John threw his hands up to shield his face as the glass showered around
him. The man hefting the wrench grabbed his arm and began pulling him
through the windscreen. Shards cut into his flesh as he was dragged from
his car. His phone fell from his hands to the ground with a crack.
Grabbing the front of John's jersey with his hands, the assailant hauled him to his feet and shook him roughly. 'You're coming with me kid!'
John was both shocked and slightly afraid to see the gleam of metal the guy retrieved from his pocket. Great, he had a gun!
John knew this was life or death but he could not go with the guy. Assuming this was the person who'd kidnapped his brothers it would only cause more trouble if he managed to get John too.
Thanking the Lord for having four rambunctious brothers who had forced him to learn how to defend himself, John yanked his arm from his assailant and landed a solid punch to the guys balaclava clad nose.
_________________________________________________________________
Scott stood on the balcony breathing hard, staring at the ominous storm- clouds grouping in the sky. Come on John, Come on John, Come on John, he silently willed his brother. John had to be okay, his family couldn't take any more. He quickly retrieved his phone from his pocket and rang the police. They had to find him.
He recieved confirmation that cars were being sent to the route to the airport. Then walking away from the balcony he stepped into the lounge, ignoring the wretching coming from his father's direction and Virgil's silent rocking and took his coat from the hook.
He did not look back till he reached his car, he had to find John, he would not let another brother disappear today.
Slamming the porsche door, he shoved his hand in his coat pocket for his key. He found none.
'Damnit!' he shouted in frustration, bringing his fist against the dash board.
It was only when he looked up, through the windscreen he saw them.
There in the brightness of the car head-lights, Jeff stood, arms folded, mouth in a tight line, Virgil stood next to him looking just as angry, from his left hand he dangled his brother's car keys, 'looking for these?'
_______________________________________________________________
John's victory at knocking his opponent to the ground was unfortunately short lived. The large man hauled himself to his feet with a speed John had not anticipated.
He charged at John, pushing him roughly against his car bonnet. John winced as his ribs made contact with the cool metal. He was a good fighter, and he certainly knew how to handle himself but this guy was huge.
John figured the only way to beat this guy was to get his gun.
'YOU THINK YOU CAN TAKE ME KID?' the brute was yelling as he slammed John repeatedly against his car.
'WELL COME ON THEN!'
John schooled his face to a level of neutrality and looked him straight in the eye, 'Ok then.'
John's hands shot out so fast the guy had no idea what was going on, he whipped the gun from his pocket and swung its barrel directly into his face.
'Consider yourself taken' John said unable to resist the smug smile which spread across his face.
The man, obviously not knowing when to quit, looked at the gun, then John, then the gun again, 'You wouldn't have the guts.' he snarled.
'Care to test that theory?' John asked applying a cold tone to match his assailant's.
The guy started walking backwards slowly, John shook his head, 'STAY STILL!' he barked.
The guy continued walking, 'I SAID STAY STILL!'
He ignored John altogether.
John let out a humourless laugh, 'fine then, you asked for it.'
And shot him in the foot.
____________________________________________________________________________ __
Gordon and Alan sat in silence, Fallon paced angrily beside them.
'What's wrong?' Gordon asked, 'your little puppy dog not doing what he's been told?'
'Shut it' Fallon growled. Then to Alan and Gordon's amusement he took a tape recorder from his duffel bag.
'OOOOh' Alan grinned, 'what are we going to make a tape of us singing our favourite kareoke classics?'
Gordon laughed, 'good one bro'
'I thought so'.
'SILENCE!' Fallon shouted, 'lets see you laugh after this!'
Both boys lapsed into silence as he took the recorder, attached it to his scrambling device and spoke into it.
'Why boys, if you keep behaving this way,I'll have to gut the two of you, like fish!'
There was a stunned silence.
Alan exhaled sharpely, Gordon stared, incredulous.
They'd both heard the voice clear as day, it sounded like their grandma, Fallon sounded just like their grandma.
'How did you...........' Gordon trailed off.
'Brilliant what modern technology can do today.' Fallon replied with a smirk, 'I met some pretty useful people on the inside, hackers, murderers, the whole kit and kaboodle, all I needed was a sample of your Grandma's voice and voila!'
'Why would you want our Grandma's voice?' Alan asked in trepidation.
'So I could talk one of your brothers into coming to pick up the dear old bat at the airport!'
Alan and Gordon frowned in horror.
'Jefferson, could you please send one of the boys to come get me.' He said again in Elaine Tracy's voice.
Alan lost it, 'YOU SICK BASTARD!' he yelled, struggling against his restraints, 'YOU LEAVE OUR FAMILY ALONE!'
Fallon laughed
Gordon attempted to calm his brother, 'Al, hey, it's alright ok, everything's going to be alright.'
He turned back to Fallon, 'I guess that's where Matchstick's gone hey? To trap one of our brothers?'
'Stttttttrike!' Fallon yelled manically.
Gordon and Alan lapsed into a defeated silence, this wasn't how this was supposed to play out.
Alan continued to cut at the ropes with his pen-knife. He was nearly there, and as soon as he cut those ropes, he and Gordon were out of there.
____________________________________________________________________________ ______
'But there was no point us all going!' Scott shouted to his father and brother as he leaned against his bonnet.
'No point?' Jeff asked , 'NO POINT? The point is so I don't have another son in danger.'
Virgil still held Scott's keys, 'He's right, if your going we're all going. Splitting up is what got us all into this mess in the first place.'
Virgil had always been the voice of reason and Scott gave a resounding sigh, 'I just thought I'd go get John alone and then I wouldn't have to worry about every bloody member of this family!'
Jeff shook his head, 'that's why we're all going to look for John, come on'.
He walked away from Scott's porsche and his two eldest followed him towards his Thunderbird.
As he opened the passenger door, Scott's phone began to ring.
Staring at the name on the screen, hardly daring to hope, Scott answered warily.
'Hello........'
____________________________________________________________________________ ______
'Scott listen.....' John said seriously from the passenger seat of Matchstick's car, 'I've got old scar-face here and he's being kind enough to show me where he's holding the boys ok?'
Scott's voice was little more than a whisper, 'Oh John thank God, we thought we'd lost you, i mean we were..........' his voice trailed off, '....hold it....what did you just say?'
'JOHN!'
John heard Virgil's excited voice in the background, he smiled slightly.
'SON?'
Jeff's voice.
John stared at the road ahead as he spoke to his brother, 'Look I haven't got time to explain, Scott, I can't take my eyes of this guy here.'
Scott's confused voice uttered, 'John WHAT IS GOING ON?'
'The guys taking me to find Alan and Gordon that's what's going on!'
Scott's voice was low, worried again, 'against your will?'
'No, certainly not against my will.'
'Then why the hell would he just take you to them?'
'Because I have a gun aimed at his head.'
'Uhhhh........John?'
'Look Scott, I'll ring you and let you know where we're driving to, at the moment we're on Highway Six, you copy that?'
'I'll contact the police!'
'No look, we've got no time, we can handle this Scott, our family, I know we can, we don't need the police telling us to leave it to tem, their our brothers out there.'
'Yeah, but listen.....'
'No you listen, i want you to hightail it up in this direction, I'll ring you as soon as the directions change, ok?'
'Ok, oh and John, be careful, and well done.'
John grinned as he kept the gun trained on Matchstick's furious face, 'thanks Scott, it was a pleasure, believe me, it was a pleasure!'
___________________________________________________________________________
Scott let his phone shut with a snap, 'YES!' he shouted.
Virgil and Jeff stared at him, desperate for answers.
'John's turned the tables on the guy, he's taking him to where they're holding Al and Gordo.'
Virgil grinned, 'alright John' he said in admiration.
Jeff still looked worried, he nodded sharpely, 'alright where too Scott?'
'Highway Six Dad, and step on it, every second counts!'
The car revved and spun across the sharp gravel, a trail of dust in its wake.
____________________________________________________________________________ _____
'YES' Alan thought to himself, as he felt the last strand of rope break, 'I'm through!'
He squeezed Gordon's hand firmly, Gordon squeezed back, showing he understood, now they just had to escape.
Fallon continued to pace in front of them, they just had to bide their time.
5 minutes later, and their time arrived.
Fallon switched his paces and walked towards the door, obviously curious as to what Matchstick's hold-up was. He stole a doubtful glance at his captives and twisted the door-handle.
'Be good while daddy steps out for a bit will you boys?'
Gordon and Alan shot glares at him.
He smirked and opened the door, stepping out onto the cabin-porch.
Alan and Gordon immediately stood up, 'where do we go?' Alan hissed.
'Um, wait a second' Gordon whispered gripping his brother's arm, 'I'll ring Dad.'
He quickly opened his phone, turned the sound on and keyed in Jeff's number, it began to ring.
'GORDON?'
Gordon had never been so happy to hear his father shout.
'DAD!' he exclaimed softly.
Alan glanced nervously at the door, and whispered his own, 'Dad!' into the reciever.
'BOYS WHERE ARE YOU? ARE YOU ALRIGHT?'
Gordon opened his mouth to reply when the sound of returning footsteps sounded on the porch.
Damn It! He and Alan glanced in panic at one another and then Gordon hung up the phone and they both sat quickly back in their chairs, holding their ropes so it appeared they were still tied up.
Gordon quickly threw his phone back in his pocket as Fallon stuck his head around the door. He peered at them warily, 'Just checking.' he told them and then he walked from the room again.
Alan and Gordon both breathed deep sighs of relief.
They slowly stood from their chairs, stepping lightly to avoid the creaking floor of the cabin.
Gordon's eyes darted around the room, 'follow me', he hissed and gestured towards the bedroom.
The two youngest Tracys crept into the bedroom. They grinned matching smiles as they both took in the glass window in the room.
'Alright' Gordon whispered as they made their way towards it. 'You first.'
Alan shook his head, 'no you first!'
'There isn't time for this Alan, you're lighter, this makes more sense, come on!'
Alan sighed, but he stepped into Gordon's foothold, and carefully squeezed himself through the window.
Gordon followed, landing with a crunch in the snow.
His mind worried about the foot-prints they were leaving, but he figured right now the bestthing to do was just get away form there.
They dashed together towards the woods.
They had almost reached the trees, when they heard him.
'BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOYS!'
Alan glanced in panic at Gordon, 'keep going,' Gordon shouted, 'we can make it.'
They got to the trees and then stood, silently behind a large pine, as Fallon came into view, his gun in hand.
'Boys' he shouted, 'that wasn't smart.'
Alan struggled to keep his breathing quiet.
Fallon's voice came closer, 'come out, come out wherever you are!'
Gordon kept his back against the tree trunk, hardly daring to breathe.
Fallon's voice sounded like it was just on the other side of the tree trunk.
________________________________________________________________________
Jeff shouted, 'GORDON, GORDON?'
He turned his gaze back to the road as he cursed, 'he hung up!'
Scott and Virgil, glanced at one another, 'give me the phone Dad' Scott said.
'I'll try them again.'
Jeff handed the phone to his eldest, his face determined and ruthless as he watched the road leading to Highway six in front of him.
Scott keyed in the number as Virgil leaned over the seat to listen.
It began to ring.
____________________________________________________________________________ ____
Fallon was so close now that Gordon could almost feel his breath.
'Boys?'
He stood still for a moment and then began to walk towards another set of trees.
Gordon and Alan shared relieved looks for merely a second, before the silence erupted into a tune,
'some people stand in the darkness, afraid to come into the light...................'
Alan's mouth dropped open in horror, Gordon flinched and immediately cancelled the call, bloody,bloody Baywatch!
Too late.
Fallon's head appeared around the tree, and he aimed the gun at them, his face broke into an evil smile 'well, there you are!'
____________________________________________________________________________ ____
OH LORDY,
SO,
WILL JEFF, SCOTT AND VIRGIL FIND HIGHWAY SIX?
WILL JOHN FIND ALAN AND GORDON?
WILL ANY OF THE TRACYS EVER FIND DECENT RING-TONES?
I GUESS GRANDMA'S STAYING AT THE AIRPORT THEN?
FIND OUT IN THE NEXT PART OF 'NEXT STOP: DANGER'.
AND CGRUBER, I APOLOGISE FOR THE NAME CHANGE BUT I FELT IT NECCESSARY, WE CAN STILL SHARE THOUGH!
XXXXXXXX
Grabbing the front of John's jersey with his hands, the assailant hauled him to his feet and shook him roughly. 'You're coming with me kid!'
John was both shocked and slightly afraid to see the gleam of metal the guy retrieved from his pocket. Great, he had a gun!
John knew this was life or death but he could not go with the guy. Assuming this was the person who'd kidnapped his brothers it would only cause more trouble if he managed to get John too.
Thanking the Lord for having four rambunctious brothers who had forced him to learn how to defend himself, John yanked his arm from his assailant and landed a solid punch to the guys balaclava clad nose.
_________________________________________________________________
Scott stood on the balcony breathing hard, staring at the ominous storm- clouds grouping in the sky. Come on John, Come on John, Come on John, he silently willed his brother. John had to be okay, his family couldn't take any more. He quickly retrieved his phone from his pocket and rang the police. They had to find him.
He recieved confirmation that cars were being sent to the route to the airport. Then walking away from the balcony he stepped into the lounge, ignoring the wretching coming from his father's direction and Virgil's silent rocking and took his coat from the hook.
He did not look back till he reached his car, he had to find John, he would not let another brother disappear today.
Slamming the porsche door, he shoved his hand in his coat pocket for his key. He found none.
'Damnit!' he shouted in frustration, bringing his fist against the dash board.
It was only when he looked up, through the windscreen he saw them.
There in the brightness of the car head-lights, Jeff stood, arms folded, mouth in a tight line, Virgil stood next to him looking just as angry, from his left hand he dangled his brother's car keys, 'looking for these?'
_______________________________________________________________
John's victory at knocking his opponent to the ground was unfortunately short lived. The large man hauled himself to his feet with a speed John had not anticipated.
He charged at John, pushing him roughly against his car bonnet. John winced as his ribs made contact with the cool metal. He was a good fighter, and he certainly knew how to handle himself but this guy was huge.
John figured the only way to beat this guy was to get his gun.
'YOU THINK YOU CAN TAKE ME KID?' the brute was yelling as he slammed John repeatedly against his car.
'WELL COME ON THEN!'
John schooled his face to a level of neutrality and looked him straight in the eye, 'Ok then.'
John's hands shot out so fast the guy had no idea what was going on, he whipped the gun from his pocket and swung its barrel directly into his face.
'Consider yourself taken' John said unable to resist the smug smile which spread across his face.
The man, obviously not knowing when to quit, looked at the gun, then John, then the gun again, 'You wouldn't have the guts.' he snarled.
'Care to test that theory?' John asked applying a cold tone to match his assailant's.
The guy started walking backwards slowly, John shook his head, 'STAY STILL!' he barked.
The guy continued walking, 'I SAID STAY STILL!'
He ignored John altogether.
John let out a humourless laugh, 'fine then, you asked for it.'
And shot him in the foot.
____________________________________________________________________________ __
Gordon and Alan sat in silence, Fallon paced angrily beside them.
'What's wrong?' Gordon asked, 'your little puppy dog not doing what he's been told?'
'Shut it' Fallon growled. Then to Alan and Gordon's amusement he took a tape recorder from his duffel bag.
'OOOOh' Alan grinned, 'what are we going to make a tape of us singing our favourite kareoke classics?'
Gordon laughed, 'good one bro'
'I thought so'.
'SILENCE!' Fallon shouted, 'lets see you laugh after this!'
Both boys lapsed into silence as he took the recorder, attached it to his scrambling device and spoke into it.
'Why boys, if you keep behaving this way,I'll have to gut the two of you, like fish!'
There was a stunned silence.
Alan exhaled sharpely, Gordon stared, incredulous.
They'd both heard the voice clear as day, it sounded like their grandma, Fallon sounded just like their grandma.
'How did you...........' Gordon trailed off.
'Brilliant what modern technology can do today.' Fallon replied with a smirk, 'I met some pretty useful people on the inside, hackers, murderers, the whole kit and kaboodle, all I needed was a sample of your Grandma's voice and voila!'
'Why would you want our Grandma's voice?' Alan asked in trepidation.
'So I could talk one of your brothers into coming to pick up the dear old bat at the airport!'
Alan and Gordon frowned in horror.
'Jefferson, could you please send one of the boys to come get me.' He said again in Elaine Tracy's voice.
Alan lost it, 'YOU SICK BASTARD!' he yelled, struggling against his restraints, 'YOU LEAVE OUR FAMILY ALONE!'
Fallon laughed
Gordon attempted to calm his brother, 'Al, hey, it's alright ok, everything's going to be alright.'
He turned back to Fallon, 'I guess that's where Matchstick's gone hey? To trap one of our brothers?'
'Stttttttrike!' Fallon yelled manically.
Gordon and Alan lapsed into a defeated silence, this wasn't how this was supposed to play out.
Alan continued to cut at the ropes with his pen-knife. He was nearly there, and as soon as he cut those ropes, he and Gordon were out of there.
____________________________________________________________________________ ______
'But there was no point us all going!' Scott shouted to his father and brother as he leaned against his bonnet.
'No point?' Jeff asked , 'NO POINT? The point is so I don't have another son in danger.'
Virgil still held Scott's keys, 'He's right, if your going we're all going. Splitting up is what got us all into this mess in the first place.'
Virgil had always been the voice of reason and Scott gave a resounding sigh, 'I just thought I'd go get John alone and then I wouldn't have to worry about every bloody member of this family!'
Jeff shook his head, 'that's why we're all going to look for John, come on'.
He walked away from Scott's porsche and his two eldest followed him towards his Thunderbird.
As he opened the passenger door, Scott's phone began to ring.
Staring at the name on the screen, hardly daring to hope, Scott answered warily.
'Hello........'
____________________________________________________________________________ ______
'Scott listen.....' John said seriously from the passenger seat of Matchstick's car, 'I've got old scar-face here and he's being kind enough to show me where he's holding the boys ok?'
Scott's voice was little more than a whisper, 'Oh John thank God, we thought we'd lost you, i mean we were..........' his voice trailed off, '....hold it....what did you just say?'
'JOHN!'
John heard Virgil's excited voice in the background, he smiled slightly.
'SON?'
Jeff's voice.
John stared at the road ahead as he spoke to his brother, 'Look I haven't got time to explain, Scott, I can't take my eyes of this guy here.'
Scott's confused voice uttered, 'John WHAT IS GOING ON?'
'The guys taking me to find Alan and Gordon that's what's going on!'
Scott's voice was low, worried again, 'against your will?'
'No, certainly not against my will.'
'Then why the hell would he just take you to them?'
'Because I have a gun aimed at his head.'
'Uhhhh........John?'
'Look Scott, I'll ring you and let you know where we're driving to, at the moment we're on Highway Six, you copy that?'
'I'll contact the police!'
'No look, we've got no time, we can handle this Scott, our family, I know we can, we don't need the police telling us to leave it to tem, their our brothers out there.'
'Yeah, but listen.....'
'No you listen, i want you to hightail it up in this direction, I'll ring you as soon as the directions change, ok?'
'Ok, oh and John, be careful, and well done.'
John grinned as he kept the gun trained on Matchstick's furious face, 'thanks Scott, it was a pleasure, believe me, it was a pleasure!'
___________________________________________________________________________
Scott let his phone shut with a snap, 'YES!' he shouted.
Virgil and Jeff stared at him, desperate for answers.
'John's turned the tables on the guy, he's taking him to where they're holding Al and Gordo.'
Virgil grinned, 'alright John' he said in admiration.
Jeff still looked worried, he nodded sharpely, 'alright where too Scott?'
'Highway Six Dad, and step on it, every second counts!'
The car revved and spun across the sharp gravel, a trail of dust in its wake.
____________________________________________________________________________ _____
'YES' Alan thought to himself, as he felt the last strand of rope break, 'I'm through!'
He squeezed Gordon's hand firmly, Gordon squeezed back, showing he understood, now they just had to escape.
Fallon continued to pace in front of them, they just had to bide their time.
5 minutes later, and their time arrived.
Fallon switched his paces and walked towards the door, obviously curious as to what Matchstick's hold-up was. He stole a doubtful glance at his captives and twisted the door-handle.
'Be good while daddy steps out for a bit will you boys?'
Gordon and Alan shot glares at him.
He smirked and opened the door, stepping out onto the cabin-porch.
Alan and Gordon immediately stood up, 'where do we go?' Alan hissed.
'Um, wait a second' Gordon whispered gripping his brother's arm, 'I'll ring Dad.'
He quickly opened his phone, turned the sound on and keyed in Jeff's number, it began to ring.
'GORDON?'
Gordon had never been so happy to hear his father shout.
'DAD!' he exclaimed softly.
Alan glanced nervously at the door, and whispered his own, 'Dad!' into the reciever.
'BOYS WHERE ARE YOU? ARE YOU ALRIGHT?'
Gordon opened his mouth to reply when the sound of returning footsteps sounded on the porch.
Damn It! He and Alan glanced in panic at one another and then Gordon hung up the phone and they both sat quickly back in their chairs, holding their ropes so it appeared they were still tied up.
Gordon quickly threw his phone back in his pocket as Fallon stuck his head around the door. He peered at them warily, 'Just checking.' he told them and then he walked from the room again.
Alan and Gordon both breathed deep sighs of relief.
They slowly stood from their chairs, stepping lightly to avoid the creaking floor of the cabin.
Gordon's eyes darted around the room, 'follow me', he hissed and gestured towards the bedroom.
The two youngest Tracys crept into the bedroom. They grinned matching smiles as they both took in the glass window in the room.
'Alright' Gordon whispered as they made their way towards it. 'You first.'
Alan shook his head, 'no you first!'
'There isn't time for this Alan, you're lighter, this makes more sense, come on!'
Alan sighed, but he stepped into Gordon's foothold, and carefully squeezed himself through the window.
Gordon followed, landing with a crunch in the snow.
His mind worried about the foot-prints they were leaving, but he figured right now the bestthing to do was just get away form there.
They dashed together towards the woods.
They had almost reached the trees, when they heard him.
'BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOYS!'
Alan glanced in panic at Gordon, 'keep going,' Gordon shouted, 'we can make it.'
They got to the trees and then stood, silently behind a large pine, as Fallon came into view, his gun in hand.
'Boys' he shouted, 'that wasn't smart.'
Alan struggled to keep his breathing quiet.
Fallon's voice came closer, 'come out, come out wherever you are!'
Gordon kept his back against the tree trunk, hardly daring to breathe.
Fallon's voice sounded like it was just on the other side of the tree trunk.
________________________________________________________________________
Jeff shouted, 'GORDON, GORDON?'
He turned his gaze back to the road as he cursed, 'he hung up!'
Scott and Virgil, glanced at one another, 'give me the phone Dad' Scott said.
'I'll try them again.'
Jeff handed the phone to his eldest, his face determined and ruthless as he watched the road leading to Highway six in front of him.
Scott keyed in the number as Virgil leaned over the seat to listen.
It began to ring.
____________________________________________________________________________ ____
Fallon was so close now that Gordon could almost feel his breath.
'Boys?'
He stood still for a moment and then began to walk towards another set of trees.
Gordon and Alan shared relieved looks for merely a second, before the silence erupted into a tune,
'some people stand in the darkness, afraid to come into the light...................'
Alan's mouth dropped open in horror, Gordon flinched and immediately cancelled the call, bloody,bloody Baywatch!
Too late.
Fallon's head appeared around the tree, and he aimed the gun at them, his face broke into an evil smile 'well, there you are!'
____________________________________________________________________________ ____
OH LORDY,
SO,
WILL JEFF, SCOTT AND VIRGIL FIND HIGHWAY SIX?
WILL JOHN FIND ALAN AND GORDON?
WILL ANY OF THE TRACYS EVER FIND DECENT RING-TONES?
I GUESS GRANDMA'S STAYING AT THE AIRPORT THEN?
FIND OUT IN THE NEXT PART OF 'NEXT STOP: DANGER'.
AND CGRUBER, I APOLOGISE FOR THE NAME CHANGE BUT I FELT IT NECCESSARY, WE CAN STILL SHARE THOUGH!
XXXXXXXX