Chapter Eleven

Robby is starting on his second slice of pizza; Bobby has only taken a few bites from his first. He lifts the now cold pizza to his lips. "If I start calling people and it's nothing? Maybe her sister," he picks up his cell phone as he stands. He paces around the room as he pushes in the code for Alex's sisters phone number. Why he didn't notice it before, he wonders, "Her bag," he disconnects the phone. "She, they did come home." He picks up the bag, her keys are not inside, "It still doesn't mean that anything is wrong, or does it?"

He stands motionless in the middle of the room; his mind has drawn a blank. "Daddy," he feels a tug on his pant leg, "Daddy." He looks down and immediately lifts his son into his arms. "You got more pizza on your face than in your mouth." He takes Robby upstairs, cleaning his face and the rest of his body. He puts pajamas on his son and then with Robby in his arms returns downstairs. He calls her cell once again, and as before, it goes to voice mail. His fingers push the buttons to another number, "Hello."

"Captain, its Goren, sorry for the lateness of the hour and the fact that it's Sunday but…." He runs his fingers through his hair, "Earlier this evening I received a call from the Garden Grove police department. A Sergeant Young called to inform me that Charles Spangler had escaped from the facility and….Alex and Rachel, well it's probably nothing but I haven't been able to get in touch with Alex since I got home, her cell keeps going to voice mail and…."

"First thing, sit tight and I'll put the word out. I'll be there as soon as I can."

"Yes, I will." He disconnects the phone staring at it momentarily, "In-laws," he hits the code for her parents. He exhales as the phone rings, "Hello."

"John, its Bobby. I, ah….have you? You haven't heard from Alex this afternoon have you?"

"No, why, what's wrong?"

"Probably nothing, but," he swallows hard. "You, you remember that Spangler fellow that we have had some trouble with, well he's escaped from the re-hab center. Like I said it's probably nothing but I've called the Captain and….I don't know what to do. What am I gonna do?"

"You hold on, I'll….we'll be there as soon as we can. Stay home, do you understand?"

"Yes," he rubs his eyes as he disconnects the phone.

Within a half-hour the Goren house is full of police officers and members of the Eames family. Ross, John Eames and Bobby make their way through the crowd into the kitchen. "If he has taken them, where and why," Ross says as he pulls out a chair.

"I think if we figure out the why, the where will fall into place." Bobby says and they agree.

"Tell us about him." Ross says.

"He's dangerous and at times delusional; he had it in his mind that we, Alex and I were responsible for taking his family away from him."

"Maybe he wants to take something away from you," Ross says.

Bobby nods his head in agreement, "It could be that he wants to ruin my family like he believes I have done to his."

John sits across from his son-in-law fingers intertwined. "You say he's dangerous."

Bobby nods, "Yes, he has beaten Jackie on numerous occasions."

"Ok," John slaps the table with his hand. "He's not a seasoned criminal; I doubt this was methodically planned out, where?"

"If he believes that what he is doing is the right thing, he would probably take them somewhere where he feels safe." Bobby stands, "His mother has money and I'm supposing maybe a house somewhere outside of the city."

Half an Hour Later

"Six houses, the woman owns six houses," Bobby says sounding exasperated. "One in Manhattan, two in Jersey, one in the Hamptons, one in Connecticut and one in a little town in upstate New York," he lifts the paper to read the name, "Corinth."

"Where in the hell is that?"

"Saratoga County," Bobby tosses the paper and it flitters across the table, landing upside down.

"I'll call the Connecticut P.D. and…."

"Wait," Bobby holds up his hand, "I think we should get in touch with his mother."

"Why, she'll only hamper the investigation."

Bobby shakes his head, "No I don't think so. She's already put in a petition for gaining custody of Rachel. If she believes that her son has finally gone over the edge, she'll hand him over to us."

"How can you be sure?"

"He's been an embarrassment to her for the past few months and this….well she'll cut her ties with him just to save face."

Bobby picks up the phone to make the call, Ross reaches for it, "Let me." Bobby grudgingly agrees.

"This is Hannah Spangler."

"Mrs. Spangler, my name is Captain Daniel Ross of the NYPD. We have been informed that your son Charles has escaped from the re-hab center where he has been sentenced to reside."

"Well he certainly isn't here."

"I realize that Ma'am but we believe that he may have taken refuge in one of your other homes."

"Oh that boy, he has been nothing but….what do you need from me?"

"We need your permission, to search your homes."

"Of course," she states willingly.

"Thank you Ma'am, would you be willing to give us the keys to the residences?"

"Yes, yes of course."

"Thank you Ma'am, we'll be arriving at your home as soon as possible."

Without saying goodbye she hangs up the phone. "You," Ross shakes his head, "You were right." Ross stuffs his hands in his pockets, "Mr. Eames, would you like to join us?"

John takes a step forward, "Yes….no, may be I'd better stay here." Ross nods as he walks past the older gentlemen.

Bobby touches his arm, "You sure?"

He nods, "Yes, you go I'll stay here, besides I'm afraid that if I go and I see that sick son of a bitch, I might rip his heart out of his chest and shove it down his throat." He pulls Bobby closer to him, whispering, "You call me as soon as you find them, no matter what." He points his finger in his son-in-laws face, "You got me."

Bobby nods his head, "Yes Sir I understand."

"Where are they going John?" Sara asks of her husband.

"They are going to find out where that Spangler fellow is, remember I told you that he had escaped. We have a suspicion that he may be involved in Alex and Rachel's disappearance."

"I'm scared John."

"I know Sara. So am I but we're still not sure if she is even in danger, it's just a hunch and we….they have to run it out."

"It's the not knowing that's hard," Sara Eames says slightly sobbing.

John expels a long breath, "I know," he wraps his arms around his wife. "I know."

Ross, Bobby and two uniformed officers arrive at the Manhattan home of Hannah Spangler. A small, brown-skinned woman answers the door.

Ross does the introductions, "Yes, yes she is waiting." They follow the Latin immigrant through the foyer and into a living room that you could land a plane in.

"When you see my son," she hands Ross the keys to five of her homes, all tagged with the addresses. "Tell him that I have washed my hands of him, never do I want to see that boy again."

"Yes Ma'am," was all that Ross could think of to say. "Thank you, Ma'am."

"Marie will show you out. I have many more important things to do. I'm leaving for Martinique tomorrow." She turns abruptly and leaves the room.

"Damn it's cold in here," Bobby says as he follows Ross out of the room.

They return to the sidewalk and Ross begins to hand out the keys to the five teams he has assigned, Bobby abruptly grabs the one for the house in Corinth. "You and me, Sir," he states firmly.

With Officer Tom Granger driving, Ross and Bobby start on their journey up state.

Corinth, New York

Alex opens her eyes to darkness; the pain in her head has subsided. Momentarily she forgets her surroundings, she calls out, "Bobby where are you?"

"Bobby?" She hears a male voice repeat the name. "You lied to me," the sound of the voice gets closer, "How could you Jackie, how could you lie to me?"

Oh God its Charlie, "Charlie is that you?"

"Yes it is," he sits down beside her. "You asked me to believe you, that he meant nothing to you."

"He doesn't," he sits on top of her. "Charlie, it's just that….." The slap across her face causes her head to turn swiftly to the right. Suddenly she feels his hand around her neck, "Charlie," she coughs, "Please stop." She screams as loud as she can, suddenly a light goes on, Charlie lets go, "Go ahead," another male voice says, she hears footsteps on the stairs coming nearer. "Make a move so I can blow your fuckin' head off." The familiarity of the voice causes her to smile. Charlie stands and makes a sudden move towards Rachel, the flash and sound of the gun being fired causes both she and Rachel to scream.

Charlie falls to the floor, holding his stomach, moaning.

As she tries to sit up she feels his hand on her back, her head is upon his lap seconds later, she reaches up to touch his cheek, "How did you get in without making any noise?"

"His mother," Bobby gestures with his head, "She gave us the keys, right before she told us that she was on her way to Martinique."

"Ouch," Alex says as she tries once again to sit up, "Stay still till the paramedics get here." His hold on her is firm but gentle; she lies back into his arms. That feels nice, she thinks. Bobby calls to Rachel, "Hey kiddo," she looks to him as he holds out his hand, "Come here." She rushes over to him grabbing him around the waist. He kisses the top of her head.

He flips open his cell phone, "Who are you calling?" Alex asks.

"You'll see," a moment later, "Its Bobby."

"You found them? Are they alright?"

"Here, you can ask her yourself." He positions the phone to her ear, "It's your Dad."

"Hi Dad."

"Oh it is so good to hear your voice. Are you alright honey?"

"A little sore and I have a slight headache but I'm alright."

TBC