Chapter 158
JACKSON'S DEATH WAS NOT AN ACCIDENT
The words struck me like the bullets I had taken before, only this time they struck right in my heart. What the fuck did that mean and who wrote it.
"James what the fuck is going on. What is happening. All this shit was supposed to be behind us. "
"I know, I thought we had taken care of everything. But right now I need to get you somewhere safe. Sydney or Munich or your only two options, and as we are in Spain, I am thinking Munich. I know we can be safe there."
As I looked at Michael, I could see the concern in his eyes. There wasn't only me to worry about now, there was Michael, my team travelling with me.
"Munich, but I want Maggie bought over from New York until we know. Make it happen now."
"NOW" I screamed a second time, probably more forcibly than I should have. The team starting running in all directions, and as Sam approached me his eyes expressed his fears and concerns.
"I guess I'm not resigning this week then." His comment meant more in humour than in seriousness.
"Nah, you're stuck with me for a little longer champ. You've been on this journey since day one, I'm not letting you off that easy"
He came in hugged me. Whilst Sam and my relation was excellent, affection was never a part of it. It meant a lot to me that hug, and reciprocating it, I know meant a lot to him too.
"The big bird is fuelled at the Airport, I can her airborne in 30mins. Say the word."
"I want Chris, Michelle & Jax on board now. Leave everything. I want all essential team on board in 30 mins. I want Coby & Jen to re-root to NYC and pick up Maggie, Beth if she wants to come, her head security, and I want the townhouse locked down. You, me, Michael & James, on board in 40mins, shut doors, hit the runway. I don't care if we break every aviation rule there is, I will pay the fines, just get moving"
"Yes Boss! I gather we won't be packing" He laughed.
"If we can buy it in Spain, we can certainly buy it in Germany" I responded.
People were starting to get the message we were on the move. Whilst the Spanish authorities were not happy of our departure, I had given guarantee that we would co-operate and be open to them at all times, but only via Munich. They understood we were feeling threatened in Spain, and escorted all our vehicles to the Airport, to facilitate a safe departure. Finally sitting in my favourite chair on the plane, I reached out for Michael's hand as Jon hit the throttle and sent us skyward faster than any other take off I could remember. He knew we were in a hurry.
The higher up we got, the more my head was spinning. Everything was a blur. I was trying desperately to trust those closest to me, and those that surrounded me, but I was struggling to trust the more and more I thought about the note the left behind.
"Of course, it wasn't an accident. He was sick. He fell." I kept saying to myself wanting to believe everything I had been told, to stop reliving the pain of his death.
"This is just some sick joke" I told myself repeatedly, struggling with the reality of what had happened.
"Hey, penny for your thoughts" Michael said softly, squeezing my hand gently.
"I can't. I just can't at the moment" I said as I pulled my hand back.
Swiftly, but cautiously Michael unbuckled his belt and knelt down in front of me.
"We will sort this out. I promise, but please, don't shut me out. I love you"
The look in his eyes was the same one I had fallen in love with, yet I was still lost and I couldn't share with him the feelings that were running through my mind.
Pushing him away I asked for space. I just needed to compartmentalise both the truth and the meaning behind it all.
James signalled me to the banquet desk to talk. I did so reluctantly but of everyone around me, in my life he was the one I could trust. He and Steve were like mentors, almost father figures in my life, and whilst I didn't want to hear what he had to say, I knew I needed to hear it.
"How you holding up?" he asked as he sipped his peppermint tea.
"Struggling to be honest, but I'm here." I responded.
"I have a team in place already. I have supplied what I know and will keep you updated. My plans now are to get you settled in Munich and safe. I have spoke to the crew up front, and we are going to land at Oberpfaffenhofen Airport, about 15mnis from Ammersee. John reckons he can do a short landing in this thing, but it will be hard and fast. If anyone is waiting for us and Munich, they will be sorely disappointed."
"Ok, I trust you, but please, don't lie to me." I said with a look of concern.
"Never in a million years. You can always count on me" James replied.
We were somewhere over French airspace when I saw John walk over to James. The look on their faces was that of stress, and for James I could see his anger flaring up. Some one had pissed him off, and I could see John trying to calm him.
Walking over to them men, I was blunt in my approach.
"What the fuck is going on, and no bullshit. Just straight up truth" I demanded.
"We've blocked from landing in Germany, German authorities are concerned we are bringing terror to country, following what happened in Spain." James said
"Sir I am trying to get more info, but it seems very strange considering you hold dual citizenship. The crew are talking to the tower at the moment, but, I have a plan"
"Go on" I instructed.
"We divert to Athens, refuel, restock, on the ground 45mins tops, and then direct to Perth Australia, before refuelling and heading to Sydney. That way we are out of Europe, your home safe, and the team remain together"
As I thought about it more, it made sense. I would be surrounded by those I know, at home in familiar surrounds, and I could get the kids back safe and we could all be together.
"Done. Get Jenny, Same, Coby, Chris & Michelle together, I need to plan"
As everyone gathered in the conference room, hardly a word was spoken as they sat with coffee's and drinks, not wanting to say a word.
"Right team, change of plans. Jenny, I want me daughters and family flown to Sydney ASAP. Commercial will be OK if needed. Make Sure Cath & Diana are with them. Sam, I want my work schedule cleared 100%. Coby, Chris, work with James on beefing up security at the Sydney Compound as of now, the renovations are finished, so everyone will fit. Michelle, please make sure we are stocked for a few weeks, and everyone has their own space. Team, I don't know what the fuck is going on, but I know more than anything, we can get through this." With that I got up and went into my bedroom to shower. Upon entering the suite, Michael was curled up on the bed, and from what I could see was, or had been sobbing.
"Hey" I said. "What's going on"
"Nothing, I was just laying down"
"I call bullshit. Want to explain the tears?"
He looked up at me with red eyes. "I felt isolated. You had everyone gather for a briefing, and I wasn't asked to join"
He had a point, maybe I should have asked him in, but my clarity wasn't 100% and I just think.
"Unintentional bub, I promise. So much going through my head" I responded. "I could do with a back rub though" I said, knowing that I both needed some tension release, and I knew he would oblige.
Laying down next to him, I took my shirt off. Michael quickly straddled my back and started to massage my shoulders. It was hard, but relaxing, enough to push me off to sleep. A deep sleep which woke me when I felt the thud of the wheels touching down in Athens.
James voice came over the PA to announce we had landed. "Team, we are here for 45mins only. Colby, Chris and John along with my self are the only ones allowed off the plane. Everyone else sit tight, once we are done, we will be taxiing out and back on for 15hrs direct to Perth."
The thought of an ultra long haul was not what I had planned. I felt I would be cut off from any information that was coming in, although James assured me that via satellite phone, we would receive any updates. My trust was 100% in him and his ground team. It was nearing 2pm local time. I hopped up, dressed and headed for the bar. I needed a drink.
Pouring myself a large Vodka & tonic I knew I shouldn't over do it. But, what the heck, I was needing some help to settle me down. I opened my laptop to check emails and do some minor work when I saw it in my inbox.
The heading in my email `murderer!'
I opened the email, and it was long, too long at first glance. But I quickly became fixated on it's content.
"Dear Fag,
Your lifestyle led to my dad's murder. You kept him hidden from me and I will never forgive you. He never contacted me after he met you and I will never forgive you for leading him down the dirty path of sin you made him live. We were poor and my mum tried to get him to help but he ignored us and I will make sure you rot in hell once I am done."
The first paragraph really summed up the rest of the email. It was filled with hate and threats and everything in between. The accusation was that Jackson had fathered a child before we had met. I knew Jackson was bi, or at least curious when we met all those years ago, and I knew how much he loved our girls, so the context that he would abandon a son was a far fetched statement. Having read the email a few times, I called James over.
"Think this may help at all?" I said flipping my laptop around for James to read.
James read the email. There was no name, and it was sent from what looked like a bogus email address.
"Could be a good start. I will get the team to follow up on IP addresses etc and see what we can come up with. Sit tight my friend, we will get to the bottom of this"
As the hours passed it was giving me too much time to think. I didn't want to think, I wanted answers and whilst I had the best people on the team, I was still cursing them for being so slow.
"For fuck sake, how long is this taking" I would yell randomly and no on in particular.
"I need answers people" was another line I used.
I was carrying on like some mad man and was only getting stares to my outburst.
After 6hrs James approached me.
"Tyler Montrose, name ring a bell?"
"Who? No, should it?"
"Dani Montrose?"
"No, what are you getting at?"
"Tyler is the son of Dani. She currently lives in Sydney, Tyler is her son. It is where we tracked the IP Address to. It is going to cost a lot for the privacy laws we broke, but that's the answer."
"So what, you're telling me that someone I don't know is stalking me and threatening my life?"
"That's the part we are working on. We are not sure what the connection to you, or Jackson is, but we are working on it."
As we were sitting there discussing possible outcomes James Satellite phone rang.
"Hit me" He said as he answered.
There were a lot of Ok's & yes, and right being said from James end and I can only hear muffles from the other end. James suddenly snapped the phone shut and looked at me.
"Tyler Montrose's passport was used to gain entry two weeks ago. I think we may have a connection"
James walked off leaving me feeling no better equipped with answers than when he sat. Flipping open my laptop I hit the trusty Facebook.
Typing furiously, I entered Dani Montrose into the search. Scrolling through them all I came across one that had 2 mutual friends. Having not logged into Facebook for a few years, I'd forgotten how to do some casual stalking, but this one jumped out at me. Clicking on her profile I saw a woman of similar age to myself, a stunning beauty, sitting by a pool in some exotic location. Her profile was not set to private, and it gave me a chance to get an understanding of who she was. I'd gotten about 8 posts in when I was I stopped by a picture that only knew too well.
"Jackson" I said out loud, as I saw a picture of my husband on her page. It was one taken of us in New York at an event, though I had been removed from the picture. I clicked on the post to read what was written.
"The only man I ever loved passed away this morning in Germany. Whilst I paths have not crossed in years; he always held a piece of my heart. RIP Jackson"
Who was this woman? Why had I never heard of her. 20 odd years Jackson and I were together and never once had he mentioned her name.
"James" I yelled, louder than I had intended, making the team jump. James rushed over to my side.
"2 mins on Facebook, and I find this. How much am I paying your team to do the basics."
"I will look in to it straight away." He assured me as walked off.
As I continued my stalking of her profile I came across many posts relating to her "Baby Daddy" and "The love of her life". I was stopped in my tracks by a picture that blew me away. It was of a blonde surfer boy, 16-17 years old, smiling at the camera. It was an older photo I could tell from the aging around the edges, but what took me by surprise was the fact that it mistakenly looked like Jackson. "Tyler living his best life" was the caption.
What the actual fuck. This kid was the spitting image of Jackson. The hair, the teeth, the smile, the dimple in his chin, even the way he tilted his head in the picture. I didn't need a DNA test to know 100%. It would be obvious to any one who had know Jackson as long as I did.
"Fuck" I let out in an emotional outburst. "Fuck, fuck, fuck. Why didn't you tell me." Did Jackson know? Surely not. We had no secrets. We told each other everything. Why did they never reach out to us if they knew Jackson was the father?
So many questions were circling in my head, and simply had no answers, and if this Tyler kid was responsible for Jacksons death, I will never forgive him, or his mother.
I wanted to know the truth......No, I needed to know.