The door slams and I hear heavy footsteps coming towards my door. I pull my knees up and hug them tightly. I’m afraid. The door is unlocked and Jake is framed in the doorway. He looks pretty angry. He walks over to kneel in front of me.
“Hello Jade,” he tilts up my chin to make me look at him. “You not gonna say hello back?”
“Hello,” I mutter.
“That’s good,” he sits back and stares at me. “Man, I’m really gonna hate to do this Jade. You’re such a beautiful girl…”
“Do what?” I whisper, my voice shaking.
“Y’see, I did warn that guy of yours about what would happen if he got the police involved. You heard me tell him I would kill you right?”
“Yes.”
“Good, I was SURE I had said it aloud but he just ignored me. See, I went down to Saks and I watched him and his friend walk through the mall. I’m thinkin’ they were the only people there without a badge and gun. It was BLATANT,” he yells and I flinch. “The fucking trash can was SURROUNDED by them. They must think I’m an idiot. Well, they’ll learn huh?” he asks, lowering his voice. “They will learn not to fuck with me. Cos I ALWAYS keep my word.”
“Please don’t hurt me,” I plead quietly, tears in my eyes.
“Sorry,” he murmurs, leaning forward to kiss my lips.
I flinch at his touch and screw my eyes up tight against his sight. He steps back and I open my eyes. He pulls his gun out of his pocket and I have never been so scared in my life. A sudden noise and everything goes black.
Brian paces his darkened hotel room. He has been alone since returning from the mall. At various points, people have tried to keep him company but he has yelled at them all. If he stays angry, he can stop himself from breaking down. Truro had come to see him two hours after the drop to apologise for the botched surveillance. The police had recovered the money from the trash can once it had become obvious Flurry wasn’t going to turn up. Brian is praying for his phone to ring and swears to himself that when Flurry rings back he will not tell anyone else, just take the money wherever he asks. IF Flurry will ring again. He sits on the bed and stares at the clock. It is exactly twenty four hours since he had last seen Jade. She had kissed him quickly and left. Why hadn’t he told her he loves her? Tried to get her to stay, even if for a few minutes longer, then maybe that bastard would’ve missed her. He picks up a picture of him with Jade and traces her face gently. He HAS to see her again. This can’t be how it will end.
“Fuck!” Truro yells into his cell phone as Marcus looks on anxiously. “Roughly how old?… I’ll have to get a picture… The city place?… And when was she…?… God, ok, I’ll get back to ya.” He hangs up and turns to Marcus with a deep sigh. “How old is Jade?”
“23 I guess. Why? Have you found her?!”
“I’m gonna need a picture of her,” Truro stands up.
“Brian’ll have one,” Marcus follows Truro out to the elevator and they ride up to Brian’s floor. “What’s happened?”
“They’ve found a body,” Truro says quietly. “She fits Jade’s description. She was shot.”
“Oh God,” Marcus murmurs as they reach Brian’s room. Truro raises his hand to knock and Marcus stops him. “You can’t tell Brian. It’ll destroy him.”
“I have to Marcus. He needs to be prepared.”
The two men stare at each other in silence and then Marcus nods slightly. Truro knocks and the door is quickly flung open by Brian. He stares at them both, his eyes wild.
“Have you heard something?” he asks. “Have you found her?”
“Let’s sit down Brian,” Truro takes his arm firmly and leads him over to the couch. They all sit down.
“Tell me,” Brian whispers.
“I need a recent picture of Jade.”
“Why? Have you found her?” Brian studies Truro’s face and then lowers his head. “You’ve found a body,” he says brokenly.
“Yes. It might not be her.”
“But she looks like her?”
“Yes.”
“Was she shot?” he looks up, his face pale.
“Yes,” Truro nods and Brian stands up. He walks over to the table and picks up a picture of Jade. He slips it out of its frame and walks back to hand it silently to Truro. “Thank you,” he stands up. “I’ll go straightaway and call you when I know.”
“Ok,” Brian nods and a couple of tears fall down his face.
“Stay with him,” Truro tells Marcus and leaves the room.
Marcus watches Truro leave and turns back to Brian. He has walked over to the window and is staring out. Marcus joins him and they stand in silence for a few minutes.
“I’m ok Marcus,” Brian says. “Would you leave me alone?”
“I’d rather stay.”
“I’d rather you didn’t. Please.”
“Fine. I’ll be outside if you need me,” Marcus leaves the room.
Brian hears the door shut behind Marcus and slowly slides down onto the floor, his head against the cold wall. He starts to cry hard. Jade can’t be dead. She’s his life, his world, his future. If she is gone, he has nothing. He closes his eyes and sees her face before him, her dark eyes searching his and her mouth curved into a small smile. Her hands reach out for his and he can hear his own voice echoing back at him.
“My world starts and ends with you,” it says.
“I know,” she replies.
“Have you heard anything new?” asks Kevin as he and AJ join Marcus outside Brian’s room.
“Uh yeah. It’s not good,” Marcus says slowly and AJ’s eyes widen.
“She’s not dead,” he states.
“They found a body AJ.”
“It’s not Jade,” AJ says firmly.
“Oh God,” whispers Kevin. “Has she been identified?”
“Truro has just taken a picture to the morgue. We’ll know soon I guess.”
“Does Brian know?” asks AJ.
“Yes. He’s in there. He didn’t want company.”
“I’m goin’ in,” AJ pushes past Marcus and opens the door.
“Give him space,” says Kevin.
“He’s my FRIEND Kevin. I’m not lettin’ him go through this alone,” AJ says.
“He’s just been told his girl might be DEAD!” Kevin yells. “I think I’d want a little time alone if it was me.”
“Well he’s not you,” AJ shoots back and closes the door behind him as he walks into the room.
“I don’t know what to do Marcus,” Kevin says wearily.
“Neither do I,” Marcus confesses and the two men so often seen as the Backstreet protectors stare at each other in helpless silence.
AJ stops by the door as he sees Brian against the far wall. He is hugging his knees and crying like the whole world just ended. Which it has AJ guesses. Just like his has. Brian has no idea just how much he has in common with AJ right now. AJ blinks back the tears that have suddenly filled his eyes and crosses the room to sit by Brian.
“I want to be alone,” Brian doesn’t even look up.
“I don’t,” AJ whispers and reaches out to slip an arm about Brian’s shoulders. “She’s not dead. Jade is not the type to just give up and die.”
“He has a GUN AJ. There’s not much you can do against that.”
“Just believe in her Brian.”
“I’m trying. But it’s so hard.”
“I know.”
There’s a long silence.
“I’m so scared AJ.”
“Me too,” AJ admits. “I love her too.”
“Still?” Brian looks at him.
“Always,” AJ smiles slightly. “But it’s a different kind of love than what you have with her,” he adds softly. And it is. He loves her completely, faults and all. Sometimes he’s not sure that Brian loves her so selflessly.
“I’m sorry. About everything that happened…”
“Hey, it’s all over. And you’ll get her back.”