Mr. Whitaker looked horrified, staring at the screen. The image showed Richard, unconscious, lying/sitting up against a wall for an unlimited amount of time. The scene shifted, and a helicopter arrived; a girl being lowered on the ladder and pulling the Vespers up with her. Then, being careful to step in the Vespers' footprints, she and a boy walked over to Richard. The girl took one look and started crying. The boy, on the other hand, carefully picked up the tazer and a few other things that would make the police suspicious. Then, tugging at the girl's shirt, he began to climb up the ladder. The girl stared for a minute, then, still sobbing, climbed up after him.

Amy closed the tablet/laptop. "That's it," She said. "That's all there is."

Dan, trying to lighten the mood, winked at Richard. "Not quite the ending you hoped for, huh?"

Richard grinned back. "Ah, they played right into my hands."

"So, the getting shot was part of your plan, too?"

"Yep. I just didn't expect her to miss."

Whit raised his eyebrow. "You didn't? So, you thought you were going to…"

Richard nodded. "Yeah. But, you know, what was that one thing Paul said? 'To live is Christ, to die is gain?' That's what was going through my head as she pulled the trigger."

"But, you survived."

"Yep!" He smiled. "Another miracle to save this sorry excuse for a Christian. I think that brings the count up to…7? Maybe only 6."

Whit closed his eyes and smiled as he shook his head. "I don't see how you can be so…"

"…Reckless? Stupid? Idiotic? Frivolous?"

Amy smiled. "How about Complete and Total Disregard of Self?"

"Or Inconthevible!" Dan joined in.

Richard grinned. He tried a Spanish accent. "You keep using that word. I do not a-think it means what you think it means."

Mr. Whitaker laughed. "I was thinking more along the lines of All of the Above."

Everyone laughed, except Richard, who was trying to look insulted. "Well, I never!"

Knock-knock-knock.

Two men walked in. One was taller and thinner, and the other was shortish and kinda pudgy. "I hate to interrupt your conversation, but it's past visiting hours, and we need to move Mr. Maxwell here to another room." Said the taller one. The shorter one just nodded.

Richard looked over at them. "Why would you need to move me? I've got satellite TV, an adjustable bed, one of those tiny fridges," He looked over at the corner. "Oh. Forget what I said about the tiny fridge. Why would I want to leave?"

"Sir, all one the rooms here are like this." The tall one answered.

Richard nodded, like he was expecting this. "Okay." He turned to Amy, Dan, and Whit. "Well, I guess I'll be seeing you."

Amy began to protest. Something wasn't right. But the two men had already began to wheel Richard's bed out of the room.

The two man pushed the bed out of the emergency exit, which was what tipped Richard off that these guys were a little suspicious. They wheeled it into the back of a waiting truck, then climbed in after and shut the door. The short one's arm zipped towards him faster than Richard thought possible. Making a y-shape in between is thumb and fingers, he pressed up against Richard's windpipe.

He gasped for air, but there wasn't any. He tried to pull his attacker's hand away, but he couldn't do much without oxygen. His right shoulder screamed in pain every time he moved it. What a fine time to have a fractured collarbone. By the time this is over, I think it'll be more than just fractured, though.

A thought flashed through his mind. Shifting his fingers just the tiniest bit would result in cutting off the blood flow to Richard's brain, making him unconscious within a minute. If he stayed in that position, Richard would be dead within 10-15 minutes. Darn it! Why on earth did I research that article on asphyxiation? He tried to calm down. If they wanted you dead, they could have killed you already. They must be planning something.

Sure enough, the tall one leaned over him. "If you ever want to breathe again, you'll tell us what you know about the hostages."

Richard shook his head. His vision was starting to darken around the edges.

The shorter one pressed harder. "Tell us!"

"Forget it. He's too stubborn. Just like Five said. Don't worry, though. Vesper One'll be able to make him talk."

The shorter one eased up on the pressure. Richard gasped. He had never been so grateful for being able to breathe. He'd never take it for granted again. Just then, a cloth came down on his face. No! Richard tried to hold his breath, but the sharp scent of chloroform penetrated his defenses. The world went dark.