Picture This

Warnings and Disclaimers: See chapter one.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Murder was rare in Tree Hill, so the news of the homicide of a young male prostitute spread throughout the close knit town quickly. When the story first broke it was midweek. Nathan had turned on the television while getting ready for a long day of school and work. The story of a teen hustler murdered and dumped in an alley not far from where he, Lucas and almost every young adult in Tree Hill had been partying a few nights ago caught his attention. The hazy photo of the victim flashed across the screen and Nathan nearly dropped his coffee cup. The young man bore an uncanny resemblance to Lucas. Then a live shot of the body contorted on the cold pavement of the filthy alley sent Nathan running to the phone. Though he was sure there were a dozens of jackets just like it, from where he stood, it looked shockingly similar to Lucas’s missing one.

Nathan breathed a sigh of relief when Lucas picked up the phone.

“Hey babe, did you see the news?”

“Yeah, my mom is freaking out,” Lucas said wearily. “The phone has been ringing off the hook, first Brooke, then Haley and finally Peyton called checking to see if I was still alive. It’s comforting to know that the words teen prostitute brings my name to mind.”

“That’s not why I called,” Nathan stifled a laugh. “But you’ve got to admit, the guy looks a hell of a lot like you and he was wearing your jacket.”

“Or one that looked like mine.”

“I’m picking you up and taking you to school this morning.”

“Nathan...”

“No arguments.”

Lucas knew better than to argue with Nathan when he got overprotective. “Okay, but don’t be late.”

Lucas hung up on his brother and went into the kitchen to have breakfast with his mom.

“Who was that?” She asked.

“Nathan.”

“He saw the news?”

“Yeah. Something tells me this is going to be a long day.”

“Maybe you should stay home today,” Karen worried.

“Mom, some random kid with blond hair gets murdered and half the town thinks I’m the dead rent boy found in that alley. Staying home will only add fuel to the fire. It’s better I go to school and show everyone I’m alive and well. Besides, from what the news is saying, the killer is probably long gone by now.”

“What does Nathan think?” Karen asked.

“Nathan?”

“You know, the guy you spend all your free time with,” Karen smiled.

Lucas squinted. He was sure his mom was implying something but he was hoping it wasn’t what he thought.

“I know who Nathan is. I just don’t understand what he’s got to do with this.”

“I’m just sure he’s pretty worried or he wouldn’t have called.”

The doorbell ringing was a welcomed interruption for Lucas. His mom’s pointed stares and the tone of her voice was making him uncomfortable.

“That’s probably Nathan now,” she smiled and headed for the door.

Lucas doubted his brother could get to there house so fast, motorcycle not withstanding. He had a mind to call his brother and warn him off coming over. His mom calling him to the door had him abandon that idea.

Nathan made one stop before heading over to pick up Lucas. It was to the police precinct. Paranoid or not, he felt a mysterious murder of what in his opinion amounted to Lucas’s double coupled with the arrival of Peyton’s supposed brother was more than just coincidence. As further news developed about the rape/homicide, there was speculation that the young man now identified as Grant Jeffrey may have attended the concert held at Tric and was possibly abducted, tortured and dumped back in the vicinity. After speaking with the desk sergeant and waiting for another fifteen minutes or so Detective Wilcox came out and met with him.

“We’ve met before, haven’t we?” the balding older man asked, trying to recall Nathan’s face.

“Yeah, after the school shootings,” Nathan winced. The memory of being trapped with his injured brother in the library flashed through his mind.

“Listen they’ve filled me in on this whole long lost brother scenario. What more can you give me?”

Nathan answered honestly that he was going on gut instinct and fear for his brother. He tried to sound as neutral as possible but knew he was failing miserably.

“You carried him out,” Detective Wilcox said thoughtfully. “Lucas Scott, you’re the one who carried him out of the school.”

“Yeah,” Nathan nodded, fighting back the tears that came with that painful memory.

“Alright,” the detective nodded, a glimmer of understanding in his eyes, “we’ll pick him up.”

Nathan felt relieved. Detective Wilcox had taken him seriously and that was good enough for him. Reassured that he’d done the right thing, Nathan checked his watch and realized he was late. He hurried to his motorcycle and raced away towards Lucas’s house. His relief was short lived when Karen greeted him at the door with the news that Lucas had left with Derek.

“He had an examine this morning and he didn’t want to be late,” she said sympathetically. “He waited as long as he could.”

“Was Peyton with Derek?” Nathan panicked.

“No, I think he was alone. Why?” Karen asked, beginning to panic herself.

“I’m going to the school. It may be nothing but I need to make sure.”

“Nathan, what’s going on?” Karen demanded.

“Hopefully nothing. Just stay by the phone.”

Karen watched nervously as her son’s half-brother take off on his bike heading in the direction of the school.

Nathan knew taking a survey of who had seen Lucas would take too long. He headed straight to Coach Durham’s office and attempted as calmly as possible to explain what was going on. Whitey seeing the seriousness in Nathan’s eyes went to the school office and requested that an announcement be made asking Lucas Scott to report to his office.

Nathan waited in Coach Durham’s office. He looked up and saw Peyton passing by.

“Peyton, thank god. Have you seen Lucas this morning?”

“No,” she said and then quirked an eyebrow. “Why? Is there trouble in paradise?”

“No,” Nathan answered agitated. “Where is Derek?”

“He left early this morning. He said he had to get back home. He promised to keep in touch,” Peyton replied sadly.

“What time was this?” Nathan demanded.

“Four, five o’clock. He said he needed to get an early start.”

“Fuck,” Nathan cried out.

“What is it?”

Nathan dialed Karen’s house as the announcement for Lucas went up over the PA. “Karen, it’s Nathan. Call the precinct and ask for Detective Wilcox. Tell him it’s about what Nathan Scott spoke to him about this morning. Tell him,” he hesitated. “Tell him Lucas is missing.”

Peyton gasped as she heard Nathan’s frantic call.

“Peyton, listen to me,” Nathan said after disconnecting from Karen, “can you think of anything he might have said about where he was going?”

Peyton shook her head, tears forming in her eyes. “You think he did something to Lucas don’t you?”

“I don’t know. He picked Lucas up close to nine o’clock this morning which means he definitely didn’t leave town at four. I hope I’m wrong. I’ve gotta get out of here and back to Karen. Fill Whitey in on what’s going on.”

Being the mayor’s son had its privileges. Nathan barged into his father’s office and demanded action be taken. Dan for once didn’t try to work an angle or bargain with Nathan for his cooperation. The truth was Dan liked throwing his weight around so it gave him great pleasure to call the police and have them mobilize a search party. The rumor mill was turning and within the hour, reporters descended upon Mayor Scott’s office with speculation about a serial killer and rapist who had abducted his illegitimate son.

Nathan slipped out and headed to Karen’s house. She was a wreck by the time he got there. Detective Wilcox was there too. Nathan laid out all that he knew so far, sitting next to Karen and holding her hand. Both Karen and Nathan had even made calls to his cell phone. From what they could determine after Whitey called Karen, Lucas never made it to school.