Chapter 31
I listened as Mr. MacLeod explained that Erin and her step kids refused to speak without their lawyer present yesterday.
Their lawyer is Erin's husband and the kids' dad, who flew to Charlotte last night. He’s been trying to get them transferred to New York but has been unsuccessful so far. They spent the night in jail, charged with attempted kidnapping and drugging. Since they crossed state lines, it’s a federal offence and the FBI will investigate instead of local police.
Luckily for us, Mr. MacLeod can remain Jake’s lawyer as he has admission to the federal district court.
The three of them will give their statements this morning, and a bail hearing will be set.
Mr. Macleod is going to argue against their leaving North Carolina because of being flight risks, the chance of another attempted kidnapping, and Erin’s husband’s influence.
He also requests that Jake get a medical report from his physiotherapist this morning.
He said he’ll call back with an update as soon as he has more information.
I worry, with all Jake has to deal with, that this experience will push him over the edge. Before we hung up, I asked to join him for physiotherapy today, so after filling Dad in and texting the guys, I drive myself to his condo.
Ray has decided to join us today, too. Will looks tired but seems in good spirits this morning, and I hope he isn’t blaming himself for this mess. If I get a chance, I’ll pull him aside later to talk and make sure he’s good.
I hop in the back of the vehicle with Jake while Will and Ray ride up front. Interlacing our fingers together, I lean closer so we can whisper. “How are you really doing today?”
“Shaken, but not bad, Sum. I was scared yesterday, but I knew you would come for me. There was no doubt about that.” He gives me a small smile. “I didn’t want to go to New York, obviously. Did I make the right choice in going along with them?”
“Yeah, I would’ve done the same in your situation. You have tons of people who care about you that will fight for you now, handsome. You’ll never face anything alone. How is your mental state? This didn’t break you, did it?”
“No, Sum, I promise. I mean, despite what happened, they were family, so that makes it better somehow? I don’t know if that makes sense, but it helped me,” he shrugged.
“My muscles are sore today, but I’m indifferent to it all.
I talked to Cameron first thing this morning before you called.
He was surprised, but we talked through what happened.
There won’t be any long term consequences, I don’t think.
Well, not for me, but for my extended family and mom, there will be. ” His brow furrows at that thought.
“Actions have consequences, handsome. I’m sorry your mom and step siblings will suffer…sort of…but not a lot. Actually, I’m sorry you feel bad for them, but I’m not sorry they'll get what’s coming to them.”
Jake chuckles quietly. “Never change, Sum.” He kisses my head and squeezes my hand.
I smile to myself, and we drive in silence the rest of the way to physiotherapy.
We all cram into the physiotherapist’s office this morning, and Ray fills her in on our activities yesterday.
She readily agrees to write up a medical report for his lawyer as she moves Jake to the adjoining room to test his muscles.
Will tells us he’ll wait just outside the door.
I take the opportunity to check in with Ray.
He seems more rattled than Jake and plans on contacting his therapist this afternoon to talk things through.
He already bought lunch for the Finn office today as a thank you.
“I never thought I would ever need a group of people like Finn or the police. You told us your story, but living through it is astounding. I was so terrified, but then you, your friends, and Finn just stepped in and got him back. No questions, no hesitation from any of you. You charged ahead and found him. Real life superheroes exist, and it’s you and your family.
If I had to do this alone and contact the police, I would've had to wait 24 hours before they did anything, and he would be in New York or somewhere lost out there. It will take time for me to accept what happened.”
“Unfortunately, we have experience in kidnapping, and Dad and Troy have never been the type to sit around and wait; neither am I.”
“You all are extraordinary. Truly.” Ray shakes his head.
“What about Will? Have you talked to him?”
“Not much. He examined Jake and then left last night. He seems to be fine this morning, but we should talk. I don’t want him to blame himself for this. I'll be back in a few minutes.” Ray smiles at me as he stands and walks out of the office door.
Relaxing back into the stiff chair, I pull out my phone to check in with Seb.
He took the morning off too, but is going to class this afternoon, and the rest of the guys went to school this morning.
Seb slept in and just woke up a few minutes ago.
Not surprising. I update him on Jake before putting my phone away.
I don’t really feel tired this morning, more wired.
My nightmares were scattered images, not full scenes playing out in my mind.
The most prominent was Jake knocked out and getting on the plane to New York because we were too late getting to the airport.
The worst was him disappearing without a trace with Erin and her family in New York.
Surprisingly, none of the images freaked me out.
Enough of my brain functioned for me to know they weren’t reality, and it was my imagination.
It was a strange and new sensation. I’ve never been able to be rational when I was dreaming bad things before.
Whether it was because most of my nightmares revolve around myself, or something else, I’m not sure.
I let my mind wander to random things while I wait for Jake. Ray comes back into the room after a bit and sits in the chair beside me. “Will is okay but feels bad about the situation. He’ll be fine.”
“Good,” I smile over at him.
Jake and his physiotherapist enter the room, and she tells us there are no adverse effects from his ordeal.
A bit of stiffness, but nothing that should set him backwards.
We follow them out to the training room and sit on a bench to watch his exercises.
I’m so very proud of how far he’s come. His determination to recover has been admirable.
Even the memory issues haven’t gotten him down.