Chapter Twenty-Five

Noodle and 2D sat on the sofa, Hailey sitting in the overstuffed chair across from them. While the three of them were fully aware of what was taking place below their feet, they all remained silent about it, trying to discuss what to do once Alec was found. Hailey rambled on about how she was going to take him to Chuck E. Cheese, the natural history museum, the Seattle Science Center and numerous other fun places for kids and families.

"There's even the Puyallup Fair," she muttered, her eyes distant. "Extend our stay an extra couple of weeks so we can take him...Muds won't go on the rides, but I most certainly will..."

"We can all go," 2D added, flashing a gap-toothed grin. The grin was forced and he was sure they could all see it a mile away. This whole situation was scary. He remembered his fear of the former bassist and the abomination he had created five years ago, but that had been mostly due to the man's deteriorating state of mind. Fear was an understatement now. Murdoc could be violent, but never before had 2D known the man to actually physically harm a woman, no matter how horrid she was. What made it all the more frightening was that the man was, for the most part, sane. But 2D could actually understand why. The idea of someone taking his baby, even if she wasn't born yet, made his stomach quake within. Murdoc could be the biggest jerk on the planet, but he loved his son more than anything.

"We could get cotton candy," Noodle said, taking a drink from her mug of decaf.

Hailey flashed a shaky smile. "And elephant ears...or funnel cakes, whatever the bloody hell they call them, right?"

Uneasy laughter echoed in the small living room. Hailey eventually got to her feet and venture out to the back porch to have a cigarette. 2D followed a few moments later. Anything to keep their minds off whatever Murdoc was doing to the woman downstairs in the garage.

Noodle ventured out, unable to remain in the vacant living room. She kept a safe distance from the two smokers, still sipping at her cup of coffee. "It's a shame that Russ had to leave when he did...He still thinks you and Murdoc should have gone to the police. Surely you could have gotten all the paperwork straightened out, right?"

"No," Hailey said, shaking her head. "Given everything that happened that led to this point, both me and Muds would be in prison for a long time. They would deport Alec and he would be placed in the system back home. They'd have our parental rights terminated before we even faced the sentencing hearing. And once he gets adopted, I'd never get him back..." She shuddered violently, a small noise coming from her as she fought the new round of tears. "He must be scared out of his mind...His blankey and puppy are still upstairs in his room...He has never gone without those." A low sob erupted from her as she wiped at her eyes, wiping away the tears that threatened. "I just need him back," she whispered, her voice cracking. "We need our baby boy back...And god help whoever else we find out is responsible. I'll help him with the others. And I'll enjoy every fucking minute of it."

Noodle rubbed at her swollen stomach. She had the same thoughts as Hailey. It almost seemed odd that she had grown so close to the woman, even if only knowing her for several years. From what Hailey and Murdoc had told her about the little brunette's life before meeting them all, she was really not much different than Murdoc had once been. Some of the stories she had been told made her almost shocked that Hailey had embraced parenthood so quickly and with little fight. Same with Murdoc. Even the fact that the two had remained together for as long as they have. They had barely known each other when Hailey had ended up pregnant. Situations like that almost always never ended well.

Hailey let out a small sigh, shoving a hand through her hair. This nightmare had to end soon, right? Chloe would have to crack soon. She was a pampered little rich brat, wasn't she? Little assholes like her were always quick to sell out their accomplices when faced with true pain and agony. It's all fun and games until they become the target.

What if they had no hope of retrieving Alec alive? What if whomever else was involved figured out that they had Chloe and killed Alec before escaping themselves? What if the only hope her and Murdoc had was retrieving a body?

No, she couldn't think like that. Alec was alive, she could feel it. He was alive, scared and most likely missed his lovies. Christ, he was just a four year old little boy. Why get him involved if the beef was with her and Murdoc? But this was Chloe, after all. She looked for any way possible to hurt, humiliate and ruin. Wasn't there a regular at Curry's whom Chloe had targeted? Somehow got the state to take away the woman's kids and she never got them back. The poor thing spent her evenings drowning her grief in alcohol. What made it all so horrid was that Chloe had even openly bragged about it.

Hailey gasped when her nails bit into her palms. She hadn't even been aware that she had been clenching her fists. Oh, she wanted to go downstairs and help him. She had some ideas in mind, but most of her ideas meant certain death for Chloe. Knowing herself, she would accidentally kill the woman before getting any information out of her. Couldn't have that. Get Alec first and then torture the living shit out of the bitch.

"We're finkin' 'bout movin' back t' England," 2D said out of the blue. "Would be kinda nice if our kids could grow up t'gether, yeah?"

Hailey flashed a sad smile, tears spilling over her cheeks. "That would be bloody awesome, Stu."

Alicia burst through the door of her apartment, her heart pounding. What the hell was she going to do now? Did they have Chloe? Judging by the conditions of Chloe's little office space, they had spared no mercy on the woman. What did this mean for her if they figured out her involvement? There had to be a chance she would be spared given her history with Hailey. Chloe had been the enemy from day one, of course they would do a number on her. If anything, Hailey would have jumped at the chance to torture the petite little red-head as payback for all the evil shit the woman had done to her.

"Where have you been?" Jason demanded suddenly, his voice coming from the darkened corner of her living room. Alicia yelped at the voice, turning her attention to him. He sat in her recliner, can of soda in his hand. He leaned forward, arms on his knees. "Well...?"

"Just out," she said quickly.

"Just out?" he repeated. "Must have been a helluva jaunt, Alicia, especially to be gone for almost two days. You work said you called in sick the last few days. Said you been acting just a bit weird lately."

"Just a lot on my mind, Jason," Alicia muttered, dropping down onto her couch. "Been a stressful few days."

"Would this have something to do with that Chloe broad, Hailey and Murdoc?" he asked in a suspicious tone, eyebrow cocked.

"No...what would give you that idea, Jason?" She tried to laugh at his suggestion, to hide her anxiety and rattled nerves.

"Oh, I dunno...Just that Chloe was seen lurking around you a lot, Hailey and Murdoc have been acting weird as hell...Something's going on."

"Don't worry about me, Jason," she said, her hands over her face.

"Of course I'm worried about you, woman," he snapped, taking a drink from his soda. "You made it your life mission to intrude on Hailey's life after she has made it quite clear that she wants to be left alone. You start stalking her. You start documenting their comings and goings." He grabbed something from the little side table, tossing it towards her. She glanced over, seeing her notebook that she had been writing in. He slammed the can down, his expression darkening. "What the fuck is going on, Alicia? There are floor-plans to the Niccals' townhouse in there. What were you planning on doing?"

Alicia glared over at him, sitting up. "It doesn't concern you, Jason. Now leave me alone. Get out of my home, now, or I'm gonna call the police."

"Of course you will," he said in a mocking tone. "Let's get them involved...I can show them that notebook of yours and we'll see what happens from there."

Was he really calling her bluff? She hadn't expected that, but then, a lot has happened that she hadn't expected. This all started simply because she had wanted her best friend back. It almost seemed like finding the woman alive after so many years had caused something to derail within Alicia's reasoning. At least she could admit it. But she was in so far over her head now, there was no way out of it. All she could do was hope she was never discovered. But the boy recognized her and would tell his parents if she were to return him, even if she just tried dumping him off on their doorstep and running. Who's to say they wouldn't hunt her down and make her suffer?

Maybe she could just keep the boy and raise him as her own? In spite of his anger and fear of her, he was still just a little kid after all. Given time and a little work, she could possibly get him to accept his new life. Get him to forget his parents. Didn't that work with foster kids?

No, that was stupid. A pipe dream. Already he had shown her that he was as stubborn and temperamental as his parents. He'd never remain with her. Probably would run first chance he got. Even if she succeeded in keeping him with her for a few years, he would have to start school eventually and then there was the risk of him telling a teacher or other school officials.

Her options were pretty limited. Return the boy and face their wrath. Keep the boy and eventually find herself behind bars when the kid finally talks.

There was one other option, but she didn't think about that one. She wasn't even so sure she could bring herself to do it. Look at the mess she became just from taking the boy. She wouldn't be able to maintain any level of sanity if she were to kill the boy.

"What are you thinking, Alicia?" Jason demanded, glaring at her.

Alicia blinked, her train of thought broken. "Nothing that concerns you," she whispered.

Jason pushed himself to his feet, his dark eyes fixed on her as he picked up the notebook. "You got twenty-four hours to come clean, Alicia. Or I got to the police with the notebook."

Alicia said nothing, watching as the man stalked out of the apartment. He would go to the police, regardless. She knew this. And he would bear witness to the domino affect that it would cause. Alicia gets arrested, the kidnapping gets revealed, the police start digging, find out about the boy's parents and then both Hailey and Murdoc would find themselves in prison right along-side her. All the skeletons out in the open.

Her options were pretty narrow.

She had gone this far. What was another step further?