Callie stood with the receiver in her hand and her mouth hanging open for a full minute before slowly lowering the handset. "Stupid, stupid, stupid," she berated herself. Joe was still in trouble! But why had he called her instead of home? She picked up the handset and dialed the Hardy home. Busy! "Oh no," she cried. That's why Joe had called her. He couldn't get through at home and thought she could help him.

"And I not only let him down but also gave him something else to worry about," she moaned. "Frank will kill me!" Callie got up and ran downstairs. "I'm going over to the Hardys!" she called out as she passed the living room where her mom was watching a soap opera. Selena turned to give her daughter a time to come home but all she could do was catch the breeze as the front door closed behind Callie.

Callie pulled her old, blue Nova to a stop in front of one of the Hardys' neighbor's houses because the Hardy drive was completely blocked. There were two police cruisers present and four other vehicles that looked to her like unmarked police cars. However, judging from the two men standing outside of the Hardy residence, the cars more than likely belonged to the FBI.

She got out and made her way to the porch where her progress was intercepted by the two agents. "Can we help you?" asked one of the men, staring down at her.

"I need to speak with Mr. Hardy," Callie said, refusing to be intimidated.

"He's busy," Callie was informed. "You will have to come back."

"It's about his son, Joe," Callie stated, refusing to budge.

"Come with me," one of the men instructed her.

Callie followed the man inside to where Fenton was standing at the dining room table surrounded by Chief Collig, Sergeant Con Riley and four men she did not recognize.

"Callie," Fenton exclaimed in surprise as she entered. "What is it?" he asked, seeing how upset she looked.

"Your phone," Callie said, unsure how to tell him about the error she had made. "Both lines were busy." Fenton remained quite, aware she had more to say. "Joe called me," she continued. "I'm so sorry," she cried. "I...I thought he had gotten away and I told him about Frank getting kidnapped. I...I never gave him a chance to tell me anything. Then we were disconnected."

"Shh, it's okay," Fenton said, pulling the distraught teenager into his arms and holding her as she wept silent tears. "Thanks to you we know who took the boys," he told her. "One of the men you saw this morning was Anthony Dobson. He works for Cooper Sorrel."

"Sorrel took Frank. And Joe?" she asked, sniffing as she pulled back.

"Yes," acknowledged Chief Collig from behind Fenton.

"No," countered another voice from the doorway.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Kirk grabbed Joe's arm and pulled him up roughly from the bed. He was forced back down to the end of the hall and to the door of his temporary prison. The cat ran out as they entered the room.

Kirk pushed Joe onto the bed. "Lay down, Kid," Joe was ordered.

Joe complied as Kirk gathered the ropes from the base of the chair. "Sorry 'bout that," Joe apologized with tongue in cheek and gave a smug grin when Kirk scowled at him.

Kirk snorted then smiled thinly at Joe, causing the youth more than a little discomfort. Kirk pulled out a walkie-talkie. "Bring some rope," he instructed the person at the other end.

Joe lay still, his eyes never leaving Kirk who never took his eyes off of Joe. Soon, Matt was at the door with a length of rope draped over one shoulder and a tray in his hands.

"I'll take over baby duty," he told Kirk. "The boss wants to see you."

Joe sat up as Matt set the tray down over his legs. "Why did you lie about my wallet?" he asked point blank.

Matt held up a finger to his lips and winked at Joe. "Don't worry," he told Joe. "It will all work out. Now eat up."

"Why did you take my brother too?" Joe demanded.

"Tippoli doesn't have him," Matt replied. "Don't worry. Nothing is going to happen to your brother. I promise," he added, smiling.

Having no other choice, and being considerably hungry from not having had anything since lunch the day before, Joe did as he had been bidden.

Matt took the tray and set it on the desk when Joe had finished. "Time to tie you back up." Minutes later, Joe was tied securely to the bed and Matt left the room, closing the door and locking it.

Taking a deep breath, Joe began struggling with his bonds but soon realized he didn't have as much energy as he had only moments before. Ceasing his struggles, he came to a horrifying conclusion: they were giving him no opportunities to escape. Not only had he been bound and imprisoned but also drugged!