The next morning Mark was downstairs before everyone else. He hadn’t slept. His little sister Kelly came down the stairs dressed and ready for the day.

“Mark, you’re up. Why? 'Mr. I sleep to noon on the weekends.' ” She turned the corner of the couch and sat next to her brother.

“I couldn’t sleep.”

“Mark, it’s not your fault.”

“I can’t help but feel like it is.” He said tears streaming from his brown eyes.

“Oh, Mark.” She said and hugged him.

He just cried harder into her shoulder. “I’m sorry, Kelly.”

“Don’t be. We all are hurting. I understand that you are hurting.” She said. “Christopher is like a brother to you.”

Mark nodded.

The two siblings sat there together saying nothing.

The phone rang at Taylor’s house. He answered it. “Hello?” He answered his voice thick from lack of sleep.

“Taylor.” Said a female voice that he instantly recognized at Karen’s. “I’ve been waiting to talk to you.”

“You have my boy.”

“I know I do.” She laughed. “Now that was a stupid thing to say, Taylor. Of course I know that I have your son. He’s right here staring at me with the same eyes that you used to stare at me with.”

“You haven’t hurt him have you?”

“No. You’re boy is worth too much alive.”

Taylor was beginning to worry. “What do you want Karen?”

“I want ten million dollars for your boy.”

“I don’t’ have…”

“Yes, you do. You made thirty million last year in album sales, fifteen mill in endorsements, and another thirty for the tour.”

“But there are other people that I share that money with.”

“Isaac received twenty-five, you received twenty-five, and Zac received twenty-five. You all have the money.”

“Most of it’s tied up.”

“Then untie it, Taylor. Or I will hurt your son.”

“What do I have to do?"

She gave him the directions of where to be to pick up his son, and drop off the money.

“Can I talk to my boy?”

She laughed. “Of course you can’t. Bye Lover boy.” With that she hung up the phone.

Taylor put the phone down on the cradle softly and quietly.

“Who was it?” Mary asked.

“Karen.”

“Has she hurt Chris?” She asked fearfully.

“No, she wants ten million for him.”

“That’s a lot of money, Taylor. Do we have it?”

“Yeah. Tied up. I have to talk to our accountant this morning and get what I can untied. I better call the police and tell them what she said.”

Mary sat up from Taylor’s lap. He called the detective and told them what was going on. He said that he would get right on it.

Mary was downstairs trying to be a mother when Diana knocked. She opened the door and received a big hug from Diana.

“Any news?”

“She wants ten million for Chris.”

“Oh my.”

“Has she hurt him?”

“No, not that we know of.”

“We’ll hopefully we’ll have Chris home with us tonight.”

“I hope so.”

Taylor came down the stairs. "Mom.” He went to her and hugged her.

She stroked her son’s hair. “Are you okay, baby?”

“I will be okay.” He said breaking the hug.

Two sleepy kids came into the room and hugged Taylor’s legs. The youngest boy who was just two, tottled in and begged for Diana to pick him up. She did so.

“So what’s going on, Tay?”

“Well, I have just untied ten million dollars. And I’m going to meet her tonight, and exchange it for Chris.”

“Taylor, I don’t like that.” Mary said stroking her daughter's hair who was beside her.

“I don’t’ either.” Diana said.

“I don’t either, but I want my kid back and the only way I can do that is by giving up the money and delivering it to her.”

“What about the police?”

“They will be there if things go bad. Then they can save my skinny little butt.”

“Daddy, will we get Chris back?”

“He’ll be home tonight.” Taylor said to Samantha.