Chapter 7: On the Hunt

" This is the only possible lead we have Jack, we have to take it." Anna tells him, her eyes on the map of PV on the table in front of her.

" I think it's better if we wait, and see if Tad or Aidan figure out what Vanessa wants." Jack tells them quietly.

" No." Kendall fires back, " Why wait Jack, the sooner we find him, the sooner he can be back in Erica and David's arms."

" It's not the simple Kendall. We don't know Vanessa's frame of mind, this may be her last stand. There's no telling what she's willing to do get what she wants. As far as we know Dylan isn't any real danger right now, police and swat may put him in that situation."

" We understand that Jack, but shouldn't we do everything we possibly can to end this right now?" Maggie asks, clearly frustrated with the lack of cooperation.

" We have nowhere else to look, except here." Anna tells him pointing to a spot on the map, " We owe it to Dylan to at least look into this."

" I can't believe you're even debating this." Erica says, slamming the door behind her.

They all turn to look at her, " Why is there a question about whether or not to look into this lead?"

" Erica you don't understand…" Jack says, almost pleadingly.

" I understand that my baby is in the clutches of his psychotic grandmother, and that you have a place to search and you won't." She fires back, her voice filled with anger.

" Erica, there's a lot of things we need to consider…" Anna tells her, trying to plead their case.

" Worst case scenario is that they're not there." Erica tells them, pointedly, unwilling to back down.

Jack gets up from the couch and walks slowly over to Erica, stopping in front of her before quietly saying, " No Erica, the worst case scenario is that Vanessa takes a last stand and things turn violent. I don't want to put Dylan in more danger then he's already in."

Erica nods tears welling in her eyes, " If it were Lily or Reggie what would you do, Jack? Would you wait and hope to figure out the ransom, ignoring leads that you already have? Or you would look anywhere and everywhere that you possibly could? All I ask is that you do the same for Dylan."

Jack looks at her for a moment, his own eyes filled with tears. " Ok." He says quietly, before turning to Anna. "Anna, call the station, have them get a Swat team together."

Anna nods hesitantly, and takes out her cell phone.

" Ok, we'll go pass out more posters. Someone had to have seen something." Kendall says, Maggie, Greenlee and Simone walking to the door with her.

" Thanks guys." Jack says over his shoulder as he and Anna give orders over the phone.

They make their goodbyes, and leave. Erica and David stand near Jack and Anna listening as they give orders to Derek.

" Oh David, I hope Maggie is right about this, I don't think I can handle a false lead." Erica says sadly.

David takes her hand, nodding reassuringly to her.

" Ok, we're getting a team in place. We're going to go with them, make sure that everything goes accordingly." Anna tells them confidently.

" If Vanessa is there, there's no way that she can get away." Jack tells them.

" You just make sure that every precaution is taken to keep him safe." David tells them, his tone deadly serious.

" We'll bring him home, safe and sound." Anna reassures them.

" We better go. It should take about an hour maybe two, to actually get in and see what the situation is, we'll call as soon as we know anything."

Erica offers him a quick nod, her eyes once again blank.

Jack and Anna exchange a quick glance, " …as soon as we know anything." Anna tells them quietly before she and Jack leave.

" I don't need a babysitter, David." Erica says her back to him, as she walks over to the window.

" Of course not. But we do have a deal, and I'm not leaving until you eat something."

Erica looks up at him, flashing him a sad smile

" We can go out, or I can make you something." He tells her with a smile.

She laughs lightly, flashing him a quizzical smile, " Cook me breakfast?"

" Dylan says that I make great pancakes."

" I know, he always asks me why I can't make them like Daddy."

" Why don't I teach you?" He says, his with a smile.

" What?"

" Come on, I'll teach you all my secrets."

" Anna, are you sure you want to put the whole Swat team on this?" Derek asks.
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" We have to at least check this out, Derek."

" Do you really think that Vanessa took Dylan to Michael's old condo?"

" I don't know, Derek. But I can't in good conscience let this lead go." She tells him, unwilling to let herself be talked out of her decision.

Derek nods slowly, still not sure about whether or not to act. " All right, I'll make sure that the team is ready when you give the order."
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" Now I know why Dylan says you're pancakes are the best." Erica says, looking across the table at David.

" Now you know how to make them for him."

" Ya." She says with a sad smile. " Thank you David. I didn't think it was possible, but you managed to get my mind of everything for a while. I would have been lost with you."

" You could make it through this on your own, you're a lot stronger then you give yourself credit for."

She flashes him a sad smile, her eyes still filled with tears. "I'm so scared, David." She admits softly.

" I am too. But we have to trust Jack and Anna, they'll bring him home to us."

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" I have a bad feeling about this Anna." Jack says as they watch the Swat team get in place.

" Do you want me to call them off?" She asks, her voice filled with apprehension and slight frustration.

He shakes his head, " I don't know…no, no, we have to do this, give the order."

" You're sure?" She asks one final time, both of their eyes locked on Michael's condo off in the distance.

He nods, as Anna picks up her radio and takes a deep breath before giving her command, " GO!"

To be continued…