Ice and Fire novel Chapter 439

It was evening before Jackson, Cherry, Lily and Bill all left the military residential compound to return to the villa.

As soon as Joe saw that his parents were home, he rushed to his Mommy with an anxious look on his face and asked, "Mommy, where were you for so long?"

Cherry didn't answer his question. Instead, she turned and asked Lily, "Lily, prepare dinner for us all, please. Joe must be starving!"

"Yes ma'am, I will have it ready soon, " after replying Lily turned and walked out of the room.

Holding Joe's hand, Cherry headed to the living room.

Since his Mommy always answered his questions, Joe realized something was going on. He peered up at his Mommy's face as they walked, and found it odd that she was expressionless. Then Joe glanced over at his Daddy and saw it was contorted with fury. All this weirdness surprised Joe and left him questioning, 'I wonder if something happened?'

Noticing the puzzled expression on Joe's face, Cherry patiently explained to her son, "Joe, something happened at the military residential compound that Daddy and I went to take care of. I am sorry we are so late getting home. How was everything while you were here alone today?"

Joe nodded and said agreeably, "Being home alone was alright."

'What on earth happened at the military residential compound?' Joe wondered. He was still feeling apprehensive because his Mommy was scowling.

His voice denoted the concern he felt when he asked, "Mommy? Are you okay?"

Cherry smiled weakly, cradling his cheek in her hand as she reassured, "Oh yes, my darling son, I am fine. There's no reason to worry!"

"Okay, " Joe nodded and said.

Jackson still felt overwhelmed with anxiety. Seeing Cherry in the living room, explaining the events to Joe, he decided that the crisp night air might do him some good. Jackson walked out on the balcony and gripped the rail, closed his eyes and breathed in the fresh, clean air in slowly. After inhaling a few times deeply, he opened his eyes and viewed the distant scene, hoping the tranquility he watched could help him relax.

Suddenly, he was pulled back from deep thought, when he heard the constant, all too familiar ringing of a cell. He took the phone out and confirmed it was Derek, Jackson hurriedly swiped accepting the call saying into the mouthpiece, "Hello? Yes Derek? How is it going?"

"Jackson, Bobby located the butler and is pursuing him. So far, the butler has managed to stay ahead of him though." Derek's breathing was labored, as he rushed to share the news.

"Okay, stick close to him! Don't let him get away again!" commanded Jackson.

"Yes, we will. I will call with an update as soon as I can! Wait to hear from me, " Derek confirmed before ending the call.

After hanging up, Jackson gripped the phone firmly in his fist. His thoughts were racing, and he felt weighed down with anxiety. Deep in his heart, Jackson didn't know how to cope with the butler who had been with the Chu Family and Grandpa in particular for many years, even longer than Jackson had been alive. He treated the butler like family, and couldn't believe the man was capable of such an unimaginable deed. Nevertheless, given the present circumstances, Jackson knew he must catch him, and quickly. If Jackson didn't get the butler soon, he couldn't find out what Mond was planning. For that matter, he would be in the dark about how to face Eric and Jonson. In addition to all that, there was the token... Each issue was a mind-boggling mass of confusion, distracting him, draining him close to collapse. 'What should I do? What should I do to keep the harm at its minimum level?' Jackson asked himself, contemplating each point and person affected. At the forefront of his ruminating was Cherry, his wife, and their precious son, Joe. As the two most important people in his life, Jackson needed to keep them safe from every evil.

Lost in thought as he was, he barely heard the light footfall of someone coming up behind him. The quiet sounds startled him, and Jackson whipped around to discover Cherry approaching him.

"What are you doing out here?" asked Cherry when she was closer to Jackson.

"Nothing really, I thought the night air would be invigorating, " replied Jackson.

"The view is lovely out here at night, " Cherry agreed as she looked out at the skyline. Turning to Jackson, she gazed at the side of his face, "Are you troubled by the matter of the butler?"