Febwhump- DAY 17: Hostage Situation Movements-verse

Characters: Scott, Jeff, Kyrano, OC's

Warnings: Restrained, Beaten, Held for ransom

'Time to call Daddy and get him to pay up. He'll pay a pretty penny for you my lad.'

'I wouldn't be so sure.'

Scott's quiet voice, so full of pain and hurt, injury had the men pausing.

'You don't believe your Dad will pay for you?'

'My Dad hates me. I doubt he'd spend what you want on me.'

'Well, if that's the case, why do we need you?'

Sighing, Scott's head dropped to his chest and he closed his eyes.

'You don't.'

The man in front of him looked over Scott's shoulder to whoever was behind, a frown on his face. But then it cleared up and the man's face broke out into a feral grin.

'Nice try, boy. Got a silver tongue in your head just like your old man. The apple doesn't fall far from the tree.'

And he socked Scott hard enough that the chair tipped over. Two men picked him up, chair and all, and they sat him back in front of the camera. He supposed the blood he could feel trickling down from his nose would add emphasis to whatever demands they were going to make.

The laptop was switched on and the call made.

...

John's announcement that Scott was missing, presumed kidnapped, had Jeff freeze for a moment, unsure what he felt. But that initial numbness quickly wore off to be replaced by anger. Anger at Scott for being out and in a position to be taken. Anger at whoever had the audacity to take the boy. Anger at whatever demands they would make.

He picked up his phone and called a number, drumming his fingers impatiently on the desk while he waited for the call to be answered.

'Jeff. What can I do for you?'

'Scott's missing, been taken. Get here.'

'I'm on my way.'

Jeff hung up before Kyrano could say anymore and made his way into the kitchen. A strong coffee and he'd be as right as rain. While it was being prepared he went to find John. He needed to make sure that John sorted the boys and got them to school so that they were out of his way.

He found John in Alan and Gordon's room. He and Virgil were helping the two get dressed. Jeff watched them for a moment, the familiar surge of pride that he had birthed such excellent children. But he had a task to do.

'John – a word please.'

John looked up from where he was helping Alan get dressed. At the look on his Dad's face he left Virgil to finish off and made his way out of the room, closing the door behind him. John waited, arms folded, for whatever excuses the man was going to give.

'Thank you for bringing Scott's disappearance to my attention. I have already set wheels in motion to get your brother back. I would like you to take your brothers to school and try and have as normal a day as possible.'

'A normal day? Dad – Scott is *missing* and you want me to ferry the boys around and do what – go get a coffee or something?'

'John, please. I need to concentrate on whatever demands are made and I can't do that if – if you're hanging around. I promise I will get your brother back.'

'Your promises don't mean anything to me anymore, Dad, but you better have Scott back by the end of the day.'

And with that John turned on his heel and returned to the bedroom. He put a brave face on – his brothers were still so happy to have him home from Harvard for the week – and he listened as Gordon filled the room with chatter about his latest times in the pool.

John compartmentalised. And got them out of the house with the promise of breakfast at the diner before school.

Kyrano had set up all his electronic equipment and the two men were waiting. Neither said a word. The sheriff had been in contact about what had happened, and Jeff had smoothed over everything by saying he was expecting a call from Scott with an explanation and promised to let the Sheriff know. It wasn't exactly a lie. He'd called a company to tow the car away and get it fixed.

And so they waited.

When the call finally came Jeff's anger was almost incandescent. How dare they keep him waiting almost all morning! He motioned to Kyrano and the man disappeared out of sight while Jeff connected.

The video call connected and an image of Scott, bound to a chair with a trickle of fresh blood running from his nose and dried blood on his temple and cheek didn't help the anger, and Jeff ground his teeth in an effort to control himself.

'Scott.'

'Ah, the Great Jeff Tracy! How nice to make your acquaintance.'

A masked man stepped forward from the shadows behind the boy. Amateurs. That was Jeff's first thought. No voice modulator to keep from being identified. No pre-recordings so that the call could not be traced. The boy had allowed mere amateurs to kidnap him.

This was going to be easy. And he would show the underworld that Jeff Tracy was not a man to be trifled with.

'I am a busy man. What do you want.'

'Straight to business. I like this. Mr Tracy, you are a man of considerable means. Means that we would like to exchange some of for your son.'

'How much do you want?'

'$10 million.'

'No. That's too much. I'll give you $5 million.'

'This is not a negotiation, Mr Tracy. Give us what you want or we will kill your son.'

He turned and punched Scott again, once more sending the chair tumbling. Only this time no one picked him up. Instead, he got a kick to the stomach that had him gasping out loud.

'Now you listen to me. There is a good reason why I cannot give you $10 million. To get that amount to money out the bank would raise suspicions. $5 million, for a man of my stature, will not make anyone suspicious. So. $5 million. Name the place of exchange.'

'The quarry. 5 pm. Come alone.'

'Done. I will be there.'

The call ended and Jeff looked up and over to Kyrano.

'Do you have them?'

'Yes.'

'Get him back. And make an example of them. I want the world to know that they cannot attack me with impunity. Nobody attacks me, nobody.'

Kyrano inclined his head and left.