Adrian stood out by the forest shaking him. It was a cold night, so cold he could see his breath. He looked around anxiously waiting for his 'boss' and even took a moment to briefly look up at the hidden camera watching him. Back in the castle Joe watched the boy carefully on a screen. He picked up a pair of head phones and put them on his head and listened to the reports going around.

"East Perimeter clear." White noise took over for a moment. "West Perimeter clear." Another minute went by. "North perimeter clear." As Joe waited for the final report there was movement in the trees behind Adrian. Shades behind him stepped into actual and spoke quickly and clearly into a walkie-talkie, alerting all security.

Someone in a black trench coat wearing a hood to cover his face stepped out of the trees. Adrian walked over and Joe tensed. He watched intently as the mystery man took a once over on Adrian.

"Were you followed?" The figure asked.

"I don't think so." Adrian answered.

"Security is some what more active, I almost didn't make it. What has happened?"

"Joe found my cell phone; he is more suspicious of me now."

"I see. Does he still have it?"

"No I got it back."

Joe waved at Shades to try and get a close up of the figure. "May I see it?" The figure asked as the camera zoomed in.

Adrian pulled it out and handed it to him. The figure pocketed it. "Good, now…" The figure stepped in and put his hand directly over the hidden microphone on Adrian's jacket. Instantly a high pitch screeching noise began and Joe yelled out throwing his head phones off. Freaking out he looked closer, the figure was whispering something into Adrian's ear. Joe turned to Shades

"Get some men down there!"

"Already did." Shades answered.

Joe turned back in time to see the figure look up and dash off into the woods, and a second later several security guards running after him. Adrian looked up at the camera and pulled off his microphone. A security guard came up beside him and escorted him back to the palace.

Joe came charging in through the conference room door to meet Adrian. Mia and Clarisse were already there knowing that they were going to have a meeting no matter what happened. Adrian looked up terrified as Joe came upon like an unwelcome storm.

"What did he say to you?" Joe asked.

"What do you mean? Didn't you hear everything?" Adrian asked.

"No he managed to disable the bug."

"How did he do that?" Mia quickly asked before they went further.

"A magnet." Looking at the confused faces he went to explain. "A strong enough magnet can disrupt the electronic waves that the bug is producing, making it useless. This also means who ever it was knew we were meeting."

Adrian looked around the room, everyone was staring at him. "Don't look at me; I didn't tell him, he didn't even try calling again."

"When he put his hand on your shoulder, what did he say?" Asked Shades who was more patient then Joe.

"Nothing, except I'm no longer of use to them, but its okay because apparently they have someone else on the inside. He also said that if asked I should help them."

Joe closed his eyes to think. "Did he give you a motive?"

"No, not really." Joe opened his eyes and shook his head.

"Fine," He grabbed shades and took him aside, "Continue watching the boy."

"I was going to."

Joe smiled. "Good."

He walked with Clarisse back to their rooms. She was very quiet along the way and Joe didn't think much of it, he was lost in his own thoughts. But after the door was closed and Joe turned to face her, he was smiling trying to look happy, but she was not happy nor trying trying to be.

"You still don't believe him." She started bluntly

"So? Am I supposed to?" He snapped back suddenly aggravated.

"Yes, he is your son!"

"He is not my son!"

"Then what is he to you?"

Joe opened his mouth and then closed it. "That is not how a son acts."

"And how would you know?" Clarisse asked.

"Because that's not how I acted under my fathers roof!"

"Your situation was different and as I recall your father would beat you senseless if you thought about acting that way. You were fearful and he is not. He is trying to fulfill his mother's final work."

"Even if he is telling the truth and he is doing this for his mother. I can't trust a shadowy figure like that!"

"Joseph, did you ever think that you might be just a little bit paranoid?"

"Yeah, I have and I know I'm paranoid. I'm paranoid for you and Mia and Josh and even Adrian, I don't want anything to happen to you!"

Clarisse froze, Joe himself was a little shocked by his answer, but it was true. "Oh Joseph." She walked over to him and hugged him; slowly he put his arms around her too and held her. He suddenly realized where the object might be hidden. He let go of Clarisse and walked to the door. "I'll be right back; I just remembered I had to do something." He dashed out the door before Clarisse could reply.