Chapter 11- The First Big Clue.

Joe drove Frank back home and Frank promised to swing by early in the morning after they had both had a few hours of rest. Frank wanted to get back to Callie and check on her.

When Joe got back to the apartment, Kayley was getting the kids ready for bed. He slumped down on the sofa and sat staring at the cell phone on the coffee table. He willed it to open up and tell him where his son and nephew were. He actually jumped when it rang and fumbled to grab it. An unregistered number came up on the caller id.

"Joe Hardy" he answered.

"Dad!" Liam's fearful voice came over the line.

"Liam, thank goodness! Are you okay? Where are you? Is Sam with you?" Joe asked in a torrent of questions, not giving Liam a chance to answer any of them.

Liam managed to keep up with Joe's barrage, "Yes, I don't know, and yes, he is. This guy keeps going on about something that happened when you were 17. He said he would tell us the story later – once he clears it with his boss."

"Really, 14 years ago…did he say anything else?"

"Yeah, but he's here in the room, so it might be safer to stay quiet."

In the background, Joe heard the voice of a man, and thought it sounded terrifyingly familiar.

"He said I have to give you a clue," Liam continued.

"Go on then, Son" Joe said in response to Liam's statement.

"You killed him."

"I killed who? I haven't killed anyone. I promise, it'll be okay. You and Sam will be back home and safe before you know it." Joe tried to sound convincing, even to himself.

"Dad?"

"Yeah?"

"How is everyone?"

"We're all worried Lee, but that's to be expected. Just remember that we love you, and tell Sam that his parents love him too. Oh and Liam, Sam's your cousin."

"Yeah, we kind of figured that out before. He's a great guy, Dad, I really like him. I just wish this wasn't how I got to meet him. I love you too. Tell Sam's parents that he loves them."

"Yeah, Buddy, I will." Joe was having a harder time controlling his emotions now.

"Oh and Da…" whatever Liam had been about to say, it was cut off and Joe heard a steely voice.

"Do you know who we are Hardy? Or do you need another clue?" In the background Joe heard a load explosion and fear coursed through him. Then the phone line went dead.

Joe sat in a stunned silence for about five minutes. He then grabbed the phone and made a quick call to Jack Ryder to see if he could get him a list of escaped criminals that were put away 14 or more years ago.

"You kay?" he heard Kayley ask as she came back into the room.

"Yeah, Babe, you?" Joe opened his arms for her to join him on the couch.

"Worried, scared, the works" she whispered as her voice cracked.

"That was Liam on the phone."

Kayley bolted upright at looked at Joe "Is he okay?"

"He said he was."

"Was Sam with him?"

"Yeah, I am going to go and tell Frank and the others about the development. I got it on record on my cell, so maybe we can try and work it out together."

Kayley nodded as she watched her husband kiss Katie's forehead and then James's.

"Be careful, Joe." Kayley said as she reluctantly watched him leave.

"Love you guys" Joe called back as he walked out of the apartment.

"You too!" they called back.

Frank was more than a little surprised to see his younger brother back on his doorstep for the second time that day. His stomach lurched, as he feared the worst. "Joe, what's up? Did, did anything happen?"

"Liam called on my cell. Sam is with him. They are okay and Sam said to tell you he loves you."

"Oh, thank God!" Callie said as she walked in on that last bit of conversation. She threw her arms around Frank and sobbed into his shoulder. "Where are they? Can we go and get them? When are they going to be home?"

Joe's voice quivered as he whispered, "Callie, it's not that simple."