Chapter 21:

McBain was airborne perusing the property maps he received from the Llanview Department of Buildings. In this remote area of the woods there were more properties than he anticipated as he counted the multi-colored roofs. He cherished his solitude like the next man but couldn't imagine having anything but a summer cabin here.

He needed to cross-reference these addresses with their owners, "Officer where's the residential log that corresponds to this map?" McBain asked the officer to his left. He saw the officer's eyes widen, "Lieutenant that's all that came on the fax, nothing else."

John slapped his hand down his own face in frustration, "There are over a dozen properties down there. We need that list to narrow it down. Call and get the list emailed then cross-reference it with the Buchanans and their associates."

Clint was in his own personal nirvana. Bo and Nora were arguing over him. She blamed him for setting this all in motion and Bo defended his big brother. Matthew jumped off of his bunk "Uncle Clint I have to get out of here. Can you post bail?"

Clint looked at Matthew, damn he wished he could feel remorseful but he just didn't. He used to wish Matthew was his and Nora's son when they were married. He hoped to teach him the family motto 'the Buchanan way is the ONLY way.' Bo just didn't have the chops to teach him such essential values. Unfortunately, those days were over. Clint couldn't afford to get sentimental when he was so close to his goal. Now Matthew had to learn the hard way.

"Matthew you weren't arraigned yet so bail hasn't even been set. Besides you confessed. I doubt they'd let you free...you killed someone." Clint ground salt in Matthew's wounds.

"But Destiny..." Matthew trailed off, looking up at the ceiling, fisting his hair and pacing.

"What about Destiny... that she's pregnant? I've known THAT for some time now. I've gotta say, I was very happy to hear about her release from the hospital." Clint remarked.

Matthew froze in his tracks "How..did you know she was discharged?" Matthew narrowed his eyes as he felt the puzzle pieces sliding into place. The picture Dani had was of Destiny...in a limousine. She wasn't tied up so she must have trusted whoever was in there. Who rides around in one of those nowadays? Someone who can afford a chauffeur...that's who.

"Clint? Matthew asked you a question." Nora looked between him, Bo and Matthew.

Destiny was going crazy. Hadn't Shaun received her message by now? Where was he and the cavalry to rescue her?

She was ready to get the hell away from Eddie Ford. She was trying to watch TV but Eddie kept talking throughout the movie. If he wasn't asking her a question, he was commenting on the storyline. She shushed him multiple times but he'd just start up again. "Would you shut up? I want to hear the movie, not you!" Destiny couldn't hold it in any longer.

Eddie narrowed his eyes "What I want is outta this hell hole! Day in and day out I've been stuck in this house. I finally have some pretty company... but she's not being nice at all."

"You are a sick degenerate. I can see why Mrs. Salinger left you." Destiny folded her arms over her chest refocusing on the movie.

Eddie furiously stood up and kicked the TV off its stand. It smashed on the hardwood floor, sparks flying out. "You're gonna regret that Princess!"

Shaun and Brody rendezvoused with the LPD 'B' team that arrived at the turn-off closest to the woodland estates.

Brody flashed his badge comparing notes with the arriving officers. Shaun wondered which estate Destiny was being held at, apparantly the officers had two properties of interest. One was bought by Asa Buchanan and the other by Victor Lord. Clint was Victor's son in law for many years so they couldn't rule it out.
Shaun was worried about Destiny being with that abusive psycho Eddie Ford. "What's the plan Lovett? We have to save Destiny now."

Brody called John, "We're here with the 'B' team. Which house are you storming? We can check out the other one."

John gave Brody directions to the Lord's since it was closer to their location. John and the 'A' team were headed for the Buchanan lodge.

Destiny got up from the couch and slowly backed up out of the living room putting the dining room table between her and Eddie. He was growling like a rabid dog about teaching her some respect.

Suddenly a shrill alarm bellowed through the house. Destiny covered her ears as Eddie walked to a wall candlebra pulling it down to reveal four monitors behind a false wall. "Looks like we have company."

Destiny made a mad dash hoping to somehow pass Eddie and run out the front door. Eddie was too fast, spun around and intercepted Destiny easily grabbing her arm, "Oh no you don't Princess!"
Destiny screamed at the top of her lungs!

McBain and his team heard alarms go off as they approached the Bucahanan lodge. McBain yelled into his earpiece "We've lost the element of surprise, storm the house!"

Following procedure an officer got on the megaphone, "This is the Llanview police department, we have the place surrounded. Come out with your hands up!"

As John and the others got within thirty feet of the lodge it suddenly exploded knocking everyone off of their feet and flying back.

Shaun, Brody and their team heard alarms sounding off all around them. Not a minute later they looked northeast at the sound of a massive explosion.

Shaun looked at Brody in shock, "What the hell was that?"

Brody looked from him to the other officers equally astonished. "Get McBain on the line. See if anyone's hurt. We're going in NOW!"

They stormed the house, filing in with guns drawn. Shaun saw a broken TV on the floor but no Destiny!

"Where IS she? I KNOW she wasn't at the other house...with that explosion!" Shaun yelled.

An officer rushed in from a bedroom "Officer Lovett I found something."

Brody and Shaun ran meeting her halfway down the brown hallway. Shaun looked at her nametag, "What's that Officer Adu?" In her hand was a black and white photo. Shaun grabbed it "This is Destiny's! It's from her baby's last sonogram."

Brody was pissed "Damnit where did Eddie take her? We had the house surrounded. Screw this, Clint is gonna tell us if I have to beat the answers out of him."
"You're after me Brody cause I'm gonna kick his ASS!"

Brody got on his phone. "This is officer Brody Lovett requesting an ambulance at the Buchanan lodge up in the Llantano mountains. There was an explosion. We're heading there now to see if John and his crew are alright. Arrest Clint Buchanan and Danielle Rayburn- Manning, they've been working with Eddie Ford..Yes that psycho is still alive and was holding Destiny Evans hostage here. Somehow, he gave us the slip. I want an APB out on them." Brody nodded his head "Yeah release Bo, Nora and Matthew. He obviously didn't kill Eddie Ford."

Shaun noticed the secret wall was triggered by the downturned candelabra. He went to all of them to see if this lodge held any additional secrets. The last one he tried in the vestibule revealed a sliding wooden floor that hid steps leading down. Shaun activated the flashlight mode on his phone, "Officer Adu, I'm going after my sister let Lovett know." She put her hand on his shoulder, "Not without us Mr. Evans." She signalled three officers over, pointing at the first one "You tell Lovett where we are." The others she pointed at the underground passageway, "The rest of you are with me."

Shaun led the way as they descended into the dark tunnel.