Thank you to all of you continuing to follow this one and taking the time to read it, i hope you enjoy the next chapter!

12

Jeff was sat at his desk frowning into the middle distance. He had been that way intermittently for the last hour. Scott ditched his pretense of reading the paper and uncrossed his legs. "Still no word Father?"

"No; I know that the signal is poor out where they are... but I still don't like it. We've been able to communicate with Parker fine but not them. I guess they are deeper into the forest than him so the signal is more adversely affected . I'm reluctant to send him in alone and it will take him too long to reach them anyway." The only comfort he had was that their edible trackers were still functioning. He had insisted they took them prior to starting the mission so if anything went south, they could be easily located. They hadn't moved for the last hour but he took that as possible interference, like with the communications black out that they were currently experiencing.

"Why don't you call Brains? His presentation would have finished by now surely? I'm sure he won't mind being disturbed." Virgil could see how troubled his father was, despite doing his best not to outwardly worry. He set down his paintbrush and chucked off his gown before coming to sit next to Scott. Tin and Alan were out playing Tennis.

Jeff checked his watch for the sixth time in twenty minutes. It would be around dinner time there now. "I guess it wouldn't hurt to seek his opinion." Jeff called up the frequency for Brain's watch. They could hear the beeping of the dial tone but after a few minutes there was no response. "This is Jeff Tracy calling Brains." Another few minutes of dial tone before it cut off to voicemail. That was odd. Brains always answered his comms and if he planned to be out of the office, he would always set his out of office without fail. Jeff could see the slight shift in Scott's demeanour as he sat up to attention.

"How about the hotel? They could ring up to his room?" Virgil suggested.

Jeff didn't want to bother Brains; the poor kid didn't get much downtime - much like his own sons but they needed to know that they could get hold of him in case this situation escalated. Jeff dialled the number and waited to be connected, his leg tapping under the desk impatiently. "Hello this is Jeff Tracy. I would like to speak to Mr Hackenbaker; room 209?"

"One moment please sir."

Tin-Tin and Alan entered the lounge in tennis whites, dumping their rackets on the table in high spirits. They immediately hushed when they saw Jeff on the phone and heard his tone. It was serious.

"I see. When did someone last hear from him?" Jeff made a note on his pad. "Can you send someone to his room his room to check on him?"

Scott had jumped off the sofa now, the tension of the inaction so far unsettling him. His instincts were screaming that something was off. Virgil watched Scott pace close to the hangar entrance to One.

"What's up?" Mouthed Alan.

"Something's up with Brains." Virgil whispered.

"Are you sure? Well please keep me informed of the situation, I am Br- Mr Hackenbaker's next of kin, please ask the police to correspond with me directly once they have made their assessment."

Jeff wasn't caught off kilter often but he had to steady himself on his desk momentarily. He looked at his family aware he was the bearer of bad news. "It appears that Brain's never showed up for the presentation today, citing illness when he called the front desk. When they checked his rooms just now it was clear there had been a struggle, it looks like he may have been kidnapped." Tin-tin gasped in horror.

"Who could possibly want to kidnap Brains?" Alan exclaimed shocked.

"Father I could be there in an hour." Scott rocked on the balls of his feet.

"I know son; but international rescue can't be seen to be involved. Usually I would send Penny..." Jeff glanced at her picture across the room.

"We can't just sit here."

"I know Scott, just give me a minute, will you?" Jeff was racking his brains for the closet agent he could call on…..Jerimiah? No, he would stick out like a sore thumb in central California. Jeff remembered the attendee list and pulled up the file. He was sure he said he was attending today…Yes! Sir Jeremy Hodges name jumped out at him off the page. Not ideal but better than nothing.

He hit the speed dial. Sir Jeremy's face sprung into vitality on the video screen. "Ah Jeff old boy! good to see you, surprised you weren't here today."

"I'm sure you weren't." Jeff deflected amicably, Jeremy knew the real reason he struggled to attend such conferences. Jeff quickly got to the point. "Jeremy, I don't suppose you're still in California, are you?"

"I'm just on my way to the airport."

"Don't; if possible, I have a mission I need your assistance with. Someone has most likely kidnapped Brains."

"What!? I thought he couldn't do the presentation because he was unwell?"

"That's what the hotel said too but his room is trashed and he's missing. Penny's indisposed." Jeff said carefully. "Any chance you can look into this one for us, make a few inquires. Its imperative we find him as soon as possible; he could be in grave danger." Jeff paled, Jeremy could see how worried he was, he knew Jeff looked on Brains like one of his own sons. He'd said as much only last month at the business expo in London.

"Leave it with me Jeff." Jeremy's hand semi muted the speaker for a moment.

"Change of plan return to the hotel immediately please – and with haste."

"Thank you Jeremy I know I can count on you."

"No trouble at all, don't worry Jeff we'll locate him."

Thank you, call me as soon as you know anything."

Will do Jeff. Bye for now."

"Right. Jeremy will start making inquiries and the police are investigating the kidnap, realistically there's nothing more we can do until we get some more intel. I'll radio John and ask him to piece together Brains' movements from the last couple of days.

"Do you think that's wise? He's going to be pretty beat up about Brains being missing, their pretty tight." Scott knew he wouldn't take it well.

"I'll do it." Alan stood to head down to the lab. "I can tap into the satellite data from Five that I need."

"I'll help." Tin stood.

Jeff dismissed them with a nod. Just then all their watches beeped in synchronisation, the little red LED followed by a short vibration sent all remaining parties rocketing to their feet.

"The emergency beacon!" Virgil exclaimed.

Jeff's hands flew over the keys to quickly confirm the identity of the call, Brains had obviously managed to raise the alarm himself. Jeff hands faltered on the keyboard as he did a double take. He looked up from the desk with a grave expression. "It's your brother and Penny. Scott, I want you airborne now."

"Yes sir" He was already spinning out the lounge. Scott wasn't surprised, knowing the underlying intent of his brothers mission. It was the call he'd been expecting and dreading. He just hoped Gordon had managed to stay out of immediate danger or at least just long enough for him to assist.

"Virgil, we have no idea what's going on here, you'll need to wait until Scott's got recon; then we'll decide what we're going to need. Prepare to be on standby.

"F.A.B"

"You two carry on as you were for now - but Alan you'll need to be on standby in case your needed as well."

"Sure thing Dad."

John's portraits eyes were now flashing like crazy. Jeff sighed and opened up the comms. This was going to be a taxing situation and not knowing what he was sending his remaining sons into, was only adding to the increasing unease he felt. He prayed Gordon, Penny and Brains would be alright. They had to be.