The Road to Justice/Sins of the Son combo pack - A John Fowler Novel (John Fowler (Books 1 & 2)) (67 page)

John finally looked up at Arthur. 
“
Arthur
,
I missed so much because of that bust.  It didn
’
t make my career,
in fact,
it ended it for a long time.
”
             
“
John,
”
Arthur began. 
“
The world needs you.  They need someone to stop the evil that
’
s out there.  I know that as soon as you took out Lucciano that someone else took his place.  Sam said this to me so many times.  She would say,
‘
Dad
,
if he doesn
’
t stop them, th
e
n who will, and would you trust them the way you do John to take them down.  How many have we known that have been bought out by corruption?
’
 
John
,
you are the best at what you do, and you can
’
t stop.  In fact
,
I am asking you, please don
’
t stop.
”

John sat there for a second, silent.  He nodded once and moved the water out from in front of him.

“
Arthur, I don
’
t want to do to Jessica what I did to Sam,
”
John said quietly.

“
Well
,
so far you
’
re doing the exact same thing,
”
Arthur said pointing a finger in John
’
s face.  John
’
s jaw dropped. 
“
You pushed Sam away at the end so she wouldn
’
t get hurt
:
what do you think you
’
re doing to Jessica?
  And don
’
t give me that crap about
how
you
’
ve only been dating for a few weeks.  John
,
you
’
ve know
n
that girl for years.  Sam told me several times if something ever happened to her she was sure you two would be great together.  Boy
,
what is your problem?  You
’
ve been alone for three years, she is an amazing woman.
”

             
“
Do you know how many people have all told me the same thing?
”
 
John asked, grinning. 
“
She is amazing, and quite attractive.
”

             
“
She
’
s also got one devastating right hook,
”
Arthur replied.

             
“
Did she swing at you?
”
 
John asked.

             
“
No, but I saw the shot she took at you,
”
Arthur said. 
“
John, I
’
ll listen all night to you if I need to, but can we go home?
”

             
John got up and headed toward the door, with Arthur following him.  They went outside and headed toward the car

             
“
Do you think they kept the food?
”
 
John asked.

             
Arthur smiled. 
“
John
,
there is no way Madeline would have thrown that out,
”
he replied.

             
“
Good,
”
John said. 
“
That was as good as mom
’
s.
”
 
John paused before he opened the car door. 
“
You
’
re good with me and Jessica, right?
”

             
“
Sam wouldn
’
t have it any other way John, and neither would I.
”

             
John and Jessica were heading to see Jeremiah and Bruce in the hospital.  The car ride had been silent; awkwardly silent.  John decided to break the silence.

             
“
So
,
the food was really good last night,
”
John said
, star
ing straight ahead.

             
“
Oh,
”
Jessica replied never taking her eyes off of the road. 
“
I thought you left shortly after I went upstairs.
”

             
“
Arthur took me to find a meeting,
”
John said.  Jessica
’
s eyes darted toward John, but she never turned her head.  John continued. 
“
We couldn
’
t find one, so we went to a diner and I talked some things out.  When we got back, I ate it.  It was really good.
”

             
“
You said that,
”
Jessica replied, not for sure how to deal with the meeting comment.

             
“
You made me realize something last night,
”
John said.

             
“
Oh,
”
Jessica said still staring straight ahead.

             
“
I
’
m not being fair to you.
”
 
John turned and looked straight at Jessica.  Jessica glanced at him for a second, and silently rebuked herself. 
“
There are going to be times in my life when I
’
m going to have to go to a meeting.  I need you to know it
’
s not necessarily your fault, or that you did something, but I will need to go.  I hope you can deal with that.
”
 
Jessica pursed her lips and nodded. 

             
“
So I guess I owe you a meal when we get back to New York,
”
John said trying to change the subject.

             
“
Oh,
”
Jessica replied. 
“
What are you going to make, fried bologna sandwiches and a pickle spear
?
”
she said sarcastically.

             
John paused for a second. 
“
That sounds good actually,
”
John said.

             
“
It does,
”
Jessica begrudgingly replied.

             
“
What would you know about fried bologna?
”
 

             
“
John,
”
Jessica said looking him in the eye for a split second and then turning back to the road. 
“
Do you have a clue where I
’
m from?
”

             
“
It
’
s not from the South.
”

             
“
Kentucky is not the South,
”
Jessica stated flatly.

             
“
Don
’
t tell the people of Kentucky that,
”
John said shaking his head.  Jessica started to chuckle. 
“
Let me guess
,
you had family from the South and that
’
s where you had first had fried bologna?
”

             
Jessica smiled and kept driving.  After a minute she spoke quietly. 
“
I want a world famous John Cheeseburger Pizza that Sam was always raving about.
”
 
John was a little taken aback.

             
“
You know I don
’
t use real pizza crust?
”
 
He asked.

             
“
I know,
”
she replied with a satisfied smirk on her face. 
“
I listen to my friends.
”

             
“
And I don
’
t?
”
John protested.

             
“
Reading someone is not listening to them,
”
Jessica retorted.  John licked his finger and drew a point on an imaginary scoreboard. 
“
It
’
s a few more than that,
”
Jessica said grinning broadly at John.  John smiled back and settled into the seat, watching the scenery go by. 

Baltimore, Maryland

Chapter 85

Luke picked up the burner phone and called the cell phone number preprogrammed in it for the tenth time.  The phone on the other end rang and rang with no answer.  Luke
disconnected the call, and
knew it was time to take care of
himself
.  He began to work on the explosive device.  He needed something for leverage, and this was the only thing that he could think of.  Luke had explosive training from his days in the military. 

It was obvious that Archibald had turned on him, or was just going to let him hang out to dry.  No, Archibald wouldn
’
t do that.  Archibald had a backup plan, and Luke was sure it contained a way to make sure he couldn
’
t tell how Archibald was involved.  When he finished the bomb, he was going to call John Fowler and turn himself in.  Luke had to make sure he came in protected.  Luke wasn
’
t sure who Archibald
’
s man was in the FBI, but Luke was certain a kill order had been put out on him.

Luke knew his only chance was to tell everything he knew on Archibald and try to get into witness protection.  Luke hadn
’
t actually kidnapped the Senator, so that should play into his favor.  Luke knew the Attorney General from his years in the White House, and he knew that telling all on Archibald wouldn
’
t keep Luke from not serving any jail time, but it was the only way Luke thought he was going to come out of this situation alive.  Luke pushed all the thoughts about Archibald from his mind.  He had to finish this explosive in case the mole in the FBI came in to take him out before John could get to Luke
’
s
location.  Luke swore to himself that he would never chase another woman like Lisa if he ever got out of this mess alive.

Senator Cosby
’
s Room

Chapter 86

John and Jessica entered the Senator
’
s hospital room.  Bruce was in the chair beside his father.  John couldn
’
t believe the change that had come over Bruce in the past few days.  John had never seen Bruce show any compassion for anyone before. 

“
Learn anything?
”
 
John asked Bruce.  Bruce shook his head no.

“
I haven
’
t asked much,
”
Bruce replied. 
“
I figured I
’
d wait until Jessica gets here; just as long as she remembers he isn
’
t a suspect.
”
 
Jessica shot Bruce a withering look, and Bruce smiled back at her.  John was in shock.  Bruce seemed like a regular guy.  Jessica came over and hugged the Senator.

“
Like I could ever grill this guy,
”
Jessica said, still embracing the Senator.

“
Now
,
my dear,
”
the Senator began, with tears in his eyes. 
“
You mustn
’
t worry about me; I
’
m a tough old bird.
”
 
John smiled at the Senator. 
“
You better not hug me too long Jessica.
”
 
Jessica let go and looked at him. 
“
We wouldn
’
t want to make your boyfriend insanely jealous.
”
 
John laughed at loud.  Jessica shook her head, smiling.