Pay the Price

Disclaimer: I own nothing

A/N:


Chapter 18 (Racing Against Time)

They had no time to recover from Monica's death, they couldn't even sit and talk to Cat as the police and ambulances ran down the streets. Trina did make a promise to Cat before she left, though, and the promise was that she would bring Robbie to her.

The pair had started to date, though only had two or three, and Cat was not ready to lose him before she was able to see if something would grow out of that relationship.

More than that, Trina knew the group wanted, needed to be whole. Whenever she moved in with Uncle Ted, Tori would be moving with her and so the group wouldn't have her with them. She didn't want them to suffer anymore loss, so letting Robbie slip away certainly wouldn't do.

Thankfully, Travis was able to take a photo of the bloodstained page of Monica's notebook that revealed Robbie's location. Oddly enough, just as Travis jokingly predicted before, Robbie was being held captive in a mansion that Erin owned in one of the wealthier parts the city.

How she could afford the place, Trina wasn't sure. Given the personality and nature of the criminal, she probably ripped it off of someone or one of her hired pawns actually owned it. Then again, Erin did have five years of planning.

As they made their way towards Erin's mansion, Trina pulled out her phone and dialed the number of Mr. Shapiro. He answered after two rings, and greeted her by name. "Mr. Shapiro, we're on our way to Erin's mansion. Cat's been rescued. I need you to give the call, let Gary bring the police back in. We could use his help." There was a pause, followed by Thomas grumbling.

"What if-"

"Robbie is the last one left, and we know his location." She took a deep breath and closed her eyes. "Erin doesn't know that yet, Gary and I can get the police placed without her knowledge."

"I can't lose my son, Katrina."

"You're not going to lose him." She knew better than to make promises like this, but in the heat of the moment she couldn't help it. "Erin has a fucking mansion with god only knows how many guards. I cannot do this one alone. The only time these kids have been threatened with death is when the criminal was backed into a corner by me, so even if you don't send the police in, Robbie's at risk of being killed either way. I am unwilling to put my team at risk by myself in a mansion that could very well be packed with guards. So I am telling you, for Robbie's sake, call the police back in!"

She emphasized and growled out the last several words, frustrated with Thomas's own paranoia. The man didn't seem to realize that his paranoia was putting his son at greater risk and putting control in Erin's hands rather than theirs.

After what felt like several minutes of consideration, she heard the man give a defeated sigh. "If it will help you get my son out of harm's way, and none of the other kids are in any danger, then I will lift the freeze on the police."

"We know his location, Mr. Shapiro. There's no need for further investigation, this isn't an investigation any longer. This is a rescue mission." She narrowed her eyes as Jason and Lindsay looked to her with concerned expressions. "I, we, Robbie needs the police involved in this. This is a woman that tried to kill you in the 80s, a woman whose boyfriend you gave your tainted bowl of chili to. This woman has harbored a grudge for twenty-five years. The daughter of her most hated person has just been rescued. The only one left is Robbie." She let out a heavy sigh. "Let me call Gary, bring the police in on this."

"Consider it done. Bring my son home, you and Gary both."

"Thank you." Relief swept over her and she quickly hung up the phone. Quickly she dialed Gary and, almost instantly, he answered. "Mr. Shapiro's lifted the police freeze, Gary. I need help. We have Robbie's location, Erin's mansion and it's probably packed with guards. I can't go it alone. This is no longer an investigation, it's a rescue mission."

She was almost certain she heard a triumphant shout from his end. "Okay Trina, give me the location and I'll bring the police. You're in charge, you tell us where you want us. Got that?"

She froze, her eyes growing wide as she looked to the others in the car. This was a huge responsibility being placed upon her, and perhaps a test of just how well she might handle police work.

"A-Are you sure?"

"This is your mission."

"I…" She nodded briskly. "I understand. Make sure you and the police don't show up in patrol cars, okay? I don't want to arouse suspicion."

"Got it."

"Also don't park in vicinity of the house, we don't want to tip off or alarm any of Erin's guards. We're not sure exactly what we'll find there, but we're almost certain Robbie's alive in there."

"Okay. I'll have them park around the neighborhood."

"Don't let them start moving until I'm ready. I'm going to have Lindsay see if there's anything she can hack into in that mansion. If there is, she can see what we're up against. I'm going to position Travis across the street with his sniper, I'd suggest having some police snipers doing the same, so that we can have them scope the place out as well."

"Got it."

"Gary." She smirked and her eyes narrowed. "Let's do this."

They reached the mansion and parked a few blocks down, near the entrance to a park. The mansion itself was a dark black Victorian style home that Trina thought Jade would likely appreciate. It had three floors and looked something like a castle with spire roofs. The front entrance was a covered porch with a long stairway towards the ground.

Lindsay connected with the network and found a mass of security cameras installed. "Jesus Trina, they've got a camera in like every room. It's hard to tell what's what."

"Keep looking around and see if you can manage to figure anything out." Trina gazed at the house with a light bit of anxiety. Every window was closed and well decorated, so it might be hard for the snipers to get much, though she'd still have to set them up.

As for Robbie, they had to be careful not to tip Erin off that the police were involved here otherwise she might simply kill him. The house in of itself was menacing, and when she looked at some of the cameras on Lindsay's screen, she saw a terrifying amount of guards walking the floors or socializing in the rooms.

Lindsay pointed to a camera. "I think this may be on the top floor." The screen showed a bedroom with a queen size bed adorned by pink covers and laced pillows. In that room was a desk where a woman sat in a brown leather swivel chair.

The woman had dark brown eyes and an oval face with long scars on her cheeks and her chin. Her nose was sharp and her hair lips thin and cracked. She had long, curly blonde hair parted in the middle that swept past her shoulders and covered the parts of her face.

She wore a scarlet t-shirt and long denim jeans. Overall, this woman looked like a normal person who had seen some rough times, but the science equipment on the desk sent chills down Trina's spine.

The woman had her right hand tucked under her chin and her left hand fingers were tapping the desk almost rhythmically. She was gazing out a nearby window, the blinds and window were open and a small orange tabby cat was seated on the windowsill.

With a hum, Trina reached over, tapping Travis on the shoulders. He had the binoculars in his lap. "Let me see those." He handed them over and she raised them to her eyes, peering at the mansion.

On the top floor, she saw the scene, an open window with a cat sitting in the window. "Erin's on the top floor." She felt a hand on her arm and jumped in surprise. Lindsay was looking pale, her hand over her mouth and eyebrows risen on her forehead. "What?"

"There's a girl in one of these rooms, she looks a bit out of place." Trina leaned over to see what Lindsay was seeing. A girl of similar appearance to Erin lay on a full size mattress with blue covers. She had freckles and a pair of thin, brown glasses on her wet face. She was gazing at the ceiling and had her hands behind her head while her right knee was raised.

"Looks like she's resting." Her long brown hair was sprawled over the bed. Trina studied the room closely, seeing a lot of scientific posters and decorations. This girl was familiar, and clearly in her teens. "You know who that reminds me of? That one guy's little sister, or I think he was her sister."

"Who?"

"Sinjin. He's got a sister. In fact, I think she attended Sherwood. You know, where Tori was going before."

"That couldn't be her. Why would she be there?"

"No clue." Trina scratched her chin and started humming. "Sinjin couldn't be involved in this mess." Lindsay shook her head.

"I don't see him on any cameras, inside or out. He's not in that house." Trina leaned forward, furrowing her brow at the screen. She watched as the girl stood up, stretched her arms out, then walked over to her window. She opened the window and leaned out, folding her arms over the windowsill.

Taking advantage of the opportunity, Trina raised her binoculars and stared at the second floor window on the left side of the building. The girl looked as though she were staring directly at her.

Her heartbeat stopped for a moment and it was clear as day. "Courtney Van Cleef." She lowered the binoculars slowly and shook her head slowly. "What in the fuck? Where is my phone?"

Jason reached into the center cubby and pulled out her cell phone. "Thanks hon." She scrolled through the contacts on her phone, knowing that at one point she had Sinjin's number saved. She needed an explanation, but at the same time, she wanted to be cautious.

After five rings, he answered the phone. "Hello Trina." His voice was eerily calm. She heard voices in the background and what sounded like billiard balls being struck.

"Hitting the bars, Sinjin? They let your ass in?"

"You are aware I'm older than you."

"Yeah." Most people assumed he'd been a student and wondered why they rarely saw him participating as one during Sikowitz's classes. The truth of the matter was he'd been a student years prior and was working as a TA for Sikowitz.

In truth, he was born in '88. "I thought you might be calling me eventually." She heard the clinking of glass on a surface, followed by Sinjin sighing as though he'd just taken a drink. "What's up?"

"I was wondering about Courtney. How's she holding up?"

"She's fine. I guess." She raised an eyebrow and called him out on his response. Why wouldn't he know how she was? "We've been having disagreements lately and she took off. Now I know where she is, probably…you're calling me."

"What does that have to do with anything?"

"Just a hunch, you're asking me about Courtney, so you've probably seen her." Sinjin sighed heavily.

Jason growled, clearly growing impatient and leaned over to her phone. "She's at a mansion where a very dangerous psychopath is located. Care to explain?" There was a long pause followed by Sinjin breathing in deep.

"Let me guess. Erin Louis?"

"You know about her?"

"Of course, she's our birth mother." Trina felt her blood run cold and looked over as her friends looked at the phone like they'd just been shot. "Hate her ass, but Courtney's been wanting to get to know her because she'd never met the woman. I have, and I fucking her."

"How does that factor out? Birth mother, I-I don't understand."

"What's not to understand? She got pregnant with me around the time before going to prison. Got moved to a coed jail where she got it on with a prison guard there, got knocked up and moved to another facility. Courtney and I were placed in foster care. We grew up moving from home to home. She's a crazy, psychotic piece of shit with only one purpose in life, and Courtney wanted to learn more about the woman."

"Well, like I said, Courtney is sitting in the mansion where Erin is and where Robbie is potentially being held captive."

"Yeah." She heard Sinjin cough, then heard him slurping down another gulp of whatever he was drinking. "She's probably the reason he's still alive, if he is."

"You know about what's going on?"

"Yes. I also know the police haven't been taking my fucking calls. Courtney's been sending me text after text ever since Tori was put in the hospital." Trina's jaw dropped. "She's the one that convinced Erin not to kill Tori after your parents died."

"What?"

"Yeah, Courtney sent me a message saying she was able to talk Erin into just telling her people to put Tori in the hospital and not kill her. My sister wouldn't have been able to cope with that, she knew Tori back in Sherwood, they were starting to become friends before she left and went to Hollywood Arts. So, you have her to thank for your sister's life."

She wasn't sure what surprised her more, the fact that all of this was happening or the fact that Courtney had been able to convince Erin of anything. If she had some sway, then she could be used; but the question was whether Courtney could do the same thing again.

"I'm surprised she hasn't convinced Erin to give up any of the others."

"Not for a lack of trying," Sinjin remarked, "I've gotten texts from her saying Erin will not budge and that giving up Tori was a one-time thing." Sinjin slapped his drink on the counter and asked the bartender for another. "Listen Trina, I think this goes without saying. Erin is dangerous, evil, malicious; and Courtney has no fucking idea just how bad she really is. If Courtney thinks she can be the soft voice of reason that gets Erin to see the light, she's in trouble."

"You're saying she's in just as much danger as Robbie, then."

"No shit." She heard the anger in his voice, but detected also a hint of fear. "Get her out of there Trina. Whatever it takes, get her out of there before that psychopath decides she's had enough of her. And you know what? I may not like Robbie all that much, but get him out of there too, he doesn't deserve that shit."

"I'll do whatever I can." She cleared her throat. "And Sinjin, Mr. Shapiro lifted the freeze on the police. We're in a rescue mission now. Send those texts from Courtney over to Deputy Malone, okay?"

"I'll see to it the police get them, if they're finally going to take my damn calls."

"Yeah, they should. Why don't you leave the bar, catch a ride home and get some rest. I doubt Courtney would want her brother to be drunk when she sees him."

"I'm not even that far into my drinking right now."

"Sure you're not. You're worried about your little sister, out at a bar sitting on those thoughts, angry, and I remember you being a drinker in the past. Go get cleaned up."

"Fine. Mother." She smirked as Sinjin hung up the phone. Trina let out a weary sigh and shook her head.

"Great. Now we've got to get two people out of that house." She glanced sideways at Lindsay. "Have you spotted Robbie yet?"

"I have. Looks like he might be on the top floor, because Erin just left her room and went into another one…" Lindsay turned the camera and Trina watched the screen.

Robbie was hanging in the center of a room, ropes attached to his feet. He had one arm swinging freely while the left arm was missing entirely. Boils and hives covered his entire body, and blood was sliding like rivers along every inch of his legs, torso, and arm. He wasn't wearing his clothes, just a pair of boxers, which revealed the extent of his wounds: mainly burns, rashes, scratches and something smeared all over his body.

He didn't cringe when Erin walked into the room, holding a small tube of liquid in her hand. His head turned ever so slightly and his eyes closed. Erin reached up slowly, letting the chemical ooze from the tube onto his chest.

Steam began to rise and Robbie opened his mouth in a scream. On the separate camera, in Courtney's room, the girl jumped and looked up at the ceiling in horror. If Courtney hadn't known the extent of Erin's psychotic behavior before, as Sinjin said, she certainly did now.

"Jesus she hates this kid," Travis muttered. "I have to wonder, I thought Regina was her most hated person, so why is she torturing Robbie rather than Cat? Wouldn't she be torturing the kid she had the most personal hatred for?"

Just then, Trina looked up slowly, her eyes meeting with Jason's. The way Sinjin spoke of Erin, the anger in his voice. Sinjin had always been a fairly angry person, even if he never showed it at work. Erin clearly had no interest in him and he had none for her, not to mention he wasn't even kept in the family.

A grim expression came over her face as her heart started to sink. "He didn't say who his father was, did he? Her boyfriend-"

"You know how I always thought he resembled Robbie in some ways? Seeing the pictures of Kyle, he doesn't look like the guy." Jason whispered. "You don't think?" She cupped a hand over her mouth and shut her eyes. Her body started to shake as she felt her hair standing on end.

"Oh god no, please no."


So, this is going to be a big mission. We've discovered a bit more. Quite a bit. What are your thoughts with everything?