'Can't this thing go any faster?' John growled to Matchstick who glared at
his passenger furiously.
'I'm doing 60, how much faster do you want me to go?'
'As fast as this'll make you!' John angled the gun until it was aimed at Matchstick's incensed head.
He fumbled in the glove compartment and found an identification wallet. Grinning at the convict-like picture, John turned to his driver.
'Nice picture this..' his smile became even wider as he saw the name, '..Francis!'
Matchstick turned, face red, spittle practically bursting from his mouth as he snarled, 'I am going to rip you into tiny little pieces, and I'm going to thoroughly enjoy it.'
John's voice developed an edge, 'careful Francis, we wouldn't want this gun to accidently go off now would we?'
Matchstick smirked, 'you'd never find your brothers then, would you?'
John realised with a curse that he was right. He tried to change the subject. 'So Francis, why are you doing this to my family?'
'The name's Matchstick' Matchstick growled.
John's eyes twinkled, 'oh, how apt, I'm guessing that's because you're so stupid you burnt off your own face, lighting a candle.'
Matchstick's eyes narrowed, 'no it's because I set fire to a class mate in High School.'
John let out a low whistle, 'woooooo, missed him huh?' he said sarcastically, indicating the burns running down matchstick's face.
'No actually, I killed him, this was just collateral damage.'
For the first time since he'd seen this guy approaching him with a wrench, John felt a shiver of fear run up his spine. This guy was seriously dangerous. It worried him that he was only an apprentice to the head honcho!
'Just keep your eyes on the road' John ordered, he didn't want Matchstick to even sense that he was at all afraid.
'You won't get away with this.'
'Oh really?'
'No, you're really gonna get it when my boss meets you.'
'I look forward to it.'
Matchstick's eyes glowed menacingly, 'you're gonna wish you'd never been born by the time I'm through with you.'
'Ha!' John snorted, 'sure I am, why don't you concentrate less on the wise cracks and more on the driving and I might let your other foot off with a warning.'
The look on Matchstick's face could have melted metal. He looked down at his left foot, which was bleeding profusely. He was determined not to let this little punk realise how much he'd hurt him.
John meanwhile was watching the road-signs avidly, 'how much further?'
'About 10 minutes'.
'You'd better not be pulling anything, I'm warning you, if they're not there, I will personally see to it, that you never hurt anyone again, got it Francis?'
Matchstick smirked, 'got it!'
John was suspicious, he didn't trust this guy an inch, still, he had to hope that he was taking them to the right place and that Gordon and Alan would be alright when they got there.
He reached into his pocket for his phone.
'Scott?'
'John' came his eldest brother's gruff tone. 'We've just reached the highway!'
'Scott we're heading east at Junction 5, I repeat east at junction 5, you getting this.'
John heard Scott mumbling to someone, most likely Jeff, 'Yeah we got it John! Now any idea where we're headed?'
John sighed and stared hard at the guy opposite him, 'nah can't be sure, looks like we're heading in to the mountains though, my guess is somewhere remote. Francis says we should be there in 10 minutes.'
'Francis?'
'I'll explain later.'
'Alright, but listen John, when you get there I want you to stay where you are, ok, you've done great up until now, but then I think you should let Dad, Virgil and I handle it.'
John couldn't believe this.
'Scott are you joking? There's no way I'm going to sit here and wait for the cavalry if those two are in immediate danger.'
Scott sighed, 'how did I know you wouldn't just accept that? Listen I'm just saying we 're less than 5 minutes behind you, can you just wait for us, please?'
'I'll see what the situation is.' John replied sounding decidedly angry with his big brother's plan, 'but Scott, I'm not a little kid who's going to make this situation worse, I might actually be able to help.'
'I know, we just don't want to have to worry about all three of you ok?' Scott's voice became resigned, 'please just do as I say, ok?'
'I'm not promising, but I promise if it's better for Alan and Gordon I'll lie low and wait for you, alright?'
Scott sighed, he knew he'd have to accept that, 'fine, be careful, and keep in touch. I couldn't get through to Gordon's phone, so you don't know what you're going to be dealing with.'
'Right.'
'John?'
'Yeah'
'Don't go putting yourself in the firing line.'
'Ok big brother, talk to you in a bit.'
Scott hung up with a worried glance out the window, he didn't want his father to read the haunted expression in his eyes.
He had a feeling that John was going to try something. Although it was Virgil and John who knew each other inside out, Scott was well aware what his middle brother was like in tense situations, act first, think later.
His father glanced over, 'what's going on?'
'Head east at Junction five.'
'Not direction-wise, with John?'
Scott frowned, 'he said they should reach the place they're holding Al and Gordy in 10 minutes.'
Jeff nodded, 'does he have any idea where that is?'
'He suspects it's in the mountains.'
'Right.'
'Scott?' Virgil piped up from the back-seat, 'What's Johnny going to do when he gets there?'
Scott looked at Virgil, 'I don't know Virg, I don't think even he knows.'
Virgil turned and looked from the window, his body tense, as they turned off the highway at Junction five, 'He's going to try something Scott, I know he is.'
Scott attempted to reassure his brother, 'hey we don't know that. I told him to wait.'
Virgil turned and fixed Scott with a look , 'and you really think he's going to listen?'
Alan attempted to run,
He spun on his heel, but froze as Fallon yelled, 'Move and I put a bullet in his head!'
Turning slowly, Alan saw Fallon, arm around Gordon's neck, gun against his temple.
'now come back over here, slowly.' Alan did as he was asked.
Fallon grinned, 'now which one of you two boys has a telephone?'
He was greeted with silence.
He jammed the gun firmer into Gordon's ribs, 'TELL ME!'
Alan winced, he couldn't let Gordon get hurt, 'Gordy, give him the phone.'
Gordon glared at Alan impatiently,
'yeah Gordy, give me the phone' Fallon snarled sarcastically.
Gordon brought a hand to his pocket and handed over his phone.
Fallon smirked, 'well aren't we clever little Tracys, escaping and probably ringing Daddy eh?'
Gordon and Alan exchanged helpless glances.
'Well we'd better make sure we're ready for Daddy and big brothers' arrival hadn't we?'
Alan chewed his lip, that sounded ominous.
Fallon steered them back towards the cabin.
'Come on,' he said with an evil smile, 'let's go get your Dad's surprise ready, he's really not gonna know what's hit him!'
8 minutes later, John and Matchstick were almost at the cabin. John was continually texting Scott with their change in movement.
As they continued to drive, John thought over what Scott had said.
'Don't go putting yourself in the firing line.'
John sighed to himself, he didn't want to disobey his big brother. They had all looked up to Scott their whole lives. And John knew deep down inside that Scott was right, but he couldn't just sit and wait when he knew his brothers were trapped somewhere with a mad man. He was also well aware that Scott knew that John wouldn't wait for him.
Oh his eldest brother knew alright, because he wouldn't have waited himself.
John's quick mind scanned over all the things he could use to help him rescue his brothers. Snow was falling thick and heavy now, it blanketed the surrounding mountains and grass, John looked around him. In the car. The first thing he thought of was the gun, that would definitely come in the most useful. He also noticed that Matchstick had with him, a tyre iron, a trusty device for a psychotic madman, and not such a bad one for a desperate big brother either. His eyes also picked up the long coil of rope on the backseat, that would come in very useful.
He knew that Jeff ,after he got his sons back would not be happy with the state of his Thunderbird, the windscreen smashed, abandoned back on route to the airport. But John also knew his father was a rich man, he could buy another car.
He was jolted suddenly aware of their surroundings as Matchstick rolled the car to a stop.
John watched him, 'is this it?'
'Nah I just brought us here for a spot of fishing. OF COURSE IT IS!'
John smiled sarcastically, 'right'.
'Are they in there?'
Matchstick glared evily, 'they're in there.'
John nodded. He again reached for his phone, never once removing the gun from Matchsticks head.
'Scott, it's me, we've reached the place, it's about 3 miles off junction five, a little cabin, it's surrounded by pine trees, it's pretty isolated.'
'Ok, so you're gonna wait there right?'
John sighed, 'well....'
'John!' Scott shouted in exasperation, 'we talked about this.'
'Scott, you talked, I just didn't disagree with you.'
'And now you are?'
'Well I'm here, why don't I try and get them out?'
'Uggghh John, you're so infuriating, because you might endanger yourself and them further by rushing in there!'
'Oh and leaving them in there longer isn't endangering them?'
'Give that to me.' John heard Virgil say.
Uh Oh, Scott was brilliant at giving orders and quite scary when cross, but Virg was more effective at getting you to do what he wanted, laying on all the guilt-trips.
'Virg..before you even start..'
'Shut up John! Now listen Dad is worried enough as it is, do you really want to upset him further? Well do you? Now we are busting our guts here, we'll be there as soon as we can, you can just damn well wait there until we get there!'
John realised what was going on, 'delaying me until you arrive has been done before Virg, I know you remember? Catch you later!'
He hung up on his older brother.
Matchstick smirked, 'family tiff?'
'None of your business.' John replied, 'now for the fun.'
With little remorse he swung the butt of the gun at Matchstick's head. Knocking the larger man out. Then he quickly retrieved the rope from the back seat and tied Matchstick's hands and feet together. The hardest part was lugging the 6'5 frame to the car boot.
John decided it was too risky to leave Matchstick in the car, if he woke up he'd be able to smash his way out. It was another story with the boot. As quietly as possible John hauled the heavy load into the boot, shoving in first his torso and then his feet.
Smiling down, his face shadowed by the clouds, John looked down with a cold smile, 'nighty,night Francis' he said, shutting the boot and locking it behind him.
He took a deep breath of the mountain air, before walking steadily towards the cabin.
Jeff headed up the road leading to the cabin.
Virgil cursed loudly.
'VIRGIL!' Jeff admonished.
'Sorry Dad, he hung up on me.' Virgil replied flinging Scott's phone down with a bang on the seat next to him.
'I knew he wouldn't just leave it' Scott said annoyed.
Jeff sighed, 'you and I both know what your brother's like when he sets his mind to something Scott' .
'Yes Dad unfortunately we do.'
Virgil bounced up and down on the seat trying to release nervous energy, 'I just hope he doesn't get himself in trouble.'
Scott turned to his brother with a wry smile, 'when have you known John not to get himself in trouble?'
Alan and Gordon sat, tied to a chair now, afraid to move. The ropes were so tight they could barely breathe, but it wasn't that that was scaring them.
Gordon squeezed Alan's hand gently, 'Al, I'm sorry' he whispered softly, 'if my phone hadn't gone off, we'd have...'
'Shhh' Alan interrupted, a lone tear falling down his cheek, 'it wasn't your fault.'
Gordon leaned his head against his brothers, although he couldn't see his face, he could tell Alan was crying. Fallon had left, minutes before, running across the snow into the pine trees.
'He'll be long gone by now' Alan muttered, again subconsciously thinking what Gordon had been.
'yeah, well the police'll get him, in the end, he'll never get away with this.'
'I hope not' Alan said quietly. Then he really began to cry. For all their bravado, they were after all just 16year old kids.
'Oh what are Dad and the guys gonna do?'
Gordon felt his own eyes tearing up, 'I don't know Al, lets just hope they catch that creep.'
'I mean without us? It'll kill them.'
'Well lets just hope they handle it, we'll be with mum anyway.'
Alan seemed to calm down at that. 'Do you remember her? At all?'
Gordon shook his head, 'nah, but we'll get to know her now won't we, we'll get to see what we missed out on.'
Alan nodded, 'I guess. You know what I'm really going to miss?'
'What?'
'Grandma's pies.'
Gordon giggled, then became sombre, 'Virgil's thoughtfullness'.
Alan smiled sadly, 'John's loyalty'.
'Dad's strength'
'Scott's continuous advice'.
They both burst out laughing at that, 'ok maybe not.'
'Scott's protectiveness'.
'Yeah, I'll miss that.'
They lapsed into silence, which as usual Alan broke, 'Gordy?'
'Yeah?'
'If I have to go now, I'm really glad I'm going with you.'
Gordon swallowed furiously at the lump in his throat, 'me too Al, me too.'
They sat in silence, the only sound was the beeping of the sensor activated bomb, beneath their chairs.
The first thing John saw as he reached the cabin door was a piece of paper pinned to the front door. John began to read it.
Jeff and co,
I'd have loved to have waited around for you to show up, just like old times. But I'm afraid then I would be caught, which I'd prefer to avoid thank you.
Anyway, you've got to be here for one thing, your youngest boys, oh yes, the baby Tracys. Boy Jeff, they're just like you, fiery and completely stupid, if they'd just stayed where they were instead of trying to escape, you'd at least have got their little bodies back in one piece, but unfortunately for them they are like you, so you won't get them back in one piece.
I have made up a little explosive, a trigger sensor bomb, underneath your boys, it's timed to go off in 10 minutes. And no Jeff, as much as I'd love to see you barge in to save your boys and then have them blown to smitherines because of you, there's no point trying to disarm it, because the moment that bomb picks up any sign of movement, it'll blow your kiddies sky high.
So to you my dear friend I leave you this final gift, this form of payback you could call it. You get to see your little boys explode right in front of your eyes.
Screw me and I screw you Jefferson,
Simon Fallon
John couldn't move he couldn't breathe, what was he supposed to do, but he didn't even get a chance to think. Before he knew it, he felt a whoosh of heat, and an explosion knocked him flying into the cool, white snow.
Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!
Ok, I'm calm, this is my story and even I'm frightened.
Penultimate chapter coming soon.
SO
IS THAT THE END OF GORDON AND ALAN?
IS THAT THE END OF JOHN?
WILL JEFF,SCOTT AND VIRGIL STUMBLE UPON THREE FAMILIAR CORPSES?
ALRIGHT I ADMIT GRANDMA'S BEEN FORGOTTON!
FIND OUT IN THE NEXT CHAPTER OF 'NEXT STOP:DANGER' coming soon....
'I'm doing 60, how much faster do you want me to go?'
'As fast as this'll make you!' John angled the gun until it was aimed at Matchstick's incensed head.
He fumbled in the glove compartment and found an identification wallet. Grinning at the convict-like picture, John turned to his driver.
'Nice picture this..' his smile became even wider as he saw the name, '..Francis!'
Matchstick turned, face red, spittle practically bursting from his mouth as he snarled, 'I am going to rip you into tiny little pieces, and I'm going to thoroughly enjoy it.'
John's voice developed an edge, 'careful Francis, we wouldn't want this gun to accidently go off now would we?'
Matchstick smirked, 'you'd never find your brothers then, would you?'
John realised with a curse that he was right. He tried to change the subject. 'So Francis, why are you doing this to my family?'
'The name's Matchstick' Matchstick growled.
John's eyes twinkled, 'oh, how apt, I'm guessing that's because you're so stupid you burnt off your own face, lighting a candle.'
Matchstick's eyes narrowed, 'no it's because I set fire to a class mate in High School.'
John let out a low whistle, 'woooooo, missed him huh?' he said sarcastically, indicating the burns running down matchstick's face.
'No actually, I killed him, this was just collateral damage.'
For the first time since he'd seen this guy approaching him with a wrench, John felt a shiver of fear run up his spine. This guy was seriously dangerous. It worried him that he was only an apprentice to the head honcho!
'Just keep your eyes on the road' John ordered, he didn't want Matchstick to even sense that he was at all afraid.
'You won't get away with this.'
'Oh really?'
'No, you're really gonna get it when my boss meets you.'
'I look forward to it.'
Matchstick's eyes glowed menacingly, 'you're gonna wish you'd never been born by the time I'm through with you.'
'Ha!' John snorted, 'sure I am, why don't you concentrate less on the wise cracks and more on the driving and I might let your other foot off with a warning.'
The look on Matchstick's face could have melted metal. He looked down at his left foot, which was bleeding profusely. He was determined not to let this little punk realise how much he'd hurt him.
John meanwhile was watching the road-signs avidly, 'how much further?'
'About 10 minutes'.
'You'd better not be pulling anything, I'm warning you, if they're not there, I will personally see to it, that you never hurt anyone again, got it Francis?'
Matchstick smirked, 'got it!'
John was suspicious, he didn't trust this guy an inch, still, he had to hope that he was taking them to the right place and that Gordon and Alan would be alright when they got there.
He reached into his pocket for his phone.
'Scott?'
'John' came his eldest brother's gruff tone. 'We've just reached the highway!'
'Scott we're heading east at Junction 5, I repeat east at junction 5, you getting this.'
John heard Scott mumbling to someone, most likely Jeff, 'Yeah we got it John! Now any idea where we're headed?'
John sighed and stared hard at the guy opposite him, 'nah can't be sure, looks like we're heading in to the mountains though, my guess is somewhere remote. Francis says we should be there in 10 minutes.'
'Francis?'
'I'll explain later.'
'Alright, but listen John, when you get there I want you to stay where you are, ok, you've done great up until now, but then I think you should let Dad, Virgil and I handle it.'
John couldn't believe this.
'Scott are you joking? There's no way I'm going to sit here and wait for the cavalry if those two are in immediate danger.'
Scott sighed, 'how did I know you wouldn't just accept that? Listen I'm just saying we 're less than 5 minutes behind you, can you just wait for us, please?'
'I'll see what the situation is.' John replied sounding decidedly angry with his big brother's plan, 'but Scott, I'm not a little kid who's going to make this situation worse, I might actually be able to help.'
'I know, we just don't want to have to worry about all three of you ok?' Scott's voice became resigned, 'please just do as I say, ok?'
'I'm not promising, but I promise if it's better for Alan and Gordon I'll lie low and wait for you, alright?'
Scott sighed, he knew he'd have to accept that, 'fine, be careful, and keep in touch. I couldn't get through to Gordon's phone, so you don't know what you're going to be dealing with.'
'Right.'
'John?'
'Yeah'
'Don't go putting yourself in the firing line.'
'Ok big brother, talk to you in a bit.'
Scott hung up with a worried glance out the window, he didn't want his father to read the haunted expression in his eyes.
He had a feeling that John was going to try something. Although it was Virgil and John who knew each other inside out, Scott was well aware what his middle brother was like in tense situations, act first, think later.
His father glanced over, 'what's going on?'
'Head east at Junction five.'
'Not direction-wise, with John?'
Scott frowned, 'he said they should reach the place they're holding Al and Gordy in 10 minutes.'
Jeff nodded, 'does he have any idea where that is?'
'He suspects it's in the mountains.'
'Right.'
'Scott?' Virgil piped up from the back-seat, 'What's Johnny going to do when he gets there?'
Scott looked at Virgil, 'I don't know Virg, I don't think even he knows.'
Virgil turned and looked from the window, his body tense, as they turned off the highway at Junction five, 'He's going to try something Scott, I know he is.'
Scott attempted to reassure his brother, 'hey we don't know that. I told him to wait.'
Virgil turned and fixed Scott with a look , 'and you really think he's going to listen?'
Alan attempted to run,
He spun on his heel, but froze as Fallon yelled, 'Move and I put a bullet in his head!'
Turning slowly, Alan saw Fallon, arm around Gordon's neck, gun against his temple.
'now come back over here, slowly.' Alan did as he was asked.
Fallon grinned, 'now which one of you two boys has a telephone?'
He was greeted with silence.
He jammed the gun firmer into Gordon's ribs, 'TELL ME!'
Alan winced, he couldn't let Gordon get hurt, 'Gordy, give him the phone.'
Gordon glared at Alan impatiently,
'yeah Gordy, give me the phone' Fallon snarled sarcastically.
Gordon brought a hand to his pocket and handed over his phone.
Fallon smirked, 'well aren't we clever little Tracys, escaping and probably ringing Daddy eh?'
Gordon and Alan exchanged helpless glances.
'Well we'd better make sure we're ready for Daddy and big brothers' arrival hadn't we?'
Alan chewed his lip, that sounded ominous.
Fallon steered them back towards the cabin.
'Come on,' he said with an evil smile, 'let's go get your Dad's surprise ready, he's really not gonna know what's hit him!'
8 minutes later, John and Matchstick were almost at the cabin. John was continually texting Scott with their change in movement.
As they continued to drive, John thought over what Scott had said.
'Don't go putting yourself in the firing line.'
John sighed to himself, he didn't want to disobey his big brother. They had all looked up to Scott their whole lives. And John knew deep down inside that Scott was right, but he couldn't just sit and wait when he knew his brothers were trapped somewhere with a mad man. He was also well aware that Scott knew that John wouldn't wait for him.
Oh his eldest brother knew alright, because he wouldn't have waited himself.
John's quick mind scanned over all the things he could use to help him rescue his brothers. Snow was falling thick and heavy now, it blanketed the surrounding mountains and grass, John looked around him. In the car. The first thing he thought of was the gun, that would definitely come in the most useful. He also noticed that Matchstick had with him, a tyre iron, a trusty device for a psychotic madman, and not such a bad one for a desperate big brother either. His eyes also picked up the long coil of rope on the backseat, that would come in very useful.
He knew that Jeff ,after he got his sons back would not be happy with the state of his Thunderbird, the windscreen smashed, abandoned back on route to the airport. But John also knew his father was a rich man, he could buy another car.
He was jolted suddenly aware of their surroundings as Matchstick rolled the car to a stop.
John watched him, 'is this it?'
'Nah I just brought us here for a spot of fishing. OF COURSE IT IS!'
John smiled sarcastically, 'right'.
'Are they in there?'
Matchstick glared evily, 'they're in there.'
John nodded. He again reached for his phone, never once removing the gun from Matchsticks head.
'Scott, it's me, we've reached the place, it's about 3 miles off junction five, a little cabin, it's surrounded by pine trees, it's pretty isolated.'
'Ok, so you're gonna wait there right?'
John sighed, 'well....'
'John!' Scott shouted in exasperation, 'we talked about this.'
'Scott, you talked, I just didn't disagree with you.'
'And now you are?'
'Well I'm here, why don't I try and get them out?'
'Uggghh John, you're so infuriating, because you might endanger yourself and them further by rushing in there!'
'Oh and leaving them in there longer isn't endangering them?'
'Give that to me.' John heard Virgil say.
Uh Oh, Scott was brilliant at giving orders and quite scary when cross, but Virg was more effective at getting you to do what he wanted, laying on all the guilt-trips.
'Virg..before you even start..'
'Shut up John! Now listen Dad is worried enough as it is, do you really want to upset him further? Well do you? Now we are busting our guts here, we'll be there as soon as we can, you can just damn well wait there until we get there!'
John realised what was going on, 'delaying me until you arrive has been done before Virg, I know you remember? Catch you later!'
He hung up on his older brother.
Matchstick smirked, 'family tiff?'
'None of your business.' John replied, 'now for the fun.'
With little remorse he swung the butt of the gun at Matchstick's head. Knocking the larger man out. Then he quickly retrieved the rope from the back seat and tied Matchstick's hands and feet together. The hardest part was lugging the 6'5 frame to the car boot.
John decided it was too risky to leave Matchstick in the car, if he woke up he'd be able to smash his way out. It was another story with the boot. As quietly as possible John hauled the heavy load into the boot, shoving in first his torso and then his feet.
Smiling down, his face shadowed by the clouds, John looked down with a cold smile, 'nighty,night Francis' he said, shutting the boot and locking it behind him.
He took a deep breath of the mountain air, before walking steadily towards the cabin.
Jeff headed up the road leading to the cabin.
Virgil cursed loudly.
'VIRGIL!' Jeff admonished.
'Sorry Dad, he hung up on me.' Virgil replied flinging Scott's phone down with a bang on the seat next to him.
'I knew he wouldn't just leave it' Scott said annoyed.
Jeff sighed, 'you and I both know what your brother's like when he sets his mind to something Scott' .
'Yes Dad unfortunately we do.'
Virgil bounced up and down on the seat trying to release nervous energy, 'I just hope he doesn't get himself in trouble.'
Scott turned to his brother with a wry smile, 'when have you known John not to get himself in trouble?'
Alan and Gordon sat, tied to a chair now, afraid to move. The ropes were so tight they could barely breathe, but it wasn't that that was scaring them.
Gordon squeezed Alan's hand gently, 'Al, I'm sorry' he whispered softly, 'if my phone hadn't gone off, we'd have...'
'Shhh' Alan interrupted, a lone tear falling down his cheek, 'it wasn't your fault.'
Gordon leaned his head against his brothers, although he couldn't see his face, he could tell Alan was crying. Fallon had left, minutes before, running across the snow into the pine trees.
'He'll be long gone by now' Alan muttered, again subconsciously thinking what Gordon had been.
'yeah, well the police'll get him, in the end, he'll never get away with this.'
'I hope not' Alan said quietly. Then he really began to cry. For all their bravado, they were after all just 16year old kids.
'Oh what are Dad and the guys gonna do?'
Gordon felt his own eyes tearing up, 'I don't know Al, lets just hope they catch that creep.'
'I mean without us? It'll kill them.'
'Well lets just hope they handle it, we'll be with mum anyway.'
Alan seemed to calm down at that. 'Do you remember her? At all?'
Gordon shook his head, 'nah, but we'll get to know her now won't we, we'll get to see what we missed out on.'
Alan nodded, 'I guess. You know what I'm really going to miss?'
'What?'
'Grandma's pies.'
Gordon giggled, then became sombre, 'Virgil's thoughtfullness'.
Alan smiled sadly, 'John's loyalty'.
'Dad's strength'
'Scott's continuous advice'.
They both burst out laughing at that, 'ok maybe not.'
'Scott's protectiveness'.
'Yeah, I'll miss that.'
They lapsed into silence, which as usual Alan broke, 'Gordy?'
'Yeah?'
'If I have to go now, I'm really glad I'm going with you.'
Gordon swallowed furiously at the lump in his throat, 'me too Al, me too.'
They sat in silence, the only sound was the beeping of the sensor activated bomb, beneath their chairs.
The first thing John saw as he reached the cabin door was a piece of paper pinned to the front door. John began to read it.
Jeff and co,
I'd have loved to have waited around for you to show up, just like old times. But I'm afraid then I would be caught, which I'd prefer to avoid thank you.
Anyway, you've got to be here for one thing, your youngest boys, oh yes, the baby Tracys. Boy Jeff, they're just like you, fiery and completely stupid, if they'd just stayed where they were instead of trying to escape, you'd at least have got their little bodies back in one piece, but unfortunately for them they are like you, so you won't get them back in one piece.
I have made up a little explosive, a trigger sensor bomb, underneath your boys, it's timed to go off in 10 minutes. And no Jeff, as much as I'd love to see you barge in to save your boys and then have them blown to smitherines because of you, there's no point trying to disarm it, because the moment that bomb picks up any sign of movement, it'll blow your kiddies sky high.
So to you my dear friend I leave you this final gift, this form of payback you could call it. You get to see your little boys explode right in front of your eyes.
Screw me and I screw you Jefferson,
Simon Fallon
John couldn't move he couldn't breathe, what was he supposed to do, but he didn't even get a chance to think. Before he knew it, he felt a whoosh of heat, and an explosion knocked him flying into the cool, white snow.
Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!
Ok, I'm calm, this is my story and even I'm frightened.
Penultimate chapter coming soon.
SO
IS THAT THE END OF GORDON AND ALAN?
IS THAT THE END OF JOHN?
WILL JEFF,SCOTT AND VIRGIL STUMBLE UPON THREE FAMILIAR CORPSES?
ALRIGHT I ADMIT GRANDMA'S BEEN FORGOTTON!
FIND OUT IN THE NEXT CHAPTER OF 'NEXT STOP:DANGER' coming soon....