authors note: so my code didn't show up properly in the last chapter but I explain it a bit in here
"Hey buddy… you getting out or what?" the driver's voice snapped him awake. He nodded and handed the man all the money in his pocket…
Darkness still hung heavily over the city… The street was quiet, as he stepped out of the cab… quiet like most residential streets at 3:15, but it felt eerie. He watched the car drive away, despair settling over his mind as he stood alone in the pool of dim yellow light cast by the streetlight above him. He looked at his phone again… at the text that came through an hour ago…at the picture of the little girl… Her hair was a mess, her green gold eyes wide, tears on her flushed cheeks she wore pink and blue princess footed pajamas… the message that followed was simple… 2436 S Jefferson… before dawn…contact no one. The threat implied by the wiry hand over the child's mouth froze his blood in his veins…
Neal raised his left hand and twitched his right arm up from the shoulder as far as he could, turning around slowly in a full circle.
"Ok…I'm here" he spoke softly to the empty darkness.
"Smart kid…" the unfamiliar voice was harsh "and you didn't use your phone either… that's good. Means I don't have to kill this little sweetheart… yet. He said you had a real soft spot for kids. That's too bad for you."
"how do you know I didn't use my phone? Fifty FBI agents could be watching right now" Neal turned to face the voice. He barely registered the scrawny man with eyes as cold, hard and grey as steel and thin greying hair, his eyes going instead to the terrified face of the little girl he held. Steel Eyes laughed
"we know…" his voice held a superior note "we've been watching you… there were no outgoing calls or messages from your phone… you spoke to no one before you left the hotel… and the cabby… well…if you did talk to him… he won't be telling anyone." The nasty look in those eyes did not bode well for the driver. Neal cringed, remembering the picture of a woman and a young boy on the man's dash… more innocent lives destroyed because of him… he tried not to think about it but the regret sat in his gut like a stone… No! It couldn't happen… He couldn't let that happen.
"I didn't say anything to him… I fell asleep…ok? You don't have to hurt him…"
"I'm afraid we can't take your word for it… but if you are telling the truth the man has nothing to worry about… he may even consider it a good night…if you are lying…" Neal nodded, grateful his run had left him too drained to think about sending a message for help.
Emily Reynolds was sobbing, wailing as only a small child could, the sound muffled by the hand clamped over her mouth, tight enough it looked like it might bruise. She kicked and struggled against the strong arm around her waist. Neal flinched but kept his voice low and calm
"Ok I'm here… do what you want with me… just let her go."
"Not yet… I think you will be more… cooperative if she comes along."
"She's just a baby… she has nothing to do with this." His blue eyes were nearly as wide and frightened as the child's though he struggled to keep the panicked edge out of his voice "just let her go home…she's can't ID you." Steele Eyes shook his head…
"Let's consider her insurance… to ensure you stay in line… I won't hurt her… as long as you keep me happy…" Neal gulped, his breath came in frantic gasps. His heart hammering wildly against his ribs… he couldn't get words past the growing lump of dread in his stomach. He nodded in defeat. He was going to die. He hoped desperately that he wouldn't take agent Reynolds little girl with him. He knew with absolute certainty that would destroy a good man… "Good boy." The man tilted his head toward a car "get in" not one for a lot of words then…
The man shoved Emily in beside him and slammed the door. Her screams echoed in the enclosed space "Wet me gooooo! I want my DAAAADDY!" she wailed… Neal reached to comfort the child but she pulled away as frightened of him as the kidnapper "NOOOO! You BAD MAN… NOOOO!" he flinched and withdrew his hand. He glanced at the hard man in the front… he had to calm her in some way before she was hurt. Desperate he racked his weary mind… unable to think of anything else he tried singing to her softly
"Hush little baby don't say a word… daddy's gonna buy you a mocking bird…" Tears shining in her peculiar eyes, she quieted a little "if that mocking bird won't sing… daddy's gonna buy you a diamond ring…"
"I want my daddy" she whimpered but it was almost a whisper… broken by tiny sobs... as she pressed her back against the other side of the car.
"Your daddy will find you… he'll come Emily…"Neal hoped he wasn't lying to the toddler "it will be ok... no one is going to hurt you." Her sobs got a little louder "Bet he will buy you a present when you get home too" then giving up on talking he went back to singing…it seemed to work to keep her quiet.
"If that diamond ring turns brass… daddy's going to buy you a looking glass…"
)()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()(
He eyed the sign as the man pulled him from the car… Not the huge colorful sigh that dominated the fence declaring COMING SOON. The smaller almost obscure sign that murmured "demolition scheduled for April 6 … 9:00am... a warning for the general public… advising the curious and the homeless alike to be elsewhere at that time. Neal's heart dropped. It was April 6th and while there still wasn't the tiniest hint of lessened darkness along the eastern horizon he had a feeling he would still be here at 9 am…dead or alive…unless he did something, this beautiful old hotel was going to bury him.
He looked down at the sleeping child in the back seat… He may be going to die in this building, but she was going home to her daddy… safely… there simply was no other option. Emily was 3 years old, she should have never been a part of this mess. Your fault the nagging voice in his head reminded him…another innocent caught in your wake. He despised that voice but it was right. "Don't worry Emily…I'll fix this." He whispered.
The driver opened the door and yanked Neal to his feet. Steel Eyes was stronger than he looked. He shoved Neal's phone back into his hand…
"You are going to send a text… telling her daddy that you took his little girl. That he'll get her back when he stops looking for you." Neal swallowed the sick feeling in his throat.
"Me?"
"Yes, you, and you will let me read it before you send it so no funny business." He nodded and looked at the phone… carefully wording his text… without a word Neal handed Steel Eyes back the device, hoping the man wouldn't notice the awkward wording and extra spaces.
"This is a mess…" the look was suspicious
"You try texting with just your left hand" Neal countered. That made the guy smirk darkly but with a shrug he hit send, turned off the power and tossed the phone in the bushes. Neal released the breath he suddenly realized he was holding. Now he just hoped Peter saw the message and understood all it really said was "not running, Emily safe. Demolished" and nine dots to tell him when.
"Pick her up" Neal eyed him doubtfully but he didn't argue with the .38 that appeared in the older man's hand. Picking up a sleeping child with one hand was almost impossible… carrying her was an entirely different challenge… he arranged her as carefully as he could… hoping she would stay asleep…
He focused on the building… late Victorian era construction …1890's most likely judging by the rounded windows and the sharp turrets that rose from the corners and on either side of the entrance. Steel Eyes prodded him inside through a small side door.
Someone had attempted renovations… probably in the 1960's or 70's guessing by the oranges, green's and browns on the peeling walls, in the torn carpets, dark wood paneling hung askew on loose nails… some pieces had come free entirely, lying on the floor… the work was unfinished and it looked like the building had sat empty since then. Glass from broken windows and shattered bottles flung across the carpeted and wooden floor… spoke of long abandonment. The place was massive, five stories of long dark corridors, dozens of empty rooms…he noticed a door leading to a basement.
His heart sank… he knew why he wasn't gagged… no one would hear him no matter how loud he yelled.
)()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()(
Peter stood toe to toe with Reynolds. Glare to glare. He wasn't backing down… there wasn't time.
"You have to listen to me! Neal did not kidnap your daughter!"
"You keep saying that!" Reynolds hands balled into fists "but you have yet to offer one shred of evidence to support that."
"Because I know him!"
"You claim you know him, but he let you think he was dead! For a year..! If he hurt you like that… and he claims you are his friend! I want my daughter Burke… I will get her! And I will go through anyone who gets in my way… including you." His voice sank to almost a whisper, the fire in his eyes desperate and wild.
"Reynolds, if you want Emily home you have to listen to me, please."
"I don't have to listen to you…! I should have you removed…" time for new tactic
"Answer this… How did he do it?"
"What do you mean?"
"How did he break into your house…grab Emily… and get her out of the house without you hearing anything?"
"He's an expert in burglary."
"True but a sleeping 3 year old is what? 30...40 pounds of dead weight… if she were awake she would be fighting and trying to yell…either way…how did him-?"
"You don't think a grown man could…?" Reynolds trailed off as realization hit
"Not with just his left arm."
"He had help." Peter shot him an exasperated look, but he would take what he could get.
"Ok either he had help or someone else did it… who would help him…here?"
"He has connections I'm sure…"
"He does but he's been in a safe house since he got here… this wasn't his idea Reynolds!"
"If you are going to keep defending this... this… monster" Reynolds snarled "I don't want to hear it."
"Fine I won't defend him." Peter hastily took another tact, again.
"You won't?" that got Reynolds attention
"No" Peter sucked in a deep breath. There wasn't time argue he needed Reynolds to listen. "If he took her…if he did…he will not hurt her…he will keep her safe… the text said so." That calmed the other agent just a tiny bit "he has never hurt anyone… he's not going to start with a 3 year old…" Peter forced himself to breathe… to focus on the resources he needed from this office… not being in charge put him in a difficult positon… and he needed Reynolds cooperation.
"Good now we are on the same page"
"No we aren't, Neal was never in Brook Mont…"
"You're sure about that?"
"There is a message in the text…" Peter held up his notes not running. Emily Safe demolished "how many buildings are scheduled for demolition today?"
"You think he left her in a …?" horror flashed through Reynolds' eyes as the blood drained from his face.
"I doubt she is alone."
)()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()(
Neal couldn't help smirking… Steel Eyes cursed when the limp arm slipped out of his grasp and dropped heavily back to Neal's side … for the third time…
"Hold it up." He snapped
"Sorry… can't" he blinked against the stars that erupted in his vision when the man wrenched his arm back up... It was the truth, two weeks of therapy and he could swing the appendage at the shoulder a little, make the fingers twitch slightly, but holding it over his head while balancing on his toes…that was hopeless. The useless limb fell lifelessly from the man's grip again… Neal almost grinned…
"I said hold your arm up."
"We've been through this… remember… nerve damage…someone put a bullet through that shoulder…" Steel Eyes glared at him and jerked the leaden arm back above Neal's head, looping the packing twine around the wrist on the way up. Neal flinched as the thin bindings bit into this limp wrist…the appendage tried to slither away again and Steel Eyes growled profanities as his fingers dug into Neal's skin…A twinge shot through his shoulder when the man tugged on it again pulling his hand up to the fixture above the young man's head… to say the position was uncomfortable was putting it mildly… but at least his arm was frustrating someone other than himself.
He tried to see the clunky wrought iron sconce he was bound too but…he could only get a glimpse over his shoulder… black and heavy, clearly not part of the original décor of the room, it hung almost 8 feet from the floor…forcing him to stretch to his fullest height for his wrists to reach… the waxed packing twine was already beginning to chew into his hands as the old man twisted it around and around them… at least 10 loops around each arm. His chest and shoulder stretched painfully with the weight of his frame partially supported like it was. Breath whistled harshly in out of his scarred lungs in this position and his heart thudded desperately in protest. Neal pushed up on his toes as much as he could trying to relieve the pressure.
The rest of the room had undergone a garish redecorating to match the light above his head, the renovations here nearly complete, he thought as he focused on anything other than the shrieking in his chest. Orange and yellow speckled thick shag carpet stained over the years of abandonment with things Neal didn't even try to identify… dark wood paneling and yellow striped wall paper hung from crumbling walls… it was vaguely embarrassing that he was going to die in this room… wearing jeans and a t-shirt no less.
A tiny sound shifted his gaze, something between a hiccup and whimper came from the tiny body across the room. Emily was curled up in the corner on the dusty carpet, early morning light dancing over her delicate form… still sleeping, though not peacefully. She tossed fitfully and moaned "daddy" before her little finger slipped between her lips and she settled. A soft breeze from the broken window lifted her silky blonde hair from her forehead…
"Please." Neal looked at their captor… "She isn't part of this… please let her go… you can drop her off at a park and no one will even notice you." Old Steel Eyes just grinned at his pleading and turned away. The ring tone startled both of them. The older man grabbed the phone and headed for the door… with a look that under other circumstances his captive would have called fear.
"Wilson…" Neal heard the man say as he stepped though… "It's under control…"
Neal squirmed against the twine… testing its hold on his hands… dropping his weight against it fully. He nearly screamed as fire tore through his chest… but the twine held. He sighed pushing himself back up, gasping. He knew given time he could break free strand by strand but… he glanced at the growing light in the window…he didn't know how much time had passed since Steel Eyes …Wilson he corrected, shoved him in here …but the sun had come up before Wilson came back to tie him to the light fixture… he knew he didn't have much time. He wasn't sure he had the pain tolerance either.
Wilson stepped back into the room with an ugly look in his eyes… he set a small digital timer in the corner…
"It's 8 o'clock..." he grinned "in exactly 1 hour the first charges will go off…" he stepped close to Neal and whispered "you want to know where one of those charges is?" Neal refused to look at his nasty expression "there is a pillar in the basement… under that wall there." He waved toward
Emily." He moved back holding up the timer… "Thought you might enjoy knowing how many seconds you had left… have a nice morning…well the next hour of it anyway." He turned to leave…making no move toward the sleeping girl. Panic surged though his captive
"What about Emily… take her with you!" He choked. Was he actually begging a kidnapper to take a child? "Please… take her."
"Afraid I can't do that… it's a shame really… she is a cute kid, but my boss thinks her daddy needs a lesson in minding his own business."
Neal's heart dropped to his feet…
)()()()()()()()()()()()()()()(
Two…
There were two buildings scheduled for demolition in DC that day. One at 9:00am and one at 2:00 pm. They ran for the cars…Reynolds was certain they would only find his daughter there. That was a good thing, he thought, because he meant it when he said if there was one scratch on his baby he would kill Caffrey. Even if she wasn't hurt he wasn't sure what he would do if he ran into the man. First they had to get to the building in time to stop its destruction. If she was inside… Clearly Caffrey didn't care if she was killed or not if he left her there…
Reynolds was shaking, whether it was fear or fury… he didn't know but it definitely wasn't the warm spring morning. He had to get to her… he would get to her in time.
The ride was a silent one…Reynolds had nothing to say to Burke. Not now… later when Emily was safe… there was plenty he wanted to say. He would most likely be filing a complaint against the man. He still maintained his defense of Caffrey, relentlessly insisting that he would never kidnap a child… or anyone. He seemed to simmer with self-righteous anger despite the evidence against the man… despite Caffrey's confession.
Stepping out of the car, they hurried toward the old building searching for anything that would indicate Emily was here. Anything at all.
The warm sunshine and soft breeze touched his face but his heart remained frozen. It would have been a perfect day to go to the park with his baby.