9. I Forgot To Read The Kidnapping 101
It was like seeing a ghost standing there next to his son, except for the part where the ghost of his past was holding a gun barrel towards said son's head. Jeff wasn't sure how to comprehend the situation, even less so when the one who was causing the ruckus was way to similar to his Lucy. They shared the same hair color and hair length, facial structure and even the same fire in their eyes, but the only thing that managed to remind him that this wasn't Lucy was that the person in front of them was in fact a young teenage boy.
"Now are you guys going to cooperate or do I have to make myself clear how serious I really am," The young teen glared with those blue eyes that almost reminded him of blazing fire. Jeff realized that those kinds of eyes weren't something an ordinary child would have. No, those were the eyes of a fighter and survivor, like the ones he saw when he served the army where they had been burden with a harsh reality. It was something that wasn't supposed to be seen in the eyes of a fifteen-sixteen year old boy. So he took one hesitate step forward, trying to maintain control over the situation and help Virgil.
"No need to make any hasty decisions," His arms were stretched out and lowered in order to appear unarmed and harmless. "We just want no one to get hurt. Tell me, son, what's your name?"
The boy stared at him. His eyes flickered in confusion for a moment before he responded warily, "Alan. And I suppose you are Mr. Jeff Tracy, Virgil's father, right?"
He wasn't sure if it was the fact that Alan showed his wariness the same way his deceased wife used to do o that he shared the same first name as his baby son, but he quickly composed himself and nodded and answered, "And you are the one that have been accused to have kidnapped your friend Fermat."
Alan's frowned greatly by the accusation and almost sneered back, "I did not kidnap him. And I have told those damn agents that I did and wouldn't do that, but seeing as I'm the perfect scapegoat and the only one that has the opportunity and motive to do that. Well… if they don't believe me then I will have to prove it to you and find out who did and bring them to justice."
Jeff didn't like the sound of that. No matter the reason a child shouldn't be even considering putting himself in danger and try to fight down criminals to prove his innocence. He looked from the corner of his eye and saw that the agents had retrieved their gun while he and Alan had been conversing and was aiming at the young teen like they were ready to shoot him down. Alan too must have realized this when he clenched his teeth said exasperated, "Now that's out of the way, are you going to let me and Virgil walk out of here alive or do you prefer that we take a shortcut to the hospital or better yet the morgue?"
Neither of those alternatives sounded any good to him, but he couldn't risk his son's life by being stubborn and difficult.
"Why should I trust you that will do as you say?" Jeff asked. He was trying to buy time, but Alan seemed to understand his tactic and simply responded with, "You don't."
"Then why at all?" Pushing the question wasn't going to help, but he found himself drawn to the conversation. He wanted to know as much as possible about this boy and about his reasons. Alan's eyes for the first time grew desperate and almost pleading for him to listen and understand as well as agreeing to his wishes.
"Please. For once in your life, just don't think about the what-ifs," Alan stared right at him and wasn't removing his gaze away from him. "Take a leap of faith and trust me that I will do everything in my power to uphold my promise to you regarding your son's safety and Fermat's return."
Hearing him mention take a leap of faith was exactly what Lucy used to say to him, normally when he had been too quick to judge or simply refused to listen to whatever she said to him, but the scary thing was that they sounded too much alike. It wasn't possible for someone to sound so alike, especially since one of them have been dead for thirteen years and the other was just a toddler, which would make it even more unlikely that he could have known or even met his wife. Still separating the memory of his wife and the young teen in front of him was getting harder and harder, which led to him being conflicted if he should trust the boy or not and allow him to walk out of here with Virgil. Jeff knew that Virgil was efficient and smart to handle things on his own, though he might not be exactly used to be a hostage in a kidnapping situation, but even with that said something in his gut told him that he should trust Alan's words. And he believed that his son would be safe and unharmed long enough till they got him back. So he made his decisions regardless of what Scott and the federal agents believed, he closed his eyes and nodded his head slowly.
Alan didn't respond or gloat that he got what he wished instead he moved his gaze to the agents to clarify the agreement before he began slowly and carefully walking towards the entrance dragging a stunned Virgil with him. Everyone in the building was just quiet as quiet as a cemetery, while they all watched the young teen take away his hostage out the door and soon enough out of their sights. Once they were gone everyone snapped out of their silence and confusion and then began yelling and ordering around to make a trail on Alan and Virgil and such. Needless to say, he wasn't really focusing on his surroundings rather the fact that he was already starting to doubt his decision. He could only hope that he wasn't making a mistake and that his son as well as Fermat would be back with them once again.
The trick to get as far away from the federal building and to a safe place was proving to be a lot more difficult than what Alan had anticipated with Virgil being anything but a cooperative and willing hostage. Seeing as he wasn't going to get far with Virgil making a scene as they continued to walk through the crowd of people, who were bound to notice their awkwardness and hostility a mile away, he did the only thing he could think off. He used the syringe Vinnie had provided him and knocked the older young man out. However doing so proved to give him another problem since he had to a drag around a heavy body, which was definitely not the fastest way to escape though it provided him with the excuse that Virgil had been drinking a little more than he should and was sleeping it off. A lie, but nonetheless it was better than being accused for being a kidnapper, even though that was the truth.
They continued walking down the street until he found a car just a few corners away from the federal building. Without any problems he managed to carjack an old yellow-green Volkswagen beetle, shoved Virgil in the backseat and then began hitting the road with a destination in mind as well as a possible hiding place for him and Virgil while he dealt with certain business on his own. During the entire drive, he couldn't stop thinking about the encounter with Mr. Tracy, Virgil's father, and how is seemed very familiar to him despite never meeting or laid an eye on the man before now. And his memories weren't really helping either because all he got was just blurs whenever he tried to remember back where he had seen him before. In the end he just gave up trying to convince himself that there was something more, figuring that should he remember then he would remember at a certain time voluntarily and not forced as he was doing right now. So he leaned back in his car seat and continued focusing on the road ahead of him, while his thoughts continued to return back to the plan how to clean up this mess with as few casualties as possible.
"It seems that the Brat is heading our way," Vinnie pointed out as he watched the last video feed from the security camera that showed Alan and an unconscious Virgil Tracy driving away in an ugly-looking car. His boss just smirked over the development, almost grinning like a sneaky cat. Fermat, who was watching them interacting knew right away that the Boss had more in store than what he was saying out loud, and it made him almost want to roll his eyes in annoyance. Something that would remind him that he had been spending so much time with Alan that he would borrow some of his personality traits.
The Boss leaned back in his seat and chuckled, "So it would seem. However I don't see a reason to make the rescue easy for him. After all he has to earn his prize, don't you agree Vinnie?"
Vinnie responded by giving his boss a sinister smile before he asked, "What did you have in mind?"
"Let's give him some obstacles along the way," The Boss stated simply as his arms folded against his chest and looked up at his subordinate with pride over himself. "Our main intention by taking Mr. Hackenbacker was to test Alan out, to see if he was still the valuable asset that I believe he still is to us, and also to sharpening and reminding him of his old trade."
Fermat only glared at them. How dare they use his best friend as a pawn in their plans like they were playing a game of chess? Alan had his faults, no doubt about that, but he was still a good and loyal person and it wasn't right to use those qualities about him against him to do their bidding. And if he had been strong and brave enough to do anything he would have made them see that, but unfortunately his strength and abilities were pretty limited despite those few sessions with Parker on self-defense. It was highly unlikely that a 'Parker Special' would work on these people, who seemingly had been trained to survive and withstand unexpected attacks regardless of where the attack came from.
"I'll take a couple of guys and see to it," Vinnie answered before he took his leave and left the room, leaving Fermat once again in alone with the Boss of a psychopath. It was then the Boss turned to look at him, probably just to look at his reaction and taunt him about it. Once again Fermat wondered how in the world Alan managed to live and survive through all of this when he could barely stand being around them for just a couple of days. He promised himself that should he ever get the chance to get out of here, he would bow down to Alan and tell him that he was the stronger and more honorable man in this hellhole and shouldn't feel ashamed of his past, which he was almost certain Alan was based on how vague he had been on talking about it.
Anyways the Boss did just as he predicted and gave him a taunting grin before he said, "Are you concerned about your friend?"
The answer was yes, but he would be damned if he told this man the truth and use it against him later. So he shook his head and answered the question coldly, "N-no, I'm n-not."
The Boss faked a surprised reaction and asked with his voice a tone higher from the way he usually talked, "Oh? I thought you cared about your best friend, especially since he is going as far as running away from the law just for your sake."
"O-of course I-I care a-about him," Fermat lowered his gaze, insecure if he should be saying more to aggravate this man or not, but at that moment he felt too angry and brave to take much caution. Which was why he lifted up his head again and stared at the men bravely and continued, "H-However I h-have faith in h-him and I-I know t-that he isn't g-going t-to be p-playing y-your game the w-way you w-want h-him to. I-If there is o-one t-thing I k-know about h-him, is t-that he is m-more than w-what you c-can ever imagine. A-and I'm p-proud to b-be his f-friend."
For a moment the older man was actually stunned to hear him talk, let alone be brave enough to say such good things about Alan, but the reaction quickly disappeared and was once again replaced by the prideful and taunting demeanor.
"Let's see if you are right then," He shrugged his shoulders before he turned his back on him again. "Would hate to see your views on my little Ghost shatter into tiny pieces."
Fermat glared angrily at the man's back before he huffed and wished that he were anywhere else than in this room, while hoping that Alan was having some more luck on his end than what he was currently having.
Jem Cassidy wasn't sure what to say about the situation he had been involuntarily been pulled into along with Haley, but one thing was certain was that the minute he got his hands on his adoptive brother he was going to ground him till he was at least ninety for pulling a stunt like this, fleeing federal custody and actually kidnapping Scott's younger brother. When he and Haley had been informed of these events, they couldn't believe what they were hearing, but it was confirmed when they arrived at the federal building and was shown the security videos moments before Alan and Virgil left the building. Though he was exasperated by his brother's actions, he knew that something more was going on than what met the eye, but unfortunately not everyone shared the same opinion as him regarding the matter.
The Cassidy siblings were sitting in a meeting room along with the Tracy family and Mr. Hackenbacker, who he learned was Fermat's father, as well as the four agents that was working on the kidnapping case of both Fermat and also Virgil's. And while the agents tried to maintain control over the situation and keep everyone calm, Scott was more than anything vivid about his father's actions to allow Alan and Virgil go as well as Jem's role in raising Alan.
"I can't believe any of this!" Scott exclaimed in fury. "You were supposed to find Fermat and bring him home, not get my little brother kidnapped by the same kid who took Fermat in the first place!"
His fist slammed into the table, it was a pure wonder that the table didn't break in half from the impact, but at least it was the table that would feel his anger rather someone poor unfortunate fool like him or his dad. However Jem wasn't an overly patient man despite him having the proper training to be patient when the situation came down to it, so there was no way he was going to sit there and listen to them accusing Alan for doing things he didn't do, for motives that wasn't important or relevant to the kid. Which is why he turned to glare at Scott and sneered, "Will you just shut up and not give Alan all the blame? We don't honestly know what happened before he was brought down here or during the time when he was running around the place alone. Other than the fact that he took Virgil with him, we know that Alan has a plan to track down the real kidnappers. So let's focus on who exactly he believed did it instead."
Scott glared back and was about to say something insulting back at him, but was fortunately interrupted by Agent Farrell and her partner as she rose up from her seat and walked to the whiteboard and began making a timeline before she turned her attention on them again and asked, "Mr. Cassidy is right. And we are currently working on it as we speak, however we are going to need your help to walkthrough everything that went down as well as much information that we can get on Alan."
Her request was leading, her plan was to distract information with hope that it would be helpful during the investigation, but thing was that there wasn't much neither he or Haley could tell them. No, that wasn't exactly true. They could mention the fact that Alan suffers from amnesia and doesn't know much about his past other than his criminal past or the little they knew about his criminal past, but they weren't going to do it. That was something he and Haley had agreed on a long time ago should a situation like this strike where Alan's actions and morals would be questioned. If they wanted that information they would have to be certain that no one was going to abuse that knowledge and use it against him.
Jem leaned back in his seat, folded his arms against his chest and said pointed, "What you are really asking us is that if we know where he would go or where he would be hiding, right?"
Agent Farrell looked sort of ashamed that her plan had been exposed, but nonetheless she nodded and waited for his reply with great anticipation.
So he closed his eyes for a second and sighed heavily before he answered with a strong voice, "Yeah, well as much as my sister and I want to help getting Fermat and Virgil back we don't want to tell you anything regarding Alan, for our own special reasons. I hope you guys understand."
And as he expected no one in the room was very understanding about the matter as they all began yelling and arguing how foolish and selfish they were being as well as that they could get arrested for withholding information from the feds, but both he and Haley shrugged and remained stubborn about the matter. And when people finally asked them why, Haley was the one who answered and said stubbornly, "We might not be the biggest or the wealthiest family, it is small and complicated, but it is a good family. We are willing to stand by one another and protect them, no matter what, so we are going to stand by Alan despite his wrongs because that is what a family does. Don't you agree?"
No one said anything, but it was clear based on their facial expressions that they all agreed on her notion. However that didn't mean that their annoyance and frustration about their decision wasn't all forgiven and forgotten, but at least they had the main idea about how far they were willing to cooperate at least until they managed to find some clues for themselves that would force them to tell them the truth that is.
Agent Farrell sighed, though she didn't agree with them she had accepted their condition, but she still had to ask the number one question, "Where would Alan go if he needed to hide?"
"That's the thing we don't honestly know," Jem replied lightly, almost annoyed over the fact that they did indeed have no clue. "He is known for his disappearing acts, why else do you think we had a hard time keeping him in school? If he doesn't want to be found, you wouldn't find him I can tell you that much."
"Why" Everyone asked, interested in hearing how it was possible that a sixteen year old can simply disappear into thin air that easily.
"Because he is too smart to get caught," Jem shrugged his shoulders. "Like I said if he doesn't want to be found, you wouldn't find him. So good luck trying to find a ghost."
Feeling a car driving over a hard rock, making the car itself rocking and hit his head at the hard surface Virgil woke up disturbed to be lightly about it. Sure, he has had his share of turbulent rides both in ordinary cars and on the Thunderbird aircrafts, but that didn't mean he necessary liked to wake up to such an impact and actually feel pain the moment he woke up. Rubbing his head, he sat up and realized that he was in the backseat of a beat-up old car with Alan driving in the front seat.
"What the hell?" He groaned annoyed. His dad had been very stern about bad language and thought them to refrain for using such a language, but there wasn't a better way to describe his surprise about his current situation.
Alan looked up, staring at the mirror, and answered simply, "You're awake. Good, I was wondering how long you would be knocked out."
Virgil blinked his eyes several times, confused about the whole interaction. One moment this kid was holding a gun to his head and the next he is chatting with him like nothing had ever happened. Seriously, what was up with this kid?
"I'm sorry, I think you are mistaking the situation here. You are my kidnapper, aren't you I don't know supposed to be frightening me or trying to get a ransom for my return or something?" Virgil asked annoyed as he glared at the front view mirror in order to get Alan to understand the seriousness of his actions. However he remained calm and carefree about it and simply said, "Nah, I forgot to read the Kidnapping 101 manual."
"That's…reassuring," Virgil said awkwardly, as he couldn't believe that he fell as a kidnapping victim to a complete amateur as it would seem. His thoughts continued with that the kid tried to be humorous about the whole thing even though it was the worst timing to do so. Nonetheless he had to take advantage of his situation as much as he could, like distracting information about him and where Fermat could be and than try and escape. Sounded like a good enough plan, but that didn't mean he still didn't frown his eyebrows in annoyance on the last response, which Alan just grinned with pride and said, "Come on, you have to admit it was funny. You getting kidnapped by a teenager, who has never ever done it before, it is really a great accomplishment."
He really didn't, but if he had to be honest it was sort of funny especially had it been in a different context. However he changed the subject and asked instead where he was taking him, while hoping it was his drop site or something. The ease and lightness shifted quickly to a serious and uncomfortable tension. Alan sighed heavily and responded by saying, "We are going to New York to see an old friend of mine."
Virgil found the answer odd as the kid had been so determined to find the ones who had really taken Fermat, so why in the world go and see a co-worker of his?
"Why? What can this co-worker of yours tell you?" He asked, curiosity peaked a notch as he wondered what this kid could be hiding.
"Well, she is not really a friend," Alan held his gaze strongly on the road in front of him, refusing to look at him for some reason. "More a co-worker considering the circumstances. Nonetheless she might be helpful if she decides to be helpful that is, but she is best lead I have right now."
Virgil just stared at the kid in front of him, who suddenly didn't seem to be the simplistic kid he saw a few moments ago. No, someone entirely different replaced that kid, someone who had obviously suffered and lived through what he might dare say was hell, but what that were he couldn't really determine just by looking. It was then he moved his gaze and noticed the old scars on Alan's hands, and being the medic expert in the family he knew immediately those weren't ordinary injuries. Injuries like that are often made deliberate, and he was certain that it had probably caused him a lot of pain and was actually lucky that his nerves weren't served because of it.
He tilted his head upwards, pointing out the hands and asked, "What happened to your hands?"
Alan didn't answer right away, but he didn't need to because Virgil knew that it was a sore subject for him to talk about it. The awkward and uncomfortable tension had grown thicker than before and he was almost certain that he wasn't going to answer, but surprisingly Alan responded quietly with a hint of irony, "Someone thought that the best way to teach me obedience was to cut straight to the point, quite literally in fact. Stuck two knives straight through my hands, while holding me down and facing the excruciating pain."
Virgil was shocked by his words, and he wasn't sure at first if he should believe him or not, but the kid had no reason to lie and also he could detect any untruth in his words so he had to believe that someone had tried to hurt this kid. Was that the reason why this kid wasn't completely normal?
"But that's…" He tried to figure out how to continue his questions without messing it up too much, but his attempts were failing miserably. "Who would do such a thing? Was it someone in your family? Your dad perhaps?"
Alan just shook his head and answered almost heartbreaking, "No, not someone like that. The one who did that isn't someone who cares about me and the feeling is pretty mutual on my end as well."
The conversation died out after that, but that was fine by him anyways. It meant that he was left with his own thoughts, as he was completely confused over what he had discovered about his kidnapper. He had at first that the kid was just simple and the motive behind everything was money, but the proved to be similar to an onion. The kid had several layers that described and was a part of him, and for each layer he discovered there was a totally new side about him that ruined the recently established picture of him. Virgil wasn't sure what to believe, however he was certain that based on everything that Alan had told him during their short acquaintance he was certain that his words were fully the truth. Alan was planning on finding Fermat and bring him back home and bring the true kidnappers to justice, what exactly he meant by justice they would just have to wait and see, but nonetheless that left him with one pending question. Who was exactly Alan Shepard?
In front of the federal building a pink car had just been parked in front of the entrance. And out of the driver's side, an older man with a grey chauffeur uniform stepped out to open the passenger door. And if the pink car was just a surprising sight then the elegant lady that stepped out of the passenger side was a heart-stopping sight. A blonde-haired woman was dressed in a pink outfit, both her jacket and shirt was a matching pair, however if her appearance wasn't enough everything about the woman screamed of intelligence, elegance and properness. She quickly thanked her chauffeur and companion and told him to meet her once he was finished down here before she approached the building and entered inside.
With her destination in mind she took the elevator a couple of floors up and once the elevator stopped at the right floor she continued down the hall and entered the meeting room where she heard a loud and angry discussion going on. Immediately recognizing the voice behind the one who was the angriest of the bunch, she smiled before she knocked the door and ventured inside and said, "Hello, boys."
"Lady Penelope," Scott and Gordon Tracy said surprised, while Jeff just as surprised but more relieved to see her said, "Penny, what are you doing here? I thought you had that assignment in Indonesia."
Her smile had not disappeared from her face as she sat down on the empty seat next to Jeff and responded honest and elegantly, "I just finished it and I figured I could lend you a hand in the whole kidnapping case, especially since things has escalated to that Virgil has been taken as well."
Even though the four agents as well as the two other people in the room, who was most likely siblings based on their similar appearance, was stunned to hear how much she knew about the case despite it not being publically announced. However the Tracys and Brains knew far to well how knowledgeable she was and how easy it was for her retrieve such classified information, so they simply put her up to date with the things she didn't know already. And as she listened to took the notice that the federal agents weren't very happy or reassured by her presence, but she had quickly informed that she was there to be an helping hand and try her best not to interfere with the investigation. They agreed reluctantly on her cooperation and once she had learned what everyone on the room knew. She folded her nicely manicured hands and asked, "Well, how about you show me the video feed on the interrogation as well as any other evidence that brought you to the suspect Alan Shepard, and then we can start to get into the bottom of this mess."
The agents didn't say anything, only left the room most likely to fulfill her request, leaving her to catch up with Tracys.
Vinnie was being careful as he whispered into his cell phone and said, "The little Brat is coming your way, I was hoping you could give him a proper welcome should my guys fail to do it on while he is on his way to you."
The voice on the other end, chuckled lightly as she responded, "Consider it done. I assume I'm not suppose to rough him up too much, right?"
Rolling his eyes, Vinnie confirmed his boss's orders and quickly hung up afterwards. Once he put the phone back into his pocket he said to himself, "I wonder how the Ghost is going to react when he sees her again, seeing as he abandoned her four years ago."
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Thanks again for the response I have been receiving, hope you guys like this chapter.
So since school is about to start I can't promise when or how often I will be updating on this story, but I will continue it and write on it during the few moments I have time to spare and write.
One of my reviewers asked when the Tracys would figure out Alan's true identity, and to answer that question I have to say I'm not completely sure. However based on how the story is moving along it shouldn't be too long, but I first want to build some more into the relationship between Alan and Virgil. A vague answer, but it is the best I can do for now.
And as for those of you who reads my other TB story, Whispers In The Dark, I will be trying to weekly update the story on Mondays, but again I can't promise I will always be on time since I will be busy.
With that said, please continue giving me reviews, favorite and/or followings, and the next chapter will be out as soon as its done.
xXrebelgirl07Xx