Chapter Six

Jaime stared at the now-silent receiver in horror and disbelief. She had to find her husband, and desperately needed to let Oscar what had happened. Where can I find a safe phone? she wondered, quickly becoming panicky. Ok, gotta slow down, gotta think. She stopped and took several deep, steadying breaths, then headed out in the direction of Steve's cottage.

The screen door hung loosely from one hinge and the inner door was open. There was no blood, no sign of a struggle. Hopeful, Jaime picked up the phone, then slammed it down again; another tap. She silently cursed the luck she had, in being at a resort that didn't believe in providing payphones.

She decided to take the long way around the island, ending up behind the villa, next to the wall that, on its other side, was Alex's office. She couldn't hear any voices, at first. Then, so suddenly that it made her jump, Jaime heard the office door slam shut. Seconds later, Alex was on the phone. Jaime couldn't hear the voice on the other end through the thick outer wall, but she definitely heard Alex, who was making no attempt to speak softly.

"Change of plans," he said abruptly. "I need you to call the pilots back and have 'em all fueled and ready to go by first thing tomorrow morning. I'll call then with the details."

"Yeah, I know I just told you to send 'em out. Now I'm telling you to get them back. Tonight. I don't care where they went; get them back!"

He slammed the receiver down and then must've picked it back up again to make another call, because once again Jaime could hear him growing angrier by the second.

"Thought I should warn you," Alex was saying, "I'm not sure we can be ready in time. You might want to arrange some back-ups." Jaime could actually hear him pacing heavily across the office as he spoke. "I realize that, but I'm also trying to make sure nothing goes wrong, and this could be a problem. I can fly one out myself, if a pilot is delayed, but if more than one doesn't make it...Fine. I know that. Rawson said they may try to get to me, to stop us, but I've got more guards than grains of sand on the damned beach. I'll call you in the morning." Alex then apparently left the office, because Jaime heard the door close - a little more softly this time - and then there was silence.

So much for my last hope that he was innocent, she thought. She couldn't believe he'd almost had her fooled. Dammit, Alex...WHY?

Jaime tried to picture every room in the villa, from when Alex had shown her around the previous day. She was certain all of the guest rooms had phones, but which ones were occupied? Very quietly, she pried open the window located at the back of the large dining area and slipped silently into the back hallway. She chose a bedroom at random and got very lucky; it was empty. She found the telephone and dialed Oscar's red line as fast as her trembling fingers could move.

"Put the phone down, Susanna," a voice commanded, just as Oscar - or someone, she didn't get to hear who - picked up on the other end. Two men stood in the doorway, guns trained toward Jaime's head as they moved in to grab her. For a very brief moment, she considered fighting them, but multiple sets of footsteps coming toward them told her that might not be such a good idea. One man grabbed each of her arms tightly, hurting the left one with a grip like a vice. They forced her down the hall and into the kitchen. A third man opened another door and roughly shoved Jaime inside. Her foot hit open air and as she began to tumble down the flight of stairs, one of them chuckled at her.

"I'm sure Alex will be seeing you shortly," was the last thing she heard before hitting her head on the base of the stairs and blacking out.

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"So, who are you, really?" Alex's gentle voice asked, as soon as Jaime opened her eyes. Jaime merely glared at him, not exactly in a talkative mood. "You know, this is just sad. I trusted you. Hell, I think I was actually falling in love with you. Why, Susanna?" His eyes looked genuinely bereft. "I think I've at least got the right to know your real name. Who are you?"

"Who are you?" Jaime shot back at him.

"Everything I've told you is the truth. You can't say the same, though, and that means we've got a problem." He looked straight into her eyes. "Last chance to level with me. No? Suit yourself." Alex removed a syringe from his pocket, pulled Jaime's left arm forward and plunged the needle into her flesh.

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