Jumping out of the car before Carl is able to make a complete stop; Brian nearly stumbles, but quickly regains his balance before taking long, brisk steps towards the front door of this incredibly imposing manor. Carl is soon right behind him, “Wait up, Kinney!” He calls, grabbing his arm. “Let me do the talking.” Brian is about to argue, but decides it’s best to let Carl think he’s in charge. That way it would be easier for Brian to get things done in his own way. Feeling somewhat satisfied, Carl walks up to the door and rings the bell. The wait feels like forever and Brian forces his hands into his pockets. He felt like screaming and kicking the door down with his foot. Finally, a man opens the door and Brian has a moment of pause because he looks so much like Craig Taylor. “Mr. Taylor?” Carl asks, immediately showing him his badge, “My name is Detective Carl Hovarth, and this is---” “Brian Kinney,” Richard answers. His expression is unreadable. “Justin had sent me a picture of the two of you awhile back… from some art exhibit. I can’t remember the details,” he says dismissively. Brian feels the lump forming in his throat and swallows it down so hard that his eyes burn. “Where is…?” “They’re gone.” Richard answers. His voice is yet again without emotion, his face expressionless. Brian feels as if the ground has just shifted below his feet as he steadies himself against the wall. “Where did they go?” Carl asks, trying to stay in control of the situation. “Paris: to take the Eurostar to London,” He answers with indifference, then looking at Brian’s disheveled appearance, decides to add more, “The cab took them about an hour ago. You might be able to catch them before the train leaves. It’s at least a 30 minute wait through security.” Brian finally regains his voice, “But they don’t have passports.” He shrugs, “I gave them a heads up of where to go and who to see when they reach the security lines in London.” Carl is about to say something, but decides it’s better to keep his opinion to himself. These Taylors and their connections made him wary, but at least Richard was using it to help Justin and Molly. “And once they get there, where are they planning to stay?” Carl asks instead. Yawning, he takes a step back, “Not my problem,” and closes the door. “What the hell?” Carl states in disbelief. Turning to Brian, Carl is about to comment when he realizes that his companion has already taken off running back to the car. “Hurry the fuck up!” Brian calls out, entering the driver’s side. Carl hurries to the car and jumps into the passenger side. “Do you know where you’re going?” “Fuck no, but it can’t be too hard to find Paris… I mean, shit, you have a map: navifuckingate me.” Slamming down on the accelerator, the two speed out of the long driveway and back onto the main road. Carl takes the map, frowning, “It’s going to take us about four hours to reach Paris, Brian.” Teeth clenched, Brian focuses on the road, “They are an hour ahead of us.” Nodding, Carl puts the map down on his lap, “Brian, we can notify the police in London.” “Are you fuckin’ crazy?!” Brian tries not to shout, but is failing miserably, “As soon as they see anyone even fuckin’ resembling an authority figure, they’re going to run in the other direction!” Carl gives a frustrated groan. He knew Brian was right. Justin was probably running on fumes now and he wasn’t surprised if his paranoia was at its peak: not that he would blame him for it. The two continue to drive in silence for another hour until Carl finally speaks. “We’re going to need to return to Poitiers… I’m assuming your bags are still at the hotel.” “I have my passport and my wallet. The rest can wait.” Even though traffic was sparse, Brian finds himself growing more and more impatient until he finally begins seeing signs for Paris. “It’s about fuckin’ time. Now where’s this fuckin’ Eurostar?” Sighing, Carl looks around and throws his hands up in frustration, “I can’t read French, Brian!” “The Gare du Nord,” Brian announces as he points to the sign that also said below it ‘Eurostar terminal.’ “Looks like it to me!” Swerving into the parking lot, Brian speeds through the lanes in search of a parking space. ***************** In the terminal: Justin leans back against the wall and sighs. He was exhausted. Molly sips on her water bottle as she attempts to read the signs around them. “When is the train coming?” she asks. Closing his eyes, he answers, “10 minutes.” “Are you nervous?” “No.” And for once he wasn’t. He felt like things were on his terms now. They were now taking control of the situation. They would stay in London for a few days and live like a tourist until they decided on a place to live. Opening his eyes again, he asks, “Are you?” “A little,” She confesses. Justin straightens up and waits for her to continue. “It’s hard… it’s like, I think this isn’t real.” He nods. He knew exactly what she meant. “Every time I wake up, I think…” “That Mom and Dad are alive,” she finishes. He nods, looking down at his already scuffed up shoes. It hurt to think about his parents being dead. It just didn’t make sense. “I keep thinking I see them,” she says softly, looking at the people walking along the terminal. Taking her hand, he holds it tightly. “We can do this, Molly.” She nods, forcing a smile, “Team Taylor, right?” He smiles softly, nodding, “Team Taylor.” ******** “I can’t fuckin’ see them anywhere,” Brian huffs as his eyes frantically search through the crowd. It seemed almost impossible to focus on any one face. Carl stretches his neck, hoping to get a better look through the crowd. “I don’t see them either… do you think they could have already left?” Looking at the schedule board, Brian shakes his head, “No, they should have missed the last train… the next one is coming in a few minutes… they have to be here.” He felt helpless and angry. Why did everything have to be so difficult? ************* “You look tired,” Molly comments. He nods, “I haven’t been sleeping well.” “Maybe you should take something to help you?” She suggests. He shakes his head, “No. Honestly, I don’t really want to sleep.” She gives him an empathetic nod. “I guess I’m at the opposite end: all I want to do is sleep.” He forces a chuckle, “Everyone handles things differently.” “Things,” She mutters. Justin is silent. The pain in his heart was vibrating down to his gut. He missed his parents. He missed his friends. He missed Brian. ************* “Hurry up!” Brian calls back as he sprints through the opening in the crowd. He was determined to find Justin and Molly before the train’s arrival. Carl quickens his pace as he raises his voice in order to be heard above the crowd, “Wait up, Kinney!” Suddenly, Brian stops dead in his tracks. Justin! ************ “Do you think they’ll find us?” Molly asks, biting her thumbnail. “I hope not,” Justin states, then says with more authority, “Of course not.” “Who do you think they are?” Justin is quiet. “Do you think they’re the same people that killed Mom and Dad?” He exhales slowly. Looking over at his sister, he states in no uncertain terms, “They will not find us.” ******* “Justin!” Brian calls out, hurrying through the crowd. He couldn’t believe it. He just couldn’t believe it! There he was: Justin, his Sunshine, standing by the wall with his sister. They were okay! Justin was so close… “Justin!” He screams out again, but the sound of the train drones his voice. Carl, spotting the Taylors, calls out, “I see them!!” and starts pushing through the crowd. Justin looks around. He distinctively heard someone say ‘I see them.’ Glancing at the crowd, he can see movement between the people, but is unable to see who is pushing through. Panicking, he grabs Molly by the arm and starts running. “Oh my God, they’re after us!” She shrieks. The train stops, the doors open, and Justin and Molly jump inside. Brian sees them from a distance and hurries into one of the adjoining cars. Carl jumps in right behind him. “Where did they go?” Carl asks, trying to look through the window of the adjoining car. “Two cars ahead of us,” Brian answers, testing the door in hopes that it would open, but it doesn’t. “Shit!” “Just calm down, Brian,” Carl begins. “Calm down? Are you fuckin’ kidding me?!” Brian explodes. The doors close and the train starts to move. “They aren’t going anywhere, and neither are we. We just need to catch up with them once the train stops.” “And if they decide to get off at Lille or Calais? Then what the fuck do we do? We can’t see where they are!” Frustrated, he sits down and lets his head drop into his hands. They were so fuckin’ close. “Don’t give up now,” Carl perks, trying to give Brian some faith. “Who the fuck said I was giving up?” ********** Justin holds onto his sister tightly. He would not let them take her away. He didn’t care about his own life, only Molly’s. He’d kill them if he has to. “I don’t want to die,” she cries into his shirt. “You’re not going to die,” He promises. “We are going to London, just like we planned. Nothing is going to stop us.” “But what if they got on the train too?” She asks, looking up at her brother. “I’ll handle it.” Justin answers. He wasn’t sure how, but he was determined. “I don’t think I can stay on this train for two and half hours, Justin,” she confesses, wiping her tear streaked cheeks. “We can do this,” He assures her. “But what if they--” “They can’t.” Justin answers. “They cars are locked. No one can come in. If the killers are on the train, them they are stuck just like us.” “I wish Mom were here,” she sighs, closing her eyes. He nods, “I know. Me too.” Looking out at the darkened window, he wishes Brian were here too.