The Tipping Point- Chapter Three

"Sophie?! Sophie?! Answer me! Answer me now!" I shout into the phone. Of course there was nothing but silence. I hang up the phone, quickly gather up my stuff and head to my boss's office. I then burst through the door. I probably looked like a mad woman.

"Leslie? What's wrong?" Roger asks.

"It's my sister! She called to tell me that she was in danger, I...I think she's either dead or she got kidnapped!" I say frantically.

Roger sat there at his desk, letting what I said sink in. I told him this morning, everything that had happened last night. "Then why, are you still here? You better go! I'll just say you went home sick." He says.

I nod and run out the door. In fact I ran all the way to home. I didn't even have to use my key in the door of my apartment, it was only hanging by one hinge. I walk into my apartment, all the furniture was up turned and broken. Pictures were on the floor broken. Papers were scattered every where, including books and magazines. The entire place looked like a tornado hit it. I began to search it for my sister. I couldn't find her any where. Then I found a note on the door of the closet. If you ever want to see your sister again. Follow my instructions, one of my men should be calling soon. Was what the note said.
Then I began to pace the floor, waiting. The phone rings, causing me to jump. "Hello?"

"Leslie, I presume?" A male's voice says.

"Yes, go on," I say.

"I'm going to make a trade with you. The forty eight thousand, five hundred dollars for your sister. Call me at this number, for further instructions. 555-621-4421. We'll be trading in Paris, France, for safe keeping." He says and hangs up.

Good thing I have a good memory I think as I jot down the number. I first contact the police to make a missing persons report. After getting all my information down and other information, all they say is that they'll start an investigation. Once I hang up the phone, I begin to pace again. There was no way in hell I would be able to get the money at that amount on such short notice. I decide that the only option, was a rescue operation. But there was no way on earth I was going to do this alone. Who can I get to help me? C'mon Leslie! Think, think! I think to myself as I continue to pace.

Then two names flash across my memory. They told me if I ever need anything, to contact them at any time. I sure hope they still have the same numbers. I think as I quickly began to dial a number. The phone begins to ring. C'mon! C'mon! Pick up! Pick up! I think as I continue to pace some more. The phone had rang three times already. By ring four I was about to give up hope.
Then it stopped ringing, "Hey, this is Zack. Just leave a message and I will get back to you." A male's voice says cheerfully.

I waited for the beep. "Hey, you know who this is. Call me back immediately, that is if you still care. I'm in some kind of trouble." I say and hang up.

Then I dial the other number and begin to pace again. Again by ring three I was getting annoyed. Doesn't anyone know how to answer their phones? I think. The phone thing stopped ringing. "Just leave a message. I'm busy or just don't give a damn about answerin' the phone." Another male's voice says.

I roll my eyes and wait for the beep. "You know who this is! If you aren't as cold hearted as ever and still care about me, call me back immediately. I'm in some kind of trouble." I say and hang up.

Now all I could do is wait. Twenty minutes later, the phone rings. I scramble to answer it. "Hello?" I say nearly dropping the phone.

"You called?"

"Yeah, instead of explaining every thing on the phone, just come over."

"If you say so."

"Don't say that! Remember, you owe me."

"Of course, I would never forget that! See ya in ten minutes." The male's voice says hyperly and then hangs up.

I hang up. Good, one down and one to go. I think. Of course I figured the other one wouldn't call. He can be very cold hearted at time. Don't get your hopes up. You know how he is. He won't call. I think. Just as I thought that, the phone rings again. "Hello?" I say.

"Whatta mean if I still care, and ain't cold hearted as ever?"

"That was just to get your attention." I say rolling my eyes.

"What ever. Let me guess...you think it's gonna be better to explain this in person. And you want-no expect me to show up at your place, right?"

"Yeah, that was a good guess."

"What ever. I'll be there in a few."

Rude much! I think as he hangs up the phone after that. The people I'm friends with. I think adding to my thoughts. It would take them a few minutes to get here. So I decided to take a bath. Of course I fixed my door and straightened up my apartment, hours before. Bust just before I go into the bathroom, I put a note on the door. It said to come in and that I was in the tub.

I come out of the bathroom drying my hair with a towel. Both of them were leaning against two different walls, in two different parts of the room.The first male looks at me. "Before we begin to talk about anything do you have any-"

"Do I look like a blood bank to you? It's not every day I get vampires as visitors, ya know!" I say as I begin to brush out my hair.

The second male rolls his eyes at me. "So, what kind so called trouble are you in? So I can get this over and done with." He says.

I roll my eyes this time. "Okay, this is what you need to know. My sister, Sophie, was taken by a mob. The leader wants forty eight thousand, five hundred dollars...and wants to meet in Paris." I say.

The first male looks at me again. "Do we look like we're made of money? Just because we're immortal, doesn't make us rich!" He says jumping to conclusions.

"Calm down Zack! I'm not asking for money, because then I would owe you guys money. I'm asking for your guys' help in a rescue mission, to get my sister back." I say explaining."And before you ask Zack, yes you can use your "toys" " I add.

Zack then looks at me with a slightly evil smirk. "Then count me in!" He says.

We both then turn and look at the second male. You could literally see the gears turning in his head. I knew he wasn't easily persuaded, or even cared about human affairs. I figured he would say no right off the bat. So I had to think of a good bribe for him. "Dagger, you can kill as many as you want." I say bluntly, hoping that did the trick.

Dagger then looks at me. "Fine, only because I get to kill without question. Not because you need help." He says bluntly.

I tried to hid the smile that was upon my lips. I was smiling only because I knew my little bribe worked. It only worked because I mentioned the word kill. Dagger is selfish and self centered most of the time. And also not to mention blood thirsty. The only reason Zack agreed was because I said he could play with his so called "toys." He too could be selfish and self centered.

"Good, so that we don't waste any time, we're leaving as soon as we get what we need for the trip." I say.

They both look at me as if I had two heads. More like Zack was, Dagger on the other hand, was give me a look as if to say Screw you! I'm not listening to you! I let out a sigh, seeing that the trip was going to be very difficult one. "C'mon guys! Please? I guess you want a dead person on your conscience." I say trying to pull a guilt trip with them.

Zack's look changes to a softer almost innocent look. Then he lets out a sigh. "Fine. I really don't want that on my conscience, bad enough I have other bad things on it." He says.

Then I turn to look at Dagger. "Why should I care? I've had plenty of human deaths on my conscience. Why should this be any different?" He says.

I let out an irritated sounding sigh. At least Zack is being agreeable. I think. I could tell Dagger was going to be stubborn and hard to work with. Guess I have to bribe him again. C'mon Leslie. Think! Think! I think as I let out another irritated sounding sigh. Zack by now was giving me a look as if to say, What now? He isn't going to cooperate with us. Again I let out another irritated sounding sigh. Hmm...how to bribe him now? I think. Then a thought pops into my head.

I smirk as I walk over to Dagger."Hey, Dagger," I say.

He looks at me, as if I was going to plunge a stake through his heart. "What?" He asks.

I lean over and whisper something in his ear. He then looks at me surprised. "Really?"

I nod, "Yeah, but only if you agree to help." I say.

Of course he didn't look too happy. "Fine, then let's just get this done and over with." He says.

By now I had a large smirk on my face- in fact it might have been a triumphant one. Zack then looks at me surprised. "What did you say to him, to get him to agree so easily?" He asks.

"I'll just leave that to your imagination, Zacky." I say with a wink.

He then looks at me now, with a horrid shocked expression. As if he got what I meant. "Really Leslie? Ewe!" He says.

I just roll my eyes and sigh. "Can we just go now?" I ask.

They both nod, "Good, just give me a few to pack my stuff." I say.

Zack simply nods. "Don't worry, what I need is all in my car." He says.

Dagger lets out a scoff, "I don't need anything." Is all he says.

I nod and then turn to go into my room. What makes me freeze in my tracks, is that Dagger began to stare intently at the front door. Then with a hiss and a swift kick, that was faster than I could see, he kicked down my front door. I began to twitch with irritation and anger. For just a little while ago, I had just fixed it. "Dagger! Why did you do that?" I snap.

"Yeah, have you lost your marbles?" Zack asks.

Dagger just rolls his eyes, "I'll show you." Is all he says.

I watch as he walks out of my apartment and lifts up the door with ease. He then pulls up-more like yanks up a man. The man was dressed in a black suit and sunglasses. "It could be my paranoia talkin', but I think we have a spy." He says as he brings the man into the room.

I look at the man, "Are you one of Dwayne Marco's men?" I ask.

The man just looks at me with a blank expression. Of course he wasn't going to answer. Then Dagger punches him in the face. I wince as he does so. "Dagger! Take it easy, you could kill him!" I say.

Dagger ignores me and grabs the man by his collar and raises him in the air. "Now answer the lady." He says.

The man still gives us a blank expression. Dagger then slams him against the wall. "Stop! Obviously torture isn't going to work!" I say.

Dagger then lets go of him. The man then begins to laugh as if he had gone in hysterics. He pulls out a gun, cocks it, and places it to his left temple. He then pulls the trigger. I let out a scream as this happened and watched in horror as his body slid down the wall. "For some reason, I knew he was goin' to do that." Dagger says.

"Dagger! That's a h-" then a beeping sound grabs my attention. "Guys, what's that?" I ask.

Zack walks over to the body and rips his shirt open. There in plain sight was a bomb, it was strapped to his chest. I then began to panic. "What do we do? What do we do? We're gonna die- more or less I'm gonna die!" I say as I begin to hyper ventilate.

Zack and Dagger roll their eyes at me. "Calm down, God! I'll take care of it." Zack says.

This only made me panic even more. I noticed that the bomb said ten minutes and fifty nine seconds were left and I practically went into hysterics. "Leslie, you have to calm down for one, and two do you have any pairs of needle nose pliers and scissors?" Zack asks.

I nod and began to quickly search a drawer that was in a desk near by. I found both and tossed them to Zack. Who began to study the bomb. Minutes began to tick by slowly and my heart continued to race. The image of me being blown to bits was burning in my mind. "Well? How much longer? How long will it take?" I asks.

Zack looks at me, "Who ever made this bomb wasn't an amateur. It's a very complex system. So quite a few minutes." He says.

Now it was Dagger and I who rolled their eyes this time. Zack then shoots an evil glare at us. "Bomb defusing is very difficult. One wrong snip and boom! We're blown to smithereens!" He says matter-of-factly.

"If you say so," Dagger says. Of course he isn't worried, he'll survive if the bomb goes off.

Zack glares at him, "Who is the bomb expert here? Me or you?"

"You,"

"Alrighty then! Then shut up, so I can concentrate!" Zack snaps.

Dagger just scoffs at him, I on the other hand, am pacing the flood like a maniac. I glanced at the bomb, it said two minutes were left. By now I was hoping and praying that Zack could defuse it. More time went by as Zack continued to stare at the bomb. I of course continued to pace. I glanced at the bomb again, it said ten seconds were left. C'mon Zack, quit stalling! I think as the count down continued. Five seconds then four...it then got down to one second. I closed my eyes, preparing for the worse.

"Aha!" Zack says and just at the last moment snipped a wire.

I opened my eyes to see that the time was on zero. The red numbers soon began to fade, Zack had defused the bomb. "Thank the Lord above!" I say and give Zack a huge hug."Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!" I say as I hug him some more and also kiss his cheek repeatedly. He just rolls his eyes at me.

"Really, Zack?" Dagger says.

I look at him, "What's that supposed to mean?" I ask.

"I was watchin' the entire time. He knew what wire to cut all along. He just acted like he didn't." He says.

I look at Zack, "Really?" I asks.

"Yeah," He says with a sheepish grin.

I let go of him, "Then why the hell did you wait till the last second?"

"I only wanted to add some suspense to it, plus I wanted you dfo have faith in me." He says.

I then hit him in the chest. "You idiot! You just about gave me a heart attack!" I snap.

"Ow!" He says as he rubs his chest. "Sorry, jeez!" he adds.

By now Dagger looked like he wanted to rip us apart. "Can we please just get this done and over with?" He snaps.

I nod and then go to my room. It took me all but five minutes to pack my things. I come out seeing that Dagger looked very impatient. "Took you long enough." He says.

"Humans take too damn long." He then mutters.

"Before we go, Dagger can you please put my door back, I mean since you did kick it down." I say.

"Fine," He says sounding irritated as he goes and over and picks up my door with one arm. He then puts it back in it's place.

"There," Is all he says.

"Okay, now we can go." I say as I walk past him and go to go down the stairs. Zack of course on my heels. Dagger began to follow after us slowly, not before muttering the word humans under his breath.