Jill Danko stood at the park down the street from her house trying to look like a woman on a casual walk. The truth was that she was terrified. She knew that she was completely surrounded; that Terry, Chris and Eddie were watching and listening. She was confident that they would do everything in their power to protect her, but the very thought of Lee Borden filled her with absolute terror.
She was also exhausted. She had spent hours arguing first with Terry and Chris when she suggested the entire plan and then with Eddie Ryker, and Lt. Andrew Wellman. She had argued and argued for hours, and then, when they'd finally reluctantly agreed, she'd spent the rest of the day being trained over and over what to do and say. They wired her, and Terry had contacted his buddies at SWAT and had managed to convince them to loan her a high tech tracking device that was still a prototype. They had put it inside her locket - as long as she was wearing the necklace, they would be able to find her.
They'd spent hours coaching her - trying to teach her how to defend herself. Mike had taught her long ago, how to throw a punch and break a hold - a lesson that had quickly dissolved into kissing. The whole time the officers had been teaching her she kept remembering Mike, with his arms around her trying to keep her focused on the move he was trying to teach her, but she kept laughing.
"No, come on, Baby. This is important." He had told her wrapping his arms around her from behind. "Now, say someone comes up from behind you. All you gotta do is . . ."
But she had laughed and laughed. "That tickles!"
"Jill, come on! I'm trying to . . ."
"Oh, I know what you are trying to do, Danko." She said laughing.
"Mrs. Danko? Mrs Danko?" The officer brought her sharply back to reality. "You want to try that one more time?"
"Yes." She said quietly. "Let's try it again." She took a deep breath and tried to stay focused on what they were trying to teach her, but all the while she was remembering the sound of Mike's deep, rumbly voice, and the way his arms felt wrapped tightly around her.
And now, she stood alone at the park, trying to be ready for whatever came her way. She knew she wasn't truly alone, but all of the undercover police officers, and listening devices, wouldn't change the fact that she was probably about to be face to face with Lee Borden, again.
The nightmares had lasted for months after the whole ordeal. She would wake up shaking and crying, and it would take an hour for her to get calmed down enough to sleep. And when she was finally calm, Mike would lie awake enraged. They had managed to lay it all to rest, after the trial. It was only years later when someone gave Kate a stuffed lamb that played the same nursery rhyme that she'd even thought of it. Fortunately, it had been sent in the mail and was not a baby shower gift that she would have had to smile about and thank someone. She was home alone when she'd opened it. It was just days before Kate's birth and she was already feeling low; tired, fat, awkward. Mike had come home to find her on the back patio, in tears, taking a hammer to the poor, helpless stuffed lamb. The music was still playing, but the sound was as warped as the mind of the man who'd tormented her with it.
She had reached the far edge of the park, and wondered how much longer she'd have to walk before something would happen - or maybe nothing would. Maybe Lee's cellmate had been told to throw them off track, and this was just a useless exercise. Maybe they never meant to come after her. Maybe Mike was already dead. She chewed at the corner of her lower lip, burdened down with more stress than she'd thought possible. She tasted blood and realized that she had bit her lip.
It was then, at the far edge of the park, near the row of oak trees that a man jumped out of a car startling her. He held a gun in his hand.
"Get in." His voice was tight and controlled. He glanced around nervously, but the park had been cleared.
"No." She said anxiously. They had told her not to comply too quickly. It would look suspicious if she just went willing with him.
"Look lady, I don't wanna have to shoot you, but I will. Now get your ass in the damn car."
She moved to the passenger door that he held open for her, and climbed in. He reached into his back pocket and pulled out a pair of handcuffs, and quickly cuffed her hands. Her heart was racing, and she had no trouble convincing him that she was terrified and helpless because that was just how she felt. She fought down tears as he climbed in beside her, and hit the gas hard, tearing away from the park. She knew they were listening; knew that they could follow her and find her. She had expected to be taken. She had expected cruelty and possibly violence, but imagining it, and actually being in the middle of it were two horrifically different things.
"I changed my mind! This is a terrible idea. Save me! Help!" Her inner voice screamed. Instead she said the words that they had taught her to, to let them know that so far she was alright, "Who are you? Why are you taking me? I'm nobody important!"
"Shut up!" He said angrily. "You just shut your damn mouth. It ain't far, and then you'll understand!"
The houses and trees whizzed past her window, making her dizzy. She tried to slow her breathing and calm herself but it was nearly impossible. Her fear was overpowering. She thought of all the times that Mike had been in life and death situations. He always managed to not only overcome his fear, but to work and solve problems. She had no idea just how difficult that must be, and she felt a regret for the times she'd been unsympathetic or even sharp with him because he was late for dinner, or too tired to join in family activities. She prayed that when they got to their destination, Mike would be there, alive and whole. She prayed that she would have the opportunity to put her newfound understanding to use for years and years to come.
***R***
Listening to Jill be taken was more excruciating that Terry Webster could possibly have imagined. They watched and heard it all unfold, and adrenaline flooded his system. He gripped the sides of the headphones he wore so tightly that his knuckles turned white. He wanted to rip them off his head and throw them. He wanted to climb out of the van they were in, and run on foot after them; after her. He choked down his rage and somehow managed to listen and wait. He turned to look at Eddie Ryker just in time to see his former commander, rip his own headphones off, flinging them to the ground. He then let loose a torrent of curse words, his dark eyes huge with rage. He saw Terry watching him and turned his anger on him, full force.
"Webster, if she so much as suffers a goddam hangnail, I will rip that head off your shoulders. Why the hell couldn't you talk her out of this? I will hold you responsible if anything happens to her! I will hunt you to the end of days, and . . ."
"If they do hurt her," He interrupted, his voice just as angry - just as intense. "You can do whatever you want. It won't matter, I'll wish I was dead anyway."
Ryker froze then, blinking at him. Terry was shocked as tears pooled in the Deputy Chief's eyes. "I'm sorry, Webster." He said softly. "I . . . I . . .I didn't think it'd be this hard to . . . it isn't your fault. We all agreed to . . ."
"They're stopping." The radio crackled. "1061 Orchard Place. There's an empty storefront about four blocks away on Carrington. We can set up a base there." The van pulled away and headed to what would hopefully prove to be the Danko's rescue.
***R***
He dragged her out of the car near a back alley, and led her up the steps of a run down row house. It was such an ordinary neighborhood and not twenty minutes from their own house. She couldn't believe it! He pushed her inside and she found herself blinking in a dark kitchen. All the blinds and windows were closed and the sudden plunging into darkness after the bright light of day, left her half-blind. So it was his voice she heard first, as her vision slowly adjusted.
"Mrs. Danko!" He said laughing. "Long time no see, babydoll!" He stepped closer and she could see his face. His hair was cut short and he was older, but his eyes were the same; dark, menacing, evil. "Looks to me like you seen better days, though." He turned to the man beside her. "She had this river of dark hair! Oh! I tell you! She's still got those damn long, long, legs. Didn't I tell you?"
"She could be a looker I guess. It's hard to look past the hair."
"It's growing back though, ain't it, sweetness? Ah, Officer Danko must be so relieved, yeah?" He laughed.
"Sergeant." She said through gritted teeth.
What's that?" Lee Borden asked leaning close to her.
"Sergeant Danko." She corrected him.
"Oh, he's a big deal now, is he? Have you talked to him recently." He leaned against the filthy kitchen counter, his arms crossed casually across his chest.
"You took him!" She said angrily. "Where is he?"
"Dead, baby!" Lee Borden laughed. "I killed him days ago. Now, it's your turn!" He grinned at her, and then said, "Look at your face! Look at her face Dave!" He laughed.
"She looks pretty upset, Lee." Dave agreed with a wicked grin.
"Now, don't be upset. Could be I'm lying to you just 'cause it is so much fun to mess with ya. We had good times before, remember?"
"I remember that you went to jail. I remember that my husband made sure you got arrested." Her voice was sharp and angry.
"Oh! See! Didn't I tell you we'd have fun?" Lee told his brother. "Hell, I don't mind so much she's nearly bald. God! A spitfire! Well, come on. Let's take her downstairs and see if we can't have ourselves a time." Lee turned and put a hand on her arm. Jill immediately flinched.
"Alright, baby doll, suit yourself. But the stairs to the basement are pretty steep, and your hands are cuffed. If you fall you just might break your neck." He went ahead of her down the stairs with David close behind.
***R***
Lt. Wellman leaned over the table, studying the blueprints in front of him. Around the table were six men, including Chris and Terry.
"Ah, damn it!" Chris said. "No windows, no outside door! Of course! There's only one way in!" He threw his hands in the air in disgust.
Lt. Wellman glanced up at him calmly, "Officer Owens, are you through with your little temper tantrum? We've got some serious planning to do, and I need everyone sharp. You promised me that you could stay on task."
"Yes, sir." Chris said.
"Alright." Wellman nodded. "These are the most current blueprints? Have any modifications been made to the house?"
"No sir - at least none that required permits." Officer Ellison said.
"Well then," Lt. Wellman, rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "We better figure a way in that room, and fast."
***R***
Mike Danko could really only see out of one eye now. His other eye was puffy and nearly swollen shut. Jill's gonna be mad as hell when I show up . . . He thought, and then realized that she probably wasn't going to ever see him again. He was startled by the sound of feet coming down the stairs. He could hear Lee Borden speaking.
". . . everyone together. It will be a beautiful moment - makes me wish I had a camera. Come on now, just around this corner."
Even with his dim field of vision, he could see her. Even if he'd been blind, he'd have known she was there. Everything changed whenever she stepped into any room - it was as if his body had some kind of strange radar set just for her. As though his very molecules rearranged themselves whenever she was near. His heart sank at the sight of her cuffed and trembling, again in the grasp of Lee Borden.
"Oh, Jilly." He said.
"So sweet!" Borden said with a laugh. "Look, Dave, the big, mean police officer who destroyed your life has got tears in his eyes!"
"He's crying?" David Borden asked. He stepped closer to Mike. "I'll be damned! Look at that."
"You alright?" She asked ignoring them both.
"I've had worse days. " He said. "He hurt you?"
"No." She bit her lip, again tasting blood.
"Everythings gonna be okay, Baby. Don't you worry. It's gonna be just fine." He said to her.
"Ain't this the sweetest?" David asked his older brother.
Lee Borden stood beside Jill and draped his arm over his shoulder. She shuddered at his touch, but he held tightly to her arm, keeping her beside him. "She sure held up over time, Danko. Well, the hairs a bit of a disappointment." His hand dangled over her chest. Jill's jaw was locked so tight that her whole face ached from the effort. Her eyes flicked up at Lee Borden's face, and the shine of tears filled her dark eyes. His fingers brushed over her breasts. "Bit of false advertising going on here, huh?" He asked meet Mike Danko's steely gaze. "It ain't nice to trick folks." He said looking down at Jill. He reached into her shirt and pulled out the breast insert that she'd just started wearing last week. He tossed it onto the floor with a laugh, and he and is brother dissolved into laughter as Jill hung her head in shame.
Her humiliation was like a knife in Mike's chest, and he said tearfully, "Hey, sweetheart. Look at me Baby. Don't waste any time looking at him. Look at me. Everything is gonna be alright, Baby." She met his eyes and he was stunned as he watched her squash down her tears. He could see the physical transformation come over her, as she lifted her face to his, straightened her shoulders, and she gave him the briefest of smiles. This was not the same girl Lee Borden had terrorized a decade ago. She was strong as steele and bolstered by his encouragement she turned to Lee Borden, looking him square in the eye.
"You aren't man enough to understand what makes a woman beautiful." She said to him. "You will always be a little boy watching from the outside."
He spun around and faced her then, his hand on her chin, holding her face close to his. "Listen you little, whore, don't you dare talk to me like that! I'm a man, baby doll! And you're gonna find that out pretty quick, and this little boy you call your boyfriend over here, is gonna get to watch!"
She could hear Mike struggling and heard the torrent of cursing that poured out of him. But she remained calm and still looking him straight in the eye said, "You can do whatever you want. I'm handcuffed and you've got that knife, but it won't change anything between Mike and me. And later, after you are dead, we will never think of you at all; not once."
His eyes grew wide and he swung back striking her hard across the face. She braced herself against the blow, expecting it, but being handcuffed it was hard for her to keep her balance and she fell back, landing on her side. Lee Borden stood over her glaring, but she merely met his gaze, her eyes showing not fear, but fury.
Lee stepped back and gave a chuckle. He glanced at his brother, "She grew up. She was just a frightened little girl last time. I like her even more now!" He said and turned toward Mike. "I can see why the breast and the hair don't make a difference. She's fiery which is so hot!"
"You want to hurt her, you aren't hitting the right spot." Dave Borden told his brother from where he leaned against the wall.
"Yeah?" Lee asked.
"Watch her." He rose slowly and walked to where Mike was still tied to the chair. He slowly drew back his fist and crashed it into Mike's already bruised face. As Jill's eyes grew wide with fear and anger, Lee Borden laughed and laughed, as his brother drew back his fist to hit Mike Danko again.
"See, big brother! This is how you break her!" He paused long enough to smile at his brother, who looked up from where he watched as Jill Danko sat sobbing.