Disclaimer:I don't own anything to do with TSL.

A/N: This is the new revised chapter 10. I had a writer's block while trying to write chapter 11 so naturally I asked FudgeBrownie to help me out. She gave me an idea, but I had to change chapter 10 a little. Everything is the same except for the end, like right after Zack gets shot. Okay. Enjoy!

After recieving the call from his mom, Zack immediatly called the cops. He was suddenly more scared than he had ever been in his life. He knew something bad could happen to Carey and Cody, if Cody wasn't already-. Zack kicked himself for thinking such things. He didn't know what to do. His mother had told him to stay here in case something bad happened, but how was he supposed to sit and wait while unimaginable things could be happening to his mom and brother. Zack kicked himself again. Why was it when he needed to think positive he could only think about the negative?

Zack sat on the couch all of five minutes after he called the cops. He couldn't stand the waiting anymore. He needed to talk to someone to keep him from breaking down. All of the stress he had gone through in the past few days was really wearing him down.

When he got to the lobby he searched for Maddie. Zack was dismayed to find out that she wasn't working. He had to settle for Moesby who had just happened to walk by. "Hey Mr. Moesby."

Moesby was going to totally ignore Zack, but he could hear the desperation in his voice so he decided against it.

"Hello, Zack," and what brings you to the lobby without," Mr. Moesby shuddered. "Cody."

Hearing someone say Cody's name with such uncaring disgust broke down whatever was left of Zack's barrier. He started crying right then and there in the lobby with a shocked hotel manager standing in front of him. People began staring and Mr. Moesby quickly rushed Zack into his office.

"Zack! What's wrong?"

"Cody saw a murder, but he lied about it, then he decided to tell me, and Joel found out and kidnapped him, so me and mom found out where Joel was keeping Cody, and mom went but wouldn't let me come and she said if she called me to call the cops so I did, and I think something bad happened, but I don't want to think that because I need to have some hope, I mean if I don't then who will, right?" spilled Zack.

Unfortunatly, Mr. Moesby only caught bits and pieces of the conversation, but what he did hear wasn't good. Murder, kidnapped, Joel, cops, bad. "Wait. What? Zack, calm down. What happened?" Just then, a loud bang was heard coming from the lobby, and screams filled the air. Mr. Moesby jumped up from the seat e was sitting in and opened the door. Before he ran out he told Zack to stay there.

Upon entering the lobby, Moesby saw everyone was on the ground with their hands over their heads. He looked up and could see a a small hole in the ceiling above the door. Then he looked down. A man with long hair was standing just inside the doors with a gun raised up. Fire burned in his eyes. "Where's Zack?" Joel's voice boomed in no specific direction. Until he say Moesby standing in the doorway of his office. "You! Tell me where Zack is right now!"

Mr. Moesby would do no such thing. He tried so hard to deny it, but he had come to love the twin terrors who called themselves Zack and Cody. He felt it was his job to protect them when Carey wasn't around. He intended to do that. "I don't know. I haven't seen him for quite some time."

"You liar!" Joel's arm suddenly shot downward as he aimed the gun towards Mr. Moesby. He saw the gun go down and dived behind the front desk just in time.

"Don't hurt anyone." a small voice was heard amongst all the new screams from the shot.

"Ahhh. There you are, Zack. Come here."

"Where is my mom and brother?" It took Zack everything he had to stand up straight. He wanted nothing more than to run and hide somewhere.

"Oh, they're long gone. Your mom begged and pleaded for me to let her and Cody go. She said she needed to be with you. But I told her that she need not worry about that, because you're going to die.

"No. No. No! No! You didn't!" With each word Zack got louder and louder. With nothing left to lose, he bolted forward in attempt to kill Joel. He knew Joel had a gun, but nothing mattered anymore. His mom and brother were dead. He had nothing left. Zack had almost reached Joel. He had been so suprised by Zack's actions that he had not prepared to shoot. But it didn't take long for him to raise the gun and pull the triger. Zack stopped in his tracks, and looked down. Blood was already starting to seep through his clothing, turning them a bright crimson red. Everything seemed like it was going in slow motion. He sank down onto his knees. He had failed his mom and brother. Joel had gotten away with everything. Joel was staring at him, with a happiness that he could not explain. No one was supposed to be happy after shooting someone. Then the darkness overcame him, and he was gone.

At first, Joel sat there, almost in shock at what he had just seen, and what he had just done. It wasn't the kinda shock people should get when they see one die though, it was the shock of knowing it was all over. He had killed all the witnesses to that stupid alley murder. But that didn't matter now, for Joel turned around and saw red and blue lights flashing everywhere. After diving behind the desk, Mr. Moesby called the cops.

When Mr. Moesby was sure the cops had Joel, he ran out to Zack, who was unconsious, but still alive. He took off his expensive jacket and placed it over Zack's abdomen with just enough pressure to help stop the blood until the ambualnce crew could get there. Then Zack opened his eyes. "That man took Cody. Mom went to get him, but didn't come back. Save them," whispered Zack. He was just about to close his eyes again when Mr. Moesby lightly tapped him on his cheek.

"Zack. Stay with me. I need to know where Carey and Cody are in order to save them."

"Blue Spruse Avenue," Zack said as he drifted back into unconsiousness.

Mr. Moesby could hear the ambulance arrive. As the paramedics loaded Zack onto the vehicle, he wondered what he would find on Blue Spruse Avenue.