Chapter Seventy Three

Rich was right, not about them not hearing D and me, but about understanding, they were really sad over how their mom had acted.
They were shocked at her behaviour towards Madison, both of them could not understand the mentality of how their mom could punch someone at a first meeting, Jess said, "I've never seen anyone behave like that, but to see it from my own mom, man that was ugly." that's when they told me they supported me one hundred percent in my decision. I was so proud of them both, so young but both so mature too. I don't know what I did to deserve my kids, but I was real proud to be their dad. Added too my fears about shrinks was unfounded and the only one that was gonna need that kind of help in the future was D.
Jake and Romeo, had not heard anything they were too busy playing air hockey with Madison. I guess I was more concerned about the younger guys hearing their mom and me more than Jess and Steph, so it seems I was granted a reprieve for now at any rate, knowing at some point I would have to explain things again, kids that young need a lot of reassurance that's how you build confidence.

With calmness restored in the Bongiovi household, the guy's were still hanging around and had gone back down to the studio to start the mixing of a couple of new tracks we had wrote, Obie, and David Bergman being the last to arrive and join in. Madison said she was fine with the kids so I could go start my work with the guy's. giving her a kiss on the cheek I headed upstairs to change my shirt ready for the promo shots David was gonna take. Checking my reflection in the mirror, I ran my fingers through my already messy hair a quick spray of after shave and I was out the door and soon walking round the back to the studio to start our new project, it was only gonna be a few more days before we kicked off the tour again and I felt a buzz of excitement thinking about it. I even smiled to myself as I walked, then I saw something or should I say someone out of the corner of my eye and it brought me to a stop. I stood looking in the direction of where something caught my eye, but I could see nothing, no movement, no rustling of bushes, I must have stood there for ten minutes, looking all around the grounds. in the end I moved on and told myself it was just a dog or some other wildlife scouring around out there, but something in my heart was not convinced and I felt anxious and during the rest of the walk to the studio I kept looking back over my shoulder, and no matter how many times I told myself there was no one there, I could not shake the feeling.
Walking up the steps to the studio I could hear the banter inside between the guys, and still I stood looking around before going inside. Still I saw nothing. I stood for a few minutes more then went inside and started work with the guys.

It was late afternoon when we started, but nearing 11pm when we were calling it a wrap for the night, David had taken great photo's for the new album and tour programme that we wee producing for the European leg of the tour, enough we hoped to keep are ardent fans happy in the short term at any rate, and with six tracks laid to tape, we knew the new album was near finished. Closing up, Rich, Dave, Teek, Matt and Obie headed on back to the main house, while David B stayed with me to lock and close up the studio for the night. Out on the steps, I turned the lock when David said, "holy shit what was that?"
"What was what?"
he looked at me a concerned look on his face, "I dunno, something moved over there, it caught my eye.."
he pointed in the direction I had seen something earlier in the day.  I joined him at the bottom of the steps and stood looking out into the darkness. "what you think you saw?"
"I dunno, like a flash of white?"
that was the same thing that caught my earlier, I told David about it. "you know I thought I was seeing things earlier, but you have seen the same...."
he shook his head agreeing with me, "Jon, Ive got a bad feeling about this, I think you should call the cops or at least security?"
I shook my head, "Yeah, I will lets get back to the house first." We set off towards the main house, each of us quiet, and both listening and looking around us all the time. "dave you feel uneasy too?"
"Yeah, but I don't know why its stupid man, we are grown ups..." half laughing, "I guess we saw too many horror movies when we were kids right?" "yeah" it was then we heard the cracking of a branch, and both of us snapped heads to look in the same direction. we were no more than fifty yards from the house, and both of us said no more as we took off running to get inside as quick as we could.

the guys were in the kitchen drinking coffee and chatting as me and david ran in, teek asked, "Wheres the fire?"
I had no time to answer and went straight out to the phone in the hallway to call security, picking up the receiver it was only then I remembered the lines were dead. I moved out of the hall and to the best side of the house to use my cell and felt the familiar de ja vu from the last time being in this situation.

Stood outside the den I could still hear the kids with Madison, and looking at my cell I now had enough signal to call down to the security gate. I pushed the number into my phone and pressed connect, I waited as it rang, "Security"
"Kav?"
"Yes Mr Bongiovi"
"Have you checked out the grounds today?"
"Yes sir not half and hour since. all good."
"no one around that shouldn't be?" I asked with the nervous anxiety feeling rising in my body,
"no sir, no one, all safe and secure."
I was not satisfied with his conclusion so asked another question,
"what are you wearing tonight?"
he sounded puzzled as he answered my unusual question, "White shirt black pants, jacket and hi visibility over coat sir same as always."
in my mind I reasoned it could not have been Kav then that had caught David and my eye. I told Kav what had happened and asked him to go do another perimeter search and call me back.
he told me he would call me in half an hour, but he was sure it was all good and like I thought earlier, maybe it was some wildlife that had managed to get on to the grounds.

With my kids in the house I prayed that was the case, but no matter how much I tried to convince myself it was nothing out there, I could not shake the uneasy feeling that was setting in my heart and bones.  I paced the hallway waiting for the call, when my cell rang I near dropped it, "Yo speak to me?"
"Mr Bongiovi Sir its Kav... you were...." the line went dead, I stood with the cell to my ear shouting Kav, and got no reply....