Chapter 26:
Sue woke up on the floor of a large vehicle. Her eyes had trouble focusing and her head throbbed, in sync with every bump on the road. She managed to get herself sitting up, leaning against the walls of her new prison. Though, Sue was grateful to still be alive. She didn't think she was going to last this long.
All she could remember from before she was knocked out was the other man, the one Greg called James, rush into the room and force her sleeping pill into her mouth. Other than that, she was completely lost as to what was happening. The vehicle slowed, and came to a stop. Sue felt the engine die. She tried to focus her eyes better, considering they were all she had to understand what was going on. The evening light crept into the SUV, as the door was opened. A tall man entered her line of vision. James.
"It's just you and me now sugar." He said, with a laugh.
"What do you mean?" He laughed even more. "Brendan and his buddy got caught. I was lucky enough to escape with you. Now its time for us to have some fun." Sue was confused. Who was Brendan? Caught? Had the FBI really found out where she was? Did they actually come to save her? Tears welled up in her tired eyes. So close. She was so close to being rescued. When was this nightmare going to end?
"Get out of the vehicle, and don't you dare even think of screaming. I need to fill it up and it looks suspicious if you're tied up in the back. You don't talk to anyone; you stay over in that corner until I'm finished, or ill take my gun and kill you." The gas station was deserted. Sue couldn't recognize where she was. She wouldn't have been able to talk to anyone, even if she wanted to. Finally, she saw a chance. A telephone booth, just on the other side of the gas station. She could bolt, try and contact her friends, lead them to where she was. It was risky – he could kill her, but they had threatened her so many times already and never followed through, she decided to take the chance. She was going to die anyways, so why not die trying.
Sue looked around. The man working at the till was busy reading the newspaper – didn't even notice his customers. James kept a weary eye on her, but the second he turned, she slipped around the wall and ran to the phone. Fishing in her pockets for all the change she could find. She dialed the first number she could think of – the bullpen. Jack's phone. She prayed that he would pick up.
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The police car had chased the SUV for 10 minutes until they lost it. Fortunately, they were able to get a partial license plate. However, the only thing it proved was that it was James' car, and they already knew it was James that had taken her. Jack sat in silence at his desk. His eyes glazed over the paper he was supposedly reading. No one was laughing, no one was talking. 2 hours had past, and no word on where Sue was. Jack began to give up hope.
Pratner and Cain were to be interrogated. Jack didn't even fight back, when Ted told him that he wouldn't be aloud in the room. He just nodded with resignation and went back to his desk. Bobby was no different. It was as if a wave of grief had swept over the bullpen, taking hold of all its company. Jack's phone rang. He reluctantly picked it up.
"Hudson." His voice lifeless and without emotion. There was nothing but silence on the other end. Probably a prankster. He was just about the hang up when he heard her voice. It was quiet and hushed, overtaken with fatigue and emotion. And panic. He knew that voice.
"Jack – Jack, its Sue. I don't know if your there. I don't have a lot of time. We're at a gas station; I see a sign that says 495. Maybe Highway 495. Big black SUV. I have to go he's coming – please find me!" He heard her start to scream. He screamed her name back into the phone but knew that there was no way she could hear him. Then the phone went dead.
"Rick – I need you to trace that call immediately. It was Sue. She's at a gas station somewhere on Highway 495. We need to get a patrol unit down there stat!" Jack grabbed his jacket. Bobby was already ahead of him out the door and they ran to Jack's car. Myles and D were close behind. Jack picked up his phone and called in backup. He then called up Rick as he raced out of the parking lot, to find out where the call was traced from.
"Okay Jack – I traced down the call. It was made from a telephone booth at a gas station just west of Overly Drive in Highways 495. Police and SWAT are on route."
Jack and Bobby sped down the highway, Myles and D right behind knowing that there wasn't much time left.
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They arrived at the gas station. Jack jumped out of his car, looking everywhere for signs of the SUV, but there was nothing but dark horizon. A man was sitting in the gas station, looking confused at the sudden appearance of police.
"We're looking for a black SUV. It stopped here probably about 20 minutes ago. This man was there, along with this woman." Bobby flashed the clerk the two pictures. "Do you recognize either of them?"
"Yeah…" he said, "Tall man. Gassed up his SUV. 50 bucks, Paid in cash. Pretty blond lady waited outside then went to make a phone call. She started screaming. I went outside to see what was wrong, but he had already put her in the van. Said she was having a seizure or something so I just let them go…umm…am I in any trouble?" Jack bit his lip to hold back his anger.
"You will be if you don't tell us which way they went." He glared at the clerk, annoyed with his lack of intelligence.
"Umm…he headed west on the 495." Jack and Bobby rushed out of there, where Myles and D were waiting.
"What did he say?" Myles inquired quickly
"Definitely saw Crydle and Sue. Headed west down the 495 about 15 minutes ago. We could still catch them." Jack hopped back into the car, and the other men followed suit. Soon they were speeding down the highway, looking desperately for any sign of the vehicle that held Sue captive.