Jeff stared open-mouthed.

If Cowlishaw was still in jail, then who had his son?

The flight out to New York was tense.

Jeff had decided to let Virgil pilot, knowing that his middle son would benefit from having something to concentrate on, while he stayed in the back with Gordon, pulling up everything they could find on the events 15 years ago and where everyone was now. Alan had gone up to collect John and would fly them over with their Grandma as soon as they got back.

Twenty-two hours was not a lot of time, not when flying to New York took almost half that even with the special additions from Brains that meant they were faster than any other private jet, but it did give Jeff time to try to find out exactly who had kidnapped Scott, and where they might be holding him.

He just couldn't get it out of his head that Cowlishaw was still behind bars. Who else would know just what the journalist put him and Swinger through by kidnapping Virgil and Oscar and taunting them daily?

Gordon and he went through the information John had gathered together, reading through Harry Flinn and Nick Jennings' notes along with the key witness statements from Arnold Swinger, Thomas Howard, Swinger's bodyguard, Jack and his father Roger Martin, the hotel owner. Jeff made sure that he was the one to read Scott and Virgil's statements while Gordon went through George Harris' and a couple of other security guards.

Reading through the statements made the time pass much quicker than they realised, and Jeff put down Scott's statement and rubbed his eyes when Virgil told them they were preparing to land. Gordon seemed as surprised as Jeff did that they were already at New York.

It was a short ride to Tracy Towers, and when they arrived Ann was waiting with a couple of policemen. He recognised a much older Harry Flynn and the two men shook hands and exchanged rueful smiles.

'One day, you and I will meet under different circumstances, Mr Tracy.'

'I'd like that, Flinn. And it's Jeff.'

'Jeff. Your PA has given us a conference room and this is going to feel very familiar to you.'

'Thanks, Harry. You remember my sons, Virgil and Gordon?'

'Sure do. It's good to see you again, Virgil.'

Virgil shook hands with the man who had not only been instrumental in finding him those 15 years ago, he had also begun the healing process by allowing Virgil to burn the mask that Cowlishaw had terrorised him with.

As Ann led them to the room she'd set aside for them Flinn explained how he had moved to New York not long after that case. They entered a room that was quietly humming with the sounds of people working on computers and phones. It was the largest conference room they had, and Ann left them to get coffee as they made their way over to the end of the table and sat down.

Ann returned with coffee and cookies for everyone as Flinn slid a large heavy envelop onto the desk.

'This came with the post this morning. Your PA said it was under the one she opened.'

'You've seen it?'

'Yeah. It's being processed.'

'And you recognised the scene?'

'Absolutely.'

Jeff ran his hands over the envelope. He knew what the parcel contained and he glanced at Flinn, waiting for the go-ahead before tearing off the strip and sliding out the laptop. He passed it to the detective and watched as a tech looked over it. It took the remaining hour that they had before the allotted time was up.

3pm on the dot. Just like last time. The laptop was open and waiting, and suddenly the screen lit up with a pop-up requesting connection.

Jeff clicked on the window and the strains of music from an old cartoon filled the room. Jeff paled at the memories it was provoking. He glanced at Virgil and Gordon, but neither boy had seen this part of the kidnapping. Ten minutes later, as expected, the screen stopped showing cartoons and switched to the room.

The camera was trained on Scott.