Coonabarabran
600km North of Sydney
Australia.
Traci wanted to open her eyes, but the thought of doing so just added more pain to her already throbbing head.
"Traci?" came a soft voice.
"Hmm?" came the reply.
She had no energy to respond.
"Traci, it's me, Missy. Please be alright."
With a sigh, Traci slowly opened her eyes and struggled to sit up.
She remembered crying for a long time after Webb had left her hotel room, she remembered getting ready for bed and crawling under the covers ... then there were no more memories.
"Where?" she whispered.
"I don't know."
"Palmer?"
"Yeah."
Missy had mixed feelings about having Traci there.
It meant that a rescue team was around, but it also meant Palmer now had the upper hand.
"How do you feel?"
"You don't want to know."
She glanced around the bleak room quickly before holding her head as it continued to pound.
"I'm guessing you've already looked for a way out?"
Missy sat beside her.
"Yeah."
"How are you doing?" Traci looked over. "Has he hurt you in any way?"
Slowly, Missy shook her head.
"No. Um, Traci, I don't know how to tell you this, but all he's been talking about is getting you. From the day he put me in here, you're the one he's been after."
"Great. Just wonderful. Not like Webb will care anyway."
"What are you talking about? Don't tell me you two had a fight."
Forcing a grim smile, Traci rested her head against the wall.
"No. I'm sorry. It's not important right now."
"We have nowhere else to go," Missy reminded her.
"Casey McDaniels is back."
"Wha...?" Missy nearly froze.
She had seen her brother suffer so much when Casey had ...died.
She, herself, had lost a sister of sorts.
Yet, in only six short months, Traci had become another sister.
They shared stories of Clay, had many "girls night outs", they had quickly become close friends... but Casey was alive?
"She obviously meant a lot to him and, judging by your reaction, to you too."
"She, um, Traci, I know my brother well enough to know he won't desert us. Even if it was just you, he would turn the world upside down looking for you if he had to."
"I know. I just wish..." She took a deep breath. "I don't know what I wish."
Missy smiled.
"You wish he'd look at you the way I'm sure he looked at Casey when she showed up again."
Without a word, Traci's eyes gave away her answer.
"He does care about you. Honestly, I've never seen him care about anyone nearly as much since Casey's 'death'." Missy softened her tone. "But you know all that and it's not helping is it?"
"Not really."
Traci's voice cracked slight, but enough to give her away.
They both jumped at the creaking door opening.
Palmer stepped in, barely visible in the limited light.
"I see my favorite MacKenzie is finally awake."
"Really? I would have thought you would go for the more submissive type," Traci hissed.
He walked over and grabbed her blonde ponytail, causing pain to shoot through her head once again.
"You will be once I'm done with you."
He kissed her harshly on the lips before throwing her head back against the wall. "You will be."
Missy cringed.
There was nothing she could do and she thanked God that the kiss was all he was doing.
Traci held back her cries of pain as her skull connected with the concrete.
For a moment, she really wished she would just die.
Her heart ached at the thought she may not survive Palmer.
There had been so many things left unsaid between her and Webb.
She just wanted one last chance to tell him...
Missy watched Palmer leave; he had not even acknowledged her existence.
Then, to her horror, Traci slumped over.
"Traci? Traci, can you hear me?"
Panicked, she checked for a pulse.
There was one, but it was weak.
Grand Maritime Hotel
Room 1518
Sydney
Same time:
Webb tossed restlessly about in his bed.
Casey watched helplessly.
They had been working on the case; he was lying down and fell asleep.
Not having the heart to wake him, Casey continued working until she heard him.
She had gone over to wake him, but froze as he called out Traci's name, panic filling his voice. So she stood there, beside him, unable to move.
Had he gone through this when she had disappeared all those months ago?
Had there been the nightmares?
Had he really cared nearly as much as he obviously did for Traci?
"Traci, hold on!" he cried, sweat breaking on his brow.
Casey's eyes filled with tears.
What she wouldn't give for one more chance.
Suddenly Webb sat up, shaking and confused.
His fear-filled eyes met Casey's.
"We have to find her. Missy is alright for now, Palmer wants Traci!"
She sat on the bed and ran her fingers through his damp hair.
"Clay, it was only a dream. We will find them. Both of them."
He grabbed Casey's wrist.
"It wasn't. I know it wasn't. Palmer's hurting her."
"Clay..."
"Please." he implored.
Casey nodded.
"I found some more information we can use in those satellite pictures."