Jessie

by JJ Aughe

  The weird feeling still coursing up and down her spine, Jessie again glanced to Bailey before answering the housekeeper. “You’re right, Maureen. He did say that, but maybe something happened and he couldn’t make it. I’ll just go see what it is and then we can leave as planned.”

  The package lay on the desk where the housekeeper had said it would be, but when Jessie reached for it, Bailey, who had followed her into the library, grabbed her hand. “Wait!” he cautioned.

  Seeing her brows raise questioningly, Bailey shook his head. “I don’t know why, Jessie. But since Dennis told us that Almed was the man you almost bumped into at the bank, I have been worried. Now Maureen tells us that this package arrived the same day you left. It is just a little too coincidental for me. Did anyone else know who you were going to be with and what you planned to do Friday?”

  Jessie shook her head as she replied. “No. I hadn’t even said anything to Maureen until that morning.” The blood drained from her face as she realized what he was thinking. She took a quick step away from her desk as she glared at the package, exclaiming, “Oh my God! You’re thinking this package may be something that is meant to harm me when I open it!”

  “It’s always a possibility, Jessie. One we can’t afford to ignore.” Without turning toward the doorway, Bailey’s voice rose as he yelled, “SEAN!”

  Sean, who had revived remarkably from a few hours before, had been quietly talking to Melissa, hearing the urgency in Bailey’s voice he didn’t bother to finish his sentence. He grabbed Melissa by the hand, pulling her along with him as he hobbled as fast as he could on still wobbly but manageable legs to the library doorway. Seeing Jessie’s ashen face and the concern written plainly on Bailey’s, he ordered Melissa to stay in the hallway and stepped to Bailey’s side as he asked, “What’s wrong?”

  Bailey explained his concern over the contents of the package and asked if there were any way he might be able to check it out without actually opening it. Sean thought for a moment before answering that there was a way, but he would have to call in a favor from one of the members of Bellevue’s forensics team. Not waiting for Bailey to give the okay Sean made the call. He spoke for only a few seconds before pausing long enough to tell Bailey to have everyone evacuate the house. He finished the call as he followed the last of the staff to the main entrance where they joined Jessie, Bailey, Carol, Eddie, Maureen and the rest of the Jessie’s staff.

  Twenty minutes later a rather discreet brown sedan sped up the driveway and screeched to a sliding stop in front of Sean. With the agility of a much lighter person, an older, burly man threw open the passenger door and jumped out before the vehicle had come to a complete stop.

  In a very gruff voice, but with good humor twinkling in his eyes, the big guy grabbed Sean by the shoulders, not noticing Sean’s wince of pain he shook Sean soundly, then warned, “You are in big hot water, my boy. But then, when aren’t ya!”

  Sobering, the man glanced around at the group before him. “If I didn’t owe you big time, Sean, I would’ve done what Homeland Security wants and placed you all in protective custody as soon as I arrived here. From what you told me on the phone though, and what I have gleaned from some of my other sources, I believe you are right. This terrorist would find you wherever you were placed and then I would not like myself one bit.”

  Turning to Bailey who was standing beside Sean, he took him in from head to foot before nodding in apparent satisfaction. “Lieutenant Hallinger, Bellevue P.D., Forensics Division, at your service.” He shook his head before completing what he had to say. “The photos every law enforcement agency in the state received yesterday didn’t do the two of you justice but I’d recognize the two of you anywhere. You’re Bailey Gilmore and this lovely lady is the esteemed and, I might add, very beautiful, Miss Jessica Melano of Melano Gaming Software.”

  Noticing Bailey’s half scowl as the driver of their vehicle got out and rounded the front of the car, Lt. Hallinger waved his hand as if to say ‘Don’t worry’ and explained the man’s presence. “This is Sgt. Colin York and his bomb/narcotics sniffing canine, Jungo. Colin is the only person I could trust to keep his mouth shut and I needed someone with experience with this kind of thing.”

  “Now,” he asked, as the Sgt. stepped to the rear door of the sedan, let out a German Shepherd Police Dog on a leather leash and grabbed a very heavy, large black case. “Just where is this suspicious package?”

  What was actually only fifteen minutes or so seemed like hours to Jessie before the Lieutenant, his sergeant and the Police dog reappeared at the front entrance. Lieutenant Hallinger stepped outside and beckoned Sean over. They spoke quietly for a minute before Sean motioned for everyone to come to the front of the house.

  Hallinger told Jessie the building was safe for her staff to re-enter and, after she had sent the staff back in, he handed her the package. He started to tell her it was safe to open but Bailey interrupted.

  “You’re sure, Lieutenant?”

  Sean spoke up before the lieutenant could answer. “If Rob says the package is safe, Bailey, it is safe. No question.”

  Once the package was in her hand, Jessie again became anxious, feeling as if all the blood had drained from her face. She sensed that this small package contained something she had been waiting for her entire life, but had never expected to arrive.

  Bailey, seeing her face pale and hands holding the package begin to tremble, pulled her close. “What’s wrong, Jessie?”

  A frown creasing her forehead, she leaned back enough to gaze into his eyes before answering, her voice barely audible. “I just have this weird feeling that this package contains something that is very important to the both of us, Bailey.”

  Her serious words sent a freezing chill coursing through Bailey. He was suddenly certain she was right. Whatever was in that package was more important than anything else. He injected that certainty into his voice.

  “In that case, my love, we had better go into your library before you open it.” So saying, he took her gently by the arm, leading her to the front door, leaving behind a very baffled set of friends who hadn’t heard and could only speculate on what Jessie’s breathy statement had been.

  Bailey tried to get a handle on what had just happened. Where did that sudden certainty I felt that Jessie is right, come from? And, that freezing chill I got when she said the package was important to both of us? What was that all about? I have never, ever had that kind of chill. I have always been able to think things through, put things in order before saying or doing anything. But not since I met Jessie.

  Since he had met the very intriguing and beautiful Jessie Melano, he had found himself saying and doing things out of the ordinary or on the spur of the moment. He felt though that in this instance, this agreeing with her thinking was, or would be, a good, positive turning point in their lives. One that would prove to both of them that their love was right and was what they had been destined to before birth.

  Jessie was jarred to the bone by Bailey’s statement. So much so that she did not utter a word until she stood before her desk in the library. What can I say? Bailey has as much as agreed with me. Does that mean what I hope it means? Would it be the right thing to tell him everything, even about my dreams?

  But telling him everything is a scary thought. What will he say or do if I tell him I have been having those dreams since childhood and have come to believe they have meaning? Will he think I am crazy and run away from me as fast as he can? Or will he believe what I have come to believe? That the dreams are meaningful and are guiding me in the right direction to something good and wonderful? It would completely destroy me if he believed the first, but if he believed the latter to be true? God! I can only hope!

  She placed the package on the desk, turned to face him and opened her mouth to tell him everything. But he cut her off by taking her by the waist, pulling her to his chest and placing a long, thorough kiss on her worried lips.

  Reluctantly breaking the kiss, Jessie silently push
ed back to read his face as she spoke. Again, as she began to say what she felt needed to be said, he stopped her by placing two fingers to her lips. “No, Jessie. Don’t say a word. I think . . . No, I believe now is not the time. I can tell by your eyes and by your trembling lips you are worried about something. Something that is important. It’s something regarding me, isn’t it? I can feel that it is. I want you to know this and understand that this comes from my heart, not my head. I love you, Jessie. I love you so much that, without thinking twice, I would take a bullet for you in an instant. To keep you safe I would stand in front of a train and try to stop it with my bare hands. And, Jessie, I will always trust you and your judgment on any matter.”

  “So,” he smiled. “If you have reservations about me in that area, you can put them to rest right now. You love me. I know you do and it is the most wonderful feeling in the world. I never thought that I would, or could, ever be loved by anyone until you.” His lips covered hers in a tender kiss as he said the last.

  “Now,” he ordered with a twinkle in his eyes and a smile on his lips. “For the love of God woman, will you please open that package before it drives me crazy?”

  Forgetting her intended confession, Jessie giggled, reached behind her for the package and began to open it. If Jessie had been dumbfounded about what she had sensed before, the contents of the package completely sent Jessie to the wall.

  An hour later Bailey and crew were on their way to Melissa’s to pick up her dog, Kerry. Minutes after leaving Jessie’s, Bailey noticed a Police patrol cruiser pull out from a side street they had just passed. He became worried when the cruiser sped up until it was within a few car links of their car then dropped back and kept pace with them. Jessie noticed his quick glances into the rearview mirror. Certain she knew what was bothering him, but not hazarding a glance back, quietly asked, “What? Is there a cop car behind us?”

  Bailey gave her a quick glance, “Yes,” he replied. “He’s been pacing us for a few blocks.”

  Remembering that Lake Sam Security, the security company she hired to patrol her estate, used decommissioned police cars, she started to turn to get a look at the car. She stopped in mid turn as she thought that, if it really were a police car, her turning to look back might appear suspicious and give the officer probable cause to pull them over. Thinking quickly, she asked Melissa to hand her something, anything at all, from the back seat.

  Melissa, having noticed their quiet conversation, realized something was up. Being an amateur artist, she had been sketching Sean’s profile and tapped Jessie on the shoulder with the sketchpad saying, “Would this be okay?”

  As she nonchalantly turned to take the sketchpad, Jessie used the action to take a quick glance at the car behind them and gave a sigh of relief.

  She examined the sketch and winked as she commented, “Thanks. You’re good, Melissa. Real good, and, though it is a great likeness of Sean, I’m not talking about this sketch.”

  “Don’t worry about that car back there,” she smiled at Bailey then explained to them all that the car was only a private security company vehicle.

  The incident put Eddie, sitting in one of the two jump seats, to thinking though. It being almost certain that this Dennis person would already be in Bellevue, or would be there very shortly, he brought up the fact that the car they were in, being Jessie’s, would probably be on Homeland Security’s radar. If that were the case, they needed a different vehicle. Sean immediately agreed, as did Bailey. Bailey voiced what he knew they were all deliberating. “Where can we come up with a vehicle that is not on Homeland Security’s radar? I think I had better park somewhere so we can think this through.”

  To get off the main thoroughfare to find a place to park while they talked the situation over, Bailey turned right at the next cross street and found a place to park at the end of the block. “Has anyone thought of a place to get a car,” he asked, as he half turned in the seat. He caught a whiff of acrid smoke coming from outside the car. Glancing up the street he saw smoke boiling out of the front of a house a half block up and on the other side of the street. “That house is on fire,” he yelled as, forgetting everything else, he flung his door open, bailed out and began an all-out sprint towards the fire. As he neared the house a woman with a towel over her head, the back of her clothes aflame, ran from the house, collapsing on the front lawn.

  Seeing what was happening and knowing a first-aid kit would be needed, Jessie punched the trunk button on the dash, yelled for someone to get the kit and sprinted after Bailey. Carol, Melissa and Eddie jumped from the car, circled to the back where Eddie grabbed Sean’s warming blanket, brought along as a precaution, and the travel first-aid kit. Those in hand, the three sprinted after Jessie. By the time they reached the scene Bailey had the screaming woman on her back and was in process of rolling her in the grass in an effort to smother the flames on her clothes. Eddie threw the blanket over her and with Carol’s help rolled her tightly in it, effectively finishing the job.

  Since the back of her clothes had been on fire Eddie turned her onto her stomach, but the woman struggled to get to her feet as she hysterically cried, “MY CHILDREN ARE STILL IN THERE!”

  Hearing there were children in the house sent Bailey barreling to and through the open front door. The room was almost fully engulfed and black smoke boiled thickly just above his head. Crouching low to avoid the smoke and so he could see better, he yelled, “I know you are in here! Where are you?”

  A loud thump from upstairs sent him taking the steps of the spiral staircase three at a time. He had just reached the top step when he heard a child’s terrified scream from the end of the hall. The walls of the hall were both afire but Bailey didn’t hesitate. There were children in jeopardy. He flew through that flaming inferno as if it weren’t even there.

  “Bang on the door so I’ll know which room you are in,” he yelled over the roar of the flames. The immediate banging from the last door sent him to it as he called out, “Get away from the door now so I can open it!” Knowing better than to try to open it normally, Bailey hit it hard with his shoulder and the door flew open. Suddenly a cat went flying by him and two small Dachshunds started barking at him. The dogs were each held in death grips by two terrified children, a boy of about seven and his smaller sister. Bailey jerked blankets from the bed, wrapped the two kids, dogs still in their arms, scooped them into his arms, turned toward the doorway and froze!

  The hallway was a wall of fire. He knew there was no way he could safely get the children through. Even if he was lucky enough to get to the landing, the stairs would probably be gone. The window was their only one way out.

  Dropping the bundled children and dogs on the bed he grabbed a desk chair and threw it through the window at the end of the bed. Leaning out he yelled at the top of his lungs as he pulled the remnants of the window away and gave it a throw, “I’ve got the kids! There are two, plus two dogs. But there’s no way out!”

  From right below him came Jessie’s calm but loud voice. “Drop them one by one to Carol and me, Bailey. We’ll catch them!” Through the smoke he could barely see the two women about twelve feet below, Jessie was ready, her arms out for a basket catch.

  Whirling to the bed, Bailey quickly unwrapped both of the children and their dogs. The girl of about four he rewrapped with her dog in her arms in one blanket, rushed to the window, leaned out as far as he dared, yelled “Here’s the little girl!”

  Jessie’s voice came back to him as steady as a rock. “Let her fall so her back will come first, Bailey!”

  Bailey could feel intense heat on his back and knew the fire had entered the room so he let the little girl fall, hopefully into Jessie’s waiting arms. Grabbing up the second blanket he quickly wrapped the boy and his dog, leaned out the window and again yelled, “Here’s the boy!”

  “Okay! I’m ready,” Carol called back.

  Bailey let the little boy go, crawled through the opening to perch on the windowsill. Not being able to see the ground he yell
ed, “Jessie, Carol stand back. The fire is in the bedroom! I’ve got to jump!”

  Behind him, the room seemed to explode.

  Sean heard Jessie yell to call 911, grabbed Eddie’s cell phone from the jump seat, reported the fire and the apparent single casualty. Even though his wounds were giving him terrible pain he managed to get into the running car’s driver’s seat and moved the car around the corner to be out of the way of emergency vehicles.

  The movement cost him. The pain in his chest increased until he felt as though he were going to pass out. He gathered all his will power, forced himself to return to the rear seat. Once there, he lay across the seat, blessedly passing out to the sound of sirens wailing in the distance.

  Bailey hoped Jessie and Carol had heard his warning, braced himself for what was to come, leaped into the swirling, smoky void below. He hit the lawn in a forward crouch on the balls of his feet to break the force of impact and used his momentum to go into a two-turn forward summersault. Ending up in a sitting position he noticed his forward motion had taken him to the edge of the lawn, his feet resting on the sidewalk. Shaking his head to clear the cobwebs he glanced around, his eyes searching for Jessie, the children, Carol, Melissa, Eddie and the children’s mother.

  Jessie and the children were safely huddled by a car two driveways down the street where Eddie, Carol and Melissa had moved the mother and were attending to her. Bailey rose to his feet just as a loud blast came from the house behind him. Turning he saw the front porch overhang collapse and the building almost completely engulfed in flames. If he hadn’t jumped when he had he wouldn’t have made it out.

  Jessie stood when he reached her. With unnoticed tears making tracks down her lovely, smoke-blackened cheeks she threw her arms around his neck, sobbed out, “Are you hurt? I was so worried, Bailey! I thought you couldn’t get out of there and I had lost you.” His answer was smothered by her lips on his.