Page 62 of Romancing the Rumrunner
Jameson grasped the end of her bed and leaned over, startling her into looking at him. “Give us the Phoenix and you might just get out of prison before all that pretty hair of yours turns gray.”
Jessie’s forehead crinkled in confusion and her gaze flicked to Tony. “But…”
Tony grabbed Jameson’s arm and pulled him away from her bed. “That’s enough, Jameson. You’ve said what you wanted to say. You can’t expect her to make a decision like that right away.”
Jameson glared at Tony, but finally nodded. “Fine then. Twenty-four hours, Miss Harlan. When you decide who’s going to prison, you let me know.”
He shook Tony’s hand off his arm and marched from the room.
Tony went back to the side of the bed, Jessie’s round eyes following him the whole time. He stared down at her. Down at this woman who would own his heart and soul until the day he died.
“I know I’ve made a mess of things, Jessie. I can’t fix everything. But I’ll do what I can to make this right. I swear it to you.”
He leaned down and kissed her forehead and then turned and left her with tears streaming down her cheeks.
…
Tony went straight to his office and began pulling files and film from the safe where he’d stashed all his information on Jessie and the Phoenix. He’d told Jameson what he had on Jessie. But he hadn’t turned any of it over yet and Jameson had been too stupid to insist.
For the first time, Tony was grateful for the rickety little woodburning stove that served to heat his office. He yanked open the door and began feeding the files into it, one at a time, making sure they were completely consumed. Then he tossed the photos he’d taken—of Jessie accepting the envelope from Russo, of the tunnels beneath the shop, of the cellar full of gin. All of it. Within minutes, every last piece of evidence he’d collected was destroyed.
Then he sat at his desk and waited for Jameson to show. He didn’t have to wait long.
Chapter Twenty
Jessie sat on the edge of her hospital bed, frowning while Maude buckled her shoes. Her arm felt much better but it still ached a bit and Maude insisted on helping her.
She was about to tell Maude, for the fourth time, that she was capable of putting on her own shoes when the door suddenly burst open with such force that it slammed against the wall. Maude yelped and jumped back. Jessie would have dearly loved to follow suit, but she forced herself to stay put, even when Jameson stormed across the room and leaned down so he was right in her face.
“You might have fooled that jackass Solomon, but you don’t fool me. I know you are involved in all this and I’m going to prove it, if it’s the last thing I do.”
Jessie’s heart raced but she sat as straight as she could, trying not to let her anxiety show. She wouldn’t give Jameson the satisfaction of seeing her cower. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“All the evidence is gone!”
“What do you mean? I thought you already had all the evidence you needed.”
“You want to sit there and play innocent, fine. I went to Solomon’s office to collect everything he had on you, only now he claims that Imisunderstood,” he sneered, “that there never was any evidence. No photos, no files, no notes. Nothing!”
Jessie’s breath caught in her throat with the sudden pounding of her heart. Was he saying what she thought he was saying? She quickly glanced at Maude, who was sitting in a chair clutching her pearls to her chest like a duchess about to have the vapors. Then she turned her attention back to Jameson.
“Agent Jameson, I really have no idea what you are talking about.”
“You little bitch,” he growled, leaning down, his arms on either side of Jessie so she couldn’t move.
Maude screamed, but Jameson ignored her. Jessie’s breaths were coming in short, frightened pants, terror at Jameson’s rage squeezing her chest like a vise. Three nurses, a doctor, and the officer who’d been guarding the door all clustered around, but no one was sure what to do. After all, Jameson was a federal agent.
“You won’t get away with this, you hear me?” His eyes bulged and Jessie shrank away from him despite her best intentions to remain stoic. “I’ll be watching you. One slipup and you’ll be mine.” He straightened and turned to stomp from the room. “Let’s go,” he said to the officer at the door.
The cop glanced back at Jessie, confusion mirroring what Jessie was sure was on her own face, before he turned and followed Jameson.
As soon as he was gone, the medical staff clustered about Jessie, fussing and prodding at her, trying to make sure she was unharmed. She was grateful for their concern but she needed to get out of there now. If what Jameson had said was true, then Tony had made good on his promise to set things right. The thought eased the ache in her heart somewhat, but filled her with anxiety for him. Jameson was not going to let this go.
After assuring the doctor and nurses that she was fine, Jessie filled out her discharge papers and all but ran from the hospital, Maude close on her heels.
“Jessie, what was all that about?” Maude asked, huffing a bit as she hurried to keep up with Jessie.
“I think Tony might have just done something very stupid. Incredibly sweet,” she said, her heart swelling with fear-tinged joy, “but very, very stupid.”
