Kidnapped!

" 10 "

Two weeks later Brian and Lindsay landed in Naples Italy. Chester Blackburn met them at the airport and they made their way to the hotel. Chester had been in Italy for most of the time since the decision had been made to kidnap Gus once again. He had wanted to oversee arrangements and make sure that everything would happen like clockwork.

"So everything is in motion?" Brian asked as they walked into the lobby of their hotel.

"Let's wait till we get to the room before we discuss this," Chester said glancing around.

Once Brian and Lindsay were checked in they made their way to their room. Their luggage consisted of a couple of carry-ons. They wouldn't be in Italy very long if everything went as planned. Finally Chester sat down with them to explain what was going to happen.

"You're being so careful about discussing this," Lindsay observed.

"It doesn't pay to take chances," Chester replied.

"Is everything set?" Brian asked.

"It happens tomorrow and we fly out immediately afterward."

"You mean we could have Gus back with us tomorrow?" Lindsay gasped.

"Exactly."

"I … I can't believe it," Lindsay said with tears in her eyes. "We've waited so long."

"How is this going to go down?" Brian asked.

"Everyday at three o'clock Mamma Garoni brings Gus down to the beach," Chester explained.

"What if it rains?"

"Weather forecast is for hot and sunny."

"Let's hope those fuckers are right for once in their miserable lives."

"We'll be on a boat anchored off the shore of the compound. When Gus starts playing in the sand we'll start drifting in, no obvious movement, no engine noise. Usually Mamma dozes off in her chair after a bit. When it looks like she's asleep, we'll dash in and grab the boy."

"Oh," Lindsay gasped. "You won't hurt him, will you?"

"We'll do our best. Once we have him we hightail it towards Reggio Calabria. You're going to drive there tomorrow. I've rented you a car. The boat will dock at Reggio Calabria and you can be there to meet Gus."

"Can't we go with you?" Lindsay asked.

"It's too dangerous," Chester said levelly. "We have enough variables in play already. We don't want anymore."

"We're going to Reggio Calabria," Brian said definitely. "I trust Chester to do this right. Why Reggio Calabria?" Brian asked with a frown.

"It's about an hour by boat from where we'll pick up Gus in Sicily. We expect it will take the guards several minutes to launch their own boat after we grab Gus. We intend to be out of sight by then. We've got some camouflage for the boat that we'll deploy. They won't recognize us. They'll expect us to head for Palermo or Syracuse in Sicily. Reggio Calabria is on the mainland. They won't be expecting that. Once we get to Reggio Calabria, I have booked you on a flight back to Naples. From there you'll fly to Paris and then New York and finally Pittsburgh."

"That doesn't tell me why we're not going to Rome and from there to New York direct. Doesn't that make more sense?"

"That's what they'll be expecting. So, we don't do that."

Brian nodded. Chester certainly seemed to know what he was doing. His route might take a little longer, but if it was safer then that is what they'd do.

"So try to get some rest tonight. The car will be dropped off for you at seven a.m. You will need to set out immediately if you are going to meet us in Reggio Calabria. This has to work with precision," Chester said.

"We'll be ready," Brian assured him.

"Chester," Lindsay said softly, "please bring our son back safely."

"I intend to do just that," Chester said holding Lindsay's hand. "Now I have to go and double check all of the arrangements."

"Thanks," both Lindsay and Brian said as he went quickly out the door.

"Oh God, Brian, this has to work," Lindsay said as she melted into the safety of his arms.

"It will, it will," he repeated hoping that his words would make it so.

The next morning the car arrived on schedule and Lindsay and Brian loaded what luggage they had into the trunk. They had a map of Naples and then a map of Italy so they had plotted their route to Reggio Calabria.

The drive through the south of Italy was beautiful and warm. It was a lovely day. Brian hoped that boded well for the rest of their plans. They stopped in a little village and found a café for some lunch. At that point they were well over halfway to Reggio Calabria. Lindsay had some rudimentary Italian from her art studies and they managed quite well.

Brian could imagine Justin's smile if he had been able to come with them. He would have loved traveling through Italy, but Chester had asked Brian to keep things as simple and uncomplicated as possible. Justin had agreed to stay behind.

As Brian stirred the strong Italian coffee, he promised himself that he would bring Justin to Italy before too long. They both deserved a holiday.

"You're thinking about Justin, aren't you?" Lindsay asked with a smile.

Brian was startled. "And what makes you think that?"

"Your face gets this soft peaceful look when you think of him."

Brian snorted. "Yeah, sure."

"It does. And … I'm glad you have something to think about other than Gus. My stomach is in a knot."

"Mine isn't great either. Chester will make this work," Brian said trying to feel confident.

"Should we get back on the road?" Lindsay asked anxiously.

"We're ahead of schedule, but I guess it wouldn't hurt to get there early."

Lindsay smiled as Brian paid the bill. She wanted Gus safe in her arms. She couldn't calm down until that happened.

Three hours later they pulled into the dock area of Reggio Calabria. Brian read the signs trying to find the exact area where Chester's boat would pull up. He and Lindsay were to stay with the car so that they all, including Chester and Gus, could head immediately to the airport in Reggio Calabria. They would drop the rental car there and catch a flight back to Naples.

Brian got out of the car lighting a cigarette and puffing tightly on it. He wondered if Chester had Gus yet. He could imagine how scared his son would be. He wouldn't know any of the men who were grabbing him. Brian wished he had insisted on accompanying them. But it was too late for that. All he could do was wait and … pray.

"Brian," Lindsay's soft voice said, calling him out of his thoughts. He turned to face her. "I'm so fucking scared." Brian opened his arms and Lindsay leaned into him. She was trembling from head to toe. "Why aren't they here?" she moaned against his throat.

"It's barely time," Brian replied. "Give them a few minutes."

"I … I don't know if I can. I feel like I'm going to jump out of my skin."

"You have to be strong … for Gus."

"I'm trying, but how much longer…?"

"I don't know," Brian admitted. "Soon … I hope."

They stood holding onto each other staring out into the harbor. There was nothing visible that looked like their boat, at least what they thought the boat would look like.

"What if something went wrong?" Lindsay asked with a shudder.

"Don't…"

"I … I can't help it. What if they didn't get him? What if someone got hurt? What if he's dead?"

"Don't think like that. They're going to bring him back."

Lindsay buried her face against Brian's shoulder and he could feel the silent sobs that she couldn't hold back any longer.

After a few minutes Brian looked up. He saw a small cigarette style boat heading into the harbor at a speed he knew was much too fast to be an ordinary boat trip. His breath caught in his throat. He could see two men at the helm, but there was no sign of Chester or Gus that he could make out.

Lindsay looked up as she felt Brian tense against her. "What is it?" she asked following the line of Brian's vision. "Is it … is it them?" she asked, fear evident in her voice.

"I think so but I can't see Chester or Gus. I wish I had thought to bring some binoculars."

"They're coming in fast, aren't they?" Lindsay asked clutching Brian's arm.

"Mmm."

"Do you think something's wrong?"

"Don't know," was all Brian said. He refused to voice his own fears. That might make what he suspected true.

They stared out at the boat which began to slow as it came fully into the harbor. It seemed to take forever as it inched its way towards them. This had to be Chester's boat, but where was he? And more to the point, where was Gus?

After what seemed like an eternity, the boat began to turn and line up with the docking facility. That was when Brian noticed a cabin below the helm. That had to be where Gus was.

Finally the boat pulled up alongside the pylons and one of the men hopped out and began securing the lines. As soon as that happened Brian moved forward. He was about to ask where Chester was when he heard wailing from inside the boat. A child's voice was screeching and calling, "Nonna, nonna, nonna."

"Gus!" Brian yelled.

The wailing continued. He could hear the small voice screaming in Italian. He sounded scared and hurt and lost. Brian couldn't wait until the door opened and he could comfort his son.

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