Jacob thankfully arrived home in the taxi. She had not felt safe at all on the journey. The driver spent more time looking at her body, clad only in the short, satin nightgown, than at the road. I didn't help that Jacob was commando under the mid thigh length garment. She had to spend every moment of the trip making sure the nightgown didn't ride up. She could not blame the driver for thinking she was a prostitute, as the police claimed she was. However, she did get home, unmolested and hurriedly flung $50 cash at the driver as she quickly exited the cab.
She saw the curtains rustle in Mrs Melville's, unit. Jacobs appearance mid morning in a flimsy nightgown would no doubt be part of her gossip for the next week. However Jacob was just relieved to be home. She hoped like hell that what she had been told over the phone by Jack was correct. She never wanted to see that Rick character ever again. She was still mystified how she was now in the younger "Jackie" body. It wasn't until she saw her own mugshot at the cop shop that she realised she was no longer in the "Sharon" body. She was totally confused and hoped that Jack or Dana could explain what the hell was going on.
Dana must have been watching as well, as Jacob's wife (they had never officially divorced) opened the door to her unit as she approached and quickly ushered her inside, closing the door behind her.
She found Dana was not alone. Jack and that Sharon woman were also in the apartment. Sharon was glaring at her. She felt scared.
"What the hell did you do with the medallion?" Sharon demanded
Jacob cringed "Get her away from me!" she said to Jack, as she stepped behind the man. She was very glad her friend had returned. Jack was young fit and strong. Hopefully he could protect Jacob and Dana from Sharon and Rick. She took a moment to look across at Dana and was relieved to see she appeared unharmed.
"There is nothing to be concerned about Jacob" Jack told her in a calm voice. "Rick has gone. The police are looking for him and he has fled. He will never bother you again"
"You know who I am?"
"Yes. You are an unfortunate victim of the medallion. We all are"
"Even her?" Jacob pointed at Sharon. "She is Rick's lover"
"Sharon has had to endure many years of torment from Rick. She has finally been able to escape him" Jack informed Jacob.
"That's not....!" Sharon interjected.
Jacob noticed that Jack sshsshed Sharon, by placing a finger on her lips. "Everyone needs to keep calm. Sharon is just agitated that the medallion has gone missing. As you probably observed it has magical powers"
Dana spoke next "Jacob. If you want to return to your own body we need the medallion. Do you know where it is?"
"It was in the handbag, that was left in the car of the man who tried to rape me"
Jack spoke "Dana, could you perhaps donate some clothes to Jacob? Once you are dressed you can calmly tell us exactly what happened since you escaped from Rick?"
...........
An hour or so later, Jacob finally finished telling her story about how she had escaped from the house, and taken the medallion, through until she arrived back at her unit. Sharon, Rick and Dana had meticulously taken notes and asked all sorts of clarifying questions.
Sharon said "We will have to find this John ourselves. The police are not going to put a lot of effort into finding him"
"Talking of police we need to call them and explain how we all got here. I'd suggest we go down to the station and present ourselves as we currently are" He looked at Jacob. "We have to convince them that we are who we currently appear to be. You have to assume the alias of Jackie"
Jacob replied "That's one thing I did find out at the police station. I have somehow become Cindy Rhodes, who has a record for prostitution in Michigan"
"Well up to you what name you choose, but don't try telling them you are Jacob. You won't be believed"
"I know. I tried"
Jack continued "Let's get our stories straight. Remember Rick takes all the blame. Any involvement of Jackie or Sharon was coerced"
"Jacob is still missing" Dana pointed out.
"Yes and the police will assume that Rick has kidnapped him. Until we get our hands on the medallion we can't make Jacob reappear. We need to clear Jackie and Sharon of any involvement" said Jack, who had somehow asserted leadership in the meeting. Jacob trusted his old friend and had to assume Jack knew what was best.