This will be my last chapter for about the next week-will be traveling with work again. Woody returns in this chapter-finally! Still don't own Crossing Jordan or anything affiliated with it.

J.D. had been kept handcuffed in the chair for most of the night except for the occasional bathroom break. He had been able to catch a few hours of sleep but it was difficult with the combination of the heat, insects with voracious appetites and being bound. Ramon still had not been in to see him. He now believed that Ramon never really wanted him for the job. He still could not figure out why he would have brought him here and risked exposing his operation. Pollack had seen his brother, Jorge, in person and spoken with him. He could be implicated in the business if J.D. ever managed to find a way out of this hell hole.

As he was beginning to think he could not take any more, J.D. heard the door open and two people walk in. Hopefully Ramon was here to fill him in and let him out.

"Mr. Pollack, I am sorry to have kept you waiting. I do hope the accommodations have been to your liking" he sneered.

"I've had worse, not much worse, but worse" J.D. answered back. "Can we finally get to the matter of the exchange?"

"There will be no exchange for you! Did you seriously think I would not check into your back round? I know you are a reporter for one thing and could never be trusted with any kind of a secret. I also know of the people in your life. One person really happens to jump into my mind-Jordan Cavanaugh."

"What does she have to do with anything? She is just my girlfriend!"

"Not so much her, but her very good friend Detective Woody Hoyt."

"That stupid ass! Jordan has barely had any contact with him in the last few months. The guy has serious personal issues. Why would anything that has to do with him be important to you?"

"How Detective Hoyt is involved in this is none of your business. We needed to get Jordan down here so she can contact Hoyt and the only way to get her to take a vacation was by bringing you down here. You were never part of the bigger picture. We knew you could be easily lured by the money after your journalism career had gone down the toilet. We were right you were so predictable!"

"What are you going to do to Jordan?"

"Nothing, if she cooperates. If not your girlfriend will be unrecognizable. If you do anything stupid to jeopardize the situation the same will happen. You got it?"

"You have my full cooperation Ramon, just don't hurt her!"

The sunlight filtered in through the minimal drapery that hung over the windows in the hotel. Jordan was awakened by the light and was surprised to find herself on the bed. She noticed she was still in the same clothes from last night and on top of the covers, not in bed. She must have laid down to close her eyes for a few moments and passed out. More importantly J.D. was nowhere to be found.

Where the hell was he? Jordan sat up and looked around the room for any signs that he may have returned in the middle of the night. Nothing had changed from the previous evening. Well, except for the bedside clock. It read 7:00 a.m.

Something was definitely wrong. J.D. had been gone almost 18 hours now! She knew the authorities would not consider him a missing person for at least another six, but she had to do something. What if he had been hurt?

Jordan made a mental list of the people she could contact. Her friends at the morgue couldn't really do anything to help find him. She needed a cop. Not a local cop, but someone she knew. Someone she trusted. There was only one person who could help her now.

She made her way over to her purse and took out her cell. Quickly she dialed Woody's number praying that he would not be angry with her for bothering him with something that had to do with Pollack.

Woody was awakened by his cell phone.

"Hoyt" he said half asleep into the phone.

"Woody?" she asked not recognizing the voice on the other end. He sounded half dead. It was already well into the morning back in Boston and he should be at work.

"Jordan? Why are you calling me in the middle of your vacation with your new boyfriend?" Woody said angrily.

"I'm sorry to bother you, but Pollack is missing. He was supposed to meet me last night around 8 and I haven't seen or spoken to him since yesterday afternoon. He hasn't been gone for a full 24 hours, so I know the local authorities will be of no help. I didn't know who else to call."

"Maybe he got busy with a story and forgot all about you. The guy really doesn't seem to have it all that together Jordan. You could definitely do better." Woody obviously was still pissed about her new relationship with J.D.

"Even if he was busy with work, he would have at least called to let me know. I'm scared Woody. I still trust you more than anyone I know. You have to help me find him!" Her voice wavered and sounded like she may be crying.

"I'm sorry Jordan. I'll see what I can do. Let me get showered and changed. I'll head down to the precinct and do a little digging."

"Let me know as soon as you find out anything Woody!"

"I will, we'll find him Jordan. I'm sure this whole thing is just a misunderstanding."

"Thanks Woods. I'll let you know if I he turns up in the meantime. Talk to you soon." Jordan hung up the phone and hoped that Woody was right.

Please read & review to let me know if this is worth continuing. Thanks!