| "Hello? Yeah um... can you put me through to someone investigating the robbery that took place this afternoon? Ah, it involved Isaac Hanson. Thanks." Then he waited for a moment. "Uh huh. Yeah, anyone but the Sergeant in charge please. Thanks. Constable? Ok. This is Taylor, Isaac Hanson's brother? Yeah. We sort of have proof that he was not involved in the robbery today, and it involves the Sergeant in charge. No! Please don't tell him... Ok, you're investigating right? So you know that we were involved in a kidnapping plot not long ago? Good. Umm, well yo see, our younger brother, who was also involved in the kidnappings, he... he went missing not long ago. No, no, we have witnesses that he was taken again by the same people! Look, you can even ask Brad Standish. You know, the guy that was up for manslaughter, Greg's son, we couldn't have contacted him, but he knows! Thankyou. Ring me at home. Ok thanks, bye." He hung up. "And?" I asked after a pause. "He's going to contact the jail, talk to Brad and see what he says first. And he promised not to tell the Sergeant. Actually he promised not to tell anyone," he replied. Ike sighed. "And that's a good thing," Amy nodded. "Depending on the situation," Ike added. "They have to have this all sorted out. They know who's next. I bet they took Zac because he could find a way out of everything - and they knew that," I began. "So we can figure out who's next," Taylor rubbed his chin. We hesitated. "Ok... so what do they think of each of us? I mean, how are we vital in a situation?" I began. "I do nothing," Amy raised her hand. "That's not true. You've helped us out a number of times," Ike said. "Not on my own," she added. "Taylor will be last, we know that," I pointed out. "I'd like to know why they had it in for you, and why they still do," Ike said. "So would I," Taylor agreed. "Ike could be in trouble," I brought up. "Me?" he raised his eyebrows. "Yeah. Danny went after you for a while there," I added. "Probably because you're the most supportive," Amy suggested. "He's also a thinker. And you helped us out heaps of times," Taylor agreed. "Because I had to," he shrugged. "But see that's what they're looking for. How you interpret a situation, what you'd do, how you'd help. These guys know all that, and they're not gonna make the same mistakes the others did," I explained. They hesitated. "These guys were there through this whole thing, they know us and ho we work. It's not gonna be easy getting by them," Taylor added. "So who's next?" Amy asked. "I think it's one of you two," I pointed at Ike and Amy, "and my bet's on Ike." Taylor nodded. "So now what then?" Ike asked, "I'm on the run from them and the cops. It's basically a matter of who finds me first." We stopped. "Either way you're gonna end up in their hands," I said. "So say they catch us, right? Then what do they do?" Taylor asked. "Break us down one by one until we're no good to them," I replied. "Then they kill us," Ike suggested. "You know what? I can't stand this. I'm gonna go look for Zac," Amy jumped up. "No!" Taylor stopped her, "for all we know you could be next." She hesitated. "You said Ike would," she replied. "But how do we know for sure?" he questioned. "We wouldn't have an idea of where to start looking anyway," Ike went on. Amy glanced at him. "We can look where they had us before," she said. "Amy, don't worry. He's probably already interstate," I said. "Now that's a point," Taylor agreed. "Why would they do that? Don't you think they'd wait for us?" Amy pointed out. "They never did before. I remember the first time when he, Taylor, Avie and I got driven back here, and Ike was already here when we arrived," I gave an example. Amy shook her head. "I don't care, I'm looking for him," then she went through the door and left before anyone could stop her. Taylor sat down again and ran his fingers through his hair, shaking his head. "How long until we know she's gone for good?" Ike mumbled. Fortunately, we had a phone call from her mother maybe an hour later, saying she was home and had gone to bed. I left the guys' place soon after. Six o'clock the next morning, the phone rang. I sleepily answered - my parents still in bed. After the call I returned to bed, and two hours later had officially wagged school and was at the guys' place. "When did you get back?" I asked almost straight away. "At about five," Zac replied with a yawn. "And he's been awake all night," Ike added. "When would they give us a chance to sleep?" Zac pointed out. "So what happened exactly?" I asked. Zac yawned again, then said, "can't I get some sleep first?" I shook my head. "We need to know. They might have even followed you back," I warned. "Nah, they couldn't follow - I made sure," he smiled. "So tell us what happened," Amy ordered (she'd gotten there before I had). "Alright, alright... they put me in this car and made me drive someplace. Anyway, I got inside, and who's there but Ike's favourite guy Matt..." he began. "Matt?" Ike repeated. "Yeah, and that Troy guy. I don't think I've seen him before. Anyway, locked in a room for a while, yada, yada, yada... they come get me, take me somewhere else, handcuff me, and leave me in some room with a window tied to a chair. Easy escape if I do say so myself," Zac went on and yawned again. "So these guys won't be as hard to get by?" Taylor asked. "I didn't say that," Zac wagged a finger at him. "So the verdict?" I asked. Zac hesitated, and leant forward. "These guys mean business. And I don't doubt for one second that they will get rid of us when they're done having fun," he replied. "How much fun?" Taylor asked. "Alot, trust me. You don't wanna know half the stuff they had in the places I was at." Suddenly, there was a quiet knock at the door. Ike got up to answer it. "Ah... yes?" We heard him ask. Then we heard a thud. Confused, Taylor, Amy and I went to look. Zac curled up on the couch and was asleep in no time. We found Ike at the front door beside someone laying on the ground. "Who's that?" I asked. "I dunno," Ike shrugged. "What happened?" Taylor asked, going to help Ike carry her inside. "I'm not sure. She just... took one look at me and... fainted," he replied. The guys brought her inside and lay her down in the middle of the loungeroom. "And you thought you were good looking," I chuckled. Taylor began to pat her face. "Ok, what do we do?" Amy asked, a little worried. "Don't worry, we've handled this before," Taylor murmured, watching her. |
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| Chapter 6 - Meeting The Sergeant |
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