Hear No Evil - Chapter 32

Sue smiled at Jack as he squeezed her hand and released it, letting her return to her desk. She kept her eyes on him as he approached Tara.

“Hey Tara. Anything on that list of friends yet?”

“Everyone is clean at the moment Jack. The first two, Simon Davies and Greg Chambers still live in Ohio and are married with kids, they both said that they haven’t heard anything from Rosemary in almost three months. Background checks came back clean. I haven’t been able to reach the next two on the list but their preliminary checks are clean too, their names are Sharon Michaels and Barbara Casey."

When Sue read Tara saying the last name, she fell down onto her seat. Jack spotted it almost immediately and he rushed to her side, kneeling in front of her.

“What is it Sue?” He asked her.

“Did you just say Barbara Casey?” Sue asked Tara as she nodded. “Jack, Barbara Casey was my speech teacher. If Rosemary went to see Ms Casey and the others were from Ohio, it’s possible they went to see her too. She was only one of two speech teachers in the immediate area.  She could be the link between all of the women Jack.  We need to speak with her.” Sue explained.

“I agree. I shall have a word with Garrett, see if will give us the go ahead to go out there. Somehow I don’t think a phone call will cut it, we need to see her and her reaction to our questions. I shall come out with you. If you know her, it will probably be best if you speak with her. I shall be there by your side if you need anything. We could even pay your parents a visit while we are out there.”

Sue managed a weak smile and Jack gently squeezed her hand before leaving the bullpen to speak with Garrett. Sue turned in her chair and stared into space. Whilst she would never admit this to anyone, especially Jack, she was beginning to get nervous. There were just too many coincidences connecting her to the missing women. If she was right and they had all attended the same speech teacher, she knew that Jack would insist she moved to a safe house until the person was caught.

Whilst his protective streak did annoy her at times, she knew that he was only looking out for her. She told herself that Jack would so the same thing if it was any of the team and she was probably right, but she knew that with her it went deeper than that. With her it was personal.  She knew Jack wouldn’t let anything happen to her, even if it meant him staying with her 24/7, gun in hand to fend of anyone who tried to hurt her. She was broken out of her thoughts when Jack returned and came straight to her desk.

“Garrett approved it.” He said as he nodded. “Tara, I need to you get us on the next available flight out to Ohio. We need to get going right now so can call me when you’ve got the flight details.”

Sue watched as Tara nodded and began working on the flights and Jack picked up her jacket and clipped on Levi’s leash. Grabbing her purse, Sue stood and left the bullpen with Jack.

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.”

Hear No Evil - Chapter 27

Thirty minutes later, Sue and Lucy walked into the bullpen. As soon as she entered, Sue’s eyes were drawn to Jack’s desk and she tried to hide her disappointment that he wasn’t there. She unclipped Levi’s leash and sat down at her desk as her faithful friend he dashed off in search of his bunny. As she switched on her computer, she felt a hand on her shoulder. Smiling, she turned, hoping to see Jack but was greeted by the smiling face of his best friend.

“Jack is in with Garrett. He asked to see you too as soon as you came in.” Bobby explained.
“Did he say why?” She asked curiously.
“No, but he grabbed Jack as soon as he walked in ten minutes ago. He didn’t even have chance to take off his jacket.”

Nodding as Bobby returned to his desk, Sue placed her purse in her desk drawer and left the bullpen. Allsorts of things were running through her mind. What could be so important that Garrett wanted them as soon as they arrived? She knew it was probably something to do with the case, but if that was it, why weren’t the rest of the team here? Reaching Garrett’s office, she knocked on the door, smiling when Jack opened it and stepped aside for her to enter.

“You wanted to see me sir?” Sue said
“Yes Thomas, please take a seat.”

Sue took one of the two seats opposite Garrett’s desk as Jack took the other. Knowing their relationship was against the rules, Sue resisted the urge to look at him, knowing that the images of her dreams would return and she wouldn’t be able to hide the blush that she knew would fill her cheeks.

“Thomas, what I have to say concerns both you and Agent Hudson. I haven’t said anything to Jack as of yet because I thought it only fair that you were both here at the same time.”

She couldn’t stop herself as she looked to Jack for answers. She was getting worried about the reason they’d been called in here and she could tell by the look on Jack’s face that he was too.

“A little over an hour ago I received an e-mail from someone in this building. I am not at liberty to reveal the name at this time as I do not feel that it is relevant. I have asked you both in here to either confirm or deny the content of this e-mail and I would appreciate your honesty.”

Both Jack and Sue took the pieces of paper that Garrett handed to each of them and started to read:

Mr Garrett

As I am sure you are aware, there are rules within the bureau that prohibit inter unit dating. I feel that you should be made aware that two of the agents under your supervision have been seen out and about enjoying what can only be described as a date. The two agents concerned are Jack Hudson and Sue Thomas.

I thought that it best that I bring this matter to your attention so that you can deal with Hudson and Thomas in line with standard bureau policy. I trust you will take the appropriate action in this matter

Thank You

Sue and Jack looked at each other and then at Garrett, who was watching them both intently.

“I’m not going to deny that I haven’t seen the chemistry you two share. Personally would like nothing more than to see you two explore your feelings but as the e-mail says, it is against bureau policy for two agents in the same unit to date. Now, I trust from your silence that the e-mail is correct and you two are now dating?”

Sue turned from Garrett and looked at Jack. There was an unspoken question in his eyes and Sue knew what it was. Smiling at him, she nodded as Jack turned back to their supervisor

“Yes we are Ted.” Jack confirmed.
“I see. Can I ask how long this has been going on for?” Garrett said.
“We’ve only been dating for a couple of days, but, whilst I can’t speak for Miss Thomas, I’ve had feelings for her since the day she joined the team. It’s only been recently that I’ve had the courage to admit it, to myself and to her.”

Sue smiled at Jack’s admission and turned to Garrett.

“I feel the same way sir. And I would like to mention that, Jack and I have had feelings for one another for almost two years and it has never affected our working relationship or the way that the team performs. I’m sure that the fact we are now dating won’t change the way we work as a team, or as partners.”

“I’m counting on that Sue. Since I received the e-mail, I’ve checked into this rule and it does say that two “agents” can’t date. Thomas, as you’re not an agent, I can’t enforce the rule. However, if I find that your work or that of the team does begin to suffer I will have no hesitation in reassigning one of you to another team. Is that clear?” Garrett said.
“Yes sir.” Jack answered.
“Okay. I trust you will both be discreet when you are at work?”
“We will sir.” Sue replied.
“Good. Now I am assuming that the others on the team know?” Both Jack and Sue nodded. “Okay, well I am prepared to keep it within the unit for the time being as long as you two don’t push the limits on this. Don’t make me regret trusting you.”

Both Jack and Sue stood and turned to leave when Tara opened the door.

“Excuse me for interrupting but we have another victim.”

Glancing at Garrett who just nodded, Jack hurried after Tara with Sue close behind him. Within minutes they were all gathered together in the bullpen and Tara had provided them with the details on the latest kidnap victim.

The woman’s name is Rosemary White, thirty three years old, married just under a year, one young daughter, only six months old. Apparently, she was on her way back from deaf club when she vanished. No one has seen her since last night.”

Sue stood up from her position on Tara’s desk and walked up the screen. After a few seconds, her hand went up her to her mouth and she gasped. Lucy and Jack were immediately by her side.

“Sue, what it is? What’s wrong?” Jack asked.
“I know her. She used to attend the same deaf club that I go to.”

Hear No Evil - Chapter 15

After Lucy's call, Jack had woven in and out of DC traffic and they had walked into the bullpen ten minutes later to find everyone already there. Everyone looked up when they entered and Jack watched as his best friend grinned at them. He turned his eyes away and he inwardly groaned, recognising that look anywhere. Bobby knew and he had feeling he knew who had told him.

"So guys, how was the first date?" Bobby said as he clapped him on the back, confirming Jack's earlier thoughts.

Jack tucked his tongue in his cheek, trying his hardest to avoid looking at his friend who he knew was grinning widely. Instead, he turned to Sue and watched as looked at Lucy, an accusing look on her face. He grinned to when he saw Lucy shrug and walk over to her.

"You didn't expect me to know about you two and not tell anyone?" Lucy said as she came to stand next to Sue. "It would have been around the building in super quick time anyway. Everyone has been waiting for the day that you two finally came to your senses and admitted how you feel."

Jack looked between the two women and Sue's cheeks flooded with colour. He had to smile at how easily that happened to her. He began to wonder if simple words could make her blush like that, what colour would her cheeks go when they were alone together?

At that moment Garrett walked into the bullpen, grabbing everyone's attention. Knowing that their relationship was against bureau policy, Jack instinctively moved away from Sue and went to lean on his own desk. He felt bad doing it but Sue's smile and small nod told her that she understood. He nodded his head towards Garrett as he started to speak.

"I'm sorry to drag you all in here when you'd been given a few days off but a high profile case has come to our attention and it's been assigned to us at the request of the Director himself."
"The Director?" Jack queried.
"Yes Jack. He requested this team for reasons that will become clear." Garrett paused and looked at each member, knowing he had their full attention. "I trust you have all heard about the kidnappings that have occurred over the last two weeks."

Garrett paused as all the team nodded.

"It would be hard not to. They've been all over the news." Lucy said, as curious as the rest of the team.
"That's right Miss Dotson." He paused again. "The case has been given to us because all of the victims have something in common." Garrett said as he turned to face Sue. "All of the victims are oral deaf."

Garrett watched his team as they all looked at Sue, trying not to make it glaringly oblivious that they were doing so. Jack moved from his desk to sit beside her on hers, his hand covering Sue's, a move that didn't go unnoticed by anyone. Garrett cleared his throat before continuing.

"I have the files on all three of the missing women right here." He said as he held the files up to show them. "I have no doubt that you will all give 100% on this case as you do every case." Garrett paused for a moment and looked each of the team in the eye. "I don't need to tell you what needs to be done. I want this person found before another woman goes missing." Pausing again he handed the files to Jack. "Jack, do your magic." He said as he turned to Sue. "Thomas, can I have a word please."

Glancing at Jack as he squeezed her hand and smiled his encouragement, Sue moved from her desk and met Garrett in the hallway outside the bullpen.

"I think you know what I am going to say Sue. If you don't want to get involved with this case I will understand. It's close to home for you. No one will think any less of you for pulling out."

Sue smiled up at their supervisor, appreciating that he had thought of her wellbeing in this way.

"I appreciate you giving me the choice sir but I shall be fine. If all of the missing women were deaf, chances are their parents and friends might be too. While Lucy and Jack are improving day after day, I'm the only one fluent enough in ASL to communicate effectively."

She watched Garrett nodded and smiled.

"You have me there Thomas." He said as he paused. Against his better judgement, he nodded. "Okay, but only if you are sure? If you think it's getting too much for you, let me or Jack know. Is that understood?"
"Yes sir. Thank you."

Garrett turned and walked into his office, leaving Sue to return to the bullpen. As she entered, she saw Jack watching her, an unspoken question in his eyes. Sue recognised the look straightaway and nodded to him, smiling back when he smiled at her. She kept her eyes on him as Jack walked over to Tara and gave her the files on the three women, images of the kiss they'd shared less than an hour ago filling her mind. She felt the blush on her cheeks and forced herself to come back to the present as she watched Tara push a few buttons on her keyboard. Tara gave the files back to Jack and a picture of a young woman appeared on the big screen for everyone to see.

"The first woman is Claire Williams, 26 years old. She lives in D.C with her mom, dad and two brothers. She was last seen at college eating her lunch in the corner of the park opposite. Her friends have said that one minute she was there, the next minute she was gone. Metro checked the scene and said that there was no evidence of a struggle so she may have known who took her."

Tara pressed a few buttons on her keyboard and another image appeared, this time a woman of similar age came onto the screen.

"Girl number two is Sophie Morgan, 25 years old. She is an only child and lives in D.C with her dad. She moved to D.C a little over a year ago when her dad suffered a stroke. Mom died three years ago of a drug overdose. Police concluded that it was an accidental death and that suicide was not intended. Sophie went missing after leaving one of her friends at the local cinema to walk the five minutes to her house. She never made it back."

The last picture was of the latest girl to go missing.

"Our latest girl is Maria Lopez, 27 years old, lives with her mom, brother and sister in D.C. No dad on the scene, from what we can tell. It appears that he walked out when Maria's younger sister was born, two years later. Apparently, all three children are deaf or have hearing difficulties and dad couldn't cope with it. Maria went missing after swim class. Her brother was meant to pick her up but was late due to traffic. When he got there she was nowhere to be seen. A friend said that she saw her waiting by the front gates. One of her sneakers was found on a grass verge about five yards away. At present, it is the only piece of evidence we have."

As Jack finished, the screen went blank and he turned to the team, casting a quick glance in Sue's direction.

"Tara, I want you to begin doing background checks on the immediate families to see if there are any other connections apart from them being deaf. Bobby, I want you to go over the evidence that was collected at all of the scenes, see if there are any similarities there. Myles, D, I want you to visit each of the crime scenes again, see if anyone saw anything or heard anything that we don't already know about. Sometimes things can come back to people after a few days. Get any CCTV cameras that haven't already been checked, I'm willing to bet that the cinema had some and the complex where Maria swam. Lucy, can you gather a list of the girls' closest friends at school, in the neighbourhood where they live, anything like that."

When Jack finished speaking the whole bullpen came to life as everyone started their assigned tasks. Myles and D grabbed their coats and left the bullpen. Tara's fingers were already flying over the keyboard and Lucy already had the phone glued to her ear. Smiling as his team got to work, he looked across at Sue, who was staring into space.

Standing, he took a few steps until he stood in front of her, seeing the sad look that marred her normally worry free face. Crouching in front of her, he took her hand. She looked up at him and smiled. He could see the worry in her blue eyes and her smile didn't quite light up her face like it usually did.

"You going be okay with this?" He asked her in a hushed voice as he took her other hand in his.
"I'd be lying if I said that it didn't bother me." Sue said with a sigh, "I'll be fine though. Thank you for worrying."
"Hey, it's my job to worry now. That is, if you don't mind?" Jack said as he smiled.
"I don't mind Jack. In fact, it's actually kind of nice knowing that you worry about me."

Jack held her gaze, getting lost in those deep blue eyes. Finally forcing his eyes away from hers, he looked down at their joined hands, his thumb brushing across her knuckles. Turning her hand over, he drew small circles on her palm, smiling when her fingers closed over his and she smiled. At any other time he would have pulled away, not wanting anyone to notice their brief moment, but now it didn't seem to matter. He didn't care who saw them together.

Lifting his eyes to look at her, he noticed Lucy watching them. Meeting her gaze, he saw her smile at him and look away quickly. She had been their strongest supporter from day one and had been trying to get them together since she'd joined the team. She'd pulled him up many times for not admitting how he felt about her. At those times, he hadn't been ready to admit how he felt to himself, at least not how deep those feelings ran.

He remembered back to Bobby's birthday party during their first case. He had felt so bad when Rhonda had turned up when he and Sue were talking outside his apartment. As they'd been talking, he'd felt those familiar feelings and he knew that Sue was a woman he wanted to get to know better. He also knew he couldn't do that with another woman in his life so he had finished with Rhonda the following week.

Apart from his mother and his sister, Sue had been only woman who held a place in his heart from the moment he'd bought her onto the team. He knew she was special. Seeing her come into the bullpen on her first day and leave, closely followed by Levi had intrigued him. Her unique abilities were what made him notice her, what made him want her in his team and ultimately in his life.

Giving her one last smile, he squeezed her hands and returned to his desk, dreading the amount of e-mails that he knew would be waiting for him.

Hear No Evil - Chapter 13

As Jack and Sue walked, they failed to see that he man watched them from the side of the rink. He smiled when he realised that this wasn't just another "day as friends." He had seen the hug and the hand holding. This was a date. A date that was forbidden by the rules laid down by the FBI for inter-unit dating. He was going to enjoy telling Garrett about this.

Hear No Evil - Chapter 1

“Okay Sparky, that’s enough for today. I am taking you out for a few beers and several rounds of pool.”

Jack looked up at his best friend and teammate and gave him a weak smile. Sighing, he moved back from his computer and loosened his tie. He had to admit that it had been a long few days. The team had finished their investigation into international terrorist Arif Dessa, a case which had involved him and Sue going undercover, as a married couple no less. The whole team had spent the day completing the paperwork and they had all double checked and triple checked each other’s reports. Even though Dessa had vanished into the ether, they wanted to make sure that there were no discrepancies that could compromise their case against his four accomplices that they had dubbed “the four freshmen.”

Checking his watch, he saw that it was almost nine and he and Bobby were the only ones left in the bullpen. He couldn’t quite believe how late it had gotten. Myles had finished his report in super fast time so that he could get in some well-deserved rest over the weekend. He had vanished from the bullpen a little after five. D had done the same thing so that he could go home and spend a weekend with Donna and the kids, something that he hadn’t done in a long time because of work. As for Sue, Tara and Lucy, they had decided that a nice relaxing evening at the local spa was in order, not to mention quality time to catch up on the gossip that they had missed whilst Sue was undercover. Returning to his computer screen, Jack looked up, seeing his friend hovering by his desk.

“Five more minutes Crash, I’m almost done. I don’t want to give Garrett any excuse to drag me in over the weekend. I don’t intend to see this place again until Monday morning.”

Jack watched as his friend narrowed his eyes before responding.

“Okay, five more minutes but I’m timing.” He said as he tapped on his watch before returning to his desk to pack up for the evening.

Jack laughed at his friend and continued to type the last of his report. Trying to remember what he was in the middle of typing before Bobby distracted him.

True to form, five minutes later, Bobby strode over to him car keys in hand and jacket over his arm. Before Bobby could say anything, Jack hit the print and save button and the printer sprung to life as it produced the pages of Jack’s report. He collected all of the pages off the printer and placed them in a folder before rushing out of the bullpen to leave his report on Garrett’s desk. Returning, he grabbed his jacket off the back of the chair and checking that he had turned off his computer, he followed Bobby out of the bullpen.