Big D, Phyllis, Multi, and Coiley decided not to go into the office the next morning. They were still too nervous over things. So Coiley and Multi went to Big D's house for their meeting with the chief, and also to offer moral support (and so Skittles could also administer more Cuddle Therapy).
"We haven't heard anything . . . . not a thing from Reed and Corden," Big D said, as he began pacing the room.
"Maybe that's a good thing," Multi said. "I mean, no news is good news, right?"
"Potentially," Big D said. "But I'd still like them to call in."
As if that were a cue, Big D's wrist communicator began beeping. Immediately the chief activated.
"I hope this is either Reed or Corden," he said. "The anticipation is driving me out of my mind."
"Can't be helped, chief," Agent Corden said. "Reed and I spent the entire night with the dogs searching the area with the proverbial fine-tooth comb. Other than Fluey's communicator, his transformer, and his wallet, there's no other trace of him here. My guess whoever dumped his stuff kept going with him."
"I see. Are you heading back now?"
"Well . . . . . some of the dogs are going a little nutso here. See, there's this river . . . . or stream . . . . . or something like that where we are now, and the dogs seem to want to investigate it . . . . . we've looked down there already, though. Every inch of it. We didn't actually go into the river, though, we don't have the right equipment for an underwater search. I mean, we're not authorized to send for more agents without clearance from you first, chief."
"Very well. Call whoever you need to search this river or stream, or whatever it is. Leave no stone unturned. I have to know where Fluid is."
"I understand, Big D. Hopefully, wherever he is, he's alive!"
Big D then ended the connection and sighed.
"That's something," he said, picking up Skittles, and scratching her behind the ears. "But that doesn't set my mind at ease at all. I don't know if I'll be able to handle it if . . . . ."
Before Big D could go on, there was a knock on the door. Phyllis got up to get it. It was Luanne Sayers, a reporter for WHUH-TV, and a camera crew.
"Luanne Sayers, WHUH Eyewitness News," she said. "We want to get coverage of this. Franky McAlister's disappearance is a very high profile case, and . . . ."
"We know," Phyllis said. "Would you excuse me for a moment? I have to talk this over with the parties involved before we give you any statements."
"Sure," Luanne said. "But you know if you get this on national television, you're more likely to find him."
Phyllis didn't acknowledge Luanne, and she went to talk with Big D and the boys.
"I'm not sure about this," Big D said. "Getting the story picked up by the newspaper is one thing. Getting it picked up on television is another. I'm a bit worried about that."
"Have you ever been interviewed on television before, chief?" Coiley asked.
"I try to avoid it," Big D said. "I have been interviewed for newspapers over SSHQ matters, and in those cases, I never gave my full name. But never on television. I have several enemies, and I feel this would only put Fluid, and Phyllis, for that matter, in danger."
"Any photos for the newspapers?" Multi asked. "If not, I think it would be okay, chief, as long as we don't go into details about your day job, that is."
"And this is a good way to find Fluey faster, Big D," Phyllis said.
"Agreed," Big D said, with a sigh. Then he turned to Multi and Coiley. "You two better switch back to your other forms. Just to avoid questions, and most likely, they'll want to talk with Calvin Collins and Mark Mills, rather than to Coil Man and Multi Man."
"Gotcha, chief," Coiley said, and he and Multi used their transformers to switch over to their rock 'n roll forms. Once everything was ready, the group allowed Luanne and her crew in to be interviewed.
"If we're lucky, we'll be able to get this on the evening news tonight," she said. "If not, it'll probably get on the eleven o' clock news. We have to have time to edit it."
"Right," Big D said.
And with that, Luanne began the interview.
In the meantime, Fluey was still rolling down the highway in the back of Jake's van. He had been awake for at least twelve hours now, not being able to sleep. That drug Jake had given him did have some advantages, but Fluey did not want to be injected again. He was starting to wonder if Jake ever slept. For those entire twelve hours, Jake just kept right on driving. But this was going to change soon. Jake drove onto an exit ramp, and went directly toward a gas station.
"Just making a slight pit stop, Franky," he said, as he pulled his van next to one of the pumps. "You hangin' in there okay?"
"Mm hmm," Fluey said, nodding.
"Good, 'cause we've still got quite a ways to go."
Fluey told himself to remain calm. It was about all he could do anyway. He had been stuck in the back of Jake's van for at least a day and a half now. He wondered how much longer it would take to actually get to where they were going!
Jake crawled over to the back of the van, and kneeled next to Fluey.
"I'm gonna strike you a deal, okay, Franky?" he said. "If you promise not to scream, or make any kind of noise at all, I'll take the tape off, okay?"
Fluey nodded immediately. Slowly, Jake peeled the tape off. Though he wanted to, Fluey didn't say a word. Jake grabbed the bottle of water and allowed Fluey to take a couple of drinks from it.
"Good boy," he said. "Now, don't make one sound, or do anything that'll attract attention, you got me? If you do, then so help me, you'll regret it!"
"I promise," Fluey said.
Jake nodded, and tousled Fluey's hair a bit. Then he took a couple of pieces of black construction paper, and taped them over the back windows of the van. Then, he crawled over to the front seats, and pulled a curtain behind them, so nobody could see into the back of the van. Fluey wasn't surprised. He just leaned back against the side of the van, and sighed. It was about all he could do. He really didn't understand this Jake guy. One minute, he was acting like his friend, and the next, he was ready to tear him apart. One thing he knew for sure, he really didn't like Jake one bit, especially not after he kept running his hands through his hair like he did.
Fifteen minutes later, Jake returned to the van, and started it up, pulling out of the gas station.
"All righty," he said. "That oughta satisfy this ol' gas guzzler for awhile. And I didn't hear one single peep outta you, either, Franky. You're a good boy."
"Uhhh, thanks, I guess," Fluey said.
"You hungry, Franky? How 'bout some munchies?"
"Yeah . . . . okay, sure."
Jake smiled, and drove toward a McDonald's drive through. Fluey contemplated making an escape, since Jake would have to release him from the handcuffs so he could eat. But then he remembered how he hadn't been able to get away from this creep at the rest stop awhile back, which led him to handcuff Fluey t the bar in the van in the first place. He figured the only thing he could do was bide his time.
After getting the food, Jake drove on. He pulled into a parking space in a huge parking lot, grabbed one of the sodas, opened the lid, broke open a medicine capsule, and poured the contents into the soda. Then he put the lid back on, pulled a cheeseburger out of the bag, and went behind the curtain with the burger, and the soda.
"Okay, Franky boy," he said. "Lunchtime."
"Great," Fluey said. "Just one question, though. How am I supposed to eat with both my hands cuffed to this bar? Are you gonna unlock them or . . . ."
"Heh," Jake scoffed, as he started unwrapping the burger. "After what you pulled earlier? No chance, kiddo. I'm not dumb enough to do that. What I'm gonna do is hold it up for you."
"Ummm . . . . ." Fluey said. "I don't know if I'm that hungry."
"Come on, don't be difficult, Franky. Don't make me force the burger down your throat. I can force your mouth open, you know. Like this, see?"
Jake took his hand, and applied some pressure to Fluey's jaw, forcing the dark-haired Impossible's mouth open slightly. Then he pulled a small piece of meat off the burger, and put it into Fluey's mouth. Then he put his hand under Fluey's chin, and pushed upward, closing the teenager's mouth. For some reason, this made Fluey tense, and he swallowed that chunk of burger whole. Jake merely laughed, and leaned in closer to Fluey's face. He was so close, Fluey could practically see his skin pores.
"Your choice, Franky," he said, practically hissing. "Would you rather me force feed you? One little-bitty, itsy-bitsy, teensy-weensy bite at a time?"
"No!" Fluey shouted, nervously. He hadn't meant to yell, but he was just so nervous with Jake that close to him. It had been so sudden, even Jake was slightly startled by it. But he composed himself, and picked up the burger.
"All right, all right," he said, holding it up for Fluey. "But for Pete's sake, you don't have to shout!"
Fluey said nothing and took a bite out of the cheeseburger. He didn't like it, but he had a feeling he would like it even less having this creep's fingers that close to his mouth. Not that Fluey wouldn't love the chance to bite this guy as hard as he could, but he knew Jake could get pretty violent when he was provoked, so it was best not to try anything.
"That's a good little boy," Jake said, as he stroked Fluey's hair with his free hand. Once Fluey was finished with the cheeseburger, Jake stuck a straw into the soda cup, and held it up to Fluey's mouth.
"Here ya go, buddy," he said.
I'm not your buddy, you creep, Fluey thought. Wisely, he didn't say it out loud. He just sucked the soda through the straw. Almost immediately, he began to feel a little funny.
"Hey . . . ." he said, as everything began spinning. "What . . . . what's happening? I'm so dizzy all of a . . . . wh-what's going on?"
Fluey heard Jake laughing, and it seemed to echo throughout the van. Finally, his head slumped onto his chest, and he was out like a light.
"Don't you worry, Franky," Jake said, as he crawled back over to the driver's seat. "It's just a sleeping pill. A fast acting one at that. It won't hurt you, it'll just make you sleep for awhile, that's all. I promised I wouldn't shoot you with the needle, but I have to find some way of putting you out before we get home!"
Jack started up his van, and pulled out onto the highway, laughing all the way.