"Mr. Hayden." The secretary began. "There's someone here to see you."
Chris turned around in his chair. "Send him in."
Chris sat behind a large wooden desk. Behind him on the wall were multiple certificates and awards. Since Lorelai had never came back to Hartford or been in contact with her parents, Chris became the son Emily and Richard never had. Richard had brought him into the insurance business and he was making quite a name for himself already.
"Good to see you again, Mr. Hampton." Chris smiled.
"Likewise." Carven replied.
"I trust you come baring good news."
Carven took a seat in Christopher's office. "I do indeed. I have the girl. I used some Chloroform on her; she's sleeping in the car."
A sketchy smile etched it's way onto Chris' face. "Great. Here's the address," Chris handed him a slip of paper, "bring her there at 8:00 tonight."
Carven took the slip. "What?" He asked shocked. "You never mentioned me doing any babysitting."
"I have to meet with a client at 6:30." Chris remarked. "You'll have to watch her til then."
"Look." Carven said forcefully. "I don't want to be around that kid any more."
"Well, you wouldn't have to do this at all if you hadn't of screwed up everything last week." Chris replied shortly.
"I told you!" Carven defended. "That Luke guy showed up!"
Chris sighed heavily. "Yes, he does have a tendency to show up where he's not wanted."
"Mr. Hayden, please, just give me my money and let me out of this." Carven begged.
"Let you out of this?" Chris asked rasing one of his eyebrows. "My friend, you're already too far in. You're what they call at the point of no return."
"Well, I'm not doing it." Carven replied. "I'll just leave the kid here."
Chris quickly stood from his chair. "If you don't follow my directions, Mr. Hampton, not only will I not reward you your money, but I'll also make sure you don't live long enough to see your favorite football team play next Sunday."
Chris' words were smooth and clear. Carven knew he was messing with a very dangerous man. "Okay." Carven muttered. "I'll keep her til 8:00, but at 8:01 she's in your hands."
"That's all I need." Chris remarked. "You'll get your check this evening."
Carven shook his head. "Alright." He turned and left the office.
Chris eased down into his chair. "I love when everything goes my way." He whispered to himself.
(The inn)
"Check all the rooms!" Mia shouted. "Even the closets! We have to find her!"
"Mia, calm down." Sookie soothed.
Mia's hands were beginning to shake. "Oh, Sookie, I don't know what I'll do if something happens to that girl. Lorelai will never trust me again; she'll hate me."
Sookie lead Mia over to a nearby chair. "Come on now, Mia." Sookie replied gently. "Lorelai would never hate you. I'm sure Rory is fine, anyway."
Michel entered into the room. "She's no where to be found." He replied calmly, yet with a slight undertone of panic.
"Oh, dear." Mia buried her head into her hands.
"We're about to preform an outside premises search." Michel added.
Suddenly a horrid thought crept into Mia's mind. "The pond!" She shouted. "The pond!"
Sookie's eyes bulged. "Mia, Rory would never go near the pond."
"Check the pond, Michel." Mia demanded.
"Right away." Michel turned and exited the room.
The desk phone rang, and both girls jumped. "You answer it." Mia replied.
Sookie shook her head. "I never answer the phones."
"Well, I'm in no shape to answer business calls." Mia remarked.
Sookie grabbed the phone. "Um, Independence Inn." Sookie said unconfident. Sookie's heart stopped and her mouth dropped, she quickly covered the end of the phone. "It's Lorelai!" Sookie yelled in a high whisper.
Panic shot through Mia's face. She slowly took the phone from Sookie. "He-Hello?" The shaky voice replied.
"Mia?" Lorelai's bright and cheery voice answered. "Hey."
"Hi, darling." Mia remarked.
"How's everything going? Is Rory around?" Lorelai continued.
"Actually, dear, she isn't." Mia confessed misleadingly.
Lorelai paused. "Oh, where is she?"
Mia swallowed heavily. "Lorelai... you need to come home."