Chapter Two

"I think that your father should be getting a little concerned by now. But I am disappointed by your lack of curiosity, Lieutenant."

"As the chances … of … you telling me anything … are nil … why should I waste my breath?" He looked up through hooded eyes. His left one was throbbing and he could already see the swelling as he looked through the slit which was all that was left of his vision splay.

"Oh, I don't know. I think that now things are moving along nicely I will let you in on a few of my secrets." She sat down on the floor just out of reach of him and he knew that however much he might want to get to her he couldn't.

"Maybe … maybe you could start with who you are." He had moved a little so that he could see her more clearly but the room just swam as he did so and for a moment he was glad of the cold stone that he could rest his forehead on.

"But that would take all the pleasure out of this. I thought you might recognise me. I'm told that in some ways I look so like him. But then he was just another number to you and your dad. You though, Lieutenant, you would never have made the connection without that interfering old man. I have nothing against you personally; it's your father I want."

"This man … whoever he is … he must … must have done something bad … or my … fa … father wouldn't have been … invo … involved." The world was spinning again and suddenly he felt a glass being held to his lips.

"Drink, like I said I have nothing against you. I'm not a monster. But I will avenge my brother's death. Yes, death, he is dead. Killed in jail, and if it wasn't for Mark Sloan he wouldn't have been there in the first place."

He tried to think, to put faces and names up against hers but his body hurt too much, his pain was overwhelming and no matter how hard he wanted to concentrate on other things it seemed that he wasn't able to. It hurt to breathe and he knew that the broken ribs were in danger of causing a punctured lung. He couldn't let that happen, he would be dead meat for the dogs and he had to get away. His head swam with every movement and he realised that the gun butt had caused, at the very least, a mild concussion.

"Hungry." The word burst from him unbidden and he saw her smile.

"Is that a plea, Lieutenant? Should I feed you? I think not. I will let you breakfast before I release you in the morning. My babies require a good workout. Now, sleep, you will need your energy for the chase." She got to her feet and moved across towards him and before he could reach out to protect himself he felt a cloth being pressed against his mouth and nose, he struggled but knew it was futile.

. . . . . . . . . .

"Mark, it's dark and we have no idea where to go. We all need to get a good night's sleep and then, when the morning comes, we can start over." Ron had said the same words three or four times and each time Mark had tried to come up with a reason why they should go out looking for Steve right away.

"We might spot something, his truck; maybe some of his snitches know something. We should go try and round them up."

"Mark, the ones that we share I've already called. Those he keeps to himself, well no one but Steve would know who they are." Cheryl felt so for the father of her partner. She had known him a long time but never before had she seen him so at a loss, it was a situation that he couldn't understand and he was helpless.

"But we have to do something. How can I sleep knowing that Steve …" He couldn't continue and he looked round, needing to do anything other than what he was doing which was nothing.

"Mark, Ron and Cheryl are right. We'll stay here tonight. There are enough beds and sofas for us all to get some sleep. Then, first thing in the morning, Cheryl can get on to the precinct and find out what they know, and we can do all those things that you want us to do." Amanda had led him over to one of the sofas as she spoke and gently sat him down on it.

"But you saw the pictures, Amanda, how can I sleep when … when…"

"I know, and I feel that way too, but we don't know where to look and in the dark everything is different. We have to give it up until morning." Her deep brown eyes were full of tears as she spoke and for a moment they almost caused Mark to collapse against her. The e-mail, which had been sent to the hospital for his attention, had shown his only son lying in a medieval type jail chained to a wall by his ankle. He had been wearing only blue jeans and his body was covered in blood and bruises. The first picture had shown him to be awake and obviously in pain, but in the other two he had been unconscious with blood now on his temple along with the rest of his body.

Even thinking about the photos caused Mark to lose his grip on reality; the words, when he had first read them, had almost caused him to pass out himself.

Doctor Sloan, this is what happens when you play detective. The law isn't for amateurs; it is the professionals who suffer.

When I have finished with him I will tell you where to collect his body.

A wellwisher.

His body, the words swam round and round in his head and he let out a groan.

"Mark?" Jesse was by his side in an instant, feeling his pulse and resting a kindly hand on his shoulder.

"I'm alright. I'm alright." Mark tried to shrug his friend away but Jesse was having none of it. "Leave me alone! You shouldn't be bothering about me, we need to find Steve."

"I know we do, Mark, but I don't want to be the one who tells him that we didn't take care of you in the process. It'll be far worse than informing him that sales of salads have doubled!" To his delight Mark calmed down a little as he spoke. That was more like it. Positive comments, that's what he had to use, positive comments. "Now, a very experienced and wise doctor I know would advise the patient that a few hours sleep in a nice warm bed are called for. Maybe a little hot milk with vanilla just to dull the edges. What do you say?" Jesse smiled and to his relief got the nod he had hoped for.

. . . . . . . . . .

He was woken by the sudden and very unwelcome sensation of cold water being thrown over him. Shivering he tried to back away and felt every muscle in his body object. His stomach screamed at him and he remembered fuzzily that he had been stabbed somewhere there.

"I'm glad you're awake. Now stand up." The voice was the same as the previous day and the day before that, but somehow it was also different. She was even more confident that she had been, even more in control and finally he knew that he was beaten, that whatever she told him to do he would do it. But still he would try to find a way to save his father.

He tried to do as she said and get to his feet but nothing wanted to work. He couldn't get his body to do as he asked it and his fear rose as he heard the anger in her voice.

"I said stand up!" His hair was yanked sharply, his head throbbed dizzily and he knew that if he had eaten he would puke right at his captor's feet. While that might give him a perverse pleasure he wasn't sure he could take much more punishment.

The night's sleep, drug induced or not, had done nothing to ease his aches and pains and now as he was held by his hair he knew that things were going to get a lot worse before they got better, if they ever did.

. . . . . . . . . .

Mark had been prowling around his home since a little after half past five in the morning. Finally he had ended up in the kitchen making coffee he wasn't sure he would even drink. He knew realistically that there was no more chance of them obtaining new information at this time of day than there had been the previous evening, but he couldn't just lie in bed when somewhere his son was in serious trouble.

The fact that it was his fault Steve had been taken made his feelings of helplessness much harder to deal with but he knew that the promise he had made to the unconscious person in the photos to never again intrude into his police work if only he would come home was half hearted at best. Anyone who took another's life deserved to be hunted down and there was a part of him which would always want to dig and delve and find those people regardless of what happened to those he loved and cared for.

"Mark?" Jesse's voice cut into his thoughts and he turned to face his young friend.

"I'm not going back to bed. I can't. I need to be doing things." Mark found himself instantly on the defensive and Jesse bit back the suggestion that had been on the tip of his tongue.

"Ok. So how about we do something together? The crime scene guys finished with Steve's apartment, we could go check see if anything grabs us."

"Like someone grabbed him you mean?" The retort was sharp and quick and Mark had the grace to look ashamed. "Jess, I'm sorry, I didn't mean that."

"It's ok. Come on, that way we won't wake anyone else up." Although nothing had been said no one had made their way to Steve's part of the house to sleep. Amanda had taken the room which used to belong to Carol and Ron had taken the bed in the guest room. Jesse, because he was shorter than Ron, had slept on the sofa in the lounge which was why he had heard Mark as he came padding through on this way to the kitchen.

The stairs down to the lower part of the house were cold on Jesse's feet and the air chilled his upper body. He wished he'd pulled on his socks and shirt before joining his friend. He didn't want to go back and leave Mark alone though and so he carried on, remembering that Steve had carpet in some parts of his apartment so at least his feet would be ok.

"We know that he was taken from here. Why didn't I come check?" Mark smacked his fist into the doorframe as he stood just inside the living room.

"Because you were giving him space. Mark, what are the chances of him being abducted? This was all worked out to cover not only the kidnapper's tracks but Steve's too. They wanted him not to be missed. It took three days for the e-mail to come to the hospital. That could have been done at any time. We are playing their game right now."

Mark's face suddenly lit up. "Jess, you're a genius."

"Well, I know that, but what did I say?" Jesse smiled, he loved it when he did things to help out, even when he had no idea what they were.

"The e-mail, we can trace Steve from where the e-mail came from. What happened to it?" Mark was running back up the stairs as he spoke, and Jesse, no longer caring if he woke the entire household, called out to him.

"You left it in the dining room on the table."

Mark already had the pieces of paper in his hand by the time Jesse caught up with him and he paused a second to remember who was the older of the two of them.

"Well?"

"It looks like a group address. Findafriendonline. somewhere or other. How do I find out where that came from?" All the energy drained away from Mark again and Jesse's heart went out to his friend even more. He thought for a moment and then a smile lit up his face.

"If I go to Community General, open the original e-mail and put the cursor over the addressee the actual address should come up, it might even show up on the in-box page, it works on my server at home so hopefully it'll work at the hospital too. I just hope they haven't deleted it."

"I'll call. You go." Mark was almost pushing Jesse towards the front door as he spoke and finally Jesse dug in his heels.

"Ok, I'll go but let me get dressed first. Maybe grab a slice of toast … I'll just get dressed." Jesse saw Mark's face, made his way back to the sofa, grabbed his socks and shirt and began to make himself reasonably presentable. He ran his hands through his hair but only succeeded in making it stick up in different places than it had before.

"Mark, I'll be back as soon as I can, but if you get a lead just go, I'll catch up with you."

Jesse didn't stop to hear his friend's reply but grabbed an apple out of the dish on the table and headed for the entrance hall.

. . . . . . . . . .

The water had made him shiver almost uncontrollably but he wasn't sure if it was just from the shock of that or his whole ordeal. Whatever it was it made his captor even more frustrated with him and he found himself held by her while one of her henchmen came in and fastened his wrists in metal shackles behind him, causing him to cry out in agony as his dislocated shoulder was damaged again and the pain increased in his upper body, making him even more helpless than before.

The man left without a word but he had seen his face not that it helped him, he still had no idea who he was. His captor too still remained a mystery to him even though he knew her Christian name, even though she said she resembled the man who had died, even though she had been so close to his face that he could feel her breath on his body.

"Now, Lieutenant, we need to have a little discussion. You seem to be in pretty good physical condition." She ran her eyes appreciatively over his body and he wanted to shrink away or use his hands to cover himself up, but he could no longer do that and her eyes made him feel as if he was on show.

"You must work out." The words were used as an insult but he tried to stare her down. It hurt to do most things but he could look at her with his one good eye and not use up any of his energy in the process.

"You know I have told you before, I like some reaction from those that stay in my accommodations." She took his jaw into her hand and gripped it tightly. The pain radiated up to his temples and he had to break his gaze as his eyes filled with tears.

"I heard her you know. All those years ago saying how handsome you were. Telling anyone who would listen to her. And you are, my darling, so very handsome. It's such a shame that you are related to that man. We could have been so good together."

Finally he was released and he slumped down. Every part of his upper body ached or throbbed. His head was pounding and he wished that this time she had offered him a drink because he was desperate enough to take it.

"Now, this is what is going to happen. It is …" She stopped talking and looked at a small gold watch on her wrist. "A little after ten in the morning. You will eat your breakfast and then we are going for a short drive. Oh, and I'll need to introduce you to my babies before we leave. After all, how can they find you if they don't smell you first?"

He didn't reply, there were no words, and he knew that whatever happened he was totally at her mercy. He couldn't get free, couldn't warn his father, couldn't do anything and he was furious at himself for his helplessness. She stood to go and get his meal and suddenly he saw a chance. Sticking out his unfettered leg he caught her feet and sent her flying.

. . . . . . . . . .

Mark's frustrations knew no bounds. He had been awake for over five hours and so far nothing of any use had been achieved. Everyone had woken up and eaten breakfast. Amanda had contacted her mother and arranged for the boys to stay with her for the foreseeable future, explaining just a little of what was happening. Then Jesse had arrived back with the news that the e-mail lead probably wasn't going to go anywhere anytime soon.

"Mark, I'm sorry. The address was of a group. There was a private e-mail address on it but it was just from a cyber café in Van Nuys. I spoke to the guy but he said that he gets loads of people in and out all day. Tourists mostly, sending mail home. He checked back a little to see what he could find and I called Captain Newman to get someone to go down there and backtrack, see if they could find out whether the e-mail was just sent from there or whether it was sent in there and then forwarded on."

The difficulties that such a simple task had created left Mark spinning. He hadn't thought of it being sent from one location to another to another to another. It could have started out anywhere in the country. They were no closer to finding his son even though they had been contacted by the person who had him.

Cheryl, who had slept at home the night before, had gone into the station to try and find out anything that she could that might relate to Steve and things he had done in the past. She was going to contact some of his ex-girlfriends as well; to see if that would lead anywhere.

Ron had organised a poster campaign using the picture Steve had in his police personnel file. Airports and service stations were being targeted as well as the area around the cyber café just in case anyone had seen him.

Mark was heartened by all the activity but still he wanted to be on the road, on the way to where his son was being held, so that he could bring him home.

. . . . . . . . . .

If he hadn't been so determined to prove to himself that he was still a man he would never have tripped her. Her fury had exploded and she had taken a riding crop to his back, splitting the skin there and on his manacled arms, causing him to cower in as small a huddle as he could manage.

"How dare you! You think you can get one over on me? Well you are wrong! I am the one in charge here. If you touch me again I will kill you!"

"I … I thought you liked … a response." He knew he shouldn't and the crop came down again over wounds which were already open causing him to cry out in agony.

"Handsome, but so stupid. Now, Lieutenant, I think that breakfast is off. You and I will go for our little ride instead. Get to your feet." She moved over and he felt her unchain the shackle from his right ankle and, the remaining fight having deserted him, he did as he was told.

. . . . . . . . . .

The phone at the beach house suddenly sprang into life and the look of terror combined with hope that passed across Mark's face tore at Jesse's heart as he made his way over and answered it for him.

"Sloan residence … Cheryl," Jesse was silent as he listened to the woman on the other end of the line, then he picked up the pencil which was resting by his hand and began to write on the piece of paper which was also there. "And you're sure it was her?" Again he listened and made a few notes. "Cheryl, I don't know that Mark or Steve have seen her since then. But I'll ask. Are you coming back here? Oh ok. Yeah, we can meet you there." Jesse put the phone down and turned to look at his friends, his face a mixture of fear and anticipation.

"Cheryl thinks she knows who it is and why. She also has a feeling she knows where Steve might be."

"So why are we waiting around here, lets go. Steve needs us!" Mark was almost out the door by the time he finished speaking and Ron, Amanda and Jesse followed him making sure that everything was locked up as they did so.

. . . . . . . . . .

The journey in the open topped jeep had made him realise just how much trouble he was about to be in. The sun beat down on him as he lay in the back causing his wounds to dry and crack, increasing the pain he felt. There was absolutely no hint of a cloud in the sky and he looked around trying to get an idea of where he was but all that did was make his aching muscles scream out and when she saw what he was doing his captor pushed him further down into the bed of the car where he was travelling.

"As much as I would love to just drop you off here I think that this is a little too close to civilisation. Another half an hour and we will be there." The vehicle stopped and suddenly his eyes were being covered with a dark cloth. The swelling of the one causing it to throb even more against this latest restriction.

"We can't have you knowing too much about where we're going." She moved away from him and then he felt the car being driven round and round in a circle before heading off again but he had no idea in which direction.

The journey seemed to take a lot longer than a half an hour. He was pretty good at gauging how many minutes were passing. It was one way of killing time when he was on surveillance, and now he was almost certain that it had been about an hour since he had been blindfolded.

"Well, Lieutenant, it is time for you and me to part company." The engine was suddenly cut as they came to a halt. "It's been such fun, I'm sure you will agree. Now I have a few things for your journey." She hauled him out of the jeep as she spoke and to his annoyance he collapsed to the ground and was unable to stand. He felt her hands on his face and then the sun was glaring at him as the darkness disappeared.

"One bottle of water and … no that's it. One bottle of water." She handed him a small individual bottle of spring water and then laughed. "Don't drink it all at once." She took a key from a loop on her belt and undid the manacles on his wrists, picking them up and throwing them into the back of the vehicle where he had, until a moment ago been lying.

"No! Don't go … please." He tried to grab her as she moved around and climbed back into the driver's seat but he missed and then his vision was clouded by the exhaust fumes as the jeep moved away. As it did so he heard her call out.

"Welcome to Death Valley."