Disclaimer: I do not own the rights to Macgyver. They belong to Henry

Winkler, Paramount and associates.

If you would like to borrow this story, please ask first, thanks! :)

*********************************************************************************

Chapter 3: Finders Keepers

*********************************

"What are you saying Mac?" Pete demanded.

"That 'cranberry blend,' spilled on her dress, was intentional and

contaminated with sulfuric acid!"

******************************************

Her head pounding, Nikki groaned at the dry cotton stuffed in her

mouth. The urge to scratch at her stomach was unbearable, but her

bound hands left her helpless. Angrily, she attempted to spit out the gag.

A sickly sweet voice spoke up from a corner of the room. "Oh come

now dear, don't misbehave." Her heart hammered in her chest as footsteps

approached her.

"It will only make things worse," the voice growled, roughly pushing her

chin up. Nikki tried to make out the face in the darkness to be sure, but

only an outline appeared. None too gently, she felt him tie a gag around

the back of her head. He picked up the phone. "And now let Hansel

follow the bread crumbs."

************************************

MacGyver let out a sigh of relief as Nikki's number appeared on his cell

phone, but his gut feeling told him he wasn't going to like what he was

about to hear. "Mac . . ."

"Just letting you know that she is still alive MacGyver," a distorted voice sounded in his ear.

"Who is this? Let me speak to Nikki!"

"Patience, MacGyver. In due time, but you have to find her first. 12

hours or it's finders keepers."

"Wait a minute . . ." But the line went dead. MacGyver slammed the

phone into the palm of his hand.

"Mac?"

"Is Nikki okay?" Jack finished for Pete.

"Apparently, but not for long. We have 12 hours to find her or . . ."

Mac let the sentence go unfinished.

"I'll call the police."

"No Pete, not yet."

Pete stared at MacGyver in astonishment. Mac narrowed his eyes. "At

this point, should her kidnapper be an old nemesis of mine with an ax to

grind, involving the police further endangers Nikki's life."

"We'll find her Mac," Jack assured him, putting his hand on his shoulder.

"But first, how about we grab some goodies for the road?" Jack

suggested, grinning sheepishly.

"Jack, how can you think of food at a time like this?" Pete demanded,

appalled.

Mac snapped his fingers, "Wait, that's it, Jack! I heard a constant

humming in the background. It sounded like the soft throb of a

refrigerator."

Jack stared at Mac doubtfully. "Are you sure it wasn't just a problem

with the phone lines or something."

Slowly, Mac shook his head. "No, I doubt it. Whoever has Nikki is

using a voice distortion device." Mac grabbed tossed his black dress jacket

over his shoulder. "Come on, let's go check out Nikki's apartment."

Covering Mac's crouched position, Pete and Jack looked at one another

uneasily, as Mac placed the skeleton key into the lock.

"Hey, why aren't you using your trusty Swiss Army knife?" Jack asked,

faintly surprised.

"I don't have the luxury edition." Hearing the lock click, he cautiously

pushed the door open. Straining his eyes to adjust to the murky darkness,

Mac saw no sign of anyone. Mac frowned in consternation. "Come on in

guys, I think the coast is clear."

"You just think so?" Hesitantly, Jack poked his head in through

doorway.

"I could have sworn that I heard the sound of a refrigerator humming."

"Hey Mac, what if it is someone who knows us, or you?"

Mac shrugged. "We'll deal with it when the time comes. What makes

you ask that question now anyway, Jack?"

Frowning, Jack held up a picture. "I think now is the time."

Mac froze and stared at the picture in Jack's grasp. With unsteady

hands, an ashen faced Mac reluctantly took the picture from Jack. "Deborah!"