Frozen Past

by Richard C. Hale

  They knocked on the door and were greeted by Mr. Harrison who looked a little relieved to see them.

  “Thanks for stopping by,” he said, and opened the door for both to enter.

  “How are the kids?” Victoria asked.

  “Actually, pretty good. There’s a little tension in the air, but they had some friends over and have been pretty busy goofing off. Don’t challenge those two to an air hockey game,” he said. “They kicked my butt.”

  Victoria smiled and looked relieved. “I don’t want to upset them but we have some news that might make her feel a little better. Can we talk to them?”

  “Ok-I’ll find them.” He left to search the kids out.

  Jaxon and Victoria sat in the living room, and the kids walked in together a minute later. The girl looked much better and the boy beamed beside her. They sat on the couch next to each other, holding hands again, and waited expectantly.

  “You guys look happy,” Victoria said. “Have you had a good day today?”

  They both smiled and nodded. “Well, except for this morning,” Luke said, looking a little somber now.

  “Good,” she said. “I’m glad. Ellie, we found some information that might make you feel a little better.”

  Jaxon watched the girl who looked at them warily. She didn’t trust them yet, and Jaxon didn’t blame her. She’d been through a lot and probably had doubts about life in general. Her perspective had grown up a lot in the last few months and she was getting an above average dose of adulthood tossed her way.

  “What is it?” Ellie said.

  “We tracked down information on your father and there is no way William Smith could know him.”

  “What kind of information,” Ellie asked, and this surprised Jaxon. He expected her to just take their word for it. Victoria never faltered.

  “He is nowhere near us and hasn’t been for some time,” Victoria said.

  “Where is he?”

  Victoria looked at Jaxon. He had nothing to offer. Maybe this had been a mistake.

  “Can you just take our word for it right now?” Victoria offered. “I know it’s confusing for you, but just trust us.”

  She seemed to accept this and nodded her head and sighed. “Well, that’s good,” she said. “That does make me feel a little better. The killer’s still out there though, right?”

  “Unfortunately, yes,” Jaxon said. “But we’ve got you well protected here, and I know he won’t try anything. Besides, he doesn’t know you’re here.”

  “I hope not,” Luke said.

  “We will still pretend like he does and keep a couple of officers parked in front and back,” Victoria said. “Does that make you feel safe?”

  She nodded hesitantly.

  “What is it, sweetheart?” Victoria asked.

  “He’s smart,” she said. “He always seems to know what’s happening.”

  “It appears that way at times, doesn’t it?” Victoria said. “What if Detective Jennings and I stayed in the house with you tonight? Would that make you feel safer?”

  Jaxon jerked his head toward her, but saw the girl smile and nod her head. Victoria looked at him and smiled, and he knew he’d be sleeping on a couch tonight.

  Ellie said, “Great!”

  Chapter 41

  Jaxon sat in a recliner, his radio next to him on the table, volume turned low so it wouldn’t wake any of the kids. Victoria was on the couch, her laptop resting on her knees. She was going through some of the data Holt had e-mailed her. The lab at Quantico was still struggling with the Hacker’s computer system, but the forensic guys in DC had gone through a lot of the evidence collected from the Jenson house. Most of it was nothing new.

  After getting permission from each other’s boss, Jaxon and Victoria explained their intentions to the Harrisons and both seemed grateful for the added security. The father had actually taken a deep breath, as if he had been struggling to fill his lungs all day and finally found relief.

  Jaxon ran Victoria by her house where she picked up a few things, and then they stopped by the Hoover building so she could grab some electronic eavesdropping detection equipment. Holt was there, and though it was a little awkward for Jaxon, he muddled through and Holt noticed nothing. One more stop at Jaxon’s house to feed Reverb, and they arrived back at the Harrison’s at around 8:00 p.m.

  Breaking out the eavesdropping equipment, Victoria scanned the house and phone lines, while Jaxon searched outside for cameras. The light was fading so Jaxon didn’t have much time. Neither found anything.

  “If he doesn’t have any electronics around, how does he know so much about what is happening with these kids?” Jaxon asked.

  “Could he be tracking their cell phones?”

  “Possibly,” Jaxon said, “but he would have to be able to listen in on their conversations to find out anything about the Hacker. How could he know Quentin Jenson provided Luke with software just from observing him visiting the house?”

  “Yeah, that doesn’t make sense.”

  They sat in silence for a moment. Victoria finally said, “Could he have an accomplice? Someone watching the kids or even someone who knows them?”

  Jaxon sat up. “Or maybe he’s bugged one of the friend’s houses. What’s their names?” He snapped his fingers a couple of times. “John and Jimmy. What if Luke’s buddies are inadvertently supplying the guy with intel? They wouldn’t have a clue if their phones or computers were bugged.”

  “We’ll see if we can get permission to check the house tomorrow.”

  “Just wave that FBI badge and that should do the trick.”

  “It does seem to work most of the time.”

  They sat quiet for a few minutes. He listened to the noises of the strange house, trying to familiarize himself with its personality. The quiet squeaks of the floor, or the groans of the A/C system as it came on. Hopefully, he would recognize something strange if it happened while he slept. After a few minutes he looked over at Victoria and then got up and walked over to the couch. She was typing something into the laptop and he reached up and brushed the hair away from her forehead, looking at the healing bruise underneath.

  She stopped and looked up at him. “Not here,” she said.

  “I know,” he said and let his hand fall to his lap. The bruising was looking better and he told her so.

  “It feels better,” she said, reaching up and touching it. “I don’t notice it as much anymore.”

  He stared at it remembering the horrible panic he felt seeing her lying there after the house exploded. She must have read his mind because her eyes softened and she said, “I’ll be ok.”

  He searched her face. Was this really going to happen? Could they give it another go? They had been so busy today they barely had time to reflect on their little tryst this afternoon. They hadn’t even talked about her relationship with Holt, and maybe that was on purpose. He was a little afraid to hear what she would say about him and maybe she was afraid to think about it.

  He pushed it away and thought about the last few days. It had seemed like months and realizing it had only been a couple of days, it made him think he hadn’t even had time to grieve for his partner. Sally was like a distant memory and he hated himself for relegating her to some small compartment in his mind, to pull out later and look at. Seeing her lying unmoving and lifeless in his mind immediately brought the image of Victoria up again, bleeding from the head, the sinking feeling in his soul, thinking she was dead. And then the relief he felt when she was ok.

  “Back in Indiana,” he said softly, “when I saw you lying there, I felt empty. In the split second before you woke, I thought you were dead and any hope of my life ever being whole again was sucked away like a vacuum. I could feel it. Physically feel it. The air turned stale and hot, and I couldn’t breathe. I knew I would never get to tell you how I felt. That I would never get to feel your touch again. That I would never hear your voice again. The world had ended for the second time in my life, and I didn’t want to go on. Then
you spoke to me.”

  A single tear traced a line down her face, but she smiled. “I was glad it was you when I came to. I wasn’t afraid with you there.”

  A comfortable silence settled between them. He knew this wasn’t the best place to talk about it, but his mouth overrode his head. “What happens now?”

  He could see a small shadow move across her face and she looked away. “I feel happy,” she said and looked back at him. “I want to be with you, but…”

  “But it’s complicated,” he finished for her.

  “No,” she said. “It’s easy. I’ve always known in my heart that if you would take me back, I would go. I think Holt knows it too, but he’s been able to look past it. I just have to do this in my own way. Ok?”

  “What are you going to do?”

  “I’m waiting for you to tell me you want me back.”

  “I want you back.”

  She smiled. “Are we going to be able to get through all this?”

  “I’m willing to try.”

  “That’s all I need to hear,” she said and touched his face. “Give me some time to deal with Holt. Just promise me you won’t make it hard on him. He’s a good man.”

  “I’ll take it easy on him. A few rabbit punches and a Judo chop should do it.”

  “He’d probably shoot you.”

  “Bring it on.”

  More silence and then Jaxon said, “How can you leave him so easily?”

  She sighed. “It’s not easy. But he’s not you.”

  “Have you really been pining away for me?”

  “You wish,” but she smiled. “I know you’ve been blocking me out of your mind for a while, but I’ve thought about you almost every day. Whenever I thought of Michael, you were right there with him in my mind.”

  “Then why Holt? What made you want to be with him?”

  “I was lonely. I needed something to fill the huge void that was left by the loss of Michael and then the loss of you. If he hadn’t been there, I really believe I would have just dried up and blown away in the breeze.”

  Jaxon’s radio squawked and he got up and answered it. “Jaxon.”

  “Just letting you know of the shift change, sir. This is Michelson and it’s midnight.”

  “Gotcha,” Jaxon said. “Try to stay alert out there.”

  “Roger.”

  “Jeffries out back,” another voice said and Jaxon acknowledged him too.

  “Boy, I’m glad I don’t have to pull those shifts anymore. Has to be the worst.”

  “Depends on who you spend it with,” Victoria said.

  “I always got stuck with Wiesnewski. He smelled like cabbage.”

  “And garlic,” she said, chuckling. “What the hell did that guy eat?”

  “You mean what didn’t he eat. What’s an FBI stakeout like?” Jaxon asked.

  “The same. Just add designer clothes.”

  “Somehow, I believe you.”

  She closed the laptop and yawned. “Alright, I’ve had enough. I’m going to take a nap. You get first watch.”

  “Wanna’ fool around?”

  “Yes.”

  “Like that’s gonna happen.”

  “You asked. I didn’t say we would be able to,” but she smiled, crossed over to his chair and gave him a soft kiss. “Later,” she whispered.

  “You’re killing me.”

  “Don’t die on me yet. We just found each other again.”

  Chapter 42

  Jaxon woke stiff and tired. Sleeping in a recliner was not one of his favorite things. Unless he’d had a twelve pack and some chicken wings. Victoria was missing and then he heard her voice coming softly from the kitchen. It sounded like she was talking to Mrs. Harrison.

  He got up, stretched, and used the head by the front door and then followed the smell of coffee into the kitchen.

  “Good morning, Detective,” Mrs. Harrison said. “Did you sleep ok?”

  “Yes ma’am,” he lied and glanced at Victoria who looked perfect. She was grinning at him and he realized he must look rumpled. He reached up and felt his hair sticking up in clumps and smiled sheepishly.

  “Here,” Victoria said handing him a cup. “Looks like you could use this.”

  “Thanks.” He glanced at the clock and saw it was 7:30. She had let him sleep.

  “I’m glad it was quiet last night,” Mrs. Harrison said. “I felt safer with you two down here.”

  “No problem, ma’am. It was the least we could do,” he said.

  “Will you be back tonight?”

  “As long as it’s ok with your family,” Victoria said.

  “Thank you,” she said and hugged Victoria. She looked surprised, but hugged her back after a second. “I’ve been so afraid for Lucas and Ellie. I don’t know what I would do if something happened to them.”

  “We won’t let anything happen, Mrs. Harrison. Nobody will get within fifty feet of them,” Jaxon said.

  “Do you promise?”

  “Yes,” Victoria said.

  Mrs. Harrison looked back and forth between the two and then said, “I believe you.”

  “How are your other children handling this, Mrs. Harrison?” Victoria asked.

  “Please, call me Natalie,” she said. “Do either of you have children?”

  The temperature in the room dropped a couple of degrees and Jaxon saw Natalie’s face register confusion. Of course, she had no idea what that simple question meant to Victoria and him. He was about to answer when Victoria did it for him.

  “Our son was killed, Natalie. Murdered.”

  Natalie almost dropped her coffee and she looked back and forth between them. “Both your sons?” she asked.

  “Victoria and I were once married,” Jaxon said. “We don’t mean to shock you, but there’s no nice way around the answer. The same bastard who is stalking these kids-your son-is the same man who took our son from us.” The venom in Jaxon’s voice even surprised him. “You see, we thought the man responsible for our son’s murder was rotting in a jail cell awaiting his turn to die. But, we were sorely mistaken.”

  Victoria interrupted, “This information has just come to our attention. We would be aggressively trying to apprehend this madman regardless, but the case has our undivided attention now, if you understand my meaning. We will find this man and put an end to his atrocities one way or another.”

  Natalie Harrison stood in shock. Her hand was raised to her open mouth and she looked like a deer caught in the headlights. “Oh my God!” she said. “Oh my God. I’m so sorry.”

  Victoria went to her. “It’s alright, Natalie. You had no idea. I’m sorry if we upset you, but I want you to know we will stop at nothing to get this guy. Nothing.”

  “What’s going on, Mom?” Luke asked from the doorway. “Did something happen?”

  All of them stood looking at each other for a moment and then Jaxon cleared his throat. “Everything’s fine, Luke. Nothing’s happened. Agent Elliot and I were just having a talk with your mother. Nothing to worry about,” and he smiled, though it felt strained.

  He seemed to buy it. “Is Ellie up?” The tension broke and they all smiled at the boy.

  “No, sweetie,” his mom said. “I haven’t seen her yet. It’s still early. Let her sleep, ok?”

  “I’m awake,” Ellie said from the doorway, appearing just as Luke had from thin air. Jaxon wondered how much of the conversation the two kids had eavesdropped on. Luke turned and smiled bigger than any kid he’d ever seen and if he was acting, then Jaxon was a drag queen. They hadn’t heard a word and he was relieved. No sense in stressing out the kids any more than they already were.

  “Hey,” Luke said.

  “Hey,” Ellie said back. “Your hair is sticking up,” and she giggled.

  He turned red and then pointed at Jaxon. “So’s his.”

  Then they were all laughing and the dramatic conversation from a few minutes before was long forgotten. Kids had a tendency to do that.

  Jaxon dropped Victoria off
at her condo and went home to shower and eat. They would be pouring over all the files, new and old, trying to connect the dots. The information over the last few days had grown dramatically and they needed to devote some time researching any leads that may surface from reviewing old cases. Maybe a piece of the puzzle would fall into place. Jaxon knew that sometimes it was the smallest, seemingly trivial piece of evidence that could start an avalanche of discovery. There had to be something they were missing.

  Later they would visit Jimmy and John Besner’s house and check for bugs. He doubted they would find anything, but it was worth the effort.

  Reverb was lying in the middle of the kitchen floor like he always did, lounging right in the path of Jaxon’s sleepy feet, and as he tripped over the old mutt, catching himself on the counter, something caught his eye. He bent to the floor and looked at the baseboard of the cabinet. A small, yellow-orange colored, broken piece of corn chip was leaning against the shoe molding. He picked it up, turning it in his fingers. He sniffed. Bar-B-Que.

  Jaxon hated Bar-B-Que anything. Someone had been in his house.

  Chapter 43

  The doorbell rang and Luke went to answer it. His dad beat him to it saying, “I got it!” It ended up being Patrick, Ellie’s brother. He stood there holding a suitcase and a box in his hands, a big stupid grin on his face.

  “Hello, Patrick,” Luke’s dad said. “Is that for Ellie?”

  “Yep,” he said.

  “Alright, come on in.”

  Luke stepped back so Patrick could come in and as he passed, Luke said, “What’s up?”

  “Nothing,” Patrick said and then just stood there. Apparently, he was still acting somewhat cool to him. Nothing Luke could do about it so he went to find Ellie. She was in his brother’s room, her hair wet from the shower.

  “Patrick’s here,” Luke said. “He has some stuff for you.”

  “Probably some more clothes. My mom said she would send him over with it.”