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Harts In Chains--Part One



Jessica was excited. She had been invited to travel with her best friend Dana’s family to Brazil. She had never been out of California much less to another country. Now all she had to do was convince Jonathan and Jennifer to let her go. She had an idea, but she wasn’t sure it would work. She thought of all the exciting things she would be able to see as she went downstairs to talk to her parents.

"Hey." Jennifer said as Jessica walked into the den where Jonathan and Jennifer were talking on a couch.

"Hey." Jessica replied as she gave her biggest smile. "What do you guys think about Brazil?"

"Brazil? Never really thought much about it…why?" Jonathan said.

"Well, did you know that Dana’s dad is taking her entire family down there for a week while he does some business?"

"Her entire family, huh?" Jennifer said as she winked at Jonathan.

"Yep, and he even said that Dana and Clark, her brother can take a friend each. Isn’t that awfully nice of him?" Jessica smiled sweetly.

"Yes, that is very nice of him." Jennifer said as she grinned back and invited Jessica to sit down as well.

Jessica sat down. "And, guess what else?"

"Wait, let me guess!" Jonathan said. "Dana wants you to go with them and you think that’d be a swell idea?"

"I wouldn’t have called it swell." Jessica said. "Is it okay, can I go?"

"I don’t know, Jessica, I’m not sure it’s a good idea to let you go to another country by yourself."

"But, I wouldn’t be by myself. Both of Dana’s parents are going and so are her brother and his friend Andrew."

"Still. We don’t really know Dana’s parents and her brother is only seventeen."

"Pleeeeeeeaaaasssseeeee." Jessica pleaded.

"Can we compromise?" Jonathan asked.

"How?" Jessica said pouting a little. She wasn’t sure she would like his compromise.

"We go down too. We can make a vacation out of it." Jonathan suggested.

"Really? We can go!" Jessica exclaimed.

"Of course. Go call Dana’s parents and tell her dad I’d like him to stop by the office so we can talk about the details."

"Thank you, thank you, thank you!" Jessica said excitedly as she hugged both Jonathan and Jennifer and ran out of the room.

After Jessica had exited Jennifer said. "You’re a real pushover." She grinned.

"A pushover, huh?" Jonathan said as he grinned wickedly.

"Yes, a pushover. You’re going to spoil her you know." Jennifer said seriously as she noticed Jonathan’s grin. "What are you smiling about?"

Jonathan reached around and pulled her to him so that they were practically nose-to-nose. "Have I spoiled you yet?"

"Oh yes, in so many ways." Jennifer giggled.

"And you’ve turned out just fine, haven’t you?"

"Darling, we’re talking about our sixteen year old daughter here, not a grown woman."

"Doesn’t matter. Wife, Daughter…both should be spoiled extensively."

"Oh, really? And why is that?"

"Because I can." He said seriously as he reached down and kissed her firmly on the lips.

When Jennifer was finally able to come up for air she said, "What am I going to do with you?"

"This?" Jonathan kissed her again. "And this." He framed her face with his hand "and more of this." He kissed her once more.

"You’re incorrigible."

"I know. That’s why ya love me." Jonathan smiled as Jennifer giggled.


The airplane landed softly as it’s young passengers squealed with delight. Jessica had never been on an airplane before and her excitement was contagious among her friends. Jonathan and Jennifer were making small talk with Dana’s parents. They had only spent a few hours with the couple before. Lucy and James Ambry were not the most talkative couple. They much preferred to watch the clouds go by. Now they had touched the ground and it was time to leave the plane.

Jessica and Dana were at the front of the line to disembark.

"Dana, slow down. Brazil isn’t going anywhere." Lucy said.

Jessica and Dana exchanged excited smiles as they waited for the others to catch up with them.

Two cars were waiting for them outside of the airport terminal to take them to the hotel. The Ambrys and Clark’s friend Andrew got in one car while Jonathan, Jennifer, Jessica and Dana rode in the other.


"What should we do first?" Jessica asked as she and Dana sat in the Hart’s hotel room.

"Let’s go exploring."

"There is no way the Harts will let me go exploring without one of them there."

"Why not?" Dana asked.

"They’re a little on the overprotective side, I suppose." Jessica sighed.

"Oh, that’s awful. Maybe we can sneak out later tonight when they go to sleep?"

"Sneak out? Why?"

"Because, there’s no way we can have fun with parents breathing down our necks."

"I don’t know, Day. What if we got lost or something awful happened?" Jessica said worriedly. She still remembered what happened the last time she went missing. A jump off a cliff may seem cool in the movies, but it wasn’t quite as much fun in real life.

"We’ll make Clark and Andrew come with us."

"For some reason that doesn’t make me feel any better."

"Why? They’re seventeen, practically men."

Jessica was concerned. She knew that Jonathan and Jennifer would be furious if they found out, but she didn’t want to look stupid with her friend. She and Dana had only been best friends for a few weeks. She was still unsure about the relationships she had formed since her adoption. She always had a fear that everyone she cared about would leave her. So, she gave in to Dana’s entreaties.

"Okay. But if anything happens…"

Dana interrupted her "Nothing will."

"Jessica," Jennifer said as she came out of the bedroom. "Jonathan and I are going out for dinner. Do you and Dana want to come?"

Jessica was prepared to say yes when Dana chimed in. "No thanks, Mrs. Hart, we’re going to hang out in the rec room downstairs."

"Well, alright. Have fun." Jennifer smiled.

Dana grabbed Jessica’s hand and pulled her out of the door.

"What was that all about? I’m starving." Jessica said once they were in the hall.

"This is perfect! They’re going out, we can leave sooner than we thought! Come on let’s go find the guys." Dana headed for the elevator as Jessica followed reluctantly.


Jonathan and Jennifer were sitting in the restaurant enjoying the first romantic dinner they had been able to have since adopting Jessica.

"I’m kind of glad Jessica decided to hang out at the hotel tonight." Jonathan said

"Yeah, me too. We haven’t had much time for just the two of us the last few months."

"I love you." Jonathan said, leaning across the table and taking Jennifer’s hands into his own.

"And I love you." Jennifer smiled and kissed her husband.

Just then the waiter appeared at their table. "Are you ready to order?"

"Actually, could we have a couple more minutes?" Jennifer asked.

"Of course." The waiter walked away.

"I’ll be right back. I’m going to call the Ambrys and make sure Jessica’s okay." Jonathan said.

"I thought it was the mother who couldn’t cut those nasty apron strings?" Jennifer teased.

"Oh, you’re funny." Jonathan laughed as he kissed her and then walked to the back of the restaurant to where the phones were.

Jennifer glanced out the window as she waited for Jonathan’s return. Out of the corner of her eye she thought she saw Jessica walking across the street. "No, she’s back at the hotel." She thought. Then, deciding it was better to be safe then sorry she walked out of the restaurant to find the girl who she thought was Jessica.

"They what?" Jonathan yelled into the phone.

"I’m sorry, Mr. Hart, we thought you knew." Lucy said.

"I don’t believe this. When did they leave?"

"Not long after you did. I really am sorry. They promised to be home by curfew."

"When is curfew?"

Lucy hesitated before saying, "Midnight."

Jonathan groaned as he hung up the phone and headed back for the table. He was surprised to find the table empty. Assuming Jennifer had gone to the ladies room he went to ask a waiter where the restrooms were.


Jennifer was a few feet behind the four teenagers as they walked. None of them were aware that she was there. Clark was teasing Jessica for being a goody two shoes when Jennifer decided it was time to announce her presence.

"Jessica." She said somewhat loudly.

"Uh oh." Jessica said without turning around. Clark, Andrew and Dana turned around and when they saw the look on Jennifer’s face they took off running. Jessica was flabbergasted to see her friends desert her. She turned around to face the music.

"Hey Jennifer." Jessica gave a nervous smile.

"What is going on here?" Jennifer was now standing directly in front of Jessica. They were several blocks away from the restaurant.

"Umm, well, we were just walking."

"I thought you were in the rec room. You lied to us. This is not good Jessica."

"I know, I’m sorry. I just, I thought."

Jennifer interrupted her "That’s it, you didn’t think. Come on. Jonathan’s probably wondering where I am."

Jennifer and Jessica started walking back towards the restaurant when two surly looking men cut them off.

"Well, well, look at what we have here."

They tried to steer around the men, but the men wouldn’t allow it. Jennifer stomped on one of their toes as she yelled for Jessica to run. Unfortunately, as she did this several more men encircled them. It took three of them to hold Jennifer still as they cramped both Jennifer and Jessica into a small car and sped off.


Jonathan was worried. He hadn’t been able to find Jennifer at the ladies room. He headed back towards their table and asked a couple at the next table if they had seen her go anywhere. The couple acknowledged that they had seen Jennifer walk out of the restaurant. However, when Jonathan went outside he couldn’t see anyone. The street looked positively deserted. "This is not my night." He thought as he started walking up the street to see if he could find his wife. Just as he was a few feet away from the restaurant he saw a car go speeding by. He could have sworn he had seen Jennifer and Jessica inside the car pounding on the windows. Jonathan ran after the car as fast as he could. He wasn’t fast enough to catch more then 3 numbers from the license plate…321.

Not a very unusual number. Jonathan went back into the restaurant where he used the house phone to call the local police.


Jennifer and Jessica were thrown into an empty, dark room. It wasn’t a very large room and the walls were a dull gray. Their hands and feet had been shackled. These were not your normal everyday goons, Jennifer thought. The men who had thrown them into the room left them standing there freezing, for there appeared to be no heat. Jennifer and Jessica spun around when a door opened behind them. A well-dressed man and one of the kidnappers stepped into the room and walked around both women. The well-dressed man looked them up and down and said to the other man "Good job. These two should fetch a pretty price." He then addressed Jennifer and Jessica.

"Welcome ladies. Please don’t make yourself at home. You won’t be here long enough. Ishmael, take them to the holding room. We’ll display them at the next auction." Ishmael nodded and grabbed Jennifer and Jessica’s shackles, pulling them away.

"Who are you?" Jennifer asked angrily.

"Who are you to be asking all these questions?"

"All what questions? I only asked you who you were."

"Don’t you worry your pretty little head about it." Ishmael answered as they reached their destination. He opened a door and pushed Jennifer and Jessica inside.

Jennifer and Jessica looked around them and were appalled. There were women everywhere, all shackled and looking very malnourished. They were dirty and their hair was matted. Jennifer tried to shield Jessica’s eyes from what she was seeing, but it was a pointless gesture. "Where are we?" Jessica said as tears threatened to spill out of her eyes.

"I’m not sure." Jennifer said still taking in her new surroundings. The floors were wood and looked as if they hadn’t been cleaned in months. She sniffed the air and was somewhat relieved…they at least allowed them to use a restroom. Thank goodness for small favors she thought. The room was dusty and spider webs were formed along the walls.

One of the women moved to stand next to Jennifer. She touched her shoulder and pointed to Jessica. "Your kid?" The woman asked. Jennifer could only nod. "I’m sorry." The woman said. "My name is Carmen."

"I’m Jennifer. Why are you sorry? What are they going to do to us?" Jennifer pleaded.

"Sell you. To the highest bidder."


The police were still asking Jonathan questions when The Ambrys and Andrew arrived by police escort. They had rounded up the other three children and wanted to know if they had seen anything.

Dana refused to look into Jonathan’s eyes when they entered the station and were taken to the room where Jonathan was talking with a Lieutenant.

"Dana. It’s okay, I don’t blame you." Jonathan said to as he touched Dana’s shoulder gently. She started to cry and her mother held her in an embrace.

"She blames herself." Lucy said. "She talked Jessica into going exploring."

"It’s no one’s fault. No one could have known this would happen." Jonathan assured the young girl.

The Lieutenant spoke "We have the make and model of the car and the first 3 digits of the license plate. We need more to go on. Did any of you see anything or hear anything?"

Dana and Andrew both shook their heads no. Clark fidgeted slightly. Jonathan noticed this and questioned him about it. "Do you know something?"

"I’m not sure." Clark said slowly.

"If you know anything, please tell me. This is my wife, and my child we’re talking about."

Clark looked wary and then said. "I saw something. When we took off, I felt bad for leaving them standing there so I looked back. I didn’t see much, but I saw a bunch of guys standing around. I couldn’t see Jessica or Mrs. Hart, but some of the guys, they were holding what looked like shackles."

"Shackles?" Jonathan repeated, surprised.

"No regular kidnapper uses shackles." James said.

The lieutenant paled slightly and shifted from foot to foot.

"What’s wrong, Lieutenant?" Jonathan asked

"The only people I can think of who would use shackles are slave traders."

"Slave traders? Would a slave trader just take two women off the street like that?"

"Maybe, if they liked what they saw."

Jonathan’s face turned crimson with anger. "How do we get them back?" He asked through gritted teeth.

"We could buy them back." Andrew suggested.

"You watch too many movies." Dana said.

"No, that could be a good idea. We don’t want to make a move until we can get Jennifer and Jessica safe and then the police can bust them." Jonathan said.

"Yeah, but how do we find them?" the Lieutenant asked.

"You figure that out while I go to the bank. I’m sure these guys only deal in cash." Jonathan stated and walked out of the police station.


"You don’t mean…" Jennifer whispered.

"’Fraid so." Carmen said. "You and your girl’ll probably be separated. They usually keep the young ones for themselves."

"No, don’t let them take me. Please, mom." Jessica started to cry as Jennifer pulled her towards her and held her hand.

"I won’t let them near you." Jennifer promised. She would never let those men get a hold of her daughter.

"You may not have a choice." Carmen said.

"They will never touch her." Jennifer assured her. "I will not allow it!"

"Okay, okay." Carmen said. "Come on. Have a seat. Won’t have much to do until the auction."

"Auction?" Jennifer asked.

"Yeah, what’d ya expect a nice little table at a big fancy store?" The other women laughed as Carmen spoke.

Jennifer and Jessica walked; as best they could being shackled the way they were, and sat on the floor leaning against the wall. Jessica laid her head on Jennifer’s shoulder. Jennifer looked at Jessica sadly and kissed her on the forehead. No, she swore, no one would ever touch her child.

"Try to get some sleep." Jennifer whispered to her.

"I’m afraid." Jessica said.

"I know, so am I. Just close your eyes."

"Will you sing to me?" Jessica whispered, her head still lying on Jennifer’s shoulder.

"Sing to you?"

"Yes, please."

"What should I sing?" Jennifer was surprised. "A lullaby?"

"Whatever you want. Please, it will help me fall asleep. Uncle Alex used to sing to me after my mother died. It helped."

"Okay, just let me think." Jennifer searched her memory to find a song to sing. "I know, it was a song my mother used to sing to me when I was just a little girl. Now, close your eyes." Jessica did as she was told and Jennifer put one arm around her to cradle her. Then she started to sing, "Rock-A-Bye Jessie, it’s time to sleep now." Jennifer’s voice was breaking as she sang. "I will love you always, forever my baby." Both Jennifer and Jessica were crying as Jennifer continued. "Nothing bad will come to you as you sleep, I will protect you through the night." Jessica held on to Jennifer tightly and Jennifer finished the song as best she could through her tears. "Rock-A-Bye Jessie, go to sleep now."

Carmen and the rest of the women listened silently as Jennifer sang. They cried as well, not only for the scene before them but because they longed to hold their own children once more.


Jonathan was to be taken back to the hotel. He was adamant about remaining at the station, but the police had informed him that there was absolutely nothing he could do. So, they had sent him to sleep. Jonathan knew he would not be able to sleep without Jennifer lying there beside him.

"I am not going anywhere. My wife and daughter are missing so you’ll just have to get used to looking at my face until we find them." He said forcefully.

"But, Senor Hart…" the Lieutenant started when another officer came into the room.

"You were right Lt.," The officer said. "We checked the first 3 numbers of the license plates and the make of the car. There were only 10 such cars registered with those 3 numbers. Seven of the cars’ owners have alibi’s, one is a junker and the last is registered to a Senor Alberto Gonzalez."

"Gonzalez?" The Lieutenant questioned as he took the folder the officer had carried into the room with him.

"Who’s Gonzalez?" Jonathan asked.

"He’s the biggest thorn in my side. He has ten arrest warrants out for him."

"Warrants for what?"

"Illegal business dealings" the Lieutenant said, obviously hiding information.

"What kind of dealings?"

"He sells…" the Lieutenant paused before continuing with a sigh. "He sells women to the highest bidder."

"What!" Jonathan exclaimed. "You know about this guy and yet he’s still free to kidnap my family!"

"He is very elusive. Every time we think we have got him he slithers away. We have never been able to catch him mid-transaction or even with the money he takes in. He is very good at not making mistakes."

"Well, that’s changed now."

"What do you mean, Senor?"

"He made the biggest mistake of his life when he took my family."

Continue on to Part Two