Father Knows Best...or Does He? (COMPLETE)

Vanished...

"I don't understand, Gene..." Caroline said through her tears, having woke to find that Paul was gone. "First my only grandchild goes missing, now my only son..."

"It's okay, Mrs. Eisen..." Gene assured. "I'm sure Paul probably just stepped out for a bit to try and clear his mind..."

The door lock clicked as the knob turned and Paul then entered, coming into the living room where his mother and best friend were.

"Stanley!!" Caroline sprang up from her seat, running over and throwing her arms around him; grateful that he had returned and he was okay. "You had me worried sick!!"

"I'm fine, mom..." Paul assured, hugging her lightly.

Gene noticed Paul's eyes were bloodshot from both lack of sleep and drinking, he could also smell the vague scent of alcohol on him and immediately became concerned.

"Any word?" Paul asked.

"Not so-" Gene went to answer but was interrupted by the ring of the telephone.

"I'll get it." Paul said as he crossed the floor. "Hello?" He answered. "Speaking."

Paul listened for a few minutes as a more concerned expression came over his face.

"Yes...is she all right?" He asked, causing even more worry among Caroline and Gene. "Oh thank God..." He breathed a sigh of relief. "Yes...I understand."

"What is it, Stanley?" Caroline asked. "Is Santana okay?"

Paul held his hand up as he kept listening. "Yes, okay...thank you." He said, hanging the receiver up.

He then turned to find the curious and worried expressions of his mother and best friend, both wanting an explanation.

"They found her." He said, letting out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding. "She's with Peter at a cabin upstate in Lake Placid."

"Thank the Lord above!!" Caroline said, relief lacing her tone.

"What are we doing just standing here?!" Gene asked. "We need to go and get her!!"

"No, Gene..." Paul said, concern still heavy in his voice. "They think Peter may be armed, so they have to be careful how they approach."

Caroline immediately sprang back to being panicked. "My granddaughter is up there with that armed maniac!! I'm supposed to just sit back here and wait for 'them' to make a move?!"

"Mom...mom, listen to me..." Paul said, pulling his mother into his embrace and willing her to calm down. "I'm just as anxious to go and bring her home as you are but we have to listen to Detective Andrews...this is for our safety and most importantly, Santana's..." He explained, looking down at her.

Tears welled in Caroline's eyes, she then slowly nodded.

"So when are they gonna move?" Gene asked, frustrated.

"Tomorrow night..." Paul began. "Detective Andrews has to put together a couple of teams and draw up a plan of approach..."

"And then Santana will be home?" Caroline asked hopeful.

"We can only hope so..." Paul said.

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"Ah, ah, ah...." Peter smiled, gently easing the wine glass away from Santana's lips. "You're still under age, young lady..." He said in a mock fatherly tone.