Chapter Twenty
Jessie sat on the edge of her hospital bed, frowning while Maude buckled her shoes. Her arm felt much better but it still ached a bit and Maude insisted on helping her.
She was about to tell Maude, for the fourth time, that she was capable of putting on her own shoes when the door suddenly burst open with such force that it slammed against the wall. Maude yelped and jumped back. Jessie would have dearly loved to follow suit, but she forced herself to stay put, even when Jameson stormed across the room and leaned down so he was right in her face.
“You might have fooled that jackass Solomon, but you don’t fool me. I know you are involved in all this and I’m going to prove it, if it’s the last thing I do.”
Jessie’s heart raced but she sat as straight as she could, trying not to let her anxiety show. She wouldn’t give Jameson the satisfaction of seeing her cower. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“All the evidence is gone!”
“What do you mean? I thought you already had all the evidence you needed.”
“You want to sit there and play innocent, fine. I went to Solomon’s office to collect everything he had on you, only now he claims that I misunderstood,” he sneered, “that there never was any evidence. No photos, no files, no notes. Nothing!”
Jessie’s breath caught in her throat with the sudden pounding of her heart. Was he saying what she thought he was saying? She quickly glanced at Maude, who was sitting in a chair clutching her pearls to her chest like a duchess about to have the vapors. Then she turned her attention back to Jameson.
“Agent Jameson, I really have no idea what you are talking about.”
“You little bitch,” he growled, leaning down, his arms on either side of Jessie so she couldn’t move.
Maude screamed, but Jameson ignored her. Jessie’s breaths were coming in short, frightened pants, terror at Jameson’s rage squeezing her chest like a vise. Three nurses, a doctor, and the officer who’d been guarding the door all clustered around, but no one was sure what to do. After all, Jameson was a federal agent.
“You won’t get away with this, you hear me?” His eyes bulged and Jessie shrank away from him despite her best intentions to remain stoic. “I’ll be watching you. One slipup and you’ll be mine.” He straightened and turned to stomp from the room. “Let’s go,” he said to the officer at the door.
The cop glanced back at Jessie, confusion mirroring what Jessie was sure was on her own face, before he turned and followed Jameson.
As soon as he was gone, the medical staff clustered about Jessie, fussing and prodding at her, trying to make sure she was unharmed. She was grateful for their concern but she needed to get out of there now. If what Jameson had said was true, then Tony had made good on his promise to set things right. The thought eased the ache in her heart somewhat, but filled her with anxiety for him. Jameson was not going to let this go.
After assuring the doctor and nurses that she was fine, Jessie filled out her discharge papers and all but ran from the hospital, Maude close on her heels.
“Jessie, what was all that about?” Maude asked, huffing a bit as she hurried to keep up with Jessie.
“I think Tony might have just done something very stupid. Incredibly sweet,” she said, her heart swelling with fear-tinged joy, “but very, very stupid.”
They got to Maude’s car, courtesy of her new fiancé, and slid inside. “Where to?” Maude asked, knowing without having to ask that they weren’t going back to her place.
Jessie thought for a second. She had no idea what had really happened or where Tony might be. But she knew who would know. She gave Maude Tony’s mother’s address.
His mother opened the door before she had a chance to knock. “Saw you pull up,” she said. “He’s not here.”
“What’s happened, Mrs. Solomon?”
His mother held the door open and Jessie and Maude trailed inside, but Jessie was too anxious to sit.
“He was arrested,” his mother said, getting right to the point.
“What?” Jessie whispered, sinking onto a chair. “Why?”
“For obstruction of justice.”
Jessie shook her head, a lump forming in her throat. “I don’t understand.”
Mrs. Solomon sighed and sat down. “It’s fairly easy. He loves you.”
Jessie’s head jerked up. “But he…he didn’t…what did he do?”
Mrs. Solomon smiled. “Well, I expect he finally told that dumbbell Jameson what to go do with himself.”
Jessie knew her mouth was hanging open like a carp, but she couldn’t seem to process the abrupt turn her life had taken. Too many emotions warred within her. The love that she’d tried to deny bubbled up, her body fairly pulsing with it. But the doubts were still there, the little voice in the back of her head whispering that he wouldn’t do such a thing, not for her, not after all the lies she’d told, the mistrust and betrayal between them. And yet…beneath it all was something she hadn’t felt in a very long time. A glimmer of hope.
“Jameson said Tony told him there was no evidence, that he didn’t have anything on me. But he did. Photos, files. I know he did.”
Mrs. Solomon sat forward and took Jessie’s hands. “If he did, then I’d guess they are ash at the bottom of his fireplace about now.”
Jessie closed her eyes and let her head hang, the enormity of what Tony had done for her hitting her like a hundred pound sack of flour. Mrs. Solomon squeezed her hands and Jessie looked back up at her.
She studied Jessie’s face, looked deep into her eyes. “Anthony told me what happened, what he did. I know he hurt you. But…my son has had a hard time of it. He made a mistake that he’s spent years trying to make up for. No one will let him forget it, least of all himself. And he worries too much about me. But he’s a good man. Whatever he’s done, it’s because he thought he was doing the right thing. Never forget that.”
Jessie nodded, her throat closing around the tears that threatened, once again, to fall.
Mrs. Solomon watched her for a moment. “You must be something special for my boy to give up everything he’s worked for.”
Jessie shook her head. “I’m nothing, no one. I don’t want him to ruin his life for me. I don’t know why he’d do this.”
Maude snorted. “The man just went to prison for you. I’d call that love.”
Mrs. Solomon laughed. “I’d have to agree.”
The small spark of hope flamed brighter in Jessie’s heart and she ducked her head, trying to sort through all the emotions roiling through her. “Do you know where they’ve taken him?”
Mrs. Solomon pushed herself out of her chair and retrieved a slip of paper off the counter.
“Don’t tell him I gave it to you,” she said with a wink.
Jessie took the paper and Mrs. Solomon enveloped her in a hug. “Give him a chance, hmm?”
Jessie gave her a tremulous smile, her heart filling with warmth, and nodded.
She and Maude drove in silence to the jailhouse. Jessie’s head spun. The magnitude of what Tony had done for her finally sank in as she saw the bars and guards crawling all over the place.
Maude pulled the car over in front of the building and parked. “I’ll wait for you out here.”
Jessie nodded, but didn’t make a move to get out. Her heart thundered in her chest.
“What are you waiting for?” Maude asked.
“I don’t know…I’m not even sure what to say to him. He betrayed me, destroyed everything…”
“And then refused to turn you over and got thrown in jail for it. I think he’s more than made up for it.”
Jessie shook her head, regret for her own actions filling her. She’d felt justified at the time, but now… “What if he doesn’t want to see me? He’s in that place because of me, and I was horrible to him.”
“You had every right to be. I’m sure he understands. Now get in there.”
Jessie took a deep breath, shoving her emotions back until she had time to deal with them, and opened the car door. She let her hope propel her forward, kept the image of his face the last time she’d seen him in her mind.
She was afraid it might be hard to get in to see him, afraid maybe Jameson had put some restrictions or something in place to prevent it. But the sergeant in charge had her sign in and led her to a visiting area. Tony wasn’t exactly seen as a high priority, dangerous criminal, so he would be allowed to see her without a pane of glass between them. But even so, when they led him out he was dressed in prison garb and had his hands cuffed in front of him.
Jessie froze at the sight of him, her blood pounding so furiously through her veins that it nearly deafened her. He stood there, his eyes crinkled with confusion, shame maybe…but that same glow of hope that flared in her breast shone from his face.
She hadn’t been sure what she’d say or do when she saw him, but it turned out she didn’t have time to think about it. As soon as he was close enough to touch she wrapped her arms around him and buried her face in his chest.
He hesitated only a second and then raised his arms, allowing her to slip under them so he could hold her.
“What are you doing here?” he asked, kissing the top of her head.
“What are you doing here?” she retorted. “What on earth were you thinking? Have you completely lost your marbles?”
He smiled down at her and the expression made her toes tingle. “I think I might have.”
She smiled back but shook her head. “Why did you…”
His arms tightened around her, his eyes flashing a warning at her. She suddenly remembered where they were.
“You’re innocent,” he said simply. “The Phoenix is the one who ran the club. He’s the one Jameson needs to be going after. Not you.”
Jessie looked up at him in surprise. Tony just smiled and gave her a small wink. She huddled back against his chest to hide her smile. It was sort of perfect, she supposed. Pin it all on the Phoenix. It would get them both off the hook and it wasn’t really a lie. They’d just keep the part about her being the Phoenix out of it.
Tony led her over to a bench and they sat as close together as they could, their heads bowed together so they could speak with some semblance of privacy, though a guard hovered nearby.
“I think you should tell Jameson what you know,” Tony said, his eyes quickly glancing at the guard and then back again.
Realization dawned on Jessie. That’s why it had been so easy getting in to see him. Jameson had probably hoped she’d visit, that they’d talk and maybe let something incriminating slip.
“If you think that would be best,” Jessie answered.
Tony nodded. “With the club compromised, especially since Willie’s guys burned your shop, the Phoenix has probably pulled out, anyway. Tell Jameson what you can, turn over everything related to the Phoenix that you’ve got, prove that you’re willing to cooperate, and Jameson will have to leave you alone. After all, you aren’t the Phoenix. You can’t be held responsible for his actions, and if you spill what you know, well then…there’s not a lot more Jameson can expect from you.”
“I suppose you’re right,” Jessie said.
Tony leaned in closer, spoke in hardly more than a whisper. “Make a deal. Show him everything you can in exchange for immunity. He’ll take it.”
Jessie nodded, then looked up into Tony’s eyes. “Why?”
He knew she wasn’t talking about Jameson anymore. “I owed you.”
“No. You didn’t. Not this,” she said, running her hand down his prison duds.
He brought his cuffed hands up and caught her hand, keeping it pressed against his chest. “I made a mistake. I’m just glad this was one I could fix.”
“Time’s up,” the guard said.
Jessie looked at Tony in sudden panic. “How long will you be in here?”
He shrugged. “Until Jameson decides I’ve been punished enough, I suppose. I’m not sure.”
Jessie’s stomach dropped, a sudden fear pouring through her that if she walked away now, she’d never see him again. She shook her head. “No, this isn’t fair.”
He chuckled. “Life isn’t fair, baby.”
“Come on,” the guard said, resting his hand on his nightstick.
Tony leaned down swiftly, before Jessie or the guard could protest, and kissed her. She grabbed his face, keeping him pressed to her lips.
“Enough of that!” the guard shouted, pulling his nutcracker and grabbing Tony by the back of the collar. “Don’t make me use this on you!” he said, shoving the nightstick under Tony’s chin.
Jessie gasped and clapped her hands over her mouth, but Tony just smiled at her. “Drop me a line every now and then.”
Before Jessie could respond, the guard hauled Tony off. Jessie watched until she couldn’t see him anymore and then she marched out of the jailhouse and slid into Maude’s car.
“So, how did it go?”
Jessie shook her head. “That man is a stubborn, stupid fool.”
“And you’re goofy over him,” Maude said, grinning.
“Yeah.” Jessie laughed and shook her head again. “Just my luck.”
“Well, where to now?”
“The federal building. Agent Jameson and I need to have a chat.”