Chapter Forty-Seven:
"So we go to school like everything is normal and what, just see what happens?" Robin asked Patrick as they got ready for bed after arriving home. "What if something happens? What if the police come to talk to us?" she came out of the bathroom after brushing her teeth. She stood there with her pajama bottoms on and a pink tank top which hugged her slim figure.
Patrick turned and looked at her as he took his clothes out of the bag from the hotel. He smiled at her and felt his blood pump quickly through his body. He put the bag down and walked over to her. "You don't have to go in if you don't want to. I don't want you to be nervous or uncomfortable," he put his hands on her shoulders and looked into her eyes.
She was quiet for a minute as she looked at his face, the face she loved and the dimple which made her toes curl with pleasure. She reached up and stroked his cheek. "You are sweet, and I love you, but this needs to end and it won't end if I hide at home. I just want us to be safe and I want to start planning our wedding."
He smiled at her. "What about the honeymoon?"
"What about it?" she ran her hand down his chest.
"I think we should plan that, too," he ran his finger under the strap of her tank top.
She felt her skin pucker under his touch and her nipples became hard under the thin fabric of her top. "What did you have in mind?" she spoke as she pushed up against his groin with her body.
He felt his erection twitch in his pants as she moved her body over his. "Somewhere cold or warm?" he whispered in her ear as he leaned into her.
She felt her whole body tingle at his nearness. "If we go someplace cold, we will bring the heat," she ran her hands over his behind and squeezed.
He moaned in her ear as he nibbled her neck. "How about you bring the heat right now."
She felt herself wet with anticipation of what was to come. He reached down and pulled her top off, revealing her pebbled nipples and her soft skin. He leaned in and took her breast in his mouth, kissing and caressing a line across her chest to the other waiting flesh. She closed her eyes as he continued to manipulate her body in ways that drove her wild. He moved back up to her face and he crashed his mouth onto hers, moving them to the bed as he pulled his shirt off and she went to work on his pants, pulling them down before she moved onto the comforter, reaching for him. He pulled his briefs off and crawled slowly onto the bed. She bit her lip as she watched him and she quickly pulled off the rest of her clothes, wanting him in the worst way. He reached over and grabbed a condom, covering himself and moving onto her. He lay his body on hers and everything slowed down as he looked into her eyes. "I love you so much," he said softly.
She smiled at him and wrapped her arms under his, moving her legs and bending her knees. He entered her slowly at first and then with passion and intensity. She ran her hands down his back as he moved in and out of her, building to a climax that was profound and powerful. Robin felt like for the first time in a long time, things were going to be okay.
"So you're sure there was nothing weird in your room when you got there?" Robin asked Patrick the next day at work. They were each in their classrooms and had made a plan to call each other after each class.
"Nothing other than a million papers to grade. I looked for Jody, but I don't think she is here today. Are we still planning to go to the police department after work?" he said as he filed some tests.
"Yes, I want to get to the end of this and if we go and talk to Neil together, we can make sure nothing happens." Robin said as she played on her computer. "Besides, the sooner we go, the sooner we can go home and continue what happened last night."
He grinned. "Promise?"
"I have to go, student alert," she whispered. "Love you."
"I love you," he smiled as he hung up.
Robin finished the last class of the day and sat back, exhausted but happy to be done. She had been trying to concentrate on the day's activities, but her mind kept going to Patrick and what might happen at the precinct. She was waiting for him to come by and they were going to leave together. She looked up as a familiar face stopped by her room, but one she didn't expect. Smiling tentatively, she walked over. "Hi Jason, what are you doing here?"
The psychologist walked over to her. "Hi, Ms. Scorpio, I was actually here to speak to the school counselors about suicide prevention and on my way out I ran into Patrick. He wanted me to tell you that he had an unexpected parent meeting and he will be a few minutes late. I was on my way to meet Sonny at the PCPD and I told Patrick I would take you there and he would meet us as soon as he could." Jason smiled.
Robin thought that was weird, but she also knew how parent meetings could happen quickly. She looked at Jason and smiled. "Okay, let me grab my things."
Patrick whistled as he made his way to Robin's classroom after his last class. He had stayed after to help a student for a few minutes, so he was running late, but he was anxious to get to her and get to the precinct. He walked down the hall and was stopped by a large figure who blocked his path.
"Hi Lorenzo, excuse me." Patrick said, moving to the side.
"No, we need to talk." The tall older teacher said.
Patrick raised his eyebrows at him, remembering the warnings the officers gave him about Alcazar. "I need to meet Robin, so maybe we can talk later. Please, excuse me."
Alcazar looked at Patrick. "Robin is gone. You need to listen to me."
"What do you mean she's gone?" Patrick yelled at him, his anger and panic rising.
Lorenzo took him by the arm and pulled him into a room. "Keep your voice down," he said sternly.
Patrick pulled his arm back and glared at Lorenzo. "I don't know who you are or what you're doing, but you need to get out of my way," he knew that Lorenzo could probably easily take him, but Patrick didn't care. He was going to get to Robin.
"Look, you need to shut up and listen to me." Lorenzo said. "I will tell you what I know but not here. We need to leave."
Patrick looked at him and tried to figure out what to do. He needed a way to know if this guy was a friend or foe. "Who are you?" he asked him.
The tall soldier sighed. "I am here to help. It is not safe to talk here, please just come with me. I promise I will explain everything."
Patrick went with his gut. "Fine, but if you are lying, or if you hurt Robin, I will kill you," he said with complete intent.
Lorenzo nodded. "I would expect nothing less," he walked out with Patrick following him.
Robin woke up and everything was fuzzy. There was blood caked on her arm, but she didn't know where it had come from. There was pain emanating from all parts of her body. She tried to focus on the room around her, but she had trouble focusing. "Don't panic," she said aloud.
"Whose there?" A voice called out near her.
Robin tensed immediately and waited. She might have imagined it.
"Please, can you help me?" The voice came out again, full of fear and anxiety.
Robin stood up and tried to look around. The room was dark, but she could make out a small window that was uncovered on the side. She limped over to it and pulled the sheet away, letting a small amount of light into the room. She squinted and tried to get accustomed to the glare. She turned and saw a figure crumpled on the ground, in obvious distress. She walked closer.
"Can you help me, please?" The voice sobbed.
Robin looked closer. "Jody?" she asked the cowering figure.
"Robin, oh God, he got you too?" Jody sobbed as she lay on the ground. "Please, help me."
"Where are you hurt?" Robin asked, ignoring the questions she had and the fear in her heart.
"He shot me," she said, holding her side. "I thought he liked me and he wanted to be with me." Jody sobbed as she spoke.
Robin looked around for something to use to stop the bleeding. She ran back to the window and grabbed the sheet that had held out the light. She came back to Jody and pressed the fabric over the wound.
"Oh God," she cried.
Robin felt tears prick her eyes. She hated blood and she was scared. "Who did this, Jody?"
"Jason, the guy who came to talk to the kids today during school. He had been by once before and asked me to detain Patrick while he went to talk to you. He said it would be worth it for me to help him and I did. But then today, he was different, so mad. He came to the office and put something over my mouth. When I woke up, I was in this room and he was ranting about how I couldn't be trusted. He was angry I had screwed up and now you would still be in the way," she took a few deep breaths to calm herself. "He was just so mad. He thought I had tipped you off to his guilt and he didn't believe me that I didn't know anything. He shot me and left, saying he had to go and get you himself."
"Jason is the man who did this? How is that possible?" Robin asked rhetorically. She looked around for something, anything to allow her to escape. She didn't remember how she had gotten there.
"It's no use, there is no way out." Jody said sadly. "I'm so sorry for treating you so badly."
Robin turned and looked at her. "Jody, all of that is in the past. We need to get out of here and back to work, that is all that matters."
Jody had lost consciousness and Robin tied the sheet around her, trying to stop the bleeding. She felt her panic begin to rise and she stopped for a minute, breathing slowly and trying to relax. She needed to get back to Patrick. She looked for something, anything to help her and Jody. Her mind was whirling and she tried to remember what happened. She heard Jody stir again and went to see how she was.
"Robin?" Jody called out. "I don't want to die. I have more things to do and I don't think I have been very nice to people. I feel so bad," she sobbed.
Robin felt badly for her, but she didn't have time to be a therapist. She needed answers. "Jody, do you have any siblings?" she decided to be blunt, as they had no time for beating around the bush.
"What?" Jody asked her, confused by the question.
"Look, I don't mean to be blunt, but I need to know. Did you have a sister who died years ago?" Robin asked her.
Jody looked at her. "No, I have 2 brothers who are alive and well. What is going on? I need to get out of here," she began to yell.
Robin sighed. "It's okay, Jody, save your strength. I think there are a lot of answers we need to know," she froze as they heard someone coming.
"Oh no, he is going to kill us." Jody sobbed.
"Shh, just be quiet, I will handle this." Robin said, annoyed with Jody but sharing in her fear. She moved back to the spot she woke up in and pretended to be asleep. The door opened and Robin could hear footsteps coming near. She braced herself for what was coming next.
Patrick couldn't believe what he was hearing. "You are working undercover for the FBI? You have been following Jason and think that he is involved in numerous missing person cases. Is he even a psychologist? Are you even a teacher? How is this helping me get to Robin?"
Lorenzo looked at him as they drove to a safe house. "There is only so much I can tell you. I think you are in danger and we already know that Robin is in danger. We have reason to believe Jason has taken Jody because she messed up his plan. We also believe Neil worked with them as well."
Patrick was thoroughly confused. "I don't care about any of this except getting to Robin. I need you to let me help her."
"You need to stay at the safe house and wait for us to do our job." Alcazar said.
Patrick stayed silent. There was no way that was going to happen.
Chapter Forty-Eight:
Robin kept her eyes shut as the footsteps came closer. She felt like she would pass out from the fear, but she also knew they needed to get out of there. She suddenly recognized the cologne and her heart sank. She felt a hand touch her cheek and she recoiled, not able to help herself. She opened her eyes and looked at Neil.
"Hi Robin, ready to go?" he asked her, grabbing her roughly by the arm.
She yanked her arm away but he was too strong. "What is going on here? How are you not in prison?" she fought to keep her tears at bay.
"All in due time, now it's time for you and me to reconnect," he said the last part as he leaned in to kiss her. She turned her face away from him and he laughed.
"You may have gotten away from me once, but it won't happen again. I will have you, just you wait," he sneered.
Robin was trying to think of something to help her, anything to get out of his grasp. She heard Jody make a noise and Neil turned to look at her. "You can't still be alive," he said to himself as he let Robin go and walked over to the injured woman. "You just never give up, so you?"
Jody sobbed and Neil reached for his gun. Robin ran over to them. "Stop, leave her alone, she isn't going to do anything and she is already weak from so much blood loss. You aren't here for her, so leave her alone, please."
Neil turned to look at Robin. "Will you leave with me?"
Robin looked at Jody, crying and weak. She made eye contact with the woman who had been so nasty to her. "I will go with you, just don't hurt her," she said and shut her eyes, silently praying.
"Now that's more like it," he walked closer to her.
"Can you answer me a question first?" Robin begged, trying to stall him.
"Anything, my love," he kissed her on the cheek.
"What does Jason have to do with this?" she needed to figure out the connection.
Neil smiled. "Jason is my brother."
Robin shook her head, realizing everyone had fooled them. She thought about Patrick and Maxie and Matt. They were all in danger. "Where is he now?"
Neil stared at her. "Why the sudden worry about Jason? He is a big boy and can take care of himself. Besides; he has taken a liking to Patrick's brother, Matt is it? I guess there is no accounting for taste."
Robin looked at Jody again and saw the woman fighting to stay awake. "Neil, we have all worked together for a long time. How did we get to this? What happened to you?" she was stalling, but she was desperate.
He looked at her and pulled her to him, making her sick. "Let's go somewhere private and get more comfortable," he dragged her to the door and she wondered if she would ever see Patrick again.
Patrick waited for Matt and Maxie to pick him up. He had promised Alcazar he would stay put in the safe house, but he had no intention of doing so. He really didn't know what to do, but he was sick about everything. He needed to find Robin and he needed to get to her before anything happened. He looked at his phone and saw the text from Matt that he was at the intersection they discussed. Patrick slipped out the window and ran through the woods to the corner. He saw the car and jumped in the back seat. "Drive before we talk."
Matt drove while the 3 stayed silent. After about 5 miles, Maxie turned in her seat and looked at Patrick. "Where is my cousin?"
Patrick sighed. "I don't know."
"Stop the car." Maxie commanded. "I mean it, stop this car right now."
Matt pulled over and looked at her. "Maxie, we need to keep going."
Patrick looked behind them to make sure no one was following them. "Look, I don't know where she is, but I know that Jason is involved and the police are not going to help us. I don't know what to do, but you two are the only people I knew to trust."
Maxie sighed. "Go to the hotel on 8th and Maine. We will be safe there."
Matt nodded and they drove the last few miles to the hotel. Maxie put on her sunglasses and they all walked into the lobby, checking into a room. Maxie was aware of the looks they were receiving and she linked her arms through both brothers. She smiled at the people around them and flashed a grin at the man behind the counter. "We need a room for a few days and I would appreciate some discretion, if you know what I mean."
"Of course, Maam, would you like 2 beds or 1?" The concierge asked.
She pretended to think about it. "2 please," she smiled and handed him cash before taking the keys and walking in front of the Drake brothers who followed.
"Okay, tell us what you know," Matt said as they checked into the room. Maxie was locking the doors and closing the shades.
Patrick filled them in on what had happened and what he knew. They were both shocked and it was finally Maxie who broke the silence. "Matt, you need to call Jason."
Matt looked at her. "What? Did you not just hear what Patrick said? He is not who he appears to be. What do you want me to do with him?"
"He may not be everything we thought, but he likes you, and that isn't an act. You need to call him and tell him you want to meet him here and when he gets here, we will find out what he knows." Maxie said emphatically.
"Are you crazy? He could be a killer! How are we supposed to handle him?" Matt asked her. He looked at Patrick who had remained quiet. "You can't tell me you agree with this ridiculous idea."
"I don't know what else to do. While we sit here and discuss this, Robin could be hurt or worse. I don't care how, but we need to get to her." Patrick said.
Matt had never seen his brother like this. He nodded. "Okay, I'll try him," he pulled out the card he had with Jason's number on it. He dialed and waited, the other two watching him. He figured it would go to voice mail, but suddenly a voice answered. "Hi, Jason, it's Matt Drake, we spoke in your office the other day?" Matt said, not knowing what he was doing. "Right, so I was wondering if you ever met people outside of your office, for a private session?" he knew he was turning red while he spoke. "You do, great, I am staying at the Brick Court on Maine and 8th, can you meet me here?" he rolled his eyes as Jason spoke. "Okay, I will see you then, thanks," he hung up and sat down on the couch. "He will be here soon. I really don't like this idea."
"Thanks man, it's our only connection to Robin. We won't let anything happen to you." Patrick said. He looked at Maxie and smiled at how she watched Matt. "I am going to wash up for a minute," he left them alone.
Robin was dizzy and scared. She had almost passed out a few times and Neil was still pulling her through the field. She finally felt her legs go out from under her and she fell down. "Get up," he said.
"No, I can't. Whatever you are going to do to me, just do it. I can't fight anymore. I can't run and I can't stop you. Whatever you are planning, just fucking get it over with, I have had enough," she felt her tears fall out of sheer exhaustion.
Neil picked her up and threw her over his shoulder. She prayed for help before she lost consciousness.
"We will be in the bathroom listening, so don't worry. Find out as much as you can about what he knows." Patrick whispered as they heard the knock on the door.
Matt nodded and watched as Patrick and Maxie went onto the bathroom. They closed the door and waited. He walked to the door and opened it, smiling at Jason. "Hi, come in."
Jason walked in and looked at him. "I have to say I was surprised to hear from you. I didn't think you were interested."
Matt sighed. "I have been a jumble of nerves since we last talked, but something happened that made me realize that you were right."
Jason sat down next to him. "Right about what?"
Matt stood up and walked farther from Jason. "I can't be happy until my brother is happy. We have this weird tradition in our family, that when one person has an issue, we all put our lives on hold until that person is okay," he looked at Jason and pulled up the chair so he faced him. "Patrick's fiancé is missing and I can't act on my feelings until he finds her," he spoke with a seductive tone. "You remember Robin? Maxie's cousin?"
Jason stared at him, adoration in his eyes. "What if I told you that I could help you with your problem?"
Patrick almost burst out of the room but Maxie held him back.
"I would be eternally grateful if you could help my brother out." Matt said.
Jason sighed. "I know what it means to be indebted to a brother. My brother needs to get over his issues and maybe if I help you, he can do that, too." Matt had no idea what Jason meant, but if it meant getting to Robin, he didn't care.
"Here, go to this address and see what you find." Jason wrote something down on a sheet of paper. "When can we meet again?"
Matt looked at the other man who sat inches from his face. "I will call you soon."
Jason leaned over and kissed Matt's cheek before leaving. As soon as the door was closed, Matt told them to come out. He walked into the bathroom and wiped his face. He came out and Maxie hugged him and Patrick went to say something but Matt held up his hand. "Later, we need to go," he ran out with Maxie and Patrick close behind.