Jacqui’s Nemesis

CHAPTER 4 PART 2

“I’ll clear up here Anna and you can do the dishes in the morning.  It is late and I cannot possible expect you to spend another hour cleaning up after the fantastic meal you served us tonight.  Come on, let me help you with the coffee.” Jacqui pushed back her chair before Anna could protest and was about to follow her into the kitchen when a loud bang sounded followed by the sound of breaking and exploding glass. Stunned, Jacqui turned back to the table just in time to notice Jackson diving Brian off his chair.  The two men rolled on the floor and as Brian tried to lift himself up Jackson held him down by covering him with his body.

“Jacqui, Anna, get down and stay down.” Jackson yelled.

Anna, not having seen what had happened, came back into the dining room just as another shot rang out. The bullet passed a meter or so in front of her, but she was caught by a piece of flying glass which embedded itself in her upper arm.

“Get down Anna…” Jacqui yelled and rolled over to the girl.  Together they cowered on the floor. It felt like ages before Jackson came crawling towards them. Jacqui was covered in Anna’s blood. Brian pushed himself up with a grunt and was about to follow Jackson towards the girls when yet another shot rang out, this time hitting the overhead chandelier and blowing the lights out.

“Brian, do not come closer, do not move. The girls are fine, Anna is bleeding from a piece of glass which caught her in the arm.  I’ll come back over to you…” Jackson started to leopard crawl back over to Brian.

“What is wrong with him?” Jacqui cried out.

“The first bullet caught him in the shoulder. Jacqui, do you perhaps have your cell phone on you, we need to call the police.”

“No I don’t…”

“Mine is in the kitchen.” Anna replied.

“Well girls, you will have to be brave. Anna, do you think that you will be able to retrieve your phone in the dark?”

“Yes, it is on the counter next to the bread bin.”

“Then stay as low as possible, crawl or roll from where you are into the kitchen. If you can get there safely you’ll be better protected. These picture windows leave us vulnerable. Please try girls…” Jackson pleaded.

“Come Jacqui, we need to try…” Anna pulled at Jacqui frantically.

Together the two young woman crawled into the kitchen.

“Stay here Jacqui, I’ll get the phone…” Anna stopped so suddenly that Jacqui bumped into her in the dark.

Within seconds Jacqui heard the dialing tone of Anna’s phone and seconds later Anna spoke into the phone, relating to the police officer what was happening at the house.

Sighing a sigh of relief Jacqui slumped against the nearest kitchen cupboard.

“It appears as if the mains tripped when the light in the dining room was shot at…everything is off…”

“Anna, no... Do not try to switch on the lights…we know the house better than any intruder and it may be the only advantage we have over him.”

Anna crawled over to Jacqui and slumped down next to her. Everything was quiet. Not a sound came from the dining room.

Although only a few minutes passed between Anna’s call and the first sirens approaching, it felt like hours and Jacqui could feel Anna’s blood drying on her shirt.

“How do you feel Anna? Are you alright?”

“It hurts like hell, but I am fine. I think the bleeding had stopped.”

Finally the sirens were right there and Jacqui could see lights from the vehicles shining through the window. Then someone called her name.

“Here, I am here…” she answered.

A terrible noise sounded from somewhere in the house. Jacqui startled but then she realized that all the doors were locked and the police probably had to break a door to get in. Finally voices…

“In here…” Jacqui called out again.

A light from a torch shone into the kitchen followed by footsteps. A young policeman stepped into the beam of light.

“I found them…” He called to someone before bending over them.

Voices came from the dining room and Jacqui was relieved to hear both Jackson and Brian answering questions.

Suddenly the lights came on and both Jacqui and Anna shielded their eyes from the sudden glare.

“Miss Bruckner, are you alright?” Blair kneeled in front of the two women.

“Yes, I am not hurt. This is Anna’s blood, she was cut by a piece of glass.”

Blair called out to the medics. Two young uniformed people came in and inspected Anna’s arm.

“The shard of glass is still embedded in her arm Sir.  We shall have to take her to hospital.”

Blair nodded and helped Jacqui to her feet. While the medical personnel were busy with Anna Blair kept an arm around Jacqui and guided her back into the dining room. The lights in the dining room were still off but either the police or the medical services had erected lamps.  Jackson was standing with two police officers while more medical staff were busy with Brian. Brian was pale but sitting up on the floor. Jacqui pulled out of Blair’s arm and rushed over to Brian.

“Hey are you alright?” Jacqui kneeled beside Brian.

“Yes, it could have been worse I guess. They say I shall have to go to the hospital to have the bullet removed though.”

“Oh my gosh, I am so sorry… I’ll be there as soon as I can I promise. They are taking Anna to…”

“Don’t worry Jacqui I’ll be fine. You have to take care of yourself, I am sure I’ll be back here by tomorrow.”

“Perhaps you shouldn’t come back here…perhaps you should go to that bedsit after all…”

“Nonsense Jacqui, we are family and in this thing together.”

“Do not worry Jacqui, I am sending two of my men to the hospital and will place a watch on the house until this is resolved.”  Lowe had walked in and spoke up behind Jacqui.

The medical personnel helped Brian onto a gurney. Jacqui felt faint seeing the amount of blood on the back of his shirt.

Lowe shouted orders to the policemen now mulling about. Jacqui felt like a survivor of a shipwreck who had just washed out on a secluded island, utterly lost.

“Where is Jackson?” Lowe sounded agitated.

“Here I am.” Jackson appeared from the direction of the kitchen. “I have just been seeing Anna off.”

“I need to speak to the two of you now. Is there anywhere we can talk away from this chaos?”

“My father’s study…follow me.” Jacqui’s knees buckled as she turned around to lead the way. Jackson took her by the elbow and steadied her.

Once seated, Lowe leaned back in his chair and looked at them. He looked stern and tired.

“Now tell me exactly what happened.  Jackson, you first.”

While Jackson was telling his version of the events Jacqui looked around the study. The cup had still not been removed. It was as if her father would walk in any minute now, sit down behind his desk and do whatever it was that he did here on a daily basis.

“Jacqui, do you agree with everything Jackson just told me or is there something you wish to add?”

Although Jacqui did not hear a word of what Jackson told Lowe, she nodded.

“In a case like this the first question we have to ask is who the target was.  Can you tell me exactly where you were all seated?”

“Jackson and I were seated facing the window and Anna and Brian sat with their backs to the window, but when the first shot rang out Anna was on her way to the kitchen and I was a step or two behind her, only Jackson and Brian were still at the table.”

“Exactly what I thought… When a person perpetrates a crime like this it is clearly pre-meditated and there is no way in hell such a person would fire random shots. Somebody in that room was the target and the fact that Jacqui and Anna were not at the table at the time the first shot was fired tells me that neither of them was the target. Thus Jackson, now is the time you tell me whether there is anyone who would like to see you dead.”

Jackson went as white as a sheet.

“May we talk in private Detective?”

“Under normal circumstances I would have said yes sure, but I think Jacqui needs to hear this…what do you think Jacqui?”

Jacqui could not answer. Was this never going to end? How many more surprises did she need to get?

“Jackson, I know a man can turn his life around and by all indications you did just that, but you have to understand that we need to look at all possibilities. I looked into your record and I must say it is rather impressive… assault with a deadly weapon, assault, oh and another one, assault with the intention of doing grievous bodily harm… drunk and disorderly conduct…do I need to continue?”

“No. That was many years ago, I was a young man and I paid the ultimate price for my sins…”

“Yes, you did…” Lowe lowered his head and read from the paper in front of him, “Young wife and toddler killed in drive-by shooting…”

“Those men were found and convicted…” Jackson’s eyes filled with tears.

“Yes they were, but it is clear to me that they had a score to settle with you then, my question is, are there others who still have a score to settle with you? And if so, how does Jon Bruckner fit into the scenario?”

“Jon was my savior, my employer and my friend…” tears were streaming down Jackson’s face. Jacqui turned away as she could not stand to see a grown man cry, it just broke her heart.

“So tell me Jackson, how did Jon Bruckner become involved with the Delano’s? You are Jackson Delano, are you not?”

Jacqui reeled at the information and pulled her breath in sharply.

“Brian’s mother is…, was…, Delia Delano.  Or at least Brian and I suspect that she was…”

“Yes, Blair told me about your half-brother who suddenly appeared out of the blue.”

“He did not suddenly appear, my father did in a way keep in contact with him and his mother, he just never told anyone but Uncle Barry and my mother about it…I have proof, photographs and letters.”

“So let me get this straight… Jon Bruckner had a son with Delia Delano, or so we think. He does not tell anyone and from that I can only derive that he must have had a very good reason in doing so. Can anyone tell me what that reason was?”

“Uncle Barry told me a story, but I am afraid that I was so shocked to hear that I had a brother that I did not take much of it in.  He would be the person to talk to as he was there and involved at the time.”

“It is true, Delia is Brian’s mother and my older sister…” Jackson looked terrible.  He wiped his face with his sleeve and faced Jacqui.

“Please Jacqui, you have to believe me, I would not have done anything to hurt your father…I have no idea what and how much you know about my family, but somehow I doubt that they would either… I know what it looks like right now, but my family had been through hell and over the last few years had paid for their past sins over and over… I am positive that your father was the last person they would have thought of or would risk harming…”

“I am more than familiar with the Delano’s reputation Jackson, as a matter of fact, it was I who had put your cousin away for life…the Delano’s do not forget a grudge…”

“Please Detective, hear me out… For years my father was convinced that Jon Bruckner was somehow involved with the disappearance of my sister and every now and then he did remind Jon about his convictions by paying him a visit along with one or two of his goons, but Jon never gave in. I heard about Brian from Jon himself and by then there was no way I would have betrayed his trust.”

“You want to tell me that you would not tell your father that he had a grandson?”

“No. You do not understand Detective.  I worked for my father for years, but I loved my wife and child, they were my life. They were the only normal things in my life. After they were killed I had a breakdown and begged my father to let me go. I was not worth much to him then anyway. He was upset and told me to pull myself together, but finally relented.  He even went so far as to organize a job for me with an acquaintance of his who owned a garden service. A few months into the job I had a relapse.  I went into a tool shed in a garden where we were working and was about to blow my brains out when your father walked in. He talked me down, took my gun and bundled me into his car. We went to a bar and we talked. If he was surprised when he heard who I was he certainly did not show it. He offered to help me. At the time I did not know who he was as my father certainly did not take me on one of his visits to Jon. I accepted. Jon offered me the cottage and a job and I accepted. I went to see my father and told him that I needed to make a clean break from everything.  I told him about what I nearly did and for the first time in my life I saw my father showing some emotion. He told me that he did not want to lose another child and that I had his blessing and that was that. When Jon finally told me who he was I was already on the road to recovery and felt that I owed my life to him. Jon felt frustrated that he could do nothing for his son and Delia and said that in a way it made him feel better that he could do something for me. That is why he left the flat to me, he asked that I keep it for his son if anything should happen to him before he could find Brian.”

“Are you telling me that it was a complete coincidence that it was Jon Bruckner who walked in on you that day? That would be very hard to believe.” Lowe leaned forward in his chair with an air of determination.

“At first I believed just that.  Remember, I did not know about his previous involvement with my family, but after he told me about Delia and Brian I asked him straight out. He told me that he read my name in a paper after I was incarcerated for the second time and remembered that Delia had told him about her brother. The only coincidence was that he again recognized my name when he did a security check on a gardening company he was considering hiring. In order to get close to me he hired them straight away. His goal was to find out whether I knew anything about Delia’s whereabouts.  The day he found me in the tool shed he specifically planned on doing an inspection while I was there.”

“And your father never tried contacting you again?”

“He had no need to. I called him every now and then, the usual family thing, inquired about his health and such.  I made a point of telling him that I was well and as happy as I could possibly be.  At Jon’s insistence I even paid my father a visit once a year, round about Christmas time.  Jon reasoned that while I contacted my father regularly he would have no reason to go looking for me and equally important, Jon needed to know whether my father knew anything about Delia’s whereabouts since she disappeared ten years ago.”

“And your father never once asked where you lived and what you did for a living?”

“He did, but after I reminded him that it was better if no one knew as the bullets which killed my wife and child was meant for me, he relented and agreed not to ask again.  One Christmas he however did ask again, I told him to be patient, if he allowed me to heal and see things through perhaps I could one day be able to come back and re-join his operation.  This seemed to satisfy him and until the day he died, five years ago, he never asked me again.”

“But it would have been easy enough for him to find you…”

“I guess so, but I was satisfied that he did not try to and besides, my father is dead. None of my cousins would be interested, they have taken over the business and would prefer that I stay out of it. They are not keen on sharing their profits with anyone, if you understand what I mean.”

“That may be true Jackson, but as we have no other leads we need to explore every possibility. I think you’ll understand.”

“I do.” Jackson buried his face in his hands.

On the one hand Jacqui felt sorry for the man, but on the other, if he was responsible for bringing those criminals to their home she would never be able to forgive him. Yet something bothered her about the proposed scenario. As if reading her thoughts Lowe spoke again.

“The other possibility would be that Brian was the target.”

Yes, that was it. That was what had been bothering Jacqui. Whoever the shooter was had darn good aim to be able to shoot out the lights. What if the first shot was indeed aimed at Brian?

“The question to ask would be why? Let us propose that whoever shot at you tonight was the same person who killed Jon and Lynda Bruckner, how would he know about Brian’s connection to them and why would he want him dead?”

“Who besides myself and Jon knew about Brian?” Jackson asked.

“At the time my parents were killed, the only people who knew other than you were the priest and Uncle Barry. The priest had died ten years ago, and Barry swears that he never told anyone.”

“I shall have to pay your Uncle Barry a visit. Address and telephone number please Jacqui.”

Jacqui gave Lowe Barry’s address and number.

“But what if your father did know about Brian Jackson? From what I understand from Brian, his mother disappeared here in London. She told him she was taking a trip to sort out certain issues before he could meet his father. She was confirmed having landed at Heathrow and then nothing, not a trace of her since.  What if she did actually meet with your father?”

“Anything is possible Jacqui, but somehow I think my father would have said something to me if Jacqui had been to see him. My father may have been a criminal and a hard man, but family was everything to him.  He doted on Delia and took it extremely hard when she disappeared. If she came back to see him there would have been a celebration. My father actually said that he would give anything to know what happened to his daughter…no Jacqui, somehow I do not think my father knew about her and Brian.”

“But why else would she come to Britain if not to see your father, make peace with him and ensure that it would be safe for my father to meet with Brian? How could she have known that your father had all but forgiven everything? The last time she saw my father he had just gotten a terrible beating from Delano’s men.”

“I wish I could answer your questions, Jacqui.” Jackson looked sincere.

Lowe got up from his chair.

“We can sit here all night and guess about the why’s and why nots, but I think I better get back to police work. The forensic team should be nearly done by now. Oh, and Jacqui please, do not make life difficult for us. If you want to go anywhere, please, please give Blair a heads-up. I think for now it would be best if you and your brother remain under police protection. Jackson, and the same goes for you, no visits to your long-lost relatives until we are sure that they had nothing to do with this, understood? You already have one long lost relative to deal with right here…”

Both Jacqui and Jackson agreed to Lowe’s terms.

After Lowe had left the room neither Jacqui nor Jackson moved from their seats.

“He is right you know…you are Brian’s uncle… we shall have to tell him.”

“I know and although I liked him straight away, I am not looking forward to doing so, as telling him will mean that I shall have to tell him everything…about Delia, about Delia and your father and even worse, I’ll have to tell him about the rest of the family…why Delia left. I admire her you know, had I left sooner my wife and daughter would still have been alive…”

“I am sorry about your wife and daughter, truly I am.”

“Thank you, Jacqui. It was a long time ago, nearly eight years now. Madeline would have been twelve this year… she was only four when it happened. We were on our way to the mall to have Madeline’s picture taken with Father Christmas when I stopped in front of one of my father’s buildings. I had to run a quick errand for my father.  I could not find parking and asked my wife to drive around the block, I got out and she moved over to the driver’s seat. I ran into the building, and she was waiting to move back into the street when a green Chevy braked next to our car and started firing at random, I heard the shots and rushed back out, but it was too late… The men admitted in court that because traffic was fairly hectic, they did not have a proper look and did not see me get out of the car…”

“I am truly sorry for your loss Jackson.”

“I have learned that it is less painful not to dwell in the past, besides, we have a life and death issues to deal with now ourselves…”

“You are right…I promised Brian I would come to the hospital, but we promised Lowe that we would stay put…”

“Let us go see Blair and hear what he has to say… I think it would be nice to be there for Anna as well. She does not have any family in the city and I think all of this must have been a terrible shock to her as well.”

Blair was still in the dining room peering out of the broken window. He turned away as soon as he heard them come in.

“You have no idea how lucky you were tonight. See that tree over there? That is where our shooter hid and shot from. With the lights on in the dining room he could see everything, I am sure he even knew what you had for supper. He came and went over the wall there and the dogs followed his tracks as far as the street at the back and then lost it. I think chances are good he had a car waiting for him there. Forensics reckon that a proper sniper rifle had been used, but we’ll know for sure once that bullet comes out of Brian’s shoulder.”

“Talking about Brian, I promised him I would come to the hospital, but Lowe said we were not to leave unless we cleared it with you first.”

“I think you mean he said that you were not allowed to go anywhere without me…those were my instructions.” Blair smiled, but Jacqui recognized the same look of determination she saw in Lowe’s eyes earlier. She knew that no amount of arguing would let Blair stray from what he was instructed to do.

“If you guys could spare me a few minutes, I could drive you.  Sergeant Moody, whom you had already met earlier today, will join us. I think this would give you the opportunity to go change your clothes Miss Bruckner.  Sergeant Moody will go with you.”

Jacqui had forgotten about her blood-stained shirt and gratefully accepted Blair’s offer. Blair called Sergeant Moody over and together the two women went to Jacqui’s suite. Sergeant Moody waited in the bedroom while Jacqui went into the bathroom to clean up and change her clothes.

When they got back to the dining room Jackson and Blair informed them that they were ready to leave. Jackson had donned a jacket which covered the bloodstains on his shirt. Jackson sat up front with Blair while Moody shared the backseat with Jacqui.

At the hospital they were met by two police officers who informed them of current circumstances. Anna had been taken to the emergency room where the glass was removed, her wound cleaned out and stitched and she was ready to be released.  Brian however was still in surgery to have the bullet removed.

Anna looked pale but smiled when she saw Jacqui and Jackson.

“Hi, how are you feeling?” Jacqui sat down on the bench next to Anna.

“Oh, I have had better days, but I’ll recover soon enough. I may not be able to carry a tray for a day or two, but I should be able to vacuum with one arm…”

“Oh no, you won’t…You are going to take a few days off and let that arm of yours heal properly.”

“Thank you for the thought Jacqui, but after what happened tonight, I would rather be spending my time vacuuming your place than alone in my apartment. From what I heard; the estate will now be protected by a small army. I think I’ll feel safer there regardless of what happened.”

“If Anna could stay at the house, it would make our lives much easier. Remember, as we stand here, we still have no concrete evidence as to the real reason behind the attacks. With Anna at the house, it would save us the manpower to watch her separately.”

“Why would you have to watch Anna Detective Blair? She has nothing to do with this?”

“Anyone coming into or leaving the estate would be in danger while the killer is still on the loose. They can be taken hostage, used to get into the house…Anna could end up being in as much danger as the rest of you.”

“Well then it is decided. Anna you will come to stay with us.  There is more than enough space to host an army in that house. But… I refuse to let you do anything around the house for the next few days.  I am not a great cook, but I am sure that I can manage to feed us for a while.  As I do not think it would be wise for me to go into the office, it will give me something to occupy myself with.”