The Following:

Peace, Love, and Happiness

Episode 10

A Change of Pace

Ryan stepped into his apartment as he stifled a yawn. It was hardly past nine in the evening but he was beyond exhausted and was looking forward to finally getting a good night sleep. There was still so much work to do, but sleep was more important. It would help clear his mind.

He took a quick shower and then turned on the TV relaxing with the news. The sports segment was on and they were talking about the Adrian Peterson trial. His phone rang just as the commercials began.

"Hey," He sighed not in the mood to be disturbed with work now. He just wanted to relax.

"Ryan," William said in between yawns. "Any update?"

Ryan stood up and made his way to the kitchen. "Nothing really," He said with a shrug. He opened his fridge and took out a bottle of water. "Spoke with Joe, but he didn't say anything about Tanya."

"Damn," William said annoyed, "Did you even ask him?"

"Of course I did," Ryan said closing the fridge. He was surprised that he was asked that. It was as if William didn't trust him. "He didn't know anything about it."

William grumbled a string of curse words before he said, "I don't know how much longer I can do this." He sighed loudly.

Ryan knew exactly how he was feeling because of all the experiences he had. From the moment the Joe case started, he was on a different type of edge. His job before was extremely stressful. But now it was on a whole new level.

In the beginning when things hit the fan and he wasn't sure how he could deal with it, Claire helped him out. But she wasn't always in his life. She couldn't be counted on, yet because he loved her, he kept returning to her for help. Soon though, he turned to alcohol. The best and most destructive stress relief he ever grew addicted to.

"William," Ryan calmly said, "You of all people know what I have gone through so far and know how I could relate to it." He paused to take a drink of water. "I know that it is tough, but there isn't too much we can do now. We need to be patient for everything to work."

"That's true," William unhappily agreed.

"Also the last thing you want is to get arrested," Ryan continued. He felt it strange that he was on this end of the conversation. Usually he was the one being warned not to do anything stupid or he'd get arrested.

"I definitely don't want that," William said clearly still frustrated.

Ryan heard someone knock on his door. He wondered who it could be at this hour. Carrie? Mike? Max? If it were, they usually would have called before coming by. Could it be Claire? The part of him that loved her, wished she could be coming by telling him that it was all a mistake. But realistically he knew that she would never come. She was gone for good.

"Listen William," Ryan said as he slowly made his way to the front door. "Let's call it a night and I will see you in the morning."

William mumbled something that Ryan couldn't understand. He ignored him and they both said their goodbyes. He pocketed his phone and opened the door to see Carrie standing there with a tired smile. He smiled at her before leaning in for a hug and a quick kiss.

"You have been pretty busy," She said with a slight tease. She hugged him a bit tighter. I have missed you." She kissed him tighter.

"We both have been busy," He said smiling at her. He was feeling so relaxed now.

"You don't even know the beginning of it," She let go of Ryan with a tired sigh. "This whole new obsession with Joe is crazy." She began to pace around his living room. "I can't believe how attached they are to him that it would lead them to commit suicide." She looked at him seriously. "It is beyond crazy."

"That makes sense," Ryan said watching her vent. "The people who idolize him are crazy."

Carrie stopped pacing and looked at him with an exhausted smile. "That's true," She said nodding her in agreement.

"Speaking of Joe," Ryan said taking a step toward her. "I went to visit Joe today." He didn't know why he told her. It sort of slipped out.

Carrie gave him a mixed look of horror, surprise, and concern. "You saw Joe?" She asked in disbelief.

"Yeah I did," Ryan simply said. He took a sip of water and then set the bottle on the countertop.

"I thought you never wanted to see him again?" She asked, "Why would you go do something like that?"

"It is actually the last thing I wanted to do," Ryan sighed. "But with everything that is going on, I thought that he'd be able to give me some good advice."

Carrie continued to look at him in disbelief. "You wanted advice from Joe?" She asked stepping away from him. She grabbed a water from the fridge and took a sip. "After all he did to you." She set the water on the counter top next to the water Ryan was drinking. "I can't say that I am surprised."

"I am surprised as well," Ryan said with a small shrug. He stepped into the kitchen. "I needed to go though. I am stuck Carrie." He reached for his water. "People are committing suicide in the name of Joe, and then with Amable coming into the picture with his threatening video." He took a sip of water. "And I always seem to be a step behind." He took another sip of water. "That is why I went to talk to him."

"What did he say?" She asked.

"Nothing important," Ryan shook his head annoyed. "He told me that since he was in prison that he was out of the picture and didn't know of anything."

"I'm sorry," She said looking at him emotionally.

"He did tell me one thing that stood out from all the senseless crap," Ryan said with another sigh. "He told me that there is one reason why I am always a step behind these guys. When dealing with irrational people, I think rationally. That is why they are always a few steps ahead of me."

Carrie took his hands. "Ryan are you seriously thinking about turning into one of them?" She looked at him seriously. "Because that is not you."

"I'll be honest, I have been thinking about it," Ryan said with a small shrug. "With all that is going on. I don't know," He shook his head.

Carrie let go of his hands. "You are not one of them," She said in a caring and stern voice. "Yes you have been dealt a pile of crap over these years, but you have always bounced back with rational thinking. The moment you think irrationally, is the moment you lose everything."

"I have lost so much already," Ryan said sadly. He scratched the back of his neck. "I can't afford to lose any more." He took a step toward her and held her tightly. "I don't want to lose you. I can't bare it." He took a deep breath. "If that means getting my hands dirty, to make sure all this nonsense ends, then I am okay with it."

"I am not," She said seriously. "I care for you to much to let you go down that road." She kissed his hands. "I saw you go down that road once before." She looked at him seriously. "I don't want you to go back there."

"I won't," Ryan simply said.

"Promise me," She asked holding on to him tightly. "Promise me you won't go rogue and possibly get yourself killed."

Ryan saw how emotional she was and he cared too much about her to hurt her. "I promise," He vowed wondering if he was making the right decision.

Mark sat in the living room relaxing after his torture session with Amable. He had the TV watching some horrible alien movie. The plot sucked, the acting sucked, and the special effects sucked. Yet for some reason, he was not interested in changing it. The movie was so awful that he actually wanted to see how much worse it could get.

He had ha beer in his hand and a large bowl of popcorn on the table in front of him. Next to the bowl was a large half eaten piece of chocolate cake. Chocolate was his favorite flavor, but he had a weak spot for all kinds of sweets.

Amable was now in his library working. He wasn't sure what it was actually was, but he knew it was important. Lately, he locked himself in his library working hidden from everyone. Something big was happening, but he had no idea what it was. Ever since Amable appeared in the public video, things grew more perilous and dangerous with every day.

"Mark, we need to talk," Annabelle said sharply as she entered the living room. She glanced at the TV and groaned. "What the hell are you watching?"

"The Eye Creatures," Mark said glancing at her. He took a sip of beer. "It is god awful."

"Then why watch it?" She gave him a weird look of disbelief.

"I don't know," He shrugged. "I guess it is so bad that I am actually interested to see how it all ends." He turned toward her. "Anyways, what did you want to talk about?"

Annabelle cleared her throat. "So how did you enjoy the basement session?" She asked with a twisted look.

"It was intense," Mark said thinking of the proud look Amable was giving him. For some reason it made him smile.

Annabelle saw a smile appear on his face. "How many people have you killed?" Annabelle asked narrowing her eyes at him. "Five? Ten? Hundred?"

"I don't know," Mark shrugged. He was confused. "Why do you care?"

"I see that my dad has taken a liking to you," She said looking at him coolly. "You may be his son." She used her fingers as quotations. "You may be his son, but that doesn't make us family."

"What has gotten into you?" He asked scooting away from her on the couch.

Annabelle gave him a bitter smile. "Ever since you came here things have gone downhill," She said sadly. "Tim is dead. Cruz and Michael are missing." She shook her head. "You have caused nothing but demise."

Mark continued to look at her surprised. "I don't understand," He was confused. "What does all that have to do with me?"

"It has everything to do with you," She suddenly shrieked. She stood up and paced around the living room. "My dad kept everything we did in the down low." She glanced at the TV and then grumbled a curse word. She turned off the movie and then continued to pace. "Yet, when you came to live here things soon changed. My dad became obsessed with you."

"Oh come one Annabelle," Mark said defending himself. He set the beer on the table and then stood up. "That just sounds crazy."

"Crazy yes, but it is the truth," Annabelle said looking at him icily. "I went out with Tim to get information about Claire. He was killed in the process. Cruz and Michael are missing trying to get Claire as well. Dad has always wanted Claire, but since we were in hiding, he never did anything about it." She took a few threatening steps toward him. "That is why it is your fault. You come here and the sky falls."

An image of Luke flashed before his eyes. He could hear him telling him about all his distrust. He had doubts about the intentions of everyone in this house. They were so nice to him, so he didn't want to believe what his brother was telling him. But now with Annabelle threatening him, it all became fully clear.

"Are you threatening me?" Mark asked looking at her harshly.

Annabelle stepped up to him, staring him down with an equal look. "You think you are so tough?" She sneered. "You are not tough. You are pitiful. Alone here." She laughed loudly trying waver him. "Your brother dead. Your mother dead. The rest of your so called family pretty much dead. You have nothing." She harshened her look. "So yes I am threatening you. You don't belong here. You aren't one of us."

Mark saw images of when his brother and he met Heather Clarke. He could remember her flirtatious smile that soon turned to fear. The smell of her apartment. The touch of her skin and everything about her. The thought of it made him chuckle.

Annabelle saw him smiling at her. "What is the matter with you?" She asked confused and disgusted.

The smile on his face faded. He growled and grabbed her by the throat. He pushed her into the wall and continuing to hold her tightly. "Listen to me and listen to me carefully," He said imitating Luke to the best of his abilities. "You think you are so smart, but you are not. You see my brother told me that I shouldn't trust you guys and he was right." He leaned his face close to hers until he was inches away. "No one threatens me. I mean no one. You think you are safe here, but you are not." He shook his head and narrowed his eyes at her with sudden hate. "I am going to kill you. Then I am going to kill everyone in this house."

Annabelle tried to break from his grasp, but he was too strong. Her shoulder was still quite sore, which didn't help at all. Her vision was beginning to blur and she was feeling a bit weak.

"I have killed before," Mark continued harshly. "I have killed many times and it doesn't phase me who I kill. But everyone in this house will die. See you around my dear." He let go of her and slapped her playfully on the cheek before shoving her to the ground.

Annabelle began to cough loudly as air-filled her lungs. Her vision blackened for a few moments as she saw him leave. "Dumb ass," She said hoarsely as she tried to regain her composure.

Amable sat in his library listening to the classical song Hallelujah Chorus by George F. Handel. It was one of his personal favorite. He found it strangely cheerful and relaxing. Every movie that used that song always seemed humorous.

He leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes. Despite the music, he was tired. Sleep deprivation wasn't the only form of his exhaustion. Everything that has happened so far, starting from Tim's death to the disappearance of Cruz and Michael has taken a major toll.

"What to do?" He thought aloud. He leaned forward and downed a shot of scotch. He placed the glass on his desk and then once again leaned back in his chair. "What to do?"

His mind drifted toward the torture session with Mark. He really enjoyed watching him slowly kill the woman. He was proud of his son. But there was something very wrong with him and he grew worse every passing day. Luke's death really took a toll on Mark and he wasn't sure how to help him. Maybe he'd ask Annabelle to talk to him. She could help cheer him up.

There was something about Annabelle that made her his favorite. He hated to play that part, but he couldn't help it. She was a born leader. Just like him. She had a pleasant and lovable personality. People could just look at her and with a smile she could light up the room. Yet, with all the cheerfulness she brought to the table, you would not want to get on her bad side. She would kill without even a second thought.

Cruz was also a natural born killer, but he didn't have the leadership role like Annabelle seemed to have. Michael was a constant tough guy and important to have around, but he as well was no leader. He was the tough security guard type. Tim, may he rest in peace, was all brains, but no courage. Charlene was the motherly figure in the family and had no fighting instinct. Ashley and Jacob, were far too young to take part in the family business.

Amable's phone suddenly beeped waking him from his thoughts. He saw that he got a video chat from an unknown person. Curious, he opened it and was surprised to find it was from Molly. He didn't know how she was able to trace his signal.

"Hello my dear Amable. It has been far too long," She said with fake enthusiasm. "I am so happy to be able to finally contact you." She wagged her finger at him playfully. "You make it quite difficult. But you know me, I like a challenge."

"It has been a while," Amable said opening his laptop. With a touch of a button, he had the video chat open on his computer. "How have you been?"

"Pretty busy these days," She said with a small shrug. "But so are you I see." She pointed to the massive TV hanging on the wall behind her. It showed the muted video of him warning the FBI that he sent a while ago. "Not very original per say."

"It does the trick," He said continuing to look at her surprised. He had his computer running a trace on her signal, but so far he got nothing. It kept tracing it to different spots around the country.

"So how's the family?" She asked pretending to care.

"Doing well," He answered waiting impatiently for her signal to be found. "How is your family doing?"

"They are doing great as well," She said with a smile. "I am happy that things have gone so well with you. I know Joe's arrest has been hard for all of us." She mocked him and was glad he didn't even take note of it.

Amable exhaled loudly annoyed. "Let's cut this crap," He said seriously. "Why are you contacting me?"

Molly wagged her finger at him again as if warning him. He was expecting her to continue her playful charade, but she just gave him a fake smile.

"Fine then," She said with a chuckle. "I know you are looking for Claire. It is no secret. I know things, just like you know things."

"Your resources never seem to amaze me," He crossed his arms over his chest.

Molly smiled at him proudly. "Anyways," She continued, "I have something thing that you want."

"What could you possibly have that I want?" He scoffed.

"I know where Claire is now," She said her smile widened. "I could give you to her."

Amable began to laugh loudly mocking her. "You are joking," He said, "I know your sense of humor."

"So you must know when I am serious," She said narrowing her eyes at him. "I am offering you information that you need and you make fun of me."

"So let's say that I take this information," He asked pretending to show interest. "What is it you ask for in return?"

"Nothing major," She said with a small shrug. "I know that you tried to kidnap one of my own." She leaned forward in her chair looking closer at the camera. "Tanya." She shook her head. "She is my family and anyone that tries to harm my family, well I take that very personal." She paused for a few moments. "I was planning to come and kill every one of you guys, but I won't." She smiled at him. "Do you want Claire's whereabouts?"

Amable made a fist underneath his desk trying to control his emotions. No one tries to play him for a fool and she was doing just that. She has resources and guns, but he has more. He has more connections. He is far more perilous than she is. If she did come here, he would kill her, before she did any damage.

"I already know where Claire is," He lied to her. "So you have nothing to offer me."

Molly gave him a twisted smile. "Sure you do Amable," She said shaking her head. "You know your problem. You are absent-minded and you are way over your head."

"Your problem is that you are overly confident," Amable said trying to ignore her. She was beginning to get under his skin.

Molly began to laugh. "You know we could do this for hours," She said playfully. "Instead, I will repeat my request. Do you want it?"

Amable couldn't believe her. She was as persistent and stubborn as he was. "You have nothing to offer me," He pointed out.

"You are an idiot," Molly taunted him. She began to grow angry. "I know where you live and I will be coming for you." She laughed loudly. "So you better be ready." With that she ended the video chat.

Amable sat there for a few moments with her last sentence ringing in his mind. It took him a few moments to realize he was balling both of his fists as tightly as he could. She always annoyed him with her cocky attitude. She thought she was smarter than everyone else and it bothered him. Without realizing, he grabbed the closest thing to him and chucked it across the room.

There was a knock on the door that brought him back to his senses. He looked and saw that he had thrown his laptop, which was now on the floor and broken. "Damn," He said approaching it. "Come in," He said as he picked it up.

Annabelle entered the room and looked at the laptop in his grasp. "What happened?" She asked looking at him curiously.

He looked at her and then at the laptop. He chuckled and shrugged his shoulders. "I have been thinking of getting an upgrade," He made a joke out of it. "Thing was slow as hell."

Joe couldn't get Ryan out of his mind as he was brought back to his cell. He missed the days when he was free and trying to avoid him. There was something about the chase that made everything worthwhile. Here, he was trapped and alone, forced to listen to Frank and his nonsense. But thanks to Ryan that would soon change.

The guards pushed him up to his cell and then removed the handcuffs that had him stuck to the chair. He stood up on shaky legs and then reached out as they removed the other handcuffs. He rubbed his sore wrists and stumbled into his cell as the guard closest to him closed the door. The guard locked the door and stepped away not wanting to look at him.

"I know that Ryan told you that he would help you with your problem," One of the guards sneered, "But come on this is prison and not a frat house."

Another guard stepped up and looked at him with hate. "One of your crazy ass followers killed my brother in a coffee shop stabbing." He said his voice dripping with venom. "You are going to rot in here with no special treatment of any sort."

Joe approached the cell door and looked at the guard with feeling. "I am sorry for your lost," He said calmly hoping that it would help. Instead the guards left him alone.

"Welcome back roomie," Frank said leaning against the cell door. "How did your visit go?"

"Just peachy," Joe said turning away from the door. He laid on the uncomfortable bed with a sigh.

"I am glad your back," Frank said making Joe groan. "I missed you. It was so lonely here." He watched Joe turn over in his bed, his back now facing him. "I didn't forget the joke you know. Do you want to hear it?"

"Not really," Joe simply said.

"So two antennas met on a roof, fell in love and got married." Frank said cheerfully. "The ceremony wasn't much, but the reception was excellent." He began to laugh loudly. "Get it? Reception? Antennas?"

Joe groaned again. "I got it," He mumbled.

"Do you want to hear another one?" Frank asked in between laughs.

"No I don't," Joe said knowing that Frank wouldn't stop. He was too stupid. He covered his ears with his pillow as Frank told another horrible joke.

William laid in the bed unable to sleep. His mind was racing a mile a minute. He just couldn't relax. So far Cruz gave him no important information whatsoever. All he gave him was gibberish. Ryan said to have patience, but how much longer could he take it. He stayed here in the room with an annoying Cruz, while Ryan was at home far away from it.

He turned over and yawned loudly. It was nearly three in the morning. Cruz chuckled and shook his head. "A stiff drink might help you," He said with a laugh.

William groaned and covered his head with the pillow trying to block out Cruz, but all that did was make him talk louder. "Will you just shut up," He spat at him.

"A spoonful of sugar makes the medicine go down," Cruz sang Marry Poppins. "Makes the medicine go down."

William sat up with a curse and looked at Cruz. "Ryan left the bat behind," He said tiredly, "Do you want me to use it?"

Cruz eyed the bloody bat on the floor beside the bed. "You wouldn't," He said with a nervous chuckle. "Ryan wouldn't be happy about it."

"He wouldn't be happy at all," William said thinking about the conversation they would have about it.

Ryan would tell him off for not being able to control himself. He would tell him that now with the death of Cruz, finding Tanya would be that much harder. Then they would have to find a way to hide the body or make it look like he got into a fight. Trying to get their innocence would be hard.

"But it would make me feel better," William said with an evil smile.

Cruz spat blood and saliva on the floor. He gave him a cold look. "I know you aren't that stupid," He said watching him grab the bat with a sore groan.

"You may have knowledge of my daughter," William said gripping the bat tightly. "But you are not too bright."

"I do know a lot about your daughter," Cruz said licking his cut up lips. He winked at him playfully.

William groaned and stood up. He pointed the bat at one of his broken knees and then tapped it repeatedly. "How does that feel? Hmm?" He asked with a smile while Cruz cried in pain.

When the pain faded away, Cruz looked at William and began to laugh. "I am used to this kind of torture," He said with a painful smile. "I had some crazy nights with your daughter." He licked his lips again. "She knew how to take it." He began to laugh.

"Shut up," William said pointing the bat at him.

"I used to pound that piece of meat," He said loudly. "I loved that puta and she loved my verga."

"I am warning you," He said raising his voice.

Cruz enjoyed seeing him go crazy. "She used to moan my name all night long," He said even louder. "Oh Cruz. Cruz." He made fake orgasm noises.

William closed his eyes and tried to block him out. He stepped away from the bed and paced the room telling himself repeatedly that he could control himself. If he relaxed and ignored him, then everything would be okay. Ryan would be here in a few hours and with the both of them at it again, they'd get something out of Cruz.

William took a deep breath and exhaled slowly trying to relax. He was beyond tired and was on even more edge than usual. He turned back to Cruz and pointed the bat at him playfully. "Ryan isn't the only one good at baseball," He said walking up to him.

Cruz could see that despite William's bravery, he was in a lot of pain from when he shot him. It gave him strength. He smiled at him. "As mentioned before," Cruz said. "You wouldn't even dare."

"Try me," William said dangerously.

"You kill me," Cruz continued, "Then you will get arrested." He eyed him up and down, "And you seem to have such pretty lips there son." He chuckled. "You will be a major fan with the inmates."

"You need some serious help," William said tossing the bat on the floor beside the bed.

"Yes you do," Cruz said nodding his head. "And I think I will finally give you the information that you so desperately want."

"Say what?" He looked at him confused. It had to be a trick.

"Yes," Cruz said with a smile. "You see I plan on giving you information slowly and you will take me to where she is." He looked at him seriously now. "I need to see her."

"You have got to be kidding me," He looked at him dumbfounded.

"I am always serious," Cruz slyly said. "I need to go see my precious little Tanya, because she is the mother of our child."

"What?" William glared at him knowing that he was lying.

"Before I defected, your daughter and I had some major screw sessions when you were at work," Cruz said licking his lips. He winked at him. "I used to sneak in sometimes while you were there even and just go crazy on her. She couldn't get enough of this sausage fiesta." He eyed his crotch and winked at him.

"Shut up," William said his vision beginning to blur. He started to see red.

"Our favorite place was in the den where you used to watch the Knicks get their ass kicked," He laughed loudly.

"I said shut up," He said raising his voice. He eyed the bat on the floor.

"In fact," Cruz continued, "She was thinking of moving in with me."

"Shut up," William shouted grabbing the bat.

William saw red all over. He gripped the bat tightly and swung at Cruz with all his might. He heard a crack and felt shooting pain through his midsection. It caused him to drop the bat and he doubled over clutching his stomach. He felt blood drip down to his waist from the freshly opened wounds.

The pain took a few moments to subside and when it did, he stood up on shaky legs. He looked at Cruz who was on the floor still attached to the chair. He called out to him, but got no reply. There was a major cut on his head, blood splattered on the floor, and a bit of it on the wall.

He set him in the siting position and then called out to him again. There was no reply. Cruz's head was limp. William felt for a pulse, but couldn't feel anything. He was dead. The blow to the head killed him.

"Oh crap," William said as he stumbled away from him. "No." He eyed him with horror knowing how bad the situation suddenly grew.

Hope you guys enjoyed another segment of this crazy story. More to come soon!

shaw18