Chapter Nine

After calling out a quick goodbye to Evangeline, John and Natalie rushed from the house and sped back toward the police station. Not caring where they parked, they both jumped from the car and frantically ran through the station toward Bo's office. Seeing that he was just crossing the room Natalie breathlessly called out to him, "Uncle Bo!"

Hearing his niece's excited voice and taking in her disheveled appearance, Bo quickly crossed the room to join them. "What is it? Did you find something?" Bo asked turning his attention to John.

Also trying to catch his breath, John nodded and pulled the piece of paper from his pocket. "We have to get a team to this address…"

Looking it over, Bo glanced up at them confused. "Wait a minute. What is this? Where did you get it?"

"It's a cabin Cristian bought and put in the name of Jamie Vega," John explained, hoping that Bo didn't push them on where they had got the information.

"Uncle Bo he has to be there – it's the only place he could go that no one knows about. We have to get up there quick."

"All day we have had the faces of Cris and the girls on TV, if Cris realizes we are onto him he's going to move, we need to get there now." John supplied.

Bo nodded. "Okay. Give me 5 minutes to get a team together. John you're with us." Bo tuned toward Natalie his face serious. "I would prefer you stay here and wait for us."

"No way," Natalie said as she shook her head. "I am going with you."

Having expected this reaction, Bo sighed. "Fine, but you're staying back with me. I don't want you anywhere near that cabin."

Though she wasn't happy with the arrangement, Natalie gave in knowing it was the best offer she'd get. "Fine, let's go."

The ride up to Llantano Mountain only took a half hour, but to Natalie it felt like days. Not having anything else to go on and not enough time to devise a tactical plan, Bo had ordered two vans of officers up to the cabin. Luckily for them, it was in the middle of nowhere surrounded heavily by trees. If Cristian had been planning this when he bought the cabin, he had obviously thought the location would work to his advantage.

The Llanview Police Department was about to prove otherwise.

After parking the vans far enough away that they couldn't be spotted from the cabin, Bo ordered the men to fan out and surround the cabin. Darkness was just starting to fall, and the officers were told to use that to their advantage. Remembering how well trained John was for these situations, Bo decided he would be the one who lead the rest of the team once they were close.

After going over the plan one final time, Bo wished them good luck and sent them off as he monitored them through comms with Natalie.

As John crept toward the cabin, the first thing he noticed was not only were all the lights off, but there was no car anywhere in sight. Slightly alarmed, he pushed his fears away and continued up the pathway. Circling the cottage, John looked in all the windows and saw nothing but darkness.

Waving the other officers forward, John stood back and waited as they busted through the doors. Waiting to hear any sounds, John motioned for a few of the officers to follow him as he made his way into the house. Gesturing them in opposite directions, John hesitated in the doorway until he heard them yell clear.

Figuring the lower level was safe enough, John slowly made his way inside and began going through the rooms that the officers had just assessed as clear. As he entered into a small den off the kitchen, John's breath caught in his throat as he immediately spotted the two little girls huddled in the corner.

They were sitting in the shadows, so it was understandable that the other officers hadn't spotted them.

Taking a deep breath he moved toward them but stopped suddenly when he recognized the look of terror that came into their eyes. "You must be Sydney and Eve," John said remaining where he was standing.

The room was quiet for a few seconds until a small voice spoke up. "Who are you?" The question came from the brown haired child in the front. She was sitting on the floor, holding her sister protectively and stared up at him with bright blue eyes.

For the first time John actually saw what everyone else already knew, Eve was the spitting image of him.

Bringing himself down to a crouching position in front of them, John looked her in the eye. "My name is John McBain; I am a friend of your Mom's."

At the mention of his name, the red haired child sat up and pulled away from her sister. "McBain like uncle Mikey?" Sydney asked, tears streaming down her cheeks.

John nodded. "I'm his brother. Grandma Eve is my mom."

Eve stared at him for a few minutes as if trying to decide whether or not to trust him. Finally she looked at her sister. "It's okay Syd, I saw his picture at Grandma's."

Though happy that he had gained their trust, it killed him knowing his daughters had no idea who he was. He forced a smile. "You're Mommy is waiting outside, if you come with me I will take you to her." John said extending his hand to them.

The look of fear washed over both their faces. "We can't leave… the bad man will be mad… he said he would hurt Mommy…" Sydney said hysterically, before breaking into a fresh round of sobs.

"I won't let that happen, I promise you," John said, still holding out his hand. Finally, Eve grabbed it with her right hand and stood up. After letting go of his hand she reached down and helped her sister to her feet. "It's okay Syd, don't cry."

Continuing to hold her sisters hand tightly, Eve then offered her other hand to John. She looked up at him for a second before turning her attention back to her sister. "We're safe now."