Three Against Three: Chaos in New York

Arc Four: Big Apple Troubles and Miami Blues

Part 4: Beachside Blues

Vista Marlin Resort-Miami

December 22, 1991-11:05 A.M.

(Kate's PoV:)

I lie back on my beach chair, numbly watching the ocean and blue sky blend together. I absentmindedly rub Fred behind the ears. He's been stuck to me like glue, since we checked in. Peter tried to get a laugh out of me, by dressing Fred in the same Hawaiian shirt that he wore last Halloween. It was part of his Weird Al Yankovic costume, when he went trick or treating with the kids. It didn't work… It just made me more depressed and worried about our three missing children.

The rest of the family is trying to keep their minds occupied by doing something fun. I wait for the call from the police, saying that my three children have been found, without harm. The beachfront hotel we're staying at provided us with a cordless phone, as a way for the police to reach us, while on the beach.

"Kate, are you OK? You need anything?" Peter asks. "You're looking kind of pale, sweetheart," I look at my husband, who's laid back in the beach chair next to mine. I can tell this matter about Kevin, Christine, and Linnie being missing has him stressed out, too.

"No, I'm not OK, Peter. I just to want to know if Kevin, Linnie, and Christine are OK. Why did this have to happen, Peter? I took every precaution to prevent last year from happening again, and it didn't do any damn good! Kevin is not here again. We lost Christine again! And, Linnie… Oh my god!" I bust out, sobbing.

"Katie, sweetheart, calm down. It's going to be fine. The police will find them, I promise,"

"They might not even be together. How does that help finding Kevin and Linnie, if Christine has your card? What if some dirty cop puts Christine in jail for credit card fraud? What happens then?" I sob.

"Kate, you're not the only one, who's suffering. Megan's suffering, too. She doesn't talk to anyone. She's doesn't want to do anything with anyone. You have to force her to eat. All she's been doing, is sitting on the beach, staring blankly at the ocean. It's as if she's closed herself off from the rest of the World. I don't know if it's from being separated from her twin sister, the shock about three of her siblings being missing, or both,"

"Why didn't you tell me this sooner?" I question, now worried about Megan. I see her, sitting on the sand in her swimsuit like a rock, just staring at the ocean, like Peter said.

"You were zoned out yourself, until now. Maybe it would help the both of you, if you tried talking to Megan. Maybe you can break through that wall she put around herself, where everyone else has failed. Fred thinks you can do it. Isn't that right, Fred?"

"Woof!" Fred barks in agreement.

"I can try," I reply, getting up from where I'm sitting. I wipe away the tears from my face.

"While you're doing that, I'm going to call my sister, Andrea, and see if she can talk to some of Dad's old contacts, for help with finding our missing kids. I've already talked to Rob in Paris, and he's promised to use his resources to help find our missing children. That was after he yelled at me, for not telling him and Georgette about Christine coming back home last year, "

"Have you contacted your other two brothers and told them what happened?" I ask.

"Correction, Kate: That would be just one brother… Remember, Patrick and Cindy were both killed by a drunk driver last Summer? To answer your question, I've already told Buck. He and Charice had promised to help the best they can. Tia didn't take the news too well, when Buck told her about what happened to Christine, Kevin, and Linnie," I can see Peter still has regrets about not trying to make peace with his brother, Patrick, before he died.

"Have you told William and his family about what happened?" I ask.

"No, I don't want to burden them with our worries,"

"I think you'd better tell them; especially William, since he's almost like family. William is going to be our son-in law one day, when he marries Christine. I think it's only right he knows what has happened to Christine, Kevin, and Linnie," I scold my husband.

"I see your point now, Kate. I will call them after I call my sister," Peter replies.

"Good," I reply.

I think about how shocked Peter's sister, Andrea, was, when Christine was the one to greet her at the door, a few weeks back. Andrea surprised us by coming over to our house for Thanksgiving. We invited her to spend Christmas with us in Miami, but she declined, due to her job needing her…

(Megan's PoV:)

"Linnie, if you're there, answer me please. I need to know if you, Kevin, and Christine are OK. Mom and Dad are worried sick about you three. I'm worried sick about you three, too, and I miss you. Linnie, please respond, if you're there…"

I repeatedly try commutating through the telepathic bond Linnie and I both share. All I'm getting is silence and headaches, and that scares me, like something bad has happened to my twin. It could also mean something bad might've happened to my older sister and younger brother.

"Megan, sweetheart, if you can hear me, please say something. Your Dad explained to me you have been shutting out people, and that you haven't been eating. I know it hurts about your siblings being missing. I'm feeling the pain you're feeling right now, sweetheart, but please, don't shut out anyone. That's not healthy. If you let me in, then we can deal with this pain together. It's already hard enough to know I can't help three of my children. So, please, Megan, let me help you, I beg you. I'm not leaving your side, until you say something," I hear my Mother plead, sobbing.

Realizing the pain I'm causing everyone by shutting them out, I just break down and tightly hug my Mother. "Mom…" I sob into her chest, as she rubs my back. "I want my siblings! I miss them, especially Linnie… It hurts so much that they're missing!"

"It's going to be OK, Megan. We're going to find them, I promise you," Mom cries. "You look like you need some rest. How about you and I head inside, and we both lie down for a nap? I'll lay down beside you, if you want me to. Would you like that?"

I just nod. "Can we get something to eat, too? I'm kind of hungry," I feel my stomach growl.

"Sure. I can call room service to bring up something for the both of us," Mom tells me, as we walk together, back towards the hotel, but not before telling Dad where we're going. Dad promises to wake up Mom, if the police should call about finding my siblings…

END