Russell and Jake were headed down Route 70 toward Topeka, Kansas. Although they were two days into their search, there were still no signs of Constantino. As they approached the outskirts of Hays, they hit a road block. When they stopped, two soldiers approached the car and told them that they would need clearance from the officer in charge to be allowed through the blockade.
The soldiers made Jake park the car. Then, they escorted Jake and Russell to see the officer in charge. Jake was not surprised to see that it was Colonel Hoffman since he had told Jake that his unit was headed towards Topeka when it left Northwest Kansas.
"Colonel Hoffman," Jake greeted the soldier and held out is hand.
"Green," Hoffman acknowledged him as they shook hands.
"You remember Russell from New Bern, don't you?" Jake asked.
"Of course I do," the Colonel replied as he shook hands with Russell. "What brings you two to these parts?"
Russell answered Colonel Hoffman with a grimace. "We have a situation. Constantino escaped two days ago. We organized a search party and there are ten teams out looking for him. Jake and I decided to head this way."
"What!?" the Colonel exclaimed. "How the hell did that happen?"
Jake and Russell were both surprised at the worried expression that crossed Hoffman's face. They knew that Constantino was no match for the heavily-armored unit that the Colonel commanded.
"Constantino had a couple of accomplices that were hidden when we swept the area and made the arrests." Russell replied.
"We've been searching two days and haven't found any clues to his whereabouts." Jake added.
"Well, you'll have the necessary clearance to go through the blockade. I'll make sure that you get the necessary permits that will allow you to go through the road blocks we've set up across Kansas."
Colonel Hoffman called for his clerk. Then, he turned back to Jake.
"I need to get word to our friend in Cheyenne. She should be warned that Constantino escaped."
"Our friend? Who are you talking about?" Jake asked, wondering what friend he and the Colonel had in common in Cheyenne.
"Heather Lisinski. You know her. Heather . . . Heather Lisinski." The colonel was puzzled by the look that came across Jake's face as he said her name.
Jake froze.
"What?! Heather Lisinski is dead!" exclaimed Jake, a mixture of pain and anger etched on his face.
"She was alive a couple of weeks ago when I put her on the transport to Cheyenne. She's quite a girl, our Heather. She was the one who told us about the skirmish between your two towns. If it hadn't been for her, we would not have shown up when we did."
He continued with a laugh, "She sure is a handful. I don't know how many times she tried to sneak on a truck headed to Jericho. I had to put her under twenty-four hour guard until I convinced her that it would be safer for everyone if she just stayed at Camp Liberty. After the part she played in trying to blow up the munitions factory, I thought it best if everyone continued to believe that she was dead. I'm worried that Constantino and his goons may try to harm her if they know she's alive."
"Makes a lot of sense," agreed Russell. "I had heard that Constantino ordered her killed because she knew too much about what was going on. I didn't hear anything else until I came to the peace negotiations and Eric told me they she was dead. I'm glad she's okay."
"At least for now," Colonel Hoffman replied. "If Constantino finds out she's still alive, she'll be in danger again. After all, she's the only one who can corroborate Eric's version of what happened. Without her, it's Eric's word against Constantino's. Unfortunately, your father's death provides a motive for Eric to lie."
Jake's heart started to race. He just couldn't believe it! He had just discovered that Heather was alive. Now, Hoffman was telling him she was in danger again.
"She's in Cheyenne? Now?" Jake asked, his voice trembling slightly. "Why didn't she come back to Jericho instead? She has friends there that would have protected her. I would have protected her!"
"Didn't you get her letter? She said she was going to explain it all to you there."
"I didn't get any letter!" Jake said angrily.
"I told my attaché to deliver it to your house. He had strict instructions to give it to you personally."
"I didn't get it!"
The colonel got up from his chair, the anger evident on his face. "Well, let me go talk to him to see if I can find out what happened."
The colonel returned a few minutes later shaking his head in disbelief. "My attaché said you weren't at home. He spoke with a tall blond. She convinced him to give the letter to her. She said that she would give it to you as soon as you came home. I have to apologize. These type of things happen when you don't have properly trained men."
"Emily," Jake muttered under his breath. "What have you done?"
Jake turned to Russell, "I have to go back, I have to know what's in that letter!" Jake was beside himself.
The colonel was moved by Jake's concern for Heather. Since he had been instrumental in apprehending Constantino the first time, he was sure that his superiors would authorize his unit to look for Constantino and those who had helped him escape.
"Now that I know Constantino has escaped, I'll take over the search from here to Topeka. I'll send out a team everyday to search for him. Russell, you take Jake back to Jericho and join one of the other search teams heading in a different direction." Both men were convinced that Colonel Hoffman would do everything in his power to find Constantino.
"I appreciate the help. Thanks." Russell knew that they would need all the help they could to find Constantino.
"No problem," said the Colonel.
"Come on, Jake. Let's get going. We should be able to get back to Jericho by tomorrow."
"Yeah, let's go." Jake replied, clearly distracted by his concern for Heather.
Jake was silent on the way back to Jericho, his mind focused on what he had just learned. He was angry at Emily for withholding the letter from him. She had done similar things in the past and they were all for selfish reasons. He had thought that maybe she had changed during the years he was gone. His thoughts then turned to Heather. ‘How is it possible that she is still alive? What could have possibly been more important to her than going home?' Jake wondered.
He was torn between being angry that Heather had not returned to Jericho and being grateful that she was alive.
Jake took a few deep breaths to calm himself before leaning his head against car window and falling into a restless sleep.
*****************************
Emily was enjoying her lunch when Jake stormed into the kitchen. She could tell by the look on his face something was definitely wrong.
"Where's the letter, Em?" Jake demanded, anger causing his voice to tremble.
It took Emily a minute to realize what he was talking about.
"Jake, it's . . . it's upstairs. Wait. How...?"
"I saw Colonel Hoffman while we were searching for Constantino." Jake snapped. "He told me about it. Where is it?"
Emily was shocked by the turbulent emotions in Jake's voice.
"Damn it, Emily, I want it now!" Jake yelled.
"Okay, Okay. I'll get it."
Emily went into their room and returned with the envelope. She could see Jake's hands shaking as he grabbed it from her. She looked at his face. She had known Jake most of their lives and could read the signs. Something very big was bothering him.
"Jake, come and sit down," Emily said frantically wanting to undo the damage she feared she had done to their relationship. She sunk into a chair at the table. "I have some explaining to do."
Jake crossed the kitchen and sat down next to Emily. He tried desperately to contain his wildly-churning emotions. Not wanting to say something that he would regret later, he decided to hold his tongue and let Emily speak first.
"I was tired of the town and Army asking you to do things for them. I didn't want to give you the letter because we had planned to spend some quality time together. Maybe I was being selfish, but I thought whatever it was could wait a couple of days. So I put it into my dresser drawer. I swear. I completely forgot about it until after you left to search for Constantino. I'm really sorry, Jake."
Jake felt incredibly frustrated. It was just like Emily to do something like this. She always assumed that she knew what was best for them.
"Oh, Em....How could you have done this? Do you have any idea who that letter is from?"
"No," Emily replied honestly. "I assume it's from the Army asking you to do something else for them. Jake, why are you acting like this? I haven't seen you like this since the war with New Bern."
"Em, the letter is from Heather. She's alive." Jake replied.
"What!? That's impossible!" Emily was shocked by what she had just heard.
"No, it isn't. She's alive. Colonel Hoffman's troops found her. She was injured in a car accident when she was trying to escape from New Bern. The soldiers took her to Camp Liberty to recover. She was the one who sent the Army to Jericho. If it hadn't been for her, Colonel Hoffman would never have brought his troops to Jericho to stop New Bern. When Hoffman found out that Heather tried to take out the munitions factory with Eric, he decided that she was safer where she was. He refused to let her come back to Jericho. He arranged for her to have a job and place to stay in Cheyenne until Constantino's trial. God knows what Constantino will do to her if he founds out that she's alive."
Emily stood up and walked to the kitchen door. She was in shock. She couldn't believe what Jake had just told her. Heather was alive! Heather had needed help and she had hid the letter from Jake...
‘Oh God! What have I done?' Emily thought wildly. ‘What if Constantino knows Heather's alive? Is that why he escaped? To get to Heather? God, please, she's my best friend. Keep her be safe.' Emily prayed as a thousand different scenarios ran through her mind. Shaking off her fear and confusion, Emily turned back to Jake.
"Jake, is Heather...?"
"I don't know, Em, but I'm sure as hell gonna find out! Listen, you can't say a word about this to anyone. Heather's life, my life, my family's life could be in danger if anyone finds out about this."
Emily nodded her head, assuring Jake that she would keep this secret. She prayed she would have the chance to apologize to her friend.
"Em, there's some things I have to take care of. We'll talk soon. Okay?"
"Sure, Jake." Emily said, needing time alone to process Heather's resurrection.
Jake left the house and drove out to the ranch. He went to his favorite spot in the woods. He always ended up here when he needed to think. The place had always had a calming effect on him. He sat down on his favorite rock and opened the envelope. His hands shook as he pulled out the letter and began reading.
Dear Jake,
I want to let you know that I'm alive and safe. A couple of Troops from Camp Liberty found me on the side of the road after I had been in a car accident while escaping from New Bern. When I woke up in camp, the first thing I did was search out the camp commander, Colonel Hoffman. I explained to him that New Bern was getting ready to go to war with Jericho and pleaded with him to send troops. He said he couldn't because his orders were to secure the roads. Imagine my surprise when I found out they moved Jericho to a priority one and were sending troops. Although I was grateful, I couldn't help but think that there was something bigger happening that I didn't know about which explained their sudden change of heart.
When Colonel Hoffman returned two days later he told me about the death of your father. My heart goes out to you and your family over the loss of your father. I had wanted to go home to Jericho but Colonel Hoffman wouldn't hear of it. He said that everyone thought I was dead and as long as it stayed that way I was safer in camp than in Jericho. He had heard about my part in building the windmills and later sabotaging the munitions factory with Eric. He said that even though Constantino was in custody, he still had followers who would stop at nothing to kill me, even if it meant hurting those around me. Concerned for my own safety and that of my friends I couldn't help but agree with him. He planned to keep my presence a secret until it was time for Constantino's trial. He said that only after I testified and everyone knew what I knew would I be safe.
One day, about two weeks into my stay at the camp. I found an envelope under my pillow. How it got there, I'll never know. In the envelope, two pieces of paper were folded. One was a letter from a "concerned citizen" asking me to deliver the enclosed document to Jericho town officials. These documents are included. I trust you to do what is needed with them.
A few days later, Colonel Hoffman informed that he wanted to send me to Cheyenne. He told me that he had received a confirmed report that not all of Constantino's accomplices had been brought into custody and that his trial would be delayed until the Army could round them up. He went on to explain that the longer I was at the camp the greater the chance was that someone one would learn I was alive. He then told me that he had made arrangements with some officials in Cheyenne for a government job for me. I wanted nothing more than to go home to Jericho but with not only my safety at stake, I agreed to go. What Colonel Hoffman doesn't know is the real reason behind me agreeing to go . . . I'm taking another page from your book, Jake. When you read the enclosed document you'll understand.
After some persuasion on my part, Colonel Hoffman finally gave in and allowed me to write to you to tell you that I am alive and will be going to Cheyenne. He said he only agreed to it because he knew that not only could you be trusted to act in the best interest of the town but that you had a personal stake in seeing Constantino brought down.
Please know that I miss you and all my other friends in Jericho. I hope to return one day and will always consider it my home.
Take care of yourself, Jake.
Heather
Jake still couldn't believe that Heather was alive but this letter proved it. Before turning to the document that was enclosed with the letter his mind drifted to the two times he had felt safe since the bombs went off. The first time was at the Town Hall when they all knew the fallout from Denver was coming. Eric turned away the bus full of people he had brought from the Medical Center. Sensing his anxiety, Heather had assured him that everything was going to be okay and had touched his hand. The touch of her hand was all the encouragement he needed. The second time was the day that he and Eric went to Rogue River. He had been surprised when Heather kissed him, but he had found himself kissing her back. Holding her tightly, he had drawn in all the comfort and strength that she exuded. He knew he hadn't done the right thing by avoiding her but he had hurt too many people in the past and he didn't want to hurt Heather. However, when they were at Black Jack and he had seen her with Ted, he had realized that he felt something for Heather. He just didn't know what. He had been determined to explore his feelings when she returned. But he had never had the chance.
He wondered why his thoughts were so consumed with Heather when he was involved with Emily. He knew he had to work through his feelings for both women, but it would have to wait until Heather was safe.
He then turned to the document that would supposedly explain the reason for Heather being in Cheyenne. After digesting all the information in the document, Jake realized that Hawkins was right. The document was confirmation of Hawkin's belief the government in Cheyenne may not be the rightful successor to the now defunct United States government.
Jake's exultation that Heather was alive ended abruptly. ‘She's says she's taking a page out of my book again!?' Jake sighed, he knew instinctively that Heather was nosing around trying to discover what was going on. She was in over her head and was in danger once again.
Knowing that there was no more time to be wasted, Jake jumped up and made a beeline straight for the one person he thought would be able to help him save Heather . . . Robert Hawkins.