Scott and Brains had picked up Fermat from the school and brought him to the hotel they were staying at. Brains was flying back to the island with Fermat in the morning. Scott had talked with John not long ago and waited until Fermat was asleep before filling in Brains.
"John says the bid went up $7050 dollars in the first ten minutes," Scott whispered to Brains.
Brains shook his head sadly, "I-I'm s-s-still h-having tr-tr-tr-issues a-accepting a p-p-person d-doing this t-to a-another h-h-human...l-let a-a-alone a k-k-k-child," he added.
"I know what you mean," Scott agreed, "John said he sat for three hours tied to a chair!" Brains put a comforting hand on the oldest Tracy son, "He couldn't see or talk…"
"Th-th-that m-maybe only w-w-while t-t-the f-f-f-recording is l-live," Brains tried to consol.
Scott looked out the window for a minute before responding, "That doesn't help much."
Brains nodded, "D-d-did John s-s-say h-how Alan l-looked?" He enquired.
Letting out a sigh, Scott sat down heavily, "Yeah, Brains," he began, "He said that for twenty minutes Alan sat trying not to shake – whether in fear or cold I don't know – then looked like he finally drifted off into a light sleep." Letting out another sigh, Scott continued, "He said it looked like he'd been trying to get out of the bonds for a while, his wrists looked red and raw."
"Th-that's g-g-good t-to h-h-h-know," Brains said, continuing after a look from Scott, "H-he is st-st-still f-f-fighting…h-he h-h-hasn't g-given up. Y-you c-can't ei-either."
A solemn nod was Scott's only response. The two men fell into a comfortable silence. At quarter to midnight, Brains herded Scott off to bed, dosing him with a mild sedative.
Tracy Island
Jeff had come back to the office when John called for him, "How's he looking?" Jeff said wearily, taking the seat John vacated.
"Looks like he slept most of the live feed, these last two hours was just a repeat of the first two," John said, as Virgil came in, "How's Gordon?"
"He said he couldn't watch right now," Virgil sat with a sigh; "He and Tin went to the beach…I think out to Alan's favorite cove."
"Can't say I blame him," John said simply.
Jeff nodded, watching the sleeping form of Alan. "The timer is almost done," he pointed out eventually.
"What are you planning on doing?" John voiced his and Virgil's thoughts.
"Play hard ball," Jeff said matter-of-factly, "See if we can't get rid of some of these people."
"This guy really makes you play into his plans," Virgil said angrily, "There really is no choice but to up the ante and force the bid too high for others."
"You guys said, he said, Alan convinced him to call and include you," John remarked, bringing up something that he had been thinking about for the last four hours, "What do you make of that?"
"Good point, Johnny," Virgil said thinking, "It sounded like the park was a crime of convenience; Alan was in the wrong place at the wrong time."
"That was my thinking," John established, "I don't think contacting the family was part of the first plan."
Jeff nodded in agreement, "My best guess is Alan told him his name, he did use it after all, and he saw an opportunity for more money."
"This guy is smart," Virgil finally admitted.
"You have no idea," John replied, "I tried tracing the signal of the live feed for the three hours it ran. All I ended up with was going in a circle that went all over the world, and didn't have any sort of pattern that suggested a focal point."
"He is going to make a mistake," Jeff said firmly, "And when he does, we will get him!"
The last five minutes of the timer were spent in strained silence. When the bid opened again, the three present Tracy's watched in dismay as the bid value spiked up from $12,050 to $16,050 in the first minute. Alan was shown laying on a bed; his left hand and left foot secured to the bed's frame. The blindfold was still in place, but there was no gag. "Looks like he's sleeping," John observed.
"Is that good or bad?" Virgil asked.
"I'm calling it good for now," Jeff said as he typed at the computer. When there were only a few minutes left, Jeff sent his bid of $15,000 to raise the total to $36,000. The bidding petered out and stopped at $38,000 when the bid closed.
"Looks like you scared off some of the bidders," John said a little hopeful.
"I hope you're right, John," Jeff said as he watched Alan fidget in his sleep.
A sudden thought occurred to Virgil that made him growl, "That bastard!"
"Virgil, watch your language," Jeff scolded, "What has you riled up?"
"This is all a marketing scheme!"
"How do you figure?" John questioned, while trying to calm his younger brother.
"The first feed was a rather scared Alan," John and Jeff nodded, "Well this one is showing Alan looking innocent in sleep!"
Jeff paled, realizing Virgil's train of thought. John swallowed audibly adding to Virgil's words, "To convince these sick people bidding that they want to see him like that more!" Virgil nodded, showing that he was thinking the same thing.
Oh Alan! Jeff thought in despair, we're trying to find you! You have to stay strong, please, God, give him the strength he needs. Jeff let a few tears fall, before wiping them away and sitting straighter. "John," he began with new confidence, "I want you to go eat something then rest. And I will not hear any objections, go." John closed his mouth, open from an unspoken protest, and nodded, before getting up and leaving. "Virgil, I want you to go out and find Gordon and Tin-tin. Bring them back to the house and get them to eat something."
"What about you, Dad?"
"I'll eat in here," Jeff stated, "But I am taking this shift. You are in charge of keeping Tin-tin and Gordon distracted. But if Gordon needs to see Alan, send him in here."
Reluctantly, Virgil nodded, "Okay, I'll have Kyrano bring you some dinner. Then I'll take the next watch." The last bit was more a mandate rather than an offer, and Jeff agreed.
Virgil left and closed the door behind him, setting off for the beach in search of his youngest brother's close friend and his only red headed brother.
Jeff turned his attention back to Alan. His baby was still sleeping, but it was a restless and twitchy sleep. After an hour and a half into the live feed, Alan found a more restful slumber. The last hour and a half he stayed sleeping peacefully. Jeff was glad that he found some peace, but couldn't help but think of what Virgil had pointed out; whoever else is watching is probably loving this, and ready to fight for him…but they will not win! Alan is coming home!
As the feed switch back to showing Alan's restless sleep, Jeff called Scott's cell. When it went to voice mail, Jeff realize it was very early in the morning in New England, so left a brief message asking Scott to call him. Kyrano had brought a salad earlier, but Jeff hadn't felt like eating. Continuing to watch Alan toss and turn, again, he picked at his salad and managed a few bites.
Some time later, the vid-phone chimed an incoming call, and Jeff tiredly answered, "Jeff Tracy."