Chapter 31

            Jill woke up in confusion. Where am I? she wondered.

            Slowly her memory came back to her. She had asked the bad man to take her outside, and he was the nice one so he had. Then, she had run away from him, and run and run until she couldn't anymore. She grinned when she remembered him trying to catch up with her. She had been too fast for him. But where was she now?

            She had fallen asleep on the ground because she was tired. But now, she wanted to go home and see Mommy and Daddy. She got up, brushed the dirt off her clothes, and started walking.

            There were no other people around; maybe it was too early. She stopped in front of a street sign and slowly picked out the letters on it. E, L, M...wait a minute, she recognized this street!

            A broad grin came to Jill's face, as she ran down the street at full speed.

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            He was going to die. They were all going to die.

            The realization hit Carter like a load of bricks. He didn't want to die. What about Jill, what about Riley, what about Abby?

            Abby! He needed to call her! He picked up the phone, but heard only static. Of course. People who were dying didn't need to use the phone.

            He turned towards the seat next to him and realized that it was empty. At least, there was no one sitting in it. His seatmate had run off and left his laptop, still on and working.

            With a furtive glance, Carter slid into the man's seat and opened the laptop. Would the email still work? Carter had no idea, but it might. This might be the last chance he would ever have to contact Abby.

            What should he say? Whatever he wanted to say, he would have to say it fast. The pilot was still assuring them that everything was going to be fine, but they all could tell that it wasn't. He didn't have much time. Hunching over the computer, Carter began to type.

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            Susan closed her eyes as she worked the lather into her hair. Ah, that was nice. She knew it was worth it to buy the expensive shampoo. Her hair felt better already.

            As she rinsed the rich, sweet smelling lather out of her hair, she thought she heard the phone ringing. Poking her head out from behind the curtain, she held her breath as she listened for a ring. After several seconds, she realized that it must have just been her imagination. With a sigh, she stuck her head back into the shower and readjusted the curtain.

            She wondered how Carter and Abby were doing. They were probably frantic with worry; she couldn't imagine how she would feel if her child was kidnapped.

            It had been three days now, and still, no word from the kidnapper. Last time she had seen Abby, she looked awful. Bags under her eyes, face creased with worry, Susan could tell she hadn't gotten a wink of sleep since her children were taken. And she probably wouldn't until Jill was safe at home.

            Susan wished there was more she could do to help. She knew how awful Carter and Abby must be feeing right now.

            Susan's reverie was interrupted by a knock at the door. Normally, she would ignore someone at the door if she was in the shower. But since the twins' disappearance, she had felt like she should answer the door ever time someone knocked. She knew it was unlikely, but what if someone showed up at her door with news of the twins? That was more important than finishing her shower. So she wrapped herself in a bathrobe and walked towards the living room.

            "I'm coming!" she yelled in response to the rapid knocking at the door. Whoever it was, it must be something important. She quickened her pace, and flung open the door as soon as she got to it.

            Nothing could have prepared her for the sight that awaited her there.

            "JIll?!?" she said in shock, staring at the little girl standing in her doorway. What in the world was Jill doing at her house?

            "Aunt Susan!" Jill said eagerly, wrapping her arms around Susan's legs.

            "H-how did you get here?" Susan asked, still recovering from the shock.

            "I ran away from the bad man! Can we go home now?"

            Susan looked down at Jill's eager face, and it finally dawned on her that Jill was really here, and she was safe. A smile came to her lips. "I'll call and see if they're home," she responded.

            "Where's the kitchen? I'm hungry!" Susan pointed towards the kitchen, and Jill went to work on a bowl of pasta.

            Susan called Carter's house, but got a busy signal. Hmm, they must be on the phone, she thought. So she called his cell phone, but got his voicemail. After leaving a short message, she hung up.

            "I can't believe this," she thought aloud. "Jill is safe, but Carter didn't even bother to turn on his phone so he could find out!"

            She dialed the phone again. "Pick up, Carter," she urged. She felt like screaming with frustration when, once again, she got his voice mail. Once again, she left a message.

            "Carter, it's me. Jill is safe. She's right here with me. Call me back as soon as you get this message." She hung up. Sighing, she drummed her fingers on the table. Why hadn't he turned on his cell phone?

            Running into her bedroom, she threw on a t-shirt and pair of jeans. This was no time for fashion. Grabbing her keys, she said, "C'mon Jill, I'm taking you home."

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            Riley sat on the porch, listlessly playing with a pair of toy cars. He was bored. It just wasn't as much fun playing without Jill. When would she come home?

            A familiar car pulled up into the driveway. "Hi, Aunt Susan," he said half-heartedly as Susan got out of the car. He wondered why she went to the back door of the car instead of walking up the driveway, but he soon found out.

            "JILL!" he screamed as his long-lost sister emerged from the car. Dropping his toys, he raced down the steps at full speed.

            "JILL!" When Abby heard the exclamation, she felt a wave of sadness. Poor Riley. He missed Jill so much; it didn't seem right for the two of them to be apart.

            Abby was heading into the kitchen to make lunch when she heard, "Mommy! Jill's here!"

            Abby's heart leapt with hope. Was it possible? Could this be true? It seemed impossible that Jill would show up on their doorstep, but right now Abby was ready to believe anything. With bated breath, Abby raced out the door, and saw-

            "JILL!"