Creepin' Up On You
Chapter 9: If I Had You
The thing that had kept Lily going was thinking about how Jasmine had said that the cops were outside of the apartment. This meat Rufus was looking for her, as were the police. She could only hope they found her. However, she couldn't leave it up to them. Not when there was a baby involved too.
She placed her hands over her stomach. She would get them out of there no matter what it took. Which, hopefully it wouldn't take much if she got Brad to help her.
Now she just needed to get Brad alone. Seeing as he had that extra set of keys, Lily was hoping that Jasmine planned on leaving Brad alone with her a lot.
She had been hoping to talk to Brad again last night, and maybe coerce him some more into taking off her ball and chain, but no. Jasmine, unfortunately, had returned sans Brad with some left over pizza and a soda for her dinner.
Lily sighed at the memory. There were two slices this time, but no bread. Not that she could complain.
She rubbed her stomach again. She just hoped Jasmine would start feeding her something other than junk food, and fast. She had to take care of this baby. It was bad enough she didn't have her prenatal vitamins. It wasn't like she could ask Jasmine for anything healthy for the baby either. Jasmine must never know about the baby. God only knew what Jasmine would do to her and the baby if she were to find out. Lily had no doubt in her mind it wouldn't be good, whatever it was.
"Don't worry, My darling. Mommy will keep you safe, she said, still stroking her stomach. Hopefully when Jasmine came in with her breakfast, it would be something healthy. That was, if Jasmine even came in with her breakfast at all. It was already after ten, according to the television.
Lily sighed, then turned the television off, and closed her eyes. She fell back asleep trying to think of ways to escape.
R&L
Rufus closed his eyes when we woke up. He hated waking up knowing that the spot beside him was empty. Lily had been missing for a day and a half now. He was supposed to start another week of shows tomorrow, but he honestly didn't know if he could do it. How didn't want to let down the fans who had saved their money for his show, but how was he supposed to put on the best show he could for them when his wife was missing? There was also the contract he sighed. He sighed. People were going to find out sooner or later about Lily being missing. He might as well just tell the Canal Club owner about Lily's disappearance. Maybe the guy would take pity on him and let him postpone the shows. The band already knew about Lily's disappearance, and they were more than supportive, telling him he can postpone the tour as long as he needs. They had even offered to help search.
He didn't know what to do. He felt he should be spending all his time searching for Lily, but he had no idea where to search. It was as if she had just dropped off the face of the planet. She wouldn't just up and leave. It made no sense at all. Then what the hell had happened to her?
He let out a groan of frustration, then climbed out of bed. He had to go take a warm shower to clear his head. Maybe it was best he kept the shows on. He needed something to keep his mind off things. Staying home and worrying wasn't going to get him anywhere.
R&L
Jasmine had slept in late, having only woken up at ten. She showered, and dressed for the day, and when she came out of the shower, and headed to the kitchen, Brad was sitting there at the island.
She gasped, and placed a hand over her heart. "Gosh, Buh-rad, ever heard on knocking? You scared the hell out of me!"
Brad shrugged. "You gave me a spare house key besides the copy of the basement keys. I figured that was an okay to use it whenever I wanted."
"Yeah, when I'm not home. Gosh!" Jasmine headed into the fridge and took out some orange juice.
Again, Brad shrugged. "Sorry. I knocked and you didn't answer, so I just came in."
"I slept in late, then I had to take a shower and get dressed. I didn't hear you." Jasmine took out two glasses for the orange juice.
"I take it you didn't feed Lily yet?" Brad asked.
Jasmine rolled her eyes as she poured the juice. "Do you have a crush on her or something? My Gawd, what is it about Lily that makes all the men crazy over her?"
Brad snorted. "I'm gay, Jazz. Remember? You've known for years."
Jasmine looked at him, and cocked her head at him. "Really? Huh."
Brad rolled his eyes. She could be so absentminded sometimes! She only paid attention to something if it could help her in some way...or hurt her. Anyway, I picked up some cinnamon donuts and some blueberry muffins from the bakery on the way here. I got Lily one of each too."
Jasmine was the one to roll her eyes this time. "Whatever. Saves me the time of having to make her something. "Go take it down to her if you must. I'll get ours ready."
Brad nodded at the glasses. "Aren't you going to get one for her out? She has to have something to drink too."
Jasmine let out a groan of annoyance, and rolled her eyes even more. She took out another glass, slammed it down int he counter, poured some juice to the top, and handed the glass to Brad so forcefully that a little bit of juice sloshed over the side. "Happy?" she asked with a put on grin.
Brad shot the forced grin right back at her. "Super happy. Thank you." He then took out two muffins and two donuts and set them on the counter before heading down to the basement with the bag holding the remaining donut and muffin in his hand.
Jasmine shook her head as she watched him retreat down to the basement. "Spineless," she said under her breath.
R&L
Lily sat up as she heard the basement door unlocking. She slid back a little. It always made her a little nervous when she heard that door being opened. Jasmine was absolutely insane. There was no telling what kind of mood she'd be in when she came into the room. She had her kind moments, and she had her bitch moments. Unfortunately, the bitch ones were more often seen then the kind ones.
Boy was she surprised when the door opened, and she saw Brad standing there. It was as if it were a sign. Maybe someone out there was looking out for her.
She watched as Brad shut and locked the door behind him. Then, he turned to her and smiled as he headed toward her, holding a bag.
"Good morning, Lily! I bought you a blueberry muffin and a cinnamon donut as well as some orange juice. I hope that's okay." Brad held the glass of orange juice and the bag out to her.
Lily took them both and smiled. "Thank you." The muffin was healthy at least. And the donut would take care of any remaining hunger. Of course the orange juice was good for the Vitamin C she needed. She dug in. She was starving. "Mm... So good," she said after taking a bite of her muffin.
Brad nodded. "They have the best muffins in town as far as I'm concerned."
"Does Jasmine know you're here?" Lily asked after taking a sip of her orange juice.
Brad nodded. "She thinks I'm crazy for caring enough to feed you well. But I don't like to see you as a prisoner. I like to see you as a guest." He looked down at the floor. "It makes me feel at least a little better for what we're doing to you."
Lily swallowed a bite of her muffin. "You know, Brad, you could let me go right now and I wouldn't even have to mention your name when I go to the police."
Brad instantly looked up. "I couldn't do that to Jasmine. She's my best friend. She doesn't mean any harm. She's just in love with Rufus. That's all. Once she figures out he's never going to love her in return, she'll let you go, and everything can go back to normal."
Lily sighed. "Brad, she needs help. She has me locked down in the basement with a ball and chain for gosh sakes! Do you think that's healthy for her? Also, she's pining over a man that will never want her. How is that healthy?"
Brad stood up. "Who's to say he couldn't love her?"
Lily smirked. "He's in love with me, Brad. His wife. He's not going to fall for some psychotic woman who has a crush on him. Besides, you just said yourself that he's never going to love her. Did you not?"
Brad scowled. "That's different. I'm her friend. I'm allowed to say that. You don't even know her."
Lily snorted. "I know enough about her to know that she is capable of kidnapping someone and keeping them locked up like a prisoner just so she can try to steal their husband away to keep as her own."
"Brad stared at Lily for a moment. "I gotta go before she wonders what's taking me so long down here. Enjoy your breakfast." With that, he turned on his heel and left the basement, making sure the doors were locked tightly behind him.
Lily sighed, then, having finished her muffin, moved onto her donut. "Well, that didn't go quite as planned!" she muttered to herself. She sighed. It was all right. Brad was still capable of being broken. There was no doubt in her mind. She'd get through to him eventually. She just needed a little perseverance is all.
She took another bite of her donut. At least the donut was as good as the muffin had been.
R&L
"So, what are we going to do? Nobody saw my mother leave Organic Experience, and I'm pretty sure the cops don't even have a lead. We can't just sit here and do nothing." Serena said as they all sat in the living room an hour later, discussing Lily's disappearance.
"I have my men working on it," Chuck said calmly.
"Yeah, and how is that working out for you?" Eric snapped.
"They need time. They're good, but they aren't blood hounds," Chuck shot back.
"Dan intervened before Eric could shoot back with a sarcastic comeback. "Look, can we please all just try to get along? We all want to find Lily, and that is what matters. Arguing isn't going to do anything. Like it or not, we're all family—Chuck included. Now we need to start acting like it if we want any chance at all in finding Lily.
Rufus nodded. "Thank you, Dan. I completely agree. What worries me is what Eleanor said about Lily buying an outfit for the children's cancer benefit. What if someone robbed her, and then beat her? She could be lying in a ditch somewhere." The color left Rufus' face. "Or, she could have been kidnapped or..."
Serena held up a hand. "Don't say it! Don't you dare say it."
"I'm just trying to look at this from all options," Rufus said, sounding much calmer than he was.
"I'm sure the police have been patrolling around the area and other parts of the city, looking for her. I have been too, as have my men. There is no sign of her. Do you know of anyone who would want to kidnap her?" Chuck asked.
Rufus thought about it for a moment. "No. Nobody hates her. I can't imagine how anybody could."
"Maybe someone who is jealous of her," Serena stated.
They were all silent at that last thought.
"Well, Jenny, Scott, and of course Cece and Carol all are insisting on coming down to help look. The soonest flight Cece and Carol could get will get them here at nine tonight. Jenny's train is due in an hour. She said she'll take a taxi here. Scott's bus is here in two hours. He said he'll tax a taxi here as well. "Cece, on the other hand wants a limo for her and Carol once their flight gets here." Rufus rolled his eyes, as did Serena and Eric.
"That's Grandma for you," Eric said.
"I don't know what they can do anyway. Not even the police seem to know what they're doing," Serena grumbled.
"Well, they'll be here as moral support for you guys," Rufus said.
They all sat in silence again. Finally, Rufus stood up. "I can't stand just sitting around. I'm going for a walk to try to clear my head." Though, he knew that there was no way his head would be cleared until he found his wife.
He slid on his shoes, grabbed his coat and scarf, put them on, then left the apartment.
The kids all looked at each other. None of them felt like sitting around either. But they also didn't know what else to do, so they stayed there a little while longer, lost in their own thoughts.
R&L
After Jasmine's breakfast with Brad, Brad had to go off to work. So, Jasmine decided to give Rufus' place another try.
When she got there, she was happy to see that there was no cop car in sight. So, she waited around the corner in hopes of Rufus coming out.
When he came out ten minutes after her arrival, she took it as fate. Someone out there was telling her that she was meant to be with Rufus. She already knew she was, of course, but it was always nice to get that extra sign.
She waited until he was a yard or so ahead of her, and then she followed behind him for about a block. When it became apparent to her that he had no intentional place to go, she decided to intervene. Maybe she could suggest a place to him. She wasn't quite hungry for lunch yet, but they would always shop, or go to a museum.
She came up to him from behind, and tapped his shoulder.
He jumped.
She giggled. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to scare you. I just wanted to say hello while I still had you in my sights. You're a fast walker, you know that?"
Rufus stopped walking, and turned to her. "Oh. Hey, Jasmine. How are you?"
Jasmine smiled sympathetically. "I'm doing well. Unfortunately, you don't look like you're doing the same. Is something wrong? Do you still feel sick? Because if you do, you probably shouldn't be out in this chilly weather."
"Huh?" Rufus looked confused for a moment. He quickly recovered. "Oh. Right." He flushed a little. "I wasn't being honest with you the other night. I wasn't sick, and neither was Lily. At least, I hope she wasn't." He looked away.
"I'm confused," Jasmine said, even though she knew darn well what he was talking about.
He sighed, then looked at her again. "I might as well tell you. I'm surprised it's not on the front page already."
"What is it, Rufus?" Jasmine used the opportunity of concernment to place her hand over his arm.
He looked at her, silent for a moment, as if debating on whether he should tell her or not. Finally, with a sigh, he told her. "My wife is missing."
Jasmine gasped. "What? What do you mean she's missing?"
Rufus told her the whole story. Then he broke down. "I'm sorry. I never cry in public. I'm so embarrassed. I'm just so worried about my wife! What if someone is hurting her?"
Jasmine immediately took advantage of this opportunity, and took Rufus into her arms. She stroked his hair as she held him. "Sh... Don't be embarrassed. It's only natural to cry when you're going through what you're going through! And you can't think that way. She's well known in New York, right?"
Rufus nodded. "Well enough."
"So, maybe someone kidnapped her so that they can ask for a ransom. She has money, and I'm sure anyone who might have taken her knows it. Otherwise, why take her, right?" Jasmine asked.
Rufus nodded. "Maybe."
Jasmine encouraged, continued. "And, as horrible as that sounds that she was taken—if she even was—you know that person will want her taken care of and in good condition so that they will get the money."
Again, Rufus nodded. "It makes sense, but I haven't received a ransom note yet."
"They're probably busy thinking through what they want to do. If they took her, they have to lie low for a bit. They don't want to risk getting caught. Also, the longer they wait, the more desperate you become. And, the more desperate you become, the more money you'll pay."
Rufus nodded yet again. "This all makes sense." He looked a little more hopeful. "How do you know so much about this kind of thing?"
Jasmine shrugged. "When you get to the point where you don't have much of a social life, you start relying on TV for your entertainment. I watch a lot of crime shows. I once considered being a detective, but I was too lazy to go through the training." Jasmine winked and grinned.
Rufus managed a small grin as well. "Well, thanks. You managed to cheer me up a little. I hope you're right about this. I'm willing to pay anything just as long as my wife arrives back to me safely."
Jasmine's heart was pounding so hard, she was afraid that Rufus would feel it through her chest. This was working out better than she had planned! It was time to take it to the next level. She slowly pulled away from Rufus, as much as she didn't want to. "Hey, do you want to go bowling?"
Rufus looked at her funny. "Bowling?"
Jasmine shrugged. "I know it seems like an odd thing to offer at a time like this, but I think you could use something to clear your mind. If you're concentrating on the game, you're not concentrating on bad things." She winked at him.
Rufus shook his head. "I'm sorry, but I can't. My daughter will be arriving in an hour and my son an hour after that."
Jasmine felt her heart sink a little, but she wasn't going to give up just yet. She grabbed his arm again. "Well, you have a whole hour. You need to eat to keep your strength up. Let's go get a quick lunch." She wasn't quite hungry yet, but if it got him to stay with her, she'd find the hunger.
Rufus hesitated. "I'm not really hungry."
"Don't you want to be strong so that you can keep searching for Lily?" Jasmine pressed, determined to not be deterred.
Rufus sighed. "Yes."
Jasmine pressed on. "Well, then, let's just go to McDonald's then. It's fast, and you can get some food in your system. You have to eat."
Rufus thought about it for a moment, then sighed. "All right, but we have to make it quick. Let's go to Burger King instead. It's closer."
Jasmine latched her arm with his. "Whatever you want." She hid a smile as they walked together. It hadn't taken much convincing for him to come with her. Heck, Rufus hadn't bothered unlatching her arm from his arm.
She smiled even wider. Yeah, he wanted her. He'd be hers eventually. It was only a matter of time.
R&L
Lily looked up as she heard the heavy, metal basement door unlocking.
In came Brad. He didn't even bother locking the door behind him since Jasmine wasn't there. She had texted him that she was going out to lunch with Rufus. He took it that she hadn't even thought to feed Lily lunch. He had felt bad for her and picked her up a turkey and American cheese sandwich from the deli. He had also gotten her a raspberry yogurt, a chocolate pudding, and two little cartons of while milk. It wasn't much, but it was better than the nothing that Jasmine had planned on giving her.
"I brought you lunch since Jasmine didn't seem like she was planning on doing it. She's out with Rufus for lunch," Brad said as he brought the food over to Lily.
Lily grabbed it; seemingly eager to eat. "Thank you." She started right away on her sandwich.
Brad nodded. "You're welcome. I just can't see starving you." He looked around for a place to sit, and when he realized there was none (other than the toilet), he opted for the floor. He sat cross-legged as he waited for Lily to finish her lunch. "Jasmine doesn't have a chair or a couch, or anything in here for you."
Lily shook her head, but didn't say anything. She took a drink of her milk instead.
"All you really have down here for entertainment is the television. How do you stay entertained?" Brad asked.
Lily shrugged. "I have no choice but to either watch TV—sometimes things I don't even like—or to sleep." She took another bite of her sandwich, and chewed thoughtfully. For a moment, Brad thought she wasn't going to say anything more. But then she spoke.
"Do you think you could at least bring me a chair or something? Sitting on the floor to watch TV isn't always the most comfortable. Also, maybe even some books to read?" she asked.
Brad thought about it for a moment. "I don't know. If Jasmine wanted you to have those things, I think they'd be down here."
"Please, Brad? She probably just didn't think of them. After all, she let me have a TV, right? She didn't originally have one of those down here. Would she really care if I had a chair to sit on while watching it, or a few books to read when I'm not? If anything, it will save her money on the electric bill if I'm not watching television all the time."
Brad sighed. "Well, she is a big fan on saving money where she can."
Lily nodded. "I'll barely have the TV on at all if I can have a few books to read. Please, Brad?" she tried again.
Brad sighed. It was nice to hear his name pronounced as it should be for once instead of Buh-rad. And Lily did kind of make a good point. What harm could a chair and a few books do? "All right. I'll see what I can do."
Lily clapped her hands. "Thank you!"
Brad nodded. "I'll go get those things. You just hurry up and eat. I have to get back to work."
Lily nodded as well, then went back to her lunch.
Brad then left the basement to go find the things she had asked for, wishing he wasn't such a softy.
R&L
"Do you feel better?" Jasmine asked with a smile as she watched Rufus eat his cheeseburger.
"I won't feel better until my wife in returned safely to me," he said, setting down his only half-eaten burger.
Jasmine held back a sigh. It was annoying her that he was being such a downer. Lily wasn't all that special. In fact, she didn't find Lily special at all. It was high time Rufus got over her.
She reached her hands across the table and placed them over Rufus' hands. "Worrying isn't going to bring her back any sooner. I know it's hard, but you have got to try to calm down, and think clearly. That is the only way you're ever going have a chance of finding her."
Rufus sighed, and was quiet for a moment before responding. "You're right. It's just so hard! I don't know where my wife is, or if she's even okay. Gosh, I don't even know where to begin to find her, and apparently, neither do the police!
Jasmine squeezed his hand. Good. "Don't worry—you'll find her! Trust me. If she was taken, then whomever took her took her for a reason. And what other reason could there be then money?"
"Yeah, well, if that's the case, then the sooner I get the ransom note, the better." Rufus picked up a fry and bit into it.
Jasmine nodded. Don't expect that ransom note. As nice as it would be to have that kind of money, there's no way you can receive one if I want you to think Lily left you. Of course she could never say that out loud. It was okay though. Sometimes just thinking in her head was more than enough.
R&L
"This is all I could find for you." Brad placed the stool down in front of the TV. "Jasmine only has a kitchen island to eat at, and of course she has bar stools for that instead of chairs. All the other chairs are too big and heavy to bring down here. Plus, it would leave a big empty space in the living room and family rooms if I took one of them. This will have to do."
Lily nodded, holding back a smile. A stool would work out even better than a chair for what she had planned.
"And these are the only books I could find. Jasmine is obsessed with the Twilight series. Sorry if you've already read them." He nodded toward the four hardcover books he had setting on top of the stool. "She has the Harry Potter series too, but they are at my house. I never read the series before, so she let me borrow them. In her closet are a whole bunch of trashy romance novels. I can try to sneak you some, but I'm not sure which ones she is currently reading. She might be more apt to miss those. After you get through these, I'll see about getting you some of those. Again, sorry if you've read the Twilight series already, but its the best I can do for now."
Lily shook her head. "I haven't read them yet. My stepdaughter has, but I never have. Thank you."
Brad hesitated for a moment, then grabbed Lily's trash (and empty glass from earlier), and headed out the door. "Just don't make me regret getting you those things."
"I won't! And thank you, Brad," Lily called after him.
Brad grunted a response, then left the basement, locking the door tightly behind him.
Lily waited a few moment to make sure Brad had left, then she shot up off the floor, and jumped into action. "Sorry, Brad, but you left me no choice," she said under her breath with a sigh. A stool instead of a chair and hardcover books instead of softcover? Four of them besides? Someone out there was definitely on her side!
She picked up the stool, and moved it against the wall by the window. The stool was at least a good then inches higher than a regular kitchen chair. Maybe even a foot taller! Those, paired with four hardcover books (their flat surface making it easier to stand on), would bring Lily just about to the window in the basement.
Lily had taken the books off the stool so that it would be lighter to carry. Now, she re-stacked the books one on top of the other. As she was talking to Brad, she had thought of something. It was something she couldn't believe she hadn't thought of before! Her hair was up—held up with hairpins. Hairpins could be used to pick locks.
She quickly pulled one of the hairpins out of her hair, and bent it open. Then, she worked on the lock to her ankle chain.
She worked for a good four minutes, and nothing was happening.
"Come on, please! You're my only hope!" she said to the hairpin, not caring how silly it was to talk to a hairpin. Then, just like that, as if the understanding her and listening to her, the hairpin made the lock pop open.
Lily felt her heart soar. "Yes!" She exclaimed. She pulled apart the cuff, and stepped out of it. She rubbed her sore ankle. It felt so good to be out of the ankle cuff and away from the heavy ball!
She had to work fast though, so she couldn't waste anymore time celebrating.
She quickly stood back up, and carefully climbed the stool. She had left just enough space on the seat of the stool so that she could step up on the bottom bar of the stool and then onto the seat of the stool. It would have been too hard to lift from the bar directly onto the books. Then, with precise care, she used her other foot to step on the top of the books. Then, ever so carefully, she moved her other foot from the seat of the stool to next to her foot on the books.
She was just inches away from the window. She reached over, and, with a grunt, managed to hang onto the windowsill.
She saw there was a latch. She undid the latch, and pushed open the window. Unfortunately, the motion of her leaning forward to push the window open all the way, caused her to lose her balance. The books went tumbling down to the floor.
She cried out, and quickly grabbed the window ledge again. "I'm sorry, Baby, but this is for our own good," she said to her unborn baby as her stomach pressed hard against the bottom of the window.
She pushed her head out the window. "Yes!" she said as she was able to crawl out just a little.
She placed her hands on the cool grass, and tried to push the rest of her body out. She was almost there! Just a little bit more and...
Her heart sank at the site of Jasmine's stiletto-heeled boots.
"Going somewhere?" Jasmine asked cooly.
Before Lily could even try to think of her next move, she felt something hard hit her head forcefully. And then she thought nothing at all as the darkness overcame her.
