Roads Leading Back
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Adult ++
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Category:
Romance › General
Rating:
Adult ++
Chapters:
8
Views:
1,718
Reviews:
17
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
0
Disclaimer:
This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance of characters to actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental. The Author holds exclusive rights to this work. Unauthorized duplication is prohibited.
Chapter Six: Highway of Regret
AUTHOR'S NOTE: Well, I'm back again. I'm glad people are enjoying my work and are voicing their own opinions on characters and plot. Anyway, I don't want to babble, so read on, and always remember: reviews and constructive criticism are always greatly appreciated!
Roads Leading Back
Chapter Six: Highway of Regret
“Do you think…?”
“It couldn’t have been her, Jimmy,” Mitch said, cutting off a piece of his steak. “It looks too much like a coincidence.”
“There were too many coincidences, Mitch,” James said. “Her father was the bank robber, the robber knew her sister’s name, and the woman who was pregnant was named Jennifer…”
Victoria nodded. “By the looks of things, she was due soon, too.” She looked at her son. “It does makes sense, but it does seem too convenient.”
Mitch sighed. “Do you guys know what hospital she was taken to?”
James shook his head. “The news reports didn’t mention anything. The guy that stopped the bank robber said he didn’t want that information released to the public.”
“Call the network,” Mitch said. “I’m pretty sure they’ll let you know who kept the information closed and why.”
“That seems a little far-fetched…”
“You could do that, or you could check each and every hospital for a Jennifer Allans.” Mitch chuckled. “You did say that she was going into labor. I highly doubt she would be leaving the hospital anytime soon.”
Victoria shrugged. “It could work.”
“It’s almost eight o’clock,” Mitch said. “They’ll probably have a repeat of the newscast on right now.” He narrowed his eyes jokingly at his friend. “I’d have watched the news, but I found out why you call your Husky Rascal.”
James flicked on the wall-mounted plasma television facing the island counter.
“…A bank robbery was stopped shortly after five o’clock this afternoon. The robber, one Colin Allans, was arrested with attempted robbery, possession of a deadly weapon and public inebriation. The unlikely hero of the night, a man who makes his living in the Red Light District, did not say much.”
The screen changed to reveal a man with a shaved head and glasses in front of his almond-shaped eyes. The name ‘Omi Cronus’ was on the bottom of the screen.
“The man was drunk,” Omi said carefully. “I did what I felt was necessary. One of the women with me this afternoon was pregnant, and is going into labor right now. If you’ll excuse me…”
The screen turned back to the female news anchor.
“The police have stopped any and all reporters from going to the hospital where Omi Cronus is looking after his compatriot. He had asked that all details concerning his whereabouts and the whereabouts of the people with him remain undisclosed for their safety.”
Mitch switched off the television. “Jesus Christ, James! Do you know who that man is?”
James slowly shook his head. “Should I?”
“That man’s Omi Cronus! He runs a bunch of wacko clubs downtown!”
“What kind of clubs?”
“Fetish clubs,” Mitch replied. “Whips and chains, maid and nurse outfits, you name it. The guy is like a high-class pimp!”
“Fetish clubs?”
James nearly choked on his steak. “Wait a minute. Are you saying that guy might have been that ultra-high-class pimp you mentioned to me back in jail?”
Mitch looked to James’ mother, who shook her head.
“I don’t know, Jimmy. Nobody said much to me when I was looking for Jennifer for you.”
Immediately, he got up from the table and ran into the living room, picking up the phone book from the shelf at the bottom of the coffee table.
“Who are you calling?”
“The precinct that dispatched the cops to the bank earlier today,” James replied, picking up the cordless phone from the tabletop. “Maybe they can give me some information.”
Mitch pursed his lips in thought and nodded, considering the point. His gaze fell to James’ plate, and at the eyes of the dog that occupied his friend’s seat. The Corgi glanced at the steak, back at Mitch, tilted his head and whined.
Mitch shrugged. “Go ahead. I’m not the one that’s going to finish his dinner.”
The dog started to pant and stared at the T-bone. Mitch offered his hand.
“I’ve known Jimmy longer that you have, Tracker,” he said. “Once he’s got his mind on something, everything else phases out, even food.”
As if understanding, Tracker took the T-bone with the last bits of meat on it and trotted past Mitch into the backyard.
“Why didn’t you stop him?” Victoria asked.
Mitch grinned. “Why didn’t you?”
* * * * *
“You okay?”
Omi nodded, his gaze still riveted to the floor between his feet. “I will be,” he replied, his voice barely audible.
“Jennifer will be fine,” Sylvia reassured him. “She’s a strong one.”
“She’ll have to be.”
The doors opened and Erica popped her head out. “Omi, Jenny wants you there. You, too, Sylvia.”
Omi and Sylvia looked at each other apprehensively. He met Erica’s gaze and shook his head slowly. “I can’t be there. We can’t be there.”
“But Jenny needs you there.”
Omi shook his head again. “I can’t be in that room, Erica. That’s not my child in there, and that’s not my child being born.”
“That doesn’t matter,” Erica snapped. “Jenny’s in pain, and she needs someone to be there for her.”
“Erica, Omi already said that he cannot and will not go in there,” Sylvia interrupted. “Don’t question him.”
“But James isn’t here, and he’s the only person she’s calling!” Erica pleaded. “I don’t know where to find him!”
“Erica…”
Omi stood up, stopping Sylvia’s retort. He took off his trenchcoat, slipped off the dragon talon rings on the fingers of his left hand and put them in a picket of his coat. He gave the coat to Sylvia.
“Omi…”
He shook his head slowly as he stared into the room behind Erica. “I’ve taken care of them for too long,” he said to himself. “Go home, Sylvia. Tell the others I won’t be back for a day or two.”
* * * * *
Jennifer was in tears as Erica led Omi to her.
“Jimmy…Jimmy, where are you?”
“Omi’s here, Jenny.”
Jennifer’s eyes flew open. “No!” she gasped. “No, no! He can’t be here!”
Erica noticed the briefest flash of pain behind Omi’s stoic gaze.
“But Jenny, Omi’s the only one that’s here. I don’t know where Jimmy lives, and it’s too late to try to find him.”
Jenny shut her eyes as tears streamed down her cheeks. “Jimmy…” Another contraction hit her, and she cringed with pain. Erica flew to her side and dabbed a damp cloth on her forehead.
“Omi…” Erica looked up at him with worry in her eyes. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, steeling himself. He sat at her right side and brushed her hair back with his hand.
“You’re doing fine, Jennifer,” he said. He meant what he said, but inside he couldn’t help but feel hollow. He felt his entire world being shaken at the thought of Jennifer’s child, and what would happen once she and her baby were free to leave the hospital…
* * * * *
“Officer Meghan?”
Officer Peter Meghan nodded towards the orderly at the counter. “Yes?”
“You have a phone call from your precinct.”
“I’ll take it.” He took the receiver from the orderly’s hand. “Meghan.”
“Meghan, it’s Thomas. There’s someone calling that’s asking for disclosure of the information on the pregnant woman you escorted to the hospital from the attempted robbery earlier this afternoon. He says he wants Omi Cronus’ permission exclusively.”
Meghan nodded. “I’ll ask him. Just hang tight. I’ll call you back.” He handed the receiver back to the desk clerk and turned the corner to find Sylvia sitting alone with Omi’s trenchcoat.
“He’s in there,” she said, a worried look on her face. As he looked at the doors, he heard a woman scream, but he didn’t flinch. Being a father of an older girl and twin boys, he was used to the screaming associated with childbirth.
He moved to the doors and opened them a crack.
“Mister Cronus…”
“Not now!” He didn’t turn from the pregnant woman. “That’s good, Jenny. Just keep at it like that…”
“Mister Cronus, someone called the precinct and is asking…”
This time Omi’s fiery gaze flew to the cop. “Now is not the time, Officer! I’ll see to what you need after this is over!” To end the argument, Omi focused once more on Jennifer. Meghan shrugged and turned away from the door, his gaze meeting with Sylvia’s.
“He needs to contact the precinct as soon as possible,” Meghan said. “I’ll call the precinct and tell them to expect his call. It’s important.”
Sylvia nodded solemnly as the officer walked away, leaving her to her own thoughts amidst Jennifer’s pained cries of help.
* * * * *
James jabbed his thumb on the ‘End’ button on the cordless.
“Anything?”
He shook his head. “Nothing. They told me to expect their call sometime tonight. Omi was busy at the moment.”
“Did you tell them that you’re the father of the child?”
James went pale. “Mom, we don’t know whether or not her kid is mine. For all I know, she could have had another boyfriend after I left.”
“Is that why you’re searching so hard for her?”
He shook his head. “She never mentioned anything to me about being pregnant, Mom.”
Mitch sat on the armchair across from James. “Why are you so hell-bent on finding her then, Jimmy? What if she did have another boyfriend after you left? Or worse, what if her child is his?”
James narrowed his eyes. “There’s no way she could have…”
“It’s possible,” Mitch interrupted. “We don’t know how long she’s known him. For all we know, her old man might have given his own girls to him to pay off that debt.”
James furiously shook his head. “It can’t be true…”
His mother sat down beside him, casting Mitch a hard look. “Look, I’ll grant Mitch is being a little far-fetched, but we don’t know the truth for sure. The most we can do right now is wait for the police to call back with Omi’s response. I’m sure everything will come to light in due time.”
Mitch snorted. “Stop trying to make me out to be the bad guy here. I just think that it’s been too long and that it’s time for James to move on. I know it won’t be an easy thing, but I tried living in the past, and it didn’t work. Eventually the world told me to get with the program, and I’m James’ sign that he should, too.”
* * * * *
“Congratulations, Miss Allans. You’ve given birth to a boy.”
Tears streamed down Jennifer’s cheeks as she took her baby from the nurse. Immediately, the baby stopped crying and looked up at his mother and gurgled. She smiled and sniffled, which turned into a brief laugh. “Hey, beautiful.” She gently shook her cradled arms, and the baby fell fast asleep.
“His name?”
Jennifer thought for a moment. “His name is James Drake, junior.”
Omi glanced at her curiously. “Drake?”
Jennifer nodded. “It’s his father’s name.” She frowned. “I don’t know if I’ll ever see him again, so I’ll name him after his father.” She started to sob quietly. “So I won’t forget him.”
Erica knelt beside her older sister. “Jenny…”
Jennifer shook her head. “I wanted him to be here, Erica. I so wanted him to be here. It felt for a second like he would come, like he would know when the baby was coming…”
Erica shook her head and wiped Jennifer’s brow. “Jenny, James wouldn’t know. You never told him.”
She nodded sadly. “I know, Erica. I should have told him.” She shook her head again and started to cry. “I don’t think I’ll ever find him now. I don’t think he’ll ever meet his son.”
Omi placed a hand on her shoulder. “Jennifer…”
She cleared her nose. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t be so distressed.” She looked down at her child. “I have to be strong for my baby.”
Erica nodded. “Omi will stay tonight, won’t you, Omi?”
He gawked, but thought for a moment before nodding carefully. “I’ll stay for the night.”
=[ End of Chapter Six: Highway of Regret ]=
A/N: On to personal kudos...
cade: Yeah, it was a weird coincidence. I actually didn't expect to be writing Jenny's father into this again, but I think that the robber being Jennifer's old man gave everyone the necessary stall for time in the last chapter. Of course everything's too convenient, by the way. The whole bank robbery was supposed to add some tension and I believe that it delivered beautifully.
born_to_do_it: Yeah, as I noted in my Writer's Blog, I really don't have high regard for father figures, drunks, or idiotic bank robbers. Jennifer's dad happened to be all three. As for James and Jenny, well, you'll just have to wait until next chapter...maybe. ^.^;;
Well, that's all for now. See you soon!
Roads Leading Back
Chapter Six: Highway of Regret
“Do you think…?”
“It couldn’t have been her, Jimmy,” Mitch said, cutting off a piece of his steak. “It looks too much like a coincidence.”
“There were too many coincidences, Mitch,” James said. “Her father was the bank robber, the robber knew her sister’s name, and the woman who was pregnant was named Jennifer…”
Victoria nodded. “By the looks of things, she was due soon, too.” She looked at her son. “It does makes sense, but it does seem too convenient.”
Mitch sighed. “Do you guys know what hospital she was taken to?”
James shook his head. “The news reports didn’t mention anything. The guy that stopped the bank robber said he didn’t want that information released to the public.”
“Call the network,” Mitch said. “I’m pretty sure they’ll let you know who kept the information closed and why.”
“That seems a little far-fetched…”
“You could do that, or you could check each and every hospital for a Jennifer Allans.” Mitch chuckled. “You did say that she was going into labor. I highly doubt she would be leaving the hospital anytime soon.”
Victoria shrugged. “It could work.”
“It’s almost eight o’clock,” Mitch said. “They’ll probably have a repeat of the newscast on right now.” He narrowed his eyes jokingly at his friend. “I’d have watched the news, but I found out why you call your Husky Rascal.”
James flicked on the wall-mounted plasma television facing the island counter.
“…A bank robbery was stopped shortly after five o’clock this afternoon. The robber, one Colin Allans, was arrested with attempted robbery, possession of a deadly weapon and public inebriation. The unlikely hero of the night, a man who makes his living in the Red Light District, did not say much.”
The screen changed to reveal a man with a shaved head and glasses in front of his almond-shaped eyes. The name ‘Omi Cronus’ was on the bottom of the screen.
“The man was drunk,” Omi said carefully. “I did what I felt was necessary. One of the women with me this afternoon was pregnant, and is going into labor right now. If you’ll excuse me…”
The screen turned back to the female news anchor.
“The police have stopped any and all reporters from going to the hospital where Omi Cronus is looking after his compatriot. He had asked that all details concerning his whereabouts and the whereabouts of the people with him remain undisclosed for their safety.”
Mitch switched off the television. “Jesus Christ, James! Do you know who that man is?”
James slowly shook his head. “Should I?”
“That man’s Omi Cronus! He runs a bunch of wacko clubs downtown!”
“What kind of clubs?”
“Fetish clubs,” Mitch replied. “Whips and chains, maid and nurse outfits, you name it. The guy is like a high-class pimp!”
“Fetish clubs?”
James nearly choked on his steak. “Wait a minute. Are you saying that guy might have been that ultra-high-class pimp you mentioned to me back in jail?”
Mitch looked to James’ mother, who shook her head.
“I don’t know, Jimmy. Nobody said much to me when I was looking for Jennifer for you.”
Immediately, he got up from the table and ran into the living room, picking up the phone book from the shelf at the bottom of the coffee table.
“Who are you calling?”
“The precinct that dispatched the cops to the bank earlier today,” James replied, picking up the cordless phone from the tabletop. “Maybe they can give me some information.”
Mitch pursed his lips in thought and nodded, considering the point. His gaze fell to James’ plate, and at the eyes of the dog that occupied his friend’s seat. The Corgi glanced at the steak, back at Mitch, tilted his head and whined.
Mitch shrugged. “Go ahead. I’m not the one that’s going to finish his dinner.”
The dog started to pant and stared at the T-bone. Mitch offered his hand.
“I’ve known Jimmy longer that you have, Tracker,” he said. “Once he’s got his mind on something, everything else phases out, even food.”
As if understanding, Tracker took the T-bone with the last bits of meat on it and trotted past Mitch into the backyard.
“Why didn’t you stop him?” Victoria asked.
Mitch grinned. “Why didn’t you?”
* * * * *
“You okay?”
Omi nodded, his gaze still riveted to the floor between his feet. “I will be,” he replied, his voice barely audible.
“Jennifer will be fine,” Sylvia reassured him. “She’s a strong one.”
“She’ll have to be.”
The doors opened and Erica popped her head out. “Omi, Jenny wants you there. You, too, Sylvia.”
Omi and Sylvia looked at each other apprehensively. He met Erica’s gaze and shook his head slowly. “I can’t be there. We can’t be there.”
“But Jenny needs you there.”
Omi shook his head again. “I can’t be in that room, Erica. That’s not my child in there, and that’s not my child being born.”
“That doesn’t matter,” Erica snapped. “Jenny’s in pain, and she needs someone to be there for her.”
“Erica, Omi already said that he cannot and will not go in there,” Sylvia interrupted. “Don’t question him.”
“But James isn’t here, and he’s the only person she’s calling!” Erica pleaded. “I don’t know where to find him!”
“Erica…”
Omi stood up, stopping Sylvia’s retort. He took off his trenchcoat, slipped off the dragon talon rings on the fingers of his left hand and put them in a picket of his coat. He gave the coat to Sylvia.
“Omi…”
He shook his head slowly as he stared into the room behind Erica. “I’ve taken care of them for too long,” he said to himself. “Go home, Sylvia. Tell the others I won’t be back for a day or two.”
* * * * *
Jennifer was in tears as Erica led Omi to her.
“Jimmy…Jimmy, where are you?”
“Omi’s here, Jenny.”
Jennifer’s eyes flew open. “No!” she gasped. “No, no! He can’t be here!”
Erica noticed the briefest flash of pain behind Omi’s stoic gaze.
“But Jenny, Omi’s the only one that’s here. I don’t know where Jimmy lives, and it’s too late to try to find him.”
Jenny shut her eyes as tears streamed down her cheeks. “Jimmy…” Another contraction hit her, and she cringed with pain. Erica flew to her side and dabbed a damp cloth on her forehead.
“Omi…” Erica looked up at him with worry in her eyes. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, steeling himself. He sat at her right side and brushed her hair back with his hand.
“You’re doing fine, Jennifer,” he said. He meant what he said, but inside he couldn’t help but feel hollow. He felt his entire world being shaken at the thought of Jennifer’s child, and what would happen once she and her baby were free to leave the hospital…
* * * * *
“Officer Meghan?”
Officer Peter Meghan nodded towards the orderly at the counter. “Yes?”
“You have a phone call from your precinct.”
“I’ll take it.” He took the receiver from the orderly’s hand. “Meghan.”
“Meghan, it’s Thomas. There’s someone calling that’s asking for disclosure of the information on the pregnant woman you escorted to the hospital from the attempted robbery earlier this afternoon. He says he wants Omi Cronus’ permission exclusively.”
Meghan nodded. “I’ll ask him. Just hang tight. I’ll call you back.” He handed the receiver back to the desk clerk and turned the corner to find Sylvia sitting alone with Omi’s trenchcoat.
“He’s in there,” she said, a worried look on her face. As he looked at the doors, he heard a woman scream, but he didn’t flinch. Being a father of an older girl and twin boys, he was used to the screaming associated with childbirth.
He moved to the doors and opened them a crack.
“Mister Cronus…”
“Not now!” He didn’t turn from the pregnant woman. “That’s good, Jenny. Just keep at it like that…”
“Mister Cronus, someone called the precinct and is asking…”
This time Omi’s fiery gaze flew to the cop. “Now is not the time, Officer! I’ll see to what you need after this is over!” To end the argument, Omi focused once more on Jennifer. Meghan shrugged and turned away from the door, his gaze meeting with Sylvia’s.
“He needs to contact the precinct as soon as possible,” Meghan said. “I’ll call the precinct and tell them to expect his call. It’s important.”
Sylvia nodded solemnly as the officer walked away, leaving her to her own thoughts amidst Jennifer’s pained cries of help.
* * * * *
James jabbed his thumb on the ‘End’ button on the cordless.
“Anything?”
He shook his head. “Nothing. They told me to expect their call sometime tonight. Omi was busy at the moment.”
“Did you tell them that you’re the father of the child?”
James went pale. “Mom, we don’t know whether or not her kid is mine. For all I know, she could have had another boyfriend after I left.”
“Is that why you’re searching so hard for her?”
He shook his head. “She never mentioned anything to me about being pregnant, Mom.”
Mitch sat on the armchair across from James. “Why are you so hell-bent on finding her then, Jimmy? What if she did have another boyfriend after you left? Or worse, what if her child is his?”
James narrowed his eyes. “There’s no way she could have…”
“It’s possible,” Mitch interrupted. “We don’t know how long she’s known him. For all we know, her old man might have given his own girls to him to pay off that debt.”
James furiously shook his head. “It can’t be true…”
His mother sat down beside him, casting Mitch a hard look. “Look, I’ll grant Mitch is being a little far-fetched, but we don’t know the truth for sure. The most we can do right now is wait for the police to call back with Omi’s response. I’m sure everything will come to light in due time.”
Mitch snorted. “Stop trying to make me out to be the bad guy here. I just think that it’s been too long and that it’s time for James to move on. I know it won’t be an easy thing, but I tried living in the past, and it didn’t work. Eventually the world told me to get with the program, and I’m James’ sign that he should, too.”
* * * * *
“Congratulations, Miss Allans. You’ve given birth to a boy.”
Tears streamed down Jennifer’s cheeks as she took her baby from the nurse. Immediately, the baby stopped crying and looked up at his mother and gurgled. She smiled and sniffled, which turned into a brief laugh. “Hey, beautiful.” She gently shook her cradled arms, and the baby fell fast asleep.
“His name?”
Jennifer thought for a moment. “His name is James Drake, junior.”
Omi glanced at her curiously. “Drake?”
Jennifer nodded. “It’s his father’s name.” She frowned. “I don’t know if I’ll ever see him again, so I’ll name him after his father.” She started to sob quietly. “So I won’t forget him.”
Erica knelt beside her older sister. “Jenny…”
Jennifer shook her head. “I wanted him to be here, Erica. I so wanted him to be here. It felt for a second like he would come, like he would know when the baby was coming…”
Erica shook her head and wiped Jennifer’s brow. “Jenny, James wouldn’t know. You never told him.”
She nodded sadly. “I know, Erica. I should have told him.” She shook her head again and started to cry. “I don’t think I’ll ever find him now. I don’t think he’ll ever meet his son.”
Omi placed a hand on her shoulder. “Jennifer…”
She cleared her nose. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t be so distressed.” She looked down at her child. “I have to be strong for my baby.”
Erica nodded. “Omi will stay tonight, won’t you, Omi?”
He gawked, but thought for a moment before nodding carefully. “I’ll stay for the night.”
=[ End of Chapter Six: Highway of Regret ]=
A/N: On to personal kudos...
cade: Yeah, it was a weird coincidence. I actually didn't expect to be writing Jenny's father into this again, but I think that the robber being Jennifer's old man gave everyone the necessary stall for time in the last chapter. Of course everything's too convenient, by the way. The whole bank robbery was supposed to add some tension and I believe that it delivered beautifully.
born_to_do_it: Yeah, as I noted in my Writer's Blog, I really don't have high regard for father figures, drunks, or idiotic bank robbers. Jennifer's dad happened to be all three. As for James and Jenny, well, you'll just have to wait until next chapter...maybe. ^.^;;
Well, that's all for now. See you soon!