Chapter 11: Coming Closer to Jason

Rebecca

After I had received the letter from my mother, things seemed to quiet down for the next four months. The investigator now had a new vehicle to hunt for, but neither Robert nor Patricia remembered the license number, so the idea of a quick computer search was out. I did hear father suggest that they pay a bit more attention to the food industry as it looked like Jason's passion for cooking had remained and it was a possible way to track him.

We all wondered what might happen next, when by chance during a morning class break in late May I overheard one of the school secretaries say. "Why would anyone be trying to find out about a student who graduated nearly a year ago? And it was strange. It was like the investigator was almost randomly looking for young men of that name. I'm not even sure why he checked this school."

I was silent then, but when I mentioned it to Monique at lunch, she marched me to the office and demanded that I identify the speaker. I did and she hovered over the woman and demanded to know what student was being asked about. The poor woman seemed terrified and said. "It was Jase," before one of the other ladies told her to be quiet.

"That information is private, young lady," the office manager said. "You should respect the privacy of others."

"It was my brother the man was asking about, wasn't it," I suddenly blurted out. "Someone came asking for information on him, and I want to know why. I know my father provided his investigator with everything."

The office manager looked a bit confused. "What are you talking about, girl?"

Monique put a hand on my arm and then spoke. "Rebecca's brother disappeared almost a year ago. Her father has investigators looking for him. When we heard that some investigator came and asked about a student who graduated last year, we thought it might be him and wondered why someone was looking for him."

The same woman who earlier spoke looked defiantly at the manager and then spoke. "The investigator was from a law firm out of Louisiana. He said he was trying to find a Jason O'Neill in regards to an inheritance."

I wanted to cry, but Monique pulled me out of the office. It seemed like we only had part of the information. I was still sitting there crying when I noticed that Monique had her cell phone out. "Hello, Mom ... Yes, it's me ... look we just heard some funny news at school ... no, nothing bad, but there was an investigator asking about a Jason O'Neill earlier ... No, the one lady who said anything said that she heard it was about an inheritance ... We didn't hear exactly ... supposedly the investigator is working for a law firm out of Louisiana ... Look, I know it's sounds weird, but if this investigator thinks its our Jason, he might show up at his house ... can you watch and call me if anyone shows up? ... thanks."

Monique hung up and then looked at me with a smile. "If the investigator is looking for Jason, he'll turn up at the house soon. It's the next place to check."

"But why would he come here?" I asked.

Monique smiled. "Remember how last June, the school pushed for every senior to sign up for that classmates website. If the law firm tried an Internet search for Jason O'Neill that entry would have appeared in the results. Obviously, they believe the man they are looking for is that age, so they sent someone to find out more."

The thought that Jason might be found soon had both of us nearly walking on air for the rest of the day. I'm afraid that I mangled an answer in my English class because I was looking forward to the walk home and the hope that we might find this investigator there.

I was laying in the front room of the LeClerc's finishing off some math homework as Monique worked on her French Vocabulary. She had vowed never to visit France, but her father insisted that she study his native language. We were being quiet when I heard Jacque's voice shout out from the street. "You won't find no one home there."

I nearly jumped up, and strained to hear whom Jacques was talking to. Monique had closed her book to look at me when Jacques' loud voice called out again. "Trust me mister. No one is home. You just wasting your time."

I headed to the front door and opened it to see a man dressed in a suit standing in the driveway of my house. He looked over at Jacques and said. "Do you know the people who live here then?"

I wanted to respond, but Jacques gave a cheeky reply. 'Nah, the old man is never there, he travels a lot. As for the others, you should ask my sister. They had no one my age."

I sensed Monique walk up behind me and relaxed into her arms. "Don't worry, we know this news is good," she whispered as she gently pushed me out onto the porch.

The man seemed to notice the movement and looked at us briefly before asking Jacques. "Well, how would I get in touch with your sister. Shouting out in the middle of the street seems to be attracting too much attention."

Jacques snorted. "Nah, its just Monique and Rebecca, the doomful duo." He quipped.

The man seemed to sigh. "Well, where is your sister then? You said she knew the occupants of this house well."

I noticed an evil look in Jacques eyes. He shrugged and pointed right at me. "Ask Rebecca where my sister is. She's friends with her." With that Jacques raced off down the street, laughing.

The man turned back to Monique and I and looked at us for several moments. "I'm sorry to disturb you, but could you help me," he said to us.

"I guess the question is what kind of help you need," I replied carefully. "You seem awfully interested in the occupants of a house that has stood empty for almost a year."

The man looked back at me carefully. "So no one at all lives there now?"

Monique seemed to follow my lead. "Why should you care? What makes the people there important?"

I noticed the man pulling out a notebook and preparing to take notes. "I'm trying to locate a Jason O'Neill. I have reason to believe that he used to live here. I had hoped that I might find him or news of him here."

I snapped. "Jason hasn't been home since June."

The man looked right at me for a moment and then looked over his notes. He seemed puzzled. "You seem rather confident in that, Miss..."

"O'Neill," Monique replied. "Her name is Rebecca O'Neill and she's Jason's sister."

The man appeared totally shocked. "But you both just told me that no one lives in this house."

"Like anyone would let a sixteen year old girl live alone," Monique snorted. "Mom and dad have been Rebecca's guardians for years when Mr. O'Neill was on trips. After Jason vanished, Rebecca came to stay with us."

The investigator picked up his briefcase and walked around to the LeClerc's driveway. "I seem to be getting something, but not what I expected. I think I need to be sure I have the right person." He asked Monique to hold the briefcase and opened it to check over some papers. I saw him pull an envelope out before closing the briefcase and setting it back on the ground.

The man stared at us. "Very well, I'll guess I should introduce myself. My name is Chris Gatling, and I'm trying to find the whereabouts of Jason O'Neill. To be specific, I'm looking for this Jason O'Neill." He pulled a picture out of the envelope and showed it to us.

The picture had been taken in front a battered boat. But the center of the picture was a young man holding a young black woman. I did not recognize the woman at all, but Monique and I both gasped.

"It's Jason," Monique said.

The man looked at both of us. "Are you positive?" he asked.

Monique ran into the house, leaving me alone with the man as I looked closely at the picture. I could not be sure of when it was taken, but I did notice that the dark look, which had appeared in many of his pictures from the resort, seemed gone. The picture did upset me quite a bit though, as the woman with him was holding him tightly. I was going to ask more when Monique reappeared with a handful of photos.

"I think looking at these will convince you," she said as she fanned them out revealing that they were from Jason's senior year. She had even included a couple we had been given by Patricia.

Chris took barely a moment too look at them before nodding. "Yes, seeing these I am now sure I have found the right Jason O'Neill. Now the question is where he is now. He received part of the estate of Nathan Daniels when he passed on, and the law firm needs to have him sign paperwork and take custody of this inheritance."

"He did what?" I cried. "Who is Nathan Daniels? And how could my brother inherit anything? What did he do? Where is he?"

I was nearly sobbing again and Monique took me into her arms, as Chris looked on confused. "What's wrong?" He asked.

Monique tried to calm me by running fingers through my hair and looked at Chris. "Jason left after he thought he'd failed to prevent Rebecca from being raped. We have investigators looking, but it seems we keep finding him after he has moved on."

I could not see Chris as my face was held tightly to Monique's chest, but I could hear his response. "Damn. So right now we have no leads."

"What about his friend from the picture?" Monique asked. "Perhaps she can help you."

Chris sighed. "Miss Tameka Parrish? No, all she can tell us is that he found some resort on the east coast to work at. Tameka's mother showed up shortly before Nathan Daniels passed away and drove Jason away. When the will was read, Miss Mary Daniels, the deceased's daughter discovered that Nathan Daniels had disowned her years ago. She nearly went berserk in the law office when that came out during the reading. Miss Tameka Parrish is being watched by her mother's friends, so having her ask isn't possible."

I perked up at that. "So Tameka has talked to my brother? She might help us?"

Chris looked at us. "Miss Mary Daniels wants Jason dead, so I don't know. If Jason is declared dead before he signs the paperwork to claim the inheritance, she can challenge the disbursement of that part of the estate. Miss Parrish knows that and is being very careful. She has no information on where Jason is, and he calls her rarely."

I pushed away from Monique and started searching around for my cell phone. I had just found it when Monique spoke up. "Chris, I know I'm going to ask a lot, but is there any way you can put us in touch with Tameka? Finding Jason is important to us."

Chris was still formulating a reply as I dialed father. He had promised to always take my calls as long as I called rarely, so I quickly got through. "Daddy!" I cried. "We have news about Jason."

I could hear the surprised. "Has he been found? It sounds like good news."

"No, we haven't found him, but I think we are closer," I gushed. "There is an investigator here from a law firm. I guess brother inherited some money. But he said that Jason is working at a resort on the east coast at last report. Can we tell the investigators to concentrate there?"

Father seemed to be confused. "Slow down there Rebecca. All I understood was that some investigator came by looking for Jason. What was the rest?"

I tried to slow down. "It's kind of confusing to me too. The investigator, Chris said that brother is named in the will of some guy named Nathan Daniels, but that the man's daughter is not happy about this. The only status on Jason we have for sure is a picture and the fact that someone told Chris that Jason was working at a resort on the east coast."

Father seemed to sigh. "The east coast is a big area. I can tell the investigators to look, but it might take a while."

I smiled and could feel Monique give me a hug. "That's ok dad. At least we know he is ok."

"Fine then," father said. "Now I do have to get back to work."

"One more thing dad. Think you can fly out tomorrow to meet with Monique and I?" I said.

"Yes? Why?" father said.

"Because, we need to take a trip," I replied. "You'll take Monique and I to" I looked over at Chris. "Where can we find Tameka?"

Chris looked confused and replied. "Biloxi."

"That's it. You'll take Monique and I to Biloxi, Mississippi," I said.

I snapped my phone off and looked over at Chris. He seemed a bit stunned by the turn of events and did not move as I snatched the picture of Tameka and Jason out of his hands.

Monique laughed at this. "Sorry about that. Rebecca really wants her brother back," she said to Chris."

Chris just smiled and pulled a couple of business cards from a pocket. "I just hope we find him before one of Mary's less than respectable friends does. Jason got lucky that she drove him away before the reading of the will and the realization that she was inheriting nothing."

Chris walked away as Monique and I hugged each other. After he got in a sedan and drove away we went back inside.

"We are closer," I enthused.

I noticed that Monique was looking over my shoulder at the picture of Tameka and Jason. "What about her?" she asked.

I looked at the picture again and the feeling that she was more than just a friend to Jason swept through me. "You think that she and Jason..."

"Are lovers," Monique finished for me. "Or at least there were at the time this picture was taken. So we have to ask, what about her?"

I considered what the picture meant and suddenly whispered. 'I'll share."

I could hear Monique gasp. "What do you mean?" she responded.

I pulled the picture to my breasts and felt tears appear in my eyes. "The only man I'll take my panties off for is Jason. Ever. If Jason and Tameka are lovers, I'll crawl to them naked and beg for them to make me their toy, if it takes that."

Monique whirled me around to look me in the eyes. 'Rebecca, think of what you are saying. This is your future happiness. Can you really be happy if you give so much up?"

I laughed and gave her a hug. "I hid one thing from you. Remember how I said the conditioning didn't take? Well, the therapist couldn't understand why because all the evidence suggested that George was a master at it. He kept digging and digging and eventually figured out why. George had us repeating that we loved and would obey our master. I'm sure he figured that we would picture him as the master, but for me master was always Jason. The conditioning did take, just towards Jason. My love for Jason protected me from the conditioning. And now even after all that's happened, I still love Jason and want to be his."

Monique gasped. "You mean."

I just nodded. I was prepared for Monique to thrust me away when she suddenly wrapped her arms around me and kissed me. "Then I guess we offer Jason and Tameka two virgin girls who wish to be their lovers."

I started and then broke the kiss. "Monique, why?" I asked.

She leaned down to kiss me again. "Because, that's what my therapist told me too."

I'm sure some people would expect that after such a revelation we both fell into bed and fucked each other silly, but in truth after one more long hug, we returned to our studies. The night was hard on both of us, as the fear of being rejected finally surfaced.

The next day at school was the longest one I've ever spent. Monique and I tried hard to make it through each day, as the nights of little sleep were taking their toll. When we received a call later that night from Chris saying that Tameka had agreed to meet us at her grandfather's old boat, we were thrilled, especially since father had found a flight out for the morning.

The flight was both exciting and frightening. Monique and I had spent hours talking about how to approach Tameka. I wanted to talk to her first, while Monique wanted to open up with our offer. Father seemed to know that something was up, but other than giving both of us a hug and promising to always love us, refrained from commenting.

Father found our rental car and smoothly had us driving to the destination. We passed a burnt out building before coming up to the dock where Chris and Tameka waited for us.

Chris walked up to father. "Give me the keys and I'll take the car for now. One of Mary's friends torched the diner two days ago, and we think she might try for the boat. Lester is on board and is going to take the sloop out while you talk and return to you another dock. I'll meet you there."

Father looked a bit dubious but handed the keys over. He seemed about to say something, but Chris immediately started walking toward the front of the boat. Tameka then turned and smiled at father. "You look so much like an older version of Jason," she said. With that she put her hand in father's and led him down the gang plank, not looking to see as Monique and I followed.

As soon as we were all on board, Monique pulled the gangplank in and I could see Chris throw the bow line onto the boat. The stern one must have already been undone, because as soon as the line hit the deck the boat jumped forward. "We'll be in open water in five minutes," a crusty voice said from the rear.

Tameka smiled and called back. "Good."

Father still seemed a little shocked but gathered himself. "Sorry, I guess Chris told you we were coming, but I should do introductions. I'm Albert O'Neill, Jason's father. The fetching redhead is my adopted daughter, Rebecca, and our dark haired companion is her best friend Monique."

Tameka looked at both of us and then back at my father. "So you are Jason's family. No mother?" she asked.

Father seemed to shrink a little. "Jason's mother died when he was two, drug overdose."

Monique, who had not been aware of how Aine died, gasped and I could see Tameka's eyes darken. "I'm sorry. I'm sure that it's been hard on you."

Father just shrugged. "I miss her, but it was long ago. Having Rebecca's mother walk out when she was seven was far more hurtful. But we aren't here to talk about that."

Tameka nodded and then waved toward the stairway descending into the hull. "True, let's go inside to talk. Mom's friends have taken far too much interest in me recently."

We followed her down the stairs and found a small open area with bench seats on either side. Tameka sat down on one and waved us into the other. Father sat down first, with Monique and I settling in to his left.

We could hear the old sailor outside shout. "We are in the channel now. Give me another three minutes and well be out in the Gulf. Don't worry, I know where Chris wants us to end up."

Father looked a bit puzzled. "Where is he taking us?" he asked.

Tameka gave a slight frown. "Not sure. He and Chris worked it out after someone tried to run me off the road last night. All I know is that mom must have promised some of her friends the money she expected to inherit. And she's a bit upset that Jason and I inherited most of it."

Monique immediately caught that. "Why Jason? He could not have known you and your grandfather for more than three months or so. He was in Wyoming until January."

Tameka looked at Monique. "How did you know that? Jason never said a word about where he'd come from or what he did before he and my grandfather argued about the food quality one day."

I saw father's jaw drop as I snapped. "He did what?"

Tameka was now shaking her head. "Ok, now I'm confused. You claim you know Jason, and I've seen the pictures you gave Chris, so I know that at some point in the past you spent time with him, but it now seems like you barely know him."

Father seemed about to speak, but I put a hand on his arm. "No father," I said. "Monique and I caused all this with our stupidity and carelessness. I can explain it."

I could feel Monique's hand find my free one and give me a squeeze. Tameka was looking at me with a bit of interest. I felt my throat become dry, but managed to start. "As my father said, my mother vanished nine years ago. Father here kind of threw himself into work, and was rarely home, so Jason and I were raised by a succession of nannies. During that time, Jason took an interest in cooking and some of our nannies were quite happy to teach him. He also looked out for me, and was a best friend to me. Monique's family moved in four years ago, and somehow Monique became my constant companion. Since I spent a large amount of time with Jason, so did she."

I could feel Monique's hand tighten around mine. She knew what I was about to say, and although we had talked about this discussion, it was still going to be painful for both of us. Bravely I continued. "Back a year and a half ago, in December, a new couple moved in across the street. They appeared to be an older married couple with two young daughters, and they often asked either Monique or I to baby-sit. They started grooming and conditioning Monique and I to be sex slaves. The DA later told us that they had conditioned and sold at least forty girls over a period of about nine years. Monique and I were supposed to be their latest two."

Tameka gasped. "But what does that have to do with Jason?" she asked.

Monique sighed. "Jason discovered what they were doing, but he found out in a way that made him think he'd failed to protect Rebecca. He disappeared that night from Phoenix and we haven't seen him since. That was eleven months ago."

There was silence in the boat, broken only by the sound of an occasional bird overhead. Finally, father took a moment to speak. "That's why Rebecca and Monique insisted we come. The couple did not finish their work, but Jason never got to hear that. When they heard that someone was in contact with them, they begged me to let them come."

Tameka's eyes seemed to descend to the floor. "Of all the cases of bad timing," she muttered. She then looked at my father. 'I don't know where Jason is. After mother's friends started to ask questions, he and I decided that he wouldn't tell me. Worse, two nights ago, I told him that I was going to make myself scarce for a while because of a couple incidents involving my mother. Chris and the rest of his legal staff think she might try to have me killed for the inheritance. Jason didn't manage to tell me where he was before we were cut off, and he knows not to leave voice mails as one of my mother's friends has gotten into my voice mail twice in the last three weeks looking for information about him. Since that happened before I knew about you, he knows nothing if your search for him."

I could see Monique shrink beside me. My father looked over the room and then asked. "Do you have a place to go?"

Tameka smiled and shook her head. "No. Chris was going to work something out, but the only family I could stay with would be my uncles and mom is already harassing them in an attempt to get them to give her money, so visiting them would not help."

I couldn't resist. "Would Jason contact them to find you perhaps?"

Tameka seemed surprised by the question. "I'm not sure. I know that grandpa talked to Jason about them once, but I could not say how much he knows about them."

Father seemed thoughtful. "Do you know anything about where Jason is?"

Tameka looked puzzled. "Just that he's working in some restaurant."

At this Monique and I burst into giggles. Father and Tameka both looked at us for a moment. Monique and I kept laughing for a moment before Monique finally managed to get her breath. "Sorry, it's just that Albert there always was against Jason become a chef without going to college. Now he's worked at three restaurants since leaving home."

Tameka laughed at this herself. "His love of food got him the job here. He argued with grandfather about the fish he'd been served. Grandfather challenged him to cook better. I found out that evening when I came to work."

Father seemed very interested. "You worked with him?"

Tameka looked down and blushed. She seemed to be thinking of what to say before looking up at father. "When Jason arrived, my grandmother's diner had nearly died out. It was her dream and grandfather purchased it for her years ago, but after she died, he just couldn't cook as well as she did. I was helping him by being hostess and waitress most days, but Jason arrived on a day that I took lunch off in order to study for a major test at school. Jason cooked that evening as part of the challenge my grandfather made, and only left when my grandfather had his heart attack and mother shut the diner down."

I could not seem to help myself. 'And the food was good?" I asked.

Tameka glared at me, but then noticed my smile. "Good is an understatement. Jason turned the diner around. The food was not exactly what grandma cooked, but everyone loved it and my grandfather was so happy those last few months."

Monique's hand squeezed mine. "And so were you." She whispered.

I could hear a hiss from my father, but Tameka merely smiled. "Let's just say that I miss Jason," she replied.

There was another moment of uncomfortable silence and I could feel Monique nudge me, but I was still deciding if we wanted to say more when father muttered. "I hope I don't regret this."

He then looked directly at Tameka. "Tameka, I know you barely know me, and what I'm offering is unusual, but, I get a feeling that your feelings for Jason go a bit deeper than you show. Can I assume that he was going to marry you?"

Tameka looked surprised at my father's question and then replied. "He never asked, but we had talked about it, and I was trying to convince him that I'd say yes. There was something holding him back."

Father sighed and then looked directly at Tameka. "Well, if we find him, I'll try to convince him to ask. So, as my future daughter-in-law, would you like to come and stay at my house for a few months while we hunt down Jason?"

Monique gasped as my head whipped around to look at my father. His gaze was unwavering, and as I turned back to look at Tameka I could hear her sigh. "Are you sure? And what about the girls? They seem to miss Jason more than a sister or friend would."

"I'm still a virgin," Monique snapped and then covered her mouth blushing.

Father looked down at both of us and then slowly stood. 'I'm sure, but if you have questions for the girls, you should ask them. I'll go up on the deck to give you privacy." He then climbed the stairs, leaving Monique, Tameka and I in the cabin.

I could hear Monique give a small sob behind her hands and sighed. I shifted my gaze directly into Tameka's eyes and spoke. "We both do miss him more than a friend or sister would. I won't deny that. We also accept that you have a relationship with him, and we would never try to hurt that. He means a lot to both of us. Right now, I just want to get to know the woman who loved my brother right, and who helped him heal."

Tameka did not appear convinced, but only asked. "Why do I think you two have more planned?"

Monique gasped. I tried to ignore the comment, but silence hung in the cabin until I sighed. "We will never try to break you and Jason up. That is my promise."

Tameka laughed. "A non-answer. You remind me of grandpa when I used to ask about mom, before I realized what she was. I'll keep on you until you tell me though."

I found myself liking this outspoken young woman. "I don't think you'll regret it," I replied as I stood up and held my hand out.

Tameka surprised me by jumping up to hug me and kiss me on the cheek. As she did she whispered in my ear. "If you both are offering what I think you are, I doubt Jason or I will complain at all, unless it's about the lack of sleep."

I gasped, and Monique immediately asked. "What is it Rebecca?"

Tameka had let me go so I pulled Monique to her feet and pushed her into a hug with Tameka, while whispering into her ear. "Our friend here is bi"

Monique stiffened for a moment, but then seemed to melt as Tameka laughed and placed a gentle kiss on her lips. I could see Monique blush again before Tameka released her with a giggle. "Ok, you've convinced me." She said. "Let's tell your father."

The rest of the boat ride was spent on deck, laughing and learning more about the ship. It looked battered, but was in amazingly good repair and Tameda proudly told us that it was part of her inheritance. She happily talked about living her last ten years with her grandparents after her mother spent time in jail for solicitation. There were tears in her eyes as she talked about their deep and lasting love and about her grandfather's pain once his wife passed on. Jason receiving part of the estate was a gift from Nathan for reviving the diner, and bringing back his wife's dream. With his two sons having already received large gifts to help them get started in the business world, and a daughter he'd all but disowned, almost the whole estate had been split between Tameka and Jason. It was painfully clear that Nathan had been aware of the relationship between them and approved.

I found that I was not jealous of their relationship though. After Tameka had surprised both Monique and I with her reaction in the cabin, she had settled down and was rather playful around us. She seemed happy to tease both of us, and yet, there was an element of caring in that play which confused me. I barely knew her, and had told her that I wanted the same man she did, and her only reaction was to act like we were the best of friends.

Four hours later, we pulled into a small dock, where Chris was waiting for us. He seemed ready to ask my father a question, but when my father asked about Tameka coming and living with us, stopped and smiled, admitting that he was going to ask if we'd be willing to have her live with us. Tameka found the whole exchange funny. She decided to add to the laughter by giving my father a kiss that caused him to turn red from blushing.

After that, the trip was just a drive back to the airport and a long flight home. Chris had upgraded father's ticket to first class, so that Tameka could sit with Monique and me. We found ourselves spending the flight exchanging tales about Jason and growing up. By the time we arrived back home and father helped set Tameka up in Jason's room, she, Monique and I were the best of friends.