Midnight Angel [Jenlisa FF]

~'~'~ THE END ~'~'~

~One month later~

The telephone rang and Jennie turned to glare at the evil contraption. She hated the damn phone! So far today she was pretty sure it had rung at least ten times. And it was only noon! Thank goodness for Caller ID or she would have to deal with answering it all the time. That was something she definitely did not want to do.

The story of Cambria's Mayor, Police Chief, and a young woman named Jennie Kim had broken in the media two days after Jennie and Lisa returned. The fact that the Mayor of Cambria had been taken in and questioned by the FBI, and charges had been filed against him was big news. Combine that with the Police Chief also being involved, and the story would have commanded coverage in itself. Unfortunately, a leak in the FBI office added more fodder for the journalists by spilling the details about the murders of the Kim family, and the movie-plot-like involvement of the remaining Kim offspring.

Since then, the media – TV, print, radio – had launched a full-scale assault at Jennie, wanting any tide bit of information they could find. They camped out near the Kim house, tried to sneak onto the property, called all hours of the day, and whatever else they could think of. Mr. Kim was forced to hire guards to keep the press from charging the house. Whenever the phone rang, they left it go – having disconnected the answering machine – and only answered if the Caller ID showed it was someone they wanted to talk to.

So, Jennie found herself being held prisoner. Still. Again. Whichever. All that mattered was that she didn't leave the house. If she did, it would be ugly. The media was dying to talk to the woman who brought down Cambria's mayor and police chief. Who'd been raped and saw no justice. Who'd had her family killed and been called responsible. Who'd been thought dead for four years. Jennie couldn't exactly blame them for their interest. It didn't mean she had any desire to talk to them.

In the end, it all meant Jennie was trapped in her house again. This time, though, it was by her own choice. She could go out if she wanted, but she chose not to. If avoiding the media meant staying inside, then she'd gladly do it. She just wished it wasn't an issue period. But it was, so she remained at her father's house and tried to untwist the mess that was her life.

A month had passed since her name had truly been cleared, and the people responsible for killing her family had been charged. That by no means implied that chapter of her life was over and closed. The FBI was still trying to put all the information together and build their case. There was still the trial to come as well. Much to Jennie's relief, both Sonner and Walker were being held in jail without bail until their trials were over. The judge had found them to be a threat to society if allowed their freedom. Jennie was grateful for their incarceration. It was one less worry for her, though Ryan warned her that a powerful man like Richard Sonner had many connections. So far, the evil man hadn't tried anything.

There was also still the worry that they wouldn't be convicted of all the charges against them. Sonner could certainly afford a good lawyer, and some people just had a knack for weaselling themselves out of trouble. Ryan didn't seem to think that could happen. They had an ace in the hole, as he liked to say.

The ace being Police Chief Philip Walker. Jennie's visit to him at the FBI offices a month ago seemed to have scared the man senseless. The realization that Jennie was alive and spilling her story made Walker follow suit. He'd apparently opened his mouth and hadn't shut up. Jennie didn't know yet what all he'd said. Ryan had only told her the man was talking and saying a lot. She was anxious to know more.

Feet treading on the floor jerked Jennie from her thoughts, and she looked up from her magazine as Lisa stepped into the room. A smile instantly lit her face. She was becoming so used to having Lisa around all the time that she didn't know what she would do once Lisa moved back into her own house. she could have done it already. The fire hadn't damaged much, and it was still liveable, but with the media tracking her too, and the danger from Sonner still somewhat present, Ryan felt it better that she stays at the Kim house. Jisoo and Jin spent most of their time at the house as well.