According to Ford's watch, Fiddleford pulled up in is brown truck at 9:16. The engineer pulled up next to the Diablo and got out with the personal computer in his hand, looking more like a metal suitcase in the dimly-lit parking lot with nothing but the red-lights, the lamp-posts, and the rental-store for sources of light.

"Ford! Is it true? Is she…"

"We have no idea where she is." Ford said with a cracked voice and he ran a hand through his fluffy brown hair. "Her bike's here, but there's no sign of her. She's gone…" Ford bit his lip and shut his eyes tight to try to ease the stinging.

Fiddleford looked at his best friend sympathetically. He couldn't imagine the fear that was gripping Ford like a dragon's claw. If his own wife had gone missing… the idea alone formed a knot in Fiddleford's throat the size of a golf ball. He pulled out a cord from his suit-jacket and then turned to the red-light. He saw the two cameras Stan had seen earlier and he knew just what to do.

"Stan, can ya pick that box for me?" Fiddleford asked as he plugged the cord into his personal computer. "I need t'get in it t'have access to the cameras."

Stan pulled out a small wire from his pocket, a habit he had that was almost as old as he was, and he picked the lock to the control box below the red-light. Fiddleford followed him and so did Ford. When the little metal door swung open with a moan, Fiddleford pulled out a tiny screwdriver and began to mess with the control-panels for the cameras. He soon had each Pines twin peering over his shoulders, one on each side.

"There is no proven correlation between physical proximity n' promptness o'result."

Ford stood up straight and took a half-a-step back, meanwhile Stan was stumped.

"What?"

"Fiddleford can't work any faster with us looking over his shoulders."

Stan backed off. "Oh."

Fiddleford sat cross-legged on the pavement and turned on his personal-computer. He typed in the password, and he was granted access to his invention. Ford and Stan looked at what their friend was doing and soon a view of the four-way from the camera was on the screen.

"Now, what time did she get here?"

"After 7:34." Stan answered, remembering the time they had on her receipt from the bar.

"Alright." Fiddleford set the time for 7:34 and moved the camera to the one pointed at the parking-lot. Fiddleford then had the video playing forward fast and they watched all the people that came and left the lot. "Now we just gotta find her n' follow her. I have access to all the cameras in Gravity Falls, so we can use the traffic cameras to follow her."

Ford started at his friend for going above and beyond. "You're a genius."

"Maybe now you'll think twice before insultin' my computer, huh?" Fiddleford joked, and Ford opened his mouth to point out that he hadn't made fun of the computer in months, but Stan spoke first.

"Stop, stop! That's her!"

Fiddleford had the video play at normal speed and they watched as Hephzie parked the motorcycle and went inside the store. A dark-blue car parked as well, but no one got out of it. The three men then watched as Hephzie came out the movie-rental a few minutes later and was then followed by someone who came out of the car. Before Hephzie could turn, just before she reached her bike, someone used her natural snooze button and hit her over the head. Stan growled and Ford's fists clenched when Hephzie fell to the pavement and was then picked up and thrown over the man's shoulder, like she was a bag of potatoes. A second guy came out of the car and popped the trunk. They tossed Hephzie in and tied her arms behind her back and gagged her mouth shut. Fiddleford paused the video after they had closed the trunk and both of them were turning to go back into the car, getting a frame of their faces. Fiddleford zoomed in and unpixelated their faces.

"Y'all ever seen 'em before?"

Ford and Stan looked at the screen with hatred boiling in their gut. These assholes had kidnapped their Hephzie! They strained their minds to see if they had ever seen them before, but no such recollection came up.

"No." Ford said.

"I've never seen 'em before." Stan added.

"Why… why would they kidnap Hephzie?" Ford croaked and cleared his throat.

"I dunno." Fiddleford said gravely and played the video again. "But I do know that we can find 'em. Look, there they are." The three men watched the camera and saw the car drive off. They were smart. They had put Hephzie in so quickly and swiftly that no one saw them, and they drove in no real hurry. Fiddleford flicked back to the camera at the four-way and saw what road they took. "We can follow 'em in my truck. It's stealthier than your red car."

"Can you still use the cameras once you unplug your computer from the power circuit?" Ford asked as Stan headed to the car.

Fiddleford unplugged his computer. "Of course I can. This isn't just a TV screen for the cameras; I now have total access to all the cameras in the area, from Bend to Burns."

Ford awed at his friend. "You truly are a genius."

"Let's move it, nerds!" Stan called and Ford and Fiddleford hurried to the brown truck. Stan drove, Ford took the passenger's seat, and Fiddleford sat in between them with his personal computer on his lap.

The Latino with the eye-patch stood from the armchair. He wore a blue-jean jacket and pants with brown cowboy boots. There was a dagger in his hand that scared Hephzie more than any of the men, but she was careful not to show it. She just glared at him and pretended that he was the only one in the room.

"Tie her down."

Hephzie's eyes darted around her to see if there was any way she could kick some of these assholes in the balls and make a run for it, but almost everyone held a gun or a knife or a bat. Hephzie was pushed into a wooden chair and she sat cooperatively. Her ankles were tied to the legs and a thick rope tied her body to the chair.

The eye-patched guy stepped towards her, bent his knees until he was eye-level with her, and then cut the cloth that was over her mouth away with his knife, making Hephzie flinched at the weapon. When she was free to speak, however, the first thing she said was sassy and delivered with a cold, calm tone.

"Is this all cuz I'm late on my cable payments again?"

The man in front of her chuckled. "You are like Stan. I'm surprised you didn't marry him."

Hephzie's heart skipped a beat. Okay, so these guys knew Stan. Hephzie knew that those four years he was on his own were rough, but she never imagined that it would come back to nip them in the butt like this. Despite being shocked, Hephzie refused to show it. "He's not my type."

The man stood up straight and sneered, "Than you won't mind telling me where he is."

Hephzie narrowed her eyes at him. "Like hell." She was slapped across the face without mercy. She was slapped so hard she had to turn her head. When she looked forward, she could only growl at the man before her.

"I don't have a lot of time, señora, so I suggest you cooperate before we blow your brains out."

"Than do it." Hephzie dared. The minute she said it she prayed they would let her live, but if that was the price for holding her ground, for not giving up her brother, for keeping him safe, than she'd happily pay it.

The man slapped her again to vex out frustrations and then he grabbed the sleeve of her black leather jacket. He used his knife to slice a chunk off, exposing her naked arm since she was wearing a short-sleeved red blouse underneath the jacket, and then he held the weapon against her dark skin.

"Tell us where he is."

"No."

Hephzie growled in her throat, her lips pressed tightly together, as the knife slashed her skin and she bled. It hurt, but turning her back on Stan and turning him in would hurt even more.

"How about now?" The man asked teasingly, like this was now a game to him.

"No."

He sliced her skin open a little lower than the first cut. Hephzie pressed her lips together to try to hide her pain.

"Listen here, Pines." The man growled. "Stan owes me more money than you make in a year, and I never forget debts, never. So tell us where he is and I'll let you go."

"No." Hephzie said firmly. "I would rather die."

"That can be arranged."

Ford's hands were shaking, so he tightened his fists and kept an open eye out for any sign of Hephzie. This was all his fault. If he had been with her, had told Stan to do the dishes and went with Hephzie to get the snacks and the movie, this wouldn't have happened. Hephzie had always been very independent and had no problem going out by herself, but she was Ford's wife. Ford had made a vow on their wedding day to always care for her and protect her. Hell, even before their wedding day, Ford had promised to look after Hephzie and always make sure she was safe.

His mind went back to when they were dating in high-school. They had both gone up to Grandpa the day after Ford's parents found out about their relationship and told Hephzie's grandfather that they were dating. The old man had seen the worry in their eyes and the need for support, so he had patted Ford's back and given them his blessing. Hephzie had then hugged her grandfather in thanks, thankful that her father-figure was going to support her relationship. A few days later, Ford went by Hephzie's apartment to pick her up for a dinner out alone. Hephzie was finishing getting ready, but Grandpa had Ford come in since it was raining this particular evening.

Ford was sitting in the living room, in one of the rocking chairs. Grandpa was in one as well, but rather tuning his violin or listening to the radio or reading a book, as he often did, he was looking at Ford with deep eyes. Ford had guessed that a talk between them was due, and with the two of them alone, now was the perfect time.

"Stanford," Grandpa said and the young man gave him his full attention. "I've had the joy of watching ya grow up alongside my granddaughter. Ya n' Stanley have always taken good care of her n' made sure she came home to me safely. You're a good man, n' I know that someday she won't come home to me no more, she'll come home to ya, n' when that day comes, I need your word that she'll always come home safe n' that she'll always be alright. I won't even ask to make sure she's always happy - cuz sometimes ya can do all the right thangs n' there's a darkness in people that takes any light away - but I need your word that as long as you're seein' my Half-Pint, you'll make sure she's alright."

Ford stared at the man who had him call him Grandpa since Ford was eight-years-old. Pa may be his father, but Ford had always looked up to Grandpa; he was always kind and he was a wise man who was one of the happiest people Ford ever knew. Grandpa had little, but was happier than a millionaire. Ford was surprised by how serious - not even mad, just serious - Grandpa Cece was. Ford nodded solemnly. "I promise, sir. She'll always be safe with me."

"Remember, Stanford, a person is only as good as their word." Grandpa said and leaned forward a little. "Do I have yours?"

Ford had heard Grandpa say that many times to Hephzie over their childhood. A person is only as good as their word. It felt different to have that quote given directly to him rather than hearing Grandpa say it to Hephzie. Ford nodded again. "You have my word. I'll always take care of her. I… I love her."

Grandpa smiled, leaned back, and sighed peacefully. "I know ya do. Ya have that same look in your eye Georgina once had."

Ford smiled sadly at that.

Now Ford felt like he had failed to keep his word. He had made a promise to himself, to Grandpa, and to Hephzie that she would always be safe and taken care of. She wasn't a child, she could take care of herself and was more than capable to do so, but Ford loved her and wanted to provide for her and see to it that she was safe and happy. Just like she always seemed to be taking care of him, making sure he slept and comforting him and proving a steady income, Ford wanted to take care of her, greeting her happily when she returned home from work and hearing her stories and telling her everyday that he loved her. He had nearly lost her twice now: once when that truck hit her and she nearly lost her life, and once when Bill tortured her in Ford's mindscape. Ford suddenly realized just how often he failed Hephzie and he felt like he was about to vomit.

Fiddleford's voice pulled Ford from his cursed thoughts. "Looks like we're going up Highway 20."

"Right." Stan said and made the necessary turn. He glanced down at the screen and then back up on the road. "Where did they go?"

"I'll look ahead." There were no red-lights on the highway (that's why they call it a highway), but he could check all the red-lights coming off of the highway for the car. Fiddleford passed one or two with no hint of the car that took Hephzie, but then he found the car again. "Camera 312 is forty miles away. Looks like they took her t'Bend."

"Than that's where we're going." And Stan sped, going 65 on a 45-mile speed limit.

Fiddleford opened his mouth to slow down so they wouldn't get into trouble, but then closed it when he remembered that they couldn't afford the luxury of following the law.

Stan sat back in his seat, letting the cool night air fly into the car, and he got a good look at Ford's face. It was the same one he wore in that waiting room at the hospital back at Glass Shard Beach. Stan took in a deep breath and tried to help his brother out. "It's not your fault, Ford."

"Like Hell…"

"C'mon, Sixer, it could happen to anyone. I mean, what are the odds they took her specifically? They probably would've taken anyone."

"They wouldn't have taken her if I had only been there with her."

"She wanted you to clean the kitchen."

"I could have refused. I could have gone with her."

"So, what, she can bone you whenever you bend over to get something at the grocery store?" Stan joked.

That actually made Ford smile. It was a fun game whenever she went shopping with Ford, whether or not Stan was with them. It never failed that if Ford bent over to grab a basket or to get something from a bottom shelf, Hephzie would grab him by the hips and trust their hips together, making Ford blush and jump. One time he jumped so bad he dropped a jar of pickles and it shattered all over the floor. That didn't keep Hephzie from doing it in the future.

Fiddleford chuckled, having heard this story before, and said, "I understand how ya feel, Ford. I do, but she'll be okay. We'll find her n' we'll bring her home."

"I just…" Ford rested his head in his hand, his elbow on the open window. "I don't understand. Why would they kidnap Hephzibah?"

The first ideas that came to their minds were too horrible to say to Ford right now. Murder? Rape? Information? It's not like Hephzie knew anything important. She didn't know the passwords to a bank or secrets about some government-funded science experiment. If Stan had to make a cold-blooded guess, she was kidnapped for a good time and then they were gonna get rid of her when they didn't want her anymore, but Stan would say that to Ford when Hell froze over.

"I don't know." Stan said. "But these guys are gonna learn the hard way not to mess with the Pines family."

There was nothing but dead silence for a long time. Ford kept an eye out on the road, just in case, somehow, by some miracle, Hephzie had escaped and was trying to walk home. There wasn't much to see; in this part of Oregon, the trees disappeared and there was a Californian-like dessert in front of them that seemed to go for eternity. Stan drove, casting occasional glances to Fiddleford's computer, but Fiddleford was careful to give clear directions, a "Not this one" in plenty of time or a "Thirty miles left" or a "Seventeen miles left". They drove for almost forty minutes until Fiddleford finally told Stan that they wanted to get off the highway at the next exit and then turn right.

They drove through a small town, not that much different than Gravity Falls, but it didn't have the same warmth or weirdness their home did. They stopped at a red light and looked at the left turn the car had taken. There was a country road, with no more cameras to show them where to go.

"Shit." Stan growled.

"We'll just have t'scout the road." Fiddleford said and closed his personal computer.

Stan turned into the country road and drove just slow enough to keep a careful eye and ear out. Ford had the image of the dark-blue car locked in his brain and scanned for a match. Fiddleford also kept a careful eye out for her. It looked like they were on old farming territory. Barns scattered the plains, as well as barrels of hay and old fences only used for keeping cattle in their fields. They drove on that road for maybe five minutes or so when Stan suddenly slammed on the breaks so hard the other to hit their heads on the dash.

"OW! Stan!"

"Shut up!" He hissed. "Listen!"

Fiddleford and Ford listened carefully and thought they heard something. It could've been passed off as the wind, and anyone driving with their windows rolled down or with the radio on would've have heard it, but they did. Someone - a woman, by the sounds of it - was screaming.

Fiddleford put a hand over his mouth when he recognized who the screaming belonged to. Stan and Ford were filled with a rage unfelt of before. Stan slowly moved the truck up the road, like a wild feline crawling on its belly for its next meal. The screaming came and went;they wondered if Hephzie was truly in this much pain or just using it as an excuse to let out an alarm that someone needed help. Hephzie was strong. They remembered how little she yelled when she was being tortured mentally by Bill; she was stubborn and, if she was ever in pain, she didn't like to show it. They all prayed that this was the reason why she was screaming so loudly.

They then saw where they guessed Hephzie was. By the woods, a farm older than any of the men barely stood. It had a gravel road that led up to a garage that led into a house, and off to the side was an old barn. The barn showed no sign of activity, but there were lights coming from the house, and the faint whisper of screaming was coming from there. Stan quietly parked the car. There were two cars in the garage and more on the grass. The house was full of people, not just two creeps who wanted a free woman. Stan's instincts were active and Ford's gut squirmed.

"Right," Stan whispered. "Fidds, take the truck and get the hell outta here…"

"No." Fiddleford said firmly. "I ain't leavin' y'all alone out here."

"Yes, you are." Ford hissed, agreeing with his twin. "Get help. Call the police and show them the way here. Quickly!"

"What 'bout y'all?"

"We can handle this." Stan said with a cocky smile. "We'll find a way in and sneak her out. We'll find you later. Just go."

"But…"

"Fiddleford, just do it. We need you to be able to go home to your children if something happens."

Fiddleford swallowed. Stan and Ford had this look in their eyes and he understood what they were saying. They knew that if they went into that house, there was a good chance they may never walk out. What was stopping them from getting shot or stabbed? What was stopping them from being tied up and forced to watch something gruesome? It's not like Ford and Stan were looking forward to their deaths, but they couldn't just sit in the car or hide and wait for help to come while Hephzie screamed for her life. Not only were they willing to die in the efforts to get their family member back, they were willing to do it alone so Fiddleford could get back to his own family. The idea of his children growing up without him was enough to scare him away from the farm.

"A-Alright. Alright, I'll… I'll be back as soon as I can." Fiddleford swore. "Just be careful."

Ford nodded, Stan patted his back, and they got out of the truck quietly. Fiddleford slid to the driver's seat and drove off, leaving the twins behind. Ford pulled out two guns from his trenchcoat and handed one to his brother. He also had a pocket-knife hidden in his boot and he knew for a fact that Stan had his brass-knuckles in his back pocket. They weren't leaving without a fight.

They both looked up at the house and winced at Hephzie's screaming. She needed them, so they headed up to the house.