Defending Jacob: The Aftermath Book 1

Phantom

Andy went into the parking garage, just to keep out of site of anyone seeing him. He went and grabbed his laptop and bag out of the car. He head in the back way of the hotel. Heading for the elevators and up to the room. He knocked on the door, Charlotte grabbed Andy's hand and pulled him in the room.

"Andy, get in here, we need to talk." she said panicking.

"Ok, Char what wrong you seemed worried?" he asked.

"Andy, I feel like Laurie and her friend are watching me somehow. I haven't left my room since yesterday. Does she know about us?" she asked.

"She asked about you, she knows your helping be prove Jacob didn't kill Ben. That we can get all answers we all need. She doesn't know anything more." Andy said.

"Wait, Andy how does she know that, what if she is the one threatening us." She said.

"I think she saw a text from you it's ok Charlotte, even if she knew the entire truth, I don't care, I don't want to be with her anymore. She believes Jacob is a killer. There is no convincing her with out proof." Andy said.

"What will happen, if you give her the truth, what if she apolgizes for everything she has done. What if she wants you still, will you stay with her?" she asked trying to hold back her tears.

"No, baby I can't stay with her, there is too much damaged done. Even you weren't part of my life, I lived a lie for weeks while they where in the hospital. I kept telling myself it was just and accident, the truth it Laurie tried to kill herself and Jacob. She tried to take my family from me." Andy said as her hugged her rubbing his hand down her back.

They looked at each other and kissed for a few minutes. Andy stop and looked down at her, she was looking up at him. "I'm sorry for what's happened to your family. I'm just worried, I'm scared to leave the room if Laurie and Tobi corner me again. If this person keeps threaten us, what if it's Laurie." She said.

"Look I don't think, knows anything more than we are helping each other find the truth. I went to see Derek, he was with his uncle Cliff, why didn't you ever mention him to me?" Andy asked

"Wait no, Cliff us here in town, he's free. Andy I have to go." She said grabbing her bag and starting to pack her stuff.

"Charlotte tell me, stop what's wrong why are you so scared of him? Talk to me." He asked.

She was panicking, grabbing her stuff putting them in bags, Andy walked over to her stopping her. He hugged her as she began crying. She looked up and him

"Andy it's not safe for you to be with me anymore. Cliff I dated him years ago, he beat me and was sentence to jail. When I met my fiancé years ago. Cliff wasn't in Massachusetts at all. When he heard I was engaged he came back, he followed me everywhere. I think he killed my fiancé but there wasn't enough evidence. Derek's mother was his alibi." She said to him.

He held her tighter, "sweetheart I will protect you ok. Your safe her for now. He will never hurt you or me, you have my word. I have a plan to catch Cliff. I think that Derek and him worked together on killing Ben." Andy said.

"Andy he is dangerous, what if he goes after your family to get to me. I can't live with that thought. Laurie is watching me, Andy she was looking at me like I was hiding something from her." She said.

"Look I saw Laurie here today, we got into a fight, I told her we are trying to find out the truth. In the end she told me to leave her alone for now. I'm going to take Jacob to the diner in a couple hours please meet us there." Andy said.

"Andy I don't know, it could look weird to Jacob." She said.

"Baby please just have a run in there with us, he won't think anything. That way I know your safe." Andy pleaded with her.

"Alright Andy, just text me when your own you way. I show up 10 mins after you get there ok." She said looking up at him.

"We can maybe talk to Jacob about Ben, I think he might have some answers too. Derek was his best friend so maybe he knows something about Cliff." Andy said as he looked down at her.

He held her kissing her again. She unpacked her stuff in the room. They just stayed in the room together kissing on the bed. Andy explained his plan to trap Derek and Cliff finally. She was worried about them being found out by everyone, Andy told her at this point he didn't care anymore. As long as they could be together with Jacob. He told her, how he didn't trust Laurie around their son anymore. So he needed to keep Jacob, and her safe that was becoming his push now. He accepted his life had never been any thing close to normal. That this how his life was meant to be, now his new normal would be divorced but happy with Charlotte and Jacob. He held her kissing her more, it wasn't just about the sex for them. They knew now they loved each other, and would do anything to protect each other. Andy kept kissing her making his way to her neck, he wanted her. She gave herself over to him. She kissed him it was passionate between them. She lied on his chest after, he had his arms around her. He told her he loved her and they never lose each other. Nothing would come between them at all.

An hour later after they had talked about the future they wanted together, Andy got dressed and headed home. He drove home knowing they would be together that they would have the answers within days. That the truth about Ben, Derek and Cliff would he known to everyone. He knew by the weeks end he, Jacob and Charlotte would together and all safe. That Laurie would have to accept everything. He did love Laurie still but not in the same way anymore. He knew it would be hard on her but she had Tobi and family not far away to help her. He would take care of her as well.he knew in his heart Laurie was done with him too, the past year had taken its toll on their marriage and there was no coming back from it. Once he got home he went inside and joked and talked to Jacob. He told him he was taking somewhere for dinner just guys night. Jacob was happy to get out of the house, but nervous about being in the car. Jacob though in the car with his dad was ok, he told him he was nervous of being in car with his mom again. Jacob asked his dad, about his mom, saying she still think I killed Ben. She looks at him funny still, he admitted he was scared of his mom. Andy told him he was safe With him around that he would protect Jacob, even if he needs protection from his own mother.

They got to the diner, sat down and Andy sent a text to Charlotte. She texted back be there in minutes, she warned him though when she left her hotel. Laurie and Tobi was there and tried to talk to her again. She said she could explain later tomorrow. Andy looked at the phone, and told her might be safer for her to stay with him and Jacob for the night than.

Andy and Jacob where talking and making dad jokes at the table. Charlotte walked in and past the table to go sit at the counter. Jacob knew her right away, he looked over at her and told his dad that was Ben's aunt. He remembered she pick him up from school when they where younger, sometimes she used to give Jacob a ride home too. He asked his dad if she could join them since she was alone. Andy smiled and walked over to her.

"Hello I'm sorry to bother you, but my son wanted to know if you like to join us over at our table for dinner?" Andy told her.

"Really thank you, I definitely can't turn that down." She smiled back at Andy.

She followed him to the table and sat next to Andy, so Jacob had more room. She wanted to look at Jacob she remembered him the little kid she give rides home to in the 2nd grade sometimes. He was quiet back than. She knew years ago he was sensitive and would get upset sometimes but looking at him. She knew he didn't have a killer bone in his body. She felt from him, knowing through Andy his own mother couldn't see that in her son anymore. Charlotte was nervous about what Jacob might think if he would pick up on anything at all between her and his father. She didn't want Jacob to be hurt in anyway. She just wanted the truth of everything out there sooner than later. While they are sitting Charlotte notice him first the phantom from the past. He was watching all of them from the back corner of the diner, he was there in the flesh. The monster who destroyed her past, who was now threatening her future Cliff. She was mad looking at him, this time would be different, this time she wasn't going to run from him. She was about to face him head on.