Hey everyone! I am so SORRY that it has taken me so long to update. I feel terrible, but life just got in the way. I had so much going on at the same time and adding writing to the pile would have made my life 10x more hectic and stressful than it already was. I hope that this chapter was worth the wait though...the idea for it had been going through my head for quite some time, I just couldn't get it exactly right in writing... I am finally happy with how it turned out though and I am excited to write more. I honestly don't know how much longer this story is going to be, but it is going to wrap up soon. I hate how short it is, but I don't want to stretch it out too long. Any way, I really appreciate all of you that are sticking with me through the long drought of no chapters...As always, here is the next chapter...Enjoy :)
"Haley James?" Brooke asked as she walked into Haley's apartment.
"In here." Haley yelled back from the bathroom. She was putting the finishing touches on her make up for the banquet. Haley had managed to get an invite for 'her best friend visiting from out of town and her boyfriend,' Brooke and Lucas, so they were all going to arrive together.
"Wow, looking very cute there Hales. I like the dress."
"You should, you bought it for me for my birthday." Haley said and laughed. "You look pretty cute yourself best friend."
"I know, thanks." Brooke smiled. "You ready to go? Nate and Luke are next door watching a draft of some sort, so we just have to turn the tv off and they will be ready to go."
"Haha, yep, I am all ready to go Tigger." Haley said and they walked across the hall.
"Ok boys, enough of your sports. We have work to do." Brooke said and turned the tv off.
"Brooke, you do realize that you aren't actually working right? You are just coming along because you can get Luke in." Nathan said and Haley lightly hit his arm. 'Be nice,' she mouthed.
"Oh, whatever. I am helping, so just consider me a consultant or like a volunteer or something." Brooke replied and grabbed her purse. "Let's go."
They all laughed and followed after her. Haley slowed down and pulled Nathan back with her.
"So, with you 'visiting family' these last few days, I haven't really had the chance to talk to you." Haley said. Nathan had gone back to stay at his apartment for a few days to pick up some more clothes and go around watching some of Haley's 'co-workers' without being noticed.
"Oh yeah, and what do you want to talk about?" He smirked.
"Nothing you're thinking. Gee, keep your mind on the case boss."
"Sorry." He smiled and gave her his best innocent face.
"Anyway, about the case, these last few days at work I've been getting these little things on my desk when I walk away. First it was a flower, so I thought maybe you'd left something for me, you know being the doting boyfriend and all, but then I kept getting little notes and like candies. I haven't figured it out yet, but I am pretty sure it is relevant to the case."
"Ok, well I will keep an eye for anyone looking at you. Although I can't really watch myself, I know I will be looking at you."
"You're so cheesy." She laughed and lightly pushed him.
"You love it." He smirked and wrapped his arm around her shoulder.
"Actually, I'm lactose intolerant. I do, however, know for a fact that Luke loves cheese. Maybe you can escort him to the banquet." Haley suggested.
"And deprive you of getting to spend the evening on my arm? I just couldn't do that to you."
"Oh, what a gentleman." She laughed and feigned swooning.
"You know it." He winked.
"Hey, lovebirds, quit messing around and get in the car." Lucas yelled and laughed at them.
Half an hour later they were standing outside the building, waiting to go inside.
"Ok, so if anyone needs help, I think we should 'caw'." Luke suggested.
"What?" Haley laughed.
"Caaaaaaw!" Luke emphasized.
They all laughed at him.
"Oh, honey, that is quite a thought but we have cell phones." Brooke said, patting his arm. "If we need to contact each other we can call or text."
"Yeah, I know and ear pieces work too." Nathan said.
"Excuse me for throwing a new idea out there. I mean we always use the ear pieces and the phones, why not change it up a bit?" Luke asked.
"And take a step back from technology?" Haley asked sarcastically.
"Yeah, sorry man, but that was the most ridiculous idea." Nathan said and stuck his hand out for Haley to take. "Shall we?" He asked and she gladly accepted.
"Lucas, stop pouting and go find Jake." Haley said as she and Nathan began to walk inside. "We'll see you guys later."
"You know, we didn't have to get rid of them, right?" Nathan asked.
"Oh, I know, I just wanted to get you alone for a little while. Besides, Lucas was going to be all broody for a while. Now, what do you say to getting me a drink?"
"Only if you go get us some seats." He smiled as she nodded her head and leaned up to kiss his cheek before turning in the opposite direction.
Nathan smiled and walked over to the bar.
"Hi, two waters please." He said and looked back at Haley while waiting for the drinks. She was talking to one of her "co-workers" and had this huge smile across her face. It was easy to tell that she was enjoying their company.
"Here are your waters, sir." The bartender said and pulled Nathan out of his Haley-trance. Nathan paid the man and took the waters. As he turned around he noticed that Haley wasn't with the same group of people. He looked around, but couldn't see her anywhere.
"Hey, does anyone see Haley?" Nathan asked into the earpieces.
"No, we don't see her." Luke responded.
"Us either. Where'd she go?" Jake asked.
"If I knew that then I wouldn't be asking you guys, would I?" Nathan said, frustrated. "It's fine, I'll find her." He said and began walking over to the group that she had previously been standing in. "Hey guys, do you know where Brittany went?" He asked.
"Oh, yeah, her mom called so she said she was going to go somewhere quiet to answer." One of her co-workers, he recognized her from the night at the Blue Moon, Suzie said.
"Thanks." Nathan replied and started to walk away before they could say anything else. He pulled his phone out and dialed her number, it went to voicemail immediately. "C'mon Hales, where are you?" He asked and shut his phone, continuing his search.
!
(Meanwhile, Haley is on the phone outside)
"Mom, I know that you are worried, but don't be. I know what I am doing and I have a great team that I am working with." Haley said sighing. Her parents found out that she is working this case and immediately called to express their concerns.
"Haley Bob you know that we love the fact that you are a police officer and that you are happy with your job. Not to forget I am jealous that you get to be around men in uniform all day, but we just want you to be safe. This case sounds extremely dangerous." Her mom said.
"Mom, I can promise you that Nathan would never let anything happen to me. Neither would any of the other members of my team... We protect each other."
"Oh, speaking of your boss, Brooke tells me that you two have gotten closer recently. Anything you want to tell your mother?"
"I'm sure I have no idea what she is talking about. He's my boss."
"Yeah, yeah. You know you're father started out as my boss too. He still is on occasion."
"Ok, mom, thanks for the over sharing."
"Well, I'm just saying."
"Alright, well that's nice. Mom, I love you I have to go though."
"Ok, I love you too Bob. I'll talk to you later."
Haley hung up her phone and turned to walk back into the building, but stopped when she saw someone standing there looking directly at her.
"Well, isn't that nice. Your last call was to your mom. At least you got to tell her you loved her."
"What do you mean, 'last call'?" Haley asked calmly.
"Oh, just that you won't be talking to anyone else for a long, long time. It's a shame too because your boyfriend is going crazy in there. He is running around looking for you, asking everyone if they have seen you. It's pretty funny actually."
"Oh, well I will just have to go back in there and let him know that everything is ok, won't I?" Haley said and began to slowly make her way toward the door to the building.
"Yeah, you know, I just don't see that happening."
"Oh, and why is that?"
"Well, I am not going to let you."
"And how are you going to stop me?" Haley asked, now walking closer to her nemesis.
"I have my ways."
"Bring it on, bitch." Haley said and blocked the punch coming from her attacker. With that she swung back managed to punch her square in the jaw. As Haley pulled back for her second hit, she felt an intense pain hit the back of her neck. It traveled through her whole body and within seconds she was unconscious.
!
Nathan had been looking throughout the whole room in an attempt to find Haley.
"She has to be here somewhere." He said to himself and turned to look out the window. Just as he did he saw two people in the distance that just seemed to be talking, but one of them looked just like Haley. As he looked closer he saw them begin to fight. He immediately jumped into action, sprinting to try and find a door that would lead him to where she was.
"Guys, Haley is outside, and she needs help. Let's go." Nathan said into the earpiece.
"We're on our way." Luke and Jake both said at the same time as they got up and tried to find an exit as well.
Nathan had a considerable head-start on them so he got outside first. As soon as he got out the doors he saw a large van pull away from where Haley had been standing. He pulled out his gun and began firing at the van, but it was too far away. He ran over and found Haley's phone on the ground.
"Damn it!" He yelled. Luke and Jake had just arrived and were looking concerned.
"What happened man?" Luke asked.
"She's gone. That is what happened." Nathan said, angrily.
"What do you mean she's gone?" Jake asked.
"I mean that they have her. I let her out of my sight for like two seconds and look what happened. Now she is gone. How did this happen? She is a police officer, she should have been able to take care of herself." Nathan ranted. He began pacing and trying to think of a way to get Haley back.
Jake and Luke were looking at him, realizing that there was nothing that they could do to make him feel better.
"I am going to call Brooke and let her know that she and Peyton need to get out here. We need all the extra hands that we can get." Luke said and dialed the phone.
"Hey is everything alright?" Brooke asked, worried.
"Caw." Luke said, unaware that Nathan had stopped pacing and was now looking directly at him.
"On our way out." Brooke said as she and Peyton got up to head outside.
Nathan was now walking toward Lucas with a very focused look in his eyes. Just as Luke was about to say something, Nathan punched him, knocking him to the ground.
Luke just rubbed his jaw, where there was going to be an obvious bruise in a little while. "Damn Nate, what was that for?"
Nathan glared at him and said, "caw."
"It really wasn't the right time to joke, man." Jake said, helping him up.
"Yeah, I guess." Luke responded, still holding his jaw.
Brooke and Peyton had just arrived and looked extremely worried.
"Where's Hales?" Brooke asked.
"You two stay here and call 911, let them know that one of their own has been abducted. Have them look for evidence over here: tire marks, hair, fabric, jewelry, anything." Nathan told them and turned to look at Jake and Luke. "You guys go find out if there is a security camera in there and get all the tapes." He said and started to walk back toward the building.
"Where are you going Nate?"
"I am going to find the person who took Haley." He said, with the most determined, focused, frightening look on his face that Jake or Luke had ever seen.
Let me know what you think!
