The Twelfth Of Never: A suspense mystery romantic thriller (21 page)

Jenny sat silently while Gideon took the Interstate 87 out of
the city. Once they got to Kingston, Gideon got off the highway and took rural
roads. It was the longer route to her parents’ farm, but she did not say a
word. As tired as she was, she could not sleep. She just watched the sky while
listening to the soft blend of nighttime music.

CHAPTER 21

Friday,
September 16, 1977

They had been on the road for three hours. The sun peeked over
the horizon, sending rays of crimson across the sky. Because of the concrete
walls she lived in, it had been a while since Jenny had seen a full sunrise in
its entire splendor. But the beauty of the sunrise that morning was wasted on
her and her traveling companion.

"You'll have to guide me the rest of the way,"
Gideon said.

"I'm surprised," Jenny mocked, turning to Gideon.
"I would have figured you had them staked out by now."

"Very funny."

"Well, you have to admit someone wasted an awful lot of
time on me," Jenny looked away. She did not want to challenge him further.

"I wouldn't say that. What did Delaney say to you
anyway?"

"It isn't what he said as much as what he didn't have
time to say."

"You're in a lot of trouble and you better start leveling
with me soon."

"Or what," she turned to Gideon and waited for him
to answer.

"I don't know, we could always put you in protective
custody until you do decide to talk."

"You wouldn't dare," Jenny said, staring at Gideon.

By the expression on Gideon's face, Jenny knew he was serious.
He would enjoy locking her up and maybe throwing away the key, as well.

Jenny turned away. They were ten miles from her parents’
farmhouse. The church steeple that loomed over the horizon sent her back in
time. Her heart ached as thoughts turned to that cold day in April standing in
the freezing drizzle. Through the tears, she watched as uniformed soldiers
carried her brother to his final resting place.

"Are you okay?" Gideon asked.

"Would you mind stopping up here for a few minutes?"

"You're guiding me," he replied.

Gideon pulled into the small church cemetery and parked his
car off to the side of the rectory. Jenny got out and slowly walked down the
narrow path, glancing at the names of some of the boys she had gone to school
with. In all, seven of her classmates never made it back from the war; her
brother Paddy was the last to be buried. A chill went through her remembering
the companion of her youth.

Gideon took Jenny's arm as they walked down the row of stone
markers. He read the names out loud as they walked slowly up to the one that
said
Patrick Morgan, our loving son and
brother.

"Your brother?" Gideon asked.

"I thought you knew all about me?"

"Would you just knock it off? We did not go that deep.
All I really know is that you work for the University. That and what John told
me about you."

Jenny did a double-take. "How much did John tell you?"

"You were a student at the University and then gave it up
to put him through school." Gideon turned away for a moment before
continuing. "Why didn't you ever finish?"

"Money," Jenny said, shrugging her shoulders.
"There never seemed to be enough, then it just didn't matter
anymore."

Jenny slowly bent down and picked up the vase of flowers that
had tipped over on the ground. She pressed the vase into the soft grass and set
the flowers back in. Then she ran her fingers across the words etched in stone.

"He was just twenty-one, one month left of his
tour."

"That's rough. There were a lot of my friends who never
made it back, John included."

Jenny glanced up at Gideon. "How did he die?" Jenny
asked. She did not know what he would tell her, but she had to know if he
suffered.

Gideon turned away. "It's a beautiful sunset," he
said staring off into the distance.

Jenny got the impression Gideon was somewhere else. He was no
longer standing next to her in a rural cemetery in upstate New York.

"It was a morning like this. The sun was rising over the
jungle growth. We had been tortured all night." Gideon hesitated for a
moment and then glanced down at the ground, at the headstone that seemed to
grow among the grass.

Gideon shook his head. "I can't," he said, shutting
his eyes as if to block out the pain of that memory.

Gideon turned away from Jenny and started walking back to the
car at the end of the long narrow path. Jenny stood up and just watched him.
His pace quickened. Then he ran until he reached the car and collapsed onto the
ragtop, where he wept. Chills went through her thinking about what a horrible
end it must have been for John, especially if it sent Gideon into such pain,
even after all this time. Jenny took a deep breath and then started walking
back to the car.

Gideon turned when he heard her approach. He did not say a
word, just pushed himself up off the car and walked around to the driver’s side
and got in.

Jenny was uncomfortable with Gideon and feared there was more
to him than she originally thought. She reached over and touched him on the
hand.

"I'm sorry it troubles you so."

"It's not that." Gideon turned and looked at her.
"Actually it's only been recently that I've been able to remember that
time."

"Does it bother you, not remembering what happened over
there?"

"Up until now it didn't matter. But lately, everything
has been coming back like it happened yesterday."

"Does it have anything to do with Delaney?"

"Part of it, I guess. He was there at the end. Whatever I
was trying to hide from was somehow tied to what he was involved in."

"Sounds a little weird to me."

"All I see are faces of men. Delaney and John are the
most prevalent. There was another man." Gideon turned away from Jenny. It
was as if he was remembering more pain. Then slowly he glanced out the window
at the rows of headstones and then continued. "He didn't speak English,
but I understood what he was saying in my dreams."

"Are you sure it was just a dream?"

"That's what scares me. If it wasn't a dream, then what
they did was so terrible, it must have sent me over the edge. That's why my
mind blocked it out."

"Do you think it has anything to do with what happened to
John?" Jenny wanted to know. She had a right to be told what his last
moments were like.

Gideon shook his head. He could not tell her what he saw,
fearing all too well that the visions coming back were real. Why else would the
terror he felt inside be so intense if he had not actually lived the visions.

"You want me to drive?" Jenny asked.

"No. I'll be okay in a few minutes." Gideon took a
couple of deep breaths. He looked up into the sky. It had been a routine he had
done many times before. In a few moments the pain inside would subside and he
would be okay.

They sat in the cemetery for another ten minutes until Gideon
collected his thoughts. Once he put the car in gear, Jenny guided him the rest
of the way. She knew her parents would be up already and wondered how receptive
they would be to Gideon. After all, it had only been a few days since she told
them John was dead.

They passed freshly cut fields while the sun rose higher in
the sky. As they neared the old Morgan homestead, Jenny could see the light
filtering through the trees from the back window. The tightening in her stomach
was like a claw, and only grew worse the closer they got. Yet she could not ask
Gideon to turn around. There was nothing for her to go back to in New York.

"Do they know you're coming?" Gideon asked.

"No. I didn't call."

"This could be touchy. But I'm not leaving you alone, I
hope you understand?" Gideon parked the car near the back door.

Jenny regretted coming now, but last night it seemed like the
right thing to do. She quickly got out of the car before changing her mind and
walked up to the steps while the back door opened.

"Well, isn't this a surprise," the elderly lady in
the pale blue housedress said, wiping her hands on her apron.

Carla ran up to Jenny and hugged her. It had been Christmas
since she saw her daughter last. All the while she doted over her little girl.
Her eyes never left the stranger getting out of the car.

"We've been driving all night," Jenny said, turning
to Gideon, who grabbed the small duffle bag from back of the seat.

"Your father's out back in the pasture. He should be in
for breakfast soon." Carla pulled Jenny into the house and then turned.
"Are you Steve?" She asked with a naiveté Gideon knew was genuine.

Jenny did not wait for Gideon to answer, just turned to her
mother and quickly added. "No, Mom, his name is Gideon LaMont. Gideon has
been helping me sort out a few things lately." It was an understatement,
but she did not know what else to say.

Carla glanced over at Gideon standing in the doorway. His suit
was wrinkled. The strap from his shoulder holster clearly visible, and the
morning stubble was not impressive to her in the least.

Gideon quickly adjusted his suit when he realized what Jenny's
mother was staring at. He ran his hand across his face it felt like coarse
sandpaper.

Carla turned and whispered to Jenny, "What's your father
going to say?" It was loud enough for Gideon to hear. "You know it
doesn't look right, you traveling with a man."

"Ma, it isn't like that." Jenny glanced at Gideon.
She smiled while rolling her eyes. Then Jenny turned back to her mother.
"It isn't as if I'm still a teenager."

"I know," Carla said sternly. "I guess I still
think of you as being married."

"Gideon was with John over there. He's been helping me
get this matter settled with the government." Jenny turned to Gideon,
glared at him in a way that told him to go along with what she said.
"Right, Gideon?"

"Yeah, right," Gideon agreed. He knew how mothers
reacted when their children were in trouble, and he could tell Jenny did not
want to say any more than she needed.

"What has to be settled?" Carla asked.

"I'd rather not go into it, besides you wouldn't
understand."

"Try me and we'll see if I understand," Carla
snapped.

"It's just too complicated."

Gideon stepped back and watched as Jenny talked in circles
while saying nothing. He leaned on the door and smiled. It occurred to him how
easily Jenny could fabricate stories at will.

Jenny dropped her overnight bag on the kitchen floor. Gideon
was too busy glancing around the room to notice the envelope peeking out. Jenny
reached down slowly and zipped the flap so the envelope was out of view.

"Could we go upstairs and freshen up?" Jenny asked.

Carla looked at Jenny and then turned her attention to Gideon.
"Be my guest, but I don't think it wise you wear the gun when Joe comes
in."

Gideon glanced at Jenny then said, "All I brought was
this suit."

"Paddy was about your size, you can help yourself,"
Carla said as she glanced at Gideon in a way to assess his build.

Jenny guided Gideon up the stairs and down the hall. She
opened the door to Paddy's room. She stood there for a moment and then turned to
Gideon. "Don't disturb anything."

Jenny could not stand to be there any longer. She quickly
turned and walked off to her own room, but before entering she looked back down
the hall at Gideon. "For my mother's sake, would you leave the gun up
here?"

"I don't want to cause any problems." He stared at
Jenny for a moment then asked. "Do you think they'll mind me making a few
calls?"

"No. Just reverse the charges." Jenny stared at
Gideon. "I wish you hadn't followed me."

"Until you start being upfront with me, count on me
sticking to you like glue."

Jenny shut the door, and then leaned up against it while
listening. She heard Gideon walk down the hall to the bathroom. Slowly Jenny
walked over to the window. In the distance she could see her father working on
the old John Deere tractor in the pasture. Things never changed on the farm, it
was like going back in time. The old rooster called in the distance, the cows
were grazing in the meadow, and the milking was already done for the morning.
Jenny wondered now why she had been so anxious to leave it.

Jenny walked over to the bed and sat down. After a few minutes
of just sitting there, she lay back and shut her eyes. It felt good to be back.
She wanted to stay and forget everything that happened. But she knew she could
not. She would have to face the fact that someone brutally attacked Trish and
hurt Benjamin because of her. She knew it was the same person she saw at the
hospital. Jenny rolled over. She could hear the tractor getting closer. She
would have to face whatever it was that loomed out there.

CHAPTER 22

When Jenny heard the back screen door open, she got up off the
bed and ran down the stairs. The elderly Morgan had his back to Jenny and was
talking to his wife when she walked into the room. Jenny quickly ran up and
hugged her father. She’d avoided coming home because of memories from a time in
her life she could never go back too, but now regretted that decision.

"Nice little car you're driving."

"It's not mine. A friend drove me up," Jenny said,
and then turned to her mother. She guessed her father already knew about Gideon
and was waiting for an explanation. But she did not know what to tell him or
how much would be safe to divulge.

"He's a little old for you, isn't he?"

"Dad, it isn't like that," Jenny replied. It hadn't
even occurred to Jenny they would think Gideon was more than just a friend.

"Men aren't to be trusted," the elder Morgan
lectured.

Jenny turned her head and laughed. "Are we speaking from
experience?"

"I'll have no talk like that in this house."

"Well then, treat me like an adult."

Jenny quickly turned away from her father before an argument
ensued. She walked over to the stove and poured herself a cup of coffee. Jenny
sat down at the large table in the corner. She could hardly wait for Gideon to
come down and meet her father.

Jenny's parents joined her at the table. It was not long till
she heard footsteps descend the stairs. Jenny turned to face the door. She
wanted to see Gideon's face when her father started giving him the third degree.

She did not have to wait long before Gideon emerged and even
she caught her breath. The oversized NYU sweatshirt hung loose over the
bell-bottom jeans. Even the penny loafers looked like they were made for him.
Jenny turned to her mother and saw the expression on her face, but said
nothing.

"I hope you don't mind," Gideon said as he turned to
Carla.

Carla glanced up at Gideon, "I told you to make yourself
at home." But it still bothered her to see this stranger in her son's
clothes.

Joe Morgan tapped his fingers lightly on the table while
assessing Gideon for a moment. And he then bluntly asked, "So, you work
for the government?"

Gideon glanced at Jenny. He could see by the look in her eyes
that she did not tell her parents everything and just nodded.

"Gideon's been helping me have John declared dead.
Haven't you, Gideon?"

"Yeah?" Gideon replied.

Gideon saw the suspicion on the elder Morgan's face. He
swallowed hard, and for a moment did not know what else to say.

Jenny coughed, trying to get Gideon's attention. Finally, it
was the movement of her hand under the table that caused him to look her way as
she pointed to his feet.

Gideon glanced down quickly. The bottom part of the pistol he
strapped to his ankle was visible. He quickly shook his leg. The whole incident
went unobserved by either of Jenny's parents.

"What kind of work do you do for the government?"
Joe Morgan was curious about the man with his daughter, and was not buying into
the little charade either of them was playing out.

All three at the table looked up at Gideon and waited for his
reply. Jenny put her hands around the cup of coffee avoiding Gideon's pleas for
help. She wanted to see how good he was under fire.

"Security matters," was all Gideon said.

Gideon walked over to the stove. He took a mug off the wooden
tree that was on the cupboard and poured a cup, then turned and walked over to
the table. He sat down next to Jenny. Under the table he poked her for help.
But there was no response to his pleas, only an indifferent smile as Jenny watched
him flounder under her father’s questioning.

"That covers a lot of territory: What branch are you
with?"

Finally, after an intense moment of silence, Jenny came to his
rescue. She reached over, patting her father's hand. "Pa, Gideon, didn't
come up here to talk shop."

"Why did he come then?"

Jenny looked up at Gideon. "You want to answer that, or
should I?"

Gideon took a sip of the coffee and then set the cup gently on
the table as he searched for the right words that would not alarm Jenny's
parents. "Your daughter has some information I want and need. I've been
trying to convince her to turn it over to me."

"Jenny, what do you have of his?" Carla asked.

Jenny shook her head, "It isn't as if what I have belongs
to him. I don't know who it belongs to and I want to be careful that the right
person gets the information." She turned to Gideon. "You understand
what I'm saying."

"Sounds like you could get yourself in a heap of trouble
with the government," Joe cut in.

"That's what I've been telling her, Mr. Morgan. As soon
as I get what she has, I'll be on my merry little way."

"Promise me," Jenny snapped, and then glared at
Gideon.

"So when are you going to turn over whatever it is he
wants?" Carla asked.

Jenny turned to her mother. "I don't know. That's why I'm
here. To sort out what I plan to do next."

"Would you like breakfast?" Carla got up and walked
over to the stove in hopes of changing the subject.

"No, coffee is fine," Gideon replied.

Gideon had a smile on his face that irritated Jenny. It was
clear her parents were on his side without even knowing the specific details.

Jenny got up from the table and walked out of the kitchen
through the living room and onto the front porch. She walked over to the swing
and sat down as it swayed with her weight. In her wildest dreams she never
would have suspected Gideon of telling her parents what he did or why he was
following her. Now it was clear they were on his side. No one really cared
about what happened to the man in the hospital room or why he died trying to pass
information on to her.

The front door opened, and she glanced up half-expecting her
father, but saw Gideon instead. Jenny laughed at how out of place he looked in
the sweatshirt and jeans.

"How many guns do you carry?" Jenny asked.

"I'm here to protect you."

"From the cows? Get real, Gideon, why do you think I came
up here?"

"I'm sorry about your friend."

"What's going to happen?" Jenny asked. She watched
as Gideon walked over to the swing and sat next to her.

"I made arrangements last night to have them moved this
morning. They're in protective custody until this is over."

"Do you think it had anything to do with Delaney?"

"Whoever did that to your friend wanted information. I
got that much out of her last night."

"I didn't mean for any of this to happen."

"Jenny, I know that now. But the fact remains you're in
over your head."

"Delaney said not to trust anyone. I figured that
included you."

"I was working with him after he contacted the agency.
Somehow there was a leak and that was why he didn't trust anyone. He was shot
in the park and then they finished the job at the hospital before he could give
me the information he had."

Jenny leaned forward and put her head in her hands while
Gideon rubbed her neck. She felt his hands work their way down the small of her
back all the while making small circular motions. It felt good and it melted
away the tension that had encompassed her.

"I didn't know," she whispered turning to Gideon.

"You didn't give me a chance to tell you."

Jenny looked away for a moment before turning back to Gideon.
"Did you take John's letters?"

"No. I didn't know about them until the night of the
burglary. I wanted to read them to get a feel for what happened over there at
the end."

"You're still trying to put the puzzle together."

"Jenny, I wasn't lying when I told you I don't
remember." Gideon sat there for a few minutes. Finally he slapped his hand
on his knee and got up. "I have to make a few calls now."

"Don't forget, reverse the charges."

Jenny followed Gideon into the living room. She showed him
where the phone was, and then walked into the kitchen to see what her mother
was up to. As Jenny entered the room, Carla was getting ready to knead a big
ball of dough.

"Could I do that? It's been a while since I've worked
bread dough."

"Sure," Carla said as she dumped the bowl of dough
onto the floured cutting board.

Jenny walked over to the counter. The warm gooey feel of the
mixture between her fingers felt good. Slowly she rolled the dough, adding more
flour, and then flipped it over and over. Looking around the room, a feeling of
warmth surrounded her until she saw a movement at the door. She looked up and
saw Gideon standing there watching her.

"Looks like fun," Gideon raised his eyebrows and
smiled.

Jenny was covered in flour, all the way up her arms to the tip
of her nose. "You want to take over?"

"No, you're doing okay."

"Joseph is out back," Carla said, looking up at
Gideon.

In the way she said it, Gideon could hardly stand around the
kitchen with the women. Gideon turned to Jenny and asked, "Will you be
okay?"

"She's our daughter, what do you think is going to happen
to her?"

"He didn't mean anything by the remark, Mom. Did you
Gideon?"

"No. I guess I've just been on the job too long."

Gideon turned and walked out of the kitchen. He glanced around
the farmyard. In the distance he could hear the diesel engine. Gideon followed
the sound until he found where the elderly Morgan was busy working.

The morning flew by for the two. Neither Gideon nor Jenny had
time to think about national security or what brought them up there. Jenny's
overnight bag remained on the kitchen floor where she had dropped it earlier.

Carla sent Jenny up to Paddy's room to change the bedding. As
Jenny opened the door, it surprised her to see the picture of the little girls
sitting on the dresser next to pictures of her own family. Jenny had not given
the picture another thought, but at that moment it occurred to her that Gideon
LaMont might indeed be married. She quickly went about changing the sheets,
dusting the dresser, and then picked up the picture. She walked over to the
open window and looked at the two little girls in the light.

Jenny did not hear the footsteps, but sensed she was being
watched. She turned and saw Gideon standing at the door. She clutched the
picture tightly as Gideon walked into the room. It had been the second time he
caught her in such a position.

"You sure are interested in that picture." Gideon
said as he reached for the delicate frame and took it from her.

"I didn't hear you coming."

"Why, what would you have done if you had?"

"I don't know," Jenny replied. She was irritated at
the question. "I didn't know you were married."

"I'm not," Gideon answered. He placed the picture
back on the dresser as if it belonged there. Then he turned to Jenny with eyes
that had softened. "My wife divorced me a while back."

"I didn't mean to pry."

"It's no secret. These are my little girls."

"They're pretty." Jenny said.

"Actually this picture was taken four years ago."

"Gee, then they must be..."

"It doesn't matter," Gideon quickly added. "I
haven't been any kind of a father to them. It's hard in my line of work."

"Where do you live?" She paused before continuing.
"When you aren't working, that is."

"Since the divorce, I don't really have a home base.
Bronk gives me the use of safe houses when I'm in town. Beth won't let me take
the girls to any of them because she doesn't think it's a proper environment
for them to be in."

"I don't blame her," Jenny said without thinking.
All she had on her mind was the flat on Bedford. If that was an example of the
safe houses he used, she could understand his ex-wife's decision.

Gideon put his hand on her shoulder, and then stared into her
eyes. Gideon was about to say something, but a movement at the door caused him
to hesitate.

"Oh here's where you are. There's a phone call for you.
Someone named Jake." Carla looked at Gideon and then at Jenny.

"Yeah, I've been waiting for his call," Gideon
replied. He walked past Carla. Before leaving the room he turned and took one
last look at Jenny, who was still at the window.

Once Gideon was down the stairs, Carla turned to her daughter.
"Your father's a little concerned about your friend."

"There's no need to be." Jenny laughed at the idea
of Gideon being considered her friend.

"Is there something you aren't telling us, Jenny?"

Jenny held the curtains aside and glanced out the window. The
freshly whitewashed buildings gave an almost new appearance to the wood on the
barn, but she knew the old homestead had seen better days. Times had been tough
for her parents since Paddy died, and they did not need additional troubles to
worry them.

"No, Ma. You can reassure Pa everything is under
control."

Jenny made up her mind when Gideon got off the phone she would
give him what she had. Only then, would she be able to put it all behind her
and go on with her life.

Carla reached over, took her daughter in her arms, and
squeezed tightly. "I'm sorry that after all this time you had to find out
John was dead." They stood there for a few moments. Carla glanced around
the room and was saddened by the memories it held. She wiped away the tears
that fell and turned to Jenny. "Be thankful that you know."

"It's hard," Jenny fought back the tears before
continuing. "He's buried someplace over there."

"Put it behind you and go on."

"I wish I could," Jenny said. So much of what she
felt and who she was was buried with John.

"Your friend seems interested."

"Ma, really, you have to be kidding if you think Gideon
would be interested in me."