Chapter Three

 
  One O’clock came around and Jon had got the conference room in the hotel booked so they could have this meeting. The Simon's were right on time as was the band, Doc and all the department heads that took care of the tour. Rick and A.J. had laid everything out, Michael’s picture and what he is capable of. They wanted them to pass out his picture to everyone so they all would be on alert and even altered them to show different looks. They had a Q & A session which Jon, Rick, and A.J. answered while Mary just listened in on. She didn’t want to interrupt them while they were working. The meeting lasted about an hour and a half going over the most important things like who to contact if they spot him and not to engage him or to over react. They didn’t want anyone to get hurt unnecessarily. After the meeting everyone went to their jobs, the guys and the Simon's stayed back for a few minutes.

       A.J. turned to his sister and said, “May Rick and I were talking it over and we think it would be better if you stayed in the room while Jon went to sound check.”

       She just looked at Jon and he said, “I think that would be a great idea Baby that way I know you’re safe.”

       She was too tired to fight them on this. It wouldn’t go anywhere good. “Fine I’ll just stay in the room and grow old okay.” She said sarcastically. She looked over to the guys in the band but they all looked in other directions. “Yeah right. Okay Howard let’s go.” She said as she left with her body guard Howard Cooper.

       Jon just stood there a little puzzled. Richie walked up to him and asked, “Hey Kidd what’s the matter?”

       “She didn’t kiss or hug me goodbye.” He said sadly.

        Richie just looked at him trying not to laugh. He knew Jon had it bad. “Really? ‘giggling’ did you want her to break down right here and lay one on you?”

        “Oh shut the fuck up!” Jon said really annoyed now. Richie just kept on giggling and pissing Jon off. The Simon's told Jon they were going to check on a few leads they had and would check back with them by show time. Jon looked up at the guys “Well are you coming or what!” he barked and stormed out of the room.
       
         They looked at each other and David said, “Jeesh what rattled his drawers?”

         Richie feeling daring, “His girlfriend didn’t kiss him goodbye.” He said giggling as he followed the boss man.

         Tico looked to the others and only said, “DON’T!”

         Sound check was going fine and Jon would be done sooner than he thought so he would get back to the hotel and they could have dinner together before the concert tonight. He really needed to unwind and just being together with his girl would be the best therapy he could think of.
               ****************************************************************
        Meanwhile back at the hotel Mary and Howard were waiting for them to finish up with sound check and she was watching T.V. while Howard was outside the door where Jon told him to wait for him to return. As she was watching T.V. the phone rang and she answered it.

       “Hello? Yes this is Mary Simon. Who’s this? I can’t hear you very well. Obie? What’s wrong? What’s wrong with Jon? What happened? Is he all right? Obie! The mic blew up in his face? Is he okay? What hospital? St. Anne’s okay I’m on my way. What? You have a car coming to get me. Okay I’ll wait for it. Thanks I’ll tell Howard.”

       She got off the phone and ran to the door, “Howard! Obie just called from the auditorium and said there was an accident and Jon was hurt. He’s sending a car over for us.” She said anxiously.

      “What happened?” he asked curiously.

      “Apparently his mic stand blew up or something in his face. They’re taking him to St. Anne’s hospital.” She told him upset.

      “Okay I’ll go downstairs and wait for the car.” Howard said. “Wait Mary who called this in?” he asked curiously.

      “Obie did but it was hard to hear him a lot of static. Why?” she asked him.

      “Just making sure that’s all can’t take any chances.” Howard told her cautiously.

       Twenty five minutes went by and Mary was pacing up and down wondering where Howard was. Just as she was going to phone down to the front desk there was a knock at the door. She went over to answer it and was a little shocked to see that it wasn’t Howard. “Miss Simon?” the man asked. Leery she carefully kept the door slightly opened with her foot firmly in place at the bottom of the door and her gun in the back of her pants.

      “Yes?” she said.

       “I’m Larry Gordon. Obie O’Brien sent me to pick you up and bring you to St. Anne’s hospital.” He explained to her.

       “Okay but where’s Howard I thought he was coming to get me?” she asked cautiously. “He told me to come up here and get you while he checks the car? So are you ready to go?” he asked her as he was looking around the hallway.

        “Oh fine let me just grab my pocketbook.”  She grabbed her pocketbook and decided to put her gun away seeing she was going to the hospital and didn’t think she would need it. “Okay let’s go.” She said upset.

        They got down to the car and as they did Mary couldn’t spot Howard anywhere so she asked the driver where he was. “Excuse me but wasn’t my body guard Howard Cooper supposed to meet us here by the car?” she asked as she was turning into the driver. But he moved into her and was pointing something thick into her back.

        “Don’t worry Cooper will be fine my Love. He’ll only have a very bad headache when he wakes up. Now get into the car without any trouble so I don’t have to use this.” Michael said.

        Mary’s body tensed all over. She thought to herself how she could be so stupid, stupid that she didn’t see right through him. “Michael please don’t do this.” she begged him.

        “Just get in the damn car NOW!” he said angrily. She got in not wanting to piss him off any more than he already was. He got in through the passenger side and then all the doors locked. There was a glass partition that separated them so she couldn’t do anything to him while he was driving.

        As they were moving along she asked him “Michael is Jon even hurt?” she hoped he wasn’t but didn’t know with him. But also didn’t want the question to piss him off.

       “You know I can’t believe your still with that asshole. But no he’s not at least not right now. But we’ll talk more about that later Dear when you wake up.”

       “What?” Michael pushed a button and gas was released and Mary went to sleep right there on the back seat.

        Meanwhile Howard woke up in a dumpster with a pounding headache. When he realized where he was he got out and ran back in the hotel and back up to the room as soon as he could. Once he got into the room he raced around to see if Mary was there but unfortunately she wasn’t. This was not a phone call he wanted to make. He got in touch with Ralph and told him what happened and Ralph said to hang tight and that they would be there as soon as possible.
                 ***************************************************************
        Sound check was winding down and Ralph had already talked with Doc and Obie on what happened. The three of them went to the staging area and were trying to get Jon’s attention. Jon finally saw them and was getting annoyed at them, “What! We’re trying to fucking finish here! What the hell is so important!” he yelled.

        Ralph yelled back, “Jon we need to speak to you now it’s important.”

        A sinking feeling came over him and all the color washed out of his face. Everyone could see it.
He walked over to the end of the stage, squatted and jumped off. “Okay what is it?”

        Ralph continued as the others had a hard time looking Jon in the face. “Howard called me, he was ambushed Jon. He woke up in a dumpster about half an hour ago.”

        Jon’s legs nearly went from under him and Ralph grabbed him. Richie ran from the stage and jumped off followed by the guys. Richie grabbed Jon on the other side of him.

       “How?” Jon asked terrified.

       “Apparently they got a call that you were hurt and that we were sending a car for them. He went to check it out and the driver cold cocked him on the head. When he woke up the car was gone and so was Mary, he also checked the hotel room Jon.” Ralph explained.

      “He’s got her, the Bastard’s got her.” He said shaking, knowing his worst nightmare being realized.

      “Jon I hate to do this but what about the concert tonight?" Doc asked stupidly.

      “Fuck the concert Doc! I can’t do it while he has Mary!” Jon yelled.
   
      “Yes you can Jon and that’s exactly what you’re going to do.” A.J. said. The Simon's were walking towards them.

       Jon just had a confused and angry face. “What the hell are guys talking about? Your sister has been kidnapped and you want us to go on tonight? Are you insane?” Jon screamed.

       “No that’s exactly what he wants you to do. So don’t. Right now and I hate to say this but he has to think you don’t give a shit about her. So going on tonight will help.” A.J. explained to him.

       “No, no way. She’s mine not his. ‘looking at Doc’ we’re canceling and that’s it.” He demanded and walked off to his dressing room with Richie following him. Once inside Jon started throwing things around.

       “Hey that’s not going to bring her back.” Richie told him ducking.

       Jon turning to him “No shit! Rich what am I going to do? He’s going to hurt her. Then he’ll kill her.” Jon said with tears in his eyes.

       “They’ll get her back. They’re not going to let him kill their sister man.” Richie said trying to calm him down.

       Looking at Richie “Rich I Love her I really Love her and I haven’t had the chance to tell her she’s the one.”

       “Whoa, really the one? Do you think she feels the same?” Richie asked him not really shocked.

      “Yeah I really do. It’s funny but you just know.” He told his best friend.

       “But she wanted to break up with you just a few days ago.” Rich reminded him.

        “That’s how I knew.” He smiled.
            ******************************************************************
        Mary woke up in a room she didn’t recognize. When she tried to move she was handcuffed to the bed. “Shit!” She struggled but realized only her left hand was handcuffed to the bed post. Then she realized that she was in her bra and panties. “Great just fucking great.” She said to herself.

       Just then the door open and Michael walked in. “Well well my Love how are we doing?” he asked a little too cheeky.

      “How the hell do you think I’m doing you Son-of-A-Bitch!” she yelled.

      “Now now language please. You look beautiful you know?” he said staring at her intensely.

      “You’re sick.” She sputtered back at him.

      “Really? Who has who handcuffed to the bed? Do you really want to piss me off Sweetheart?” he said to her trying to keep his cool. She just looked disgustingly at him. “Fine well I have plans for the two of us. But I just need to get one more thing and I believe you’ll do anything I ask of you. In fact you’ll be begging me to make love to you. You remember those days don’t you Sweetheart.” He said as he ran a finger up and down her bare leg. She was cringing as he was touching her. “Now if you’ll excuse me I need to make some phone calls. I’ll be back soon my Love.” And he leaned in, grabbed he face as she tried to push him away but to no avail and he kissed her hard and then left the room laughing.
                **************************************************************
       At the hotel Jon was climbing the walls. He had called off the concert for the night; he felt there was no way he could perform properly for his fans. Plus he felt sick all over and he was a bundle of nerves. There was a knock at the door and he yelled to come in.
     
       It was Richie. “Hey man how are you feeling?”

       “Lousy that’s how.” Jon said.

       “Has there been any word?” Richie asked.

       “No and it’s driving me crazy. I just wish her brothers would call. Why the hell won’t they call!” he said through gritted teeth.

       “Hey calm down they’ll call when they can. What’s that saying no news is good news?” Richie said trying to smile.

       Jon just looked at him and tried to smile back. “I just want her back Rich that’s all.”

      Patting Jon on the back. “I know Kidd I know.”

     They sat quietly for a while until the phone rang. Jon jumped up to answer it. “Hello?”

     “If there is anyone with you in the room pretend this is someone else pretty boy got it?” Michael said to him.

     “Yeah Hi Mom everything’s fine.” He said to Michael even thou he wanted to scream at him.

     “Good boy now if you want to see my girlfriend again you’ll do as I say.” Michael said to him.

     “Yeah sure I’ll do that as soon as I can.” He told him cringing.

     “Good I call back later tonight when nobody’s there and give you all the details on when and where to meet. Now say goodbye to your Mom like a good little boy.” And Michael hung up.

     “Bye Mom.” And then Jon hung up but he really want to do is throw it across the room.

     “That was short; it’s not like your Mom to keep it short like that.” Rich said chuckling.

     “She just wanted to touch base. Rich if you don’t mind I think I’m going to try and get some sleep. Do you think you can run interference for me?” he asked.

     “Yeah no problem you look like shit, plus Mary’s going to need you when you get her back.” Richie said as he walked towards the door.

     Richie left and Jon was waiting for Michael to call again. It was an hour later when the phone rang again. “Hello?” He said hurriedly.

     “Hi Jon it’s A.J. just wanted to touch base with you.”

     “Great did you find anything out?” Jon asked anxiously.

     “Well let’s see we spent most of the afternoon at the police department and came up empty but Rick did find this clerk who got into the data base and we got some addresses we’re going to check them out in the morning. So we might get lucky there. How are you doing?” A.J. asked him as he really wanted to know.

     “Doing, I’m going to try and get some sleep.” he said needing to get him off the phone.

     “That’s good we’re going to need you at your best. Alright we’ll see you in the morning.” A.J. said and hung up.

     Jon didn’t know what to do now. Should he tell the Simon's that Michael had called him or should he keep his mouth shut? If he told them Michael called he could hurt her but if he didn’t then Michael could hurt her. His head was really hurting now. There was only one thing he could do and was to wait for him to call and find out where he wanted him to meet and then go from there. It was finally around two o’clock in the morning when the phone rang. He nervously answered it. “Hello?”

    “Okay Rockstar are you alone?” Michael asked him .

    “Yes I’m alone.” Jon told him angerly.

    “Good now do you want to see her alive and well?” Michael asked again being a smartass.

    “What the hell do you think?” Jon stated pissed.

    “Just checking don’t get your guitar all out of whack. Meet me at one ninety two Hurst Shaw Street in say thirty five minutes. I’ll be waiting, oh and you do know to come alone right?” Michael told him.

    “Yeah I know but if you’ve done anything to her?” Jon told him.

    “You’ll see when you get here, she is a wild one. I had to put her in her place.”  Michael laughed.

    “You fucking Bastard!” Jon screamed at him.

    “Now now what is it with the two of you and the swearing? Just be here on time or else.” And the phone went dead.

    He was pacing the room again trying to figure out what to do. He knew what he should do but that could get her killed. There was only one thing he could do and that was tell his best friend what was going on. He knew Richie wouldn’t say a word to anyone until it was time to.

    So he quietly went across the hall and knocked until Richie answered the door. “Hey Kidd what are you doing still up? I thought you went to bed?”

    “Yeah well I lied. I need you to do me a big favor Richie and I mean big.” Jon asked.

    “Yeah no problem you know that.” Richie told him rubbing the sleep from his eyes.

     “You might not think that when I tell you.” They went inside Richie’s room and Jon explained what had happened between the phone call he had gotten when he was there earlier that night to the one he had just received.

     Richie just looked at Jon in astonishment. “Jon there’s no way you can go there without back up, you know that.” Richie stated concerned for his brother.

    “Rich if I don’t he’s going to either hurt her or worse kill her. I can’t let that happen. He wants me there for some sick reason and if I can get the drop on him some way I will.” Jon said.

    “Are you kidding me? He’s an ex-cop Jon! He’s definitely going to kill you! And make her watch you know that.” Richie said almost hysterical.

    “Not if I can help it. But that’s where you come in. If you don’t hear from me in about six hours you tell Rick and A.J. where I am okay?” Jon asked almost begging.

    “They’re going to kill both of us you know that right?” Richie said pacing.

    “I know but I can’t risk her life, he’ll be watching.” Jon told Richie.

    “Okay I’ll do it but Jon be careful please?” Richie said giving Jon a hug.

    Jon had the cab take him to one ninety two Hurst Shaw Street where he waited outside the front door of the house. It was dark and seemed no one was home. So he decided to knock on the door to see if anyone would answer. But when he did the door opened by itself. He had that sinking feeling in his stomach like when he watched those stupid horror movies when the victim knew what was waiting for him behind the closed door. He took a deep breath and walked in. It was just as dark inside and he carefully maneuvered his way around what seemed to be the living room. As he was rounding the corner to what seemed to be the dining room when he felt a sharp blow to the back of his head and white lights before hitting the floor. When he woke up he was chained to the wall just like the last time Michael had him when he was electrocuting him with the cattle prod. God he hated it when Richie was right. He also hated being tied down seeing he was claustrophobic. It didn’t take long for the door to open and for Michael to walk in.