DURING CHAPTER 6

THE INTRIGUING EXPLANATION OF HOW KATE GOT TO A PHONE AND ESCAPED THE EVIL CLUTCHES OF ETHAN WRIGHT

Kate dragged the boy around to the other side of a fallen tree trunk and dropped. They were about half way up the hill now, and still no one had come out. She took a swift preoccupied glance at the boy. Her mind was working on overdrive, trying to think of some genius move that would get her out of this and back into the real world. She had to let Gibbs know she was alive, even if not for very long. Hell, she had to let someone know she was alive. The hope that over the next rise in the hill there would be a normal person's house with a normal person's telephone was practically non- existent now, and she was ready to resign herself to the fact that she was in this alone. Well, almost alone. She may as well be alone for all the good her company did her. She shot a resentful glance at the guy again, and softened slightly. The poor kid. What the hell had happened to him? He didn't ask to get mixed up in this. But jeez, neither did she! She didn't know if she did the guy any good at all taking him with her, but right now, she really didn't care. He was slowing her down.

"Listen, buster," She whispered viscously, and he jerked his head around sluggishly. "Why the hell should I be risking my arse to help you?" he pushed something towards her, and she took it, ignoring the blood and the dirt. "A phone? You have a phone and you didn't tell me!" She whispered, jerking the cover open. She was halfway through punching in the number when she realised she wasn't calling Gibbs. Suddenly shouting started in the warehouse and She heard the sound of a car revving. Well, time was up. She had to get moving now or…

"DiNozzo"

…"Tony?" She said, her voice lowered instinctively. There was no way they could hear her down there, not with the noise they were making, but she couldn't bring herself to talk above a whisper. The boy jerked up to look for the noise, and she placed a restraining hand on his arm.

"Kate! Are… what… are you ok?"

'No I damn well am not!' She wanted to scream. This was not her fault! But it wasn't Tony's either. "Yeah, I'm fine. Look…" She stopped short. The she heard movement that sounded awfully close. No one could have gotten up the hill that fast! She looked around and saw the boy standing. She dragged him down with a half gasp. "Come to…" She looked down and saw a sign displaying 'Welcome to Farrell Heights.'

'Welcome indeed.' She thought. But at least she had a location. "…Farrell Heights really soon."

"Farrell Heights. Is that where you are?"

'Oh, no Tony! It's just a nice place for a picnic!' She thought in an angry panic. People were coming out of the warehouse now, and the kid was straining against Kate's arm.

"Yeah. Some back street, there's a row of old warehouses. And come soon! If Ethan finds out I called you…"

"Ethan?"

"Ethan Wright. You know?" The boy suddenly swung around to stare her in the face. He had a look of panic on his face, and Kate tensed as she saw men striding purposefully up the hill.

"Ethan Wright? Kate, how'd you get a phone?"

"I'll tell you after. Oh, shit." Not only were the men approaching fast, Ethan had appeared with Dave at his side, both holding rifles.

"Kate?" He sounded worried, but she had no time to explain. She had to move now!

"I gotta go Tony. But… come fast." She shut the phone, not hearing Tony's reply.