Late that night: The Jackson Home
Isabella and Daniel trudged wearily into their kitchen. As Daniel got them both a glass of tea, Isabella moved to the answering machine and hit the button to play
the messages. They both listened distractedly until the fourth one, once it ended they stared at each other a moment before she hurriedly replayed it.
--
"Isabella this is Diane. Honey I don't know what is going on in that hospital of yours but the informant is none other than your very own Dr. Richardson.
From what Sandy told me, he came to her and stated that he himself had seen the children run from one ship to the next as he had been in London for a
medical convention. He said had recognized Alan Tracy after having attended some conference in New York where Jeff Tracy and all of his sons had been
guests of honor. Then he began making all kinds of accusations of things he had seen the boys do while at the conference, all unsubstantiated evidence
mind you, but you know the rules pull kids first then ask questions later. Sandy is about to have a fit about him taking over the cases. Dr. Thomas was
supposed to have been in charge but he fell ill. From what I have been able to piece together, apparently Dr. Richardson placed himself in the view of the
hospital administration as a replacement without telling them he had been the informant. I'm betting that they will want to talk to him immediately.
Anyway be careful, I'm not sure what his agenda is but it can't be good. Call me later. Bye."
--
Daniel and Isabella both sat down heavily at the table. "Daniel what is going on? I think we need to get the kids out of there tonight."
Daniel shook his head and placed his hand over Isabella's, "It's almost midnight, tomorrow will be soon enough. Maybe by the time Virgil's visit is over things will be
settled and Alan and the others can go home. I'll call Emily as soon as Virgil is settled, you'll be with them to keep an eye on them and make sure Simon doesn't bother
them. Maybe you should include the other two in the visit… What?"
Isabella was frowning and chewing on her bottom lip deep in thought. Suddenly she jumped up and ran to their office. She came back a few minutes later with three
files and a box of news paper clippings.
Daniel stared at what she had laid on the table, picking up one of the files he saw that it was Alan's file. He watched her as she sifted through some of the clippings.
He picked up one that had fallen and was surprised to see that it was about International Rescue.
Finally she found what she was looking for and sat down in surprise. "It was just a hunch but I didn't think it would actually be true. I remembered an article done a few
months ago on one of the survivors of a cave in that had been rescued by I. R. The woman gave a slight description of two of her rescuers. One had dark hair and deep blue
eyes, the other had almost white hair and blue eyes. She stated that they acted more like family than co-workers. Does this remind you of anyone we know? I am surprised
it hasn't occurred to anyone else, maybe people just don't' want to look too hard. Jeff Tracy has the money and the intelligence to pull it off and after meeting three of his
sons I can see they take after their dad. I can't believe how ruthless Simon has become, using a child to attack not only the child's family but also the world's heroes. Oh
Daniel what are we going to do? Do you think Simon can prove it, will he tell everyone once he is arrested?"
Daniel sat for a moment in thoughtful silence before shaking his head. "No I don't think he can, that's why he needed the kids. He planned on using them, either for
information or blackmail, the latter is probably more the reason. He probably really only wanted Alan Tracy but couldn't figure out how to get just him. He knew he couldn't
get near him on his island and the boy's boarding school would definitely be off limits, so he thought up this elaborate plan to separate Alan from his family, the others were
involved just because they were in the wrong place at the wrong time. He probably did something to Dr. Thomas in order to gain control over the cases. That is another
reason he banned the Tracy's from the hospital and Simon showed no interest in the other kids or their families, he only wanted Alan. I'm half afraid that he was going to
take Alan away and use him to blackmail Mr. Tracy or I.R. for who knows what. Imagine what he could do if he got his hands on any of their technology. That Hood character
would seem like child's play next to Simon's cruelty. I'm calling Jack in the morning, he's on shore leave and I want him to be at the hospital near you and the kids while I'm
tied up with the board. Let's get to bed tomorrow will be busy and we need to be on our toes."
They both got up and after cleaning up their mess headed to their separate living quarters. As Isabella got into her bed she said a silent prayer that God would
watch over the kids and their families.
Next Morning 9 am: Channing Hospital
Simon smiled to himself as he watched the nurse point Virgil towards the back elevators and looking away he waited for Virgil to pass him before quietly following
him. He smiled even more when he looked back and noticed Daniel and Rebecca looking worriedly around for the boy then he sped up and stepped into the elevator
with Virgil.
Virgil looked up as someone stepped into the elevator, he was horrified to recognize the face of Dr. Richardson and reached to press the button to reopen the doors
but the man grabbed his upper arm with long bony fingers that dug painfully into his skin and jerked him away from the panel. "Not so fast young man, we have a lot
to discuss, like International Rescue for instance."
Virgil gasped as the man pulled a small pistol from his pocket and aimed it at him.
9 am : Channing Hospital Lobby
Rebecca and Daniel both walked outside to look for Virgil before rushing back in to re-search the lobby. Daniel was about to call security when Jack walked in.
Daniel rushed over to him, "Jack, Virgil is missing. I have to call security and the boy's father. Please go up and stay with Isabella and the other kids. Take Rebecca with
you. Rebecca tell Isabella that this is a lock down I want her and the kids locked in and no one, I mean no one, is to go in there until I get back." With that he turned and
hurried off to the desk while Jack and Rebecca raced to the elevators to head upstairs.
He was calling security when a pretty young nurse came over and after hearing his description of the missing man, she tapped him on the shoulder. "That other
doctor had me direct him to the back elevators said that the meeting had been changed, they just left about ten minutes ago."
Daniel relayed that to security and then after telling them to call the Tracy's he raced towards the elevators praying he wasn't too late.
9:15 am: Channing Hospital Children's Ward
Isabella looked up in surprise when Jack and Rebecca came racing down the hall. Rebecca grabbed her security card and Jack quickly hugged Isabella before
directing her after Rebecca.
Isabella looked worriedly up at Jack as they moved quickly down the hall towards the kid's rooms, "Jack, what's going on? Where are Daniel and Virgil?"
Jack smiled slightly, "Well honey, it seems as if Virgil has gone missing and Daniel has declared a lock down. Now you and I are going to spend some quality time with the
kids while 'Danny Boy' goes and finds Virgil."
Isabella felt her knees go weak when she heard Virgil was missing then her heart plummeted at the thought of having to tell Alan. She watched as Rebecca ran her
card and entered a code into the locks next to Fermat's and Tin-Tin's doors, then they moved to Alan's door and after she and Jack had gone in Rebecca did the
same there before moving back down the hall to call security.
Alan looked up in surprise when Bella and a strange man with slightly greying brown hair and blue eyes, entered his room. He stood up and backed away from them
a little uneasily, "Umm Bella what's going on?"
Isabella stared sadly at him for a moment before moving to the wall and opening a hidden panel there pressed a series of buttons. A humming startled both Jack
and Alan and they stared in surprise as both walls on either end of Alan's room began to slowly descend into the floor.
The other kids were sitting on their beds and stared in surprise for a moment before jumping up and running up to Alan. After hugging they all turned to stare at
Bella.
Isabella looked sadly at them before speaking, "I'm sorry guys I thought that everything was going to be okay and that you could go home today. My full name is Isabella
Jackson, Dr. Isabella Jackson. I'm the doctor in charge of your cases. We, my brother Daniel and I, had finally discovered the truth behind why you are all here. After Virgil's
visit you were supposed to be able to go home."
Alan stepped forward at the mention of his brother's name, "Where's Virgil, what's happened?"
Isabella closed her eyes for a minute before answering, "He's gone."
