Page 7 of Hooking a Firefly
Chapter 3
Harrison wrapped his arms around Jaylen and held her close.He needed the hug as much as he did.No, that wasn’t true.It had upset him to witness Linc being stabbed and little Zoey being kidnapped, but it hadn’t been his child or his other half that had been impacted.He lifted his head and stared over at the various police officers on the beach and his gaze connected with a woman he hadn’t expected to see there.
What the hell was Ashlyn doing at the beach?
Maybe she’d had a vision… He wanted to go to her and ask, but he knew he couldn’t.Not because of Jaylen, though that was a good reason to stay away.Ashlyn would never tell him about her visions.She never had before and nothing had changed in all the years they had known each other.Ashlyn was good at keeping secrets and her distance from him.That had angered him years ago, and it still did today when he wanted to help two of his closest friends.
Jaylen stepped away from him and wiped tears from her eyes.“What do you know about all of this?”She waved her hand toward the police.“Why did that maniac take my daughter and stabbed Linc?”
Harrison crossed his arms over his chest.He wished he had the answers Jaylen needed, but he didn’t.“I don’t know.”He sighed.“I wasn’t near them when it happened and didn’t hear their exchange.”Harrison rubbed his hand over his face as frustration filled him.“I was walking toward them, but I didn’t suspect anything nefarious.The guy had a Fireflies shirt on, so I assume he’s a fan.When Linc fell, I ran toward them.The man, and I wish to God I had gotten a good look at him, grabbed Zoey and ran with her.”He shook his head in dismay.“I could only tell them basic information about hair color and height.”Hell, he couldn’t even be certain the man had been a fan of the fireflies.The shirt could have been a decoy or a way to approach Linc that appeared nonthreatening.
“I don’t know what to do…” Jaylen looked out at the water.She blew out a shaky breath.“Zoey is…” Her voice shook as she struggled to get the words out.“I never knew that becoming a mother would change my whole world and I would do anything, give anything, to protect her.I just need her back.”Her lips wobbled.She cursed under her breath.“I’m supposed to cover the Suns game tonight.The last thing I want to do is pretend everything is all right at a damn baseball game.”
“The police are going to want to talk to you,” he said.There wasn’t much he could do.“Why don’t you call work and see if someone can cover for you, and after you talk to the head detective, I’ll take you home.”
“Yeah, okay…” She pulled out her phone and waved it.“This shouldn’t take long.Give me a few minutes and then I’ll walk up there with you.Honestly, I’m surprised they haven’t descended upon us already.One of the officers let me through to talk to them, but I saw you and I had to come see you first.”
She walked off to make her phone call.Harrison glanced up at the police again.Ashlyn was still there and talking to the Lieutenant that he’d spoken to earlier.They seemed close.She leaned a little toward the tall man and listened to what he had to say, and she appeared to trust him.A spike of jealousy shot through him.He wanted Ashlyn to trust him that way.Why did she always push him away and treat him as if he were a pariah?It pissed him off.
Jaylen finished her call and strolled back to his side.“That’s done.Let’s get the rest finished and see if they have any answers for me.”
“After you,” Harrison said as he held his hand out.
She smiled and headed up to the police officers.When they reached them, Jaylen stopped and frowned, then walked up to the Lieutenant when he waved her over.“Miss Williams?”
Jaylen nodded.“Yes,” she replied, then moved closer.“Can you tell me what is going on.Do you have any idea who that man was and when are you going to find my daughter?”Her tone was hard and no nonsense.It was the voice she used when interviewing some of the biggest assholes in sports.Harrison had heard her use it many times since he’d met her.
“We have no more information at this time,” Lieutenant Netom told her.“But we will work diligently to find the man and bring your daughter home.I promise I won’t give up.”
Ashlyn stood behind the lieutenant.She remained silent, but observant.At the first opportunity he had, he would make her tell him what she knew.There was a reason she was at the beach, and Harrison would not let her stonewall him on this.People he cared a great deal about were being affected by this.
“I’m going to go home,” Jaylen said.“Please call me as soon as you find anything, and I mean anything out.”
“I thought you would go to the hospital…” Lieutenant Netom frowned.“Lincoln Bouchard will be in surgery.”
Jaylen rubbed her temples.“You are right.I should go there.”She took a deep breath.“I’m not thinking clearly.”She turned toward Harrison.“Can you drive me?”
He nodded.“Of course.”
“I’ll be at the hospital until Linc is out of surgery if you need to reach me.Then I’ll be home.I don’t plan on working until my daughter is brought back to me.”
With those words, she walked away.Harrison fell into step behind her.He had wanted to go to the hospital to check on Linc.After he was out of surgery, he’d take Jaylen home, then he’d pay a call on Ashlyn.He wanted answers.
Ashlyn closedthe door behind her, then fell on her sofa and groaned.Her headache had returned and she couldn’t recall when she’d ever been so exhausted.Lieutenant Netom wanted her to try to force a vision.She understood the motivation behind the request, but her gift didn’t work on command.If only it did… There was no controlling it though.That would be akin to harnessing a hurricane and bending it to her will.Impossible and dangerous…
She could break something fundamental inside of her mind if she tried something so reckless.Ashlyn didn’t want to live her life only half of a person.She understood why everyone was on edge.A little girl had been kidnapped and her father seriously injured.That would make anyone feel helpless.They had nothing to go on, and the leads they did have had been slim to begin with.
“Come on,” she said as she rubbed her temples.“Help me out here.Give me something…”
Ashlyn moaned as a flash came into focus, but it wasn’t one of the missing little girl.The little girl that she wanted to see would have been preferable.No, this one was ofherand her nonexistent childhood.
“Why can’t I make them stop?”she said, her voice wobbly as she spoke to her mother.
“I know they’re difficult,” Enid Olivier-Penn said in a soft tone.“Our gifts are special though and you should never want to give them up or make them stop.”
“I don’t care,” Ashlyn said.“They’re awful and I want them to go away.”
Her mother pushed a stray red lock behind her ear and smiled.“One day you’ll be grateful for them.They’ll ensure you can help those around you, and with them you could save a life.Instead of admonishing them, try to interpret them.They might not be what they seem…”
