Title: Deep Down

Chapter: Nine of ?

Author: Kelly

Rating: PG-13

Disclaimer: See First Chapter.

The picture was pretty blurred then the image came into closer and clearer view, it started moving from side to side in a shaky motion and sound could be faintly heard. Voices, music? It couldn't be easily distinguished. Finally, the camera spun round and the faint outline of a human being, a woman could be seen. Further zooming in and adjusting and they could see who it was. Now it was clear who the person sitting in front of the camera was. It was Faith.

She was sitting on something that looked like a stool; the background behind her was completely black. Probably so the cops had nothing to identify with, nothing to recognise with, to track them down.

Sully and Davis exchanged a look with one another before looking back to the screen.

A piece of yellow paper was shoved from somewhere located behind the camera, just out of sight. Faith accepted it from the black gloved hand and opened it, craning her neck and straining her eyes. It seemed obvious that she was struggling to read whatever was on it, either because of the dim lighting or the handwriting. Or possibly both. Bosco folded his arms and kept himself in check.

"Read it, Yokas!"

Faith glanced up at the camera and to the right, a fear in her eyes that Bosco had never seen before, even in all the years he had known her. Swerksy was sitting forward, paying his undivided attention to the screen, his mind constantly at work. Bosco glanced round, a similar expression on Davis and Sully's.

"How am I supposed to read this handwriting?" Faith finally said in an argumentative tone. Her answer was a gun pressed against the side of her head. She visibly shivered for a moment then regained her composure ever so slightly. "Just read it, bitch!" Faith took a breath and looked down to the note once more, it looked like she was trying to stop her hands shaking with great effort. If it were anyone else, Bosco would have had no trouble watching something like this. But it was Faith. His partner. His best friend. Oh, these jag-offs were going down if he ever got his hands on them.

"We have kidnapped Faith Yokas," she began quietly. A slight frowned crossing her face, it obviously seemed this was the first time she had read through the note. It was as much a surprise to her as it was going to be for them. "If our current demands our not met, we will." Another short pause as she read further along and let the words sink in. She swallowed slightly before continuing. "We will kill her. We want her colleagues to pay up with the requested money by 5 pm on Friday evening."

Another pause, this time extremely long. The hand that still held the gun pressed firmly against her head, cocked it and Faith quickly carried on without any delay. "It is to be delivered by her partner, Boscorelli to a drop point which will be revealed when we get into contact 3 hours before the drop off is to be made. Following which, information about Officer Yokas' whereabouts will be made known." Faith was struggling again and she took a breath, licking her lips to wet them. "Boscorelli is to come alone. If he is not alone, we will know. If we see anyone, we will…" Faith read on and her eyes widened slightly. "Oh God!"

"Read it!"

"We will not hesitate to kill her. As we have mentioned before, do not cross us. Follow this to the letter and no harm will come to her." Faith finished quickly and appeared to be trying to hold it together just a while longer.

The gun was drawn back from her head and Faith sat back, tears forming in her eyes as she closed them and put her head in her hands. The screen immediately went blank, stealing her from their gaze once more.