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A/n hello all... Here's the next chapter in the saga. Please enjoy!

Repercussions

Mason Parker dismissed his butler and other servants for the night thirty minutes after he returned from the party. He pulled off his tie and threw it down on the bed in disgust. The constant pandering was wearing hard on his patience. If he could tell just one of those stupid, simpering fools, what he thought of them instead of playing along with them in their rich and boring pursuits.

He turned on a soaring opera and began to sing "Nessum Dorma," in a rich tenor. The music only served to get on his last nerve rather than work soothing magic. He snapped off the I pod dock as he passed it to the huge walk in closet. The only thing that had him through the night was the knowledge that his plans were slowly falling into place.

He took off his clothes and hung them up precisely on their hangers in their proper place and order in the closet. He turned and went to the other side of the large area and opened a drawer. It held a pair of very old and faded jeans he wore only when he was sure of no disturbance. It wouldn't do to let the denizens of this wicked place see him out of his uniform. He removed another very old sweatshirt he'd inherited that had UNLV written across the front. He put it on along with white tube socks and an old dirty pair of running shoes.

He grabbed the keys to the light brown Honda Civic he kept parked in the old barn behind his house. He had the only keys to the old building. The servants had strict orders not to go within fifty feet of the place, but you could never be sure with people working for you.

He headed out of the bedroom and down the huge staircase that spiraled down to the first floor. The soles of his shoes squeaked on the black and white checkerboard tile of the entryway. He left boldly by the front door and shut it, locking it behind him. He walked around the house with only the moonlight to accompany him. He'd never been afraid of the dark as some people. He'd discovered that nothing in the dark matched his inherent darkness. He revealed in his self-awareness. Most people never recognized their dark potential. In a way, he had to thank his enemies for showing him all that he could be. He laughed aloud and the sound faded slowly away over the expanse of green grass as though tugged away on the tail of a kite.

He wanted to skip to his car like a little kid on the way to the county fair. The next step in his plan was about to be completed and he wanted to be there personally to look into the face of another traitor.


"It's your turn Spencer."

He motioned his little son forward to bat. Spencer came forward reluctantly. Diana spoiled him, with books and poetry. Didn't she realize that the boy needed friends and normal activities?

"I don't want to play daddy."

"Spencer… Don't argue with me! It's your turn to bat."

"But daddy, mommy said I don't have to play!"

"Spencer!"

The small boy began to tear up and it made William angrier. Why couldn't his boy just participate in the game and learn the skills of teamwork he'd need when he went to school. Why did Diana have to interfere and take the boy's side against him? All he wanted to do was bond with his son and she refused to let him as though he might corrupt their boy.

"Daddy, please help me." Spencer said from under his red cap.

Then, his face changed into another little boy. "Spencer?"

His son was gone as if the wind had blown his face away like sand before the wind.

"Riley! What are you doing? It's Spencer's turn up."

"Help me daddy," Riley said in Spencer's voice. He held up his small hands and William gasped. Red dripped from the child's hands and down the front of his team jersey.

"Riley!"

"Help me! He hurt me daddy. Why did you let him hurt me?" Spencer said. His face was back, but the blood remained.

"Spencer… I didn't -"

"I just wanted you to love me daddy. I played ball for you." The little boy in front of him rippled and became his adult son. Scarlet blood dripped from his mouth and from the gaping wounds in his chest as he spoke.

"I just wanted you to have a normal life."

He tried to run to his son, but his feet were stuck in the ground as though in sticky mud, but the dirt was dry as a bone.

"I just wanted you to love me for who I am."

"I'm sorry Spencer. I love you son. I've always loved you and I'm so proud of you."

Spencer became little Riley again. The boy slowly sank to his knees as more dark red blood that was almost black ran from the wounds in his chest. "Help me daddy."

"I can't move Riley!"

Riley coughed and rolled over. His face had turned white as chalk except for the blood on his cheek and chin. "Daddy…" He closed his eyes and stopped breathing just as William's feet pulled free of the ground.

Riley's face and body became the adult Spencer.

"No!"

He ran to Spencer's side, dropping to his knees. "I'm sorry! I just wanted to do the right thing. I wanted to make sure you're safe."

Spencer's eyes opened and William fell back in utter shock. "It's your fault dad. You didn't believe mom. You never listened to her."

"Spencer…"

William's eyes popped open. He sat up, his eye bulging into the darkness. "Let me out of here." He tried to shout, but his throat was so dry he couldn't speak.

His hand shot out feeling around for the plastic bottle of water left for him the last time the man had come to taunt him through the hole in the ceiling.

His hands finally closed over the now warm bottle of water. It had been half-full, the last time he'd taken a drink. He tried to make it last, but he was so thirsty. His tongue felt like someone had glued it to the roof of his mouth. He unscrewed the top off the bottle and brought it to his lips. The water was as warm as the air around him, but it tasted like ambrosia. He gulped it downfinishing it before he could stop himself, cursing his weakness.

You've always been weak. This is just proof of that!

Yeah… He'd always been weak. At least his heart had stopped pounding. The dream had scared him more than he could admit, but he'd have to keep that fear to himself. He had to trust that his son would figure out the pieces of the puzzle.

You don't really think he'll just sit down and sing Kumbaya with you when all of this is over?"

"I just want the chance to make it up to you." He tried to whisper against the dryness of his throat.

The tiny bit of water hadn't helped his thirst. Now it was worse than ever. He tried to stand but dizziness pushed him back to the dirt floor. He stumbled and fell with a thump on his left arm.

When would his tormentor come back? Surely, they hadn't gone through all of this just to let him die!

It would serve you right!

"I promise I'll do anything if I get out of here." He said to the darkness hoping that somehow his son would know.

The square of light opened up above him. He shielded his eyes as something thumped to the ground beside him. "Hey…" He croaked. "Let me out of here."

"You might want to look at that." The man's voice said. "Everything you see is your fault."

The square of light closed over his head. He reached out and snagged the bag. More bread and another two bottles of ice-cold water made his stomach burn with hunger and thirst. He managed not to suck down all the water in one gulp. The cold water was as sweet as time spent with the ones you love.

He felt around in the bag for a small digital video camera. He studied it for a long time. The man wanted him to watch this, which meant that he probably shouldn't look at it. He put it aside and sat up against the dirt walls. He sat staring into the darkness for a very long time before his curious hands picked up the camera.

Look at it and find a clue, if there is something there for you to bargain with….

He turned it on, seeing that the battery seemed to be working. He dropped camera the video began to play. "Oh God… No… What did you do?" He tired to shout. "What did you do?"


Angie unlocked the door to the very nice suite Parker had paid for, and dropped her purse on the small table. She tossed her wrap onto the table and turned for the bedroom. The night had gone extremely well. Okay, so she'd struck out with Dr. Reid, but with a little more encouragement…

She had enough money now to buy her own home and retire if she wanted to thanks to this last deal. Perhaps now that she could get out of the sex work game she could pursue something more permanent with Dr. Reid.

"Hello…" A voice said to her right and around the corner to the living area. She screamed as a pair of hands clamped over her arms.

She relaxed at the familiar voice. "Why are you hiding?" She asked.

"You didn't do your job Angie. You failed…" He shook her so hard her teeth rattled.

"I tried," She attempted to pull away from him, but he held on tight. "It's not my fault he wasn't interested. If you give me more time…"

"Don't play games with me." He growled in her ear. "You were hired to do a job."

"Get your hands off me."

"I don't think so." He let go of her until she tried to run. He grabbed her again slapped her hard across the face. "I think it's time you remembered who pays your bills, you filthy little whore."

He punched her hard in the stomach. She doubled over, crying hard as he picked her up and strode down the hall to her bedroom. "You'll do as you're told."

"No!"

"It's far too late for that Angie darlin'."

He threw her down on the bed and pulled a switchblade knife from his pocket. "You need to be taught a lesson."

"Please!"

"Go ahead and beg. Scream if you want... I like it when you bitches scream. The walls here are nice and soundprooffed. The boss made special modifications to them, so go ahead and scream."

He unzipped his pants and pulled his shirt over his head.

"No!"

"Whores don't get to say no baby."

She screamed and he laughed as he drew the knife across her face leaving a thin line that began to bleed. "Please…"

"It's too late for that. You're going to help me teach Dr Reid a lesson."

He kicked off his shoes, dropped his jeans, boxers and fell on her.