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Date Posted: Thu, Jan 28 - 1:30:07am
Author: Leslie
Subject: God Bless the Broken Road Part 44
Jen informed me last time that it was only chapter 43, so I'm going to take her word for it, which makes this chapter 44. Enjoy!
***************************
Bo pulled the car up to the police barricade at the end of the street. The police officer on duty came to the side of the car, and seeing it was Bo, pulled the barricade aside so he could pass. Bo waved a thank-you as he passed. He pulled in next to one of the police cars, and he and Rex jumped out. They saw John at the control center, and made their way to him.
“What do you have?” Bo asked.
“There are four entrances to this place at the ground level, one on each side of the building. There are two possibilities underground for an escape, but given the area, I’ve got some of the city guys looking at the state of the tunnels. Most of this section of town has been abandoned, so it hasn’t been on the top of the city’s list to inspect and condemn. The kidnappers could make a rooftop getaway via helicopter if they’re good, but I doubt that’s going to happen.”
“But we’re going to cover all bases, right?”
“You bet. It’s unlikely, but I’m not taking any chances. I’ve got sharp shooters getting in place as we speak.”
“Who’s going in?”
“I’ve got Officers Mackey and Jackson covering the underground escapes. Braxton, Corely, Sparks, and Lavee are taking the ground entrances. Capshaw and Bennington are on stand-by once we’ve made visual.”
“I want to go in.”
“Bo, you shouldn’t even be here. Matthew and Nora are going to need you safe and unhurt when we get them out. Besides, we don’t know what these people want, so they’re likely to negotiate once they feel boxed in. I want you to be the one they’re talking to.”
Bo paused for a beat, clenching his jaw. “Fine.” Bo locked eyes with John. He didn’t have to say anything, but John could tell what was going through his head.
John could only imagine the internal hell Bo was going through, and he could only offer a reassuring nod and “We’ll get ‘em out, Bo.”
John contacted the team leaders for each group in place to make sure everything was in place. The city inspectors gave John a status report, informing him that the tunnels were, though passable, in terrible shape, but any disturbance to the ground above them could lead to cave-ins.
Fish signaled that the audio/visual equipment was set. The monitors at the control center were turned on, each officer entering the building wearing a camera attached to a button on their uniform. The sharp-shooters had cameras attached to the bottom of their guns. All systems were go, and John signaled for the teams to move.
The sky was dark, it was getting very late into the night, and vision was a problem inside and out. The cameras were equipped with nigh vision, but still many of the objects passing by on the screen were unrecognizable. Outside the shadows moving around the building distracted Bo’s attention from the monitors. He was itching to get inside to save his son…and the woman he had loved for so long. He stepped away from the monitors, kicking at the ground. He shoved his hands in his pockets. Rex and John looked at each other, Rex holding his hand up to let John know he’d take care of this.
Bo had walked about 25 feet away, his head hung low, and he was aimlessly kicking at an imaginary spot on the ground. Rex took his time getting to him, knowing that Bo needed a moment and wouldn’t want to be ambushed with concern, even by Rex. Rex stopped a few feet behind Bo, but didn’t say anything.
“You know, I had my chance to tell her.”
Rex stayed silent.
“Before I left. She asked me what was going on. I told her the kiss was more than just a kiss. But I didn’t tell her. I couldn’t bring myself to tell her, Balsom!” Bo turned to Rex. “Why can’t I learn? I don’t remember what the last conversation I had with Pa was, but I’m sure it wasn’t good. I’m sure I was getting on his case about something. And I doubt I told him that I loved him. In spite of all of his flaws and mistakes, I loved him. Did he know that? I don’t know! I don’t know. And now, I might not be able to tell Nora. She might not know that I love her. I do! I love her, I forgive her. I want her back. I’ve been such a fool, Balsom. I’ve been holding on to this anger for so long, and why? Why did I walk out on the woman I loved more than life itself? Why did I write her off for one mistake. One mistake that she made FOR ME? It wasn’t to hurt me. It wasn’t because she didn’t want me. She did it to save me. Misguided, maybe, but did I give her a choice? I had drifted away into a world where nothing and no one mattered anymore. Including Nora! And she was desperate. Haven’t we all had those moments? Haven’t we all had moments when desperation led us to do something so incomprehensible under any normal circumstances? I know I have. And you know who was there to pull me back? Nora. She was there, Balsom. Every step of the way after Sarah died, and I thought the world was ending, she was there. She was like a beacon. And she loved me. I knew that. I knew it every time she looked at me. Every time she smiled. Every touch reminded me just how much. And I just left. And I wouldn’t let the hurt go or even try to understand. I had my chances, Balsom, and I blew it. Every time. And now…” Bo could only motion to the scene before him. He looked absolutely spent. He dropped his hand to his side, and his shoulders followed. He shook his head slightly, “I can’t even get started on Matthew. That boy is the light in my life. Ever since I found out he was mine. Hell, even before we knew he was mine. He’d come by the station. He was my little buddy. But when I found out he was mine…that was probably the single greatest gift from above that I ever could have received.”
Rex stayed silent for several more moments, allowing Bo to wipe away the tears that had streamed down his face. “Matthew knows you love him. Matthew worships you. And you’re going to have your second chance with Nora.”
Bo looked up at Rex and drew from the confidence in Rex’s voice. He took a deep breath and let it out. He nodded his head in the affirmative, never breaking eye contact with Rex.
“Let’s go see if John’s got anything yet.”
“Hey Balsom?”
“Yeah?”
“Thanks.”
“Any time.”
Inside…
Nora and Matthew sat hot, dirty, and exhausted, when the door opened. Neither one could believe the face that was staring down at both of them.
Outside…
Bo and Rex made their way to control central and checked in with John. “Any word?”
“Not yet. The officers are sweeping each floor, but the layout of the building causes them to have to backtrack quite a bit to get from room to room, so it’s taking a little longer than we had hoped.”
“Is there any sign that they’re even inside?”
“Not yet.”
“But that could be good, right?” Rex asked. “I mean, there’s no sign of foul play or anything yet.”
“A positive spin, I like that,” John retorted. “But, you’re right. There’s no signs of foul play, but-”
“But because there are no signs that they’re even in there, means we could be wasting a lot of time and man power.”
“Exactly.”
The men turned their attention back to the monitors, when the voice of one of the officers came over the sound system, “I think I have something, boys. There’s a light coming out from under a few of the doors on this floor.”
“Which floor is he on?” John asked one of the officers assigned to the monitors.
“Sixth.”
“Okay,” John started in on one of the mikes. I want you to wait until Capshaw gets to you before doing anything further. Lavee, Sparks, and Braxton, hold your position until further notice.”
A 10-4 came from each of the officers as Officer Capshaw made his way into the building.
It seemed like an eternity before the officer got up to the sixth floor, but they finally heard him confirm his location, and John gave the two officers the go-ahead to examine the rooms. The officers made their way room to room, kicking in the door every time, but nothing was found. They made their way to the final door at the end of the hall and Officer Corely took the lead and kicked it in. They poked their head inside, but no one was inside. There was a table, however, with a tape recorder and a sign hanging above it, simply saying “Play Me!”
John radioed up to the officers, who explained the situation. He instructed the officers not to touch anything until the bomb squad investigated.
A half hour later, the bomb squad emerged from the building carrying the recorder, taking it to John. “It’s clean,” the squad leader informed.
John put the recorder down and hit the play button.
“Oh, boys. Did you really think it was going to be this easy?” Came the voice on the tape, disguised with one a voice scrambling device. “You were right to follow the clues here, but I couldn’t let the game end this quickly. We’re just getting started! I bet you’re getting anxious to find your precious Nora, Bo. Well, she’s okay. For now anyway. Here. I’ll prove it…”
There was some shuffling and Bo could hear a gun being cocked in the background. He’d know that sound anywhere. His breath caught in his throat as Nora’s voice came on the tape, shaky and frightened, “Bo?” There was more shuffling and that was all he heard from Nora.
“See, I told you she was okay. Matthew’s fine too. He’s such a good boy. So much like you.” The tape cut off. Bo, Rex, and John just stood there, waiting for more. They’d expected a ransom or some demands for transportation, but nothing.
“What the hell was that?” Bo asked, outraged, to no one in particular.
“I don’t know, but judging from the lack of ransom demand, I’m thinking this is a personal vendetta.”
Bo’s hands landed on his hips and he looked up at the building, then back at the monitors, then at the tape recorder, hoping that one of them would give him some answers.
“I’m going to take this tape back to the station to have it analyzed,” John told Bo and Rex.
“I’m going with you,” Bo informed him. “I want to sit down and really listen to that thing and see if I can get any clues. There’s got to be something in there that will tell us what to do next.”
“You need a ride?”
“No, I’ll drive my car and meet you at the station. Balsom, I really ought to take you home. I don’t think there’s anything else you can do tonight.”
“You sure, Bo? Another set of ears wouldn’t hurt in listening to that recording.”
“We’ll keep it cued, you can head to the station in the morning and give it a listen. Go home tonight, be with Gigi and Shane. You’ve been great today.”
“I’m sorry this didn’t have a better ending, Bo.”
“It’s not over yet.”
John instructed a few of the officers to lead the clean up crew, and he headed to the station with Fish. Bo took Rex home and joined John and Fish.
“Hey, Bo. We’re just getting everything set up to try and unscramble the voice,” Fish explained.
“Can I listen to it again before you get everything hooked up?”
“Sure. You think you picked up on something?”
“I don’t know, Fish, but something about the wording used nagged at me as I drove back here. The words chosen, the way they were said. I just think I know this person.”
Fish plugged in the tape and hit play. The tape played over again, “Oh, boys. Did you really think it was going to be this easy? You were right to follow the clues here, but I couldn’t let the game end this quickly. We’re just getting started! I bet you’re getting anxious to find your precious Nora, Bo.?
“Stop the tape. Right there. Rewind it a few seconds.”
Fish followed orders, “I bet you’re getting anxious to find your precious Nora, Bo,” repeated.
“Find your precious Nora? They say it so bitterly.”
“Like they’ve got something against the both of you.”
“Yeah. Which, considering she was DA, and I was Commissioner, wouldn’t be completely out of the realm of possibility. But it seems so much more personal than a past collar.”
“Can you think of anyone that has more of a personal grudge against you and Nora?”
Bo sat down and started thinking. “Todd, but after all these years? Seems unlikely. Tate Harmon?”
“He was sent to Statesville, right?” John clarified.
“Yeah. As far as I know, he’s still there.”
“I’ll have one of the officers check that out,” John said, and he left to assign the task.
Fish had been fiddling with a program on his computer while Bo and John went back and forth, and once he had everything in place, “Okay, let’s see if we can decode this thing.”
He hit play on the recorder and the sound was generated through the computer speakers. The voice became clearer, slightly more high pitched, but no matter what buttons Fish pushed, it didn’t clean up the voice into one that anyone recognized. “I’m sorry guys. I really thought this would work. Most perps can’t afford the top of the line, high quality equipment that the department has, but these guys have. There’s no way that any mediocre voice scrambler wouldn’t be decoded by this program. These guys know what they’re doing. I’m going to keep working on it, but I’m just going to be honest and tell you, I don’t know if we’re going to get much more.”
“That’s okay, Fish, Bo tried reassuring. Can you play it again anyway?”
Fish hit play again and the voice started over. Bo listened intently, focusing on each word, it’s cadence, it’s delivery. “I know that voice. There’s such an emphasis on ‘precious’, such a bitterness on ‘Nora’. It’s almost like the person is spitting out her name. But there’s almost a softness at the mention of Matthew. Like they have a son or Matthew reminds them of someone.”
The officer assigned to check on Tate Harmon’s whereabouts returned with word that he was still locked up. John nodded a thank you and dismissed the officer.
“I still don’t think this was a past collar. Play it one more time, Fish.” Fish obliged. Bo listened again, but shook his head. “I don’t know, John. And time is ticking away.”
“Fish, get your A/V team together and go over and over this thing. Pick anything out that you can. Anything you think might help us pinpoint a location or a person…anything.”
“You got it, Boss.” Fish left the room to get his people, leaving John and Bo alone.
“All hope is not lost, Bo. This was just a small hurdle. It’s not even been 36 hours yet.”
“But every minute that ticks by, John, feels like an eternity.”
“Why don’t you go home. Get something to eat. Take a shower. Maybe try to get a wink or two. Freshen up and maybe you’ll have some fresh ideas in the morning.”
Bo shook his head as if saying he didn’t want to leave, but he knew he wasn’t helping anyone right now. “Thank, John. You’ll call me with anything you find, got it?”
“Loud and clear.”
Bo shook John’s hand and left the station. He went back to the mansion and up to his room. He started the shower. It was so hot, it scalded his skin, but he didn’t even notice. He was trying to wash this nightmare off, hoping that when he got out, he’d find Nora and Matthew sleeping peacefully in each of their beds. He finished his shower, clothed, and made his way down to Nora’s room. He opened it quietly, hoping for the best, but upon inspection, he couldn’t deny that he was in the middle of a real-life nightmare. He turned on the light and went inside. He thought maybe he could find something in her room. The voice on the tape kept playing inside his head as he walked through the room, fingering pictures, her jewelry, the pajamas on the edge of the bed. He made his way into her closet. He felt like a bit of an intruder, but he also felt very close to her in this moment. He saw some boxes in the corner. He opened a few of the smaller shoebox sized ones and found…shoes. He opened the slightly taller one and pulled out her tennis trophy. He smiled at the remembrance. He pulled the box a little further out into the middle of the closet and sat down next to it. He pulled out another trophy, and his eyes grew dim. It was Nora’s Woman of the Year trophy. His eyes grew misty as he ran his thumb over the faceplate. He flashed back to that day. The look of utter despair on Nora’s face when Lindsay began her tirade. Her begging him to take her home so she could explain. And Lindsay. All the self loathing evident in her attack. Hissing and oozing hatred. She wanted Nora to feel as badly as she did. She wanted Nora humiliated in the most public way. Well, she got her wish. And, she got him, too. Somehow, he let her in, turning his back on the woman who owned his heart. Again and again, he’d allowed Lindsay in. And, again and again he’d been burned. Bo looked at the trophy again and shook his head. He placed it back in the box, closed it up, and pushed it back into the corner. He stood up and exhaustion just wrecked his body. He made his way back into Nora’s bedroom and laid down on her bed. Within minutes, he was asleep, but his dreams were vivid and unpleasant. An hour or so later, he sat bolt upright in bed, breathing hard, face looking panicked.
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Replies:
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Re: God Bless the Broken Road Part 44 -- Jen, Thu, Jan 28 - 2:19:03am
Great 44th chapter Leslie! :) I read and re-read the part where Bo was talking to Rex about how he feels about Nora and Matt. Perfect.
So much suspense, I can't wait for more. Based on the dialogue, I do have my ideas now who has Nora and Matt so I will have to wait and see who it is.
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Re: God Bless the Broken Road Part 44 -- MaryAnn, Thu, Jan 28 - 6:56:20am
WOW!! A great chapter. Suspense, love, heartbreak. All good things!
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Re: God Bless the Broken Road Part 44 -- Candy, Thu, Jan 28 - 8:08:52am
Awesome chapter, Love Bo telling Rex his feelings for Nora and Matt.
I think I know who has them.
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Re: God Bless the Broken Road Part 44 -- Tammy, Thu, Jan 28 - 1:46:01pm
Awesome chapter... total suspense, I love it!
I think I know who it is too... unless, being the awesome writer you are, you are being purposely misleading lmao! ;-D
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Re: God Bless the Broken Road Part 44 -- Deanne, Thu, Jan 28 - 2:53:26pm
This is great! Fantastic job!!!
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Re: God Bless the Broken Road Part 44 -- meg, Thu, Jan 28 - 2:59:48pm
amazing as always! i think i figured out who is holding them but im not sure...can't wait for more :D
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Re: God Bless the Broken Road Part 44 -- amy, Thu, Jan 28 - 5:42:13pm
another great chapter:) i have my suspicions as to who it is...guess we will find out:)
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Re: God Bless the Broken Road Part 44 -- alecia, Thu, Jan 28 - 6:17:04pm
WOW! Great chapter. I am loving this story.
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Re: God Bless the Broken Road Part 44 -- kelly, Thu, Jan 28 - 7:38:13pm
Love this story! My question for you is, where do I find the first 42 chapters? I just found this site a month ago and I've looked in the FF section and I didn't see it. Is the beginning under a different name? Would love to know how it all began!
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Kelly -- Leslie, Thu, Jan 28 - 11:38:38pm
Kelly,
Just email me and I can send you the rest. You should be able to get my email by clicking on my name on this message. :)
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Re: Kelly -- Kelly, Fri, Jan 29 - 12:07:21pm
Thanks Leslie. I would love for you to email to me, but when I click on your name, nothing happens. Any other suggestions? Can't wait to hear the story from the beginning! Thanks again!
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Oh...FYI... -- MaryAnn, Fri, Jan 29 - 12:26:15pm
I've disabled the "click on the name to send an e-mail" feature. It was being misused!!!
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Re: Oh...FYI... -- Leslie, Fri, Jan 29 - 11:05:55pm
That would explain why that didn't work! LOL Thanks for the heads up, MA.
Kelly, just email me at boandnorafan@hotmail.com
Pretty simple to remember for members of this board, no? ;)
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Re: Oh...FYI... -- Kelly, Sat, Jan 30 - 9:27:58pm
Thanks Leslie! I sent you an email! Can't wait to read the rest!!!
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Re: God Bless the Broken Road Part 44 -- toby, Fri, Jan 29 - 11:43:19am
Good chapter Leslie. Really enjoying this FF.
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Re: God Bless the Broken Road Part 44 -- Sharon, Fri, Jan 29 - 5:47:36pm
WOW this was really good. Can't wait to see what happens next.
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