Hear No Evil - Chapter 44

“We know that this guy is after me next. We also know that he tends to get these women when they are on their own and out of direct sight of the public. Why don’t we give him the opportunity to get at me?”

The whole team were sat in the conference room listening to Sue’s idea to catch Marcus Price. Due to the nature of what Sue had in mind, she asked Garrett to be present as only he could authorise what she wanted to do.

As Sue spoke, she kept glancing at Jack. She could tell by the way his jaw was set and by the look in his eyes that he wasn’t happy with her idea. She’d known he wouldn’t be. She knew that he wouldn’t have been happy putting any of the team in harm’s way, but with her it would be different. Not just because she wasn’t an agent, but because of his feelings for her.

“I am due to go to deaf club tomorrow night. I usually park my car three blocks away and walk to and from the club. If he is after me, that would be the ideal time, probably after the club as there would be less people about due to the time. There are plenty of places along the route where we could place agents and we can have the surveillance van just around the corner from the club. I can’t see him going after me right in front of the club, there would be too many people around. He would wait until I’d moved away.” Sue glanced at the team and then turned to Garrett. “It can work sir. There will be enough agents around to stop the guy should he show up and I can wear a vest just in case.”

As Sue finished speaking, She looked around the table at her friends, her eyes resting on Jack. She could tell that he wasn’t happy with her plan as he turned to Garrett.

“I don’t like it sir. With respect, Sue is not an agent and she isn’t used to these sorts of situations. We would be putting her at great risk and we have no way of knowing where along the route Price will try and grab Sue. There are too many things that could go wrong, too many variables.”
“Usually I would agree with you mate but we have enough experience amongst us to keep a trained eye on Sue at all times and we will have guys in place to strike if the need arises. Hopefully we can spot this guy before he gets anywhere near Sue and grab him in plenty of time.”

Sue gave Bobby a small smile before turning back to Jack whose eyes were watching her intensely. She looked back at Garrett as he spoke.

“I agree.” Garrett said as he held up his hand as Jack began to protest. “I understand your concerns Agent Hudson but Manning is right. This may be the only chance we have to catch this guy in the act. I shall approve the operation.” Garrett paused before turning to Sue. “Jack is right Thomas, you don’t have any experience in these situations. You do whatever the agents tell you to do and you do not, under any circumstances deviate from the set route or go off on your own. Do I make myself clear?” Garrett said.
“Yes sir.” Sue said and nodded at the same time.
“Don’t let me down. Let’s get this guy.” Garrett said.

With that, Garrett stood up and left the conference room. Sensing the tension between their two friends, the rest of the team stood and followed Garrett from the room, leaving Jack and Sue alone.

oOo

It took Jack a few moments before he said anything, well aware that his dislike for her taking this assignment was purely personal.

“You’re not doing this Sue. I am not going to risk anything happening to you.”
“Jack, I appreciate your concern but I have to do this. We still have one woman missing, possible dead.” Sue paused and looked down before continuing. “If we don’t do this, we may never find her.”
“What if something should happen?” Jack started. “What if he……” He stopped talking, the thought of what could happen too much for him to even contemplate.
“Then you will just have to come in a rescue me won’t you? I’m counting on you and the guys being there if anything should go wrong.”

Sighing deeply, Jack ran his fingers through his dark hair and quickly got up from his seat. In only two strides he was in front of her, his hands taking hold of hers.

“I couldn’t bear it if anything was to happen to you Sue.” Jack confessed. “We have only just found each other and…”
“And what Jack?”

Jack looked up into her eyes, smiling at the thought of what he was about to say. Here I go, he thought to himself.

“I love you Sue.”

Sue gasped as she read the three words she had longed to see come from his lips. The tears threatened to fall down her cheeks and she hoped her voice was steady as she spoke.

“I love you too Jack.”

He smiled as he settled his hands at her waist, enjoying the way that her whole body reacted to his touch. As he looked at her he saw only love in her eyes and knew that they reflected what she could see in his own. He stepped closer and lowered his head to softly kiss her neck. He felt the trembling throughout her body and heard her catch her breath as he hands rested on his upper arms. He edged his body closer and brushed her hair to the side, giving him better access to her slender neck. His hands held her waist, preventing her from moving from his grasp. He slipped a finger inside her shirt between buttons to softly caress her flat stomach. He felt her muscles react to his touch and her whole body shook with the intensity of their feelings. He glanced down and noticed that her hands had moved and she was holding onto the table. Running his finger around her belly button, he felt her sigh as her breath hit his cheek.

He reached up to cup her cheek, turning her head so that he could run his lips from her earlobe to the corner of her mouth. Feeling her begin to move restlessly he dropped his hands and ran them down her body and intertwined his fingers with hers, trapping her against the table again.

Her hands, not able to grip the table anymore, clutched his shoulders, hoping to stay on her feet as his mouth did enticing things to her neck. As Jack continued his onslaught, she allowed her hands to move down from his shoulders. She loved the feel of his strong chest and his firm, smooth stomach beneath the thin material of his shirt. Before she knew what was happening, her fingers were working on the buttons, giving her hands access to the bared skin beneath. As she slowly inched her hands upward towards his shoulders, Jack’s shirt fell away, slid down his arms and onto the floor.

She took a moment to look at him before lowering her head and pressing her lips to his bare skin. Jack’s reaction almost knocked her off her feet as he lifted her head and took her lips in a kiss that left no doubt as to his intentions.

When Jack released her lips, Sue allowed her head to fall forward, bringing her mouth in contact with Jack’s now shirt-free chest. As she peppered kisses across his collarbone, she could feel the vibrations in his chest and felt his hands tighten around her. Spurred on by his reaction to her, she made her way back to his neck and nibbled where she felt his racing pulse. 

His reaction was swift and immediate as he picked her up, set her on the table, wrapped her legs around his back and crushed his lips to hers, pushing his tongue past her parted lips to taste her completely. He hesitated slightly before his fingers made easy work of the buttons of her blouse and it joined his on the floor. The feel of her bare skin on his was almost his undoing as he fought to regain some control of a situation he knew was getting quickly out of control. But as she kissed his neck, her hands on his chest, stopping was the farthest thing from his mind.

Taking her face in his hand, he pressed his lips to her again as her arms locked around his neck as she pulled him closer, their bodies as close as they could be. It was the urgent need for oxygen that made it necessary for them to stop and Jack rested his forehead against hers, fighting to regain the control that he had almost lost completely.

Sue looked at Jack, her breathing erratic as she fought to regain some composure. There was absolutely no doubt in her mind that she wanted Jack. That she wanted to be with him in all of the ways that she promised herself she would wait for. She saw the look in his eyes and knew he felt the same as she did. She smiled at him as he bent to retrieve their discarded shirts, suddenly aware that only the thin material of her bra covered her modesty.

Jack handed her back her blouse and put his shirt back on. He turned to see her standing by him and smiled at her appearance. She had only done up two of the buttons and his fingers urged to touch the soft skin of her stomach that was still visible to him.

“Come on, let’s get you home before I change my mind and take that blouse back off you.”

Sue smiled and felt the flush creep to her cheeks and fastened the remaining buttons on the now crumpled shirt. Taking Jack’s hand, they left the conference room and headed in the direction of the parking garage, avoiding the bullpen completely.