Chapter 32: Chapter 32

Day 3 of Quarantine

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"When will you leave for New York?"

"Before this weekend." Jenson winced, awaiting a sigh of disappointment from his late-night caller. He sat down in his office chair after he caught the impatience in his uncle's tone.

"Why not today?" Magnus sighed briefly on the other line.

"Still waiting for the paperwork."

"What did the new test say?"

"Negative. They collected two samples to be sure," Jenson muttered in response. The good news should relieve him of anxiety and stress, but it didn't.

Especially after Jessi told him that she lost her sense of smell and taste barely three hours ago. Plus some weird rashes on her skin suddenly turned up.

"And they're sure? No symptoms at all?" Magnus gainsaid.

"None. I'll leave LA once the paperwork's sorted out."

"What about her?"

Jenson glanced to the other side of his office, where his assistant had been hiding from him all day. Containment measures and all.  "Jessiah? She's showing a few, but nothing serious. I'm keepin' an eye on her. She's isolating in the other room."

"Why didn't you take her to the nearest hospital?"

"She doesn't wanna leave. Yet." He stared at the door in the corner.

Jessi must be having trouble sleeping on the divan, stewing over her current situation with her anxiety-filled thoughts.

"Can't force her to call for an ambulance, or leave her alone in here."

"Why not?" Magnus questioned with a chuckle.

"She sleepwalks when she's anxious and stressed."

"Ah. I see. So that's where we're at," his uncle replied in a hushed voice, his tone almost sarcastic.

Jenson sat back and pulled a face. "What d'you mean?"

"And Charmaine knows? Is that why she doesn't wanna come home?"

"No. She's on vacation. In London." Jenson scoffed.

Why did they all think he was having an affair with Jessiah? First, Charmaine. Then Darren. And now even Magnus was convinced he was screwing his new assistant.

"You think I'm cheating on her?"

A muted laugh was his uncle's initial response. "You're getting too involved, and you don't even realize it." Magnus tsk-ed. "Better if you call it off with Charmaine now. You know how she is when she doesn't get her way."

"Too involved?" What the heck?

They definitely believed he was cheating on Charmaine with Jessiah. Why?

Jenson scowled and palmed his face. He wasn't exactly proud of his moral compass or his past in general, but he never cheated on his fiancée. Nor would he involve Jessi in their messy relationship.

She deserved better. Not a complicated mess with him and someone like Charm.

"Deny it all you want. Your actions still tell a different story," Magnus replied with a sigh.

"Sure. Whatever floats your boat." Jenson shook his head. "Anyway...still looking for Mykaela's new address. She moved in with that Tomassini heir. He's got a new house upstate. You know those folks. Right? Longtime mafia clan. Lots of connections in and out of Italy."

"I know of them. Why?"

"They got engaged recently. Mykaela and Lorenzio."

"Last I heard she was in a relationship with that Falco kid."

"Just close friends, I guess," Jenson mumbled. "Lorenzio moved to New York just recently after his brother got put in the slammer." He scratched his forehead, unsure of how Magnus would react to his suggestion. "Maybe, uh, we should keep our distance for now. She's probably being protected by the Tomassinis. But I'll look for the guy's house."

"Fine. Call me once you're in New York. And tell Darren to hurry up. It's been two days. Help them find the kid if you can get outta there now."

"Yeah. I'll send an update later."

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"Jess?"

"Yeah?"

"You okay? How you feeling?" Jenson stepped closer to the door and checked the doorknob.

Still locked, as he expected. Obviously Jessi thought she had to stay away from him so he wouldn't catch the bug again. Or maybe his initial test results weren't even accurate in the first place.

It could be caused by faulty procedures during sample collection, or problems with their equipment, contamination during testing, logistic issues, and whatnot. Whichever the case, he should keep in mind that Jessi was definitely more vulnerable than him right now simply for being human.

Perhaps she had a weaker immune system. Much more susceptible to illnesses than half-bloods like him.

"Jessiah?" he muttered to the door when she didn't respond.

"Yeah. I'm fine. Just sleepy." Jessi cleared her throat, her voice still muffled. "You?"

"They're resuming admin operations tomorrow. You sure you don't wanna stay home? If you feel like you have to go to the ER, tell me."

"No. I'll...uh... Could we wait a few more hours?"

"Sure." He itched his brow as he leaned against the doorjamb. "But I can drive you to the hospital now if you wanna get checked or somethin'," he offered. He stood by the door and waited for her reply.

But Jessi didn't respond.

"How's your throat and chest? Still no fever? Body pains?"

She must be feeling way more anxious now. "I'm fine. No fever. Just kinda tired. Like yesterday."   She was probably sleepwalking again the previous night.

They had breakfast together earlier but he didn't say anything about her sleepwalking episode. It might only worry her more, or cause her embarrassment and even more anxiety. He'd bring it up sometime soon. Or the next morning if it happened again tonight.

"Alright. Get some sleep." Jenson backed away from the door. He waited for her to reply, hesitant and unsure of what else he could do to help her feel better. "Just ask if you need anything."

"Yeah. Thanks. Night."

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× 12:55AM ×

"Where are you?"

"An hour away from your house. Why?"

"Who's with you now?" Jenson frowned at the hint of frustration in Darren's gruff voice. The pitter-patter of rainfall in the background just got louder.

The paperwork for the travel requirements would be ready first thing after he made some phone calls, but if Darren needed or asked for his help now, he would have to go out and help him find that killer rogue. "Klaus and the new guy," Darren mumbled on the other end. "You know him? Ezekiel Rasmussen. Just got off his shift at the precinct."

Jenson smirked. Another cop on his uncle's payroll. Probably a new halfling recruit. Or a hybrid, for a change.

With his phone on his ear, Jenson let his imagination roam for a bit, enjoying the darkness and silence around him. Enough privacy. It was past midnight but the need for sleep didn't interrupt his thoughts yet. Just like the previous nights. "Any updates? Where d'you think the kid's hiding?"

"Somewhere 'round here. He's got no money or food on him, I guess. It's fuckin' freezing out here," Darren murmured. "I doubt he'd last another night in the woods."

"Don't be so sure."

The kid was barely legal but it didn't mean he was entirely vulnerable or harmless on his own. Time wasn't on their side, either. A half-crazed adolescent with a loaded handgun running through the woods or hiding in a stranger's backyard?

Not quite an easy hunt. Even for him. "Where are you exactly?"

"Why? You coming?" Darren sounded intrigued now. A tad excited, too.

"Did you bring some?"

"You think I'd be out here all day and all night without packin' some heat?"

Jenson scoffed.  "You sound like you're drinking a smoothie in your car."

"I was starving. I'm waiting for Klaus and Zeke. Been runnin' around lookin' for that kid all day. I'm done. It's their turn."

Great. Sitting on his ass and being a total prince again. Just as he thought. Jenson near rolled his eyes. "So you're alone in the car and parked somewhere?"

"Beside the park entrance. The trail's three mountain ranges long. My feet's killing me." Darren belched. "Gray SUV with black rims."

"Whose?"

"Klaus bought a new one." Darren burped again.

"He brought ammo, too?"

"Yeah, and two pistols. No need to bring yours. Zeke's got a sniper rifle."

"Great." Three pistols and a rifle. Jenson made a face. Granted he was bored and dead tired of holing up in this office for three straight days now, he wasn't in the mood to murder someone tonight. Much less dig another grave and bury a teenager in the middle of the woods on a rainy Monday.

But since the guys brought real weapons, he should check out the scene at least. Just to be sure they did the job right. Down to a T, preferably.

"Hey. You comin' or what?" Darren yawned on the other line.

"Yeah. Fine. Don't move. Send me your location. Tell them don't aim for the head or torso. Ankles and hands first."

Darren grunted. "Yeah, yeah, I know. Hurry up."

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