Thanks as always for the reviews. Sandy isn't dead wahoo!
After wandering around for an hour or so Sandy returned to the hotel room. He was surprised that Kirsten hadn't tried to call him but he was shocked to discover that Kirsten wasn't in the hotel room. After calling her cell several times and pacing up and down the room he could no longer contain himself. He left the room not knowing where he was going to go but knowing he couldn't just sit in the room and wait.
By the time he got to the elevator he had convinced himself that his wife had been taken by Gary or worse she was already dead. He always had been dramatic.When the doors opened and Kirsten stepped out in front of him he just couldn't control himself, the relief he felt at seeing her just came out. He flung his arms around her and kissed her passionately. Kirsten would have felt more embarrassed by his actions but they were the only people around.
"Sandy?" She had been surprised to see him but his reaction to her was even more surprising. "Are you alright? What's going on?"
"Are you okay?" He was looking her up and down.
"Sandy I'm fine. Will you please tell me what's going on? Is it Seth?"
"I was just a bit worried that you weren't in the room when I got back." I bit was an understatement and they both knew it. By this time they were back in their room and it was obvious from the bag in her hand that she must have been to the hotel shop. "I haven't got him I'm sorry. I gave him the money but it wasn't enough."
"How much more does he want? Whatever he wants we'll get it, Sandy. Money isn't an issue."
"I know but its not money. I think we should go to the police."
"Well what is that he wants? Do you think Seth will be in more danger if we went to police? I mean before you seemed to think it would be best if we sorted this for ourselves."
"That was before. I just think now it would be best to tell the police. They have experience with this type of situation. Seth will be okay." Kirsten didn't like what she saw or heard. Her husband wasn't usually like this. A few hours earlier his words had sounded like what he truly believed, he looked worried but positive. Now it didn't sound like he believed what he was saying and he looked awful.
"Sandy what happened this afternoon? What's going on? Tell me honey, please." He was going to have to tell her, he knew it. It was eating away at him and he was never good at hiding things from her.
"Gary said if I wanted my son back I would have to give him my wife in exchange. Kirsten gasped, Sandy couldn't look at her. He didn't want her to see the tears and fear in his eyes. "When you weren't in here before I panicked thought he had already got to you." She rushed over to him and hugged him. She could see how upset he was.
"What should we do?"
"Go to the police. It's the only option we have now. I've been thinking you should go home. I know you don't want to but it really will be safer there I think. We'll buy two plane tickets that way I can basically walk you onto the plane myself and Ryan can pick you straight up at the other end." Before he could say another word Kirsten interrupted him.
"Sandy when are you going to get it? I'm not going home unless you and Seth are. That's it. We'll go to the police together maybe we could set it up so Gary thinks he getting me but we get Seth off him and then the police arrest him. Whatever happens I'm going to be safer wherever you are."
"You're so stubborn." He took her hands in his. "I think we should let the police come up with the plans though. Nothing that involves putting you or Seth in danger." He kissed her forehead and she leant into him. He inhaled her smell and thanked God, like he did every day, that this woman was his wife. "I love you, honey." He whispered it but she heard it, more importantly she felt it. They both needed love right now because fear was starting to overtake them.
The police were not impressed that they had only just come to them but they were hopeful that with the new leads on Ben's death they could get Seth out of harms way and do it without using Kirsten as bait.
Seth hadn't seen anything since the airport where he had been knocked out. When he woke up he was blind folded and really regretted going to the toilet in the airport. He wished he'd just gone straight back or better yet just stayed with Ryan and his cousins. His arms were tied together so he couldn't remove the blind fold and although he could move his legs any sort of movement was painful. He guessed that maybe he'd broken some ribs or something but he wasn't sure. He wasn't sure about anything. He hoped that his parents were looking for him and that the police were hot on his trail. He wondered if Ryan had gone back to Newport or not. Did Summer know he was missing? He wasn't sure if they would have told her yet, they wouldn't want to worry her. He could hear voices, fear swept over him. He hoped his family came through for him. Hope. Hope was the one thing Seth could hold on to.
The police told Sandy and Kirsten to go back to their hotel. There was nothing else they could do but wait for the police to get in touch. They got back to the hotel without saying a word to each other. They didn't know what to say.
"We should give Ryan a ring I told him we'd tell him any news. I won't tell him about him wanting you in exchange. No point in worrying him further." Kirsten nodded her head. Sandy wasn't sure if that she had registered what he had said she had been in her own world since they had left the station.
"Hey Ryan, it's me. How's Newport?"
"Hey. It's the same. What's the news on Seth? Is he with you?"
"No he's not but we've spoken to the police and they seem hopeful that with the information we've given them Seth should be back annoying us in no time." Sandy was trying to sound upbeat and positive but Ryan could tell how worried he was.
"How's Kirsten taking everything?"
"Oh you know Kirsten she's strong. She wants to take Gary on herself." He was trying to block out the sound of his wife crying in the bathroom. Ryan didn't need to know that she was a wreck, that they were both wrecks. "She wanted to talk to you herself but I got bored of waiting for her to come out of the shower. So how is my mom and everyone?" He wanted to try and steer the conversation away from what was happening in New York.
"Everyone is fine just worried about Seth." At least Ryan was the same, just saying enough. If it was Ryan that was missing Sandy wouldn't have been able to get a word in with Seth.
"Well I'll let you know the second we have more news." Ryan appreciated the fact that Sandy had rang him and was sure that he really would call him if there was anymore news. "So we'll call you tomorrow. We're going to try and get an early night it's been a long day. Ryan I want you to know I really appreciate you going home. I know it must have been hard for you. I love you kid. We all do."
Ryan was touched, really touched by what Sandy said. Very quietly he said
"I love you guys too." There was silence between them for a few seconds before Ryan cleared his throat. "Tell Kirsten I said hi. I'll talk to you soon."
"Will do. Tell my mom I'll call her tomorrow. Night son." It was odd, Ryan didn't think he had ever felt more like Sandy's son yet they were miles away from each other.
Sandy felt better for having spoken to Ryan but the sound of the sobs coming from the bathroom pulled him to the door.
"Kirsten, honey, can I come in?" She didn't answer and he tried the door. It wasn't locked. She was sitting on the floor leaning against the bath. When she saw Sandy her sobs became louder.
"Aww honey its going to be okay. He's going to be okay. I swear to you I won't let anything happen to him or you. They would have to kill me first." He sat down on the floor next to her and pulled her over to him so shewasbasically sitting on his lap. He held onto her tightly and she clung to him. It was all they could do besides hope.