This story is like my "72 Hour" story. Just a retelling of the episode except I'm breaking it up into several chapters this time. I realized after posting my other story that a 12,000+ one chapter story must be intimidating to read :) so this time you'll be able to read it in pieces but you'll also have to wait for the other chapters.

Try

Sarah Linden couldn't recall the last time she ever felt so scared in her life. For the first time ever she felt the sensation of her life flashing right before her eyes. In ten long seconds she saw and re-experienced every significant moment of her life up until now. But when it was over, she was still alive. The coolness of the sharp knife prickled against her esophagus, and she only vaguely recalled that the person sitting in the back seat holding the knife had ordered her to start driving.

It felt like an eternity but in reality after about 20 seconds she finally found her voice. "Easy, easy…" Sarah whispered the fear clearly evident in her voice. "Just a…" her voice trailed off, unsure of what to say. How do you negotiate with someone who's got a knife at your throat?

"Where's you gun?" the man in the back spoke again. This time Sarah recognized the voice as being Pastor Mike. Everything suddenly made sense, it was all a trap… finding his car. He wanted them to find it, make a decoy so that they would search the trains for him while he snuck into her car and waited. But what did he want with her?

It wasn't the time to be asking such questions. She had learned long ago that in a hostage situation you stay alive by doing exactly what the abductor says. She certainly didn't want to tell him where her gun was, as that was all she had to defend herself with. Nonetheless she was in no position to argue. "It's on my right hip, under my jacket."

Pastor Mike started making moves to grab her weapon which made the knife shift over the delicate skin of her throat, and Sarah's body tensed up even more as she gave a small gasp. She felt his free hand snake its way down her right side. She lifted her arm up slightly allowing him easier access, showing that she was not going to fight this and he didn't need to make any rash moves. His hand slipped into the inside of her jacket, and she felt her gun slide out of its holster. She was now completely defenseless, so he should take the knife away from her throat now right?

"And your phone? Your radio?"

No not yet. It was apparent that he was not going to take that knife away until he had every form of defense she had. "I don't have a radio," Sarah lied as her radio was actually on the seat next to her. "My phone is in my other jacket pocket," she continued saying each word slowly. His hand slide in-between the seat and her car door, and she raised her other arm so he could take the phone out of her pocket. Sarah had decided to take a chance, lying to him about het radio. If he took everything away from her, it would be hours before anyone noticed that she was missing. And if the killer was currently sitting behind her right now, she could very well be dead by that time. That radio was her only chance for survival right now. There was more of chance he would believe that she didn't have a radio then a lie along the lines of not having her phone on her. As long as he was unaware of the radio, he would never know.

Once Pastor Mike had her phone back with him, he slowly drew the knife away from her throat. Sarah's body relaxed ever so slightly, yes her gun was now in the hands of a possible serial killer psychopath, but at least her gullet wasn't going to get sliced if she moved the wrong way. Her eyes, which had been staring intently at the rear view mirror trying to see exactly what Pastor Mike was doing, looked toward her fellow police officers several yards away. If only they looked over at her car, maybe they would see someone was in her back seat.

It was horrible feeling so trapped and powerless. Help was mere feet from her position; it would be so easy to get their attention. All she would have to do is honk her horn or something. The soft clinking of the gun being shifted in the pastors hands, reminded Sarah that her life could be over in flash if she was not careful. Though she couldn't exactly see it, she had the dreadful feeling that the gun was being pointed right at her. "Put on your seat belt," Pastor Mike's low voice chilled the air again.

Sarah slowly reached her arm back and grabbed the seat belt, with her other hand she secretly picked up her radio and placed it under her leg. She had to time this perfectly. She pulled the seat belt over her shoulder and at the same time of clicking the belt in place she turned her radio onto open mike. Sarah desperately hoped that Pastor Mike didn't notice the second click; she thought that she had timed it well, but she herself did hear two clicks. Her eyes looked as far as they could toward her left; the desire to look behind her was almost unbearable. "Let's go," Pastor Mikes disembodied voice whispered.

It sounded like he didn't notice, which was somewhat a relief. "Where do you want to go?" Sarah asked.

"Away from the lights."

This took away any hope of driving by the scene that lay in front of her and trying to signal to one of her co-workers. He was going to make sure she drove far away from anyone that could help her now. Her only hope was that her radio signal would be picked up. Sarah put her car key into the ignition and started the vehicle, while in the back Pastor Mike leaned back against the seat. This would be the beginning of a long night.

Opening Credits

Sarah was now driving along the back roads of the city where fewer cars were driving. It had been silent for several long tense moments, her radio was still on open mike but it wasn't going to help her if things stayed silent. "Your car at the station, you wanted us to find it?" she broke the icy silence. Conversing with her abductor would not only signal those who may be listening over the radio, but may delay her death long enough for help to arrive.

"You think I wanted this?" Pastor Mike asked, it wasn't a taught, it sounded like a very sincere question.

Sarah met his eyes through the rearview mirror. He was probably about to try and pass off some story about his innocents. She wouldn't buy it however; it was all way two obvious to her. He leaves his bloody car at the train station to make it look like he escaped on a train, while in the meantime he sneaks into her car and abducts her. These are not actions of an innocent man, "You could have gotten on a train."

"And go where?" it sounded like another sincere question. She had to admit that he sounded pretty convincing. "Tell me?" he asked then paused for a second, but didn't allow her time to really answer. "Everything I had is here and now it's gone. I didn't plan anything, I-"

"Things happen," Sarah started on her first defense, trying to be understanding toward her abductor. Letting him know that she understands what's happening. "Things can get really out of control, but I can help you."

"Did you want to help me when I was minding my own business?" Pastor Mike asked sounding almost menacing, and then once again answered his own question. "No…" Sarah saw his eyes look at her reflection in the rearview mirror and glare. "You show up on my doorstep and stick that badge in my face, and you have the audacity to question my intentions… Treat me like I'm some kind of a pervert- why? Because I help kids? I do what no one else wants to do, deigns to do. And I end up with a target on my back for it."

Sarah remained quiet during his accusation, taking her eyes off the road every few seconds to look at the Pastors eyes. Those eyes kept there threatening glare at her. Where those eyes going to be the last thing she ever saw, just like all those girls. Was this what they felt like in there last moments?

"Hey!" someone on the street suddenly shouted, and this was followed by the sound of something made of glass breaking into little pieces. This drew Sarah's attention back to the streets. They were passing a run down area of town where many of the run away kids mingled around. These were the kids that were in danger right now, with the serial killer still out there. She was started to doubt that he was sitting in her back seat. I still didn't answer the question of what Pastor Mike wanted with her.

"These kids are in so much pain. If only you could see what's going on inside of them, you have no idea… but I see them."

Sarah looked at him through the rearview mirror again. His eyes looked longingly out the window. But it didn't look malicious, more like he was aching for something. It was quickly becoming apparent that her first thought on Pastor Mike may have been wrong. He certainly wasn't acting like someone who wanted to rape young girls senseless then decapitate them. But he was still pointing a gun at her, was he that good at acting. Or maybe he was trapped, and doing this out of desperation.

The car was now approaching a stop light and there was another car stopped at the light on the other street facing there direction. Sarah slowed down to stop at the light, and as they got closer she realized it was a police car. As the car slowed to a stop, she would admit that the thought of somehow signaling them did cross her mind. But before she could even come up with a possible idea that wouldn't get her shot, the shoulder strap of her seat belt tighten over her chest and she felt the head of her gun being pressed into her kidney. "Don't move," Pastor Mike ordered threateningly.

"Ok you don't need to point the gun at me," Sarah gasped her voice breathy with fear.

"Shut up," he hissed at her.

Several tense moments went by. Pastor Mike did not remove the gun, it stayed pressed against her side as the reminder that she was not in the upper hand in this situation. Even though she was in control of the car, one wrong move would end her life. Sarah stared at the police car; it was too dark to tell who was inside. Both cars just sat there on either street, neither doing anything. Why wasn't the other car moving, did they see something suspicious? Or maybe her radio had already alerted the police of her situation and whoever was driving recognized her vehicle. What would Pastor Mike do if the car pulled over and came up to them? Would he do something rash and just shoot her? She didn't have to think about this terrifying thought for very long. The cars sirens blared for a moment and then drove forward. Their light turned green and Pastor Mike didn't waste any time, "Go- go!"

Sarah put her foot on the gas moving the car forward. She glanced over at the police car as it went by; another opportunity for rescue had passed. Pastor Mike seemed to know exactly what to do keep her in his power, and stop any chances of her signaling for help. She was really starting to doubt her chances of surviving this night.

Bullet strolled through the crowded police station. Something big must be happening because everyone was running like chickens with their heads cut off. She heard an announcement over the stations P.A. "All units report of king street station, we need all units…"

An officer shouldered her in passing, "Watch it dick," she called over her shoulder at him then continued walking. She fingered with the chain around her neck nervously. Where was that vegetable loving detective "Bugs"? She needed his help quick. Lyric had been at Pastor Mike's house, now the police are swarming the house with both of them missing. She was kicking herself for tipping off Pastor Mike about the police looking into him. It just seemed crazy that they would think he was the killer, and she didn't think anything of it. Now Pastor Mike's gone with Lyric and probably about to go do to her what he did to all the other girls.

The sound of Holder's voice hit her ears and Bullet quickly swung around. He was coming through the entrance door, talking on the phone not sounding too happy with whoever he was talking to "Pick up your damn phone all right."

"Hey!" she called running toward him.

He ignored her continuing to talk on his phone, while making his way down the hallway. "Skinner's got every uni in the city on rout."

"What the hell?" Bullet asked walking backward to keep in front of him. "I've been calling you all night; you don't answer you calls, what's wrong with you?"

"I'm a bit caught up right now," Holder told her offhandedly. He was obviously very distracted right now and didn't care what she had to say. But Lyric was in the hands of the killer right now, she needed him to listen to her.

She jogged to keep up with his strides. He continued ranting on the phone, "Look, between the twelve trains that left the station we got eyeball about sixteen hundred people."

Becoming desperate to get him to listen to her, Bullet jumped in front of Holder forcing him to stop. "Lyric is gone!"

That certainly got his attention. He finally stopped, lowering the phone from his ear, and actually took a moment to listen to her. "Wa- What are you talking about?"

"Pastor Mike took her!"

"What?"

It appeared that this carrot loving, stretched out white rabbit, was going to be slow to catch up. Bullet looked away for a second frustration building inside of her. Every minute they spend here talking about what's happening could be a minute too late. "He made Lyric go to his house; he wouldn't let her stay at Beacon."

"When?"

"Tonight. She called me all scared saying that he was trying to kill her," ok maybe that wasn't necessarily true but she needed to get there butts into gear.

"Where'd they go?" Holder asked seriously, finally she had gotten his full attention. Now she was in the position where she could convinced them to search wherever she wanted. "Think Bullet," He continued. "Did she say where they were going?"

Bullet thought hard. Where would Pastor Mike take Lyric? She needed to send them to the most likely place where Lyric is. If Pastor Mike really was the killer he'd eventually go to where all the other bodies were dumped. "The woods," she finally settled on on. "She said he's taking her to where he killed all the other girls." Holder nodded in understanding and walked past her, obviously going to share this information.

Lt James Skinner was certainly skeptic of this new information given. Holder had come in announcing that his confidential informant had given him information about the Pastor's whereabouts. The story didn't make a whole lot of sense though, "The woods we found the bodies in?" his voice was etched with skepticism. "When did you CI get this?"

"Around eight," Holder replied with confidence. He stood in front of him tall with his arms crossed over his chest, obviously not going to budge. "That's when she said she got the call, right before we hit the house."

"So his car at the train station was some kind of decoy?" James asked with an air of doubt. Holder had been using this same CI for almost a month, and the information had proved to be correct so far. But this just didn't make any sense; there was no logical reason for the Pastor to go back to the woods, especially if he is the killer. A killer returning to the scene of the crime when its already been found by police, you'd have to be mental.

"Could be," Holder's voice weakened a bit with an air of hesitancy, at least he seemed to agree that that story sounded fishy. He still shrugged looking behind him at Reddick who was standing at the door listening to them also looking doubtful.

"Is the pastor that smart, that's some of spy vs. spy shit?" Reddick asked.

"Well he'd have to be some kind of idiot to go back into those woods," James said, deciding that he wasn't going to buy this. They needed to flag down those trains, and didn't have enough men to be able to thoroughly search the trains and the park at the same time. It just wasn't going to work.

Holder refused to let it go however. "That's what she said Lu," he insisted.

"We're already spread thin, searching those trains. Now you full search on a four mile park?" James asked thinking that maybe if he pointed out what adding another search could do the investigation might put some sense into him.

"Yeah."

James scoffed looking down. Holder must have really trusted this CI to work so hard to get this search going. He had to ask anyway though, "You trust this CI?"

"No doubt sir," Holder replied without any hesitancy.

This is what put James over. He was going to give in, and trust that Holder knew what he was talking about. He nodded his head, "Pull half our guys get them to the park."

"Okay," Holder replied pulling out his phone and started to leave the room.

"I'll call in air support," James continued picking up the phone and started dialing. "Where's Linden?" The girl suddenly came to mind; he hadn't seen or heard from her in a couple hours. Did she punch out or something? What a time to start doing what normal cops do, and clocking out at the end of the day.

Holder turned around just long enough to say, "I don't know," raising a hand in the air, then leaving the room with Reddick following.

"Well get her in!" Skinner called not trying to hide the annoyance in his voice. "We need all hands on deck."

Sarah and Pastor Mike were still driving aimlessly around the city. By now Sarah had relaxed somewhat. They had been driving around for almost an hour, and Pastor Mike had yet to take her to any type of destination. She had spent the entire time making conversation with the pastor and dropping subtle hints of there location for anyone who may be listening to her radio. She was starting to feel that little itch you get when she needed to satisfy her nicotine fix, and with the added stress of being abducted she was seriously debating on just lighting up a stick. Though considering her abductor had her loaded gun, it was probably better to at least ask first. "If we're going to drive around all night, do you mind if I have a cigarette?"

"Yes I do, your car already smells like an ash tray," Pastor Mike quickly replied. Well if he didn't like how her car smelled, he certainly didn't have to stay in it. In fact he has no right to complain about her own car.

What got her the most was that she had mistakingly started to believe that Pastor Mike was starting to soften towards her. Maybe when they were both comfortable enough she could convince him to let her go. Make some sort of a deal with him, like she wouldn't press charges or keep him from jail time if he let her go. Considering that he wouldn't even let her have a smoke in her own car meant that she needed to start another strategy. Try and relate to your abductor. "I do understand your work. I grew up in foster care," she explained looking at his eyes through the rearview mirror. She couldn't help but do it every couple of seconds. It was so unnerving, that fact that she could only see his eyes, and hear his disembodied voice. This was exactly how all those victims of the Pied Piper felt. "Bounced around to different homes, different schools, even ran away a few times," she continued taking another glace at his cold reflection in the mirror. "You want to know what the worst part was? Pity. People paint of picture of you in their heads, and they don't… see you. Who you really are."

This was another one of those rare moments when she shared anything from her past in foster care. She never liked talking about it, those memories were very painful. It was interesting the people she seemed to share it with. Sure she and Holder had a pretty close bond now, but on that day all those years ago when they were searching for Jack, she had barely known him. Yet she shared with him those frustrations she felt about finding the light switch. Now she was sharing with her possible killer. He should understand though, he even admitted that the system was 'broken'. She was once in that system.

"That's what they taught you I supposed," Pastor Mike's low voice ghosted through the air again. There was a long pause before he continued, "Humanize yourself so the abductor won't kill you." Another pause, "…It won't work." He might as well should have just slapped her. It seemed like relating to the Pastor was not going to work, he must have seen this move before. With his other victims probably. A part of her knew that she wasn't going to survive this.

TBC

Hope you enjoyed. And seriously if anyone thinks its boring let me know. Why waste my time writing it if no one wants to read it :)