Robert woke with the worst headache he had had in quite a while, hearing the distinct sound of an airplane motor in the background. He tried to rub his face only to find his hands cuffed to his seat. As he raised his head, he was shocked to see Holly in the seat facing with a gun trained on him. The last time he had seen her was when he walked away from her after discovering her recently found son was not his, but Luke's. "The letch," he thought. He couldn't understand how she could betray their love for one another. Sure, they were having problems when he left for Washington those many years ago, but they had always managed to work through their differences because their love for each other was so strong. To find that she had a fling with Luke, of all people, who was supposedly still deeply in love with Laura, cut him to the core.
"Holly, what is this? Where are we going? How did you get me on this plane? I know you're not strong enough to move me yourself. Who have you conned now?" He registered the fact that they were in a small private plane, and then looked again at the handcuffs that bound him to his seat. Light dawned. He knew only one other person that could pilot a small engine plane and be susceptible to Holly's charms. "Mac." He remembered meeting his younger brother at the Outback for drinks last night. Blast it! He must have slipped him a mickey. He promised himself his brother would pay. "Don't blame him. I needed someone I could trust and understand that my gut feeling could actually be a possibility." "Gut feeling about what? Possibility of what?" The change of the motor sound alerted them both that the plane was nearing its destination, and they both looked out the window. As they did, Robert noticed a look of fear and despair rapidly pass across her face and disappear just as quickly. The look that replaced it was one of determination. It was a look with which he was all too familiar. He'd seen that look every time she was determined to involve herself in one of his cases which he felt was too dangerous. If truth be told, he felt that way about all his cases. Following the direction of her gaze, he noticed they were approaching what he could only describe as a fortress. He shivered and shook off a strange sensation of déjà vu. Looking across at Holly, he noticed she seemed to be experiencing the same feeling as he heard her breath catch in her throat. As the plane descended, he asked in a gentler voice, although he was still angry, "Could you tell me now what this is all about?" Holly still said nothing, as Mac entered from the cockpit.
"Well, big brother, it seems you have decided to join us." He knew he would probably be decked as soon as he took off the cuffs. "Keep that weapon trained on him, Holly, or you'll never get a chance to get your questions answered." It was then Robert noticed Holly also held a can of mace in her other hand. He had no doubt she wouldn't hesitate to use it, even on him. Even so, as soon as Mac uncuffed his left hand, Robert took a swing at him. Expecting this, Mac ducked, then punched him in the stomach just hard enough to knock the wind out of him, then quickly cuffed his hands together in front of him and handed Holly the key, which she deposited down the front of her blouse, smiling coyly at Robert, daring him to try to retrieve it. "Are you sure you can handle him from here?" Mac asked, clearly fearing for her safety after seeing the look of anger directed at him from his brother. "I'm sure." She wasn't at all sure, but she truly believed Robert wouldn't hurt her. Mac helped Robert exit the plane with Holly following. "I'll be back to pick you up at 6:00. Are you sure you'll have convinced him to listen to you by then?" "If not, I guess we'll just have to spend the night here," she said as she handed Mac the gun she still held. Inwardly, Holly shuddered at the thought. Judging by Robert's expression, he did too. "Robbie, give her a chance to explain this," Mac admonished his brother before he climbed back into the cockpit and flew off.