When he woke up, it was still dark outside. "Musta been some storm. It's blacker than midnight under a skillet." He started to get up out of bed. "I'd better go check on Althea. She doesn't like bad storms. Not like I do." He reached for the lamp on the nightstand. Fumbling with the switch, it didn't seem to want to come on. "Electricity must be off." He sat back on the bed and reached across to the other sleeping space. It was empty. "Mara? Mara, honey…She must've gone to check on Althea. Now that I'm up, I'll go make sure all the windows are closed tight."
He got out of bed and walked toward where his bedroom door would be. It was an unpleasant surprise when he walked into the wall. "I know that's not right." He felt along the wall. "Hey, this isn't my house." Frustrated, he felt and stumbled around the unfamiliar room. "Mara? Where are you? Mara? Althea?" At last he came across a small table. Finding a chair, he sat down to think. "Why is it so dark in here?" His right hand started to fidget. "Gotta stay calm. I'll just sit here a minute."
Across the table, Sue sat stone still. They couldn't afford any mistakes at this point. By mutual agreement, the men would allow Sue to talk to Hector when the time presented itself. They were walking on eggshells at this point. She kept her eyes on the man in front of her. He started exhibiting the nervous energy he had when she first saw him. Her attention was momentarily diverted when she felt a strange rhythm against her leg. It took only a second to realize it was his hand tapping frantically on the table. Narrowing her eyes, she began to watch.
"I know you are watching." He slapped his hand down.
Sue glanced at him, startled, but Hector was looking up toward the ceiling.
"I know you want something. I don't have it. Just give me my life back. Where is Mara?" He sat seemingly calm on the outside, but in his mind, he knew things were not right. He would wait for the right time and escape again. "What about Althea? Is what you think I have worth the life of a child?" He lowered his head. He could see her in his mind. A six year old pixie. "If I knew what you wanted, I'd pay that price myself," he whispered. His hand slowed a fraction and then sped up again as he began to shake. "What ever it was you gave me is starting to wear off. I recognize the symptoms. Your time is running out." He clenched his left hand in his dark hair pulling some of the cuts open. Drops of blood began to slide down his forehead mixing in with sweat.
James frowned slightly. Timing was crucial. They had to talk to Hector without him blowing up. The last time he was lucky to subdue him when he did. With the drugs burning out of his system, the sick man could blow out of control in a flash. He signaled Levi who was lying quietly under Sue's chair. The dog nosed her leg and Sue glanced up. Seeing James' nod, she began to speak.
"Hector…Hector, do you know where you are?" Sue whispered.
He jerked his head toward her. "Who's there?"
Calmly. "Hector, do you remember me? Sue from this afternoon. You are very ill."
"What kind of trick is this? You don't sound right." His breathing began to pick up.
"Remember the dog? Levi? He's here." At her signal, the golden lab moved over beside the blind man and put a paw on his knee.
He reached out to pet the dog and missed. It struck him then. "I can't see, can I?"
"No, not right now."
"Did they do this to me?" A definite shift in tone.
"Yes."
"Are they here?"
"No."
"What about Mara?"
"I don't know where she is."
"Althea?"
"I'm sorry, Hector."
He took a deep shuddering breath.
Both Bobby and James tensed.
Hector slowly pushed up from the table. He pushed against the table hard enough that his fingers were white. She could see him shaking, literally, from the inside out. He leaned toward the sound of her voice.
"I know they are watching," he said.
Levi backed away from the injured man and edged in front of his mistress. The dog's hackles went up as the man's tone changed. "I know they have them. If I could give them what they wanted, I WOULD!" He slammed his hands down on the table and pushed it toward Sue.
Long arms snaked from behind her and held the table. Sue hastily dove out of the chair as Bobby tossed the table back toward the now angry man.
"Where are they?" Hector growled. He turned his head from side to side, trying to determine who was where. He gripped the chair he was holding. "Where is my wife and daughter?"
"Hector, they aren't here. But you are safe. Please calm down," Sue begged him.
In a flash, the chair crashed and shattered against the overturned table. Sue screamed as Bobby pulled her behind him. James was there grappling with the delusional man. Both fell to the floor, James rolling aside before a wild swing could connect with his head. He grabbed Hector's arm and twisted it up behind his back.
"Stop it, Hector! You're safe now. We'll help you," Sue cried trying to appeal to the man's sanity.
"Leave me alone!" Arching his back, he pushed himself and James onto one of the beds pinning the silent man under his back. James brought his free hand up to try to restrain Hector but was met with a fierce bite to the forearm. Stunned, he loosened his grip on the fighting man. Bobby joined in the fray and was met with an elbow to the chest.
Hector twisted and turned. In his mind, they were trying to keep him from his family and he had to get away. To find them. He swung wildly, managing to connect with James' temple. The silent man fell.
Bobby wrapped the wild man in a bear hug from behind and squeezed for all he was worth. Being a head taller, he held Hector off the floor, his shins taking a beating from swinging feet.
"Let me go! I don't know what you want. If I did, I'd give it to you." He was starting to weaken. "I just want my family back." His breathing pattern changed again and he started to sag. "Althea? Mara?" The heartbreak in his voice was more than the tall Aussie could bear.
"Mate, it's me, Crash. Mara's dead."