"We will get out of this."
"I know we will. I don't doubt that," Jack smiled, "just wish I could have saved my dad."
"You can't be a hero all the time."
Jack looked around; it was quiet, and he had never had this much peace for a while. There came an incoming message from Claire, "Where are you, Jack?"
He ignored the text and wandered around. Jack's phone rang from an unknown number, "Hello?"
The other end was quiet; all he could hear was breathing on the other end of the receiver, "who is there?" He repeated; there was no answer except for heavy breathing, "hello?" He repeated when the call had dropped.
The phone rang again, " Hello?"
"Hi, sorry if I bothered you. It sounds like I caught you on a bad time?"
"Who am I speaking to?" Jack asked politely, "oh, I thought you would recognize my voice; it's Tania."
"Aah, Tania, from the photo shoot?"
She went quiet, "Yes, but never mind; I made a mistake calling you."
"You did not; I apologize; I had this unknown number calling me, and they were breathing heavily on the other end of the call."
"That happens to me alot; I just drop it and ignore the rest of the calls."
"I wish I could do that. I am expecting a call from my sister."
"You don't have her number?"
"I do; her phone has been off for a few days."
"I hope she is okay. I know your sister. Claire and that other guy's sister looked familiar until I saw you are friends with him on Facebook."
"Marcus," Jack went quiet, "you know Marcus?"
"I do know him and Nicole. We were at school; you probably don't remember me?"
"A girl like you, I would remember."
Tania giggled. There was an incoming call from Claire, and Jack hung up.
"So Tania, when can we go for that drink?"
"I was hoping now? I mean, we aren't doing anything unless you are busy?"
Jack laughed, "I am not busy."
"Okay, great. Can you send me your address, and I will pick you up at your place?"
"Sounds like a date."
"Marcus, I will be back later. I am heading out."
"You can't go; everyone is looking for you."
"What do you mean, everyone?" Marcus realized he had just said too much, "I mean, you have seen how many people have tried to kill you."
"Yes, I don't see them as a threat. If I am going to hide, it's as good as being dead."
"You have a point."
"But I gave it some thought; maybe the same people who are after you are behind your sister's disappearance?"
"Why do you say disappearance? Her phone may be switched off."
"Listen, man; I am trying to help you. Where are you heading to anyway?"
"Remember that girl at the beach doing the photo shoot? She called me to go out."
"Wait, hold on, are you telling me that hot chick just called you,"
"You got that right."
"Well, enjoy for the both of us."
Jack climbed into his car and drove off.
Marcus called Claire, "I need you to follow the Live GPS I shared with you; I bugged Jack's car."
"Why am I good enough now to babysit your Jack?"
"Danmit Claire, I am giving you an order, and you are questioning me? You cannot question if you don't want to consider yourself alone."
Claire knew there could be far worst consequences; should she just now leave the circle? The last person who left the circle they have never heard of that person again. The identity was erased, and any circumstantial evidence was leading to her disappearance."
"It's fine, Marcus. I will follow the little boy around."
"Use the Mercedes; try now to let him see you."
Marcus knew what he was up to but played dumb. He wanted Claire to see that Jack was out with Tania.
They hung up the phone, Claire left the house in her short denim jeans and sleeveless top, and her hair hung loosely over her shoulder.
Claire climbed into the Mercedes parked outside a warehouse with keys under the mat.
The GPS was linked to the car's navigational system.
Jack arrived at Tania's place; her place nestled in the woodland, as humble as any rock face in these parts, was a mansion. Its windows were as shy eyes, large to welcome any sun ray. The rock walls belonged right where it was, as if, perchance, it had grown up right from that hallowed ground. It was as if it had been called into existence to protect those who came to dwell within, to quell the elements and allow heat to build from hearts into the inhaled woodland air.
Jack walked up to the door and knocked. Tania came walking over to the door; It felt like Jack had swallowed his own heart just with the glimpse of her; Tania's hair was as waves of pure earth, softly reflecting the light of the sun; each strand moving freely in an ocean born breeze, a compliment to her stillness. With eyes of river waters, in glossy serenity, her aura seeped into the summer air between us. And at that moment, in that fraction of time, her smile was in every God-given feature. Jack couldn't stop staring at her.
She walked over to him, reaching out her hand, and when he noticed the clothes she was wearing, there was no denying she had style; she had confidence, and her eyes weighed her beauty by justifying her confidence.
The tight long, sleeve silk tip fitted her left arm, crossing over her thumb, as the color of the top radiated her eyes in its dark shadows. The right arm was naked, exposing her flawless tanned skin as the blacktop reached as far as her navel. Jack noticed a belly; she had light denim jeans on white cotton, barely covering two inches of her thigh.
Her tall, perfectly shaped athletic legs did justice to her tanned arm. He looked upwards and noticed her red lipstick.
"Are you going to stand there staring, or are you coming in?"
He followed her like a little boy, having a crush on his eighteen-year-old girl.
The house was welcoming from the open door to the wide hallway. Upon the walls were the photographs of children, so obviously loved. The floor was an old-fashioned parquet with a blend of deep homely browns, and the walls were the greens of summer gardens meeting a bold white baseboard. The banister was a twirl of a branch, tamed by the carpenter's hand, its grain flowing as water might in waves of comforting woodland hues. Under the lamp's shine, it was nature's art, something that soothed right to the soul.
He walked with her to the lounge, sitting on the white leather sofa waiting for her.
"We can leave soon."
That's when he heard footsteps coming down the stairs. He was curious to see who it was but pretended not to take much note. Who lives in a mansion like this, King and Queen?
It was her brother, with long dark hair piercing on his eyebrows, dressed goth, six feet tall, he looked older than her and Jack.
"That's Kevin; my brother, Kevin, meet Jack." Kevin looked at Jack and walked over; as Jack stood up, reaching out, her brother looked at his hand, " Who are you again? And what are you doing in my house?"
"Kevin, stop being an ass if you don't want your ass to be beaten. If you had witnessed what half the beach saw today, you would quit being an ass."
"It's cool, Tania. I never expected anyone to welcome me at first glance."
"Her brother looked at Jack up and down and lit a cigarette."
"You know you're not allowed to smoke in the house. Mom and dad will be home soon."
"Well, what's worst, you bringing this poor son of a bitch in the house or me smoking?"
Jack bit his tongue; he told himself his not getting into any fights today.
"Tania, it's okay. Maybe we should postpone this for another day?"
"No, we are going, and my brother is going to quit being an ass before I start spilling his shit?"
"I am just messing around, man. Nice to meet you." He patted Jack on the shoulder. "Anyway, don't wait; I won't be home till sunrise."
Tania rolled her eyes, nothing new. "Just don't expect me to cover for you when shit hits the fan."
"Enough now, Tania." Kevin raised his voice, and Jack sensed she was scared of him.
"I am leaving, and Jack, look after my sister; if anything happens to her, you will have me in your face."
Jack wanted to say, "I would love to have you in my face to rearrange your face." Instead, he shook his head. Kevin reached out his hand to shake Jack's hand. Jack looked at his hand, ignoring him, "Are you ready to leave?"
"Is it like that?" Said Kevin, shaking his head. "Seems like you caught a stubborn one, sister. You know how Gregory feels about new stubborn faces around her."
Jack stood up as Kevin sized him up, looking him up and down. He was a few inches taller than him and bigger built. Tania wanted to laugh but didn't want to humiliate her brother.