Amanda sat straight up in her bed, shaking. Amanda clutched the sheet tightly to her throat as she looked into every corner in her room looking for her tormentor. . . .looking for Scott. She gently rocked back and forth as the fear shook her body. She had not had a nightmare like this one since she returned from Boca Lynda. How would she ever remove that madman's face and voice from her memory? She needed Cameron.

*******************

Layne continued with her morning run. It was something she had done in Nashville, but she had never run quite like Cameron had. She was not sure how much good she would be a work today after that workout. Layne could see Carlino's in the distance. She would stop by there for a quick bite to eat, then go home and get a shower and changed for work. She rounded the corner and ran into a man in a navy suit. His arms closed around her instinctively.

Layne looked up to apologize, but stopped when she looked into the eyes of the man who held her. She could not keep the snarl of revulsion from forming on her face. She stepped away from him as if she had been burned.

"Well, well, look who we have here. Layne Roth, it's been a long time."

Layne continued to frown at Grant Harrison. To her, he was the most vile human being on this earth. She remembered what he had done to Amanda, in addition to the other crimes he had committed and gotten away with. It disgusted her. Living with a cop had made her even less sympathetic to a person such as Grant. Kyle had story after story of the guilty who were set free because of a technicality.

"Not long enough, Grant," Layne spat and attempted to walk past him.

"Have we forgotten our manners, Laynie? We used to be friends."

"Don't call me that. I was a child when we were. . . .'friends', as you say."

"Well, well, I see maturity and education has not tempered that sharp tongue of yours," he told her, followed by a short laugh.

"Please excuse me. I'm late for work."

"Work? Don't tell me that the prodigal daughter has moved back to Bay City?"

"Not that it is any of your business, but, yes, I have."

Layne glanced at the woman standing beside Grant. She raised one eyebrow as she took in her bottle-red hair and the bright turquoise dress that looked more appropriate for a night on the town than for breakfast. Who had Grant latched onto now?

"Since you're sticking around, I'm sure we'll be running into each other," Grant told her with a smile.

"Not if I can help it," Layne mumbled under her breath. "Excuse me, " she said as she tried to get past them and into Carlino's. Grant grabbed her arm on the way past. She flung his hand off her. "How dare. . . ."

"I would like to introduce you to my wife, Cynthia."

Cindy stuck her hand out to Layne and smiled. Layne looked at her for a moment, smiled slightly, then took her offered hand. "Nice to meet ya, Laynie."

"Likewise, Mrs. Harrison. And the name is 'Layne'."

Cindy's smile disappeared. She did not like this woman's tone. She sounded just like everyone else in Bay City. Layne dropped her hand, and without another word, disappeared inside Carlino's. With Layne's back to them, Cindy snarled, then feigned going after her, but Grant stopped her.

"Isn't she a piece of work? Honeybunch, I know people, and she doesn't like you at all. In fact, I think hate might not even touch the loathing I saw on her face."

Grant laughed. "Yes, Layne never was very good at hiding her feelings. It's one of her weaknesses. She always wears her heart on her sleeve."

"Who is she?"

"She is the daughter of Duncan and Olivia Roth. She and her father are cut from the same cloth, judgmental and holier than thou."

"Don't they own half of downtown Bay City?"

"Olivia Roth does. Duncan passed away. Duncan used to be one of my staunch supporters when I was in the House, but things turned sour. I watched Layne grow up. I blame part of her attitude on Mac and Rachel Cory. She spent more time in their house than she spent in her own. I can guarantee you this job of hers is at Cory. She would never work with her mother. They are like oil and water. One of these days someone will annihilate that holier than thou attitude of hers, and I hope I am there to witness it."

"Now, now, Grant, don't be vindictive. I'm sure with her nose as high in the air as it is, a good rain storm will drowned her before the attitude adjustment comes along," Cindy told him, then laughed at her own humor.

Grant laughed dryly and raised one eyebrow as he smiled. He thought to himself, "Someday Layne will get what's coming to her. She will drown in her own misery, and I'll be there to see it."

*******************

Cameron waited for Gary to tell him what was bothering him. He knew he would tell him if he just waited for a moment. There was no need in pressuring him, because he could tell Gary was ready to talk.

"I don't need to burden you with this."

Cameron shrugged. "Why not? That's what family does, right?"

Gary laughed. "I guess that's what normal families do, huh? But you and I know nothing about normal. Josie and I have been arguing about everything. The least little thing sets us off. Day by day we grow further and further apart. I never thought this would happen to us."

"She loves you, Gar. God knows I had to hear about the virtues of Gary Sinclair for months. I know it's not a fair comparison, but look at Amanda and me. We argue a lot, and we've been through hell to be together. You and Josie will work things out."

"I don't know what it is, Cam. I'm beginning to think it's me. Nothing has been the same since we got back from Boca Lynda."

"It has been rough on everyone."

"You and Amanda are getting along fine."

Cameron did not think this was the time to tell him about Alli's surprise attack last night. He nodded so Gary would continue.

"I guess it's me. No. . . .I know it's me. I can't get over the fact that she gave up on me. . .that she didn't know I was alive."

"Gary, it was hard. You know the rescue workers gave up. Everyone was telling us to give up."

Gary looked him in the eye. "But you didn't give up. I can't forget that. You knew I was alive. You knew."

Cameron could not argue with him. He had known. "Just give it some time, Gary. Things will work out."

"I'm not sure, Cam. This time it's different. It's like neither of us have the will to fight for our marriage anymore."

*******************

Amanda padded across her bedroom, still shaken by the nightmare. She ran her hands through her hair and tucked it behind her ears. She sighed heavily as she paced. She thought back to the night before and all the things she had said to Alli. Nothing had worked. For the first time in a very long time, Amanda felt totally worthless as a parent. She could not reach her own daughter.

Amanda pulled on her blue satin robe and slipped on her house shoes. She would go check on Alli. She walked quickly down the hall, noting the twins were awake as she passed the nursery. She could hear their peals of laughter. She smiled, remembering Alli as a baby. They had been happy in that little apartment. But that was a very long time ago. Amanda knocked on Alli's door. When she received no answer, she knocked harder. She still heard nothing so she twisted the door knob and the door swung open wide.

The first thing she noticed was the neatly made bed. Amanda willed herself not to panic as she quickly moved around the room looking for signs of her daughter. She opened the door to her closet and saw that her backpack and some of her clothes were missing. She looked around for a small stuffed pink teddy bear that Alli had had since she was an infant. She would never leave Betsy. When Amanda could not find the bear, her entire body filled with dread.

"She's gone."

Amanda launched a full scale search of the house and grounds. Matt called the airport and bus station, turning up nothing. The entire household was gathered in the living room.

"Why would she run away?" Matt asked.

"She and I had a disagreement."

"So she just took off," Rachel stated.

"She doesn't want Cameron in my life and we argued."

Rachel put her arms around Amanda. "We better call Joe."

Amanda nodded and listened as her mother talked to Joe on the phone. She took her cellular phone out of her purse. She dialed quickly and waited.

Cameron looked at his phone as it began to ring. He gave Gary an apologetic look as he answered. "Hello."

"Cameron, it's me."

"Oh, hi, Amanda."

"Cameron, I need your help. Alli has run away from home."

Cameron's heart sank. "Because of me," he thought to himself. He listened as Amanda described the things they had done to find her.

"We'll be right there," Cameron told her and ended the call.

"What's going on, bro?"

"Alli has run away from home. Come on. They need us."

*******************

Alli looked around the bus terminal in Chicago. She did not know where to go from here, and she did not really care. She had to get away from home and that meant doing it alone. She had walked to the terminal in Bay City in the wee morning hours. It had still been dark outside, and she had tucked her hair up under her beret to avoid being recognized or remembered by the cashier and others at the bus station.

Alli began walking, taking in the sights of downtown Chicago. Maybe everyone would see that she was not a little girl anymore. And that she was old enough to make decisions about her life and the people in it.

*******************

Amanda whirled around as Cameron and Gary came through the doors in the living room. She rushed to Cameron, needing to feel his arms around her. Cameron hugged her tightly. He pressed a kiss against her temple and rocked her back and forth gently.

"I'm so glad you're here," Amanda told Cameron and continued to cling to him.

Joe began briefing Gary on the things they knew so far. Cameron listened from where he was standing with Amanda. He did not want to break away from her. He could tell she needed to be held and to have his support.

"We've got to figure out what she might be wearing. Come to her room with me, Amanda, and let's see what we can find."

Cameron and Amanda made a quick survey of the missing items in Alli's room. Since Alli had worn uniforms at boarding school, she did not have a large wardrobe. She and Amanda had not had a chance to going on a major shopping spree. It made it much easier to identify the missing clothes. Cameron and Amanda rejoined the others in the living room and described the clothes they knew were missing.

"I think the most obvious thing to make a note of in the description is the red beret. Amanda said she got it the last time she was with Sam in Paris. Alli could be trying to hide her hair underneath it or pull it down low to disguise her appearance."

"Good work, Cam," Gary said, then slapped him on the back. "We've checked to see if she might have used Amanda's credit cards to buy a ticket, and so far, nothing has shown up. We don't think she would have enough money to buy an airplane ticket so that leaves us with the bus and train."

"That's good. Let's pray she didn't have enough money to go far," Rachel said.

"So what do you say, Cam? You check out the bus station, and I'll go to the train station. We're going to need some pictures to show people," Gary told them, looking expectantly at Rachel and Amanda.

All of them put their heads together, forming a plan of action and dividing duties in order to cover the greatest area. Amanda looked on in a daze. Cameron noticed she was being very quiet, and he could feel her fear and helplessness. He walked away from the group and wrapped his arms around her.

"We will find her, Amanda. We will."

Amanda nodded absently. Cameron did not like the feeling he was getting from her. He hugged her more tightly.

"Just sit tight, and we'll let you know what we find out."

"Cameron, I can't sit around and do nothing."

"Please, Amanda, this is one time that I want you to take it easy. You've been through too much."

"Cameron's right. I talked to Layne. She is going to take care of things at Cory," Rachel told Amanda as she walked over and took her hand. "So you can stay right here."

Amanda started to protest, then nodded. Cameron was hesitant about leaving her alone, but Rachel nodded at him and silently told him that Amanda would be just fine. Cameron closed his eyes and nodded back at Rachel. Gary, Joe, Matt, and Cameron each took off in a different direction following what they hoped would lead them to Alli.

******************

Cameron looked around the busy terminal. He walked to the ticket counter and flashed Alli's picture. No one remembered seeing her. Cameron continued around the station showing the picture to everyone he saw but got no satisfactory answers. He was about to give up and check in with the others when he noticed a driver walking toward his car.

"Sir! Sir!" Cameron yelled, trying to catch up with the man.

The man finally turned to Cameron and asked, "Is there something I can do for you?"

Cameron showed him the picture and described the hat she could be wearing. The man studied the picture, pursing his lips as he thought.

"I took her to Chicago this morning. I noticed her because she looked mad at the world. She wouldn't make eye contact with me. I just shrugged it off."

"You're sure that it was this girl that you took to Chicago?"

"Positive."

Cameron thanked the man and jogged away from him. "Chicago, here I come."

*******************

Alli walked around the streets adjacent to the terminal. She tried not to show her fear in the unfamiliar surroundings. She had never witnessed this kind of poverty and the feeling of danger filled her every nerve. Alli averted her eyes from the curious looks of the vagrants she passed. Some stuck their hands out, begging for money.

The sun was going down, and Alli had still found no place to stay. She walked along cautiously, looking from side to side as the shadows lengthened. She was becoming scared, but she willed herself to push her feelings aside. Maybe all of this had been a mistake. Maybe she should have stayed at home and worked things out with everyone. No, if she was going to make it on her own, she had to get over her fears. Alli screamed as she was grabbed from behind. She struggled with her unseen assailant. She kicked and scratched, but the person was strong.

Out the corner of her eye she saw someone running. She was knocked to the ground. She reached for her backpack and stood up to run way. Alli saw a filthy man running down the street. She looked at the person who had obviously saved her from him. He looked a little older than her. He was tall with dark brown hair and chocolate brown eyes.

"Thank you."

"If you're gonna live out here, you better learn how to defend yourself. He almost had you."

"I didn't know. I. . ."

"Being stupid will get you killed or worse."

The gratitude Alli felt towards this guy was rapidly fading as he straight-talked to her. She narrowed her eyes and started walking away.

"Where are you staying?" the guy said as he caught up with her and started walking beside her.

Alli did not look at him. "None of you business."

He laughed, irritating Alli even further. She continued walking, trying to get away from him. He grabbed her arm.

"Look. You don't look like you belong here. I know a place you can stay."

Alli looked at his hand. He quickly let go of her. "For real?"

"Yeah, come on. I'll take you there."

Alli narrowed her eyes and looked at him warily.

"Look, it's all you've got," he told her with a grin.

Alli hesitated for a moment, then smiled back at him. They walked away together.

"So you wanna tell me what someone like you is doing out here on the street?"

"What do you mean 'someone like' me?"

The guy looked her up and down. "You're joking, right? You, with your designer jeans? My guess is that bracelet is the real thing, not that cubic zirconia crap."

Alli glanced down at the bracelet of sapphire hearts and diamonds that had belonged to her great-grandmother. She instinctively covered it with her sleeve.

"That's not going to keep somebody from stealing it. If they want it, there's nothing you can do about it."

"Are you always such a downer? There are good people in this world."

He shrugged. "You just walked down that street, and you still believe that. I'm giving it to you straight. You must live in some golden palace away from reality if you think there's one good person in this world."

"There are."

"I haven't met one."

Alli was amazed by his cynicism. She had never met anyone quite like him. Well, she had not actually met him. They had not introduced themselves.

"I'm Alli."

"Alli, huh? And what's that short for?" he said with a sudden twinkle in his eye.

Alli hesitated. "It's short for Alexandra."

"'Alexandra'? Well if that isn't the name of some spoiled little debutante, nothing is."

Alli lunged at him, and he expertly danced away from her. "You're going to have to be quicker than that, Your Highness."

Alli scowled at him, but smiled in spite of herself. "So what is your name? Tell me so that I can make some snap judgment about you."

He sobered. "Well it's not the name of some spoiled brat that's for sure. I don't know what kind of name it is."

He looked off into the distance as if he were thinking about another time, another place. Alli grew impatient with him.

"What is it?"

With little expression, he said, "Tucker. . . ."

Author's Note: The lyrics quoted are from the song "Even God Must Get the Blues", which can be found on Jo Dee Messina's album, "I'm Alright".

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