Machiavelli had been spending his time tinkering with various inventions of his alone in his lab while Elizabeth ran his 'errands'.
"Dr. Zoldyck," Elizabeth says walking into the lab.
"Already passed knocking? Moving a little fast aren't we Nurse Elizabeth?" Machiavelli chuckles.
"Stop joking around," Elizabeth says dismissively. "I've done what you asked."
"Oh so everything is ready?" Machiavelli gets excited.
"Yes, it's all set up." Elizabeth assures him.
"Perfect, we'll make our move soon then."
"What about Nick and Griselda? I haven't seen them these last few days. You're not planning to-"
"You think I would lie about something I bet my life on? The addict-"
"Nicolas," Elizabeth corrects him.
"Right…Where was I? He no longer has any symptoms of withdrawals, healthy as a horse! As for the old-"
"Griselda." Elizabeth corrects him again.
"Sure, whatever. She's stronger, faster, better than ever! Come on in you guys!" Machiavelli calls them in from an adjacent room. Nick's face was clear and full of life, he was in perfect health. Griselda had a bit more pep in her step than before she got injured.
Elizabeth was astounded at his work. "How did you? So fast?" It had only been a few days since he decided to begin their treatments in private, and they were already in top shape fully rehabilitated.
"Griselda's surgery was elementary for me, fortunately she lost her leg."
"Fortunately?" Elizabeth was about to punch him.
"Now she has one of my custom-made prosthetics, which is one hundred times better than a normal leg. I told you I was good, didn't I? It looks and feels real too. As for Nick, my Panacea pill can cure almost anything. Something like a detox is nothing, I've kept them on ice so they can't get into any trouble until we need them to play their parts."
"Until we need them to play their parts? I thought I was doing your dirty work, what are you getting them involved for?" Elizabeth says getting mad that he was planning to use his own patients in his schemes.
"Who am I to stop people who want nothing more than to get back to their families?" Machiavelli asks. "Besides they were involved the moment you agreed to help me."
Elizabeth glares at Machiavelli for a second then smiles, "Did you tell them about your filthy rich person estate? How it's heavily fortified and still has all of its amenities working, and plenty of space to house both of their families?"
"What is she talking about mijo?" Griselda asks.
"You were hiding something like that?" Nick continues.
Machiavelli was speechless, she shot him in the foot there… "That's low Nurse Elizabeth."
"I'm just protecting my interests," she answers smugly.
"Didn't think that'd come back to bite me so quickly…" Machiavelli says shaking his head. He pulls out his satellite phone. "Alright, I'll have to make some adjustments to my plan. Who's all in your little group?"
"You get all that Heather?" On the outside world Heather was his arms and legs right now, dangerous as it was, she was more than capable of handling herself. As a staff of the Zoldyck family she was very well trained to protect her master.
"In the enclosed cul-de-sac I am looking for Nurse Elizabeth's son Christopher Manawa, and his father Travis Manawa. For Nicholas, I'm looking for his mother Madison and sister Alicia. And at Mrs. Salazar's request, I'm looking for her husband Daniel and her daughter Ophelia. Would you like fries and a drink with that?" She responded.
"A shake would be nice."
"Consider it done Mac. You've picked up a large group to escape with, how did that end up part of the plan?" Heather asks.
"Business was never my forte…but they could be useful, or they could make for cannon fodder. Either way, ups my chances of survival." He says.
"I see you're making the most of your blunder," Heather giggles. "How shall I go about getting them out of confinement?"
"Just say the medical staff told you they were needed for research. As my assistant you should still be able to throw your weight around, take Charlie if you need some extra credentials. Use whatever you need from the storehouse to get this done, just don't let these people die please. Thank you. I'll get this group to the meeting spot."
"Understood." Click, she hangs up.
"Did you just call us cannon fodder?" Elizabeth asks.
"If you aren't useful…" Machiavelli responds nonchalantly. "Alright then, I've arranged for your loved ones to come with us, but no more! So any lovers, cousins, besties or whoever else, completely lost on the deal. Don't even ask, capiche?" Glad they could at least save their households everyone nodded approval. "Good, now we just have to get ourselves out of here."
...........
Over in the cul-de-sac where their families were being kept, Heather arrives with Charlie in a large black van. They easily get passed security with a show of their identification and make their way through the community. Charlie hums while driving passed the houses and tapping his fingers to the rhythm. "Piano man?" Heather asks.
"I'm a big Billy Joel fan haha." Charlie chuckles while looking away shyly.
"Me too," Heather smiles continuing the tune where he left off.
"(Wow she's so pretty and cool, I can't believe Dr. Zoldyck gets to be around her so much. He's a lucky guy…I wonder if she's seeing anyone.)" Charlie was enjoying the peaceful ride so much he almost forgot why he was there until seeing someone being carried out of a house in a body bag brought him back to reality. "It's sad how morbid this place is. I bet it was lively here before all this happened."
"Yes, I'm sure it was. It's as quiet a graveyard now." Heather says.
"Well hopefully Dr. Machiavelli can figure this cure out soon, and we can try to get back to the way things were. Well as much as we can anyways." Charlie continues looking forward.
"I believe that's the house." She says pointing to a particular home. They approach the house as the troops drive on.
They arrive at the little suburban house that Nick's family Alicia, Madison, and Travis called home, now they had a few more residents though. They go and knock on the door, and it is answered by a slender woman with shoulder length blonde hair. "Yes," she answers the door normally, but her face says 'what the hell do you want?' She looked very stressed out, and it was evident she was fighting to keep it together.
"Madison Clark?" Heather starts.
"That would be me…" Madison answers nervously. "Is there something I can help you with?"
"I'm Heather Kemp, and this is agent Charles with the FBI." She and Charles both flip out their identification quickly, but agent Charles drops his wallet, earning him a stale face from the women (Heather's glare reminded him of Machiavelli for some reason). Madison was able to see it was indeed a real FBI badge though. "We are here on behalf of your son, Nicholas Clark, as well as Elizabeth Ortiz and Griselda Salazar."
"Nick sent you?" Madison asks, "How is he? Where is he? Can I speak to him?"
"If you could gather everyone here, I am here to escort you to them." Heather answers.
"How do we know we can trust you?" Griselda's husband Daniel Salazar, a sour faced middle-aged man comes out hearing the conversation. "How do we know they're safe?"
"You must be Mr. Salazar, rest assured Mr. Clark, Mrs. Salazar, and Ms. Ortiz are all in good health." Heather answers.
"If they are better, why aren't they here?" A younger man continues the interrogation. This was Madison's husband and Elizabeth's ex-husband, Travis Manawa. He looked like he was trying to act tougher than he really was for his wife, but Heather saw a soft hearted man looking at her.
"Yes, where is my wife!" Daniel adds.
"Your loved ones are with my employer right now, and they've come to an agreement that involves having you all taken from this compound. We'll meet with them, and from there go to a safehaven that's been set up by my employer's family.
"Why would they agree to that without telling us?" Travis says trying to get a grasp on the situation.
"We already have a plan, we don't need your employer's charity," Daniel denies the ride.
"Can we at least speak to them first?" Madison asks again.
"I don't see why not." Heather figured she'd get reactions like this and pulled out her sat phone. Dialing seven, Mac picks up on the other end.
"Oh that was fast, even for you. What's up?" Mac says thinking she was already done with her objective.
"Actually. I'm here at the Clark household where everyone is, and they would like to know those three are safe." Heather responds. "They asked to speak with them."
"What? Why? All they have to do is get in the van and they'll be brought to safety." Machiavelli says slightly irritated.
"Is that my mom and the others? Nick asks.
"What's going on over there?" Griselda seconds.
"We don't have time for this. They can bond when we meet up." Machiavelli says annoyed.
"Could it hurt to let them speak for a moment?" Heather says. The entire household had already gathered around and invited her inside. "Besides, would you have gotten into the van no questions asked?"
"Dr. Machiavelli could you pass a message to my-" Elizabeth was stopped midsentence when he handed her the phone. "H-hello."
"Mom?" On the other end Elizabeth's teenage son Christopher answered her. "Mom are you OK? What's going on?"
"Chris! I need you to go with that woman Heather, she's going to bring you to me, and we'll be going somewhere safe. I love you so much. I will tell you more about it when I see you."
"I love you too, but where are we going?" Chris asks.
"Somewhere safer than where you are now. Next." Machiavelli says taking the phone from Elizabeth and handing it to Nick.
"Mom, Alicia?" Nick starts.
Nick's mother Madison and Alicia, his sister two years his junior bombarded the phone with questions when they heard his voice. How are you feeling? Are you eating? Are you being treated well? Where were they being taken?
It was hard to decide where to start so he kept it short and simple. "I'm much better now. Love you guys, I'll see you soon." He hands the phone to Griselda.
"Daniel, Ofelia? Mis amores(my loves?)" Griselda starts.
"Griselda? You're safe?" Daniel says with a sigh of relief.
"Mama, como es tu pierna(Mom, how is your leg)?" Ofelia, their daughter who's in her mid to late twenties asks.
"Por un milagro estoy caminando muy bien(By a miracle I'm walking just fine). I had an excellent doctor." Griselda answers nodding to Machiavelli.
"Que acuerdo ha acordado?(What deal have you agreed to?)" Not wasting any time Daniel asked about the deal.
"Ella probo algo para mi y ahora todos pueden vivre n un lugar agradable y seguro. De nada. (She tested something for me and now you can all live somewhere nice and safe. You're welcome.)" Machiavelli cuts in taking the phone. "Now that you know they're alive and well, get in the van." Click. He hangs up.
"I suggest you all pack up quickly, my employer doesn't like to wait." Heather says to the now silent room.