Searching for a New Home (8 page)

Jacob replies, "I picked up the video this
morning and the headset matches the exact description of the one
she said was taken from her console right down to the scratches
caused when she dropped it on pavement. The timeline fits too."

"How about the gun powder residue? How do you
explain that?" asks the prosecutor.

"All of the information is in the Discovery
packet that I dropped off at your office this morning. I got a copy
of the sign in log from The Bullet Trap in Bozeman verifying that
she was there that very morning for target practice. She had to
register and show her CHL from Texas to be allowed to
practice."

"If the gun wasn't in the console of her car,
who do you think took it out? Maybe she had it in her purse all
along."

"She says she put it in the console when she
left The Bullet Trap" responds Jason.

"What about the person that supposedly yelled
Frank Gibbons name and distracted him? Any idea who that was?" asks
the prosecutor.

"I don't have a clue about that one. But if I
had to guess, I would look for the person or persons in that dark
sedan. Rest assured though that Billy Bragg will be at the top of
the defense witness list at the trial. Bill, I'll expect a copy of
that video by tomorrow." states Jacob

Jacob drives straight to the airport in
Butte. While he is waiting for the pilot to finish preparing the
jet for his return flight he places a call to the private
investigator Tom Christensen.

"Tom, this is Jacob Murray."

"Hey Jacob, what's up?" asks Tom
Christenson.

Jacob thanks him for the information and
video from Glenn's on the blue tooth headset and then tells Tom
about his interview with Billy Bragg. He asks him to try to locate
the person or persons from the dark sedan. He explains that he has
reason to believe that Jana was followed not only by Frank Gibbons
in his beat up blue pickup but also by an unknown person in a dark
sedan. He asks him to check as many surveillance videos as he can
get his hands on to see if the dark sedan appears. He is especially
interested in seeing if the sedan shows up on anything from the
truck stop, the hotel, The Bullet Trap in Bozeman or the restaurant
in Dillon. Time is short so he asks him to hurry.

Tom tells Jacob everything he has learned
about Jana's movements from the time she arrived at the truck stop
until she was arrested in Dillon Montana. He traced her movements
through cell phone records.

Jacob and Tom have been friends and
associates for years. He knows Tom has connections in the security
industry that will allow him access to information that even law
enforcement has difficulty getting their hands on.

With the information provided by Billy Bragg,
Jacob is now confident that he can secure an acquittal based on
reasonable doubt for Jana. But he wants to know who killed Frank
Gibbons. He wants to be sure Jana isn't in any danger. If someone
is after Jana for some reason, Dani could also be a target.

******

The video of his interview with Billy Bragg
arrives at the ranch early the next morning by special courier.
After I view the video I verify the information is accurate as far
as I know. I am thankful that someone else is verifying that I had
already left the restaurant before the gunfire erupted.

Jacob assures me that with Billy Bragg's
testimony he can ensure an acquittal by creating reasonable
doubt.

At almost noon on Thanksgiving Day, Jacob's
cell rings.

"Jacob Murray"

"Jacob, Bill Hargess. I hate to be the bearer
of bad news, but I knew you would want to know. Billy Bragg is
dead, hung himself in his cell last night. Oh, and one more thing,
when we searched his house, we found a large amount of cash, almost
seventy thousand dollars."

"Thanks Bill." Well that explains what
happened to the cash Cybil had withdrawn on the morning she
disappeared. Evidently Billy had taken it out of Frank Gibbon's
truck at the restaurant. As long as he has the taped interview they
will still be all right without Billy's live testimony.

He has barely hung up with Bill when the
phone rings again.

"Jacob Murray"

"Hey Jacob, it's Tom. We hit the jackpot.
That dark sedan is on all of the security videos I examined. We
even got a close up of the driver at The Bullet Trap in Bozeman. It
was Sam "Iceman" Willard, professional hit man out of
Philadelphia."

A cold chill runs down Jacob's back.
"Anything else?" he asks, his heart pounding with trepidation.

"I have video of him taking Jana's Glock out
of her console when she filled up with gas before leaving Bozeman"
replies Tom.

"Awesome," says Jacob. "Let me know if you
can find out anything else about what Sam Willard is after. I need
to make sure Jana is not in danger, Dani too."

"The FBI is looking for him. I reported what
I found so they are concentrating on the northwest now. I'll let
you know if I hear anything else.

"I'm going to need you in court on Monday
morning, nine o'clock, Dillon Montana."

"I'll be there," responds Tom.

Jacob and I fly into Butte Montana and make
the one hour drive into Dillon, Montana early on Monday morning
driving straight to the court house. I am dressed conservatively in
a black pantsuit and flats. My hair is in a neat chignon to portray
a professional look. Jacob has briefed me on what to expect on this
first day in court. Even though I have seen the video of his
interview with Billy Bragg, I am still a nervous wreck, visibly
shaking.

When the judge enters the court room, my
stomach turns over with anxiety. He looks downright intimidating.
The charges are read and I am asked if I understand the charges
against me and I answer that I do.

The prosecutor stands and asks to approach
the bench. Jacob joins him in front of the judge. The prosecutor
then states, "Your Honor, in view of new evidence that was
discovered over the last week, we would like to request a dismissal
of all charges against Ms. Bowen."

The judge looks at Jacob and asks,
"Counselor?" A slow smile spreads across Jacob's face, "No
objection, Your Honor."

"Motion granted. Case dismissed!!" announces
the judge as he slams his gavel down on the desk. He rises from his
chair and exits the courtroom.

I hear what the judge is saying but I am
confused, what is happening here? Jacob is smiling and shaking
hands with the prosecutor. What is going on? Where did the judge
go?

Smiling, Jacob walks over to the Defense
table, grabs me around the waist and swings me around. "It's over,
you're free!" he says happily.

I have to place my arms on Jacob's shoulders
to keep from falling. I am dizzy with relief. "I'm really free,
it's over?"

"You're really free. Come on, let's go get
some lunch and I'll explain everything to you." says Jacob.

Jacob and I are joined at the restaurant by a
tall, good looking man he introduces as Tom Christenson. Jacob
tells me Tom is a private investigator and had a lot to do with
what happened in court today.

After we are seated and have placed our
orders, Jacob looks at me and says, "Jana, when you left the hotel
that morning in Casper, you were followed not only by Frank Gibbons
but also by a man named Sam Willard. Have you ever heard of
him?"

"No. I'm confused. Should I know him?"

"I didn't think you did. Evidently Sam was
following Frank and not you. Anyway he trailed you and Frank for
the whole time. Tom found surveillance video from several of your
stops along the way that showed both Frank's blue pickup and Sam's
dark four door sedan.

When you stopped at The Bullet Trap in
Bozeman you gave Sam the perfect opportunity to blame you when he
murdered Frank which was his intention all along. Both of you
played right into his hands with the argument inside the
restaurant. Sam watched you practicing with your Glock at the
Bullet Trap and he watched you put it in the console of your car
when you left. Tom here found video of him breaking into your car
when you stopped for gas and taking your Glock out of the console.
That was the evidence the prosecutor needed to ask for the
dismissal. He had to have an explanation how your gun got into
somebody else's hands. Anyway, our theory is that Sam is the person
that yelled at Frank and distracted him when he was attacking you
in the parking lot. Frank was trying to get to his truck and his
weapon when Sam shot him with your gun. He then tossed the gun in
some bushes where it was found by the police linking you to the
murder. He left the scene before anyone came out of the
restaurant."

"So that dark sedan really was following me?
What made you check it out?"

"Billy Bragg also mentioned a dark sedan
driving by the restaurant real slow. Billy is the one that stole
your blue tooth headset out of the console. He also said he didn't
see a gun in the console when he was in your car. That's when we
decided to look further" explains Jacob.

"And where is this Sam person now?"

Tom picks up the story "Sam isn't a nice
person. He is wanted by the FBI for several murders and they have
been searching for him for years. He is still on the run somewhere.
We are still trying to locate him. Until we know for sure where he
is, don't leave the ranch alone. We don't think he is after you,
but the truth is, we don't know for sure what he is after."

After lunch, Jacob shakes hands and says
goodbye to Tom and then after a stop at the courthouse to pick up
my Glock and the twenty thousand dollars from the sale of my house
we head for the airport in Butte.

******

Sam Willard slides down further in the seat
of his car. He knew Jana Bowen's trial for the murder of Frank
Gibbons was this morning and he has been waiting for them to exit
the courthouse. He recognizes the man that is with her. He is the
famous lawyer that represented that movie star, Barry Farrady, a
few years ago. If he remembers correctly, he has a ranch near Cody
Wyoming. That must be where she has the money hidden. That is the
only reason Gibbons would have had for following her. He had
searched Frank Gibbon's pickup at the restaurant in Dillon before
he and the blonde came outside so he knows the money was not in the
truck.

No problem, he will mosey on down to Cody
Wyoming and find the money wherever she has it hidden. He has all
the time in the world.

******

Jacob changes his clothes on the plane home.
He dons jeans, boots, and a western shirt. He finally feels like
himself again. He still can't believe he use to wear one of those
monkey suits every day. Those ties are sheer torture!

While he is changing he is wondering what
Jana's next move will be. Will she pack up and head out of Cody
tomorrow in pursuit of a home? Will she even think about Dani's
feelings when she makes her decision? Until they know for sure
about Sam Willard, he really doesn't want her to leave because she
may be in real danger, but he can't make her stay.

Yes, he is attracted to Jana. She is a
beautiful woman and he would have to be dead not to be attracted to
her, but what does it mean? Should he take a chance on pursuing a
relationship or will that only expose Dani to more heartache if she
stays now and leaves later? Offering her a position as Dani's nanny
might keep her around at least until they know about Willard. Too
many unanswered questions, he'll just have to play this one by
ear.

I am relieved to be out from under the
pressure of the trial but now I have to decide what to do next. I
love Dani and I can hardly bear to think about leaving the child. I
know Dani's heart will be broken. She has been through so much in
her short life and I don't want to add to her disappointments. At
the same time, it is Jacob's home and he hasn't given me any
indication that I would be welcome to stay on at the ranch now that
the trial is over. I can't afford to forget about Sam Willard
either. He sounds very dangerous and I am not sure I want to face
him alone. I will just have to wait and see what develops. At least
they gave me back my Glock and all of my money when the charges
were dropped.

Jacob takes the seat on the jet next to Jana
and reaches for her hand. A streak of electrical energy zips
through his veins when he touches her hand. He takes a deep breath
enjoying the feeling for the first time and asks, "Happy?"

I feel the charge of electrical energy zip
through my veins and warmth spreads up my arm from where Jacob is
holding my hand. I smile at him, "Relieved and a little
apprehensive."
What is going on? This is the
first time Jacob has touched me in months!

Jacob brushes his thumb across Jana's
knuckles and hears her breath catch. "So what's next?" Yes, she
feels the sexual attraction too. Good!

I look into Jacob's eyes and see warmth in
their depths, "I honestly don't know." My heart is pounding with
excitement.

Jacob says, "You know, Dani loves you and
she's going to be devastated if you leave."

I turn my head and look out the side window
as tears cloud my eyes, "I know." My heart breaks every time I
think about leaving the child.

"Haven't you been happy at the ranch?" he
asks.

Surprised by the question, I look back at
Jacob, the tears still visible in my eyes, "Of course, I love being
at the ranch, and I love Dani too."

Jacob sees the tears in Jana's eyes. "Would
you consider staying then? You can be Dani's nanny. I'll even pay
you. Please at least think about it." says Jacob. Please God, don't
let her leave! He is definitely going to see where this strong
sexual chemistry might lead.

"All right, I'll think about it." Relief and
joy flow over me at Jacob's words. He isn't going to make me leave,
at least not yet.