11

C.J. was sitting in a laundry room with Elizabeth waiting for Kathleen to make her grand entrance. All she wanted to do was go find Matt, run into his arms and tell him how sorry she was that she thought he had cheated on her.

As Elizabeth had fallen asleep beside her, all C.J. could think about was that last week in Tahiti over and over. The way Matt loving held her each night and would ask each morning how she felt as if she would know within just hours that she had conceived, as if morning sickness was instantaneous.

C.J. smiled to herself as she thought about all the different ways he was trying fuss over her, and knew that when or if she did get pregnant, it would bring out this side of him she couldn't wait to see.

It really hadn't been that long since she had gotten off birth control, but she really thought she'd get pregnant on the first go around. Her disappointment came back as she now had time to think about it. All the doubts had time also to slip into her mind. What if she couldn't get pregnant? What if something was wrong that the doctor hadn't caught yet and she couldn't give Matt the one thing he wanted more than anything. He'd be so disappointed but wouldn't leave her. How would she handle that? Knowing that he gave up on one of his most important dreams for her? How different would that be from what Elizabeth had tried to get him to do 6 months ago when she asked him to quit for her.

C.J. then shook her head, 'I'm over thinking everything. Its only been one month. C.J. get over yourself.'

She stood up almost pacing as she waited for this dumb woman to show up. Matt must be tying himself in knots right now looking for her. All C.J. could think about was how neither her nor Elizabeth were being held at gunpoint and she still had yet to go to him. But if Elizabeth wouldn't accept that Kathleen was working against her then she would just run to her and that would put her in danger, possibly costing her, her life.

Even though Matt wasn't in love with Elizabeth anymore, C.J. knew he counted her among his friends and knew what it would do to him if something happened to Elizabeth. No, this was the only way. Hopefully this woman would show up before C.J. starved to death, she thought.

It took hours for Warren, the police and the federal agents that got called in to go through everything in McKinnon's apartment.

This was killing him. He took out her ring and twirled it around his finger over and over.

Hoyt came up and told him, "She called us and told us she got away from them. She took your gun. I'm sure she's probably just laying low for a while."

Matt shook his head, "She'd call me. I know she would. She wouldn't let me worry like this...even if..."

Hoyt finished his statement, "Even if she thought you slept with Elizabeth." Matt looked surprised and he continued, "I talked to Warren. He told me about what you two were speculating. Said something about you probably being slipped some drug. I'm just guessing here but you remember talking to Elizabeth and then the next thing you know, you're waking up?"

Matt nodded, "And then I go and find C.J. who was up all night crying her eyes out. Asks me why I didn't come home and if I slept at Elizabeth's house." He then looked back at the ring and said, "I told her I didn't mean to, but I didn't clarify what I didn't mean to do. She probably thinks I meant that I didn't mean to sleep with Elizabeth." He ran his hand through his hair, almost crying and said, "I meant I didn't mean to take my pain medication and pass out over there because that's what Elizabeth told me I did."

He looked back at the ring again and said, "I have to tell her. I'm scared to death Hoyt that something might happen to her and she'll...she'll still think I did that to her."

Hoyt patted his back and told him, "She knows you love her. Deep down I think she knows you'd never do that."

Matt then told him, "But what did she see? I mean for all I know, Elizabeth had me stripped down, in bed with her, kissing her or...worse...I don't even remember. What if C.J. saw all that. How much damage has already been done?" Then Matt seemed to lose his patience and headed back down the steps.

Hoyt hollered out, "Where are you going?"

Matt hollered back, "I'm going to see Mr. O'Malley and convince him to tell me where my wife is." He threw open the door to his car and tore off down the street. Hoyt watched him go and just prayed he wouldn't do anything to get himself arrested.

An officer then came up behind him and told him, "Sir, I think we may have something."

C.J. heard the door open and then slam shut. It woke up Elizabeth and the two got closer to the door to hear O'Malley say, "Its about time. What are we going to do next?"

They heard Kathleen say, well they heard most of it because she was still talking rather softly, "Go to plan C I guess. I've been waiting at Elizabeth's house but it doesn't look like she going back there. So I made a list of all the places her Mr. Houston likes to hang out, the penthouse, a cabin he has in Pinewood and a couple of local hotels he keeps a tab with. Now, I don't think they headed to the cabin because we have the wife's wallet and Elizabeth's purse so they have little money. O'Malley I want you to check out the penthouse and the hotel across the street to see if they're there. McKinnon I want you to check out these two hotels."

O'Malley then asked her, "And where will you be?"

She answered, "At the warehouse, pier five, where we were holding her before someone screwed up and let her go."

Craig then asked, "Ok, but what's plan C?"

She smiled and then answered, "We catch both of them and hold them for ransom. Houston is loaded and its clear he'd do anything for both of them. We'll give him one when he turns over Elizabeth's money and the other when he turns over his."

O'Malley then said, "I say we don't give him the wife back, not in one piece. He's responsible for Deborah having to live in that jail cell for almost a year. I say we send her back in pieces."

Kathleen said, "Maybe you're right, I hated seeing my old friend suffer the way she did. Just do whatever, after we get the money."

They agreed and C.J. watched as Elizabeth just dropped to the floor. Although she was still a little angry for what she did with Matt, she looked broken. C.J. told her, "They're gone, we can go. I think since your house is so close by and they won't be looking for us there, that's the place to go."

Elizabeth just nodded and told her, "I'm sorry...you don't, I mean...after what I did I..."

C.J. knew she was probably trying to apologize for what she did with Matt but not able to get the words out. So C.J. told her, "Listen we can discuss all this after we get out of here and contact Matt."

They got up and slowly, cautiously made their way out and to Elizabeth's house. All the way she kept saying, "I can't believe she'd do that to me. I thought she was my friend."

C.J. kept reassuring her over and over that Matt was a true friend and would always be there for her. C.J. was so relieved when they got in and locked up behind them. She asked Elizabeth if she could shower and change.

Elizabeth just sat in the living room and told her, "Yes that's fine. There are plenty of clothes to choose from that should fit. I'll...I'll just be down here."

C.J. walked over to her one more time and told her, "Why don't you get something more to eat, huh. Those peanuts were good, but not really filling."

She nodded her head and told C.J., "You just go change and I'll call Matt to tell him where we are." C.J. agreed and went upstairs. Elizabeth didn't call Matt though.

Matt had enough of the waiting. He needed to find her now. He knew O'Malley would know more about C.J. disappearance and all he could think of was how he wanted her back.

He got out of his car and banged on the door. When no one answered, he pulled out his breaking and entering kit and picked the lock. It wasn't difficult and he walked right in. The alarm was blinking but not activating. Upon closer inspection someone had rewired it and hacked into it disabling it.

Matt's heart began to swell. That had to have been C.J. who did that, which meant she had broken in here. He began looking around for evidence of her presence when he went into the laundry room. A pool of soda seemed to be coming from behind the dryer and when he looked he found two cans with lipstick and an empty bag of peanuts.

He smiled and thought they had hid out in this room and probably learned more about O'Malley and his operation. But why didn't they call him when they got out of here? He ran his hand through his hair and continued to look around.

He found some empty beer cans in the kitchen and a couple of gun cartridges in the patio area outside. In the study he found on the desk an notepad with a confirmation number for two tickets to Ireland and a credit card number with E.S. notated beside it.

He thought to himself, 'Probably having Elizabeth pay for their escape.'

As he was about to leave he noticed a folded up piece of paper under a couch. He went over, bent down and picked it up. It had a list of places under Matt's name, his penthouse, beach house, cabin and hotels he used for business and friends when they came to town.

He furrowed his brow and then called the office. Chris picked up and he told her, "Listen Chris, I want you to call down to Barney and tell him not to allow anyone up to the penthouse unless its us or Warren or Hoyt...Chris?"

Then Matt heard a scuffle and hollered into the phone, "Lay one hand on her and you're dead..." Then the phone hung up. He called quickly to the security desk but didn't get an answer. Then Matt ran back out to his car.

He called Hoyt and got Warren instead as Hoyt was still at McKinnon's apartment. "Lt. Hoyt's office, Det. Warren speaking."

Matt forgot for a second that Chris and Warren were dating and said, "Warren, listen, there is an intruder in my office. I need officers over there now, Chris..." He heard the phone hang up and then remembered they were dating. No doubt Warren was tearing over there himself at that moment.

Matt pulled in quickly to find at least 10 squad cars in the parking garage. He hurried up to the penthouse where Warren was directing all the men, "I want prints, DNA, if whoever did this so much as spit on the floor, I want it. No one goes home til she's found, got it."

Matt swallowed hard and looked around. Chris' desk was cleared and her chair overturned. There was also a small amount of blood on the door leading to the stairwell.

Warren walked over to it and stared for a moment. Matt walked up to him and said, "I called her when I found this."

He handed Warren the list and he said "They're looking for C.J. I'm sure. She got away from them. I know she's trained for years how to defend herself, but Chris...she doesn't have all that. I showed her a few things last week but...I'm gonna kill this guy when I find him."

Matt patted his shoulder and told him, "You'll have to wait your turn." Matt then walked back over to Chris' desk and then said, "If they came here then they are probably just going to keep going to all those places looking for her and Elizabeth."

Warren then took Chris' phone and called out holding the list, "Dispatch I want units at the following locations. We have a kidnapping and suspects are..." He proceeded to give the dispatcher all the information as Matt walked back into the penthouse.

He shook his head and said to himself, "C.J. please call me again and tell me where you are and that you're alright."