'I want my Mom!'

The shout broke through the momentary silence between the sheriff and the Hawkes.

Hawke gestured back at the kid. 'You OK if we look after the boy.'

'Chris?' The sheriff nodded. 'Sure. I don't see why not.'

Saint John muttered a thanks; Hawke was already striding away.

The female officer stepped back at a nod from the sheriff and allowed Hawke to take her place in front of Chris. He crouched down. The boy looked back at him tearfully and his blue eyes widened in surprised recognition.

'You look like my Mom.' Chris said startled.

'I know.' Hawke said. 'That's because I'm her brother and so's this guy.' He jerked his thumb at Saint John.

'Really?' Chris said sceptically.

Saint John hunkered down. 'Your Mom ever talk about her family much?'

'Uh-huh.' Chris nodded. 'She said she lost her family when I was born and didn't know where they were so it's just me and her.'

Saint John felt his breath catch in his throat. 'Well, we've been looking for your Mom and for you.'

Hawke's blue eyes held his nephew's. 'You guys aren't alone anymore. Trust us.'

Chris nodded slowly seeing the truth in Hawke's steady and resolute gaze.

Hawke held out his arms and Chris flung himself across the small space into his uncle's embrace.

'I couldn't stop him!' He cried pitifully, his tears soaking into Hawke's cotton shirt.

Saint John stroked a hand over the young boy's head. 'It wasn't your fault, Chris.'

'But I should have done something.' Chris sniffled.

Hawke disentangled himself from Chris enough to look at him seriously. 'You want to tell us what happened?'

'I don't know.' Chris said tearfully. 'She told me the car was broke and she had to go for help but then I heard her knock on the car but someone was out there with her and they took her!'

Hawke and Saint John looked at each other.

Saint John patted Chris on the back gently. 'Let's start from the beginning. How about when you arrived at the air field today?'

'Mom brought me after dinner.' Chris said. 'She had a job. I stayed in the hangar and waited for her with Jethro Junior.' He bit his lip. 'I fell asleep.'

'But then your Mom came back.' Saint John surmised gently.

'I guess.' Chris said. 'When she woke me up I was in the car.'

'She woke you up.' Hawke repeated.

'She told me there was a problem with the car and she was going to Flybirds for help.' Chris wiped his nose with his hand. 'She told me to stay in the car and then she left.' His lip trembled. 'I was going back to sleep when I heard the thud against the car.' The tears started again. 'It was my Mom.'

Hawke pulled out a hanky and wiped Chris's tears away. 'What else did you see?'

'There was a man.' Chris said.

'Was he taller than your Mom?' Hawke asked.

Chris nodded. 'He was.'

'Can you remember what he was dressed in?' Hawke prompted.

'Just black.' Chris said. 'All black. He attacked her.'

'How?' Saint John asked gently. 'Did he hit her or push her?'

'He kinda pushed her and she fell on the ground.' Chris said. 'I could see her struggling and then she stopped and he carried her away.' The tears were streaming down his face but there was a stubborn look in his eyes that Hawke recognised; he saw it in the mirror all the time. 'I went for call the police but I had to break the window. Herman's mad about it.'

'I'm sure he'll understand.' Hawke said.

'They can't find my Mom. Chris burst into tears again.

Hawke pulled him into another hug.

Saint John motioned for him to stay with Chris while he drew the sheriff away who had been listening with interest.

'Thanks for that.' Dulles tipped his hat back. 'That's more than we've been able to get out of the boy since we arrived.'

'Which was when?' Saint John asked.

'About an hour or so.' Dulles said. 'One of the boys came out straight away, called us for back-up when he'd gotten the story from the boy.'

'Any vehicles seen leaving?' Saint John asked.

'You law enforcement?' Dulles asked.

'Not exactly.' Saint John admitted.

'Hmmph.' Dulles shook his head. 'No vehicles seen leaving. The boys over at Flybirds didn't hear or see anything either.' He sighed. 'We got search parties out.'

'You Sarah's brother?'

The raspy voice behind him had Saint John whirling. The old man who had been at the hangar doorway had crept up.

'Yeah. I'm her brother.' The words seemed new and awkward as he said them. He shook off the feeling. 'You're?'

'Herman Bent. Sarah works for me.' Herman drew himself up proudly. 'I'm real sorry about your sister. It's obviously some crazy…'

'Saint John.' Hawke stood up. 'A word?' He leaned down and squeezed Chris's shoulder. 'We'll be right back, I promise.'

Chris nodded, his eyes wide with apprehension.

Hawke gestured for his brother to step over to the side with him.

'What are you thinking?' Saint John asked.

'Someone comes out of nowhere and grabs her?' Hawke shook his head as he scanned the air-strip. 'Something doesn't feel right.'

'You think Sterling?'

'I don't know.' Hawke said. 'But I think we should call in some back-up.'

Saint John nodded. 'I'll stay with Chris. You make the call.'

Hawke agreed and they made their way back over to the openly curious locals. 'You got a phone I could use?'

Herman nodded. 'In the office. I'll show you.' He led the way inside and to the small cramped office at the back of the hangar next to the locker room.

Hawke's eyes took in the stack of invoices, aerial maps and flight plans left lying around on the two small desks and almost smiled. It reminded him how the Santini Air office had looked under Dom's management. He snagged the phone and looked pointedly at Herman who was lurking in the doorway.

'I…uh…I'll give you some privacy then.' Herman said backing out.

Hawke figured he'd taken a step away out of sight but he settled for it. He dialled the number to connect him to the satellite phone at his cabin.

'Hello.'

Caitlin's Texan drawl eased the rising tension in his gut. 'Hey.'

'Hey. How's it going?' Caitlin asked.

'Badly.' Hawke said. 'We landed in the middle of a situation. Apparently some guy grabbed Sarah about an hour or so ago.'

'You think it was Sterling or the Cordelli's?' Caitlin asked worriedly.

'I don't know but we think we need some back-up. Can you let Michael know and bring the Lady?'

'We're on our way.' Caitlin said.

'Cait?' Hawke stopped her before she hung up.

'What?' Caitlin prompted.

'I love you.' Hawke said.

'I love you too.' Caitlin said. 'I'll be there as soon as I can. Bye.'

'Bye.' Hawke heard the dull tone of the dead line and replaced the receiver in its cradle. He sighed and rubbed a hand over his face. He walked back out surprising Herman who as he'd expected had been ear-wigging at the door. He ignored him and continued on out of the hangar. He glanced over at the patrol car where Saint John was sat with Chris curled up in his arms and ignored them to speak with the sheriff.

'Dulles.' Hawke jerked his head. 'Can I have a moment?'

'What's up, son?' Dulles asked.

Hawke sighed. 'This may not be an ordinary abduction.'

'Now why would you say that?' Dulles asked his brown eyes brightening with interest.

'The rest of our family were in witness protection when Sarah got separated from them. We think it's likely that the people who were after them have maybe found her.' Hawke explained.

'I see.' Dulles sighed. 'Well, I'll inform my boys but this is a bit out of our league to tell you the truth.'

Hawke recognised the offer in the oblique statement. 'You'd be OK if we stepped in and ran the search?'

'Your brother said you weren't law enforcement.' Dulles said with surprise.

Hawke drew out the new id card Michael had issued him with and showed it to Dulles.

'Department of Defence, huh?' Dulles sighed and handed the card back to him. 'Well, we'd sure appreciate the help.'

Hawke nodded. 'I have a specialist aircraft on the way to assist with the search. In the meantime, my brother will want to talk with everyone at the airfield. Redo all the interviews you've done to date.'

'I've no problem with that.' Dulles said. 'I'll get one of my boys to accompany him so it's all official.'

'Thanks.' Hawke said. He headed back to Saint John and briefly updated him.

Saint John frowned. 'Why do I have to interview them?'

'You're better with people than me.' Hawke pointed out. 'I'll stay with Chris.'

The brothers exchanged places and Hawke watched as Saint John headed off with the female deputy.

'Are you really going to find my Mom?' Chris asked.

'Yeah.' Hawke held his nephew's eyes firmly. 'We're going to find your Mom.'

'You promise?' Chris asked plaintively.

Hawke pulled him in for a hug. 'Yeah, I promise, kid.' It was a promise he fervently hoped he could keep.