Chapters 54 & 55
Chapter 54 Don't Worry
"Larry" and "Luanne" arrive at the warehouse and approach it cautiously.
"Luanne" makes a note of the exits and the number of cars present.
"Larry, Two exits, and one car, this shouldn't be too hard."
With a southern drawl, "Larry" nods in agreement. "I suspect you're
right, Honey. Shall we head for parts unknown?"
She tries to stifle a giggle, but is unsuccessful when he winks at her.
"Stop that! This is serious."
He sighs as he wraps an arm around her. "You don't have to remind me how
serious this is. Now, lets meet our contact, retrieve Richard and head
back to Port Charles."
She begins to walk toward the building with him close at her side.
"Okay, Larry, let's complete that plan."
A dark haired woman watches them enter the warehouse and smiles. "To
think you're Luke Spencer's son. Tsk tsk, Lucky, your daddy would have
been smarter."
The warehouse is dark when they enter. When Larry reaches for a light
switch, he falls to the floor. Luanna screams as she watches Larry slump
to the ground. She turns to fend off the man who knocked Larry out, but
is
knocked unconscious by a different man. The bigger man throws Larry over
his shoulder as the smaller one does the same with Luanne. They tie them
up in a back room and bolt the door shut. The smaller one looks at his
companion. "We don't waste them?"
The bigger one rolls his eyes. "You heard Smith, she wants them to
suffer. Said no one will find them, and there's no way for them to get
out. They'll have days to contemplate death as they starve, or maybe God
will show some mercy and let them die of heatstroke first."
They chuckle as they leave the warehouse and replace the sign on the
door before bolting it shut. "CONDEMNED."
Hours later, Stefan and Laura pace the living room at Wyndemere. Two
hours had passed were supposed to check in. They watch Nikolas enter the
room, his face drawn with concern. "I spoke to the hotel manager, he has
no record of a young couple by their description entering the hotel.
According to him, the hotel's booked solid with a convention. Lucky
and Cassidy couldn't be staying there."
Stefan slams his hand on the table in front of him. "I do not like this!
Cassidy called and informed us of the hotel. She wouldn't be wrong about
this. Have you run a check on the phone records?"
Nikolas nods grimly. "She must have used her cell phone."
Laura sinks into a chair. "Lucky was on the phone with Emily, so Cassidy
used her cell phone to call us."
Stefan's face lights up. "Call Emily, ask her to have a trace put on her
phone records. I am sure Mac would do that for her."
Emily answers the phone on the first ring. "This is Emily."
"Emily, this is Nikolas, I need a favor. Lucky and Cassidy have yet to
call. If it were just Lucky, I wouldn't be concerned, but Cassidy is
fastidious when it comes to reporting in. I've been told Lucky called
you from the hotel. But the hotel is claiming they never checked in. I
need you to have Mac check your phone records."
Emily bites her lip nervously. "He's probably fine, Nikolas, but I'll
call Mac. He's with Garcia right now anyway. Will you keep me informed?"
"Absolutely. I don't need to tell you I need those records as soon as
possible."
Emily hangs up the phone and mumbles. "He's fine, he has to be fine."
Evan emerges from the bedroom and looks at her with concern. "Who has to
be fine?"
Emily holds up a finger to quiet him as Mac answers the phone. "Mac,
this is Emily, Lucky and Cassidy are out investigating a lead and they
haven't reported into the family yet. Normally this wouldn't be a big
deal, but Lucky called me from his hotel, and Nikolas needs that number
because the hotel is claiming they never checked in. Exactly. Could you
persuade Garcia to do that? ....Great! Thanks Mac, just fax them to the
Cassadines, oh and fax me a copy too please."
She hangs up the phone and looks up at Evan. "I think Lucky is in
trouble."
Evan places his hands on her shoulders. "You think?"
She nods. "I can feel it, Evan; something isn't right. Lucky may goof
off sometimes, but he went searching for his brother, he never allows
his family to go without word. Plus, Cassidy is known for being
punctual. Something is really wrong."
He cups her chin in his hand. "Then, I guess we better go make it right.
I'll make the plane reservations if you pack the bags."
She kisses his cheek. "I love you."
The room is stifling hot as Lucky emerges from his not so pleasant
sleep. Cassidy is slumped over, with her hands cuffed to a pipe in the
room. He looks at his hand, also cuffed to a pipe on the other side of
the room. He tries to remember who, or what hit him, but is
unsuccessful. He watches as she stirs slightly and then opens her eyes.
"Morning Darlin'-- Welcome to the Hilton."
Cassidy groans as the pain throbs in her head. "What happened?"
Lucky shrugs his shoulders. "Looks like we were ambushed. I get this
funny feeling they aren't coming back for us."
Cassidy looks at him with alarm. "No one knows where we are, Lucky. How
are we going to get out if this?"
He nods as he jerks on the cuffs. "Looks like we gotta get ourselves out
of this. I'm sure everyone is ballistic with worry about now. I'm
positive it's way after the time we said we'd be in touch. They'll find
us Cass, or we bust out of here ourselves."
She smiles at him. "I'm holding you to that."
Nikolas speaks roughly into the phone. "Emily! Don't you dare hang
up..."
He turns to Laura, Mike, Mac, and Stefan. "Well, Evan and Emily are on
their way to the hotel as we speak. She was boarding the plane. Just
what we need, four, rather than two, missing people."
Mike takes a deep breath. "Someone has to go and find them, Nikolas."
Nikolas looks at them intently. "I'm going."
Stefan rises and shakes his head as he crosses his arms. "Absolutely
not. You have responsibilities here."
Nikolas assumes the same position and stands his ground. "He is my
brother, she is my cousin, and Emily is one of my friends. I will not
stand by and allow them to be in danger."
Laura begins to cry softly and pleads with Nikolas. "I can't handle
another child out there. Please, Nikolas, stay here. I need you where I
can see you."
Nikolas crosses over to her and takes her hand. "I will stay. They will
be back. I promise you."
On the plane Emily closes her eyes and tries not to worry. She laughs to
herself at the idea of not worrying. How many times had Lucky taken off
on the spur of the moment and not called for days?? Too many as far as
she was concerned. She can feel Evan watching her, but decides to keep
her eyes closed. Evan, he's so much like Lucky, but so different. They
share a love for adventure, but she was almost certain Evan would never
just up and leave on a moments notice. "A penny for your thoughts." His
voice breaks through her thoughts.
"Only a penny? I was just thinking about Lucky. I just can't shake the
feeling that something is terribly wrong. I just hope we can find him
and Cassidy before something horrible happens."
He takes her hand in his and gives it a squeeze. "We'll find them. I
guess I didn't realize just how important he is to you. Well, that's not
entirely true. When I had that breakdown on the bridge, he was the one
you called. I owe him for saving me, for saving us."
Emily smiles at him gratefully. "Thank you for agreeing to do this. I
don't think I would have managed sitting around the apartment waiting
for word. Lucky and I have a strange relationship. It's not that I don't
want to explain it to you, I'm just not sure how. We've dated off and
on, and we've been each other's best friend for years. He's like my
brother, my best friend, and I don't know what else all rolled up into
one. If anything was to ever happen to him...." Her voice trails off not
wanting to complete the thought.
Evan looks at her reassuringly. "Em, you don't owe me any explanations.
Lucky seems like a really good guy, and I've seen the way he takes care
of you. Anyone that's smart enough to appreciate how special you are
ranks high in my book. I would tell ya not to worry, but we both know
you will anyway. So, you worry, and I'll keep my head clear. That way we
can use both of our abilities and find Lucky and Cassidy."
She sighs with relief and closes her eyes again. "Have I told you just
how much I love you?"
He kisses her cheek gently. "I love you too, Babe. Go ahead and get some
rest."
She takes his hand in hers gently. "Evan, I know. It's been hard on
everyone involved. I want to find Richard and to make the people
responsible pay."
Chapter 55 Fancy Meeting You Here..
Lucky feels himself drifting back into sleep. The heat is unbearable
and the dryness of his throat consumes his thoughts. He looks at
Cassidy who seems to be meditating. Her breathing is soft and her eyes
are closed, but it's clear she's not asleep. He fights the urge to
sleep and looks around the room again. No windows, and he's willing to
bet the door is bolted shut. He jerks on the cuffs again, but only
manages to further hurting his chaffed wrists. 'DAMMIT!"
Cassidy's eyes flash open. "Relax Lucky, you're using more energy
yelling. And It isn't helping matters."
He huffs with annoyance. "Yeah, and that meditating is really getting us
out of here."
Her eyes flash angrily. "I'm conserving my energy. It helps distract
from the heat, and the fact I'd sell my soul for water right now."
He flashes her an apologetic smile. "You're right. Sorry, I tend to lose
my charm when I'm cuffed to a pipe in a locked room with no food or
water. I don't think we're going to get ourselves out of this one.
Let's pray the family disregards all the times we've told them we can
handle ourselves and send the calvary."
Cassidy closes her eyes, fighting the rising panic that threatens to
choke her. "I have to get out of here! My daughter needs me. I can't die
in here, not like this." She lets out a choked sob.
Lucky talks to her gently, trying to reassure her. "We're gonna get out
of here, babe. We just got to work on these cuffs. I'm sure help's on
the way. It's just a matter of time."
Cassidy pulls on her cuffs and groans in defeat. "It's no use, Lucky!
These cuffs are made for keeping someone in place. They aren't going to
break."
He gives her a lude look, trying to use humor to distract her. "These
cuffs can be used for more than keeping people in place."
She blushes, unable to fight back a smile. "I take it you have
experience with them? I mean beyond being thrown into jail!"
Busting out into laughter, Lucky shakes his head. "I haven't been
arrested yet. But I hear they have a running bet in the family on when I
will. Cass, don't twist your wrist that way, you're going to get
chaffed."
"I hate when you call me Cass." Cassidy says as she rolls her eyes at
him. "You think I care if my wrists are chaffed?"
Smirking at her while his eyes dance with amusement. "Baby, I just don't
want anyone to think we got frisky, unless well... we get frisky."
At the hotel, Emily blocks the door of the manager's office as Evan pins
the manager to a wall. Holding a picture in front of his face, he growls
at him. "Take a closer look, Amigo! Let's try this again, have you seen
these people?"
The manager trembles with fear as Evan tightens his grip. "No Senor, I
have not seen those people. They are friends of yours, no?"
Evan slams him against the wall angrily. "I have a phone record that
says differently! They were booked in this hotel. WHERE ARE THEY?"
Emily looks through the files as Evan balls his fist and lands a firm
punch to the man's gut. "Start talking before I get really pissed. Right
now I'm just mildly annoyed."
The man says nothing, but Emily speaks up. "I've got it! Room 222, and
there's a notation by it. It's in Spanish...wait! He was paid off to
take them in!"
The man glares at them angrily. "Senor Reyes will not be happy with you
snooping into things that do not concern you."
Evan pushes him down and pins him to the floor. "You have ten seconds to
tell me where the cab took them, or I'll slit your throat."
He begins counting down when he reaches three the manager speaks up. "A
warehouse at the edge of town. It is abandoned, but I doubt your friends
are still there."
Evan pulls him back to eye level. "You better pray that they're not only
there, but that they're the picture of good health. I will be back."
Emily and Evan run from the room with the directions as the man grabs
his phone. "There is trouble..."
In the warehouse, Lucky and Cassidy are feeling faint. The effects of
the heat take its toll as they fight to stay conscious. Cassidy begins
to drift into sleep when Lucky yells to her hoarsely. "CASS! No, babe
you gotta stay awake. Talk to me, baby."
Cassidy smiles at him weakly. "Thanks. Do you think they see us?"
He looks at her curiously. "See us? Who?"
She leans against the wall, her face a mix of exhaustion and sadness.
"Your father and my brother. I've always believed that our loved ones
can see us. Do you think they see us dying?"
A pained expression crosses his face. "I don't know, maybe. We ain't
gonna die, baby. I'm too ornery to let that happen. I promised you that
you'd see Cari again. I keep my word." He begins yanking on the cuffs
again, but nothing happens. "Damn me! How could I have just walked into
this trap!"
Her voice slices through his anger as she speaks softly. "It was my
fault. I'm a professional, or I used to be. I allowed the excitement of
finding Richard cloud my judgment"
He looks at her with longing. Even in this hell hole she's a vision of
beauty. Her soft brown hair shaping her face, her eyes so full of
emotion. Emotions sweep him as he chokes out his words. "No, you warned
me about going off half cocked. It was my impulsiveness. I'm sorry,
Cass; I'm
so sorry."
She smiles at him tenderly. "Let's not waste our time on recriminations.
Tell me about Sonny and Luke."
Outside the warehouse Evan fights with the door. Without much luck he
begins to work on the padlock again. "EM? Where are you?"
Emily calls to him. "I found a way in. I need your help."
He runs to her and looks up at the window she's looking at. "I don't
like it, but it's our only chance. Let me climb up and I'll pull you
up."
He gains footing on the wall as he grabs hold of a pipe. He pulls
himself up to the ledge and tries the window. "Dammit, it's locked. Em,
toss me up a rock."
Emily throws a heavy rock to him. He laughs as it passes him and breaks
the window open. "Nice throw!" Pulling off his shirt and wrapping it
around around his arm he cleans out the remaining glass. He turns to
where Emily is and holds out a hand to her. "Come on."
She takes his hand and using him as a support hoists herself up to the
ledge with him. They climb into the warehouse.
Emily begins to yell out. "LUCKY?! CASSIDY?!"
Cassidy opens her eyes and lets out a scream. "IN HERE! WE'RE IN HERE!"
Lucky opens his eyes groggily at the sound of the screaming. "EMILY?"
Evan looks around the warehouse for something to break the padlock to
the room. "Hang on, we're working on the door." His eyes set on a pair
of bolt clippers and sighs. "God help me."
He runs to the door and places the clippers on to the lock. Nothing
happens and he yells in frustration. Emily joins him holding out a blow
torch. "Try this instead."
He takes the torch and works on the lock. After a minute the lock breaks
away and they open the door. Emily runs to Lucky and kneels before him.
"Are you okay?"
He gives her a weak smile. "Fancy meeting you here. Yeah, I will be now.
Tell me you brought the keys for these?"
She laughs at him. "Sorry, we forgot them at home."
Evan takes the clippers and kneels beside Cassidy. "I knew these would
come in handy." He breaks the cuffs open freeing her.
She hugs him tightly, slightly wobbly on her feet. "Thank you."
He smiles at her. "You're welcome."
Evan kneels next to Lucky and frees him. Lucky rises and looks at the
ruined cuffs. "Damn, I had plans for those."
Emily reaches up to smack him but stops suddenly. "Do you smell that?"
Cassidy sniffs the air and panics. "Smoke! The warehouse is on fire!"
They hear a car squeal off as they run towards the back entrance. A
weakened Cassidy stumbles. Emily grabs her arm and pulls her up before
she falls. Evan wrenches open the door, and they run out to their rental
car. The group watches in horror as the warehouse is engulfed in flames.
All tires on the rental car have been slashed.
Evan sighs loudly. "I get the feeling someone doesn't want us to leave."
Lucky looks at him cockily. "What gives ya that notion? I'm going to
hazard a guess-- you didn't bring extra tires?"
Evan rolls his eyes. "Sorry, didn't have time. I told Em we should stop
and get them and a slurpee, but seems like you guys being rescued was a
little more important to her."
He shrugs."I'd have killed for a slurpee. I suppose we walk, eh white
knight?" He extends his hand, which Evan shakes.
"Yeah, I do believe walking will be on our immediate agenda."
Emily pulls out her cell phone. "Information please. Yes, I need the
police."
Cassidy points to Emily. "You guys feel free to walk, but I'm staying
here with Emily and the cell phone."
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