Hope all are well in our world today. xx

Cautionary note on this chapter: violence

The theme song is "Livin' on a Prayer"

by Bon Jovi. Good driving beat for the

action...and some of the lyrics.

Chapter 53

Living on a Prayer Part One

1430- London, UK

"How's the bangers?" Georgie asked leaning into Elvis.

"Really good. Fancy a taste?" he responded sliding his plate towards her.

"I would. Thank you." she said reaching over with her fork. She had two scotch eggs in front of her.

"Those eggs ain't too runny are they?" Elvis observed.

"No…They are just right for me. They are cooked dad, so stop worrying."

Dad. Elvis chuckled at her choice in name calling. He supposed he was over protective at times but it was his way of participating in the pregnancy. All he could really do was wait out until she announced: it's time, and hope he would remember what to do next. He experienced nothing like this with Debbie obviously. Laura simply appeared in his life.

"Yeah, those are good." Georgie said dabbing her mouth with a napkin. "Want to taste these?" she asked pointing at her plate.

"May I?" he answered reaching his fork over.

"Of course. It will satisfy your curiosity." she said playfully. He gave her a look and dug in.

He chewed thoughtfully. "Not bad, however I never really fancied them much." he said.

"Awwww, I love them. Me and my mum used to order these all the time." She said. Elvis sat back and enjoyed watching her take a bite and savor the flavor in her mouth. His gaze was momentarily distracted to the bar area when he noticed a patron studying the screen of his mobile as though it were a mirror. The problem was….it was angled towards their table. Elvis' eyes narrowed as they locked on the man holding the device. Jeans and over-sized gray hoodie pulled up over his head. Was it Elvis' imagination or did the bloke turn away when he was spotted? Elvis slowly pushed his chair back and stood, never taking his gaze away from this person of interest. Georgie looked up at him, as did Charlie.

"See someone you know?" Charlie asked as Georgie frowned. She could sense her husband's tension.

"Aven't decided yet." Elvis said backing away from the table. The hooded man threw money down on the bar and quickly got up. His form was partially obscured when another patron rushed in to take over his vacant stool. Elvis followed, watching the gray hood weaving through the small crowd. He saw the front door open as a new influx of patrons entered. The man exited but Elvis continued to watch from a side window. The man walked away, down the street. Elvis looked back at the table. Georgie was laughing at something Charlie had just said. He inhaled a deep breath and took comfort feeling the pressure from his pistol nestled in the concealed shoulder holster. Whilst he scanned the outside perimeter once again his mobile rang. It was Dave Warner. Elvis smirked as he pressed the phone against his ear, he was actually planning to make a call himself.

"Dave.."

"Elvis! Listen in….I have a bit of mad news." Warner hurriedly said.

Elvis' eyes narrowed. Something was off. "Go on."

"Just had a ring from the Forensic Unit. The body that was found after the explosion…..was not Pettigrew."

"Fuck! Who was it?!" Elvis exclaimed trying to keep his volume contained.

"DNA evidence confirms it was Brad Evans."

"You are fucking kiddin me!" Elvis hissed through clenched teeth. He looked up and saw that Georgie was not seated at the table. He barreled through the crowd as he heard Warner say, "There's more…"

"Where's Georgie?!" Elvis abruptly asked Charlie as his eyes scanned the entire room.

"She went to the loo mate."

Dave Warner heard the conversation and said, "We think Pettigrew is here, in London. Spears and I are …."

"He is!" Elvis said as his attention focused on the rear of the Pub.

Xxxxx

Georgie was stood at the sink washing her hands. She assumed she was alone until she reached for the paper towels. Her eyes caught movement in the mirror and she became mesmerized. Was it her imagination? Very slowly a stall door began to open…seated on the commode was a man in jeans and gray hoodie. Her heart began to thud. He pulled the head covering back and she felt the instant stab of regret that she had not reacted sooner. The maniacal grin on his face forced her into action but he struck like a serpent. Georgie swung her hand bag at his head and bolted to the door. He was more powerful and pressed himself against it to prevent her from opening it. Her eyes bore into him as she heard the lock click. She recognized his face. The man Elvis was so certain was a threat.

"Back up!" he ordered as he pressed the barrel of a pistol into her side. Georgie took her time complying. She knew the longer he kept her in the restroom the chances of someone trying to get in would work to her advantage. So, the bastard was not dead. Elvis was right all along. She watched as Pettigrew ransacked through her hand bag, becoming more agitated as he went.

"Where is your phone?" he barked.

"I left it at the table."

"Sure you did. Come here!" he reached out and grabbed her by the arm, swinging her around to pat down her pockets. He discovered nothing. Georgie prayed he would not find it tucked into the back of her jeans. The blousy peplum top gave her good coverage. He grabbed her upper arm. "Get moving!"

"Where am I going?" she stalled.

As he unlocked the door he growled, "Go to the right. If you make one sound, it will be the last thing you will ever do." Pettigrew said pressing the pistol into her side. Georgie's eyes darted everywhere as she made the turn. She desperately tried to look back.

"He's not there. Move!"

"Elvis is coming." she said.

"He will never find you."

"He will find me and he will find you." Georgie said so confidently Pettigrew tried to pretend he did not feel a jolt of self-doubt. He pushed her out an emergency exit into the back alley. Her main concern was staying alive and protecting the baby. Her mind was open to any possible means of escape.

Xxxxx

Charlie was taken aback when he discovered Elvis banging on the door to the ladies restroom. When his shout of "Georgie" yielded no response, Elvis flung the door open startling a woman about to exit. She looked him up and down.

"I'm not Georgie luv." She said indignantly.

Elvis ignored her and rushed inside slamming each stall door open. His stomach wrenched when he saw Georgie's handbag lying next to the trash bin.

"Elvis! What in bloody hell are you up to?" Charlie said as his mate flew out of the restroom.

"Boss?" Spanner said as Spunky and Jackson joined them.

"Pettigrew has Georgie!" was all Elvis said as he shoved her handbag into Spanner's hands and disappeared out the emergency exit.

Once in the alley way Elvis took quick breaths to control his focus. This particular alley had only one pathway to the main street. He sprinted to the curb, his mind trying to narrow down in which direction Pettigrew took her. His phone pinged a message. The caller was in his contact list…..Midge Drake. His jaw tightened whilst he opened the message.

I found her…..

Massive mistake pal Elvis texted back, his heart beating like a drum.

On the contrary…she is quite beautiful

Let her go. It's me you want.

Come and get her

Elvis had a sense Pettigrew had eyes on him. He was twisted enough to want to see Elvis' reaction. Elvis texted,

Let me talk to her

Clever Harte. A picture instead. They speak a thousand words don't they?

"Come here!" Pettigrew snarled at Georgie. "Look at me!"

Georgie turned her face away from him. She knew he was communicating with Elvis and was watching him from the window. When he distracted himself with switching the phone to camera mode she took every ounce of strength she had and punched him in the face. When he reeled from the unexpected attack she began to pound on the window and attempt to open it. Pettigrew grabbed her by the hair and pulled her close to him.

"You bitch!" he spat and slapped her across the face. She steadied herself against the window sill. When she lifted her head her tongue dabbed at the fine trickle of blood on her lower lip.

"Elvis will kill you for that." she muttered hatefully.

"I bloody well hope he tries. I am so looking forward to it." Pettigrew said as he took a picture of her. Georgie pressed her eyes shut, certain Elvis will explode when he sees it. She became further incensed as she realized that is exactly what Pettigrew wanted. Seconds ticked by and her captor chose to ring Elvis and put the call on speaker. They both heard,

"I will put a bullet in your fucking skull!" Elvis snarled as soon as he answered.

Pettigrew laughed. "You should not make idle threats Harte."

"Oh I never make idle threats pal. Just like a never miss."

Pettigrew rapidly blinked at that response and Georgie saw it. Elvis struck a nerve and she smirked from beneath the veil of hair partially covering her face,

"I'm alright Elvis!" she cried out.

Before Pettigrew could close down the call, Elvis shouted "Daniel Day Lewis!"

Georgie clung to those words. They gave her hope, they gave her resolve… He had once said to her following her rescue in Kenya...

Stay alive…..no matter what occurs I will find you…..no matter how far…no matter how long it takes…..I will find you."