I got away from Gallagher sooner than I expected. No one stopped me. Maybe it was a sign of good luck…or maybe it was the Fates telling me to turn around. Either way I kept going.
Soon enough I was in Roseville.
The town was quiet and peaceful but I had one last stop to make before I could go anywhere.
Abram and Son's Pharmacy was still open. The lights shone brightly and the heat was still on. I stepped into the building and smiled slightly to myself.
Mr. Abrams walked out of the back, mumbling to himself.
When he saw me he almost dropped the boxes of Advil he had holding in his arms.
"Oh gosh Cammie. I didn't see you there!" "Sorry Mr. Abrams," I bent down and helped him pick them up, "I didn't mean to scare you." "I've been jumpy lately. It's not you."
He stopped and then stared at me precariously.
"Why are you here so late Cam?"
"I…I had to say goodbye to Josh. I was hoping you could pass on the message for me."
A sad, heartbroken look replaced the curious one.
"I'm…I'm afraid I can't do that."
"Oh…is something wrong?"
Mr. Abrams glanced nervously at the window.
"Josh has…been kidnapped. He was taken two days ago."
I froze.
My mind went into a state of panic.
"By…whom Mr. Abrams?"
"By this lady," he showed me a picture of a lady with emerald eyes, red hair, and pale skin.
"I'll start at the beginning."
Oh no.
[{Line Break}]
I made my way to the airport in less than two hours.
I prayed Catherine hadn't left Kentucky yet.
"Name?"
"Abby McHenry, I called for the private jet about thirty minutes ago," I told the lady at the airport desk. "Oh yes, it is waiting for you outside." I smiled and said "Thank you" in a way that would make Madame Dabney proud.
I walked around the desk and out through the back door.
Outside was Macey's family jet.
I smiled at the pilot as he waited at the bottom of the steps.
"Hello Miss McHenry."
"Hello."
I made my way up the stairs quickly.
I had to get the Louisville as quickly as I could.
"How long until we get there?"
"About five hours."
"Wonderful."
[{Twenty Minutes Later}]
I sat on the plush velvet seat in the living area of the jet.
My head was spinning and my heart was pounding.
"I'll start at the beginning."
She took Josh.
Of course she would, that's when my crazy hectic life started, with my first boyfriend. I didn't have feelings for Josh anymore, but he was still a friend…and a civilian.
I needed back-up.
I needed Bex using combative, Macey getting males to do whatever, and Liz to fix the technological problems.
Most of all, I need Zach.
Before sophomore year, he wasn't a thought. Now he was always on my mind. He always seemed to calm me down: he was my rock.
"I'm so sorry Zach," I whispered, knowing he couldn't hear me.
He might never again.
[{Line Break}]
I arrived in Kentucky in no time at all.
Again I didn't know if that was good or not.
I left the airport and stood just outside waiting.
She would come, I knew she would.
A long black limousine pulled up and the back window rolled down.
"Hello Cameron."
The red-haired, green-eyed she-devil herself was smiling wickedly at me.
"Hello Catherine," I swallowed the bile rising in my throat. "Please, come in and sit." I opened the door and slid in across from her.
Next to her was Josh.
His lip was split and swollen, his eye was bruised, and he looked scared.
Yet he still sat next to her, across from me.
I almost screamed.
"Please, let him go," I choked out.
"Oh," Catherine stroked Josh's cheek gingerly, "I don't believe I am going to do that."
"Please, he's just a civilian."
"Cameron, you know that has no affect on me. I used to be a civilian too, until big guys and dark suit came to my house." Josh pulled away and she reached to slap him when I yelled "No!" and launched myself in-between them.
A sharp, searing pain came across my face but I had felt worse.
My arms wrapped around Josh, blocking him from something…anything.
"Cammie," he whispered.
I shook my head.
"Cammie dear," Catherine pushed me back roughly, "I don't think my son would like that very much." "I don't think Zach would enjoy you threatening my friend," I snapped.
"Touché," she gave Josh a thoughtful glance.
"I wonder what I should do with him."
"Don't touch him!"
Being in the enclosed area with her was making me extremely nauseous.
"Let him go and take me."
"Cammie no!"
Catherine slapped him; too fast for me to block her this time. He fell silent.
He wasn't used to playing heroics, he was used to being the pharmacist's son who went to the same school with the same people and would always have a house with green lawns and a family. He wasn't used to everything being perfect.
I wasn't.
He wanted to be the hero in the movie but his eyes betrayed him. He wanted out and he was going to get out.
"Let him go and you can take me," I said slowly, "and I'll do whatever you want."
Josh closed his eyes and he breathed heavily. I finally noticed him holding his ribcage. I winced. She had hurt him worse than I thought. "Please," I had finally resolved to begging, "let him go."
She smiled but it looked more like a grimace.
"Okay then; you have two minutes."
She exited the vehicle.
As soon as the door closed I threw myself at him and hugged him hard.
"I am so sorry." He patted my back awkwardly and winced with pain.
"Is this what you deal with everyday?" I nodded.
"I'm sorry Josh," I mumbled.
"You didn't do anything. I just have to do background checks on my past, present, and future girlfriends."
I smiled against his shoulder. "Yeah you should."
He hugged me tightly. "Make it back."
"Make sure Zach doesn't come after me. Tell my mom three steps behind...she'll understand."
"Okay," he sounded uncertain.
I pulled back and placed a light kiss on his cheek.
"Bye Josh."
"Bye Cammie," he whispered.
Catherine threw open the door and yanked Josh out. Josh landed on the sidewalk with a loud thud.
"Be lucky she likes you," Catherine sneered, and with that she closed the door and we pulled away.