A moment after the door closed, Tony lunged forward to open the door, only for Ducky to slap his hand away.
"No, he's booby-trapped the door, Tony. See?" Ducky picked up an umbrella from a nearby rack then tossed it at the doorknob. As it touched the metal, sparks flew and Tony blanched.
"How did you, oh the mirror…." He realized, then the doctor nodded.
"I saw him lean toward the door….I wager that he's done the same to the back door, too."
Following the older man through the hall and kitchen, both men checked the rear doors and found they were magnetized also.
Using a rubber glove, Tony managed to jerk the door open and knock the device off, then ran to the front of the house in time to see the van turn to the left and disappear. Instantly he grabbed his keys then hollered at Ducky "Call Morrow, and the police, I'll call you!"
As he vaulted into his car and drove away, Ducky heard his mother wailing, then went back inside the house.
Mrs. Mallard stood at the top of the stairs, weeping. "I told you, told you he was not to be trusted!"
Sadly he shook his head. "Yes, mother, you told me, I should have listened to you."
As Tony drove, he scanned the road ahead for the commercial van, then got an idea. Pulling into a clump of trees by on the shoulder of the road, he waited, then saw the abductor's van pull out of the opposite side of the street and drive away.
"Well, nerd, you can run but you can't hide." He thought mirthlessly.
Inside the van, Kate tried to lean down and snag the tape off her mouth, then saw Abby lift her head off the floorboards. Kate saw she was gagged with tape also, and managed to signal with her head for Abby to move her way. The look of fear in Abby's eyes faded and she scooted herself to the foot of the seats. Kate managed to turn herself and by wriggling her fingers, caught the tape on her friend's mouth and slowly pulled it off.
"Kate, ….thanks." the younger woman panted, then getting on her knees, used her teeth to snag the adhesive from Kate's lips. Gasping, Kate nodded her thanks.
"Kate, he hit McGee, I don't know how bad, he hurt him." Abby was trying to keep her voice down, but the panic in her voice caused Kate to glance warningly towards the front of the van.
"Shh, Abby, it's all right. I'm sure Tim's okay. Where did he grab you?"
"Outside my apartment, Tim went to get the car, then he showed up and tried to pull me into his van, saying he wanted to take me out. I thought he was joking or something, and I joked back. You know, ha, ha, I like you but not that way, joking, but no…he was rough and when McGee saw him jerking me around…." Abby gulped.
"I understand." Kate tried to calm her. "Abby, he's taken Gibbs too, we've got to get loose and stop him before he hurts him, or us."
As if in answer to her words, the vehicle immediately swerved, then came to an abrupt stop. Both women tensed, then the panel door opened. Jimmy Palmer stood there.
"Kate, Abby…" the formerly shy assistant grinned. "Now I get to give the orders."
Pulling out his gun, he held it steadily on Kate, then reached in and grabbed Abby's right pigtail.
"Come on, Abby, you first."
Grumbling under her breath, Abby managed to slide out of the van, trying to avoid touching him, only for Palmer to take her arm roughly and pull her out of sight.
Mentally swearing at him, Kate furiously stretched and yanked at the cuffs holding her fast, then heard a noise at the back of the van.
"Tony" she thought, then jumped at the sound of gunfire.
