“Last night Justin told me that he loved Laura so much that he had to put her out of her misery. He told me that my father and Jackson Turnball Senior conspired to kill Laura. She had ruined too many deals for them, and she wouldn’t stop. I didn’t believe him, I wore that wire today because I thought today was the day that my Dad would show his love for me like a dad was supposed to. What I found out is that my Dad hated Laura from the day she was born because she wasn’t his child. He resented the fact that she had shares in his family's company. He made a 14 year old girl prostitute herself with the promise that she could have the family she always wanted.”
Jenna began to shiver, and Connie wrapped a shawl around her shoulders. “I know that’s not all of it, tell us the rest Jenna.”
Jenna took another sip of whiskey and wiped the tears from her face. “My mother heard Daddy talking on the phone last night about how they had Laura killed, and she was going to the police to make a statement. Mother admitted to knowing about the deal Daddy made with Laura, she went along with it because she loved Daddy so much. The same reason she participated in all the swinger parties because that’s what Daddy wanted. It was all about him and his sick needs that destroyed our lives.
You wanted to hear the final piece of irony, he not’s my father either, I found out today that Grandpa Campbell is my father. I should be thankful I’m a Tierney. The man I’ve known as my father is, in fact, my brother. Daddy didn’t know that he couldn’t father children. He couldn’t deal with it, so he tried to kill himself, but Michael’s partner shot him to prevent him from committing suicide.”
Samantha hugged Jenna and tried to comfort her. Even her dysfunctional family couldn’t top this. “Jenna this is not your fault, your parents are responsible for the things that happened to you and Laura, you were just a kid yourself.”
“I failed to protect Laura; if we had been closer I could have stopped her.”
Connie grabbed Jenna’s hands, "sweetie, Laura never blamed you for any of this. She told me on several occasions that you were her saving grace. She talked about how you fought your parents for custody of her. How you made her go get counseling when she was about to give up. Your love for Laura is what kept her moving along. Your never ending support of everything she did whether you agreed with her or not.”
Jenna finished the whiskey in her glass. “What am I going to do? This story will be all over the newspapers tomorrow; all the lies, debauchery, perversions of my family will be there for the world to see. What am I going to do about Michael; he knows all my secrets, all the dirty details of my life? How can we ever have a life together, my parents are fucked up, and I’m fucked up? He’s not going to want anything to do with me after this?”
Samantha turn Jenna around to face her, “do you love Mike?”
“Yes!”
“Then you’re going to go fight for your man. He was listening so he heard everything that happened in your parents' house today and he didn’t act like a man who’s ashamed. He acted like a man concerned for his woman. I’m not going to lie, this is the most heinous story I’ve heard in my life. You’re a strong woman, you’ve lost a lot, but you have more than some people ever dream. You’re not going to let your chance for happiness slip through your fingers because your family is fucked up. Now I want you to lie down and know that you’re safe. Connie and I will watch over you and we won’t let anything happen to you, we’re your sisters now, and we don’t take that responsibility lightly.
Jenna hugged Samantha and then hugged Connie. “Thank you! Thank you for loving me in spite of everything.”
“Oh Jenna, how could we not love you. In our own way, we’re all fucked up. People who were supposed to love us tried to destroy us, but we prevailed. Every time that ugliness rears its head we will be there to support each other.”
“Yes will always be there for each other.”
***
Chapter 12
After being release from the hospital James Tierney totally broke down, he bawled the whole time and was totally incoherent. He lawyer got there and shut him up, which Michael thought was timely, how did the lawyer find out so soon that Tierney was in custody. Jenna and her mother certainly didn’t call; maybe Tierney called from the hospital or maybe there was a leak in the police department.
Jenna’s house was no longer a crime scene. Michael was dead tired, but he was going to pick her up from Samantha’s house and take her home. At some point tomorrow, she needed to come in to the station and make a statement. As far as the District Attorney’s office was concerned, Jenna’s statement and testimony will be the last link in the case. He was officially on vacation, and he hoped he could talk Jenna into taking a trip with him. Somewhere she could relax and forget about her family for awhile.
Michael pulled into Samantha’s driveway. As he got out of his car, he looked around before going up the stairs. He knocked on the door, and Connie opened it for him if looks could kill he’d be pushing up daisies. “May I come in?”
Connie wrinkled her nose at him. She really wanted the slam the door in his arrogant face. Jenna loved him, so she had to be on her best behavior. “I guess you can come in detective.”
Michael barely stepped in the door before Samantha and Connie hemmed him in the hallway, “I need to see Jenna.”
Samantha liked Mike, but he wasn’t her favorite person right now. “What else do you want to put her through today? Let me guess she needs to come down to the police station and make a statement.”
Connie’s life had been full of authority figures she didn’t trust, and the police were at the top of that list. “Better yet do you need her to wear another wire and go talk to Justin too?”
“Listen I know you’re Jenna’s friends, but everything I did today was to protect Jenna. She needed to know for sure if her father planned Laura’s murder. She will need to come to the station tomorrow to fill out a statement about what happened today. She wore the wire to her parents’ house; she will also have to testify to that in court. With her testimony, the recording from the wire, and her mother’s statement we can put her father and Jackson Turnball Senior away for fifteen to twenty years for conspiracy to commit murder. Justin Pickard will probably face the death penalty for two murders and an attempted murder. Everything I did in this case was for Jenna I promised her that I wouldn’t give up, my partner and I solved the case. I want to see Jenna now!”
“Hey what’s all the shouting about?” Jenna came out of the bedroom feeling worse. She heard Michael talking, and new she had to face him before he tore up Samantha’s house looking for her.
Michael brushed past Samantha and Connie and took Jenna into his arms. “Baby your house is no longer a crime scene, are you ready to go home?”
“I can’t go back there at least not tonight.”
Jenna looked physically and emotionally bruised, and he wanted to take her home and shut out the world. “I’ll take you to my house, then we can go to the police station first thing in the morning and make your statement and then you will be done until the trial.”
Jenna reached up and pulled Michael’s head down so she could kiss him. There was no way they could have a life together, at least not until she got herself together. In addition, if he saw all the bruises on her body Michael would have a fit. “I can’t stay with you tonight I will see you at the police station tomorrow. Samantha will take me, and I’ll make a statement and whatever else the police needs me to do so I can move on with my life.”
Michael was getting a terrible feeling about this, Jenna kissed him as if she were telling him goodbye. He grabbed her and kissed her again, he didn’t stop until he heard her moan. Michael didn’t push it, Jenna had been through a lot today, probably more than most people could stand. “Okay baby, I’ll see you at the station tomorrow, we need to talk afterward okay.”
Jenna loved Michael, but she couldn’t ask him to be a part of her life. She didn’t expect him to wait around until she got a handle on everything she heard tod
ay. “I’ll see you tomorrow Michael.” Jenna left him standing there, went back into the bedroom, and shut the door.
Michael turned to face Samantha and Connie, “something tells me that I’m making a mistake by leaving here tonight.”
Samantha felt sorry for Michael, she knew that Jenna loved him, but she was unsure of her life right now. When your life is spiraling out of control, the last thing you want to do is bring someone into that mess. “Give her some time Michael, she took a beating today, and I don’t know how she’s still standing.”
“I’m leaving, whatever she’s thinking it’s not over between us, it’s just beginning.”
***
Jenna woke up early in the morning and got ready to make her statement at the police station. She also made flight arrangements to Vegas later that afternoon. She planned to go to Vegas this weekend, but now is as good a time as any. Jenna shipped Laura’s ashes to the hotel two days ago. She would rent a car at the airport for her trip to The Grand Canyon. She could have gone through Arizona, but when they visited the park they always left from Nevada and viewed the North Rim of the canyon. It would have been easy to hire a helicopter, but something told Jenna the pilot wouldn’t be too keen on her dumping Laura’s ashes while they were in the air. Jenna didn’t care if she about breaking the law by dumping ashes in a federal park. It wouldn’t stop her from carrying out Laura’s final wish.
“Hey Jen, you look as if you’re a thousand miles away. Samantha stood in the doorway watching Jenna she could tell by the expression on Jenna’s face that she was planning something.
“I need to stop by my house and pack a bag before we go to the police station. After I give my statement I’m going to Las Vegas, where I’ll rent a car and take a trip to the Grand Canyon; it’s time for me to lay Laura to rest.”
“Do you want me to go with you?”
“This is something I have to do for myself.”
“Are you going to tell Michael?
“No, I didn’t plan on telling anyone other than you and Connie.”
“Don’t you think he has a right to know?”
“No!”
Samantha stepped further in the room and sat on the edge of the bed. “If you believe that you’re lying to yourself. That man considers you as his woman, and he’s not going to be happy to hear that you ran off at a moment’s notice.”
“I’ll talk to him about it when I get back I’m a grown woman I can take a trip to the Grand Canyon without asking anyone’s permission.”
“I know you can sweetie I just wished you were taking someone with you.”
When Jenna and Samantha got to the police station, it was after ten o’clock. Jenna checked in at the front desk downstairs, a few moments later Michael and Mack came out to greet them. “Hi guys.”
Michael kissed her on the mouth not caring if the whole station saw them. “Good morning baby, you’re looking better than you did yesterday. Mack has to take your statement, go ahead and follow him and I’ll talk to you afterwards.”
Jenna didn’t like the way Michael was trying to get rid of her, she followed Mack to the elevator and looked behind her and watched Samantha and Michael talking. Surely, Samantha wouldn’t rat her out. “Mack how long do you think it will it take to make a statement?”
“Maybe an hour or less, I’ll try to be as brief as possible. I’m glad to see that you’re okay; we had problems keeping Mike settled down yesterday. He wanted to interrupt your father’s spiel a little sooner.”
“I didn’t know this situation has been such an ordeal for him.”
“Mike broke rules left and right to be with you, which hasn’t been good for our investigation. He took some heat from our captain because of his relationship with you. So do us all a favor and put Mike out of his misery, tell the guy you love him.”
Jenna sighed before responding, “Mack if only it were that simple.”
“It can be if you let it.”
***
Samantha felt a little guilty for ratting Jenna out, but it’s for her own good. She took a seat across from Michael; she made the decision to help him before bringing Jenna to the police station. Her friend was hurting in so many ways and was she was putting on a brave front. Jenna needed someone there to share that burden and Samantha felt that Michael is that someone. “Jenna made plans to leave for Las Vegas today…”
“Shit, I knew she was up to something. She’s been keeping me at a distance, and she didn’t want to come home with me last night.”
“Michael I don’t know how much Jenna told you about her childhood.”
Michael frowned was else could there be? “Jenna told me about Laura’s rape and how Jackson Senior attacked her 14 years ago. She also told me about that her parents are swingers.”
“Jenna has taken care of Laura all her life; only a few years older than Laura she made sure all of her needs were met. Basically, Jenna didn’t have a childhood she was born into a mess that most of us wouldn’t begin to know how to handle. She had been protecting Laura from her parents' bed partners for years, making sure that Laura never came under harm’s way. When Laura was raped, Jenna blamed herself.”
“Hell no, that wasn’t her fault!”
Samantha patted Michael’s hand. “Yes you and I can see clearly that it wasn’t Jenna’s fault, but she’s always felt as if she failed Laura. Jenna used her shares in the family business as a bargaining tool so that their parents would allow Jenna to take Laura with her. Jenna is running off to Vegas because as always Laura is her responsibility, and it's time to put her to rest. I think that you need to be there with her on this journey, someone she loves who can help with the tragedy of her family.”
“Why is she running away from me like that? Matter of fact I’m on vacation, and I wanted us to plan a trip together.”
“Michael have you listened to anything I’ve said? Jenna doesn’t think she’s good enough for you because of the fucked up family she comes from. She also feels like a failure because she was unable to protect the one person in her life that loved her unconditionally. Remember that when she comes back downstairs, I’m sure the sparks will fly, but I have every faith in you. If you mess up, I will personally kick your ass!”
Michael realized that Samantha was putting her friendship with Jenna at risk. He stood up and kissed Samantha on the cheek, “I’ll take care of Jenna you have my promise.”
“Wait a minute.” Samantha handed Michael and e-ticket.
“What is this?”
“I made reservations for you on Jenna’s flight to Vegas. I’m counting on you Michael, please don’t let me down.”
While Jenna was giving her statement, Michael made reservations at an all suites hotel a couple of miles from the strip. He knew Jenna was going through a rough time and he intended on being with her no matter what. Good thing for him that he always kept extra clothes in his car, especially since he started his relationship with Jenna. He never knew if he would be staying at her house. He had some other surprises for Jenna that he’d been working on for a few weeks. Michael stood up as Jenna and Mack exited the elevator.
“She’s all yours buddy, enjoy your vacation, I’ll call you if anything else arises.”
“Thanks Mack.”
Jenna frowned at Michael something fishy was going on here. “Where’s Samantha? You didn’t tell me that you're on vacation?”
“Samantha and I had a little talk, something you and I still need to do. She told me of your plans to take Laura’s remains to Vegas and drive down to the Grand Canyon. I told her that I would take care of you because I plan to go with you. As for your second question, I didn’t tell you that I was on vacation because I wanted it to be a surprise. I was hoping that you and I could go away together.”
“Samantha had no business telling you my business.”
Now Michael was beginning to get agitated, “damn right, you should have told me that yourself. We found each other under unusual circumstances, but that doesn’t make our relation
ship any less real. I’m sorry I foiled your plans to go running off by yourself, but I refuse to let you dump me now that Laura’s case is closed.”
Is that what he honestly thought of her, that she fucked him as a reward for working harder on Laura’s case? Jenna walked out of the police station without looking back she didn’t want to have this discussion with Michael right now. Why did life have to be so damn hard? She didn’t get far before Michael grabbed her arm and turned her around to face him.
“Is that your answer to everything, run away?”
Jenna felt herself losing control over her emotions. “I can’t handle this right now okay. I’ve lost my whole family because of my father’s selfishness. I can’t expect you or anybody else to bear my burdens for me. I was going to Vegas so I could be alone to think things through I wasn’t leaving you behind, or trying to escape our relationship. I was giving you space in case you didn’t want me anymore because of the sickness that runs in my veins.”
Michael hugged Jenna to his chest. “Silly woman, you’ve always had to be the strong one, this time you can lean on me. Samantha gave me your bag, and I already have a bag packed. Our flight leaves in a couple of hours we need to get to the airport.”
Jenna suddenly felt as if a weight had been lifted from her shoulders. At last, she found a man she could trust. “Thank you for being my shelter during the storm.”
***
Chapter 13
Michael and Jenna arrived in Las Vegas late in the afternoon they picked up the rental car and headed for the interstate. He had been dying to ask Jenna what she did with Laura’s ashes because they weren’t in her carry-on bag, but he didn’t want to come off as insensitive. “Samantha already called and cancelled your hotel reservations I made reservations for us at a quieter hotel far removed from the strip.”
“We need to stop at Harrah’s any way they’re holding a package for me.”
Shelter During the Storm Page 9