"What do you think you're doing?!"
Jerking around, Elizabeth dropped the phone as she stared wide-eyed at Jeremy. "Tom…" she whispered.
Jeremy's eyes narrowed. "What did you say? Who are you talking to?"
He took a step towards her and Elizabeth backed away, kicking the phone with her foot. "Don't touch me!"
For a moment, Jeremy stopped, his head tilting to the side as he looked at her. "What's wrong with you, Eliza? Come here!"
He resumed moving towards her and she backed up even more, her eyes wide and wild with fear. Her back hit the wall and her breathing labored as fear cut into her stomach. "Don't… please… don't."
Jeremy exhaled forcefully. "What's WRONG with you?!" He reached for her, jerking her up off the floor. Elizabeth screamed and pulled back, falling as she kicked out at him with her foot. Her hand caught the cord of the phone as she fell, yanking the line out of the wall. Shaking, she pulled the cord, her fear making her movements sloppy as she tried to untangle her hand.
In front of her, Jeremy held his kneecap with his hands, his eyes widened as he watched her struggle. "You kicked me." There was shock in his voice as he stood, shaking his leg out slightly. He stood, once more advancing on her.
As Elizabeth backed up, images of Valentine's day in the snow flashed across her mind. "No… please…"
Jeremy's eyes narrowed as his face contorted with anger. "You KICKED me!"
He grabbed for her arm, ignoring her pleas as she shook in his hold. He pushed her back, her body crashing into the wall. Elizabeth's head jerked back, slapping against the wall. She groaned, curling up as he let her fall to the floor.
"What were you thinking, Eliza?!" He yelled, reaching for her once more. He pulled her to her feet, easily overpowering her. With the back of his right hand, he slapped her across the face, her head jerking to the side.
"You DON'T kick me!"
Falling against the couch, Elizabeth struggled to catch her breath and get away from Jeremy at the same time. She coughed, tasting the metallic taste of blood in her mouth.
"You're going to pay for that," he growled as he stepped towards he. He reached for her hair, pulling her up. Dragging her to the closet to the side of the living room, he threw her inside, slamming the door closed.
Gasping for breath, Elizabeth curled up on the floor, listening as a key turned in the lock, trapping her inside.
Taggert rubbed his hands over his face as stepped out of the Rochester Police Station.
"What are we doing, Lieutenant?"
Looking over at Detective Barton, one of the men he'd brought with him from Port Charles, Taggert sighed. "They spotted Webber and the man at a hotel. They've got it surrounded but I have a feeling that it's going to turn into nothing. We'll check it out though."
Barton's eyes darted around as the two moved towards the rental car. "You think they're gone?"
"He's probably moved her by now."
"Sir… are you sure that she's even there by force?"
Taggert sighed, looking out of the window as the car started moving. "Johnson mentioned seeing bruises… and Elizabeth isn't the type of girl who's run off with some strange guy."
"Do we have any idea who this man is?"
"Jeremy Barker is his name. Other than that, we can't find anymore information on him."
Barton's eyebrows raised. "Isn't that kind of odd."
Taggert's jaw clenched slightly. "I've got men on it back at home."
Picking up the file that sat on the backseat, Barton's eyes scanned over the writing. "What about Lucky Spencer?"
Closing his eyes, Taggert tiredly leaned his head back on the headrest. "What about him?"
"You said he brushed you as being… off in your notes here."
"His girlfriend was just kidnapped… I'm guessing he seemed off because of Elizabeth's disappearance."
Barton looked over at Taggert out of the corner of his eye. "What's going on with you? You tired man?"
Taggert sighed. "I don't know… exhausted is more like it. I think I'm getting sick or something."
"Why don't you go back to the hotel. Me and the rest of the men can check out the Barker lead. Get some dinner and then get some rest."
Taggert didn't argue much. The car pulled over and he hopped out, opting to walk back to the hotel.
As Taggert watched the rental car speed away, his ear picked up on the sound of someone nearby talking. The cop inside him kept one ear listening as he made his way back to the hotel.
"…Jeremy Barker needs another order of Chlorzoxazone…."
Taggert's head jerked up and he whirled around, narrowing his eyes at the man crouched over himself on a nearby bench. The man was twirling a dandelion in his hand as he balanced a cell phone between his ear and shoulder.
"…Nah… he's not there anymore. He's staying at the Baker cabin over on Long Road. Yeah, the one in the woods."
Taggert's eyes widened slightly as he strained to hear the rest.
"I don't know what the hell he wants it for, but he wants it. He's got some girl with him but I don't know the detail about that."
Turning on his heel, Taggert ran down the sidewalk, ignoring the cries of the other pedestrians.
It looked like his nap was going to have to wait.