Chapter 4

Inner Reflection | home

"Dear God. He was in here last night!" Chris exclaimed, ripping the picture from Lance's grasp and showing it to Joey and JC who had moved beside him as well as Lonnie and Justin who had entered the room. In Chris's hands was a picture of Lance sleeping in his hotel room the night before.

"There's more." Lance said distractedly, his hands shaking as he held the piece of paper in his hands:

I thought I would return some of the stuff I didn't particularly want or need. Your contracts mean nothing to me, neither does your car or your sweet little pictures. The five of you are so cute together. If there's anything I forgot to pick up this trip, don't worry, I'll be back to get it. I'll just grab it when I grab you. So don't worry. I'll see you soon."

"Shit man. You think this guy, who ever the hell he is messed with Lance's harness yesterday." Justin asked, his eyes as wide as saucers and filled with tears.

"I'd bet my own life on it." Came a voice from the door. Everyone in the room who could, turned quickly to peer at the man with the voice, while Lance strained his neck to see.

"Who are you?" Lonnie asked, quickly moving towards him, a very angry and determined look on his face.

"Detective Shelby. I came down to investigate this case when I heard speculation from a robbery detective that this may have been more than just a simple theft." Shelby said, flipping his badge out for everyone to see.

"I don't mean to sound rude, but do you mind if I call down to the precinct to check this out?" Lonnie asked, quickly memorizing the badge number, and relaying it to Wes through the walkie talkie, not even bothering to wait for an answer from Shelby.

"I would think poorly of you if you didn't." Shelby said, taking a seat as he waited for his identity to be confirmed. Lonnie watched him like a hawk, his eyes never leaving the middle aged man.

Lance studied him too. He was tall, well built for a man who looked to be in his mid fourties. His hair was graying and starting to thin out a little near his forehead. Aside from his eyes, one would think he wasn't a day over thirty, but to Lance, his eyes told a different story.

Shelby studied Lance too, already knowing from the looks that his friends were giving the blond man, and the bit of conversation he'd heard from outside, not to mention his limited mobility, that this was the man who had fallen victim to a stalker of some sort. He knew about the accident the day before. He had teenaged daughters and it was all over the news. That's what they were chalking it all up to yesterday. A mere accident. A horrible one at that. But Shelby knew better.

"Ok, you check out. Now, what can we do for you?" Lonnie asked, still eyeing the man, looking for any danger to any of his charges, and making sure to stand between Lance and the stranger, like a father wolf protecting his cub.

"Hold on. Let me Johnny in here first. He'll be pissed if he doesn't know about this right now." Joey said, picking up his cell phone. After a hurried conversation with no good bye, only minutes passed before Johnny came knocking at the door.

"OK, what's going on? Lance, how ya feeling buddy?" Johnny asked kneeling beside Lance.

"Like shit." Lance answered.

"Ok, let's get down to business. Is everyone here that needs to be here now?" Shelby asked. After getting nod from the entire group, Shelby continued. "I know all about the so called accident yesterday. I want any thoughts you have on that first."

"I don't think it was an accident. The guys and I talked about it last night after we got Scoop, that's Lance by the way, into bed. Theirs is no possible way all three of his cables could have snapped like that. It's just not possible." Chris stated matter-of-factly. The others nodded in agreement, while Lance just looked sick.

"I'm inclined to agree with you," Shelby stopped off, waiting for a name.

"Chris Kirkpatrick."

"And Lance is the one who looks like he's going to be sick any moment I gather." Shelby said, looking sympathetically toward the young man. Lance nodded at him before groaning.

"Oh God. He is going to be sick. Someone grab a trash can." Joey exclaimed running for a trash can, but Lonnie was the first one to it. He quickly placed it near Lance as Lance started to vomit into it violently.

Lonnie rubbed Lance's back during and after Lance's stomach emptied itself. Lance settled back against his pillows when he was finished, tears from the exertion and pain in his back running down his face, his nose red and running. Sniffling Lance wiped his eyes and nose with the back of his hand.

"Here Scoop." Johnny said, bringing him a wet wash cloth.

"Thanks." Lance croaked out, smiling slightly to his friends.

"Ok, so I know Lance and Chris. What about the rest of you?" Shelby asked, bringing everyone back to the business at hand.

"Josh Chasez, but everyone calls me JC."

"Johnny Wright. I'm their manager."

"Lonnie, head of security."

"Ok, lets start with you then Lonnie, as head of security. What happened yesterday?"

"I wish I knew. As head of security, I was with the boys. I'm with the boys where ever they go as a group. So I was at sound check yesterday when the "housekeeper" came by." Lonnie said, making quotation marks with his fingers.

"I'm assuming, Mr. Wright, that you were with them also." Shelby asked, making notes in a small notebook.

"That's right. I'm with them just about everywhere they go."

"Ok, Lonnie I'll need to talk to what ever security was on duty yesterday afternoon while the guys were out." Shelby told the large man in front of him.

"Now, why don't you tell me what happened yesterday. Starting from the time you left the hotel."

"Well, when we got here we had just enough time to put our things down before we left for an interview. That was about one thirty I think." Justin told the detective. "Then we left from there and went to sound check around three."

"The hotel's security tape says that it was about two thirty that the so called housekeeper came in." Shelby told them. "Were there already people at the arena setting up for the soundcheck?"

"Of course. It takes a full day and then some to set up for a show." Johnny told him.

"How exactly does that work?"

"Well," Johnny started. "When we get to a city, one crew immediately heads to the arena or stadium or whatever that they're playing at, and starts setting up. The stage crew first. Then the lighting and sound people and special staff for pyrotechnics and stuff. The finish setting up the rest of the stage. After a concert, a different crew comes in to break everything down. Everything is checked during break down and set up. And I do mean everything."

"I'll need to speak to the people who set up yesterday and disassembled everything from the last show. Ok, so you went to sound check. Then what happened?" Shelby asked, making more notes.

"Everything was fine. Then we went up in the air. We do it everyday. And we always play around up there cause it freaks Chris out. He's scared of heights. Anyway, Joey started doing flips in his harness and I pushed him. We always play around like that. We were fighting back and forth and my safty cable broke. I told them I had a problem and then the second cable broke. Joey grabbed for me and had my harness. They said they were having a problem and couldn't get us down. The board for our side of the rig was fried. That's when the third cable snapped. Joey grabbed my arm. We were about thirty feet up in the air. Then Chris or somebody remembered the manual cranks for the rigs and got a crew up there and started lowering us. About fifteen feet or so from the stage, my grasp on Joey slipped and I fell. They took me to the hospital." Lance told him, reliving the previous afternoon.

"We spent the rest of the day there. Cancelled our show obviously, and anything else we had to do. Then we came back here about midnight. When Lance woke up this morning, I helped him into the shower. That's when we found out that his suitcase was missing. JC and I looked for it everywhere and found out about the phony house keeper." Chris explained.

"When you guys got here and saw the security tapes and told Lonnie, Lonnie told me and gave me the envelope. I gave it to Lance and it had all that stuff inside." Justin finished.

"I got the envelope from a bell boy. He came up and was going to deliver it, but there was no way I was going to let him or anyone else up on this floor after what happened yesterday." Lonnie said, still in his position, kneeling beside Lance, his protective stature never wavering.

"Wait. What envelope? What stuff?" Johnny questioned, this having been the first he'd heard of it. Lance showed him the envelope and it's contents. After Johnny had looked at it and turned very pale, almost white, he passed it to the detective. "He was in here last night?"

"Looks like it." Shelby said, looking at the pictures.

"Lance's house keys are missing from his key chain too." Joey added, pointing to the keys.

"We'll get someone down to his house to check it out." Shelby said, examining the contents of the envelope and moving to the note. "I'm going to take this with me. I think that's it for now gentlemen. Here's my card if you need me. Call me anytime no matter what." Shelby said, handing out cards to everyone, and moving towards the door. Lonnie moved with him, needing to introduce him to the security detail from the day before.

"I'll be right outside if you need anything guys." Lonnie said before he left.

"You gonna be alright, Lance?" Johnny asked, taking Lonnie's spot next to the young man.

"Yeah, I just want to go to sleep. Can someone help me to my room?" Lance asked, his voice small.

"Sure. Come on Buddy." Joey said, helping Lance to his feet amidst many grunts and hisses of pain.

Once they had made it safely to Lance's room, Joey helped him into bed and was about to leave when Lance's voice stopped him. "Joey, I'm scared." He admitted.

"I know you are JB. I'm scared too." Joey told him moving back over to the bed.

"Could you stay here with me til I fall asleep?" Lance asked, blushing at the request.

"Sure Scoop." Joey crawled into the bed next to Lance, cradling the younger man to him, but careful not to hurt him.

"Any time, Lance. I'm always here for you." Joey said as he felt Lance fall to sleep next to him. Joey soon followed.


	Inner Reflection \| home back to Help is on the Way Chapter 4 "Dear God. He was in here last night!" Chris exclaimed, ripping the picture from Lance's grasp and showing it to Joey and JC who had moved beside him as well as Lonnie and Justin who had entered the room. In Chris's hands was a picture of Lance sleeping in his hotel room the night before. "There's more." Lance said distractedly, his hands shaking as he held the piece of paper in his hands: "Lance I thought I would return some of the stuff I didn't particularly want or need. Your contracts mean nothing to me, neither does your car or your sweet little pictures. The five of you are so cute together. If there's anything I forgot to pick up this trip, don't worry, I'll be back to get it. I'll just grab it when I grab you. So don't worry. I'll see you soon." "Shit man. You think this guy, who ever the hell he is messed with Lance's harness yesterday." Justin asked, his eyes as wide as saucers and filled with tears. "I'd bet my own life on it." Came a voice from the door. Everyone in the room who could, turned quickly to peer at the man with the voice, while Lance strained his neck to see. "Who are you?" Lonnie asked, quickly moving towards him, a very angry and determined look on his face. "Detective Shelby. I came down to investigate this case when I heard speculation from a robbery detective that this may have been more than just a simple theft." Shelby said, flipping his badge out for everyone to see. "I don't mean to sound rude, but do you mind if I call down to the precinct to check this out?" Lonnie asked, quickly memorizing the badge number, and relaying it to Wes through the walkie talkie, not even bothering to wait for an answer from Shelby. "I would think poorly of you if you didn't." Shelby said, taking a seat as he waited for his identity to be confirmed. Lonnie watched him like a hawk, his eyes never leaving the middle aged man. Lance studied him too. He was tall, well built for a man who looked to be in his mid fourties. His hair was graying and starting to thin out a little near his forehead. Aside from his eyes, one would think he wasn't a day over thirty, but to Lance, his eyes told a different story. Shelby studied Lance too, already knowing from the looks that his friends were giving the blond man, and the bit of conversation he'd heard from outside, not to mention his limited mobility, that this was the man who had fallen victim to a stalker of some sort. He knew about the accident the day before. He had teenaged daughters and it was all over the news. That's what they were chalking it all up to yesterday. A mere accident. A horrible one at that. But Shelby knew better. "Ok, you check out. Now, what can we do for you?" Lonnie asked, still eyeing the man, looking for any danger to any of his charges, and making sure to stand between Lance and the stranger, like a father wolf protecting his cub. "Hold on. Let me Johnny in here first. He'll be pissed if he doesn't know about this right now." Joey said, picking up his cell phone. After a hurried conversation with no good bye, only minutes passed before Johnny came knocking at the door. "OK, what's going on? Lance, how ya feeling buddy?" Johnny asked kneeling beside Lance. "Like shit." Lance answered. "Ok, let's get down to business. Is everyone here that needs to be here now?" Shelby asked. After getting nod from the entire group, Shelby continued. "I know all about the so called accident yesterday. I want any thoughts you have on that first." "I don't think it was an accident. The guys and I talked about it last night after we got Scoop, that's Lance by the way, into bed. Theirs is no possible way all three of his cables could have snapped like that. It's just not possible." Chris stated matter-of-factly. The others nodded in agreement, while Lance just looked sick. "I'm inclined to agree with you," Shelby stopped off, waiting for a name. "Chris Kirkpatrick." "And Lance is the one who looks like he's going to be sick any moment I gather." Shelby said, looking sympathetically toward the young man. Lance nodded at him before groaning. "Oh God. He is going to be sick. Someone grab a trash can." Joey exclaimed running for a trash can, but Lonnie was the first one to it. He quickly placed it near Lance as Lance started to vomit into it violently. Lonnie rubbed Lance's back during and after Lance's stomach emptied itself. Lance settled back against his pillows when he was finished, tears from the exertion and pain in his back running down his face, his nose red and running. Sniffling Lance wiped his eyes and nose with the back of his hand. "Here Scoop." Johnny said, bringing him a wet wash cloth. "Thanks." Lance croaked out, smiling slightly to his friends. "Ok, so I know Lance and Chris. What about the rest of you?" Shelby asked, bringing everyone back to the business at hand. "Josh Chasez, but everyone calls me JC." "Joey Fatone" "Johnny Wright. I'm their manager." "Lonnie, head of security." "Ok, lets start with you then Lonnie, as head of security. What happened yesterday?" "I wish I knew. As head of security, I was with the boys. I'm with the boys where ever they go as a group. So I was at sound check yesterday when the "housekeeper" came by." Lonnie said, making quotation marks with his fingers. "I'm assuming, Mr. Wright, that you were with them also." Shelby asked, making notes in a small notebook. "That's right. I'm with them just about everywhere they go." "Ok, Lonnie I'll need to talk to what ever security was on duty yesterday afternoon while the guys were out." Shelby told the large man in front of him. "Of course." "Now, why don't you tell me what happened yesterday. Starting from the time you left the hotel." "Well, when we got here we had just enough time to put our things down before we left for an interview. That was about one thirty I think." Justin told the detective. "Then we left from there and went to sound check around three." "The hotel's security tape says that it was about two thirty that the so called housekeeper came in." Shelby told them. "Were there already people at the arena setting up for the soundcheck?" "Of course. It takes a full day and then some to set up for a show." Johnny told him. "How exactly does that work?" "Well," Johnny started. "When we get to a city, one crew immediately heads to the arena or stadium or whatever that they're playing at, and starts setting up. The stage crew first. Then the lighting and sound people and special staff for pyrotechnics and stuff. The finish setting up the rest of the stage. After a concert, a different crew comes in to break everything down. Everything is checked during break down and set up. And I do mean everything." "I'll need to speak to the people who set up yesterday and disassembled everything from the last show. Ok, so you went to sound check. Then what happened?" Shelby asked, making more notes. "Everything was fine. Then we went up in the air. We do it everyday. And we always play around up there cause it freaks Chris out. He's scared of heights. Anyway, Joey started doing flips in his harness and I pushed him. We always play around like that. We were fighting back and forth and my safty cable broke. I told them I had a problem and then the second cable broke. Joey grabbed for me and had my harness. They said they were having a problem and couldn't get us down. The board for our side of the rig was fried. That's when the third cable snapped. Joey grabbed my arm. We were about thirty feet up in the air. Then Chris or somebody remembered the manual cranks for the rigs and got a crew up there and started lowering us. About fifteen feet or so from the stage, my grasp on Joey slipped and I fell. They took me to the hospital." Lance told him, reliving the previous afternoon. "We spent the rest of the day there. Cancelled our show obviously, and anything else we had to do. Then we came back here about midnight. When Lance woke up this morning, I helped him into the shower. That's when we found out that his suitcase was missing. JC and I looked for it everywhere and found out about the phony house keeper." Chris explained. "When you guys got here and saw the security tapes and told Lonnie, Lonnie told me and gave me the envelope. I gave it to Lance and it had all that stuff inside." Justin finished. "I got the envelope from a bell boy. He came up and was going to deliver it, but there was no way I was going to let him or anyone else up on this floor after what happened yesterday." Lonnie said, still in his position, kneeling beside Lance, his protective stature never wavering. "Wait. What envelope? What stuff?" Johnny questioned, this having been the first he'd heard of it. Lance showed him the envelope and it's contents. After Johnny had looked at it and turned very pale, almost white, he passed it to the detective. "He was in here last night?" "Looks like it." Shelby said, looking at the pictures. "Lance's house keys are missing from his key chain too." Joey added, pointing to the keys. "We'll get someone down to his house to check it out." Shelby said, examining the contents of the envelope and moving to the note. "I'm going to take this with me. I think that's it for now gentlemen. Here's my card if you need me. Call me anytime no matter what." Shelby said, handing out cards to everyone, and moving towards the door. Lonnie moved with him, needing to introduce him to the security detail from the day before. "I'll be right outside if you need anything guys." Lonnie said before he left. "You gonna be alright, Lance?" Johnny asked, taking Lonnie's spot next to the young man. "Yeah, I just want to go to sleep. Can someone help me to my room?" Lance asked, his voice small. "Sure. Come on Buddy." Joey said, helping Lance to his feet amidst many grunts and hisses of pain. Once they had made it safely to Lance's room, Joey helped him into bed and was about to leave when Lance's voice stopped him. "Joey, I'm scared." He admitted. "I know you are JB. I'm scared too." Joey told him moving back over to the bed. "Could you stay here with me til I fall asleep?" Lance asked, blushing at the request. "Sure Scoop." Joey crawled into the bed next to Lance, cradling the younger man to him, but careful not to hurt him. "Thank you." "Any time, Lance. I'm always here for you." Joey said as he felt Lance fall to sleep next to him. Joey soon followed. ~*~