Ch 32

Mark caught up to Stacy stopping her from going any further into the woods by picking her up.

"What are you doing? Let me go," she struggled against him.

"Stacy, I'll take you where Adam is. He may be trying to lure you out by any means necessary to talk to you," Mark rapidly spoke.

"I didn't think about that," she stopped squirming as he put her down gently.

"I'm hoping it is your Dad but you never know with Adam," Mark held her hand as they made their way to the water's edge where Adam was running along staring into the water.

"Adam, where is my Dad?" Stacy called to him as they neared.

"He was just here. I heard him calling for help in the water," Adam ran into the water looking around in the darkness.

"Why are you playing games with me? You can't screw with me like this," Stacy started to cry at how cruel he was being getting her hopes up.

"I'm not Stacy, he was here I swear," Adam called to her. "Damn it believe me, I'll find him for you."

"Yeah right, come on darling," Mark wrapped her tightly in his arm leading her back to the house.

"Stacy, stop!" Adam screamed after her as he waded through the water. "Call 911!"

"The cops are already coming to haul you away," Mark yelled turning to look at Adam. He was stunned to see Adam was dragging someone to the water's edge.

"Oh no Dad!" Stacy stumbled trying to get to her Dad. Mark picked her up helping her to her father's side. Mark took one look at Vince lying lifeless and called 911. "Dad?" Stacy started to cry when she touched his chest not feeling it rise or lower.

"He has a pulse," Adam felt Vince's neck.

"Stacy, let us try to save your Dad," Mark gently moved her as Adam and Mark worked together to save Vince. Stacy kept praying her father would be ok. As the sounds of the police arriving filled the quiet night suddenly Vince jerked spitting up water. He looked around with wide eyes for a moment then passed out.

"He's breathing," Mark felt the warm air hitting his hand.

"The paramedics will be here in a moment," a police officer joined them checking Vince out.

"Stacy, he is going to be alright," Mark gathered her in his arms holding her tightly as more police and the paramedics arrived.

"See Stacy, I told you I would find him for you," Adam stared at her as she buried her face in Mark's chest.

"Where did you find him, Mr. Copeland?" Detective Reynolds asked staring Adam down.

"I came to see Stacy. While I was waiting for her to talk to me, I heard Vince calling for help. I ran towards the water's edge and saw him near the shore. By the time, we all got here he was gone. I went out near where I saw him and he was floating over there," Adam pointed to the spot he had pulled Vince from.

"I would like to ask you some more questions, please come with me?" the detective motioned for Adam to follow.

"I didn't do anything to Vince. Stacy, please tell them I wouldn't hurt your father," Adam pleaded with her.

"I need to call my Mom and brother," Stacy whispered looking at the middle aged detective as he studied her with his brown eyes.

"That's fine, I will catch up with you and Mr. Callaway at the hospital," he said grabbing Adam by the arm. "Come on let's chat."

"Stacy please," Adam begged as he passed by. Stacy met his eyes for a minute then turned away. Mark took her hand guiding her through the woods back to her house. He called Linda and Shane as they walked promising they would meet them at the hospital once they changed. Stacy was silent as they entered the house and went upstairs to change.

"You're all scratched up darling," Mark noticed all the marks on her legs from branches hitting her.

"I'll be ok," she whispered grabbing a t-shirt and jogging pants out of her drawers.

"Stacy, your Dad will be ok," Mark hugged her close kissing her forehead.

"I hope so," she looked up into his eyes. "Mark, I feel like something isn't right. The police have been searching the area. Why didn't they find him? It's a little too convenient that Adam found him."

"The detective is questioning him. I'm sure he is their number one suspect now."

"After we check on my Dad, I want to go see Detective Reynolds," she was determined to help in anyway she could to find out who was targeting her family.

Vince opened his eyes seeing all the bright lights. He slowly looked around trying to figure out where he was. He heard the beep of a monitor as he glanced to his one side seeing the ivs in his arm.

"What is going on?" he tried to think straight remembering being attacked while he was jogging. He flashed for a moment to hearing voices whispering about what to do with him then everything going black again. Next time he came to he was in a row boat and someone dressed all in black was standing over him. The moment the person noticed him stir they shoved him into the water and rowed away. He tried to swim in the darkness towards the trees he saw in the distance. He remembered seeing someone coming through the woods then everything was fuzzy. "I need to get out of here," he tried to sit up.

"Whoa settle down, it isn't time for you to go anywhere. You're going to be here for awhile," a muffled voice said from his other side as a chair moved. Before Vince could see who it was, someone covered his eyes and the familiar smell of chloroform overtook him. Vince went limp as the person uncovered his eyes then went to the other side of the bed injecting something into the IV. "You are going to be in a coma for awhile and thanks to the loads of money I just paid your attending doctor no one will ever know it's a drug induced coma. Don't worry I'll make sure you're well taken care of and my buddy the doctor will have you moved to the best facility where I can keep a close eye on you. Money really does buy happiness," the person smirked as they walked out of the room.