Everyone at the office was excited about the upcoming three day weekend. Luckily, Daniella hadn’t committed herself to anything yet, or at least that she recalled.
Of course, she knew her friends Candi and Victoria were all too aware of that fact. She was just about certain they would be by to inquire about her plans, never mind her late evening ride home with Marlon the previous night.
As a precaution, Daniella hunkered down in her office as soon as she arrived. She had plenty to keep her busy, most of all the upcoming juvenile diabetes fundraiser.
For a majority of the day, she managed to avoid Candi and and Victoria and stay focused on her work. Aside from the occasional reminder to ‘come by their office on a break’ or meet downstairs at the cafe to ‘catch up’, she’d evaded all direct lines of questioning.
And that was just as well because it seemed like the day raced by. The decision to help Jett or not weighed on her every moment. Unable to stall any longer, she decided if she couldn’t get an appointment it wouldn’t matter anyway so she called to find out.
After a short conversation with Dr. Mallory’s answering service she got the confirmation she needed. They scheduled the appointment for first thing Saturday morning. Satisfied she’d done what she promised, Daniella headed back inside to gather up her belongings and get an early start on the three-day weekend. Whether or not she would go through with the appointment was still undecided, but at least the option was available. She came back inside, turned the corner to her desk and stopped dead in her tracks.
“Hmm,” Victoria began. “I think a certain someone is avoiding a couple of very concerned and compassionate friends. Would you agree, Candi?”
Candi crossed her arms. “I couldn’t agree more.”
Daniella cocked her head in their direction.
“Well, maybe a certain someone was busy doing something you two might want to consider doing when you come back to the office next week. It’s called work!” Daniella exclaimed. She turned her back towards them and began to pack her bag.
“Daniella!” Candi whined. “What happened with Marlon?”
She chuckled as she turned back in their direction. “The two of you are worse than middle schoolers.”
“Uh, excuse me?” Victoria said.
“You heard me.” Daniella replied.
“Well, I for one think it’s pretty rude for a girl to not give any details about the hunky guy that drove her home.” Victoria said.
“Oh yeah?” Daniella asked.
“Yes.”
“Well, I’m all ears.” Daniella said as she raised her eyebrows. “Tell me about him.”
“What? Who?” Victoria asked. Confused, she glanced at Candi and then back towards Daniella. “What are you talking about Daniella?”
“You just said it was rude to hold back on details.” Daniella replied. “So give me the details of your date.”
“Me!” Victoria shrieked. “I meant you!”
Daniella slung her bag over her shoulder and as the clock struck five, she bolted past her nosy coworkers.
“Not cool, Daniella!” Candi exclaimed as she exited.
“Yeah! We aren’t gonna forget this!” Victoria shouted.
After a successful avoidance of the gossip mill, Daniella made her way across the parking lot and jumped into her car. She had no idea what time Jett might come by, so if the police were anywhere close by, she needed to know it.
***
On her way home, Daniella’s cell phone rang. She leaned over and reached around inside of her purse. After a successful retrieval, she picked it up and answered.
“Hello?”
“Hi Daniella, sweetie.” Her mother said.
“Hey Mom,” Daniella began. “I’m, uh, a little busy right now. Can I call you later this weekend or early next week?”
“Oh, this won’t take a minute, honey.”
“Alright then…”
“I spoke with Harold about Saturday night.”
“You what, Mom?” Daniella said. “With who?”
“Daniella…” her mother replied with frustration. “We talked about this hardly a day ago. My word… sometimes I wonder if you hear a single word I say to you.”
“Yes, Mom, of course I do.” Daniella said as the details of their previous conversation returned to her awareness.
“Okay, he’s going to meet you at eight o’clock tomorrow night.”
“Eight o’clock,” Daniella repeated. “Got it.”
“Do you?” Her mother asked.
“Yes, Mom. I said eight o’clock.” Daniella replied. “What else is there?”
“Oh, I don’t know…” Marilyn said. “How about where you are supposed to meet?”
“Oh right,” Daniella acknowledged with a sheepish tone. “Where?”
“Tattlin’ Turtle…”
Daniella rolled her eyes. She’d blown off a guy a thousand times hotter in the form of Marlon, and now she was gonna show up with Harold at the same place Marlon worked? She imagined how the introduction might go…
Oh hey, Marlon. This is my date, Harold, the chrome dome, doughboy that lives in his mom’s basement. Don’t let his appearance fool you though, he’s got a hot motorcycle. And when he rides it now, his man boobs don’t even flap in the breeze. Now you run along and whip us up a couple of your strongest cocktails. We’re gonna sit here and talk debits and credits.
“Mom,” Daniella replied. “I’ve been there before. It’s a noisy, smelly dive bar. I’m fine with the time but can we meet somewhere else?”
“Hmm, well, would you like to come over here?” Her mother said. “I could make a casserole. We could invite Babs as well. We could play cards or watch a movie? It would be terrific!”
“Uh, Mom! No way! God…” Daniella replied. “You are turning this into a total nightmare. You know what, give me Harold’s number and I will call him myself to set something up.”
“Are you sure sweetie? I don’t mind cooking.”
As Daniella sat in traffic she shook her head and balled her fist skyward. She loved her mom more than anything but seriously…
“No thanks, Mom. Just the number, please.”
“Well, okay but you two kids are missing out on a great opportunity to spend time with folks that have been around the block once or twice.”
“Mom…” Daniella groaned. “Please… the number.”
After she jotted it down, Daniella said, “Okay Mom, well, I have to run.”
“Okay, honey. Promise me that you will let me know how the date goes!”
“I will, Mom. I promise.”
***
After Daniella arrived home, she put her things away and headed for the bathroom. She needed to shower, relax and clear her head a bit before Jett arrived. Once she finished, Daniella wrapped a towel around her body and made her way into her bedroom.
She plopped down on the bed and exhaled. “God, I’m so tired…” she sighed. She picked up her cell phone to check the time. It was a little past seven and probably still too early for Jett to show up so she decided to instead lay down for a few minutes.
“Just a quick nap.” She whispered to herself. “Fifteen minutes is all I need.”
However, Daniella was more exhausted than she realized for almost as soon as her head hit the pillow, she was asleep. Soon afterward she started to dream. As she did, random vignettes of work, her mother and even Buttons flashed in her mind.
At some point, she heard a noise. It sounded at first like a light tap but soon grew in volume and intensity to the point it banged in her mind. Even so, nothing in her dream caused her to react to it and after a while, it faded as a new visualization entered her mind.
However difficult things were with the whole Jett situation, Daniella was a young woman with needs. As of late, she neglected them time and again as life continued to pile endless crap upon her. But now, in her dreams, her unconscious would no longer be denied.
A sudden vision of Jett appeared in the haze of her sleep. Shirtless, he moved over her and as he did, Daniella’s primal side searched the air for a whiff, a hint, of his scent. At last she caught it and as she did, her body shivered in response. She looked into his eyes and without any thought, she reached up towards his chiseled midsection with her left hand.
She exhaled a deep breath of pent up desire as her hand came in contact with his taut skin. At the same time, her right hand made a direct line to the burgeoning slickness between her thighs. Daniella felt the pace of her breath start to quicken as the tips of her fingers pressed into her pink, swollen lips.
She groaned as they did and she lurched upward towards Jett’s imaginary torso. Daniella’s tongue emerged from her mouth like a hungry serpent and licked at his flesh. As it meandered among the crevices and channels of muscle, her right hand made a slow, circular motion against her *.
The seconds ticked by and as they did, Daniella sensed a huge rush of need swell within her. The pace and friction of her strokes started to increase and then, without warning, her left hand moved towards the entrance of her p-ssy. She slipped two fingers inside as Jett hovered over her. The combination of his presence above and her digits inside caused Daniella’s body vibrate to the point of no return.
Suddenly, Jett spoke to her.
“Cum baby, do it…” he said. “I want to see it.”
“Mmm, hmm…” she moaned as she sucked in her lower lip. “Mmm, hmm… mmm, hmmm…”
“That’s right, Daniella…” he whispered as he reached down and fondled her breasts. “Cum for me.”
“Ohhh, ohhh…” she groaned. Daniella gasped for breath as the moment neared. “Oh, I… I… aaahhhh!!!!” she cried out.
As her body rushed toward tipping point of climax, her eyes flipped open. There above her was Jett, in the flesh. Wordless, he looked into her eyes. She froze upon the precipice of orgasm.
“Jett… I….” She gasped as a strange mix of complete shock and the denial of climax engulfed her. “What are you…” Daniella made a half hearted attempt to move away from him towards the wall behind her bed. He pursued her as she withdrew.
“No… Jett.” Daniella said. “We can’t… I can’t…” She shook her head back and forth as if she needed to convince herself.
“Okay…” he whispered as he moved between her legs. Jett nodded as his head descended towards hers.
Now awake, aware and frustrated like never before, Daniella looked into his eyes as he approached. To dream about him was one thing but this was quite another. At least some part of her thought it was best to keep it all safe… a fantasy.
“Please no,” she whispered. “I can’t stop myself, I can’t resist you…”
Her nostrils filled with the scent of his masculine musk. Daniella found herself in the midst of a struggle between body and mind. In the moment, reason abandoned her and left to her instincts, there was but one choice left.
“Then don’t.” He said.
With that command, Daniella’s hands moved up the length of his tight, hard backside. She felt his pelvis press into the wetness between her thighs and she moaned as he leaned into her. Her fingers continued upwards until they made their way into his hair. She caressed and twirled it as his mouth neared hers.
He smiled and leaned in to her ear. “Let me finish what you started.” He whispered.
Daniella’s entire body exploded with goose pimples.
“Ohhh, Goooddd…” she moaned. Her lips parted for an instant to offer a final paltry protest but as they did, his head moved towards her breasts. All at once, he started to squeeze, lick and kiss them. The deep ache she experienced in that instant caught her by surprise. As he massaged and fondled her tits, her back arched and she thrust her ample bosom upwards into his hungry mouth.
After a few moments, Daniella’s hands fell away from his loose locks and towards his waist. With eagerness, she unbuttoned his jeans and fumbled for the zipper. Jett chuckled as she struggled to free him from the denim restraints. And then after a bit of assistance from him, she looked on with lust as he removed the last barrier between them.
Daniella’s mouth dropped open when his spectacular cock emerged. It seemed like a lifetime passed her by since she last laid eyes upon it. Eager with lust, she groped for it in a desperate attempt to satiate the desire which consumed her. But Jett wagged his finger at her, swatted her hand away and with a sly smile made a slow descent between her thighs.
“F*ck…” she moaned as he neared her wet sex.
Jett groaned in approval and in the next moment, Daniella felt the heat of his tongue upon her. On pure instinct, she thrust her hips against his mouth. Still desperate for the release denied to her moments before, she rocked back and forth against his face with aggression. Jett’s right hand moved in a single smooth motion towards her belly where he rubbed it in slow circular motion.
“Relax…” he said.
Daniella nodded and for the moment at least her climax remained at bay.
Then in a flourish, Jett slipped two fingers inside of her while at the same time his mouth applied unbearable suction against her mound.
Daniella bucked against his face. “How…” she gasped. “Am I supposed… to… relax… when you do that?”
Jett chuckled as she suffered. Over the next several minutes his mouth, tongue and fingers drove her the brink of sexual insanity. Daniella imagined once she did climax it would be an unbearable experience. She fully expected she might not survive it but as Jett continued to drive her ecstasy to new heights, she somehow found the strength to see it through.
And then, all of a sudden, she was there… once again… where she was when she emerged from her dream. Climax bared down upon her and she felt at any moment, she would at last be set free. As bliss closed in, Daniella started to rock her hips back and forth against the heat of Jett’s mouth.
“Mmm, hmmm…” she groaned as she thrust her fingers into his hair once again. “Yes, yes, yes….” She hissed.
In response, Jett stepped up his intensity and bared down upon her * with abandon.
“Oh my….” Daniella gasped. “Oh my God.”
As he continued with masterful strokes of his fingers, Jett’s mouth broke free of her p-ssy. “Is it time, Daniella?” He asked. “Are you ready?”
“I… shit… I…” Daniella moaned as she slapped the mattress and rocked her hips back and forth against his face. “Yes… yes… yyyeeessss!!!” She cried out.
“Good,” he said. “Me too.”
“Wha…” Daniella grunted in a semi stupor.
Then in a flash of movement, muscle and momentum Jett flipped Daniella on all fours. Dazed from the chain of events, she barely managed to regain her wits when she felt the head of his shaft pressed into her.
“Ohh…” she gasped.
Jett lingered there for a fraction of a second and in one smooth motion, Daniella shuddered as he drove his cock inside of her.
“Holy shit, holy shit!” She cried out.
A mere grunt emerged from him as he plunged her depths. In the days and weeks since his disappearance, Daniella wondered if she would ever delight in the experience of his flesh and hers together again. So many things went wrong and were still wrong that the odds seemed stacked against it. Yet somehow in this brief, intimate moment nothing seemed beyond their reach as she relaxed into the bliss of surrender. Daniella felt Jett’s cock continue to swell inside of her with each stroke. His large hands grabbed onto the ample flesh of her ass as he f*cked her harder, deeper, stronger…
Daniella’s legs began to shake beneath her. She braced herself with her hands and dropped her head down as Jett continued to accelerate the pace of his thrusts. His hard pelvis collided with her curves over and again until all of a sudden she felt his body harden like stone.
“F*ck!” He shouted. “Are you ready, Daniella?”
“Yes!” She screamed.
In a flash, she felt Jett grip her hard at the waist and before she realized it, he quickened the pace and force of his thrusts to an unprecedented level. Daniella’s head bobbed back and forth between her arms as her now twice denied release leapt to the forefront of her awareness.
“Mmm, hmmm…” she chanted. Her breasts swung back and forth as she lurched closer to her moment of ultimate joy.
“Yes, yes… I am… it’s….” She screamed.
“Yes!” Jett cried out.
“Oooohhhh… ohhhh…” she moaned as she slammed her hips back into his dick. And then, she lost it. Once the full measure of all he had to offer filled her, she erupted at last. Daniella screamed and gripped at the sheets beneath her, tearing them in the process.
“Ohhh, f*ck, I… f*ck!!!” She yelled.
At almost the same moment, Jett’s body seized and pulsed. “I’m coming, Daniella… I…”
Daniella nodded, grunted and once again pressed her hips hard into his. Jett’s thrusts accelerated into a powerful crescendo and with a vice-like grip on them, he pumped himself deep within her.
“Ahhhh!!!!” He groaned.
As Daniella’s body reverberated with the remnants of her own climax, she felt the telltale warmth of her man’s zenith. She purred in delight as his cock spurted inside of her. For several moments, she relaxed into the aftershocks of his final thrusts as he emptied himself within her.
As Jett withdrew from her, Daniella collapsed onto the mattress. Jett fell next to her and as he did, he raised his arms towards his head as they relaxed in the shine of their shared afterglow.
“Jesus…” he exhaled.
Daniella’s hair covered her face as she watched him. For several seconds, Jett relaxed until his breath returned to something closer to normal. At last, he turned and looked at Daniella. He reached over and pulled the hair out of her eyes. They looked at one another in silence.
“So, I guess that means you’ve decided to help me after all?” He asked.
Daniella wrinkled her brow at him. “What makes you think that?”
“Well, I figured…” he began. “Because of what we did. I mean…”
“Oh,” Daniella replied. “That… No, I was just really horny.” She flipped the rest of her hair out of the way and laughed.
“You little…” Jett said as he started to tickle her.
“Jett!” She shrieked as she rolled around and tried to fend him off. “Aaahhh!!! Stop!!!”
After a good thirty seconds or so of torture, he relented and collapsed next to her again.
“Oh, I have to catch my breath…” she said.
“You’re lucky I stopped when I did.”
She smiled and rolled over towards him. With half of her body draped over his, she looked up at him and said, “I’m the lucky one, huh?”
Jett smiled as Daniella looked at him. “Hey, how did you even get in here anyway?” She asked.
“Well I knocked but you never answered.” He said. “The door was open so I came in and well…”
“Oh, that’s what that noise was.” She said as she recalled her dream.
“What noise?” He asked.
“Oh, it’s nothing.” She replied.
He smiled and began to stroke her head. Daniella looked into his eyes for a moment and then laid her head on his chest. Her fingernails traveled in lazy strokes up and down the length of his still glistening torso.
“We have an appointment with Dr. Mallory tomorrow morning at nine o’clock.” She said.
“Thank you, Daniella.” He said. “I cannot even begin to tell you how much this means to me.”
“Well,” she began. “You could try…”
He chuckled and as he did she felt the vibration of it in his chest.
“You can’t stay, you know.” She said. “They always watch me when I leave. I’ll have to pick you up somewhere along the way.”
“Yeah, I understand.” He replied. “So are you kicking me out right now?”
Daniella’s hand worked its way down towards his cock. As she reached it, she noticed it was rock hard once more.
“Hmm, not just yet.” She said with a smile.
***
Daniella left early in the morning and picked up Jett at the location they’d discussed the night before. It was their first time in public together and she wasn’t about to take any chances someone would recognize him. So before she left her house, she grabbed an old baseball cap, a pair of sunglasses and a wig she’d worn years earlier to a Halloween party.
She’d dressed up as a witch with jet black hair.
It was tacky but fun.
As Jett jumped in the car, she passed the disguise to him and said, “Here, put this on.”
Jett picked up the hat, wig and sunglasses. “Really?” He said as he looked at her.
“Yes, Jett.” She said. “Just please… Do it for me.”
“Alright…” he groaned. For several seconds, he messed with the disguise as Daniella kept watch in the rear view mirrors.
“Okay,” he said. “Whatdya think?”
She turned towards him and broke into hysterical laughter right away.
“Ha, ha, ha…” Jett deadpanned. “I’m sure it’s hilarious. I’m so glad you are amused. Can we just go please?”
“Why of course, madam,” she replied as she started the engine. “Where would you like to go? Will it be your ten o’clock bridge game with the other ladies in your order or are you having high tea with the wicked witch of Pine Hill?”
“Just friggin’ drive…” Jett said. His tone dripped with displeasure.
Daniella pulled away. “As you witch…” she said. “Hey, you get it? Instead of wish there I used witch.”
“Yeeaahh, I get it.” Jett said. “Let’s just not talk for a while. How’s that sound?”
“Of course,” she replied as she burst into laughter once again and slapped the steering wheel. “Your witch is my command!”
“Christ…” Jett replied as he pulled dusty synthetic witch hair out of his mouth.
About fifteen minutes later, they pulled into the parking lot of Dr. Mallory’s office and after Jett removed the disguise, they headed inside the building. As they entered the office, Dr. Mallory was nowhere in sight. Daniella scanned the room when Jett nudged her and pointed towards a partially open door in the back left of the room.
“Bathroom?” He whispered.
Daniella shrugged. “I guess.” She whispered back.
“Hello?” Dr. Mallory’s voice called out from behind the door. “Daniella? Is that you?”
“Yes… I… it’s me.” Daniella stammered in response.
“Good, I’ll be right out.”
“Okay.”
As she finished, Jett and Daniella sat on the couch next to her desk. Moments later, the bathroom light switched off and Dr. Mallory appeared. She fidgeted with her blouse as she exited and didn’t look in their direction right away.
With her eyes focused on her midsection, she walked into the room and said, “Daniella, how have you been, I…”
She looked up at them and froze in place.
“No… what…” she uttered as she pointed at Jett. “…is he, that, doing here?”
Daniella jumped to her feet.
“Dr. Mallory, please, just give me a chance to explain.” She begged.
The doctor made a quick retreat behind the desk. She never took her eyes off of Jett as she felt around the desk for her phone.
“Looking for this?” Jett asked as he produced it and waved it in the air.
“Hand that over, right now…” Dr. Mallory threatened.
“No!” Daniella interjected. Her tone caught Dr. Mallory by surprise.
“Daniella!” She exclaimed. “What is the meaning of this?”
“Dr. Mallory, please, I am begging you.” Daniella said. “Will you just sit down and listen to me for a second?”
The doctor glared at Daniella for a moment and then took a seat in the oversized leather chair behind her desk.
“Three minutes…” Dr. Mallory warned. “… and not one second longer.”
In as fast and thorough a manner as she could, Daniella explained everything which occurred since they last saw her. As she drew to a close, Jett interrupted.
“Dr. Mallory, you are the only person other than Daniella who knows what I am… the problem I have or whatever you want to call it.” He said. “Believe me, I am not looking for sympathy from you. I am looking for answers.”
Dr. Mallory took a deep breath and straightened herself up in her seat.
“Answers to what, Jett?” She said. “It’s up to the courts to decide your guilt or innocence, not me.”
“No, that’s not what I mean.” Jett replied.
He walked towards her desk and as he moved toward her she recoiled. He lifted his arms in a peaceful gesture. “I just want to talk, I promise.”
She nodded and he took a seat in front of her desk as Daniella stood nearby.
“Dr. Mallory,” Jett began. “The last time I came here, it’s fair to say we uncovered a great deal about my past. Wouldn’t you agree?”
“Yes…” she replied with a cautious nod.
He gestured towards Daniella. “She’s been a patient of yours for a while now, right?”
“Yes, she has.”
“Do you trust her?”
“Yes, well, I did.” She said as she cast a glance at Daniella. “I’m not so sure about that anymore.”
Jett leaned forward and placed his hands on her desk.
“Doc, please…” he began as he interlaced his hands together in a prayerful gesture. “Do you really think Daniella would be here with me, risking everything, including going to jail, if she thought I was a killer?”
The doctor listened in silence.
“I get that I scared you when I was here before,” Jett continued. “Hell, it freaks me the hell out too. It’s not easy knowing that you’re a… whatever I am. But I can promise you there’s no darkness in my heart. I love that woman right there and I would die to protect her. I would do that for anyone close to me. That’s how I know I could never do what I am accused of doing.”
As he finished, he leaned back in the chair. For several moments, Dr. Mallory remained silent. Finally, she nodded and leaned back in her chair as well.
“Alright Jett,” she said. “Let’s suppose I am willing to accept that what you are telling me is the truth. What do you hope to gain by undergoing hypnosis again?”
Jett shrugged. “I don’t know but at this point, it’s the only chance I’ve got.” He replied as he shook his head. “I need to know if there’s anyone else, anywhere, who knows who… or what, I am. There must be someone in Pine Hill but I have no idea where to look. I’m out of time and options. All I’m asking for is one session to see if there’s anything.”
“Jett, you realize that if the police find out you were here, I have no choice but to tell them you forced your way in here.” The doctor said. “I have no desire to go to jail for helping you.”
“Not a problem, Doc. So it that a yes?”
Dr. Mallory exhaled. “I suppose.”
“Thanks Doc.” He replied. “You’ve got a good heart.”
“Try and remember that during your trial, Jett.” She deadpanned. “Very well,” she continued. “Let’s start right away. I don’t want you here any longer than is necessary.”
Within ten minutes, Jett was under and Dr. Mallory began to ask him a series of questions in the hopes of uncovering more about his identity. Satisfied he was in a suggestive state she picked up where they left off in the prior visit.
“Jett,” she said as she leaned in towards him, “who killed your brother?”
“I don’t know…” he muttered. “Don’t know them… they attacked us… they came out of nowhere.”
“Where were you when this happened?” She asked. “What were you doing?”
“Camping. We… we thought they were poachers or something but… they weren’t.” He replied. “There was… too many of them… so we split up. I got away… came back to the camp… Wyatt… my gun, both gone.”
“What happened then?”
“I hid… a makeshift shelter… about three miles downstream… waited until the next night and then hitched a ride back to town… Wyatt’s pickup trashed.”
“Jett, where did you go in town? Do you have a home there?”
“No, I stay with my folks… 441 Winding Pine Way.”
Daniella and Dr. Mallory looked at one another immediately.
“He’s releasing more information this time.” Dr. Mallory said with a whisper. “Something’s changed in his subconscious.”
“Any idea what?” Daniella asked.
Dr. Mallory grimaced. “No, hard to say. All we can do is keep digging and see how far we can get.”
Daniella nodded and as she did, Dr. Mallory returned her attention to Jett.
“So is that where you went? To your parents’ home?” she asked.
“Yes… almost.”
“What do you mean? Almost?”
“Mom called… she said the police were there…” he muttered. “Wyatt… dead… my gun found next to his body.”
Jett’s breath began to become more erratic and labored. The two women exchanged nervous glances. The memory of what happened once before was still fresh for both of them.
Dr. Mallory paused the session for a moment. “Daniella, I… I am starting to feel uncomfortable. Have you seen that side of him again?”
“No,” Daniella said as she shook her head. “The only time I’ve seen him turn or whatever was here in your office.”
Jett’s labored breath started to calm as the women chatted.
“So you have no idea what might touch off the behavior?” She asked Daniella.
“No.”
Dr. Mallory nodded. “It seems as if Wyatt is a trigger for it. Perhaps it’s best if we move on from his brother for a moment.”
Daniella nodded as the doctor turned her attention back toward him again.
“Jett, what did you do after you talked to your mother?”
“Took off… drove out of town… had to get away… hide until I could figure out what to do. Then it happened…”
“What did?”
“Got run off the road… at Slim Chance Pass.”
“Do you know who it was?”
“No… too dark…”
“Do you remember anything else, Jett? Anything at all?”
“No…”
The doctor looked at Daniella. “Is there anything you want to know?”
“No,” Daniella replied. “I don’t think so.”
With that, the doctor returned Jett to consciousness over the next minute or so. In a daze, he lay motionless on the couch for several moments and then sat up.
“Well? Anything?” He asked.
The women looked at him and nodded. As Daniella was about to speak, Dr. Mallory stood and said, “I’ve done much more than requested of me. I’m very sorry to you both but I must please ask you to leave now. I am not interested in my office being raided by the police. I hope you can understand.”
“Right… She’s right.” Jett replied as he stood to face her. He extended his hand. “Doc, thank you. You are a kind person. I’ll never forget what you’ve done for me.”
Daniella circled around the couch and stood next to him.
“Yes, well, I appreciate that, Jett.” She said as she nodded. “For what it’s worth, I believe that you aren’t guilty of any of this but what I think doesn’t matter.”
“Thanks, Doc. I appreciate it.”
Daniella and Dr. Mallory exchanged a brief hug and a bit of small talk as they walked towards the door.
Just as they reached it, Dr. Mallory looked at Jett and said, “I’m sorry I misjudged you. No hard feelings?”
“Nah.” He replied. “Hell, I woulda been the same way.”
After they’d said their goodbyes, Jett and Daniella left, got into her car and pulled out of the parking lot.
***
As they began the drive back to Pine Hill, Jett turned towards her and said, “Tell me what happened in there. What did I say?”
As best she could, Daniella recalled everything he’d shared with Dr. Mallory including the fact that whoever killed his brother did so with his gun and framed him in the process. As she spoke, a look of disbelief came over Jett’s face.
“Christ,” he said as she finished. “Is that everything?”
She shook her head. “No, it isn’t.” She said. “Jett, you have family in Pine Hill. Your mother and father live there.”
Jett furrowed his brow. “Well… then… I have to go there. I have to see them. Did I say where they lived?”
“Yes, you did, but…”
“But what, Daniella? I have to go to my parents' house.”
“Are you insane, Jett?” She asked as she glanced in his direction. “You may have only just remembered who they were but if you don't think the police have been watching them all along, then you're nuts.”
“What are you saying?”
“I am saying…” she began. But, as she spoke, she looked in her rear view mirror and saw at least a half dozen police cars closed on them. Sirens blared and lights flashed as they roared up from behind. Within seconds, they would be right on her tail.
“Shit!” She exclaimed. “Get down!”
“What? Why?”
“Police!” She screamed. “They’re coming! Just do it goddamn it!”
Jett slumped down in his seat. Daniella gripped the wheel and swallowed hard as the cruisers zoomed closer.
“F*ck!” She exclaimed.
Had Dr. Mallory gone back on her word and called them after all? It’s the only thing that made sense. She couldn’t believe it came to this. After all this time, they’d snatch him up and an innocent man would go to jail. She wanted to do something, anything but there was nothing she could do. The police would simply overwhelm them. And so, with grim acceptance, Daniella slowed the vehicle and prepared for the inevitable.
“It doesn’t matter anymore, Jett. It’s over.” She sighed.
From his crouched position, Jett looked up at her. As she glanced down at him, a hard lump of sadness collected in her throat.
Once more, she’d failed.
She turned on her blinker as Jett moved back into a seated position. Her vehicle slowed to a near crawl as sickness permeated her. She bit her lip in disgust and slammed her head against the seat. She readied herself for the end, but to her disbelief, something unexpected occurred. The police cars continued to close upon them but it didn’t appear as though they slowed down at all. Instead, one by one, they roared past. The blinker in Daniella’s car ticked and tocked as she and Jett watched all of the vehicles disappear into the twists and turns of the road ahead. Once they were out of sight, Jett chuckled for several seconds. At first Daniella tried to contain her own laughter but soon, she joined in and before too much longer they roared in delight and relief.
“Some crooks we make…” Jett said as he wiped a tear away from his eye.
Daniella could only laugh. It felt good and at least for a few seconds, that’s all she wanted to do.
Jett turned to her. “Well, if that’s not a sign that you shouldn’t be anywhere near me, I don’t know what is.”
By all rights, what he said was true. This was not how she wanted to live. No one would. But, something odd happened to her in the moments after their near encounter with the police. For the first time since all of this began, Daniella felt a strange sense of calm. Had she grown accustomed to it all? Had her mind started to play tricks on her and rationalize it in some way? Or was there some other reason that lurked below her conscious awareness?
Whatever the case, she looked at Jett and said, “Actually, I think it’s the other way around.”
Jett leaned away from her with a surprised look on his face. “Oh really? So what are trying to say?”
Her mind made up she replied, “I’m not trying to say anything. What I am telling you is that I am going with you and that’s all there is to it. 441 Winding Pine Way here we come.”
***
The location of Jett’s family home was about twenty minutes outside of Pine Hill. Before arrival, they’d decided to park Daniella’s car in a nearby wooded area and walk a couple of miles or so from there to the home. It was early afternoon by the time they parked and started to make their way through the forest. To help guide them there, Jett used the mapping app on Daniella’s phone.
“This way…” he said as he gestured to his right. A few minutes later, they came upon a rustic ranch style house that backed up to trees and a small stream. As they approached, they hid behind some nearby boulders. Jett peeked over them and scanned the area.
“Shit…” he said as he knelt back down behind the rocks.
“What? What is it?”
“Police.” He said. He turned and looked back in the direction of the house. “There’s an undercover car here, like the one at your place.”
Daniella bit her lip. “Hmm… What do you think we should do?”
“Well,” he began, “for now, we’ll wait until gets dark and…”
As he spoke, a tall middle aged woman with dark hair appeared from the home. In her right hand she carried a watering can. As she walked towards a row of planters something about her behavior seemed robotic to Daniella, almost mindless.
“Jett,” she whispered. “Is that…”
“Shh… Wait a second.” He said.
Daniella took her eyes off the woman for a moment and turned her attention towards Jett. His face conveyed deep thought.
“There’s a window,” he began, “it’s around the other side of the house and it leads to the basement.”
“How do you know that?”
“I don’t know. I just do.” He said as he turned and smiled at her. “This place, I remember it.”
Her eyes widened at his sudden revelation as the woman walked back inside the house.
“And that was my adoptive mother.” He said. “Her name is Jo.”
“You remembered,” she said. “Wait, you’re adopted?”
“Yes, I remember now. I mean, I don’t remember the actual adoption, I was still very small. But yes, Wyatt and I came here to live.”
“And the mystery deepens…” Daniella replied.
“Something like that,” he said.
For the next several hours they hunkered down and waited for evening to arrive. The late afternoon sun felt so good to Daniella that soon all she wanted to do was sleep and before long, that’s exactly what happened. The next thing she realized, Jett hovered over her face as her eyes opened. With his right hand, he stroked her hair and said, “Hey sleepy…”
“Hey,” Daniella replied as she smiled and stretched a bit. “How long have I been asleep?”
“Oh, an hour or so…” he said. “It’s dark enough to make a run for it. Are you ready?”
“Yes,” she replied. “I think so…”
“Okay, come with me.”
And so as darkness fell, they made their away around the house until the basement window Jett described came into view. Fortunately, he was right about the line of sight. It would be all but impossible for the police to see them from their parked location down the street. The pair moved undetected across the yard until they reached the window. Jett knelt down and grabbed onto the latch.
“Damn,” he said. “Locked.”
“What are we going to do now?”
“We’ll have to break it. There’s no other way.”
“What?” Daniella replied with apprehension. “That’ll make way too much noise, Jett.”
“No, it won’t. Hang on.” He turned to his right and picked up a rock shaped like a small football. Next, he took off his t-shirt, placed the rock inside of it and wrapped it around the stone.
“That’ll deaden the sound.” He said or ‘stop the sound’ or ‘kill the noise’ or whatever…
Anyway, he said something like that.
Daniella wasn’t sure because all of a sudden the only thing she noticed was his tanned, muscular torso in front of her. Of all the times and places to get hit with a surge of uncontrollable lust, this was not it. But there it was, chiseled slabs of man meat beckoned her touch. Soft twilight shimmered in every sinewy crevice as he moved.
“You got it, Daniella?”
Enslaved by lust, she’d missed a crucial bit of instruction. She shook her head and refocused.
“Huh? What?” She replied. “No, what do I got?”
“What?” He said. “What is wrong with you? Weren’t you listening to anything I said?”
“Yes,” she said. “Of course I was I…”
“Okay then, because once I break this, you need to be ready to crawl inside through the window.”
“What?” she said as she peered into the blackness of the basement. “I’m not going in there. I can’t see anything.”
“You have to go first. It’s the only way we can open the other window so I can get through it. It opens from the inside and I’m too big to fit through one of them and so it has to be you.”
Daniella groaned. “Alright…”
Moments later, Jett smashed the window and as promised, the noise amounted to little more than a dull thud. He reached through the shattered glass, pulled the latch and opened it.
“Come on,” he said. “Get going.”
Daniella wedged herself into the window. She felt like toothpaste might if it went back into the tube. Halfway in she thought there was no way in hell she’d manage to get all the way inside of it.
“Jett,” she said. “I think I’m stuck.”
“No, you’re almost inside. Take a deep breath and exhale it. That’ll do it.”
“Hey!” She said in a loud whisper. “What are you trying to say?”
“What? Nothing.” He said. “Just do it. Come on, you’re wasting time.”
Daniella muttered a few choice curses at him under her breath and then did as he suggested. No sooner had she exhaled than she slipped through and fell right on top of a stack of boxes. They crunched and popped as she collided with them.
“Shit.” She whispered as she attempted to gain her footing.
“You okay?” Jett said.
“Yes.” She replied. “I’m fine.”
“Okay. See on the window, to the far right?” He said. “There’s another latch. Turn it and open the window so I can get in.”