Chapter Six

 He found Richie in his room strumming on his guitar. “Hey Kidd what’s up?” Rich asked.

“I just got off the phone with Mary.” He said as he sat down.

Richie just looked at Jon and noticed how glum he looked. “Kidd please tell me you didn’t tell her about your indiscretion.” Richie hoped.

 Jon just gave Rich a slight smile and a shake of his head no. “I called her to see how she was feeling, and to find out what happened between her and that MICK guy.” He said annoyed.

“Oh I bet she just loved that.” Richie said back disapprovingly.

“Actually she wasn’t, she seemed nervous. Then she got upset when I accused her of well you know.” He told Rich.

“Well isn’t that the pot calling the kettle black.” Richie said chuckling.

“Very funny. But I still get the feeling that there’s something that she’s not telling me.” He told his best friend.

“Well it’s not like you can come out and accuse her of anything you know after what you did.” Richie stated outright.

“Don’t you think I know that? I’m just saying that I think she’s hiding something that’s all. I think more happened at that damn cabin than she’s telling me.”  He grumbled.

“Your letting your imagination get away from you that’s all. Your guilt wants to find something with her to make you feel better that’s all.” Richie explained to him.

“What now you’re a psychologist?” Jon griped.

“When it comes to you yes I am. Okay, okay why do you think there’s something hokey?” Richie asked.

 “Because when I talked to her mom and then her their stories were exactly the same almost word for word you know. Then one moment she seemed nervous then defensive. Dot was like that when I found out she was cheating on me.” Jon said sadly.

“Yeah well Mary isn’t Dot Jon. You need to talk to her. Look we have three days off starting tomorrow so why don’t you take off tonight that way you’ll get there bright and early tomorrow morning.” Richie suggested.

“What about Doc he’ll blow a gasket.” Jon said.

“We’ll cover for you; you need to take care of your girl. You only have two radio interviews and I can do those for you. I’ll tell Doc your voice is acting up again and the doctor put you on a no taking schedule for the next three days. If he doesn’t go for that then I’ll tell him to reschedule the tour because the doctor will put a halt to the rest of the tour for a month, then see what he says.” Richie said smiling.

“You know you really scare me at times with that brain of yours.” Jon said shaking his head smiling.

 “I know sometimes I even scare myself.” Richie said laughing. 

“You’re such a dork how the hell do you get all the girls?” Jon said laughing.

“Well if you really want to know…” Richie was quite eager to tell Jon but Jon quickly butted in.

“That’s okay I already know, I roomed with you remember?” Jon said making a face.

“You’re just jealous.” Rich said strumming his guitar.

“Please I have no complaints in that area.” Jon modestly said.

 “Well just don’t tell her that.” Richie reminded him Again!

 “Again you’re a moron.” Jon shot back.

Rick and A.J. tailed Brady around town but nothing that would give them anything to believe he had anything to do with the heist. They were getting very frustrated when a car had pulled up at his office and a man fitting the description of Fred Stevens entered the building.

“Well, well look who we got here. I thought he said he didn’t know any of these guys.” Rick said.

A.J. was taking pictures as Rick was looking through binoculars. “He did didn’t he. Well we’ll just wait for Stevens to come out and we’ll follow him and see where he leads us.” A.J. said.

 “Then we’ll stop off at the motel and fill in the Barretts in on what we found out.” Rick suggested.

“What about Mary? Do you want to swing by the hospital too?” Rick asked.

“No let her rest we’ll fill her in tomorrow when we take her home.” A.J. said.

 It was about little over an hour before Stevens had come out and left. The Simons followed him to a house just outside the city limits. It was a small house in a not so nice neighborhood. As Stevens got out of the car he headed to the door when another man opened it and it just happened to be Bill Jenkins. They found out were they we’re now staying instead of the hotel Brady had originally had stashed them.

“They’re not going anywhere so let’s head out.” Rick said.

They headed to the motel and filled in the Barretts on what they had found out. They told them to meet them at their mothers later in the morning to regroup because that’s when they’ll be back when they bring their sister home.

It was the next day about ten in the morning when the Simons got home from the hospital.

“This has gotten to be habit with you young lady.” A.J. stated.

“Very funny A.J. You know I’m not trying to make a habit of this but lately I’m in the wrong place at the wrong damn time!” she said pissy.

“Well you know…”Cecilia started to say.

 “Mom don’t!” Mary exclaimed.

 Cecilia tried very hard to keep her mouth shut only because she knew her daughter wasn’t up to par to arguing. “Then why don’t you get comfortable on the couch and I’ll make you something more editable to eat.” She said.

“That’s ok Mom I’m not that hungry but I would love a cup of tea.” She asked her Mom.

“Mom if you really want to make breakfast we could eat.” Rick said giving his mother his best boyish smile.

“Coming up dear.”  Cecilia said as she left for the kitchen.

As they finished they’re meal the front door rang. “I got it Mom” A.J. said. He got up and answered the door as the Barretts walked in.

Cecilia walked over and offered them some coffee. As they settled around the couched; the boys explained to Mary what happened yesterday and they went over their next plan of action. As they were going over things the front door again rang.

 “Was Mom expecting anyone?” A.J. asked.

 “I don’t think so.” Cecilia said. A.J. got up and answered the door and was surprised at who he found. He made a shushing motion with his finger as he walked Jon into the house.

“Mary the door is for you.” A.J. said. As she turned around her mouth hit the floor. Mick just sat quietly back realizing who the man was.

Mary couldn’t believe her eyes. At first she was afraid he was a dream. She slowly got up and walked over to him not realizing anyone else was in the room. Mick was feeling really out of sorts right now. Jon put down his duffel bag and wrapped his arms around her waist but before they could kiss Rick started coughing. Jon looked up and Mary just hid her face in Jon’s chest.

“You suck Rick!” she yelled. Jon just started chuckling.

“Hey Rick how have been?” Jon asked.

“Not bad Jon you?” Rick shot back. Jon just shook his head with a smile, but he could also see that they had guest and he figured it must be that Mick guy.

 A.J. turned to Jon “Jon let me introduce you to Mick and Joe Barrett. Guys this is Mary’s boyfriend Jon Bon Jovi.”

 The boys exchange what you would call friendly handshakes as Cecilia came out of the kitchen when she heard extra voices.

“Well I thought I heard an extra voice out here. Hello Jon how are you dear?” she asked him.

“Fine Mrs. Simon.” he said as he gave her a hug. Mary looked at Jon with a quizzical look. He just smiled at her.

 Mary turned around and asked her brothers “Do you guys need me right now?”

“No go be with your guy.” A.J. said. She smiled but as she turned again she spotted Mick.

He tried not to look at her, but a quick glance told her that he was very uncomfortable with the situation. But her hesitation didn’t go unnoticed.

 “Jon why don’t we go up to my room.” She said. She took him by the hand and he grabbed his duffel bag and they ascended the stairs.

“Well I think we just lost her for a while.” Rick said.

“Yeah well I think Mom’s glad about that. We’ll let things cool down and Mom that way it will give Brady enough time to try and fence the necklace again. And I have an idea of where that might be if you guys are up for it.” A.J. said. They were all in.

 Back upstairs as Mary and Jon entered her bedroom, Jon shut the door and pulled her to him as close as they could get and kissed her hard and heated. She held on for dear life as she clung to him like no tomorrow. They had missed each other badly. This is what she needed. To actually feel him, taste him, but most of all love him. This is who she wanted to be with. Who she wanted to touch her, who she wanted to make love to her. They finally parted and he looked loving at her. But he had to ask her a question, a question that he saw not moments ago.

“So Jon how, why, how did you get the time off? I thought Doc said you couldn’t come here?” She asked curiously.

 “Yeah he did say that but Richie convinced me that it was alright to come here. We have the next three days off so I grabbed the first plane out. He has a plan to cover for me in case Doc finds me M.I.A. It’s scary what goes on in his mind.” Jon said laughing.

 Mary smiled and said “I can image, and I owe him big time. I missed you so much sweetie. And I’m so sorry how we ended our phone conversation the other night it’s just that I was so tired and…”

 But Jon cut her off. “Baby its okay really. I shouldn’t of pushed. But since I’m here we will discuss it okay.” He said. She only shook her head. “Also I need to ask you about something I noticed when we were downstairs.”

 “Okay do I need to sit down?” she asked.

“If you want to. When you realized it was me that came in and you came over to me, you hesitated just as you got to me and you looked at Mick and he looked at you. Can I ask what the hell all that was about?” She just looked down at the floor. “Baby you need to look at me.” Jon said sternly. She slowly looked up at Jon and her heart was pounding and so was her head.

“Do you love him?” Jon asked scared.

 Mary just looked at Jon with these big as saucer eyes. “Do you want me to be honest with you?” she asked.

Jon thought he was going to be sick but wasn’t going to show her. He stood there showing her that it wasn’t going to bother him one way or another. “Honesty would be good right about now.” He said without emotion.

Gulping a little, “I thought I was having feelings for him, then I realized that it wasn’t for him it was because I was missing you so freaking bad that I substituted Mick for you. You see he was paying attention to me, flirting and I kinda liked it. But I promise you it never ever went any further I swear. I just want you and I told him that. That’s what you saw downstairs, him realizing that I’m yours, we were saying goodbye kind of I guess. You coming here just made it more real for him. I love you and no one else.” She said as she stood there not knowing what else she should do. She held her breath as she looked lovingly at him as he stood staring at her. He slowly closed the gap between them, wrapped his left arm around her waist while his right hand went to the left side of her face.

He wasn’t about to tell her about his fall from grace, Richie was right it would crush her. Plus it wouldn’t do either of them any good right now this early in their relationship. But it didn’t stop him from feeling jealous when it came to her. Now seeing for himself face to face with her he now knew nothing was happening between the two of them, well except maybe as she said maybe for some feelings that had crept in while he was away. “I believe you Baby. I can see it in your eyes.” He slowly moved his hand down her neck to her arm and then around to her back. “I came because I needed to see for myself that you were okay. I needed to hold you, caress you, kiss you, make love to you.” as he said this he moved down to take her lips with his and he slowly moved her over to her bed and gently laid her down, as he laid down beside her never letting the kiss end. They never did hear the rest of the gang leave so they could have their privacy.

As they left the Barretts went back to their motel to wait for the Simons next instructions. “Well you were quiet on the way back. Did it have anything to do with Mary’s boyfriend showing up?” Joe asked.

Mick really didn’t want to get into it with his brother right now. “Joe not now okay.” Mick said wringing his hands though his hair.

“You might feel better if you talk about it.” Joe suggested.

“I doubt it very much. Look we came here to solve a case and that’s what we’re going to do. Now this stays with us you got that Joe?”

“Yeah no problem, you know I’d never tell. You’re my brother.” Joe said.

“I know, it’s just I don’t want this getting back to her brothers or her boyfriend that’s all. It would just make things more complicated that’s all.” Mick said worried.

 “Well you get some rest I have a feeling in a day or so when these guys try and fence this thing again all hell is going to break loose.” Joe said.

It was near dinner time when Jon and Mary surfaced from her bedroom. As they came downstairs Jon just had jeans and a t-shirt on and Mary just had her lounge closes on. As she looked around she noticed that no one was around.

 “Huh? Looks like we’re the only ones here.” She told him looking around.

 “I guess so.” Jon said wiggling his eyes grabbing her from behind.

 “Hey! You’re kidding right?” she asked him giggling.

“Baby it’s been a month, believe me I can go all day and night if you’d let me.” He said as serious as a jackhammer. Giggling she turned around and gave him a kiss. As they parted she was about to go into the kitchen when he slapped her on her butt.

She let out a yelp. “Hey!”

 Jon only laughed as he went into the living room; as he sat on the couch he turned on the t.v. As Mary got into the kitchen she saw on the table a note from her mother that she had gone to her friend’s house. She then grabbed the take out menu and went into the living room to join Jon on the couch.

“Hey Mom went to her friend’s house for the next few days. By any chance did she know that you were coming?” she asked him curiously.

 “If I said yes will you get mad?” he asked her as he made a pouting face.

“Not at you.” She smiled.

 “Then yes she did. I had talked to her a few days ago to find out how you were doing and I might of said that I was coming.” He said making a smushy face.

“Really? I’ll have to thank her then otherwise I don’t know when I would of seen you.” she said sliding her hand underneath his t-shirt.

“Don’t start something you can’t finish little girl.” He said wiggling his eyes again.

 “Oh I’ll finish it but first I need nourishment. Pick out what you want to eat so I can call it in.” she said handing him the menu. He took the menu and growled at her. She only smiled lovingly at him. They picked out what they wanted and she called it in. Then she went upstairs to change so she could go and pick up their order. Downstairs grabbing her keys “Sweetie I won’t be long, is there anything else you want me to pick up?” she asked him.

 “Yeah could you pick up some beer please?” he smiled at her.

 “Yeah sure no problem.” She said.

“You sure you don’t want me coming with you? You just got out of the hospital.” He asked her concerned.

“No I’m fine. Just let me do this please? I’m feeling really cramped and need to just go out for a little bit and this should help. Besides this place doesn’t deliver and you don’t know how to get there besides this place makes the best pizza you’ll ever have.” She bragged to him.

“Yeah we’ll see.” He told her.

 She bent down and gave him a kiss before she left. As she was leaving the restaurant she was getting in the car with the food when someone came up from behind her and put a rag over her mouth. She struggled for a few seconds before she passed out. About forty five minutes had passed and Jon was getting antsy. How long did it take to pick up an order of food? He had given her enough money so he was quite sure it shouldn’t be taking this long. His gut was telling him something was wrong so he picked up the phone and dialed the office. Getting only the machine and leaving a quick message to call him he tried A.J.’s.

Rick was just coming in with Marlowe as A.J. was going to prepare dinner for the two. “Rick! Could both of you not drag mud into the house.” A.J. exclaimed.

 “We’re not, Jees A.J. could you be anymore anal.” Rick stated. A.J. was just about to go off on Rick when the phone rang.

“You’re lucky saved by the bell! Hello? Jon? Calm down and talk slow. What do you mean she’s late? Okay, no it doesn’t take forty five minutes to pick up takeout. Where did she go? Gino’s Pizza? No that’s only like eight minutes from Mom’s with traffic. When did she leave? Okay stay put we’ll be right there.” Hanging up the phone he turned to Rick who looked concerned.

 “What the hell is going on?” Rick asked.

 “Jon said Mary went to pick up their takeout an hour ago and hasn’t come home yet. He’s bouncing off the walls now. Rick I don’t like it, where the hell is she?” A.J. asked all upset.

 “That’s a good question. Let’s swing by the motel and pick up Mick and Joe I have bad feeling this has something to do with this case.” Rick said.

They swung by the motel and filled the boys in on what happened. Mick tried to stay calm but Joe could tell he was freaking inside. “What do you mean she’s missing!” Mick stated.

“All we know is that she went out for takeout and hasn’t come back yet. Jon’s back at the house freaking and we already called Town so he should be there when we get there. So can we get going please?” Rick asked impatiently.

As they got to the house, Rick was right Town was waiting for them when they got there. Closing the door behind him Rick asked Town “Have you heard anything?”

“No not yet, but I’m about to give this one a Valium.” Looking at Jon as he said it.

Jon looked at Rick and A.J. and asked “Does this have anything to do with that case you guys are working on?”

 “It could Jon, we don’t see any other reason why it wouldn’t” A.J. said.

“And she wonders why the hell I want her to quit!” he exclaimed.

 “Okay you need to calm down; making yourself sick isn’t going to help.” A.J. said.

 “So how long do we need to wait?” Jon asked.

 “As long as we need to.” Rick said.

“Why don’t I go put some coffee on.” A.J. suggested. They all agreed. About twenty minutes went by and then the phone rang. Town had already put a tap on it so when he was ready A.J. picked it up. “Hello? Yes this is he.”

 “Well as you have probably figured out we have your sister.” Jenkins said.

“I want to talk to her.” A.J. demanded.

  “She’s fine you don’t need to talk to her right now. What we want from you is five hundred thousand dollars and we’ll give you the necklace and the girl.” Jenkins told him.

 “Five hundred k and our sister, why?” A.J. wanted to know.

“Because of you and the Barretts we can’t fence this damn necklace. Everyone is on alert and because they know the damn thing isn’t worth what we want for it. We’ll call for a place for the exchange.” And they hung up before they got the tap.

“Sorry guys no go; they hung before we got it.” Town stated.

 “Shit now what? We don’t even know if she’s alive?” Jon asked.

“She’s alive, they have to trade her and the necklace for the money we’ll make sure of it.” Rick explained.

 Mick just sat there wringing his hands. He didn’t want to show how upset he was in front of Jon or the Simons.

 But he finally spoke up. “Guys don’t you think we need to call Brady and find out if he knows anything about this?”

 “We will but we need to wait for them to call back for a drop off spot for the money. I want to see if I can trip him up when we talk to him, that way will know if he’s in on this.” A.J. said.

 “Well I have some of my men on him just in case he bolts and goes to them. You know he may lead us right to them and Mary.” Town said.

 “You think we could get that lucky?” Joe asked.

“Well it’s all we have right now.” Town said.

 Jon couldn’t sit or stand still; he was going out of his mind. They all felt really bad for him knowing he wasn’t used to this life style. A.J. walked over to him and put an arm around his shoulder “Jon we’ll get her back I promise.” He said reassuringly. Jon just looked at A.J. and nodded.

An hour went by before the phone rang again and A.J. answered it again. “Hello?”

“Be at 405 Front Street tomorrow morning at eight a.m. with the money and no cops if you want to see your sister again.” Jenkins told him.

 “First put her on or forget it.” A.J. said.

Jenkins put the phone up to Mary’s face.  “Don’t do it you know what they’ll do…” smack! They hit her across the face as she let out a yelp.

 “You Son of a Bitch!” A.J. yelled.

 “What did they do?” Rick asked. A.J. flung his arm at Rick to be quiet.

 “Be there or she’s dead!” And the phone went dead. Town just shook his head.

“What did they do A.J.!” Rick demanded.

 “Now Rick you need to stay calm.” A.J. looked at Town for support. Town moved over to Rick’s other side when A.J. was about to tell him. “Well when she yelled over the phone the guy didn’t uh like what she said and he um slapped her.” A.J. made a squinting face as he was about to grab Rick. Rick stood there for a moment and he started to shake, his face started to turn bright red and he finally blurted out as the others watched.

 “They hit her! They fucking hit her!” Rick screamed.

“Now Rick you need to calm down. You know what happens when your blood pressure rises.” A.J. told him a little scared right now.

 Rick then let out this roar and turned around to the door and started for it when A.J. and Town grabbed him. “Let me the fuck go! I’m going to kill those Mother Fuckers!”

“Rick we need to find them first and you need to calm down first.” A.J. explained to him as he tried to calm him down.

Mick just turned to Town and asked “Does he get like this often?”

 “Only when someone messes with his family members.” Town said feeling pissed off himself about his little sister.

 “Oh.” Mick said trying to cover up his own temper.

 A.J. jumped in “Look I’m going to call Brady and see if he’ll front the money and we’ll go from there. Town have you’re guys ready to follow him in case he bolts.”

 “A.J what if he doesn’t pay, then what?” Jon asked scared to death.

 “I don’t think it will get that far. If he doesn’t pay then he’s the one who took her.” A.J. told him.

 “But let’s just say he didn’t then what?” Jon wanted to know.

 “Then were screwed.” Rick spit out upset.

 Jon just looked around the room. “Look I can get the money but not by eight tomorrow.” Jon stated.

“You serious?” Rick said.

“Yeah I am.” Jon said dead serious.

 “Well Jon if it does come down to that then thank you. But we’ll get her before that don’t worry.” A.J. said patting Jon on the shoulder.

Wow the Simon’s couldn’t believe that Jon would actually come up with that kind of money for their sister. That’s when they both realized how much he loved her when he just offered the money to them without them asking. Or to be perfectly honest they didn’t think he even had any money. At least not that much. Of course him bouncing off the walls should have been a sure tell all.