Trifecta

Disclaimer: I don't own iCarly

A/N:

Chapter 14 (The Bitter Truth)

The warehouse was in the middle of what was Seattle's warehouse district, right beside the docks. A perfect place to hide out at, and a perfect place to dispose bodies, as the Seattle Mafia had used it for decades before the police quieted their operation fifteen years ago and left the docks and warehouse district behind to crumble. It was a misfortune that the man Freddie's father had been chasing in the other town had allies in the mafia, a hunch that John had not seen coming.

"Freddie must have gotten too close, like his dad." Stepping into the warehouse district sent a bone chilling tingle through her. She hugged her stomach and looked from left to right down the empty street. "Even I've never been out here."

In front of her was the large building that was amazingly still standing despite its shoddy exterior. On it read Chang's Fish Distillery. "Why? Why couldn't it be an oil factory?" Hell, Sandal's Steel Mill, and West Oil Depot were two warehouses she passed along the way.

She pressed her back against the wall beside the door and looked to the sky, trembling as she pleaded internally not to get caught. She had no weapon, just her fists, and this time she was almost certain Nora didn't have a pit that she could be thrown down in.

The nerve-wracking part was that Nora had a point, Sam could still fight but hadn't done much in the last two years. Smarts and insanity were two different things, but when combined could be lethal as well, and Nora was no idiot, so she would have learned from past mistakes.

"Whatever." Sam breathed out slowly and quietly tapped her closed fists against the wall. "That bitch has Freddie in there." She reached out to the door, spreading her fingers out and setting her palm gently around the knob, then held it there.

Her heartbeat intensified as a variety of thoughts swamped her. Would Nora be expecting her? Something in her gut was telling her to run, but she couldn't back down. Not now, now after realizing this woman was up to.

Her temperature started to rise as she struggled to keep her calm demeanor, and tiny droplets of sweat began to form along her body. "Relax," she whispered, "It is only Nora-nothing to be afraid of." It was easy to say but harder to believe when this was the woman who kidnapped her twice and went after her friends. Even she didn't know how desperate Nora may have become now.

Stepping inside, she was overcome by the nauseating stench of old, dead fish. Her hand moved down to her abdomen and she covered her mouth as her stomach flipped.

Her phone started to ring, causing her to grab it and duck behind a stack of boxes. When she checked, the number was blocked. "What the?" She put the phone to her ear and spoke quietly. "Who is this? Your number is blocked?"

"Go figure," spoke the painfully familiar voice. Sam's eyes widened and she pulled the phone from her ear. Her lips trembled as her eyes began to mist up. "How's my little Sammy?"

"I don't have time for this, mother."

"What? You become too good for your mom? Living like an LA queen? Puttin' on airs and whatnot?" Sam poked her head around the boxes, electing not to listen to her mother, but she didn't want to hang up knowing her mom would only call her again. "Maybe next time change your phone number if you really don't want to hear from me, bitch."

"Really mom?" She rolled her eyes and peered over the railing. Nora was down below, her arms were crossed and her narrow eyes were scanning the area. When she turned her head up, Sam darted back behind the boxes. She sank down and began to breathe heavily. "Maybe I will change that number, mother. I'm in a little bit of a situation here."

"I ran into that little Bacon boy earlier." Sam raised an eyebrow and poked around the boxes once more. This time Nora's back was turned. Thinking fast, she darted to the next pile of crates to hide behind.

"Benson, mom. What do you mean you ran into Freddie?" She looked back to Nora, swallowing heavily. "Wait, why would Nora have people associated with her family in the first place? Freddie mentioned something the other day about Spencer saying there was a long list of people associated…"

"I mean he came into the library about an hour ago. Left looking for that Gibralter kid." Sam pulled back and rolled her eyes.

"Gibby."

"Whatever. Have you spoken to Melanie lately? Anytime I call her number, I get the shitty 'disconnected number' message."

"You're not even supposed to be talking to us. You're in violation of the terms of probation, you know. I could just as easily turn you in."

"Sure turn in your own mother, it isn't like you little…people haven't done that to me already." There was a mix of malice and sorrow in Pam's voice, but Sam could hardly notice.

When she moved her eyes away from Nora, she saw what looked like a large square pit. Inside was a grinder filled with fish guts and blood. In her mind, she hoped that was what it was, but her recent flash of terror made her believe otherwise.

On the other side of Nora were two tall cylinders, with the one on the left cloaked in a long yellow blanket. Both had metal pipes ascending from the tops and fusing together to reach a nearby machine. "Nevel's work, probably, whatever that is…"

"What did you say?"

"Nothing mom, ignore me a little more if you please."

"Oh come on Samantha!"

Sam narrowed her eyes and studied the machine, there were a variety of strange buttons. Nora walked over and looked to the uncovered tube while pressing down on a button. A small slit opened on the tube and remained open for as long as Nora kept the button pressed. "It works," Nora commented, "Good. Little Freddie won't know what he's walking in on."

"What?" She would have assumed Freddie to be hidden in the covered tube, but if he wasn't there, then who was?

She made her way down the steps, lowering her phone so she didn't have to hear what incessant prattle her mother was ranting on about. She suspected it had something to do with her, since the woman was going on about how she wanted to see her daughters.

"If I could get a little closer, I could see who Nora's got under there." She heard her mother's voice stop, then question.

Sam hid behind another stack of crates and set her hand on the edge of one of them for stability. She peeked around the stack and this time Nora's back was turned to her. The girl was standing before the pit and grinder, her hands at her waist and her foot was tapping the ground.

Nora's head tilted back and her right hand started to tap her hip. "I know you're there, Sammy. You left the upper door open." Her heart stopped and her eyes darted to the entrance, the door was wide open and the sunlight was piercing through. "This is bigger than the both of us, you know. May as well come out of hiding."

"Samantha what's going on?" Pam inquired. "Talk to me, damn it! I'm tired of being ignored!"

Sam muted her mother then pushed her phone into her pocket. Swallowing down the large lump of frozen air in her throat, Sam slowly stepped into view. Her expression remained stoic and her muscles tense. "For once in your life mom," she whispered, "I hope you do something for your daughter and not yourself." She didn't expect her mother to hear, and if she had, it wouldn't matter. "Get help."

"Where is he?"

"Whoever do you mean?" Nora put her hand to her chest and walked forward, laughing vainly. "Oh, you thought Freddie was here and came running like a good little girl." Sam's eyebrows meshed together and she sucked in on her lips. "See, once he finds you missing, he'll come racing to your rescue-that man has been hopelessly devoted to you. I've been watching."

Nora swept her fingers through her hair and closed her eyes. "I could hardly believe it myself." Sam's racing heart shot up once more and she began shaking her head, uncertain of what Nora was saying. "Even investigating Gibby's home, he wasn't sidetracked by that blonde bimbo."

"So he has changed?"

"Apparently he cares for you." Nora tapped her chin and tilted her head, studying Sam up and down. "Even I can't see why. So as he's investigating, wanting to protect you, and even that Shay girl, he's getting closer to smashing my operation. So I'm thinking." Nora swept her hand away and raised her eyebrow. "How am I going to catch him when even Gibby failed to subdue him?"

"Gibby…"

"Yes, yes, he's working for me. So is Nevel." Nora rolled her eyes and stepped close. Sam tensed further and remained in her place, glaring into Nora's cold, evil eyes. Her hot breath fell onto Sam's cheeks, poisoning her. "You're going to be the perfect little lure, and when he comes for you-before we kill him we're going to kill you." Nora's nostrils flared and her glare sharpened. "Right in front of him."

"I don't understand. I heard his voice."

"Oh. About that." Nora walked to the machine and took a box from the side counter attached to it. Sam's eyes widened as Nora moved the box in front of her lips and pressed down on a button. "This is an invention of Nevel's." When Freddie's voice came out, all the oxygen around her evaporated and her knees began to buckle.

"For as smart as you are, Sam." Nora pulled the device away and flipped it in her hand with a dark laugh. "I'm amazed you fell for that."

"You bitch!" Sam rushed her and took a swing at her. Nora ducked to the right, avoiding the punch. When she twisted, Nora's fist was flying at her in a right jab. Sam ducked to avoid it, but felt the girl's knee digging up into her chest. "Fuck!" She staggered back, winded.

"Poor little girl, you've got no idea who you're dealing with do you?" Sam's hand moved to her stomach and her eyes drifted up to Nora's deadly and burning glare. She felt a shiver run through her, followed by a slow tremble that overtook her body. "What are you fighting for right now? Your precious Freddie is safe and sound."

"She's right." Sam's eyes widened as Nevel's voice struck her ears. A whimper fell from her lips as the boy walked into view. As much as she hadn't wanted to believe his involvement, even when Nora held one of his own inventions, seeing him now took her breath away. "You don't know who you're dealing with. To you, just a crazed, deranged, obsessive girl-but we know the truth. This has been planned out for a very long time, Samantha. You're just a speck in the grand scheme of things, not even important to the cause…we could move ahead with or without you."

"No. I don't want to hear it." She let out a rage filled scream and shot towards Nora, clenching her fists and preparing to fight.

"You're a good fighter, Sam." Nora crossed her arms and tightened her abdomen. "But you're scrappy, raised on the streets and don't know how to cover up your openings. I grew up a part of the very people that once owned this building. My parents, my uncle, they trained me to kill."

Sam's rage spiked up, but Nora's words twisted her anger, blinding her. Nobody important was here, she could run and get away from these people.

Her fist slammed into Nora's abdomen, but to her dismay the girl only grunted in pain. Nora swung her hand around and clamped her fingers around Sam's neck, then dug her nails into her.

"Let go." Sam clenched her eyes, screaming as the pain from Nora's nails scattered through her body.

Nora leaned in dangerously close and lifted her eyebrows. "You're a scrappy street fighter. Uncouth, untrained…I'm the assassin here, bred to join the mob with my family and trained to bring it back to life."

"What?" Her body fell limp and her eyes darted to Nora. The trembling inside of her increased and she started to shake her head. "I'm stronger than you. I'm not afraid of you."

"Who says you have to be afraid of me? You're weak, Sam. Weak. Someone like you shouldn't waste your energy on people like Freddie, but it's too late for you to join my cause." Nora shoved her away and Sam spun around, breathing heavily as the woman spread her arms out. "Come on Sam. Take another shot at me."

"Why are you doing this, Nora? What's there to prove?"

"Nothing. I hardly care about you, or about your little friend Carly, but there were some conditions to be met-I could see my goal in fruition without a little help." She heard Nevel's chuckle and narrowed her eyes. This was a new low, even for him.

At any rate, she could make a dash for the stairs and get away, there wasn't too much distance between them. There was nobody in danger. Freddie was safe, and that was all that she came here to figure out, there was no reason to fight.

Her nostrils spread out and Nora's head tilted to the right. "Oh Sammy, you're not thinking of running away from us? What kind of person runs away from a fight? A weakling, that's who."

"I am not weak!" She charged Nora, filled with blind rage. As she approached her target, Nora stepped out of the way and Sam's attention fell onto the pit that Nora had been in front of. She stopped short of the pit and let out a shocked scream as she nearly lost her balance. Nora's arms wrapped up around her armpits, locking her in place as she swung her around.

"Come on Sammy, you're smarter than this. Are you having a blonde moment?" Nora threw her head back and laughed. "Oh, by the way, the real answer to the person that runs from a fight? Not necessarily weak or cowardice, but sometimes smart. A smart person retreats when they need to."

"Fuck you!" Nora pushed her forward, then twisted her right leg around Sam's, locking them in place. Sam struggled against the woman's grip and let out a fierce growl while throwing her head back in an attempt to strike the girl, but all she hit was air.

"You know. When I busted out the first time, I only wanted to rile you up a bit, remind you that I existed. That way you'd be so shaken, so terrified of me when I broke out again."

"You don't frighten me, bitch." Sam looked in front of her and saw Gibby walking towards her. She clenched her teeth and looked away from him while trying to pull herself free from Nora. "Gibby, you little snot nosed bastard, why would you work with her? Is this about me?"

"Only on the surface," Gibby chuckled. "Don't get me wrong, I do hate you, and I was promised a few blows." Sam threw her head up, staring at him with wide eyes. "But this? No, this is bigger than you."

"If you touch me."

"Well now how can we expect you to cooperate when you won't stop struggling?" Sam watched as he cracked his knuckles. Her eyes clenched shut and her body jerked with pain as a swift blow struck her stomach. She tore out a loud scream and opened her eyes halfway.

"Fuck you, Gibby."

"You better watch that pretty mouth of yours, Samantha. You're the one in captivity." He struck her once more and she turned her head with the punch, flinching her body. "How many more do I have, Nora?"

"Two more strikes, and nothing more."

"Damn. I was just getting to enjoy this." Sam turned her head back and glared with malice at Gibby. Adrenaline was coursing through her veins and she was mentally planning a way out. "Back in the day when the mafia controlled Seattle, this was one of their biggest outlets. It's a nice little factory, isn't it?"

"It smells like rotting fish." She tilted her head and smirked while ignoring the taste of blood in her lips. "Oh wait, that's all there is here. The police wiped the mafia out years ago."

"Yes. Yes they did. All because of the hunch of a detective that got himself involved in something much bigger than he realized." She saw him rubbing his wrist and flexing his fist, so she closed her eyes and braced for a third strike, grunting when he struck her in the chest. "The idiot decides to rob a few banks, gets followed by a pathetic little investigator…they kill each other, and the police find a list of names on the man's body. All with ties to the Seattle mafia. Funny how quickly one man can destroy an entire operation."

"We're going to revive it," Nora stated. Sam struggled to breathe, whimpering as her chest and body pulsed with pain. "My parents were the last that remained, and we'd been building it up again, but the lawyer we were paying off was a rather pathetic individual. So now it's up to me to start all over again, and I won't have your fucking boyfriend fucking it up!"

Sam's eyes widened as she was thrown onto the ground. Her body rolled against the concrete and pain shot through her like electricity. She moved her hand to her arm and screamed out in shock as Gibby's shadow fell over her.

"One more for the road." Her eyes shot open as his fist came crashing down, all that followed was blackness as consciousness shot away from her with what sounded of roaring thunder.

Tricked, and we learn a bit of what Nora's really after. Though Carly and Sam could be used as "bargaining chips", but Nora does want Freddie dead.