A/N

My apologies for the horrific delay. This chapter was written on a Nook and the charging cord broke. To make a long story short, there isn't a Barnes &Noble in Fl that has one. They can only be ordered on line. It took 3 to get this chapter out. The last one is remaining permanently in place. I have bought an android tablet and will try that for my next chapter. Again, my sincere apologies.

The rhythmic thunk thunk thunk sound of a rising helicopter was unmistakable. Levi and Sawyer lowered their windows and looked up and clearly saw the bird point north and rapidly accelerate. In seconds it was gone from sight. They both cursed, Levi in Hebrew and Sawyer in English. Radar of the immediate area was requested, but no helicopter appeared. They ordered their own birds up to try and locate the enemy chopper but all that resulted in was a gigantic waste of fuel. Needless to say, the cabin was empty.

Hours passed and no one from Grey's team heard anything. Both Sawyer and Levi agreed on the make and model of the chopper they saw but were unable to locate any bird remotely similar in a 1500 mile radius.

Levi had reluctantly sent a terse message to headquarters informing them that Shelley had been kidnapped along with Grey, Grey's mother and Grey's personal security. He was pretty sure it would be his last official act before he was officially relieved of duty. Sawyer had informed Welch who was left with the task of informing Carrick and Elliot Grey. They would decide what to explain to Mia. Welch requested they all return to Escala immediately. Welch felt only Sawyer could explain to Ana and both men wanted Flynn on hand. Welch personally spoke to Gail and assured Sawyer she was taking the news better than he had expected.

Sawyer and Levi entered the penthouse in Escala through the service elevator and headed straight for the security office. Tired and feeling defeated,they walked in and stopped dead in their tracks when they saw Ari Ben Meir, head of Mossad, and General Brooks, head of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, along with Welch.

Sawyer stopped so fast, he stumbled and grabbed onto Levi to keep from falling. Sawyer racked his brain trying to think of a reason why both these men would be here and failed. Levi, at least had the wherewithal to come to attention and salute. Sawyer immediately straightened his posture, clicked his heels together and gave a crisp salute and a neutral "Sirs!"

Brooks and Levi returned the salutes, and ordered the men to take a seat. Sawyer was reminded he was no longer in the service and saluting was not necessary although the respect was appreciated.

Carefully and precisely, Welch shared the information he had been given. Schneiderman had apparently been a very, very bad boy. He had been collecting and stockpiling all manner of nuclear devices, parts and fuel. This was a well known, documented fact. What wasn't known is where everything was being kept.

The international community wanted the UN to seize the stockpiled weapons and destroy them. The UN agreed they should be destroyed but wanted no part in actually, physically seizing them or destroying them. In the end, it was decided that the US and Israel would be responsible for seizing the weapons and then Russia and Great Britain would ensure they were destroyed. Everything was to be top secret. They had planned for Shelley to be taken, but they had planned for her to be taken with her Mossad cohorts, not US civilians, especially not high profile US civilians.

Schneiderman was planning an auction. He would be taking bids on the weapons. Pakistan, Syria and N Korea were just some of the more interested parties invited to bid. Word was sent out early this morning that the live auction would be held later today. In addition to the weapons, Sashura Miheyev, now known only as the child prodigy Shelley, who had been kidnapped by Israeli spies and raised in Israel would also be up for auction.

It appears that Grey and his team were acting as unwitting puppets. Welch and Sawyer were furious.

Threats and insults were bandied back and forth amidst an ever increasing din when General Brooks spoke loudly, "Enough! Time is running out. We need to work together. Its time to improvise and adapt. Ari, give them the latest intel."

Ari quickly and concisely shared the info that Shelley, Grey and Taylor were being held on one of Schneiderman's private yachts and were cruising randomly in an area fifty miles off shore. Shelley was unconscious and Taylor appeared to be caring for her. No one would be in danger until the auction began. It would be an electronic auction that would live stream to the participants. There was no way to access the yacht by surprise.

Welch and Sawyer looked at each other and Welch spoke, "You know this because...?"

No one answered.

"Full disclosure, gentlemen, if you please." Welch demanded, with a touch of sarcasm.

Another long silence. Then Levi spoke. "We know because she was able to tell me. She is weak, drugged and unconscious, but she managed to whisper the boats name and that she had a plan."

"A plan! What plan?"

"That's the problem. We don't know."

Taylor woke to a knock on the door, immediately followed by a guard waving a gun and motioning for Taylor to exit the room. With an armed escort of two men, Taylor was brought on deck to Schneiderman, who was enjoying breakfast, seated at an elegant table complete with linen napkins and uniformed servers.

"Taylor," Schneiderman acknowledged, between a bite of his toast and a sip of his coffee. "You are going to be looking for a job soon and I wanted to offer you one."

Taylor's mind scrambled to think what position he should take. He decided on noncommital. He looked at Schneiderman curiously, but said nothing.

Schneiderman continued, "Today is a big day, the most important day in my life and everything must be perfect. We are having an auction later. What is the easiest way to get Grey's passwords and account numbers for his off shore accounts.

"You could ask him but he doesn't know them. He doesn't do his own banking."

"Who has it?"

"Only one person, his father."

"Fuck. Can't Shelley dig it out of his brain?"

"She could if it was there, but it was never there."

Schneiderman's egg filled fork paused on its way to his mouth, "Not acceptable. You will call his father and get the information." He nodded at a server and a satellite phone magically appeared. "Tell him I will personally see to it that his wife is raped non stop by my crew if he doesn't provide me the account numbers and passwords immediately.

"I don't have my phone and I don't know his number."

Schneiderman sighed. "I find you tedius, Taylor. Of course I have his number."

A few minutes later, Taylor heard a familiar voice, "Carrick Grey speaking,"

"Sir, it's Taylor. The kidnapper wants the account numbers and passwords for all of Christians off shore accounts."

"Taylor! Grace, how is she?"

Taylor doesn't reply. Silently he wills Shelley to send a mental image of Grace and her unconscious bruised body to Levi. There is a prolonged silence. Schneiderman angrily hisses, "Tell him what I said!" but before Taylor can speak, Carrick Grey clears his throat and then starts making demands. His wife and son must be safely evacuated to a neutral spot along with Taylor and the child. Schneiderman laughed long and loud. Taylor offers him the phone but he declines.

"Tell him I need 5 account numbers and passwords that work and I will return his wife. The others are mine. I have to consider what they are worth. The child is off limits."

Grey listens to Taylor's offer and agrees to it and starts rattling off numbers. Taylor looks around, flummoxed as he has no pen. Then he realizes someone is already recording the call. Grey completes the last password and Schneiderman reaches over and grabs the phone, then purposely releases the call.

Without another word, Taylor is returned to his stateroom. He looks at the unconscious child and takes her pulse. Strong and steady, maybe a bit rapid but kids run high. He sits in a leather club chair, leans his head back until it touched the wall and tried desperately to think of a solution to their dilemma without success.

"Don't worry, Taylor. It will all work out. Let me tell you my plan."

Taylor listened carefully as she shared her plan. His face paled dramatically. It was a terrible plan. The chances of it working was so small, it was pathetic. It was based on all kinds of improbable factors. She actually expected Ana to show up with her nurse. Now that was just plain crazy. No way would Welch or Sawyer allow that to ever happen.

"I know, Taylor. It all seems so impossible, but you need to trust me. The future is like a river. It flows, generally in one direction. You might be able to slow it down, maybe change the direction a little for a short while, but in the end, whatever is meant to be, will be. I believe that I have a purpose and that destiny will not allow me to die here today. We will succeed, you will see. Have faith, believe in the future and you will see it."

Taylor nodded, silently agreeing but not without some doubts.