Justin and Jamie sat on the bed in the hotel room and looked up at a furious Lynn. This normally docile woman seemed to be breathing fire, and all thoughts of their previously romantic night were the farthest things from their minds.
“I want to know what’s going on right now!” Her voice was raised and the two sitting on the bed cringed. “I have heard that you, Justin, are sneaking around, calling JIVE and trying to find out something on someone you hardly know. And Jamie…I haven’t heard a word from you since your father died! Everyone tells me you’re walking around here attached to Justin. We all know you’re going through a tough time sweetie…but you need to rely on someone else…someone other than my son.”
She paced the floor and when no one said anything she threw her hands up in exasperation.
“I am going to get the truth from the two of you…tonight!” Lynn walked over to the mini fridge and pulled out three bottles of water, handing them out to Justin and Jamie.
“James, why don’t you go into the bathroom and change into something more comfortable. Justin, you can change out here. No one sleeps until I know what’s going on.”
The two occupants of the room made no argument as they set out to follow orders. Jamie hastily grabbed some clothes and dashed into the bathroom. She was scared….not of telling Lynn…but of what Lynn might think of her.
The woman was right, she hadn’t talked to anyone but Justin since her father’s death, and she was excluding the few people that were important to her. She had pulled herself away from everyone but Justin, expecting him to make it all right…when he had less of an idea about things than she did.
Justin, on the other hand, was worried because he knew that his mother wouldn’t leave until she was satisfied, and although he hadn’t done anything illegal or even remotely bad…he was snooping into someone else’s life, without much of a cause. He had also been very distant from his group mates, and it was causing some problems. He knew that his mother, being the concerned parent she was, wouldn’t let anything go easily…and he knew that tonight, things were going to be revealed…he just wasn’t quite sure if the timing was right.
Lynn cleared her throat when Jamie closed the bathroom door and she looked at her son.
“Are you going to tell me what’s going on, or am I going to have to drag it out of you?” Her tone and the look on her face clearly told Justin that he was going to give this information willingly…if he wanted to go unharmed.
“I don’t know where to start Mom. I honestly want to tell you what’s going on…but I don’t know what to say.”
She raised an eyebrow and gave him a skeptical look. Sitting down on the bed she took his hand.
“Why don’t you start at the beginning? Just tell me what’s been going on in your life lately? Talk to me Justin…”
“Well…” He let out a heavy sigh and glanced at the bathroom door. “It started right after Jamie’s dad died. The two of us went down to Orlando to meet up with the doctor and we found out that someone had given him the orders to take Allen off life support.” He stopped when the bathroom door opened and Jamie hesitated as she re-entered the room.
Lynn motioned for her and she shuffled over to the bed. “Keep going Justin.”
“After we found out that someone had told the doctor to take Allen off life support, we found out that the doctor had been talking to someone for a few weeks before the death, and that someone wasn’t Jamie. He told us that he had talked to Dave Malloy, one of the tour managers, a few times.”
Lynn’s face palled a little, and she sat up taking Jamie’s hand too. “Why didn’t you say something? Justin, you should have told someone.”
“I know…but there wasn’t much to go on. I mean…anyone calling the tour would probably get Dave or his secretary. He is the manager of this tour, so he takes all the personal calls that don’t come to cell phones. I didn’t think anyone would believe me anyway, because he’s in Orlando most of the time.”
Lynn looked over at Jamie and gave her an encouraging smile. “How are you doing James? You haven’t called in a while, I was getting worried that you had forgotten my number.”
“No! No…not at all…I just…I’m so sorry Aunt Lynn. I’ve just been so scared lately, and I didn’t want to say anything because I wasn’t sure what was going on myself. I don’t know how to deal with my father’s death, other than taking things day by day…and I’ve just been so caught up in trying to find something out…I haven’t talked to anyone lately.”
“I know sweetie…but you need to talk to someone…and the two of you need to stop trying to find something out about this Dave character. Tell someone that can actually do someone. Hire a lawyer if you have to…but don’t do this on your own.”
Justin looked down at the floor and laughed weakly.
“Justin Randall…what have you done?”
“Nothing! Nothing…I swear. I just….I hired a private investigator to look into Dave’s background.”
“YOU DID WHAT?” Both women yelled at the same time and Justin jumped back on the bed.
“I…I hired a private investigator. I did it two weeks ago. I’m so sorry James…I should have told you but I didn’t want to say anything unless I had some actual information. So far…Dave’s as clean as a whistle…”
Lynn shook her head and stood up. “I can’t believe you Justin. You know better than to hire a private investigator on you TOUR MANAGER! What were you thinking? Please…tell me that this was a decision made while you were VERY intoxicated because I can deal with that better than knowing that you made a conscious decisions about this!”
When he didn’t answer she threw her hands in the air and let out an exasperated sigh.
“I can’t believe you…I honestly can’t believe you. You are going to call that investigator first thing in the morning and you are going to tell him he’s no longer employed. THEN…then you’re going to call Dave Malloy and the four of us are going to sit down and have a civil, one on one conversation about this whole ordeal.”
Jamie and Justin stood and started talking at once, telling Lynn what a horrible idea that was and how it wasn’t going to work. She stopped them by throwing her hands up and giving them an icy glare.
“No…no buts or anything…this is my decision and you WILL do it. Now the two of you get some sleep. You’re going to have a busy day tomorrow.”
With that she stormed out of the room and Jamie and Justin were left in a cold silence.
It was a while before anyone spoke. The two just sat in shock at what had just happened, and neither knew what exactly so say.
“Are you OK James?” Justin asked, breaking the tense silence.
“Yeah…yeah I’m fine.” She stood from her position on the bed and started to pace. “I just can’t believe you hired a private investigator and you didn’t tell me. Justin…this is some serious stuff.” She watched as he nervously bit at his lip and thought of something to say.
“I’m sorry James, I know I should have told you…but I didn’t really know if I would find anything. All I had was what Dr. Bethune told me, and it could have been anyone pretending to be Malloy…I just wanted to see who he was before I did anything drastic.”
“Anything drastic?” She looked at him incredulously. “Justin, don’t you think a PI is drastic? I mean come on…I always thought of you as an intelligent person.”
Just sat down heavily on the bed and gave Jamie a pleading look. “I was worried about you Jamie, I wanted to do whatever I could to protect you. Looking back now I know it was a stupid idea, but when I made the decision it seemed like a pretty good thing to do at the time.” She stopped her pacing and looked at him.
“I’m sorry…I didn’t mean to yell like that…I’m just….I’m scared Justin. I mean, before it wouldn’t have mattered, because Dave had nothing on us, but if he finds out about you hiring someone, he’s got reasons to do something now.”
She walked over to him and he pulled her in between his knees. He reached up and grabbed her chin so she was looking at him and he smiled softly.
“It’s going to be all right James, I promise you that. I will do whatever I can to protect you, understand?” She nodded her head and he pulled her into a tight embrace. “Good. I love you Jamie.”
Tears started to well in her eyes and she kissed him before responding. “I love you too Justin.”
“All right, let’s get some sleep. I have the distinct feeling that we’re going to have a long day tomorrow.”
Justin watched Jamie sleep for most of the night. He tried to get some rest himself, but his head was so full of thoughts it kept him awake. He had no idea what was going to happen at this meeting, and as much as he loved his mother he wished that she had stayed out of it.
He hadn’t done anything wrong, or so he kept telling himself. He was even planning on getting rid of the investigator before, but now he was being told to, and everyone knew you didn’t cross Lynn.
He sighed and shifted slightly, trying not to wake Jamie. She looked exhausted and worn down even as she slept. He was worried about her, and he was worried about the meeting they were supposed to attend later. He knew that he could handle Dave, but he had no idea what the man was going to attempt and he was scared for Jamie. She didn’t need more stress added to her life.
A thought popped into his head and a glance at Jamie confirmed his idea. Sliding gently out of bed he crossed the room and opened the door to find Andy standing there.
“Hey man, what are you doing out here?” Justin stepped out into the hallway and kept the door open with his foot.
“Your mother told me to stand guard, she was afraid you attempt a jail break.” He coughed to cover up a laugh and Justin thought he heard him mumble something along the lines of “momma’s boy.”
“Whatever dude. Can you do me a favor today?” Justin gave Andy a pleading look and the bigger man groaned.
“That puppy dog may make the ladies go weak, but I don’t fall for it. What do you want man?”
“I have a meeting with Dave Malloy today-“
“That creepy slime ball? He tried to tell me I was doing my job wrong, so I told him I’d gladly help him remove his head from his ass so he could see clearly.” He chuckled to himself but stopped when he noticed the younger man’s somber look.
“Andy…I don’t want Jamie at that meeting. She doesn’t really need to be there, because this is about me, and I think she needs to get out and have fun. Can you do me a favor and take her shopping or something?”
On any other occasion Andy would have ragged on Justin about this, but the look on his face made Andy realize just how serious this was.
“I can do that…I think Melissa, Lance’s friend was here for the week, I’ll see if she wants to come too.” He patted Justin on the back and noticed the singer visibly relax.
“Thanks Andy, I owe you one.” The bodyguard smiled.
“No you don’t…this one’s on me.”
Stepping back in the room he smiled at Jamie’s sleeping figure. Although she looked absolutely worn out, she was still the most beautiful thing he had ever laid eyes on. Thinking about the night before his mother showed up, his smile widened until he was grinning like an idiot.
She loved him, and he loved her and that was enough.
Shaking himself from his thoughts he glanced at the clock and realized that he needed to get going. The meeting was supposed to be in about two hours, and he figured he would need that much time to get prepared.
This was going to be an interesting meeting…and that thought worried Justin more than anything.