Double Jeopardy (standard:mystery, 2417 words) [1/13] show all parts
Author: Sarah Spenser	Updated: Oct 15 2005	Views/Reads: 3851/2310	Part vote: 0.00 (0 votes)
Allison and Connor are back in this sequel to Just Before Dawn. Allison is investigating the disappearance of five teenagers, she soon finds out that theyare linked to the mob. Which could land her and her unborn child in peril!.

Click here to read the first 75 lines of the story

You probably have a fever.” Connor got up and retrieved the 
thermometer. “Now here's the toughest part. Don't talk!” he said with a 
grin as he handed her the thermometer. She put it under her tongue and 
waited until it registered her temperature. “What is it?” Connor 
inquired looking at her with concern. “102.” She said softly. “And you 
want to go to work? Are you nuts?” “Just half a day. I promise, Connor. 
I'll tell Doug when I get there.” He saw that determined look in her 
eyes and knew he was defeated. 

Allison Dressed quickly, she wore a blue skirt that accentuated her
figure, delicate blue earrings and he sapphire and wedding band and 
engagement ring. She pulled her dark brown hair into a bun, Connor 
thought she looked smashing as the skirt and the earrings accented her 
piercing blue eyes. “Have a good day, my love!” she said kissing him as 
she headed out the door. “You too. Be careful, Allie.” “I will.” 

Allison sat at her desk in the news room. Doug worried about her, she
looked pale and he thought she was going to collapse. But she was 
determined to have her report on time. Besides, WFTR had already ran an 
advertisement hyping up Allison's report on the missing teens. As she 
was writing her script, the phone rang. “Good afternoon WFTR, Allison 
Shure speaking. May I help you?” he smiled when he heard her voice. 
“Hi, love. How are you?” she smiled into the phone trying to suppress a 
laugh. “Hi, Connor. I'm a little better. How's your day going?” “Pretty 
well. But I'm going to have to work late again tonight. Oh, honey I'm 
so sorry.” She was disappointed but tried to hide it. “It's all right. 
I'll wait up for you.” “You don't have to do that, Allison. You need 
your rest. Has your fever broken?” “No not yet. What time will you be 
home?” “About 11.” “Okay, I'll see you then. Connor, I love you.” “I 
love you too, Allie.” As he hung up, he felt warm inside. He hated 
disappointing her, and promised himself this would be the last night he 
would work late. 

Allison returned to preparing her script when the phone rang again. She
answered and was greeted by an anguished voice. “Ms. Shure this is 
Monica Grimson. I need your help!” she could tell that Monica had been 
crying, and felt like reaching through the phone and comforting her. 
“What can I do for you, Ms. Grimson?” “Mrs. And please call me Monica. 
It's my son Ernie he's missing!” “I don't understand, how can I help 
you?” “Ms. Shure, I'd greatly appreciate it if you would meet me for 
coffee in half an hour. Maybe you could run Ernie's picture on the news 
tonight. Aren't you doing the story about the disappearing teenagers?” 
“Yes, but ...” “Please!” “All right. I'll meet you in half an hour at 
Martha's.” 

Half an hour later, Allison entered Martha's a tiny coffee shop near
WFTR. Monica had described herself, so Allison knew what to look for. 
She spotted her waiting at the first booth. Monica was pretty with 
auburn hair, brown eyes and a slender figure. She shook Allison's hand 
and sat down. “Thanks for coming, Ms. Shure. I can't tell you how much 
this means to me.” Monica grabbed a tissue and dabbed at her eyes. The 
tears cascaded down her face as she thought of her son. “Call me 
Allison. Don't think anything of it. So, tell me Ernie's story.” Monica 
took a sip of her double latte and recited her tale. “Well, about a 
year ago, Ernie started going downhill. He had always been a straight A 
student, always kept up with his school. Ross and I always thought 
education was important.” “Ross?” “My husband.” Allison discretely took 
out her notepad and began to jot down notes. “Ernie's grades started to 
plunge and he was getting into fights at school. Then about three days 
before he disappeared, I found pot in his room. I confronted him and he 
stormed out of the house.” “Was that the last time you saw him?” “Yeah. 
I miss him!” “And what makes you believe that he didn't disappear of 
his own free will?” “Ernie and I had our fights but he always came 
home. He was ... is a good boy.” Allison noticed Monica referring to 
Ernie in the past tense. “What do you think happened?” “Well, I know he 
got in with the wrong crowd. A few hours after he left, I got a phone 
call from a guy who called himself Slim Hawkins.” Allison shuttered, 
Slim Hawkins was a hit man for a branch of the mob. “Did you ever get 
any other phone calls from him?” “No, not recently. He would taunt us 
every month. Saying that Ernie was dead. But I think that my baby is 
still alive! Please, Allison show Ernie's picture tonight. Please help 
us!” Monica clung to Allison's hand as if it were a lifeline. Even 
though she knew she would have to rewrite her script, she agreed. 

At 5-30, Slim sat in front of the TV. He was transfixed by Allison
Shure's reports and thought she was not only beautiful but talented as 
well. His boss Chadwick Batano sat in an oversized arm chair watching 
her report. “Tonight's the night, Boss.” Slim said as he turned up the 
sound. “I know, Slim! I swear if she blows the whistle on us she'll be 
swimming with a cement kickboard!” he looked menacingly at Allison 
who's face flashed across the screen. “Damn you, Allison. If you expose 
me, I'll kill you!” he thought back to the happy years, how could he 
have ever been involved with her. Allison began her report by showing a 
picture of Ernie Grimson. “This is sixteen-year-old Ernie Grimson. He 
disappeared about a year ago after purchasing some drugs from a man 
named Slim Hawkins. Sources say Hawkins is a local hit man for the mob 
and it is speculated that he knows Ernie Grimson's whereabouts. Which 
brings me to the topic of at hand. For the past five years, teenagers 
have been disappearing after purchasing drugs from Slim Hawkins or one 
of his associates. This new series called Eye on Crime is devoted to 
profiling the toughest cases and hopefully with your help generating 
some tips. Did these young men meet with fowl play?” Slim and Chad 
watched as five young men were flashed across the screen. “Or is 
something more sinister at work here? I am determined to find out. If 
you have any information please call the Fallwood Police. You can 
remain anonymous. I will continue to update you on this story as 
further developments become available. Allison Shure, WFTR News.” Slim 
cursed as Allison's picture faded from view. He looked at Chad knowing 
what his order was going to be. “Kill her, Boss?” “Yeah. Make sure you 
don't miss.” Chad thought about Allison, her long flowing brown hair, 
those piercing blue eyes. Soon she would breathe no more. Chad poured a 
drink to celebrate. “To Allison's demise!” he said raising the glass in 
a mock toast. 

Allison arrived home shortly after her report aired. Her head was
pounding and she was perspiring. She had fluctuated between being hot 
and cold all day and found it good to lay on the couch and watch TV. 
Eventually, she would get up and make dinner, but not right now, she 
didn't have the energy. Soon she dozed off, thinking of Connor. 

Connor perused the file on the five missing teenagers. He wasn't happy
about being here so late. He really wanted to get home to Allison and 
see how she was. He worried about her all day, and found it hard to 
concentrate. But Chief Chattum had been kind enough to reinstate him 
after Allison's testimony. He had been trying to protect her from a 
serial killer when he had aimed and fired through the cabin window. But 
instead of hitting his intended target, he had shot Allison. Once she 
recovered, she had pleaded with Charlie to reinstate Connor. Siting the 
shooting as a horrible accident, and asserting That Connor was just 
trying to protect her. Connor knew he owed Charlie a debt of gratitude 
and began perusing the file on Ernie Grimson. 

Allison was sound asleep, when her cockatoo Scarlet squawked. At first
she didn't stir, but when he screamed and banged his food dish on the 
side of his cage, she was roused from sleep. “Scarlet? What's wrong, 
sweetheart?” she asked opening her eyes to glance at the bird. Scarlet 
was beautiful, silky feathers the colors of a rainbow, and green eyes. 
Scarlet continued to squawk. Allison got up and opened the cage door. 
She glanced at the clock. It was almost 9, she hadn't planned to sleep 
that long. She petted him a little cooing softly. “My little boy. 
What's the matter? I'm right here, sweetie. Do you want to be petted?” 
he squawked as the doorbell rang. Allison put him back in his cage 
forgetting to close the door. “Who is it?” he thought fast trying to 
think of something so she would open the door. “Plumber.” She 
remembered Connor saying something about calling the plumber. Without 
hesitation, she opened the door. “How are you today, Mrs. Cassidy? 
Sorry to be so late. I had a lot of apartments to check. I just want to 
check the hot water.” Allison smiled and let the man through once 
inside she closed and locked the door. “Don't move!” he said producing 
a knife. Allison froze as he came perilously close to her throat. 


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