Joey hadn�t expected to actually fall asleep when he had gone to lay down but a couple hours later he startled when one of the bodyguards had come into the room to get him for the next ransom call and since he couldn�t explain where those couple missing hours had gone he could only assume he had in fact fallen asleep. When he had reached the bottom of the stairs and spotted Chris and Justin once again in their spots on the couch and obviously still without sleep he could help but fell rather guilty for doing it too.
�Hello Mr. Fatone. They should be calling again in about half an hour and we just wanted to give you a chance to wake up or get prepared a bit before the call came in.� One of the female officers said quietly to him, kindly passing him a glass of orange juice.
�Are you alright? Is there anything I can get for you?� She asked sympathetically.
�No�� Joey said having to pause and clear his throat before continuing. �Thank you I�m alright.�
Joey moved to the couch taking a seat next to Chris. He settled in and leaned back with his eyes closed when Chris spoke.
�I�d drink that if I were you.� Chris said motioning to the orange juice.
�Why?� Joey asked looking down at the glass. It might have just been juice but he still wasn�t sure he could keep it down if he drank it.
�I don�t know something about us not eating in the last two days.� Chris said sarcastically. �Johnny got mad at Justin and me when we refused to eat and made us at least drink some orange juice. So if you don�t want Johnny to throw a fit I suggest you drink that.�
Joey looked at the glass of juice in dismay but sighed and drank it anyway fighting to get it down.
***
�Ok Mr. Fatone they should be calling any minute now.� An officer said beckoning him over to the table with the phone. �When they call tell them that the money should be ready by about 5:30pm and then just follow along with them from there. We�re going to have it on speakerphone this time so everyone can hear. It will just make it quicker for us to get the bank account numbers and everything if he gives it to you. OK?�
�OK.�
Several tense minutes passed in silence as they waited for the phone to ring, when it finally did Joey nearly jumped out of his chair at the shrill ring.
�Hello?�
�Ah. Mr. Fatone. Good afternoon! How are things progressing today?�
�Fine. We have the money coming but it won�t be ready until about 5:30 this evening.�
�Good. Good. Nice and fast, that�s the way I like things to happen. Well Mr Fatone I suppose so long as I get my money by 5:30 there is no need for me to call back again. Have you got something handy to take down a few bank account numbers? Oh silly me you are probably taping this right now��
For the next few minutes the voice on the other end rattled off several bank account numbers and instructions that he wanted followed.
�Alright Mr. Fatone I think that�s all.�
�What about my friends? When do you return them?� Joey questioned.
�Oh right. I almost forgot.� The voice said chuckling obviously amused at himself. �Well Mr. Fatone once I get my money and verify it is in fact in my accounts then I�ll drop your friends off somewhere and tell you where to find them. In the meantime if the money isn�t in my account by 6 expect to be hearing from me shortly after.�
And with that the man hung up the phone. The room immediately burst into action like it had every time before and no one noticed Ray sneaking out of the room once again.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Ray walked quickly towards Tony Collin�s warehouse. Something in his gut told him that he had to get back to the warehouse before the money was exchanged to make sure the lone shark actually kept his word and let JC and Lance go unharmed. But an hour later as he reached seeing distance of the warehouse his steps faltered.
He had been basically thrown out of the building just a few hours earlier and it was fairly certain that he would not be welcomed back in with open arms and certainly not a few hours before the actual exchange of money. Even if they did let him come in they would more than likely throw him out again before 5:30 rolled around.
He stood staring at the large building before him debating his options out loud.
�Well Lance knows it was me and if he had any opportunity to speak with JC since then I would have to assume that means JC knows as well so I�m screwed either way where that is concerned�. But that doesn�t really matter anymore I�ll never forgive myself for what I did but the least I can do is keep them alive.� Ray reasoned out. �But I can�t do that myself��
Ray started pacing back and forth trying to think of how he could ensure JC and Lance�s lives.
�It�s the only way.� He mumbled to himself sitting down to wait for a couple hours.
At 5:00 pm Ray stood up ready to head inside the warehouse but not before he made a quick phone call.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
The room was in complete chaos. Not two minutes ago had Ray called Lonnie to say that he knew where JC and Lance were being held, given him the address and promptly hung up the phone before any questions could be asked. Now the police were scrambling to locate the street address and get a bunch of officers to the scene.
�This address is only 30 minutes from here.� One of the officers commented.
�OK, lets go.� The officer in charge ordered.
�I�m coming with you.� Lonnie said forcefully.
�No Sir you stay here with the others. We will call you when we have the 2 young men.�
�No JC and Lance are going to need a familiar face and I�m coming with you.� Lonnie said again with even more force, shaking his head.
�Alright but stay out of the line of fire.� The officer agreed.
�Wait!� Chris yelled out. �What about the ransom money? Do we still go on with the exchange?�
�No. Don�t transfer the money until you hear from me.� The officer ordered.
�But they are expecting it at 5:30� will you get there before then?� Joey asked.
�We told them we should have the money around 5:30 and technically we have until 6 since that was when they told us they would call back if they haven�t received the money by then. We�ll be there in plenty of time before that Mr. Fatone don�t worry.�
�Why can�t we come with you?� Justin question.
�You can�t Justin. It isn�t safe. I promise I�ll call the moment we have them ok?� Lonnie said patting Justin on the shoulder then rushing out with the rest of the police.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Tony looked up from the papers he was reading as JC and Lance were dragged into the room. JC was lead off to his right and Lance lead off to his left so the two Nsyncer�s were separated and less likely to cause any trouble, even though both still had their hands tied behind their backs. Tony smiled at the looks on their faces and was about to open his mouth to speak when the door to the room flung open and Ray walked inside.
JC couldn�t help but let his eyes open wide as he looked over his shoulder and caught site of the bodyguard. He had believed Lance because his friend never lied to him but part of him just couldn�t accept that Ray would do that to him, to Lance. But with Ray standing there it obviously had to be true and he bent his head in resignation.
�Why Raymond I wasn�t expecting to see you here. To what do we owe the pleasure� again?� Tony asked.
�I�ve just come to make sure you keep your end of the bargain and let them go.� Ray stated coming to stand near JC.
�Aww Raymond I�m hurt that you once again don�t trust me. Ordinarily people who don�t trust me aren�t welcome around here but considering I�m about to get a large sum of money in� 5 minutes I�ll make the exception this once.� Tony said standing up and coming around the front of his desk to sit casually back on it.
***
5 minutes came and went in silence, as did 10 minutes. 15 minutes later Tony was getting impatient and angry and everyone was nervous.
�They told me they would have the money by 5:30! What is taking them so long?� Tony yelled in frustration.
�Maybe they had trouble getting it?� One of Tony�s men tried to offer as help only to receive a glare from his leader for the trouble.
�They have 15 more minutes to�� Tony started, stopping in mid sentence as a noise coming from the distance but growing steadily stronger caught his attention. Soon the sounds of police sirens could be clearly heard approaching the warehouse and Tony Collins lost whatever little bit of control over his anger he had remaining.
�HOW DID THEY FIND OUT WHERE WE WERE? YOU TOLD THEM DIDN�T YOU?!� Tony yelled turning an accusing glare on Ray who said nothing in return.
�Well no matter� They won�t get here in time to save their friends anyway.� Tony continued taking out his gun.