Richard Hale - Frozen Past

“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.”

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.”