Pawns
He never expected to get delayed in, of all things, a traffic jam! Kermit kept honking his horn to no avail. He realized in his rush to find Peter he'd left the cell phone behind at the precinct.
'After this is all done, I am definitely going to need a vacation,' he thought as he drummed his fingers against the steering wheel. He inched his car forward. It was going to take time to get through this, time he didn't have.
*****
"Peter look at this," Matthew had found the next clue, it was laying next to a statue in the lobby. The statue was of a dragon in flight.
Peter opened the envelope. "Your father's time is running out. That's okay, I've got another member of your family visiting me. Problem is, which one is more important to you? Mommy or daddy? Better hurry, one of them isn't going to be around long. In fact, I am sure that one of them will be resting in peace very soon. Care to pay your respects?"
Peter looked at the clue, "Oh no."
"What is it my grandson?"
"The clue... it leads to the cemetery."
*****
"Where are you taking me!" Annie screamed as she struggled against the arms that imprisoned her in their grasp. The henchmen didn't miss a beat as they opened up the door and threw her inside. She landed on a bed. The door slammed shut and Annie heard the door being locked.
She sat there for a few minutes then slowly got up. Using her hands as a guide she felt the layout of the room. It was sparsely furnished, just a bed and a chair. She ran her hands against the walls. One thing she noticed was there were no windows and the door was also flush, just like the room she'd just left.
How was she going to get out of this? Would Peter be able to find them in time? She knew that the kidnapper was going to kill Caine, but she didn't know how. Then her sensitive ears picked up voices beyond the door. What they said sent chills deep into her soul. No! They wouldn't do that! If only there were a way to warn Peter. Annie backed away from the door and stumbled as she bumped into the bed and sat down. There was nothing to do but wait. If only she could stop herself from shaking. Somehow, she knew it wouldn't be long before they would come for her.
*****
Traffic was horrendous. It took Peter nearly two hours to drive to the cemetery. Some accident up ahead was causing it. Eventually, Peter found a way to get around it. He pulled the Stealth slowly through the gates and drove down each of the narrow lanes looking for one particular marker that the clue had indicated he should seek out. There was a funeral taking place at the far end of the lane that he turned into. Seeing the funeral formed a knot in Peter's stomach as thoughts of his father being lost to him warred with his Shaolin senses that told him that it just could not be true. Peter forced the inner calm to come forward and tried to scrutinize the area. He knew this place. This was the same cemetery Peter had gone through the nigh he had escorted the hooker home. It was also where his father tried to help him against some assassins. Peter remembered yelling at his father, telling him he didn't need his help. He still felt a pang of guilt for his outburst.
Peter spotted the marker, parked the car, and he and Matthew walked over and stood in front of the angel statue. It was the only one in the park-like setting. Peter cringed as he saw a message spray painted on the base.
It read RIP KCC.
As Peter continued to stare at the grizzly message, Matthew spotted something else that Peter had not. Across the statue's wings rested his son's flute. The thought of never seeing his son play the instrument ever again brought chills to the eldest Caine's soul and he shivered. Matthew put his hand on his grandson's shoulder to stop himself from shaking.
"We've gotta find them, Grandfather. He wants me to choose between them. How can I? How can you choose between the most important people in your life?" Before his grandfather could say anything, Peter could sense his father. He could feel how weak he was.
*Peter, hear me. You must save Annie.*
*Father?* he spoke through their link.
*Peter, I am sorry, my son.* he responded weakly. *I can no longer be with you. You must save Annie. I go to your mother. I love you, my son.*
Matthew also felt the link to his son.
*Father, take care of Peter. He will need you.* Then the connection was gone.
"Father, no!" Peter could still feel the love his father sent to him. He felt a coldness; a finality in that gesture and a terrible feeling filled his heart. It was the touch of death.
End of Part 10
Alisa Joaquin & Linda Schwartz Copyright@2000.
This story cannot be reprinted or sold in any other form without strict permission from
the author. It is being distributed here solely for your enjoyment.
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