"You're going to have my dad bid on me?" Alan asked incredulous after hearing Billy's offer, "Just to raise the bids?"
"There's more to it than that," Billy countered, "It gives him the chance to get you back. If one of the other bidders win, there is little to no chance you will see him again."
Alan's jaw was hanging open, "There shouldn't be any chance for any of this! I should only have to be worrying about stupid school!" Alan began to futilely pull at the ropes holding him to the chair; it was better than just sitting there.
"That hasn't been an option since I took you from the park," Billy said flatly, "Now either tell me how to contact your father, so he can be a part of this auction, or lose all chance of going home." Billy watched as Alan continued his feeble attempts to undo the rope, "I don't have all day, Alan."
"Fine," Alan ground out, "You'll probably catch him at home. What time is it here?"
"Why do you need to know?" Billy asked.
"Because, home is in the tropics, in a very different time zone!" Alan growled, "If it's before lunch here, home is sleeping."
"Then it's past dinner here," Billy said vaguely.
"That puts is early afternoon," Alan said to himself, "Call his office." He then gave Billy the number for the video phone; explaining that a computer with a webcam would allow for video chat.
Billy decided that could work for him, he just wouldn't be in the screen, Alan would be. "Here how it's going to work," Billy said standing and opening a box on the desk and removing something, "I'll do all the talking, but he will be looking at you." Walking over to Alan's position, "Open your mouth," he commanded.
"Wh—" Alan was cut off as Billy put a gag in his mouth and secured it behind his head.
"Because, I needed to make sure you wouldn't talk," Billy stated simply patting Alan's shoulder. Walking back to his chair, Billy dialed up Tracy residence, listening to the muffled and undistinguishable sounds coming from then bound blonde. As the call rang, he watched Alan trying to get the gag out and pulling at his arms again. Billy just sighed and shook his head.
Tracy Island
John, Tin-tin, Gordon were returning from Five, and would be back within an hour. Scott had called to say he and Brains had landed and had an hour and a half drive to reach Archer's. Virgil was sitting with him in the office, while Kyrano prepared a light meal for everyone.
The ringing from the vid-phone drew the two Tracy men from their thoughts. A quick glance at Virgil, who got up and stood behind him, Jeff answered the call, "Tracy residence."
"Hello, Mr. Tracy," a tenor voice was heard, but all the Tracy's could see was a blindfolded Alan tied to a chair with a ball-gag in his mouth. Their hearts skipped a beat as they watched him try to pull at the ropes holding him. "Alan, why don't you say 'hello'."
Alan stopped struggling and raised his face to 'look' straight ahead, into the camera. "Alan!" Virgil called out, "You okay, Sprout?" Alan's head tipped to the side, like he was trying to figure out who spoke, then he tentatively nodded his head.
"What do you want?" Jeff demanded.
"I'm glad you asked!" the voice said, "I don't normally do this, but Alan here has convinced me to give you a chance."
"What is that supposed to mean?" Virgil growled.
They heard a chuckle, "You must be a brother, you and Alan sound very alike," The voice taunted. "Let me explain. Alan here is going up for auction," Jeff and Virgil saw Alan visibly shutter at the word, "As I told your son, blonde hair, blue eyes, and fourteen years old are a very valued set of characteristics."
Jeff felt nauseous, "You can't be serious," hoping his assumption was wrong.
"Oh, I am very serious, Mr. Tracy. Alan is going to make me a lot of money. But as I said, he convinced me to give you this offer," the voice paused, letting everything sink in, "You will be able to bid for your son."
Virgil's jaw dropped open, and he watched in dismay and Alan shook again. Jeff felt his heart go to his throat and caught his breath. "Why put him through that?" Jeff reasoned, "I can and will pay whatever you want. You get your money and I get Alan."
"I wish it were so simple," the man mocked, "But I promised quite a few people the opportunity to obtain a young boy like Alan here. And I can't back out on them now. But if you bid against them, they will still view me as a man of my word; something very important to me and my business."
"He isn't a piece of property!" Virgil found his voice, "He is a fourteen year old kid!" Alan winced at the emotion in Virgil's voice.
"Virgil, calm down," Jeff said quietly then turned his attention back to his youngest. He could hear muffled sounds coming from Alan, but the gag kept anything from escaping.
Alan's room
Alan could hear the pain, love, and fear in his middle brother's voice. Oh Virgie! Can't you be here? I want to go home! Alan wanted to be embraced by Virgil and his father so bad right now, he barely noticed that he was trying to tell them how much he loved them; but the gag was preventing any of his words from being understood.
"To you, he may not be a piece of property," Billy sneered, "But to me and my customers, Alan is something to be sold or bought."
Alan heard a deep sigh come through the video feed, then his dad's tired voice, "I see I have no choice but to play along with your game."
"Believe me, Mr. Tracy, this is no game," Billy countered, "This is your son's fate: either a happy one at home with family or one of unknown outcomes; really depends on who wins the bid."
"Let me speak with Alan," Jeff was almost pleading.
"I'm sorry," Billy didn't sound sincere, "But I can't do that. Maybe at a later hour. But for now, you need to get ready for the auction." Billy then told Jeff what site to go to, and how to set up a bidding account. Then he disconnected the call turned back to Alan.
Alan had held in his tears, so his father and brother would see them, but know he them fall. Silent sobs raking his body. He heard, Billy walking towards him, and tried to pull away when Billy put a hand on his shoulder. "I'm going to taking the gag off now, Alan," doing as he said, "I'll give your father an hour to set up his account, then the auction begins with or without him."
Alan just worked the tension out of his jaw and didn't respond, he only needs half that time! Just get this over with! Alan thought angrily.
"While we wait," Billy started, "Let's get some food into you." With little pause, Billy grabbed the back of Alan's chair and dragged in over to the table, a grating sound coming from the two back legs dragging. Alan's body went rigid at the sudden movement and loss of balance. Spinning the chair to face the table, Billy walked out of the room. He came back carrying a plate with a turkey sandwich and a granola bar. "I hope you like turkey," Billy said bringing his chair next to Alan's and putting the plate down.
"I'm not hungry," Alan said stubbornly fighting the last of his sobs down.
"That's too bad," Billy sighed, "Because if you don't eat now, you won't be eating again until tomorrow morning."
Alan turned his head in the direction and Billy's voice, "And just how am I supposed to eat, then?" He gave a small tug at his arms.
"That's what I'm here for," Billy said, picking up the sandwich, "Open up." After a moment of hesitation, Alan slowly opened his mouth. Billy let him take a bite then chew, before repeating the process. Swallowing the last of the sandwich, Alan heard Billy opening a plastic wrapper, "Granola bar," Billy explained as he held it up to Alan's face. Alan clamped his mouth shut and shook his head, "Why not?" Billy asked, dropping his hand.
"Does it have walnuts?" Alan asked, knowing that was a common ingredient for granola.
Billy looked at the wrapper, "Yup. That a problem?"
Alan nodded his head, "I'm allergic. So unless you want a blonde haired, blue eyed, anaphylactic shocked, fourteen year old, I wouldn't have me eat that."
"Then I guess no granola bar for you," Billy said, smiling to himself at Alan's sarcasm.