Chapter 11

The four of them stood and stared at the man who seemed to have no regard for their further presence in the room.

"Hardison…Parker…take Sophie, I'll see you back at the pub." Eliot said not taking his eyes of the man sitting before him.

The two youngsters stared at the Hitter for a moment and then nodded. They did not know what Eliot was planning to do but they had an idea. Sophie stared at the Hitter and then at Jacob. She was not sure what Eliot's plan was, if he was going to torture the man she did not know to what end, she was sure he was not lying when he said he did not know where Nate is. If he was going to just simply kill him...well she decided looking over at Jacob and knowing that he had taken Nate from her, perhaps forever, she was alright with that too. She nodded to Eliot although he was not looking at her and then turned and left with the other two. Once they had left the room and closed the door Eliot moved to within inches Jacob who opened his eyes and smiled at the Hitter nonchalantly.

"I told you already my good man that I do not fear you."

"Maybe you should." Eliot said his voice low and hard, belaying the small smiled that played around his mouth.

"I don't know where Nathan Ford is." Jacob said feeling a sliver of fear run through him despite himself.

"I believe you." Eliot said.

"Then what…?" Jacob said shifting himself up in his chair. "Are you just going to murder me?"

"No... I don't do that anymore." Eliot said softly with the slightest tinge of regret in his voice. He would gladly have reverted back to his old profession, killing Jacob with ease and without remorse, but that was not who he was anymore and Nate would definitely not approve. "But you and I are going to have a conversation."

"About what…?" Jacob asked curious as to what the Hitter was up to.

"I believe you do not know where Nate is. But you hired a 'someone' to take him to wherever he is and I want the name of that 'someone' and you…" Eliot smiled down at the man. "My good man… are going to give it to me." Eliot finished reaching out and grabbing Jacob before the man even realised what was happening.

Eliot walked into Nate's old apartment above the pub to be met by three anxious people. He did not say anything just walking up to Hardison and handed him a slip of paper.

"What's this?" Hardison said unfolding the piece of paper and reading it.

"Two names…" Eliot said. "We find them…we find Nate." Eliot said simply. Then he turned and started climbing the stairs to the bedrooms.

"Eliot did you…" Sophie asked the question on all of their minds, but was unable to actually say the words.

Eliot turned and looked at the woman. He could see she had been crying. Her dark eyes bored into him the question was plain for him to read. He was just not sure what she wanted to hear.

"No…" He said softly holding her gaze. He was sure he saw a hint of disappointment in her eyes, but it was gone in a flash to be replaced with relief.

He smiled at her and then continued up the stairs and into the rooms to have a shower and change. It had been a long hard hour. Jacob may look meek and mild but he was obstinate and stubborn and had nothing to lose. Getting the two names out of him had taken Eliot back to a time he had hoped he would never have to revisit. He regretted nothing though, and if he had had to kill Jacob he would have done that as well, these people, these three people and Nate, were worth anything he had to do to keep them together and safe.

Hardison watched him go and then started tracing the two names on the slip of paper Eliot had handed him. He did not care how Eliot had got the names at all, just that he now had something to trace, a way to get to Nate. Sophie moved into the kitchen as Parker moved to stand beside Hardison as he worked. The despair of an hour ago had been driven back to be overtaken by a new sense of determination. They had a plan. They would find Nate and they would get him back. Thanks to Eliot, there was still hope.

So will they find the two men and will they tell them where they hid Nate? Will Nate still be alive when they find him? Thank you for all the reviews they are all greatly appreciated.