Chapter 2

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Chapter 2

Ethan

With Brynn's phone in hand, we rush into the dinner house. Splitting up we moved through the restaurant. Searching behind the bar, in the storage areas anyway she could hide. Beckett searched outside by  the big trash bin and around where we found the phone.

"She isn't here!" Beckett yells as he enters the kitchen.

"Who turned everything on then?" I ask, getting more and more frustrated as time passes. "I turned the power off when I left last night. I was the last one here. Why is the power on?"

Beckett shakes his head, not having an answer. "I don't know. Ethan, what are you thinking? You don't think..."

"No one can find Lindsey. No one thought she was capable of taking Hope but she did. She has been hiding for six months! You don't think that crazy bitch is capable of taking Brynn!?" Every ounce of frustration comes flooding out as I swing a hammer across the room with the hook landing right in a new wall.

"She's capable. I agree but Brynn is different from an innocent baby. Brynn would fight back." She would if she was able but what if she is hurt or drugged. There's no telling what Lindsey will do.

"Brynn is the one Lindsey has spent most of her life tormenting! She's always been Lindsey's main target! Why?" I know the answer. It's the same as it was years ago.

The question hangs between us as Leo, Aubrey, and Paige come in.  "She called me!"

"Brynn?" I turn, hopeful that she is safe. Looking between Aub and Paige, both shake their heads.

"No, sorry, Ethan." Aubrey gives a sympathetic look. She's just as worried as I am. "There was a voicemail on the clinic's line when I opened up. It's Lindsey, she's got Brynn." Aubrey informs us and plays the message.

"Three blind mice, three blind mice.

See how they run, see how they run.

Brynn was first, oh Aubrey dear, next is you, so you shall fear.

I'll chase you down and you will see just how deadly I can be.

You're baby won't live until you give

All that's mine is back to me.

Three blind mice, three blind mice." The nursery rhyme is sung so sweetly but the lyrics are crazy. "By now you know that Brynn is gone. Her cold dead corps won't last for long. One flick of the switch and I killed the bitch. You will see when she turns gray. Hide your loved ones until the day. I've set things straight and scored my mate. Three blind mice. Three blind mice."

An evil laugh followed before the call ended. Looking at each other, a shiver ran down my spine. What happened to her? Lindsey is completely unhinged. But she left the message for a reason. There has to be a clue in there somewhere.

"She's crazy!" Leo frowns as our eyes meet. Leo has his own family to think of. With Quinn and Hope under his roof now, Leo won't be taking any chances with them.

Beckett takes the phone from Aubrey and wraps her in his arms. He's scared for her. I don't blame him. Aubrey is the one who's pregnant. She's close enough to having the baby that she's going to the doctor weekly now.

Touching Aubrey's arm, I try to reassure both of them. "We won't let her touch you, Aubrey."

"No, she won't come near you, because you're going to Point Conception. No argument. Until this is over you're out of town. So is Quinn and Hope!" Making an executive decision, Beckett refuses to hear any arguments about it. Not from Aubrey or Leo, although Leo isn't fighting the decision. He agrees.

I do too. Beckett has the right idea. The women and Hope need to get somewhere safe. Nowhere is safer than Georgia's home in California. I've been there once, I will never forget it. The place is a fortress.

"I'm calling the police." Paige steps away to make the call.

"Play it again, Beck. There has to be a clue." I take the phone to the bar and listen carefully this time. "Her cold dead corpse." It stands out. It's the end of summer. "She turns gray?" It's still hot, not cold. "She's somewhere cold."

"What? Where? How do you know that?" Aubrey comes over with the others. Listening to the message again, this time, all of us trying to put the puzzle together.

I play the line again, this time writing the lines on an old envelope. "Cold dead corpse. It's summer. It's hot. She turns gray. A body turns gray when it freezes."

We played it again. Analyzing every word, all of us come to the same conclusion. Brynn is somewhere cold and close by.

"When it freezes?" Paige's eyes get big as saucers. "The walk-in. She has a walk-in at the coffee shop."

"Got it!" Leo and Beckett follow Paige out at a full run.

But that's not the only walk-in. Fearing the worst, I drop everything and hurry into the kitchen. Sure enough, the door is locked and the freezer is on. Turning it off, I unlock the door. The pin is in. I didn't do that. We've been keeping some tools in here for safe keeping. But none of us have used the pin. Pulling out the pin, I yank the door open.

A wave of cold mist comes floating out and I'm blinded for a moment. "Three blind mice." It makes sense now. "Brynn! Brynn!"

As the mist dissipates, I see her. Brynn is curled in a ball in the corner. She's still in her pajamas. Her head is bleeding and she's unconscious.

"Damn it! Aubrey, call an ambulance!" I curse under my breath as I slide on my knees next to her. "Brynn? Come on, baby. Open your eyes for me."

Checking her neck, I lay two fingers on her artery and wait. She has a pulse. Slow, too slow, but it's there. She's alive. That's all I know.

Aubrey is standing in the doorway as Cole and I examine Brynn. "I'm getting Beck back here. Hello, I need an ambulance..." Aubrey waddles out to the kitchen, on the phone with 911 and hurrying to get the others.

The cut on her head is a long gash. Blood is everywhere. What did she hit? Looking around, there are several tools that are knocked around. This isn't the way we left it. It was organized and we took every safety precaution. Blades are always covered, nail guns are emptied. Everything is left where no one can be hurt. Not like this. Nothing is how we left it.

A tin of nails are scattered across the floor. Hammers are hook side up. A nail gun is resting in the corner loaded and ready to shoot. Someone came in and rearranged everything for a reason.

When I spot a sawzall in front of the shelves, I know what caused the gash. There's blood on the blade. She must have hit that. Pulling the handkerchief out of my back pocket, I start staunching the wound.

"Pulse is faint." Cole mutters. "She's lucky we came in early."

Not lucky enough. Why was she here so early? "We have to get her out of here." Getting to our feet, we start moving her.

"Move back, I'm bringing her out." I announce it to the others. Aubrey and Paige are in the dining room as the others come back in.

Scooping her up, Cole and I get Brynn out of the icy freezer and to the warmth of the main dining room. Paige grabs blankets and old sheets we use for covering the bar, and wraps Brynn up in them.

"Get her warmed up." She says, tucking the blankets around her limp body.

"The ambulance is on its way." Aubrey comes back inside.

Pulling Brynn's torso against my chest, I sit on the floor behind her and use my body warmth to help get her warm. It's not enough. She's so cold. Hypothermia is a real possibility. We don't know how long she was there. The message was left at 4:30 this morning. It's 6:30 now. Two hours at least, or more. Probably more.

"Paige, rub her feet, her hands. Every extremedy. She needs her circulation stimulated. Get her blood moving again." My EMT training is kicking in. I've never been more thankful for all those courses I took as I am right now.

We get to work on her. Rubbing her arms and legs. Moving her limbs to get her blood pumping. The sirens blare outside, getting louder as they move closer. They'll be here soon, but are we too late?

"Her lips are blue." Cole whispers, he knows it's bad too.

One by one the crew arrives. Each one as worried as the next. They form a circle around us. Giving us enough room to work. With all the bodies in here it's getting warmer. I only hope it helps her.

Minutes drag as the EMT's rush in and get to work on Brynn. Hot packs are placed on her, warmer blankets, an IV. Everything that can be done is. It doesn't change the urgency or the panic that I'm feeling. The only woman I can say I have ever loved is in my arms, her life is tettering in the balance.

She has to be okay. She has to be.

Quinn

I should just go over there. I could help them... Maybe. When Leo called to ask if we had heard anything from Brynn first thing this morning, there was too much stress in his voice for the call to mean nothing.

Then Beckett called to tell me to lock myself, Hope and Georgia inside the house and not to open the door to anyone. I don't understand what's happening. And Georgia wasn't about to be treated with gloved hands.

Beckett and Georgia were fuming at each other before he finally gave in and told us what was going on. They didn't know much and were still searching. What they did know was that it was Lindsey who did this.

She's struck at us again. Not six months ago I was the target. Her and Fitz were coming for me and Hope. We were fortunate. Leo was there for us and would stop at nothing until he found my baby girl and brought her home to me. I can't say how grateful I am that he is in our lives. I couldn't have gotten through all that without him.

I don't want to be without him ever again.

I won't ever forget what he did, what he went through for us. And he still wants us. He's asked me to marry him. As much as I love him I'm not sure if I'll ever marry anyone. I saw what happened to my parents. I saw them tear each other apart. I don't want that.

Then I see Beckett and Aubrey. I see how happy they are together and this amazing life they're building together. He's going to be an awesome father. Aubrey will be a great mama. And in watching them I find hope that it is possible to go from where we started to where they are and be so completely happy.

I just don't know if marriage is for me. Leo is giving me time to think about it. I know it will become an issue sooner or later. I know I have to make a decision. It's not fair for me to drag this out. I'm not trying to be difficult. I just only want to make this decision once and I have to be absolutely certain it's the right one.

He's the right one. I know that. I just don't know if I am. Am I the right person for him and can I give him everything he deserves? That's the big question that's hanging over my head. "Am I enough?"

"Are you... Oh sugar, you aren't still worried about that, are you?" Georgia heard my question and it completely changed her gears. "You are. Honey, that's why you haven't set a date? Leo loves you more than anything. You don't have to worry that he'll ever leave you like your daddy did. Sugar, I'm so sorry I haven't been seeing this."

Georgia comes to me, wrapping in her arms and hugs me. She always knows just what to do and say to make things better. I don't know if it's instinct or learned but I wish it would rub off on me. "Every time I open my mouth lately, I stick my foot in it."

"Now, I know these last few months have been difficult but Leo isn't about to let you go. Relationships aren't easy, sugar. If they were, no one would ever get divorced. But the best relationships, the best men are worth the wait. And the best women, will make them wait until we're good and ready. Don't you doubt yourself or Leo." She guides me into the parlor and sets me down on the fancy antique settee she found.

"I shouldn't be worrying about this right now. Not with Brynn missing." I feel selfish and that irritates me.

I'm just as worried about Brynn as Georgia is. She's become a wonderful friend to me. And she is out there with Lindsey. I know what the others must feel like, waiting for news.

"I know you're worried, just as Beck does." And Georgia settles into soothing me and herself. The ranting temper behind her, she calmly guides me where she wants me. "He wants us safe, so he can focus on Brynn. He's doing everything he can to find her and keep Aubrey and the baby safe. He must be worried sick about her. Maybe we should get a car over there to bring her back here to us?"

"I don't think..."

"Yes, I think so too." Getting up, she makes another call to her security to pick up Aubrey and another to bring Mia over from the flower shop.

She gets to work on housing those she feels needs protection. And adding additional guards for me, Paige and Aubrey. She has Derrick and Blake on their way once again. Determining strength in numbers, the emergency tree is activated and the Bradford Drakes are in action.

We paced, made tea, and Georgia cooked up a feast. The act of doing something useful seems to calm her nerves. While I feed Hope, she's back on the phone as Mia arrives.

She is a nice person. Aloof, and very shy. I understand that overwhelming feeling being around Georgia. She's her own tornado that rearranges everything in the order that somehow works best.

"I got here as soon as I could. The driver said it was an emergency. Is everything okay?" Mia came in, phone in hand, a big oversized tote with everything she could ever need in it. From her computer to her toiletries, all crammed into the bag.

"Brynn is missing." I explain as Georgia sweeps into the room.

A phone at her ear, her tablet in her hand and as she sees Mia, passes both to her. "Oh good. Mia can answer all your questions. I want the best, Alex. I'm a Bradford, the Bradford! It's expected that we go all out. I don't care if it's just s BBQ! It's my announcement for my Mayoral campaign! I get what I want! Mia, if you would, sugar."

And hurricane Georgia is hard at work. The woman is a wonder. I don't want to think what will happen when she is no longer able to command a room, or order her demands to be met. Georgia gets her way, every time. When she can't do that anymore it will be a very sad day.

It took Mia an hour to work through the call and get everything set to Georgia's specifications. By then they had found Brynn. Although she isn't out of the woods, Ethan and Beckett are at the hospital, Georgia's security guards have arrived at the hospital and the others are on the way.

"Who locks a person inside a freezer!? This is ridiculous! Why isn't Charlie doing something about this?" Georgia paces up and down the main hall. "That child is a lunatic! That's what she is! My boys are spoiled but in no way would I ever allow this kind of behavior from them!"

"I don't think she's sane." I mutter, knowing better than to argue with her. I can't, she's absolutely right, as usual.

"Of course, she's not sane! What sane person kidnaps a baby and takes her to a cabin surrounded by gators? What was Fitz thinking, getting involved with...with... that? He wasn't! I'll tell you that." I've never seen Georgia this worked up.

"Maybe Leo knows something more. I can call him?" As I reach for my phone, Georgia holds her hand up, stopping me from saying another word.

"Someone is at the door." She whispers. "I'll check on the oven and make some tea. Mia, sugar, could you see to our visitor?"

It's a second later when the bell rings.

"How does she do that?" Mia asks, still amazed by Georgia's innate ability to know things.

"It's Georgia. Better to just accept the amazing." I answer as Mia goes to the front door.

In a moment, I hear the voice of the last person welcome in this house. Mayor Markham nudges poor Mia aside and waltzes into the parlor as if he were Georgia's favorite person.

"I need to speak to Georgia!" No pleasantries from him. The demand for her to appear in front of him will go unanswered.

"She's a bit busy right now. You do know what your daughter has done this time?" Hearing Emma's voice is a relief. I don't feel capable of a showdown with the good mayor.

"My daughter isn't in town, so no, I'm not aware of any plans she's made." His haughty attitude doesn't fly.

"Well, let me tell you... your crazy daughter has been tormenting Brynn. She locked her in a walk-in freezer, that was turned on and fully operational, knocked her out and locked her inside bleeding and unconscious! So I think it's time you pony up, Mr. Markham! Turn over your psycho daughter so we can end this once and for all!" I've never seen Emma this mad.

"I'd like to hear the answer to that myself." Georgia walks in from the kitchen, obviously hearing the entire conversation with Charlie right behind her. "Mr. Markham, I believe you have some very serious questions to answer."

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