Chapter 9-No Hope?

I miss this show. God knows, a lot of people could really do with having an Equalizer in their lives... Not a whole lot happening in this chapter, but hope you read on, anyway.

Amy watched as Nicole thoroughly searched the room they were locked in, throwing empty boxes and assorted useless bric-a-brac this way and that.

'I already checked, Nicki.' Amy said resignedly. 'I've been left here alone a few times-there's no way out.'

Nicole turned sharply at her words. 'There's gotta be something here, Amy.' She replied. 'Something to help us get out of here. I'm not sitting around waiting for your crazy ex to come back here and kill us. And Robert won't know where we are, so...I need to try.'

'Robert McCall.' Amy seemed to be lost in thought suddenly, and Nicole paused to regard her friend, when she suddenly breathed, 'Oh, my God. That was the same guy who came strolling into my office two years ago, practically demanding that I see this very talented girl he knew. I knew that name seemed familiar, I just couldn't remember...' She looked at Nicole. 'You said he helped you, Nicki. He helped you once before?'

For a moment, Nicole almost didn't tell her. Of course, it'd be easy to just tell her that he'd helped her get a place at The Gallery and leave it at that-but now she knew the circumstances surrounding Amy's disappearance, her trust had been restored.

Amy deserved the truth. Some of it, anyway.

'He saved my life.' She told her. 'I witnessed a murder and got shot. I didn't want to call the police, and I found his ad, so...anyway, Robert helped me, he got the men who were after me. And when you disappeared, I knew he'd be able to help. Of course, I don't think he counted on us both disappearing.'

Amy seemed to be listening raptly, but Nicole was highly discomfited by her sympathetic expression. 'Why didn't you want to call the police?' She asked gently.

It was funny-she'd known Amy longer than she'd known Robert McCall, and the whole horrible story of her childhood had come spilling out to him only a few hours after they'd met. But that was different. A mixture of respect and deference had made Nicole tell him everything. Besides, Mickey had seen her scars while he was fixing her shoulder-the truth would have come out, anyway.

But she wasn't prepared to tell Amy about all the foster homes, the people who should never have been permitted to care for children, who had tried to break her body, and her spirit.

Not yet. And certainly not here.

'That's a long story.' She told Amy, finally. 'We get out of here alive, and I'll tell you about it.'

Amy seemed satisfied by her response, and Nicole resumed her search for something, anything, that might help get them out of there...

/

Robert parked the Jaguar outside The Gallery, and turned to look at Mickey, who looked as dubious as he felt. It was fairly obvious the building was empty.

'Maybe we should check out the lady's apartment.' Kostmayer suggested. 'This place looks deserted, McCall.'

'I can see that, Mickey.' Robert snapped. 'And we agreed to let Jefferson look over the apartment.' Then, rubbing a hand across his face wearily, he added, in a quieter tone, 'I'm sorry. I'm just...'

'Worried.' Mickey finished for him. 'I get it. I know you like the girl.'

Robert glared at him. 'Are you implying...?!'

'Oh, for Christ's sake, McCall!' Now it was Mickey's turn to snap. 'You're old enough to be her grandfather. What kind of sick SOB do you think I am?! Besides, in case you hadn't noticed, it's your son she's interested in, not you!'

Robert now looked thoroughly ashamed, and he clapped a hand to Kostmayer's shoulder. He couldn't believe he had attempted to accuse his younger friend of even thinking such a thing.

'Mick, I'm sorry.' He said contritely. 'That was uncalled for.' A pause, and then he added, 'I have always warned myself of the complications that getting too close to a client can cause. It's highly unprofessional. But that child has no family to speak of. She has no-one. And yes, I've grown quite fond of her.'

He smiled, ever so slightly. 'And so, it would appear, has Scott.'

The men's attention was otherwise occupied, when they saw a woman approach the building from the left, and Kostmayer uttered a low whistle.

'Nice.' He muttered, and Robert harrumphed. He recognized the woman.

'Her name is Rebecca.' He said tersely. 'She's the assistant manager of the place or some such, according to Nicole.'

'Do you think she'll let us in?' Kostmayer enquired, and Robert grimly replied, getting out of the car and waiting for Mickey to follow suit, 'I'm afraid I shan't be giving the lady much choice.'...

/

Next: final chapter. Nicole finds a way to try to get somebody's attention-just as David comes back. Will Robert and Mickey come to the rescue in time? Please R&R! :) Ellen.