Chapter 8

Greg couldn't comprehend the conversation he'd just heard. He didn't understand what his dad knew about Sean Martin. Or why his dad would even know anything about Sean Martin.

Greg and his dad might not have had the greatest relationship, but his dad was always honest with him, or at least, Greg had thought he'd been honest with him. Greg had also known his dad as hard working. So hard working, in fact, that Greg barely saw his dad growing up. Even after his mother's suicide, Ed was rarely around.

And the name Sean Martin made his skin crawl. He was the man who'd beaten Alex within an inch of her life. He was the man that left the permanent scar on her cheek, and her insides. He was the reason she lost their child.

The man in the mask turned to look at Greg. He was getting a sick pleasure out of the discomfort he was causing Greg, Alex, and Ed. The look of confusion and anguish caused him to smile. This was too much fun for him.

"Awww, Greg, you look confused," the man through his grin. "Don't worry, it'll all become clear."

"Fuck you," Greg responded.

The man laughed. "I don't think you understand your position, but that's ok. I don't mind having to show you." The man walked over to Greg and bent down to undo his foot shackles. "Although, it is moving time, so we'll test your discipline. If you try and run, you will be sorry."

Greg wasn't sure how much limb freedom the man was going to give him, so he simply sat as the man undid the chains, trying to calculate his best escape. He had no doubt he'd only have one attempt. The man, his captor, was serious, if nothing else.

The man undid the ropes that bound Greg, but left his handcuffs on. "That's a good boy," the man smirked. The man put a tight grip on Greg's wrist and undid one of the handcuffs.

Greg did know what the man was doing, but with his hands separated, he knew he had to take his shot. He balled his hand into a first and swung with all his might.

The man had expected as much and caught Greg's arm at his wrist. He wrenched it to the side and Greg heard a loud snap; he knew his arm was broken. The man elbowed Greg in the face and then kneed him in the chest. Greg fell to his knees, breathless. He felt pathetic and ashamed. He'd never been in a physical altercation before, but he'd always thought he'd be able to hold his own.

The man snorted. "Is that the best you got?" Then he pulled out a syringe and plunged it into Greg's neck.

Greg's head started to get fuzzy and then he slumped over. His last thoughts before totally succumbing were of Alex. He wondered if he would ever see her again.

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As Ed and Alex got in the car, she pulled out the cell phone she had grabbed from her drawer. She started to dial a number.

"What the hell is going on?" Ed asked.

She held up a hand to silence him as she waited for the phone to be answered.

"It's Hart. I know where the tapes are," she said in to the phone. "But we've got a problem. They have my fiancé and want the tapes for him." She paused, listening to the voice on the other end. "I understand that. But—" the person on the other end cut her off. "But, sir, you don't under—" She was cut off again. "Yes, sir. I understand, sir."

She shut the phone and sank back into the driver's seat. She put a hand to her forehead and tried to quell the tears threatening to break through.

"What is going on?" Ed repeated his earlier question, startling Alex who had forgotten he was there.

She turned and looked at him. "The Bureau wants the tapes. They don't care about Greg."

Ed raised an eyebrow. "The Bureau?"

Alex nodded. "I'm still with the Bureau. I've been undercover. They thought it might draw out some of Martin's associates, help them find the tapes. And they were apparently right.

"But what I don't understand is how you fit into all this and how you have the tapes."

Ed sighed and started to explain. "I had no idea what was on the tapes when I got them. They were sent to me from another business associate who'd gotten then from Martin. When I listened to them, I knew I had to turn them over. I set up a meet for this weekend and used visiting Greg as a cover."

Alex frowned. "I figured you were here about the tapes."

Ed noted her disappointment and quickly added, "Well, and I wanted to meet you and see Greg."

Alex shrugged, then picked up the cell phone again and dialed another number.

Grissom's cell phone rang. He didn't recognize the number on the caller ID. "Grissom," he answered.

"Gil, it's Alex. I can only talk for a minute. Write down these numbers," she said and then quickly rattled off two 12-digit numbers and a 10-digit number.

"What're these?" Gil questioned.

"The first is the ID for the lojack for Greg's car. The second is the ID for the GPS chip in Greg's watch. The third is the cell phone I'm using. Greg's been kidnapped. Involve as few people as possible. Be very careful and quiet." She knew he'd know what to do and how to do it carefully.

Gil was stunned into silence. He wasn't sure how to respond. "Ok."

"Very careful. It involves Martin," Alex replied and hung up the phone. She knew Gil would understand.

Ed was looking at her in amazement. "Lojack? GPS?"

Alex shrugged. "After I was kidnapped, I became very paranoid. Greg doesn't even know his watch has a GPS chip in it."

"Why didn't you try the GPS earlier?" Ed was skeptical.

Alex sighed. She knew the question was coming. "I had to wait till we got out of the apartment. I don't know if it was bugged. But we needed an excuse to leave."

Ed was still unsatisfied. "How do you know the car isn't bugged? What about your cell?"

Alex understood his concern. "The car isn't bugged. I know that. And this cell is a pre-paid, untraceable one…FBI issue."

"Do you think they'll find Greg?" Ed questioned hesitantly.

"I hope so," Alex replied. "Because if they don't—" she stopped herself.

"If they don't?" Ed prodded her.

"We can't give him the tapes," Alex explained, leaving the rest unsaid.

Ed nodded grimly. "Yeah. So what are we going to do?"

"Well, first, whatever we do, we have to get the tapes," Alex reasoned.

"Agreed. Let's go," Ed responded.

Alex put the key in the ignition and they left to get the tapes. They both silently said a prayer for Greg's safety. Right now, they knew, God—and Gil—where Greg's only hope. And soon they'd find out just how right they were and how little hope Greg really had.