Forever Freed

by Kathleen Brooks

  “Agent DeMille in Domestic Terrorism in Washington, DC.”

  Jackson made a low growling sound as he stood and began to pace.

  “Now do you believe me?” Evie asked, full of attitude finally. She’d been jerked around. No one believed her and she was sick of it, fed up with all of them.

  Jackson stopped and looked down at her. The cop face was gone and in his eyes was nothing but concern. He reached down to the table between them, turned his cell phone over, and pressed a button. Not just any button, but the Stop Record button. He’d been recording their conversation.

  “You son of a bitch,” Evie gasped. The betrayal felt like a punch to the gut.

  “It’s not what you think,” Jackson started to say, but Evie was now up. Angry tears streamed down her face as she leaned across the table and slapped him. “I deserve that. But Evie, I always believed you.”

  “Liar!” Evie yelled at him as she walked around the table and shoved her hands against his chest.

  Jackson didn’t even rock back as she continued to push against his chest.

  “Evie, who was the man in the bar?”

  “Why do you care?” Evie yelled at him, feeling stupid for crying. They were not tears from pain, but from anger, betrayal. She couldn’t remember ever being so angry.

  “Listen to me,” Jackson said calmly as if she wasn’t close to completely cracking. “Take a deep breath. Please.”

  Evie dropped her hands and dragged in a deep breath. It felt good. Apparently, she’d forgotten to breathe in the last twenty seconds or so.

  “I knew the second that man started asking about you something was wrong. And when you didn’t come back, it confirmed my gut feeling. I went upstairs and cleared the apartment so he couldn’t find you. That’s why I asked Ryan to look into you. I knew you were in trouble and I wanted to help you.”

  “How can I trust you?”

  “Because your stuff is right there in that bag.”

  Evie shook her head. “The phone, Jackson! Why were you recording me?”

  “Because I needed to get your statement. I needed to know everything to be able to protect you. I didn’t want anyone’s emotions getting in the way. If you were talking to me, the guy who likes you and kissed you, you may inadvertently leave something out.”

  “You interrogated me!” Evie accused, not knowing how to handle the part about him liking her.

  “Yes, I did. It’s my job and I’m good at it. No one hearing that will think I was coaching you or that I’m biased. I can send that to the deputy assistant director and it will be handled properly. You will be protected. If I called my boss and said, ‘Hey, this woman I like thinks her stepbrother is behind the bombings,’ can you imagine how they’d react? It wouldn’t be taken as seriously, just like DeMille didn’t take you seriously.”

  “I don’t understand,” Evie admitted as her anger began to recede.

  “My boss knows I am a good interrogator. He will know this was a textbook interview, and he will believe you. Especially after I have three doctors examine you.”

  “Wait, what?”

  “Dr. Emma Miller, Dr. Ava Miller, and my cousin, Dr. Jace Davies. They’re all going to examine you and write a report for me to submit with this interview.”

  Evie shook her head. “I don’t understand.”

  “To rebut the Silver Alert. To prove you’re not schizophrenic.”

  “But that will take days—” Evie stopped talking when Jackson shook his head.

  “They’ll be here in five minutes. I texted them when you were trying to decide to trust me or not. I’m sorry if you thought I didn’t. I’m more pissed with myself that I let that man get away.”

  “It was Jon,” Evie said softly as her thoughts were awhirl.

  “Damn it. He’s the mastermind and I let him go. I knew I didn’t like him. I should have grabbed him.”

  “I should have told you. I should have trusted you and not run.”

  “Speaking of which,” Jackson said, pulling out his phone and sending a couple of texts. “I hated leaving not knowing where you were so I had Sheriff Fox and the Charleston FBI looking for you. I’ll cancel it and tell them you were found and to erase all documentation of you from their records.”

  “You can do that?”

  “There is no limit to what I would do to protect you.”

  Evie forgot how to breathe when Jackson looked at her with such intensity it knocked the wind from her. “Jackson.”

  Evie didn’t know if it was a prayer, a plea, or a wish as she said his name. And that was when the first knock on the door came.

  12

  “All three of us have examined and interviewed Evie,” Jackson’s cousin Jace told him as the sun began to rise.

  “And we all agree,” Dr. Emma added on as her daughter, Dr. Ava, nodded.

  “She shows no sign of mental illness,” Jace concluded. “I have a blood sample to run for drugs, but don’t expect to find any.”

  “Here’s the report,” Dr. Ava told him, handing him a typed report signed by all three of them. “If your boss has any questions, he can call us. There’s nothing wrong with Evie besides a massive amount of stress, which is completely normal given the situation.”

  “Where is she now?” Jackson asked, looking behind the wall of doctors.

  “I gave her something to help her sleep. She’ll be up in a couple hours,” Ava told him, patting his hand.

  “You need some rest too,” Jace added to which Ava and Emma nodded their agreement until the knock on the door.

  Jackson pulled his gun and the three doctors rolled their eyes. “This is Keeneston, not a war zone,” Emma told him as she pushed past him to open the door. “Unless it’s Kenna’s chicken casserole. Don’t eat that,” Emma warned as she opened the door to three old ladies who pushed their way inside.

  “Miss Lily, Miss Violet, Miss Daisy,” Jackson said, hiding the gun behind his back. “What are you doing here so early this morning?”

  “We heard you were back and had a lady friend with you. We wanted to drop some Welcome to Keeneston things off for her,” Miss Lily said as she placed a tray of muffins on the kitchen table.

  “Where is the dear?” Miss Daisy asked as Miss Violet grabbed Jackson by the head and yanked him down for a hug.

  “We missed you!”

  “She’s asleep,” Jackson tried to say against Miss Violet’s bosom, but it ended up sounding like shmphhtmpbrft.

  “That’s okay. We’ll meet her when she gets up. We’ll just put on a pot of tea,” Miss Violet said, finally letting him go before there was another knock on the door.

  Emma reached over and opened it again to the Rose sisters’ distant, much younger relatives, Poppy and Zinnia Meadows.

  “We brought food for you and your friend,” Poppy said cheerfully as she and her sister tried to have a quick look around the apartment.

  “Are your other friends with you?” Zinnia asked, ever so casually. “You know, in case we need to run back to the Blossom Café to make more food.”

  Jackson shook his head. “Sorry. Talon and Lucas are on leave, visiting family, and Evie is sleeping.”

  Before Emma could close the door, Jackson’s brother, Ryan, was walking inside. “Hey,” he said into the quickly filling room. “And I thought I would get here early.”

  “You beat Mom and Dad,” Jackson said with a long exhale as the room’s noise level rose.

  “Only because your father refused to run the one freaking light in town.”

  “Mom, Dad, what are you all doing here?” Jackson hissed.

  “To meet your friend, of course.”

  “How did you know I had a friend? How did you all know?”

  “Well, Wyatt’s farm worker, Bud, saw Jace leaving early and then told Wyatt, who mentioned it to Carter while they watched their horses being exercised. Carter told his mom, Kenna, who was texting with Dani, who was texting with Tammy who pointed out that Jace wasn’t supposed to be at the hospital toda
y,” his mom rambled as if the Keeneston text tree was a perfectly normal thing.

  “And because Jace left the house he’s renting on Wyatt’s farm early, you figured out that I have a woman with me?” Jackson wondered how this really worked because his boss would kill for an intelligence network like that.

  His mom laughed. “Goodness no.”

  “Then how did you all know?” Jackson asked the now roomful of people.

  “DeAndre,” they all said together.

  “DeAndre told Aniyah who told Riley who told Reagan who told Carter,” Poppy said with a smile as if it were obvious.

  Jackson shook his head. “How on earth did DeAndre know?”

  “Aliens,” Miss Lily said as if it were obvious.

  “Pish.” Miss Violet waved her hand in the air. “He’s a medium and ghosts tell him.”

  “Oh, that’s a good possibility,” Miss Daisy said.

  “Regardless, Evie is asleep. So have the ghosts or aliens tell everyone else to go home.” Jackson tried to bring the noise level down, but saying Evie’s name elicited a squeal from his mom right as the door opened again and Greer walked in.

  “Who’s Evie?” Greer asked a moment before chaos ensued.

  Jackson tossed his hands up in the air and wished the aliens might have mercy and beam him up right that second. There was a sharp clap of hands and everyone looked to Dr. Emma. “Evie is a lovely young woman who is going through something very trying right now and needs her rest. Either stay and no one talk above a whisper, or leave for the next couple of hours.”

  Jackson sent Emma a thankful smile as everyone quieted down.

  “We have to open the café. We’ll stop by later with some more food. Or you could bring her to the café for lunch,” Zinnia whispered.

  Jackson thanked them and they were down two.

  “I’m meeting Luke, but call me if you need me.” Jackson thanked Dr. Ava for her help and told her to tell her boyfriend that Jackson would stop in and see him soon. Another one down.

  “Jace, are you staying?” Emma whispered to Jackson’s cousin. Jace nodded and Emma picked up her bag. “Good. As long as there’s a doctor here in case she needs anything, I’m going home. Call me if you need anything.”

  “Thanks, Emma.”

  Down another person. Now there were the Rose sisters, his parents, Ryan, Greer, and Jace still crammed into the kitchen. Unfortunately, they all seemed to be settling in for the long run. Yup, aliens would be really helpful right now.

  * * *

  Evie awoke slowly until she opened her eyes and didn’t remember where she was. The room was fuzzy as her vision was having trouble focusing but what she saw was unfamiliar. Fear and panic shot through her and she screamed. In her sleepy confusion, she assumed she had been kidnapped. Jon had found her.

  The door to the strange bedroom flung open and Jackson came in with a gun in hand. Behind him was someone who looked like an older version of Jackson and then a man who looked to be close to Jackson’s age. All were holding guns. Evie blinked as things came into focus. Behind the older-looking Jackson was a young woman and an older lady, both with guns drawn. Memories slammed into her as she saw one of the doctors standing there with a scalpel in his hand. Then there were three old ladies rounding out the people rushing into the room. One armed with a wooden spoon, one with a spatula, and one with a broom.

  “What is it? Are you okay?” Jackson asked, not looking at her, but taking in every inch of the bedroom. Older Jackson was opening doors and the young woman was down on her knees looking under the bed.

  “I’m so sorry,” Evie blurted. “I woke up and didn’t remember where I was. The room didn’t look familiar and I thought . . .”

  “Oh, you poor dear,” the older lady with the spatula said. “We’re not here to hurt you. We’re here to find out if you’re our Jackson’s girlfriend.”

  Evie’s jaw dropped, and she didn’t quite know what to say as she looked over at Jackson. Jackson, meanwhile, had his head tilted back as he looked up at the ceiling and muttered something about aliens taking him.

  The young woman crossed her arms over her chest, her brown hair pulled back in a ponytail that draped over her shoulder and gun still in her hand. “So, are you dating my brother or not?”

  “Um,” Evie looked to Jackson for help but now his head was in his hands as he shook his head.

  “Greer,” Jackson groaned.

  “I think we can assume he’s interested. She is in his bed,” a deep voice said from behind the crowd. Evie turned and sucked in air at the dangerous looking man with the most lethal looking woman standing next to him.

  “Dylan, what are you and Abby doing here?” the woman identified as Jackson’s sister, Greer, said with annoyance. “My sibling, my interrogation. I didn’t get to do it with Ryan,” she said, gesturing to the man standing next to the older Jackson lookalike. “Because he was with Sienna, and she used to babysit me. This is my only chance, so back off!”

  The woman with the brightest blue eyes and hair so dark brown it looked black held up her hands in surrender, but the smile on her face was anything but relenting.

  “What are your intentions with my brother?” Greer asked and everyone seemed to lean forward at once.

  “Greer,” Jackson snapped. “Knock it off. Everyone, out. Now!”

  “They’re definitely dating,” the man named Ryan muttered as everyone nodded their heads while Jackson pointed to the door.

  “Hi, I’m Paige Parker. I’m Jackson’s mom. This is my husband, Cole, our older son, Ryan, and our youngest, Greer. It’s so lovely to meet you. And contrary to what Bridget told me, I have no intention of beating you up to prove I’m not sexist. I won’t spar with the women my sons date just because my husband will probably beat the daylights out of any man my daughter dates. I know my babies can take care of themselves and anyone they bring home.”

  The woman named Abby snorted. “Come on, Mrs. P. It would be pretty funny. I can stand in for you if you’d like.”

  “If anyone gets to stand in, it’s Greer. We don’t want you to accidentally kill her, sweetie,” Paige said, patting Abby’s arm.

  “When have I accidentally killed anyone?”

  Everyone was quiet and the dark brooding man nodded thoughtfully. “My wife only kills the people she means to. She’s wonderful like that.”

  “Aw, thanks, babe.” Abby rose up and kissed her husband before Jackson went to shove them out the door. “I think we should stay,” Abby said to Jackson as he moved next to Evie, who instantly grabbed his belt and put him between her and this woman who talked about killing people so casually.

  “If she stays, I get to stay,” Greer said.

  “Greer, out now. Jace, take the Rose sisters to the kitchen and have them put a plate together for Evie. We’ll be out in a moment. Thank you.” Evie felt Jackson take a deep breath and turn to the deadly duo. “You know I love you two, but I need to talk to Evie alone.”

  “Jackson, since you’re like a brother to me,” Abby started to say as Dylan closed the door. “The answer is no or I tell your parents about that one time in college when we were all home for winter break and you, me, and Dylan went out to—”

  “Fine,” Jackson snapped. “If you tell them that, I’ll tell your parents about that time junior year during spring break when you—”

  “Fine.” Abby finally relented. “But there’s a reason we’re here and it’s not just because we’re your best friends.”

  “They’re your best friends?” Evie whispered.

  Jackson laughed and finally looked relaxed. “Yeah, they are. There’s no one else I would trust more. Evie Scott, meet Dylan and Abby Davies.”

  “I wouldn’t really beat you up,” Abby said with a smile that suddenly fell. “Unless you hurt Jackson. Then I’ll drop you in the middle of nowhere and let the wolves get you.”

  “Babe, that’s a little harsh,” her husband said. “But we’d totally do it if you hurt Jackson.” And then he smiled a
nd they all laughed. Evie wanted nothing more than to get out of there immediately if not sooner.

  “They’re joking, Evie,” Jackson told her, taking a seat next to her on the bed. “How did you two come to be here?”

  “DeAndre called us in DC and told us about your new girlfriend. Arriving in the wee small hours with three doctors hard on your heels wasn’t all that inconspicuous. Well, we looked into her and saw that the FBI in Seattle has her listed as a suspect in a bombing. We were sent to have a talk with her.”

  “Sent by whom?” Evie asked as she looked around the room for a possible escape.

  “Government higher-ups,” Dylan answered. “We need to ascertain whether or not you’re a threat to the United States.”

  “Me?” Evie asked as she shot up. She leveled her finger at Dylan and poked him in his chest. “Listen, I’ve had all I can take from you stupid, inept, asshole government types.” Poke. “Why don’t you look to see that it was me who told the Seattle police who was behind this?” Poke. “Why don’t you look to see that it was me who called the FBI in Washington when Seattle police didn’t listen?” Poke. “And why can’t you see it’s me who is being chased and terrorized?” Poke.

  “Evie, let’s stop poking Dylan. I think he gets the point,” Jackson said calmly.

  “I don’t think he does,” Evie grumbled. Poke. Poke. Poke.

  “He’s ticklish on his side if you really want to bring him to his knees,” Abby said with a smile on her face and a spark of admiration in her eyes. Evie stopped poking Dylan and looked between them. They all seemed relaxed and no one was arresting her.

  “I take it the docs were here to give a mental evaluation?” Dylan asked.

  Jackson nodded. “For me to send in with her statement. Want me to send you a copy as well?”

  “Thanks,” Dylan said and Evie threw her hands up in the air.

  “Will someone please tell me what is going on? Who were all those people? How did they know I am here? Who is DeAndre? And are you going to arrest me?”

  “Little Jackson here hasn’t brought a woman home since high school,” Abby said with a smirk. “Honestly, people here won’t care one bit about a little domestic terrorism compared to the gossip that Jackson might have a girlfriend.”