Sorry it's been like 2 months but I have been on the go. Here it is finally....

The Absence of Fear

Chapter 8

When Brad and Shelby arrived at the next airport after a long car ride, Shelby was ready to put a plan into action. They had gone through one flight already and they were switching airports for the next flight. Shelby knew it was because he didnt want to be tracked easily. In the quiet of the car she was able to devise a plan to get away. One mess up and the whole thing would be screwed and she couldn't imagine the consequences. She had a thousand questions she wanted to ask him. He already had the tickets, but how could he have bought her ticket? This was international travel, it wasn't exactly easy to work out travel. Brad stopped the car. He didn't let her out till he had given the two bags he would check to one of the employees. He handed a $10 bill and a large manilla envelope to the man and opened the back seat and slid in next to Shelby. She didn't say anything; she could barely look him in the face.

"I've still got your precious little family being watched," he said. "Their lives are literally under my thumb, so watch it." Her plan went down in flames. She turned her head and looked away from him. "Look at me." He commanded sternly. She did so very slowly. He studied her for a moment and touched her face almost lovingly. It made her sick. She smacked his hand away, but didn't realize what she was doing until after it was done. He got a look of rage in his eyes and delivered a blow to her face so hard her face actually ached. She could taste blood where her teeth had slammed against the inside of her cheeks. His face twisted into a sinister smile. "Come on, let's go." He said and pulled her out of the car abruptly. She almost stumbled when she was pulled out of the seat but she regained her balance.

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When they were sitting in the lobby waiting for the first flight Shelby finally conjured up the nerve to ask a small question. She didn't know if it would set him off or not, she just wanted some facts she could give the police if she got out of this. Shelby beat herself up for that 'if '. WHEN she got out of this. That was more like it.

"This is international travel." She said meekly.

"Really? Thanks for clearing that up." He said sarcastically.

"I mean, how did you buy the tickets without my passport?"

"What makes you think I don't have your passport?" he asked

"I didn't give it to you." She said.

"When you left me you left it and a bunch of savings bonds and your birth certificate, our marriage license...all kinds of stuff....in our safety deposit box at the bank." He said. He was right. She was so elated about getting out of there she hadn't thought of any of that. If he had all of that he could do pretty much anything with no trouble at all. She turned away and didn't ask anymore questions. He must have been planning this for a very long time before he put the whole thing into action.

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Scott had gotten no word from the police at all. He had practically lived by the phone waiting for a call from someone. Anyone who would have any information on Shelby. He began to think no one was working on the case at all and they had forgotten all about Shelby. He also noticed that same car parked in the same place, but every time he would pick up the phone and start to report it the car would drive away. This led Scott to believe that maybe his phone lines were bugged too. This made him even more furious. He hated sitting around waiting like this, he couldn't do anything and he felt powerless. He was coming to the realization that if he wanted Shelby back he would have to do it himself, and that's exactly what he was prepared to do. If the cops didn't know what to do at least he did.

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TBC...can I get maybe 10 or 15? Please?! Thanx. Sorry so short, I'll get more out this week to make up for all the weeks...ok MONTHS i missed!