Chapter 12
Bessie walks up to Joey's door and knocks. She hasn't seen her Sister since thier talk about Dawson.
"Joey,dinner is ready." Bessie yells.
No response. So she knocks louder and raises her voice a little.
"Joey i said dinner is ready." Bessie says opening the door a little to look in.
The room is empty, on her desk is a note. It is addressed to Bessie.
Bess,
Went for a walk and then maybe over to Dawson's to talk to him some more. Be back later tonight, save me some dinner please.
love,
Joey
Bessie reads the note and smiles, maybe Joey will decide to take a chance on Dawson. He really seems like a nice guy. Hard to belive he is the same kid she has heard stories about, from when he lived in Kansas.
The night continued on, Bessie slowly begining to worry about Joey. She knows her sister should have been home by now, or at least called to let her know she was safe. She waits a little while longer and then calls Dawson's house, maybe he knows where she is.
"Hello, Leery residents." Gail says.
"Gail this is Bessie, i was wondering if Joey was over there by chance?" Bessie asks sounding a little woried.
"No Bessie, i haven't seen her since this afternoon. Let me ask Dawson." Gail says.
"No Bessie he hasn't seen her either. He wants to know if you want him to go look for her?" Gail asks.
"Yes i would and tell him thanks. I am going to call the sheriffs office." Bessie tell her.
"Ok let me know what you find out, i will have Dawson call you if he finds anything." Gail says.
"Ok and thanks Gail." Bessie says and then hangs up, dailing the sheriffs office.
Dawson grabs his jacket and starts out the door. When his mom grabs his arm, stopping him form leave just yet.
"Here son take my cell, so we can keep in touch. If you find anything call us or Bessie. Me and your dad are going to drive the streets of town and see if we can spot her." Gail says.
Mitch walk out of the living room with his jacket on and Gail's in his hand. he looks his son in the eye, seeing the worry there.
"It will be ok Dawson, i am sure she is fine. Just sitting somewhere thinking is all. Probablely lost track of time." Mitch says.
"I hope so dad, can you drop me at Pacey's house please." Dawson asks.
"Sure come on." Mitch tells him.
With that they are off. When they arrive at Pacey's he is waiting for them on the porch. He figured Dawson would come find him.
"Hey Pacey, i take it you heard already?" Dawson asks as his parents drive away.
"Yeah well when your dad is the town sheriff, you tend to hear things others don't." Pacey tells him.
"Ok so where might she have gone?" Dawson asks.
"Not sure, i know she likes to go to this place called the ruins. She says she does her best thinking there." Pacey tells him.
"Sounds like it might be worth checking out. Why is it called the ruins?" Dawson asks.
They have started walking away from Pacey's house. Pacey is leading them toward what he called the ruins.
"It is a place here in town, it looks just like the ruins in Rome. This old man had them built, his wife was to sick to travel. She so loved the ruins in Rome, that was his gift to her, before she died." Pacey says.
"Man talk about love. He had to love alot to do something like that. But can't you get into trouble, isn't it on private property?" Dawson asks.
"Yeah which is one of the thrills about going there. Not to mention the fact that it is really romantic at night." Pacey smiles.
"Really? I will have to remember that. Come on lets pick up the pace." Dawson says as he breaks into a jog.
Dawson and Pacey keep a steady pace toward the ruins. After about ten minutes, they arrive at the fence surrounding the property. Pacey leads them to a secluded corner and reveals a hole in the corner of the fence. They slip through the hole, and make thier way to the ruins.
"Wow, this is really cool. It even has it's own pond?" Dawson states.
"Yeah it is cool, but that is a lake, Not a pond." Pacey says.
Dawson is looking all around when he notices a jacket laying on the ground. He isn't sure but thinks he saw Joey wearing it or one like it.
"Is that Joey's jacket?" Dawson says pointing at it.
Pacey walks over to it and picks it up looking at it. He searches the pockets and pulls out a pice of paper. On the paper is Joeys name and some notes from one of her classes.
"Yeah it is, she wouldn't just leave it." Pacey says.
Dawson notices one of the sleeves is ripped. He walks over and examines the sleeve touching and finding something sticky on it. He pulls his hand away and what appers to be blood is on his fingers.
"Pacey, that is blood. JOEY! JOEY!" Dawson yells.
"JOEY POTTER! JOEY!" Pacey yells as well.
Neither of them hear anything, nothing. The only sound they hear is the wind blowing through the trees. They look at each other both fearing the worst. Dawson slowly opens his mom's cell and places the call.
"Mom, it is me, we are at a place called the ruins, we found her jacket. Mom the worst part is the sleeve is ripped, and there is alot of blood on it." Dawson tells Gail.
"Ok honey we know where you two are stay there we will call the sheriff, and Bessie and then head your way. Dawson stay calm, it might turn out to be nothing ok." Gail says.
"I will Try Mom hurry, every second counts." Dawson says and then hangs up.
"Man what do you think happened to her?" Dawson asks.
"I'm not sure. Maybe she caught her arm on something and cut it bad. She might be at the medical center getting it fixed." Pacey says.
"Wouldn't they have called Bessie to let her know?" Dawson asks.
"Yeah i am sure they would." Pacey says.
It isn't long until they hear the sirens of the sheriff's cars as they arrive on the scene. Mitch and Gail are close behind with Bessie bring up the rear. They all jump out of thier cars, Pacey's dad is the first to arrive where Dawson is standing holding the jacket.
"Son put that down and back up slowly." Sheriff Witter says.
"OK, but you don't think i had anything to do with this do you?" Dawson asks.
"I am not sure yet, but trust me i will find out." Witter says.
"Dad stop Dawson didn't have anything to do with this. He didn't even know about this place till i showed it to him tonight." Pacey says.
"That may be true Pacey, but he is holding and contamanting evidence. Something we may need to slove this case." Witter says.
"Ok, sorry Sheriff." Dawson says as he places the jacket back on the ground where they found it.
"Now every one here listen to me, no one was here except the sheriffs department got it. Get back in your cars and leave. Pacey head back home, we will talk more about his later." Witter tells him.
"Pacey we can give you a lift home." Dawson tells him.
"Thanks Dawson, saves me from having to walk." Pacey tells him.
"Dad it's ok right?" Dawson asks.
"Of course it is." Mitch says as they head toward their car.
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Joey slowly regained consciousness, her head was spinning. She had a major headache, and her hair felt matted. As she slowly became more aware of her surroundings, she realized she was in a moving vehical. Her hands and feet were bound, and she was gagged.
Panic started to rise in her mind, and she began struggling against her bindings. With great effort she managed to free one of her hands. She removed her gag.
"Where am i and what is going on?" Joey yells.
"Look, little Joey Potter is awake." Came a fimaliar voice.
"Drue what is the meaning of this?" Joey with anger in her voice.
"Simple Miss Potter, your new boyfriend has some paying up to do. You are the price." Came a voice from the driver's seat.
"Who is that, and what does my friend Dawson owe you?" Joey asks, worry on her voice.
The van stops and the tow men come into the back where Joey is. She sees now that one is Drue and the other is a guy she has never seen before. The stranger is holding a gun in his hand.
"So you are just friends?" The guy says casting a glance at Drue.
"Of course we are just friends." Comes Joeys response.
"Look Stan i am telling you, she is the key to getting revenge on Dawson. He has attached his self to her, even made a deal with me and my friends. Told me that if i leaved her and the other ones alone he would leave me alone." Drue tells him.
"I see, and did you take the deal?" Stan asks.
"Well i made him think i did. Then i went looking for you. I knew someone with Dawson's past had to have a rival." Drue tells him.
"I see, so you told Dawson one thing and then did another?" Stan asks.
"Of course, no way i would let some new upstart try and take over my school. I knew thier had to be a truce, at least long enough for me to find you." Drue says with a smile.
"You do realize when Dawson finds out you went back on your word, he is going to so kick your ass." Joey tells Drue.
"Some how i doubt that." Drue laughs at her.
"No what she said is true. He will figure this out, and when he does. Well lets just say that is when you will see Dawson's true colors. Although, if i was you i would be really worried. Me he will come after, that is ovious. You he will destroy, plain and simple." Stan says.
"Look just to clue you in. Me and a couple of my friends have already took him out once, we can do it again." Drue says with a satified smile on his face.
"Let me guess, in school, with a crowd, probably to protect,--- lets say little Miss Potter here." Stan says.
"Well yeah, how did you know?" Drue asks.
"You are so nieve, he did it to feel you out. To see what your strengths are and your weakness's. In other words, he was playing with you." Stan says.
"Well for some one playing with me, he was the one left laying in a puddle of blood." Drue says.
"Tell me though Drue, were you and your friends bleeding as well." Stan asked.
"Yes they were, they looked almost as bad as Dawson did. Amazing considering there were four of them to just Dawson." Joey says.
"Shut up bitch." Drue says as he raises his hand.
Stan moves between him and Joey leveling a cold stare at Drue. Drue slowly backs away.
"To late for that now Drue. I may want to get back at Dawson, But you will not hit her. Besides, if this little plan backfires, you will be in enough trouble with Dawson. Do you really want to add hitting her to the mix?" Stan asks.
"As for you Miss Potter, well lets just say that i was mislead. Be that as it may, i think you will still be useful. I think in time Dawson will figure out who has you, if not who helped. Then he will come looking for you. I promise you this, if you behave, no harm will come to you. If you try to contact anyone including your family. Well lets just say i am not opposed to using this gun, on you and on your friend Dawson." Stan says.
The fear in Joeys eyes is plain to see, she has no doubt what this stranger says is true. She doesn't know why or how she knows it, but she does.
"Wait so because i am friends with Dawson i can't see my family and other friends till you get your revenge? Tell me Stan, what is it Dawson did that could possible make this all worth it?" Joey asks.
"Yeah Stan i know my motive, what is yours?" Drue asks as well.
"Simple put, because of Dawson i spent three years in juvie. Locked down most of the day. He owes me for that. He shot that guy not me, but they found the gun on me so i went down for it. Now i will destroy his life like he destroyed mine." Stan says.
"Wait Dawson killed someone?" Joey asks.
"No, he shot someone. Big diffrence. Of course he really didn't have a choice. The guy had killed his girlfriend's. The only person who died was her. Which is why Dawson shot him." Stan says.
"OH MY GOD. He lost her to this man?" Joey asks.
"Yeah honestly though they weren't really boyfriend and girlfriend. I think they might have ended up that way. It was a tragic night all the way around. See Dawson Picked Mary up, and carried her fourteen blocks to the hospital, but it was too late. She had lost too much blood, Mary died early the next morning. This enraged Dawson to the point of extreme violence. He went looking for the guy who did it, and found him near his and my house. He shot him once in the chest, i have an idea why he decided to allow him to live. I found Erick several minutes later, see he was my bestfriend, Erick that is. I picked up the gun, and walked over to him just as the police got there. They saw me with the gun, Erick on the ground with a bullet in him. Two plus Two, means i did it. It took them a few days to realize Erick had killed Mary, so Dawson effectively took two birds out with one stone." Stan says.
Joey had just been sitting there Listening intently to the story. How very sad for Dawson, she is slowly realizing his life back there was alot worse than hers.
"You make it out as if he planned it, do you think he did?" Drue asks.
"He did, i think while he was sitting in that hospital waiting for her to die, he came up with the plan to take down the guy who did it, and the guy who was his biggest rival. Why i am not sure, to be honest back then i could never beat Dawson. Not that i didn't try, i did, several times, and lost every one. Make no mistake about it Drue, Dawson is the bad boy in this senerio. If he discovers this out too soon all will be lost and we will pay dearly. If he feels the way you think he does about this girl, not even the gates of hell will bar him from extracting his revenge on us." Stan says.
"You are making him out to be unbeatable, invinsable. Anybody can be beat. I think Dawson has finally met his match." Drue says.
"Lets hope you are right. As far as unbeatable, between me and you, he is unbeatable. You and three friends could only inflict they same amount of damage as he did to you. Drue i can tell you have never faced someone like Dawson, a person who has lived his kind of life. He will stop at nothing to make us pay for this. Which is why i won't hesitate to use this gun, on him and you Miss Potter. Are we clear about that. You can safely return to your family as soon as i get my revenge on Dawson. If you break that one simple rule i will kill both of you." Stan tells her.
"Look let me go i promise i won't tell Dawson a thing. Just don't do this." Joey pleeds with them.
"Yeah nice try, sorry it is done, now on to Kansas. Drue this is where you get off. Return home and keep tabs on Dawson, and keep me informed of his movements." Stan says.
Joey sits quitely back realizing she has no choice at this time. In her mind she is tring to work out a plan to let someone know what is wrong, where she is, and what is going on. She has to bide her time and do it slowly, maybe she will find help in Kansas.
Drue opens the door, and starts to get out. He pauses, turns and looks at Stan. Gets a huge smile on his face, and looks at Joey.
"We will see each other again, i promise. When we do Dawson won't be there to protect you." Drue laughs and then gets out.
"That guy has a few loose screws. He doesn't realize that death will be calling his name if Dawson figures out his part in it." Stan pauses then continues, looking Joey in the eyes. "Joey is it, i will make you this promise. While you are in my charge no one will hurt you, not even me. As long as you keep to our agreement you will get to go home unscratched."
Joey doesn't say anything she just sits back and closes her eyes. Stan takes that as her agreement and gets back in the drivers seat and pulls back onto the road. All the while Joey is slowly working out a plan.
'Someone in Kansas has to still be loyal to Dawson, i just have to see if i can't find one.' Joey thinks to herself.
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Dawson and Pacey are sitting in the backseat of his parents car, as the drive toward Paceys house. Dawson is staring out the window, with a feeling something just isn't right about all of this.
"Pacey has anything like this happened before here?" Dawson asks not looking away from the window.
"No this is the first time, as far as i know." Pacey says.
"I see." Dawson replies.
"Son is something wrong?" Mitch asks.
"I'm not sure dad, something doesn't seem right. I made alot of enimies back in Kansas, maybe one of them have come back for revenge." Dawson says.
"Oh son i think you are reaching here, i am sure all is well." Gail tells him.
"I hope so, really i do." Dawson tells noone inperticular.
They arrive at Paceys and drop him off. Mitch drives back to thier place noticing the silence in the car. He knows Dawson is worried, but isn't sure if he is worried about the right thing.
"Dawson, look you have to let go of the thought that it might be your fault. Anything could have happened, don't jump to any concluestions." Mitch tells him.
"I am trying dad i am, i just wish i knew where she was." Dawson says.
They arrive home, and Dawson immediatly checks the answering machine. There is only one message on it, he plays it at once.
"Dawson hey, this is Rachel, from Topeka. Hope you're doing good. Listen man i really need to talk to you give me a call when you get this, thanks. Bye." Rachel says.
Dawson grabs te phone and calls her back as fast as he can. He slowly grabs the phone and starts pacing back and forth, as his parents come in.
"Hello." A woman says.
"Hello Mrs Allen, this is Dawson. Is Rachel there?" Dawson asks.
"Sure Dawson how is things out there?" Mrs. Allen asks.
"Doing good Mrs. Allen. Staying out of trouble, but it is hard." Dawson says.
"Glad to hear it Dawson i really am. Ok Here is Rachel."
"Dawson hey man how are you doing?" Rachel asks.
"Great, Rachel, better than i thought. So what's up? Why did you need to talk to me?" Dawson asks.
"Just thought i would give you the heads up, Stan got out last week. He has been making a big stink about get back at you. Says it is your fault he went to juvie. I don't think you have to worry, he doesn't know you left yet, or if he does, where you went." Rachel tells him.
"Thanks Rachel, but i am a world away from that part of my life. Stan can stew in his own juices as far as i am concerned. Besides i am half way across the country he can't do anything to me." Dawson says.
"That is what i thought, but i wanted to warn you just in case. Besides i also wanted to let you know you still have friends back here." Rachel tells him.
"Thanks Rach, i haven't forgotten about you guys either. I will call you sometime in the near future. I have a few things to tell you, but i kinda have something going on now." Dawson tells her.
"Ok Dawson, sure call anytime. I will talk to you later. Bye." Rachel says.
"Ok later Rachel." Dawson says, and then hangs up the phone.
