Thank you for your reviews and support. I am glad you are enjoying the alternating povs along with me.

So you feel something bad is going to happen, trhodes9? Why would you think that? I'm not evil. Wellll…. Not super evil? He he he… ;)

Chapter 15

The anxiety, at least within me, is building. And I guess we are both looking for ways to distract ourselves from all the waiting and tension. Our conversation is jumping around between names, families, and crime statistics. Earlier when we were talking about contacts in Trenton, I had forgotten about Uncle Joe, but now I realise he would be another great contact for Carlos. The Chief of Police is an important person to know in Carlos' field. Dad had actually wanted Joe to be my godfather, but he was still in the Army at the time, and my mom had insisted on using two of her friends as my godparents. Ironically, Uncle Joe had been a constant, if distant, part of my life since I was three, whereas I couldn't even remember the names of the couple mom had used.

I almost jump when Officer Rodriguez calls out to us again but manage to restrain myself. He introduces the elevator repairman, who tells us to call him Ryan. I hope Ryan can get us out of here. I am really enjoying talking to Carlos, but I would really rather do that over a coffee and a donut in a comfortable seat, rather than sipping water on this elevator floor.

I cannot help worrying as Ryan tells us that the car should not have fallen two stories. I can see the tension around Carlos' eyes as well, and I know he is also worrying. And then Officer Rodriguez tells us to lie down "if anything happens". An involuntary shiver runs through me at that advice, and I welcome Carlos' arm around me as we sit once again. I'm not sure if it is the warmth of him, or the reassurance of his strength; it's probably both though.

As Ryan steps onto the roof of the elevator car, we are both listening intently. There is nothing to hear beyond his shuffling footsteps though, as he moves around minimally. He says something to the fire officer that I don't catch, but Rodriguez looks through a tool bag beside him, and holds up a flashlight. Ryan must have nodded or something, as he hands it over and the quiet movements above us continue for a few more minutes. He must be looking at the emergency brake, I think. Well duh Stephanie! Follows quickly after that thought. What else would he be doing? I almost roll my eyes at my own thoughts. I need something else to distract me again, but I cannot think of any conversation to start right now, and Carlos seems to be as focused on what is happening above us as I am.

Another couple of minutes go by, feeling like an eternity, and then Ryan's leg appears over the hydraulic wedge and Rodriguez reaches out to steady him as he moves back onto the floor above us.

"Okay, folks," Ryan announces, "here's the situation. The good news is that I can't see anything obviously wrong here, there's no broken cables or anything. Which would seem to indicate the problem is likely electrical in nature. It's possible there's a fault in the engine or a loose wire or connection that caused the initial problem. That may also account for the delay in engaging the brake, although it doesn't really follow." He seems to be almost musing to himself. He pulls his attention back to us, "Either way, there's nothing to indicate any issue with the manual release to lower the car. But the less good news is that no obvious problem means there's nothing I can fix easily to ensure the car will work properly either."

"The upshot of this is we are going to have to take a chance here. We need to get you two out of there, and we can't do it where the car is positioned right now. Our best bet is for me to release the emergency brake, which will allow me to lower the car to the floor below you. To do that, I'll need to be in a position where I can see what's happening as I work. That means we'll be using both hydraulic wedges to open the outer doors on this floor and the ground floor below. Also, that we'll be removing that temporary wedge you've got, since the risk is too great that it will be jarred loose when the car starts moving. I will be wearing a harness and I'll rig up some lighting to help me, but you're going to be inside the car, and you won't be able to see or hear very well."

"Like Officer Rodriguez told you, the best place for you both to be during this manoeuvre is lying flat on the floor. I realise this might all sound scary, but I need you to understand that the elevator is designed in exactly this way for me to operate in this situation. There is a chance that things can go wrong, but it's a slim chance. Most likely scenario is I slowly lower the elevator to the ground floor; we help you open the inner doors; and you step out to freedom." Ryan paused to let everything he told us sink in for a minute.

My head is spinning. Honestly, everything he told us is terrifying and another shiver runs through me. I know Carlos will feel it, he still has his arm around my shoulders. But I glance up at him and he nods reassuringly at me. I take a deep breath and try to calm my racing pulse.

Apparently, Ryan is watching us and sees we have absorbed his report. He continues, "Any questions or problems?"

I can't think of anything. Carlos looks thoughtful for a minute, but eventually shakes his head. "No, I think we've got that," he acknowledges.

"Okay then. We can leave the inner doors as they are while I get everything rigged up. It'll probably take me about twenty minutes. Then, I'll get you to pull the doors apart just far enough to release the brace and grab it. Meanwhile, maybe the officer can get you a couple of things to make yourselves a bit more comfortable? A blanket or something to sit on. Do you need some water?"

"I've got a bottle of water in my bag," I answered, "so we've been ok for that. But a blanket or pillow or something to sit on would be great." Officer Rodriguez nodded, although he looked a little taken aback at being delegated butler duties by Ryan. His expression is a little amusing.

"Alright," Ryan finished, "just one more wait while we get everything set up here and below us. Then we'll get you out of there."

We wait in anxious silence for about five minutes. Well, I suppose I wait in anxious silence. Carlos probably just waited in silence. He seems to have a Zen calm that is both reassuring and frustrating, because there's no way I can find it. I wonder if his military training taught him this endless, calm patience, or if it was just part of his personality?

After five minutes or so, Officer Rodriguez returned. Carlos stood, and the officer handed him through what looked like a reflective survival blanket, probably from supplies in the fire truck. He then handed through what looked like two seat cushions taken from an inexpensive sofa. They are thin and do not look particularly comfy, but I guess anything is going to be an improvement on sitting on this floor. Carlos thanked the officer and pulled me to my feet. He then sat the cushions beside the wall, and covered them with the blanket, folded once. We resume sitting, and it is a little better.

I nudge Carlos beside me and smile, "not exactly living in luxury, but better than the floor."

He nods, with his tipped-lip smile. "I'm thankful for the cushions," he agrees. I am a little puzzled at this. He doesn't seem like the kind of man who would look for comfort in a situation like this. I can only imagine the discomforts he endured in his Army days. Surely, he would have spent way longer sitting on rocks and stuff?

I decide to ask, "Why?" He looks at me with that raised eyebrow. "I mean, you didn't seem really uncomfortable before. I just wondered why you appreciate the cushions so much?"

He looks at me for a moment before replying carefully, "It'll give us something to put our heads on when we're lying on the floor," is all he says. I am still puzzled, this doesn't sound like a very convincing reason, but it seems to be all he is going to say. So, I let it drop, and we wait in silence again.

We begin to see activity as Ryan returns a few minutes later, carrying equipment. He waves at us absently and steps back onto the elevator car, presumably to set up his equipment. He makes a few trips on and off the roof, carrying electrical equipment and safety harness equipment. He spends about ten minutes on top of the roof, and I can see the reflection of lights as he rigs them up above us. Finally, he steps off, and then reaches over to place his tool bag onto the roof.

When he seems satisfied, he bends down to look in at us. He smiles kindly, "I see you've got something to sit on," he says. "Good. I'm almost set here. I'm just going down to the next floor. Officer Rodriguez is there with his crew setting up the other hydraulic wedge in the outer doors and a couple of lights. I'll just check he is set, and then I'll come back up to get started. Rodriguez is coming back up with me, and he and his crew will be monitoring from both floors. We'll get that pipe out of that door and give you a couple minutes to get settled on the floor, then we'll be ready to rock-and-roll." We nod in acknowledgement.

He rises and disappears to the stairs. I can faintly hear some noise below us now, and voices in the distance. Suddenly, we see a sliver of light at the bottom of the partly open inner doors and hear grunts as the doors are forced apart. We can see a section of the activity from our position, but mostly we can hear now with the outer doors open below us. They force the doors apart a couple of feet, before they position the hydraulic wedge, and we hear the grinding whine as it operates to force the outer doors open. It's only another five minutes or so when Ryan reappears above us with Rodriguez and another officer.

"Ok," Ryan clapped his hands. "We're nearly ready. I'm going to rig up in my harness and then get myself ready to go on the roof. It'll only take me a minute. Meanwhile, the officers here are going to help you with that pipe. When the doors shut, I want you to be ready to lie down on the floor, against the side wall is good. I'll bang on the roof to indicate I am about to start. In theory, the ride shouldn't be too rough, but there could be a couple of jolts or bumps. But they shouldn't be a problem with you on the floor."

Ryan gives us one last reassuring grin and starts to strap on his harness. Officer Rodriguez steps forward, as Carlos stands and pulls me to my feet. Carlos reaches down to pick up the blanket, rearrange the cushions against the back wall at the side, and spread the blanket out along the side wall, ready for us to lie down. Finished, he looks up at Rodriguez, and I follow his gaze to see Ryan's leg disappearing onto the roof. I catch a flash of the reflective safety harness around his legs. Rodriguez and the other officer kneel in front of the doors, and I realise they are going to help Carlos keep the doors open to get the pipe out. Knowing my part, I hurry forward and stand to the side, while reaching out to grasp the pipe. Carlos nods at the officers and they all brace to pull at the doors. If I wasn't so focussed on my own task, I might have grinned at their simultaneous grunts of effort. The pipe is released quickly, and I step back to watch all three men let go of the doors as they slammed shut.

Carlos immediately turns and grabs my hand. He moves us over to the side and we lie down on the blanket. He takes the pipe and puts it under the blanket against the wall, before he positions me against the wall, and lies beside me, with both our heads resting on the cushions.

I realise I am scared. Really scared.

"Will… will you hold me? Please?" I stammer quietly. Carlos immediately turns and places his arm across my body and pulls himself close beside me, sandwiching me between the wall and his warm, comforting, strong body. I feel marginally better.

"We'll be fine Babe," he murmurs, "this is just a sensible precaution."

We hear three loud bangs on the roof, and I wait breathlessly as we then hear some mechanical noises.

The elevator car gives a series of shudders.

Then a jolt.

Then it starts to move.

Then it starts to drop. Quickly.

It's a sickeningly familiar feeling.