Title: Trouble in Paradise
Chapter 3 – Destination Unknown?
*one day earlier*
Severide remained at the table with Travis a few more hours, just talking and eating, drinking and enjoying the buzzing of people that never seemed to end. Well it was kind of enjoyable at first, but after a while, Severide gets tired of all the fanfare and with drink in hand slowly wanders over to the other side of the sunny pool area.
Despite having to fly back on his own, he was actually looking forward to getting back home. It's only been a few days – lightweight! His mind chides as he walks up to the bar and orders something without alcohol in it.
"Your friend is very good for our business," the bartender nods toward Travis and as Severide looks at Travis and then back at the bartender. "Are you his brother?"
"Me? Uh no…just a friend," Severide replies in haste. "Thanks for the drink."
Severide heads toward a quieter area of the pool and then looks over the balcony and lets his gaze travel down the private section of the beach that was under the control of the hotel he was staying at. But as he squints into the distance he can instantly see where the distinction between rich and poor collided and his agitation slightly rises. Course back home, he knows they have certain areas of the city where there is more gang activity but he avoids it. I'll just stay here until the morning and then leave.
That was his plan. A good one. But it was about to be foiled.
"Kelly…hey come here and see this!"
He could just tell Travis he's done with all the fake fanfare but figures Travis did pay for his week's long vacation and since they were parting ways, why not enjoy it a few more hours. Thankfully for him it wasn't to be posted on social media but was just there to basically stroke Travis ego and he was just about done with that.
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"Sure wish I could change your mind."
"Might have if you were staying here. Just got used to the time change," Severide smiles as he shakes Travis's hand. "Thanks again. It was a great week."
"You sure?"
"Yeah…this…all this fanfare, it uh…it's not for me."
"Well…you have my number. If you change our mind…tell Leroy to drop you at the international part of the airport and join me for a bit more of the good life. Trust me…you won't regret it."
"Thanks again."
Severide watches Travis turn and head for the waiting limo and then looks down at his watch.
"Do you wanna eat here or out? One more night? We got straight there and back here."
"Wouldn't mind going back to Rico's," Severide slowly suggests, telling himself the driver would go straight there, stay while he had some dinner and then drive him back. "Want to join me?"
"Sure," Leroy relies with an easy smile.
"Alright, let's go."
Severide climbs into the back of the dark SUV and settles in for the short ride to the lively local establishment, his mind already knowing what edible delights he wants to order. But a few minutes later he looks out the window to see some flashing lights and then watches as Leroy is directed to take a detour route.
"Should we turn back?" Severide asks slowly.
"This shouldn't be too long. Just…make sure the doors are locked."
Severide hears the uneasiness in the driver's tone and then looks outside with his own feeling of growing agitation. "Course," he agrees as he double checks the doors. But when he notices the driver drive straight past a detour sign that told them to turn right, his agitation soars.
"Hey are you sure you know the way to…" Severide starts to tell the driver of the black SUV as they drive through an area that he knew wasn't safe for most people to travel. "I think we're lost."
But before he could get another word out, the SUV banks hard to the right, as if skidding to avoid something and then stops suddenly; making Severide's body jerk forward, connect harshly with the back of the SUV's seats and then crumple back onto the leather seats. "What is…what…happened?"
However, a few seconds later, both doors are roughly yanked open. Instead of the two people asking if he was okay, Severide looks up to see two guns being pointed at him and one demanding him to …"get out. Now!"
"Okay…okay, hold on…a sec…" Severide grumbles as he tries to get out of the backseat but when the two men think he's moving too slow, each take an arm, haul him out and then let him drop to the ground on all fours. He looks up just as the two men stick their guns in his face and cock the triggers. "Whoa…wait! Please…just wait…what…do you want?"
Just before anyone can say another word, one man motions to the other when they hear Leroy offer a soft grumble from the front seat and Severide can only watch in horror as the man raises his gun and fires too shots at Leroy – taking him out of the game for good.
"Nooo! Hey! Wait!" Severide shouts as he foregoes his own safety and then lunges at man covering him. But the other rushes in and shoves the gun into his cheek just as the one he had tried to knock off his feet delivers a blow to his jaw. "Okay…okay," Severide stammers as he's shoved backwards onto his butt and then looks up with his hands raised. "What do you want money? I…I have none…"
He hears the men talking to one another in Spanish and curses himself for only knowing a few words. 'Rich…driver…money…hotel…'
"No…no look I am just borrowing…this isn't mine! I was getting….hey…wait!"
"Move!" One of them growls as he pushes the gun into Severide's flushed cheek. "Up! On your feet!"
"Now!"
"Cuff him."
"What? You're police?" Severide asks weakly as a pair of plastic zip-cuffs is removed and then his hands are forced together as one of them pushes the gun a bit further into his cheek. "Look there is some…mistake here! Check my ID!" He tries again. 'Oh yeah and just don't have any trouble with the locals…and by that I mean law enforcement. Some are good but some…are bad and I mean slit you open and leave you by the side of the road bad if they think you're loaded. That's why…we travel in packs.' Travis had warned him on the plane.
"Stop…talking!" One of them growls and gives him a sharp clip to his head with the nuzzle of his gun just as wrists are painfully forced together; effectively trapping him.
"Time to go. Now. If you don't cooperate. Your left kneecap is the first to go! Now…MOVE!"
"Okay…okay," Severide states as one of them yanks his arm and tries to haul him upright. In desperation he looks around the quiet and darkened alleyway, his heart racing at top speed and knows he's in trouble. They were going to quickly discover he didn't have the money that Travis tossed around so he wasn't worth anything in a ransom and when that happens, he's dead and he knows it. He could try to play along and pretend to be someone important in Travis's empire and then get a call out but knows that when no money is produced he's dead anyways. So…he does the next thing that comes into his frantic brain. RUN!
Severide starts to take a step on the uneven ground. And just as he straightens up he fakes another fall, pushes out forward and lands a swift elbow into the jaw of the man closest to him and then quickly brings a leg up and strikes at the other, making both of them stumble. His fists useless to use at the same time.
With both men stumbling to get back up and without wasting another second, Severide pivots on his booted heel and then races toward a patch of dark brush between two rundown homes. A shot pierces the air and he can only cry out as he feels a patch of skin on his right side slice open from the bullet as it whizzes past. He ducks into another yard and then lets out a grumble as the ground beneath him gives way and he tumbles down a small embankment into a dirty, damp ditch.
With only seconds to spare, he quickly claws his way through the dirt – his destination, a drainage opening a few meters away. He hears the men shouting behind him just as he pulls his aching frame into the damp opening and then holds his breath, praying they'll pass him by.
This time they do. Severide listens to the stomping boots overhead as their heavy steps loosen some bits of dirt and debris that rain down upon him, threatening to make him sneeze and potentially seal his fate.
"This way!"
He doesn't move. Doesn't breathe. Doesn't blink until what seems like an eternity has passed and he's able to finally let out a painful exhale. But despite his fresh wound and the fact he's still bound the only question his mind needs to get answered is – what the hell do I do now?
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"Casey…"
"Chief something's up. I'm going to go down there and…"
"What?"
"I've done some reading on this guy Travis. He's travelled a few of these exotic locations and left a few mistakes behind. The problem is he doesn't pay for those mistakes – others around him do. Maybe it's intentional, I don't know but if Kelly is locked up in some damn prison down there or…or worse then I have to…Chief you know he'd never not answer. It's already been a day. Travis said he left Kelly at the hotel. The last text I got from him was early yesterday morning. It's…you know he'd never not answer. Kelly doesn't play games."
"I know…" Boden huffs as he looks at Casey's determined expression. "Both my Lieutenants missing in action?"
"Herrmann is qualified to help lead truck, he just needs the practice. But if you need help call Eric. And Kelly had already arranged for someone from House 4 to cover for the month. I hope this won't take more than a day or…two. He'd do it for me."
"He would," Boden agrees. "Okay but… I don't want you going all rogue down there. Check the hospital first and then see what happens. Keep me posted when you can."
"You got it Chief."
Casey turns and hurries out of Boden's office. After telling Gabby he was going after Severide, he grabs a small duffle bag and hails a cab. On the ride to O'Hare, Casey starts to troll all of Travis's social media pages, telling himself that maybe there will be something…some kind of clue as to where his friend might or who might have been with him or where he was last.
"Come on Kelly….give me something," Casey sighs as he rubs his face. He finally finds the first post and then starts to search from there. He reaches the airport and hurries toward the international check-in, taking the last economy seat to Buenos Aires and hoping he'd get there and….
And then what? How on earth will I find Kelly? And where could he be? What's going on?
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"Wh…huh…" Severide mumbles as his body is jerked from his sleepy, painful stupor; his legs inadvertently kicking out and then instantly pulling back as his mind flashes images of his current, angst-ridden predicament.
'Detour…is this the right way…LOOK OUT…get out…hands up…don't move…or you DIE!'
Severide blinks several times and then tries to rub his face. But he quickly looks down at bound wrists and then starts to feel the searing pain in his side and his senses finally force him all the way back to reality. Damn…wrists still bound with this stupid piece of plastic and I was shot…in the side…is the bullet still in?
He recalls there were two men chasing him and knows he can't just go walking around outside asking for help. Who would he ask? Where was he? He knows he's in an area where an outsider could have his throat slit for just a few dollars or asking for the wrong directions. Help? It was out of the question.
Severide tries to twist his wrist around to see if there was enough light coming from the outside ambient lighting to at least see what time it was. He's sure he texted Casey to tell him he was coming back early but now he can't remember clearly.
"Still dark…" Severide offers a whispered growl as he slumps back against the cool metal side of the dirty culvert drain. Where can I go? Police station? Would anyone help me? They can't all be crooked? Hospital? I have travel insurance but…ah damn I think they took my phone and wallet. Now what…
Think…find something to cut yourself free with and then…find a phone and call Matt. He'll know what to do. He has a copy of my passport and…ah damn what have I gotten myself into.
"Travis…" Severide hissed as he eased himself down onto all fours and then carefully crawls toward the opening and then stops, holds his breath and then dares to poke his head outside into the cool, early morning air. In the near distance, he hears a dog barking, some faint sirens and some men shouting.
That's them…stay put a few hours more and then…but he also knows he can't emerge bound in the middle of the daylight and not attract attention to himself.
Get out…find a way to get free, get something to cover yourself with and then find a phone and call Matt.
He waits a few minutes longer and then…decides to take a chance and get himself some help. Of some kind. "Yeah…but where? Where the hell am I?"
Severide listens to the silence at first. Then a dog barks and someone shouts something and then stops. Did they see me? Footsteps heading his way and he knows his luck has just run out.
RUN!
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A few hours later, Casey's plane touches down and he's quick to collect his small duffle bag and head for the entrance to the large airport. As soon as the doors open, he's greeted with a blast of warm, early morning air. He heads for the nearest cab and gives them the address for the hotel Severide had stayed at as part of Travis's entourage.
At first the cab driver looks at him in disbelief, probably wondering how someone dressed as casual as him and hailing a cab would be staying at something so upscale and…expensive. "You…sure?"
"Yeah I'm looking for…someone. A friend."
The cabbie nods to him and then turns around with a small grimace but puts the car in gear and silently complies. As they meander the streets, heading toward the oceanfront, Casey continues to flip through the social media pages he saved – the last one taken the day before at lunch or…breakfast? It was at the hotel. But he's also interested in the one taken at the club the night before that, where unbeknownst to him, Severide had a run in with a local that would come back to revisit him a bit later.
"Thanks," Casey says as he offers the cabbie a modest tip and then heads for the front door of the hotel. "I'm looking for Kelly Severide's room."
"Okay and…are you a friend?"
"I am," Casey answers as an uneasy feeling starts to develop. "Is…something wrong?"
"He was supposed to check out yesterday morning."
"I know that."
"But…he never did. We had to clean his room because it was quickly booked for another guest but we have his bags here in our lockup. Do you know where he is?"
"No. But that's why I'm here," Casey states firmly as his brow slightly furrows. "I think my friend is in trouble and I need to find him."
But how? As his world stars to slowly turn, Casey looks around at the unfamiliar landscape and faces unwilling to help an outsider. He was on his own in a foreign country trying to find a friend missing almost a day. What is going on? Who do I call first the police? Hospital?
"Keep his stuff here and I'll be back for it. With Kelly."
Casey heads for the entrance to the posh hotel and then flags down a cab. "Nearest hospital." Casey gives the direction and then leans back on the tattered vinyl seat and shakes his head.
Kelly…what happened? Where the hell are you?
A/N: eeks! So Kelly was mistaken for Travis? Or was…Travis behind it somehow? Hmm but yikes where is Kelly going to find help? Or has time run out on him? And will Casey find his friend in time? Please do review and let me know your thoughts and how you think our boys reunion will be/go up next? Thanks so much!