See Me Cry

Feeling free... Hunter could relate. Maybe that's why he liked racing so much. It was a gamble for sure, though it was mighty profitable if played right. But that's not really why he did it. There was freedom in the open desert. Freedom in speed. Maybe he and Ryan had more in common than he thought. 

He bit off the end of his pizza crust and quirked an eyebrow. "Couple good action flicks playing now," he mused. "Just no fun going alone." He wasn't bitter...just lonely. Maybe hed gotten used to Katie's company more than he had realized. 

"We should go see one." He paused, then looked at them both. "The...three of us, I mean. Unless Eli likes the chick flicks."

Eli took a crumpled napkin and threw it at him. "Very funny... I only watch those alone...so no one will see me cry."

Both guys cracked up at the mental image, and Hunter shook his head. He took a swig of pop and shot Ryan a new grin. "Mental note. Never take your brother to see a sappy movie."



A chill ran down Jason's spine as Nate told him what was going on. He was on his feet immediately though, grabbing his badge and gun. He glanced to Katie. "Be back soon." Following Nate out, he'd save more questions for once they were on the road...

...Arriving to the small building a good half hour later with Nate and Hope, Jason’s heart skipped a beat. An  Elite vehicle was indeed here. How had Garret actually pulled this off? Once parked, he went with them quickly inside and to the trap door that Wyatt and Pete had talked about, making sure the other two were secure as they descended. This whole thing felt...wrong.

What met his eyes once they reached the bottom sent a chill to the very core of his being.

Scott was strapped to the chair, hooked up to all of the equipment. He had long since fallen silent, seemingly passed out, though his eye was still forced open and focused on the screen of scrolling data. His body was  shaking so violently that the chair was rattling.

“Garret!” Jason drew his gun without thinking as he spotted him seated at the main computer. “Get him out of there, now!”

Garret was on his feet in an instant, hands in the air. This was exactly what he'd feared. His eyes went directly to Nate, but the mask he wore so well wouldn't reveal anything. “I can’t.” He stepped forward when Jason moved towards Scott. “No! You can’t interrupt the process! You’ll kill him.”

“So we just stand here and watch him die anyway?!”

“It’s almost over!” Garret’s hands remained raised. “Another minute and the upgrade will be complete. Please.”

Jason didn’t lower his gun, and looked desperately between Hope, Scott, Nate and Garret. He didn’t know what to do. What was right? Would Scott indeed die if the connection was broken too early? They all had no choice but to trust Garret. “Fine.” He uncocked his gun. “You’ve got one minute, then he’s coming loose, or you’re getting shot.”

Those sixty seconds seemed to last forever. As the equipment slowly halted, the screen faded away and Scott’s violent shaking subsided, they immediately began to release him.

As soon as allowed, Scott’s eye fell shut, his body slumping in the chair, though he still trembled. Blood ran from his nose and he made no sound.


Garret stood back at a safe distance, his jaw set firmly as his inner tension rose. This was it. This was what he'd anticipated. Scott's note would mean nothing....he'd get blamed for this, he just knew it.