Page 7 of One Tough Love

Jill told her three bosses how business was and how she had secured a singer for Friday night. All three men groaned.

“Guys a singer will bring in more business.” She said twirling her shiny coppery hair around her forefinger.

“But Jill, this is a sports bar!” Jace laughed.

“I know what the hell this place is.” Jill replied indignantly.

“Well the people that come here want to watch sports, not listen to a singer.”

“I just want to try it this once. Please guys?” Her little pout had Andy eating out of her hands and Wes just rolled his eyes then looked to Jace. The bar had been Jace’s idea, he called it an investment, and although they all shared in the work, which was actually minimal, and the profits, Jace was the unspoken man in charge.

“Okay Jill, next Friday but we better not lose our regulars.” Jace relented.

“You won’t I promise.” Jill did a little fist pump in the air, turned on her heels and headed towards her back office. Wes watched Andy stare at her swishing backside as she walked away. He knew if the fiery redhead gave Andy even the slightest nod he’d be all over her.

Wes finished his drink and stood up. He’d had a long day and he wanted to check something out before heading home. The men shook hands and because it was a weekend he said he’d see them on Monday.

Wes set his GPS to 106B Rose Lane in Summit. He wasn’t sure why he wanted to drive past Jo's place. He sure as hell didn’t want her to think he was stalking her, but he couldn’t get her off his mind. He remembered how Officer Laramie had followed her and Wes envisioned her sitting in a cold jail cell. That thought turned his gut. He decided he would just check out where she lived and hopefully he would see her car and that would mean she’d gotten home safely.

Wes drove the route his GPS mapped out for him and was surprised at how close she lived to him. He turned down a tree lined secluded street and saw her car sitting in front of a nice looking townhouse. Breathing a sigh of relief. He continued slowly down the road and then at the end of the street he turned around and parked behind a conversion van. From where he sat he could see the front of her home. He wasn’t sure why he decided to park there and he sure as hell didn’t want her to see him. He moved his hand to restart his car, decided against it, and mumbled that he was being an idiot, but continued to sit there.

Wes took out his phone and spent the next half hour checking his emails and returning some calls all while monitoring her home. It was getting late and Wes didn’t see any lights on in her place. There was no way she was home. He placed his cell in his suit jacket pocket and was just about ready to press the ignition button when he saw two people swaying up the sidewalk from the opposite direction.

As they passed under a street light Wes saw Jo, her long blond hair hanging loose, falling over her shoulders and down her cropped peasant shirt. She wore cut off jean shorts that had slits in the sides and little strappy sandals. Her face was turned towards the other person, a man. He was a foot taller than Jo and well built. He had on jeans and a tee shirt and Wes could see that he had some muscle packed on him.

As they got closer Wes could hear Jo giggling. His gut clenched uncomfortably. He didn’t even know this girl so why did it bother him so that she was with a guy. They could be engaged for all he knew, but he distinctly remembered looking at her hand for a ring. The happy couple was clearly tipsy and when they got to the front of the townhouse Wes watched them turn to each other. The man had his hand on her shoulders and Wes’ held his breath thinking they were going to kiss. Instead Jo stepped backwards away from the man, playfully swatted his arm before turning towards her home's door. The man stood and watched her. Jo took out her key, unlocked the door and stepped inside. Then she turned around, gave the man a little wave and shut the door behind her. Wes watched the man turn to the door right next to Jo’s, unlocked it and let himself inside.

He's her neighbor Wes said out loud. The heavy feeling that had previously invaded his body lifted slightly. He realized they hadn’t kissed or even hugged. Wes knew in his gut they were not a couple and that put a stupid grin on his face. Wes watched the lights pop on in Jo’s house and once again he went to start his car, but before he did he heard another car, closer to Jo’s house start up. Wes hadn’t noticed anyone else on the street, so who ever was starting the car had been sitting in it for a while now. The car pulled away from the curb, keeping its lights off. The sedan crept down the street and Wes sunk down low so that he wouldn’t be seen. The car had dark tinted windows, there was no license plate on the front and the plate on the back was unreadable.

Wes’ PI senses kicked in. Someone else had been watching Jo or maybe watching the man, either way it didn’t leave Wes with a good feeling. He just hoped that his little stalker routine hadn’t been noticed. Wes waited a few more minutes making sure the ominous car did not return. He watched as the lights turned off in Jo’s apartment and he saw a bluish hue coming from one of the windows. He knew she was probably in bed watching television. Wes started his car and headed home.

Seeing Jo again only deepened his desire to see her. He also had a strong suspicion that all was not right in little Jo Ross’ world.

Chapter 5

Jo

On Saturday morning Jo first went to the bank, and then to her Verizon store. She had alrea

dy reported her credit cards and cell phone stolen, using her computer. The banks were alerted in case someone tried to use one of her cards and Verizon had shut off her cell phone so no one could use it. All she had to do now was pick up a new debit card and a new phone. She was pleased that she could even have her same phone number. After time spent at the bank and waiting in line at the Verizon store Jo stopped at her neighborhood deli and got her favorite club sandwich for lunch. She chatted for a minute with Ralph the owner but the store was getting crowded so their visit was cut short.

After eating lunch Jo spent the remainder of the day playing with her iPhone. It wasn't the newest version, she couldn't afford that, but at least now she had a phone.

Jo had all her music backed up on her computer, so she spent the rest of her Saturday downloading her numerous playlists, inputting contacts, and reinstalling most of her Apps. Sunday was spent searching the web and local papers for possible job leads.

She had majored in journalism and minored in criminal justice. Her dad had hoped she’d continue her education and become a lawyer, however Jo loved to write. She also loved solving mysteries, so when her college Advisor had suggested Investigative Journalism Jo decided to give it a chance. She interned at the Morgis Regional Ledger, the paper that eventually hired her. During her first week interning at the paper she wrote obituaries, edited a few puff pieces, and covered a dog show.

While she was at the dog show she realized there was some major lobbying underway. Jo snooped around and discovered that a judge was having an affair with one of the trainers. Jo took pictures of them entering the hotel together and then another of them entering the elevator. The pictures were time stamped. She obtained the surveillance tape of inside the elevator, which showed the couple having a make out session before getting off on the floor where the judge had a room.

Jo went home and wrote an expose article and included a still time stamped photo of the couple entering the hotel together. She turned in her article to Henry who was very impressed. Henry made an appointment the next day with the woman running the dog show, and he and Jo showed her Jo’s article and the evidence Jo had gathered. Henry told the woman that this was a courtesy heads up. The paper would be running the article in Sunday’s paper.

Jo was thrilled; the lady, not so much. So at the tender age of twenty-one Jo had her first by-line and fell in love with investigative reporting. Henry hired her on the spot, contingent on her graduating of course.

Now she was unemployed and sitting at her kitchen table sending off her resume. She sent one to a paper in Chicago and another to a television network looking for a writer for a new show they were launching that probed current events and other human interest stories. The good news was that she could always freelance.

Satisfied that she had looked at every possible job lead Jo grimly shut down her computer and decided she needed a run. She texted Nick but he didn’t respond so Jo headed out to run the lake loop.

With her new iPhone in hand Jo quickly fell into a comfortable running rhythm. She wanted to push herself today since she had missed her workout yesterday. Pleased at what she had accomplished yesterday, she thought she would send out a few resumes and she continued to busy herself mentally planning what she needed to do next after her run.

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