The Blood Money

WHITE BOARD TIMELINE;

4:01 VAN FOUND, SWITCHED TO A BMW CONVERTIBLE.

8:05 FLEE FROM ABANDONED WAREHOUSE

LEGEND: 14 HOURS MISSING

"Grace, I'm sorry I know the girls were meant to come around today but…oh you heard? …Well thank you. Yes, I'll let you know. Thank you and sorry." Kirsten said to the woman whose children she and Georgia were meant to be babysitting today. She hung up the phone.

"You want some late lunch?" Sandy asked, getting some sliced chicken and philadelphia out the fridge.

"I'm not hungry." Kirsten said softly.

Sandy turned around and looked at her as he got bread out the breadbin for a sandwich. "You must be hungry; you haven't eaten all day."

"I'm fine thanks." Kirsten said.

Sandy continued to make himself a sandwich. "Kirsten you've got eat. You're as thin enough as it is." Kirsten kept her head down and ignored Sandy's comment; she knew he was entirely right.

Sandy wiped his hands clean then went over to Kirsten and put his hand on her back. "Please honey. Just a sandwich. For me." He said.

He bent down and softly kissed her lips once to show comfort but Kirsten was angered and pushed him off and stood up off her seat. "No Sandy! You can't just kiss me and think you can make everything ok? It won't work like that!"

Sandy tried to interrupt her. "Kirsten…"

"You can't make this better, ok!"

Sandy rose up his hands to her. "Kirsten…"

"You-you you can't kiss me and bring Georgia back!" She yelled.

"Kirsten!" Sandy yelled. He raised his eyebrows. "You're standing."

Kirsten's expression dropped then she looked down below her. She really was standing on her own two feet. She smiled and looked up at Sandy. "I am, am'nt I?"

Kirsten stepped forward once, slowly. She managed to hold herself up. She smiled, proud. She took two steps further quicker but she started to fall. Sandy caught her and smiled. "One step at a time eh?" He said literally.

He got her up into a standing position, his hands supporting her lower back. "Yeah…" Kirsten answered. She looked into his tired eyes for a moment then threw her arms around his neck. "I'm sorry Sandy."

Sandy put is arms around her, accepting her apology. "We'll get her back."

Then one question popped into his mind. What if we don't? Then more questions followed. How could we cope? How would Kirsten cope? Would she cope?

The phone rang and Sandy went to answer it. "Hello…ok…ok…I'll do that." He hung up and paused watching Kirsten take a bite out of his sandwich and shuffle around on her feet. "Who was that?" Kirsten asked through munches. He didn't answer. "There's no milk. You'll need milk if you want coffee." He said walking out.

"What? Sandy?" She tried to follow him out but could feel her legs shake. She reached for a stool and sat down. "Sandy!" The door slammed.

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Kirsten sat feeling useless by the phone in the kitchen and Seth and Ryan were pacing beside her. "I can't do this; I can't just sit here!" Ryan said frustratedly.

The front door opened and closed. "Sandy?" Kirsten called out.

"No, it's me..." Julie said walking in. "Kiki, I'm so sorry. I just heard." She hugged Kirsten who hugged her back.

"Thanks Julie." Kirsten said.

Julie looked around her. "Where's Sandy?" She asked.

"Post office I think." Seth said sighing.

"A guy's daughter's missing and he goes to post a package?" Julie said sarcastically. Then it hit them all.

"Damn it! That's a ransom." Ryan stated realising, already running out of the kitchen. They all followed Ryan quickly, Kirsten being carried by Seth to the car.

Ryan, Julie, Seth and Kirsten rush out of the car into the post office just as Sandy was about to post the parcel he had in his hands. "Sandy, wait!" Ryan shouted. Sandy turned around and he seemed surprised to see them. Even more surprised to see detectives Anne and Dave behind them.

"Sandy…what are you posting?" Kirsten asked cautiously.

"You got a ransom note, didn't you? What are they asking for?" Anne asked accusingly.

"You can't prevent me from paying a ransom. You know that." Sandy said to the detectives.

"Dad if you do this by yourself you'll only put Georgia in more danger." Seth said.

"How can we be certain we'd get her back?" Kirsten asked rhetorically.

Sandy hesitated. "How did you know?" He asked Anne and Dave.

"We followed you." Dave answered.

"Don't post the package Mr Cohen. There might be a way we could help you Georgia back." Anne said.

"How?" Seth asked quickly.

"Wait for the kidnappers to call and arrange to meet instead." Anne said.

"Wait, wait, wait." Kirsten said. "Isn't that putting Sandy in danger?"

"What other choice do we have honey?" Sandy asked desperate. He handed the parcel to Dave.

"How do we do this?" He asked.

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LEGEND: 17.5 HOURS MISSING

At the missing persons unit Sandy

Sandy's mobile started ringing. Sandy picked it up and checked the caller ID. He recognized the number. "It's him." Sandy said.

"Answer it. Tell him you've got the money and you'll do anything to get Georgia back." Anne said.

Sandy answered the call. "…Yeah, I've got the money. Just tell me what you want." Sandy paused then indicated to Anne to write down what he was going to say. "Columbia Park. 5am." Sandy paused "Michael don't hurt Georgia, all right? Michael…"

He had hung up.

Dave sighed. "12 hours. Gives us plenty time to plan."

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LEGEND: 29.5 HOURS MISSING

Sandy sat on the park bench, his black briefcase next to him. He put his hands to his forehead as he waited.

Then a BMW with two men inside pulled up nearby. Michael got out of the car holding onto Georgia.

Sandy looked up and saw both men approaching him and slowly he got to his feet. Michael held onto Georgia's arm tightly and a gun in her back.

"Make a sound and I'll kill ya." Michael whispered into Georgia's ear.

"Is that the money?" The other man, Steve, asked Sandy.

"Yeah. Count it." Sandy said, shakily handing him the briefcase.

The kidnapper knelt down and opened the bag, quickly counting the cash.

"$750,000." Sandy told him.

"We said a million!" Michael said tightening his grip on Georgia who winced.

"Where's the rest of it?" Steve snapped.

"It's nearby. I can have it to you quickly." Sandy said, trying to keep them calm.

Steve took out a gun and pointed it at Sandy. The FBI officers watched them carefully. "Nearby? What do you mean, nearby?" Steve questioned. "You better tell me where my money is right now!"

Sandy held up his hands to try and calm him down. Shivers of fear rippled through his body when the gun was aimed at his chest. "Just... give Georgia to me, just so I know you're good on your word."

Seth, Ryan, Kirsten and also Officers Anne and Dan where hidden behind a van beside the park. Seth looked down at his side. He saw Anne wrapping her fingers around her gun tightly, ready to fire.

"No, no, no, no! You don't tell me what to do. I tell you. I tell you! And I said a million dollars!"

"You'll get it. I swear." Sandy begged.

Michael took a step forward and pointed the gun directly at Georgia's forehead. Georgia scrunched up her face tightly and started to shake. From a distance Kirsten saw and her eyes went wide. She grabbed onto Ryan's arm beside her. "Oh my god, no, please." Kirsten whispered to herself. Ryan took her hand and squeezed it back tightly.

"Alright, alright! Just calm down! Calm down!" Sandy said panicking.

"Where is the rest of my money? I'm not fooling around man!" Michael threatened Sandy.

Connley Ray stepped out of his position from behind a tree, as did, Dan and Anne, standing beside Seth. Connley raised his weapon and shouted while Dan waved the people in the vicinity away.

"FBI!" Anne shouted.

"Down! Get down!" Dan shouted.

"Drop your weapon!" Connley added.

Seth, Ryan and Kirsten came out of hiding and stood beside Officer Dan.

"Shoot him!" Seth yelled at Dan. "Why aren't you shooting him?"

"He's got a gun to Georgia's face!" Ryan yelled at him.

"We can't risk hitting your sister." Dan told him.

"Drop your weapons!" Connley shouted.

Steve dropped his gun. "Michael, man, just put the gun down...give me the fucking gun!" Steve said panicking when he saw all the police around him.

"I want my money! Give me my money!" Michael shouted, keeping his gun pressured on Georgia's forehead.

"We have the money, man, just let go of her." Steve said.

"There are 20 armed police officers surrounding you, drop your weapon and let go of the girl!" Anne shouted.

"Come on Sandy, come on." Kirsten whispered.

"You can't get outta this" Sandy said cautiously to Michael. He paused for long time. "Just let her go…give her to me...come on Michael."

Sandy then saw Michael dig the gun into Georgia's head harder and she squealed and tried to pull away.

"No!" He screamed and he tried to release Michael's grip from around Georgia; pulling on his arm. Michael swung around, holding onto Georgia's wrist and shot open fires.

BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG!

The crowd and close public screamed. "Everybody down!" Ryan yelled. He started to wheel Kristen back behind the van but she hit him and told him to turn her around. He only half listened to her, hiding her and himself behind the front bonnet of the car.

Anne shot at Michael and Georgia fell to the ground in a ball. "Georgia!" Kirsten screamed and Seth wheeled her around the car while Ryan ran ahead. Michael fell back, shot in chest, dead. Sandy stumbled back but was ok.

Ryan skidded down in front of Georgia and picked her up in his arms, carrying her to safety, away from Steve and Michael. Kirsten stood up and Ryan put Georgia down in front of her and mother and daughter threw themselves into each others arms, falling to the ground. Kirsten held her tightly and rubbed her back. Georgia held onto her mum so tightly Kirsten thought she might snap. "Oh baby, you're ok now. You're safe, you're safe." Kirsten said.

Kirsten pulled back, brushing the dusty hair off her daughter's face. "Did they hurt you? Did they touch you?"

Georgia shook her head. "No, no, no. They didn't touch me."

When Sandy came over Kirsten and Georgia parted slightly to allow for the third person into the hug. Georgia's arms were around both her mother and father. They hugged each other tightly.

Eventually Georgia stood up and hugged both her brothers. "Good to have you back GG." Seth said smiling and kissing her forehead.

"They didn't hurt you did they?" Ryan asked.

"I'm ok Ryan." Georgia smiled. "I'm back."

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Georgia sat in the back off an ambulance when CSI Connley came over to her. "Hi Georgia. My name is Connley Ray. I'm the head of the crime unit."

"Connley?" Georgia echoed.

"Yeah." Connley smiled. "That's a funny name, isn't it? It's Gaelic."

Georgia smiled at him, squinting as the burning hot sun was blinding her. "I'm Scottish."

"You know I thought you had an accent."

Georgia nodded. "Well I am but in a very complicated way."

"It's a lot different out here isn't it?" Georgia nodded. Connley noticed Georgia's hands were shaking. "Some people out here, they're a lot more self-involved. They don't care about what happens to others, they only think about themselves; having fun." Georgia looked at him. "Not everyone is like that."

"I know." Georgia said softly. She held up her hands and squeezed them into fists as hard as she could in front of him. "It'll stop."

Connley smiled and sat down beside her in the ambulance "I believe I have something of yours." Connley searched in his trousers pocket and brought out a sparkling silver chain. Georgia's eyes lit up. "My necklace."

"Thanks for all your clues." He said and Georgia smirked.

Connley then handed her is card as well. "If you ever want to join the crime unit call this number, in the meantime if you ever want to talk, just give me a ring."

Georgia took the card. "Thanks."

"What a day." Connley said quietly. They sat back both looking out into the distance as the sun rose against the horizon of Orange County.