Chapter 7

Jane was at the house with the rest of the family, there was a knock at the door. Omar answered it, it was Officer Lenny. He needed to speak to Jane, to tell her important news. Jane and Officer Lenny stepped outside while the rest of the family tried to listen in. However, they soon figured they couldn't hear anything from inside. "Why are those two still together?" he asked. By her silence, he already knew the answer to his own question. "She doesn't know," he asked but it sounded like a statement. "He promised he was going to tell her." "It's been weeks, don't you feel guilty?" he asked. "A bit but she's not hurt so ... sometimes makes it worth the guilt," she told him. "Sometimes?" 

"What did you want to tell me?" She diverted the topic. "It's about the case, the trial finally ended, and they decided Dato wasn't guilty." "What? How could they?" "I know but there was no evidence, and since she took a while to report it they didn't believe her." "That's not…they're so…" Jane couldn't finish either sentence. She didn't know how to say it in words, all she wanted right now was for the girl to get justice. "Maybe he was innocent," Officer Lenny remarked. Jane was in disbelief, she wasn't sure if he was seriously doubting the girl or in disbelief. "Thank you for the information," she said. "I know it's a dumb question but are you okay?" He asked. She didn't respond, she simply turned around and walked into the house. 

As she passed the living room she heard the TV on. She looked up and saw that it was the news about the girl and Dato. He was free from all charges and there won't be a retrial. Jane continued to her bedroom. She was so out of it, that she didn't notice the family in the kitchen waiting for her. Except for Xavier, he had been in the living room watching TV. Jess went after her. When she goes upstairs, Jane is already in her room. She knocked and told Jane, "It's me, Jess." Jane opened the door and said, " I can't be here right now," before leaving the house. 

Jane went to spy on Dato, she had a gut feeling he was guilty. He was out with some friends when Jane heard him say, " We are celebrating my success with doing her and being free." They were all laughing, joking and celebrating. She had to control her anger, she couldn't just go over there and teach him a lesson. Instead, she decided to do something else, she called Evan.

 "Thanks for bailing me out the other day. In gratitude I bought you this," Evan gives her a set of keys. "You don't have to buy me anything, you're already helping me with this," Jane reminded him. "I know but I want you to take it." They both smiled at each other. "What happened with this guy anyways?" Evan asked. "They let him go, for lack of evidence. They let him get away." "Why do you think he's guilty if there is nothing to prove it?" "He said it so himself right before I called you." Evan looked at her and said, " You were following him again? You know she could be lying just to try and get him thrown in jail." Evan was now angry, Jane was just as much if not more than him. "How could you say? I just told you, he admitted it, if you don't want to hurt then just don't." "No, no. I'm going to help you, let's just go get him," with that, they left the car. 

They followed Dato to the place he hung out the most the last few days. At an abandoned warehouse alone. They had come prepared in case he escaped and attempted to tell anyone. They wore all black including the mask they had on. They grabbed him but he fought back and struggled. Evan had no choice but to knock him unconscious. They tied his hands, and feet, and covered his mouth and face in case he woke up on the drive and attempted to scream for help. They tossed him in the trunk of Evan's car and drove off. 

The plan was to take him to Jane's hideout and lock him in one of the empty rooms tied up. At least that's all Evan knew, and that was enough of a plan to him. He would leave whatever happened next entirely up to Jane—seemed like that's how they have always been with each other. If either of them needed help with something, the other would help no questions ask, Just like the time Jane had bailed out Evan, she didn't even ask for the details. He simply told her a vague story and she accepted it. 

Once they arrived Jane changed the plan, instead of tying him up, they put him in a glass box Jane had built. He had a chair, and a toilet, and the glass door had a food pass-through door. After untiying him and leaving him in the box they went to Evan's car. "Here," Jane tried to give Evan the keys he had given her back. "No, I wasn't joking when I said I wanted you to have it." "What… um," Jane tried asking. "Oh right it's a motorcycle, it's at my house. I'll drive you there so you can take it," he told her. She left the motorcycle at the hideout and walked back to the house. 

When she was near she saw a familiar car. It was Albert's, she walked inside expecting to see him instantly, but instead, she heard people talking in the kitchen. Once she closed the door, "Jane could you please come here a minute?" She heard Harper ask. So she did, and she saw him. Albert was sitting in the kitchen with Harper, Jess, and Omar. "What?" Jane asked. She had expected this earlier but what she wasn't expecting was the reason. "I have to remove you from the house," Albert told her. "Okay," she said, Harper, Jess, and Omar were shocked at her calm reaction. "This time it's not your fault," Albert assured her. However, Jane reacted the only way she could. " Didn't say it was." "Some paperwork was misplaced. This means Harper and Omar can't foster you until the paperwork is received," he explained. "How long?" she asked. "A few weeks." "Hopefully less," Harper hoped. "How long do I have?" Jane asked. "I have to run some errands so I'll be back for you in a few hours," Albert informed her. "There is something I must do, excuse me," with that Jane left again. 

"Does she usually disappear all day?" Harper asked Albert. "Well, she's usually invisible or mistreated so she has no problem disappearing all day. Sadly there isn't much we can do, the mistreatment is reported it takes months to even get acknowledged. Even then nothing is done about it, I usually wouldn't say anything but she seemed upset about leaving," he explained. "How could you tell?" Harper asked. "She was speaking in a very polite manner." 

Jane was at her hideout, she remembered to put on a hood and a mask. As well as changing her shoes and pants. She went to the room where the glass box was,with a paper bag. As soon as Dato saw her he screamed. "What are you going to do to me? Why am I here?" He asked. With her voice changer she told him. "You know what you did, and what I'm going to do to you is make you pay." He tried breaking the glass but all he caused was for his hand to hurt. "WHEN I GET OUT YOU'RE THE ONE WHO'S GOING TO PAY," he yelled. She put the paper bag down. Then she opened the door and said, "How about we bet your life on in." She stepped in, Dato stepped back further into the box. "What? Are you scared?" Jane said. "You're all bark and no bite," she taunted him, causing him to lunge forward to her. However, she easily through him to the ground and punched him in his face a couple of times. Leaving him on the floor with his face bruised and a bloody nose. She stepped out grabbed the paper bag and through it in the glass box. She closed the door and walked away. 

She went into the house and straight to her room. She called Evan and told what was going on. "There's one more than I have to tell you," she said. "It's best if we don't talk for a bit," she told him. "I know we fought but…," she interrupted him. "This is for both us to take the time to think clearly. Then we can decide what's better for both of us." He took a few seconds to respond. "Okay, I guess we'll talk once we've decided what's best for each of us," Evan knew she had been right. They hadn't been together long but they had been friends for a while. At some point they did terrible things in order to help each other. They hung up, Jane sat on her bed to think on what to do next. 

There was a know on Jane's bedroom door. Jane unlocked the door and sat back on the bed. The door opened and Jess stood at the dooreay. "Can we talk?" Jess asked. Jane looked at her and nodded. Jess stepped in and closed the door. She sat next to Jane on the bed. After a second Jess picked up her legs and crossed them, turning to face Jane. "I'm sorry," was the first thing Jess said. "For what? This isn't your fault." "I know I just wish I could do more. I wish… I wish you didn't have to leave even if it is for a few weeks," Jess said with her voice breaking. Something about this moment, maybe it was her breaking up with Evan, or the little girl not getting justice or maybe it was Jess but Jane finally realized she wanted to stay. She needed to find a way to get back as quickly as possible. "Anyway, that's…that's what I wanted to say," Jess said. However that wasn't all she wanted to say and knew that, but she knew she couldn't say anything more. At least for now. Jess got off the bed and left. Jane wanted to stop, she didn't even know why but instead Jane let her leave. 

Jane took out the bottle of pills she still had. She put three pills into her hand and swallowed them. She put the bottle back in her jacket. Then she began to pack the little clothes she had unpacked. Which was just the clothes Harper had bought her. After she finished packing Harper knocked on her door and told her Albert was outside waiting. 

Jane walked outside and the whole family was waiting for her, including Xavier. "Don't embarrass anyone," Xavier told her then gave her a fist bump, Jane gave him a smirk and fist bumped him. Harper looked at them puzzled and asked, " What's that about?" "Nothing," Xavier jumped in. "Well I am going to miss you, but we'll have you back in no time," Harper told Jane. "Yeah, um thanks," Jane responded very awkwardly. Harper extended her hand towards Jane, and Jane shook her hand. " Well good luck and goodbye kid," Omar said and extended his hand for a hand shake. "Thanks," Jane shook his hand with a firm grip. They both began to tightened their grip. "You don't give up do you?" He asked, and she smirked. "It's one of my rules; Never back down," they both let go. 

Now it was Jessica's turn to say goodbye, except neither of them wanted to. Jess took a deep breath. "Fine," Jane said, putting her bag down and walking up to Jess. Jane wrapped one arm around her and pulled her close. Jane's hug took everyone by surprise. Jess hugged back tightly, and took a breath of relief. That was it Jane had her bag and got into the car,