Allison found it hard to sleep. Every time she did drift off she had disturbing dreams of James with Jennifer Hart. What was he up to and how long had she been involved? Allison was determined to get to the bottom of things and she thought it would be easier to find out if she were close to the Harts. So she decided that she would play the part of the scared, worried wife to the hilt.
James Sullivan slowly opened his eyes and realized he had a severe throbbing pain in the back of his head. What had happened? Where was he? He tried to move his arm but quickly found he was chained to a seedy iron bed.
The room was dim. He tried to sit up, but was suddenly shoved back down.
"Just lie still and cooperate. You'll be much better off if you do," a shadowy figure said.
"Who are you? Why are you planning on doing to me?"
"Be patient. You will get your answers in time."
James touched the back of his head with his free hand. Upon further examination he realized he was bleeding from a cut.
"Don't worry… you'll live."
Jonathan woke early and quietly got ready to leave for the office. He was anxious to get to the bottom of whatever was happening with James and Allison.
Jennifer was still sleeping when he came into the bedroom. Carefully he bent down and lightly kissed her. She slowly opened her eyes and smiled at the gentle touch of her husband.
"You are up early," she lazily said.
"Maybe you're just a sleepy head today."
Jennifer reached up and grasped his tie. He accommodated his sleeping beauty and bent nearer.
"Maybe I'm still tired from last night," she answered.
Jonathan smiled at the thought of the wonderful night they had shared. "Are you complaining?"
"No… and if you come back to bed I'll prove it to you," she replied as she pulled him closer until her lips could lightly graze his.
She definitely was a tease, especially in the morning. Many times he could not resist her, but he had to get going. "Hold that thought… I'll try to be home early."
She relinquished her grasp on his tie. "Well don't make any promises you can't keep. I might just have to go out and find someone else to keep me company," she said playfully as she rolled away from him.
Jonathan pulled her back and swiftly engaged in a passionate kiss. He released her and gave her a crooked smile as he walked out of the bedroom. "You wouldn't be able to find any man who could kiss you like that, so I'm not worried."
Jennifer laughed as she snuggled back down under the covers.
Jonathan thought he was early, but Stanley was already waiting outside his office when he arrived.
"Stanley… did you spend the night here?"
"Oh… no Mr. Hart, but I have been able to find out some few things about Mr. Sullivan that I think you will find very interesting."
"Great! I knew I could count on you. I also want you to run a check on Allison Sullivan. I don't think that she is all that she appears to be."
"I'm one step ahead of you Mr. Hart. You should know that I am very thorough when you give me an assignment."
Jonathan smiled and shook his head as he sat down at his desk. He was fortunate to have such a loyal and determined employee as Stanley. "Okay tell me what you've got so far."
"Well on the surface, the Sullivan's appear to have a solid relationship, but I don't think that is really the case. You see I found out that Mrs. Sullivan had to spend a little time in a clinic to recuperate from a bout of depression where she had become addicted to certain drugs. During the four months she was at this clinic, Mr. Sullivan never visited her once."
"When was this Stanley?"
"The best I can determine, when Mrs. Sullivan was released, a few weeks later they moved to the west coast."
"Hmmm…" Jonathan mumbled aloud.
"There's more. It seems that Mr. Sullivan made several powerful enemies with some business takeovers and mergers. He had been receiving death threats just before they left."
"Sounds like trouble follows those two. I want you to keep digging into James' business history. I want to know everything."
"Sure Mr. Hart., I'll get right on it."
Jennifer entered the kitchen to find Max having one of his normal conversations with Freeway.
"Mornin' Mrs. H. You look fabulous today."
"Why thank you Max? Is there any coffee?"
"Of course… you know I wouldn't disappoint you."
Jennifer smiled as she poured herself a cup and thought how it was nice to live with two men who were always eager to please her in their own way.
"Is Allison up yet?" she asked as she made her way to the table and began flipping through the morning paper.
"Yeah she's up. She seemed a little preoccupied. She told me she needed some fresh air so she's been down by the pool for about an hour now. Every time I look out to check on her, she's on a cell phone."
"Well that's not a crime Max. I'm sure she is just doing everything she can to find out something about her husband."
"That may be the case, but why doesn't she let Mr. H. call in the cops if she's so worried."
After finishing breakfast, Jennifer walked down to the pool to find Allison still on the phone.
"I don't care… get it done. Do what ever you have to, I am loosing my patience." Jennifer overheard these words as she approached.
"Allison…" Jennifer spoke.
Allison jumped at the sound of Jennifer's voice and quickly turned off the phone. She didn't realize anyone was around.
"Is everything all right?" Jennifer asked as she sat down beside Allison.
"Oh… Jennifer… no… yes everything is okay."
"Are you sure?"
Allison shook her head as she wondered just how much of her conversation Jennifer had overheard. "Everything will be just fine as soon as this nightmare is over."
"Okay. Well if you need anything, Max will be here. I have some errands I have to run."
"All right…" Allison replied. Her anger seemed to grow as she watched Jennifer walk back toward the house. Her tall slender frame moved gracefully as her auburn cascade of hair shined in the sunlight. What does she have that I don't? Allison wondered. "She will pay… they will all pay" Allison said to herself.
She picked up her phone and quickly dialed.
"Yes…" a voice replied on the other end.
"There's been a sudden change of plan. Are you in place?"
"Of course."
"She's leaving now. I've decided it's time to move up the schedule. Get it done today. Make sure no one see's you. DO NOT mess this up!"
"You know I am the best. Don't worry."
"You'd better be. I'll call you later," she said quickly and hung up the phone.
Jonathan wrapped up his business affairs early and headed home. He was hoping to enjoy a nice quiet evening alone with his wife, but he felt sure that was going to be impossible. He smiled as he thought there would be time later tonight when they would be alone and he would have her all to himself. That time could not come soon enough for him.
He turned up the radio and sped off toward home with thoughts of his beautiful wife in his head.
Yet again Jennifer was running late for the rescheduled meeting with her editor. She drove into the underground garage of the high rise building, parked and quickly headed for the elevator.
The area was dimly lit and she did not notice the person who was following her until it was too late. She heard a shuffling noise behind her and turned to see where it was coming from.
Suddenly she was face to face with a masked man dressed in black. Instantly she turned to run, but the man grabbed her by the arm. She attempted to scream but his hand was over her mouth and slowly her world began to go black as the chloroform started to take effect.
