Chapter 6 - On the Homefront
Mrs. Littrell put an arm around her daughter-in-law’s shoulder. “Shh, Leighanne, they’re going to find them. Don’t you worry.”
Leighanne leaned against her mother-in-law and cried quietly. “It’s been over a week . . . no leads at all . . .”
The “Backstreet Family” had been keeping vigil in and around the Carter home since the Backstreet Boys had been kidnapped.
An anonymous letter arrived, explaining that the Boys would be held until someone discovered their location by solving a complicated riddle. There was no ransom demand, no time limit, and no hints.
No one had been able to figure it out.
The FBI and police were involved; the families had even sent the riddle out onto the internet and to the Backstreet fans, hoping someone would be able to solve it. Dozens of websites began popping up as fans and non-fans joined together to brainstorm ideas on the riddle. They’d had no luck so far.
Kristin, Mrs. Richardson, and Mrs. Carter fixed supper in the kitchen. The Doroughs and McLeans had returned to their hotel. Nick’s younger siblings were in the basement playing video games -- except Aaron.
Aaron Carter sat at the kitchen table, reading the riddle over and over.
“There must be some way,” he muttered to himself. “I know I can get this . . .”
Jane Carter looked down at her son. For a moment, she thought it was Nick sitting at the table, safe and sound. Sometimes I forget just how alike they are -- inside and out, she thought. She went to her son, and put a hand on his shoulder.
“Sweetie, you’re only going to tire yourself out staring at it and wracking your brain,” she said softly. “Why don’t you go have a rest before dinner?”
“I’ve got to figure it out,” Aaron insisted. “We’ve got to find them.”
Jane sighed and held her son close. “We’re going to find him, Aaron. He’ll be all right.”
~~~
AJ looked up as the door opened. He tried to get his eyes to focus through the fever. A woman in black was offering him something. He crawled forward cautiously.
“You know you want it, Alex,” the woman said very soothingly. “It’s all right. Just take it.”
AJ hesitated, then reached out and snatched the knife from her hands. He retreated towards the back of the room.
The woman just smiled and stood. “You know what to do, baby. We won’t stop you. Join your brothers.”
AJ nodded and held the knife flat against his warm cheek. It was cool and inviting.
“Go ahead and relieve your pain,” the woman said, her vinyl dress catching the light as she left the room.
Right, AJ thought. This’ll make the pain go away . . .
~~~
Approximately three weeks later . . .
Aaron Carter picked up the ringing phone. “Hello?”
“Yes, can I talk to your mother, son?” a stoic male voice asked.
“Sure. Who’s calling, please?”
“Agent O’Connell,” the voice answered.
“From the FBI?!” Aaron cried. “Did you find my brother?!”
“Son, please just put your mother on the phone.”
Mrs. Carter ran into the kitchen. “Aaron, what’s going on?”
“Tell me if you found him, damn it!” Aaron shouted into the phone.
Jane leaned over and grabbed the phone out of her son’s hand. “Hello?”
“Mrs. Carter, this is Agent O’Connell. We found them.”
“Oh, thank God!” Mrs. Carter cried, hugging Aaron. “They found them! They found them!”
“YES!” Aaron shouted, running downstairs to tell his siblings.
“Is he all right?” Jane went on. “Where were they?”
“Thanks to the hints from the fans, we managed to solve the riddle. The solution was a remote location in western Canada. Your son and the other Backstreet Boys have been transferred to a nearby hospital.”
“Hospital?!” Jane’s heart sped up. “Are they all right?”
“The other four are in stable condition, but your son is critical. It seems he contracted pneumonia, and it’s gone untreated for some time.”
Jane sat down on the nearest chair before she landed on the floor. “Is he going to be all right?”
“If he responds to the antibiotics, he’ll be fine. We’re sending a car over to your house to bring you to the airport.”
“I-I understand,” she replied numbly. “I’ll go pack . . . and tell the children . . . Agent O’Connell?”
“Yes, ma’am?”
“Did you find the monsters who did this?”
There was a pause on the other end of the line. “No, ma’am. They were gone before we arrived. I’m sorry.” He cleared his throat uncomfortably. “The car should be there in half an hour.”
“I’ll be ready,” she whispered, letting the phone slip from her hand.
Aaron came running into the kitchen and skidded to a stop when he saw his mother. “Mom, what’s wrong?”
~~~