Chapter 28- Frozen

The Quartermaine Mansion was eerily quiet. The only sounds came from the kitchen. Julian joined Sam, Drew, Elizabeth, Jason, and Ric in the hunt for Nelle while Alexis took Jake and Leo home with her.

Sam and Elizabeth gently pushed the kitchen door open and peeked inside. Danny was sitting on the counter with Wiley in his lap looking up at Nelle, then narrowing his eyes in on the large walk-in freezer beside him.

Nelle fixed the tie on her apron, then pulled her hair up in a ponytail. "Thank God that awful Monica and Ned are gone for the day. And Michael, Chase, and Morgan are getting our potato chips. Gives me some time with my favourite brother." She stroked Danny's cheek and he flinched.

Ding!

Nelle squealed in delight and turned to open the oven door. "Our dessert is ready! Then we can cook the main course once it's frozen enough."

Danny's eyes grew wide and he hopped off the counter setting Wiley on the floor. He hastened to the freezer and tried to pull it open.

Nelle pulled out a tray of cookies and sniffed it. "Ah. Chocolate chip my fav—What do you think you're doing!" She slammed the tray of cookies on the floor and charged over to Danny and grabbed his wrist pulling him away from the freezer.

"Get your hands off my son!" Sam pushed the door open slamming it against the wall.

"Mom." Nelle smiled sweetly. "Are you to join us for our special meal?" Her smile faded and she clenched her jaw. "What are they doing here?"

"Are you okay, Danny?" Sam cupped his face in her hands.

Wiley hugged Sam's leg. "Home now. Home Auntie."

"I would never hurt my baby brother," Nelle said. "Unlike our mother I care about his well-being."

"Where's Cameron?" Elizabeth asked.

Nelle shrugged. "How should I know?"

Danny pulled away from Sam. "Cam's in the freezer! Get him out! Please!"

Elizabeth's eyes grew wide. "What?"

Jason and Drew rushed past Nelle and pried the freezer door open. Julian pulled his phone out and pressed it to his ear.

Nelle pulled on Jason's arm. "Stop it! Our meal isn't frozen enough yet!"

Elizabeth grabbed a large wooden spoon from the counter and swung it at Nelle's nose. Nelle screamed. Then Elizabeth shoved Nelle to the ground and jumped on top of her. "You were going to eat my son!?"

"Mom…" Nelle shouted. "Get her off me!"

Sam wrapped her arms around Danny from behind. "There is no way that you are my daughter."

Drew and Jason carried out Cameron's stiff body and laid him on the floor. His skin was as white as snow and his hair was frozen.

Elizabeth rolled off Nelle and crawled over to him.

"The police and an ambulance are on its way," Julian said.

Nelle sat up and placed her hand to her bloody nose. "Police?"

"Someone grab some blankets… towels… anything…" Jason said, ripping off his t-shirt and wrapping it around Cameron.

"On it." Drew zoomed from the kitchen.

Julian scooped up Wiley.

"Gampa…" Wiley rested his head on Julian's shoulder.

"Put Jonah down right now!" Nelle shouted.

"His name is Wiley," Julian said. "And you're going to jail."

Drew returned with a couple blankets. He handed one to Jason and began wrapping the other around Cameron's legs.

The door swung open again and some paramedics wheeled in a stretcher. They lifted Cameron onto it.

"I'm going with him," Elizabeth said.

Ric squeezed her arm. "I'll meet you at the hospital."

Elizabeth rushed after the paramedics as they took Cameron away.

"I'm taking Wiley home," Julian said. "Do you and Danny want to come with us, Sam?"

Sam shook her head. "Danny, go with Grandpa." She kissed the top of his head. "I need a word with Nelle."

Danny sauntered over to Julian and Wiley, and they left.

Sam clenched her jaw and turned to Nelle. "Don't you ever take my son away ever again."

"He chose to come with me!" Nelle said. "He must know what an awful mother you are after all. You just stood by while Elizabeth beat me up!"

Dante rushed in next and pulled out some handcuffs. "Nelle Benson, you're under arrest. Anything you say can and will be used against you…"

"This won't last long," Nelle said. "Once the DA and the commissioner find out about this. I'll be back."

Sam crossed her arms and glared at her.

Nelle grinned. "Plus, the Great V is on my side. I'll be out in no time at all."

Dante took Nelle away.

"UUGGGHH!" Sam clawed at her own hair. "I can't stand her! This is a new low even for her!"

"We won't let her get away with it," Drew said.

Suddenly, Jason charged towards Ric and pinned him against the wall.

"Jason! What the hell!" Ric struggled against him. "Let me down!"

"You did this!" Jason shouted.

Drew set his hands on hips and looked at Sam.

"What? Of course, I didn't!"

"You were the last person to see Cameron before the wedding," Jason said.

"Yes, he was throwing up. You saw the door on the floor, Nelle must have had someone knock it down and break in."

"That was a cover up… admit it!" Jason pressed his arm over Ric's throat causing him to choke.

"I… didn't…"

"Okay, Jason…" Drew set a hand on his shoulder. "Don't have his blood on your hands. He isn't worth it. If he's responsible, we'll figure it out."

Jason left his arm there for several more seconds, not losing eye contact with Ric, then he finally let him go. "If you ever try to hurt Cameron or Elizabeth or any of the boys again… I will kill you." Jason brushed past him and left.

Ric stood there panting and straightened his tie. "That man is certifiably insane." He turned and left.

Sam groaned. "How much more can Danny go through?"

"I don't know," Drew said. "I hope we don't have to find out."