We’ve Got This

Jackson opens up his front door allowing me to walk in first, I send him a smile as a thank you before making my way into the house. As I walk in, I take a look around, but something was standing out to me, this house doesn't seem like it really gets lived in. 'Either you're a clean freak and have to clean every section on your house constantly or, you don't spend much of your time at home." I say taking my sunglasses off now we were in the house, he throws his keys in a bowl by his door while shaking his head. 'Your second guess is right, with the work that I do I'm never home. Especially, these last few weeks, my time has been spent with you." He smiles walking into a different room for a second before emerging with a white board, does he really have one of those just laying around? 'How lucky that you get to spend most of your time with me." I say placing my hand to my heart, this alone makes him laugh as he places down the whiteboard which already had a map taped to it. 'You've just got a random map around your house?" I ask a little confused to say the least, while he takes some blue tack from the side. 'This isn't about what I enjoy doing in my spare time." He says where it was my turn to laugh, I reach over and take the box which held all of the photos in to stand beside him. 'Now we just have to put the photos at the places they were taken on the map, with the date and the time." He says taking the first photo and writing everything down before sticking the photo to the board. 'I do have a question; I want you to be honest with me because I trust that you're one of the only people that won't beat around the bush with me." I say something playing on my mind, he pauses for a second before nodding his head at me. 'You have been doing this for a few years now, you even said you have dealt with cases with some bad people, so you have a better understanding of what those kind people think and how they act. Do you think there is any chance that Mario has killed my father?" I ask looking up at him with hopeful eyes, this question had been on my mind for a few days now, but I knew what my mother would say if I asked her. Jackson doesn't go to answer straight away, but he does let out a sigh which didn't help my anxiety over what his answer may be. He places down the photo before turning to look at me. 'Yes, you are right that I've been doing this for years and have dealt with some of the worst people out there. But one thing that you learn pretty early on, is you can never guess what some of these crazy people are going to do. They're good at what they do because they are so unpredictable, so that question comes with so many layers." He says which didn't make my feel any better about my father, I take a look down at the floor getting a little upset, but he reaches over and takes my hands in his making me look up at him. 'But that being said, we have been looking into Mario for years and the one thing that always stands out is he doesn't kill those he captures, in his mind he holds them people for a purpose and the purpose of him having your dad is to make your mother back off a little. If he just went and killed your father like that, your mother wouldn't have to hold back for his safety and up the investigation to a hundred to find and catch Mario and he knows that. We can't for certain say that anything has happened to your father, good or bad. But from what I know about Mario, your father has a pretty good chance. Never give up hope Ally, you just need to focus on our goal of catching Mario so we can find your father." He tells me looking me in the eyes as he spoke, I gulp a little nodding my head before wrapping my arms around his neck for a hug. He soon wraps his arms around me tightly, tears begin to prick my eyes slightly as I thought about what kind of things my dad could be going through right now, but I had to remember what Jackson told me. 'Don't worry Ally, you know the underdogs have got this." He tells me which did make me stop a little, a tiny smile forming on my lips. 'So, is that the name we're going for?" I ask with a little laugh still hugging him, I thought he would hate that name. 'As much as I hate to say it, the name sort of has a ring to it." He laughs which only makes me laugh along with him. After around an hour, we had fully put all of the photos on the board and were sat on the sofa looking at it. Jackson said we needed to take a look back to see if anything stands out, but to me it just seems like Allison was taking her normal route unknowing, of her crazy stalker that was snapping pictures of her. Jackson sits back down handing me a cup of warm hot chocolate, I send him a smile before we both stare at the board once again. 'So, you live alone?" I ask just wanting to make conversation, in my mind just staring at the board really wasn't getting us anywhere, I must have looked at the same photo about a hundred times over. 'Yep, once again with my job I don't really have time to build any sort of relationships with anyone, whether that he platonic or more. But I like the job that I do, I get to help people so maybe I don't have the best kind of social life, but me doing this really helps." He says looking over at me with a smile, I could see what he was saying was true, but I still couldn't help but feel bad. 'Well, it's lucky that I came onto the scene when I did, at least you have somebody now." I smile before taking a sip from my delicious hot chocolate, he looks over at me for a second before turning back to the board. 'I haven't had anyone in my life for so long, so thank you." He smiles which does make me turn to look over at him, I take one last drink of my hot chocolate before placing it on the side table. I was growing rather tired as I sat there looking at the photos, I lean back on the sofa my eyes beginning to close. Before I knew it, I drop to sleep.