by C R Riley
What the heck was his father involved in? What does any of this have to do with Hannah and him?
Given that Jaxon wasn't a witness to the actual shooting. Along with the fact he chose not to disclose everything about what his father had shared with the authorities. They allowed him to leave. Of course, he didn't disclose that he was planning on leaving the country. His security team would handle that. He would cooperate with the authorities if and when they had questions. However, he wasn't sticking around since he had much more pressing matters to deal with. Matters that had him totally out of sorts, and so far from his usual unruffled self.
Jaxon rereads all the texts he’s sent Hannah.
Jaxon: Lucas has just been shot. Need to watch your back. Warned you could be next. Take extra precautions. Colton is in danger as well.
Jaxon: Why haven't you texted me back? I'm leaving the hotel now. Call me.
Jaxon: Hannah, tell me you are OK. Please answer me, honey.
Jaxon: I'll be in the air. Should be back in about twenty hours. Please let someone on my security team know you are OK. I'm freaking out here, Hannah.
Every single one of his texts has gone unanswered.
He has contacted his team several times. No one can provide him with any answers. All they have been able to tell him is that an attempt was made on Colton. Shots were fired at his school and his security team responded properly.
The news reported that one agent suffered injuries during the altercation. No name has been released yet. No mention of the severity of the injuries either. All they are reporting is that the President and his family have been moved to a secured location. They will remain there until the threat has been identified.
Jaxon decides to try again.
Jaxon: Hannah I just landed. Please answer me. Call me. Contact someone. I need to know you are OK. I'm coming for you.
A heated conversation at the front of the plane grabs Jaxon's attention. Raphael and a few members of his team seem to be having words with whoever it is. He stands and makes his way to them to determine what the problem could be. What is the issue keeping him from getting to Hannah?
A man, dressed in a standard black suit, frowns at him. "Mr. Jaxon Cristiano?"
Jaxon acknowledges him. "Is there a problem?"
And like that, his team is taken over before they can respond. His plane is boarded by at least ten men, all who seem to be on a mission. They take Jaxon to the floor before he realizes what is happening. Out of instinct, he fights against them.
"Who are you?" Panic takes over. The skin under his clothing is on fire. Jaxon is doing his best to focus and not lose it completely.
"Sir. We need you to cooperate." The man in charge informs him. "I'm Special Agent Calloway. We have reason to believe you have information on a shooting that occurred yesterday. Stop fighting my men or we will be forced to use whatever means necessary to ensure your cooperation."
Jaxon's body is tight and burning, there is no way he can stop. "What is this about? I wasn't even in the country yesterday." He feels the cold metal against his wrist tighten as a knee presses into his back.
He has been arrested one other time. It was when he was in his early twenties. He and his friends were a little intoxicated. Jaxon had a complete meltdown and suffered the effects of being tased. Not something he wishes to ever experience again. The humiliation of the incident alone took him days to recover from. Landed him in the hospital for a psych evaluation and stay. For that reason, Jaxon does his best to dig deep. Hoping to recover the inner facade he uses daily to disguise his true emotions.
"We will explain all this later. My men don't take threats lightly. Under the authority of the USSS, we are taking you into custody…"
Jaxon interrupts him as soon as he realizes who these men are. "USSS? Johannah Kohl sent you? Please tell me she's okay."
Two men yank him to his feet while three others surround him. Agent Calloway gets in his face. "Agent Kohl's status is classified. Now are you going to cooperate or am I going to get the pleasure of…"
Jaxon does his best to remain calm and not demand this prick tell him about Hannah. "I'll cooperate. Now tell me, Agent Kohl…"
A fist slams into his gut hard, forcing Jaxon to bend forward as he coughs. "Classified. Let's go. If any of his men try to follow us, take care of them."
"Raphael, stand down." Jaxon sputters his orders, as he straightens and allows the men to lead him off the plane.
"Yes sir," Raphael replies through gritted teeth.
"Smart man." Agent Calloway tells him as he leads the way.
Jaxon is tossed into the back seat of an SUV between two agents. He has no idea what this is all about. And while he'd like to argue about being taken without fully knowing the reason. He also gets the impression he doesn't have much choice in the matter.
The ride is quiet and tense. It takes about an hour to get to their destination.
By the time he arrives, he is having a harder time keeping it together. He hates being surrounded by people he doesn't know. These men obviously have no respect for personal space, making things even more difficult for him. He is fighting constantly to not show these men just how crazy he can be.
More agents join them as they lead him down a hallway and shoved into a room that has no windows, only cameras. There is one metal folding chair in the center of the room. He is forcefully placed in it and then left to his own thoughts. His hands are still bound behind his back. The metal is cutting into his wrist and his shoulders ache.
The temperature in the room rises to an unbearable temperature. At first, Jaxon isn't sure if it is just him, along with his nerves, or if it is the room itself. That is until the air gets so stifling that he can hardly breathe. At that point, he begins sweating profusely. His clothes absorb the moisture as his mouth goes dry.
Jaxon's mind is focused on one thing and one thing only. Where is Johannah? Has something happened to her? Are they under the assumption he is responsible, if so?
And those thoughts only make him sweat more. Causing his mind to shut down and retreat into protective mode.
The door finally opens as Agent Calloway steps inside. He is carrying a folder and a metal chair of his own. Placing the chair directly in front of Jaxon, he takes a seat. He strips his jacket off and rolls up his sleeves furiously.
"Man, it's hot in here. Someone, turn the heat off."
"What is this about?" Jaxon spits out through parched lips.
"I'll ask the questions, Mr. Cristiano." Calloway reaches behind him. He takes the offered bottled water when the door opens. "So how long have you been planning this?"
Jaxon licks his lips as he watches the other man guzzle the cold beverage. "Planning what?"
"Don't play dumb with me," Calloway takes another drink.
"I have no idea what you're talking about." Jaxon shivers as the cold air cools the overheated space.
Calloway flips his chair around backward. Reaching inside the folder he throws several pictures at his feet.
Jaxon uses his foot to spread them out. They are the same ones his father gave him. Hannah is staring up at him in one, so he instantly focuses on her. Clearing his mind of all things but her.
"Don't lie to me. We know that you have been planning this for months now. How did you know Agent Kohl was assigned to the President?"
"I didn't. Not until President Andrews talked to me on the beach that night." Jaxon shoves a few more pictures around.
"You talked to the President?" Calloway sounds surprised.
"Tell me she's okay." Jaxon's voice is almost a whisper.
"I told you, that is classified." Calloway raises his.
Jaxon stands abruptly. Kicking over the chair Calloway is sitting in, almost knocking him on his butt.
"Tell me she is okay!" He growls.
The door flies open. Jaxon once again finds himself face down on the floor. He isn't sure how many men are on top of him this time. The weight is almost more than he can tolerate. His
chest is heavy and he can barely breathe.
The panic takes over this time, and there is nothing Jaxon can do to stop it. His mind begins to do what it always has done before to protect him.
Calloway is above him; his breath heats the side of Jaxon's face now. "I don't have to tell you shit."
"Then neither do I." Jaxon retorts in a growl, as he flails his body around, straining to get free. "Until you tell me about Hannah, I have nothing else to say."
"We'll just see about that, now won't we." Calloway stands and gives the other men his orders. "Turn the heat back up for another thirty minutes, then crank the air down for thirty. Do that repeatedly for the next several hours. I'll leave you with those pictures, so you can think long and hard about this. When you're ready to talk, you let me know."
Jaxon is left alone in the room again. This time with no chair and an empty bottle tossed on the floor. He shifts to his knees as he spreads the picture out in front of him.
What is it they believe he has done? Is Hannah hurt? Why won't they tell him anything?
"Where are you, baby?" Jaxon whispers as he stares at the large black and white photo of her laughing. "Where are you?"
Chapter Twenty-Six
Johannah is tiring of all the runaround. She has been in debriefing now for the last eight hours, without obtaining any of the answers she wants or needs.
After she left the hospital, she notified her department that she lost her phone in the struggle. At that time, she was alerted they had recovered it off the floor in the classroom. It must have dislodged from her pocket when Kendra and she were protecting Colton. At that point in time, they instructed Johannah to go home and rest. Report to the main office the following morning for debriefing. They gave her strict orders to not talk to anyone until after her debriefing. Which meant she couldn't let Jaxon, or even her family, know she was okay.
Nathan couldn't even tell them anything if he knew himself.
She knew Jaxon had likely heard about the shooting by now since the media has informed the rest of the world. He isn't expected to land until late tomorrow afternoon. She prays she can get word to him she is fine by then. Johannah imagines he is driving his security team crazy by now. Not being able to confirm anything. She knows she would be.
Her parents are probably only slightly better. That is only because they know if something had actually happened to her, Nate would have made sure to let them know. Since he is keeping silent, doing his job, they can only conclude that all is okay, meaning she is fine. Having been a part of this agency, helps them understand the reason behind the secrecy.
Johannah arrived at the main office around eight this morning. Shortly afterward, she was escorted to a conference room. The first thing they instructed her to do was to file a report detailing the events of the previous day. Explaining it from start to finish, not leaving one minor detail out.
Knowing this was routine, she sat down and filed the report. By eleven, she was done and had submitted it to her director.
Then she waited.
And waited.
And waited.
Several long hours later, Agent Calloway enters the room. Something about the way he looks cautions her he has been at this for hours already. Since she knew they had a lead, she is curious to hear about what he has to tell her.
He tosses a folder her way as he sits and then waits for her to open it.
Johannah does and is taken back by what is inside. "What is this?"
"That's what I'd like to know." Calloway leans forward. "Jaxon Cristiano was found with those in his possession. How long have you been involved with him?"
Johannah stops flipping through the pictures and glances up at the other agent. "Jaxon had these on him?"
Why would Jaxon have pictures like these on him? They are surveillance photos of her, mostly. Some from as far back to when they first met. Others were as recent as the zoo. All taken during times she was with him. What is this really about?
"How long have you been involved with Mr. Cristiano?" Calloway asks again.
"I met him when Kendra, Paige, and I went on vacation." She taps on a photo of her at the beach. Kendra can be seen in the background. "We've been… dating now for a month or so. I don't understand."
"Are you aware that Lucas Jackson is his father?" When he sees her nod, he continues. "Yesterday, right before everything went down. Lucas was killed in the lobby of a hotel Mr. Cristiano owns. From what we can gather, he had a meeting with his son only moments before. He gave these to him at that time."
"Why?" Johannah flips through them again.
What is going on?
Why would Lucas Jackson be in possession of these types of photos? And why would he be giving them to his son?
None of this makes any sense to her.
"So far, we haven't been able to get any answers. Tell me about your relationship with Cristiano." Calloway instructs her.
Johannah does. She shares with the other agent how they met. How they spent several days together until her father suffered his heart attack. Goes on to explain how things after that went cold and didn't start up again until she made that trip out to San Diego. That they have been in a long-distance relationship since that trip, and that Jaxon was considering relocating his business to the D.C. area. She reports every little detail, even though she can't figure out why any of that is important.
Afterward, Agent Calloway reveals all he has learned about Jaxon Cristiano and Lucas Jackson.
Johannah listens carefully.
Lucas Jackson has been under the radar of homeland security for a few years now. Several of his business transactions attracted the agencies' attention. They were very interested in the private island off the Florida Keys. Certain that there was some illegal activity transpiring on that island. Proving it had been challenging. Mostly because the island consisted of only private homes and the one resort. It was difficult for them to stake it out, which made them even that much more suspicious.
So, when he sold the island to Jaxon unexpectedly, they started watching him as well. And when Jaxon bought three other properties that were in question. It made them even more suspicious about what was really going on. While homeland has never been able to pinpoint anything illegal on Jaxon, they have been watching him rather closely.
Once Lucas traveled to Australia, during the same time Jaxon was there, it sent off a few red flags. Then Lucas ended up being gunned down in the lobby of one of Cristiano's properties. That is when they decided it was time to talk with him. Time to put the pieces together and figure out what was going on.
Calloway slides her phone across the table. "And then he started sending you text messages immediately afterward."
Johannah takes her phone and begins reading them.
Jaxon: Lucas has just been shot. Need to watch your back. Warned you could be next. Take extra precautions. Colton is in danger as well.
What is he talking about? Watch her back? She could be next? Did Jaxon know that someone was going to hurt Colton? And if so, why didn't he call someone to warn her team? Why text her?
Jaxon: Why haven't you texted me back? I'm leaving the hotel now. Call me.
This text was sent an hour later, and by her calculations, the shooting here had already taken place. In fact, it had already occurred before he sent the first message. Still, it didn't make any sense on why he hadn't let the authorities know.
Jaxon: Hannah, tell me you are OK. Please answer me, honey.
How scared he must have been if he knew. Did they seriously believe Jaxon was involved? No way.
Jaxon: I'll be in the air. Should be back in about twenty hours. Please let someone on my security team know you are OK. I'm freaking out here Hannah.
She bet he was. There is one last text letting her know that he landed. So, where was he?
"You don't think?" Johannah glimpses up at Calloway and can see that he does. "Where are you holding him?"
What have they done to him? Have they arrested him?
Johannah shoots to her feet. "I want to see him. I need to see him."
"I can't let you do that." Calloway leans back in his chair all smug like.
"I outrank you, Calloway." Johannah slams her hands on the table. "Take me to wherever you are holding him now."
Calloway shakes his head defiantly.
Johannah isn't having any of that. She marches over to the door and throws it open. She knows this building as well as anyone else. No way is she allowing them to treat Jaxon as a suspect. No way is he involved in this at all. No way.
The command center is on this floor. Once she reaches it, she steps inside and examines the screens. What she observes on screen four has her sinking into a chair and covering her mouth.
Jaxon is kneeling on the floor of an interrogation room with pictures of her surrounding him. He is rocking in much the same way Colton does when he is having a meltdown. Sweat is dripping down from his face and hair. His clothes are drenched.
She recognizes exactly what is going on. It's a tactic many agents have used, but not one she has ever been fond of. And with the issues Jaxon suffers from, she can't imagine it ever working on him. In fact, she is pretty certain it will only cause him to retreat further into himself.
He tries to wipe his face off with his shoulder but can't, so he uses his pants legs to do so instead. Finally, he lifts his head and stares directly at the camera. His eyes are hollow, much like they were the night he ordered her to leave his hotel.
What have they done to him? Touched him? Does he even know she is okay? Probably not, since the emptiness in his eyes express to her so much.
Johannah shoots to her feet like a rocket and bolts for the elevator bay. She has to get to him before he loses it. The emptiness in his eyes has her worried that she may already be too late to save him from the darkness.
"Where do you think you are going?" Calloway grabs her arm.
"What have you done?" Johannah steps into the elevator and presses the button for the basement. "Tell me you know he suffers from a form of haphephobia. Did you drag him in here like you do all suspects?"
