The rush of activity and conversation ceased as the clock beeped, signifying the hour had past. The six pairs of eyes belonging to the men holding Nsync hostage turned to look out of the front window, at the slowly approaching plain-clothed officer carrying the bag holding their ransom money. Completely oblivious to the numerous police officers who had now positioned themselves at the back of the house and were looking in through the various windows carefully, as to be certain not to be seen.
�Do you see them?� one of the officers asked another.
�Yup the two boys are sitting on the couch, but aren�t looking my way so I can�t get their attention. And the six suspects are all crowded around the front door. As soon as they get the money inside and close the door get the team into place.�
�Right.�
* Inside *
�Excellent, they are right on time. Guess someone really cares about you boys,� The leader said over his shoulder to JC and Justin who exchanged worried glances. �Won�t be more than few minutes now, you boys ready to take a trip?� The smirk on his face was clearly evident in his tone, but still he didn�t look back.
They watched as the man approached the house cautiously and carefully setting the black bag down on the front step. Then backing up from the door slowly and turning around to leave.
�Wait till he is completely out of sight then use that pole there to get the bag and bring it inside.� The leader instructed one of the other men. They waited five minutes until they were sure the man was gone, when one of the men carefully opened the door and dragged the bag of money inside.
�Let�s see it!� The leader said opening the bag to show the millions of dollars they had requested. �God, have you ever seen anything so beautiful as that.� He said, causing the six men to burst out into laugher. �Quick we�ll count it later when we are safe, you two transfer it over into those bags over there just in case the police tried anything funny.�
�Well it looks like it is just about time to go.� The man said turning and walking towards JC and Justin. Smirking when he noticed the scared looks on their faces. He reached down and grabbed a hold of JC�s bicep pulling him up into a standing position, holding onto him for a minute and JC wobbled and until he got his balance back. Then pushing him out of the way while reaching down and doing the same to Justin. Then grabbing the bound arms of both boys and pulling them towards the front door where the other men stood.
* Outside *
�Damn it!� The officer said. �It looks like they aren�t planning on following through with what they told us, I knew they wouldn�t keep their word! And to top it all off it looks like they are planning on taking those two boys with them. We�ve got to act now. Are the men in place?�
�Yes sir all set, and as far as we know they have not been spotted.�
�Ok, good. Have a couple officers stand ready at the door. As soon as they open it we move in. Get ready to break the glass in those sliding doors over there. We will enter from there. And above all be careful I do not want to see those two innocent boys get hurt!�
* Upstairs *
�What is taking them so long!?� Lance asked with frustration.
�I don�t know Lance I guess they have to make sure that the timing is right or something. Relax at least they have moved up to the house now.� Joey answered softly.
�Well I can�t take it anymore, JC and Justin are down there and God knows how they are or why they are, I�m going to see if I can see anything.�
�Lance, you can�t do that what if they spot you, you could get yourself killed!� Chris said grabbing Lance�s arm to hold him from leaving.
�I won�t. I�ll be careful and stay out of sight. I�m just going to look from the landing anyway I won�t go any further.� Lance replied forcefully.
�But what if they do Lance? You want to risk that? Want to risk your safety? JC and Justin�s safety?� Chris persisted, managing to stop Lance for a moment at the last words.
�I promise I won�t.� Lance said softly this time. Chris looked at Joey who nodded.
�Fine but we are coming with you.� Chris said seriously, with no room for argument.
�We are worried too you know.� Joey added with a small nervous smile.
To say the least they weren�t prepared to witness what they were about to see.
* Once again back downstairs *
�You boys like road trips? I love road trips. Specially the kind where you have just gotten a lot of money to spend and waste on them right boys? Guess you boys know the kind I mean huh? Aww�. What�s the matter? Cat got your tongue? You don�t agree with me?� The leader gleefully mocked JC and Justin as he pulled them roughly towards the door, once again causing JC to lose his balance slightly and ignoring the glare coming from Justin.
He was so occupied with taunting the two Nsyncers that he wasn�t paying attention to the fact that his men had just opened the door to reveal several armed police officers standing right outside. He wasn�t however so caught up to notice when the sound of glass breaking filled the air and more police started to enter the house through the two back sliding glass doors.
�What the hell!?��
�Freeze and no one has to get hurt.� One of the officers yelled.
Acting quickly, the leader pushed JC away making him fall to the ground letting out a grunt of pain with no hands to break his fall, and positioned Justin directly in front of him holding his gun to the trembling boy�s head. JC�s stay on the ground was quickly ended as he too was pulled up against another body and held in the same position.
* Upstairs *
Upstairs on the landing Chris made a move to run downstairs but was quickly held back by Joey and Lance.
�You can�t just go running own there Chris, you�ll only end up the same way and that isn�t helping anything.� Joey hissed quietly in Chris� ear.
�But��
�No buts were you not the one just telling me not to go and do anything stupid?� Lance added
Chris painfully looked at his two brothers in trouble downstairs and then at the two who were beside him but made no further moves to head downstairs.
* Downstairs *
�I think it better be you and your men who freeze officer.� The leader stated, �That is unless you want to see something happen to these two nice boys here?�
At the look of uncertainty and hesitation in the police officer�s eyes the leader smiled.
�No? Don�t want to see them hurt? I didn�t think you would�. Now listen carefully you and your men are going to put down your weapons and clear out of the way, while me, my men and these two boys here get into that van out there and leave. No one and I mean no one should be following us. If I even suspect one of your men is behind us then I won�t hesitate to kill one of these two.� To make his point clear he pushed the gun harder into Justin�s temple making the boys whimper softly with pain and fear. �Once we get to our destination and count our money we will let these two go�. That is if your lucky enough that we don�t ask for more money due to your gross mistake in not listening to our orders. Is that clear?�
�Perfectly.� The officer replied, however one look into the terrified eyes of JC and Justin the officer continued. �But I�m afraid I can�t let you do that.�
The surprise that registered to the leader of the suspects was just enough to cause the man to loosen is grip on Justin and lower his gun slightly given the officer the chance he needed. Aiming quickly at the man�s newly exposed shoulder, he fired a shot.
Eyes went wide as time seemingly stood still. One little movement and the bullet wouldn�t hit the target but hit Justin instead, but it was a risk that had to be been taken. After what seemed like an eternity to all in the house the bullet hit it�s target and the force knocked the man holding Justin back taking both him and the curly head boy sprawling to ground. At the cry of pain escaping the man�s lips, all of the sudden everything came alive again.
Officers ran over to kick the man�s gun out of reach while others went over to the man holding JC and the bags of money.
�Let him go or the same will happen to you.� The officer said with a small jerk of his head to the scene behind him. After a tense moment the man let JC go and dropped the gun while moving to hold his hands in the air. With legs so week from fear that he was unable to support himself JC could do little else then drop to the floor in a heap, simply staring over to the spot where his friend was, so focuses on his long time friend that he was no longer aware of his surroundings.
Justin also couldn�t hear any of the noise going on around him, as he managed to sit himself up. Looking back at the man who had been holding him and his friends� hostage all he could focus on was the gunshot wound in his shoulder. The blood in the spot where he had been held could have still been held. Turning his head and making eye contact with JC, seeing the fear so clear in his friend�s blue eyes, suddenly everything was just too much for him.
He never even felt his body hit the ground.