This story is a cross-over with the television show Scarecrow and Mrs. King. The characters of Lee, Amanda, Jaime, Billy and Dotty all belong to whoever owns SMK. We only claim Kevin, Anna, Eric and the plot…J
(CI)
Jennifer could hear the wind outside her window as she typed away at the contents of her new story. At the gym the other day, she ran into one of her old classmates from Grisham Hall prep school, Nora Jacobs and stopped to chat. They hadn't talked to each other in years. Somehow the conversation turned to Jennifer’s love for animals. Nora was a lover of animals herself. After all, she did work for the Los Angeles Wildlife Conservation Center. Apparently, Nora had recently become aware of strange occurrences at the Center. Some of her colleagues seemed to be hiding something, and last week a beloved Veterinarian had been found dead. Nora did caution her on the problems it could cause for her if she leaked out who gave her the information. Nora also didn’t want Jennifer getting caught up in another situation she and Jonathan were known for.
Jennifer’s neck ached as she typed the last line of the paragraph. Across the room, Jonathan saw his wife working away. She was so dedicated. That was one of the things he loved about her. She was consumed with anything she put her mind to. And didn’t back down until whatever job she was working on was complete. She made a difference. While he was observing her, she was totally unaware of the gaze he was giving her. She closed her eyes and relaxed her neck. She turned her head from left to right slowly as to loosen up some of the tight muscles she acquired doing this story. Her hands went up to her shoulders to give them a soft rub. Trying to be as quiet as he could, he got up and replaced her hands with his. She was startled by his touch. Jonathan could give a great massage. She had a feeling she was in for one too. Jennifer could feel her body relax. She was putty in his hands. Just as Jennifer was feeling the most relaxed Jonathan stopped.
"Jonathan," she said sleepily. "Is that it?" She teased as she turned around, looking into his eyes.
"Sorry, Darling. I thought I heard Jessica."
"Jessica, but Darling, Jessica is at Sarah's tonight."
"Oh." Jonathan said. "Ooooooh." he repeated as revelation dawned on him. He grinned mischievously as he beckoned his wife away from her computer.
"Uh oh."
"What."
"I have a feeling I'm not going to get any more work done tonight."
Jonathan just smiled.
The next morning, a light rain could be heard through the window of their bedroom. Jennifer rolled over and looked at Jonathan’s handsome face and stroked it gently while he slept. If anything ever happened to you, she thought. But, Jennifer had a story to finish and her deadline to have it published was one week away. She got out of bed and dressed to get a bite to eat and meet Nora for the rest of the story. When she came into the bedroom again, dressed, Jonathan was already awake.
"Oh I'm sorry darling."
"Leaving so soon?" Jonathan held his arms out for her to come to him.
Jennifer sits on the side of their bed, in his arms, "You and I both know the early bird gets the worm."
Pouting, Jonathan teases, "Not this bird...."
"I've got to meet Nora for the lead on this story. She sure seemed pretty adamant about me not mentioning it to anyone in as much she didn’t even want to mention it to me then or over the phone."
"Just be careful. I don't want anything happening to my worm." He squeezes her tighter.
"Oh, I will darling." His lips looked so luscious she had to kiss them.
"What was that for?"
"That was the worm thanking the bird."
"For?"
"Oh, you'll see. Now I'm off to Nora's."
When Jennifer arrived at Nora's it was a quarter of 7. She was 10 minutes early. But she'd wait for Nora if she wasn't quite ready to head out. Nora was taking her to the Conservation Center. She had mentioned something on the telephone about meeting a man who used to work there. He was offering them some valuable information. She knew it would be risky, but Nora assured her they would talk with the man alone. It would be a long drive but well worth it.
Jennifer rang the doorbell to Nora's apartment. She was immaculately dressed as usual wearing beige slacks, a white turtleneck with a tan Cardigan sweater draped over her shoulders. The loafers she added to the outfit were just the right touch she needed incase she had to flee the scene. She giggled to herself thinking of a few times she had to "flee". She rang the doorbell again hoping Nora wouldn't throw them too far behind schedule, she had to meet Jonathan for an early dinner at Chason's. It wasn't often they had an entire weekend for just the two of them anymore. Jennifer knew there was a reason she liked Sarah so much. She and Jonathan loved Jessica very much, but there were times when they just wanted to be together just the two of them. She was becoming impatient with Nora. She knocked, "NORA?" she called out. And noticed that the door was slightly opened. "Nora?" She called as she walked in the doorway. She could hear Beethoven's 5th symphony playing in the background. "Nora, I could come back later!" Jennifer began to feel as if she were walking into a trap. She still heard no sound. She didn't hear the shower running so she couldn’t be taking a shower.
Something told Jennifer that Nora was in grave danger. As she started to walk into the living area of the Condo, she saw a figure in a chair. She must've dozed off. Relief began to take over. Giggling, she says, "If you were that tired, we could've rescheduled…Nora?"
When Jennifer turned the chair around, She screamed at the sight of her friend with the scarf she must've been wearing to go out tied tightly around her neck. "NORA?" She ran to her friend's aid to loosen the noose around her neck. She was cold and blankly staring. Jennifer gasped in disbelief. Nora is dead.
By the time Jonathan arrived at the scene, Jennifer had already spoken with the officer in charge. Telling them she only entered the condo because she suspected foul play. Officer Dvorak had the privilege to question Mrs. Hart. The Harts had a reputation of "getting too involved" down at the precinct. This was nothing new. But this was officer Dvorak's first time meeting Mr. and Mrs. Hart.
"So Mrs. Hart, let's go over the story one more time. You rang the door bell-"
Jennifer was becoming impatient with the new officer. She had already told him three times. And every time he was jotting things down. Surely he couldn’t be writing the same story over and over. She put her hands on her hips and began staring at him. Thank goodness Jonathan intervened when he did, "Uh, is everything alright darling?" He could see her frustration plainly written on her face.
"Officer-"
"Dvorak" he reminds Mr. Hart.
"Dvorak, My wife's friend was just murdered. Surely you have enough information to follow up on the story. If there is anything else we can do, here's my card. Give us a call. We'll give LAPD our full cooperation."
The officer took the card and put it into his writing notebook. He couldn't help but notice Mrs. Hart’s brown eyes. Jonathan noticed him noticing too. He knew the officer couldn't help himself and smiled at him while taking his wife’s arm.
"Jennifer." looking into her eyes. "I'm sorry about Nora."
"Oh darling," she said as she found solace in his arms. "If only I’d been a few minutes earlier..."
"There was no way you could've known."
"Yes I know. " She sighed thinking about her friend’s lost life and her part of the story and just what she had gotten herself into again.
"Thank you for rescuing me back there Darling. He was about to see another side of me."
Jonathan could only smile at his wife. He was sure she was about to give him the story with both barrels.
(Michelle)
"Amanda!" Lee Stetson called quietly into the darkened room. His wife had a penchant for finding trouble and this time was no different. A simple trip to visit a friend in California had gone from vacation to work and Lee wasn’t sure he was happy about that. When they’d arrived they were shocked to learn that their friend and colleague Kevin Daston had died the day before. Amanda was convinced that he had been murdered even though the police had declared his fall into the lion’s cage accidental.
"Lee. Over here." Amanda whispered back.
Lee laughed slightly. The room was pitch black, he could barely see his own feet, but he was sure Amanda was waving him to where she was. "I can’t see your arm Amanda."
"Huh?" Amanda said. "Oh. Sorry. Take a left at the table, a right at the file cabinet and …"
"Ouch." Lee hollered, interrupting Amanda’s directions.
"And watch out for the cage in the middle of the floor." Amanda smiled. She was tempted to giggle, but thought better of it.
"Thanks." Lee said as he came up to stand beside her. "Now, wanna tell me why we’re groping around in the dark?"
"We’re looking for clues." Amanda said in her best Sherlock Holmes voice.
"Clues? What kind of clues?"
Amanda smiled sweetly and patted Lee on the shoulder. "You’ll know it when you see it."
"What kind of clues are we going to find in an abandoned office in the basement of an animal conservation center?"
"The best kind." Amanda quipped. "Oh come on, sweetheart, you know you love this stuff."
"I do, do I?" Lee grinned.
"Well, I hope you do Mr. Secret Government Agent."
"Well, Mrs. Secret Government Agent." Lee smiled. "We’re never going to find anything here without a little light."
"There’s a pen flashlight in my purse."
"In your purse?" Lee looked confused. "Why didn’t you…never mind. Where’s your purse?"
"On top of the file cabinet. I put it there so I could look through this desk."
"What desk?" Lee asked as he felt his way back to the file cabinet. "Ouch." He said.
"Lee?"
Lee just growled and mumbled about idiots leaving cages lying around the floor for him to trip over. He found the penlight and walked back over to stand next to Amanda. "Oh, that desk. Did you find anything?"
"Just this." Amanda held up a piece of paper.
Lee took the paper and shone the light on it. "Nora Jacobs. 7am." Lee put the paper back down. "Come on, this is getting us nowhere." Lee headed for the door. Amanda reluctantly followed behind him.
Amanda watched as Lee read the Sunday paper. They were going to go sight seeing after they’d eaten lunch. She jumped when Lee looked up quickly from his paper and let his reclined feet fall loudly to the floor.
"Amanda, what was the name on that piece of paper we found yesterday?"
"Nora Jacobs, why?"
"She’s dead."
"What?"
"Listen, ‘Nora Jacobs, director of the Los Angeles Wildlife Conservation Center was found dead early yesterday morning by socialite Mrs. Jennifer Hart.’"
"Hart? As in Jonathan Hart Industries?"
"I guess."
"Does it say anything else?
"Not really, but they do mention Kevin’s recent death. Maybe we should pay this Jennifer Hart a visit."
Amanda nodded her head.
Sarah’s car pulled up to the main gate. "Ya know, Jess, you should really consider getting your driver’s license."
"Nah, then you wouldn’t have the joy of driving me everywhere. Who am I to deprive you of that?" Jessica laughed.
Sarah smiled. "Oh look, are your parents expecting company?"
"I don’t know. Why?"
"Because someone just pulled up behind us and the driver’s getting out of the car."
"Oh. Maybe they need directions. Roll down the window."
"I am." Sarah said as Lee walked up to her door.
"Is this Jennifer Hart’s home?" He asked.
"Yes." Sarah and Jessica both answered.
"Can you get through the gates?"
"Maybe. What do you want?" Jessica asked cautiously.
Lee pulled out his government identification. "I just want to ask Mrs. Hart some questions."
Sarah took the id and showed it to Jessica. Jessica shrugged her shoulders and handed the id back to Lee.
"If they let us in, you can follow behind us." Jessica said.
"Wh…" Sarah started as Jessica poked her on the arm. Lee walked back to his car. "What was that for?"
Jessica didn’t answer, she just watched Lee as she got back in his car. "Go ahead, use the call box."
"Why? Did you forget your gate opener again?"
"Yeah."
"Can I help you?" Jennifer’s voice came over the speaker.
"Mrs. Hart? It’s Sarah…Jessica forgot her gate opener thing again."
Jennifer laughed. "Alright, come on up."
"Oh, there’s someone behind us, they have government id." Sarah announced. Jessica was still silently watching the other car.
"Really? Hmm, okay." Jennifer pushed the button that would open the gate and allow both cars inside.
Jonathan and Jennifer were both standing outside when the cars pulled up the driveway. Lee and Amanda both got out of their cars and walked towards the Harts. Jessica also got out of Sarah’s car.
"Bye." Sarah said.
"Huh? Oh, yeah. Bye." Jessica said softly as she stared at the couple walking towards them.
"Bye Mr. and Mrs. Hart."
"Bye Sarah, thanks for dropping her off." Jennifer said.
Sarah pulled out of the driveway
Jessica was standing silently beside Jennifer.
"Mrs. Hart?" Lee asked as he and Amanda came to stand in front of Jonathan and Jennifer.
"Yes, I’m Mrs. Hart."
Lee and Amanda both pulled out their identification and showed it to the Harts. "We’d like to ask you some questions about Nora Jacobs." Lee announced.
"Nora?" Jennifer asked.
Jonathan took the ID’s and studied them carefully. "What’s this all about?" he asked.
"We know that your wife was the person who found Ms. Jacobs’ body. We just want to ask her some questions." Lee said.
"Who’s Nora Jacobs?" Jessica asked.
"An old friend of mine." Jennifer answered. "Jess, why don’t you go find Junior and feed him?"
"But…" She started.
"Please?" Jennifer pleaded. Jessica was ready to protest, but the look in Jennifer’s eyes told her she should just do as she was told.
Jessica muttered, "It’s not like I’m a little kid" to herself as she went into the house to find the dog.
"Mr. Stetson, Mrs. Stetson, why don’t you come inside?" Jennifer invited.
Lee and Amanda sat on the couch in the living room. Jonathan was pouring drinks at the bar and Jennifer was sitting on the opposite couch. Jessica had fed the dog and stood inside the kitchen door listening to the adults talk. Jonathan saw Jessica standing in the doorway when he walked from the bar to the living room area. He held his finger to his lips to tell her to keep quiet. He then brought the drinks over to the couches and handed a drink to both of their guests and one to his wife.
"Mrs. Hart, did you know that Nora Jacobs was murdered?"
"Lee." Amanda cautioned.
"What?"
Amanda indicated the alcove that hid Jessica from their sight.
"Oh. Sorry." Lee apologized.
"What is this all about?" Jonathan asked exasperated.
"We’re just trying to get all the facts straight. For all we know, your wife could’ve killed Ms. Jacobs and then called the police."
Jonathan became very angry. His face started to turn red and his eyes narrowed. If looks could kill, Lee Stetson would have been a dead man. "My wife is not a murderer."
"We don’t think she is, Mr. Hart." Amanda said in an almost motherly voice, trying to calm him down. "We just have to make sure we know exactly what happened."
"It’s okay, I understand." Jennifer said.
"Well, I don’t. I think it’s time for these two to leave."
"I’m afraid we can’t do that yet."
"What do you want to know?" Jennifer asked solemnly.
"Did you know Kevin Daston?" Lee asked.
"No, I didn’t. Why? Does he have something to do with Nora’s death?"
"We don’t know. He was an animal trainer at the Conservation Center."
"Was?" Jennifer asked innocently, although Nora had already told her about Kevin’s "accidental" fall.
"He’s dead, Mrs. Hart."
"Murder?" Jonathan asked.
"We don’t know." "We think so." Both Lee and Amanda answered simultaneously.
Lee and Amanda talked with the Harts extensively before returning to their hotel.
"Penny for your thoughts." Amanda said.
"I was just thinking about Kevin. Do you remember the first time we met him?"
"Yeah, he was always your favorite courier."
Lee laughed, "You will always be my favorite courier."
"I was never just a courier." Amanda said wistfully.
Lee smiled. "That’s for sure, you didn’t obey orders enough to be a courier. Only agents disobey orders as much as you."
"Well, you should give reasonable orders." Amanda said seriously. Lee laughed and Amanda joined him. Their laughter soon quieted and they sat on the couch in pensive silence. Both were remembering all the times they had laughed with Kevin.
"He was a great guy." Amanda said.
"The best." Lee agreed.
Amanda shook her head. "No, you are the best." Amanda smiled tearily as she leaned in and kissed her husband. As the kiss ended, Amanda laid her head down on Lee’s chest and sighed.
"Do you really think Mrs. Hart had anything to do with his death?"
"I don’t know. Actually, I’m more interested in that daughter of hers."
"Jessica? Why?"
"Did you see the way she reacted to us and how she was sneaking around listening to our conversation?"
"She did seem a little anxious."
"Very anxious."
"What are you thinking?"
"I don’t know, but I have a theory. What if Jessica Hart pushed Kevin into the lion’s den, whether accidentally or on purpose?"
"And Nora Jacobs saw it all so Jennifer Hart killed her to protect her little girl? No, Lee that sounds too farfetched even for you to believe."
"Yeah, you’re probably right."
Jennifer and Jonathan were getting ready to go to sleep. Jennifer was sitting in bed with her laptop when Jonathan came in and sat beside her.
"Time to go to bed." Jonathan said as he closed Jennifer’s laptop and placed it on his nightstand.
"Jonathan, I was using that."
"I know." He grinned mischievously.
"Darling, Do you think Kevin Daston was really murdered?"
"Maybe, it’s possible whoever killed Nora killed him too." Jonathan began to kiss Jennifer’s neck.
"But, why?" Jennifer asked.
"That I don’t know." Jonathan tried to kiss his wife’s lips, but she turned her head and he ended up kissing her cheek.
"Darling…" Jennifer began, but Jonathan stopped her by pulling her face to his and kissing her firmly on the lips.
"Time to go to bed." Jonathan said authoritatively.
"I’m not sleepy." Jennifer grinned with a twinkle in her eyes.
"Who said anything about sleep?" Jonathan asked as he reached up and turned off the light.
Amanda awoke with a start. She glanced at the clock and noticed it was only 2 am. She knew she wasn’t going to get back to sleep anytime soon so she decided to go for a walk. Careful not to awaken Lee, she got dressed and left the hotel room. She was heading for the lounge area when she heard furious whispers coming from around the corner. Amanda quietly walked to the corner and pressed herself against the wall. She listened at what sounded like a man and a woman arguing.
"What are we going to do? No one is going to buy two accidents happening at the same place in a matter of weeks." The man questioned.
"But, Nora didn’t die at the center she died at home."
"That’s a mere technicality. It’s too many accidental deaths. We can’t get away with another."
"But, we have to get rid of the girl. She knows too much."
"Well, she may not know that she knows."
"What are you talking about?"
"Listen, Tessa. She’s just a kid. It’s possible that she doesn’t understand what she saw."
"You’re too naïve, Hank. We have to get rid of her. Jessica Hart is going to wish she’d never heard of the LA Wildlife Conservation Center."
Amanda gasped inaudibly and ran back to her room as fast and as quietly as she could.
"Lee!" She whispered as she walked over to the bed she was sharing with her husband. "Lee, wake up!" She started to shake him to wake him up.
"Amanda?" Lee said groggily.
"You’re not going to believe what I just heard!"
The next morning Lee and Amanda were sitting at the table in their hotel room talking about what Amanda had heard. They had tried to find the couple from the night before, but they were nowhere to be found and the room they were standing in front was unoccupied according to hotel records.
"Now what?" Amanda asked.
"We have to find out exactly what Jessica knows."
"And why someone wants to kill her over it."
"Annie." Lee stated.
"Annie? What about her?"
"She could get close to Jessica…"
"No!" Amanda yelled. "Absolutely not!"
"Amanda, she wouldn’t be in any danger, we’d be watching her the entire time."
"Lee, there is no way I will allow my 12 year old daughter to be brought into a murder investigation! Besides…she’s 12, Jessica’s 16, why would Jessica confide in a 12 year old stranger?"
"Sweetheart, I’m not talking about bringing Anna here. I’m thinking we should send Jessica there."
"You’ve lost me."
"How would you react if you found out that a murderer was targeting Anna?"
Amanda shuddered at the thought. "I’d hide her."
"Exactly. And that’s what Jennifer Hart will want to do with Jessica, right?"
Amanda nodded her head.
"So, we think you should send Jessica to a safe house in Virginia." Lee said. He and Amanda had just told the Harts about the threats against Jessica.
"Virginia? Why Virginia?" Jonathan asked, skeptically.
"Because, the agency will be able to keep an eye on her there." Amanda answered. "They would never think to look for her at our house."
"Your house?" Jennifer said.
"Lee will stay here and try to find out who Hank and Tessa are and I’ll take Jessica with me back to Arlington."
"I want to go with you." Jennifer stated.
Jonathan looked at his wife curiously. "Are you sure about this?"
Jennifer nodded. "If someone does want to…" Jennifer’s voice caught in her throat. "If someone does want to kill our daughter we have to do whatever we can to protect her."
Jonathan touched Jennifer’s arm gently and nodded his head. "She’ll be okay."
"I don’t think you should tell her she’s being targeted." Lee suggested.
"Why not?" Jonathan asked.
"I think he’s right." Jennifer said. "It would only frighten her."
Amanda was the only one who noticed the shadow pass the top of the steps and disappear down the hall. She decided now wasn’t the time to tell the Harts that she had a feeling Jessica already knew.
"I think we should leave as soon as possible. But, we’ll have to be careful. We’re probably being watched." Lee said.
Jennifer shivered even though there was no chill in the air. "How do we get her out of here without anyone knowing?"
"The rug." Jonathan said.
"The rug?" Both Lee and Amanda asked as they exchanged confused glances.
"Do you really think that would work?" Jennifer asked.
"It worked once before, didn’t it?"
Jennifer nodded. "But, won’t she wonder why we’re hiding her to get her out of here?" Jennifer asked.
"No, she already knows." All four adults turned sharply when Jessica spoke from where she was standing on the steps.
"Jess." Jennifer said softly. Jessica walked over to her and allowed a tight hug.
"I’m all packed." Jessica said bravely.
Jennifer smiled at her. "Good." She said. When she noticed the forlorn look on Jessica’s face she added. "Don’t worry, sweetie, we’ll take care of you."
Jessica nodded and returned Jennifer’s embrace.
"I love you, Dad." Jessica said as she hugged Jonathan goodbye.
"I love you too. And, don’t you worry about a thing. Everything’s going to be okay."
"I know. You can do anything." Jessica said.
Jonathan looked down at his daughter and smiled. "Not quite anything, but I won’t let anything happen to you." He kissed her gently on the forehead.
"I know." Jessica hugged him tightly and then let go. "Goodbye."
"See you soon." Jonathan said. Jennifer came up behind him and put her arms around his waist.
"Be careful." Jennifer said.
"You too." Jonathan and Jennifer shared one last passionate kiss.
