Chapter Thirty

After getting into her car the caller instructed Natalie to drive to the docks and get out of her car, but told her in no uncertain terms she had to keep their phone connection going or else the deal was off. Knowing that this was the only way to keep her cousins out of it Natalie did as she was told.

Once at the docks, Natalie got out of her car and looked around. Picking up the cell phone she put it back to her ear. "I'm here," she said, her voice shaking.

"Good. Now, throw your cell phone into the water. When the van pulls up in front of you, you are to get in."

"What about Matthew and Starr?" How will I know they're safe?"

"As you are getting into the van, they will be getting out. Do not speak to them, do not try and have any form on contact with them. Just get in the van. If you disobey me I guarantee one of them will be harmed. Now, without pressing end throw your phone into the water."

Natalie obeyed, and within seconds a dark van pulled up in front of her. Unable to see the drivers, Natalie pulled open the side door and breathed a sigh of relief as her cousins jumped out.

"Natalie!" Starr yelled grabbing on to her hand, but Natalie shook it off and stepped into the vehicle.

"Natalie don't!" Matthew cried as she pulled the door tightly shut and heard the locks click.

The van started up and seconds later they were moving. The van had no windows and like a truck, there was a wall separating the front seats from the back area she was in. Forcing herself to remain calm, Natalie looked around her, hoping to find something she could use to protect herself.

But the van was empty.

Drawing her knees up to her chest, Natalie sat against the wall and tried not to cry.

"Please let John find me." She prayed, as she looked down at the watch which was safely clasped around her wrist.

About an hour after he had left, John walked back into the police station completely frustrated. He had just finished following up on their final lead, a lead that had led nowhere.

As much as he hated the statistics, the more time that went by the worse their chances were at finding Matthew and Starr alive. John was just heading toward his office, when he heard loud shouting coming from the main area.

Both concerned and curious, he made his way toward the noise and stopped in shock when he saw the sight before him.

Matthew and Starr had just run into the room and were throwing themselves in the arms of their parents. All the Buchanans, Mannings and Lords crowded around each of them shouting out about a hundred questions at time.

"Quiet down, Quiet down," Bo yelled, with tears in his eyes as he tightly embraced his son. "Let's give them a chance to talk."

Once the room went quiet, Matthews's eyes widened and he pulled away from his dad. "Natalie!"

Most of the adults looked around in confusion, until Vicki stepped forward. "I'm sure she's around her somewhere Matthew, I'll go see if I can find her…"

But Starr also pushed away from her mother, eyes wide. "No, No. They have Natalie."

Heart pounding in his chest, John stepped forward. "Who has Natalie?" he all but yelled, his hands starting to shake. Also standing up, Bo looked down at the kids, "What are you talking about?"

Taking a deep breath, Matthew looked up at his father and John. "The people that took Starr and me called Natalie and told her that unless she did what they said they were going to kill us."

"Oh God," Vicki moaned, all but falling into the nearest seat, "Oh god."

Suddenly feeling like he may pass out, John forced himself to remain calm. "Where did they take you? What did they tell her to do?" He choked out.

This time Starr stepped forward. "They had kept Matthew and I in a type of truck all night, but we could hear them as they talked to her. They told her to get in her car and drive to the docks. Then we started moving. The next thing we knew Natalie was opening the van door and we got out but she got in."

Unable to believe his niece had risked her life for his daughter despite all the terrible things he had done, Todd stepped forward. "Did you get a good look at who took you? Do they seem familiar?"

Mathew shook his head. "They always wore masks. But I could tell one was a man, the other was a woman. When they first took us I heard them talking about how this was the way they could get Natalie."

His face now white, John turned to Bo. "It's the stalker Bo, it has to be. When his plan to abduct her on Valentines Day didn't go as planned, he threw this together. We have to find her and fast," John said feeling as if he was about to lose it.

"Wait a minute… someone has been stalking Natalie? How come no one knew about this?" Blair asked worriedly as she pulled her daughter close.

"Natalie didn't want to worry anyone," Vicki whispered softly, her voice sounding like it may break at any second.

Turning his attention to the surrounding officers, Bo spoke up. "Listen up everyone, I need to know if anyone saw Natalie leave the station."

Most of the officers shook their heads, but Officer Davis stepped forward. "I did Sir," he said, his voice slightly trembling. Clearing his throat his faced Bo. "I was coming toward the reception area when I saw her leaving. She was on her cell phone and said she had to get home to Llanfair because her mother was shook up over the kidnapping."

"I came to the station with Natalie, I've been here ever since."

"I wasn't aware of that fact Commissioner so I didn't question it."

"How was she acting? Did she say anything else?" John snapped at the officer.

Davis nodded. "She seemed a little bit shaky, but I assumed it was because of you're fight."

Suddenly confused since they had make up the last time he saw her, John continued to question him. "Fight? What fight?"

Embarrassed, the officer flushed. "I'm sorry sir, I just assumed there had been a fight when she told me to tell you she was sorry and not to take the necklace back."

"Necklace? What necklace?"

"The silver necklace you got her? I don't know, she just said to tell you she was sorry and that you were right, the silver was better and not to take it back."

Taking a few seconds to make sense of the message, it suddenly dawned on him and John rushed into his office. After throwing all the papers off and making sure he was right, he came rushing out his Palm Pilot in hand.

"Bo, it was a code. Natalie was trying to tell us she has the tracker."

"The tracker?" Vicki asked, her voice hopeful.

John nodded and he frantically punched in buttons on the palm pilot. "The watch I gave her for Valentines Day had a tracker in it. Natalie was telling us she was wearing the watch."

"Wait a minute, you put a tracker in her gift? And you say I am possessive?" Todd quipped as he looked over at Blair.

Ignoring him John finally got the file open. "I've got it. I know where she is."