Chapter Thirty-One

Bo looked down at the address that was flashing on the PDA and nodded. "All right, I'll get the tactical team together and brief them." He turned to address all the other officers. "I need as many volunteers as possible on this. Anyone who is in meet us in the conference room in 10 minutes."

"Bo we have to get there now…"

Seeing the fear on John's face, Bo gently put his hand on the younger man's shoulder. "It could be more dangerous if we don't brief the team first. John we are going to get her back…"

Bo turned away and began shouting more orders as he walked toward his office. After taking one last look at Bo's retreating figure, John glanced over at Vicki. Seeing how broken and devastated she looked, and knowing that was how he was feeling on the inside, John made up his mind.

He was going in now, tactical team or not.

When the van stopped Natalie cowered back further into the van, afraid of what awaited her. She didn't have to wait long though, as one of the two figures opened up the door, jumped inside and approached her. Before Natalie even realized what was happening she was grabbed by her hair and whoever it was forcibly tied a blindfold around her eyes.

"What do you want with me?" Natalie managed to keep her voice steady, despite the feeling of terror that was overcoming her. But rather then get an answer, she was pulled roughly to her feet and half dragged from the van.

As she was moved, Natalie tried to stay alert and listen to her surroundings, but there wasn't much to be heard. From the echo her footsteps were making and the feel of wood beneath her Natalie guessed she was in some sort of warehouse, but she wasn't sure until she felt herself being pushed roughly into a chair and tied up.

"Make sure the knots are tight. I know from experience that she has an awful tendency to get out of these situations."

Just the sound of the familiar raspy voice had Natalie's mouth dropping open in shock and her body freezing with horror. It was the voice that to this day still haunted her nightmares and a voice that only death would make her forget.

"Mitch?" Natalie croaked out in disbelief, praying she was imagining things.

But as she was met with the sound of his evil laughter her worst fears were confirmed and Natalie felt the room begin to spin, "You're dead…"

"Darling, haven't you lived in Llanview long enough to realize that no one really dies?" Once again Mitch laughed, "Luckily for us my dear we have another chance at happiness, as my sweet daughter was far too innocent too shoot anywhere that really mattered."

"Obviously the biggest mistake that she'll ever make in her life…" Natalie muttered through a shaky breath.

"As witty and sarcastic as ever, but you know I have always admired that trait in you," Walking over toward her, Mitch ran a hand up Natalie's arm and smiled as she jerked away. "That feistiness will sure come in handy once we finally get that chance to consummate that marriage."

Natalie felt as if she was going to be sick, "You perverted bastard," she managed to snap.

"My darling, Natalie, you should really watch your mouth or else you may find yourself meeting the same fate as your sister, and I can assure you the plans I have for you are much more enjoyable."

"What the hell do you mean by that? What have you done to my sister?"

Once again Mitch just laughed, then walking over he tore the blindfold from Natalie's face, "See for yourself," he said as he pointed across the warehouse to a robotic looking Jessica. So overcome with concern for her sister, all thoughts of an escape and plans to remain clam flew from Natalie's mind as she looked desperately at her twin. "Jessica? Jess are you okay?'

But there was no response from her sister; instead Jessica just stared straight ahead blankly.

"What the hell did you do to her? I swear if you hurt her I am going to…"

"Going to what?" Mitch meanly grinned down at her, "Goring to kill me? Hurt me? Have me arrested? No, my dear, I don't think your going to be doing any of those. But you can rest assured I did not hurt your sister, well at least not physically. Actually Natalie, I am quite appalled that you think so low of me that you could imagine me harming my own daughter."

"Jess?" Natalie tried once more.

Turning away from her, Mitch faced Jessica. "Would you please tell our guest who you are?"

"Certainly Father," Jessica replied her voice monotone, "I am Michelle Laurence. Not Jessica Buchanan." Now smiling widely, Mitch walked over and patted her on the head. "Good girl." Quickly he turned back to Natalie, "So you see my dear, your sister is no where to be found. Once again it's just me and you."

By breaking almost every single traffic law on the books, John was able to make it to the industrial district in less than fifteen minutes. Putting on hand on his gun, he frantically looked down at his palm pilot.

The signal appeared to be coming from the warehouse in front of him, but the unit was massive. Knowing that he needed back-up and fast, John leaned into his car and radioed the station.

"Bo it's John, what's your ETA?" Bo however, ignored the question and started to yell.

"John, do not go into that warehouse until we get there. This is a direct order from your commanding officer. We are leaving the station right now and should be there in twenty minutes."

Glancing down at the tracker and then back at the building, John shook his head. "I'm sorry Bo but I can't do that. I'm going in." Ignoring Bo's protests that were coming over the radio, John shut the car door and ran toward the building.

He just hoped he wasn't too late.