*~*~*~*~*~*Chapter 8*~*~*~*~*~*

AJ’s voice stopped. Nick felt tears running down his cheeks. First now, he understood how his family and friends had been. In a way they had suffered more than he had. They didn’t know if he was dead or alive, where he was or why he was there. Another reason to get home as quickly as possible. Not to get food, or taking a shower, but to see his family and friends, tell them that he was alright, that he was alive. He wanted to call them. Now.

"Can we call them?" he asked pleadingly. Stacey smiled.

"Of course. You will have to ask them to meet you somewhere, because I can’t drive to your house. I don’t wanna be spotted. Tell them to meet you somewhere in an hour. Who do you wanna call?"

"AJ" he said. He couldn’t call his mum. She would freak out if she saw him like this. He had lost about 20 pounds and he hadn’t shaved in twelve days. They had let him shower once, but that was like a week ago, so he figured he didn’t smell too good either. His clothes were dirty and too big. He looked awful. Carefully and slowly, he dialled AJ’s number. Nick looked at Stacey. She nodded and gave him extra courage. After only one signal he heard AJ’s familiar, raspy voice. He must have seen that it was Nick’s phonenumber cause he sounded very hopeful.

"..AJ?" Nick said quietly into the phone. He heard AJ gasp and closed his eyes.

"Nick? Oh my god, is that you? How are you? Where are you? Speak to me…"

AJ said quickly, he felt the tears coming. He couldn’t believe that it was Nick. He was afraid that someone would cut them off so he didn’t alert the others. He slept in the same room as Howie, in Nicks livingroom.

"AJ…I…" it was too much for Nick. He shook his head and handed the phone to Stacey. She took it and spoke.

"AJ?"

"Yes, who is this? Where is Nick, what have you done to him?" AJ started to get angry and his voice woke Howie, who stared at him, unknowing what was going on.

"Don’t worry. I am a friend. I’m bringing Nick home now" she said calmly.

AJ could her his own heart-beats when he heard the last sentence.

"Nick is coming home" he whispered to Howie.

"Take it easy. Listen to me closely. Don’t wake the others. That would wake the media too. I want you and Howie to drive to Nick’s old home in Ruskin. Meet us there in an hour" she said. AJ looked at Howie and motioned for him to stay there and keep quiet, he was about to go and wake the others.

"Ok. Should we bring the money?" AJ asked. Stacey sighed. He had misunderstood.

"No, no money. I am not the kidnapper, I didn’t take Nick. I just saved him. An hour from now, ok? And do NOT wake the others"

"An hour from now, in Nicks old house" he repeated. A beeping tone informed him that she had ended the conversation. He turned to Howie and hugged him.

"Nick’s coming home" he whispered.

*~*~*~*~*~*

Back in the car

"Tell me more" Nick asked. "You finished at the time when AJ had said that message."

"That’s right. As I said, Sandra called him back. When she heard the message, she decided that this had gone too far. She thought that you were being treated cruelly. When she called him, she told him that you were alright and she was just about to tell him where you were, when our common friend Karl entered the room. He heard a bit of the conversation and thought that she had called the police. The last thing AJ heard was "He is alright, we are at…" then she was cut off. Very dramatically. Karl was extremely mad"

"I know" Nick said quietly. She glanced at him.

"You saw what he did to her". It was more a statement than a question, and he nodded.

"He shot her in front of my eyes. I have never seen anyone die before that, now I have seen lots…" he said bitterly. She understood his feelings.

"I don’t enjoy killing. I do what I have to do, and that’s it. I never kill innocent people, and when I kill, even if it is a cruel person, I do it quickly" she said.

"I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to sound as I blame you" he tried to excuse himself.

"I know, you are not used to this kind of violence, and I’m sorry that you have seen all this. Shall I continue?" she asked. Nick nodded.