The Following:

Peace, Love, and Happiness

Episode 8:

Total Recall

Jeffery stood in the FBI Headquarters with his arms crossed over his chest in a defensive posture. He watched the short, yet extremely informative video that Amable had just broadcasted with mixed feeling. He somehow was able to get it posted on every news channel. This one was a replica to Joe's few videos, yet there was one major difference. This one seemed more direct and perilous.

This bothered him even more so than Joe's messages, which was a big thin, because he was quite fearful of Joe even though he tried to not show it. If he showed his fear, then the entire team would see it and it would affect everyone. The more confident he was, the more confident the team was.

Amble's horrifying message, just made his day go from bad to horrible and he didn't if it could get any worse. It started when he went with Mike and Max to the hotel, only to find Cruz had been kidnapped by unknown assailants and Michael was missing. Next he had returned to the FBI Headquarters just to see the message Amble had brought out to the open.

"I'm sorry sir," Ashley, one of the computer technicians, said unhappily. "I can't find the source of the transmission. Every time I try to locate it, it sends me to a different location and then back here."

"Damn," Jeffery cursed even though he was hardly surprised. Amble had mentioned it in the video. "Well at least he isn't bluffing."

"This is crazy," Mike shook his frustrated. "If one pawn goes down, there is another to step up." He took a step toward Ashley who was eyeing him curiously. He glared at the picture of Amble. "This has got to end."

"I concur," Jeffery agreed with him. He turned to Ashley. "Can you do a search for the name Amble in the system and see what the database has on him?"

"Yes sir," She said typing in the name.

Jeffery turned to Max. "Have you gotten hold of Ryan?" He asked looking at her with slight annoyance. "Because I haven't been able to get a hold of him."

"Yeah I actually spoke to him a few hours ago," Max said glancing at Jeffery briefly before looking at the still frame of Amble on the computer screen. "He was with William going over information about his daughter's kidnapping."

"Did he say if he found anything?" Jeffery asked with a tired sigh. He wished that Ryan wouldn't be so secretive. Even after everything that the both of them had gone through together.

"Not really," Max said with a small shrug. "He told me that he was going through some files."

"Damn," Jeffery sighed unhappily.

"So I have a list of four hundred men with the name Amble in the system," Ashley said glancing at Jeffery as he approached her.

"Oh wow," Jeffery said as the list appeared on one of the screens. "Now do a search for those between the ages 30 and 65."

"Yes sir," She said editing the search. "So there are a total of two hundred and fifty-eight that fit that description."

"Oh wow," Jeffery said running a hand through his hair. "Okay now, the next step is to find the one that matches the description of this man." He pointed to the screen.

Mike groaned when he heard that. Max gave him a questioning look, but he didn't see it. This was the part of the job that he hated. They seemed to always be two steps behind, even after all the researching. He knew it was important, but he wished there was a better way to go about it.

"What's the matter?" Max asked stepping up to him.

"Chances are what we have on him," Mike began in a tired tone "It is going to be very little and who knows whether it is factual or not."

"That may be true," Max gently answered. "But it is better than not having any information whatsoever."

"I agree with Max on this one," Jeffery said turning toward him. He motioned to the far corner of the room noting to continue the conversation over there. "As much as I want to go there guns blazing Mike," He said ignoring the questioning look that Mike was giving him. "Before we go Rambo style, we have protocols."

"I know that," Mike said wishing that they wouldn't be having this conversation now. "But that is where the problem lies. This man," Mike pointed at Amble on the screen. His image sent a shiver down his spine for some reason. His look was dangerously hypnotic. His lip was curled slightly, even though he wasn't smiling. "Is no different than Joe and Lily. He made a threat against us, just like them and it is wrong to have such a proportional response to such a threat."

"I do find logic in what you are saying" Jeffery said with another sigh. "But we need to find out more about Amble before we take any further actions against him."

"We have something," Max called out.

Jeffery turned away from Mike and hurried back to Max. On one of the screens was the file belonging to Amble. Mike stood next to Max, glancing at her briefly before joining everyone else in the room who was reading the file.

"Amble Bellamy, born November 13th 1963," Jeffery began in a loud voice. Parents, Benoit and Denise, were both teachers. Amble lived in Paris until he was eighteen and then enrolled in Lightford Academy." Jeffery suddenly stopped talking. He felt a shiver crawl up his spine. The room grew dark and cold. "No way," He said shaking his head in disbelief. "It can't be."

"Lightford Academy," Max said looking at Jeffery who had some color drained from his face. She knew exactly what he was thinking. "Do you think he and Joe knew each other?"

"I don't know. It could be mere coincidental," Jeffery said in a dangerous tone. "But I intend to find out." He gave Max a strong and determined look.

Amable poured himself a shot of scotch and then downed it quickly. He poured himself a second one totally ignoring the fact that Annabelle stood a few feet away. He closed his eyes and drained the second shot. The warm feeling of the alcohol began to spread through his body like the sun appearing from behind clouds that were blocking it.

"Dad you have to stop," Annabelle said fearfully. She hated seeing him in this state.

Amable ignored her and reached for the bottle a third time. His hand shook as he poured for himself again. "My family," He mumble to himself as if Annabelle weren't in the room with him.

"Dad please," Annabelle pleaded. She reached out grasping his shoulder gently.

Amable shrugged her away and drank the third shot. He could already feel the alcohols effect on him. It was slightly helping him to control his unsteady emotions. They jumped per second, switching from anger, to sadness, and to regret.

Did he make the right decision, by sending out both Cruz and Michael? There was no way he could have predicted that the both of them would go missing and Tanya taken by Molly. Maybe if he went by himself, he would have been more successful. He was more experienced than them. Yet, if he did, he could be in the same situation that they are in now.

Amable turned to face Annabelle. He gave her a thin smile and then leaned close, giving her a small kiss on the forehead. She stood there confused, smelling the alcohol on his breath. He walked out of his study, leaving her standing there alone with her own thoughts.

Amable needed more than just alcohol to let loose. The only thing that helped him more than getting drunk, was inflicting pain on to others. He loved torture. To use his emotions as a means of control to cause another to lose their control. It was the perfect treatment. Tonight seemed to be the perfect night to do just that. He would go and get some innocent person. Then he would bring that person back to his place for some gruesome fun.

He grabbed his keys and then left the house, ignoring the protests from Annabelle. He got into his car and started Suddenly Annabelle tapped on the window causing him to jump in his seat. He looked at her surprised and startled.

"You can't do this," She said seriously. "You will get yourself in trouble and that is the last thing we need now."

Amable smiled at her as the alcohol really began to settle in. "You are right," He said opening the door. He stepped out and pointed at her. "You drive then."

"That isn't what I had in mind," She protested. She reached out to him, but he gently pushed her hand away.

"Come inside," He said as he took a seat. He belted himself and then looked at her from the passenger's seat. "Let's go for a drive. I could really use one right now."

"Are you serious?" She asked looking at him perplexed.

"Yes," He said motioning for her to sit down. "Drives are always relaxing."

Annabelle sighed and reluctantly took a seat. She didn't want to do this. It was too perilous, especially after his public video. People out there knew his face and by going out now, he could easily get caught. But if she joined, since she was sober, she could be his voice. Yet, she didn't have much choice. He hated the word no.

"Where are we going?" She asked she drove out of the garage.

"Not too far," He said pointing to the road ahead. "Go on to Main Street. I want to see nature and it is always so relaxing."

Annabelle turned on to their long driveway that led to Main Street. This street was a small two way road that had very little traffic. In fact, hardly anyone drove through it. Every so often there would be someone hitchhiking or there was a jogger by the side of the road. But most of the time the road was pretty vacant.

There were tall trees huddled on either side of the road for miles, giving it an eerie look. The small amount of light was from the moon and the occasional street light. Autumn leaves covered the road, some crushed from the cars, while others swayed in the wind.

"Dad, if you don't mind me asking," Annabelle briefly looked at him. "What is going on with you now?"

"Nothing," He said with a drunken smile. "I am fine." He knew that she didn't believe him. "I was really in the mood to just get out of the house."

"If you say so," Annabelle said with a small shrug.

For a few moments neither of them spoke. Amable kept his eyes on Annabelle, watching her as she drove. She was quite aware that he was watching her and it made her feel uncomfortable. She could easily tell that there was something on his mind and she wasn't sure whether he'd tell her or not.

Amable shifted in his seat and looked out his window watching the trees fly by. He sighed loudly and then said seriously, "I grew up as an only child," He looked at her with sad eyes. "Did you know that?"

"Yeah, you mentioned before," She said giving him a concerned look. This was more than just a simple drive and she knew she was going to find out soon.

"I grew up with very little money," He said with a melancholy laugh, "Both of my parents were teachers, as you already know. Both of my parents, tried as hard as they could to make it as comfortable for me as possible, but until I went to middle school, I had very little." He paused for a few moments to collect his thoughts. "If it weren't for an Uncle who wanted better for me, I wouldn't be here right now."

Annabelle stopped at a red light. She looked at him again, worried at his sudden emotional state. She had never seen him like this before. He was usually able to control himself and hardly spoke of his childhood. When he did, he said very little.

"I promised myself that I would make sure that when I had a family, I would do whatever it takes to keep them happy and worry free," He said with another shrug. "I work so hard, to make sure that every one of you guys get whatever your heart's desire."

"You do a great job at that dad," Annabelle said smiling at him. "I don't only speak for myself. I speak for everyone at home."

"Thank you," Amable said giving her a pained smile. "I hope Tim would say the same thing as well." His smiled vanished and he sighed loudly. He muttered a string of French words.

"Tim is not with us anymore," Annabelle said watching the light turn green. "But I can promise you that he was more than happy." She glanced at him briefly noting his faraway look. "And look what you did for Mark. You invited him like he was one of us."

"He is one of us," Amable said cutting her off.

"I know that," Annabelle not fully believing it. She didn't want to tell him that. "All I am saying is that, you have so much love in your heart that you would go to such lengths for it."

"Thank you," Amable said looking at her with a proud smile. "I just want everyone I love to know that I have done and continue to do the best that I can do."

"They do," Annabelle said reassuring him.

Amable looked out his window when he saw a car parked by the side of the road. He motioned for Annabelle to slow the car. She gave him a questioning look but slowed the car until it stopped beside the parked car. Amable peered inside the tinted windows and could see a young male in the driver's seat, smoking a joint.

"I will be right back," Amable said ignoring Annabelle's protests. He stepped out of the car and then approached the other car. He tapped on the window, causing the young man to jump in his seat. "Hello there mate."

"Uh hi," He looked at him slightly stoned.

"I am sorry to bother you," Amable said with an embarrassed smile. "But I am lost and trying to find the freeway. Do you think you could lead me in the right direction?"

The man coughed and then pointed ahead of them for a few moments, before he looked the opposite way. He then shrugged his shoulders and laughed. "I am sorry sir," He said coughing again. "I have no idea."

"Well maybe this will help," Amable said pulling out a handgun he had hidden. He pointed it at the man whose eyes grew wide. "Get out of the car now or I will shoot you."

The man unclipped his seatbelt and got out of the car. He raised his arms as he dropped his joint. "Take whatever you want man," He said stepping away from Amable slowly.

"I am not a thief," Amable said as he struck the man on the head. The man crumpled to the floor. "But you will be coming with me though."

"What the hell dad?" Annabelle hissed at him as she approached.

"Help me get him in the trunk," Amable said replacing his gun. He reached below his shoulders and lifted him.

Annabelle opened the trunk and then helped Amable place him in it. "I don't like this," She said shaking her head. "This is a really dumb idea."

"Do not worry my dear," Amable said as he closed the trunk. "No one saw a thing." He paused and made his way to the passenger seat. "We are going to take him back to the house for entertainment."

"I know your type of entertainment," Annabelle said slightly annoyed as she took a seat. She turned around with a screech and then drove back to the house. "And I am all for it, but this may get you caught."

Amable looked back at the car beside the road. "It is nearly eleven in the evening," Amable said defending himself, even though he knew he didn't need to. "No one saw us." He paused and looked at Annabelle. "Don't worry."

For the rest of the ride, neither of them spoke. When they returned home, they brought the unconscious male into the basement. Amable strapped him to the table and then looked at him for a few moments with excited eyes before he reached into the man's pocket. He pulled out his wallet and looked at his license. "Adam Kinsler," Amble said with a chuckle. He heard a groan as Adam awoke. Adam slowly came to his senses and looked at Amable confused. "God morning mate." He gave him a chillingly warm smile.

Adam didn't respond to Amable. He looked at him through blurry eyes and a massive headache. He felt restraints by his ankles, arms, and neck. Amable continued to give him that look as he tossed the wallet on his chest.

"Adam mate," Amable began in a tantalizing manner. "Not very talkative. I thought it would be the weed," He shrugged and took a step toward him. "But I think it is because I hit you on the head."

"Why?" Adam asked swallowing nervously.

Amable began to slowly pace around Adam. "You ask me why?" He gave a deep throated laugh. He began to imitate a police officer. "I saw you smoking weed son. Do you know that it is illegal to smoke weed. Not to mention it has considerable side effects?"

"What do you want with me?" Adam asked eyeing Annabelle standing in the corner of the room. He gave her a pleading look, but she ignored it.

"It definitely isn't the weed I want," Amable said in his normal voice. "I was never a smoker. Hated the smell of it. Alcohol was my poison. It always has been and I think it always will be." He shrugged and reached for the blow torch on the table. He lit it and approached Adam. "Do you know that this can reach temperatures over 2000 degrees." He paused again taking note of Adam's frightened look as he extinguished it. "That is pretty damn hot if I might add."

Amable lowered the flame toward Adam's left eye He screamed loudly as the skin swelled and blistered. The eye popped and its juices leaked out, just as the blisters burst as well. The skin then turned black and charred as Amable turned off the blow torch. He stepped away from him and set it on the table.

"How does that feel?" Amable asked in a fake genuine tone. "I bet that hurt."

Adam looked at Amable with his good eye. A tear trailed out of his eye and down his cheek. He whimpered but didn't say anything else. His face felt like it were on fire. His skin, felt as dry and coarse as sandpaper stretched just before it would rip.

"Cat got your tongue?" Amable asked reaching for the largest pliers he had on the table. He eyed it with a chuckle and then turned to Adam. "I never understood that line. What does a cat have to do with it?"

Amable shrugged and then forced Adam's mouth open. He used the pliers to grab his tongue and then slowly began to pull. Adam screamed as loud as he could and thrashed against the restraints. Blood oozed out of his mouth as his tongue was ripped out of his mouth with a gruesome tearing sound. Amable had a joyful look on his face as he eyed the bloody tongue in the pliers.

"Wow," He said amazed as placed the tongue on Adam's chest staining his already dirty shirt. "That always amazes me. You see things like that in the movies, but in real life it is so much more," He paused and looked at Annabelle who had an excited look on her face. "Exhilarating."

Adam moaned and turned his head to the side. A large amount of blood dripped out of his mouth and on to the floor. Annabelle approached the table and grabbed a hammer. She stepped up to Adam and leaned close to him.

"Tonight is just not your night," She sensually traced her finger around his ear. "You are making our night though. We love to do this."

Annabelle used the hammers claw to dig under his good eye. He screamed loudly again as blood oozed out over the hammer, his face, and her hands. She dug out his eye with a pleased look on her face. When his eyes was out, she dropped it on his forehead.

"Marco," She whispered as she paced around the table.

Adam felt the pain from the wound slowly subside to numbness. He turned his head toward Annabelle trying to find where she was, but he didn't know. He could not see her, but he could hear her. To his misfortune though, the room felt like it were swaying. He wanted to vomit, but he wasn't sure if he could.

"I forgot," Annabelle playfully said. She grabbed his ear and dug her nails into his head drawing blood. "You can't play, because you can't talk." She laughed and leaned close. "But you can hear me though. At least for now." She let go of him, ignoring the noises he was making.

Annabelle looked at Amable who was standing a few feet away. She motioned toward the table, but he shook his head. "Finish him off," He said pointing to the table.

Annabelle smiled and then approached the table. She scanned the assortment of tools, but didn't want to use them. They had already been used on multiple bodies. Now she wanted to use something different. Something new.

She opened the drawer below the table and saw a small switchblade. She smiled again and reached for it. "Perfect," She said flicking it open. "If you have a god, it is best to pray to him now." She said teasing him.

Annabelle stabbed him in the pelvic area a few inches above his groin. She slowly cut upward enjoying the sharpness of the blade. Blood oozed out of the cut on to the table, floor, and her arms. She was moaning with pleasure, as she cut his belly button and then made her way up to his chest. She stopped when she reached his throat.

She stepped back to inspect her work. Adam had either passed out or was dead, she didn't know. His head was limp and surprisingly, blood continued to ooze out of his mouth and the unburned eye. She leaned close and slit his throat, just to make sure he was indeed dead.

"Wow," She said breathing heavily as she dropped the knife on the floor. It landed in a large puddle of blood. "That felt good."

"Indeed," Amable said approaching her. He had two shots of scotch poured. He handed one to her. "You did great."

"I have a great teacher," She said taking the glass staining it with blood. She sniffed the scotch and then smiled at her father.

"To tonight," He said raising his glass in the air. "And to future lessons." They clinked glasses together before draining both.

William stared at himself in the hotel bathroom mirror. The bandages covering the sewed up shot wounds were blood stained. A small stream of blood trailed from them to his waist. He touched the bandages wincing slightly. It was raw to the touch and he knew changing the bandages would hurt more.

He turned on the sink and wet a hand towel. He then took a deep breath and reached for the edge of the first bandage. He grimaced as he pulled it off. Fresh blood began to leak out of the ripped stitching. He ignored it and then tore off the second one as carefully as he could. This one, bled as well. He grunted in pain and tossed the blood bandage in the garbage. He reached for the last one and with a shaky hand, he pulled it off. This one hurt the most and a larger amount of blood leaked out of the broken stitching.

William knew that he had to get the wounds stitched again, but he didn't want to take the time to do that. Not now at least. If he went, than there would be questions he just didn't want to answer. Once he got Tanya back, then he would go. Unless they got worse.

He reached for the wet towel and winced as he cleaned the wounds. By the time he finished, the towel was covered in blood, but he was at least he was somewhat clean. He wanted to shower to get the rest of the blood off, but that would have to wait until later.

He put on a set of clean bandages and then his shirt back on, before he stepped out of the bathroom. He saw Ryan sitting by the table and Cruz tied to the bed, awake. Ryan eyed him and then asked, "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine," William said as he approached Cruz. He looked him in the eye dangerously and asked, "Where is my daughter?"

Cruz looked at Ryan and then at William, before he began to chuckle. "So how is this going to work?" He asked looking at William. "Because you that I have been where you are standing. I know the questions you will be asking me."

"So that will just make it all that easier," Williams said taking a seat on the other bed.

"How are you feeling?" Cruz asked looking at his chest. "Getting shot once hurts like a bitch, but three times. You are one tough SOB."

Ryan approached Cruz. "I would answer him," He said giving him a determined look. "Because if not, well there will be repercussions."

"Like what?" Cruz laughed. "William is a cop and you Ryan, is an ex-AA member and an ex-FBI agent. So what are you guys going to do?"

Ryan punched Cruz in the face hard, breaking his nose. Blood leaked out down to his lip. "Now tell us what we want to know," William said sternly.

"To hell I won't," Cruz said giving him a harsh look. "Just because you putas think you could break the rules, doesn't mean I am going to break."

Ryan looked at William, who just shrugged his shoulders. Ryan punched him in the stomach. Cruz began to laugh, even though the punch hurt. He had to show he was in control. He wouldn't break. He never did before.

"Vergas," Cruz spat blood on the floor. "Okay fine," He looked at William with a smile. "I took your precious Tanya, because she has this ass on her. Mucho caliente."

Ryan groaned and stepped away from the bed. "I have dealt with guys like you many times," He said pointing to him with a threatening finger. "Every time, they talk like they are the tough ones, yet end up whining like a little kid."

"I'm so scared," Cruz said pretending to tremble.

"You are playing with fire here," William said in a mocking tone, "Mucho caliente."

"Just get on with this," Cruz said looking at Ryan without a care in the world. "You don't have the balls."

Ryan snapped his fingers and at that moment, William pulled out a gun out of its holder. He pointed it at Cruz as Ryan undid the handcuffs to the bed. Cruz massaged his wrists and looked at William who motioned for him to the table. Cruz didn't move, which caused Ryan to grab him roughly. He pushed him to the table and it was then when Cruz sat down.

Cruz felt Ryan handcuff his ankles to the chair and his wrists behind the back of the chair as well. "Now what?" Cruz asked with a laugh.

Ryan looked at Cruz. "This is how it is going to work," He said seriously. "William is going to do the question. If we don't think you are giving the right answers, I will break a finger. Then I will move to your toes."

"You don't have the balls," Cruz said wondering if Ryan were bluffing or not.

Ryan punched Cruz in the face and then grabbed his index finger. He bent it back until he heard a crack. Cruz cried out in pain and shook in the chair violently. The chair was too wobbly and then fell over. Cruz uttered a string of curses in Spanish as he landed on the floor.

"One down," William said watching as Ryan put Cruz in a sitting position. "Nine more to go." He took a step toward him. "Do you feel like answering my questions now?"

Molly stood in front of the TV watching the video clip of Amable threatening Ryan. She shook her head feeling both annoyed and frustrated. That was her job. She was the one to kill Ryan. It was always her job. She wanted to be the one to do it. No one else.

From the moment that she had gotten involved with Joe she knew that killing Ryan would be a treat. In the past, she wanted to do it swiftly. The quicker the better. But now, she wanted to savor the moment. She wanted to see him scared. She wanted him to beg for his life, right before, and even while she took it from him. She knew the time would come, hopefully sooner than later.

"You silly silly man," She said watching Tanya and her mother approach. "You think you will be the one." She laughed at the image of Amable dangerously. "Good luck."

"Empty threats," Tanya said as she eyed the Amable.

"I agree," Molly said turning away from the TV. "But that doesn't make them any less dangerous. He is just a fly to be swatted away."

"What do you have planned?" Amy asked glancing at Amable and then at Molly.

Molly smiled and then began to pace around the room. "The whole plan here is directed at Ryan," She said as she cracked her knuckles. "Getting Ryan is a little harder than I had thought, but getting those that mean most to him, is the way to bring him here." She turned to Amy and Tanya. "That is the only way to get Ryan in our hands."

"Sounds good, but how do we do that?" Amy asked. "If Claire had gotten the package, she would most likely have moved soon thereafter. We don't know where she is now."

"Not too worry," Molly said with a perilous smile. "I already sent a team out to look at her house. If we can't have Claire now, there is always her precious Joey. That will bring Claire to us."

"Do you find that wise?" Tanya asked innocently.

"If we want to get Ryan," Molly pointed out, "Then we have to get our hands a little dirty." She approached Tanya and caressed her cheek gently. "Don't worry. I have everything under control." She looked at the image of Amable and her face grew serious. "If you want peace, then prepare for war. Although peace is not what I have in mind, but it is in that direction." She continued to stare at it, almost studying it for weaknesses. "I'm coming for you, you French bastard."

Hope you guys enjoyed! More to come! Especially a certain scene coming soon ;)

shaw18