Date: Thu, 1 Feb 2001 01:41:51 -0800 (PST)
From: Red <redfirewitch@yahoo.com>
Subject: Hide In Plain Sight: Chapter 19 - Time Is Running Out

Title: Hide In Plain Sight 19/20

Author: Red (redfirewitch@yahoo.com)

Dedication: To Joie, who made me cry! To Dara who made
me smile! To Wen who made me like JC's wierd haircut!
:D

********************************
Chapter 19 - Time Is Running Out
********************************

He was in a room. There were three walls. The fourth
was missing and so the room opened up into a lush
forest. There he saw everyone sitting around a table,
having a picnic. His family was there. His mom was
laughing as she talked to Lynn and Heather. His dad
was saying something to Chris and Tyler. Joey and
Lance were busy playing with Jonathon and Steven.
Where was...Justin was leaning against a tree, watching
everyone.

He wanted to go to Justin but he could not move past
the point where there should have been a wall. It was
as if the wall was there but was invisible. He stared
to bang on it hoping that someone would see him. He
tried to call to Justin but no sound came.

Then suddenly Matt appeared right in front of him.
Matt was on the other side. Matt grinned at him and
turned around, heading towards Justin. He started
banging on the wall frantically. Then he froze.
Someone was in the room with him. He turned around
slowly and saw Phillip...and Liam. Phillip had his arm
around Liam's neck. Liam, pale and with dead, dead
eyes was reaching for him but to no avail. One twist
and Liam fell to the ground. Dead.

He couldn't scream. He couldn't move. Phillip walked
towards him but he couldn't move. Just when Phillip
reached him, Phillip walked past and through the
invisible wall. But how?! He tried to follow but the
wall was back. Phillip sneered at him from the other
side and continued forward.

He could only watch helplessly. Matt was standing
beside Justin and Phillip was heading right for them.

'NO! GET AWAY FROM HIM! JUSTIN, RUN! SOMEONE STOP
THEM!'

**

JC's eyes flew open and he looked around frantically.
It was a dream. But all of it? He could feel that his
hands were still tied behind his back and as were his
feet. No, not all of it was a dream. He was still
living his nightmare.

JC noticed that something had changed. It took him a
moment to place it and then he knew. The van had
stopped moving.

He lifted his head off the grimy floor of the back of
the van and listened hard. He didn't know whether to
be relieved or afraid. On the one hand he was glad to
be able to get out of the cramped quarters of the van.
His hands and legs were tied so tightly that they had
gone numb. The dried blood that had trickled down his
face was itching. He couldn't take deep breaths
because his chest hurt and the musty air in the back
of the van made him want to puke. He didn't know how
much longer he could stay there without starting to
scream. And screaming was a bad idea as Matt has
earlier been quick to point out to him by punching
him.

However, now that they had stopped moving, he had to
face Phillip and Matt again. Just the thought made him
want to cry. But he couldn't cry.

He scooted up against the wall of the van.
/I can't give up and let them win./

JC felt for it with his hands as they were tied behind
his back.

/I have to get out of here./

It was just within his reach.

/If I died now, Justin would be in danger./

He grasped it.

/Matt is a fool./

He braced himself against the pain and moved his arm
from its awkward position to a bit higher.

/He's going to get Justin hurt../

JC slipped it into the back of his jeans.

/I have to get out of here and warn Justin. I have to
warn Justin. Got to warn Justin./

The door of the van slid open suddenly.

"Come on boy, time to move." Phillip said and pulled
JC out of the van till his feet rested on the ground.
Matt had the gun aimed at JC while Phillip squatted
down to untie the wire around JC's legs. "We've got
some ground to cover."

JC saw that they were in the midst of a heavily wooded
area. As far as he could see, there were only trees.
His worst fears were confirmed by Matt.

"No one to hear you scream for miles and miles," he
whispered in JC's ear, smiling smugly.

Phillip grabbed JC's arm and pulled him up make him
stand. JC's leg gave way immediately and he fell to
the ground. The circulation was just coming back to
his limbs. Matt kicked at JC's side.
"Get up!"

"Hey! Don't damage the goods." Phillip said as he
pulled JC up again, this time making sure he didn't
end up on the ground. "Grab his arm."

Matt gave Phillip a glare but did as he ordered all
the same. JC wished he could walk on his own because
it made his skin crawl, to be touched by either of
them.

They walked for a few minutes and soon came within
sight of a cabin. JC for a moment looked around
hopefully for signs of other people but he knew that
he was just fooling himself. There wasn't going to be
anyone here. And even if there was, they were probably
in cahoots with Phillip and Matt.

Phillip and Matt dragged JC into the cabin and dumped
him on the cot in one of the rooms.

"Where did you find this place?" Matt asked, looking
around suspiciously.

"Why the fuck do you care? It's quiet, secluded and
far better than that rat hole you got for me!" Phillip
answered as he carefully tied JC's arms and legs to
the bed.

"I just want to know that no one will come here and
find him and you." Matt said.

Phillip sneered at Matt.
"Oh, someone will find him all right. But not so soon
and definitely not alive." Phillip said and headed
back to main area of the cabin to light the fireplace.

Matt looked at JC and smiled.
"Good."

JC kept his expression neutral even though on the
inside he was screaming and shouting. However he
couldn't hide the trembling in his body and Matt
immediately saw it.

"Oh, don't' worry JC. You won't die so soon. Phillip
has plans for you."

Just then a melody played in the silent room. Phillip
rushed into the room and looked around in search of
it.

"It's mine. Gag him!" Matt said as he pulled out his
cell phone. Phillip took out a handkerchief from his
pocket and approached JC. JC tried to pull away but it
was no use as Phillip forced his mouth open and
stuffed the cloth in, effectively silencing him. For
extra measure he squeezed JC's throat, warning him to
be silent.

Matt then answered the phone cautiously.
"Hello?"

Matt looked surprised and immediately perked up.
"Justin?"

JC's gaze flew to Matt. Justin was on the line with
Matt. If only he could hear Justin's voice. If only he
could speak to him. Just for a moment. Just for as
second.

"How are you holding up, baby? Oh.  I'm sorry that you
still haven't found JC." Matt said, smiling at JC.

"Oh, his whole family is there? They must be worried
sick." JC's eyes widened.

"I'm sure he will fine, Justin. You will find him
soon. I promise." Matt lied as he listened. Or maybe
it wasn't a lie. Soon was a matter of opinion and in
his opinion, of course JC would be found...soon.

Matt listened for a while and gradually his face
lighted up.
"Oh really? It makes me so happy to hear you say
that." Matt said and suddenly brought the phone to
JC's ears, such that both could hear what was being
said. JC tensed when he heard Justin's voice. He
wanted to yell to warn Justin but he couldn't even
make an audible sound as Phillip squeezed just a
little more So he just listened to Justin's beautiful
voice.

"I realize that I've been pushing you away when I
needed you most. I let JC confuse me about the one
sure thing in my life. I love you so much, Matt."

JC closed his eyes tight. He felt something within him
die.

Matt grinned.

"Matt? I'm so afraid. I need to see you."

Matt put the phone back to his ears
"I'll be there as soon as I can, Justin." Matt paused
and looked at JC. Then without taking his eyes off JC,
he said. "There's nothing more important to me than
you. I'll do anything for you. I'll be right there.
Give me an hour, k?"

Matt hung up the phone and grinned.
 "You see! It's already working. Justin needs me,
wants ME when you're not there. And when you're
permanently gone, he'll need me forever."

JC just kept his eyes closed and waited for the
familiar pain. But there was nothing. He didn't feel a
thing. Not a thing.

"I'm going back now." Matt told Phillip and turned to
leave. "Make sure he's dead by the time I come back."

"You're not going anywhere till I get my money!"
Phillip bellowed and blocked Matt's way.

Matt's eyes narrowed.
"I don't carry that much money around with me,
Phillip. I need to go get it now. Come on. I'm in this
with you. I want to see his dead body so I WILL come
back."

"All right but remember. If you try to cheat me,
you're gonna die." Phillip warned. "And I'm not
killing him until I get the money."

Matt stared at Phillip for a moment then just nodded
curtly and headed out the door.
"I'll take the van."

"No you won't. I not gonna risk being stranded here."
Phillip replied.

"Then how the fuck am I supposed to get back to town!
It's miles from here!"

Phillip glared at Matt.
"You're getting on my nerves, boy! Fine! I'll drive
you!"

"And him?" Matt asked, gesturing to the room JC was
in.

"He's not going anywhere. I tied him up good. Come on.
I want to have my fun and the faster I get rid of you
the faster I can get back here!" Phillip said and
pushed Matt towards the van.

JC listened as they drove away. There was a peaceful
silence broken only by the call of the insects and
birds. He was totally alone. For miles and miles.

JC began to arch his back and squirm on the bed. His
hands were tied to the cot as were his legs and it
didn't give him much space to move but he strained
until the ropes cut into his skin. But the pain didn't
register in his mind. He just needed to get it out.
After several impossible long minutes, JC managed to
dislocate the sharp piece of glass that he had hidden
in the back of his jeans and it fell onto the bed.
That small jagged edge was going to get him out of
there. He began the arduous process of getting the
glass within the grasp of his hands.

**

Justin hung up the phone and turned to face everyone
who were watching him.

"He's coming here." Justin said.

"Good. We'll be waiting for him. Thank you, Justin. I
know that was hard for you." Elli said.

Justin nodded even though he knew that they didn't
have a fucking clue. It had made Justin nauseous to
tell Matt that he loved him. He had had to conjure up
all his strength and go through with it when all he
wanted to do was curse at the bastard and threaten to
kill him if anything happened to JC. But he had closed
his eyes, pictured JC's beautiful face, pictured JC
safe in his arms, pictured saying those three words to
JC, and calmly and convincingly uttered those lies to
Matt.

"So the moment he gets here, he's going to be placed
under arrest?" Joey asked. Personally he wished that
he would at least get a shot at Matt before the cops
took him. His fist was itching bad.

"Temporarily. We have the warrant and can hold him for
only so long because we don't have evidence against
him yet. There hasn't been an actual crime committed
yet. That evidence will come only after we find JC."
Detective Pasco said.

"Then how are you going to get him to talk? He won't
willing tell us where JC is, will he?" Roy asked.

"He might if Justin asked him," the detective said.

Justin shook his head.
"I don't know if I can do that."

"I know that he's your boyfriend and that..."

Justin stood up abruptly, his blue eyes shooting
flames.
"I don't give a shit about him, Detective! He's not my
boyfriend! He's just scum! I don't know if I can talk
to him not because I'm angsting over him but because I
don't know if I can even look at him without wanting
to wrap my hands around his throat and squeezing the
life out of him! I can pretend over the phone but the
moment I see him...I don't know if I can stop myself
from killing him."

Everyone looked at Justin in shock. Those words coming
out of Justin's mouth were frightening and for the
first time they truly understood how psychologically
scarred Justin was because of this. It went beyond
guilt. There was so much anger too.

The detective nodded.
"I understand but this may be the only way. But it's
your choice. I hope it won't come to that."

"There may be another way even if Matt refuses to tell
us where JC is." Elli spoke up.

All eyes turned to him.

"The odds are not good but it just might work."

Elli went on to explain.

**

Matt Vance got out of the cab and stood outside the
house. Things were going so well for him now. There
had been moments when he doubted he could carry out
his plans without getting caught but now he was sure
that he could. There were just some loose ends to tie
up. Like Phillip.

Matt wasn't stupid. What JC had told him had stuck in
his mind. He knew that he couldn't trust Phillip. He
was a danger to him and Justin. Once Phillip had
killed JC, Matt had to get rid of Phillip. There was
no other way. No honor among thieves. But first, he
had to see Justin and show him why he's the one for
Justin and not Joshua Scott Chasez. Because for once,
he was going to be the one that Justin turned to.

He walked towards the house, noting the cops and other
members of security mulling around the lawn. He was
surprised that no one stopped to ask him for his ID
but he figured that they already knew that he was
expected. Justin had told him over the phone that he
had told his family and the guys all about him. That
he was Justin's boyfriend. Maybe even these cops knew
that he was Justin's boyfriend. Matt smiled to himself
at that thought. It was about time. Maybe the whole
world should know that. That's right. He and Justin
should come out as a couple. After this little problem
with JC was over.

He didn't even have to knock on the door. The door was
opened by Chris just as he was about to knock on the
door. That should have been his first clue. The moment
he stepped in, he saw Justin glaring at him with
reigned hatred. That was his second clue.

"Justin? What..."

The door slammed shut and suddenly Matt found himself
pinned against the wall by two men. He struggled to
look over his shoulders. He stared at Justin in shock.

"JUSTIN! WHAT THE FUCK..."

"Matt Vance, you're under arrest for aiding and
abetting the kidnap of Joshua Chasez." Detective Pasco
said as he approached Matt was being handcuffed by the
two cops.

"WHAT!? IS THIS SOME KIND OF A SICK JOKE!? JUSTIN!"

Justin eyes burned with loathing as he looked at Matt.
"Where's JC? Where did you take him?"

Matt hesitated only a moment before starting to deny
everything.
"How should I know!? I don't have anything...Justin!
You said you needed me here! You said you loved me!
Why are you doing this? Why are you letting them do
this?!"

"We know that you were behind the letters, Vance. You
wired the money to Jacob Hottenburg, the bellboy at
the Marriott, so that he would deliver the letter for
you. We traced the money to your private account."
Elli said.

Matt froze.
"That doesn't prove anything! Someone's trying to
frame me! Don't believe them, Justin!"

Elli smiled coldly.
"We also have footage of you talking with Phillip
Rondall, a wanted felon. And we have a dozen people
willing to testify that you have been investigating
Rondall so there is no way you didn't know about him.
Give it up, Vance. We know everything. Now you can
stop digging your grave further by telling us where JC
and Phillip are!"

Matt desperately turned to Justin.
"Baby, you don't believe these lies, do you? They are
all trying to confuse you! They want to tear us
apart!"

"Shut up! Just shut up!" Justin hissed.

Matt looked at Justin and knew that it really was all
over. Those blue eyes didn't hold one hint of the
affection and warmth it had held before when it had
looked at him. Now, there was only hatred and disgust.
It hit him. Justin didn't love him anymore. And he
never ever would. He had lost and JC has won.
"I'm sorry, Justin! I'm so sorry! All I wanted was you
and your happiness."

Tears begin to flow down Justin's cheek.
"Don't say that! Don't fucking say that!"

"I did it all for you!" Matt cried. "JC was trying to
take you away from me! I couldn't let him!"

"You didn't do it for me! You did it for yourself! And
I actually chose you over him. I'm just as pathetic as
you are!" Justin cried. Lance and Chris tried to calm
him down. Justin took a deep breath. "Where is he,
Matt? What did you do to him?"

Matt looked down and shook his head but didn't say
anything.

"TELL ME! WHERE IS HE?!!" Justin screamed.

Matt looked up, his eyes cold and maniacal.
"No. I can't. I can't let him have you, Justin. I
won't lose you to him."

Justin lunged at Matt but was held back by Chris and
Lance. However, Joey had free access to Matt. Joey had
his hands wrapped around Matt's throat before Elli and
another cop could pull him away.

"YOU BASTARD!" Joey yelled struggling against the hold
the two men had on him. "WHERE IS HE!?"

Matt just smiled at Joey and looked at Justin.
"He must suffer for stealing you from me, Justin. He
has to pay."

Justin looked at Matt with utter devastation in his
eyes.

Just then another cop came into the room and whispered
something to Elli. Elli immediately smiled.
"Yes! It's about time!" He turned to the rest in the
room. "We don't need this asshole anymore! We know
where JC is!" Elli said.

Matt whirled around in shock to look at Elli.
"YOU'RE LYING!"

Elli smirked.
"And you're going to jail. When Justin called you, the
signal from your phone was tracked. I've only just
received confirmation of the location. "

Matt's eyes widened. Could they do that?!
"No! You can't know..."

"We've already called the forest ranger. They are
searching for him." Elli said, smiling smugly.

Forest ranger? Matt realized that everything was over.
They knew! They knew where JC was! All was lost.
Phillip won't kill JC until he got the money so they
will find JC...alive! No! He couldn't let that happen!

"The only problem is that we'll take a while to search
the whole area." Elli added. "But we'll find him."

This was his chance.
"But not soon enough!" Matt spat and sneered. "Silver
Springs' a huge area. Phillip's got business with JC
and by the time you get to him, JC's going to be truly
fucked up!"

This time the cops had to hold back all four of the
Nsync guys. Elli was grateful that Roy and Tyler had
been told to wait upstairs.

"I'm going to kill you!" Justin threatened and tried
to get at Matt but was shoved back by the cop.

"It doesn't matter, baby. You can hate me but I will
always love you." Matt replied, looking at Justin with
a smile.

Justin wondered how was it that he never saw how
obsessed and evil Matt really was. Where was this
monster hidden all this while that he had known Matt?
Justin's skin crawled when he thought of ever touching
Matt.

"You can save your ass from a lifetime in prison if
you cooperate, Vance. Now's your chance." Detective
Pasco said. "Lead us to Phillip and JC."

Matt looked at him as if considering the offer.
Everyone held their breath waiting for his answer.

"Ok. But I want it as a written statement that I'll
get the lightest sentence." Matt said.

Elli smiled while Detective Pasco nodded.
"Ok. But we move now. I'll get the DA to agree. Tell
me exactly where the place is."

"I can't tell you. I can only show you. I can
recognize the path he took." Matt said.

Detective Pasco was hesitant but knowing that they
didn't have the time to argue, he agreed.
"Get him to the car. Radio for a swat team. This may
get messy," he told his officers.

The cops pushed Matt to the out the door and to the
waiting car. Matt looked at Justin longingly as he
left.

As soon as Matt was out of hearing range, everyone
began to talk at the same time.

"Oh my god! I thought your plan was gonna fall flat
when Matt refused to believe the tracking story!"
Lance said.

"How did you know!? How did you know JC was being held
in a forest?" Joey asked. "You told us that you're
just going to make him believe that his call had been
tracked and that hopefully that alone will make him
think that we knew where JC was!"

"I took a lucky guess and he bought it. His shoes. The
moment he came in I saw that it had dirt on it. The
kind you pick in forests trails. Plus he said he will
get here in an hour. By my calculation, the closest
forest I know is Ocala National Forest. But I wasn't
sure. Besides Ocala Forest is huge and it would have
taken us too long to find JC."

"But he thought you already knew it was Silver Springs
and he spilt the beans!" Chris said excitedly.

"Yes. That's why I lied about tracking the phone call.
He didn't know that we couldn't do that because he was
using a cell phone. If he didn't tell us, we will be
wasting hours searching the area."

Joey looked at Elli in wonder.
"Man! You're like Matlock, like Perry Mason,
like...Superman!" he exclaimed.

"Yeah! I take back all the comments about you being a
hard ass, bastard!" Chris said, grinning.

Elli shook his head and rolled his eyes. Pop stars.
Nice guys, sure. But boy were they weird!

"I want to go with them."

Everyone looked at Justin who had been silent the
whole time.

"That's not a good idea, Justin." Elli began.

"Please." Justin said, softly, his eyes begging.

Elli didn't know what made him agree but he nodded.
"Ok, but only you. And you have to promise to keep out
of the way at all times until everything is safe."

Justin nodded and turned to Chris.
"Tell them, I'll bring JC back."

Chris pulled Justin into a hug.
"I know you will. Everything will be ok, Curly. It
will be."

Lance and Joey joined the group hug and prayed.

"We have to move now." Detective Pasco said.

Justin pulled away from his friends walked out the
door with Elli and the detective.

Lynn, Karen and the rest came down from upstairs.

"We saw them taking him away. Did Matt tell them wheer
JC is being kept?" Karen asked, hope shining in her
eyes.

Chris smiled.
"Yes, he's going to show the cops exactly where JC
is."

Karen cried out in relief and hugged her husband.
Tyler and Heather hugged each other. Lynn smiled and
looked for Justin.

"Justin, honey, are you......where is Justin?"

Chris, Lance and Joey looked at each other silently
urging the other to tell Lynn. Lynn's eyes narrowed.

"Christopher, where is Justin?" Lynn asked again.

"Well you see......er...." Chris stammered and in his
mind threatened to kick Justin's ass if the boy didn't
get back safe and sound.

**

Next up: The Final Chapter.