731

Hurt Feelings

Anthony was really bummed out. It had been 24 hours since he asked Stella to send him the information. He may not have wanted to spend time with everyone when he really wanted to just be with her, but he would take time with her where he could get it.

Stella was all he could think about when his mind had down time from research. She understood him and was kind. John hardened some of her soft edges, but she didn't allow him to make her mean. She was too stubborn for that.

If all he could get was a chance to show her how much he cared and how much he was willing to do for her. John was not like that with her. He was rude and callous of her feelings. The relationship between John and Stella had caused a rift in their organization. The team consisted of 15 individuals who investigated and/or worked with equipment. They had 8 haunted locations under their belt.

Anthony was editing footage from a previous investigation when the chat icon in the corner of his computer screen went off. Clicking, he saw Bethany had messaged him in all caps

CHECK YOUR PHONE!!!!

The phone must have been on silent! He could have slapped himself. Stella couldn't have contacted him if the phone wasn't even on. He quickly made his way to the shelf where his phone was on and, unlocking the screen, saw he had 20 missed calls and 30 texts from Bethany. When reading that Stella was missing, he grabbed his keys to drive to the hospital where Bethany was at with Alex. United General was only ten minutes from his home.

He steered onto the road trying to hurry, but not get himself in a room next to Alex. He mused to himself about how Selle could be missing. She wasn't a large person, curvy but petite. However, she could take care of herself. If she was really missing, whoever took her wasn't playing around. Merging into the next lane to make the turn to the hospital, his phone rang from an unknown number. Usually he didn't answer those calls, it was almost always about car warranties. This time he picked up.

"Is this Anthony"? a disgruntled voice asked.

"Who is this?" Anthony responded.

"I don't have time for this! If you want to see Stella again, I need you to bring her brother to an address. Apparently, their gift works better together than apart."

Now Anthony was really confused. He knew Stella and Alex were talented, but gifted seemed a stretch. They knew things the way he noticed most siblings knew things. He wouldn't know personally, seeing as he was an only child.

"Sir, where is Stella?" he tried to keep the worry out of his voice, but he knew he was failing.

"She is at the old warehouse your group investigated last year. It winded up not being haunted, just old and falling apart," the man responded in an insulting manner, "now get her brother and bring him here. No law enforcement and no group effort to free them. Otherwise I will get what I want in another way and I will be forced to kill her."

"I'll see what I can manage, but Alex is in the hospital right now. You will be forced to wait until he is released." Anthony couldn't think of any way to respond except for the truth.

"Get him here quickly and use the rear entrance. I have the front barricaded." Then the call dropped. The call ended as he was pulling into the parking lot of the hospital. He wasn't sure what kind of trouble Stella had found herself in, but Alex was going to be pissed. He didn't tolerate anyone being cruel to his sister. In fact, Alex and John had nearly come to blows in the break up of John and Stella. Stella stopped them and asked John to leave. To John's credit he did, but not before vowing to start his own investigation crew.

Anthony knew that was an empty threat. John was the muscle in moving equipment. When it came to investigation and working the cameras or editing footage, he was useless. Stella had told him that she thought John was attractive, but they didn't match in intelligence. Anthony knew he wasn't the best looking man, but he wasn't an ugly dude. He knew he was reserved and socially awkward. He never told Stella how he felt, but now he was worried he wouldn't get the chance.

Getting out of his car, he walked quickly to the door. He wanted to run, but then he would look suspicious and there was always a cop or security officer of some sort at the hospital door. Anthony didn't have to go far. He saw Bethany arguing with the charge nurse about going to the back to see Alex. He walked up to Bethany mid-rant and touched her shoulder. She whirled around ready to fight, but saw it was him. In a very unlike Bethany action, she hugged him and broke down. It was all he could do to get her to a waiting room chair as she clung to him. He thought it must be worse than what she had said earlier.

Pulling her crying form from him, he questioned her. "What is going on, Bethany?"

She hiccuped, "The paramedics were speaking of a heart attack before loading Alex up in the ambulance when he passed out. I was trying to get more information, but I am not his wife, nor do I have medical power of attorney. Without Stella, we aren't going to receive any information and I still have to finish the police report on her at the police department." She spoke so fast it was difficult for Anthony to keep up.

"I understand why they aren't giving us the information on Alex, but why do you have to fill a report out on Stella?" Anthony pondered.

"Oh Anthony, keep up!" Bethany said quickly in anger, "Stella was kidnapped. Alex and I found her shoe in front of her door, but the door was still locked. Her car wasn't broken into. We called the police to do a check-in of her house because of it and they sent an ambulance also. Alex kept saying his arm was cold and painful. His fingers were turning dark purple and black and he hadn't touched anything cold. Then his eyes glazed over and he went down. The officers allowed me to follow him in our car, while they took a look around. I gave them the spare key we had and said I would pick it up from them later, but I had to follow Alex. Now I don't even get any information on how he is doing!"

"Bethany, I received a phone call concerning Stella." "What?!" an angry and vocal Bethany exclaimed.

Shaking his head and shushing her, he continued in a hushed tone, "Bethany, an unknown number called me saying that I had to take Alex to the warehouse over on Painter Road. That he needed Alex and I am going to assume he has Stella there also. He even said no law enforcement or rescue effort. He claimed their gifts would work better together." He watched as Bethany's eyes grew like saucer's. Anthony knew that the James family had a reputation around town. Their mother never changed her maiden name and gave her children her name despite being married. Their parents had been gone for years. They were assumed dead, but Alex and Stella never had a funeral for them. Bethany's attitude towards the information told Anthony maybe the rumors about them being psychics were actually true.

Then the door that led to the treatment area of the ER was being banged on. The gray door was shaking but not opening. There wasn't much to do but watch in concern. There must have been a patient on some type of illegal drug that made them feel bulletproof. Then the very clear and distinct voice of Alex was heard.

"If you don't let me out of this room I am going to sue this entire hospital for keeping me hostage against my will! I do not need to be treated, I am fine, and I did not have a heart attack at 29!" The buzzer rang and the doors flung open. Alex saw Bethany's tear-stained face. "Emotion or rage my lady?" he asked her on his way to her. To Anthony's amazement, she grinned shyly, something he had never seen her do, and she replied, "Both." Alex leaned in to kiss Bethany, placing a hand on her hip and pulling her to him. They usually did not make many public displays of affection. Then he told her in a whisper that Anthony was still close enough to hear, "Yes Bethany, I will marry you. You don't have to scream it so loudly in my head. So let's find Stella and tell her she gets to go dress shopping with you." Bethany sighed audibly and told Alex she loved him and that she wasn't screaming, she was demanding and if she ever had to go without knowing a medical condition in a life and death situation she was going to take him out of this world herself.

Looking up at Anthony, Alex asked, "What are we waiting for? Let's get to the warehouse!"