Mitchell walked onto the bus to find it in pure havoc. �What is going on here?!?!?!� He demanded. Jeremy looked up from behind a huge pile of dirty laundry. �Nathan and Jason have teamed up to make us clean�, he replied with a sigh. �I didn�t even make half the mess!� Mitchell was shocked. �They actually talked you guys into it? Wow I�m impressed!� Gabe walked into the room holding a duster. Mitchell tried to hide his grin while Gabe tried to figure out how to dust the top of the TV. �How do you use this thing anyway??� Gabe wondered aloud. �I dunno,� said Nate as he went to the bus window with the Windex and a rag. �I never knew how many times we put our fingers on windows!� Gabe looked down, �Well, um, I like to breathe on the windows and draw pictures!� Mitchell scowled at Gabe, �So THAT�S why the windows are always fogged up after you leave the room!�
Jason walked in then singing, �Amazing Grace, how sweet, the sound�� Jeremy looked up from picking up Gabe�s smelly socks from three weeks ago, �Dude, you�ve been singing that ALL day! Enough already!� Jason smiled slyly and kept on singing. All of a sudden, Nate cried, �Oh My Word! Ok, this has gone FAR ENOUGH!� All of the guys looked at him in surprise. �What??� They all yelled. Mitchell ran to the window to see what Nate was staring at. �What on EARTH is Nathan doing NOW?!?!?!?!� Mitchell demanded. All the guys ran to the window to see.
To their horror, Nathan was setting up a booth. It had a sign saying "Free tours of the bus! Think it needs more cleaning work? Think it's spick and span? Vote here!"
"OH NO!!!" Jeremy groaned, "Now we're really in for it!" Jason laughed. �Now all our fans will know if you clean well or not!� Gabe banged his head against the wall. �They�re not supposed to know how well we clean! Just how we sing!!!!� Jason smiled triumphantly. �Well I guess you�re in trouble then.� He went to talk to Nathan. The guys tried to read Jason and Nathan�s lips, but they were moving too fast. Finally Jason came back in the bus. �In five minutes you�re first tourist is coming in,� He told them, �Better start cleaning!� Jeremy, Gabe, and Nate all groaned, but they started cleaning as fast as they could.
Five minutes later the bus was sparkling. Their first five tourists thought it was cleaner than their houses. Nathan heard their comments. He came in the bus. �WOW! You guys really pulled this off.� He saw that their bed curtain was closed. He opened it. He gasped at the sight. Dirty clothes, books, CDs, cookie wrappers, and everything else imaginable were piled onto all the beds. Nathan looked at them with his mouth set in a strait line. For the first time in awhile, Jeremy, Gabe, and Nate all had the butterflies.
Nathan pulled a dirty shirt off of his pillow while plugging his nose with his other hand. �Who�s is THIS???� Gabe grabbed it, �DUDE! Thanks Nathan! I�ve been looking EVERYWHERE for this!� Nathan wrinkled his nose, �Well it�s a little smelly, but you�re welcome!� He smiled. �Hey wait a minute! You�re changing the subject! I�m still really disappointed in what you guys did!� The five tourists looked at each other. �I think it�s time to go.� One of them said as they walked off the bus.
Gabe, Nate, and Jeremy looked at the floor. �We tried our best Nathan, we really did!� Nate said quietly. �We�re just not as clean as you like us to be!� Nathan looked at them. �I�m sorry guys, I probably shouldn�t have set up that booth, I just wanted something to motivate you guys!� Jeremy smiled. �I guess it was pretty funny how fast Gabe was cramming stuff into the beds!� Gabe laughed. �Look guys, let�s compromise here, I won�t force you to clean, if you guys just keep everything picked up ok?� Nathan asked. �Done!� Gabe, Nate, and Jeremy said, looking relieved. Jason grabbed a CD out of the bed. �Let�s start by cleaning this up!� He suggested.
So they started cleaning the bunk bed out. All of a sudden, Gabe screamed. �WHAT?!?!?!?!� all the other guys yelled. �I, I�I found something in the pocket of these old jeans of mine.� Nathan, looking very worried, leaned closer to look at the worn piece of paper that Gabe held in his shaking hands. �Oh wow!� Nathan gasped. �It looks like a message written in code of some kind!� Jeremy reached his hand out to Gabe, �Let me see that.� Gabe tossed it over to him. �No problem! I don�t wanna� hold it!�
As Jeremy studied it, his eyes bugged out. Gabe shuddered. "It was even in scary writing and everything!" He said. "I know how to decode this!" Jeremy said. "Someone give me a piece of rice paper and a magnify glass!" Nate stared at Jeremy. "RICE PAPER???" He asked. "Yes! Just do it!" Nathan got him the stuff. "I wonder how we had rice paper in here," Jason wondered aloud. Gabe looked at Jason. "Well uhhh...I kinda� like to eat it. It tastes pretty good!" Jason shook his head. "Gabe, what are we going to do with you?" Jeremy looked up from the note. "You guys aren't gonna believe this!" He looked at Gabe. "We can't let you out of our site!" Gabe looked at Jeremy, a worry line was on his face. "Why?" "Come look at this." Jeremy motioned for everyone to look at the note. Nathan read the note first. He gasped as he read what could happen to Gabe.
�Oh my gosh, Gabe! How did you get yourself into this mess?� Gabe shrugged. �I have no clue. All I know is that I found the letter.� Nathan looked at Jeremy. �How did you know how to decode this?� He asked. Jeremy smiled. �Hey, I always told you mafia intrigued me! I didn�t watch all those cop mystery shows for nothing!� Nate grabbed the note. �Well anyway, what do we do now?� Gabe grabbed a bag of chips. �All I wanna� do right now is fill my empty stomach! All that cleaning makes me hungry!� Nate looked shocked. �You don�t care that someone just wrote a ransom note to us that you�ve been kidnapped, and we never got it, and you�re still not kidnapped?� Jeremy rolled his eyes. �You don�t get it do you?� Gabe shrugged. �I�m just hungry.� Nathan gritted his teeth and cringed. �Gabe�you�re dropping chip crumbs into the couch cushions!�
A few hours later, the phone rang. �Hello,� answered Nate. �Yes, is Gabriel Combs there please?� said a gruff voice at the other end of the line. �Yeah sure hold on, I�ll get him.� Nate said. �GABE!!!!!!!� �What?� a voice called from Gabe�s bunk. �Phone call!� Nate answered. �Tell them I�m sleeping unless it�s my mom.� Gabe said. �Ok!� answered Nate, thinking to himself, �That�s one good way to get rid of salespeople!� He picked the phone back up. �Hey, sorry Gabe�s not able to come to the phone, hello????� Then he heard a small click and the line was dead. �Awww man! Where�s Mitchell? Something�s wrong with the phone!� Jeremy came into the room. �What happened?� Nate shrugged. �Some guy called Gabe, and the line died before I found out what he wanted.� Jeremy�s eyes grew wide. �Read the caller ID! Where did that call come from???� Nate looked at the ID. It says �out of area�. I guess he was on a cell phone or something. Why?� Jeremy walked outside the bus. �Oh nothing, just wondering that�s all.� Nate looked confused. �I wonder what Jeremy is up to.�
1 hour later...
Jeremy came into the bus. Gabe and Nathan were playing Playstation. Jason and Nate were going over a song they wrote together. "Ok everyone!!! Listen up!..." Jeremy started, but got cut off. "Man where have you been?" Nathan asked. "I was at the video store. And please don't cut me off when I'm discussing what might happen to Gabe." Jeremy huffed. "Oh sorry," Nathan mumbled. Jeremy gave him the eye. "Anyway, we need to watch this movie. It will tell us what might happen to Gabe." �Gabe's problem will come from a movie?" Jason asked, surprised. "Yes. A mafia to be exact." Jeremy put the tape in and the movie started to play. After a while, Gabe started zoning out. "EARTH TO GABE!! HELLO GABE!!! IS YOUR BRAIN ON THIS PLANET???" Gabe came back to reality when he heard Jeremy. "Did you hear anything I said?" Jeremy asked. "Just the �are you alive stuff�." Jeremy sighed. "I'm trying to help you here, not me. So the least you could do is pay attention so your life can be saved!" Jeremy's whole body was shaking as he said it. He was frustrated because he wanted to get Gabe out of danger so badly. And Gabe didn't seem to care. "Sorry! I just kinda got bored. That's all. I'm ready now." Gabe answered. "Ok." Jeremy rewound the tape, and showed Gabe what happened to someone in the same predicament that he was in. Gabe was mesmerized by the movie. He couldn't believe what happened.
�Dude, what are we going to do?� Nate asked. �I have no idea,� said Jeremy quietly, �We just gotta watch Gabe at all times! He can�t go ANYWHERE without a bodyguard or something!� Gabe�s eyes grew, �Whoa, I get to have a BODYGUARD??? Cool!� Nathan looked at him. �Gabe! This is serious! This is a life or death situation here that we�re dealing with!� Gabe shrugged. �Sorry. I just got excited there for a minute!� Nate looked at Jeremy. �What if all this is just a big scam that some person that doesn�t like our music is pulling to scare us? I mean, maybe they watched this same movie and prank called us just to make us too nervous to perform! It could happen!� Jeremy looked thoughtful. �That�s a good thought Nate, I hadn�t thought of that before.� Jason nervously grabbed Nathan and Jeremy�s hands. �Well, even if it is just a prank, we need to pray about this!� So they all joined hands and prayed to God for safety and guidance through this difficult time.
When they finished praying, Jeremy looked up and said, �Ok, I think we need to tell Mitchell about everything, we may have to get the police involved in this, even if it is a scam.� Nate nodded, �You�re right, we can�t be too cautious about this.� Nathan swallowed hard and looked at Gabe. �Don�t worry Gabe! We�ll take care of you!� Everyone laughed as they ran out of the bus, while all watching Gabe like hawks, to go and find Mitchell.
They found Mitchell at his computer in the next bus. �Hey man we need to tell you something about Gabe!� Jeremy said. Mitchell looked up from his computer. �Ok, what?� Nate looked at Gabe. �Um, we think Gabe�s in trouble,� he said quietly. �What did he do THIS time??� Mitchell sarcastically rolled his eyes at Gabe. �What?? I promise I didn�t do anything! It really wasn�t me!� Gabe exclaimed. Nathan spoke up. �We watched a video that Jeremy got from the video store. He remembered the storyline was the same in the movie as the predicament that Gabe is in right now. In the movie, this guy gets prank called three times, and all of the times they hang up on him as soon as he picks up. He also finds a note that�s torn, and in code in his pants pocket exactly two weeks before the prank calls started. That�s the same thing that happened to Gabe, only we don�t know when the note was put there because he just now found his pants. Good thing I made you clean up huh?� He smirked at Gabe. �But Gabe has only gotten one call so far.� Nate pointed out, �So that means he�ll get two more?� Jeremy shrugged. Mitchell looked confused. �So what happens after this guy gets his three calls in the movie?� he asked. Jason swallowed hard. �He gets one more call. This time though, the guy doesn�t hang up.�
Mitchell looked worried. "So what happens?" He asked, anxious to know. "Well," Nathan put in, "They guy tells him that he is watching him, and that soon the guy will be in his hands." Nate jumped in. "Then he says, 'Come outside,' so the guy goes outside and he gets captured by him." Jeremy nodded his head sadly. "And no one ever saw him again." Mitchell stood up and grabbed Gabe. " I'm not letting you out of my sight! Not even for a second!!!" Gabe gave him a gross look. "Dude, even in the bathroom? That's just nasty!" Mitchell smiled. "We'll make an exception for that!" Jason put his two cents in. "Maybe he should have a bodyguard." He suggested. "WOO HOO!!!" Gabe jumped up and down. "YES YES YES!!! I WANT A BODYGAURD!!!!" Nathan held Gabe down. "Dude! Chill!!! It's not for fun! It's for your life!!" Gabe sighed. "I know, it's just cool that's all." Suddenly the phone rang. "I'll get it!" Gabe started to the phone. "NOOOO!!!!!!" Nathan yelled. "What if it's him?" Gabe stopped in his tracks. "You can get it." Nathan picked up the phone. "Hello? Hold on please," Nathan looked worried. "It's him!!!" He said. Gabe grabbed the phone. "Hello?" He listened for a minute, and then hung it up. "Only one more safe phone call, then I'm dead." Gabe said in a shaky voice. Nate gave Gabe a reassuring smile, "Hey man, you'll be fine. We�re watching you righ..." Jason cut him off. "What was that?" He asked. "What?" Jeremy exclaimed, surprised. "A flash just went by the window!" Jason yelled. Everyone ran to the window, just in time to see a horrifying sight.
�THERE�S A MAN COMING TOWARDS THE BUS!!!� Gabe screamed, running to hide under the bottom bunk bed. There was a loud knock at the door. �What should we do?� Nathan asked, worried. Mitchell straightened up. �I�m going to answer it.� Jeremy looked at Mitchell in shock. �Are you CRAZY???� Mitchell shrugged. �What else is there to do? Hide with Gabe under the other bunk?� A small voice came from under the bed, �Hey, I heard that!�
Mitchell walked slowly to the door, and opened it. A man dressed in a nice suit and tie looked up at him. �Hello sir! I�m here to represent Word Records! Are you the manager of Plus ONE??� Mitchell looked at him, confused. �Um, yes. May I help you?� The man smiled, �Yes you can! We�d like to sign Plus ONE on to our record company, is that ok with you?� Mitchell laughed. �No, they�re with Atlantic already. Sorry.� The man sighed. �Darn. I can never seem to get anyone to sign on with Word! My boss is going to be mad.� Mitchell tried to hide his smirk that played on his face. �Why don�t you try asking a band that hasn�t signed with anyone yet?� The man�s face lit up. �Why, I never thought of that! Thank you sir! Enjoy your day!� The man turned and left. Mitchell closed the bus door and came inside. �Gabe, you can come out now, there�s no need to worry! There was just a very confused salesman for a record company!� All the guys laughed. Gabe slowly came out, looking around at everyone cautiously. Just then, Gabe�s cell phone rang. �AHHH!� Gabe yelled as he threw his cell phone at Jason and dived back under the bed. Jason�s hands shook. �Should I answer it?� Mitchell shrugged. �Might as well.� Jason pushed the talk button and squeaked out a small, �hello?� A female voice at the other end sounded worried, �Jason dear, are you alright? This is Mrs. Combs! Why didn�t my Dabski answer his phone?� Jason sighed in relief. �Oh hi! Sorry he was afraid to answer it. Let me get him out from under the bed, hold on!� Jason ducked down and looked under the bunk. He held the phone to Gabe. �It�s your mom,� he said. �Oh ok!� Said Gabe. �Hi momma!� Mitchell motioned to the other guys to give him some privacy. �But we can�t let him out of our sight!� Nathan exclaimed, worried. Mitchell smiled. �Don�t you worry! I have a feeling Mrs. Combs will have some kind of plan to get him out of this fix! She always does!� Jeremy started out the door. �C�mon guys! We�ll guard the bus!�
15 minutes later....
Gabe came outside of the bus. Jason was guarding the bus door. "Hey Jason." Jason jumped. "Oh hi Gabe. I didn't even hear you. So what's up?" Gabe started around the bus. "Come on, I'll tell everyone at once." Jason followed Gabe. Pretty soon all of Plus ONE and Mitchell were standing around Gabe, with all their ears turned to him. "Well," Gabe started, "I told my mom about what's been going on lately, and she had a suggestion. She said that I shouldn't be scared. And then maybe my stalker would lose the fun in it. But I'm not so sure. For once my mom was, besides that suggestion, all out of ideas." He sighed. "Things aren't going very well if my mom can't even come up with a decent suggestion." Nate shrugged his shoulders. "I�d go with the bodyguard," he said. "Look, we don't have to worry until Gabe gets the third phone call. And he already called today. So maybe he'll wait awhile." Jason said. "But all the while Gabe is still being watched!" Jeremy jumped in. "Look guys, am I the only one? Or is anyone else hungry?" Nathan said, out of the blue. Everyone agreed. "Lets talk about this more after we eat something." Nathan suggested. They headed off to McDonald�s. After they ate, they discussed Gabe's problem again. "Of all the people in the world, why Gabe?" Jason asked, confused. "Well, he's a singer, and is pretty valuable. And, no offense Gabe, he's the least likely to figure it out on his own. Get what I mean?" Mitchell asked. Everyone agreed. Even Gabe. Just then a man walked up to Mitchell. "Mitch!!!" The man exclaimed. "John!" Mitchell jumped up, "What are you doing here?" He asked. "Well, I was in town working on a record with a new artist, and I was hungry. So I stopped to get a bite to eat." The man answered. "Wow," Mitchell laughed, "It's great to see you again! Guys, this is John Kankas. We were old friends in high school, and then we both went in to music for a career. But John went into producing." John shook Plus ONE's hands. "Nice to meet you," Jason said politely. "You too!" He said, then he turned to Mitchell, "We have a lot to catch up on." He said. "Do you have some time?" Mitchell smiled. "Of course!" The two men became engrossed in deep conversation. Plus ONE became bored. So they started looking around. Jason pointed out a poster on the wall advertising the Mighty Kid�s meals with the single, �Going Crazy� on the CD prize in the meal. "Look!" Everyone but Gabe looked at it excitedly. Gabe went over to the door. He opened it to feel the nice breeze outside. He saw something shiny, and went outside to see what it was. Nate stopped looking at the picture. "Where's Gabe?" He asked. "He went outside," Jeremy answered. "We can't let him out of our sight!" Nathan cried. Everyone ran over to the door. Jason opened it and ran outside. But it was too late. Gabe was gone.
Nathan threw his hands above his head. �What do we do NOW?!?!?!� Nate sighed. �We better get Mitchell.� He said shakily. �MITCH!!!!!!!!!!!!� Jason yelled as he ran back inside. �What?!?� Mitch exclaimed when Jason breathlessly told him what happened. The other guys ran in behind Jason. Mitch sighed and scribbled a number on a napkin. �Here John, my cell number. We�ll get together again while you�re in town. Ok? I�m sorry I have to go, emergency!� John nodded. �No problem! Say, what�s your trouble?� Mitchell told him quickly. �Oh my!� John exclaimed. �I read a book about something JUST like that once! It was a sequel to the movie!� Jeremy�s eyes grew wide. �YOU�RE KIDDING!?!?!?! You like mafia too? SWEET!� Nate rolled his eyes. �Not now Jeremy!� Nathan stepped forward and looked hard at John. �Mr. Kankas? What happened next? Did the book go farther than the movie?� John smiled. �Yes Nathan, it did!� Jason breathed a sigh of relief. �Well? What happens?� he nervously asked. John stood up. �Let�s go outside and see if this mystery guy left us any evidence.�
All the guys ran outside and saw something shiny in the parking lot. They ran over to it to look. John leaned over, picked up the silver coin with engraving on it, and smiled. �Yes this is exactly like the book! The movie stops before it gets this far. But what stumps me is why he kidnapped Gabe before the third phone call.� Jeremy thoughtfully spoke up, �Maybe he wasn�t planning on it, but it was a good opportunity so he just did it anyway.� John nodded thoughtfully. �Good thought Jeremy.� Jason looked at the coin in John�s hand. �What does it say?� John looked at it again. �It�s written in Greek. It means �The prize has been taken�, don�t ask me why this guy thought Gabe was a prize!� Everyone smiled a little. Mitchell sighed. �So what do they do in the book to get the �prize� back?� John smirked a little. �Well, it will definitely take team work, we all have to have a part in this plan.� Everyone stepped closer. �We�re all definitely in!� Nathan said with a smile.
The next day...
"I got peace like a river! I got peace like a river!" Jason sang as he flipped pancakes in the pan. "Breakfast!" He yelled loudly, in case someone hadn't woken up yet to his singing. Nathan slowly walked into the kitchen area of the bus. "Morning" he mumbled and sat down at the table. The rest of the guys, except Gabe, slowly did the same. "Man! Why do we have to get up so early?" Jeremy complained. Jason gave Jeremy a weird look. "You call 8:00 am early?" He asked. Jeremy gave Jason a look that said "Get with it man!� Jason shrugged. He dished out the pancakes. "There, eat away. We're going to need a good breakfast to do what we have to do today." Nate bit in to the pancakes. "Mmmm, These are good Jason! Since when do you cook pancakes?" He asked. Jason laughed. "Since today when I looked at the recipe on the box!" Nathan smiled. "Way to go Jason! Maybe we should hire you to cook for us all the time!" He suggested. "No!!!" Jason backed away. "Just a nice treat for today!" Jeremy laughed. "Well treat us more often!" he said. "Fine! That's the last time I cook for you!" Jason said, while a smile played on his face. "So what exactly do we have to do to get Gabe back?" Nate asked. "Well," Jeremy started. "We have to..." Jeremy stopped suddenly, when something hit the window. "What was that?" Nate asked. "That's what I was wondering," Jeremy said, puzzled. Jason ran outside grabbed the wad of paper that hit the window, and ran back into the bus. He opened it up and started reading. "We have Gabe. If you want him back, come to 1937 Gotcha Lane and pay $500. *Note* The sooner the better. If you pay, you get him, whether he is dead or alive." A hush went throughout the bus. Jason looked up, his face aghast. "Now what do we do?" Nathan asked. "We better go find him now!" Jason almost yelled. "But we told John we'd meet him at nine. It's only 8:30." Nate pointed out. "This is an emergency!" Jason cried, "He'll understand!"
As the bus was on its way to Gotcha Lane, they luckily had On-Star to ask where it was, Mitch called John and told him what was happening. John was shocked at the other end of the line. �This did NOT happen in the movie!� he said, stressed. Mitch�s eyebrows shot up. �Really?� John cleared his throat. I think that whoever is doing this figured out that we knew the plot of the film, so he�s doing his own plan now.� Mitch sighed. �Oh great. We don�t have $500 just to give away to some guy to get Gabe back! We�ll have to come up with a plan to �kidnap� Gabe back!� John agreed to meet them at the same address in ten minutes.
When they arrived at the address, they discovered an old shack. �Should we go inside?� Jeremy asked. �I think we should wait for John!� said Nate, looking worried. Just then, John�s car pulled up and he jumped out. He appeared in the bus ten seconds later. �Ok guys! We need a plan of action!� John said excitedly. �Man, why are you so excited? GABE is in trouble! We can�t loose him! He�s my brother!� Nathan exclaimed, almost in tears screaming at John. �Whoa now! Calm down Nathan, I�m not happy about this situation, it�s just that, well, I guess Mitch never told you guys. I used to be an undercover detective for the FBI. I quit when I got married, my wife didn�t want me running around in crime scenes. But mysteries have always intrigued me. So I�m only excited because I can smell a challenge in the air! Don�t you worry, I�ll find Gabe!� Nathan looked a little more relieved, and all the rest of the guys just stared at John. �DUDE! You were a DETECTIVE? That is so SWEET!� Jeremy exclaimed. John smiled, �Well guys, we have a job to do, you are my fellow detectives right now, so let�s figure this out, and hopefully we don�t have to get the police involved.� Jeremy smiled. �All right!�
An hour later, Nate called out from his bunk on the bus, now the �home base�, as they called it, was parked a block away so no one would be suspicious. �Jeremy�s in the backyard of the shack!� He called to John. John smiled. �Good! Give me the walkie-talkie, I need to give him directions.� Nate tossed it to John, who was sitting at the kitchen table. Mitch was reading the newspaper. Jason looked anxiously at Nathan. �C�mon Nathan, PLEASE stop drumming your fingers on the table! It�s annoying!� Nathan kept on doing it while staring at a spot in the carpet. �Nathan?? NATHAN!� Jason waved his hand in front of Nathan�s face. �What are you staring at?� Nathan jumped, �DUDE! Don�t scare me like that!� he exclaimed. �You nearly gave me a heart attack!� Jason looked concerned. �I�ve been calling your name, you�ve been staring at that place in the carpet and drumming your fingers on the table for 20 minutes straight, it�s really scaring me�� Nathan stopped drumming his fingers. �Oh sorry. I didn�t realize I was doing that.� He sighed. �I�m so nervous, what if Jeremy gets caught too?� Nate peeked out from the bunk. �He won�t, I think the kidnapper will be so scared of Jeremy after he quizzes them on the Mafia movie they�ll kick him right back out!� Nate and Jason laughed. Nathan smiled a little. John came out of the bathroom with the walkie-talkie. Everyone looked at him. John cleared his throat, �Hey, it�s the only place I could privately talk to Jeremy ok?� Nate smiled and tried to concentrate on reading his Bible.
Ten minutes later, John jumped when the walkie-talkie crackled next to him. �Hello? Jeremy? Did you map the place out?� He called into the device. A distant voice came from the other end. �Yep! AND, I even got close enough to peek in the window too! I didn�t see anyone though.� John smiled. �Ok c�mon back, and we�ll all discuss the plan!�
A few minutes later, Jeremy came through the bus door, all smiles. �This is so much fun!� Mitch rolled his eyes, �Just let us see the map already will ya?� he said as he threw the put his newspaper on the couch. Jeremy spread the sketched sheet of paper on the table. Everyone gathered around and looked. �Well, it looks pretty simple, there is one door and four windows. How hard can this be?� Nate asked. John raised his eyebrows at Nate. �You�ve never been on a mystery case before have you?� Nate shrugged. �Nope!� he said. John turned back to the map. �Just because there�s only one door doesn�t make it easier, it just makes less ways of getting inside.� He explained. Jason squinted and leaned closer to the map. �Jeremy, does the shack have a basement?� Jeremy nodded, �Yeah I could see the basement windows. I couldn�t draw them on this map very well though, since they were so small.� John smiled at Jason. �You are a genius Jason! We can try to get in through the basement!� Jeremy looked at John curiously, �How do you propose to fit through them? They�re only about three feet wide and one foot tall.� Everyone turned and looked at Nate. �What?� he asked with his hands in the air. �You�re the smallest.� Nathan said. Nate�s face grew pale, �OH NO! I�m NOT going in there! Not by myself!� Mitch rolled his eyes. �But you�re the only one that will fit!� he said. Jeremy poked Nate�s shoulder, �Are you a CHICKEN??? Bawk Bawk!!!� Nate pushed Jeremy�s shoulder. �C�mon man that�s not funny.� Jeremy smiled with pride. �I went over there all by myself, and I�M still here aren�t I?� Nate shrugged. �I guess.� Nathan put his hand on Nate�s shoulder, �Do it for Gabe!� he pleaded. Nate looked at the floor. �Ok, what do I have to do?� Everyone cheered and hugged Nate. �You�re the best Nate!� Jason yelled. Before they put together the plan, they said a prayer together to protect themselves, and Gabe�
�Home base, do you read me?� Jeremy whispered into the walkie-talkie. �This is Penguin Man reporting to the base.� Mitch laughed from the other end. �I had no idea we were coming up with code names Mr. Penguin Man!� Jeremy sighed. �Well, can you hear me ok?� Mitch smiled as he answered, �Yes, I can hear you, you sound like a penguin!� Jeremy rolled his eyes as he hung on to the tree branch he was hanging from. �Nate is going to go inside now, John is in the bushes getting him geared up and instructing him.� �Ok! Everything is A-ok here on the bus!� Mitch replied.
Meanwhile, Jason and Nathan were discussing their position across the street. �Man, my legs are really cramped from crouching behind this rock!� Jason complained. Nathan focused his binoculars and tried to see into one of the windows. �Quit complaining Jase, it won�t get you anywhere.� Nathan said quietly, concentrating on what he was focusing on. Jason sighed and looked into his binoculars again. �I see Nate and John in the bushes. I think they�re about ready!� Jason whispered to Nathan. �Good, let�s get this over with as soon as possible, I�m really nervous!� Nathan whispered back to Jason.
John and Nate appeared from the bushes. Nathan and Jason held their breath. Jeremy whispered to Mitch through the walkie-talkie that they were going in. Nate looked like he�d seen a ghost he was so scared. And John was patting Nate on the back, looking nervous for Nate. Nate, dressed in black from head to toe, was shaking like a leaf when they pried the basement window open with a crowbar. John turned to Nate. �Relax! There aren�t any windows on this side of the shack, so no one can see you! And there isn�t anyone in the basement. You can do this! Just keep praying ok? You know what you�re supposed to do right?� Nate shakily swallowed hard. �Yes� he squeaked out. John smiled a reassuring smile. �Good, is your walkie-talkie on?� Nate nodded. �Ok, let�s get you inside!�
The basement was dark and cool. Nate squinted as he looked around, trying to adjust his eyes from the bright sun outside to this dark place. He turned on his flashlight and searched the place for a door. �There is a small staircase with a wooden door at the top� he whispered to John, who was outside in the bushes. �Ok, look around for clues that Gabe has been there, and make sure to keep your eyes on that door, and find a hiding place to jump into if that door opens! Ok?� Nate gulped. �Ok,� he whispered quietly, his eyes glued to the door. His flashlight beam crossed the room slowly, as his eyes scanned the room. He figured out a plan of action if the door were to open, and started toward what appeared to be a small closet. His beam went inside the closet and he almost screamed. Nate�s knees gave out and he crashed into the closet. �SSSSSHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!� Gabe said loudly. �The neighbors will hear you!� Nate was shaking as he sat up. �Gabe, how on EARTH did you get in here??? You scared me half to death!� Gabe shrugged. �I have no clue how I got here, but YOU scared ME half to death with all that whispering and opening the window! I was trying to keep quiet so whoever you were, you wouldn�t find me!� Nate smiled. �Sorry, are your kidnappers home?� Gabe shook his head. �No they went to the mall.� Nate�s eyebrows shot up. �The MALL? Why on earth would they go to the MALL?� Gabe shrugged. �Don�t all girls go to the mall?� Nate�s eyes grew. �GIRLS??? We thought this was some guy!!!!!!� Gabe smiled, �Nope!� Nate looked confused. �Well, what are you doing down here anyway?� Gabe shrugged. �They told me I could live down here. It�s pretty comfy, and they don�t care if I make a mess. Their mom cooks REALLY well too!� Nate was really lost. �Well, anyway, let�s get you out of here while they�re not home!� Gabe scratched his head. �I told them I wouldn�t go anywhere without saying goodbye.� Nate looked at Gabe like he had two heads. �Are you CRAZY??? I�m here to RESCUE YOU! You don�t tell me you have to say GOOD BYE first!� John�s voice came over the walkie-talkie. �Nate, how�s it going down there? I haven�t heard from you for a few minutes. Nathan�s making hand motions at me to call you from across the street.� Nate sighed and looked at Gabe, who looked at the floor. �Well, we didn�t have to come up with this whole rescue plan. I found Gabe, and he wants to say GOODBYE to the girls that kidnapped him.� John�s voice came loudly in response �WHAT?!?!?!?!? IS HE INSANE? GET HIM OUT OF THERE NOW!� Nate swallowed hard. �Gabe c�mon please come with me?� he pleaded. Gabe nodded. �I guess I can leave a note.� Nate looked relieved. �Thank you!� he said quickly, as he and Gabe came out of the closet. �Hey John, Gabe�s coming out with me.� John�s relieved voice came in reply, �I�m glad you talked some sense into him! Let�s get outta here!�
Back on the bus, after a hug fest with Gabe, John decided to figure out how everything tied together and WHY in the world Gabe was so attached to his kidnappers. So he started to question Gabe�
"Why didn't you want to leave?" John asked. "Well..." Gabe started, "They were really nice, and funny, and their mom cooked really good." John looked at Gabe. "That's why you wanted to stay?" "Well," Gabe said, "I also felt important there. They made me feel needed." Nathan jumped up. "And we don't? What are you talking about?" He exclaimed. "Well I don't know, I just feel like you guys don't need me. Like maybe you just want me somewhere else." Nate stood up. "Gabe, do you think that's what we want? That's totally not true! We could NEVER be without you. Do you understand?" he asked. Gabe nodded. "Yeah, thanks guys. Group hug!" Everybody hugged, including Mitchell and John. When they were done Gabe asked, "Hey did you guys like the ransom note?" Nathan put his hands on his head. "Ahhh!! That scared me so bad!!" Gabe shrugged, "Sorry. I didn't help write it. I didn't want them to write that because I was ok. They needed the money for an upcoming concert and new clothes though, so they wanted to scare you into bringing it. The first one they put in my pocket that was in code was a mess up. The girl�s little brother put it there when I was signing autographs." Jason exclaimed, "Oh that was awful!" Gabe shook his head, Jeremy laughed. "Hey it's ok! As long as you're ok!!" Gabe smiled, �And remember the coin in the parking lot? That was fake! The girl�s dad makes metal stuff, so he made a coin with a Greek saying on it so that I would come outside. As you can tell, this family loves mafia movies!� Jeremy smiled, �That�s for sure!� Gabe said, �They didn�t call me a third time because the girl�s phone bill was already too high for the month. She would get grounded if she called me again.� Everyone laughed. �Well we�re just glad you�re ok!� Nate smiled. All of a sudden, the phone rang. Everyone jumped. �Oh no�� Jeremy gasped. John shrugged, �We might as well answer it.� Gabe picked up the phone, �Hello? Hey! Yeah sorry I had to leave so fast. My friend came and broke into your house and saved me.� Nate punched Gabe on the shoulder, �Hey! Don�t be getting me in trouble!� he teased. Gabe smiled, �Yeah I�ll visit sometime. Did you find the pants you were looking for? Oh good! Yeah they�re not gonna pay you the $500 anymore. Sorry!� Jason smirked and tried not to let Gabe see him burst out laughing. Gabe finished up his conversation, �Ok talk to ya later! Bye!� He hung up the phone. �That was Erica, the fan that �kidnapped� me.� Jeremy laughed, �Don�t you mean, GABEnapped you? HAHA!� Everyone laughed. Mitchell started up the bus, �Let�s go guys! We have a show to get to! John, I�ll drop you off at your hotel!� So off they went, with Gabe.
All of a sudden, a voice was calling Gabe. �Gabe, GABE! Wake UP dude! We have to get ready for the show!� Gabe sat up looking groggy. �Wow I had one WEIRD dream!� He said. Nathan walked into the bus, and threw a duster at Gabe. �C�mon man, time to clean the bus!� Gabe screamed. �NNNOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!�
THE END