Susan scrutinized her face, concern reflecting in her eyes. “We understand you had quite a morning. Are you okay?”
Art held up his hand. “Wait. Before you get started, I don’t want to hear the abbreviated version of your adventure. Sue, you’re going to record this, then you’ll write the article. Jessie, you’ll write your story in the first person.”
“Front page,” Jessie reiterated.
He nodded. “Absolutely. Tomorrow, Sunday edition.”
Susan set up her phone and was ready to record by the time Jessie pulled over another chair. She plopped down and started talking. Surprisingly, Art didn’t interrupt her once. When she was done, Susan grabbed her phone and went back to her desk. Art and Jessie stayed seated, their eyes met and he smiled, a rare sight on his normally dour face.
“You know, I never doubted I made a good decision when I hired you, but this”—he shook his head—“this is something else. You’re a hell of a reporter, Jessie Milner, and I’m glad you made it out in one piece.”
“Thanks, Art. Means a lot to me.”
“Yeah, well, get busy. You have a story to write,” he grumbled, pushing himself out of her chair. “Damn, this is the most uncomfortable chair I ever sat in.”
“I agree. Does this mean I’m finally getting a new one?”
He scoffed. “Not hardly.”
“I didn’t think so,” she sighed, watching him walk toward his office.
She turned on her laptop and started typing. It took her nearly an hour to complete her article, her mind somehow reluctant to go back to the morning’s events once again. Finally she wrapped it up, printed out a copy and took it to Art. Standing in the entrance, leaning against the door jam, arms folded, she waited while he read it. When he was done, he dropped it on his desk and stared at her.
“Sit down,” he said somberly.
She took a seat across from him, didn’t say anything. She knew what was wrong.
“If this is your first-person narrative, why do I get the impression you’re writing about someone else?” he asked.
Jessie shrugged and he leaned forward.
“Look, I understand this is difficult for you. You lived it and to relive it again for thousands to read about it can’t be easy. So, go for a walk, take a stroll, whatever. Just get out of here for a while. Then try it again,” he said almost softly.
“Okay.”
Half an hour later she was sitting on a bench below the Broward Performing Art Center, gazing at the boats gliding by on the dark waters of the Intracoastal. A mother with two small children, a boy and a girl, strolled by and Lilly came to mind, bringing a smile to her face. For the first time today, a total sense of calm came over her. Although tragedy had brought this little girl into her life, it made it clear to her how love for a child can be gratifying. Up until the day she met her, her career had been her only purpose, her driving force. Now, she realized, it was different, her heart had room for so much more. And even though she was saddened about Lilly leaving soon to be with her new family miles away, one thing was sure—their brief time together had changed her life forever.
When she left to walk back to the office, the sun seemed just a bit brighter, the sky somewhat bluer. Life was not only about survival, it was also about hope, dreams, and finding happiness in those small moments coming one’s way. A walk on a beach, a stroll in the park, the embrace of a child. It was all there; all she had to do was reach out and let it happen.
At the entrance of the building she took a long, deep breath, then attacked the stairs with renewed energy. Nothing was going to deter her. She was ready to write her story.
Chapter Forty
Three weeks later
“Jessie, get me some more burgers, will you?” Liam shouted over his shoulder, holding a bottle of beer in one hand while adeptly flipping a row of paddies on the grill with the other. Just coming out the patio door, Jessie turned around and stepped back into her small kitchen.
“Meat done?” asked Anita, Sam Perrone’s wife, taking out bowls of coleslaw, potato salad and fruit salad from the fridge.
“First batch is done. He’s ready for more.”
“Here, let me help you,” Sam said, walking in behind her.
“I’m fine, really,” Jessie said.
“Well then,” Anita hollered at her husband, “I could use a hand over here.”
Laughter was drifting in from the patio where Doris and her two sons were being entertained by Lonnie McKenzie’s husband, Tom, recalling the near disaster which was their wedding day.
Walking out with the burgers, Jessie caught the tail end of his story at the same time she noticed Nina had Jim Boyd trapped in a corner. He was shooting looks of distress in her direction. She grinned. “Nina, can I get you to lend a hand?”
Reluctantly, the woman pulled herself away. A look of relief spread over Boyd’s face.
“He’s single, yes?” she whispered as she walked past Jessie.
“He is…” Jessie shrugged, hesitating.
“What?” Nina asked, stopping abruptly.
“Remember he’s a detective. Works long hours, has small paychecks, and his mother lives with him. He’s a package deal.”
Nina held up her hand. “Stop right there. No package deals for me, darling.”
Jessie nodded and smiled as she walked away. They were sitting down to eat when the doorbell rang. Jessie opened the front door and stood facing Emily Newhart and Lilly. Her eyes lit up.
“I was afraid you wouldn’t make it,” she shouted, hugging both of them.
Lilly’s aunt, a petite woman with short blond hair and warm blue eyes gave her a big smile. “We’re leaving in the morning. I don’t think Lilly would have forgiven me if we didn’t come to say goodbye.”
For the past week, Emily was a guest at Annabelle’s house. Lilly’s foster mom had insisted Emily should stay with them so she and the little girl could get better acquainted. To her relief, they were getting along just great, and Lilly could hardly wait to meet her cousin Benjamin.
“How is your husband?” Jessie asked.
Emily laughed. “He’s doing very well. The surgery gave him a new lease on life. He said he has more energy now than ten years ago.”
“Good,” Jessie said, “because Lilly has lots of energy as well. She’ll keep him busy, I’m sure.”
“Aunt Emily said I could ride the horses and feed the chickens and the ducks. Will you come and see us, Jessie?”
Jessie smiled. “Don’t be surprised if you see me standing at your front door one of these days.”
She introduced Emily to the group and they gathered outside, eating and drinking, enjoying the evening breeze blowing in from the ocean.
At one point, Boyd inched up to Jessie, trying to be discreet and failing miserably.
“What the hell did you tell her so she finally left me alone?” he whispered in her ear.
“Who?” she asked innocently.
“Nina, your landlady. Didn’t you see how she was all over me earlier and then, she talks to you, and suddenly she acts like I have the plague.”
“I don’t know. We just chatted.”
“Well, let me tell you, whatever you said, I’m glad. That woman is way too much for me.”
“I don’t think you have to worry now, Detective.”
“I think it’s about time you call me Jim. Now, tell me why I shouldn’t worry about Nina anymore.”
Jessie shrugged. “I’m not sure.” She started walking away, stopped and turned to look at him. “If by chance she asks about your mother, tell her she’s doing well and it looks like she’ll live another thirty years.”
He stared at her. “What are you talking about? My mother has been gone for ten years, Jessie.”
“I know, Jim. Trust me, it’s best if you do as I say.”
They rejoined the group. Jessie noticed Boyd’s look of confusion didn’t go away for some time. At least not until after he had another couple of beers.
Em
ily marveled at the beauty of the lush vegetation around the patio. Lilly sat on Jessie’s lap, as they silently enjoyed each other’s presence one last time. Much too soon, the evening came to an end and everybody left. Jessie held on to Lilly, willing herself not to cry.
“I will miss you so much, my sweet girl,” she said.
“I love you, Jessie,” the child said, crying softly.
“And I love you, I always will. Don’t worry, we will see each other again,” she promised.
Lilly nodded, they hugged once more and they left. Jessie stood by the door, unable to move, her heart suddenly gripped with a deep sadness. And despite all her best efforts, tears flowed down her cheeks as she watched the child she had grown to love so much walk out of her life.
****
Everyone was gone. Liam and Jessie sat quietly outside, listening to the happy chirps of a couple of birds nesting in a nearby oak tree.
“I talked to the CEO of Courtel this morning about the reward for Lilly,” Liam said.
“What was his reaction?”
“He seemed receptive. According to the FBI, the diamonds should be released to them within the next few weeks. Anyway, he said they wouldn’t wait until then and he proposes a sum of twenty thousand dollars. What do you think?”
“I’m thinking closer to thirty thousand. Invested the right way, it could pay for Lilly’s college education.”
“I’ll call him back tomorrow and suggest your figure. I don’t think it will be a problem. Did Perrone tell you if anything new came up with the captured terrorists?”
She shook her head. “It’s all still very hush-hush. According to him, Hakim kept most of the information about his contacts in the Middle East to himself. When they raided the building, they found out it was where the scientist who made the gas was killed. And the homeless guy who served as a guinea pig for the sarin trial died there as well. Poor man. From what I read, it must have been a horrible death.”
What she didn’t share with him was the discovery of more nerve gas in the lab. It was quickly whisked out of there in a top, well, almost top-secret transfer. Of course, Jessie found out somehow, and was sworn to secrecy once more.
“So there are others still involved?” Liam asked.
Jessie nodded.
“They arrested the imam of the mosque we visited. According to Sam, he is refusing to talk. Apparently, he was involved to some degree. For one, they are linking him to the trustee who tortured and killed Dariel Thomas at the jail. On the other hand, Hakim’s parents were much more cooperative. They mentioned a relative who is an ISIS commander in Syria. They did their best to discourage their son from having anything to do with him. Obviously, they didn’t succeed. The FBI thinks this man was the ring leader and financier of their operation.”
“So, not too likely they’re going to get their hands on him?” Liam mused.
“Not in the short term,” Jessie agreed, then after a moment, continued. “Then again, they’re pretty good at finding those people using drones. So who knows?”
They fell into a comfortable silence, gazing up at a sky glowing with stars.
“Care to make a wish?” he asked.
Jessie smiled mysteriously. “I already did.”
Liam grinned. They stood up and he pulled her close, covering her face with tender kisses. “I love you, Jessie Milner,” he whispered in her ear.
She gazed in his eyes, those dazzling green eyes that drew her in from the start, and saw the reflection of her own passion. Reaching for his hand, she placed it on her heart. “Can you feel it?”
He nodded.
“Good, because it belongs to you,” she said softly, before leading him into the house.
A word from the author…
Born in France, I grew up in the Alsace region with its picturesque vineyards and ancient villages. Florida is home now, where my husband and I enjoy life with a never-ending supply of sunshine and intrigue.
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