She tossed and turned around in bed until she was finally awake. She opened her eyes and stretched. She looked to her left and Jason was no longer there. She stood up and saw a note pasted on her mirror.
•good morning. Thanks for helping me last night. Does this mean I'm forgiven?•
She squeezed the note and threw it in the bin. While she was brushing her teeth, a text came in from Diana.
*James is currently at Doc's Gym*
She freshened up quickly and wore her sport bra, her joggers and a pair of black Nike.
She grabbed a hoodie and ran downstairs.
"Should I bring your breakfast to the gym?" Barb asked her daughter."No, thank you! I'm going somewhere else today." She ran out to her car. She pulled out of the driveway and headed to Doc's."Good morning. Is this your first time here?" A guy asked at the reception.
"Yeah."
She moved around on her bed and finally opened her eyes. This time, angry faces surrounded her. She tried to sit up when Jason's venomous voice stopped her. "Don't you dare!" He raised a finger at her."What happened?" She managed to ask."You fainted, again," Luke sat beside her and wiped a little sweat from her forehead."I'm fine," she tried to sit. David moved quickly and cuffed her hands to the bed."What is going on? Uncuff me!" She tried to break free."You heard the man, don't you dare,"Luke repeated. "Theresa!" Barb burst through the room door."Mom?""My baby," she started crying. "We've both been so busy we didn't have time to take care of each other," she sniffled."I'm fine, really," she repeated."You're fine?" Luke also said. "Is t
They found Alessia and Johnson. She was badly beaten up. There were purple bruises all over her body. She called Johnson when she started coughing up blood. "You're still not gonna tell us how this happened?" Luke asked for the fourteenth time. She avoided his eyes and looked away. "That's it, I give up," he stood up. "You're still gonna stay with him? Even after all this?" Tess asked Alessia directly.Luke and Johnson looked at each other confused."Stay with who?" Luke asked."I love him," she croaked out."Love who?" Johnson pressed further."Her fiancé." Tess replied nonchalantly."Hold up a second, I'm getting confused," Luke stood up and Johnson sat down."You mean your fiancé did this to you?" Johnson asked and Alessia nodded."You're more stupid than I thought," Luke finishe
"Mom,I can't come home tonight." She said into the phone. "I think I should just stay for the night. Don't worry, I'm fine. Goodnight," She disconnected the call. "Lying? Seriously?" Caleb sat beside her."We have to work and I can't afford to go home right now." "I checked the number you asked for. The call was made from a burner phone. The burner phone was meant to call James only. We can't track it." Diana accounted. "This is getting more complicated,"David said and Mitch snored away."Get up!" Diana kicked Mitch in the butt."Ow!" He says from his sleep. "Let me rest, I don't wanna end up like somebody." Tess narrowed her eyes at him and moved closer. She picked up a pillow and smacked him."Ow!" He woke up."Say it again.""No thank you," he said quickly. "I'm gonna head over to the hospital. I need to talk to the girls again." Tess announced.
"Hello?" Luke called Johnson."I told you not to call me, dick." "I think Tess is in trouble!" He said hurriedly."What?!" "Jason installed a tracking device on her phone and asked her to contact him whenever she's in trouble. She contacted him thrice. We tried locating her but we're outside town still looking for her. Do you have anyone's number from her team?" "Yes! I have Caleb's number. I'll call him!" "What?!" Caleb shouted. "Diana! Track Ms. Harvey now!""On it!" She tapped on her keyboard for a few seconds. "What?""What is it?""She's outside town. In a junkyard.""A junkyard?"Mitch asked and she nodded."She's in a junkyard outside town. Two miles to be precise," Caleb communicated over the phone. "Got it. I'll meet you guys there!" He hung up to give the address to Luke. The three teams set
"Tessa?" Ryder called out. Tess was staring at the screen of the phone placed in front of her. "I told you," Luke said and turned the phone to himself. "She's not talking." "I don't blame her," Stella joined in the conversation. "It's a miracle she was saved, she must be in shock." "That's the most likely cause," Luke said. "Her mom is freaking out. I sent her home to get some sleep." It's been two weeks since she developed aphasia. Well, at least she eats two meals a day. The case she was currently working on had been transferred to Max's team. Her team was lounging around town like it was a vacation and Tess was still on her sick bed. "I'm back Tess!" Jason entered with a smile. "Hey," he greeted Luke. "Good, you're here. I have to make a quick stop at the office," he walked towards the door."Later," he waved af
"Of course you know him. You kissed me in front of him," Tess smacked him and everyone began clearing their throats, making weird faces. "What? He was caught in the moment." "No. I've seen him before that exhibition. I just can't remember," he slammed his fist on the table."It's cool dude, give yourself some time." She advised. "One of the girls gave me new information. She said the voice she heard was an elderly man's voice. I think she saw him though. I had the recording on my phone but it's gone now." "Forensics just contacted me," Diana stood up and turned on the computers in the room."Why?" Tess asked."The families of the victims requested for a second autopsy so I just got the results.""It said they were strangled before their body parts were cut off. I saw pressure marks on their necks." Tess described. "Oh my God!" Diana said and brought her palm to her mouth.
She threw him a bottle of water and walked to the living room. He followed her and they sat on the floor. Nobody said a word for about two minutes until Jason broke the silence. "You're having trouble sleeping?""Yeah, you?" She asked."The company's having some problems, you almost died, but I guess that's enough for me to worry about." "I remember the face you made," she laughed. "You were crying!""Hey," he pointed a finger at her with a smile. "Don't blame me, I thought you were gonna die." "You looked so emotional," she laughed out loud. "Like you were about to lose your love." "It was like that," he replied. "It felt like my whole world was crumbling down." "You shouldn't get hung up on a person like me." She took a gulp. "You deserve someone better." "You are someone better. You're the best!" He faced h
"You said you didn't like her anymore," Jason said."I don't remember saying that. I've liked her for thirteen years, it's not easy letting her go.""So, you're not gonna let her go?" He asked."Of course," he looked prepared."Even if she never likes you?""She's gonna like me." He said confidently."Why are you so sure?" Jason pressed further."I don't think you have any right to ask that. I'm your employee, you don't need to know everything about me." Black straight gown that reached a little bit above her knee with net covering her cleavage. It was an armless gown which was covered by a black jacket. A belt wrapped around her small waist held her jacket with her dress. She was wearing black heels paired with a black handbag. She was coming down the stairs, the guys saw her and kept quiet. She brought out a fascinator from behind her, and donned it. T
The doctor pointed a little light into her eyes as she blinked."I'm really happy for you," he said to Jason who was full of smiles. Grandma, Barb, Alessia, Johnson and Lucas were all there."Can you walk?" He asked her.She tried to stand up as Jason helped her up. Her legs were a bit wobbly but she could stand."You'll need therapy," he advised. "I'll sign you up for our therapy class. It's just one week. It'll realign your muscles."After the doctor left, everyone expressed their happiness. How glad they were that she woke up. They filled her in on what she had missed. She was most especially glad to see Lucas. After hanging out for a while, they all left, leaving Tess and Jason alone."You know, you really scared me," Jason said as he stroked her hair. They were lying beside each other on the hospital bed. "Why didn't you wear a vest?""Because I never thought he would shoot me," she said weakly."He's a psycho, I'm glad he's
One month later..."You're here," Barb greeted Jason and his grandma as they walked in.It was Tess's hospital room. She laid on the bed with an oxygen mask covering her nose."Sorry I'm late,I had some issues to settle," he hugged her."Let's go," Jason's grandma called Barb."See you later," she took her bag and left with her.Jason took a seat beside her and brought out his papers.One month ago...The night of the incident..."Here's the cure," Lucas ran to Jason's hospital room."Who are you?" The doctor asked."Lucas Henderson, Tess sent me here," he gave the vial to him but the doctor looked at him weirdly with all the blood on him."It's safe, I made it," he persuaded him and he injected Jason."Doctor," Luke walked in but stopped when he saw Lucas."Luke," Lucas called slowly.Luke was confused for a while. He was trying to recognize him."It's me, Lucas." He hugged him fiercel
"Search them," one of the guards said to the other one who searched Tess and Tae-ho. They took away all their weapons."Follow me," he said and they did. They walked into a toilet and Tess saw that bird sculpture that was at his house. The man touched it and a wall opened."Why am I not surprised?" Tess said sarcastically and it earned her a glare from the guard. They went down through an elevator and the doors opened. Mr. Harvey was sitting on a chair with Jack and James beside him. Lucas and a woman were on their knees too.That must be Fei, Tess's subconsciousness filled in for her."Fei!" Tae-ho whisper-yelled. "Well look who finally showed up," He cackled."Hey Dad," Tess greeted."Theresa," he called gently. "Why do you keep interfering with my business?""You interfered with my business first,old man," she hissed. "You took Lucas, injected Jason and still have the audac
"You knew he was going to betray us?" Mitch asked as he pulled a blanket over Diana."Yes, Max came by earlier."'''"Let's talk," he called her over. "I'm sorry about what my team did when they were with you. I never knew they were under orders.""Whose orders?""Cap.""That old fart," she muttered."I know you tapped his office. He knows.""That's why we haven't been hearing anything lately," she wondered."He has someone on your team.""What? No, he doesn't have anyone on my team.""I'm sure of it. They were talking to each other this morning. I don't know what you're planning but someone is working for Cap." "Jack," Tess murmured."He is acquainted with your father too. I've seen him frequent him office recently.""You still recognise my dad?""Of course,I can't forget his face when Aunt Monica walked in on the wedding day.""Why are you helping me?" Tess aske
"Don't worry mom," Tess said on the phone. "I'll be back in two days. Alright, I won't skip my meals." They were all getting ready for the infiltration. "Where's the smoke bomb?" Caleb asked Tess. "Uh, it's right next to the darts," she answered as she typed a message. °im going somewhere, I'll see you when I arrive. Be healthy for me 🙂° She sent it to Jason and her phone was placed on vibration."All phones on vibration please," she said to everyone and they obeyed. "Alright," she called their attention. "You all know we may die right?" They nodded."And our bodies may never be found?" They nodded again."If you wanna opt out, this is the time to do so. I won't hold any hard feelings against you, I promise." "We're not leav
Tess was scooping down the soup her mother made before she left that morning. Everyone else was sprawled out on the living room floor. The couples were all cuddling except for Luke and Jack. Jason let out a yawn as he walked down the stairs."Good morning," Tess greeted and waved her hand. He scoffed. "I'm surprised to see you like this," he pecked her. "No hangover?""Nah, just a little headache," she smiled."Your recovery ability is great." Jack stood up hurriedly and ran outside."You better not puke in my compound!" She yelled after him."He's gonna be in a very bad shape," Jason chuckled. "What are you eating?""Chicken soup.""I want some," he bent down and she fed him."It's too early for all this," Luke walked into the kitchen, straight to the fridge."Good morning," Jason greeted and he nodded as he drank his water."I can't believe you're s
"You're a legend!" Mitch exclaimed."What do you mean?" Tess said. "Jason Gerard's mystery woman is the real deal. The clothes she wore on his latest Instagram update has been sold out," he read out."Really?" She exclaimed."You're on your way to becoming a celebrity," Eva snickered."Seriously guys, " Caleb called them together. "How are we gonna get the cure for Jason? The warrant's taking too long to be approved." "How about a sting operation?" Tess suggested."What's that?" Diana asked."A deceptive operation. We deceive him into revealing his crimes.""Sounds good." "No,it does not," Jack objected."You're still here?" David sighed."According to the report you gave me, he recognizes all of you. How will you carry out a sting operation? And by the way,I'm the boss here," he folded his arms across his chest. "Yeah and it annoys us so much!"
"I don't like him," Eva groaned."Me neither," Caleb stood up."Can't we just do something about it? Like can't we write to the headquarters and demand a new leader?" David inquired."Even if that's gonna happen, he has to spend two weeks training us before he leaves," Caleb told them."Well, that sucks," Mitch muttered. "It seemed like he has history with Boss.""I felt the tension too," David agreed. Tess drove in and walked into the house."Jason?" She called out as she entered."I'm right here!" He said from the couch."How are you feeling?" She sat beside him. "Any changes?""No," he sighed."Whatever you need, I'm here." He turned to her with a smile."There is something I want.""What?" She asked."A date," he replied. She kept looking at him."A date?" She repeated."Yeah, I mean, I might die anytime soon and I want to do what I've always w
"So,your request has been processed?" Diana said."Seems like it," Tess sighed."What are we going to do?" "First,we have to know who's coming," Tess said. "Let's go." They all stood outside the station, waiting for the new team leader."What's taking him so long?" Mitch complained."He should be here by now," Caleb said, wiping his sweat."I think he's here," Tess motioned to the car that drove in. They watched as he parked his car and got off."His back looks familiar," she muttered. He grabbed a bag from the backseat and walked towards them. As he approached, Tess swallowed hard. "Tess," he said out.There was something about the way he called her name."You're the new team leader?" She questioned."I guess I am," he chuckled. "I offered to fill in for you.""Why would you do that?" She asked."Because we have unfinished business."~~~