What worried me the most about my current situation was the phone call that my friends were not going to receive from me. I knew, then, that Don would be the most concerned, overall. I worried that he and his brothers would do something rash; like come to my rescue. They were already aware of the location of the Foot's current headquarters, yet I could not be sure that Jack was going to take me there.

All I knew was that my ex wanted answers to questions that couldn't be asked out in public. That had me a little nervous. What would he do if he wanted information from me that I was not willing, or was unable, to give him?

I didn't know where Jack was taking me, nor did he afford me the luxury of finding out. The moment I was pushed into the sedan, someone quickly slipped a hood over my head. I was now in complete darkness.

I knew that when approaching the car, its windows were tinted quite heavily. It was a sure bet that whatever went on inside the sedan would not be seen from the outside.

I tried my best not to panic. However, I was finding it harder by the minute to keep my composure. I then felt the car exhilarate and we were off to who-knows-where.

Since they had not gagged me, I thought I could lighten the mood a little, maybe even distract my stomach from dislodging the coffee I had sipped earlier.

"So, Jack, how's your old lady these days" I began.

I received 'zilch' for a reply.

Hmm...Okay, then maybe I could talk about something a bit more domestic.

"Any little rug-rats running around home, yet"

Same answer as before – nothing!

Good grief, he was sure full of talk earlier. You would think Jack would want to butter me up with conversation. It just might make it easier, later, to extract whatever information he wanted from me. Not that I would have complied, but one would think a strategy of some sort would be important.

"I guess you're saving your breath for that Q A you promised me, eh?" I could start to feel the tremor in my voice. I tried not to shake, but I just couldn't help it.

As we drove along, I realized there were others in the car besides Jack and the driver. I knew there was someone on the other side of me; probably the one who slipped the hood on my head. However, there was someone else. I could smell a perfume of some kind and it wasn't coming from the backseat. The bouquet was rather exotic and almost reminded me of lotus blossoms. Either it was aftershave or a woman was accompanying us.

Jack's new wife, perhaps?

That had me curious.

"Say, I don't know who's wearing it, but that aftershave sure smells heavenly." I decided to go for broke and see if I could irk someone.

I sure hoped it was Jack's new honeybee!

I scored – well, almost. At least I learned it wasn't aftershave.

"It's perfume, Min. Now, why don't you just shut your trap for once and enjoy the ride." Jack sneered evilly.

"I'd enjoy it better if I could see where I was going." I replied tartly.

"Min, I will only tell you once and only once. Shut up"

Okay, I can take a hint. The edge in Jack's voice was lethal. I knew when he was serious. Then, I heard someone sigh as if exasperated. It came from the front passenger seat and I could tell it was definitely feminine. I was only guessing but I was certain it was his new wife – Akina.

I had learned of her name through Splinter, who seemed to know a great deal about her and the family from which she belonged. Since she was Oruku Saki's sister, it was a good bet that she would try to avenge her brother's death. Splinter had even gone on to say that, any measure of revenge would do with her, even if it meant harming me.

Certainly made my day when he told me that!

Well, we drove around for about thirty minutes and did several turns along the way. I knew that when we first started off, we had been heading east. The car was facing that direction when they shoved me inside.

After a few minutes of driving, we had made a left turn and then, after a while longer, another left. Soon, the car executed one more turn, but it was to the right. After that, we drove for a spell, crossing over some railroad tracks at one point.

I heard the sound of a ship's horn in the near distance, so I figured we were by the docks. Where along the coast we were exactly, I hadn't a clue. Nevertheless, I was sure we had been traveling north and had remained on Manhattan Island.

All too soon, the sedan began to slow down. I could faintly hear the sound of what appeared to be grinding metal, and we seemed to be closing in on it. The car then bumped a little as if it went over a grating, and then I could hear the sound of grinding metal once again.

The car stopped and that metal sound clanged behind us, as if it had hit something equally metallic. The noise echoed as if we were in a cavern – or a warehouse. I figured on the latter.

I expected the occupants of the car to get out, but they didn't. We sat there like that, in silence, for another ten minutes. Not one word did they say and their breathing was nearly undetectable.

I wanted to ask where we were, but Jack's earlier threat was still fresh on my mind. I figured that the ball was now in his court, anyway. It was his turn to talk.

I was building up to a near panic, not knowing what they were going to do with me. Maybe the need for 'more information' was just a ruse to get me out of the public's view. So they could – do what? What was I to them, anyway? How could they know that I had been in the turtle's company for the past six weeks? Maybe Raph had left an unintentional clue behind when he discovered me? Maybe someone had seen him with me as he slipped into the sewers?

Personally, I liked answers more than questions. And these questions were driving me nearly crazy with anxiety.

Either way Jack, or his cronies, would not have taken me unless I was of some use to them. That part frightened me to death.

Jack's voice nearly made me jump, "Min, I am going to re-iterate my question from earlier and I want you to seriously consider how you answer. I know that you have not been in Connecticut. Tell us – where have you been for the past six weeks"

Okay, this is where my fear was supposed to brighten up my common sense – if I had any, that is.

"Okay, fine – I haven't been in Connecticut. You're right, I was never there." I stated.

"Good. That's what I wanted to hear." Jack almost seemed happy, "I'd really hate to make you tell me, and I'm glad – no, I'm relieved that you finally understand the seriousness of this situation."

Jack then asked, "So, where have you been"

"New Jersey" I replied – though not as cheekily as I would have liked.

I was smacked right alongside the head – and hard, too. I sucked in my breath from the shock of it and from the pain that immediately followed. I gritted my teeth and realized that the strike did not come from Jack. It came from the passenger seat up front.

Jack swore, or said something in anger, but he said it in Japanese. I didn't know he was bi-lingual. Humph, who would' a thought?

However, presently, all I could think of was the pounding headache I now had and not an aspirin to my name.

"MIN! I am quite serious; you have to stop playing these games. It's not – safe for you to do this. "My ex seethed.

The next voice I heard was definitely female and it came from the front seat. "You will tell us the whereabouts of these turtles – NOW! I will not be so nice to you next time if you persist with this - attitude"

"Ah, yes, you must be the one wearing the aftershave" I replied quickly, much to my chagrin.

I heard her grunt as if she was attempting to assert herself physically. However, I then felt Jack lean in front of me. I heard a smack, as if he had blocked a strike, and which was, undoubtedly, intended for my head – again!

"NO! It will only make things worse. She is obviously not going to tell us. However, there are better ways to see an end to this problem of yours. Trust me, Akina."

"How can I trust you when you have taken too much time with this – this baka?" Akina hissed out venomously.

The hate in that woman's voice was so intense that it gripped my heart like a vice. What was a 'baka' anyway? I could only guess that it translated into something less than complimentary.

I had quite a few phrases of my own running through my head at that point. I thought several of them fit her quite well, in fact.

Nevertheless, I knew then that she would have probably knocked me silly if it were not for Jack. Good thing they believed that I had important information. Of course, if they wanted the location of the turtle's lair, I would be very little help to them. Even if I attempted to give them the wrong directions, it was a good bet that I could unintentionally steer them in the right direction.

After all, I was directionally challenged. If trying to get someone lost were my intent, I would only help them find what they wanted in the end.

Jack then defended himself, "I have never let you down, Akina. Didn't I know that she would be coming today?"

Okay, stop the presses. How did Jack know that I would be visiting topside on this day of all days? No way would he have known this.

"You said that three days ago and we've been waiting all that time. It was just lucky for you she finally did so today," Akina said angrily.

"But, bugging that phone in the diner was my idea, Akina. I knew that Min would be calling Bill. It was only her typical procrastinating self that took so long," Jack explained.

Typical procrastinating self? Yeah, right. I was never one to take my time. I realized, then, that he was just protecting his own rear end. Just because you married a mob-queen, doesn't mean you have a 'get out of jail free' card.

And they bugged Bill's phone? Wasn't that illegal? I was amazed at how adept Jack had become to stooping so low. I wonder if they would be able to trace the phone call? That had me a little bit concerned for my green friends.

"So, what do we do, Jack" Akina asked derisively. "I would much prefer killing your ex and leaving her in the sewers for them to find her. Maybe it would be a good reason for them to leave the city"

Oh, I don't know about that. If I knew Raphael as well as I had come to understand him, my demise would only fuel his anger towards them. Personally, I had a better idea.

"Hope you don't mind me saying, but if you release me unharmed, I could tell them to leave town." I didn't think they would go for it. Nevertheless, nothing hoped for meant nothing gained; and I certainly wanted to gain my freedom, that was certain.

Ignoring me completely, Jack offered, directing his words to his wife, "I have a better plan that will take care of both our problems. We use Min for bait; leave a note of some form in the sewers where we know they frequent. If Saki's understanding of them is right on, these turtles will want to rescue her."

I was still had the hood on, so I couldn't tell what Akina thought of that initially. After a moment, she seemed to brighten. At least her voice was not as full of malice as it was before.

Not that I cared.

"Yes, that might work," she cooed. Then she added for good measure, "If it doesn't, though, we go with my plan and dump her body with a note telling them to get out of town."

Okay, maybe not having Don and his brothers rescue me was a bad idea? Yet at the same time, I cringed because I knew it was going to be a trap. I hoped that the turtles would understand this when they discovered I was being held against my will. Unless, Jack and Akina designed this whole plan to look like something other than a hostage situation. How, I didn't have a clue, but I knew that the way Jack had worded it, I was to be part of the irradiation of his and Akina's problems. If they succeeded in destroying my friends, I knew I would be going along for the ride.

In that moment, I was glad for the hood. Though it helped very little to stop my shaking, it did hide the tears that now flowed freely down my face. All I could think of was about Don and the words that I had been afraid to tell him.