HEY :)
I GOT THIS CHAPTER UP A DAY EARLIER BECAUSE I DIDN'T GO AWAY IN THE END.
I ENDED UP AT HOME WITH TWO CRACKED RIBS INSTEAD.
ME AND MY 13 YR OLD SON WERE MUCKING AROUND IN THE LOUNGE AND HE SLAMMED INTO ME BY ACCIDENT. HE FELT SO BAD BLESS HIM. I NEVER CRACKED A RIB BEFORE. IT HURTS LIKE HELL.
THANKYOU FOR ALL YOUR KIND REVIEWS. HUGS TO YOU. . . AND HERE'S AN INTENSE CHAPTER FOR YOU ALL. :)
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What happened at the end of the previous chapter.
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"Don where is he?" Jo interrupted frantically.
He sighed inwardly and sat down on the edge of her bed. "He's . . . been taken by Cole's gang."
She froze for a long time, just staring across at him, the shock bolting through her.
Finally she managed to find her voice. "How long has he. . . been missing?"
Don leaned forward and dragged a hand through his hair.
"Don. Please . . ." A stray tear escaped her eye lid. " . . . Tell me."
He swallowed hard and met her tearful gaze. "Nearly two weeks."
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CHAPTER 16.
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Jo gasped. "Two weeks?"
"11 days. . . It's only 11 days. Mac will be fine. We'll find him Jo." Don assured her.
Her eyes flashed back at his. "Has . . . Alex contacted you?"
Don sighed inwardly. "No."
Jo's mind raced. She swallowed hard and took a deep breath. "Okay. There's this vase and Alex has been searching for it and . . ."
"We know about the vase Jo." Don interrupted. "We have it. It's being kept locked up at the station."
Her eyes widened. "You've got the vase?"
"Yea."
"Where did you find it?"
Don pushed out a breath and rubbed at his forehead. "Colin Smith found the vase at the Paul Kasmin Gallery along 10th Avenue. He brought it to Mac at the CSI Department the day before we found you."
Jo frowned. "How did he know about . . .?
Oh my God. Her breathing quickened and fear rose in her chest. "Where's Colin?"
"Jo." Don moved towards her and gently gripped her shoulders.
She jerked slightly, but he was relieved when she didn't pull away. "Colin's fine. He's in a safe house in West Orange."
She released a long breath. "That's . . . good."
Don paused for a couple of seconds before he asked the next question. "Do you have any idea where Alex could have taken Mac?"
Jo gazed back at Don and her heart suddenly began to pound wildly in her chest as the memories flashed through her mind. She swallowed back the fear and tried to think.
Suddenly Don saw the panic flicker in her eyes and guilt clawed through his heart. "Jo!" He turned her to face him. "It's okay. . . we're not gonna talk about this now. You need to rest."
She stared incredulously back at him. "No! We need to find Mac."
"We're doing everything we can to find Mac, but you need to concentrate on getting better."
Doctor Wakeman hurried into the room and shot Don an apologetic look. "I'm so sorry. We had an emergency. . ." She stopped mid-sentence when she saw Jo staring back at her.
Her eyes brightened. "You're awake."
She hurried around the side of the bed and started to check her temperature. "How are you feeling?"
Jo gazed defiantly at Don. "I'm feeling much better. Actually I'm feeling totally back to normal so if you can bring me the forms, I'd like to sign myself out of here."
Don muttered a curse and rose off her bed. "You've been suffering with a severe infection for the last 10 days. You are not back to normal."
"Detective Flack is right." Dr Wakeman checked the machine. "Your temperature is still a little high and so is your blood pressure. You're also very weak from the infection. You need to stay here for at least a couple more days to build yourself up or the infection could return."
Damn it! She could deny it all she wanted, but deep down she knew Don and the Doctor were right. The stars danced in front of her eyes and the light headed feeling that suddenly assaulted her was confirmation enough. She wouldn't even make it out of the room before collapsing in a heap on the floor.
"Okay fine." She sunk back on the pillows and blinked several times trying to clear her vision.
Don turned back and raised his eyebrows at her. It wasn't like Jo to give in so easily.
Suddenly he saw her go as white as the sheets on her bed.
Crap! He checked her forehead and glanced anxiously up at the Doctor who was now quickly hooking an IV Bag to the stand. "What's wrong?"
"She's fine. Like I said, She's very weak." Dr Wakeman started the drip and gazed back at Don. "This is glucose. It will help increase her energy levels, but right now she needs to rest."
Jo turned and met Don's anxious gaze. "I . . . think I . . .remember. . ."
He leaned toward her. "What do you remember?"
"I was . . . In the room . . ." Tears rolled down her cheeks and she shut her eyes tight as the horrific memory assaulted her mind.
Doctor Wakeman moved quickly around the bed toward Don. "Detective Flack. I'm going to have to ask you to leave."
Don gripped her hand firmly in his. "Jo? . . ."
"Lucas told me, I would . . . never see Mac again. . . Then he said . . . he said . . . 'Don't worry. . . you'll like it at Hillview Reservoir. . .'"
My God. That's South East Yonkers. Don had grown up there and knew that area like the back of his hand.
Fear strained her features and a sob escaped her. "I need to come with you . . . I need to find him."
His eyes flashed back at hers. "No. I'm not letting you anywhere near Lucas Rohr . . . or Alex Cole. You're staying here where you'll be safe and you'll get better. It's gonna be okay. Me and the team will find him." He assured her.
"Don I am better . . . Please . . . let me come."
Suddenly two male nurses rushed into Jo's room and started to drag Don away.
"No!" Jo tried to get out of the bed, but a couple of seconds later, Dr Wakeman was gently pushing her back onto the mattress. "Jo, everything's gonna be fine. You need to calm down. . ."
Jo ignored the Doctor and tried to push her away, but she was suddenly so tired, her whole body felt like a lead weight and she could hardly move. "Don. . ." A fresh tear rolled down her cheek as her voice faded and her eyes slowly drifted shut.
Don tore his eyes from hers and forced back the tangled emotions.
He yanked free of one of the male nurses who was still holding onto him and shot him a hard glare. Then he grabbed his phone from his pocket and quickly strode out of the room to call Danny.
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Mac had lost count of how long he'd been in his prison, but he was relieved when they'd eventually untied him from the metal post and started throwing him a sandwich and some bottled water every day. They'd also laid off with the hard punches. He knew it was their intention to keep him alive, but as the days wore on he felt himself getting weaker, and he was so damn hungry now he could eat a horse.
He'd spent many hours trying to find a means of escape, but it was impossible. He couldn't dig his way out of this hell hole. He was being held deep underground and the walls were rock hard.
To make matters worse Cole would come in every day and worry Mac sick about news of Jo's condition.
Cole had a spy working on the inside. Whoever it was, this person was in that damn hospital feeding information back to him and for day's Cole had taunted Mac, telling him Jo was very sick, struggling to fight off a severe infection.
Mac had pleaded with Cole to leave Jo out of this, that he would go and get the vase instead, but Alex just laughed in his face and said, 'I've spent many years trying to get this vase back. I can wait a little longer, especially when It means I can have Jo back too.'
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Mac had spent today, scouring the room for anything he could use to get the hell out of here, but all he'd discovered were a few small stones on the floor. He muttered a curse and struggled to his feet. Now all I need is a damn sling shot. . . How the hell is that gonna get me passed 30 thugs holding AK 37's.
His mood worsened when he heard footsteps outside. He swore again, turned and shot Alex his usual hateful glare as he entered the room.
"Hey Mac. I have some good news."
Alex was now grinning like a Cheshire cat and unease began to crawl up Mac's spine, but he stayed very still and continued to glare at Alex as he strode towards him.
"Jo's recovering from the infection."
Mac turned away from Cole and closed his eyes momentarily as the relief swept through him.
"I think I'll get things under way now. I've waited long enough." Alex growled.
Mac's eyes flashed back at his. "How the hell do you intend to do that?! There's a large team of Police Protection Officers surrounding that hospital!"
He chuckled menacingly. "This is true Mac, but I found out who's leading this team." Alex leaned toward him. "Detective Gary Winters."
Mac swallowed into a dry throat and tried to remain calm. "Gary Winters would never help a pathetic loser like you."
Alex grabbed the front of Mac's Jacket and slammed him back against the wall. "Detective Gary Winters has no choice but to help me!" He shouted furiously.
Fear and rage soared through Mac. "You sonofabitch." He drew back his fist and went to slam it into Alex's face.
Alex didn't feel the thin metal blade slip out of his pocket as he ducked back and blocked Mac's fist. Didn't hear it fall to the ground and clatter across the room as he surged forward and punched Mac hard in the stomach.
Mac collapsed to the ground, the excruciating pain tearing through his body, as Alex's boot slammed into him over and over.
Finally Alex stopped the torture and stepped back. He glared murderously down at him. "Take a look at yourself Mac!" He screamed. "I'm not the Pathetic, worthless, loser here! You are!" He laughed bitterly, then turned around and stalked out of the room, locking the door behind him.
Ignoring the pain, Mac forced himself to stay conscious and crawled across the damp floor stopping several seconds to catch his breath.
C'mon Several more feet! You're almost there!
He groaned inwardly, the sharp, clawing pain shooting through his chest once again, as he reached out and gripped the blade in his hand.
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Jo drifted in and out of a fitful sleep, but the sound of the door opening made her jerk awake and she blinked, trying to distinguish the shadow in the doorway.
Had Lucas Rohr come here to hurt her again?
Fear clogged her throat and she threw the covers off her, ready to run.
"It's okay Jo. It's me, Detective Winters."
She exhaled shakily and reached for the covers feeling naked and exposed. And more vulnerable then she had in her entire life. "What are you doing here?"
He moved across her room and shifted his eyes toward the window. "I've just been on the phone to Don. He told me you're in danger. I'm to escort you out of here and get you to a safe location."
Slowly, she sat up in bed and frowned across at him.
Even in the most stressful situations, he'd always remained so calm and focused. Right now he was acting totally out of character.
She reached across to the bedside table. "I'm . . . going to call Don."
Gary whirled around and swore under his breath when he saw her rummaging in her bag for her phone. "No!" He tore towards her, grabbed the bag from her and threw it to the floor. Then he pressed his hand over her mouth, muffling her cries and pushed her against the mattress to keep her in place.
He quickly stared back out the glass door into the quiet corridor. There was no sign of the hospital staff. They were still doing hand over at the front desk. He'd also managed to persuade Officers Noel Hardy and Layton Tolbert to go and take a half hour coffee break at the hospital canteen. All he needed to do now, was get her to the fire exit without anyone seeing them.
He turned back to her and drew out his weapon. "If you make a sound I'll have to shoot you. . . For God sake, don't make me do that Jo." he said shakily.
She swallowed back the fear and tried to calm down as he slowly brought his hand away from her mouth. "What's . . . going on?"
Ignoring her, he pressed the gun to her chest and wrenched open the door to her bedside table. Then he pulled out a grey bag and dropped it in front of her. "You've got clothes in there right?"
"Gary. Just tell me . . ."
"Answer the damn question." He interrupted frantically.
"Yes. . . . They're spare clothes."
"Okay. Good."
He'd turned back and was checking the corridor once again. She took a deep, unsteady breath and tried to reach for the call alarm, but almost immediately he felt her move beneath him.
He dived for the alarm so fast, snatched it up and threw it out of her reach, before she'd even had a chance of getting hold of it.
"This isn't a game Jo!" He shouted angrily.
Instantly the dizziness assaulted her vision as he pulled her off the bed, but somehow she managed to stay on her feet.
"You have 2 minutes to get dressed so hurry up!" He shouted.
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Aran unlocked the door and walked into the dark room with Mac's sandwich and bottled water in his hand. He frowned and looked around. "Where the hell are you, you little . . ." Suddenly his feet were knocked out from under him, and he slammed to the ground.
For a split second, Mac was paralysed with another bout of agonising pain. It gave Aran enough time to get to his feet and he whirled around and glared down at him.
Mac waited as Aran started to charge towards him, and just as he went to dive on top of him, Mac drew out the knife and sank it into Aran's chest.
Aran screamed out in agony and collapsed on top of Mac.
Mac muttered a curse and pushed him away, and Aran fell to the ground as the blood oozed from his body. his eyes turning buggy as he slowly faded into unconsciousness.
Fear for Jo rattled Mac into action. He grabbed Aran's phone and gun from his jacket, staggered to his feet and stumbled to the door. He peaked out and saw no one. The place was silent.
He checked Aran's weapon. There were only 4 bullets left in the cartridge. Dammit! He sighed inwardly and clutched the gun in both hands as he moved off down the dimly lit corridor.
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Gary dragged Jo down the back stairwell and through the door onto the deserted car park.
Panic slammed through her as he pulled her toward the squad car.
He wrenched open the car door. "You're not well enough to drive. Get across to the passenger seat now."
He started to push her into the car. She jerked away and bit back a scream as the pain tore through her ribs. "No! I told you I'm not going with you!"
Gary grabbed her arm tightly and pressed his gun to her chest once again. "Get in the damn car Jo."
Immediately she stopped fighting and he shoved her across to the passenger seat, jumped in beside her and handcuffed both of her wrists.
Fear rolled through her in waves and the world spun as he started the engine and floored it out of the car park.
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Mac staggered toward the tree line and cursed inwardly as he glanced back. He'd guessed right. The sonofabitch had kept him in an old underground bunker.
It felt so good to be out on the surface at last and he savoured the moment by breathing in the fresh air and listening to the birds overhead. It was getting dark now. It must have been around 19:00hrs. He forced himself to focus and grabbed Aran's phone.
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Don stared across at the reservoir and released a long, weary breath. He brought the radio towards him. "Sam. Have you found anything?"
Sam slowed to a stop and looked around. "Don. They can't have brought Mac here. All we can see are a whole load of trees and this damn reservoir."
Don sighed heavily. "Okay you're right. He's got to be holding him in a building. Make your way back to base and we'll check further South . . ."
Suddenly Don's phone started ringing. He pulled it out of his pocket and frowned down at the display. Unidentified caller? He brought it to his ear. "This is detective Don Flack?"
"Don . . .It's me. . ."
His eyes widened. "Mac?!"
"Yea." Mac squeezed his eyes shut and forced himself to remain silent as the sharp pain continued to claw through him. "You need to . . . try and find . . . Gary Winters. I can't get hold of him. . . Are you with Jo?"
Don started sprinting to his car, signalling for his team to follow. "No I'm at Hillview Reservoir searching for you. . ."
"Forget about me! You need to. . . get back to . . . the hospital and . . . find Jo. She's in danger!" Mac shouted frantically.
"Okay calm down. Danny's going to call the hospital and check up on Jo now. Then he's going to locate Gary Winters."
Danny skidded to a stop, his eyes flashing across at Don, as he quickly pulled out his phone and punched in the number.
Don wrenched open his car door and jumped in. "You're in a lot of pain. You're not okay are you?" he asked anxiously.
"Don't worry . . .I'll live." Mac stammered.
"Do you have any idea where you are?"
Mac scanned the area and sighed inwardly. "It's too dark. All I can see . . . are trees." Suddenly he heard a car engine in the distance and he ducked behind one of the trees as it drew closer.
Anxiously, Don got back out of his vehicle and glanced around. "Are you anywhere near a reservoir? . . . Mac?"
Danny hurried to Don, the intense fear flickering in his eyes. "Jo's disappeared from the hospital."
Don stared back at Danny in shock. "What?"
The car stopped about fifteen metres from Mac's position and Immediately his heart wrenched in his chest. "Oh God. No." He whispered shakily.
Don tore his eyes from Danny and stared back down at his phone. "Mac! What's going on?"
"I . . . have a . . . visual on Gary and Jo." Fear gripped Mac's heart as he watched Gary race around to the passenger side and violently yank Jo out of the car.
"Mac. Don't hang up. We can track the call. . ." Don was suddenly cut off by the sound of a gun shot and terror slammed his heart. "MAC!"
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I'M NOT SURE WHEN I'LL GET ANOTHER CHAPTER IN. HOPEFULLY ONE MORE BEFORE CHRISTMAS AND STILL MORE ACTION TO COME.
I AM GOING TO HAVE CHRISTINE BACK IN THE STORY SOON, BUT NOT QUITE YET. LET'S DEAL WITH ONE PROBLEM AT A TIME. LOL!