Damned plot bunnies.
Riley dissapeared into the mall, Abi on the other end. As he turned to duck into a bookstore Shaw grabbed a hold of him.
"Going somewhere?" Shaw hissed. He gulped.
Shaw's gun was in his pocket and placed it against Riley's side.
"Where is she?"
"I dunno," Riley quickly lied. "We got...seperated."
"Where's the map?"
"I don't have it, I swear," Riley said quickly.
"Come with me, Ian's gonna want to talk to you," Shaw sneered.
Riley nodded and swallowed. Shaw used his cell then.
"I have the kid, Riley."
"Does he have the map?"
"No but we can use him as a bargaining chip."
"Well done Shaw," Ian said, sounding impressed. "Well done. Meet me at the van."
Abby rushed breathlessly to the font of the mall where Ben was waiting for her.
"You still have the map," he sighed and she nodded.
"Where's Riley?"
"What? He was with you!"
"We got seperated!" Abigail cried out "I thought he found you..."
Ben cursed.
"Damn it Riley!"
Ian's lips curled into a smile and stared at Riley.
"Hello Mr. Poole. It's a pleasure to see you again."
"I wish I could say the same," Riley growled and Phil gave a hash laugh. The other one grinned.
"Get in the van," said Ian. "And hand me your cell."
Riley did so, unhappily.
"Let's call your old friend, Ben, shall way?"
Shaw's gun continued to point at Riley. Shaw gave a sinister grin at him. Riley shuddered. He had a bad feeling about Shaw.
Ben breathed a sigh of relief when he saw the ID.
"It's Riley," he told Abigail, who nodded with relief.
"Riley, where are you?"
"Hello Ben, having fun yet?"
Ben froze. Ian.
"Ian," he hissed and Abby looked at him, stunned, her face filled with horror.
"Where's...where's Riley? How did you get his cell?"
"Oh he's right here, and he's all right. Say hello, Riley."
"Hey Ben." Ben sighed when he heard Riley's voice.
"Are you hurt?" He asked.
"No," Riley answered. "And I'm sorry, Ben, I really am."
"Don't be," Ben assured him.
"What do you want, Ian?" He asked, even though he already knew the answer.
"I want the map."
Ben closed his eyes.
Ian nodded to Shaw who hit Riley directly in the chest.
Riley let out a sharp yell as the as the pain was more intense then he had anticipated.
Ben let out a curse.
"Damn it, Ian!"
"The map," Ian growled. "Or your annoying little friend dies."
Ben sighed.
"Fine," he said helplessly. "You can have the map."
Ian nodded.
"That's good, Ben. Cooperation is what's going to save Riley's life."
Quickly Ian gave Ben directions on where to meet.
"You got all that, Ben?"
"Yes and if you lay one more hand on Riley..."
"I swear, I won't touch the kid if you bring me the map. That's all I want."
Ben knew he couldn't trust Ian but he also knew he couldn't say no.
He hung up the phone and stared at Abby, grim faced.
"They have Riley."
She nodded, tears were in her eyes.
"We have to give him the map or they'll kill him."
For once she didn't protest and nodded again. They quickly headed to the car and prayed that Ian was a man of his word and wouldn't hurt Riley...if anything happened to the kid because of this Ben would never forgive himself. Ever.