Chapter Two: Where's Neela?

"Hi, Ray," Abby said into the phone. "I was wondering if you knew where Neela was."

"No," Ray replied on the other end. "I'm not her dad, I don't keep up with her."

"Ok, ok. No need to be rude," Abby said quickly. She was supposed to be over here a couple of hours ago and I thought that she might have gone home first and then fell asleep or something."

"Well I don't know where she is, and I really don't care. What she does is none of my business."

"Oooook. Sorry to hit a sore spot. I'll talk to you later." She hung up and dialed Susan's number.

"Hello?" Susan answered.

"Hi, Susan," Abby said. "I was wondering of you had seen Neela. She was supposed to be over here a couple of hours ago, but I haven't heard from her."

"No," Susan replied. "I haven't seen her since work. I heard her say that she was going to stop by the bank after her shift, but I doubt that would have taken two hours."

Abby walked over to her television to turn the volume down. As she approached it something caught her attention. The evening news was on, and the reporters were taking about a bank robbery ─ one that had taken place only two and a half hours earlier.

"…eyewitnesses saying a woman was kidnapped by the robbers. None of them recognized her though, and…" a reporter was saying.

"Susan," Abby said, as she watched the report. "Turn your TV to the news on channel six."

"Ok…" Susan replied, a little confused. "Oh God," she whispered when she saw what had caught Abby's attention. "Is that the bank Neela uses?"

"I don't know," Abby answered.

"…recorded on the security cameras," the reporters went on. At that time the recorded robbery began to play on their television screens.

They saw the robbers burst in, waving their guns around. They saw a woman spray Mace in one's eyes, him take his mask off, and another pull him onto the restroom. Then they saw them drag a woman out, holding her at gunpoint.

The picture froze on the woman and enlarged. Both women watching it were sure that it was Neela. "If anyone has any information on who this woman is, the police have asked that you contact them immediately," the newscaster said.

"Oh my God," Abby exclaimed as she sat down on her couch. She stared at the television in disbelief. "Oh my God."

On the other end of the line, Susan too was in shock. "We've got to do something… we've got to get her back." She thought for a few minutes. "I'm… I'm going to go to the police station. I'll tell them who she is."

"Ok," Abby replied. "I guess I'll go to the hospital. Everyone needs to know about this."

"I'll meet you there when I'm done talking to the police."

"Ok, bye." The two hung up.

♦ ♦ ♦

Abby walked slowly through the hospital doors. "Hey Abby," John said when he saw her. "You're not on tonight are you?"

"No," she answered. "I have something I need to tell everyone."

"Ok," John said, realizing this was not good news. "I'll get everyone together at the front desk."

Abby waited a few minutes, and then walked up to the small crowd of people that had assembled. She took a deep breath and began to relate to them everything that had happened. She finished up with, "The news showed a recording of the robbery and the kidnapping. It was Neela that was kidnapped."

Everyone began murmuring to each other. "Have they figured out who the robbers were and where they took her?" John asked.

"I don't know," Abby answered. " Susan went to the police station. She said she's coming here afterwards; she can probably tell you more than I can."

Everyone stood there talking about their missing colleague for a few more minutes. Then Dr. Weaver said, "Ok, everybody back to work. Just standing here talking about it isn't going to help her."

They all went back to work, and Abby went to the doctor's lounge. She sat down on the couch and ran her hands through her hair ― she was really worried about Neela.

John walked in then. He sat down beside her and, seeing how distressed she was, put his arm around her shoulders. "Hey, it's ok," he said, as she began to cry.

She leaned into his comforting embrace. "I'm just so worried," she sobbed. "What if the police don't find her in time and something happens to her? What if they kill her?"

"Don't talk like that," John said. "She'll be ok." He wondered of there was any truth to this. The doubts that plagued Abby's mind concerned him as well, but he wouldn't tell her that. He would be optimistic.

"I hope you're right," Abby replied sadly.

At that time Susan walked in. Abby took one look at her and knew that there had been no progress in finding Neela.

A/N: How was chapter two? Review and let me know what you thought. And, of course, give any suggestions you have.