Hear No Evil - Chapter 30

Leaving the car, they walked up the driveway to the White residence. Jack knocked the door and they waited. Within seconds the door was opened by a tall man with blond hair and deep blue eyes. He was holding who Sue assumed was his seven months old daughter in his arms and looked at Jack and Sue suspiciously.


“JAMES WHITE?” Sue signed as the man nodded. “I AM SUE THOMAS AND THIS IS JACK HUDSON. WE ARE WITH THE FBI. CAN WE ASK YOU SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT YOUR WIFE’S DISAPPEARANCE?”

They watched as he nodded his head and walked into the living area. Sue noted that the man understood ASL and wondered if he was deaf or had learnt ASL because of his wife. Sue followed him through to the living room as Jack closed the front door and joined them. They both sat on the couch when he indicated they could sit. He placed the tiny infant in her crib and came to sit opposite them.

“HOW COME THE FBI ARE INVOLVED IN MY WIFE’S DISAPPEARANCE?” James signed.
“WE BELIEVE THAT YOU WIFE’S DISAPPEARANCE IS CONNECTED THE THREE OTHER WOMEN WHO HAVE GONE MISSING OVER THE LAST TWO WEEKS.”

Sue signed and spoke so that Jack understood what she was saying. Even though Jack’s ASL was improving, he still wasn’t to the level where he could understand everything she had said. She saw the surprised look on the husband’s face as he leaned forward.

“You can speak too? Rosemary could speak as well you know.” James said, his voice tinged with sadness.
“We know Mr White, so could all the other women who have gone missing. This is why we think your wife is connected to these women somehow.” Sue told him.
“Mr White, when was the last time that you saw your wife” Jack asked.
“It was Sunday lunchtime. She always insists on having a big family dinner on a Sunday. It was something that her parents did throughout her childhood, a family tradition that she liked to keep. We finished a little after 3pm and she said that she was going to see a friend and then on to deaf club. She should have been back a little after eight but she never came back.”

Sue glanced across at Jack as she saw James’ words and he shook his head slightly. She knew what Jack was telling her. They knew that Rosemary hadn’t attended deaf club on Sunday, but it was clear her husband thought she had. The shake of his head told her that he didn’t want her husband knowing this just yet.

“Do you know the name of the friend that she was going to see?” Jack asked.
“No, she never told me. She liked to keep her friends to herself. I think it was a friend from back home. I know she kept in touch with quite a few people from Ohio. I can give you list of the friends that I know of if you think that would help?”
“Yes it would, thank you Mr White.” Sue said as she smiled.

Sue watched as the older man nodded and stood, checking on the little girl that lay in her crib. When he was out of earshot, Sue turned to Jack.

“If he thought she was at deaf club and we know that she wasn’t, then where was she going each Sunday night?” Sue asked him.
“I don’t know Sue, there could be any number of explanations for why she would lie to her husband but I think I may know what the most likely one is. I think...” Jack started, but was stopped when James returned.
“Here you go.” He handed the paper to Jack before turning to pick up the little girl, “Emily is a little unsettled, I think she is missing her mother.” James said as he carefully placed her on his shoulder and began to rock her side to side.
“How long have you and Rosemary been together Mr White.”

Sue watched as the man smiled, sitting on the chair opposite them as he held his daughter close.

“It was a bit of a whirlwind. We met just over a year ago and got married within the month. Rosie fell pregnant with Emily almost immediately. It’s our first anniversary next week.”

Jack nodded his understanding and watched as the man tended to his daughter. Images of children that he and Sue could have flooded his mind. He fought a smile as he thought about what Sue would look like carrying their children. He had no doubt that she would be an excellent mother. He jumped when the little girl started to cry and stood. Almost immediately, Sue copied his movement.

“I think that is all we need to now Mr White. Thank you for your time.” Jack said as he placed his hand on the small of Sue’s back and steered her towards the door.

After letting themselves out, Sue and Jack sat in the car outside the White residence. Sue could tell by the way Jack was acting that he had picked up on something that she had missed and she was curious about what it was.

“What is it Jack?”
“I don’t know, but something doesn’t lie right with me Sue. Firstly, why would she lie to her husband about attending deaf club?” He asked.
“Because she didn’t want to tell him where she was really going?” She answered.
“And why do people usually lie about their whereabouts to the person they profess to love?”

As Sue looked at him, the realised that there were any number of reasons why a woman would lie to her husband about her whereabouts, but there was only one that she could think of.

“You don’t think? Rosemary wouldn’t do that Jack. I know her.”
“You used to know her Sue. You said it yourself; you haven’t heard anything from her in over a year. People change. I think that Rosemary may have been seeing someone else. I also think that baby Emily may not be James’ biological daughter.”

oOo

As they drove back to the Hoover building, Sue read Jack as he explained his reasons for thinking that Rosemary was being unfaithful. No matter how much she didn’t want to believe it, she had to admit that it was the most logical reason why a woman would lie to her husband about her whereabouts.

As Jack had explained, Sue shook her head. She had never been able to understand how anyone could betray the vows they made on their wedding day. As far as she was concerned, getting married was for life. In sickness and in health, till death do us part. She knew that in some cases, there were extenuating circumstances which sometimes forced people apart, but betraying vows in order to see someone else was something that she had never been able to fathom.

She knew that, when she took those vows, she would be committing herself to that one person for the rest of her life. She knew that the person who would be standing opposite her on that day would be Jack. There was no way it was going to be anyone else. He was her friend, her soul mate, the one she was meant to be with. She would never love anyone the way she loved Jack and it was a love that filled her entire being. Life without him just didn’t bear thinking about.

Forcing herself back to the present, she read him as he also explained that the timeline with regards to the baby didn’t quite fit. James had said that he and Rosemary met a little over a year ago and they married within the month, and that Rosemary had fallen pregnant almost immediately. That would mean that they had been together 13 months. Their little girl was six months old and the gestation period in humans is nine months. Doing the maths, Rosemary would have been almost two months pregnant when she met and married James. The only question they had to answer was did Rosemary know she was pregnant when she married James and did James know that Emily wasn’t his biological daughter?

Hear No Evil - Chapter 29

“I knew her as Rosemary Prince, her maiden name.” Sue explained. “She used to attend deaf club every week without fail then one day a little over a year ago, she just stopped coming. I never did find out why. I just assumed that she had moved back home to be closer to her parents. Her dad had been really ill and her mother was having difficulty coping. Her dad is deaf and her mom hearing. I never knew that she was seeing someone and she never mentioned anything about a baby, or getting married.”
“Where was home for Rosemary Sue?”

Jack watched her as she smiled up at him and he couldn’t help but wonder what he had said to make her smile.

“Jackson, Ohio.”

Jack had to chuckle and understood the reason for her smile. He placed a hand on her shoulder and gave it a gentle squeeze, surprised when her hand went up to cover his. Even though they were now together, it was still the little things like that which took him by surprise and he was sure he would never get used to it.

“One other thing. Tara, you said that Rosemary was on her way back from deaf club?” Tara nodded. “I don’t think that can be correct. The deaf club I go to is the only one in a twenty mile radius. Rosemary couldn’t……can’t drive, at least she couldn’t when I knew her, so unless she was hitchhiking, she couldn’t have been at deaf club last night.”

Smiling at her, Jack turned to Tara as she worked at her computer.

“Sue’s right Jack, the only deaf club apart from the one Sue goes to, it 35 miles from here.”

Sue watched as Jack nodded as moved too his desk. Turning, she looked at her computer screen. She hadn’t seen or heard from Rosemary for over twelve months, which at the time she thought was strange as they had been quite close at deaf club. As time went on, she thought less and less of it. She started to let her thoughts get away from her until she saw Lucy standing next to her.

“You okay?” Lucy asked.
“I’m fine Luce.” Sue said as Lucy pulled up a chair next to her.
“Good. Now you can tell me to keep my nose out but I was just wondering what Garrett wanted to see you for.”

Sue had to chuckle at her friend. She was surprised it had taken her so long to ask about the meeting she and Jack had just had with Garrett. She knew it must have been eating at her. Glancing at Jack to see him on his cell, she turned back to Lucy and sighed.

“He knows about me and Jack. Someone sent him an e-mail saying that they had seen us out on our date Saturday and asked him to “deal” with the situation.” Lucy said making quotation marks in the air.
“Did he say who sent it?”Lucy asked
“No, but whoever it is made it clear that he doesn’t agree with us breaking bureau policy.”
“I can’t believe that someone would be so underhand and send an e-mail like that. You leave it to me Sue, I shall find out who it was and give them a piece of my mind.”

Before Sue could protest Lucy was back in front of her computer and on the phone. She knew that her best friend meant well and once she put her mind to something, she didn’t stop until she got the result she was after. She had no doubt that Lucy would find out who had sent that e-mail.

oOo

Whilst the rest of the team continued researching the four women’s backgrounds and the originator of a certain e-mail, Jack and Sue had left the bullpen and were on their way to see Rosemary White’s husband, James.

Telling her that there was no point taking two cars, they had taken Jack’s. However, that wasn’t the real reason why he’d suggested it. He was concerned about her and how she was handling the case. He’d asked her several times how she was doing and each time she said she was fine, but now that she knew the latest victim, his concern had increased.

“Are you okay?” Jack asked as he glanced at her.
“I’m okay with the case but something is bothering me.” Sue answered as she turned to him, “I can’t stop thinking about who sent Garrett that e-mail. It is clear that whoever it was doesn’t agree with us seeing each other. If we put one foot wrong it could mean one or both of us moving to a new team which is the last thing that I want. Everyone on the team is like a second family to me and I wouldn’t want to lose that, or you.”

Jack sighed and smiled, reaching over to take her hand. He’d been thinking the same thing since their meeting with Garrett. The rule about inter-office dating had been in place for as long as he could remember

“I know how you feel Sue. I wouldn’t want to break up the team either. But at the same time, I don’t want to be without you in my life.”
“I feel the same Jack, I still can’t quite believe that eighteen months ago I was in Ohio living with my parents and now I’m working for the FBI, I have great friends and I have you. I never dreamed that I would meet someone like you and become so attracted to you so quickly. Having you feel the same way about me scares me a little. Most men aren’t interested when they find out I am deaf.” Sue said as she gave him a half smile.
“That doesn't matter to me Sue. It never has. It’s part of what makes you who you are, what makes you so unique and what makes you who you are.”

Jack glanced at her as he tried to keep an eye on the road. He could tell that she was second guessing her feelings, and his feelings for her. He guessed that she hadn’t had many relationships in the past and he knew that she must have been hurt when people wrote her off because of her deafness. He waited for her response.

“I know that it doesn't bother you at the moment, but maybe it will if we keep seeing each other romantically. You could get bored with watching television with closed captions, or having to get my attention whenever you want to speak with me. I don’t want my deafness to drive a wedge between us, or for it to be the cause of any resentment.

Jack sighed as he realised his thoughts had been correct. It was just like Sue to worry about other people. Instead of thinking about her own happiness, she was worried about how their relationship would affect him. He stopped the car when they arrived at their destination, unbuckled his seatbelt and turned in his seat to look at her.

“Sue, I promise you that you will never lose me as a friend and I will never resent you for anything. You have changed my life so much since you barged into the bullpen all those months ago. Seeing you and Levi intrigued me, I had to find you, to see you again. Let me put it to you another way. Have you ever seen me eat lunch in the cafeteria apart from the day I had lunch with you?”

As she looked at him, she smiled. He was correct. She hadn’t seen him in the cafeteria again since that day. The thought that he’d sought her out had crossed her mind but dismissed the thought almost immediately. When she had seen him standing there, asking if he could sit with her, she had been overcome by how handsome he actually was. Of course, she had noticed it in the bullpen earlier that day but when he sat opposite her she saw it all too clearly. Her attraction to him had been instantaneous and she remembered that she hadn’t said much during their first lunch meeting, part of her still in awe at the handsome man that sat opposite her. She had seen the other women in the cafeteria looking her way, eying up the man she sat with. To this day she didn’t understand why he had chosen to sit with her when there were so many other women sitting alone who would obviously welcome his attention.

Jack sat looking at her, he could see that she was thinking and a smile crossed her face. He guessed that she was remembering their first lunch. He had found out from personnel that she was new to the bureau. He had assumed that she wouldn’t have known the immediate area so would spend her first lunch on the premises. His thoughts had proven correct when he walked into the cafeteria and saw her sitting at a table near the window, Levi sat at her feet. She was beautiful, there was no denying it. One of the most beautiful women he had seen. He’d been struck by her beauty when he first saw her but the way the light from the window highlighted her blond hair only served to make her look even more stunning.

As he’d approached her table, he was well aware of the glances he was receiving from the other women who were seated alone or some in pairs. But at that moment, he only had eyes for the blonde sitting with her dog. When he had discovered that she was deaf, he was intrigued all the more. Sitting across from her, her beauty was evident and it almost took his breath away that he could become attracted to someone so quickly. Almost at the same time, they came back to reality and smiled at each other.

“Come one, we have a job to do.”