"The Neighbors: A New Emaya Story"
Rated M for Mature Content.
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Miriam and Joseph follow their security detail to the safety of the bunker while the rest of the guards take their positions to protect the mansion leaving two available men to trail Maya, Emily and Josh.
Just before Miriam and Joseph are scurried to safety Miriam whispers, "Find them. Without them I have no leverage. Find them."
"Yes ma'am. We'll find them and bring them back to you. We won't let you down."
"I know you won't."
Miriam smiles a winning smile…
Chapter 42: Captured or Saved
Narrator POV
"Open it Josh," Emily commands.
"I'm trying. It's stuck!" Josh insists unconvincingly according to Emily who thinks he's lying.
"Josh, please," Maya places her hand on his arm to calm him and ultimately irritates Emily.
"If we don't get out of here now we'll never get out of here!" Emily panics because she still isn't convinced that Josh hasn't set them up.
"Something's giving way. Hold on," he grits his teeth making the sounds of a man whose strength has been matched by the weight of the hatch he so desperately tries to open.
"It's moving!" Maya cheers with more relief than anything!
"Help me push!" He yells.
"No Maya, let me. You can't put any strain on yourself or the baby," Emily says protectively.
She and Josh push and push until finally the door gives way…
The Bunker…
"Miriam, what are you thinking?" Joseph asks concerned by the look on his wife's face.
"I'm thinking your son betrayed me," she says rather stoically.
"My son! Betrayed you! So he's only my son when things don't go according to your plans!"
"Watch yourself Joseph dear," she walks to the other side of the bunker where there appears to be another means of egress. "I had such high hopes for Joshua. I expected him to marry into a more refined lineage. I have never been displeased with Maya being his choice but I felt he could do better. Now I'm wishing he had. All of this because of her disrespect for the vows she took upon becoming Joshua's wife. Maya has a lover and an unborn child. I would have moved heaven and earth to keep that child a Grayson. I would have moved heaven and earth to keep Maya and her lover from raising our grandchild. That baby is a Grayson!" Miriam raises her voice for the first time.
Is she finally beginning to unravel?
"Miriam, why couldn't you just let them work it out on their own? Let Maya and Emily have their life together and have shared custody of the baby," her husband says frustrated.
"Work it out! She slept with a woman! She chose a woman over her husband! This is an embarrassment that will never see the light of day!" She loses her aristocratic composure.
"But it will. Joshua has sided with his wife and Emily. He's going to make this right," Joseph reminds her.
"Will he?" She questions her son's state of mind.
The hatchway…
The door opens but Josh stops. He backs up forcing Emily and Maya to retreat as well.
"Go!" Josh yells! "They're out there!"
Maya and Emily turn and run a short distance but freeze when they see a figure approaching.
"We're trapped!" Emily yells. "Dammit! We have to get out of here!"
A man dressed in all black steps through the hatchway followed by two others, "Maya, Maya St. Germain? I'm Special Field Operative Tanner. We're here to rescue you."
"Rescue? Who are you?" Maya asks unsure of what she heard or what to believe.
"Your father Frank St. Germain is waiting for you and your friend. You need to go with us now," he strongly insists.
"Oh my god! Emily! Josh! We're going home!" Maya cries. Emily surrounds her with her arms supporting her as Maya becomes overwhelmed with emotion.
In the meantime, Miriam's henchmen take off in the opposite direction away from the military rescue.
"We need to leave now. The hurricane winds are getting stronger and stronger. Our window of opportunity to get off this island is shrinking rapidly."
"Let's go!" Josh hurries us.
"Who are you?" Tanner stops his progress.
"It's fine. He's with us," Maya assures them.
"What about everyone else?" Emily asks.
"They should be safe if they stay underground," Tanner states.
"I'm not sure they're going to let us leave that easily," Emily fears.
"Well, we're prepared for that. Now let's get you out of here."
Josh, Maya and Emily follow the extraction team to the military plane. On the tarmac, Maya asks, "Are we really going to leave them here?"
"They need to be arrested," Emily adds.
"Right now the three of you are our priority. We need to get you off this island and back into the United States."
But before they can board, three hummers surround the plane with guns drawn.
"Get on that plane and we'll shoot!" one of Miriam's security officers shouts.
"I would think twice about that!" Tanner yells back.
The sounds of guns clicking into readiness are heard causing everyone to look above them. The rest of the team stands at the ready with weaponry far more sophisticated than Miriam's security team…
The Bunker…
"Miriam, once whoever's out there gets inside we'll be arrested and taken back to the states," Joseph begins to show his cowardice.
"Will we?" Miriam smirks.
"What do you mean?" He asks confused by her renewed confident demeanor.
"The door has a timer on it. No one can get in or out of that door until the timer goes off."
"But they have real guns Miriam!"
"It doesn't matter. They can't get through. The door is too thick," she practically scolds.
"So, when the timer goes off, the door will open and off to prison we'll go," Joseph says with his hands rubbing his head out of nervousness.
"Me? In an orange jumpsuit? I think not."
"Then tell me Miriam, how the hell are we getting out of here?"
The Airport Tarmac…
The security detail knows they're outnumbered and outmatched. They surrender their weapons, exit their vehicles and are taken into custody. They, too, will be sharing the flight home.
"Okay, everyone, let's board the plane now!"
Maya, Emily and Josh ascend the portable staircase behind Tanner followed by Miriam's security detail and the other members of the extraction team.
Once on the plane, Maya collapses in Emily's arms crying.
"Maya, hon, I'm here and I always will be. It's over," Emily says getting choked up by her own emotions and the relief she feels to be heading home.
"Will it ever really be over? I'm not convinced until Miriam is behind bars."
"Emily's right Maya, it's over. My mother will never get near you or our baby," he kisses her temple making Emily hold Maya even closer to her.
"I hate to admit this but I believe you, Josh, when you say you'll protect Maya and the baby from your mother. I think it was the way you said it actually. But I still have my eye on you," Emily narrows her vision but smiles an 'I'm okay with you for now' smile.
"I hate to break this up but you've got to take your seats and buckle up. We need to leave right now," Tanner insists.
Tanner pulls out a cell phone and makes the call to report that the extraction was a success.
"Maya, you only have a couple minutes but there's someone who wants to talk to you," he hands the phone to her.
"Baby girl! Maya!" Frank St. Germain says like the daddy who just got is little girl back.
"Dad! I miss you so much," she cries. "Is mom there too?"
"Of course baby, I'm right here! I love you so so much!" She cries happy tears.
"I love you too mom!"
"Are you okay?" she asks through her whimpers.
"Yes, me, the baby, Emily and Josh, we're all fine," Maya assures her parents.
"Josh! What's he doing there?!" Her father uses his protective voice.
"Dad it's fine. He helped us. He helped us get out of that house and onto this plane. Along with your team of special operatives," she laughs a little.
"Anything for my baby girl! But Maya, are you sure you can trust him?" He asks with much concern.
"Yes dad. It's complicated. But it's fine. I'll explain when I see you, okay?"
"Honey…"
"Maya, its time to say goodbye," Tanner holds out his hand for the phone.
"Mom, dad, we're leaving. I have to get off the phone now. I love you!"
"We love you too!"
Maya hands the phone to Tanner. Emily takes her hand in hers lacing their fingers, "Maya, it's over. You're having your baby in California or New York or wherever in the U.S. you want to. It's over," she smiles.
"I hope so Em, I really do," she looks deeply into her eyes, "and she's our baby," she kisses her sweetly on the lips. "Don't worry Josh, you'll always be her daddy and most likely she'll be daddy's little girl," she reaches over the seat in front of her and gives his shoulder a reassuring squeeze.
He turns, looking through the space between the seats nodding his gratitude.
The plane takes off from their temporary prison flying them to the safety of the United States. Flying them to the home they will make with their child. But where will this home be?
"Excuse me, Tanner?" Emily tries getting his attention once they've safely made their ascent.
"Yes Ms. Fields," he turns his head to speak with her.
"What will happen to the Graysons?" She asks with some nervousness.
"I'm hoping we'll retrieve them after the storm. They're not going anywhere. They might have an aircraft but they'll never have it ready in time to take off before the storm. As soon as we're cleared to return, we'll get them. We have our government and the surrounding governments working with us to make sure the Graysons have no means of escape."
"You don't know my mother," Josh jumps in.
"No, I can't say that I do but there's nowhere for her or your father to go," Tanner is convinced.
"My father tried to help in the end just as I did so I hope that will be considered," Josh appeals to Tanner.
"The feds will sort all that out."
"If you find them," Josh quips.
"What makes you think we won't?"
"Knowing Miriam, she had an escape plan long ago. I wouldn't be surprised if you find an empty bunker and no trace of them."
Maya peers over the top of her seat, "Josh! Are you saying you think your parents found another way off that island?"
"Yep, that's exactly what I'm saying."
"I hope you're wrong Josh. She needs to be punished for what she did to Maya and me and you know that," Emily says infuriated.
"I know. I want her punished too. But like I said, it's Miriam…"
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To Be Continued…
Someone sent a quote to me and I'd like you to read it…
"Reading a book then not leaving a review is like having sex without the big finish, it makes no sense! Always leave a review of what you have read…good or bad!"