The next day things were tense at the kitchen table. Lee knew his parents had a row last night. He couldn’t hear what about but he thought he had heard his and Whitney’s name. He was more determent then ever in finding out what was going on.
Mick was on edge. Last night he had a huge row with Linda about Lee finding out and on top of all that he’d gotten a couple of calls by an unknown number. The first few times he didn’t answer but when he finally did, there was only silence on the other end. Fearing it was Aidan tormenting him, he wasn’t sure what to do about it. Linda had an alarm installed so they couldn’t come in unnoticed. But if Aidan kept this up, he would change his number. Maybe that would stop him.
Whitney had a restless night. First Lee with all his akward questions and then the unknown calls she got throughout the night. When she answered, she only got silence and it was creeping her out. She had put her phone on silent because everytime it rang, she jumped in fright. Scared to even see who was calling, she left her phone on her bed.
Linda was angry with Whitney. She once again intervered in her live. She wished she would just leave Walford so she wouldn’t be a problem anymore. Linda needed Whitney to come in now to clean up while she and Mick went to the cash and carry. But Whitney wouldn’t answer her phone, making Linda angrier with her. Linda told Mick she was going over to Stacey’s house to see where Whitney was. Mick almost offered to do it instead of her, but one look at Linda and he knew it would be the wrong move. Lee went with Linda because he wanted to talk to Whitney.
Linda rang the bell and when there was no answer, she banged on the door.
Linda: WHITNEY! Open the door!
Lee: mum! What are you doing?
Linda: I want to know why she’s not answering her phone. She’s messing everything up as usual. Whitney!
Whitney opened the door. She looked pale and scared.
Whitney: Linda?! Why are you yelling?
Linda: don’t you ever answer your phone? I’ve been calling you. I need you to start early. Mick and I are going to the cash and carry and I need you to start with the clean up. I expect you to be at the Vic in five minutes!
Linda stormed off and Whitney knew she was mad at her again. Knowing Lee, he probably had asked more questions.
Lee was worried about Whitney. She looked really scared when opening the door.
Lee: Whit? Are you okay?
Whitney: yeah, I just forgot my phone so I never heard it ring. I’ll just grab my purse and then I’m ready to go.
When they arrived at the Vic, Mick and Linda were arguing. Mick was supposed to go with Linda but there was a problem with the pumps that needed fixing right away. Linda wanted him to go with her, but Mick said she could go without him. Lee offered to go with his mum and Mick jumped at that solution.
Mick: there! Lee will go with you and then I can fix the damn pumps! Without them we can not open up L, you know that. You go with Lee and when your back I will have fixed everything.
Linda knew Mick was right and without saying another word, walked to the car. Lee waited till Whitney was out of earshot and told his dad his worries about Whitney. Mick said he would look out for Whitney. After Lee and Linda drove off, Mick went in search of Whitney. She was just getting water to clean the floor and didn’t hear him come in. When he said her name, she dropped the bucket and screamed.
Mick: Whit?! I didn’t mean to scare you. Why are you so jumpy?
Whitney: Mick.. something.. I..
Mick: what is it? Has something happened?
Whitney couldn’t hold back the tears and started crying. Mick wasn’t expecting that and after a second hesitation, went to her and pulled her in his arms. He held her and tried to find out what had her so scared. Whitney tried to pull herself together and she told Mick about the strange calls she got.
Mick: wait, what? Some unknown number is calling you and when you answer it, there’s only silence?
Whitney: yeah. It’s freaking me out. I’m scared Mick.
Mick: I know babe. I’ve been getting the same calls.
Whitney: what?! Do you think… could it be Aidan?
Mick: I don’t know but that was my first thought. Now I’m not so sure. Why would he do the same to you?
Whitney: maybe because I helped you last friday? What are we to do Mick?
Mick: don’t worry babe. I will sort it out.
Mick held Whitney by her arms and stroked her arms while looking in her eyes. He knew he was playing with fire but seeing Whitney so worried made him feel very protective. He leaned in and gently kissed her. It was meant as a reassuring kiss but once he felt her lips again, he couldn’t stop. Mick pulled her closer when he felt her responding. He had to end it before anyone walked in and slowly stopped. They were breathing heavy and were relecutant to let go of each other. The sound of Mick’s phone ringing mad them jump apart and when Mick saw it was Linda calling, he at first was relieved. But then he thought about what he had done a couple of seconds ago and he sighed before anwsering the phone.
Whitney used the time that Mick was on the phone to calm done and think of what to say. She didn’t see Mick but felt him coming closer.
Mick: Whit, I’m..
Whitney: let’s forget about that shall we? I need to get these floors cleaned before Linda comes back. I think we’re out of cleaning product. I’ll just get some.
Mick tried to talk to Whitney but she had already walked out the door and Mick knew he had once again made a mess of things. Why did he keep doing this? Hurting the people he loved? He needed to hit something so maybe now was a good time to try and fix the pumps.
He lost track of time and was in the cellar checking the barrels when Linda yelled for him He went up to see what she wanted.
Linda: why has nothing been done? Where is Whitney?
Mick: what do you mean? She went out to get some cleaning stuff. I’m sure she’ll be back any minute.
Linda: when was that Mick? Because we open in a few minutes and nothing’s been done!
Mick: what? That can’t be. She left after you called. Something’s wrong.
Mick ran outside and went straight to the minute mart. When he asked Honey if she had seen Whitney, she told him no. He then ran to Stacey’s house and hoped Whitney would be there. But when Stacey opened the door and she too told him she hadn’t seen Whitney, he really started to worry.
Mick: Stacey, can you check for me if Whitney’s phone is in her room?
Stacey: why not call her?
Mick: because she left her phone today! Will you just check!
Stacey went to Whitney’s room and shortly after came back with Whitney’s phone in her hand. Seeing the phone Mick started to panic. Lee and Linda walked up just in time to see Stacey show Mick the phone.
Stacey: Mick?! What is going on? Where’s Whitney?
Mick: I don’t know! God help me, I don’t know!
Linda: Mick?
Lee saw the state his dad was in but had no time thinking about it because Mick ran back to the Vic. Linda and Lee quickly followed and once inside Mick was frantically looking up something on his phone.
Linda: Mick! Tell me what is happening!
Mick: it’s Aidan! He.. I think he..
At that moment his phone rang. It was an unknown number and Mick answered. Once again there was only silence and Mick snapped.
Mick: you son of a bitch! What have you done with her?! TELL ME!
Aidan: tsk tsk Michael. No reason to insult my dear mother, may she rest in peace.
Mick: Where is she?! Where is Whitney?!
Aidan: ah yes. Your very special friend. Now I know why she was the one that came to your rescue when none of your other friends turned up.
Mick: what do you want!
Aidan: what I’ve always wanted. Your public apology but this time I need more. I can’t go back to the square, Phil made sure of that. So I want the stuff Halfway said that the guards stole.
Mick: how am I supposed to do that?
Aidan: I don’t care, just remember tick tock. Whitney hasn’t got much time.
Aidan hung up and just as Mick was about to throw his phone, there was a sound telling him he had a videomessage. When he pressed play and saw what was on it, his knees buckled and he cried out.
Mick: Whitney! No!
Lee and Linda rushed over to watch it too and they were just as shocked. It was a video of Whitney standing in something that looked like a deep pit. Her hands were tied above her head and she had a gag in her mouth. Slowly water poured in and at this rate, she would drown. She really didn’t have much time. Mick stopped the video and tried to think.
Lee: mum? What are you doing? Who are you calling?
Linda: I’m calling the police. Aidan went to far this time.
Mick: No! You can’t! He will know and then Whitney will surely be dead. No, we need to find out where she is. I need to call Halfway and find those other guys. We need to… I don’t know! I don’t know how to save her!
Lee: oh my God! You’re the guy aren’t you? You’re the guy Whitney fell for after I left! I don’t believe it!
Mick: we don’t have time for this! Leave it!
But Lee wasn’t hearing him and he took a swing. At that moment Jack and Stacey walked in. Stacey had been worried after Mick came by and asked Jack to come to in case there were problems. Jack quickly stepped in to seperate Mick and Lee.
Jack: hey! Hey! Stop it! What are you doing?
Lee: HE WENT AFTER MY WIFE! No wonder you wanted me out of the way!
Mick: you really want to do this now?! SHE COULD BE DYING ANY MINUTE!
Stacey: wait?! What?!
Mick: Aidan has Whitney trapped somewhere. She is tied up and water is coming in. We need to find her!
Jack: how do you know?
Mick showed them the video and after watching it twice, Jack thought he recogniced where Whitney was being held. It was one of the new building sites not far from the square. They immediatly raced over there and it looked very familiar. They heard water flowing and they rushed over only to find the pit already full of water. They saw a rope tied up and going into the water. Mick jumped in and tried to find Whitney under the water. He dove several times but couldn’t find her. Only when he was to exhausted to keep his own head above water, did he climb out with the help of Lee and Jack. Mick sat on the ground staring at the water. He had failed her.
Sirenes where coming closer as Linda had called the police. They had tried to get Mick away from the pit but he was unresponsive and wouldn’t be moved. Jack explained to the police what had happened and they began a search of the grounds. The police had finally managed to get Mick away from he pit and into an ambulance where he was being checked out. He was still staring ahead of him, not really seeing anything. But then suddenly there was a commotion and he heard someone say that they had found her. Althought it would kill him inside, he had to see her. He ran out of the ambulance and followed the others running towards a small building.
Expected to see a lifeless body, he was totally unprepared to see Whitney walking out of the building with the help of a police officer. It was like he ran into a brick wall and he stumbled back, not believing his eyes. Only when he heard her say his name did he wake up form this daze he’d been in ever since he couldn’t find her in the water.
Mick stood in front of Whitney, scared to touch her and find out it was all a dream. His hand shook as he reached for her and when he felt her, his emotions were all over the place. He crushed her into his embrace, crying and laughing at the same time. And then, in front of everyone, he kissed her. Pouring all the love he felt for her in that one kiss.
Lee and Linda were watching Mick kiss Whitney like his live depended on it and Lee stepped forward to put an end to it, but his mother’s hand on his arm stopped him. When he looked at his mother, he saw she was crying and shaking her head. Not knowing what else to do, Lee took his mothers hand and lead her away.
Whitney had to tell the police what had happened after Aidan took her away. Mick refused to leave her and since he was involved, he was allowed to stay. While a paramedic was checking her for injuries, Whitney told them what she knew.
Whitney: Aidan wanted to teach Mick a lesson. Show him that he could still do anything. So he tied me in this pit and made a video to send to Mick. Aidan told me it was never his intention to kill me. He just wanted to scare Mick. So after they made the video, they looked me in this building and left.
Police officer: do you have any idea where he was going?
Whitney: No, sorry.
Police officer: that’s alright. We’ll find him. Thank you and if we have any further questions, we’ll call you.
Mick: can I take her home now?
Paramedic: yes you can. Make sure you see your own doctor tomorrow.
Whitney: I will. Thank you.
Mick took Whitney to his car. He was surprised to see Jack standing next to it. He only now noticed that Lee and Linda were gone. When he looked at Jack, he told him that they had already gone back to the Vic. Jack drove them back to the square and Mick stayed with Whitney in the backseat. They stayed there after Jack left the car.
Whitney: you should go in. I will probably sleep till morning.
Mick: Whit, babe.. when I knew that Aidan had taken you, I panicked. I didn’t know what to do, I was so scared. When I thought I had.. lost you.. I think a part of me died. I never want to feel that again.
Whitney: what are you saying?
Mick: I love you. I want to be with you. I want to look after you, be there for you.
Whitney: but what about Linda? And Lee?
Mick: I don’t care. I’ll gladly leave everything behind just to be with you. So what do you say? If I leave now, will you go with me?
Whitney looked at Mick, saw he was being serious and smiled. She pulled him into an embrace and gave him her answer.
