9:23pm
After supper, Peter went to the couch in the back room to read a book. The computer screens in the background illuminated the room.
He had had a long day, and looked forward to having some time alone. He lay down and put a pillow behind his back. He opened his book, and before long, he was immersed in the tale. 
11:09pm
Anton went into the back room, looking for Peter. He found him on the couch, reading. Trying not to scare the living daylights out of him, Anton went up to Peter and tapped him on the shoulder. Peter looked up, somewhat surprised.
"I suppose it's that time?" Peter asked, looking at his watch.
"Yup. Come on, I'll hook you up," Anton agreed.
They both went into the master bedroom, which was dark blue with a maroon carpet and white and maroon accents. Peter went to the bathroom to change into pajamas. They were going to do one of the other tests- Peter would have to sleep with the black sensors on, monitoring his heart and respiratory rates.
Peter came back, wearing black boxers and a black T-shirt. He hopped into bed, under the covers. Anton put the sticky sensors on his temples, neck and wrists, then turned out the lamp on the nightstand beside the bed. "Get some sleep, alright?" Anton ordered him in a friendly way.
"Yes, mother," Peter replied sarcastically. He turned on his side and prepared for an uneventful night of sleep.
5:12am
Peter sat on the roof of the house, unafraid of falling. He was facing the rising sun, watching it cast its beautiful red hues over the sky and everything under it. His shadow was long and touched the treetops below. He was wondering more about his condition; why was this happening to him? What was causing the dreams? How could he stop them? What did they mean?
"Pete, we've decided to bring the Mobile Lab here so we can do more extensive tests. We just don't have the right equipment," Matt told his friend when he came in. "When is your friend coming back?"
"He said he'd be coming back next month, around the 7th. But I wouldn't count on him for much..." Peter joked.
"Alright. I'll send for the lab and equipment."
6:20am
"Matt! We've got a problem!" Peter yelled through the house, coming down the stairs. He held his cell phone in his hand, almost dropping it in his haste.
"What now?" Matt called back.
"Elsinger's on the phone. There's a problem with the Hunntersens!"
Matt come over to Peter and took the phone from his hand. "What is it now, Frank?"
Elsinger's harsh voice came through the receiver; "The case isn't as simple as it seems. Natascha has been kidnapped."
"By who?"
"We don't know for sure. I'm guessing her ex-boyfriend, Jaime Tressedei. He admitted to putting the water-bomb in the house, then took her hostage with a six-inch switchblade. We have yet to find them."
"Let me guess, you want us down there?" Matt sighed, exasperated.
"Yes, right away. Bring Axon, Hendricks and Donner with you. They might come in handy." Elsinger hung up before Matt had a chance to say anything.
Matt hung up the cell phone and went in search of Peter, Anton and Lindsay. He found them conversing, along with Claire, in the living room. He took a seat on the end of the coffeetable and handed Peter his phone.
"It was Elsinger. He wants us to go and help find Natascha. Apparently she's been kidnapped by her jealous boyfriend, Jaime, confessed to planting our water-bomb in the house and breaking the chandelier," he told everyone.
"Apparently he can't handle his own problems, once again..." Peter added.
"Claire, I don't think you'll be needed there. Elsinger told me to take Pete, Lindsay and Anton, but you can stay and take care of the house if you want," Matt tried to tell her without hurting her feelings.
"Yeah, sure. I can work on reports and stuff, I guess," she replied, dejected.
"You sure?"
"Yeah, I'll be fine."
"Alright. Everyone else, we'll be leaving shortly."
Everyone got up and went their separate ways- Anton to the back room to get his medical supplies, which might come in handy; Peter to the kitchen to get his book for the ride to the Hunntersen's; Lindsay to the porch to wait for the others; and Claire to the study to do paperwork. Matt remained seated on the table, pondering their next move. They somehow had to find Jaime and Natascha, keep Jaime from hurting Natascha, and somehow get there on time to do both things before...
Matt's thoughts were interrupted by Lindsay coming into the room. "I think we should leave soon, Matt. We don't want him hurting Natascha," she told him, as if she had been reading his mind. He agreed, got up and headed to the truck with her.
8:03am
The sleek truck pulled into the Hunntersen's driveway and the three passengers and driver got out. They all went to the house and Matt rang the doorbell.
Emily Hunntersen came to the door, anxious to see them. She led them inside to the living room, where Lindsay and Peter had been before. "Please, sit," she urged them.
They all took a seat and listened to what the mother had to say.
"Nat went missing last night, I don't know when. I went to check on her at around midnight, to make sure she wasn't having nightmares anymore, only she wasn't there. I checked everywhere in the house and I couldn't find her. I found a note from Jaime saying he had her, and I just freaked out. I haven't been able to sleep since..." she rubbed her eyes as if to show her lack of sleep, fending off tears.
"Don't worry, Emily, we'll find her. He couldn't have taken her far," Peter tried to reassure her.
"Do you know where he might have taken her? A school, library, somewhere they used to go together?" Matt asked, trying leads.
Before she could answer, the phone on the end table rang. Emily shakily picked up the receiver, expecting the worst.
"If you want to get her back, you have to do exactly what I say," Jaime said from the other side of the line.
"It's him," Emily mouthed to Matt so Jaime wouldn't hear her.
Matt went into the hallway and picked up the other receiver, putting his hand over the mouthpiece so his breathing wouldn't be heard.
"What do you want?" Emily asked the kidnapper.
"I want a million dollars, cold cash," he replied, not a bit of humor in his voice. "Put it in a black bag and leave it in the phone booth in front of the gift shop in one hour. No more, no less."
"Why are you doing this?"
"Shut up and listen to me! If I find the money, you get Natascha. Wait for her inside the pet shop. No money, and I'll kill her, I swear it." A small, pathetic muffled scream came from the background.
"Alright, alright. Just please, don't hurt my daughter," Emily pleaded.
"If you give the money, I won't hurt her." Jaime hung up.
Matt hung up and came back into the living room, joining the others.
"I think I know where he was," Emily told them. "I've been there before."
"Where?" Lindsay asked, concerned for Natascha.
"The power room under the school," she replied, finally putting the phone receiver back on the cradle. "It's not accessed very often, I think he might know that."
"Alright. Lindsay, you stay here with Emily, we'll keep in contact. Pete, Anton, you come with me. We're going down there." Matt got up and headed for the door, his two chosen teammates following.
"But..." Lindsay started, not pleased.
"No buts. Keep your com link on."
Once outside, Matt, Peter and Anton got into the truck and headed towards the school at the other side of town.
8:28am
Matt pulled up in front of the brick building and practically flew out the door. Time was running out, and he knew it. He ran to the front entrance and pulled the door open, hardly waiting for the two others to catch up.
They ran through the halls in search of a teacher, the principal, someone. He finally found a teacher, almost running into her, Peter almost running into him when he stopped. The teacher got bumped against the wall, and Anton finally caught up.
"Where's the stairs to the basement?" Matt asked hurriedly.
"Why? You?not authorized to go down there," the woman replied, disgusted with his lack of manners.
"Because a girl is being held hostage down there, that's why! We don't have much time."
"My God! Who?"
"I don't have time to explain! Just tell me where the stairs to the basement are!"
"They're down at the end of this corridor, third door on the left."
Matt took off down the hall, Peter and Anton behind him. |
