I am back, but only for a day. I opened my inbox this morning and I had 50 new messages. I am glad you all are enjoying the story. I won't be back until next Friday, so I made sure I wrote another chapter. I hope all enjoy it.
Now Give Me Money
Cuddy jumped when Roe ran back into her office. "They are transferring a call to you from the kidnappers," Roe said to Cuddy. Cuddy's phone rang. "Be calm and try to keep him on the line."
Cuddy felt her heart beating out of her chest as she answered the phone. "Dr. Cuddy," she said is a calm voice.
"I got Dr. House and Dr. Cameron," Brandon said on the other line.
Roe sat across Cuddy and listened to the conversation. "If you want them to live, we need $1 million dollars in cash, got it?"
Roe nodded his head to Cuddy. "Okay," Cuddy said to Brandon.
"I want you to personally hand deliver the money to me in a brief case at 5:00 tomorrow night in a field on the corner of Jefferson and Washington, okay?" Brandon said. Cuddy once again agreed.
"How do I know if they are okay?" Cuddy said as she read a piece of paper Roe handed her.
Roe and Cuddy listened as they heard Brandon move around. Brandon handed Cameron the phone. "Tell them you are not hurt."
"They haven't hurt me yet," Cameron said into the phone. Brandon then grabbed the phone away from her. "You too," Brandon said to House.
"I only have a fat lip so far," House said into the phone. Cuddy had to fight back her tears at the sound of hearing House's voice again. Brandon then got back on the phone.
"They will continue to be okay if you do as I say."
"I understand," Cuddy said. "Will you let them go at the same time I give you the money?" Cuddy read off another note from Roe.
"Yes," Brandon answered her. "I expect you to come alone tomorrow at exactly 5:00. Do not be late unless you want to start looking for two new doctors."
"Hello?" Cuddy asked as she heard the other line click.
"You do a good job," Roe said to Cuddy. "I think we got him to stay on the line long enough to try to get a better location."
"He said to meet him on the corner of Jefferson and Washington," Cuddy said. "That means they are coming back to Princeton."
"If he is telling us the truth about releasing them at the same time," Roe said. "He used the word 'we' which means that he is working with someone."
"At least we know that they are still alive," Cuddy said.
"We also know that at least the guy who called us is at the same location as them, so if we are able to trace the call, we will have a general idea of where they are."
"How are we going to handle the money? Do I need to get it from the hospital?"
"We will give you a bunch of fake bills that look real so that if they get away after the transfer, we can track them," Roe said. "Are you going to be able to handle the drop off?"
"Yes," Cuddy said. She knew that she needed to listen to the kidnappers if she wanted House and Cameron home safe. "You guys just tell me what to do."
"Right now you need to get some rest," Roe said to Cuddy. "You should stay at the hospital incase they call again."
"Okay."
Roe got up and left Cuddy alone in her office. Cuddy then let the tears fall from her eyes.
"Please come home to me," Cuddy said through her tears.
**********
"So far so good," Brandon said to Jack after he had hung up on Cuddy.
"She agreed to deliver the money?" Jack asked Brandon.
"Yes. That road is so out in the open that if she doesn't come alone, we will know in an instant."
House didn't like the idea of Cuddy being the one to deliver the money.
"I will leave tomorrow afternoon to drive back to Princeton to collect the money and I will call you when she gives it to me so you can release Dr. Cameron."
"Okay," Jack said.
"I am going to turn off my phone," Brandon said. "This way they will have a harder time tracing me. I won't turn it back on until I call you. You should also turn your phone off too and keep it off until tomorrow at about 4:30."
"Okay," Jack said.
"I am going to bed," Brandon said.
"I am going to watch some TV," Jack said as they both headed for the stairs. "Sleep tight," Jack said as he turned off the basement light. House and Cameron were left in total darkness.
Cameron waited until she heard the door close before she spoke. "We need to figure out a way to get you out of here." House thought for a moment.
"We need to wait until Brandon leaves tomorrow," House said. "It will be a lot easier if there is only one of them."
"I could tell Jack that I need to use the restroom and try to get the gun from him," Cameron said.
"If we can get you free, you need to run to get help."
"I can't leave you here House," Cameron said. "They are planning to kill you."
"They won't kill me until they get their money."
"How can you be so sure?" Cameron asked.
"They know they need me alive incase Cuddy demands proof that I am alive before she gives them the money."
"Do you think they will hurt her?" Cameron asked. She knew that had to be a big worry for House.
"I don't think so. If they don't plan on hurting you, I don't get why they would hurt her." Cameron couldn't tell if House really believed that or was just trying to convince himself.
"I think you are right," Cameron said trying to reassure him.
"I bet when you thought that we might sleep together, this is not what you envisioned," House said to Cameron.
"I always knew there would be handcuffs involved," Cameron said. House started to laugh. Cameron then rested her head on House's shoulder. "Goodnight House," she said. "Goodnight Cameron," House answered back.