Okay, this chapter starts with a flashback of Riley's first unfortunate and horrible meeting with one Jerry Knox. It's a bit humorous at first, but then it gets down to business. Enjoy.
Disclaimer: I do not own National Treasure or any of its Components.
Chapter 8:
"In that ally you said you knew what it was like for me!" Riley screamed at him.
Cecilia had found a lead. And this lead led them to a popular club on Fourth Street where Knox was supposed to hang out and make deals.
The two of them figured that there was someone on the inside doing a job for Knox, so they didn't tell Seduski. They went alone. When they entered the club, Celia went around back and Riley went to the bar- to see what information he could wheedle out of the people there.
As he was sitting at the barstool, he heard a voice behind him; a very attractive voice that made him shiver.
"Is there something I can help you with?"
The attractive voice came with an attractive woman; she was lean, short and had brown wavy hair that stopped at her shoulders. Her eyes were a piercing silver color and it seemed as though she were staring right through him to his inner soul.
"Ah…No thanks," he stuttered, turning back to the bar.
She sat on the stool next to him, and placed a hand on his thigh. "Are you sure? You look awful tense,"
He sputtered, Scotch going all over the counter, and his cheeks flaming. She smiled an impish grin at him as he took her hand and threw it off of his leg. He left the bar and made for the crowd, trying to disappear.
He felt a hand on his shoulder, "Wait!"
He turned around to face the woman, who was barely a woman at that, she was probably only 20, if even. "Listen…"
"Emma," she supplied with a tight smile.
"Okay; listen Emma, I'm sorry but I can't help you with what you want." He snapped at her.
"No, wait- please. I can help you; I just needed to find out if you were working for him. I know where your friend is, follow Me." she said, gesturing over her shoulder.
Riley followed her into the alley outback, stopping only to alert Celia- who joined them, and to keep an eye on possible people who could be watching them.
When they reached the dark and damp alley Riley asked, "Okay, what is this all about?"
"I think I can help you find your friends," Emma said looking around nervously, her chestnut hair flinging around with her every move.
"Yes, and?" Celia asked impatiently, arms folded, foot tapping.
"You have to promise me something," Emma said softly without looking at them. "I want out, and if I tell you what I know, you have to help me get out. I have a little girl; she shouldn't be growing up like this."
Riley hesitated for a moment before nodding, "Deal,"
Emma looked around the alley again conspiratorially and whispered. "Okay, so I heard something about a gala on Fourth Street. Jerry said that they were holding two people in the b…"
She was cut off by the sound of gunfire, and she toppled to the ground unceremoniously landing at Riley's feet. Cecilia instantly turned to the sound, whilst Riley dropped to his knees next to the dying woman. Emma grabbed his hand, "Take care of my daughter, make sure she's safe. Her name is…is Isabelle."
"Stop, save your breath and you can do it yourself," Riley pleaded with her.
"Promise me," she hissed in pain.
Riley didn't have the heart to deny her last wish, so he squeezed her hand and whispered "I promise she'll be taken care of…I'm sorry Emma." And then she was gone. He felt tears in his eyes, he didn't even know this woman, but she didn't deserve to die like this. Riley furiously wiped them away before turning to face the man with the gun.
"You're Knox," he accused.
"I'm Knox," he agreed. "And you are Mr. Riley Poole. I have to say, I thought you were out of the state and that you wouldn't be such a thorn in my side."
"Yeah, well I thought I was going to find my friend, go home, and relax. Guess we can't have everything we want," Riley mocked, shifting from foot to foot uncomfortably.
"You know, your loyalty is an inspiring thing. I think, I could learn to respect you, if I didn't have to kill you and your girlfriend," he sneered.
"He's not my boyfriend!" Cecilia exclaimed at the same time that he cried, "She's not my girlfriend!"
Knox snorted, a strange look in his eyes. "You know what; I'm in a generous mood. I know what it's like to be you, and care about people so deeply you would sacrifice yourself for them. But believe me, all it will ever do is come back and stab you in the heart. So, you can join me now, and help me to get what I want, or I can just go back to killing you."
"You'll have to try and kill us, but I doubt your men can," Riley taunted, on the inside he was a bundle of nerves, but on the outside he was steely.
Cecilia's eyes widened as she shot him an angry sideways glance, but remained silent.
"And what do you have, that can stand up against twelve armed men, and a club full of people who would be out here in an instant if I called?"
"I know Kung Fu!" he said bringing his leg up to kick out. "Whaaaa!" he cried in imitation of the karate kid on the movie.
"Impressive I'm sure, but we must be getting on with business," Knox said motioning with his finger to shoot.
They both dove for cover and began to run, just barely making it out of that alley.
Knox raised his eyebrows in surprise; he hadn't seen tonight's events taking this direction. Well, really he hadn't seen tonight's events happening any of the ways it did.
"And your point would be?" he asked casually, using his gun to make hand gestures.
"Let her go, and give me five minutes to talk to you; privately." he demanded looking nervously around at the people around him.
"No way! Not happening!" Ben snapped, trying to step protectively in front of Riley.
"Ben stop," Riley said calmly. Despite the fact that Ben's concern and anger touched him very deeply, he could not let Ben die. Ben was his best friend and, well…isn't this what you did for best friends? He always had a smart ass reply or comment to add to a situation, but right now he was deadly serious.
Ben spun around on him, "No you stop Riley. He wants me. Not you, and if I can save you guys then let him have me. Stop trying to save me!"
Riley put a hand on his friends shoulder. "I can't do that Ben, not for you, or Abi or Celia. I haven't come so far just to be stopped now."
He pulled away from Ben, with one final pat and moved to face Knox directly.
"Don't do it Knox, I'm the one you want!" Ben said to Knox in a deadly even tone.
Behind them Abi was crying silently. She didn't know what to do. There had to be a way out of this, there always was. At least in the past there had been.
Knox surveyed them all and laughed. "Ahh, such heroism. Gates you are truly lucky to have a friend such as this. I think, Mr. Poole, I shall take you up on your offer."
