pickuptoy

“When I ran away, my lawyer, a dude named Guy Fellowes, arranged what was basically a private witness protection service,” I said. I saw the brief recognition in her eyes when I mentioned Fellowes. She must know him. That was terrifying. “Guy Fellowes was the guy who was putting together the investment group for Curtis.” “I didn’t know that this whole deal was based on your convenient death,” she said in a slightly playful way. “That’s why I was so paranoid about my birthday dinner,” I said. “I figured this out and came up with a plan to escape. If I hadn’t, I’m pretty sure that my guards would have turned into my captors, and then my murderers.” That bothered her, so she predictably changed the subject. “Stefan, and probably you, made out like a bandit on that deal, and I got fucked,” she said, and she was definitely angry about that. I believe with the mention of Guy Fellow and Travis noticing that she seemed to recognize his name that he is in all this with her. But when Travis mentioned that he thought his guards would turn into his captures and eventually his murderers. She may be realizing that maybe be what happens to her too. Fellows wants all he can get not only from Travis but all she has too. But he may not know that the guards didn't take her phone away from her. But who was she texting. I wonder if Fellow would know if guards didn't take her phone. Them knowing she is part of this supposedly fake kidnapping to their knowledge, didn't think it would harm. Most of the time in even in a perfect crime, someone involved screws up.

Thanks @Mark Arbour Great chapter. Now we know more about the kidnapping plan. I just hope Taylor is using her phone and not a burner phone. Jake and Brad will now be able to locate them with or without the search warrant. I still hope during the rescue a stray bullet hits her between the eyes. I don't care for Zach but he will get over her and be better off without her in the long run. But hoping Travis will be spared any injuries. Keep up the great work.

Thanks for the latest Chapter Mark. So many more questions now that we know Taylor is involved. And why is she roleplaying as being kidnapped herself? Didn't one of the guards backslap her? I think Travis thought it must have hurt. Is she there to get answers from Travis? Or was she involved at first and now the kidnappers are going to see what they can get out of her too? I don't see where Zach would have brought Travis's passport and watch to Will if he is involved in any way. However this ends. I hope a stray bullet goes between fatally hits Taylor, but Travis is spared any harm. Can't wait for the next chapter.

@Mark Ponyboy Peters This is my third time reading "After we Danced" 1st times was probably 15 years or so ago on NIfty. Then again 4 or 5 years ago on your site. A few months ago I saw where you had posted a few chapters of "Thompsonville" on GA. I had read it also on Nifty until you stopped posting on there. I got to looking to see if you were posting anywhere else and found that you had your own site and started reading "After we Danced and the rest thru "Thompsonville" They have turned into a great series of all the gang. Since you are posting on GA do you think you may have more books coming in the series? I have kept going back every now and then to your site checking to see if you might have started another story in the series. I really hope you do. Every story you write shows your growth in writing. "Thompsonville" is as good as any novel availabe in any bookstore today. Just keep up the great work.

I have eaten at all but 6 of the list above. I have only been to In-N-Out Burger 2 times and wasn't impressed at all. I had always heard people raving on how good they were. Of the 19 on the list I have eaten at they would be about 15th above Checkers/Rally's, Sonic, Carl's Jr., and White Castle, and I won't have a burger at any of those 4. The Habit Burger Grill, Islands Restaurants, Mooyah Burgers, Fries & Shakes, Wahlburgers, Smashburger, and Fatburger are the ones I haven't been too. I have heard good things about Wahlburgers. Over the last year I have seen a number of articles about the best burger joints in the country. None of them have been close to the same in rankings. I guess it is a matter of everyone's personal taste. Of the list. Culver's is my favorite and then Red Robin, Wayback Burgers, Five Guys, and Freddy's Steakburgers round out the top 5. One that I always really like was Backyard Burgers. but I think they are almost all gone now except a few up in TN may still be open. Cooperate management was probably the problem there, not the food.

The way Claire was protesting him joining the band would be checking in on him there at least once a week. But probably has been spending too much time being mad at Will than worrying about her son's living arrangements lately.

It seems the kidnappers didn't go thru Travis' backpack, just got his pain pills out of the front of it. Wonder if he has a notebook or Ipad or airtag keyring, that Will might do a "find my etc" but then I remembered this was back in 2004. I can't remember. Did notebooks have the ability back then to be found over the internet? I know in 2007 you could find them. I remember that Cam Newton Heisman quarterback when he was playing for U of FL he stole laptop and it was traced to his room then. Will seemed pretty good at hacking into Travis' stuff. He might could track him like that. But I am not sure the technology in late 2004 had that ability.

From last chapter, “Hey,” Dad said. “Here’s the deal. Travis’s SWAT alarm went off at LAX. They found the phone in one of the gutters at the side of the exit from the airport. Travis wasn’t with it, obviously.”

Great chapter @Mark Arbour At least now we know how he was snatched. I sure wasn't expecting Taylor to be there too. Wondering if she is actually just caught up in this for more hostage money, or if she is also tied in with Roenig. I can't believe Jake didn't check about any calls from the plane. Did he even talk to the pilots to see what kind of vehicles picked them up. California dept of transportation to see what directions they were taken in and any exits they may have gotten off at. And other camera's. Those questions may have been asked and may not have. Fingers are crossed Jake finds something.

I thought Travis was flying on a Jet for hire, or private jet back to LAX not commercial. So he would be at a FBO terminal where all the celebs, corporate execs. multimillionaires, and billionaires fly into. And are picked up with limo or car services. I don't think it would be an easy place to be kidnapped. I would assume Travis arranged to be picked up there. Roenig would have had to made calls on the jet to arrange help on the LA end. How would ha have known in advance that Travis was going to invite him to fly back to LA with him and the arrival times. Hard to arrange on the phone in a small jet. But I may be wrong in all my assumptions.

So next time you do something stupid, like not put on your seatbelt when only going a mile down the road and another car swerves and hits you. Are you go outside and it is thundering and lightning a couple of miles away and a rogue lighten bolt hits near you. Maybe you ate something too fast and ended up choking on it. You would deserve to die? Highly protected people do some crazy stuff. President have make their motorcades stop unscheduled and them get out and shake some hands. Travis since he was doing something nice for a guy, thought he would be safe for short period of time. We didn't hear any details from Travis before his phone call to Will. Roenig may have come up and apologized and made it sound sincere to Travis and in their talking and Roenig mentioned he was heading to LA for Thanksgiving and needed to book a flight. Travis being Travis my have thought everything was cool with them now and offered to let him fly with him. I don't think he deserves to die for something like that.

Thank you @Mark Arbour for another great chapter. Jake needs to find Jack Roenig and waterboard him until he talks. Rough him up big time if he has hurt Travis any little bit. I don't think Will need to apologize to Claire or the bitch Isidore. I have never like Isidore at all anyway. I'm sure Frank is so pussy whipped by her because he knows he will be back on Ohio living in poverty without her. Thanksgiving is on the 25ths so I think the Thanksgiving meal is going to be very interesting.

I swallowed the whole thing!!!!!

And Happy Birthday Mark. I hope you have had a Great One!

My tummy disagreed, it told my brain to feed it. I had skipped lunch today. I really needed a beer more than food, but they went down good together!

Wow! Thank you Mark! I am about to run out and have dinner. In Huntsville, AL tonight. Will read when I return later.

I look for the really long stories to read, or trilogies. I don't get into short stories or the stories with multi chapters but the chapters or only 500 - 800 words in them. The longer the better for me as long as it is a good story.

I have read it thru fully 2 times and sometimes now when someone is reading it and makes comments I reread that chapter to familiarize it. So some parts or chapters I have read 3 - 5 times. It is one great story. I just wish C James would come back on and do an update on how Trevor and the rest of the character are today. It would probably be the highest read on here then.

Thank you so much for the weekly release of your latest chapter @Mark Arbour Keep up the great work!

Thank you Mark for this very good chapter. And for getting Will and JJ back close again. And thank you for the consistency of your chapter releases lately. Now if we could just be hear from Granger we might consider you as "King of GA".

I think that is one of the best summaries of Brad and JJ's relationship from when JJ and Will were little until the present setting. I think @centexhairysub is as close to 100% correct than anyone else has offered so far.

Now would Mark do that? Surely not! Not Mark!

Well Chucky is burning! I think we will know soon who is behind all this. Wouldn't surprise me if it isn't one of his siblings or even mother. They probably think if something happens to Travis they will get his money. Making it look like they didn't have anything to do with it. But only a feeling. It could be anyone. Thanks Mark.

I have never had a "Blue Peter Badge" But should have had "Blue Balls Award" a number of times thru the years.