By Marcie
Chapter two
Brooke was really enjoying herself with Jason. He was so funny and she found herself laughing easily at his jokes. She was feeling much better now that she'd had something to eat and was glad that she had suggested coming here. For the past half hour she had completely forgotten about Edmund and the pain of losing him. This was good she thought. Maybe there was life after Edmund.
"I'm glad you suggested coming here Brooke. I've enjoyed getting to know you a little better," said Jason smiling.
"Me too," she said sincerely.
"Are you ready to talk about why I came here?" he asked.
"Yes. You said you wanted to talk about a case you were working on. What has that got to do with Tempo?"
"Well, it's not so much Tempo, but you. You're one of the best investigative reporters in Pennsylvania and I thought you might be able to help me with a case."
She was excited at the prospect of working on a story again, one that didn't have anything to do with amnesia or Maria Santos Grey. She shuddered. "Great. Tell me all about it."
"It has to do with Proteus," he said. "It seems we've got a drug problem in Pittsburgh and we believe it's connected to Proteus. I know you went to Zurich last year and did some research on Proteus and you have Vanessa Cortlandt right here in Pine Valley."
The mention of Proteus was like a knife stabbing in her heart. It had been the Proteus case that brought her and Edmund back together in the first place. He had totally shut her out of the investigation and she finally found out it was because he was still in love with her and didn't want her in danger. She remembered kissing him in her office and feeling the old feelings she had for him come rushing back. She fought back tears as she looked at Jason, who was looking at her strangely.
Jason noticed the change in her face immediately. He wondered at first if it was the danger involved that had made her face go white, but he didn't think that was it. She looked like she was about to cry and he suspected the case was personal. Ever since they had come to the restaurant he noticed a sadness in her eyes that he suspected was associated with a recent heartbreak. But she had not mentioned it and he was too polite to ask. He figured when he got to know her better she might tell him.
He waited for her to compose herself and finally she spoke. "What do you want to know? I'll tell you everything I know and I'm sure Anna Devane, the police chief here will be willing to help," she said. "I can introduce you to her and you can talk with her. We also had a young reporter, Simone Torres, who would be able to tell you what she knows. She was directly involved with Vanessa."
"Great." Jason was getting excited, he knew she would be able to help him and working closely with her would give him an opportunity to get to know her better and might lead to something. He looked at her again and was struck by her beauty. Not only her physical beauty, she had a great body that he couldn't stop looking at, but her inner beauty, which was much more important to him. He intuited that she was warm, giving and loyal and she made him laugh, which was a plus in his book. "Come on, let's get started," he said smiling. He grabbed her hand and helped her up.
"Thanks," she said. "I need a good distraction and it will be fun to get involved in a meaty story again. Why don't we head to the police station first and I'll introduce you to Anna?"