Mikey's POV

"There is no way I am letting you go alone. Are you insane?! What if it's a trap? In fact, its most likely a trap. She's been kidnapped, probably for ransom. After all, she's the one with the money... I don't know, that made sense when I started this sentence." I knew my brother would be hit the hardest by this news and he was. He had already lost his girlfriend, temporarily we had all hoped, and the thought of losing his little brother sent him into orbit. The message didn't spell it out, but my skill set was unlike the others. It put me in a unique position to help. That was something even Gee could not deny.

"Okay, maybe it is a trap. What happens if no one shows up? They will do something to her."

"We have to call of the Police."

"No! No police. That's what she said."

"IF that is even her sending the message."

"I'm going to confirm its her before I go running in, Gee. C'mon, I thought you knew me better than that."

"Well, then there's no way I'm letting my little brother go by himself!" I open my mouth to reply but before I can even take a breath, he starts again. "Don't worry, I can be careful too. I can stay out of sight."

"Why am I still worried?" I let out a heavy side. "I'll set up surveillance and tracking systems so everyone else will know our whereabouts at all times. This will be crucial if things go wrong."

After a quick hug, it was time to fill the others in. This was something I was dreading. If it was hard to convince Gee stay home, unsuccessfully might I add, how well would I at be to givin the same news to Brandon and Billy? My brother and I had been talking in our guest room but now we made our way toward the living room where we had all been spending most of our time. I decided I couldn't do this without a drink and went to the kitchen and made myself a rum and coke. After about 15 minutes my brother poked his head into the kitchen.

"You ok?" I just shrugged my shoulders.

"I don't know. I guess."

"Want me to gather everyone in one spot?" I nodded and shot him a grateful look. "No problem. Come out when you're ready, but I wouldn't wait too long. It will just get worse the longer it builds up."

"Yeah." He disappeared. I was glad he was coming with me, even if he was going to be out of site the whole time. He was always there to support me when I needed him most. I don't know what people without big brothers do. I took a deep breath, drink in hand, and found he was still supporting me.

He stood in front of the large screen TV directly across from the couches and chairs, in the place where I would stand to talk to everyone. It was obvious he planned to stand right beside me while I talked to everyone rather than let me speak alone. I'm not sure why I thought he would leave me to tell them on my own in the first place. I felt more confident already just seeing him up there but then he smiled at me which gave me a further boost. I quickly took my place beside him and scanned my 'audience', Ray and my new friends.

Hayley sat in Brendan's lap, with her head in the crook of his neck and her arms wrapped around his torso. Meanwhile, he rested his head on the top of hers and wrapped his arms around her as well. Billie sat on the couch next to them leaning slightly towards them, while Brandon leaned slightly in as well. They had known each other since childhood and while neither had any interest in the other romantically, the slight physical contact was comforting. Ray sat on the love seat by himself looking rather listless. He'd pulled up his knees to his chest and started leaning his cheek on one knee. Nobody paid any attention to me when I joined my brother in front of the TV.

"Um, I have some news..." my voice a little louder than a mouse due to my nerves. Gee put a hand on my shoulder.

"Hey! We have news of Frankie!" Gee spoke with some volume and 4 heads immediately had our attention. "Thank you. Now, Mikey received a text that may or may not be from Frankie. Mikey will tell you all he knows but please don't bombard him questions because he's already very nervous. Ready?" I nodded.

"Not long ago, I received a text." I pull out my phone and read it aloud. "Jumping to conclusions are dangerous because it leads people to do stupid things without all the information. But here are the thought I have had so far. It would be logical for the real Frankie to ask for me because of my various tech skills. Maybe she needs something do something or obtain something, as a trade in order to be released. While we have no knowledge of who took her or why, we really can't do more than guess, which isn't going to help. 2nd - If this is a trap, what would be the point of it? What is the real value of luring me into a trap? I'm not rich or famous. I highly doubt they would want a really smart 16 year old kid. If they did, they would most likely just quietly grab me like Frankie. It's less work. That leads me to believe this really is from Frankie. I think there is at least one huge variable that we are not being given but since she says that she will explain what's going on once I get there I'm just going to trust her." I took a break mostly to breathe and watched stunned faces before me. The next bit would be the hardest.

"Now I'm going to set up a surveillance and tracking system so you will know my whereabouts at all times. That way, if anything does go horribly wrong, you guys still have the option I'm calling the police. I know the message said to come alone, but..." my teeth dug into my bottom lip mercilessly as I tried to come up with a way to phrase my next sentence.

"I'm going with him. Don't blame him for playing favorites, because I didn't give him a choice. There's no way I'm letting him go alone no matter what the message says."

"Then I'm going to and you can't stop me Gee. I'm her oldest brother and I think that trumps her boyfriend of a day or two." Gee nodded but internally I cringed. The more people who came, the less inconspicuous we would be.

Notes

Hi Guys,

Sorry it took awhile, I'm posting 3 chapters plus I re-wrote part of Chapter 25 and re-edited it. Hope you're enjoying this. Pls comment, subscribe, blink 3 times rly fast so I know you're still alive.

Thx

B