'Excuse me,' Lyndon spoke nervously but hurriedly before the mean looking guy Skyler could return. 'I'm thirsty. May I have something to drink please?'

'Only got potato juice rich boy,' Wrench laughed. 'Here, have some it will make you sleep.' Lyndon was thirsty. The awful pie made his throat dry. He reached out his hand for the bottle. He titled it to his mouth as he'd seen Wrench doing. He wrinkled his nose at the bitter taste.

Wrench threw his head back and laughed. 'They say it's an acquired taste,' Wrench spoke lifting his head importantly.

'Thank you,' Lyndon handed the bottle of foul tasting liquid back. When he heard the door opening, he quickly lowered himself and pretended to be asleep again.

'Everything set?' Wrench asked Skyler in a lowered tone.

'Yep.   Rio, here we come,' Skyler smacked a high five with Wrench. 'The crew ready?'

'Yep, just loading the stock,' Wrench confirmed. 'What about the kid?'

'We send Blakely a message telling him where to find his kid, after he drops of the loot.'

         'Good evening Bentley.' He was most surprised when he saw the caller on his screen.

'Good evening.'

'Hi. It's Keri Packer.'

'Yes, I know. I have your number stored on my contact list.' She was probably calling to find out about Mrs. Blakely and baby Lyndon.

'I'm sorry to call you so late in the evening,'

Bentley could picture her smiling.
'That's okay,' Bentley smiled. He could do with a distraction. He was concerned about the Blakely's. He had wanted to be there for his boss, but he had been dismissed, and Bentley knew when to back off.

'I did not know who else to call. Could you pick me up from the airport please?'

'You're here in London?' Bentley was ashamed of himself at the adrenalin rushing through his body. His boss was in a crises situation and here he was acting like an excited teenager.

'Yes. I heard about Lyndon. It's all over the news in New York. The von Biljoen's are a household name there you know.'

'Yes, I imagine so,' Bentley agreed.

'So when I heard, I hopped onto the first plane I could get here. I just wanted to offer Tes ... Mrs. Blakely some moral support.'

'I think that is a good idea. She needs a lot of support right now.'

'The only problem is, I can't remember how to get to their home in Surrey and I figured, you would be about the only one who would have access there, considering the heightened security now,' Keri sighed.

'Ah.'

'So you want me to fetch you from the airport?'

'Yes please, if you could be so kind, or perhaps I could book into a hotel and you could pick me up first thing later in the morning.'

It was almost one in the morning now. Mrs. Blakely would be upset if Bentley just dumped her in any hotel. He could always put her up in the Blakely apartment in London. He had the keys. Then Keri would have to get up rather early to be driven to Surrey. Best he pick her up now and bring her back to Surrey. Mrs. Blakely would appreciate a familiar face and the support. Although he was aware from security and the butler that the von Biljoen's had arrived about an hour ago. Good, the more the merrier. Mrs. Blakely needed to be surrounded with love and family and friends.

'Keri, I'm on my way to the airport. I shall drive you straight to Surrey.'

'Oh thank you Bentley. I don't know how to thank you.'

I'll think of something.

'I'll be there shortly,' Bentley hung up.

      'What did they say?' Tessa asked Brad. Is Lyndon okay?'

'They would not let me speak to him,' Brad lowered himself on the hand rest of Tessa's seat.

'There you go,' Joseph handed Brad a scotch.

'Thank you,' Brad accepted, but he did not drink from it. He needed his wits about him. He did not want to drink on an empty stomach. He would have much preferred coffee.

'Drink this darling,' Joseph handed Tessa a goblet with brandy in it.

'No thank you daddy,' Tessa declined. 'I think I would prefer more coffee, and so would Brad.' She took the scotch from Brad and poured him a huge mug of coffee.

'Thank you darling,' Brad pressed a kiss to Tessa's temple.

'Tell me what they said,' Tessa referred to the call from the abductors.

'They want fifty million Pounds,' he looked at his watch, 'in three hours time.'

'Did you call the bank?' Tessa stood up. 'You can raise that amount right? You can access my account as well---.'

'Relax my love. It's taken care off.'

'You have it? You've got fifty million in hard cash?'
Her husband was one of the wealthiest men in Britain, but nobody kept that kind of hard cash on hand. She was sure even the commercial banks would need three to four days to get that amount of hard currency together.

'Yes,' Brad nodded. He included Joseph and Charlotte into the conversation. 'I spoke to the bank manager just after I got the call. 'Although,' Brad added reluctantly, 'the bank insists that they will only issue marked currency and the briefcases they will use will have undetectable tracking devices hidden somewhere on them.'

'No,' Tessa groaned loudly. 'What if this compromises things? We're talking about our baby's life here.'

'Darling,' Brad stood up. 'I was informed in no uncertain terms. This is a criminal matter. Scotland Yard deals with serious crimes like kidnappings. The bank is not at liberty to respond to demands in this kind of situations.'

'It's our money! What do they care? Just because they have a policy that says they don't negotiate with ... with hostage takers and terrorists. Our son is just a statistic to them.' Tessa pointed an index finger at Brad, 'don't look at me that way,' she sat down again. Tessa was aware her husband was appealing to the attorney in her who knew and understood the law perfectly well.

'Darling I'm on your side,' Brad knelt down in front of his wife.'

'I know,' she hugged him.

'Brad you've engaged your own investigators? Conducted any surveillance?'

'We have,' Brad stood up. 'They're working round the clock. There's an Ops Team in my study right now. There's field workers out there following every single lead. We have...'

'Excuse me Mr. Blakely?'

'Bentley! What are you doing here at this Godforsaken hour?' Brad looked at his P.A. sternly.

'Sir, Mrs. Blakely has a visitor,' Bentley smiled.

'Who is it?' Tessa stood up.

'Hi Tessa,' Keri walked in from behind Bentley.'

'Keri!' Tessa walked halfway to meet her. 'What on earth are you doing here? You were not due here for another week.' Tessa embraced Keri.

'Mr. Blakely,' Keri smiled. 'Mr. Von Biljoen, Mrs von Biljoen. Good morning,' Keri looked at her wrist watch.

'Keri, you could have come at a less ungodly hour. Although you are most welcome,' Brad smiled politely.

'I know. Thank you,' Keri's eyes returned to Tessa. 'I just wanted to be here for you,' Keri gripped Tessa's hands into hers.

'Thank you,' Tessa smiled.

'Thank you Bentley,' Brad nodded at his P.A.

'Pleasure sir,' Bentley smiled and took his leave.

'Joseph, you want to check out the Ops Centre?' Brad asked.

'Yes, I'd love to.'

'Ladies will you be ok...?' Brad's phone buzzed interrupting his question. Tessa stood up.

'Wolf?' Brad answered his mobile.

'Mr. Blakely, I think we've identified the location?'

'Are you sure?' Brad could hardly contain himself. Tessa rushed up to Brad. Her palms cupped his arms expectantly.

'Ninety nine percent sir,' Wolf's strained voice carried through.

'That's good enough for me. What's your position?' Wolf relayed the coordinates of his position to Brad.

'I'm on my way,' Brad snapped the phone shut.

'What's going on?' Tessa demanded.

'Wolf thinks he may have the location where Lyndon is being held.'

Tessa gasped, her hand flew to her mouth. 'Is Lyndon okay?'

'They have not checked it out yet. I'm going through.'

'I'm coming with you,' Tessa gripped Brad's arm.

'Tessa, please ... stay here. The less people at the scene, the more effective the rescue can be.'

'Please,' Tessa begged. 'I have to go. I will go crazy waiting. You have to take me, please,' she held onto Brad tightly.

Brad let out a deep sigh.

'Let's go. Will you all be okay?' Brad asked Tessa's parents and Keri.

'Yes go ahead, hurry,' Charlotte urged.

'Joseph, you may go ahead into my study with the ladies. There may be visuals feeding through from a surveillance vehicle at the scene. I suspect Wolf is controlling things from his surveillance vehicle, but perhaps he is being helped by his team here.'

'Take care Brad,' Joseph embraced Brad. 'Off you go.'
Brad grabbed Tessa's hand and raced to his car.

The coordinates Wolf gave Brad led him to a remote area near the southern banks of the Thames. His suspicions had been right and so had his wife's. She had sensed their baby was still there. Brad found himself at the far end of the Thames in a secluded spot. It seemed to house a few unused containers. It was quiet. There was nobody about. Instinctively Brad switched his lights off. He did not want to go too close, incase, he made the abductors nervous. He was attempting to park the car between two trees, when he saw a pair of hands flagging him. Brad gave the thumbs up and slowly rolled the car towards where the pair of hands were directing him. As he switched the ignition off, Tessa's door was opened.

'Mrs. Blakely,' Wolf greeted softly.

What have you picked up?' Brad came around, draping his arm around Tessa.

'There,' Wolf pointed in the southerly direction. There are three containers there. The ones on the extreme left and right are filled with electronic software. No sign of any human life there, but the one in the centre,' Wolf's voice went lower. 'Our infra red sensors pick up three human beings in there.

Tessa gasped, 'do you think our son is in there?' she tried very hard not to sob.

'We are almost certain, Mrs. Blakely. 'There is somebody lying on a make shift bed, and there are two people sitting on chairs.'

'What is the plan?' Brad asked.

'I am waiting for a trace on the call that came to you with the ransom demand. It will come through anytime now. If it matches, then that's your boy sleeping on the bed there.'

'Oh my God!' Tessa cried out.

'Sir, if it is them. We could surprise them. We could take them down and rescue your boy.'

'But?' Brad asked guardedly.

'Both those men are armed. There could be fatalities.' There was exposure to risk. Lyndon's life was in danger if he was being held there.

'Oh no!' Tessa whispered.

'On the other hand, if the trace is negative, that may be a woman on the bed, either of their lovers, or a slave.'

'You plan to enter through the front?' Brad asked.

'Yes, that is the only entrance. Three operatives will go in,' Wolf stated. 'Two marksmen will disarm the men, and the third will remove the person lying on the bed.'

'Let's do it. I will remove the person on the bed.'

'Sir, if we are compromised. We will abort the mission. My team and I will be air lifted within fifteen seconds from this scene. Mr. Blakely, Mrs. Blakely, do you both understand the risks?'

Tessa clung to Brad, pressing her cheek against his chest. Brad could die attempting to save the person on the bed. That person could lose their life during the commotion. What if this was a false alarm? What if that was not Lyndon lying there?

Brad gripped Tessa tightly. He felt her body quivering from the same fear and anxiety he was feeling, but he dare not show it. He must be brave for his wife and for their son. He would gladly lose his life, if it meant he could save his son.

'Darling, I don't want you to go in there,' Tessa pleaded.

'That's our son in there. You know it as well as I do.' Brad's impassioned voice confirmed what Tessa already knew. Every maternal instinct in her was buzzing like an antenna receiving a very clear strong signal.

'Let's do it?' Brad declared. 'My wife and I accept the risks.'

'I could send a marksman in to lift the person of the bed,' Wolf offered. His operatives were highly trained, and experienced. Brad was just a civilian. His only saving grace would be his instinct to keep himself and his son alive.

'I will do it,' Brad stated firmly.

Wolf clicked his fingers and four people emerged from within the trees and bushes. Tessa was shocked. She had had no clue they were that close. They shook hands with each other, then one operative switched on a device. Brad and Tessa peeked down. They could clearly see the three figures there. The two figures sitting between a table. They seemed to be playing cards or something. The diminutive figure on the bed was either a child or a very old person.

Wolf was issuing instructions with hand signals. He was going to take the person on the left. Another operative was going to take the person on the right. Then Brad would enter whilst the two are being disarmed. He would very quickly lift the figure of the bed and run out with the person. If it was a false alarm and it was a woman, he would apologise and take her back to her uncomfortable looking bed.

Wolf motioned to the other person, signalling up into the air and rotating his index finger in a circular motion. The person nodded and gave the thumbs up. If aborted, their helicopter was on standby.

'Ready?' Wolf asked the team, extending his closed wrist outwards. Each of his team members placed one of their own wrists in formation atop his. Brad followed suit.

'Be careful,' Tessa hugged Brad. She kissed him in a slow passionate embrace. 'I love you,' she whispered in his ear.

'Mrs. Blakely,' Wolf tapped Tessa.

'Yes.'

'Follow Hank. He will take you to the surveillance vehicle just behind that tree.' Tessa turned and only now observed the camouflaged vehicle amongst the trees just a few feet away.

'We all have protective head gear on,' Wolf stated. 'There are cameras on every one of our head gear. It feeds visuals back to the system in the vehicle. You will be able to see the entire operation.

'Will my husband have one too?'

'Yes,' Wolf smiled. He fitted the head gear onto Brad and took a palm sized monitor out of his pocket. He pressed a button and it flicked on, positioning it in front of Brad.

'Smile, Mr. Blakely.'
Brad winked and Tessa was able to see her husband on the monitor.

'Okay let's do it,' Wolf motioned for Tessa and Hank to go to the vehicle. Hank had a very important job. He would constantly be relaying messages into the earpieces of the three going in. His timeous messages could save the operatives' lives.

'Ready?' Wolf whispered to the other two. Brad and other nodded.

From the vehicle Tessa held her breath, lifting her wrist to her lips and nervously biting on her flesh.

Wolf's hand tried the handle, ever so slowly. He was calm. His hand moved patiently. The muscles on his face were relaxed. The door was unlocked. Wolf nodded signalling in the next second, the door will fly open. Wolf uncorked his weapon. His partner did the same. Brad inhaled deeply. He would be the only unharmed person, but then he needed two hands to lift the person and run out again.

Wolf nodded, and in the same instant the door flew open. The man on the left was on the floor disarmed. Instantaneously the man on the right was on the floor disarmed.

Tessa cried out. Her eyes trained on the person on the bed. Brad dived in as if he trained every day to perform these operations and in less than three seconds he had lifted the person and was out of the container.

Tessa ran out the surveillance vehicle and sped to Brad as fast as her legs could carry her. She was at the door as Brad was coming out. A scream of fear pierced the air from the figure Brad lifted from the bed. As Brad ran out, he cradled the little form tightly in his arms, murmuring comforting words. The familiar body scent, the tiny fingers wrapping around his neck told him all he needed to know.

'My daddy you came. I knew you would come. I heard you on the television talking to me.'

'Lyndon,' Tessa sobbed. 'Oh my baby,' She hugged Lyndon and Brad,' Tessa cried uncontrollably.

'Don't cry momma,' Lyndon wiped his mommy's face.

'Oh my baby,' Tessa took Lyndon into her arms. 'I love you so much.' Thank God, you are safe.

Brad placed his arm around his wife, embracing his wife and his son.

There was a dragging sound behind them. Fear filled Lyndon's face as Skyler directed an evil grin at Lyndon. Brad saw his son recoil and his whole body tensed. Brad turned around to see Wolf drag Skyler out, and the other operative was dragging Wrench out.

'My daddy,' Lyndon pointed to Skyler. 'He hurt Stacy.'

Brad turned around and landed his right fist across Skyler's face. His left fist drove into Skyler's stomach. He went flying against the container. Brad did not let up. He continued pounding his fists, landing left and right blows all over Skyler's face until he sagged to the floor. Next Brad got stuck into Wrench, he only managed to land one right fist across Wrench's face when his son's voice stopped him.

'Not him, my daddy. He let me talk to you on the television.' Brad raised an eyebrow and looked at Wrench massaging his jaw. 'He shared his potato juice with me, my daddy.' Brad saw a smirk plaster across Wrench's face.

'Potato juice?' Brad smiled at his son.

Lyndon pointed to a dirty beer bottle lying on the floor. 'Like that one.'
Everybody laughed when realization dawned on the revelation of the potato juice.

'Just how much of that potato juice did you drink?' Brad grinned.

'Only once. It's not good momma. Just like vegetables.'

'I'm glad you don't like it,' Tessa laughed for the first time in twelve hours. 'Let daddy and I take you home my baby.' Tessa was overjoyed that her son was not severely traumatised. They will however engage a psychologist to provide non intrusive counselling.

Brad opened the passenger door for Tessa and Lyndon. Wolf and his team were cleaning up. Wolf will tip one of Scotland Yard's officers that the two thugs will be dropped off outside their door. Wolf and his team will make a clear exit. Scotland Yard can fabricate how they found the thugs.

'Would you like me to drive?' Tessa observed Brad wincing. He was having difficulty flexing his wrists.

'I'll manage,' Brad smiled at his wife.

'Thank you darling,' Tessa reached over, and pressed her palm on Brad's lap.

'I am thankful too,' Brad's eyes locked with Tessa. They did not want to speak much in front of Lyndon.

'You want to speak to grandpa my baby?'

'Grandpa? Yes please.'

'Darling can I use your phone please?' Tessa dialled her father and it was picked up on the first ring.

'Brad?' Joseph spoke.

'Grandpa!' Lyndon exclaimed excitedly

'Lyndon, oh my boy. I can't wait to see you.'

'Lyndon darling hello,' Charlotte pulled the phone out of Joseph's hand.

When they got home, they were greeted by Lauretta, Harvey, Bentley, Joseph and Charlotte who ran out to meet them.

'Are you hungry my boy?' Lauretta cried, giving Lyndon a hug. 'I have cooked you a feast.'

'Yes please. Momma can I have chocolate cake?'

'Yes,' Tessa laughed. 'You can have all the chocolate cake you want,' she hugged her son.

'You can tell your grandpa about the potato juice you enjoyed,' Brad laughed.

        -end chapter sixteen-