Jessie eyes widened as she heard what came out of Kristin's mouth. "What?!"
"My baby Jessie! Zoë is gone!!!" Kristin cried as she remained on the floor. Everyone in the room quieted down and stared at Kristin as she remained hysterical on the floor. Jeesie was too in shock to move and just stayed there as Kristin clung to her knees. Michelle made the first move.
"Kristin," She said making her way to her. "Calm down and tell us what happened." She put her arm around Kristin's shoulder and walked her to the edge of the bed. They both sat down.
"It's my baby!!! She's been kidnapped!" Kristin said as she buried her face in her hands.
"Kidnapped?" Justin said softly so as not to get a rise out of Kristin again. Lance and Chris nodded as Jessie sighed not knowing what else to do. "But who coulda..."
"I don't know!!!" Kristin screamed sprinting out of Michelle's grasp and beginning a mad pace. Michelle went to follow but knew better and just sat back to the floor. She looked to Justin who just sent her a "sorry" glance for the stupid outburst. "All I know is that some sicko out there in this enormous city has my daughter!!!" Kristin screamed going to the window and ripping open the curtains.
"I'm calling the police." Jessie said running to the phone.
"Don't bother." Kristin said blankly staring out at the sunset. "I just spent two hours at the station just to have the NYPD explain to me that all I can do is wait."
"Typical." Lance said trying to get in some conversation.
"Yeah!" Kristin began. "And typical of this damn city to house a psycho kidnapper who has my child!!! The only positive thing I had going in my life." Jessie slowly walked to Kristin and turned her around to face the rest of them.
"I'm sorry." She said sympathetically and full of as much comfort as she could offer.
"Oh Jessie!" She said beginning to sob again. "I can't lose my girl. I just can't!" Jessie looked into Kristin's blue eyes remembering everything and knowing that Kristin was too.
As a college freshman, Kristin was wild. She was for the first time in her life, away from her parents and restricted life. She took the opportunity to party and focus on letting loose. She became only a glimmer of what she always believed in and was almost a sex toy for all the college guys. She drank, she danced, she drank some more, and eventually, she fooled around. Coming home late all the time, nothing her friends told her penetrated her brain and she just continued her reckless life.
It wasn't until two months after the end of second semester that she realized that she was a month pregnant. That was her wake-up call and flashing red light to fix her life. And throughout her pregnancy, she did a lot of that. With a some help from her true friends, such as Lizzy, Jessie and Michelle, she got through it all and managed to give birth to a beautiful baby girl. She never cared to find out who the father because with all the one night stands she had, she'd never find him. So here she was, Junior year with a five month old daughter named Zoë whom she loved with all her heart and soul. Zoë had saved her and she owed her baby her life.
"Kristin, I know." Jessie said soothingly. "I know you can't lose her. Come here." Kristin walked to Jessie who put her arm around her shoulders. Jessie led her to the edge of the bed where they both sat down. Michelle and the guys gathered around offering their support waiting to see what Jessie would say. "Okay, Kristin, you think you could explain to us what happened exactly?" Kristin sniffled and wiped the corners of her eyes with her fingers.
"Well," She began. " I got out of my Calculus class and like every Friday went to pick up Zoë from the daycare. Lizzy and I were going to take her shopping tomorrow for her sixth months, before leaving her at my mom's." The emotion was evident in Kristin at the thought of missing out on that. "Well, I got there and signed her out as usual. The nurse went to the back where Zoë was supposedly taking a nap. About fifteen minutes later she came back empty handed and with a glazed look on her face." Jessie who had her arm still wrapped around Kristin's shoulders felt Kristin begin to tremble again. "And I guess, the rest is just history."
"And there was no trace of forced entrance, no other babies gone?" Justin immediately asked. Kristin shook her head without looking up from the floor.
"No. Everything was in perfect, normal condition except Zoë was gone and..." Kristin trailed off as a terrified look crossed her already distressed face.
"And what Kristin?" Jessie asked. Kristin took a deep breath and reached into her back pocket.
"This was in Zoë's crib at the daycare." Kristin took out a piece of paper that was folded in two. Her name was printed neatly on the outside. Kristin held it out not wanting to even look at it. All the guys looked at each other until Chris grabbed it. He unfolded it and began to read out to them.
"How far would you go to save the most important person in your life..." Chris' eyes widened as he read the last word and Jessie and Michelle went pale. A cold chill went down everyone's spine as the words penetrated their minds. Chris looked at everyone as he slowly folded the letter again. "So Jess," he asked slowly. "Convinced it's not one of my pranks yet?" Jessie looked up into Chris' eyes as everyone sat silently.
"I need to get out of here!" Kristin said as she jumped up out of Jessie's grasp.
"Wait Kristin! Where are you going?" Michelle asked as she quickly followed Kristin to the door.
"I don't know! Take a shower, go for a walk, anything! I just can't sit here! I can't wait while nothing happens!" She screamed as she threw the door open. Kristin took one final look at everyone as tears began to pour out of her eyes. She ran out the door as Michelle watched her run. There was complete silence in the room as Chris began to crumple up the letter. He slammed it against Lance's chest in anger at what was happening to Kristin. Everyone looked at him.
"Ease up dude. The police will find Zo." Justin said. Chris looked to Justin.
"Something tells me that this all won't be so easy." Chris said as he sat at the desk trying to calm himself. Lance looked at the letter that was now in his hands. He opened up the crumpled paper and read it over and over in the silence of the room. Something had him hypnotized by the words. The sudden creak of the door where Michelle was standing took him out of the trance. Michelle slowly began closing the door just as Jessie took a look at her watch.
"No wait Michelle." She said. "Leave it open. Gotta meet Johanna for Dinner." She got up from her implanted spot on the corner of the bed. Jessie silently walked to her closet and took out her coat. "Keep an eye on her guys. Keep her out of trouble and try and find Lizzy so she knows what happened." Jessie said to them all, obviously scared and worried about Kristin's well-being. Michelle nodded as Jessie grabbed her purse from behind the computer chair. Pulling on her knit hat she walked out the door. "Be back in about an hour." Jessie closed the door behind her as the silence filled the room again.
CH.5
Jessie walked into the restaurant as the smell of Italian food filled her nostrils. It made her rather nauseous considering that the events that had just happened had taken her appetite. She looked around at the tables searching for Johanna. There was no sign of her. Jessie looked at her watch. "Hmm. 8:09. She's late."
"May I help you miss?" The host asked interrupting Jessie's thoughts.
"Oh yes. Table for two. There should be a reservation under Johanna." The host went to his leather appointment book and skimmed it.
"Ah, yes! Table for two at eight. Right this way miss." Jessie handed her coat and hat to the other host as she was led to her table.
"Thank you." Jessie said as the host held her chair out for her.
"May I take your drink order while you wait for your guest?" The host asked.
"Uh, yes. I'll have a sparkling water please." The host nodded as he set down two menus and headed off to get Jessie her water. "Well Johanna. For the first time in history, you're late to our dinner. And on the day I need you the most too." Jessie said out loud as she tapped her fingers on the table cloth. She looked around at all the people trying to get her mind off what happened and off the fact that she swore she'd throw up any minute.
"Your water miss." The waiter said as he came up behind her and set a crystal glass with sparkling water and a lime before her. "Good evening. My name is Jerry and I will be your waiter for this evening." Jessie smiled at the man as he unfolded her napkin and set it on her lap. "Can I start you of with an appetizer as you wait for your guest? Perhaps a salad?" He asked politely.
"Well, no thank you. I think I'll just wait a while."
"Very well. I'll be by in a little bit to see about your order." Jessie nodded and thanked the man. As he walked away she took a sip of the water trying to ease her stomach. Keeping her eyes focused on the door she waited for Johanna to come in.
"Ok, Johanna," She said out loud as she looked at her watch which read 8:21. "Where are you?!" Just as she was about to take out her cell phone to check on Johanna, there was a small commotion at one of the tables behind her. She turned around to see what it was and saw a bunch of people gathered around a little girl who looked to be about two or three. It looked like a big family and as soon as a cake was set in front of the little girl by a waitress, it was evident that it was the girl's birthday.
"Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday dear Ally, Happy Birthday to you!" Everyone sang as the little girl began to giggle.
"Blow out the candles!!!" One of the women gathered around said to the little girl. The girl bent down from her place on the chair and blew out as much air as she could. The candles flickered but none went out. People chuckled as everyone round her blew out at the same time. The candles went out and everyone, including those not at the table cheered.
"My little Ally!" Her mother said as she gave her a huge hug. "Oh! Happy birthday sweetheart!" Jessie witnessed the whole thing and got to thinking about Zoë. She couldn't help but have the ordeal cross her mind. She thought about Kristin and how she might not get the opportunity to have this moment with her girl. She turned back to her table and felt her eyes weld up with tears. The nausea returned and she felt choked. Taking one final look at the happy family she threw her napkin down and ran to the bathroom.
As she threw the door open she found the closest stall and ran in. She locked the stall door and got on her knees swearing she was going to throw up. Instead, all that came out were tears. She sat there on the floor of the bathroom crying. It all suddenly hit her and to think of poor Zoë all alone, without her mother and Kristin missing her daughter was just too much for her.
For about ten minutes, Jessie sat on the floor letting tears slide down her cheeks and stain her clothes. When she gained her composure and realized she had cried her herself out of tears she began getting up. Her knees wobbled but she managed to steady herself and unlock the door. Making her way out to the sink area, Jessie took a look in the mirror. Her tear streaked face and red eyes were evident. She turned the water on and splashed her face with cold water. She took another look in the mirror as she dried her face. "Keep yourself together Jessie." She said out loud as she threw the paper towel in the trash. "You gotta be strong." Jessie took a deep breath and walked to the door feeling just a little better. All she needed was to let it all out and she had done that. As she re-entered the restaurant she expected to find Johanna. As she got to the table it was still empty. She looked around and caught a glimpse of her waiter. "Excuse me Jerry?" She asked as she took her seat.
"Yes miss are you read to order?" He asked as he took out his leather order pad.
"Not exactly. I was just wondering if another girl has been by the table?" The waiter looked at her.
"No. I'm sorry. There hasn't been anyone to the table." Jessie got a little worried. She looked at her watch. It read 8:41.
"This is so not like her." Jessie said as she looked around nervously.
"Like who?" The waiter asked.
"Oh nothing." In the years that Jessie and Johanna had been eating dinner together on Fridays, never once had Johanna been late. And forty minutes late was just insane. Figuring that maybe she had gotten tied up at work Jessie stood up. "May I have the bill please. Something has come up and I really should go.
"Of course." The waiter said as he sifted through his orders. He ripped out a bill and handed it to Jessie. "I'll be back to get..." She interrupted.
"Don't bother." Jessie said as she took out a five dollar bill from her purse. "Keep the change."
"Thank you miss." He said with a smile.
"Oh!" Jessie remembered as she took her purse. "If a young lady named Johanna comes by. Please tell her I had to take care of something and to meet me at my dorm." The waiter nodded as he made his way back to his other tables. Jessie quickly dashed to the front of the restaurant to retrieve her coat and hat. She needed to get back to see about Kristin and make sure that everything that could possibly be done, was being done to get Zoë back.
"Have a good evening miss." The host said as he helped her into her coat.
"It's highly doubtful." She said as she rushed out the door leaving the host a little bewildered.
CH.6
Jessie stuck the key into the lock and walked into her dorm. She found Michelle on the phone not talking and she also found Kristin asleep in Michelle's bed. She was tossing and turning but Jessie could tell she was sleeping. "Ugh!" Michelle whispered as she slammed the phone back on the receiver.
"What is it?" Jessie asked as she took off her coat and hat.
"JC." Michelle said frustrated.
"What about him?"
"I've been trying to get in touch with him since you left, but nothing. Justin said he's not in the dorm and that he left for his music theory class hours ago. I mean, he shoulda been back by now." Michelle whined as she went to see if Kristin was still asleep.
"Worried?" Jessie asked.
"Hell yea I'm worried. I mean I beeped him three times with 911 but he hasn't even called back. I keep calling the dorm but no one picks up. I even called his mom's house and she says she hasn't talked to him all day." Michelle said as she walked away from the bed so as not to awaken Kristin. "I mean Jessie, you think he could be out with some other girl?"
"Oh God Michelle! How could you possibly even consider that?" Jessie asked bewildered at what Michelle had just said.
"I don't know!" Michelle answered.
"You guys have been serious since high school. I highly doubt that he'd just up and cheat on you now." Jessie said as she sat on the floor to rest her feet.
"Yea I know! It was dumb of me to say."
"Well, I understand. We're all on edge because of everything." Jessie took off her boots.
"Totally. I'm still in shock." Michelle said looking at Kristin.
"But I wouldn't worry about JC. He's probably just at the library copying some music sheets or something." Jessie said as she threw her boots to the closet.
"It's a possibility."
"Hey, has Lizzy come back from rehearsal?" Jessie asked.
"Nope." Michelle answered as she sat on the floor next to Jessie. "She hasn't. That's why I insisted that Kristin crash here. I didn't want her alone in that room. I forwarded all their calls to our room just in case there was news about Zoë."
"Where could Lizzy be? Rehearsal couldn't last that long." Jessie said looking at her watch for the millionth time that day.
"That's what I thought. I sent the guys to the Theater to see about her and to get her out if she's still there. I figure she needs to be here now."
"Yea. I agree." Jessie said. Just as Jessie was about to ask Michelle if she had heard from Johanna she caught a glimpse of a piece of paper slip under the door. "What the..." She got up and ran to the door.
"What is it?" Michelle asked as she got up as well. Jessie threw the door open and looked out into the hallway. She looked up and down it to see if there was a trace of anyone who could have slipped the letter under the door. "What is this?" Michelle asked picking up the paper.
"I don't know. Here let me see." Jessie said as she snatched it from Michelle's hands. Jessie ripped the tape the was keeping it shut and unfolded it. In the same type as the letter Kristin had gotten there was a message in the middle of the white computer paper. Jessie got a confused look on her face as she read it to herself.
"What does it say?" Michelle asked, dying to know. "Is it another one of those..." Jessie cut her off.
"It says 'You have a package in the mail room'." She folded it up again. "That's it."
"Well..." Michelle asked. "What are you gonna do."
"Uh... go to the mail room of course." Jessie answered. "And I just took off my shoes too." She whined as she made her way to the closet. She slipped on her flip flops and walked to the door.
"Be careful." Michelle said.
"Yea! I wouldn't want the mail to attack me." Jessie said sarcastically.
"You know what I mean Jessie!"
"Yea, yea." Jessie said, walking out. As she closed the door she saw Lance and Chris walking down the hall.
"Hey." Chris said as they made their way to her.
"Find Lizzy?" Jessie asked.
"No." Lance said shaking his head. "When we got to the theater, some girl was walking out with a bunch of costumes in her hands. We asked her if she had seen Lizzy and she said no." Chris continued
"She said that after the dance warm-up she was supposed to fit Lizzy for her costumes but Lizzy never showed. She never even made it to the rest of the rehearsal."
"That is so not like Lizzy." Jessie said as a worried look crossed her face.
"I know." Chris said.
"Where's Justin?"
"Oh, he went to check his mail in the mail room." Lance answered.
"Well, I'll catch him there. I gotta go pick up a package." Chris and Lance nodded. "When you go in our room, tell Michelle to take a break from beeping JC and beep Lizzy to see if we can find her." Jessie said as she began walking to the elevator.
"Why is she beeping JC?" Lance asked.
"He seems to have disappeared too."
"Well, maybe the two of them are together." Chris said.
"Don't tell Michelle that. She may suddenly get jealous." The guys gave Jessie a strange look. Michelle and JC were too stable a couple to ever get jealous of other people. "Michelle's just a bit on edge." Jessie assured.
"Oh, well we all are." Lance said as they opened the door to the girls' dorm. Chris nodded.
"Be back in a flash." Jessie called out as she continued walking.
CH. 7
Jessie reached the mail room to find Justin sifting through some letters. "Hey Justin!" Jessie called out as he looked up.
"Hey there. We couldn't find Lizzy." He said as he stuck the envelops in his back pocket.
"Yea I heard."
"I'm really worried. Where could she be?" He asked.
"Beats me, but I have Michelle trying to get in touch with her." Jessie answered as she got to the mail window. There was no one there so she rang the bell to get some assistance. She looked back at Justin who had a small box in his hands. "What's that?" She asked hinting towards the box.
"Oh..." His cheeks got a little red. "Care package." He said meekly. Jessie let out a little giggle. "What can I say, mommy worries about her little boy."
"Still thinks your ten eh?" Justin nodded.
"I know how you feel." Jessie said looking for the mail person.
"Parents have a tight hold on you too?" He asked but stopped himself immediately when he realized what he had just said.
"Not exactly." Jessie said softly not looking Justin in the face.
"Awe man Jess. I'm sorry! I totally forgot about your parents and the..." Jessie stopped him.
"Stop." Jessie said forgivingly. " I understand. It's okay." Justin breathed a sigh of relief at how understanding she was. There was an awkward silence as Jessie stood waiting.
"So, where do you think Lizzy could be?" Justin asked trying to fill in some conversation.
"Who knows with that girl. She mighta went off somewhere to catch a quick nap and lost track of time."
"She does work herself to death with these drama rehearsals doesn't she?" Justin asked staring off into space.
"Yea... but she does her share of partying too. She also coulda gotten invited to a club by some guy and is out somewhere dancing up a storm." Jessie said with a laugh.
"Oh." Was all Justin said.
"Yea, but I'm sure she's fine." Jessie rang the bell again impatiently just as a girl came to the window.
"May I help you?" She asked.
"Uh, yes you may. I got a message that there was a package waiting for me." Jessie said.
"You did?" The girl asked, confused. Jessie nodded.
"Is there a problem?"
"No, it's just that we don't usually send messages to alert people of mail." Jessie raised her eyebrow. She gave Justin a worried glance as he returned the same one.
"Could you just check then?" Jessie asked impatiently.
"Sure. Your name?" She asked getting a piece of paper and a pen.
"Jessica Ariz." Jessie said as the girl jotted down the name and started towards the back room.
"I'll be right back with your package." She said as she opened the back door and headed into the room.
"Okay, that was strange." Justin said watching the door creep close.
"Tell me about it." She added. "Wonder what it could be?"
"Careful Jess. Could be a bomb!" Justin said playfully. Jessie rolled her eyes as the back door opened again. The same girl came out with a box that looked to be about the size of a TV box.
"Whoa!" Jessie said as the girl set it down on the counter.
"Two things." She said. "One, it's addressed to five other people." The girl said. Justin took the box off the counter and looked at the names typed on a piece of paper and glued to the top. He read them out loud.
"Jessica Ariz, Justin Timberlake, Christopher Kirkpatrick, Kristin Zacken, Lance Bass, and Michelle Solas." Jessie got a weird look on her face.
"And another thing." The girl said.
"What's that?" Jessie asked.
"There's no return address or postage at all. There is no way this could have been mailed."
"So how in the hell did it end up in the mail room." The girl shrugged.
"I have no idea, but here you go anyway. There's no need to sign for it since it was never processed through US mail." She said.
"Ok, well, thanks I guess." The girl nodded as Jessie stared at the package. "I'm scared to look inside." Jessie said as she put her hand on the box.
"You wanna just trash it?" Justin asked picking it up for her.
"Well, it really isn't my decision seeing that it belongs to us all." She began. "And no! We gotta open it. Who knows what could be inside."
"Well, let's get it upstairs and open it." Justin said placing his package on top of the huge box. Jessie nodded and followed him as he carried it to the elevator.
To Be Continued...
