Jeff raced down the hall, Scott, Virgil, Gordon, John and Fermat, who had been aroused from his sleep, at his heels. The signal they had received from Alan's watch told them that Alan was in Room 89; a mere two floors above where he and his sons had been staying.

Jeff and the boys jumped into the lift and Jeff pressed the button frantically.

How could I have been so stupid? Jeff thought, his hands shaking, If I'd just used my head instead of thinking rashly, Alan might be home with me right now!

The lift bell rung, signalling they had reached their destination. Jeff ran to the door of Room 89, slowing down as he got closer. He hesitated before pressing his ear to the door; listening for any sound that could reassure him they were not too late.

Nothing.

He was about to knock, but Scott stopped him, "No!" he hissed, "Corper knows your face. If he answers the door and sees you, he'll panic. I'll do it"

Reluctantly, Jeff nodded and steered the other boys backwards down the hall and around a corner.

Jeff peeked around the corner as Scott knocked on the door; his body poised and ready for action yet seemingly calm and cool; as if he knew exactly what he was doing.

Jeff admired his son's self control. If it were him he would've bashed the door down by now.

The door didn't open for Scott the first time, so he knocked again, louder. He waited a few seconds and frowned when the door still remained silently closed. Carefully he turned the doorknob and pushed the door open a few inches. Poking his head inside, he called, "Corper?"

There was no reply, but Scott hadn't expected one. By now he knew Jeff and the others were standing behind him. Not waiting any longer, he opened the door fully and strode inside. Immediately, they all spread out, looking for any sign of Alan or Corper.

Gordon and Virgil kicked open a door revealing a small bathroom and a master bedroom. Fermat and Scott scanned the lounge they had walked into.

Jeff and John opened a door and walked into a smaller bedroom with a small en suite bathroom. John went to look in the bathroom but came out shaking his head. Jeff walked back into the lounge area to find the others standing there sadly.

"The wardrobe's been cleared. He isn't here," said Virgil grimly

"Maybe we have the wrong room," suggested Fermat hopefully

Scott shook his head, "No, that tracer pinpoints a signal within a metre accuracy"

Jeff yelled in frustration and kicked over a small coffee table, sending it rolling. Nobody said a word. They all knew how he felt.

Suddenly John called out from the small bedroom, "Dad! Dad, come here!"

Everyone rushed in to meet him. John was standing by the bed, holding something, his face dismal.

Jeff's heart was torn into when he saw what John was holding. Alan's watch.

"This was beside it," said John quietly, holding an unopened letter to him

Jeff took it, appreciating John's reverence in not opening it before him, and tore open the envelope

In it was a letter that read:

Dear Jeff, I am sorry I was unable to meet you in person, though I will tell Alan you no doubt send your regards. I was very disappointed in you and your family when I found this device, yet I believe it has served a very good purpose. It has taught me that you are not as stupid as I once took you for and for this warning, I thank you. But you see Jeff, just as you should not have been underestimated by me, I should not be underestimated by you. I strongly believe that your bold interference into my little game will definitely start the clock ticking.

There was no signature, but then again it wasn't required. They all knew who had written it.

Jeff sighed, his eyes watering as he handed the letter to Scott for him and the others to read. Taking the watch from John, he gently spun it over in his fingers, taking in the blue frame Alan had crafted to make his watch more "interesting". He collapsed helplessly onto the bed, taking note of the indent left by a body, still imprinted into the thin blanket.

Alan lay here, he thought, screwing up his face.

A hand rested on his shoulder and John murmured, "Don't worry Dad. We'll get him back"

Jeff looked up to look at the fierce determination on John's face. He stood up to stand with his sons, "I hope so"

Fermat took the watch from him and placed a hand on his arm comfortingly.

"We'd better go and tell the police what we've found out," said Scott dismally

"Hey Fermat, what's the matter?" asked Virgil suddenly

They all looked at Fermat, who was frowning as his spun the watch in his fingers, "Something appears to be w…w…Alan's watch seems different somehow" he said

"How so?" asked Jeff

Fermat weighed it in his palm, "It's heavier than I remember and it's h…h…warm too"

"Could Corper have done something to it?" asked Scott

"Maybe" was Fermat's reply. He had spent hours with his dad while Brains had been constructing the watches. Something felt odd.

Gordon looked at the letter he was holding, "If you ask me the guys a total whack job. What the hell did he mean by 'start the clock ticking'?"

"Oh my g…g…" Fermat stuttered before yelling, "RUN!"

Dropping the watch back on the bed, he dashed out of the room. Jeff and the boys, confused, ran after him.

Fermat didn't stop, racing down the hall as fast as he could.

Virgil panted, "Fermat, what's wr-"

He didn't finish. A huge explosion pushed them all forwards as a fireball engulfed the room they had been in seconds before. There were several terrified screams from people in the hallway as debris flew everywhere. The ceiling over the battered doorframe began to crumble dangerously as the fire alarm sounded and people dashed out into the hallways towards the stairs.

Jeff got up off the ground and stumbled around through the soft smoke starting to seep through 89's doorway.

"Boys!" he cried

"It's ok Dad, we're all here!" came Gordon's call from a few metres away. Jeff followed the voice until he was reunited with his sons and Fermat.

Scott was sporting a nasty gash above his right eye from being thrown headlong into the corner of a wall by the blast.

"You ok?" asked Jeff

"Fine"

Gordon looked up at the crumbling ceiling and the flames starting to work their way into the hallway, "We'd better go"