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Chapter four. Looks Might Be Deceiving.

After the brunette injected him, Woody felt nothing unpleasant. Although he found it strange that somebody would inspect his medical condition before proceeding to kill him, he wouldn't put anything past this woman. There was no telling what she would do next. What was most peculiar to him, however, was that he felt rather happy when there was nothing in their situation to be cheerful about.

In his numbed condition, he could still observe Jordan going out of her mind, yelling at the old man, the one they had been calling 'Boss'.

Although he was having trouble staying awake, he had grasped something about a 'crime scene'. Could it be 'his' crime scene? Jordan was demanding the old man to tell her what they had injected him with. If he didn't know better, he would also say the way she was acting showed a lot more than 'friendly' concern. Then again, maybe it was just him seeing what he so desperately wanted to see. This little injection was making him feel blissful. He wasn't thinking clearly, and everything around him was fading away. Last thing he seemed to remember as 'real' was Jordan's look of concern.

Then, he was dreaming once more about Jordan. Although it wasn't an erotic dream this time, it was as oddly vivid as the last one. She was telling him something. He didn't understand what she was saying, though. He wasn't quite sure if it was because she was talking very low or because she was too far away from him. But they were certainly sweet words. He could feel her hand on his cheek, caressing him lovingly, and after that, a pretty tight hug from her.

Her heart was pounding against his chest so hard he thought it would explode. He, on the other hand, didn't feel his own heart beats, or his physical body. However, his love for her was there, the same as always, but it had taken on a new, ethereal quality.

He was in limbo. He had died and his heaven was Jordan.

However, heaven was supposed to be perfect and his was missing one little thing. And then he heard it, as loud as thunder in the silence that surrounded him in his new state of lightness. "I love you," she said in a clear, strong voice.

He struggled to answer her, to say those three words to her. "I love you," his mind uttered, though the sound couldn't escape from his mouth. Her lips on his brought him back to his body for a moment. He kissed her back, or at least he thought he did.

It was heaven, and then… nothing.

-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-

Pete led Jordan through a big, open corridor of the warehouse. Even though he was holding her firmly, he was kind. A ray of moonlight found its way through the cloudy sky and shone into the building through the huge glass dome in the ceiling. This surprise lighting allowed her to inspect the young man as they were walking. He was as tall as Woody. He was also a good-looking guy and his resemblance to Mr. Green was astonishing. The only real difference was Pete's beautiful wavy brown hair. His gaze was warm and his eyes gleamed with intelligence. He certainly didn't look like a stereotypical ruffian. She wondered why this lad was helping Mr. Green, besides the fact that he was obviously related to him.

"Tell me… Pete?" Jordan was asking him if she had caught his name right. He glanced at her cautiously, as though he was pondering whether to communicate with her at all. Finally, he nodded.

"You seem like a good person, Pete. Is there any chance you could help us?" In the past, she had always been right when she had judged a person. Her intuition told her this time that this man was a potential ally. Their present situation demanded that she think fast and make quick decisions. She didn't have a lot of time to test the waters with Pete, but she was alert for any sign that he might cooperate with her, if not now, then perhaps later. She didn't have any other options. It was worth a try.

"Sorry, Dr. Cavanaugh. I'm not allowed to speak to you," Pete answered, nonchalantly.

She had failed miserably. He wasn't going to be of any help. "'You can't blame a girl for trying," she muttered to herself. The rest of the walk was spent in silent.

They came into another big room where it seemed the action was. Mr. Green greeted them at the entrance with a wide smile. Jordan found him rather confusing. At first glance, he appeared to be a noble, caring and quite handsome old man. However, on closer inspection, she discovered he was also determined, strong and rather intimidating.

"Pete," Mr. Green grabbed hold of his grandson's arm. "We have to discuss the new act you'll be performing, son." Then he turned to look at Jordan. "You'll have to excuse us, doctor. I'll be talking to you a little after this," he said, politely.

Ray had come to stand close by her side, and at his stare, Jordan felt compelled to remain still. The other two men walked away from her, stopping far enough away that she couldn't hear what they were plotting. Then, she noticed two women, the blonde who had held a gun against her and the brunette, the one that had injected Woody. Again, at first glance, they appeared harmless, but Jordan knew for a fact they were quite the opposite.

They were a deceptive group, these people who had kidnapped her and Woody. They looked like good people, yet she understood now they were capable of something dangerous. Like killing her Woody if she didn't cooperate. It was a big threat they were holding against her. Had she met them all under other circumstances, the only one that would have frightened her was Hardy, the lunatic they left to guard Woody.

She was immersed in that kind of thinking, when a big noise startled her. The two women were yelling at each other.

"Debra, you promised!" the blond shrieked and slammed her glass so hard against the table where the women sat that it shattered into a million tiny pieces.

The brunette lunged from her seat, coming to stand beside Helen. She tapped the blonde's right arm expecting to calm her. "Yeah, I know I did! However, I have to cover it up after tonight, before they realize…" she tried to explain, though her partner jerked from her touch and came to her feet abruptly.

"Oh, no! You're having second thoughts about this. Say it!" Helen shouted, defiant.

"You know I wouldn't, Helen. Please, you know me better than that!" Debra retaliated, not knowing what to do exactly, since her last attempt at calming Helen achieved the opposite affect.

Helen's stance faltered, as though she were at the edge of breakdown. She took two steps backward and began to breathe heavily, like there wasn't enough air in that huge room to fill her lungs. "I don't know what to believe now. I'm lost… It's too much for me!"

Debra approached her cautiously, compelling her, "Helen… Helen. Please, calm down. It's really necessary. Pull yourself together. Make an effort, hon."

Helen didn't react to her move. She lowered her voice unexpectedly, "It's my life you're talking about." Jordan could hardly understand her last words.

Debra responded resentfully, "Well, yeah… It's my life too!"

Helen was angry and agitated again. She screamed, "But you're not coming! I have no other option and you know it. It's Brad and Lindsey." She paused a moment, then continued, "You said you would go with us and now you're saying it would be better if..." She couldn't finish whatever she was going to say. Tears flowed freely from her eyes. She took a big breath and lifted her hands to cover her face. Just when it appeared that she had gotten control of herself, she ran out of the room. Debra rushed after her with Mr. Green right behind her. The three of them disappeared down the same corridor Jordan had just come down. The clouds hid the moon again, making the large open area as dark as a cave.

Ray observed them as they vanished in the shadows and shook his head in disapproval. Then he realized that Jordan was watching him, looking to him for answers as to what had just occurred. He answered simply, "A lovers' quarrel, I guess." And he shrugged.

She frowned and looked at him, stunned. Things were getting weirder by the second. However, she was now building a new plan. With this sudden turn of events, only Pete and Ray were left to guard her, and Pete was distracted with the badge and some notes Mr. Green had given to him.

Jordan sized Ray up as a new potential ally. He seemed like a regular guy, big and robust. Not bright, but not stupid, either. He had some very recent bruises on his face, leading her to guess he wasn't afraid to use his fists.

So, which card should she play to try to get him on her side?

Seduction, she answered to herself. He seemed like a guy who would be caught by a captivating woman. She could be seductive if she really wanted to.

"So, tell me, big guy," she uttered, sugaring her voice. "Would you be so kind as to give the lady a glass of water? All the tension I've been through, you know?" She strove to lure him with charming and sweet manners, brushing her index finger along his chest, softly.

Ray caressed his sore neck and looked at her, taken aback by her actions. "Yeah, sure." He dug out a bottle of water from an inside pocket of his coat. It was half empty, and looked suspiciously turbid. Jordan couldn't hide her displeasure. He noticed it immediately and apologized, "It's all I have here." He returned the bottle back to where he had found it.

She shook her head and closed her eyes, as though she were striving to forget the muddy water, and asked him, "Is there bathroom near? I have… needs."

"I don't know," he said hesitantly. "We better wait for Helen and Debra, doctor."

"I could let you watch," she purred.

Ray tugged her to him. "You're the devil, woman," he whispered into her ear. Jordan struggled to control an involuntary and distasteful shivering, acting as though she was pleased with the way things were progressing. And she was, though it was a completely different delivery she had in mind.

So, she was absorbed in her performance, almost convinced that she had achieved what she wanted, when they heard steps approaching from the corridor. Ray let loose of her right away, coming to his senses. She silently cursed for the bad timing.

Mr. Green emerged from the shadows, striding toward her. When he reached her, he encircled her shoulders in a gentlemanly embrace. "Let's talk, doctor," he addressed her, his manner somehow both as adorable and as intimidating as it could possibly be.