'Nothing's the same,' Mart muttered under his breath, kicking a pebble with his left foot.

The middle Belden son watched it skim across the ground. As the stone crashed onto the street, somehow it described the level of his current distress. The last week and a half had been hell. He didn't understand why his parents made him return to school and a normal life.

'Life can't be normal without Trix and Jim,' he mourned the loss of his sister and friend.

The first frenzied week, the police, FBI and Mr Wheelers private investigators moved heaven and earth to find clues. They'd learnt so much about why the abduction took place and who'd been behind it. The world moved at a frantic pace. Then, Friday night everything stopped. A week after his only sister disappeared, every official no longer seemed interested in returning the missing part of his family. The investigation placed on the back burner until some new piece of evidence or clue turned up.

'We've done all we can. Life has to go on,' Mart scowled. The anger those words generated from well-meaning people caused a lump of hot lava in his throat. 'You try living without one of your family members every day and see how you'd like it.'

The ensuing eight days at school had been even more difficult to tolerate. Honey, Di and Dan returned to class at their parents and guardians assistance, along with Mart. Initially they'd been ostracised, the other students gave them space, unsure what to say and how to act around the tight knit group.

Behind their backs, the other students pointed and whispered. At the time it hurt Honey and Di more than the boys. Tuesday brought the beginning of the questions, the taunts and the intrigue. Suddenly everyone wanted to know everything and believed the members of the Bob Whites would give the information easily, happily and without emotion. By Wednesday, the young people learnt to hate the public interest Trixie and Jim's disappearance caused.

Glancing up, Martin noticed the doors of Sleepyside Junior Senior High School open. In a few moments the population would came rushing out. Like the rest of the Bob-whites, many of the students lived outside the small village and took the bus to and from the public school. Peering through the line of yellow vehicles, Mart didn't feel like sharing his space with anyone. Last week he'd felt trapped sitting in what amounted to a tin can crammed. Other students always wanted the gory details. Even if they didn't ask, he saw it in the gleam of their eyes. Some days it took all his courage just to get out of bed and face society.

Today, he'd done something he'd never attempted before. Mart cut class. In fact he'd decided to miss this afternoons educational timetable altogether. Martin Belden needed the opportunity to be alone and think without the constant looks of pity or accusation.

'A lot of good that did me,' Mart continued to mutter, feeling dejected. An afternoon alone had solved nothing. It would cause his parents, already stressed by the disappearance of their only daughter to become disappointed in him.

Reaching the edge of the park across the road from his school, Mart took a perch on the pillar at the end of several stone steps. He planned to stay there until Di, Honey and Dan exited the building. They understood perfectly, as few others ever could. Then he'd flag them over.

Honey burst into tears last Wednesday night when Cecelia innocently asked how school went. Two days back in the classroom and the stress made the young woman unhappy and feel isolated from her classmates. Thursday, the Wheeler's chuffer showed up about the same time the final bell rang. Maybe they could catch a ride from Tom who'd taken to driving past the school. Mart knew he'd been elated not having to weather the questions about Trixie and Jim or the expressions of pity on his classmate's faces. During school hours he barely survived the torment of constant theories and well wishes. Although they didn't say it, Mart knew Honey, Di and Dan felt the same way.

'I'm not in a good headspace,' Mart realised, 'neither are the other Bob-whites since the abduction. Why did this have to happen to Trixie and Jim? It's not fair.'

Taking the afternoon off to be alone and think hadn't work. He still felt guilty, wishing he'd seen the reasons behind Trixie's argument with his mother and her withdrawal from the other Bob-whites. Instead of understanding his almost twin, he'd expressed his anger and frustration at having to pick up her chores. He'd nagged and teased her about the sudden animosity she generated within the Belden household. The afternoon sitting in the park, an afternoon of quiet contemplation and introspection had come to nothing. He still felt remorseful that is last conversation consisted of Moms yelling at him and giving Trixie a spiteful glare because he'd been forced to look after Bobby.

On the bench not more than twenty yards from Mart lay a hobo. He'd been there at least as long as Martian Beldon wandered around the town square. Something about the man sent a shiver down his spine. Keeping away from the individual, Mart took the time to finally look at him. His grey hair matted against his head suggested it'd been a long time since his last shower. If he gotten close enough, the ill-fitting clothing would smell of the alcohol from the brown paper bag he held tightly in his left hand. The odour mixed with excessive bodily fluids. In fact, this far down wind, Mart noticed the faint tang of an un-kept human being. Still something about the man set alarm bells off.

'Hey,' Dan called softly, gaining Marts attention.

Dan and Di walked on egg shells around the Wheeler's and Belden's as both families were left reeling from the sudden abduction of their children. In public the two Bob-white attempted to protect their friends from the worst of the fall out. So far it hadn't worked.

'You're out early,' Mart returned, indicating the lack of students flooding from the high school entry. Dan took the hint and sat in the space next to his friend. Mart felt better in his friend's quiet company. At least Dan understood his need for solace.

'Na,' Dan grinned, 'I cut out five minutes before the bell to avoid the crowd. Hearing all that talk reminds me too much of my past.' Pausing, the older boy turned a serious gaze towards the still empty school entry. 'I saw Honey and Di in the halls. I think they had the same idea, so they should be here any moment now.'

As if conjured by the words, the two young women rushed out of the building. The boys could see them hesitate for an instant. Glancing around, they spotted the male members of their club, waved and started towards them. Carefully crossing the road, they seemed to wilt the moment they came close to their friends. With Mart and Dan they could drop the façade of polite indifference and be themselves. The last weeks had been hard on all of the young people and they felt most comfortable within the tight confines of their group, even if almost half of the members were missing.

'Hi,' Di greeted, 'I see you two didn't want to be caught in the crowd any more than the rest of us.'

'No,' Mart frowned, 'is that clod Tad spreading rumours again?'

'It's not just Tad,' Honey replied mournfully, tears clouding her hazel orbs, 'half the school thinks Trixie and Jim have run away together. I heard someone say, well it doesn't matter,' she stopped, but the others knew what she'd been about to say. 'While the other half say her mysteries have finally come back to haunt her.'

'It's just so hard,' Di added, 'hearing people who don't know what they're talking about say such awful things. I want to tell the real story but,' she shrugged her shoulders, 'they'd just take what they wanted and leave out the truth.'

'Brian called from college last night,' Mart injected, 'because the disappearance has made the papers, everyone is asking him about it too.'

'The reporters have been haunting Manor House,' Honey lamented, 'since Dad started the media campaign to get Jim and Trixie back. It's a wonder there's anyone in the world who doesn't know.'

'I bet he feels useless in New York all alone,' Di commented considerately, 'and just wants to come home. Not that he can do any more than everyone's already doing.'

'He does,' Mart agreed, 'but mom and dad have convinced him to stay at school. I think it's affecting his grades, but you know Brian, always trying to do the right thing, so he's staying in college and puts on a brave face.'

'Poor Brian,' Honey lamented, 'his sister and best friend are missing and he can't do anything about it. At least we have each other. Jim's not even at the same college….'

'Honey,' Di remained, 'you're in the same situation.'

'I know,' she replied, 'but at least I'm in Sleepyside, surrounded by my family. I also have the information my Dad gives me. He's got Sam working around the clock trying to track down the slightest lead.'

'Tell us what your dad's discovered,' Dan requested, understanding the need to feel the investigation continued and there was hope of finding Jim and Trixie.

'Not much,' Honey stated sadly, 'they're found so many aliases for "Smithy".'

Mart suddenly grabbed Honey's hand and pulled her into a hug. 'You're a genius,' he laughed suddenly. He knew why the hobo sent shivers down his spine. Using the cover of embracing the young woman, he turned her around so he could covertly see the man lazing on the bench. Now he looked more carefully, the tramp appeared to be intently listening to every word, although he tried not to alert the group to his presence.

Dan, understanding the long gaze, quickly caught on to Mart's meaning. Di, realising something crackled in the air, drew her phone from her pocket but kept it out of sight. The times Trixie lead them into a mystery payed off as they worked together like a well-oiled team.

Observing the unusual interaction between Honey and Mart, Di heard him whisper, 'call St Milson.' Without hesitation, Diana dialled 911, hiding her cell behind her long hair. Pushing Honey to one side, Dan and Mart took off in the direction of the Hobo.