"I'd like to speak to Ms Pacheco, please."
Zoe swallowed hard, calming her rapidly beating heart as well as she could
as she faced Jerrica's busy secretary. She had no idea how to broach the
subject of the kidnap with the executive, but she knew for her mother's sake
she had to try.
"I don't want her scared or in tears again, and she's been there for me
enough times." She told herself firmly. "She stood by me tooth and nail
when the truth about Fiona and I first hit the press...and she's accepted
me fully for who and what I am. It's time I did the same, even if this is
a whole other issue."
"Do you have an appointment?" The woman gazed at her suspiciously. Zoe
shook her head.
"No, I...I don't. But...if you could tell her that Zoe Montgomery wants
to see her, and it's fairly urgent, I...I hope she'll speak to me."
"Hmm." The secretary frowned. "Zoe Montgomery? What is this pertaining
to?"
"I...I sometimes produce music videos for Ms Pacheco's musical acts."
Zoe pulled herself together. "I'm afraid I'm not allowed to disclose the
information I have to discuss to anyone but Ms Pacheco. You know what the
press are like."
"Very well." The woman seemed most put out, but she obediently flicked
on the intercom, passing the message on to her boss, who instructed her to
'Send Zoe through.'. Zoe obediently pushed open the big grey door, slipping
into the office, not without some misgivings, and facing the woman behind
the desk with a hesitant smile.
"Zoe." Jerrica looked somewhat tired, but she returned the smile in her
usual, businesslike way. "How can I help you?"
"It's...something not at all to do with music or my job or anything."
Zoe said slowly. "Ms Pacheco, I've come about my mother. She's in a bind
and I...I need to ask your help."
"My help?" Jerrica stared. "Someone wants my help?" She laughed bitterly.
"I thought I was the forgotten woman of rock music these days, making this
company survive by the skin of it's teeth, pushed into the background and
left to rot. What on earth can I possibly do for you and your infamously
successful mother?"
"It's about something that happened a long time ago." Zoe twisted her
hands together. "Do you remember a man named Zipper?"
"All too well." Jerrica frowned. "Nasty piece of work." Then light dawned
in her eyes. "Oh, I begin to see..."
"You remember?" Zoe asked.
"Yes...yes, I think I do." Jerrica nodded her head. "Your mother had Pizzazz
and I abducted and locked up...it's a miracle any of us got out of the place
in the end. What about it?"
"You didn't press charges then, and noone knew it happened." Zoe began
earnestly. "But you see, the fire at Misfit Music, it's all Zipper's doing.
He's more or less blackmailing my mother, saying that if she doesn't protect
him, he'll turn her in. I'm worried people will get really hurt, I mean,
people already have been, and I don't want my Mom in trouble. I know that
Ms Gabor won't cause trouble for her, they work together too often and, well,
I work for Misfit Music a lot, too. But...neither of us were sure whether...I
mean..."
"Whether I'd blow the story?" Jerrica asked wryly. Zoe blushed.
"Yes."
"Oh, Zoe." Jerrica sighed. "Look at me. This is all I have these days,
my music company to keep me going. My husband doesn't even want to stick
around more than he feels his duty requires him to - and I've never given
him the children he wanted. I've lost my friends through a silly misunderstanding
which now I know was wrong, I've had long enough to dwell on it, and I regret
it more than I can say. Why on earth should I cause more pain?" She cast
Zoe a hollow smile. "Your mother can at least say she has a daughter to be
proud of. My...my own couldn't say that."
"Thank you." Zoe was touched. "And thank you for keeping your promise
of then not to cause my mother any more hassle. Ms Pacheco..." She hesitated,
then, "I'm sure you're not alone, and I'm sure your mother would be very
proud of all you've achieved. I know you've not had things so easy, but I'm
sure that some of them can be fixed. Look, next....next time I see the teenangels,
I..I'll see if they can help me to get the ball rolling, try and help you
get back on terms with the Holograms. I'll talk to Copper too."
"I don't know why they'd listen." Jerrica murmured. "But you'd do that
for me?"
"One good turn deserves another." Zoe nodded her head. "I promise."
Jerrica managed a smile.
"Well, then it's a deal." She agreed. "And you need not have any fear
of what I might say, Zoe. As far as I'm concerned, the incident never took
place."
Zoe moved towards the desk, taking her companion by the hand, and shaking
it.
"I'm glad." She whispered. "You don't know how much it means to me."
"Perhaps I do." Jerrica replied quietly. "When I was young, I was very
close to my mother...I would have done anything for her then. I know you're
just the same." She sighed. "Maybe things would've been different if Rio
and I had had children." She mused. "Oh well. You can't change the past."
Zoe swallowed hard.
"No." She agreed. "But...but you can take the future and make it what
you want it to be. It...it's not too late for you to make things up with
your family, you know. I...I'm sure that's the truth."
"Well, maybe you're right." Jerrica looked slightly ashamed. "I'm sorry.
I didn't mean to burden you further. It's just that everything in my world
has become so empty and clinical, and I'm hating it more and more. I'm living
a lie, and I don't know what to do."
"Have faith in yourself." Zoe responded. She smiled. "That's what my Mom
always taught me."
"Clash taught you that?" Jerrica looked startled. Zoe nodded.
"She's a mom in a million." She murmured. Jerrica smiled.
"It's in the blood." She replied. She winked. "Thank you for your visit,
Zoe...you don't know how much good it's done me. I have work to get back
to, but I won't forget my promise. You can be sure of that."
"Thank you again." Zoe dimpled. "And...and it's a pleasure doing
business with you! Maybe now Mom and I can help to stop this creep trying
to hurt Misfit Music!"
*****************************
Phyllis gazed out of the window of the hospital sideward, deep in thought
as she considered everything that had happened over the last couple of days.
Since the bomb attack on her home there had been frantic crime scene officials
hunting for evidence and she had not liked to go back, not yet sure if her
life was still in danger. She had come to the hospital in the hope of speaking
to her business partner, but Jetta was asleep and the doctor had warned her
firmly that after the fright of the previous evening, she was not to be
disturbed. Knowing that they were afraid of a relapse, Phyllis had obeyed
orders for once, but her patience was beginning to run out.
"How long are we going to be playing this game of cat and mouse?" She
wondered with a sigh. "I hate this!"
"When did you get here?"
She turned, casting her friend's husband a slight smile as he entered
the ward.
"Just." She replied. "You taking up residence here now or something?"
"Not quite." Justin replied. "But I come whenever I'm free. I went back
to fitting in my photography again these last couple of days, under orders
from my wife, may I say, but I like to be here with her, and I don't want
her alone at the moment, with all the danger."
"No, I rather feel that way myself." Phyllis sighed. "Everything's such
a mess, Justin. So much of a mess that I'm talking to you as if you're a
civilised human being and not the creep who seduced my top executive into
marriage."
"Top executive...and best friend?" Justin asked lightly. Phyllis rolled
her eyes.
"If such a thing exists." She muttered. "I guess so. Dammit, don't take
advantage of me when I'm down."
"I'm sorry." Justin was contrite. "If it's any consolation, the doctors
are far more optimistic now about Jetta's chances than they have been since
she came in. She's even beginning to speak coherently - well, whisper, but
it's good enough. She's said she wants to see the FBI tomorrow, and tell
them what she knows...after she heard about the bomb attack on your home
she was pretty determined that they should hear her evidence as soon as possible."
"Good for her." Phyllis said grimly. "At least now I know who Im dealing
with."
"Where are you staying at the moment?"
"Hotel, still." Phyllis ran her hands through her hair. "Dad said I could
go to San Diego but I'm not going to take the trouble there, and besides,
I'm sure Agents Bray and Nicholson probably wouldn't let me out of this city.
It seems part of the witness protection programme involves trapping me in
the city that I'm in danger of losing my life in, and letting anyone send
me any kind of crap through the mail!"
"This guy...do you know his real name?"
"No, never did." Phyllis shook her head. "But I'd know him on sight, dammit.
I swear I would." She groaned. "Trouble is, I probably won't lay eyes on
the guy till he's about to put a bullet through my head."
"Don't be like that." Justin chided. "Here, how's Misfit Music's recovery
going?"
"It isn't." Phyllis admitted. "I haven't really chased it up...it's still
pretty messed up and I only spoke to the insurance people a day or two ago.
I'm not sure what to do with it...cut my losses and pull out or sell it or
what."
"You bloody sell that company an' I'll kill you myself!"
The voice was hoarse and broken but the tone was unmistakeable and both
Justin and Phyllis swung round to face the woman in the bed, startled.
"When did you wake up!" Phyllis demanded, putting her hands on her hips.
"Dammit, Jetta, quit eavesdropping!"
"You 'ave the bleedin' conversation in me 'ospital room, I ain't got much
blinkin' choice." Jetta whispered. "An' I'm damn glad you d...did. Why in
'ell ain't you got Misfit Music b...back to what it was before?"
Phyllis looked uncomfortable. Then she sighed.
"I didn't know if you were gonna make it." She admitted reluctantly. "And
there isn't Misfit Music these days without the both of us."
"Yeah, well, I'm touched an' all that." Jetta croaked. "But I ain't on
my bleedin' deathbed now, so if you don't mind, I'd like to 'ave a job to
come back to, when I'm fit."
Justin laughed.
"Oh, she's back all right." He observed with a grin. "I think we can quit
worrying about her, Pizzazz...she's definitely on the road to recovery."
Phyllis pulled a face.
"Then I'll damn well throttle her for scaring me!" She exclaimed. "Do
you realise what in hell you've put us all through, Jetta? Don't you tell
me what to do with my music company, when you scared us all to death by...well,
by damn well dying!"
"I didn't die. I'm 'ere." Jetta coughed. "Oh, bloody throat...bloody chest.
I 'ate this."
"Your heart stopped beating for a bit." Justin told her gently, shooting
Phyllis a dark look. "Stormer revived your pulse then you were rushed here."
"It did?" Jetta opened her eyes wide with shock. "Bloody 'ell...Justin,
can...can you get Stormer 'ere to see me? I owe 'er a thanks at the very
least."
"Sure." Justin nodded. "The hospital have been very strict on people coming
and going so she's not been able to see you, but I know she'd like to."
"What's it like, being dead?" Phyllis asked curiously.
"Can't bloody remember. I were out cold." Jetta retorted. "An' no I didn't
see any weird white lights or 'ear funny voices. I jus' conked out with the
smoke an' woke up in this dump." She grimaced. "Ooh, that 'urts. I gotta
stop speakin' so damn much. N...need some energy for the FBI tomorrow."
"Yes you do, so shut up." Justin told his wife acidly. "You're in no state
to start telling us what to do."
"Besides, there are two of us and one of you." Phyllis added. Jetta rolled
her eyes.
"Oh great. Now me 'usband an' me business partner 'ave ganged up on me."
She muttered. She coughed again. "Dammit!"
"Stop it, before a doctor yells at us." Phyllis snapped. "Listen, I'll
get Misfit Music fixed up, okay? Just so long as you promise me you ain't
gonna die, because I'm not doing my own tax forms from now till eternity!"
"Ok, ok." Jetta sighed. "I give." She settled herself below the covers
more comfortably. "By the way, Justin, could you ask the doctor why I ain't
'ad a bleedin' meal since I got 'ere? I'm fed up with plasma drips an' funny
injections!"
Justin stared at her, then he burst out laughing.
"It's good to have you back." He observed. "And I'll see what I can do."
BLAST FROM THE PAST
PART THREE
Chapter One: A Confession
Chapter Two: Jetta's
Mind
Chapter Three: Alex
and Sadie
Chapter Four: Jetta
Speaks
Chapter Five: A Problem
For Sadie
Chapter Six: Answer
To A Riddle
Chapter Seven: Zoe
Acts
Chapter Eight: A Shock
For Stefana
Chapter Nine: Some
Truths
Chapter Ten: Zoe Takes
A Chance
Chapter Eleven: Truth Will Out
Chapter Twelve: A Close Shave
Chapter Thirteen: Zoe's Father
Epilogue
DISCLAIMER: PLEASE NOTE
Copper, Nancy, Sylva, Anna, Blade, Raesha, Sirena,
Topaz, Aaron, Sophie, Justin, Elliot, Rosita, Luis and any other
characters in this fiction which do not appear in the animated Jem
series are copyrighted to me (E.A Woolley) as of January 2002 <unless
otherwise specified> and are not to be reproduced without permission
ANYWHERE. Jetta, Pizzazz, Stormer, Roxy, Raya and all other original
Jem characters are the copyright of Hasbro Inc, Sunbow, Christy Marx and
the other writers of the Jem series. The future world of Pizzazz, Raya,
Jetta, Roxy, Stormer, Clash, Synergy, the fate of Jem and her memorial
are all copyrighted to me. The future world of Kimber and Shana is copyrighted
jointly to myself and Gemma Dawn.
The concept of 'Jewel' is entirely my own, and
any apparent link with any fictional or actual person or persons
of this name is entirely coincidental. Equally the characters in
this fiction are not based on any real life individual.
The concept behind the future world of Danse,
Aja and Craig, the idea behind Jerrica's futureworld and the
split of the Holograms is copyrighted to Gemma Dawn, whose Teenangel
Outsiders fiction is directly twinned with Just a Dream. The
character Sammi and any of the other Teenangel Outsider characters
mentioned in this fiction are entirely copyright to Gemma Dawn and
appear here only with her permission.
Pay her page a visit!