"Enemies to brothers." –Without You Here by Goo Goo Dolls
Chapter 9: Always Have an Escape Plan
"There you go," Neal said as he tied another strip of t-shirt against Elizabeth's bleeding wound. They had been here for three days, but neither captive knew that. Everything blended together so that they only had each other and their small attempts at making jokes.
"Don't you think you're going to need your shirt for protection?"
"No, I'm good. I'm superman," Neal said, flashing one of his famous smiles.
"Really? Then why don't you fly us out of here."
"No, I'm not really superman. I was only the director's second choice. The first guy was much more handsome I guess."
"Whose more handsome then you?"
"I have no idea, but apparently the director had bad taste."
The mood went solemn when Elizabeth said, "Do you think Peter will find us?"
"Of course he will. He found me."
"Twice."
Neal smiled. "Yes, twice. See, if he can catch the master, then he can catch these low-life scum bags."
Elizabeth moved closer. "I hope you're right."
"I know I'm right. I'm Neal Caffery."
Elizabeth and Neal sat there, debating on what they should do. Neal had tried picking the lock several times, but each time the noise had attracted the ever present guard. The end result was another wound for Neal to bandage up since Elizabeth nearly fainted at the sight of blood on television.
There was no other way out. They had tried everything, from attempting to break down the door to cracking the way too small with anything they could find. Everything had ended in complete and utter failure on their part, success and happiness for their captors.
"How much longer do you think it will be before your husband finds us?" Neal asked.
Elizabeth smirked. "He can't even be on time for a simple dinner, much less a rescues mission. I doubt he'll be here before tomorrow."
"I hate that about him."
"Do you want to hear the things that he hates about you?"
"Not particularly."
"Exactly, now you should stop complaining about other people's flaws when you have so many yourselves."
"Be quiet, you know you love me."
"Yes, but I love Peter first…then you third."
"Who's second?"
"Jones."
The two's conversation was interrupted by the door opening and Neal groaned, immediately knowing what time it was. Elizabeth just moved along, hoping that for once they would find it in their hearts to spare them.
Of course, they didn't.
Neal and Elizabeth exchanged curious glances while one of the more ape-like captors picked up a phone. "This should be fun," he said in his deep voice before pressing the dial button on the phone.
"What's he doing?" Elizabeth asked as quietly as she could.
"I don't know. Couldn't they just stick to their normal schedule of beating us up and then dumping us back?"
"No talking," grunted another one of the ape-like creatures.
"Hello, can I speak to Special Agent Peter Burke," the man on the phone said. Smiling as Elizabeth's eyes went wide.
"No, leave him out of this!"
"Elizabeth, be quiet! Peter will be able to handle himself," Neal warned.
"Get them a gag," someone shouted and immediately Elizabeth's protests were cut short by a dirty piece of cloth crudely tied around her moth. Neal was given the same royal treatment.
"Hi Agent Burke, how are you doing," the man on the phone said.
"Who is this?"
"Oh I think you know too well who I am."
"Bobby?
"Not exactly. You see, Bobby's services became useless after he made his little connections to you. I'm the big one in charge now. The man behind the curtain."
"You guys have a weird way of switching off leaders."
"Now, Bobby sent you some money?"
"Correct."
"And he told you about some game that we would play?"
"…Yes…"
"Are you ready to play?"
"Only if I get to talk to Neal and Elizabeth."
"You're not the one calling the shots here. I am."
"That will soon change if you want your money."
"I can get money elsewhere. You, on the other hand, can't get another wife and pet con easily."
"What's the game?"
"Bobby had three favorite places of his to visit. He went there almost every day when he was alive. At one of those places, Elizabeth will be. At the other, Neal will be. And at the final place, there will be a briefcase. You must go here first, put the money in the case and then you can collect your prize."
"That's it?"
"Yes. Very simple it seems, but you have twenty hours, so clock is ticking."
"Wait."
"What?"
"Why go through all of this trouble just to receive money that you had in the very beginning?"
"Because I have my own damn reasons! You have eighteen hours now!" End of phone call.
"You don't play by the rules," Neal said, his voice muffled by the gag.
"Shut it," the man said and drew back his fist for the punch.
Author's Note: Long time no see? My bad. I live up north where the freak weather has been freakish snow…all the time. Our power has been retarded too. You should all thank Tommy, our electrician, for getting our power back so I could write this. This story has very few chapters left, so get excited. And track has just started so I won't be able to update between all of the shit going on in my life. Thanks for your support so far.
Kai