Ransom by Rosa17

Sue came out of her bedroom and called “Levi” seeing Lucy she asked “Have you seen Levi?”

Lucy looked at her and said as innocently as possible “This might help” and she handed her an envelope.

There was writing on the envelope, typed which just said ‘Sue’. She frowned and opened it, it read , where there was more typed lettering.

You want to see Levi today, you need to dress for a day on the Potomac and wait by a boat called Suzy Ann. The harbourmaster has the next letter of instructions for you.

“You know who sent this and took Levi don’t you?” she asked her friend who was unable to keep the smile from her face.

“Yes, yes I do and I think that if you know what’s good for you, you’ll do as it says”

“This isn’t funny Lucy I need Levi to hear for me”

“And he will”

“I supposed to be going out with you today it‘s the 4th of July, we made plans”

“No you’re not”

“What?” asked Sue confused

“I know you thought that was what was happening but it‘s not, I promised my grandmother that I would have a family day with her and my Mom”

Sue signed heavily “There’s something you’re not telling me Lucy and when I find out….”

“You’ll what? I know what, you will thank me, trust me, Levi’s kidnapper will take good care of him and if you do what the letter says I know that you will be reunited sooner than you might think”

“I haven’t got a choice have I?” asked Sue feeling the situation was out if her control

“No” said Lucy with a shake of her head “You haven’t”

^^^^^

An hour and a half later Sue stood beside the boat the Suzy Ann, it looked fairly large and whoever owned it must be wealthy, so why then did they want to hold Levi for ransom if money was not their game. There was a blond well muscled man on the deck and when he saw her looking at him he came down to speak to her.

“You must be Sue” he said in a way that vaguely reminded her of Myles but, and she had no disrespect for Myles but the man before her was better looking, tanned, bare chested and easy to the eye.

“Yes” she said looking at him with caution

“I’m Mark” he told her extending his hand for her to shake which she did still puzzled. “You’re confused, are you reading me okay? I’m sorry but I don’t know any ASL”

“I’m reading you fine, it’s not you it’s …my day is not starting as I expected it too”

“Oh” said Mark with a smile “Well I can guarantee you that I am a fine skipper and will handle the boat to perfection, you are just here to sit and enjoy the company, and your day”

“Enjoy my day?”

“Yeah”

“You remind be a little of someone I know” she said then, thinking that perhaps this was all a dream, she discreetly pinched herself hard and it hurt so she figured that she was awake after all.

“Who’s’ that then?” he asked, his face was open and friendly which was not so like Myles, but the mannerisms were there

“A colleague of mine”

“Would it help if I told you my full name was Mark Andrew Leland”

Sue smiled and replied “Mark Andrew Leland?” he nodded and she added “Ye, it would, but I’m still confused”

“I don’t think it’s my job to explain everything to you. I can tell you that Myles Leland the third is my cousin, while he works for the FBI I manage the families nautical investments but not in the office sense”

“That explains something” said Sue with a smile as Mark assisted her up onto the deck.

^^^^^
There was a table set for two and Mark pulled out a chair for her on which she sat looking up at him, he then said “We have to wait for your companion of the day, then I’ll serve breakfast and then we’ll be off. It’s a great day for being out on the water, you ever done this before?”

Sue shook her head and replied “No but I’m willing to try new experiences at least once in my life” having for the moment forgotten about her search for Levi.

^^^^

Sue’s breath was taken away by the arrival of the second man who was also easy on the eye and this one unlike Mark, sent her almost to a puddle of mush with a single look in her direction, with his dark pools of fathomless depths that she felt could see straight to her very soul with just a glance. Her hands had gone clammy as unabashed she looked him, up and down approvingly as he did the same to her, it wasn’t until Mark spoke did the moment end and they both gained some normality as he declared breakfast was served.

^^^^

After sipping some freshly squeezed orange juice Sue found her voice and said to the man seated opposite her “Jack what’s going on?”

“Don’t you like this?” he asked with a wave of his hand

“It’s very nice but ….Do you know what’s happened to Levi?”

“Yes he’s fine, you read the letters?”

“Yes but Jack…”

“And you are willing to pay the ransom for his safe return?”

“You know I would do anything for Levi, Jack you’re confusing me…”

“The ransom is this….”

“This?” she asked still not following, her concern for Levi so strong and he had a sudden pang of regret as he remembered the time Levi truly went missing and the heartache it caused her.

“The day out on the boat with me as……your date….companion. I’m sorry” he said reaching for her hand across the table

“What are you sorry for?”

“For making you worry about Levi, it was the only way I could think to tell you and then when Lucy and Myles and Bobby said they’d help, it began to sound a great plan”

“Jack?” she asked again bewilderment etched upon her face and all he wanted to do was walk round the table and take her in his arms and soothe her completely.

“Levi is with Bobby and Tara and you can see him tonight. Or if you want I’ll call Bobby and get him to bring Levi down here so that you can see him now”

“No, no that’s okay I’m not sure I trust Levi not to leap over the side of o boat this size, so what was your plan Jack?”

He looked down then up and indicated to Mark that he should begin the trip at least and so Mark got on with sailing the boat. Focusing back on Sue he said “Lucy offered to set it up so you thought you were spending the day with her, Bobby and Tara agreed to look after Levi and Myles lent us one of his family’s boat with the hope that I actually might tell you what has been on my mind to tell you for a very long time. I think they thought perhaps this might be my last chance, especially as you went on a date with Chris Denman from forensics last week and enjoyed yourself…..a lot”

“I did enjoy myself but that doesn’t mean I want to settle down and marry him, I’m in love with someone else”

“You are? Then what I have to say might be too late after all” he said looking dejected

“Jack” she said gently caressing his hand from across the table “Tell me what’s on your mind, I won’t laugh or make fun of you, you know you can trust me and if you don’t say what you need to say then neither of us will ever know”

Jack nodded, cleared his throat for his benefit and said with some sign “For a while…for a long time…I …Sue I was so glad when you chose not to move to New York…it was as though it was a second chance for me to tell you how I felt, but I let us both down miserably, so much time has passed and still, here we are and I haven’t said anything which would lead you…. you to believe that I thought and feel so much more for you, than that of a work colleague and a friend. You are my best friend, even more so than Bobby and certainly in a different way. We…you and I spend so much time together so that on the odd occasion when you go out a date I feel incredibly lonely not to mention jealous....I guess what I’m trying to say is that I…..I….I love you and I still want to be your friend but just being friends isn’t enough anymore, I need it all and I want it all with you, with you I am whole, with you I feel alive, maybe I have left it too long to tell you but I just….I just want you to know that and maybe kidnapping Levi was a bit extreme and I’m sorry about that…say something anything…please even if you hate me, say something…… Sue..”

She looked at him so a long time before getting up and looking out to the shore line which was disappearing from view, he stood and came up behind her placing his hands either side of her waist, his thumbs brushing her skin where her T-shirt and shorts met and he felt as much as heard her sharp intake of breath at the connection. Jack turned her then so that she was facing him.

“You said you loved someone Sue. Who, who do you love?” he asked softly his hands working their magic on the silky skin at her waist.

“I… I love you” she said simply “And yes you did worry me about Levi but I knew it had to be some sort of trick as Lucy kept smiling so much when she handed me the letter, I knew that he wouldn’t be too far away”

“Sorry about that” he said again

”Don’t keep apologising” she said and placed an index finger over his lips to still him, his eyes bore into hers and he took her finger into his mouth, sucked gently at first and then swirled his tongue around the digit as her tongue ran across her own lips subconsciously moistening them.

Jack trailed one hand up her body to cup her face stroking her cheek with gentleness, his eyes moved to her lips and back to her eyes where he found her watching his every move. Sue moved her hand from the side of her body to the firm plains of his T-shirt covered chest, enjoying the feel of the muscles beneath her fingertips. His mouth touched hers softly, briefly asking for more, which she gave willingly and with a love and passion that matched his own, her last commonsensical thought was that she didn’t mind in the slightest to pay this kind of ransom at all.

The End

Well that was short sweet and to the point. Of course we all knew it was Jack the whole time but that didn't make it any less enjoyable. A nice little entry that.

Very cute!

Rosa, that was absolutely, breathtakingly beautiful!!!

Joy

it was a wonderful post to read after a shift from h............ today

now i'm a puddle on the floor



cath

wow rosa that was very nice

simply beautiful

What a great idea!!! And neat twist. And very romantic!

kav

Rosa, wonderful, beautiful story!
Glad to see another entry from you!
Thanks so much for sharing!

Great job! Loved it!

Jill

That was brilliant Rosa, a fantastic short story!!! I loved it and the fuzzy moment at the end was so perfect!!! A brilliant idea!!

Jen

Oh, Rosa... this ransom is so sweet... I think it's the best ransom at all the ransom is to be with Jack every day, to be his wife, let him love her and love him... it's really torture

Great idea, Rosa!


for sharing this story with us!!!


Restie

I loved Jack's idea wonderful little story, Rosa!

So sweet! Man, I wish I had a boat... and a Jack!

Em

That was a really sweet entry. I really liked it!!

Great story!

Helene

What a perfect plan, Jack. And ... I like the mention Levi is with Bobby AND Tara.

Jack ... that was a wonderful idea !!!

aww sweet.
i wouldn't have minded paying a ransom like that either.