Mr. Rodgers Held Hostage...

Darla continued to ride Evan hard and fast as she had two, three, five and finally six orgasms, before she felt the tension that had built up in her, abated. She climbed off of Evan, and noted their combined fluids, pooling around his groin.

Feeling sated and magnamimous, she wet a wash cloth, and soaped and cleaned his cock, balls and thighs. She threw the towel back at him, as she helped him to stand up. His dick was still at full mast, and he looked away from her, as she noticed his condition. She wondered idly if he knew she had given him Viagra. He was going to be hard for a good while yet.

She prodded him in the back and directed him to the bedroom where she tied him up again. "I know honey, you just cant get enough of Darla can you ?" she laughed "You know Billy's gonna cut off your cock and feed it to you before you die dont ya?" She giggled, billy'd be pretty pissed at her too - she enjoyed riling him, loved the wild animalistic sex that followed, but perhaps this occassion was too close to the last, best say nothing she thought. What he doesn't know wont hurt him! Leaning over to Evan, she said, "If your a really really good boy, I wont tell him, and maybe you'll get to stay a real boy for a little longer!" and she laughed at her Pinochio reference, and wondered if Evan would get it.
 
Evan Rodgers, in the bathroom with Darla and Brianna...

There was no playfulness or subtlety to Darla's actions, she rode Evan's cock hard and fast with a purpose, not taking her time. Evan kept his eyes closed, each time feeling Darla shudder in orgasm, it drove him closer to the edge. He felt her fingernails digging into his chest, as she slammed up and down on his hard cock, moaning and gasping, and he found himself doing the same in reply. She shuddered again, and Evan felt his own orgasm wash over him, his cock jerking inside her as he came forcefully inside her for the second time in two days, his body shuddering in climax, matching hers.

Seeming satisfied, she grinned as she got up, his cock slipping out of her with a wet noise, and went over to the sink, getting a washcloth and washing him clean again. Throwing a towel at him, landing it expertly on his shoulder, she helped him stand. he cock still stood hard and throbbing, much to his dismay, and he looked away embarrassed at his aroused condition.

Darla prodded him in the back, directing him out into the bedroom, and his face flushed with shame, know his daughter must have heard what he had been up to, just like he had heard her. She tied him back down to the bed, throwing his towel over his crotch, making a small "tent" at his groin that would have been amusing under normal circumstances.

Darla added insult to injury by loudly proclaiming, her voice thick with laughter, "I know honey, you just cant get enough of Darla can you ? You know Billy's gonna cut off your cock and feed it to you before you die dont ya?"

She leaned over him, adding, "If your a really really good boy, I wont tell him, and maybe you'll get to stay a real boy for a little longer!"

Evan realized why she didn't want to mention this to Billy...Billy would be furious, and would definitely punish him, but he MIGHT get furious with Darla as well...she obviously didn't want that.

Evan didn't reply to her...he was too busy searching his own soul for demons right now, feeling awful again...logically he knew he hadn't cheated on his wife, per se, but it still felt like he had. It had felt good...and he had enjoyed it, though it pained him to admit to it....
 
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Brianna Rodgers

Her eyes were squeezed tightly shut but there was no way for her not to listen to the going-ons in the bathroom. Moans of pleasure, from both Darla and her father, drifted through the closed bathroom door to her ears.

She twisted and turned on the bed, sobbing quietly at he thought of her father having sex with a woman not her mother. Bringing her bound hands to her ears, she covered them and tried once again to fall asleep, listening to the dull sounds of sex still coming from the bathroom.
 
Cassie at the hospital with FBI Agents Wilkins and Kamdorfski.

Oliver dismissed Cassie's protests, moving closer to the bed and taking a seat.

"I'm sorry for your loss, Miss Blaketon...I can understand the difficulty in dealing with this now, but time is running short. “

Cassie stared at the man beside her as he moved closer. His words expressed a sympathy he did not feel. For one moment she thought he was going to add to the charade and actually sit on the bed beside her, but at the last moment it seemed to her, he took a seat and drew it more closely to her bedside.

” After we speak, you can rest, and tomorrow, your parents should be arriving to see you."

Cassie’s stomach lurched in horror! The last thing she needed right now was her parents! She knew they would be pityingly sympathetic, but after the words exchanged the last time she saw them, Cassie knew that they would be relieved that she had lost Billy’s baby, a baby they had given her money to abort.

"We know you were involved in a armed robbery, Miss Blaketon...your fingerprints were all over the vehicle. During this armed robbery, you and your friends...Billy D'Marco and Darla Crosbie...carjacked Evan Rodgers and his daughter, and ended up taking them along with.”

His words washed over her, but did not register, so focused was she on any possible way to avoid the meeting with her parents.

"Do you know why the FBI was called in?"

Her head snapped round, focusing once more on the unpleasant man at her side.
She did not know what he had asked her, but sensed a change in his tone.

"Because kidnapping is a Federal offense...as soon as you and your friends took the Rodgers' hostage and took them along for the ride, it became our jurisdiction."

Cassie blinked, as if hearing him for the first time.

” ... kidnapping..?”

The events of the past 48 hours seemed so remote now. It was as if they had happened to someone else ...

"This is serious stuff, Cassie. The armed robbery was enough to put you and your friends in prison for a few years...the rest? Well, like I said, kidnapping is a Federal offense...which means you'll end up in a Federal Prison."

Cassie struggled to follow his reasoning. Prison?
She hadn’t taken the two prisoner. She had had little choice.

I'm not saying this to scare you or intimidate you...this is a fact.
If something happens to Evan or Brianna Rodgers and they end up dead...well, if they don't get the death penalty, your friends would be facing 20 to life, minimum.”


Reluctantly Cassie’s mind moved back to the events in the cabin. Billy and Darla wouldn’t harm Evan and Brianna she tried to convince herself, but wasn’t that why she had left? Not just because of her pregnancy, but because she was scared of what Billy and Darla might drive the other to do...

” You wouldn't get the death penalty...but you could end up facing the same amount of time, even as an accomplice and withholding information.
You'd be just as responsible for their deaths as your friends, for remaining silent."


Cassie stared at him wordlessly. Shock at his words the only thing stopping her from panicking, from breaking down and telling him everything.

"You're going to be facing prison time once you get out of the hospital...nothing can stop that...but a judge might be inclined to go easy on you, if you showed willingness to cooperate. He might be willing to show leniency, and lessen your charges."

It was then she realised. The bastard was enjoying this!
What else could be easier? She was trapped; confined to her bed, wired up to an IV and God knew she couldn’t even face what had happened to her since being admitted, much less cope with the events of the robbery and everything that happened in between.

"I'm going to need to know everything YOU know...how you came to be here, the condition of Evan and Brianna Rodgers when you last saw them, all about your friends, how they are armed, where they might be hiding out...everything.
No games. If you cooperate fully, I'll see what I can do to keep you from spending a substantial portion of your life in a federal prison."


He sat back, the piture of readiness. His colleague reached for his pocket to take out a notebook, a recorder? It never entered their minds that she would not cave in and tell all.

Slowly she shook her head.

It might be that she needed to talk; she couldn’t undo the past, or what Darla and Billy had done and even though she found it hard to think beyond the trauma she had so recently suffered, she had to think of herself, her own future now. True she was panicked, true she was not thinking straight, but one thing she knew for certain was that she was not going to make any hasty decisions. And if, when she decided to talk, it would never be to the heartless man sat so arrogantly beside her now.


”You’re right ... “

She began hesitantly.

” ... this is ... serious stuff ... “

She quoted him and then halted seeming to consider.

”... I’m grateful to you for making my situation so clear ...”

She stated in monotone leaving him to guess at the sincerity or otherwise of her words.

” ... so ... you’ll understand if I take ... advice ... before making any type of statement ... “

She watched the man’s expression, but his exasperation, even his anger left her unmoved. Despite his attempts to get her to talk immediately, Cassie knew that stalling like this could hardly make things any worse for her than they already were; after all she knew that this FBI guy would have cast her into jail, miscarriage or not if given the slightest opportunity!
She had not expected them to give up easily, but even she had not expected the torrent of questions thrown at her in an attempt to make her respond.

” ... no comment ... “

Cassie insisted looking up wearily as she felt her pulse taken in a gentle, yet firm hold. She smiled gratefully at the Doctor whose arrival she had not noted.
Passively she watched the bloodpressure cuff being fixed and closed her eyes briefly.

”Gentlemen ... my patient is not fit enough for this interview to continue.”

FBI or not, the Doctor had had enough of their bullying tactics!

”And whilst I understand you are under restrictions, I would advise that any information gained from Miss Blaketon at this time could be easily invalidated in court.”

He squared up to the men and told them clearly.

”I would personally testify to that fact, should the need arise.”

Biting back a curse, the man beside the bed stood up and moved the chair back noisily, his height seeming to tower over the bed. The Doctor moved closer to Cassie, his presence reassuring.

”We’ll be back shortly ...”

She was told as they turned and stalked out of the room.


”I’ll organise some sedation ... they can’t ... “

The Doctor started, but was interrupted by Cassie.

”... This isn’t going to go away, Doctor ... “

The Doctor halted and nodded agreement.
He had put them off this time, but even he was no match for the FBI.

”I need to ... consider my options ... “

Cassie told him, then continued;

” ... can ... can you ask that Deputy to come to see me ... but ... without those FBI men finding out? “

Cassie asked, sure that she could trust the Doctor to try to help her.

” ... I ... may need to make a few calls later ... “

She murmured as her mind raced to try to work out what she should do next.
 
Billy in the woods somewhere

Out of it. Out. Of. It. Where the fuck....?

Wallet. Check. Brain. Check. Car. Check.

Billy remembered deciding he mustn't buy any booze. So what the fuck was he doing in the back of the car in the middle of who knows fucking where with a hangover and a half-empty bottle of Stoli?

Some of it, as he peered out into bird-twittering woodland, began to seep back into his memory. A store. A bar. A girl who slapped his face. Not to worry, there'd been plenty of those. At least he didn't slap her back. Did he? Nah. And then what?

He rooted through the brown bags beside him. Melting oven-bake fries, burgers, bread, eggs, cheese, beers (Must not buy beers, he remembered saying to himself) – hm, the special cellphone. When the fuck did he go and retrieve that? How did he even remember the hollow tree it was hidden inside?

He tried and tried, but he couldn't recall going to the hollow tree.

Still, here was the cellphone somehow. He knew he'd better get back to the others. But Cassie wasn't there, and in moods like these it was her he needed. So he took a deep gulp of vodka (Drive carefully, don't get pulled over) and switched on the special cellphone that only she knew about, and texted her on the special number of hers that only he knew about. Hope she can get to it wherever she is. Hope she isn't too pissed with me for how I've been. Hey, it's always like this after a little booze (taking another drink): you remember who you really love. Not that crazy cunt Darla. CASSIE he texted I LOVE U. LESS GET OUT OF THIS N GO 2 OREGON.

Yeh. He sent the text and took the last slug of vodka he was going to allow himself before driving back to the others, and shit, was he feeling better. It'd be all right. Maybe they'd get a ransom or something for these assholes they were landed with. Phone up their folks, send 'em back with Darla who could get fucking caught for all he cared. And Cassie and him 'd steal away with the proceeds and start singing in bars together like they'd always said they would to college kids in somewhere quiet like Eugene, Oregon. And everything would be all right.

Drive on Billy boy! Yay, turn up the radio! Everything's gonna be all right!
 
Darla - still in the cabin with Evan and Brianna

Where the fuck was he? Darla's mellow mood had worn thin- he went for supplies, like 36 hours ago, and no fucking sign since! Had he made abreak for it, left her to take the rap? Ahe gave this serious thought, but decided Billy wouldn't do that, they had a history!

What if the asshole had hit the bottle? On mor than one occasion he'd gone nuts on her, gone on a binge for a couple of days, but not when they were in deep shit like this! Had he been arrested? Should she make a break while she could? But with no car, that was stupid!

She'd fed and allowed Bri and Evan to dress and use the bathroom, and had tied them again, but she couldn't hold our much longer! First Cassie split, now Billy!! She'd give him till the morning, then she'd make a break, and call in the cabins location, she couldn't leave them to die!

Just then she hears the car- Billy! Ahe ran out to hug him, thankful he was alive. As he got out ahe smelt the stink of booze and girls on him. Bringing back her hand she slapped his face! No need to ask where you were asshole! Hope you'd a great time and managed not to fuck away the stash!

Then ahe ran down the road, fury, hurt and goddamnit, dissappointment, riding her hard.
 
Billy in the cabin

Where's the fury gone? His cheeks felt the slap from Darla and yet he thought: Fair enough.

Oh man, this is how it is when the booze has had a hold. You get high, you get regret a moment later, then up then down again, it's like a fucking merry-go-round.

Billy carried the supplies into the cabin. No more Stoli. OK, just a taste, then, to stop the quivering feeling. Need to hide it – and the full bottle - if Darla found it she'd throw it away - or drink it and fuck with the people in the back room -

He took a deep breath, and opened the bedroom door. They were lying quietly, each bound, not looking at each other. Something had gone on in here. He should say something, but he didn't know what. If the girl so much as looked at him, with those reproachful eyes of hers, he'd, he'd -

What would he have done? She kept her face averted. He didn't want her.

He wanted Cassie. He slammed the door and got the vodka out of the secret cupboard for another swig and checked the special cellphone. Still no message. This whole thing was so over. Time to make some money out of the assholes in the back room and hightail it out of here. Send me a message Cassie. Tell me what to do.

Make some food maybe.

Yeh. Soak up the booze.

Happy that it was about to be soaked up, he took one more swig of vodka and started hunting round for a skillet to cook up some burgers and fries.
 
Deputy James Carson; at the Hospital...

James had walked out into the hallway, still angered by the two FBI pricks that'd come in like charging bulls, kicking him out. he'd expected it, but they had no personal stake in what was going on. Their concern would be to catch the bad guys first, save the hostages second...and James would be damned if he was going to allow Evan and Brianna to be second priority. James walked down to see that Charlie Williams stood at the floor's reception desk.

"Hey Jimmy," Charlie said, looking concerned, "how are you holding up?"

James shrugged irritatedly, and said, "Well, the Feds are officially on the case. I have my doubts that they'll be looking after the best interests of Ev and Bree."

"Jimmy, just settle down....let them handle it. That's what they do...we're just small time cops, buddy," Charlie said in reply, "You get in the way, you're gonna lose your job, man."

"Fuck the job!" James snapped at him loudly, grabbing Charlie's shirt, and pulling him close...and then lowered his voice and repeated, "Fuck..the...job. This is my FAMILY out there, man." He released Charlie, stepping back.

"I'm not gonna sit idly by and do nothing, while some assholes who could give a shit about em waste time following procedures in some FBI handbook somewhere and dick around."

Charlie looked shaken, and held his hands up in surrender. "Look man, i get it, okay? But...if you mess with their investigation..."

James held his hand up, silencing him, and walked past, to the nurses station, where a young attractive nurse sat reading a magazine.

"Excuse me, miss. Official police business...I'm Deputy James Carson. The young lady down the hall...the one who was brought in for the miscarriage? I'd like to see her personal effects, please. She's is a suspect in an armed robbery, and I'll have to confiscate her items as evidence."

The nurse looked uncertain, but James's serious demeanor made her afraid to question him. She replied, "Well...yes, we'd heard she might be in some sort of trouble. We have it all right here..."

She held up a small plastic bag of items, handing it to James.

"Thank you, miss, "James said, smiling politely, to put her at ease, "You've been most helpful."

He walked back to Charlie, who gave him a reproachful look. "Look, Jimmy, I'm not sure what you've got planned....but I've known you since grade school. You've always been a stand up guy. I'm your friend..."

Charlie looked at the bag, James was holding and said, "I don't wanna know what that is...and if anyone asks, I never saw you. Remember that."

James nodded, smiling at his friend, who then turned to go, but James grabbed him but the arm, saying, "Wait, Charlie..."

Reaching on his shirt, James unpinned his badge, and handed it over to the other deputy, and then handed his gun to him as well, saying, "When you get back to the station, put this on the chief's desk, will you? I don't want the sheriff's department connected in anyway to what I'm gonna do."

Charlie gave James a strange, fearfully cautious look and said, "And what ARE you gonna do?"

Smiling grimly, James said, "I'm gonna cause a little chaos."

Patting Charlie, on the shoulder, he said, "Get the hell out of here, man...things are gonna get messy, and I don't want you around when the shit hits the fan."

Turning away, Charlie walked to the elevators and called back, waving, "See ya on the flipside, Jimmy...you crazy bastard..."

James chuckled, as watched his friend get on the elevators, and then turned walking down the hallway.

Looking on the wall, he saw what he was looking for...its red color standing out in stark contrast to the white walls. The fire alarm. Instant chaos.

He walked over to it, and mumbled, "Here goes nothing..." and pulled the lever...
 
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Cassie at the hospital

Cassie watched the retreating back of the doctor. Her mind was swimming with the threats the FBI man had made. Whilst she knew that she had been involved with the robbery and by association the robbery, surely she would not be imprisoned for as long as he has said? And what of Billy and Darla? To him it seemed logical, inevitable that Cassie would inform on her friends, but even though it might make the authorities go easy on her, how could she possibly bring herself to do so?

She did not know which way to turn. Even speaking to the Deputy once more was probably useless, but if any information was to be given, she would much rather make her statement to the man who had at least seemed to have some compassion, even though she could hardly imagine what he must be going through with his niece and brother-in-law missing. All she had to hope for was that her absence had calmed Billy and Darla down enough to see sense, or at least refrain from causing any damage to their hostages.

The discordant ringing drew Cassie abruptly from her reverie. She tensed, recalling the sound of the alarm that had rung out from the robbery. It had stopped her in her tracks until Billy had called out to her to follow them, to get into the van, Evan’s van. This however, she surmised was a fire alarm. Either someone would come to direct as to what to do, or they wouldn’t. Besides, the way she felt, she cared very little as to whether she was in real danger, or if this was just a routine inconvenience ...
 
Deputy James Carson/ FBI Agents Wilkins and Kamdorfski, at the Hospital...

After James pulled the lever and the alarm went off, all hell broke loose.

The hallway started to fill with people...orderlies, doctors, nurses, visitors...all seemed to come out and mill about, looking scared and confused. Some started to shove their way to the elevators. Others headed for the fire exit leading to the stairwell. One of the doctors called out for everyone to move in an orderly fashion, but was pretty much ignored.

Confusion. Chaos. Just what he needed.

James quickly pushed through the crowd, to the doorway of Cassie's room, and entered. Luckily she was alone, sitting in the bed still, looking frightened by the blaring alarm.

He came over to her, his voice strained with urgency, as he said, "Cassie, I know you don't know me, and have no reason to trust me, but I want what you want...for this all to be over with."

"I set the fire alarm off to get you out of here. You help me find Evan and Brianna, and help me get them back safely, and I promise you, I'll let you go. I'll walk away..."

James looked back toward the doorway, and said, "We don't have time to talk all this over now...those FBI assholes are going to be back within minutes, and before long everyone will realize that it's a false alarm and we won't be able to use any of this to get out."

He looked at her questioningly and said, "What's it going to be?"

********************************

Oliver Wilkins and Abe Kamdorfski were in the lounge getting coffee, when the fire alarm started blaring through the loudspeakers.

Only moments before, they had been discussing strategy to get the Blaketon girl to talk.

"She's tougher than she looks," Kamdorfski said and Oliver nodded.

"She's stalling," Oliver replied, "but I think we can get her to crack. Threatening jail time didn't phase her, but did you catch the look she gave us when we mentioned her parents?"

The other man nodded, and Oliver continued, "We can use that. If she keeps trying to be evasive we'll just use th..."

It was then, that the alarm started blaring. Both men looked at other, first in confusion, and then in alarm, the same thought crossing their minds at the same time...

"Fuck me..." Kamdorfski breathed, and then looked at Oliver and said, "We gotta get back to the room...I think our little songbird is trying to take wing and fly."

Oliver nodded, standing up so quickly, his coffee spilled, and both men rushed out into the hallway, only to find it congested with a mass of bodies moving towards them. They started to fight the tide, yelling their credentials, pushing through the crowd on the way back to Cassie's room...
 
Cassie looked across as her door opened. She had expected someone medical or official, but not the Deputy. Despite the chaos her doctor must have passed on the message, though this hardly seemed like good timing for a discussion.

"Cassie, I know you don't know me, and have no reason to trust me, but I want what you want...for this all to be over with."
She nodded. It seemed the talk was to be now or never and she tried to focus.

"I set the fire alarm off to get you out of here. You help me find Evan and Brianna, and help me get them back safely, and I promise you, I'll let you go. I'll walk away..."

Cassie blinked; ” ... you ..?”

"We don't have time to talk all this over now...those FBI assholes are going to be back within minutes, and before long everyone will realize that it's a false alarm and we won't be able to use any of this to get out. What's it going to be?"

It had all happened so fast. But he was offering her a way out. Out of the hospital, away from the FBI, away from her parents. She had to take it. She could work out the details with him later.

”OK ... “

She slid from the bed and hesitated. All she wore was her hospital gown, but there was no time to change now she realised as he handed Cassier her jacket.

”I guess I get dressed later... “

She murmured with a soft smile as she wound it round her.

” .. ok .. let’s go ...”

She moved somewhat unsteadily and he caught her arm drawing her close to him as they slipped out of the room and through the throng of people still milling around in the corridors. She let him guide her, let him carry her clothes and few possessions that had been confiscated when she had first been identified and left him to decide how they were to make their way out of this place.
 
Deputy James Carson; at the Hospital with Cassie...

James ushered Cassie out into the hallway, which was still packed with bodies milling about. The alarm still blared loudly, and the way to the elevator was packed, so James led Cassie to the stairwell, where less people had congregated.

As they reached the door, farther back in the hallway, he heard a voice yell out above the crowd, "FBI...move! Make way!"

He looked back, spotting the two FBI agents fighting through the hallway. They hadn't been spotted yet, but it would only be moments before they were.

Grabbing Cassie's had, he tore open the stairwell door, and they both slipped through, hurriedly moving down the steps, as fast as Cassie's weakened state would allow for.

Still moving, he glanced back at Cassie, and said, "We're almost out...we can slip out through the lobby in the emergency room. Wearing a cop uniform, no one will question me." He paused, looking at Cassie....she didn't look well.

"Are you okay?" James asked, concern warring with the need to get out of the hospital. ""Do you think you can make it?"
 
"FBI...move! Make way!"

They had hardly left the room when the voice could be heard above the general melee. All too quickly the FBI agents were making there way through the crowd.

Cassie froze, until the Deputy grabbed her hand and pulled her through the stairwell door. Cassie willed herself to move as quickly as possible, but the stairway seemed to extend endlessly below her making her dizzy as she stumbled over each step in her effort to keep up with the Officer beside her.

're almost out...we can slip out through the lobby in the emergency room. Wearing a cop uniform, no one will question me."

Somehow they had made it down the stairs. Cassie nodded, her hand extending to steady herself as the world seemed to spin, move out of focus and then right itself again.

Are you okay?"

Cassie shook her head, more to clear it, than to indicate the negative, though in truth she didn't feel well.

"Do you think you can make it?"

Cassie looked back up the deserted staircase as if to check that the two FBI men were not in pursuit.

"... I have to ... "

She met his concerned look with a hesitant smile.

"I'll collapse later, when there's time ... "

The comment was only half in jest as she saw him nod and let him take her arm, finding her body moved more securely against his, supporting her as they moved as swiftly as possible to thread through the throng.
 
The emergency room was packed...people trying to get out because of the fire alarm, injured and sick patients just coming in...James felt bad for having to resort to this to get Cassie out, but he had seen no other option.

He led Cassie through the automatic sliding double doors leading to the Parking lot, which was already filling up with people. Walking briskly through the crowd, James led Cassie to his cruiser, opening the door for her and helping her inside, and then walking around the car and getting in the driver's seat.

He started the car, and pulled out of the parking lot.

He looked over at Cassie, smiling grimly and said, "Well...I guess we're both on the run now...and I'm out of a job." He chuckled ruefully.

"We'd best head to my place," James said, turning his attention back to the road, and his thoughts to the task at hand, "we'll switch to my car and ditch the cruiser there. Pack a bag and see if I can find you something to wear...my ex-girlfriend left a few things at my house that might fit you."

This was all a huge gamble...and regardless of what happened now, his life would be forever changed. He'd never be able to work in law enforcement again. He more than likely would get jail time when this was all over with too. Still, if he could get Brianna and Evan back safely, it was a price he was willing to pay.

He glanced back over at Cassie. She looked exhausted...still weakened from her ordeal...but he had to know.

"Cassie," James said, and she looked over at him, her eyes showing that she knew what he was going to ask, "are Brianna and Evan okay? Were they still alive when you last saw them? Were they hurt?"
 
Cassie and James on the run

Cassie threaded her way silently through the emergency room. Terror at being caught faded into insignificance as she remembered that what seemed like just minutes ago, she had been brought in here and it was in here that she had lost her baby...


Almost before she knew it, they were walking out into the fresh air outside. Cassie took a deep breath in an effort to clear the nausea that had built up inside her. Shakily she got into the cruiser and sat motionless until the Deputy got into the driver’s seat. She fumbled for the belt as he drew out of the parking lot.

"Well...I guess we're both on the run now...and I'm out of a job."

Her eyes met his and focused more intently on the man by her side.
He had risked everything to get her out of there, but more importantly had risked everything on her being able to find Evan and Brianna and somehow get Billy and Darla to return them to their family.

"We'd best head to my place, we'll switch to my car and ditch the cruiser there. Pack a bag and see if I can find you something to wear...my ex-girlfriend left a few things at my house that might fit you."

She nodded and drew the jacket more tightly around her as if suddenly becoming aware of her state of undress. Momentarily she closed her eyes, shivering visibly through weakness and terror. This was far from over yet, she knew.


"Cassie,"

She opened her eyes and met his gaze.

"... are Brianna and Evan okay? Were they still alive when you last saw them? Were they hurt?"

Much as she had tried to block it out, Cassie’s mind went back to that ugly scene where Billy had been so angry with her, even though it was Darla who had messed around with Evan. It was she who Billy had blamed for getting the girl out of there. Evan who Billy had blamed for that illicit sex act. Billy had blamed everyone except Darla.

”They were in a better state than I am now ... “

She murmured, anger and self pity and hopelessness all but overwhelming her.
Then with a long sigh, Cassie turned to the man beside her.

”They were alive and ... “

She had intended to say “well”, but that would have been a lie.

” ... and as well as could be expected ... but ... “

She almost managed to withhold that final word, yet not quite.
Her mind raced thinking of what to tell the man opposite her, aware of the palpable rise in tension, as much because of what she had not said, rather than what she had said.


” ... Have you got a computer at your place?”

She queried.

” ... or better still a laptop we can take with us ...”

Her mind was racing with a newly awakened possibility.

”Perhaps we’d best not hang around there too long.
If those FBI agents put two and two together ...
We should probably put as much distance between them and us as quickly as possible ...”


Her soft words seemed to gain momentum. This was all new to her companion, but Cassie and Billy had been “on the run” before. Not for anything like this of course! Previously running from the authorities had seemed romantic, rebellious, purely because it had all been dramatised in their own imaginations; their perceived “crime” being so petty that rather than being “pursued” as they believed, they were merely coming upon a random cop, whose suspicions were aroused by their strange behaviour.
 
James listened as Cassie began to brainstorm, and nodded when she mentioned a laptop, saying, "Yes...I have a laptop."

He knew they wouldn't have a lot of time...the FBI agents would put things together rather quickly. Video surveillance at the hospital would make his involvement clear enough...and they'd soon be on his trail. They would have to hurry at his place. get what they needed, and get out.

His mind worked rapidly. He'd have to take his car...leave the cruiser at his house...ditch his uniform, and get street clothes...grab some food...ditch his cell phone, as they could be tracked. He'd also have to grab the gun, since he'd turned in his police issue service revolver. He had a .45 automatic at the house. There was a shotgun in the cruiser, but he balked at using that.

Money might be an issue, as well. He didn't have much cash money to keep them on the run long, and using a credit card or hitting an ATM was not an option...all that could be traced. Hopefully this would all end soon.

Another thought crossed his mind...the bag of items Cassie had for personal possessions he'd confiscated at the hospital. He hadn't told her about having them yet, and wasn't sure he should before going through them...in case she ended up being less than cooperative. After all, the man they were after was still one she had feelings for. He wanted to trust her, but he couldn't take that risk yet.

They soon arrived at his house, a cozy three bedroom ranch house he'd inherited from his grandfather after he'd passed away. Parking in the driveway he quickly got out, and moved around to the other side to help Cassie out of the car...
 
"Yes...I have a laptop."

Cassie nodded, but said nothing further. There was one chance, a remote possibility ... but ... contacting Billy via this Officer's lap top ... perhaps it would be best done in an anonymous internet cafe?

Thoughts continued to fly through her head as they came to a stop.
Stealing herself to move gingerly, Cassie allowed the Deputy to help her out of the vehicle and followed him to the house.

"W.. What are you going to do? "

As if for the first time she realised just how great a risk he was taking in springing her from the hospital. Perhaps when he realised that, he might give himself and her up?

"Might... it not be better if you let me go ... I can contact you if I have any idea about what is happening ... if I'm alone, I'd have a greater chance of ... "

She had to get to Billy before the police did.
That much she knew.
She was in trouble, big trouble now ... and surely her only escape was to try to persuade her companions to let the girl and her father go ... without any harm or injury to anyone ...
 
James Carson; at his house, with Cassie...

"W.. What are you going to do? "

"We need to get a few things...new clothes, some food...a few other things. We'll have to hurry," James replied.

"Might... it not be better if you let me go ... I can contact you if I have any idea about what is happening ... if I'm alone, I'd have a greater chance of ... "

James was already shaking his head in negation before she finished her sentence.

"Cassie, I can't do that...you said earlier that you couldn't trust me, when I told you I would do my best to help you," James said, meeting her gaze, "and I understand where you were coming from. I can't trust you yet not to try and run off on me, either. You're my only link to Brianna and Evan. I can't let you go. For the moment, we're stuck with each other."

"Besides," he added questioningly, "how far do you think you'd make it on your own?"

He looked at Cassie, standing in her hospital gown, and said, "Come on in the house...we'll see if we can't find something a little bit more inconspicuous for you to wear, and I'll change into some street clothes, and we'll get our supplies together..."
 
"We need to get a few things...new clothes, some food...a few other things. We'll have to hurry."

Deputy Carson told her as he refused her idea of letting her head off on her own.

"Cassie, I can't do that...you said earlier that you couldn't trust me, when I told you I would do my best to help you and I understand where you were coming from. I can't trust you yet not to try and run off on me, either. You're my only link to Brianna and Evan. I can't let you go. For the moment, we're stuck with each other."

He didn't trust her. Did she trust him? She considered the thought.
His priority were Brianna and Evan. He only cared for her for as long as she could help him ... afterwards ....

"Besides, how far do you think you'd make it on your own?"


She looked down at herself still clad in the hospital gown and jacket.


"Come on in the house...we'll see if we can't find something a little bit more inconspicuous for you to wear, and I'll change into some street clothes, and we'll get our supplies together..."

Mutely Cassie followed him. He led her into the house and to a room towards the back, a spare room she calculated as she entered. Telling her there was a bathroom to the side and instructing her to help herself, Cassie nodded and stood immobile waiting for him to leave.

"I can manage!"

She told him, dismissing his presence, reluctant to hear any more statements that he might be preparing to make.

When the door closed, Cassie finally moved, heading for the tiny bathroom to wash quickly and fix her hair. She would have loved to take her time, to indulge in an overdue fit of tears, but she could not afford to do so. Wrapped in a towel, she searched the wardrobe and drawers as he had directed. She selected an outfit of jeans, topped with a tshirt and a baby pink roll necked jumper over that. The jacket she wore was suitable to go over the top. Drawing a small holdall from the back of the wardrobe, she selected a second outfit and a few spare items to take with her. The bag was still light as she had chosen carefully and would not slow them down. Besides, she had no idea how long they would be on the run for.

Finally a knock on the door drew her attention.

"Ready .. just comi..."

She halted as the door opened and turned around.
The sight of the Deputy in "civilian" clothes shocked her.
Logically, she knew he could not go tearing around the country in his uniform and although she had seen him a couple of times before, she had never really "looked" at him. As a regular guy he seemed .. different ... very ... different...
He in turn seemed to be staring at her ... no doubt because she wore the clothes his ex had left, she surmised.

"We ready to go ... ?"

She asked finally. Her face was pale, though the pink leant her skin some reflected hue. She pulled the bag over her shoulder and headed towards him.

"Let's get on the road ... "

Food, decisions about how to try to contact Billy could be considered later ... she just wanted to distance herself from this place ...
 
James escorted Cassie to the guest room where he had kept his ex-girlfriends left over clothes and items when she'd broke up with him. He wasn't sure why he'd kept Leandra's things...maybe it was because part of him had held onto the hope that she would come back, if only to pick them up, and maybe they would work things out. That had never happened, though...she'd never called or came back, and had moved to Georgia with her new boyfriend months ago. James had been meaning to give them away, but his job had kept him busy and he'd never gotten around to it...now he was glad he hadn't.

After showing her to the door, and watching it shut behind her, he'd quickly pull the bag with her personal effects out turning it upside down on the bed, and going through it. A purse containing her ID, some make-up, and such...some jewelry...her old clothing...nothing that would help James figure out where Brianna and Evan were being kept. No cell phone...no hidden weaponry...and most importantly, no matchbooks or items that could trace their whereabouts as to where they'd been...nothing.

James frowned in frustration. He'd hoped that he'd find SOMETHING...which made it all the more important that he stay close to Cassie. She was the only link he had.

Throwing all her items back into the bag, he went to his closet and grabbed a duffel bag down from the top shelf, and then went to his dresser, grabbing a couple sets of clothes for himself. He quickly stripped out of his uniform, and threw on a faded pair of blue jeans, an old forest green tee shirt, a pair of comfortable shoes, and a baseball cap. Throwing the other set of clothes in his bag, he went to the nightstand, opening the drawer and pulling out his .45, setting it on the bed, and then the shoulder holster, strapping it on.

He picked the gun up again, checking the clip, and making sure there was a round in the chamber, before putting it in the holster. The past few years he'd been on the force, he'd never had to discharge his weapon, aside from practice at the firing range, and he hoped that he wouldn't have cause to use his weapon now...but he had to be prepared. He quickly threw a beat up brown leather jacket that was hanging in his closet on, to effectively conceal the weapon.

After grabbing some toiletry items from the bathroom, he walked over to his desk, packing up his laptop in its carrying case, then walked to the bed and picked up his duffel bag, taking it out to the car and throwing his stuff in the backseat of his car, an old Chevy Nova. He then walked around the back and opened the trunk.

Walking back into the house, after making a pit stop in the garage for a cooler, he went into the kitchen and frantically started scooping up some food items...a loaf of bread, some lunch meat, a six pack of beer, a six pack of Pepsi, a couple bags of chips from his pantry...he didn't have much in his refrigerator or cupboards, because he wasn't home much, but he figured having food on hand would make things easier. Stopping to get food could put them back on the radar...it would be to their benefit to keep moving. Throwing a few ice packs from his freezer in with the cold food items, and bagging the others, he quickly ran this out to his car and threw them in the trunk and closed it.

Finally, he went to the closed door of the guest room, and knocked.

He heard Cassie's voice call out, "Ready .. just comi..."

He opened the door before she could finish, anxious to be on the move.

When he caught sight of Cassie, he couldn't help but stop and stare...fully dressed, cleaned up and having regained her composure, it suddenly struck James that she was actually a very attractive woman. She still looked somewhat peaked and exhausted, but much more alert than she had after leaving the hospital...more focused.

"We ready to go ... ?" she asked, snapping him out of his momentary reverie.

"Yeah," James replied, "I have the car all packed up."

"Let's get on the road ... " she replied, and started to move towards the door.

James stepped in her way for a moment, holding up a bag and holding it out to her. "Your personal effects from the hospital," he explained, matter-of-factly "Everything should be there."

She took her things, and he nodded, "Right....let's get going then..."

He then turned around, and started to head out to the car, hearing her following behind him. They had a long journey ahead, most likely, and it was just starting. he hoped by the end of it, Brianna and Evan would be found safely home.
 
Cassie and James on the run ...

"Yeah, I have the car all packed up.
Your personal effects from the hospital. Everything should be there."


Cassie took the bundle of things and had only the time to put the strap of her handbag over her shoulder and stuff the other things into the holdall before he continued.

"Right....let's get going then..."

Wordlessly she followed him through the house and out to the car. Again she slid into the passenger seat, pleased that she wasn’t the one driving and finally leaned back with soft sigh and closed her eyes as they pulled away.

It must have been a while later when she felt him nudge her and put a pepsi into her hand. Smiling she took the drink and sipped at it, looking out of the car window wondering where exactly they were headed and considering what she should do, what she should tell the man beside her.

Paying more attention, she realised they were driving through a town and heading out into less frequented areas, which made sense, only she had to make a decision now.

”Over there ... pull over ... “

Her voice was soft, then rose in insistence.

”James ... here...”

It was the first time she’d used his given name. Perhaps it was that, or the tone of her voice, but for some reason he did so. For long moments, she looked around then turned to face him.

”I think we have what we’d call a “stand off”.”

She stated.

”You don’t trust me. And ... I don’t trust you.”

She didn’t elaborate. She just couldn’t see how a man would give up his job to find his brother in law and niece and not at least want to kick the crap out of the guy who took them hostage. But then again maybe she had been around Billy too long.

”I’m going in there ...alone ... ”

She nodded and indicated an internet cafe.

”Yes.. there’s probably a back door.
But like you said, how far would I get on my own?”


He didn’t look convinced.

”I’m leaving all my stuff ... “

She indicated the holdall then opening her handbag took out a small amount of cash before handing it to him.

” ... everything ... “

She took a breath, sure that his mind was working overtime.

”There’s .. a chance .. a small one ... I might be able to get in touch with Billy.
And yes... I know your lap top is there but ... “


She eyed him uncertainly.

”.. small steps ... we both need to work out if we’re on the same side here ... o.k? “
 
James had his doubts about what Cassie was asking. If she ran, he would have given up his career...and his only chance to find Brianna and Evan...for nothing.

Still, she was correct....they didn't trust each other...but so far, she'd done everything he asked of her. Plus, she was leaving all her things in the car...her cash, her personal effects. These weren't the actions of someone planning to run.

Still, he had to be careful.

"Alright, Cassie," he replied, "I'm not a cop anymore, so I don't have to go by the book here anymore. But I'm still a bit...wary...of your motives here. I will allow you leeway on two conditions."

He looked over at Cassie, meeting her eyes.

"I'll give you ten minutes...if you aren't out by then, I'm coming in after you...and you have to promise me that you will not mention I'm with you. That could cause Billy and Darla to panic and move, or hurt Brianna and Evan...or even set up an ambush for me, if they think I'm a threat."

"I'm taking a leap of faith on you here..."

He leaned closer, and said, "Please don't disappoint me, Cassie...I'd hate to think i was wrong about you..."

He motioned her to go ahead and head on in. "Remember...ten minutes."
 
Darla in the woods by the cabin

Darla ran through the woods until exhaustion forced her to stop. Her temper had abated a little, but it was not resolved, it was simple gone off the boil a little. She sat on a fallen tree, and sucked in deep breaths, trying to get a grip on herself.

Fuck Billy! Why had he fallen off the wagon, now of all times? Cassie had taken off, and now Billy was throwing a wobbly, and it seemed to her, that the whole mess was firmly parked at her door. She realised just how lucky she had been . It had been quite a while since Billy had gotten hammered, and sometimes he wasn't a happy drunk, sometimes he was mean, and she realised she might have got a hammering from him, on another occassion, for slapping him, but, of course she had simply reacted, rather than thinking through her actions.

She got to her feet, and started back. It wouldnt be fair to leave Evan and Brianna with him, with no one to protect them, just in case he went nuts. She didn't think he'd taken uppers, as his eyes looked pretty much okay, but you never could be sure. Slowly she trudged back, wondering just was form Billy would be in, when she got there.
 
Billy on the porch

Blank. There've been things I've been doing I don't remember. Might be bad things.

Billy woke up out on the porch, cradling an empty bottle of vodka as if it were a long-lost friend. On the floor, his cellphone. Don't let anyone see it. Secret. Secret.

Had he done something bad? There were people inside, he might've done something bad to them and wiped it out of his memory. Near him was a half-eaten plate of fries and something.

This was bad shit. When he felt like this, sometimes cops came and other people said he'd done stuff.

Cassie. Why could he remember useless stuff like how to make the cellphone work and not the important things like what might he have done to the people inside?

He didn't want to look inside, in case he'd hurt them, or something.

Sent, he found on the phone. Cassie pls answr. Cassie come bk if y cn.

Somebody coming. Hide the phone. Have a drink quick then hide it.

Nothing left in the bottle. So fucking thirsty.

Oh shit. Darla. Be nice babe. I didn't do anything. No I didn't. No need to get up suddenly. 'Honey – where ya been?'
 
'Honey – where ya been?' Darla slowed at Billy's voice, and she looked him over as he rocked in the chair. "Billy, where's our hostages? You have been watching them right?" she asked, and then hurried past him, and there, on the floor of the bedroom, where she had left them, what seemed like ages ago, lay Brianna and Evan, both still tied up, and both still very uncomfortable looking.

Darla glanced up at Billy, where he stood in the doorway looking pale and worn. "Billy, did you feed them? bring them to the bathroom? She noticed his gait, and approached. Had he been drinking? she wondered. He had all the appearances of it, but didn't smell of whiskey or beer, and she relaxed her temper a notch.

C'mon you too! Luckily for you guys auntie Darla's here to bring you to the john, otherwise someone" she eyed Billy "would have had a big mess to clean up, and it wouldnt have been me!!"

She began to pull both Evan and Bri to their feet, wondering yet again if she was now going to have to pick up the slack for Billy, as well as Cassie!
 
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