A tall man with a black ski mask leaned down to her ear, "I could have killed him you know? Either one of them, or you if I wanted. I only miss on purpose. Next time." He tightened his grip and tears were streaming down Jennifer’s face. "Next time, I won’t miss. I won’t even bother with you. I’ll just go after the two of them. I can make it very slow, and very painful. Or maybe, I’ll let the boy live. But I don’t really see the point of living if you’re paralyzed, blind, and need a machine to breath. Do you?" he asked as pushed the knife harder against her neck. He noticed her tears. "Don’t worry Mommy, little Max is fine. For now. You had better be here to let Ole Marge know that you’re no longer interested in pursuing this story. And she shouldn’t be either, no one should. Especially not the police. Get it?" He allowed Jennifer enough lead way to nod her head. "Now, I’m gonna let you go and leave quietly. Try anything and, well, you know. Remember, no story, no troubles. When I go, I want you to sit here for five minutes and then you can go. One second before five minutes and little Maxie will be seeing me before you get home. I’ll see you later Mrs. Hart." He leaned over her shoulder kissed her on the cheek and left the room.
Jennifer was sitting completely still, she heard the office door behind her open. She didn’t budge. A hand came down and landed softly on her shoulder, "Darling, Marge isn’t coming in un-. Darling are you alright?" Jonathan asked with concern. She turned to face him and he noticed a thin slice on her neck. A few drop of blood had dripped down and littered her silk white blouse. "Jennifer what happened?"
Jennifer threw herself into him and began to cry. Jonathan wrapped his arms around his wife and felt the anger growing inside him. When Jennifer had regained her bearings she sat in the waiting area while Jonathan talked to Marge.
Back at the house that night Jennifer would not let Max or Jonathan out of her sight. Jonathan came out of the kitchen, he handed her a cup of tea and sat down next to her. Across from them on the other couch Max was asleep.
"We should call the police." He said placing his hand on her knee.
"No police, no story. Jonathan things are different now. I can’t. I just can’t. They tried to warn me through you and Max." She looks over at her son and tears began to form. "Jonathan they tried to get ……" She puts down her tea and stands, "No, uh uh. I quit. They wanted me off the story, no story. Forget it. Forget all future stories. No more chances."
"But Darling, it’s-" Jonathan tries to offer some words but doesn’t get the chance to finish.
"I’m taking Max upstairs to bed. She says with an air of finality. She bends down to pick up her sleeping son, "Come on Max Baby, let’s go upstairs."
Jonathan straightens up the living room by removing Max and Freeway’s stray toys. He washes the few dishes and heads upstairs to bed. In his bed is his sleeping wife holding his sleeping son. He changes into his pajamas and he and Junior join the family.
The next morning Jonathan was up early, he had some arrangements to make. After he was through he prepared Jennifer and Max breakfast and headed back towards the bedroom. He set the tray down and sat beside his wife. He bent down and kissed her.
"Good morning Darling."
"Good morning." She returned still slightly sleepy.
"Breakfast is served." He handed her the tray.
"Well thank you Darling." She said as she sat up and adjusted the tray. "Jonathan." She looked up at him with apologetic eyes, "I’m sorry about last night."
He takes her hand in his and says, "Jennifer Darling. I love you and I understand."
She leans into him and gives him a deep kiss, "I love you too." She notices the suitcases sitting by the door. "Um, are we going somewhere?"
Jonathan seen her notice the luggage, "Yes we are. I have discreetly rented a large lakeside cabin. We need to let things cool off around here. Besides, we haven’t had a romantic getaway in month’s."
"Darling, we can’t just leave. You have work, and Max has school."
"It’s all taken care of Sweetheart. Trust me." He smiles and gives her a kiss, "Now you two eat your breakfast and get dressed. We have quite a drive ahead of us."
A few hours later the Harts’, Ruthie, and a small security group were on their way. Around four o’clock the entourage arrived at the cabin. They were unpacked and settled in by six. They sat down to a nice dinner prepared by Mr. and Mrs. H. After the dishes were washed and put away Ruthie had Max start some of his schoolwork that Jonathan arranged for. Meanwhile, he and Jennifer were hand in hand walking alongside the lake headed to the stables. He made sure to get a place with horses. Knowing the effect they had his wife, he hoped it could maybe prove to be therapeutic. Upon their return a recently bathed Max greeted them on the porch. Jonathan picked him up, and they walked into the cabin. Max in one arm, Jennifer in the other. He led them to Max’s room so they could put their boy to sleep. With their son asleep the couple got comfortable on a loveseat with a bottle of wine and Jennifer lay in Jonathan’s arms in front of a gleaming fire. A short while later they retreated to their bedroom for a night of compassion and lovemaking.
The next morning Jonathan was awaked to the sound of a light knock on their door. He glanced at his wife who was still sleeping just behind him. She was wearing his pajama shirt and had an arm draped over him. He looked at the clock, it was too early to be Ruthie and Max didn’t knock.
"Come in." Jonathan said in a slightly loud whisper.
"Mr. Hart?" Duncan McCoy, his chief of security asked.
Jonathan moved up to an elbow and Jennifer’s arm slid down to his waist. He asked with growing concern in his voice, "Yes what is Duncan." The security officer opened the door and stepped only a foot inside. Jonathan did notice that his cheeks reddened slightly when he caught sight of the lack of distance between him and Jennifer.
"Um, I’m sorry to disturb you Mr. Hart, but you have a call from a Detective Samuels."
Still with slight concern, "Regarding?"
"He didn’t say Sir, but he didn’t sound concerned."
A wave of relief washed over Jonathan, "Thank you Duncan, I’ll take it in here." Duncan slid out of the door and Jonathan reached for the telephone.
He had a quick discussion with the officer and then he laid back down feeling very relieved that he only wanted to try and persuade them to continue with the investigation. Jonathan made it explicitly clear that they would not do so under any circumstances. With that done he fell easily back to sleep in Jennifer’s arms. After a few more hours of sleep the couple emerged and both looked and felt great. After breakfast Max required Daddy’s help with a school project. Mommy relented and went to enjoy an afternoon of riding by the lake.
Jonathan didn’t want her to go alone, but at the same time felt better that fear had no longer held his wife. They compromised and she took a female security officer with her. After a swift kiss on the cheek Jennifer and her riding companion Lora, were off to the stables. Lora was a fairly experienced rider and was easy to get along with. The women had known each other casually from Hart Industry company picnics.
After they had left Jonathan and Max began the project. With the cutting, pasting, building, and painting the project took almost three hours to complete. It was after one o’clock when the father-son duo and Ruthie sat down to lunch. He knew that when Jennifer was riding she could go days without eating. Give that woman a horse and a beautiful countryside and she would be gone for hours. Jonathan realized that they had been inside all morning and suggested that they get some fresh air. He opened the door and stepped onto the porch with Max and Ruthie behind him. He instantly noticed that the two security officers were not at their posts and the sign on the door. He took the note off the door and quickly ushered the two back inside.
I’m sorry about your wife Mr. Hart, but she just would not leave well enough alone.
Panic tore through Jonathan’s entire body. Ruthie and Max were looking at him waiting for him to say anything when there was a knock at the door. Jonathan pushed them behind him, grabbed a poker from the fireplace and went to the door.
"Who’s there?" he demanded.
"Mr. Hart. It’s Duncan McCoy. I just returned from my break." Jonathan opened the door and let him in, "Where’s the security detail for the porch?"
"Duncan, we’ve got a problem."
A few minutes later and after much protest Duncan was driving Max, Ruthie, and Freeway Jr. into town. Jonathan, with a pistol at his side headed for the stables.
"Lora!" Jennifer shouted, "Lora can you hear me?" They were together a few minutes ago, they somehow got separated in the woods. Jennifer slid off her horse and led him to the edge of the lake for a drink. "Where could she be?" she asked herself aloud.
"She’s dead Mrs. Hart." Came the reply from behind her.
Jennifer spun around quickly to see a man in all black pointing a gun at her. "What? Who are you?" she demanded more angry then afraid.
The man in the ski mask tilted his head and replied, "I told you to leave it alone. But you didn’t want to listen."
"What are talking about? I quit the story, I destroyed the evidence, what more do you want from me?" by now she was furious. "Where are my husband and son?"
"O’ them, I kept true to my word. Except for one small detail, Mommy’s little Max is going to be a paralyzed orphan instead. Goodbye Mrs. Hart, and say hello to Jonathan for me." The man cocked the gun and brought it up to Jennifer’s head.
She closed her eyes tight and waited. BOOM! The shot echoed across the lake. Jennifer fell hard to the ground with a dead weight. She tried to move but couldn’t. A moment later she felt the weight lifted from her body. She was light and free.
"Darling are you alright?" Jonathan asked as he pushed the deceased man off of his wife.
"Jonathan!" she screamed with joy, and threw her arms around him. She pulled back from his tight embrace and looked at him, "But Darling, he said you were dead. And Max. Max! Jonathan how’s Max!?"
"Jennifer, he’s fine. He’s fine." He answered seeing the panic on her face. "Come on, we’ve got to get out of here. I’m sure he’s not alone." He stood up and helped her to her feet, he took in a quick inventory of her, "My horse is just over the hill." He said noticing that Jennifer’s had fled at the sound of the shot. Their hands joined and they started up the hill. They made it to Jonathan’s horse and he mounted first, then reached for Jennifer. He pulled her up with significant ease and noticed how light she was. He made a mental note of it; if they got out of this alive he wanted her to gain some weight. For a minute Jonathan thought that maybe Jennifer should be in the saddle he should be holding on to her. She was a better rider then he was and she could handle a horse beautifully. She adjusted herself behind him, wrapped her arms around his waist and they were off.
They were making great time when they came to a blind curve. It was thin path, and if there were an ambush they wouldn’t be able to escape. But since they had no choice they took the curve. They took the curve and ran into a two-man ambush. One man stepped in front of them and the other behind. Both had guns, and both were on horseback. They were ordered off their horse and Jonathan was told to surrender his weapon. Jennifer slid off first and Jonathan followed. He threw his gun to the foot of the man in front who had now dismounted. The man picked up the gun and walked towards them. Without looking or thinking Jonathan’s arm went around the front of Jennifer’s waist and he pulled her behind him. The man came face to face with Jonathan. He opened his mouth to speak, but before he could get a word out Jonathan’s fist came flying out of nowhere and landed hard against his face. He grabbed the man and threw him towards the man on the horse. The assailant crashed into the horse with a forceful impact, the horse reared and threw the rider. The man landed awkward and quickly lost consciousness, but before the Harts’ could make a break for it the other man grabbed Jonathan and they began to fight. The horses’ were frightened by the commotion and all three tried to bolt. Jennifer grabbed the reigns to their horse and fought hard for control. Jonathan and the assassin continued to fight. The assassin hit the ground and rolled to try and reach one of the weapons that lay near bye. He grabbed the gun and turned to shoot. But before he could get a shot off Jonathan was on him smothering him a series of blows. When the man slumped over, Jonathan went over to Jennifer and gave her a leg-up on their horse. He was about to mount himself when the butt of a gun hit into the back of his head. He heard his wife scream his name before everything went dark.
This fourth man had crept out the brush during the struggle, he let Jonathan’s body fall to the ground. He aimed his gun at Jennifer and told her not to move. He remounted his horse and Jennifer and her capture started back to the cabin.
They were about a mile from the cabin when Jennifer saw her opportunity. During their ride she had noticed that the man was not the greatest of riders. They entered a grove of thick tress and low branches. It was now or never, Jennifer ducked under the first low branch. When the man was about to she kicked her horse and was tearing dangerously fast through the grove. She heard the man yelling and shooting after her. She had to get back to the cabin and fast.
Jennifer reached the cabin within minutes; she flew through the front door. The cabin had been ransacked. She picked up the phone but it was dead. Damn! She heard the man on the horse approaching. She had to do something, she seen the fire poker on the floor. She picked it up and stood behind the door. The door opened slowly. She seen his gun before she seen him, but it didn’t matter. Jennifer swung the poker down on his wrist with all her might. He yelled, dropped the gun, and tried to throw his arms up before the next impact. But it was too late, she swung again and this time for his head. The object collided with his skull and the man fell to the floor. Jennifer dropped the poker, picked up his gun and stepped backwards onto the porch not taking her eyes off the man. She stood there taking in deep breath after deep breath when she heard the bottom step creak. She stopped breathing, she tightened her grip on the gun and spun around to face the new threat.
"Jonathan!" She screamed and took the gun from his face.
He took the gun from her and she dove into his arms. "Darling, are you hurt?" He asked as he held his wife.
"No I’m O.K." She said with her face still in his chest.
Jonathan seen the man on the floor and took notice of his condition. "Well, Darling. Maybe I should have let you fight those two men in the woods."
Jennifer looked up at him with a tearless face and said, "They threatened my family. My husband and my child. Maybe you should have." She held the most serious look for a moment and then smiled and hugged her husband.
Reporters, cameras, and several television stations were waiting for Jennifer Hart when she exited the courthouse. After the trial Jonathan, Jennifer, and the District Attorney stepped out of the courthouse doors and were practically mobbed. Jonathan pulled Jennifer from his left side and put her between himself and the D.A. Her hand searched for his and then locked her fingers with his. Everyone was shouting her name and yelling questions at her. She tried to shrink as much as she could behind her husband. The District Attorney called them to silence and started to call on them to ask their question.
He pointed to a lady reporter, "Mrs. Hart how does it feel to know that your single testimony helped to find three crooked senators?" asked the woman.
"Mrs. Hart was glad to perform this civic duty." The D.A. answered for her. Before he could point to another reporter Jonathan started making his way through the sea of people to their waiting car. He opened the back door and he and Jennifer climbed in. The car pulled away leaving the District Attorney to the battery of questions.
The car came to a stop at LAX. Jonathan got out and extended his hand to Jennifer.
"Darling where are we going?" she asked as she spotted the Hart Jet.
"Mommy, Daddy!" shouted Max as he, Ruthie, and Junior came out from behind a luggage cart. He ran to his parents and Jennifer picked him up into her arms.
Jonathan looked at his family. One hand went around Jennifer’s waist and the other through Max’s hair. He leaned in for a kiss from his wife "We’ll decide in the air." He said and led his family towards the plane with Ruthie and Freeway Jr. in tow.
