I updated before a month was up! I see about two more chapters and an epilogue for this story.

Exciting news! Elevators has been nominated at the MYSTIC AWARDS under SEXIEST STORY! Please vote for me at: http://themysticawards(dot)webs(dot)com/index(dot)htm Voting starts today.

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Many thanks to katmom for beta'ing. And putting up with my ADD tendencies. I clog up her inbox with drafts and drabbles. She fixed up my chapter with her magical touch, it now makes much more sense!

This chapter flips between Bella and Edward's POV (yay EPOV, finally!)


Chapter 13

BELLA

The first thing Bella was aware of was a throbbing pain on the left side of her head. She tried to lift her hand but was unable to move it.

Feeling heavy, she tried to raise herself to a sitting position, but found her hands were tied behind her back, a gag around her mouth.

Slowly, her memory came back to her and she realized she must be with James.

What had she been thinking to go out and meet Lauren when she knew James was looking for her? Bella mentally berated herself, tears of fright and frustration sliding down her cheeks.

She concentrated hard to control her emotions. It wouldn't do to become hysterical; it would only make things worse. Taking several deep breaths, Bella managed to wiggle her way to a sitting position against the wall and surveyed her surroundings.

It was a large bedroom; she was sitting at the foot of the bed on plush, carpeted floor. There was a window on one side where sunlight was coming through, indicating that it was still daylight. On the other side there was a door which led to an ensuite bathroom.

It looked like a hotel room and a fancy one at that. Bella could only hope that James would've been stupid enough to check in using a credit card.

Footsteps sounded on what must have been a hardwood floor in the adjoining room. Bella listened to them come closer, dread building in her body, unable to keep the terrified noises from leaving her throat.

The clarity of the steps became muffled, as her captor stepped into the carpeted room. James crossed the floor, coming to sit on the bed, his light eyes resting on her.

"Ah, you're awake," he said, smiling. "I was starting to worry that I'd hit you a little too hard, but I think you'll be fine."

He looked at her expectantly, as if waiting for her answer. Bella raised her eyes to meet his gaze before sliding her focus back to the floor. "Look up at me," James commanded.

Reluctantly, Bella did as he asked. James was staring at her, a mixture of lust and curiosity in his face. She cringed, fear creeping its way down her spine.

"Poor girl, it's hard to speak with that around your mouth isn't it?" He made a clucking noise with his mouth, hunkering down to the floor beside her.

Bella shied away, shrinking against the wall as far from him as possible. James touched the gag. "I can take this off of you, but I'm sure if I do you'll scream the place down. So, I have some insurance against that."

He pulled out a gun, holding it loosely in his hands. "I'll take the gag off, Bella, but I'm going to keep this out," he said, waving the gun. "If you scream, or make a break for it, I won't hesitate to use it on you. Not to mention that boss of yours, Edward, was it? I really don't want to have to shoot either of you, so will you behave yourself?"

Bella hesitated, her mind racing with her options. She was sure James was dead serious about shooting her if she did anything to give them away and there was no way to attempt to overpower him tied as she was. Seeing no other way around it, Bella nodded her assent.

James untied the knot of the gag behind her head, removing it from her mouth. Bella coughed as her body worked to remoisten her tongue.

"Better?" James asked.

"Yes," Bella answered, knowing it was what he wanted to hear. "Where are we?" she ventured to ask, her voice raspy.

"In a hotel room, one of my favourite haunts. It's temporary though. We'll be moving to a more secluded area soon."

Alarmed at the mention of moving, Bella asked, "Secluded area?"

"A sort of cabin, or cottage, if you will. It's a ways from here, in the Big Bear area, and quite remote. You'll like it there, once it's ready for us to move into."

"Are…you going to untie me?" Bella fought to keep her voice at normal pitch.

"No. I can't risk you flying at me, as amusing as it might be. I am sorry about that bump on your head, but there just wasn't anything for it."

"Lauren…" Bella said, remembering how she had yelled out to her before James had knocked her out.

At the mention of her name, James' face lost any humour it had.

"That was a part of the plan that didn't go as I'd intended. Stupid bitch wimped out at the last minute; begged me not to make her go through with it. And now…well, even if she does go to the police, there isn't too much of a chance they'll find us."

Seeing that he wasn't adverse to answering questions, Bella continued, "Why did you involve Lauren at all?"

"Well, after Edward fired her, she came to my firm for an interview. When I found out she had worked for Empire One, it was easy to get the story from her. 'Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned,'" he quoted. "She was willing enough, and managed to get your contact information to me. But, like I said before, as things progressed she became disappointingly moral."

Digesting this news, Bella fervently hoped that Lauren had gone to the police or even Edward. She was sure they would have noticed her absence by now.

"Why are you doing this?" Bella's voice rose, as the panic she had been trying to keep under control broke to the surface. "Wasn't high school enough?"

"That's just it, high school wasn't enough. I never got to enjoy you fully back then, did I? Then, at the conference, when Cullen stepped up, acting all alpha male…it was just too delicious a challenge to pass up."

There was a knock on the door, causing Bella's head to whip in its direction, hope flaring in her eyes.

James caught her look and shook his head, amused. "Room Service, and I can't have you making noise, so I'm going to have to put you elsewhere." He retied the gag around her mouth and dragged her into the bathroom, closing the door behind him.

Bella tried to make as much noise as she could, but it proved difficult, tied as she was and she ended up sweaty and breathing hard from her efforts.

Too soon, James opened the door, to drag her back out into the bedroom. "Same rules apply," he informed her before removing the gag from her mouth again. "I thought you might be hungry."

Bella had no intention of eating anything James offered her. Moreover, her stomach was too knotted to tolerate any food. "I don't want to eat."

James shrugged. "Some water then?" When Bella didn't immediately refuse, he brought a bottle out, uncapped it and held it to her lips.

Her throat was too dry to resist and Bella gulped down half the bottle, though a lot of it splashed down her front.

She noticed James staring at the wet patch on her chest, his expression turning licentious.

"Soon," he whispered, as if to himself. "All right, I'm going to go out for a bit and set things up at our next location. Now, so you won't miss me…" James brought out a rag, and held it over her nose and mouth.

Bella took an unwilling breath, her nostrils assaulted by a strange sweet smell. Her eyes closed as she faded, once again, into blackness.

***********

EDWARD

The meeting was going long, making Edward impatient, his foot unconsciously tapping underneath the table.

Jasper, who was sitting next to him, was also glancing at his watch with increasing frequency.

Security at Empire One was good, with no unannounced strangers being allowed up to their floor. Still, Edward felt edgy. His first priority was Bella's safety and he would do whatever it took to make sure she stayed out of harm's way.

Finally, the last presentation came to end and Edward promptly dismissed everyone. As was his habit, he glanced over to Bella's work area and saw that it was empty. Trying to quell a sense of foreboding, Edward went to check the copy room, also finding it vacant.

He scanned the offices for signs of his assistant as he walked towards Jasper's office where he knocked on the doorsill. The blond man looked up.

"Jasper, have you seen Bella?"

"No, isn't she in her office? Or maybe in the copy room?"

"I've checked both areas, she's not in either spot or anywhere else that I can see."

"I'll call Alice, maybe they met for coffee or something." Jasper picked up the phone while Edward went out to ask Emily if she'd seen Bella leave the office.

The dark-haired girl told him Bella had run downstairs for a coffee.

"When was this?" Edward asked, his words coming out more harshly than he'd intended.

"A little over an hour ago…is something wrong?" Emily asked worriedly when Edward swore. Bella simply wouldn't take such a long break in the middle of a work day.

"Did Bella say where she was going?"

"No, she didn't. Do you want me to call her?"

"I'll do it." Edward came around behind the desk and dialed Bella's cell phone. It rang repeatedly before switching over to voice mail. He hung up and tried again, only to get the same result.

Now filled with apprehension, Edward slammed the receiver down, making Emily jump in her seat.

"I'm sorry, Emily, it's not you." He stopped short when he saw Jasper come up to him.

"Did you find her?" He asked. "Alice hasn't heard from her all day."

"No. I'm going to call her father." Edward was about to follow through when Emily's phone rang. He picked it up before Emily had a chance to react.

"This is Edward Cullen," he said shortly into the phone.

"Oh, Mr. Cullen, I wasn't expecting for you to answer," came a surprised male voice over the other end.

"What is it?"

"There's a Lauren Mallory here who wants to see you."

Lauren…Edward wondered what it was she could want now, he was about to tell the security guard to turn her away, but the man continued, "She says she has to tell you about Bella and James. She seems really agitated…should I let her up?"

"Yes." Edward hung up, dreading the worst, and walked through the main doors to wait for the elevator to bring Lauren up.

After what seemed like an interminably long time, the doors to one of the elevators slid open and Lauren stepped off.

She looked shaken, her blue eyes wide with distress. Seeing Edward standing in the office foyer, his face hard and unforgiving made her shoulders slump with guilt.

"What do you know about Bella?" Edward started in, foregoing any pleasantries.

"James has her."

Edward felt his body go cold. For a moment, he was unable to process what she had said.

"Lauren, you had better not be fucking with me."

"No, no I'm not…I wouldn't, not about something like this."

"How do you know James has her?"

"I…I was there when he took her."

"Where were you?"

"We were just outside Crave…"

Edward didn't stay to hear the rest of what she was going to say. With a sharp order to Jasper to keep Lauren there and to call Chief Swan, he took off down the stairs, not bothering to wait for the elevator.

Uncaring of the curious stares he was getting as he raced across the lobby, Edward practically crashed through the door in his haste to get to the coffee shop where Lauren had last seen Bella.

Once there, he looked around outside hurriedly, then went inside. It wasn't too busy and there was no sign of Bella.

Desperate, Edward went back outside, this time carefully examining the area. His eyes fell on a pink object on the ground.

Bending down to pick it up, he saw it was Bella's cell phone, the charm hanging from it giving away its ownership.

Realization sank in then, James had taken Bella and he had no idea where they could be.

With the phone clutched tightly in his hand, Edward rested it briefly against his forehead. A deadly rage rushed through him.

The one thing he held most precious had been taken from him, and he would do anything in his power to get her back.

James had made the biggest mistake of his life.

************

BELLA

Disoriented, Bella became aware that she was awake. Her head felt heavy and fuzzy from whatever drug James had made her breathe. From the pressure in her mouth, she knew that James had put the gag back on her while she'd been knocked out.

She had no idea how much time had passed or what time it was at all. There was no clock that she could see in the room, at least not from her position on the floor.

The room was growing dark, indicating it was evening.

Bella struggled against her bonds, in a vain attempt to free herself. However, the ropes were tied tight and her body was still feeling the effects of being drugged.

Another, horrifying thought came to her as she lay on the carpet. Had James raped her while she was unconscious? How could she check?

Thinking back on it, Bella knew she had woken up in pretty much the same position she had been in when James had drugged her. And, as far as she could tell, she wasn't sore and her clothes weren't disarranged.

The door to the bedroom opened then, light from the adjoining room spilling in.

James switched the lights on, illuminating the room, causing Bella to squint.

"You've slept the day away," he commented. "While you were getting your beauty rest, I was getting my cabin ready for our arrival. There no one can disturb us."

This new revelation threw Bella into a pit of despair. If James managed to get her to the cabin, it would be that much harder for anyone to find her.

She wanted to scream when he brought his finger to her cheek, running it down her neck to her collarbone. Her body jerked away from his touch at which point James grabbed her painfully by her hair, forcing her face up to look at him.

"Still the little spitfire, aren't you? Not so fun now that you don't have your friends or Cullen to rush to your aid. It's a matter of time, Bella. Soon we'll be isolated, where no one will be able to hear you, and then I'll finish what I started that night in senior year. I could easily have taken you here, but thought you might want a more romantic setting for our first time."

He abruptly released her head, causing it to thump back against the wall. Bella winced at the impact.

James gave her an unpleasant smile. "It's best you get some rest now, my sweet, you're going to need it. There are still a few things that need to be done to the cabin so we'll be here until tomorrow night. I won't drug you again since I'll be staying here tonight. Do remember, I have the gun."

Running his hand over her tangled hair, James left the room, switching the lights off and closing the door behind him, leaving Bella in the darkness, alone once more.

Tears of terror and misery wet Bella's eyes, dripping down her cheeks and onto the carpeted floor.

She could only hope that Edward would find her before James could move her to the cabin.

*************

EDWARD

Edward was in his office, waiting for Charlie Swan and Emmett McCarty to arrive, and doing an extremely poor job of being patient.

He was constantly in and out of his seat, pacing the room. He had loosened his tie, rolled up his shirt sleeves, and run his hands through his hair so many times it was practically standing on end.

In his hand he still held Bella's cell phone, unable to let go of the object that was a part of her. He couldn't think of anything else, his mind going over and over what he could have done differently.

She had entranced him since the first day they'd met. She was beautiful, with her dark hair that tumbled over her shoulders and the deep brown eyes that he could so easily get lost in.

More than her physical beauty, it was her open, giving nature and her easy laugh that held him under her spell. He thought back to that first incident in the elevator, he'd never felt such a strong attraction for a woman before and he'd been conflicted when he found out she was going to be working for him.

When Bella had told him she loved him, it had inspired a kind of happiness he hadn't known was possible. This woman, who he adored beyond reason, was finally his.

And he'd be damned if James thought he was going to take her away from him.

Empire One had, uncharacteristically, closed down for the day. Edward had ordered everyone out, with the exception of Jasper and Lauren, knowing that no work was going to get done and also knowing Charlie would want a look around the office and its surrounding areas.

After he had come back from the coffee shop, he had sat and questioned Lauren within an inch of her life.

To her credit, Lauren had obediently answered everything to the best of her ability, weathering Edward's obvious disgust when she admitted to giving Bella's personal information to James.

She had meekly agreed to stay until Charlie and Emmett arrived and was now sitting quietly in the conference room.

"Edward?" A quiet voice interrupted his thoughts. He stopped his pacing to see Alice in the doorway, concern etched over her usually cheerful face. "I had to come over. I couldn't stand being alone. How are you?"

"I've had better days," Edward said, putting Bella's phone down on his desk, his fingers lingering on its cover. "I can't stand the waiting. We don't know where he is or what he could be doing…" He didn't finish his sentence. "I failed her, Alice. I couldn't protect her."

"No, Edward." Alice walked up to him. "You did everything you could. Don't beat yourself up over it."

"Why did she go to meet Lauren? When she knew James was out there?" Edward asked, his anguish over the entire situation making itself known.

"I don't know." Alice put a comforting hand on his arm. "Bella is always one to want to help. She was probably lulled into a false sense of security when nothing happened immediately."

"I'm afraid we won't be able to find her in time," Edward said, throatily.

"You will find her, Edward. I know you will." The words came out in a near whisper.

Their eyes met and Edward put his hand over hers, both of them united in their mutual concern for Bella. He felt the beginnings of a sibling-like bond with the petite girl.

"Edward," Jasper came into the office. "Charlie's here…and Emmett. They're in the conference room with Lauren."

Edward walked swiftly towards the conference room, trailed by Alice and Jasper. Inside he saw Charlie and Emmett, in casual clothes, interrogating Lauren.

The bigger man glanced at Edward, giving him a grim smile.

"Ms. Mallory, how did James treat you in your dealings with him?" Charlie asked, a small notepad in his hand.

"At first he was understanding. But he turned cruel when I didn't want to carry out his…last plan to lure Bella to him. He threatened my family so I did what he wanted. I'm really sorry Chief Swan, if I could take it all back I would."

"I'm sorry too, Ms. Mallory. Since you've assisted James you're an accessory to the kidnapping. We're going to have to bring you down to the station. But it's in your favour that you're helping us find them. Emmett, take her down to the car, Robbins is waiting down there."

Lauren's face grew paler, but she didn't protest and quietly followed Emmett out of the room, keeping her head down as she left Empire One. Edward noticed Alice's eyes following her, distaste clear in her expression.

Charlie turned towards Edward, meeting the tall man's tense gaze with his own. The strain of the situation was apparent in the haggard look on his face.

"Give me some good news, Charlie," Edward said. Bella's father rubbed his chin in a restless gesture.

"Wish I could, Edward. Fact is we don't know where James could be."

"Charlie, they've come through with the search warrant for McAlister's apartment," Emmett interrupted, holding his phone to his ear. "I'm going to go down there myself."

Charlie nodded his consent.

"I want to go with Emmett," Edward stated. "And look with him."

"I didn't hear anything you just said." Charlie turned to Emmett who had returned from escorting Lauren. "See that you are able to search the area properly." He purposefully strode away to check on Bella's office.

Emmett winked at Edward, waving him over to the door.

Edward looked at Jasper. "Are you all right with staying here and aiding Charlie?"

"Of course, and I'll call if anything changes at all."

"You'll find her," Alice repeated her words from earlier.

"I hope so," Edward said, he gave the two a brief, hard smile before heading towards the elevators with Emmett.

**********

Emmett stopped outside of a beige building in Pasadena. The bright sunny day was in direct contrast to the mood of the two passengers inside the car.

"Edward, I probably don't need to tell you, but don't touch anything in McAlister's apartment. And put these on." Emmett tossed a pair of latex gloves to Edward as they got out of Emmett's car.

The two men looked up at the tall apartment complex looming before them.

"So, that's where this asshole lives," Emmett commented, shielding his eyes against the sun. "Let's go, bro."

Having arranged things with the landlord on their way over, Emmett and Edward were duly escorted up to James' apartment by a middle-aged woman who didn't encourage any conversation. She opened the door for them then left them to their devices.

The apartment was fairly large and quite neat. Edward followed Emmett's lead, being careful not to touch anything.

It seemed a pretty standard place, TV, CD/DVD shelf, bookshelf, a kitchen that didn't look like it got much use.

While Emmett was examining the bathroom and bedroom, Edward took the time to peruse the living room.

As he went through the room he grew more and more disheartened, seeing nothing out of the ordinary, no clue as to where James might have taken Bella.

Still, he continued, combing over the same places he'd already looked until, finally, something caught his eye.

His attention was drawn to a small piece of paper that was on the floor, next to a side table that held the phone. It looked as if it had been ripped and the scrawl showed the writing had been hurried.

He picked it up in his gloved hand, squinting in an effort to decipher the script. The black squiggles started to make some sense.

The Langham

626 –

The rest of the number was torn off but it didn't matter. Edward had what he needed.

The Langham.

For the first time, he felt hope flow through him.

Hold on, Bella, he thought I'm coming.

A/N: Did it live up to expectations? I'm a little nervous… And please vote! Thanks for reading (and reviewing)!