B

Buster woke up. He had been dreaming. He opened his eyes and he was in a field. There was nothing but grass and a light breeze. It was a very early morning. He heard someone and went to see who it was. He saw Fern dressed In the most beautiful outfit, She saw him and went up to him and said " My beautiful Buster. I love you so. Please never leave me and please never deceive me." and she walked on the road and there was an earthquake and she fell down and there was a deep hole in the ground. Buster ran to her but he was too late and she fell and fell and there was then only darkness and….. And then Buster opened His eyes for real. He turned his head and saw Fern right there next to him. Her head just a couple inches from him. He felt her arm on his chest. He looked at her. Her lips still bruised from Tom hitting her. Buster had a feeling he never felt before. Fern was so beautiful and she was holding him. She was holding him because she was dreaming and asleep… not because she liked him. But he felt ok with her holding him and he didn't want to wake her up so he lay there. He lay there and he put his hand on her hand that was on his chest and he looked up at the darkness that was the room that their captors had left them in and he promised he would get them out of there…

Buster woke up and realized he was still in the same place as yesterday. He had kind of hoped it was a dream. He didn't see Fern by him so he looked and saw that she was on the edge on the bed sitting on it and seemed to be thinking. He wonder what she was thinking. He thought about what the guys said last night. They probably wouldn't know if he and Fern talked but….. He also recalled how they asked Fern questions. They were asking her first and were glad she lied. They wanted to scare Buster and make him tell the truth and he had…. Buster sighed and sat up next to Fern. She moved her head but didn't look directly at him just at the floor closer to his direction.

Buster whispered to her "Fern. Do you have any clues as to why we're here?" and Fern looked at him now and after a few seconds answered " I don't know why they kidnapped us, Buster… But I do have some clues. I was able to see the time that they got us with their van's clock and I know the speed the van was going…but I don't know where we are. I saw some street signs but not many." She told Buster that the time they were picked up was 4:45pm and that they arrived at this place at 5:55 pm. The car was going 55 mph most of the time but occasionally went 60 and slowed down to 35 and 45 at some points. She didn't see any street signs except for two. So when or if they got out they could provide some evidence of what happened and where these guys were located but she had no idea why they picked her and Buster or where they were.

"I'm didn't want you to be caught" Said Fern" But having you here has prevented me from totally freaking out. I'm glad I'm not alone" and Buster suddenly felt like hugging Fern… So he did and she let him. It was not a long hug but it wasn't a super short one either. Buster Fern Fern's warmth and was glad she wasn't cold. They released the hug and Buster looked at Fern and asked " How are your arms and lips?" and Fern replied " I'm ok Buster… just a little sore"

Buster told Fern what he thought about the interrogation techniques and Fern agreed that that was probably the truth. She agreed with him. Buster was glad she did and he thought about why he was there… because he wanted to be a better detective then Fern. He felt pretty ashamed that that was the reason why he was here with Fern…

B

It seemed like hours go by. Fern and Buster had talked a bit but not a ton. They didn't want Tom and Smith to know they had been talking. But they had decided it was probably a kidnapping so that the men could try calling Fern and Buster's parents and asking for money for their safe return… Buster and Fern both decided to look for a way to escape in case something very bad happened and they had to. The room they were in had one tiny window all the way up close to the ceiling and the only exit was the door they came in. Buster had went up to it and tried turning it. It was locked. It was too late last night to get much from the other room yet.

After a little while Buster heard the doorknob. He and Fern quickly got onto the bed and looked at the door. The man named Tom came in with a small table and put it on the ground and then went out for about 10 seconds and came back with two bowls with what looked like spoons or something in them. He sat them down and it looked like there was some kind of creamy soup in them. Tom started speaking now " This is your lunch. Eat it…. And after a bit we'll be calling your parents to arrange both of your returns home " and he left the room and Buster heard the same little locking noise …

Buster picked up the bowl. It was warm but not hot. He took a bite of it. It tasted good. He ate it quickly and he looked over and saw that Fern was eating hers too but not as quickly… so Buster ate a bit slower. When they were done they sat the bowls and spoons back down on the little table where they had gotten them. It was a kind of soup with Chicken, rice, potato, carrot, and other things in it and it was actually very good. If Buster was at home he would have asked his mom to get this for him a lot. He wondered why those men had actually fed them… Probably to try to get Buster and Fern to do as they wanted… and it seemed to Buster that if he and Fern didn't want to be hurt they didn't have much other choice but to do as the men said at least for now…

A while later Tom came back and picked up the bowls and spoons up. He left the little table there. A few minutes later both Tom and Smith came into the little room with Fern and Buster. The man named Smith was holding a phone. He looked at Buster and Fern and said " Now we will arrange for both of you to be returned to your parents."

The men brought in two chairs and they both sat down. Tom started talking " What we're going to do is this. We will call your parents and let you talk to them. You will not reveal any information about what happened. You will just tell your parents that you are ok and alive. As long as you behave and do as you're told you will stay ok and alive… Then we will ask your parents for a little safety fee… and then you will be returned to your parents safely with no harm" He looked at them "Will you do as we tell you?" and Both Buster and Fern said yes… Tom smiled and sat back down.

Smith took the phone and was dialing a number "You're first Fern" he said. He dialed a number and waited. The phone was apparently on speaker because Buster heard Fern's mom answer. "Hello?" She said. "Hello. My name is Smith and I have some questions for you" Fern's mom replied "Are you from the police department? My daughter never returned home last night." Smith had a look on his face and said "No Miss Walters I am not. Actually I have your daughter here and if you'd like to see her back you will call the authorities back and tell them that your daughter returned from a surprise sleep over with friends" There was a pause and Fern's mom replied " You kidnapped my daughter?" Smith replied "Yes I did. And you're going to pay me ten thousand dollars or she will not be returning to you" Fern's mom said "You better not hurt her" and Smith said "As long as you pay us and don't tell the authorities of us your daughter will be returned safely… do you understand?" There was a reply and Fern's mom said "I'll do what you want" Smith smiled and said "Again don't call the authorizes or let anyone know of this… OR your daughter may not be found…. In such well care as we are keeping her now" There was a pause and he continued "For now you may speak with you daughter for a minute" and He handed the phone to Fern. Fern had some tears in her eyes and she took the phone and held it "Fern?" said her mom thru the phone. "I'm here mom" said Fern. Her mom said "Are you ok?" and Fern replied "I'm ok mom. I miss you." Ferns mom said "They won't get away with this" and Smith took the phone gently from Fern and put it to his mouth and said " Now miss Walters we will arrange a method of payment for you child's safe return in about two hours. Answer your phone then please." and he hung up the phone.

Smith then looked at Fern who had tears in her eyes and then looked at Buster " It's your turn Buster Baxster" and he had a different look on his face as he dialed Buster's number. Buster thought the look was the look of someone who was unsure. When Smith had called Fern's mom he seemed like he knew exactly what was going to be said and exactly what was going to happen.

The phone rang and Buster's mom answered "Hello?" she said. Smith said "Hello. Is this Miss Baxster?" and she said "Yes this is. Is everything alright?" Smith paused for the briefest moment and said " Miss Baxster me and my colleague have obtained your son and if you want him back you will be paying us a fee. In short we have kidnapped your son and you will pay us and not alert any authorities… Do you understand?" There was a pause and she said "What have you done with Buster?". Smith said "Buster is fine and you may talk with him in a moment. Have you alerted any police about Buster not coming home last night?" She said "No, I have not" and Smith still had that look on his face as he said "Well don't. If you do then… Buster may have an accident and if you have called them…. Tell them Buster returned from a surprise sleepover with a friend.." He paused as Buster's mom said "Ok" and the Smith said " Now you may speak with Buster" and he handed the phone to Buster. Buster said "Hey mom" and he could hear his mom near tears now as she asked if buster was ok. He said he was. Smith took the phone from him after he confirmed and told Buster's mom "We will be calling you again in about two hours to arrange payment and the return of your child. Answer your phone then… bye" and he hung up.

Smith went out of the room with the two chairs and Tom said " You two will stay in here and play nicely. We will come back for you later tonight" then he closed the door and locked it leaving Buster and Fern alone in that small room.