didn't have to happen to her.”
Jackson walked back over and turned the television off as he looked down at Gracie. “I have to be at work in four hours. If I go to sleep now, then I might actually be able to pull it off.”
“I’m not stopping you.” She stood up as Annie watched them.
“Yes, you are.” Jackson was growing ill with her as he took her free hand and led her down the hall. “Now lie down and go to sleep. He won’t call again until the afternoon.” He placed his hands on her shoulders. “Take your shoes off and lie down.”
She frowned as she found herself following his instructions. He pulled the covers over her and laid beside her after turning out the lights.
~
Addison was frowning as she listened to the messages that were left on the voicemail during her lunch. Carolyn Young had left a message for Gracie to call her back as soon as possible. She looked over at Gracie’s office and saw Mr. Foster talking on the phone.
She stood and walked to the office doors. They hadn't heard from Gracie, and Carolyn had been very excited about the message. Addison knocked, marching into the office after he had waved her in. She sat down nervously while she waited for him to finish his call.
“I’m sorry. The New York office doesn’t seem able to manage without me.” Salem looked over towards Addison after he placed the phone in its cradle. “What can I do for you?”
“Carolyn called and left a message for Gracie to call her back ASAP.” She paused as he watched her. “It has something to do with Bea.”
Salem raised his eyes. “So why haven’t you called Gracie yet?”
“You told us not to disturb her.” Addison was frowning as she looked at the picture of Bea that Gracie kept on her desk. “And I did try to call her. She’s choosing who she talks to today.”
“Get Carolyn on the phone.” He stood as he started to think. “I don’t guess you have the number for Gracie’s boyfriend?”
“Gracie doesn’t have a boyfriend.” Addison informed him as she stood to go to her own desk.
“The one that picked her up at the restaurant?” Salem could have sworn that he had seen something flash in between them.
“Jackson? They’re just friends.” Addison had remembered Jackson’s number the first time he had called.
“Fine. Do you have Jackson’s number?” He was growing impatient with her.
“Yes, sir,” she had memorized the number the first time that Jackson had called the office. She started to walk out of the office.
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“Call Carolyn from here,” Salem barked as he walked over to the conference table and sat down drumming his fingers while he waited for her. “You're wasting time, Addison.”
Addison quickly dialed Carolyn’s number and had put the phone on the speaker before the agent answered. Addison quickly told her that Gracie wasn't there.
“I was told only to talk to Gracie.” Carolyn admitted as she sat at her own desk across town from them.
“Mrs. Young, this Salem Foster,” Salem looked at the phone wishing he could talk to her in person. “If you have any information about Bea, you need to start talking.”
“Susan Cameron, the one that had stolen Gracie’s manuscript called forty-five minutes ago.” Carolyn looked at the notes she had taken.
“And?” The agitation in his voice was not unnoticed as he prodded her along.
“She said that Bea was fine.” Carolyn sat straight up in her chair as she continued. “She also mentioned that she was on house arrest, and it was funny how the police hadn't figured that out yet.” She paused. “Susan wants them to get Bea before Mark lays a. . .”
“Enough said.” Salem stood. “Thank you, Mrs. Young.” He looked over at Addison. “Call her friend while I call the police.”
She started dialing Jackson’s number as Salem had walked over to Gracie’s desk and called the police.
Jackson looked over at his partners after Addison had called. They had heard the entire conversation and offered to see the rest of his patients for him.
He sped over to Gracie’s house only spotting Kim as he walked in the doors. “Where is Gracie?” He wanted to smile over the news he had just received, but he knew it wasn't over yet.
“She’s in Bea’s room.” She watched as Jackson hurriedly walked towards the room.
He glanced over at Gracie. “You need to get dressed.”
She looked over in his direction. “Why?” The depression in her voice was deep as she questioned him.
“They found Bea.” Jackson watched Gracie jump off the bed.
“What are you waiting on? Let’s go!” Gracie started for the front door as Kim stared at her. “I don’t care what I look like, Jackson. I just want to see my daughter.”
“I don’t know exactly where to go yet. They're supposed to be calling you.” He noticed that she still clutched the phone tightly. “I’ surprised that…”
It started ringing causing Gracie to jump. She answered the phone and wrote the address on her hand while Jackson watched her. She looked up at him and smiled. “We know where to go now.” She grabbed his hand and started to walk out the door again.
Jackson frowned as she told him the address, “My own apartment complex.” He started to drive like he was in the Indy 500, and they were in the parking lot as they watched detectives and undercover cops enter the apartment building opposite of Jackson’s.
“They’ve been here for a while, and I didn’t even know.” Jackson was watching as he thought aloud. “Mark could've been watching when you came over Friday to use the pool.”
Gracie sat there quietly as she waited for somebody to retrieve her daughter from the apartment. Hope was in her heart and her eyes as Jackson took one of her hands.
He watched as his own friend carried Bea out towards them from the building. “There she is.” Jackson mumbled as he felt the relief sweep over his body.
“Can I get out?” Gracie was impatient to touch Bea, to make it real.
Jackson’s friend spotted him and pulled his cell phone out pretending to talk as he passed Jackson’s window. “Meet me at the next set of apartments.”
“Gotcha, Christian.” Jackson drove over to the set of apartments that were out of the view of his own. “They must not have Mark yet and don’t want to blow their cover. You can get out now.” He saw that Gracie was smiling as she reached for the door handle.
Jackson walked over to stand beside her as Christian pulled up beside his car with Bea. Christian opened the door, watching as the little girl rushed to her mother’s waiting arms. He looked over at Jackson after standing there for a minute. “Susan Cameron took a heck of a beating. She had stepped in front of Bea when she realized what Mark was intending to do.” Christian turned back to watch the mother and daughter. “She says that she had wanted nothing to do with the kidnapping but seeing as she was on house arrest, she couldn’t leave.”
“Will she be a witness?” Jackson asked as Gracie glanced up at them.
“She will.” Christian slapped Jackson on the back as he started to leave. “I love a happy ending.”
“So do I.” He smiled as he walked over to Gracie and Bea. Jackson hugged both of them tightly to him. “Let’s go home and watch the rest of this on the evening news.”
“Home.” Bea sighed as she got in the back seat of Jackson’s car.
Jackson looked back at her through the mirror. “Yes, home, that' where the heart is.” He turned to Gracie as she started dialing Kim’s number.
“Not without the people you care about.” Gracie added as she waited for Kim to answer. She smiled as she told Kim that they were all on the way home and asked that she call the rest of the family. She called her office afterwards and listened as Addison screamed the news out to the rest of her coworkers.
“Gracie.” Mr. Foster had taken the phone away from Addison. “Take some vacation. I can stay for the rest of the week.”
“Thank you, sir.” Gracie flipped the phone closed and turned around to see Bea smiling while they passed the familiar houses.
Kim was waiting for them and smiled as she saw Jackson pull up into the driveway. She had already called her parents and Paige.
Gracie looked up at Jackson as Bea went to hug her aunt. “Thank you, Jackson.” She smiled as she laid the phone down on the table next to the door. “I don’t think I could've handled this if you weren’t here for me.”
“That’s what friends are for.” Jackson looked down trying to read the expression on her face as she shook her head. “What? You don’t want to be friends again?”
“No, I don’t.” She laughed at the expression on his face as she added. “I think that I'm ready to give us a chance.” She walked off into the kitchen realizing that she was hungry.
“Well, it’s about time.” Janet chuckled as she had overheard what Gracie told Jackson as she had walked into the house.
Gracie looked over at her puzzled, “For what?” She took a jar of peanut butter out of the pantry watching her mother smile before she walked off in search of Bea.
Jackson laughed as he walked over to where she was standing. “She overheard you, Cinderella. Don’t stuff yourself. I'm taking the clan out to celebrate Bea coming home.”
“Sorry, I'm hungry now.” She talked as she bit into the sandwich. Gracie threw half of the sandwich away before she walked to Bea’s room. It felt so good to have her daughter home.
Bea glanced up at her feeling the same way her mother did.
Chapter 13
Gracie jumped out of the bed when she heard screaming down the hall. She almost ran Annie over as they both headed to Bea’s room.
Gracie sat down on the bed and hugged Bea as she tried to wake her up from the nightmare she was having.
Annie looked down as she felt Garrison come up beside her. He had still not talked since Bea had come home.
“I’m sorry, Gracie.” The little brown-eyed boy spoke out.
Gracie looked over at him and then at Annie before she focused on Garrison again. “There's nothing for you to be sorry about.” Gracie said as Bea opened her eyes.
“Yes, there is.” Garrison looked up at his mother who was waiting for him to finish. “He came up to me on the playground and asked where he could find Bea.” Garrison paused. “We were told not to talk to strangers, and I did. I pointed to where Bea was playing.”
“It's okay, Garrison.” Gracie smiled at him as she tried to reassure the boy. “You had no idea.”
“I was mad at Bea because she wouldn’t
play ball.” Garrison admitted as he glanced over at Bea. “I knew better.”
“Yes, you did.” Annie didn't want to scold him too much because he was already feeling guilty. “But you can help us now.”
“How?” Garrison looked up at his mother.
“Bea needs a friend.” Annie informed him. “And we need to have her talk about her adventure.”
Gracie raised her eyes at Annie’s choice of wording. She reached over to Bea’s dresser, picked up the little pink brush and started brushing her daughter’s hair.
“I don’t like him.” Bea finally spoke and they turned their attention to her. “I’m glad that he left us.”
Gracie continued to brush as she listened to her daughter. “Are you ready to talk about it now?”
She nodded her head. “I tried to let Mrs. Dalton know that it wasn’t right, but he pulled me away too fast. She had motioned for him to stop.” Bea paused as she watched Garrison starting to squirm beside Annie. “Garrison ran over to Mrs. Dalton, and I saw her talking on the radio.” She started to relax as Gracie continued to brush. “He put a paper bag over my head, and we drove away. When he took the bag off, I knew where I was.” She smiled as she remembered the Friday before when they had visited Jackson. “We walked into an apartment, and he introduced me to Susan.”
“His wife,” Gracie encouraged her to go on.
“She didn’t like the fact that he had taken me from the school, and they got into a big fight.” Bea paused as her mother stopped brushing. “He told her that since you sold your book you could afford to pay to get me back; otherwise she was going to be my mother.” She heard her mother gasp. “She screamed that he already killed her baby, and that he wasn’t going to lay a hand on me. That was when he called you the first time.”
“What happened after that?” Annie had sat down on the bed, and Garrison had plopped down in the beanbag chair as they all listened to her.
“He told her to shut up and fix him something to eat and then he locked me in one of the bedrooms.” Bea’s eyes were clouded over. “Susan waited until after he left to meet you and snuck some food into me and told me that she had a plan to get me out of there, but I had to patient. She started talking about your book. She had really loved it.”
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