| Chapter 29 Gary walked into the room carrying a tray with some food and water. He set the tray down and walked over to Brian. He was holding his head and apparently asleep. "Well someone was busy last night," Gary said. He unlocked the cuffs, took Brian's left hand and put it back in the cuff locking it down tight on his wrist. He left his right hand free. Gary reached over and grabbed the water bottle and poured a little into his hand and flicked it on Brian's face. "Rise and shine hubby," he said. Brian jerked awake and looked up at him. His head was still hurting and his vision wasn't completely back to normal, he blinked his eyes a few times. "Come on, wake up," Gary said flicking more water on his face. Brian finally came to himself and lunged at Gary, "You son of a ...!" "Aww, now, that's no way to treat the hand that feeds you," Gary interrupted. Gary handed Brian the water bottle and sat down staring at him. Brian held the bottle in his hand, almost afraid to drink it, but he was so thirsty. "Go on, there's nothing in it," Gary said. Brian turned it up and drank almost half of it in one swallow. "Why are you feeding me? I thought your plan was to kill me," Brian asked. "Oh it is, but not just yet. There are some things I want to do first," Gary answered. "I get the feeling I don't want to know what those are," Brian said. Gary handed Brian half of the sandwich, "No you really don't." "Gary you could end this, all you have to do is let me go," Brian said. "No hubby, it's not that simple," Gary said. "Gary there are forces here that are controlling you, can't you see that?" Brian asked. Gary laughed, "Nothing controls me but me, how long did it take you to think of that one?" Brian just looked at him, knowing he wasn't going to convince him of it, he hurriedly ate the sandwich and drank the rest of the water. "I guess you could see from last night that Anne isn't going to come back to you," Gary said taking the empty bottle from Brian. Brian said nothing but just stared at him. "Hum, I guess you did. So, where's your little girl friend?" Gary asked teasing. "What girl friend?" Brian asked. "Oh, you know, the one you've been cheating on Anne with, what's her name, Tara, that's it," Gary said. "I don't know what you're talking about, I never cheated on Leighanne with anyone," Brian said getting angry. "Oh I beg to differ. It's kinda funny though, with the bond that Anne described to me that you two have, I half expected her to show up at the front door by now," Gary said, "Don't you wonder why she hasn't already found you? Maybe she doesn't want to." "Shut up, you don't know what you're talking about," Brian said with anger in his voice. Gary shrugged his shoulders, "Maybe, but if I don't why are you getting angry?" Brian said nothing. Gary got up and grabbed Brian's right hand. Brian pulled it away, "Your not locking me back up." Gary looked at him, "Don't make this hard on yourself." Gary reached for his hand again, and Brian punched him. Gary backed away holding his mouth. He pulled his hand away, his lip was split and bleeding. "Gonna be hard to hide that isn't it?" Brian said. Gary said nothing, he walked over to a cabinet and pulled out a bottle and a towel. He opened the bottle and poured some of the liquid on the towel and turned back around. Brian knew what it was, but he had no where to go. Gary put the towel over Brian's face and held it there until he stopped fighting. He then put Brian's right hand back in the cuff and locked it down tight. Gary gathered up the tray and left the room. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Everyone was at the courthouse when it opened. They finally found the right office and where looking through the permits. "Here, I think I found it!" A.J. said. Kevin grabbed the paper from him and looked at it, "There are six different locations on here." "OK, let's split up then," Nick said. "We only have two cars though," Howie said. "That's fine, Howie you Kevin and Kira take the first three, and me, Nick, and A.J. will take the last three," Tara said. Tara ran to get copies of the permit while everyone headed out to the cars. Tara came out of the courthouse and ran up to Kevin's car, "Whoever finds her first, call the other," she said handing him a copy. "Gotcha," he said. Tara ran back to Nick's car and they headed off to the first location. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Brian woke up and looked around. He must have been out most of the morning, he could tell it was mid-day by the sun in the windows of the house. He scanned the monitors looking to see if anyone was still home. Gary was sitting in the living room with an ice pack on his mouth. Brian smiled, "Let's see you explain that one," he said to the screen. "You know your optimism is really getting on my nerves," Tiras said. Brian looked over at him, "You can leave anytime." "Naw, I think I'll stay," Tiras said. "So, Gary brought up a good point earlier," Hathath said. "What's that?" Brian asked. "Where is your little girl friend anyway?" Hathath asked. "She's not my girl friend," Brian said. "Maybe not, but you do love her," Tiras said. Brian started to say something when Tiras put his hand on his mouth, "Don't deny it, we can hear your thoughts, see what you feel, you know it's true." Brian looked away from him. "I kinda hope she does show up, I'd like to see how much of a fight she puts up before we destroy her," Hathath said. "You leave her alone!" Brian yelled. "Aww so you do care for her," Tiras said, "And what about the little wife?" "You must know by now that she doesn't love you anymore. If it wasn't Gary it would be someone else, she hasn't loved you in a long time," Hathath said. Brian looked at them with pain in his eyes, he knew what they were saying was true. He just didn't see it until now, for months Lee had been distant, now he knew why. "Aww, so you realize it now," Tiras said. "I still care for her, and I'm going to get her away from here," Brian said. Hathath laughed, "Always the gentleman, sacrificing yourself for something that can't be." Brian stared at him, "Why don't you two go away." "But this is so much fun, watching your hopes get shattered," Tiras said. "My hopes aren't shattered," Brian said. "Still holding out for girlfriend to find you? Here's a little insight, she can't feel you anymore. You see we are hiding you from her, even if she was to walk into this house she wouldn't know you were here," Hathath said. "You're lying!" Brian said. "Are we?" Tiras asked. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Nick, Tara, and A.J. were heading to the last location on their list. So far they had found nothing, and the others hadn't called which meant they were coming up short too. Tara was getting nervous, she could feel the urgency and anxiety in her getting stronger. They had to find him soon. Nick pulled into the location, bingo, the crew was there. Now all they had to do was find Leighanne. Nick parked the car and they all jumped out. They were met by a security person, "Do you have passes to be here?" "No, but we're looking for Leighanne Littrell, she's working here. Her husband was in an accident," Nick said. Tara and A.J. looked over at him. "Your um, one of the guys in the band he's in right?" the security guard asked. "Yes, Nick Carter," Nick answered. "Alright, come with me," the security guard said. They followed him to some trailers on the other side of the set. The guard knocked on the door, "Ms. Littrell, there are some people here to see you." Leighanne opened the door, "What are you doing here?" "Lee, we need to talk to you about Brian," Nick said. "I have nothing to say," Leighanne said and started to close the door. Nick put his foot in the door and stopped her, "Lee, Brian's missing." Leighanne looked at him, then opened the door for them to come in. "What do you mean he's missing?" she asked when they had all come in and shut the door. "He went to the studio yesterday morning, that's the last time anyone has seen him," A.J. said. "Well what am I suppose to do, you know how he is, he's probably off somewhere thinking about things," Leighanne said. "Lee, the studio burnt to the ground yesterday, and Brian's car was still in the parking lot," Nick said. Leighanne was shocked, "What?!" "They found his wedding ring in the fire, but he wasn't there," A.J. said. Leighanne sat down, "You know for sure he wasn't there?" "Yes," Tara said. Leighanne looked at her, "I guess you would know wouldn't you?" "Lee, let's not do this," Tara said, "We've got to find Brian." "Lee, have you heard from him, or know of anyone that would want to hurt him?" Nick asked. She thought for a moment, "No, I can't think of anyone." "What about that guy I saw you with at the hospital?" Tara asked. Nick and A.J. looked at her shocked. "I don't know what you're talking about," Leighanne said. "Lee, stop it. I saw the two of you leave together, who is he?" Tara said. "He's a friend that's all," she said, "And what does this have to do with anything?" "Lee, there is evil around him, I could feel it. Do you think he would ever hurt Brian?" Tara said. "No, he would never," Leighanne said getting angry. "Lee, where are you staying?" Nick asked. She looked up at him, "That's none of your business." "Lee, when it comes to Brian it is our business," A.J. said. Leighanne got up and opened the door, "I think it's time for you to leave." "Lee, please, we're just trying to find him," Tara said. "Carl," Leighanne said. "Yes mame," the security guard said coming around the corner. "Please escort them off the set, and don't let them back in," Leighanne said. "Come on," Nick said walking out the door. They got back to the car and drove to the end of the block and stopped. "What are we gonna do now?" Nick asked. "Pull in over here, when she leaves we'll follow her," Tara said. A.J. and Nick smiled at each other. "I'll call Kevin and let him know what we're doing," A.J. said. "Tell them to stay close, I have a feeling this is gonna take all of us," Tara said. Chapter 30 |