FRIDAY NIGHT - MISSING 

Author: Jacqui
 
Email: ollyjac@optusnet.com.au
 
Rating: R
 
Here's the next part...Cheers

Disclaimers: The usual….Main characters belong to the TV show
etc..etc…Sam & Joe and anyone else not in the TV show are mine….

--+-- 

SECOND CHANCES- MISSING PART ONE

Huddling over Claire's file, Burton shook his head as he read through
the documents. He couldn't believe what Jake had unearthed in the
financial statements. Having had them checked by the firm's
accountant, there was no denying Claire had been the victim of a very
clever embezzlement. Fortunately she'd come to Nick when she had and
the firm had taken safeguards for the rest of her finances. He stood
up, closed the file, commended him on his work and headed back to his
office, closing Jake's door behind him. Pausing briefly outside Nick's
office, he considered knocking before deciding instead, to go back to
his own office trying to control the anger felt towards the both of them.

Burton felt betrayed by his son and couldn't understand what he had
done to warrant being lied to all these years. Rapidly loosing
patience with him, he tried desperately to recall anything in the past
that he might have said or done that would have given Nick reason to
have kept this marriage a secret from him. He decided to leave things
as they were, for now, reasoning, if all else failed and an all out
confrontation is what it was going to take, then that's what it was
going to take.

*******

Nick woke suddenly, he'd been planning to catch up on some work and
really hadn't meant to fall asleep. Claire had reacted the way he
thought she would when he showed her the letters and the photos. Once
she had recovered from the shock of the mutilated photos in
particular, she went upstairs and brought down another envelope. Nick
didn't know what to say. Claire had been receiving letters and
withheld them from him not wishing to upset him. He'd assumed
correctly that it wouldn't take long for Sam to find out where she
was. They were a right pair, the both of them and their communication
skills were so going to have to improve.

Nick rolled over and watched her sleep for a few minutes, they'd
argued, had been annoyed with each other but he was glad they hadn't
allowed it to develop beyond that. Glancing at the clock again and
noticing it had only just passed midnight, he reluctantly left her and
headed downstairs to do a few hours work.


****

Claire rolled over squinting at the clock. It was two thirty, where
was he? She headed to the bathroom and then downstairs. He'd better
not be working at this time of the morning. She padded softly across
the carpet sneaking up behind him. She slipped her arms around his
neck and down his chest, nibbling on his ear as she went.

"What * are * you doing?'

"I have work" he managed recovering from the surprise.

"You always have work"

"That's what happens when you try to hold down two jobs"

"Nick, come back to bed"

"I can't…I…"

She feathered kisses along his jaw line and around the base of his
neck as he leaned back into her. "Come. Back. To. Bed"

"So tempting, but I have to finish this"

"It will still be here in the morning"

"Clearly, but the idea is that it isn't here in the morning"

She slid her hands up and down his tee shirt, gradually pulling it up
and over his head. He grabbed her hand stopping her progress. "Claire,
I said…." she silenced him with a kiss as she turned him around in the
chair and eased him out of it, leading him tentatively back towards
the stairs.

"You are so trying to lead me astray aren't you?"

"Too late me thinks"

"Witch" he smirked at her, following the remaining way in silence.

Closing the bedroom door he stood watching her, watching him.

"What are you waiting for Fallin? Get your gear off" she whispered.
She did not have to ask twice. Nick shucked his track pants before
suddenly lunging at her and throwing her backwards on to the bed
pinning her arms over her head.

"So!" he kissed her "Is this what you had in mind?" he mumbled not
giving her a chance to answer.

****

"Claire stay at home today ok?"

"I can't, I have an appointment"

"Is it really that important?"

"Yes"

"Then make sure you book a cab, don't just hail one and call me"

"I'll do better than that, I'll meet you for lunch. I might even have
a surprise for you, seeing as you were * soooo good * last night"

"Seriously, will you behave? How am I supposed to go to work when you
look at me like that?"

"Guess it'll give you something to look forward to later"

"Well on that note, I `d better be going. Be. Careful" he slipped his
arms around her waist and kissed her. "I do love you, you know"

"I know. I love you too. I'll see you later. Now go to work"

****

Nick glanced at his watch for about the hundredth time. It had been
more than an hour since Claire had called him and it should have only
taken ten minutes to get to the office. She was supposed to call again
from the ground floor so that he would go down and meet her, save any
confrontations with his father. Things were difficult enough as they
were without any more scenes in front of the staff.

Just as he got up out of his chair, there was a knock on his door.

****

Burton had seen the police officers directed to Nick's office. `Good
god, what had he done now?' He made his way towards his son just in
time to see him pale and lean back against his desk.

"Nicholas? …What the hell is going on here?

"I'm sorry sir you are?"

"Burton Fallin…"

"Dad" Nick could barely breathe.

"Nicholas, what is it?"

"He took her"

"Who? What? I don't understand"

"Claire McCann, you know her?"

"Yes she a client of this firm" Burton did not want to give too much away.

"We have witnesses who saw her struggling as she was shoved into a car…."

"What? Who would want to….?"

"It was more than the money dad. There have been threats. I have to…I
have to call Joe…he was gonna…"

"Mr Fallin sir, Detective Williams is already on his way over"

Nick, his father and the police gathered in the conference room. An
extremely distressed Nick not really interested in hearing anything
other than a plan to find his wife. He was grateful when Joe finally
showed up but it was Darger's insolent pose as he lent against the
wall that pissed Nick off the most. If he had listened to him in the
first place, if he hadn't just dismissed him this wouldn't have
happened. This was just as much his responsibility ...Nick was
suffocating and needed to get out of there but he was too afraid to
leave, even just for a few minutes. The bastard was going to want
money and lots of it. Nick finally excused himself and went back to
his office to make a couple of calls. He wasn't just going to do nothing.

Three hours and there hadn't been any requests for ransom money.
Darger finally spoke, telling all who would listen, he was not
entirely convinced that there would be a ransom request but at least
Joe and Nick knew better. The doors to the conference room opened
slightly. "Excuse me. Nick?"

"Gretchen…What is it?"

"I have a message for you" she handed him a note. "It doesn't make
much sense I hope I copied it down correctly"

"Nicholas?"

Nick folded open the note she passed him "Ahh Gretchen…thanks you got
it right…Excuse me, it seems I should check my email" Nick headed back
to his office and logged on to his email. He stood staring at his
laptop screen barely breathing. "Oh god…son of a bitch…"

"Nicholas?"

"It's a ransom request…complete with pictures" a sob tore at his
throat as he motioned his father to stay where he was and for Joe to
come around to his side of the desk.

"Jesus…Nick…I'm sorry man….I'm gonna forward this to my email. I'll
get it to forensics, see what they can do with the background…We may
be able to get an indication of where this building is located"

"Ok"

"Nick, is it the ransom?"

"Yeah."

"How much?"

"Half a million"

"Half a mill…Nicholas? Can you get that much at short notice?"

"Already did dad. I want her back in one piece and I'll pay whatever
he asks…everything I have do you understand?"

"You're going to use your inheritance aren't you?"

"Whatever I have, dad."

Detective Darger stood in the back watching, still not buying it. He
smelled a rat and he wasn't as easily fooled as some. He really did
not like Nicholas Fallin and like some others, thought he'd gotten off
lightly with the probation sentence. He was almost convinced this was
some kind of a scam. He didn't know whether Fallin was in league with
the so-called kidnapper and all this was for show, after all, his
`wife' was worth a lot of money. There was also the possibility that
she and the `manager' were out to scam Fallin. One way or another he
wasn't going to just follow the `company line'.

He'd done a little investigating after Fallin had visited him the last
time. He had made a couple of calls to her former legal firm. Although
almost all the complete file had been passed on to Fallin & Fallin,
copies of a current will and a life insurance policy had been
retained. Nicholas Fallin was the sole beneficiary of his wife's
estate. He had to know this, his father's firm now handled her
business. He'd love to see the little prick get what he should have
had the first time around and if he was right, daddy's influence
wasn't going to help him this time.
 
Claire lay curled up in a ball in the corner of the room on an old
mattress, squinting as she tried to make out her surroundings. It was
dark and cold and her head hurt. Her hands had been tied in front of
her and although her feet were still free her right leg was beginning
to cramp up. She rolled onto her back but as she moved a sharp pain
shot down one arm causing her to bite into her lower lip. As the pain
subsided she managed to slow her breathing, struggling not to lose
consciousness. She wasn't afraid that Nick wouldn't find her, but of
the secret she now held close to her heart. She heard footsteps
approaching slowed her breathing and feigned sleep.

Sam checked on his captive and headed back to the table on the other
side of the room. His email had been read he waited eagerly for a
response. 'It wouldn't be long now' he thought as he gave her another
cursory glance before turning his attention back to his laptop
computer. Finally he had his response and `Yes!' He was going to get
his money. He could pay off the debt and disappear, but the later part
would have to be well planned. Everyone would already know he was
behind this, Fallin would see to that and he had come up with a couple
distractions in order to get away. He turned his attention back to his
hostage; Fallin was going to pay and in more ways than one.


Claire slipped in and out of consciousness. Her face, bruised from the
abuse Sam had inflicted, all she could do was try to keep a low
profile and pray he'd find her soon. Her abductor stood and slowly
approached her. "It's time you knew that * husband* of yours wasn't
gonna pay. He sure * loves * you doesn't he? So much for true love my
pretty one, although, not quite so pretty now are we?"

***

Nick couldn't leave his office. He was waiting for the money to be
delivered. Joe and his father had tried desperately to talk him out of
making the drop off himself, but he refused to listen to them. Darger
on the other hand was convinced there was another reason for his
refusal, but he kept his theories to himself.

Nick looked at his watch yet again, the money should have been
delivered by now and he was getting more impatient by the minute. He'd
needed to collect his thoughts and had asked to be left alone for
awhile. Lost in thought, he jumped in response to the sharp knock on
his door.

"Nicholas?"

"Yeah dad" he did not move his gaze from the scene outside his window.

"There's someone here to see you"

"Is the money here yet?"

"No not yet but I just had a call, it is on it's way. Son, you can't
meet the bastard until later tonight anyway so take it easy ok? The
money will be here and it'll all be over soon."

"Take it easy?" Nick gritted his teeth to stop him from saying
something they would both regret.

"Nicholas, Someone has driven quite a few hours to see you. It seems
Claire organised a surprise visit for next weekend but when they heard
the news they drove straight here"

"Who is it dad?" his question barely audible.

"Nick...Hey there buddy"

Nick whirled around almost colliding with the desk and came face to
face with Matt & Ellie. He was speechless, not having had any contact
with them since he and Claire broke up. He stared directly at both of
them without speaking, before turning back towards the window. He
leaned his head against the glass, a sob escaping unrestrained.

Ellie put her hands to her face in an attempt to silence her own
distress as Matt signaled her to leave the office. She and Claire had
remained very good friends over the years; she hated what was
happening and not being able to do anything to help. Burton led her
out and motioned Gretchen to escort her to his own office. He turned
in time to see Nick collapse into the arms of his friend.

It broke his heart to see him this way and not being able to help him
and as hurt as he was that his son would not confide in him, he was
equally glad that Matt was here. He remembered they'd been quite close
at one time but he had no idea why they stopped being friends.

There was so much about his son that he had no idea about.

***

Matt urged Nick to sit, handed him some water and waited for him to
calm down. The money was due at anytime but there was still some
considerable time to go before the drop off. Obviously this guy was
waiting until dark to make good his escape and there was nothing they
could do but wait. Nick's worst enemy at the moment was his
imagination and though he really felt for his friend, there was
nothing Matt could do to stop him from visualising the worst. Nick
buried face in his hands as he leaned forward on the desk.

"So, Nick, tell me about you guys, you back together or...."

Nick's head shot up and he just glared at him. This was not the time
to discuss his and Claire's relationship.

"No good looking at me like that. It's not like you can think of
anything else so you may as well talk to me"

Nick couldn't speak not really knowing where to start, but after a
little prodding he began to tell Matt how Claire had come to him for
help; even after the awful way he'd treated her. Matt didn't comment.
She hadn't discussed in any kind of detail what had gone wrong between
them. As close as she and Ellie had been over the years, Ellie hadn't
been able to get anything out of her after the break up, even when she
was at her lowest...or at any time since. Nick paced as he spoke,
constantly looking at his watch, interrupted only by his father
letting him know the money had been delivered. And while he talked, it
did not go un-noticed by Matt that Nick really didn't tell him
anything about `them' as a couple.

Some things never change.

***

Burton and Ellie sat in his office. He didn't know how to ask her
about his son and the woman who was his wife and he didn't think she
would just volunteer the information.

Ellie stood, went over to the window and watched the sun as it was
beginning to set. She wanted to go and check on Nick but knowing Matt
would take care of him she stayed where she was. She could feel Nick's
father watching her and it rattled her nerves, he should just come out
and say what he was thinking.

"So! You and Claire still friends?"

"Yes...we've managed to stay in touch no matter where she was in the
world, which is more than I can say for Matt & Nick"

"Matt never said anything?"

"No...Nick?"

"No, but that doesn't mean anything, he doesn't tell me much. Hell I
didn't even know he was married let alone separated"

Ellie watched the expressions that crossed Burton's face, before she
spoke.

"I'm sorry things are the way they are between you, but I really can't
blame Nick for not telling you about he and Claire"

"Oh really and why is that?"

Ellie held her ground. "Well Mr Fallin as I recall, Nick had tried to
tell you how serious things were between them and all he got out of
you was a lecture on how he should concentrate on his law degree
almost to the exclusion of everything and everybody else."

"And what was wrong with that?"


"In theory, maybe nothing, except I guess it is how and when you told
him. He and Claire had already eloped. He wanted you to be happy for
them and you didn't give him much of a chance to even break the news
to you....."

"Now you just wait a minute..."

"No you wait a minute. Nick has been basically on his own since he was
12 years old. He has had to work out a lot of things for himself, you
were hardly around for him and when it got too hard he just shut down
and closed himself off from everyone, even Matt and they were friends
since college and right through law school...as well as housemates. You
have no idea the change in him after I finally suckered him into a
blind date with Claire and even then, even then, they weren't terribly
forthcoming with the fact they were actually seeing each other. Matt
and I didn't even know for sure for almost three months...I'd never seen
them so happy...then after they split...I.... and you know, before you ask,
I have no idea why they broke up...Claire never talked to me about it
and Nick never confided in Matt" Ellie had her hands on her hips and
was in no mood to be argued with any further. Shaking her head she
headed towards the door.

"Where are you going?" Burton asked quietly

"To see if he's ok"

"He's not ok...but if this doesn't end positively and soon, he'll never
be ok again. I am so afraid for him"

"Don't tell me Mr Fallin, tell Nick" Ellie waited a few moments to
allow Burton the chance to move first. When he didn't budge she left
the office, slamming the door behind her.

***

Sam stared at his watch yet again. It wouldn't be long now and he
would have his money. He had planned his escape with several
distractions to ensure he would get away easily and just about now, a
certain detective would be getting a "tip off" about who was "behind"
the whole thing. Between that and the other little incident he had
planned, the police would be busy enough.

***

Darger leaned back in his chair and read the email over and over. He
had some idea who sent it, but the fact that it implicated Fallin in
the kidnapping of his own wife was he'd wanted to hear. He was so
blinded by his desire for payback for the rich kid, that he'd lost his
sense of reason. That Nick had exhausted all avenues to get the ransom
money from his own funds quickly and not from Claire's resources,
which he could have, didn't influence Darger at all. After all there
was still the rest of her estate and as her main heir...

***

"Nicholas, are you sure you want to do this?"

"She's my wife, how can you even ask me?"

"And you're my only son"

The Fallin men faced off against each other once again, but there was
no doubt who would win this altercation. Nick turned away from his
father, picked up the briefcase and headed towards the elevator.

"I'm coming with you"

"No dad, stay here"

"Nicholas"

"I'll go with him..." Matt turned to his wife "Honey I got to you, he
can't go on his own and, you know, it's Claire...I have to go"

"I know....Just be careful...watch each others back" Matt hugged his wife
close to him. There was nothing he would like to have done more than
guarantee that when they returned Claire would be with them.

"Ok now Nick, the briefcase has a new tracking device"

"Joe, he said..."

"I know what he said...but believe me he'll never know it's there.... It's
a body heat sensor in the handle. He can practically tear the case
apart and he won't find anything... thing is, it's experimental but
considering the terms it is still better than nothing and besides, you
will still have a tail...."

"Joe..."

"Not negotiable Nick I shouldn't even be allowing you to do this, so
don't argue with me...and by the way...there is a bug hidden in your car
so there's no way we're gonna lose you"

"Yeah, ok, let's just hope he keeps his word and leads us to her."

"Ok You guys ready? Then let's go, it's almost time" Nick was out the
door and at the elevators before anyone could respond.