Justin, Chris and Joey sat watching as Johnny yelled into his cell phone on yet another phone call to get the money that was being demanded for JC and now Lance�s safe return. The manager had been making phone calls all night and his growing frustration was becoming more and more apparent.
The amount of money being requested was easy enough to get. Anyone of them could call their bank and have that amount withdrawn from their account and still have plenty of money left in the bank.
Where the problem lay however was where to get the money from so that they could have it in their possession in the shortest amount of time possible. So far most places were being highly uncooperative saying that at the very lest it would take half a day to a day to get that kind of money together in an isolated and monitored account ready to transfer over to the people holding JC and Lance.
They watched with trepidation as their manager hung up the phone yet again sighing and sadly shaking his head, not pleased with the information he had just been told.
�Sorry Guys. Best they can do is by 5 tonight. I�ve tried everything and we are all out of options. They just can�t do anything till the banks officially open in an hour and then it is going to take some time to set everything up and get it ready.� The manager said checking his watch and noting that it was just after eight in the morning.
�That�s ok Johnny. You tried and we knew it would take a while.� Justin said absentmindedly fussing with the pillow that sat beside him.
Johnny Wright took a moment to look over the three figures slumped on the couch and sitting before him. They looked haggard and tired, understandably considering no one had really slept since the whole mess started. Each had a haunted, sad look to their eyes which were also red rimmed with dark circles underneath them and it was clear they were lost in their own little worlds with their individual thoughts. If circumstances were different he would have scolded them that they all looked horrible but as it was he reached with both hands to pat the knees of the two closest young men to get their attention.
�Hey. I want you three to promise me something. Try not to worry, they will be alright.� Johnny said trying to smile but noticing none of them nodded their assent. Leaning back with a sigh he spoke again. �You know it is still really early so I want you three to try and go get some sleep before they call again at noon.�
�I don�t think so Johnny. I can�t speak for Justin and Joey but I think I would rather just stay here.� Chris said.
�That isn�t a request son.� Johnny said trying to keep his voice somewhat light but authoritative. �You are no good to Lance or JC if you aren�t running on full steam. I promise that someone will come get you if anything happens. In the meantime you three need to get some rest for when we get them back.�
Johnny couldn�t help but smile slightly at the dejected looks on the three young men�s faces at being ordered to go to bed at their ages, but a chorus of �Yes Sir� rang out and the three stood up and shuffled off to their rooms to try and get some sleep.
When they had moved out of sight the manager slump down onto the couch rubbing a hand over his face and praying that he had not just told those three young men a lie.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
JC and Lance waited with baited breath as the men disappear through the door and it was locked again. The men had just been in the room and left again after un-gagging them with the simple explanation that they �thought you two would like to have a little talk with each other.�
JC had woken up from unconsciousness a few hours earlier disoriented and full of pain but all that had been quickly forgotten when his eyes landed on his friend sitting in the same chair he had been on earlier.
Lance had watched as JC�s eyes fluttered open laced with pain and immediately he had started screaming into his gag to get the brunette�s attention on him. After several moments of JC regaining his wits Lance had finally managed to get his attention and Lance would have normally laughed at how his friend�s eyes widened in cartoon likeness as the recognition dawned on him.
Unable to communicate in any other way given that they were bound and gagged hand and foot they had maintained eye contact until the door had slammed opened making them jump and focus on whoever had just entered the room. 20 minutes later neither were sure of where to start the conversation.
�Are you ok Jace? What did they do to you?� Lance asked concern clear in his voice.
�I�m alright. They were distracted and forgot I was standing there I tried to escape and they apparently didn�t like that very much.� JC said wincing as he tried to move into a new position so he could better see his friend.
�Oh.�
�What are you doing here Lance? How?��
�I�ll explain that after you tell me what happened to you in the parking lot and how you got here.�
�There isn�t much to tell Lance I don�t really remember most of it. We were getting out at the museum and there was a large crowd, we heard the sound of glass breaking and Ray said we had to get out of there and would go back when security checked it out. He drove us to a parking lot near by and got out of the car and opened to back door to talk to me. I saw some people sneak up behind him told him to watch out and they hit him in the back of the head. The rest until I woke up here is somewhat of a blur. I remember trying to get away and a cloth being forced over my face but other than that�� JC said shaking his head.
�So that�s how he did it�� Lance mumbled.
�What? How who did it? How did they get you Lance?� JC asked confused.
�It was Ray, Jace. He set this whole thing up. Even tricked me into following him to get me here too.� Lance said sadly.
�What?� JC asked disbelieving. �You can�t be serious Lance, Ray wouldn�t do something like that.�
�Unfortunately I�m perfectly serious. I even cornered him and he told me himself.�
�When?�
�A while ago. I followed him here and confronted him and he admitted to it and told me that he would help me get you out and the next thing I know I�m being dragged inside and this guy is thanking Ray for bringing another one of us to him.�
�No Lance� I saw him get hit, why would they knock him out if he was a part of it?�
�Because he didn�t want you to know he was. It�s some kind of gambling debt with this guy and he was hoping no one would find out so he could just keep working for us.�
�Lance, I don�t�. The man is suppose to protect us not trade us in exchange for a gambling debt��
�JC think about it� was there anything funny about the night you were kidnapped? I�ve heard both Ray�s and your story and I can think of at least 5.�
Lance waited patiently as silence enveloped them while JC thought out the events of the night of his kidnapping.
�Ok� there might be some odd things about that night that I can remember�� JC said hesitantly �But Lance you are really certain that Ray is responsible?�
�JC he told me himself that he was.� Lance repeated.
�Ok Lance I believe you�. So what do we do when we get out of here?�
�You mean if we get out of here?�
�What do you mean if we get out of here Lance?� JC asked slowly almost as if he didn�t really want the answer.
�Think about it Jace. I know I�ve seen the faces of those men out there I can only assume you have to. Do you really think they will let us go if we can run to the police and identify who they are?�
�Oh. I guess I just never really connected that in my brain.�
�Yeah.�
�There is always a chance Lance. Whether they let us go or someone finds us there is always a chance.� JC said trying to look his younger bandmate in the eyes.
JC watched as Lance nod to what he said then leaned his head back on the ground closing his eyes jumping second later as the door to the room was flung open yet again.