Not for Sale

by Iona Morrison

  “Thankful indeed…” Her lips tightened, trying not to smile. “Next thing, you’ll be going rogue caveman on me and carrying me over your shoulder.” Her smile widened and she giggled.

  “Believe me, I’ve thought about it.”

  “No, you haven’t.” She shook her head.

  “Au contraire, you have no idea what I’ve imagined doing to you.” He laughed as she jumped up and went over to the computer. “Coward!” he mouthed at her when she looked at him.

  “Behave,” she mouthed back at him. She scrolled through the information on the screen and noticed something happening on the site. “Jeremy, look at this. I don’t think I’m flying under the radar anymore.”

  He walked over and stood beside her. “Someone’s tracking your computer and trying to hack it. Here let me handle this.” She stood up; he took her seat and got to work. His fingers flew across the keys.

  Matt came and stood beside Jessie. “What are you doing?” He directed the question to Jeremy.

  “I’m having a little talk with her computer, so we can keep this person out of Jessie’s personal files. Maybe in the process I’ll find out who is doing it and try a little hacking myself.”

  Katie got bored watching the three of them and left. Matt was fascinated watching Jeremy at work. It was like a complex chess match. They volleyed back and forth. It took a while, but Jeremy was able to secure her computer. In the process, he traced the hacker’s IP address. He did some maneuvering and handed Matt the address of the New York building where the hack had originated. Matt was stunned when he looked at the information that he had just been handed. Nothing was ever what it seemed.

  “I’ve got some things to think about, you two. I’ll catch you tomorrow.” Matt gathered his things. “Jeremy, when Jess is at work, stop by the station. I’d like to investigate this further. I want you to show my tech guy how you did that.”

  “Sure thing. I’ll stop by.” Jeremy went back to work on her computer.

  Jessie walked with Matt to the door. “Good night.” She stepped outside with him.

  “Jess, I’m not a real patient man, but I’m willing to wait. What I’m not willing to do is become another one on your long list of guy friends.” He lifted her chin up to gaze into her eyes. “I’m serious about us and I’m working full time to prove it to you.” His finger traced her lips. “So sleep on this, sweetheart.” He pulled her into his arms and kissed her thoroughly.

  She responded.

  “Sweet dreams.” He stepped back and smiled at the bemused look on her face. He headed toward the car. When he turned to see her still standing there, he grinned. “Goodnight, Jess.”

  Chapter 23

  Wednesday went by in a blur. Jeremy worked with the FBI at the station all day while Jessie was at the church. He was on a mission to find out who the partners were. Matt had also given him some kind of special assignment, but Jeremy told her he couldn’t say what it was.

  Tom talked with Pastor Kevin about the trafficking classes, and they scheduled meetings for the community at the church. Kevin had already notified the other churches and the schools in the area.

  Jessie closed down the office at five, went to the shooting range, and then stopped by the hospital to see Lindsey Adelson.

  Lindsey smiled at her when she walked in the room. “Guess what happened today?”

  “Did he wake up?” Jessie walked over to the chair beside her.

  She nodded with a smile. “He was awake for a few minutes, which was more than they expected. He responded to my voice by squeezing my hand.” She gently pushed his hair off his face as he slept. “Maybe he’ll be able to talk to the police soon. I hope so.” She sighed. “That would mean he might actually recover.”

  “That’s a cause for hope and a minor celebration.” Jessie pulled a gift bag out of the paper bag she was carrying and handed it to her. “Please open it.”

  Lindsey’s face lit up as she pulled out a shower gel, lotion, scented soaps, and a vanilla body spray. “Thank you. It was nice of you to think of me.”

  “How are you holding up?” Jessie sat down in the chair next to her.

  “I’m okay. I get awful tired now, but at least when I leave here I finally sleep through the night. The staff has been very kind to me. I wasn’t sure if they would after all Sammy was involved in.” Lindsey rubbed her belly. “I hope he gets to see the baby. I was keeping it as a surprise, but I found out it’s a little girl. I know he would love a daughter.”

  “I’m sure he would love a daughter. They all talk about wanting a son, but they turn to mush when they have a little girl to look after.” Jessie smiled at her.

  “I got most of her room done before I left home. It’s pink of course, with butterflies. It’s such a happy room. I smile every time I walked in there.” Tears trickled down her cheeks and Lindsey dabbed at her eyes with a tissue. “It will never be the same now. I know it can’t be. He’ll go to prison, and I’ll be raising her alone.”

  Jessie touched her shoulder gently, feeling her sadness. It would be a hard road ahead for her. Next Jessie went to Joshua’s room where she found out Josh was making steady improvement. His doctor had taken him off the meds and was waiting for him to wake up on his own. She offered to sit by his side so Colin and Martha could eat dinner away from the hospital for a change.

  “Josh, I don’t know if you can hear me but keep fighting. Your parents want it so badly and so do your sisters.” She squeezed his hand. “I know what you’ve been through; you showed me all of it in a dream. You’re braver and stronger than you realize. I don’t know how you had the courage to escape or the ability to fight as long as you did. You are my hero. I hope you can hear me, Josh. I’m praying for you to live a long and healthy life.” She felt his hand move in her hand.

  Jessie pushed the call button on the bed. The nurse walked through the door. “Did you need something?”

  “I felt his hand move in mine when I was talking to him. I was wondering if he might have heard me.” The nurse took his hand and talked to him. His thumb pressed her hand.

  “I’ll be right back. I’m going to put a call in to his doctor. Keep talking to him, honey.” She gave Jessie a hurried smile. “He must have liked what you were saying to him.”

  Jessie grabbed his hand and began talking to him. She rambled on about everything in the dream should could remember. She could see his eyelids flutter and her excitement built. His doctor, a distinguished looking man with silver gray hair, came through the door. He went to the sink to wash his hands, then pulled his stethoscope from around his neck and leaned over Josh. “Are you a family member?” He looked at her as Jessie stepped back out of his way so he could work.

  “No, I’m a friend of his parents. I was sitting with him so his parents could have a break.” She watched him listen to Josh’s heart and check his pulse. “His eyes fluttered when I was talking to him just now.”

  The doctor nodded. “Josh, can you hear me? Squeeze my hand if you can hear me.” He chuckled. “That was a nice firm squeeze, Josh.” He wrote something on the chart. “I think you’ve been good medicine for our young patient. I can’t say that I blame him.” He gave some instructions to the nurse and turned to smile at her. “I’m Doctor Hathaway.”

  “Jessie Reynolds.” She smiled as she shook his extended hand.

  “Oh, of course. Now I know who you are. You’ve been writing some great articles for the town paper. Young lady, I’m going to leave him in your very capable hands. Don’t stop talking to him. I’ll be back to check on him in a while. If his eyes open, push the call button.”

  “I will.” She watched them both walk out of the room. Jessie talked to Josh about Abigail. She told him about how Radar had searched for her and found her. It was thirty minutes later, right after she’d told him that the big man Eddie could never hurt him again, that Josh opened his eyes. He looked at her quizzically and she smiled. “I’m Jessie,” she told him. “Your parents should be here in a few minutes.” She pre
ssed the call button. “You’re in the hospital, Josh.” She could feel those annoying tears starting to build.

  He kept staring at her as she rambled on for what felt like an eternity to her, but in reality must have only been a minute or two. The nurse rushed into the room followed by Dr. Hathaway. Josh’s parents followed the medical staff, alarm written on their faces as they saw all the activity in the room.

  “Your son decided to wake up while this nice young lady was talking to him.” Dr. Hathaway smiled at them. “I’m going to check him out and then let you have some time with your son.” He took Josh’s hand to monitor his pulse. “Welcome back, Josh.” Dr. Hathaway shone a light into his eyes. “It’s nice to see those eyes so clear, young man.” He patted Josh’s hand. He nodded to the parents, who rushed to the bedside and began talking to their son.

  Jessie watched the happy scene unfold from the other side of the room. Smiling, she said her goodbyes and headed for her car. She called Matt on her way out of the hospital to let him know what had just happened. Once in her car, she breathed a sigh of relief and let the tears flow. “Thank you for allowing me to see him wake up,” she whispered. After the horror of his nightmare, this was like a cleansing breath of fresh air.

  ****

  Matt stopped by the hospital after dinner to check on Sammy and Josh. Sammy was sleeping, but the nurse told him it was a natural sleep. He could probably talk with him in the next day or two. Matt knew he would have to read Sammy his Miranda rights. The court would appoint an attorney before Matt could formally question him. He wanted just a few minutes to talk to Sammy alone, before the lawyers got involved. Maybe Sammy would give him that.

  Josh was wide-awake when Matt arrived at his room. “Josh, you look better than the first time we met.” He stood by the boy’s bed and smiled at him. Matt noticed his puzzled expression. “You won’t remember me from that day. You were hurt when we found you.” Matt sat down in the chair beside Mrs. Harris. “His recovery is remarkable. He was barely hanging on the day we found him.”

  She nodded at Matt. “Remarkable is a good way to describe it. He’s starting to recognize family, but he can’t remember any of the days he was gone from us. He only knows what we tell him.” Mrs. Harris talked softly to Matt so Josh couldn’t hear. “Dr. Hathaway said it might all come back to him in time or he may have it locked so deep inside his subconscious, it’s forgotten.”

  Matt chatted with her for a while. “I’ll be back to see him again when he’s a little stronger.” He walked out of the room, stopped to talk to the officer standing watch outside the room, then headed back to his office.

  Matt was waiting for Dylan’s call. He was in Evansville at the police station. The police had questioned the remaining friends of Jed Johnson. The FBI was searching the homes of Jed, Karl, and Eddie today. He hoped their computers had some detailed records or emails that would shed light on why they had taken the kids. He knew they were all in it somehow, but he wasn’t sure the level of their involvement. He sent an email to Jessie with all of their names. Matt wanted her to get busy investigating them from high school forward and to let him know if she stumbled onto something. He had covered all his bases.

  Jeremy popped his head in the door. “I showed Gary how I set up a heavy-duty firewall for Jessie’s computer. He’s working to make sure none of yours are being hacked.”

  “Come in and close the door.” Matt motioned to a chair. “What have you found out?”

  “I’m still trying to break through. Whoever it is, he obviously knows his way around a computer.” Jeremy rubbed at his chin.

  “Damn, I was afraid of that.” Matt frowned. “I don’t want to open this can of worms unless we have plenty of evidence.”

  “I’ll keep working at it. People always think they’re so damn clever, then they get careless. They always leave some little footprint. I’m good at finding them. It takes time, but if it’s there I’ll find it.” Jeremy smiled. “I’ll work at it tonight after dinner. I’m taking Jessie and Katie out so we can become better acquainted. Actually, I think Jessie outmaneuvered me there.” Jeremy frowned, followed by a grin. He ran his hand through his hair, tousling the curls.

  “It’s those damn blue eyes.” They had sure taken him in more than once.

  “You’ve got that right.” Jeremy nodded, chuckling. “They’ve gotten me to do things I didn’t want to do over the last few years.” He stood up to leave.

  “You know you’re free to work here anytime you want over the next few days.”

  “Thanks. Jessie and Katie are going into New York tomorrow, so I might take you up on that.”

  Jeremy had just left the office when Dylan called.

  “Matt, they’re all involved in the same company. Salesmen with dark secrets about how they make their living. Isn’t that something? I think you’re going to want to drive over here and question them, too.”

  “Set it up with the authorities for tomorrow. We’ll take turns at interrogating them. Tell them the FBI may want to question them at some point too.” Matt could hear Dylan talking to someone in the background.

  “Is ten o’clock tomorrow okay for you, Chief?”

  Matt looked at his schedule. “That’s fine.”

  On his was out of the office, Matt stopped to talk to Tom. “The plan is to question them tomorrow.”

  “I’ll send a couple of agents with you. I’ll schedule a follow-up for the next day with the FBI doing the questioning to keep the heat on them.”

  “Sounds like a good idea. I’m calling it a day, Tom. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  “I’m about to do the same. Say, before you go, we were able to trace the VIN on the van, and I have someone in the area checking out the records to find out who originally bought it.”

  “Great. Let me know when you find out,” Matt said as he headed out of the station to his truck. He already had questions lined up he wanted to ask them in the morning. What he wanted now was down time.

  ****

  Jessie stopped by the Inn early to pick up Katie. She came out smiling, pushing her purse strap back up onto her shoulder. “Coffee, I need coffee.” Katie fastened her seatbelt and shut the car door.

  “We can stop at Joe’s on our way out of town.” She looked at Katie and put her car in gear. “I’m just a little excited. I don’t like living in the city, but I do love shopping there.”

  “What stores do you have in mind?”

  “I’m going to my favorite place. They’re holding a dress for me, but other than that, we can go anywhere you want.”

  “How did you know what you wanted without trying on hundreds?” Katie looked shocked. “It has to be formal, after all.”

  “I saw it the last time we were there. It’ll be perfect with what’s inside the box in my purse.” Jessie motioned toward her bag in the back seat.

  Katie took out the box and squealed when she opened it. “Oh my gosh, this is beautiful. Where did you get it?” Katie held the necklace up so it could catch the light.

  “Reba Thompson gave it to me.” Jessie smiled at the memory. “I told her I couldn’t take it, but she insisted.” She felt herself tear up. “She told me I was the daughter she never had.”

  “Wow, she’s something. This is beautiful.” Katie placed it carefully back in the box. “Obviously your dress has to go with this, right?”

  “Right! I found a Marchesa gown in a blue silk. It’s form fitting with a V-neck that will be perfect with the necklace.” Jessie pulled into a space near Joe’s. “As long as it fits, the dress will be coming home with me.”

  “Sounds divine.” Katie whistled. “I think that shop is my favorite anyway, so I hope there’s something there for me.” They went into Joe’s and got coffee to go.

  The girls had a terrific day shopping. Jessie’s dress fit perfectly. The design was her style all the way. She loved it. Katie found a Kay Unger gold satin, cowl neck, sleeveless number with the back cut out in an exquisite pattern. The gold was perfect on Katie. Her
red hair and green eyes looked gorgeous. After they had finished shopping for shoes, the two of them sat down for lunch, oblivious to the admiring glances turned their way.

  “I can’t believe I found that dress on sale. I was so happy to get it at that price.” Katie smiled. “I love it.”

  “The back is jaw-dropping gorgeous, and the color is perfect on you.” Jessie took a quick look at the menu as the waiter approached. “I’ll have the Oriental chicken salad.”

  “I’ll have the same.” Katie handed him the menu. “I’d also like an iced tea.” Jessie nodded when he asked if she would like tea also.

  “What do you think of Jeremy?” Jessie felt she had waited long enough to ask her.

  “You could have told me he was drop dead gorgeous.” Katie glared at her. “I think that was the first time in my life I felt tongue-tied with a guy.”

  “That is odd for you. You can take charge of any situation or guy.” Jessie perked up.

  “I know, but he’s different.” Katie looked thoughtful. “I don’t want to mess this up being my crazy aggressive self.” Katie paused. “Did Jeremy and you ever date?”

  “He asked me out a couple of times, but honestly there is no chemistry between us. We really are just friends.”

  “I find that hard to believe. I mean you’re you.” Katie waved a hand. “And he’s well, you know, really a looker. How could you not be gone on each other?”

  “We aren’t, you’ll just have to trust me on that.” Jessie thanked the waiter when he put her salad in front of her.

  “Jessie, sometimes you’re oblivious to how a guy feels about you. Are you sure? I mean, I don’t want to step across the line.”

  “We’re really just friends. To me, he’s like the brother I never had.” Katie’s actions puzzled Jessie. She had never seen Katie this uncertain.

  “What do you really think about Matt?” Katie grinned.

  “Matt is an entirely different story. He isn’t very brotherly at all. He intrigues me and scares me at the same time.” She frowned and poked at a piece of chicken in her salad. “I think with him it might be easy to lose control.”