Chapter 10
John sat at the table, the coffee largely untouched, his head resting in his hands. Someone had called the police and they were searching the arena for clues. Cody and Randy had elected to stay with John, and Vince had made the announcement that Morrison vs Henry had been cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances beyond WWE's control. John hated bailing out of a match, but everyone had understood. Mark Henry had even come to make sure he was alright. Gossip had spread backstage like wildfire, it seemed that everyone had a theory, but nobody had any concrete answers.
"John?" Randys voice pulled John out of his daydream. "John the police want to talk to you, and you too Cody. They want to know about the telephone call you received."
John automatically stood up, still in a daze, he said nothing, merely nodded. His face was pale, causing the dark shadows under his eyes to stand out even more than usual.
"C'mon man. Lets get this over with." Cody stood beside his friend, worried that John might not be able to make it on his own. "I'm right beside you. They'll find her" That seemed to pull John out of his trance-like state. His eyes wide with horror, glistening with the tears he'd been holding back.
"What if they don't find her?! What if something terrible happens to her? It'll be all my fault. I'm the one who brought her out here." He was rambling, Cody could see that, but he didn't want to have to slap him out of it. But taking one last look in John's eyes Cody could see his friend was riding real close to the edge of insanity. He slapped John hard, causing John's head to snap to the side sharply.
"Stop thinking like that. They WILL find her. She WILL come back to you safe and sound. You have to stay positive" Cody told him roughly. John looked at Cody and he could see the clearness back in Johns eyes. He was alert again.
"You're right. She will come back safe, because if they can't find her, I will" he smiled and Cody was scared that he had finally lost his mind.
"Is Steven Richards here?" John asked
Cody shook his head. "You have to go talk to the police John. Stevie Richards isn't important right now. Focus man"
"No you don't get it. I'm not crazy don't worry, but Stevie is very important right now. C'mon I have to find him!" John took off sprinting down the hallway.
Cody struggled to keep up with John, he was bolting through the arena. He nearly ran Maria over, and just about missed Batista as he ran to where Stevie was getting changed.
"Stevie...you have to help me" John panted breathlessly. "I need you to help me find Lydia. I know you're all up on your techno stuff. Is there some way to find her by her cell?"
"Yeah...if you're the FBI" Stevie shook his head.
"C'mon man. Don't hold out on me. I know you get all the latest stuff, some of it not legit. Please you have to help me!" John was staring at him. Finally Stevie cracked and sighed. He beckoned for John to come over to his laptop.
"I got this from a "friend" a few weeks ago. He wanted me to check it out for him. It's a new kind of software that doesn't need the phone you want to trace to call you first. I haven't had time to check it out, this would be the perfect opportunity. All I need is her number and her provider. I can have it up in about 10 minutes" Stevie started tapping furiously on the keys as John relayed Lydias number to him. Cody ran through the door just as John finished giving Stevie the information,
"John, dude. I don't want to have to slap you again, but the police want to speak to you" Cody crossed his arms. John waved at him to shut up, as he concentrated on Stevies laptop.
"BINGO!!" Stevie shouted, causing Cody to jump a little. "Lemme see if I can narrow it down even further. I don't know New York that well. Is Pete around?" Tazz knew New York better than anyone. Cody went to look for him, returning a short while later with the stout guy.
"What's up guys?" Tazz sauntered into the room, he obviously hadn't heard what had happened.
"Pete? Think you can tell us where about in New York this is?" John wanted to know.
"Sure can, that's part of my old stomping ground in The Bronx. That's Port Morris, um....That's E 136th Street. It's an old disused warehouse. Guess it missed out on the regeneration down there. Why?" Tazz looked at Stevie and John quizically.
"Because I think that's where Lydia's being held. I'm gonna head on down there." John started for the door.
"Oh woah!!! Wait a minute pal. Port Morris isn't a place you can just go strolling around in" Tazz grabbed Johns arm. "Don't get me wrong. I know you're tough, but you're also a pretty boy. That won't go down too well in The Bronx."
"I have to go Tazz. I don't know who has her, who what they'll do to her if I don't get there in time!" John was close to shouting. Tazz could see he meant business, so letting go of his arm, he nodded.
"I'll make a couple of calls, see if I can't get some guys down there to meet you." Tazz took out his cell, dialed a number and left the room.
Across town Lydia was coming to. She'd been knocked a little senseless and was finding it tough to focus properly. Then she realised, she was in some sort of disused warehouse, it was dark, and the light that did manage to get through was dulled by the dirty windows through which it shone. Trying to move her hands her heart sank as she realised that they'd been bound again, tighter this time. There was no chance of her breaking free of these ropes.
Sitting directly opposite her was Joey Mercury. He was touching his nose gingerly, swearing at the pain that waved through him. He noticed with delight that Lydia was now waking, he smirked, but didn't move, watching her try to fight against her ropes, he could take her right here and now and nobody would know, nobody could stop him, the thought made him shift a little uncomfortably in his seat. No, he was here to do a job, he was in the delivery business, and this package had to make it to its owner on time and in good shape.
"I wouldn't waste your time fighting them" he mocked her, his eyes blazing.
"You won't get away with this you piece of shit!" If she was frightened, there was no trace of it in her voice. Joey could see that he would have to do some more work to break her spirit, something he was looking forward to.
"Lydia, why can't you see that I already have. You're here and your precious boyfriend is nowhere around to protect you. I would call that "getting away with it"" Mercury laughed a cruel laugh.
"He'll come looking for me, or the police will find me" suddenly there was a trace of doubt in her voice.
"I wouldn't count on it honey. Melina is probably looking after him right now. He'll need all the attention he can get right now" Mercury laughed again, the same empty, cruel laugh from a moment before.
"Melina? Oh come off it. I know she's in it with you. You two are the only ones sick and twisted enough to think this up" Lydia snarled at Mercury
"That's where you're wrong. Melina has nothing to do with this. Guess you got that one wrong huh?" Mercury waited..
"Then....if Melina isn't involved, who else?" the doubt in Lydia's voice was more pronounced now, she really had no clue who was involved.
"Oh I have a couple of people involved. In fact why don't you meet one of them now. Contestant no 1, come on down!" Joey called to a figure that was lurking in the shadows. Lydia felt sick as the person came into the light and she could see just who had hit her with the metal bar.
"Maryse?! WHY?! I thought you were my friend!" The realisation hit Lydia like a stone, she felt sick to her stomach.
"Your friend?!" Maryse spat out the word "friend" as if she had a bad taste in her mouth. "Have you ever heard the saying "Keep your friends close and your enemies closer?" Lydia?!" she laughed a cruel laugh, her dark eyes blazing.
Lydia shook her head, trying to clear her thoughts. " I...I don't understand" she whispered.
"What did I tell you that first day we met?" Maryse swung the metal bar menacingly as she studied Lydia closely with hate in her eyes.
"You told me a lot that day, so what?!" Lydia thought for a moment, then it hit her. She felt the sickness in her stomach disappear and with it returned the old feeling of anger and revenge. Lydia realised exactly what Maryse wanted. John..
"You'll never get him you know." Lydia smirked at Maryse, defiant to the end. "You're not his type for a start, plus he's not into sloppy seconds. Ya know, after being with Mike, you're damaged goods" Lydia watched as Maryse shook with temper, waiting for the dull thud of the metal bar to connect with her skull again. When it didn't happen she opened her eyes and stared in shock before whispering,
"You!...."