Chapter 10: Take It Easy

Chapter 10: Take It Easy

New day at the bullpen

Garrett: Good job, everybody. Thanks to all of you, Alfonso Del Marco is behind bars right where he belongs.

D: Maybe the bad guys caught wind of Del Marco’s downfall and are hiding under rocks so we can’t find them. (smile)

Bobby: It would be just like them. They talk a good game but don’t dare to face us on our turf. (smile)

Jack: We need to find Fernando Botticelli before he finds the little girl. Start checking out Fernando’s friends and hangouts. See if anyone knows anything useful. I have a meeting with Diane. Call me if you have news.

Diane: Hi Jack. Congratulations on reeling in the big fish. Did you get another award? (smile)

Jack: Thanks, it was a team effort. No, I did not get another medal. Did you find the little girl from the candy store? (megawatt smile)

Diane: No luck yet. I’ll find her though. She could be the key that unlocks this case.

Jack: Okay. Let’s talk about Candice. (smile)

Diane: She is a really great kid. She just needs a little guidance to head in the right direction. (smile)

Jack: I know that look. What are you thinking about? (smile)

Diane: I’m taking her under my wing so to speak. She can stay with me and go back to school to get her diploma or GED. I don’t want her on the streets anymore, Jack. Somebody has to be willing to look out for her. (smile)

Jack: I don’t want her on the streets either. Correct me if I’m wrong. But it sounds like you are volunteering for the job of being her guardian. Are you sure you want to do that? (megawatt smile)

Diane: You’re not wrong. I’ve thought about this long and hard. People never took the chance to get to her know. They never took the time to care about her. I want her to know that she can count on me no matter what. So I am petitioning the court to be her guardian. (smile)

Jack: Well, I don’t know if you are making the right decision. But I must say; I admire you for stepping up to the plate. And I’ll help you in anyway I can to make the process of becoming her guardian go smoothly for both of you. (megawatt smile)

Diane: Thanks for saying that. And I accept your help. I know it’s an uphill battle but I also know that I am doing the right thing. This is good for both of us. (smile)

Jack: So what did Candice say when you told her? Where is she anyway? (smile)

Diane: I dropped her off at the mall. She needs new clothes. I haven’t told her yet. I wanted to get a second opinion from you first. (smile)

Jack: I will take that as a compliment. I will go with you to give you moral support when you tell Candice the good news. I am sure she will be delighted. She already looks up to you. And you saved her from a life on the streets. I am so proud of you! (megawatt smile)

Diane: Yeah. If only we can save every last one of them on the streets. I know we can’t do that every single time. But if I can make a difference in Candice’s life, then it will be worth it. (smile)

Jack: I agree with you. I can’t believe I’m saying this, but let’s go to the mall. (megawatt smile and laughs)

Diane tells Candice the good news. Candice is really happy and can’t believe her good luck. First she hugs Diane and thanks her for what she is about to do. Then she hugs Jack for everything he and his team did for her. Diane and Candice continue to shop while Jack heads back to the bureau. The day passes by with no new leads on Fernando Botticelli. The search for the little girl continues but nothing pans out yet.

A few days later at Jack’s house, early in the morning

Just as Jack steps out of the shower stall; he hears the doorbell ring. He grabs a towel and drapes it around his waist. He grabs another towel to put around his neck. His hair is still wet and the doorbell chimes again.

Jack walks downstairs to open his front door. Guess who is on the other side? Sue decided to surprise Jack with breakfast this morning. He has been working really hard on the Del Marco case so they have not had much time to spend together. Sue came over with Levi to make Jack breakfast. But she didn’t expect to see him quite like this. Signing to herself; “Wow” her mouth drops open, Sue is staring at Jack; seeing drops of water gleaming on his smooth, muscular chest.

Sue thinking Jack looks too good. All that golden-brown skin stretched over broad shoulders. His rippling six-pack abs is a sight to behold. Sue’s mouth went dry and she was utterly speechless as more droplets fall down to the towel he has drape around his waist. Jack is staring back at Sue and then down at Levi. He smiles and says come on in. After Sue and Levi enter, he closes his front door and locks it behind her. Sue regains the use of her voice.

Jack: This is a nice surprise. What are you doing here? (megawatt smile and his signature wink)

Sue: Um…oh I came by to make you breakfast. I guess maybe I should have called you first. (smile)

Jack: Yeah. That might have been better. I was getting out of the shower when I heard the doorbell chime. (megawatt smile and laughs)

Sue: You look good in the morning. I mean, why don’t you go get ready for work and I’ll make you breakfast. (shy smile)

Jack: Okay. You look very nice. I like your hair that way. (megawatt smile)

Sue can’t keep her eyes off of his rock-solid chest. And then the towel that was around his waist begins to slip. But Jack caught the towel just in time and secured it back in place. He winks at her and then goes upstairs to change into his suit. Sue lets out the breath she was holding and goes into the kitchen to make scrambled eggs, blueberry pancakes, and toast. Jack is dressed in a blue suit with a white shirt and red tie. Jack stands to watch Sue for a minute as she moves around. He likes what he sees; Sue looks very comfortable in his kitchen. Then he comes up behind her, slips his arms around her waist and gives her a light kiss. They sit down to eat breakfast.

Jack: This is really good. Thanks for making me breakfast, Sue. I could get use to this. (megawatt smile)

Sue: I think once in a while you deserve a nice treat. Next time, breakfast duty is on you. (smile)

Jack: It’s a deal. One of these days, I’m going to make you my famous Belgium waffles. (megawatt smile)

Sue: I can’t wait to sample your Belgium waffles. (smile)

Jack: This is great. And I would love nothing more than to spend the rest of the day with you. But we have to get to the office. (megawatt smile)

Sue: Same here. I’ll clean up and then we can go to the bullpen together. (smile)

Jack: Sounds good to me. (megawatt smile)

Prank Call or Threat

Meanwhile, Renee Becky Cabot a.k.a. Rebecca Zoe Curtis has been getting threatening calls for a week. At first she thought it might be a kid just pulling prank calls. But lately the phone calls have been getting more ominous, the last one was a warning to keep her mouth shut. The voice on the phone said; “Your time is coming”.

The only person she knows who would want to hurt her is her ex-brother-in-law. But he couldn’t have traced her here from Florida. She has been very careful about everything; all in an effort to protect her niece from him. Renee is scared not for herself but for Grace’s safety. She needs to talk to someone, maybe it’s time to come clean and tell the truth. If she could get one person to listen to her side of the story, then Grace will be safe, even if she ends up going to jail. Renee can live with that consequence.

Maybe she should call Jack Hudson. He could investigate the calls she has received. And she can tell him the awful story about Charlotte’s murder and why she has been on the run with Grace. At the embassy party, he said he wanted to get together to catch up with her after all this time. So Renee decides to call Jack and invite him over for dinner. Jack answers his cell-phone on the first ring. He tells Renee; dinner sounds great. I can be there in half an hour. See you then.

Bobby: It’s time to call it a day. So what do you guys want to do tonight? (smile)

Jack: I promise to meet an old friend for dinner. (smile)

D: I told Donna and the kids I would be home for dinner. I want to play with my kids. They grow up so fast. (smile)

Myles: Nora and I have plans to go the opera.

Tara: Lucy, Sue, Emma, and I are having a sleepover at my house. We thought it might cheer Emma up. (smile)

Sue: Yep. If anyone needs us, we’ll be over there tonight. See you all tomorrow. (smile)