When she picked up the newspaper and saw the headline in bold type, her hands tightened their grip. Her mouth went dry, and she felt perspiration form on her brow. She knew what this meant. She feared for him. She shoved the paper in her purse, picked up her keys and headed out the door. She wasn't going to make it in to work today. She needed to see him. She needed to make sure he was OK.
She drove the four miles to his isolated home and found herself being stopped on the lane by men with badges. She explained who she was. She explained that she needed to see him. But the men didn't budge. No one was allowed into the house. No one was allowed to see him.
She pushed back. She asked them to talk to him. They only shook their heads in rejection. She pulled out her phone and dialed his number. It rang. She waited.
/ / /
"Who the hell are you?"
"Miss I'm Agent Dirksen with the FBI."
"What do you want? Is this about Jake's brother?"
"Yes. But it's also about Jake. And you."
"Is Jake alright?"
Both her hands caressed the underside of her belly.
"Jake is fine for the time being. But that's why I'm here. I think we should sit down for this."
She pulled the door open farther and gestured him in. He took a seat in the armchair next to the window and she rested on the foot of the king size bed.
"Miss, we have reason to believe that the person that killed Jason Samuels was actually targeting Janie. We also believe that the killer lives abroad and was recently made aware that they killed the wrong person. Right now, we are keeping an eye on the Samuels house because we fear the killer will return to finish what he started."
"I should be with Jake..."
She began to rise from her seat, but Agent Dirksen quickly stopped her. He put both hands on hers and helped her back to a sitting position on the bed.
"That's not a good idea. I understand that you are concerned for Mr. Samuels, but we need you to stay here. We don't want you to put yourself or your baby in danger. We're keeping him safe. But you need to sit tight here."
"Then what?"
"Well, my parnter and I are assigned to keep an eye on you here, just in case."
"And that's it?"
"What do you mean?"
"So I'm just supposed to wait until this guy shows up?"
"The Bureau is doing everything in its power to locate the suspect and capture him before he reaches the Samuels. Unfortunately at this point we haven't been able to pinpoint his current location. But we do know he is on the move."
/ / /
I heard the phone ring again. I still didn't want to leave the comfort of my bed. But I drug myself back to the dresser anyway.
"Hello?"
The hint of smile began as the corner of my lip turned upwards.
"I'm glad you called...You're where?"
"Put them on."
"Hello? Yeah this is Jacob Samuels. Please let Miss Jameson through. I want to see her."
"Yes, I understand the situation, but either let her come through or I will come to her."
"Thank you, sir."
I placed the phone back on the dresser. I stood and stared into the mirror. I still wore only my underwear. I hurried to the bathroom to grab my robe. I looped the belt and pulled it tight. I tried to tame my hair again. I wiped the corners of my eyes and mouth. That would have to do for now. Back at the dresser, I unwrapped a piece of gum and placed it in my mouth. I hoped it would mask my morning breath. I picked up my phone and headed for the stairs.
At the foot of stairs, I glanced into the kitchen. Janie was at the stove working on the pancakes.
"You might want to put a few extra in the pan."
She lifted her head but didn't lose focus on the batter in the skillet.
"Why's that, you that hungry?"
"No, but my friend Karen's here."
I heard the knock at the door.
"Well go let her in."
I smiled at my little sister and turned toward the door. Karen was agitated. She was nervous.
"What's wrong?"
"How can you even ask me that? You know damn well what's wrong!"
"I--"
"I'm worried sick. I saw the paper this morning Jake."
"The paper?"
"Yeah, don't try to pretend that you don't know."
"Excuse me, Karen? Right?"
Janie had appeared between the kitchen and the living room.
"Yes."
"Hi, I'm Janie, Jake's sister."
She reached her hand out to Karen, who just looked at it questioningly.
"Well anyway, I'm making breakfast so I hope you like bacon and pancakes."
Karen just stared back.
"Um--"
"I'll take that as a yes. Oh, and by the way, calm yourself before I throw your ass out."
She said it with a smile and never lost a beat. As quick as she had appeared, she disappeared back into the kitchen.
"What the hell, Jake!"
"I warned you once!"
Came the call from the kitchen.
"Karen why don't you have a seat."
I pointed at the sofa behind her. She cautiously took a seat, half on, half off. I walked around the coffee table and sat comfortably on the sofa's arm.
"Why don't you start over and tell me what this about? Are you worried? I don't understand what's changed?"
"You don't understand?"
She started out loudly then caught herself and tempered her voice.
"How can you not know Jake?"
"Is this about Sheriff Holt?"
"That's only the half of it."
"Well that's the only half I know, so you are going to have to fill me in."
"You really don't know? You haven't seen it?"
"Karen, I just crawled out of bed five minutes ago. It's been a rough night and morning. I can assure you I have no idea what you're getting at."
She shifted in her seat. She was frustrated with him. She still didn't believe that he didn't know. The distance from one end of the sofa to the other seemed much greater.
"The entire front page of The Telegraph was basically about your case. Holt's murder was obviously the feature. But the other article is what caught my eye."
"And--"
"And that article..."
She reached into her purse and pulled out the crumpled paper. She continued.
"was titled, 'Is Baby Samuels Safe?'"
I reached and pulled the paper from her hand. I didn't understand how some things made it to print. My mind drifted--Rebekah.
"Karen, I don't know how this got in the paper. I don't. I haven't spoken with anyone except Donny Kahle since yesterday."
"Jake--"
"Wait. I like you Karen I do. But I'm not sure I understand why you are upset? You were already aware that Rebekah was carrying my child. We haven't even really started dating yet."
"I don't want to see this stuff in the news Jake. I want this to work between us."
"Karen. Let's just cool off. My life is a mess right now. There is too much going on. I can't take another curve being thrown at me right now. It's too much. At some point I'm just going to crack, and honestly I know that point is very close."
"I'm sorry, it's just, I don't know. I felt we had a connection ever since the hospital."
"And we did. But a lot has happened since then. Janie's home, I'm going to be a father, Holt's dead, we know who the murderer is. I need to focus. I need to try and keep it together."
"So what are you saying?"
"I'm saying that I can't deal with this right now. I need a couple weeks, months probably until my life is pulled back together. And if that baby is definitely mine, then I need to try to make that work."
Her head dropped. Her fingers fumbled with the clasp on her bag.
"I just. I really--"
"Stop. Don't say anything else. I'm sorry Karen. It's just not the right time. In other circumstances, maybe. But not now. I'm sorry."
I leaned forward and put my feet on the ground. I moved to the door and opened it.
"I think you better go."
She didn't answer. She just nodded and stood. She took tiny steps down the walk.
"Goodbye Karen."
I pushed the door closed and pressed my head against it. I didn't know what to think. I didn't know what else to expect. What else was going to be thrown at me? I pounded my fist against the door, just once. I rolled my head to the right and let it lead my body to spin around. I leaned my back against the door.
"Please tell me you're serving shots with breakfast."
I immediately regretted that statement.
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