Without A Trace

Chapter Six: Cover up Submission

Chapter 6    Cover Up   Submission
 
 
Peter Jackson sat pensive in the easy chair as Viggo paced the length of the front room anxious to hear the director’s thoughts.
 
Sean and Elijah sat on the couch watching their friend pace helplessly. Sean finally spoke. “Please sit down Viggo.  Pacing isn’t going to help.  You need to rest.”
 
Viggo gave Sean a glance and ignoring him, continued to pace.
 
Peter sighed, took off his glasses, and ran his hand over his face.  “I think we need to involve the police.”
 
Viggo stopped short. “No!” he snapped. “I’m sick of people telling me that!”
 
Peter returned his glasses to his face and looked up at his leading actor. “This is way over all our heads, Viggo.  I saw the videos. These guys aren’t fooling around.”
 
“I won’t put Orli at risk!” The Dane responded. “I want him back! I’ll do whatever it takes!”
 
Peter shifted to the edge of his chair. “Regardless of how you follow their instructions, they may not let Orlando go!”
 
“They said they would!” Viggo roared in anger.  He shook his finger at the New Zealand director. “No police.”
 
“I think Peter’s right.” Sean started to interject but Viggo swung and faced him. “Stay the hell out of this Sean!”
 
“We have to do the sensible thing here, Viggo…..” Sean tried to reason with the distraught man but Viggo just shook his head. “No.” he muttered and started to pace again. “No police.  Orli’s going through enough, I won’t risk his life.”
 
“His life is already at risk.” Peter insisted firmly. “What on earth makes you think you can trust their word?”
 
Viggo stopped short and stalked over to Peter glowering. “Because I have nothing else to go by!”
 
The director wasn’t intimidated by the Dane obvious aggression. “We have to leave this up to the professionals, Viggo.”
 
“I said NO!” Viggo yelled.
 
Peter sat back in his chair and crossed his legs.  He studied Viggo silently for a few moments before speaking. “Look, I know how you feel…”
 
“How the hell could you possibly know how I feel! That’s my lover they’re abusing.  My life they’re threatening to take away from me!” Viggo’s voice wavered on the verge of breaking as tears misted his eyes. “Maybe to you he’s only an actor, but to me…”
 
Peter was visibly hurt by the accusation but said nothing.
 
Sean spoke firmly. “That’s not fair Viggo.  We’re like a family here and all of us feel as if Orlando’s part of the family.”
 
Elijah sat next to Sean, up to now, keeping quiet as the conversation unfolded in front of him but Viggo’s statement had cut him to the bone. “He’s my best friend, not just a co-actor.”
 
Viggo looked to the young American, then Sean, and finally back to Peter.  He finally registered all the emotional hurt they all felt.  Hot tears started to streak his face. “I’m sorry.” He choked out. “It’s just…”  Unable to finish his sentence, he turned and walked out of the room.  Moments later everyone heard the door leading out to the back yard open and close.
 
Sean looked at Peter, then slowly got to his feet. “I’m sure he didn’t mean what he said.  He’s hurting so bad right now.”
 
Peter and Elijah both nodded but did not reply.
 
“I’ll go talk to him.” Sean offered. “We’ll figure something out.”  With that Sean quickly left the room.
 
Elijah glanced helplessly at the Director sitting next to him. Reluctant to know the answer, the young American asked anyway. “Do you think they’ll let Orli go if Viggo does as they ask?”
 
Pete looked at Elijah the utter pain and uncertainty evident in his eyes. “I don’t know, Elijah. These fools are serious.  They haven’t even bothered to try and hide their identity from him. They don’t care whether they hurt Orlando or not.  I just don’t know but I seriously doubt that they’ll let him go.  They may be praying on Viggo’s desperation to get what they want and once they do……” the Director sighed and let the rest of his explanation trail off.  He looked thoughtfully towards the kitchen, in the direction both older actors went, then spoke softly more to himself then anyone else. “This is way out of our league.  None of us can do this alone.  The police should be called.”
 
Elijah didn’t reply, from the videos he had watched, he didn’t doubt the need for lawful intervention.  Even then, it didn’t insure the safe return of his friend.
 
 
***
 
 
Sean stepped quietly out onto the deck and shut the door behind himself.  He looked up and let his eyes trail over to his friend who stood at the far end of the deck arms resting on the railing as he peered blankly over the large expanse of back yard.
 
The British actor took a deep breath and walked over next to the Dane and leaned a hip against the railing right next to Viggo.
 
Viggo smiled without looking at him.  “We just had that barbeque last weekend.” He stated flatly.  “Everyone was here, Astin, Dom, Billy, Ian, John, David, Liv, you, me…..Orlando.”
 
Sean just studied his friend silently.
 
Viggo glanced up to the man next to him, tears misting his eyes as he chuckled in remembrance. “Orli had way too much to drink.  I had to carry him to the car because he couldn’t walk.  He kept telling me I was his hero, saving him from his impending public humiliation of not living up to the perfect graceful elf should he fall down in his drunken stupor in front of the fellowship.”  He straightened up from the railing and faced Sean completely. “He mumbled something about Dwarves not letting the Prince of Mirkwood live it down should he stumble and chip a nail.  I told him to quit being the melodramatic, prissy elf, because even elves chipped nails in battle.  He called me an imperfect filthy human. I forget what I said then but I remember he told me he loved me just the same.”
 
“Viggo-“  Sean started but Viggo cut him off.  “I made love to him most of that night and the next morning.  He begged me to.  He said he wanted to have that perfect night forever in his mind during the long rough retakes of Helm’s Deep.   He said he needed it to remind him that without these films he never would have found me.”  Tears coursed down the man’s face as he looked right into his friend’s eyes. “I have to get him back, Sean.  And without the police there’s a better chance that I will.  I spoke to the kidnappers.  They aren’t amateurs. These bastards promised me that if I involved the police they’d kill Orli for sure.  It’s a chance I’m not willing to take.”
 
Sean stood silently and watched Viggo flip the long brown hair he’d grown for the role of Aragorn from his eyes.  The Dane had a valid point but on the same token, these men hadn’t bothered to conceal their faces to anyone. “Viggo, I can truly see your point but these men haven’t even bothered to keep their identities hidden.  Because of that, they can’t be trusted.   As sure as I stand here, they had absolutely no intentions of letting Orlando go when they first took him.  We can’t be so sure that they’ve changed their minds now.”
 
Unwavering steel blue-grey eyes met equally firm green ones. “You feel the same as Pete does.” Viggo concluded defensively.
 
Sean shrugged and cast his gaze to the floor of the deck.  “There’s no way to be certain that they’ll release Orlando if you don’t involve the police.  At least if the police come into the picture, there’s a better chance they’ll get Orlando out unharmed.”
 
Viggo pondered the statement his friend made for a few moments, then without warning strode back towards the kitchen door. “Oh, yes there is.” He called over his shoulder to his co-star.
 
Sean started from the sudden actions of his friend and quickly followed him back to the house. “What are you going to do Viggo?”
 
Viggo jerked the screen door open and stopped so short that Sean almost walked into him.  “I’m going to see if our lines of communication are still open and if they are, I can e-mail them.  Get a better feel of their true motives. Throw a few bargaining chips their way.  I’ll decide what to do after that.”
 
With that Viggo stepped into the house with Sean right behind him.  Viggo headed straight for the computer and sat down on the chair in front of it while Sean went to the front room to tell Pete and Elijah what was planned.
 
Sean stopped in the kitchen entrance and spoke to Pete and Elijah. “Come to the kitchen, Viggo says he’s got a plan.”
 
Pete and Elijah both jumped to their feet and followed Sean back to the kitchen.
 
“What fool idea has he got in his head now?” The director asked.
 
“Have to wait and see.”  Sean replied as they all made their way over to the table and gathered around Viggo who was too busy typing to bother with answering his friend’s inquires.
 
Pete stepped up close behind his leading actor and peered at the screen, reading as the Dane typed.  He waited until Viggo was done typing before making comment.
 
Viggo finished typing and before anyone could finish reading or protest he sent it.
 
“What the hell?” Pete questioned, shocked that Viggo hadn’t let them read it completely before he sent it.
 
“If I had have waited, you would still be saying the police should be notified.  I need to prove to you that they’ll let Orlando go, unharmed without involving the police.”  Viggo explained, then thought to himself. ‘I need to prove it to myself as well.’
 
“Can we read it?” Sean insisted, slightly annoyed that Viggo had just up and done it without explaining to any of them what he was doing. “Not that it’s going to make much difference now.”
 
The Dane pushed his chair back and allowed the others to crowd in front of the computer.  Elijah quickly opened the sent list and they read it silently.
 
Pete was the first to speak.  “So you think offering them another million will urge them to let Orlando go alive?”
 
“Yes.” Viggo replied pointedly. “Between that and the fact that I’ll give them twenty four hours to leave the country before taking Orli to the hospital.  As long as they don’t hurt him, that is.  I asked them to let Orli see the message I sent and find out if he agrees to it.  I need it to be Orlando’s decision.  He knows exactly what they look like. He is the one suffering at their hands.  They’re to let him ring me and tell me himself what he wants.”
 
Pete nodded. “Fair enough. We’ll wait and see but if Orlando refuses, or the kidnappers don’t allow him that choice, we’d better contact the police immediately.”
 
“I know Orlando. He’ll agree. And I know them, they’ll let him ring me.”  Viggo stated. He’ll agree to anything to get himself out of this mess.
 
“So, now we wait?” Elijah asked.
 
“We wait.”  Viggo confirmed.
 
 
_______________________________________________________________________
 
 
It wasn’t until the following evening that Len came into the bedroom, carrying a soft leather sash with him.  Without a word, he shut the door and walked over to the bed.
Orlando looked up from his make shift bed on the floor and eyed the sash nervously.
 
“Kneel on the bed.” Len instructed. “Lean forward and hold onto the bedpost.”
 
Orlando didn’t move.
 
Len sighed.  “If you don’t do as I say I’ll get Denver in here to help me with you.”  He casually slapped the leather sash against his thigh. “He’ll help me in more ways than one.  I promise you that.”
 
Orlando slowly got to his feet and ignoring his still throbbing ankle, walked over to the bed and climbed onto the mattress. His ankle barely bothered him now.  He shifted to his knees and leaned forward to grasp the right hand post of the headboard.  It was a straining position, forcing him to bear most of his weight on his upper body.  He stayed there and silently watched as Len first flipped the chain out of the way and then bound the sash tightly around Orli’s wrists and the bedpost, securing him there.  Orlando’s knees sank into the old mattress and the bed dipped as Len climbed onto the bed behind him after removing his own pants. 
 
Len slid his hand softly against Orli’s inner thigh, spreading the boy’s legs, and shifted to settle in between them.
 
Orlando tensed when he felt his captor’s unlubricated finger push into him.  His face heated with humiliation as Len stretched and stroked him deeply, his finger grazing over the young actor’s sweet spot causing a forced erection.
 
“Don’t.” Orlando whispered in a breathy plea. “Please don’t.  I’m still sore…..”
 
Len ignored him and continued his ministrations.  He leaned over the bare, trembling body beneath him and whispered seductively in the Brit’s ear.  “I’m gonna take you slow, let you enjoy every minute of this.”  Len then removed his hand, moved closer behind his prisoner and slid his hard member easily into the tight resisting heat in one smooth thrust.
 
Orlando gasped from the pain and stiffened against the intrusion.  He squeezed his eyes shut and tried to block out his impending rape. He was horrified to realize that for the first time since his capture, Len’s goal was to get him completely aroused and responsive to the touches.
 
Len stilled after sinking deep into his victim. He gripped Orli by the hips and guided the young actor back almost onto his lap.  He drew a satisfying breath, then slid one of his hands around Orlando’s waist and grabbed him firmly between the legs. He started to stroke Orli and chuckled softly as the flesh in his hand grew even harder from his touch.
 
Orlando trembled, his hands were tied, and he was trapped between Len’s member buried deep within him and the grip on his cock.  He was unable to stop his treacherous body from responding and became disgusted as he eventually found himself instinctively thrusting forward into the tight grip of the fist around him.
 
Len smiled, pleased with the way Orlando was responding to his touches. “Good boy.” He growled lustily.  He speed his strokes slightly, pulling Orlando closer to completion and when he felt the young actor shudder under him from the unwanted nearing climax he stilled his hand, gripping the rigid flesh tightly at the base.
 
Orli choked a whimper as he hovered on the brink.  His head swam from the forced sensations.
 
Len then started to ride the shivering body under him with slow deep thrusts, still keeping his hand firmly clamped around Orlando’s erection.  As he neared his own orgasm, he again started to stroke Orlando skillfully.  With a shuddered sob Orlando came, his seed spilling over his captor’s hand and his passage tightening around Len’s cock drawing the man over with him.
 
Len groaned in ecstasy as he emptied himself deep into the unwilling body then collapsed onto the sweat slicked back below him. Orlando strained to keep upright against the added weight.  
 
When Len came back to himself he shifted, reached up, undid the sash, and allowed Orlando’s spent body to drop to the bed.
 
As soon as Len got off of him, Orli curled in on himself and started to cry, his hitching breaths breaking the silence in the room.
 
Len regarded him casually as he stood by the bed and pulled on his pants.  “I’ll bring you water later.” He informed the young man as he did up his zipper.  He walked over to the door and with one last silent glance at his victim, left the room, locking the door after him.
 
Orlando broke down completely, burying his face into the mattress to silence his mournful sobs.
 
 
***
 
 
Len stepped into the kitchen and sat down next to his friend who was reading the e-mail over for what seemed to be for the five hundredth time.
 
Denver looked to Len a grin spreading across his features as he asked. “How’s the little slut tonight?”
 
Len smiled back in complete satisfaction. “Oh, he cooperated quite nicely for me the little whore that he is.  I could get quite used to having him around.  He doesn’t realize it but his body just begs to have me deep inside him.” He hesitated nodding as he thought, then out loud to Denver. “Yes, I could keep that pretty little ass around for a long time.”
 
Denver turned back to the computer with a lop-sided smirk.  “He is rather beautiful. I’d be curious to see what he looks like in about ten years.”
 
Len pointed to the computer screen. “Gonna answer that soon?”
 
Denver shrugged. “Not too sure yet, figured I’d let the fucker sweat over his love for a few more hours.”
 
“A few more hours?  We got that this morning.  He offers a pretty enticing deal.”  Len stated.
 
Denver turned to his accomplice. “That pretty boy we have been using in the back bedroom there has seen our faces.  He’ll know everything there is to know about us, right down to that cute little mole you’ve got beside your cock.  If he decides to go to the police we won’t have a hope in hell of ever getting out of the country unnoticed.”
 
“Oh, I think we can arrange a way to get the boy to keep his lovely mouth shut.  His lover is obviously only interested in getting him back in one piece.  I don’t think it’ll take much convincing to get Mortensen to keep our little party to himself.  He’s desperate enough.  After seeing first hand what we’ve been doing to his sweet little whore he knows what we’re more than capable of.  He’ll do as we say if he wants Orlando back.”  Len was positive of that.  The proposition that Viggo had sent to them was more than testament enough.  “Tell Mortensen that if we can convince his slut to keep away from the police, we’ll let the boy live. Tell him I’ll have his slut phone him in the morning.  Then I want you to print a copy off for me to show the whore.”
 
Denver nodded turned back to the computer and started typing the response.
 
 
____________________________________________________________________________________
 
 
Viggo sat at the kitchen absently picking at the food on his plate.  It had been thirteen hours since he’d received a response from the kidnappers agreeing to his proposal.
 
Elijah and Pete ate their breakfast silently, glancing occasionally at the quiet Dane sitting across from them.
 
Pete had arrived early that morning to inform his actors what he’d arranged for stalling the shoot.
 
Sean had left for his bank, earlier this morning. Immediately after Viggo had received the kidnappers returned e-mail, he called his accountant and set up an appointment for very, very early the next morning explaining to his friends that it was going to take awhile to convince his accountant to let him at his money and that he wanted to be back at the house in plenty of time for the awaited phone call from Orlando.
 
The strain, fear and hurt on Viggo’s face broke Pete’s heart and after watching his main actor for a few moments unaware of the audience he’d attracted, finally spoke. “They’ve agreed, Viggo.  They’ll let him call.  Try to eat.”
Viggo sighed, set his fork down and rested his elbows on the table. “Why the hell did they say they’d let him call in the morning? Why couldn’t they let him call last night?  What the hell is the wait for?  Are they going to force Orlando to agree?  Abuse him into submission?”
 
“I think they just want to go over your offer with him.” Elijah interjected softly.
 
“They aren’t leaving him a hell of a lot of choice.” Viggo replied. “Either he agrees, or they’ll kill him.”
 
Pete got up from the table and went over to the coffee pot and poured himself a cup.
 “I spoke to Fran, she’s going to cover until this is cleared up.  I told her to tell everyone else that I have to shut down production because I have a family emergency to look after.  I told her that it’d be about a week before we start filming again.” He looked to Viggo to study his reaction as he said the next statement. “I had to tell her what was going on but told her to keep quiet. I also told her that Sean, Elijah, and you would not be coming back to the set either until early next week and told her why.”
 
“I appreciate that.” Viggo sighed and ran his hand over his face. “Two full days to go.”
 
“That’s okay.  I’ve got a meeting at the bank this afternoon.  Between the four of us, we’ll have enough money to give them what they want.” Pete assured. “Then the bastards will let Orlando come home.”
 
Viggo stifled a sob and quickly looked down at the table to avoid his friends’ concerned looks.  “What shape is he going to be in when they give him back to me?  With all they’ve done to him, he can’t possibly be the same young man I met when we first started this film.  I can’t bare the thought of him loosing his love for life.”
 
“We’ll deal with those issues later, Viggo, when we get Orli back.” Elijah offered. “Let’s just get him back first.”
 
Pete turned the conversation back to the ransom money. “You’ve arranged to get your money available for yourself?”
 
Viggo nodded. “Everything I own. It’s all I have.”  He didn’t care if he walked away penniless.  Orlando was priceless to him and if being poor for the rest of his life meant getting his love back safely, then he’d be more than happy to live in a cardboard box as long as Orlando was right beside him, safe and sound.
 
“I spoke to my accountant this morning.” Elijah added. “He questioned my large withdrawal but I out right told him it was none of his business.”  Elijah was slightly better off financially than Viggo simply because he’d been acting since he was just a little kid.
 
“Then we’re all set money wise.” Pete concluded. “Other than my going to the bank this afternoon.”
 
Viggo slowly got to his feet. “God, just bring him back to me in one piece.” He pleaded under his breath, then to Pete and Elijah. “I can’t thank you enough for everything you’re all doing for Orlando and I.”
 
“That’s what family is all about.” Elijah said sincerely.
 
Viggo quietly nodded and left the kitchen.  Moments later the front door opened, then closed softly.
 
Elijah looked down to Viggo’s barely touched breakfast. “I wish he’d eat something. He hasn’t slept or eaten since this started.”
 
“He will, Elijah. He just needs this to end.” Pete responded. “He needs Orlando back, then he’ll eat and sleep.”
 
“He can’t keep functioning without food or sleep though.” Elijah started to rise from his chair. “Maybe I’ll go talk to him.”
 
Pete walked over and stopped Elijah with a hand to his shoulder. “No. Viggo needs time alone. He needs to think. Let him be.” He gave the young American’s shoulder a gentle squeeze. “I’m going to phone the fellowship cast and arrange to meet with them later this morning before I go to the bank.  I need to give them some reason as to why none you are returning their calls.  Stalling the film has just piqued their concern and I know they’re hurt because they haven’t heard from you, Orlando, or Viggo.  I need to try and calm everybody down.”
 
Elijah settled back into his chair and nodded agreement. “It’s probably best Viggo and I haven’t returned their calls.  I don’t think we really know what to tell them.  It’ll be hard enough to explain to them why we didn’t let them in on this, once this is over.”
 
Pete gave Elijah’s shoulder a pat. “I’ll look after it.”