. 01

Starting Over VI, Chapter 1.

This is the sixth section of the continuing saga "Starting Over". In Part I, LTC (Retired) John Jackson had moved to Seattle after being widowed. He ran into some trouble and some decent people (okay, and a few strippers), while working towards getting his private investigator license. That took place between Sep and Dec 2012.

In Part II, he got involved in a ring trafficking in young women. The main perpetrators were captured, but the hired gun/enforcer slipped away. That took place in Apr and May 2013.

In Part III, which took place in 2013 and 2014, John managed to find the enforcer in Key West and was planning to kill him, but changed his mind. He really didn't know if he could kill someone in cold blood, but the man was living with a woman and had decided that he was retiring. John let him go with a promise to do intelligence work for him and returned to Seattle, where Maggie gave indications that she wanted a serious relationship. Then he used that enforcer from Key West to assist in capturing an assassin. The assassin had been hired to kill him and the detective who helped him break up a leg of a human trafficking chain.

In Part IV, it's 2019. John and Maggie couldn't work things out and now John was working on a case that, at first, involved someone who had assaulted Luke's wife Maria. John then had two men try to break into his apartment to attack him. The authorities caught the two men by tracking them to a strip club, but John got beat up by them before the police got there. When he woke, he found that Vanessa, his waitress at the strip club, was an undercover officer. There were several events that were taking place and it was being done by an anarchist group. However, funding for these events was tracked to someone in human trafficking in Singapore by a hacker that John found through Bob in Key West. He returned to Seattle with the information on a thumb drive, and the FBI and others started tracking him. Finally, the master of the human trafficking ring had his son try to soft sell John's daughter into visiting Asia with him, primarily to kidnap her. John found out, he and his buddies stopped it, and then John, feeling the rage, flew to Singapore and, with the backdoor assistance of a government person, was armed and killed both the leader and his son of this trafficking ring.

In Part V, Yvonne, the young hacker came to live with John. She had nowhere else to go and felt so alone during the pandemic that she was craving human interaction. She also admitted that she was attracted to John, even though there was 19 years difference in their ages. A bad guy was hired to hit him due to his involvement in some operations being run by a rogue CIA manager and some disenfranchised CIA members. John and company got them in the end and Yvonne got shot in the leg. She decided to stay with John.

Recurring Characters

LTC (Retired) John Jackson, 5'11", 180, 55 years old.

Marie Jackson, John's dead wife, 5'8", 140, 44 years old, died 15 Jan 2012

Angelica Jackson (Angel), John and Marie's daughter, 5'5", 125, 28 years old.

Mary Bradford, bartender, 5'5", 120, 48 years old.

Margaret (Maggie) Bradford, Mary's sister, 5'6", 115, 46 years old, and John's love interest.

Madeleine (Maddie) Bradford, Maggie's daughter, 16 years old.

Juliet Margolin, waitress, 5'4", 145, 24 years old, Mary's cousin.

Samantha (Sam) Walker, 5'6", 130 pounds, 48 years old, John's neighbor.

Joyce Walker, Sam's daughter, 5'4", 120 pounds, 28 years old, and now an exotic dancer using the name Lily

Marion Walker, Sam's daughter, 5'4", 115 pounds, 26 years old.

SFC (Retired) Craig Smithson, 6', 190, 55 years old, NCO from John's Army unit.

Captain Jeff Smithson, 5'11', 185, 53 years old, SFC Smithson's brother and a captain in the Seattle Police Department.

George Watkins, 6'4", 280, 45 years old, bouncer.

Jeanne (aka Jasmine) Welch, 5'5", 110, 23 years old, exotic dancer.

Olivia, 5'4", 120 pounds, 30 years old, called Livy, exotic dancer.

Luke Cole, 5'10", 180, detective in the Seattle Police Department.

Maria Cole, 5'6", 135, Luke's wife.

Marcus Candiotti, strip club manager.

Max Meridian (real name Harold Johnson), Mark's lead kidnapper and enforcer. Now changed his name to Bob Thomas and is married to Susan. They own and operate a bar in Key West.

Susan Thomas, Bob's new wife.

George Watson, a new member of the detective agency.

Vanessa Williams, 5'6", 130, detective in the Seattle Police Department.

Yvonne, 5'2", 105, illegal hacker who helped find the human trafficker who had funded the anarchists in Seattle.

---------------------------- Sunday, July 54, 2021, John's apartment, Seattle, WA -----------

John woke at 7am and looked at the woman lying next to him. She was on her back breathing heavily. He grinned. He never thought that he would have someone like her as a permanent part of his life. Yvonne was a slim spitfire, smart as a tack, and was in love with him. He was damn lucky.

John got up and went into the other room. He got out what he needed to cook breakfast except for the eggs. He didn't want to start it until Yvonne woke up.

He relaxed on the couch watching SportsCenter on low volume when there was a quiet knock on the door.

John grabbed his phone and looked at the ring camera shot. It appeared to be a woman who looked very skittish and kept looking back down the stairs.

John hurried to the door and opened it, picking up the gun he had in the table next to the entrance as he passed it.

"Can I help you?"

The woman looked at him and put on a forced smile. "Can I come in?"

John moved back and waved her in. "Sure. Come in and sit." He gestured toward the couch and chairs in the living room. He then took a long look out the door and down the stairs to see if someone else was coming or watching. He saw nothing, so he closed the door and went to join this woman.

John approached her and held out his hand. "Hi, I'm John. And you are?"

Julie held out her hand. "I'm Julie Anderson. I need your help."

John studied her carefully for a few more seconds. She was dressed in decent jeans, a sweater, and light jacket. She looked well put together. It was just a feeling he had. He wasn't sure, but she just seemed like she liked everything in place. "Okay. What do you need and why me?"

Julie stared at John for a few moments. "I have lived in Seattle for 4 years. Julie is my fake name. I know a woman from work who told me that you are dependable and reliable and honest. She told me this because I need help."

"Who told you that?"

"Sam Walker told me that you were as solid as they come and that you helped her out of a jam. She said you are a private detective now."

"Okay, go on."

"Have you ever read Thomas Perry about his character named Jane Whitefield?

"No, I don't think so."

"I have." Yvonne entered the living area, wearing only a robe, and walked over to Julie, who appeared a little alarmed.

John tried to soothe her. "Julie, this is Yvonne. She lives with me and you don't have to worry about her."

Julie stared at Yvonne for a few seconds. "I was told only about you." She looked like she was ready to bolt.

John held up his hands to try to calm her fears. "Please relax. Yvonne is my partner and is just as trustworthy. She may be in more trouble than you since she has people who have put a bounty on her head."

Julie paused again and then said, "I doubt that. I have people who want to kill me."

They all looked at each other and then Yvonne took the lead, explaining the reference that Julie had made to John.

"Thomas Perry's character Jane Whitefield is a guide. She helps people who are in serious trouble, usually the fatal kind, and finds them a place to live, gives them very well-established identities, and teaches them how to make themselves safe. I take it you are someone that was put here like that."

Julie nodded.

"I am. I was married to a serial abuser and one night I thought he was going to kill me. He had beaten me worse than ever before. He ended up breaking four ribs, my right wrist, and a couple of fingers. He did it in our living room and the fireplace poker was too close. All the fireplace items had been knocked to the floor and the poker was close to me after he kicked me over onto my back. My hand closed around it and when he got close enough, I hit him in the head and killed him."

When she paused, Yvonne took a deep breath and said, "Good for you."

Julie continued. "Well, it was and wasn't. The first responding policeman had come from a big city somewhere and saw it immediately. He even reported it as a domestic violence case with a self-defense killing. He turned out to be the best defense witness at the manslaughter case the DA brought. But they did bring the case and tried me. The jury found me not guilty, but my husband had three brothers, all of whom vowed to get me. There is someone who some people know about that is just like Jane Whitefield. And she helped me get set up here. I've been here for four years without a problem, but yesterday I saw a man parked outside my apartment who looked just like one of the brothers. I went out the back and came here as soon as I got up this morning."

"Did you call your guide?"

"I did. However, she lives on the East Coast and sent me a text on my hidden cell that she was in the middle of another case. She told me to do what she taught me from the beginning. If you see someone like that, run."

"But you didn't run."

"No. I couldn't. I like the new person I have created. I love my life. I like my friends. I also have a man, a gentle one, who I am in love with. I'd like to find a way to stay."

"So, you just asked around about me?"

"No. Sam happened to mention one time about previous troubles. I managed to say that I had had some and slowly weaseled the information out of her. She told me what you did and how grateful she was. She said she knows people who have trusted you with their lives. So, I'm here. If you can't help me, I'm out the door and out of town in a few minutes."

John looked over at Yvonne. She nodded. "I'll do whatever I can. Let's go over where you live and where you saw this guy."

The three of them brought up the Google maps page of her area and then switched to street view. Julie explained everything about the area, where she lived, the apartment number, and where she saw the vehicle with the brother.

After that, John asked her if she was comfortable revealing her real name and where it happened. She shook her head no. "I can't. I don't even want someone to look at the records on line about where it occurred. They might find me that way."

Yvonne grinned and patted her on the shoulder. "Not a problem. I'm a hacker by trade, which is why people would like to get a hold of me, including some in law enforcement. I can drive around, connect to the internet through free WIFI, spoof my address, and get all the information without anyone knowing who we are."

"But won't they still know it's in Seattle?"

"Probably, if they are good. But if it's not law enforcement looking for you, then it would be a lot to assume that they had that kind of power all these years later. Anyone looking would have to be set up waiting with all the tools they needed to trace me."

"Well, I will pass. I'm not going to tell you my name or where I'm from."

John nodded. "Okay, can you provide us some information on the people we are looking for? We need to know the names and faces of the brothers. Full descriptions would be better."

Julie looked down at her hands. "I just realized that as soon as I tell you who they are, you could find me, if you wanted."

"True. But for now, we just want the guys. Why don't you use my home computer and bring up and print the names and pictures that you can get online. We won't try to reverse lookup your identity, for now. If push comes to shove, we may have to know it to protect you. Okay?"

Julie thought for a moment, her eyes going from John and Yvonne and back. "Okay. It's the best I can hope for right now."

John opened and logged into his home computer and sat it in front of Julie. Meanwhile, Yvonne took out some French Toast that they had made and put into the freezer for later and started warming it up.

After a couple of minutes, John's printer had the information that he had asked for and the French Toast was ready.

Yvonne put the breakfast on the center counter with three plates, syrup, and flatware.

Julie grinned. "I was pretty hungry. I left without eating this morning."

John looked over the photographs and names. "You saw one outside your building yesterday? You didn't see him following you at any time?"

"No, I didn't. I have been pretty careful, but a little more relaxed after all this time."

"Well, it's true that they should have given up by now. It can't be that important. Are you sure it was one of them?"

"Pretty sure."

John picked up the printouts and called Luke Cole while the two ladies ate. They had had a rough initial meeting, but over the last few years had worked together more and more. John had even gotten shot pushing Luke out of the way and the entire family now considered him one of them.

Luke answered in his customary way. "Okay, John, what have you gotten into now?" He chuckled after he asked the question.

John gave a quick snort. "Thanks so much for that. What we have is a woman who thinks someone from the past has shown up and wants to do her harm. I can't go into it much over the phone, but I'll text you her address, his name and photo, and some other information."

"Roger. Send it and I'll call you back."

John sent the information, including the reason she was scared. He didn't give anything else away, but said that she was living under an alias and asked him not to look back at her past.

John then sat and ate. They were all done and John looked at the clock. It was almost 10am by this point. He stood and stretched and then there was another knock at the door.

John checked the camera and saw that it was Luke. He opened the door. "Well, speak of the devil."

Luke came in and John introduced him to the two ladies. He zeroed in on Julie. "So, evidently, you'd rather we not look into your past. And from the description John sent me your case wasn't eligible for something like Federal Witness Protection, so you did it on your own. Right so far?"

Julie looked a little cowed. "Yes, that's correct."

"I'm going to take John with me and we'll take some uniforms and check it out. Anything else you can tell me about it?"

Julie looked around the room. "I can only say that I don't want my old identity to come out. I did have restraining orders against all these guys, but I'd have to use my real name. I don't want to do that."

Luke nodded. "Okay, but it's been four years. Any idea why they would look for you so doggedly? Most people have real lives and move on after a while. I mean there must be more to it than just the death of their asshole brother. And if this happened far away from here, any idea on how they found you?"

"I can't answer either of those. I just don't know."

"Okay. John, let's go."

John followed Luke out to his car and they drove to the area where Julie lived. Luke pointed out that if they wanted, the police could look her up easily based on the brothers' names. But John asked him not to do that. Luke nodded and they stopped about two blocks from the address. They only waited a couple of minutes and a black and white showed up with two uniforms. Luke nodded and they led the way to Julie's location.

When they got close, the two uniforms immediately spotted the parked car with someone in it. They parked behind it and got out. Luke parked on the other side of the street and followed them.

The uniforms knocked on the window and startled the guy. He must have been nodding off to not see the two cars come up behind him. He rolled down the window and they asked for license and registration. Luke was now at the car on the passenger side. He waited until the guy asked why they wanted to see that and then gave up his ID and registration, and then he knocked on the other window.

They guy, who in this case was Gerald Watkins, hesitated and then rolled down that window. Luke unlocked the door and got into the car.

The uniformed officer, CPL Johnson, handed the ID to Luke. Luke looked at it to verify that it was one of the brothers and then handed it back to the officer. CPL Johnson took the documents back to his vehicle to run a check on them. Luke looked at Gerald. "It's Gerald, is it?"

Gerald hesitated and then nodded. "Yeah, that's right. I use Jerry. What the hell is going on here?" He was a bit defensive.

"Well, that's what we need to determine. When we see out of state plates and receive phone calls about a suspicious man lurking near where there are children, then we have to check it out. Just being diligent."

"I'm not here looking at children."

"Why are you here from Tennessee? If you're not here for the children, then you must be here for a woman, right? Who?"

"I prefer not to say."

"Okay. Well, Jerry, we'll be done in just a minute after checking to make sure the folks in Tennessee don't want you for something."

"I'm a law-abiding citizen and have done nothing wrong. I can sit here if I want."

"Well, actually, you can come and go as you please, but you can't just sit here. If you do, well, then we'll have to take you in for refusing to follow instructions. These people are a little skittish. There was a pedophile found lurking in the area not too long ago. Just be good and move on."

"No. You can't take me in."

Luke smiled. "Wanna bet?"

Jerry didn't say anything. He just stared. While he thought about that, CPL Johnson returned with his ID and registration. "No outstanding warrants and everything looks good." Jerry took the ID and registration and held it while he looked back at Luke.

"Moving along?" Luke asked him one more time.

Jerry thought about it and nodded. "Yeah, alright. Not sure if I saw the correct woman or not anyway."

"What's her name?" Luke decided to play along.

"I don't know. She changed it and moved away from home."

"Well, if that's true, then maybe she doesn't want to be found."

"Oh, yeah, that's true."

"Then why are you searching for her?"

"She killed my brother."

"She killed your brother? And she's free? Did she get charged, tried, or is she a fugitive?"

"She got charged, tried, and found not guilty."

"Then that's that. Nothing you can do about it legally. Anything you do like take her or threaten her now will be a crime for you."

"Yeah, whatever."

Luke got out of the car. "Take my advice and don't do anything stupid. Have a good day, Jerry."

Luke didn't hear the response as the window went up.

Luke returned to John's and relayed that it was Jerry Watkins. Julie was visibly upset. She started pacing and it was obvious she was scared.

"Okay," she finally stopped and said, "I've got a bug out bag and I'm out of here. I can't take a chance on them finding me."

John stood. "Julie. I have a second apartment with a connecting door. Why don't you stay there while we check this out. I think Yvonne and I will have to look up where you are from and see if we can discern why they are still so set on finding you. Luke promised not to look into this, but if you trust us, let Yvonne and I do that while you wait it out here. At least let us try to see why they are still looking so hard."

Julie looked around the room. "It goes no further? My guide told me not to tell anyone about my real identity. Her rule is just to get out of town and start again."

"Well, you were the one who said that you had met someone you were in love with. You have a good job and that relationship. It's up to you. I don't know what she would say at this point."