Chapter 23

When I went into the kitchen, Myrna was there by herself. I asked where Sally and Kat were, and she said she thought they were out by the barn. I told her that when they came back in, to tell Kat I needed to speak to her in my study and that it was private. She just looked at me and said she would tell Kat, but not the last part because it would raise Sally's curiosity too much. I nodded then went back into my study and got on the phone. I made a couple more calls to check with my contacts to ease my own mind. What I found out helped, but I still wanted to hear it from her before I decided anything.

I sat back in the chair, thinking about Kat and how all this had happened so fast. Now I knew I had heard of it, but I never figured it would happen to me in my lifetime. I was still thinking, when a soft knock at the door interrupted my thoughts. I took a deep breath before I said to come in. She came in, smiling at me, and I asked if she would close the door. I got a funny look, but she did and sat down in the chair by my desk.

"Kat, I need to talk to you, and I don't know how to approach this and not hurt the feelings we have for each other."

"Jon, I don't know why you look so upset, but just say what's on your mind. My feelings are not the problem here, but whatever is bothering you is."

I handed her the papers with her picture on top. When she saw them, her face turned white and she looked at me with a puzzled expression. I watched her as she sat back and read the sheets. She handed them back to me, smiling as she did. It made me wonder what was so funny, but as I had the thought, she started speaking to me.

"Jon, I worked there part time as a systems analyst while I went to school. I had to live and to be able to afford the accelerated classes I was taking at the time. God, I never figured it would come back to haunt me years later. If you're worried about me telling someone about the rescue you're planning, then your secret is safe. I would love to help in any way I can. I know this may be a bit soon, but I think I'm in love with you and if your actions tell me anything, then you feel the same. Jon, I would never do anything to hurt you or Sally."

"Kat, I know I'm in love with you, but I have to know about these things. Please don't ever hold anything back from me and I will do the same. The rescue of this girl just took a turn I hadn't expected, and I won't tell you because what you don't know won't hurt your career or your standing at the hospital. Let's just say I don't want you involved in this any further and I don't want Sally to know more than she already does. Myrna knows everything because I don't hold any secrets from her. Other than her and me, the information is not public knowledge. Even if you don't work for the Government anymore, it could cause you problems if they thought you knew something and didn't pass it on."

She looked at me in a quizzical way for a second, then came around and sat down in my lap and kissed me. I was lost again. I wondered to myself if I would ever be able to get control of my feelings when she did that. She leaned back and smiled at me before whispering in my ear the words that would go though my mind all the rest of the day.

"We are going to have to go to my place, Jon Morgan. I think we need to spend some serious time getting to know each other a little more intimately. If you feel like I do when we kiss, then we need to get away for awhile by ourselves. What do you say after your meeting, we slip off to my house and spend the afternoon together and see where it takes us?"

"I don't think I've ever had an invitation like that from a beautiful woman before, Kat. I think it would be a good idea, if you can slip away from my daughter long enough to leave. I don't think it will be easy the way she has attached herself to you."

"Oh Jon, you are so dense at times. She was the one who suggested I grab you and take you to the side, and ask you out for a few drinks and maybe supper in town. She said you would be too much of a gentleman to ask me so soon."

"I'm gonna kill her."

She busted out with that little girl laughter. I tried to kiss her to quiet her down, but it made her laugh even harder. Then came the sound of a fist, beating on the door. Sally was yelling, "What are you two doing in there so long?" When she opened the door, we both were laughing.

"Jon, don't you have something to do besides bother my guest? I would like to spend some more time with her before she has to go back to town. What's so funny, anyway?"

Kat got up, kissing me on the cheek as she did, and went over to Sally, still laughing. She grabbed her in a head lock, pulling her out the door as she did. I heard Sally yell; "Hey what's with the..." before she shut the door behind her. I sat back and laughed at the sight before I thought about our conversation.

Since I never had the luck to ever have a long term relationship with a woman, I was hoping that what she said meant what I thought it did. If not, I would have to tread very carefully, or end up getting slapped for doing something about what I thought she was saying but hadn't. This was like sneaking through a jungle to take out a sentry. One slip and your goose was cooked in more ways than one. I had to stop being so distracted by her, I thought. I had a rescue to plan and I really didn't need the distraction, although I was enjoying the feeling of euphoria from it.

I looked at my watch and realized I had time to go to Jeb's and start on that end of it. I got up, grabbing the map tube, and headed for the front door to go to my truck. I was still thinking about Kat and almost ran over Tiny. I got a fist shook at me and the bird, which I returned to him with a smile. As I pulled out, I could see him smiling and shaking his head. For some reason, the drive to Jeb's didn't seem to take any time at all. Probably because all I could see was Kat's face as I drove. I was still hearing that little girl laughter ringing in my ears. When I pulled up, there were several cars in the lot. The one that stuck out was an old Chevy pickup that had West Virginia tags on it. It was covered in mud and there were several dog cages in the back and a rifle hanging in plain sight in the back glass. Hmm, I thought, I bet I can guess who that one belongs to. I got out and headed inside with the tube under my arm.

When I went inside, one of the men that were here the last time saw me and motioned toward the back where the office was. I headed that way after nodding my head to thank him. Jeb was in his office with two men who, from reading and seeing pictures, looked like a modern day example of mountain men. At least by my inexperienced eyes they did. They both had jeans and flannel shirts, and full beards that were longer than my hair. I knocked on the door and Jeb waved me in. The smell that hit me was a mixture of pine and sweat, and was almost too strong to bear. Jeb was watching me, so I didn't let on, but I had a feeling he could tell what I was thinking. I sat down in the only vacant chair and waited for Jeb to speak since it was his office.

"Jon, this is Jubal and Farley, the two men I was telling you about. Now, if you would, will you tell me why you changed your mind about asking for help? I know you're not healed enough to do this, so why ask now?"

I introduced myself to both of them, and was in turn told they were ready to follow my orders, if they thought they would be interested in my plan, whatever it was. I spent the next hour or so explaining the situation to them. I told them what I had deduced about the rescue, and that we would have no backup because of what I had found out about the church. I went on to tell them what else I had planned, when they started looking at me a little strange. I stopped and asked if there was a problem.

"Yes there is, Jon. Jubal and I don't do kidnapping."

"This is not a kidnapping, fellas; this is the rescue of a fifteen year old girl who is being held against her will by a bunch of fanatics. They think the law about child slavery and molestation doesn't apply to them because they are a so called church."

I went on to tell them about my first round with this bunch in Texas, and what happened after I got the girl free. Jeb hadn't said a word, he just sat back in his chair listening to me talk. I went on to explain what I did, and how many cases I had handled in my short four or five years of finding missing children. I started to explain a few more things when Jeb interrupted me.

"Jubal, Farley, this is the kind of thing we can use your help on, but if you are squeamish about it, just go home. I have others who would give their left nut to help with this kind of thing. Now, if you boys decline to help and open your mouth to anyone about this, I will take it personally if you get my drift."

I watched as they both got a little white around the eyes as they looked at each other. Now I was wondering just what else Jeb had his fingers in, if just a few words could scare a couple of ex Navy Seals to the point that they would squirm in their chairs. Whatever it was, I decided, I didn't want to know and waited to see where this would go. Jeb was staring at the both of them pretty hard and they were getting antsier as he did. Finally Farley spoke up and directed his question toward me.

"Jon, we ain't doubting your word, but we thought we would see a little action. I mean, it ain't like we're not sorry about the girl, but we did too much surveillance in the Navy without being able to get in on the final act."

"Farley, if we get caught in the middle of setting this up, don't doubt for a minute we won't be tortured or even shot if they see us as a threat. Me especially, since I'm the only one who knows where the mother is, and they want her bad. They have contacts in some high places and won't hesitate to make us disappear, if they think it will keep their secrets. Tell you what; I will pay for your motel and food for the night and give you time to think about it. But, as Jeb said, if you decide not to go, then don't open your mouth to anyone about this. They might kill the girl to keep her from being rescued, and if that happens because one of you had a loose tongue, I will kill you myself."