Chapter 32- The Switzerland Rescue

Spencer opened the door to find Chase in the hallway.

"Hello, Spencer, I need to ask you a few questions," Chase said.

"Uh, sure." He let him in.

"So, Ace was in your care, correct?" Chase asked.

Spencer nodded. "I have temporary custody."

"And the terms of the agreement were that Ace couldn't leave town and you must return him to Esme once she's released. So, why was your father taking off with him?"

Spencer swallowed hard. "He wasn't taking off with him. I allowed him to take Ace to the park for a couple of hours. That's all."

"Harboring a fugitive is a serious offense," Chase said. "It can be punishable by up to one year of incarceration."

"Well, where is Ace now?" Spencer asked. "What about Father?"

"Nikolas has been arrested," Chase said. "Ace is back in the care of his mother. But she had to take him to the hospital because he was having trouble breathing."

The colour drained from Spencer's face. "What?"

GHGHGH

"Ace has severe anemia," Carolyn explained.

Esme held Ace's hand through the bars of the crib and looked at Felicia with wide eyes, then back to Carolyn. "But… he's going to be okay, right?"

"It seems he's been under too much stress lately," Carolyn said. "It's hard for any baby to be separated from their mother, but even more so, so soon after having heart surgery. Plus, going between houses doesn't help. And you mentioned he was being taken by someone who is a stranger to him… that was probably the last straw on the camel's back."

"Will he have to have more surgery?" Felicia asked.

"At this point, no," Carolyn said. "But I would like to give him a blood transfusion. If family could donate that would be better, then he should be able to go home right after. Otherwise, there's a waiting list for the blood bank and that could take a few days."

"Well, I'd be happy to donate," Felicia said.

"Then I'd suggest heading right down to the blood clinic," Carolyn said.

Esme shook her head. "I don't want to leave him."

"Sweetie, I can stay with Ace if you want to go first," Felicia offered. "Since your blood will be closest to his. He's sleeping now, so it might be a good time for it."

Esme nodded and kissed Ace's cheek. "Mommy will be right back."

"I'll take you there." Carolyn led Esme out.

Felicia stroked Ace's hair. "It's okay, sweet boy. Everything's going to be fine."

She turned when the door opened and Spencer stood there white in the face. "Is Ace okay?" he asked.

Felicia clenched her jaw. "Spencer, now isn't a good time."

"I want to help."

"Okay, then call your grandmother and Kevin, and go give blood. But do not upset my daughter."

GHGHGH

Ned and Olivia stayed behind to inform the police. When Spinelli, Maxie, Sam, and Elizabeth arrived at Victor's mansion, they decided to split into pairs. Sam and Elizabeth searched upstairs while Spinelli and Maxie checked the basement.

"Once I see her, I'm going to kill her," Maxie grumbled through the hallways. "She's never having access to a computer again and she's not hanging out with Jake and Danny anymore."

"Maximista, you don't mean that."

Maxie sighed. "No, I don't. Jake and Danny are great kids. So is our daughter. I'm just furious. How could they run away without telling any of us?"

"They are seekers in the realm of mystery and danger. Just like—"

"Just like their parents," Maxie said.

"You must admit, Georgie is the perfect integration of us both," Spinelli said.

Maxie nodded. "Yeah. She is. She has your intelligence and my attitude. And I know I put my parents through way worse than this. We wouldn't have done any different from the kids if our friend was in danger. Sometimes I wish she was a little more like her namesake though. Big Georgie was always honest and responsible. She would've been a way better mother than me."

"You are a good mother. Georgie, James, and Bailey adore you."

"Thank you, Spinelli. But it isn't fair that I'm still here and Georgie isn't. She deserved to have a beautiful family, not me." She started to choke up. "My kids deserve a mother like her. I treated my sister horribly. The text message killer should've killed me instead."

Spinelli wrapped his arms around her. "No. If he killed you then Georgie, James, and Bailey wouldn't exist. Neither you nor Wise Georgie deserved it."

"I can't lose my daughter too," Maxie cried. "I wouldn't be able to continue on."

"We won't lose her. She's strong and she's with Jake and Danny. We will find her." He lifted her chin and kissed her.

GHGHGH

Jake tried the next door but groaned. "Locked. Charlotte, are you in there?"

They heard a shuffling noise, then Charlotte's voice. "Jake? Is that you?"

Jake grinned. "Yes, it's me. Danny, Georgie, I found her! Charlotte, is it unlocked from your side?"

Danny and Georgie hurried over.

"No, I'm locked in," Charlotte said.

"All right, I'll try to kick the door down," Jake said.

"Or I can pick the lock," Danny suggested. "My mom taught me. I just need a pin or something."

Georgie reached up and pulled a hair clip from her hair. "Will this work?"

"Perfect." Danny took it from her and crouched down.

A couple minutes later they heard a click. Charlotte stepped out and hugged Jake.

"Are you okay?" Jake asked.

Charlotte nodded.

"We better go," Jake said.

"Wait," Georgie said. "It sounded like they're bringing Ace here."

"And we need to find Georgie," Charlotte added.

"What?" Georgie asked. "I'm right here."

"It was another Georgie," Charlotte said. "She said she's your mom's sister. I was in the same room as her at first, but then they moved me."

Georgie stared at her for a few moments. "Aunt Georgie? But Mom said she died way before I was born."

"Well, well, well." They turned to Victor's voice when he stepped into the hallway with two of his goons. "What do we have here?"

Danny lifted Sam's gun but one of the goons knocked it out of his hand.

"There will be none of that, Daniel," Victor said. "You aren't going anywhere with my granddaughter. Kill them, gentleman."

GHGHGH

"Have you heard from Maxie?" Felicia asked through her phone while she sat in the waiting room.

"No," Mac said on the other line. "Unfortunately. But I'm sure we'll hear soon. No news is good news."

"I hope so. How are the kids?"

"Good. Bailey should wake up from her nap soon. James is just watching some cartoons. I thought I'd take them to the park."

"That's good. Hopefully we can bring Ace home after his transfusion. I'll keep you posted."

She hung up and headed back to Ace's room, but found Esme standing with Carolyn, Spencer, and Laura in the hallway.

"We can go ahead with Ace's transfusion," Carolyn explained. "We'll be using Spencer's blood since he was the closest match."

"And I can donate more, if need be," Spencer said.

"This should be enough for now," Carolyn said. "But we'll keep you informed if we need more. I will be back in a few minutes to prep Ace."

She disappeared down the hallway.

Spencer headed for Ace's door, but Esme blocked him.

"You're not going anywhere near my son," Esme said.

"I am his big brother and I just donated blood for him," Spencer said.

"It's because of you and Nikolas that he's even here! You took him away against my wishes. I'm his mother and his legal guardian. I wanted him with my mother, not you. You gave him unnecessary stress. And why didn't you call the police when Nikolas took off with him? And—and why didn't you try to stop him?"

Spencer shook his head and laughed. "You're blaming me for Ace being here? You're the one who moved Ace out of his home, where he was happy and surrounded by people who love him. You moved him to a new apartment, to Bobbie's, and finally to the Scorpios'. And you want to blame me for bringing him back to his real home? You're the one who was causing him stress, Esme. He was an emotional wreck when I brought him home. He was never like that before."

"It wasn't your place to decide to take him home with you," Felicia spoke up. "That was Esme's. You need to respect her boundaries."

"Okay, this is not the time or the place for this," Laura said. "Ace needs us to be united for his sake."

"Move aside, Esme," Spencer said.

"You don't tell me what to do, Spencer!" Esme cried.

"Don't you mean Spence?" Spencer asked. "That's what you used to call me, remember? Back when you were busy manipulating people, destroying their property, ruining their lives. Do you think I'm that stupid that I wouldn't catch you calling me that again. The old Esme, the one who lived to do her father's bidding, is back."

"That is enough," Felicia said.

"I called you, Spence?" Esme asked. "So what? It means nothing. Especially since my son is in the hospital again and your father tried to take him!"

"It means that you're back," Spencer said. "The old Esme. The one that destroyed my entire world."

"Spencer—" Laura tried to cut in.

"That's a little melodramatic," Esme said.

"No," Spencer said. "No, it isn't. Tell me you don't remember swan-diving off of that tower and my father keeping you prisoner for months. Hmm? Tell me you don't remember tormenting Trina and setting Ava's car on fire and using me to drive a wedge between Ava and my father all because your father put you up to it."

Esme's eyes welled with tears.

"Spencer, enough," Felicia said and she wrapped her arm around Esme.

"The new Esme, whatever that façade was," Spencer continued. "It came very close to becoming a decent person and a good mother. But that Esme? Gone. You're back to being a puppet for your psychotic father. That is the Esme Prince that I'm talking to right now."

Esme gaped at him and her breathing sped up. "Oh my gosh. Nikolas didn't just take Ace, you gave him away, didn't you? You gave Nikolas my son! You are something else. You go on and on about how rotten and selfish your father is, but it turns out you are no better. You do what you want, you take what you want, and to he ll with everyone else."

"I think that Ace will have a happier life with anyone but you," Spencer said. "Much better than he will with the daughter of Ryan Chamberlain."

"Who cares whose daughter I am?" Esme asked. "What matters is that Ace is my son, and you and your father aren't going anywhere near him again."

"Except you're going to be held accountable for everything that you've done," Spencer said. "Once your trial is over, Ace will be back with me."

"Spencer!" Laura took his arm. "I am taking you home. None of this is helping Ace. Felicia, Esme, I'm so sorry. I will call you to see how Ace is doing. Please let me know if you need anything."

"I'm not leaving until I see Ace." Spencer crossed his arms. "I don't even want to leave him with her."

"You need to leave or we'll call the police," Felicia said. "In fact, I think we should get a restraining order."

"We're going." Laura glared at Spencer. "Before you make this situation worse than it already is."

"This isn't over," Spencer said. "Ace will be safe with us soon." He turned and left with Laura.

Felicia rubbed Esme's arm. "Are you okay?"

Esme pushed away her tears. "Maybe he's right. Maybe Ace is better off without the daughter of Ryan Chamberlain."

"That's not true. You are really good with Ace. And he adores you. Ryan doesn't define you. You're nothing like him."

"That's not what everyone else thinks," Esme said.

"It doesn't matter what they think. Spencer should not have thrown Ryan at you. And I meant what I said, I seriously think we should consider a restraining order. Not against Kevin or Laura, but against Nikolas and Spencer. Spencer keeps harassing you and I won't allow it to continue." Felicia cleared her throat. "Come on, let's go see Ace before the transfusion."

GHGHGH

Spinelli and Maxie turned down another hallway.

"I'll check this side," Maxie said.

Spinelli nodded and peeked into a few rooms. "Nothing in the wine cellar."

"Or in this storage room." She walked into another room.

Spinelli tried the next door and it was locked. "Hmm…." He stepped back, then darted forward. He did it a few times until the door smashed to the floor.

"Wh—who's there?"

Spinelli walked in and stared for a moment. "Wise Georgie?"

GHGHGH

Sam and Elizabeth checked several rooms on the second floor with no success.

"They're too much like Jason," Sam said. "I don't know if that's a good or a bad thing."

"I think it's good and bad at the same time," Elizabeth said. "But they're also a lot like us."

Sam nodded.

They halted when they heard voices.

"You won't get away with this," Jake said.

"Of course I will," Victor said. "No one takes away my family without regretting it. Kill them now."

Sam and Elizabeth pulled out their guns and looked around the corner.

One goon had a gun pressed to Jake's temple, while the second had Danny pinned to the wall, and Georgie and Charlotte stood there with their mouths open.

"Let my son go," Sam said, revealing herself.

Victor grinned. "Samantha, dear, what a surprise. Now you and your friend can watch while your sons die."

"Over my dead body," Elizabeth said.

"That can be arranged," Victor said.

Bang!

Sam shot the second goon in the back and he dropped to the ground next to Danny. Jake elbowed the first goon in the gut and struggled for his gun. Georgie and Charlotte backed against the wall. Elizabeth stepped closer to Jake and the first goon.

Sam turned to Victor. "Why would you kidnap your own granddaughter? I guess I shouldn't be surprised."

"I will do anything in the name of family," Victor said. "How is your dear mother by the way?"

"Stay away from my mother and stay away from my kids," Sam said.

The first goon angled the gun towards Jake.

Bang!

Elizabeth pulled the trigger and the first goon fell to the ground, blood gushing from his head.

Victor gritted his teeth. "Oh, you'll regret that for sure." He charged forward and ripped the gun from Elizabeth's hand, then pointed it at Sam.

Elizabeth wrapped her arm around Jake and they backed up next to Danny.

"The only one with regrets will be you, Uncle Victor," Sam said. "Or maybe not, since you'll be dead."

Bang!

Victor shrieked and threw his hand over his chest, before dropping to the floor.