It was night time when they decided to take action. It would make it less obvious for them to be seen. Hanson at least now had a good idea of what was going on. The house seemed quiet and empty, with not a light on.

"What if she's not in there?" Hanson whispered.

"We'll have to see."

Eventually, Tom exited the car with his gun in hand. He noticed as he walked up to the house that only one light was on: the window that indicated the basement. He wanted to tell Penhall and Fuller, but he knew that they wouldn't be able to see him in the dark.

He arrived at the front door. He could shoot the lock. It was that easy. But he didn't want to draw attention to himself. He checked the mat for a spare key. There wasn't one. He then felt at the top of the door. Bingo! He took the key and quietly unlocked it.

"Everything alright?"

Hanson gasped in shock and made out the silhouette of Penhall behind him.

"Penhall!" Hanson whispered. "Don't do that!"

"Sorry. Shall I stay here?"

Hanson nodded. He stepped into the house and found a small lamp. He turned it on, hoping it wouldn't raise alarm downstairs. He quickly but quietly walked across the hall. He found the wooden door that led to the basement. He quickly got Penhall's attention.

"Turn the light off!" Hanson whispered.

Penhall didn't understand at first. But after some hand gestures made by his partner, he understood and switched the light off.

Tom put his ear to the door. He could hear a deep voice, talking quietly to someone. He could also see light leaking out of the gap at the bottom of the door. Then he heard Ruby's voice.

"Where are you going to take me? I thought you were going to get my mom."

"Nope. We're going to go to your mom's instead. We have everything rea─"

But he couldn't finish his sentence for Tom barged the door open and shouted "freeze!" and pointed his gun.

He took in the scene from the top of the basement stairs. Ruby was handcuffed to a metal pipe. The boy who Hanson had seen at lunch was standing near the man who was Ruby's uncle, the reason for Hanson's distress.

"Tom!" Ruby cried. She seemed happy to see him. Didn't she wonder why a high school student had a gun?

"Nobody move," he ordered.

The uncle stared at him. Then he burst out laughing.

"And who are you may I ask? Breaking into my house."

"I'm a police officer," Tom said, taking out his badge. "And you're under arrest."

"For what?" The uncle stood up. Tom's grip around the gun became tighter.

"For kidnapping a minor…and threatening a person."

"Threatened? Who I have I threatened?"

"Look, don't waste my time. I know what has happened and why you have kidnapped Ruby. But the game's over. You're under arrest."

"Yeah?" The man then got a gun out of his pocket and pointed it at Ruby.

"Put the gun down!" Tom shouted.

"No, you put yours down," He said quietly. "Or I'll shoot her dead right now."

Tom looked at Ruby. She looked at Tom with pleading eyes. Tom could tell him that he had back up outside. But he didn't want to risk it. He didn't know what he had planned. So he slowly put his gun on the stair and put his hands up.

"Good man," The uncle said calmly. "Nathan, get me his gun."

"Put your gun down, leave her alone." Tom commanded. He looked at Ruby, who was now hunched over.

"Oh no, not yet. I need this gun to make sure that I'm given my money."

"You won't be getting any money." Tom heard Fuller say behind him. For the first time in ages, Tom smiled. "Put your gun down, you're under arrest."

The man stood and looked at them. He gave up straight away, knowing that Fuller looked older and more professional then Hanson. He threw his gun to the ground and put his hands up. Hanson walked down and roughly took his hands and put him in handcuffs. Penhall followed him down and took Ruby's uncle roughly by the arms.

"Penhall, give him his rights."

"Yes, sir!" Penhall replied.

Tom watched Penhall take the uncle away. Nathan was taken by Fuller which left Ruby alone. Tom looked at her and knelt down.

"Are you okay?"

"I am now," She smiled. She looked tired and paler than usual.

"Where's the keys?"

"On top of the cabinet."

Tom walked over to the cabinet and took the key and then unlocked the handcuffs. Ruby threw her arms around him and Tom hugged her back. All of the worry that had been caged inside of him escaped.

"I'm glad you're okay." Tom said.

Ruby sat back and smiled. "Are you really a police officer?"

Tom smiled and got his badge out again. "Yep. I really am."

"That is amazing, I never would have guessed."

"Come on," He said, pulling her gently up. "Let's get you checked out."