Love, Lucy




The two reliable policemen reached their destination, 356 Jenkins, without hassle. They knew their town well, and that was good. Or perhaps the correct term was "required." Yes, knowing their town well was required. If they had gotten lost on the job....well--

"Police!" Kinkirk busted his best karate move and knocked down the oak wood door. It already had a few cracks in it, therefore easy to break down. Though, we'll let Kevin have his glory.

Roxanne looked impressed, but said nothing. She was on the job. Not the right time to start cracking jokes about Kinkirk's newfound flexibility. She followed her partner into the run-down house.

"Looks like our suspect fled the nest already," Roxanne pointed out after quickly scanning the bare living room.

Without throwing the sarcastic glare that had formed on his face at her, Kevin agreed. "Yeah, looks that way. But looks can be deceiving. We still have to check it out."

"Duh. What kind of policeman - policewoman - would I be if I didn't follow procedure?"

Kevin secretly rolled his eyes, irritated. "Just shut up and help me and look around. I'll take these rooms down here."

"Sorry, Mr. I-Woke-Up-On-The-Wrong-Side-Of-The-Bed-This-Morning," Roxanne retorted, trying to make the dark mood a lighter one.

"Roxanne, I don't have time for your stupid and childish behavior. Lucy's kid sister is missing and if we don't find her, then-"

"Okay, okay. I'm sorry." Without waiting for a response, Roxanne set off down the hall and disappearing into one of the empty rooms.

Kevin sighed and let his tense shoulders relax a bit. He didn't know how much more of the crazy women and crying at home he could take. They had better find Ruthie...and fast.





Lucy looked at Tom, her eyes wide, her heart pounding. At first, she was in such shock that she couldn't find any words - or her voice for that matter - and just stared. When Tom had said that his brother wrote the note, her mouth had gone dry. Like some little kid sucking the last drop of milk out of his glass from a straw.

Lucy swallowed. "You're - you're broth - brother?" she stammered. There was somthing in the air. Something wasn't right.

"I'd swear it on my grandmother's grave," Tom said. He sounded so sure, that Lucy couldn't help but believe him.

Like father, like daughter.

"Tom, we have to call the police! We have to tell them!" Lucy shrieked, reaching for the phone, but Tom batted it out of her hand. "Tom?"

"No, we can't - can't call the police."

"Tom?" Lucy was tearing up. "What's the matter with you?"

Tom grabbed her hands and held them in his own. "Luce-"

"Please, don't call me 'Luce'."

"Lucy, we can't call the police. This is my brother. My brother. I just can't turn him in. We grew up together."

At first Lucy couldn't understand, but she found a way to relate. "But, Tom. Your brother has my sister. She's in danger."

Tom bowed his head and tightened his grip on her hands before finally letting them drop back to her sides.

"I know," Tom said at last. "But if you'll go for it, I have a plan."





"Pete?" Paris Petrowski called to her son who was shut away in his room. "Can I come in?"

"I don't care," was the weak response.

Paris turned the knob with a little difficulty because of the items in her hand, but got in okay. Peter was laying on his bed, clutching a pillow to his chest.

Paris forced a small smile, attempting to cheer Peter up. "I come bearing cookies and milk."

Peter no more than glanced at the snack before dismissing it. "Milk and cookies won't get Ruthie back any faster."

Paris sighed. Peter had been like this ever since her first heard Ruthie had been kidnapped. She didn't blame him, but she just wished that he would get out of the house for a while. Not for her own personal jollies, but for him to get some fresh air. He had been cooped up in this stuffy room for a while now.

When she suggested that he go down to the Camdens and see how they were, he just got huffy and told her to get out.





"You know, you're alright," he told her when he had finished playing dress up and peek-a-boo with her body. "Maybe I'll just keep both of you-"

Ruthie narrowed her eyes at him and he smiled.

"You got somethin' to say?" he stalked over to where he had chained her up and traced the edges of the duct tape that smothered her mouth and drowned out her hoarse voice.

Ruthie raised an eyebrow at this ruthless man. She didn't have anything to say, but she had something that she wanted to do.

The man's short-nailed fingers peeled the duct tape off of her mouth slowly, causing her much pain. "Watch'a gotta say, Jezzy?"

Ruthie resisted the urge to spit on him, but remembered her morals. Screw the morals, she thought and spit on him anyway.

Fire rumbled behind the man's eyes. For a second, Ruthie thought he was about to slap her across the face, but instead, he said, "Now, none of that. Do it again, I kill ya." Roughly, he put the tape back over her mouth and left her there to hang in her chains.





"Tom, where are we going?" Lucy asked, instantly becoming afraid. They had past Glenoak's city limits long ago, hours ago.

"Just trust me," was Tom's shady reply. He grinned as he kept on driving down the desolate road with nothing along it's edges. They were out in the middle of no where.

"I'll have you yet, my pretty."