Sebastian had grown frustrated with the lack of progress of the investigation into his daughter's disappearance. Months have passed and still no leads. No sign of where she may be or what happened to her. All he wanted was to find his little girl and yet it seemed as if the world was against him in that endeavor. The police have yet to find any significant evidence so they couldn't rule out the possibility of foul play, yet they believed her to be just another seventeen-year-old runaway. As such, they didn't seem to be trying very hard to find her.
His ex-wife telling the media that her daughter had runaway to avoid having to live with her father, didn't help. The fact that Selena didn't appear to be very upset with her daughter's disappearance never set well with Sebastian. While he couldn't believe that his ex could do anything harmful to their child, he was certain she was hiding her somewhere just to keep her from him. This has always been the case between them. Selena never showed any interest in Jessica, but rather spent her time and money on herself and her career, so when the divorce happened, he was surprised that she had fought for custody. He and Jessica had always been close, and he felt that Selena harbored some jealousy for their relationship.
Jessica had told him that she wanted to live with him, but Selena had a lawyer that had inside connections to the judge and therefore won custody. It took more than a year to prove the conflict of interest and get the custody ruling reversed. Jessica was set to come home to him the day after she disappeared making the situation suspicious.
A knock on his door snapped out of his thoughts. "Come in." He called.
His secretary came in with a manilla envelope in her hand. "This was just delivered via private courier."
"Thank you." He offered her gentle smile that didn't reach his eyes. Noting the lack of return address, he voiced a question. "Did the courier mention a sender?"
She shook her head. "I'm sorry, sir."
He waved her off with another thank you. Once she was gone, he opened the envelope to find a list of numbers. "Lrt3002, Lft3002? What the hell is this?" he mumbled to himself. Shuffling through the pages he came to short, typed note that read: 'police corrupt. Can't help. Drs. Namora, Mishken, Ramirez and Lovett.'
'Lovett? Doesn't Selena have a colleague by that name? Wait! Selena is Dr. Ramirez! I knew it!' He scanned the papers into his computer, then emailed the file to himself. He put the originals back in the envelope and left his office. "I'll be out for the afternoon, Jill. Forward my calls?"
"Yessir. Should I cancel your three o'clock, then sir?"
He stopped mid-stride to think. After a brief pause, he responded, "Push it back to four if you can." He left before she could answer.
*
'Luke's place isn't like the typical bachelor pad, is it?' I inquired of my host. "It's a bit too… clean.'
'Not all single men are slobs.' He walked through the apartment like he lived there.
"Beer's in the fridge. Wanna watch a movie?" Luke said as he retreated into the bathroom, not bothering to shut the door.
"Yeah, I'll order pizza." He took out his phone to call in the order when I heard his friend urinating. 'He does that with the door open??!' Jason sighed, ignoring my internal rant.
"You can eat pizza?" Luke called from the bathroom. "Is that really okay with your new heart?"
"Anything in moderation, brother. But don't worry, I'll order some rabbit food to go with it."
Luke walked up to Jason and took the beer from his hand. "That reminds me. You shouldn't drink this either." He grinned as he took a swig from the bottle. "I'll get you some water."
'Whatev…' I grumbled. One beer never hurt anyone.
'Agreed.' Jason rolled his eyes at his friend. "Just start the movie already."
I sat totally engrossed in the film. I told Jason on multiple times to shut up so I could pay attention. 'I haven't seen this movie!' I whined.
"I really want a beer." He whined to Luke.
Luke blew his hair off his brow. "Here, finish mine. You're not getting a while one."
"Okay, Dad…" He retorted sarcastically.
'My mom would be losing her mind right now if she knew I was watching this movie.' I giggled.
'Seriously? It's Marvel. Ten-year-old kids watch Marvel!' Jason sounded flabbergasted.
'What can I say. She's super strict and controlling. In fact, she wouldn't even let me watch kid shows if they have even the slightest hint of romance in it. And teen dramas are a big no-no too.'
'But you ARE a teen.'
'WAS.' I corrected. I might be stuck in his head but, that doesn't change the fact that I'm dead.
'Still…'
'Doesn't matter. I get to watch it now.' I quipped happily. 'And the raccoon dude is hilarious.'
'We'll watch the second one later.'
'Don't we have a flight to catch in the morning?'
'Have you forgotten that I can sleep while you watch?'
'Oh, right. In that case. Yay!'
*
Jason may be able to 'sleep' while I stay awake, but the reverse is not true. That stupid alarm went off at the ungodly hour of 4a.m. I was up watching movies until two! I should be asleep right now but nooo, here I am, wide-eyed and bushy tailed heading to the airport. 'So unfair! I feel like I've been pulled through a knothole backwards. Is this what a hangover feels like?'
'Not even close. Relax. We'll sleep on the plane.'
'It's a long flight?'
'Long enough. The drive from the airport to Mom's place is longer. Just relax.'
'Easier said than done.' His sister-in-law came to pick us up at the airport. Good Lord, I have never seen a woman so tall!! I swear we stared straight into her belly button. If I wasn't already dead, I'd swear I was gonna die in this woman's hands.
"Superstar!!" she hollered with her arms open wide. 'Oh, dear God!' I wailed when she wrapped us up in a bear hug. I can only imagine what the scene looked like through the eyes of others when she picked Jason up off the ground and swung him around like ragdoll! The great Jason Montgomery, the country music heartthrob of the day, my favorite celebrity and host of my physical heart, was picked up, swung around and hugged like he nothing but a mere child by Hercules' sibling!! "I've missed you peanut!"
"I've missed you too May. Still competing?" He asked when she set him back on his feet.
"Of course. But not as much. I've been doing more teaching and mentoring these days."
"That's good."
"Want to go a round in the ring with your old sister-in-law."
'Yeah… No. Not just no, but heck no. Not gonna happen. She'd snap you in half without even trying.' "Nah, I'm good." He touched his chest. New heart, you know."
"Right, right. I know. I was just kiddin' ya. C'mon, the fam's all waiting at the house for you. Hope you still like barbecue. She threw his suitcase over her shoulder and led us out to her truck.
"Of course."
He wasn't kidding when he said the drive was longer than the flight. Sure, we passed through some small towns here and there, but it really did take a long time to drive to this place. I have lived in cities my entire life. From Reno to Miami, I'm a city girl through and through so, to say that Jason's family lived in the boonies was an understatement. It's like we time warped into the old west. The only thing missing was the horse-drawn wagons! 'Wait! Are those folks out there seriously using a horse-drawn wagon?!'
"Of course, they are." May replied. 'Crap, I spoke for you again didn't I, Jason?'
'Yep.'
'Sorry.'
"They're heading out to the range to tag the new calves."
'Of course. How silly of me.'
"I guess it's been a few years since I've been home."
"Turned into a city boy, huh. Ha ha. Gram's gonna chew you up. Ha ha."
'Gram? Who's Gram?' Silence. 'Jason?' Silence. I hate it when he ignores me.
We pulled up to a huge two-story farmhouse. It was postcard perfect country white with a wraparound porch filled with wicker furniture. It was bumpkin country. All that was missing was a blood hound and goat. We followed the ginormous woman into the house only to be greeted by a whole herd of giant human beings. I would've given up my ghost in that moment if I hadn't felt Jason's excitement.
"Jams!" He hollered as he grasped the large black man's hand in a some sort of brotherly handshake/hug.
"Hello, my brother!" The big man replied. "It's been to long!"
"Jason! Good to see ya man!" A tall white man with dark hair and dark eyes slapped his back. 'Okay that hurt.'
"Hey, Jimmy. You haven't changed a bit."
"Just getting old."
"Aren't we all? Where's my wife?"
"Jason! Long time, no see!" A short blonde woman embraced him. 'Finally! Someone of normal height!'
"Hey, Sarah. I heard you and Jimmy got back together." He looked at her swollen abdomen. "Looks like you've been getting along pretty well."
"You could that." She giggled. "How have you been?"
He was about to answer her when he saw his wife enter the room. "Honey!" he called.
"Hey baby." She responded. She reached him in a few steps and planted a gentle kiss to his lips. I swear I'll never get used to that. Just then a young girl walked up behind her. A girl I didn't think I'd ever get to see again. Her deep brown eyes widened the moment she looked at us.
"NISSA?!" I yelled.
"OH, MY GAWD! You're Jason Montgomery!!" She screamed at the same time, followed by an awkward silence. Several set of eyes stared at the two of us while we stated at each other. I saw confusion flash through her eyes as she raised an eyebrow. "Nissa? You called me Nissa?"
'Crap! That was my nickname for her back in school.' I confessed quickly.
"Um," Jason stammered. "Yeah… I mean…" He scratched the back of his head. "It's what I used to call you back when you were a baby." He lied. 'Good save.'
"Really? How cool! One of my best friends that used to call me that back in my old school. Of course, I haven't seen her in long time. She moved to Florida with her mom, and I came here."
I caught the glance Sarai gave the girl and figured she had already connected the dots. Melissa, Jude and I were a trio of tight friends in school until I had to move away with my mom.
"I thought Jude was your only friend." Sarah, the short, pregnant, blonde said.
"Jude was my best friend, Mom. In and out of school. Jess was our best friend IN school. She was never allowed to go anywhere outside of school. That's why you never met her."
"Oh. I don't recall you mentioning anyone other than Jude."
"I was always at Jude's, and you were always working." The dark-haired girl quipped causing the blonde to roll her eyes. She squealed in delight when her attention was brought back to Jason. "I can't believe Jason Montgomery is actually here. Jess will be so jealous! She is your biggest fan!"
'If she only knew.' He mused. "I'm flattered. You know I'm your uncle, right?"
'Uncle?' I asked.
"Uncle?!" she squealed. "I'm related to the great Jason Montgomery?! Oh, my g… Pinch me. I'm dreaming, right?"
'You're my best friend's uncle? No way!! You mean we could've gotten free tickets to your concerts? Not fair!' I pouted.
"Yes, Jimmy is my wife's brother." He explained.
"Your wife is my dad's..." she looked at Sarai and furrowed her eyebrows and said to her, "But you're brown."
"Yes," Sarai smile at her. "Indeed I am brown."
"I feel there's a story to be told here." Nissa surmised. 'I agree! I want to hear it too!'
"Yes, but let's save that for another time." Jason suggested. Nissa frowned. I pouted.
Sarai giggled. "You look exhausted, honey. How about we get you settled in to rest."
"Food first." Jason insisted. 'I agree! I'm starved!'