"We can't just sit here Dad! We need to do something!" cried Scott
Jeff sighed as he sat in the hotel room issued by the police to him and Fermat. Fermat was sound asleep in one of the bedrooms. But Jeff wasn't able to sleep. Instead he'd called his son's on Tracy Island and broke the news to them all.
Now, opposite him, Scott, Virgil, John and Gordon's faces glared on the telecomm screen.
"I know Scott, but what can we do?" asked Jeff despairingly
"Anything but sit around doing nothing" said Gordon stubbornly
"Dad, we're coming over so we can help" said Virgil
"No" said Jeff firmly
Three shocked faces stared back at him.
"We are still International Rescue and you all need to man the base just in case a rescue call comes in" Jeff explained
"But Dad, " piped up John. Jeff had made a three-way connection so that John could talk from Thunderbird 5, "Family means more than International Rescue and we all want to be there to search for Alan"
Jeff sighed again. John always had a way of talking to him that made him crumble
"Dad, please" Scott said quietly
"Very well" Jeff gave in, "John put Thunderbird 5 on standby. Gordon and Virgil, prepare Thunderbird 3 to go and fetch you brother. Once you're back, all of you make your way to the mainland. Brains and Tintin will man the base. Lets jut hope no one needs rescuing for a while"
TBTBTBTBTBTBTB
If anyone needed rescuing, it was Alan. Corper was showing no hesitation. He even had a doctor come in to look him over.
The doctor had relocated his shoulder (which it turned out had been dislocated in his fall) and diagnosed a mild concussion.
"He's got a fair few bumps and bruises, but no broken bones. How did he manage to fall down the stairs?" he asked curiously
"He was carrying shopping bags with me and tripped" Corper said
Alan said nothing to this. He hadn't moved or made a sound at all while the doctor had examined him. All he could think about was his father. He wished he were dead. He would rather be dead than be trapped like this.
He felt crushed inside and tears forever threatened to fall. When they did, Alan answered the doctors queries with, "It hurts, that's all"
Finally the doctor and Corper got up and left him alone, closing the door behind them. Tears rolled down Alan's cheeks again and the sobs he had been holding finally escaped. He didn't even hear the door open again or realise Corper was sitting next to him until Corper spun him around onto his back.
"The next time you try and pull a stunt like that, I'll dislocate more than your shoulder," he threatened quietly
Alan tried to control himself, wiping away what he could of the tears, "Why did you do that?" he asked
Corper got up, "Do what?"
"Why didn't you just leave me in here to rot?"
Corper shrugged, "I couldn't have you in pain, could I?" he replied lightly, "Besides" his tone remained casual, "I'm sure your father wouldn't be too happy if he didn't get what he paid for"
Alan looked up at the ceiling, knowing he wasn't going to get a real answer. But what was the real answer? Did Corper really not want to damage his leverage or was it something…deeper than that?
"What's going to happen now?" asked Alan shakily, not taking his eyes away from the ceiling
"I'm going to make a call to your father, dear boy. Just to let him know you're well" Corper didn't smile, but he didn't need to. His voice showed the mockery
Alan gave him a dark look and for a moment considered charging at him, but knew he wouldn't get far with that plan.
Corper seemed to read his mind, "Rest well Alan, we can't have you trying to make another escape again can we? Next time you might have a bigger accident" the words held a threatening tone. Corper paused by the door, "I'll say hello to your father for you," he said, leaving.
Alan heard the lock click and for a while didn't move. The hurt was being replaced by anger.
You're going to pay he thought darkly, when this is over, you'll wish you were back teaching preschoolers
But when would this be over?
Alan's face softened at the question.
Would his dad be able to find him? Would Corper be stopped before…
Alan couldn't even think of what might happen, because he had no idea.
Slowly he got up and walked over to the window. He'd contemplated this being a useful tool of escape at first. But he'd quickly found out that jumping out of it would only send him plummeting twelve stories until he hit the pavement below. He could see the entrance to the car park though. The same route he had no doubt been taken through. He fiddled with a loose thread in the sling he wore for his shoulder, his forehead resting on the glass.
A red sports car pulled into the car park entrance, stopping for the driver to take a ticket from the machine in front of the gate. It reminded Alan sadly of his brother Virgil's car.
The family had lost count of the amount of times Virgil had caught Alan taking his baby for a spin around Thunderbird Two's silo. Alan remembered sitting in the backseat with Gordon and John as Virgil often drove them in his car through New York whenever the family went for a holiday there while his dad had work to do in his office there. Scott was always up front trying to navigate the busy streets. Gordon and Alan, sick of being stuck in the back, once exchanged the map he used for a map of Manhattan and it was only two hours later, after going around in five different circles, that Scott realised.
Alan looked up at the tall buildings across the street. Would he ever experience those memories again? Would he ever laugh with Gordon at the sight of Scott and Virgil's faces turning red, John with them in the back seat trying not to laugh?
His heart went out to his family as he stood there for what seemed like hours.
Guys, I'm so sorryTBTBTBTBTBTBTB
Scott and his three brothers strode through the lobby of the hotel they'd been told by their father to go
But this was no holiday.
Scott was eating away at himself. How could I have let this happen? Why didn't I talk to Alan before something like this could happen? If I had talked to him maybe…
These thoughts had run through his head like clockwork as Virgil had driven them to the hotel.
But the idea of Alan being kidnapped wasn't what scared Scott.
During his explanation of the events that had occurred, Jeff had also revealed the police's other suspicion. He had said that Fermat had described Alan as being angry and upset most of the time. Scott, like the rest of his family, didn't need an explanation as to why. And they all feared the same thing.
Had Alan really run away?
No, Alan wouldn't, Scott shook himself, if he had, then why couldn't Corper be located?
Scott and his brothers reached Room 49 and knocked on the door. It took Jeff only seconds to answer it.
Scott embraced his father strongly before anybody spoke a word. The others copied him. Jeff led them into a small family area where Fermat sat looking rather pale at the table.
Everyone was silent as Jeff lay out mugs of coffee. As soon as he sat down, John decided to break the ice, "Any word from the police?" he murmured
That made everyone look up.
"No" replied Jeff, "They came by a while ago, for some 'routine inspections', they called them. Putting camera's by the door and bugging the phone and telecomm"
"So they're preparing for a hostage situation?" asked Scott
"It seems so, but they just say they're taking precautions to cover every possibility," said Jeff, sounding like a tape recorder
Scott studied his father. Jeff looked tired and had bags under his eyes. He hadn't shaved that morning and his face showed the stress he was enduring.
"Dad" said Scott, trying to make his voice firm and strong, "Alan didn't run away. He wouldn't"
Jeff looked at him and nodded, the weariness on his face disappearing for a few seconds.
"We need to do something," said Virgil
"But what?" asked John
"What are the police doing about this?" asked Gordon
"They're carrying out investigations Gordon," answered Jeff
"Have they found anything out yet?" asked Gordon forcefully
Jeff's lack of reply answered the question.
Gordon got up from his chair, angrily kicking the wall, "Well then maybe it's time we did some investigating of our own"
"What are you talking about?" asked John
Gordon leant forwards, resting his hands on the back of his chair, "We're International Rescue, our job is to rescue people. We need to rescue Alan. Lets start from the beginning"
"Where is that?" asked Virgil
John began to see eye to eye with his sibling, "Peter Corper"
Jeff nodded, "The police won't approve, but its better than sitting here"
"Where can we g…g…find Corper though? He must be f…f…a fair distance away by now" asked Fermat, perking up slightly
"I think its time we called on our favourite lady in pink" smiled Scott,
"You're right, she can give us a hand" said Jeff, "I'll call her now"
Scott stood up, "Wait, I'll make the call, you go and have a shower Dad" he said warmly
Jeff looked like he was going to protest, but then yielded, "Deal"
The two were about to part when the telecomm began to ring. Everyone froze.
Jeff walked slowly over and switched the telecomm on. The line opened up but the screen remained black. Whoever was on the other end had requested a voice only connection.
"Hello?" called Jeff
"Ah! Is that Jeff Tracy?" sneered a charming voice
"Yes" replied Jeff, his throat seemed to close
"This is Peter Corper, how are you old boy?"
Jeff's face hardened as his boys and Fermat crowded around the telecomm behind him, "Corper? Where is Alan? If you've hurt him-"
"Now, now Mr Tracy, that's no way to treat you business partner" said Corper
Jeff frowned, "Business partner?"
Corper's voice was still cheerful, "Yes, well, you will be if you want your son to remain unharmed"
Jeff stayed quiet for a moment, "Okay you have my attention"
"Good, good. Now Mr Tracy, I'll cut to the chase so to speak. Your company is one of the largest in the world and I intend to squeeze from it the sum of two billion dollars one week from now. If this fails to happen, I'm afraid I will have to take out my anger on your son"
Jeff closed his eyes for a second. Corper's voice was so calm, almost joyful. As if he was a salesman offering to sell something to a happy customer.
"How am I expected to deliver the money?" asked Jeff, "How do I know Alan is ok?"
Corper's tone hardened slightly, "You will trust my word Mr Tracy. I will send you instructions over a various arrangement of communications over the next few days regarding the payment"
"If you so much as lay a finger on my son, I will personally ensure you will suffer tenfold," snarled Jeff, his impatience giving in
Corper laughed, his voice rolling like waves on the sand, "Strong words coming from a man who drove his son away"
Jeff froze, "What are you talking about?"
"Alan has told me a lot of stories about you Mr Tracy, and based upon them I'd say I did Alan a favour, taking him away from you" said Corper
"Within the week, you will have your money and Alan will be home. I promise you that," said Jeff coldly
The reply he got was, "I hope so Mr Tracy…for Alan's sake"