3.24 It's Not Over Yet

Author's Note: I would suggest reading this chapter of Alex's side story before reading this chapter. It's not necessary but will give a more rounded view of what's happening.

Caleb dropped to his knees as the phone clattered to the floor. Turning Drew watched horrified as he burst into tears. Racing to his side she wrapped her arms around him thankful that the girls were with their Aunt Tayla for the duration of this nightmare. Her heart hammered in her ears while Caleb's tears soaked her shirt. "What's happening?" she asked anguish twisting her words until they barely squeaked out.

"I...I'm sorry" Caleb mumbled "I don't know why I'm crying. I'm just so relieved that this nightmare is almost over," he looked at Drew and smiled. "Alex just called to say the kidnapper brought Andrew to the hotel." He felt her arms tighten around him as her eyes widened in disbelief.

"Andrew? He's safe?" she asked in a small barely audible voice. Caleb nodded as she trembled in his arms reacting much the same was as he had. Lifting her face from Caleb's shoulder "I want to see my baby. I won't believe it until I see him. Hold him in my arms."

"Neither will I," he agreed helping her to her feet. "I love you" he murmured as she turned.

Stopping she reached up to stroke his bruised and battered face "I love you too," she spoke from the depths of her heart "if it weren't for you I'd have fallen apart."

His lips quirked at the corners "I was just thinking how brave  you were through all of this."

"Not brave," she shook her head "just too scared to give up."

He pulled her close kissing her forehead "together we can face anything," he said gently smoothing
her hair.

"I certainly hope so," she smiled up at him. She brought her mouth up to his pressing again him before pulling away. Taking his hand saying "let's go get our son."

***

"Ambrose ease up," Alex shook the man's shoulder "he's not going anywhere."

Easing his strangle hold on the dark haired male Ambrose eyed him uneasily "if I let you go, you won't try anything?"

Shaking his head from side to side "no I won't. Everything I've done so far has only caused more trouble." The boys demeanor was that of a whipped puppy...defeated. He slumped against the wall when Ambrose released him. Drained of all energy and willpower.

Taking pity on him Alex grabbed his arm and helped him to a chair "what's your name?"

"Ricardo Junior," he mumbled "Ricky if you like." He leaned forward burying his head in his  hands, shoulders shaking.

Alex watched the young man cry know he had been driven beyond his limits to save his sister. He looked down to find Andrew tugging on his arm. "Can we help him?" the little boy asked while never taking his eyes from his kidnappers face.

Kneeling beside his nephew Alex asked "why do you want to help him?" he was curious to know what the boy was thinking or if this was a classic example of Stockholm syndrome.

Shrugging Andrew looked away before answering "at first I was real scared. He acted real mean especially when I couldn't stop crying..." he stopped talking biting his lip.

"But what?" Ambrose asked becoming interested in what Andrew was saying.

"He talked a lot in his sleep," Andrew looked at the dejected figure of the man who had taken him from his house, his parents, everyone he cared about. "He kept saying he was sorry. He didn't know what else to do." He looked up at his Uncles " I think he was sorry for what he did and wanted to undo it if he could. If a bad man had one of my sisters I'd do whatever I had to to get her back safe. Wouldn't you?"

An older man sat silent drumming his fingers on the steering wheel. His eyes never leaving the hotel entrance. He scowled as a he watched a couple scurry past and through the doors. "The fool," he growled into the silence of the car. He'll never get his hands on that ledger. It didn't really matter. The ledger was already in his possession...had been for years.

His lip curled up in amusement. It was his way of showing the remnants of the old mans regime who was boss. They either obeyed or they died. The girl, the granddaughter of the old drug lord had been a pretty little thing. Pretty enough to tempt him into using her to satisfy his animal lusts but he restrained himself. With DNA testing the way it was he didn't want to risk leaving any trace of himself behind. Instead he watched as his flunkies tormented her. She was weak and as a source of entertainment had grown stale and boring. He hefted his bulk from the small compact car. It was time to teach these fools a lesson in obedience.

***

As soon as Drew and Caleb entered the room Andrew was smothered in hugs and kisses. "Mommy. Daddy. I missed you," he cried enjoying the attention.

They wrapped the boy in their arms as if they would never let him go. Drew couldn't keep the tears from flowing as she hold her son. She picked him up and carried him away from the group of men. 

"Let me look at you," she held his face in her hands searching for any signs of injury.

"Mommy" he protested "I'm fine. I'm hungry other then that I'm fine."

"Didn't he feed you?" she asked smoothing his hair back away from from his face.

"He tried," Andrew told her "he's not a very good cook." He made a look of disgust to demonstrate how he felt about his captor's cooking skills or lack there of.

"He didn't hurt you?" she looked at his face seeing the fading bruise on his cheek.

Yanking his face away Andrew grumbled "I'm fine."

"Son, she's only worried about you," Caleb said coming up to them finding it impossible to stay away for long. 

"I know but I'm not a baby," Andrew complained. Turning to his mom "I'm hungry, when can we go?"

"Soon baby soon, she told him looking up at Caleb.

Caleb looked over his shoulder towards the kidnapper "why don't you take him for a burger and ice cream...."

Drew wanted to protest. She wanted Caleb to come with them. She looked down into the pleading eyes of her son and his stomach growled loudly settling the issue. "Ok let's get something to stop that rumbling in her tummy. She smiled as went to tickle him. His laughter filled the room easing the tension between the men.

Getting up she turned to Caleb "would you like me to bring back something for the rest of you guys?"

He leaned forward resting his forehead on hers "thank you," he said quietly "we have things to discuss with that...man. I don't want Andrew to overhear it."

She looked up into his worried grey eyes and nodded "I'll call before we come back," she told him.

"I'm sure we'll be hungry by then," he told her giving her a brief kiss on the lips and squeezing her tight. "Love you," he murmured as he released her.

Taking Andrew's hand she smiled up at Caleb. "Love you too," she said as she opened the door and walked into the hall. Looking down at Andrew "where would you like to eat?"

"Anywhere," he said pulling her forward "I just want food."

"Alright alright I'm coming," she told him laughing. It felt good to have him back. To hold him. Feel him in her arms. Hear his voice. Talk to him. Things couldn't get much better, could it? They passed a burly older man with reddish brown short hair as he made his way inside the hotel doors. 

Andrew leaned in her as the man passed them whispering "I don't like that man."

Drew looked up to see the menacing look the man was giving them. She put a hand on her son's shoulders as they continued on their way. She debated with herself on whether to call Caleb and warn him. Warn him of what? That a man, a stranger gave her bad vibes? She stopped beside her car looking up towards the window she was sure was Alex's room. She knew he was going to think she was crazy but she had to make the call.

***

Mrs. Jeffries paced her small kitchen waiting for the nice young officer to come. She felt somewhat guilty hearing the description she gave of the kidnapper on the TV. Somehow she felt she had described the wrong man. What if she had? Now an innocent man was being hunted for a crime he didn't commit. The man's menacing blue eyes and his bullish nature fit with what she thought of a kidnapper. Shaking her head dismissing her doubts. She'll stick by the description she gave.

A knock on the door had her scurrying to meet the officer. His pleasant smile encouraged her to invite him inside. "I have oatmeal raisin cookies fresh from the oven," she offered with a smile.

He smothered a groan forcing a smile upon his face as he followed her into the kitchen. "They smell delicious." Once she had served him a plate and coffee he asked "you remembered something?"

"I did" she clapped her hands together as she looked around the cluttered table. "Now where did I put it?" she mumbled to herself.

"Just great," the officers grumbled around a half chewed cookies. The woman looked up at him a questioning look in her eyes. "Mmm great" he smiled around a mouthful of cookies.

She smiled as she relaxed into her chair again evidently satisfied with his response. She picked up a scrap of paper with them scribbles written on it. "I think I may have remembered the kidnappers license plate number."

The officers stopped chewing to stare at the older woman. Swallowing he held his hand out. She laid the piece of paper in his palm.

She explained in a hesitant voice "I've been dreaming of those numbers for days. I wrote them down on the first piece of paper I could find before I could forget them." At the officers excitement she omitted saying she had known this for days. She didn't want him to think she had been withholding information so that she'd have an excuse for the officer to come again.

The officers eyes lit up with interest "this may be the break we need to find the Grey kid." He stood up to leave "thank you ma'am for your help."

"You're welcome" she beamed with  delight "I just hope you find that little boy safe and sound."

"So do I" he said as he walked purposefully from the house.

***

The bullish man watched the woman and child as they passed him in the entrance. She had been so close. So pretty. His mind jumped to all the things he could do to her or have done to her. His play things never lasted long. He watched as the child leaned into her and he knew he must have transmitted his ill intent like a radio wave. Children were a good judge of characters and he was as nasty as they come. He smiled briefly at the thought. Once he finished his business here he would worry about acquiring another play thing.

He headed straight for the elevator without stopping at the front desk. He knew what room his prey was in. Most likely his prey wasn't alone. His fingers itched to feel the concealed gun in  his waist band in his hands. It's been a while since he had carried out an execution himself. He was looking forward to it. The way his prey always looked at him with fear in their eyes as he pointed the gun at them. The way they pleaded for their lives. Watching the final moment when the light drained from their eyes.

This was going to be a good day. He would dispose of his disobedient pest and his sister and whoever else was in the room with him. As he walked down the hallway he slowly withdrew his gun. Heart pounding in anticipation he readied his bulk as he prepared himself to throw his bulk at the door.

***

Caleb turned to answer his phone "miss me?" he asked.

"Always" Drew said with a smile "I don't know if this means anything but..."

Caleb listened to her hearing the fear in her voice "did something happen?" he asked.

"Nothing really..."

"Drew just tell me" his voice rising.

"Andrew and I saw this man as we were leaving the hotel. He...he just gave us really bad vibes. I have a bad feeling and I needed to warn you."

Some of Caleb's tension melted when he heard her. He refrained from asking 'was that all' until he remembers that Amanda, Drew's sister could sense things and maybe something like that was warning Drew. His smile faded as he asked for a description of the man. He turned to the young man asking "do you know a middle aged bullish type man with reddish brown hair and menacing blue eyes?"

The kidnapper swallowed convulsively as he stammered "that's...that's...the new boss, the guy taking over my grandfathers drug business." His forehead broke out in a cold sweat "we've got to get out of here. If he's here he's her to execute me for failing."

Hearing that Caleb walked to the door "Drew don't go anywhere until I join you." He opened the door took a step out when something hard came crashing down on his head.

***

"Caleb," Drew screamed into the phone. Andrew looked at her in concern then darted across the parking lot towards the hotel entrance. "Andrew get back here" she called after him.

With trembling fingers she dialed 911 informing the dispatcher "I think someone just attacked my husband...I was talking to him when he grunted in pain...he hasn't said anything since...No he's not ignoring me." Her voice was becoming more and more irritated answering the inane questions of the woman operator. "Look I have to go....Just send help." With that she ran towards the entrance where her son had disappeared a few moments before.

***

Laughing the large bulky man stepped over Caleb's motionless body and into the room. All three men looked up startled. "Well hello little Ricky" the man said pleasantly "surprised to see me?"

Taking a deep breath the dark haired young man took a step forward "this is between you and me. Leave them out of this."

"Too late for that," the man shook his head "the minute you walked into this room you were a dead man along with everyone else." He waved the gun around pointing it at Ambrose then at Alex "do you have the ledger?"

They all shook their heads. Ricky stared down the barrel of the gun "face it ledger is done forever."

"Oh I know it is," the man laughed at their stunned faces "I just wanted to see how far I could push you. Your parents are too wimpy. Honestly I didn't expect you to last this long." Shaking his head he continued "Every good boss knows he can't leave any of he old regime behind even ones as toothless as your family has proved to be. Once I'm done with you. I'll get rid of your sister...then your parents."  He pointed to gun at Alex hen at Ambrose "but first I want you to see what failure looks like." He started to chant like a child unable to decide "eney, meeny, miny, moe."

Ricky followed the movement of the gun taking a chance he knocked Ambrose to the floor as the man pulled the trigger. Without looking he hoped the bullet missed the pink haired male. Turning he tried to run for the bulky drug overlord knowing it would be the last thing he'd ever do. He heard the gun go off but he kept going. A third shot he felt a searing burning sensation in his lungs and chest. A fourth shot went off directed at someone else behind him as he lay on his back in agony. The wailing sounds of sirens coming nearer filled the room. He felt the man rummage through his pockets removing his car keys. "Don't worry boy your sister will joining you soon unless her air has run out then you'll be joining her."

***

Andrew tried to duck around the corner when he saw the menacing bulky man charging down the hall at him. Either he wasn't fast enough or the man was faster then he looked. The next thing Andrew knew he was being grabbed and hoisted into the air as the man ran. He remembered screaming but no one came to his rescue until a small form tackled the man around his knees making him stumble and fall. Andrew was knocked from the man's grasp only to find another man in a suit drag him behind the front desk in the hotel lobby. That was when he realized who is rescuer was "mom" he screamed as the man wrapped a meaty hand around her throat. He tossed her aside like a rag doll when several armed police men surrounded him.

Andrew watched astonished as the man surrendered without a fight. It almost seemed he enjoyed it like he knew these men couldn't touch him. It was a bit scary and Andrew hoped he'd never see the man again as he was led away by the policemen.

3.23 For My Sister

Watching the silent child the man frowned. He never meant to take the child. Hadn't thought it through. He was desperate to get that ledger. His sister's life depended upon it. If he failed she was dead. If that happened it would destroy his parents. Running his hands through his hair he sighed loudly causing the boy to jump in anticipation from where he sat huddled on the floor. "Sorry kid," he mumbled looking out the window "this isn't going as planned."

The ringing of his phone shattered the silence. Staring at it the man lifted it to his ear "hello" he said flinching in response to the loud bombastic voice hollering on the other end.

"Did you get the ledger?"

"She won't give up the information," he told the man.

"Make her tell you where it is," the man insisted.

The young man had no doubts he meant torture the information out of her. "How exactly? She's in prison."

"Use her children" came the ready heartless reply.

"She doesn't care about them," he retorted biting his lip as soon as the words rolled off his tongue. He shouldn't have said that. He was as good as dead if the man thought he was useless.

"I'm losing my patience" the deep voice grew more menacing with each syllable he spoke. Loud uncontrollable screams of agony filled his ears ending with ragged sobs of misery cut off by the man's callous words "how much more do you think your sister can take?"

"Don't hurt her. I'll come up with something. Just don't hurt her," he begged.

"Get the ledger or the next thing you hear will be your sister's dying breath."

Andrew watched the man. He didn't act like a bad guy At least not like the bad guys he saw on TV. They were always angry but he seemed...sad. He got to his feet and cautiously approached the man.

The man looked up "what do you want?" he growled.

"I...I..." he took a deep breath trying not to let the man intimidate him "my dad is really smart. I bet he could help you."

"Why would he do that kid?" he asked as most of his anger dissipated "I'm the guy who broke into his home.  Beat him up. Took  his kid."

"I'm sure if you explained to him why you did it he'd help you," Andrew insisted

"Sure he would kid," the man shook his head not believing him. He knew he wouldn't if he were in the other guys shoes. "You hungry kid?"

Andrew nodded knowing his idea had been dismissed. He went to to sit in his corner. The man was in trouble he was sure of it. Someone he cared about was being hurt. He could hear her screams from where he sat on the floor. He wondered if the man had an evil invisible friend like he did. His dad could help him get rid of it like he had done with his. He didn't like invisible friends. They made you do things you didn't want to do. If you didn't then they hurt the ones you cared about. He'd give the man some time to think about his suggestion before saying anything else. Sometimes it takes a while before you're ready to accept help. He knew that from experience.

***

"Should you be here?" Alex asked as Caleb limped into the room in obvious pain.

"Why shouldn't I be here?" he asked irritable at being treated like an invalid.

"I was..." Alex put his hands up shrugging "sorry I thought maybe you would still be in the hospital."

Caleb scowled at him "I can't lay in bed while my son is out there somewhere. I've got to do something." He felt Drew put her arms around him trying to calm him down. He smiled at her as he took her hand in his "I'm fine. Stop worrying."

Her dark brown eyes looked up at him as she nodded accepting his word for it. Glancing around the room she asked the assembled family "so what are we going to do?"

"I have an idea" Ambrose volunteered "but you're not going to like it." He looked directly at Drew and Alex as he spoke.

"You're not seriously considering ...." Alex began his voice breaking.

Drew stared at him for a moment before looking away "there has to be another way."

"If we work together we can pull it off. We can get that ledger and get Andrew home where he belongs."

"While that monster goes free," Drew cried burying her head on Caleb's shoulder.

Alex didn't take his eyes from his sister while he spoke "what assurance do we have that she'll tell us where the ledger is once she's free? I don't trust her. She's not just going to magically tell us what we need to know."

Caleb looked at his nephew "not to mention what your suggesting is illegal and if we got caught we would all go to jail."

"I've thought of that," Ambrose said peering into Caleb's eyes "all the police will want is a fall guy to take the blame. I'm willing to do that if it means getting Andrew home." He swallowed heard and maybe for the first time he realized the sacrifice his own dad made for  his family. He became the fall guy so that his brother-in-law wouldn't have to go to prison along with him. Strange how different his decision looked when he was the one contemplating it. If he could he'd go back in time and tell him he understood and that he forgave him.

Shaking his head firmly Caleb voiced what everyone else was thinking "absolutely not."

"It's the only way," Ambrose insisted "so quit arguing with me. We're only wasting time."

***

"Ms Jeffries" the young officer began as the old woman let him into her house.

"Come in young man," she smiled "I just made some cookies..."

"No," he started to decline when he heard his captains voice in his head and he smiled "I'd love some cookies."

She smiled as she made up a plate "coffee?" she asked when she handed him a plate of cookies.

"Yes ma'am" he murmured trying to keep his irritation from showing in his voice and manner.

Once she had served him his coffee she sat down opposite him at the small table. She watched him intently as he seemed to enjoy her baking. "How are they?" she couldn't keep from asking.

"Very good ma'am," he said loathing every bite. Molasses cookies his least favorite cookie in the world. He choked them down best he could. When the last one was finished he smiled his thanks as he asked "I'm following up on the call you made into the hot line..."

"Oh that poor sweet boy. His eyes were just pleading with me to help him," the woman went on in great detail of how he was dragged around the convenience store.

"Excuse me ma'am can you describe the man he was with?"

She frowned "youngish but then again just about everyone is young compared to me." She frowned as she tried to conjure up a picture of the man who was with the boy "I'm sorry I didn't " then she smiled suddenly "the man had brown kind of reddish short hair, blue eyes and freckles" she hesitated she had a feeling she was describing the wrong man. Something didn't feel right but the officers kind eyes and gentle manner encouraged her to continue with her inaccurate description. There was something else but she couldn't remember what it was.

The officer closed his note book. This time it was filled with notes regarding the kidnapping suspect. Handing her his card "if you remember anything else don't hesitate to call." He watched her nod wondering how many more times she would be calling him and dreading each one already. 

"I'll do that," she said taking the card from his outstretched hand. Her eyes were troubled as she followed him to the door. She was about to admit she might be wrong about the description when she thought better of it. If she did that he would think she was unreliable and wouldn't come back the next time she called.

After the officer left she looked around her silent house sighing. It had been nice having someone here to share her evening with. She picked up the dishes from the table when her eyes caught the numbers she had written down. That was when she remembered what it was. It was a licence plate number. Why would she have thought that was important?

***

Patricia lay on her bunk alone in her cell. A slight smile played upon her face. Her revenge was almost complete. Ricky would know what it felt like to be helpless in the face of the enemy. He helped his father keep her imprisoned all those years ago. If it weren't for him she could have returned to Robert before that purple haired whore had gotten her claws into him.

She laughed harshly into the silent confines of her cell remembering the horrified expression upon her son's face as she told him the price he would have to pay for the ledger. Her freedom. They'd never get the ledger. Whoever was kidnapped would be dead long before they discovered she no longer had it. Did she care? Not really. She was past caring what happened to the brats she birthed or their spawn. The misery she could still inflict upon them was her sole source of pleasure in this hell hole. She knew she was never getting out and derived great pleasure from knowing they were suffering along with her.

There was a small flicker of recognition that the pleasure she received was all shades of wrong. In a way it was an academic exercise for her to analyze that flicker of guilt and reject it in the end. She had long since given up pretending she was anything but this shell of hate. She enjoyed this small aspect of being in control of their happiness or misery knowing they couldn't do anything about it.

After feeding the kid the man took the rest of the food and threw it away. After three days of eating the same slop he couldn't face it again. He stood on the porch not wanting to go back inside the small cramped cabin. He didn't want to feel the eyes of the small boy watching him. He shouldn't have taken him. He knew that now.

Maybe he should just leave him here. Make an anonymous phone call to the police and leave the area. The boy would be found and returned to his family. But.....it all came back to that ledger. He couldn't go home until he had it. Without it his sister was good as dead. Could he live with himself knowing he had let her down? Let her die. He closed his eyes imagining what she would think of him if she knew he had kidnapped a frightened little kid to save her life and knew she would be disappointed in him. He knew she would think he was no better than the men who took her.

With trembling fingers he took his phone out "papa?"

"Son," came the quick response.

"I don't know what to do papa," he cried "I've failed. Maribel is going to pay for my failure..." he couldn't keep the tears from falling "I'm sorry...."

"Son you haven't failed," Ricky told him in a firm clear loving voice.

"I haven't gotten the ledger" he gulped for air "I've done things I promised I wouldn't do."

"What have you done?" his father held his breath waiting for his son's confession.

"I...I...kidnapped a little kid." he sniffed into the phone wiping tears from his eyes "I threatened his family with violence. You told me to be careful to not become like the people who took Maribel..." he sighed hating himself even more "I'm just like them papa. I don't know what to do..."

"Son listen to me. You made a mistake. That doesn't mean your like them. Your not a bad person," Ricky tried to reassure him as his son's sobs filled his ears "arrange to return the boy in exchange for your freedom."

"What if they won't agree? What if I have to go to jail?" he cried working himself into a dither.

"Trust me they want their child back same as we want Maribel. We'll come up with something else. 

We'll get her back and you'll come home." Ricky said infusing his words with confidence. "Do as I say son."

"Ok papa" after finishing the call he sat on the porch listening to the crickets as they started up a chorus as the day darkened into evening. He peeled himself off the porch and went back inside the house. He knelt in front of the boy. "Kid do you know your phone number?"

Andrew nodded "dddaddy tttaught us."

"Good" he smiled at the boy. He couldn't help but cringe at himself. Who takes a child without making sure he could contact the parents again? Someone who didn't plan on returning the child in the end. His mind shied away from that troubling thought. "Can you show me?" he held the phone out to the boy.

With hands visibly shaking Andrew took the phone keying in the numbers. He held the phone towards the man waiting for him to take it. "Go ahead make the call" the man told him. Hitting send Andrew waited a moment before someone answered.

***

"Andrew" Drew screamed into the phone startling everyone in the room "where are you baby?"

"Mommy the man says I can come home now," Andrew informed her "Please come get me. I don't like it here."

"Where is here baby?" Drew spoke loudly so that everyone could hear as they huddled around the phone she had put on speaker so that they could all hear.

"I...I don't know," they could hear someone rustling around then a man's voice came on the line.

"All I want is time to get out of town. No police" the man spoke in a subdued voice that held a note of fear in it.

"Why the change of heart?" Caleb asked.

"I made a mistake. I thought...I hoped you had the ledger." The man sighed before continuing "I was desperate. Still am but Maribel wouldn't want me to do this. So I'm returning your son for her."

"Please tell us what this all about," Caleb requested "why do you need the ledger so desperately?"

"The ledger contained by grandfather's contacts. The new drug overlord need the information it contains to take over. The bitch stole it when she left. Now the boss is demanding we get it back." There was a pause while the young man gathered his thoughts "I'm sorry I had no choice. It's return the ledger or lose my sister."

At this point Andrew chimed in from the background "please daddy help him. His sister is in a lot of trouble. I heard her crying and screaming because the bad men were hurting her. You can help can't you daddy?"

Author's Note: For more information on Ambrose Gray and Caleb Gray read A Graying World both were created by legendofsim. It's an awesome story and well worth the read. 

3.22 The Price of Freedom

Staring after the disappearing tail lights the older woman shook her head. She couldn't get the frightened grey eyes out of her mind of that little boy. Had she done the right thing? It was late and the kid could have been just tired. What if she had been wrong? That young man could have been his daddy. Not everyone gave off warm fuzzies when dealing with children, even some parents.

When the police officer walked into the convenience store she sighed with relief. It was better to report a possible child abduction then to live with the guilt of having done nothing when the kid's face stared back at her from a missing poster in Simart. The boy never said a word to her, it was his eyes that pleaded with her to help him. For better or worse she had let that belief carry her to the phone and call the police.

"Ma'am," the officer said turning toward her with a reassuring smile "did you report a possible kidnapping?"

"Yes I did" she breathed in deeply "I could be wrong but I'd swear that little boy needs help."

Nodding the officer took out his notepad his pen poised to write done anything of importance the woman told him. So far the page was blank indicating how much of a waste of time he thought this was as the woman jabbered on. He glanced over at his partner who gave him a smirk before walking away no doubt in search of donuts. Sighing he tried to reign in his irritation as he tried to listen to the rather plump old woman. She seemed to have genuine concern for the boy but so far she wasn't giving him anything to work with. As he stared at her he formed an opinion that she was letting her imagination runaway with her. His shoulders slumped as he closed his notepad on a half drawn doodle as the woman repeated how the kids grey eyes cried out for help, sure they did he thought.

***

Swallowing hard Alex looked at the foreboding building. The building where the woman who killed his dad resided within those walls. The woman who gave birth to him....the woman who used to go by the name of mom. He felt the tremors as his body shook with a cold, silent hate. He never wanted to see that woman again. He watched her kill his dad in cold blood then turn the gun on his step mom. The only mother he ever knew. He lost the two most important people in his life. Now he was being forced to relive it and face the monster who did it.

He jumped when he felt a soft feathery touch on his arm. Looking down he found Lexi looking up at him, concern in her deep purple eyes. "You don't have to do this," she said. "We can go back. We'll find another way."

A part of him wanted to give in as she suggested. He dragged his gaze back to the bleak overcast skies and the barb wire fence surrounding the high security prison. His worst nightmare awaited him inside. Swallowing past the bile that rose in his throat he squeezed Lexi's hand in his, he had to try. He wouldn't be able to look at his sister again knowing he could have done something but hadn't. "I have to do this," he pulled Lexi to his side "you know I have to do this."

"I know" she leaned into him "that's why I'm coming with you."

"Over my dead body" he said gripping her arms staring into her eyes heart pounding in his ears.

"Alex" she shouted at him "you're hurting me."

His response was immediate dropping his hands to his side, head hanging "I'm sorry I...I" he swallowed as his throat closed choking off his words.

Lifting his chin with her fingers she shook her head "don't....I know it's that woman. You didn't sleep at all last night because of what she did." Taking his face between her palms she brought her mouth to his kissing him firmly. "Don't let her make you doubt yourself. You're better then this better then her. I'm here for you. I'm not leaving you to do this by yourself."

He looked into her eyes letting her gaze calm him as her words soothed his soul "thank you," he said when he trusted himself to speak. "I love you but I can't put you through this."

"I'm not asking," she told him in a no nonsense tone "I'm telling you I'm coming with you."

"What if they won't let you in?" his queried turning to stare into the distance at the prison doors.

"They will. I asked" she laughed at his bewildered expression "I'm your wife. I'm family."

Pulling her against him he sighed "let's get this over with..."

***

Caleb watched his nephew paced the small room his frustration keeping him from sitting still. "Ambrose sit down" he demanded unable to keep his aggravation under control.

Shocked Ambrose stopped in mid stride "how can you be so calm about this?" he asked as he threw himself into a chair.

"I'm not" Caleb said biting his tongue trying to hold back the bitterness, the fear, the helplessness as he lay in this hospital bed while his son was who knew where. "Don't you think I want to be out there searching for my son? I want to hold him in my arms and know he's alright. I want to tell my wife everything will be alright and I can't." Running his hand through his thick pink hair his hands balling into fists pulling "what good am I doing in here? I can't do anything. I should have been able to protect my family and I couldn't...."

"No you're wrong," Ambrose sat up looking at the man he considered more of a father then his own ever was. It hurt to see him like this "this isn't your fault." He grabbed Caleb's wrists pulling his hands from his hair "how were you supposed to know the guards had been drugged? Fast asleep on the floor downstairs." Maybe for the first time he saw his Uncle as a human with insecurities and short comings "you did everything you could. Sometimes bad things just happen."

"Bad things happen all the freaking time to me. Every time I finally get something good my world falls apart." He pulled his hands from Ambrose to rake them through his hair again. Turning wild red rimmed eyes up he asked "is there some unwritten cosmic universal law that says shit is coming send it to Caleb Gray?"

"You're not the only one hurting here," her voice caused both pink haired man to jump up startled 

"I've had more than my fair share of heartache and tragedy. Don't you think I want to scream at the universe at the unfairness of it all? We've both lost people we care about but I'm not ready to give up hope yet."

Drew and Caleb stared at each other a silent battle of wills taking place between them. Ambrose stood up backing away towards the door "well uh I'll be going then I'll be back later." He looked uncertainly between the two before backing out the door.

***

A rough hand shook Andrew awake. "Rise and shine kid," the man's gruff voice said in his ear.

Opening his grey eyes he found the man leaning uncomfortably close "when can I go home?" His eyes opened wide as he clapped a hand across his mouth to keep from saying anything else that might anger the man. He flinched when the man put a hand out to grab his arm pulling him from the car.

"You know kid I'm getting tired of you asking me that." The man shook him like a rag doll by the arm he grabbed. "You'll go home when I get what I want."

It was on the tip of Andrew's tongue to ask what that was but he resisted the urge fearing he would anger the man even more then he already had. His cheek was still sore and swollen from where the man had hit him the day before when he couldn't stop crying. The man began to walking away from the car through the thick woods. Andrew had no choice but to follow as the man gripped his arm forcing him to come with him.

***

The man half dragged the boy through the words heedless of the boys shorter legs and near exhaustion. He should have taken the woman and not this frail boy as a hostage. At least with the woman he could have had some fun. Now he had to put up with the boys sniffling and incessant crying. He couldn't stand the noise and had wound smacking the boy hard across the face. The kids face was a bruised and swollen testament to how hard he had hit him.

He felt a pang of regret afterwards but he had to get that ledger back. He couldn't allow himself to become distracted with niceties he couldn't afford. The ledger held key information, contact names and numbers. All the things his grandfather had known by heart. Once the old man had died they didn't know anything. That was when they discovered the theft of the ledger. The only person who could have taken it was that woman. The woman who donated her DNA to him. She was his mother but he refused to dignify her with that title.

He had no feelings for the woman. He had vague memories of her leaving him screaming in his crib in wet soggy diapers or the times his stomach hurt so bad from not being fed for too many hours or days. He didn't miss her when she was gone. He was better off with his two dads. If she hadn't taken the ledger she would have remained an unpleasant memory. Now she was causing him and his family more pain. His dad wanted out of the drug  business but the only way out was to give the successor the ledger. 

Grandfather's chosen successor was even worse then the old man had been. He moved quickly taking his older sister hostage. His ultimatum the ledger for his sisters life. Returning without the ledger meant a slow agonizing death for his sister. He couldn't let that happen. He had to get that ledger if it was the last thing he did. If that meant kidnapping a scared little kid then that's what he had to do. He tried not to think about what that made him. He had no choice.

***

After her shift ended Marie Jeffries went home. She told everyone about the little boy she saw at the beginning of her shift. He was so scared and his eyes pleading for help. Each time she told it she expanded on the details growing more wild and unbelievable each time. She knew she came across as a needy attention seeking old woman. The young officer who took her statement all but yawned in her face when she was telling him what she observed. But she knew she was right. That boy needed help.

Heating up the left over stew she made the night before she sat down and wrote the numbers she kept seeing in her head. Why were those numbers significant? She thought at first they were the lottery numbers she always played but there were letters mixed in with the numbers. She had a funny feeling it was important. She just didn't know why.

Taking the stew from the stove she made up a tray to carry into the living room where she turned on the ancient TV set. She remembered the day she bought it and how proud she was of the accomplishment. She looked around the room  filled with books, pictures and knick knacks she smiled. It wasn't a lot but she was content even if at times she was lonely and wished she had someone to share her remaining years with.

The picture of a little boy with grey eyes caught her attention. Her breath caught in her throat as she pointed towards the TV. "That's him. That's the boy I saw." She grabbed the phone that was nearly as old as the TV and dialed the number on the screen.

***

"Why didn't you make out a report of this siting?" the captain almost shouted at the young officer.

"I thought it was the confused ramblings of a lonely old woman starving for attention. How was I supposed to know she had actually seen the missing kid?" The young man cringed before the icy stare of his captain.

The captain berated the man's lack of intelligence along with his poor performance as an officer. As his words came to a close he said "thanks to you we lost several valuable hours. Get over to that woman's house and see if she can remember anything useful and for your sake I hope she does. If that kid winds up dead because of this you're head is on the chopping block."

"Yes sir" the officer said groaning inside as he turned to leave. His captain's voice halted him with a hand on the doorknob "Uh Dave if she wants to bake you cookies and tell you bedtime stories you let her. Don't come back until you have something we can use to find that kid."

Nodding in acknowledgement he heard the captain laughing as he closed the door behind him. It would be his luck that the batty old woman would have a TV. Why the captain was putting any stock into the ramblings of an attention starved old woman was beyond him. He walked over to his partner ready to complain about the injustice of it all. "Looks like you screwed up" the older man said snorting into his coffee.

"She's just a delusional old woman," he complained "I don't understand what the big deal is."

"Haven't you been listening to your radio boy?" his partner shoo his head at him in disgust "You need to be observant at all times. That batty old woman you spoke to earlier claims to have seen Caleb Gray's missing son who was kidnapped from his home last night. We have to follow up on all our leads even the crazy ones."

"If you knew about this why didn't you tell me?" he felt like slapping the sneering face from the man. 

"How could I?" the man laughed "you were to busy being self-important to listen. You better get your ass over to that old windbag before the captain sees you hanging around here."

"Aren't you coming?"

"You made this mess you clean it up," the man said sitting down laughing as the boy flushed crimson leaving the building.

***

Alex gripped Lexi's hand under the table. He tried to concentrate on breathing while the older woman stared stonily back at him. "What do you want?" her words dripped in sarcasm and hate.

"What no hi how are you?" Lexi asked feeling Alex hand grip hers when the woman spoke for the first time. She felt his entire body tense at the the sound of the woman's voice.

"Don't make me laugh," she glared at Lexi "I don't want you here. Leave" she demanded pointing to the exit.

"I don't care what you want," Lexi retorted.

Turning her attention to Alex. Patricia's eye's narrowed "I see the apple didn't fall far from the tree. What's the matter boy? Miss step mommy so much you had to marry your own purple haired demon yourself."

Alex glared at the woman "don't talk about my mom or wife like that."

Giving him a self-satisfied smile she said "so you can talk. Why are you here?"

"What did you take from the drug cartel?" Alex asked tiring of looking at the hateful woman.

Her laughter filled the room "I was wondering when they'd notice it was gone. The old man must be dead....good."

"No not good," Alex shouted pounding a fist into the table causing Lexi to jump.

Patricia's eyes became calculating little slits "let me guess they sent one of their goons to get it back." She sat back enjoying toying with him "I'll never tell you where it is."

"It means a little boys life," he shouted in frustration.

"Does it look like I care?" She gave him a hard cold stare "I didn't care about you or the other brats when I killed your daddy and his whore."

"What's wrong with you?" he asked unable to comprehend what happened to the woman his dad at one time loved enough to go into hiding for.

"What's wrong with me?" she asked sounding offended "better question is what's wrong with you? Can't you see I'm free of the shackles of society and having to pretend to care?" She leaned over the table "I'll tell you a little secret. I don't care. I don't care about you, your siblings or your kids. If you want the ledger you'll have to be willing to give me what I want."

Desperation made him ask "what do you want you evil vile woman?"

"My freedom," she stood up moving towards the guard her shackles clanging as she moved "My freedom for the ledger."

***

Drew jumped when her phone rang in the quiet confines of Caleb's hospital room. Looking at the screen heart leaping in her throat she looked at Caleb saying "it's Alex."

Caleb sat up watching her face fall in disappointment. The despair overwhelming. He reached a  hand out grabbing hold of her free hand. When the call was done the phone slipped from her fingers "Drew honey what is it?"

"She won't tell us where it is" she cried "she's a cold heartless bitch who would rather see us suffer then to help. I should have known she wouldn't help us..."

"There has to be something she wants" Caleb said "whatever it is we can all pull together to get it done."

Tossing her head back and forth sobbing "what she wants is impossible."

"Drew tell me what she wants" he grabbed her hands pulling her close as she dissolved into tears. He knew whatever it was was devastating or Drew wouldn't be so hysterical.

"She....she...wants.....out" she sobbed.

"Out? Out of where?" he asked not comprehending the magnitude of her request. 

Stunned by his question Drew stared at him "out as in out of prison. She wants her freedom." She started to cry again "what are we supposed to do now? Break her out of prison?"

When the full impact of her words sank in Caleb couldn't tell who was clinging to whom anymore. It felt like they were sinking fast into quicksand with no way out.