TWENTY-FOUR

"I can't believe it," said Phoebe. "In the real timeline dad isn't anything like that. We've even started to be a family again."

"In this timeline he's a murderer," said Prue. "He's been responsible for giving information about witches to the authorities. He has inside information on them, after all. Before he murdered mom he learned a lot about witches. That makes him a very valuable man to the government and how he's been able to remain a member of the President's cabinet longer than anyone else in history."

"That's not true," said Paige.

"Yes it is," said Piper. "Every word of it. If I could I'd kill him myself. So would Prue. So would any witch in the world."

"No, not that," said Paige. "The part about your mother's murder. She's not dead. At least last time I heard she wasn't. She's being held in a special prison."

"What?" Prue nearly screamed. "How do you know that?"

"It's the reason I got my job as a network anchor," said Paige. "After I graduated college I started doing research into witches. I wanted to be at the forefront of all the best stories. I won't bore you with all the details but I uncovered that your mother wasn't killed as was reported. She was taken to a special prison where she's been ever since."

"She's alive?" Piper asked. "Even after all these years? Why would they keep her alive?"

"To learn more about witches," said Leo. "She would have a lot to tell them. It's possible that's how Bennett has learned so much and become so valuable to the government."

"How did that help you become a network anchor?" Phoebe asked.

"When I discovered what had happened," said Paige, "Secretary Bennett came to talk to me himself. He asked me to not reveal what I had learned. When I protested saying it was a major story and the public had a right to know he said it was a matter of national security. He also said that if I didn't say anything he'd make sure I got the biggest break of my career. Well, I know what they do to people who violate 'national security' so I agreed. Less than a month later the network called."

"He bribed you," said Prue.

"Yeah, I guess so," said Paige. "I was young and naïve. And I honestly thought if I said anything that I'd 'disappear' like a lot of others had. But it turned out to be one of the best decisions I ever made. In a few months the network president 'let' me substitute for the network anchor while he was on vacation. When he suddenly retired the next year I got the job."

"Where is she?" Prue demanded. "You said they were holding her in a special prison. Where is that prison?"

"I don't know," said Paige. "Secretary Bennett would never tell me. He only said it was a matter of national security. But ever since then he's supplied me with plenty of top stories. And people love me. I've been the top newscaster in the country since I got the job."

"We have to find her," Piper said. "If mom is still alive we need to find out where she is and rescue her."

"I can't help with that," said Paige. "If I ask any questions about your mom. . ."

"Our mom," said Phoebe. "She's your mother, too."

"Our mom," Paige corrected, "it will make Secretary Bennett suspicious."

"I might be able to help," said Leo. "We never knew she was still alive. I can let the Elders know and they might be able to find her."

"Do it," said Prue. "We're going to find her and get her out of that prison as soon as possible."

Leo orbed out of the cabin immediately.

"We're stuck here now," said Paige.

"Not exactly," said Phoebe. "You can orb, too. Your father was a White Lighter, after all. Of course in the original timeline it took a while before you learned to orb some place other than in place but you should get the hang of it soon enough."

"How long will he be gone?" Piper asked.

"That's hard to say," said Phoebe. "It depends on if the Elders believe him and how long it will take them to find her. If they can. If they thought she was dead she's probably being hidden somehow. Some place where they've been able to shield her."

"Wouldn't that take some form of magic?" Prue asked.

"Probably," said Phoebe. "Which doesn't make any sense. Why would the government use magic when they're trying to exterminate every being who uses magic?"

"I don't know," said Paige. "Maybe they've figured out a way to shield her without magic. Some form of technology."

Suddenly Leo orbed back into the cabin.

"I told the Elders what we've learned," he said. "They're going to start looking for her immediately. They'll call me as soon as they know anything."

"How long will it take?" Prue demanded.

"There's no way to tell," said Leo. "They'll do their best. This has taken top priority over everything else. In the mean time they suggest we try to locate Nostradamus."

"I can call and try to get an appointment with Commandant Trudeau tomorrow," said Paige. "I'll need to talk to my network head first. I'll have to explain about disappearing from my apartment. There's probably a national alert out on it right now."

"Do you think they'll suspect you of anything?" Phoebe asked.

"Probably not," said Paige. "I'll tell them was kidnapped by some fanatic witch supporters. If Leo can orb me near some police they can 'discover' us and he can 'escape' before they capture him. I'll make this big stink about the abominations who kidnapped me and everything. I'll be believable. Everyone knows about my views on witches. They'll question me for a few hours but eventually they'll believe me."

"It's a terrible risk," said Leo. "They might decide to rescan you to make sure you're who you are."

"I'll just have to take that chance," said Paige. "I can't just disappear. I'm a very public figure. They won't give up until they find out what happened and that will risk them discovering you. Or some innocent people getting hurt. This is the best option we have. I'll let you know when things have settled down."

"Just call for me," said Leo. "I'll keep an ear out for you."

"You mean like just call into the air?" Paige asked.

"Something like that," said Leo, smiling. "You really have a lot to learn about your new heritage."

"Be careful," said Prue. "We still need you to find Nostradamus. And now that I know I have another sister, I don't want to loose her before I have a chance to get to know her."

"I will," said Paige. "And I'm kind of looking forward to having a family myself."

Leo and Paige joined hands and Leo orbed them out of the cabin.

"Do you think we can trust her?" Prue asked. "She seems to have adapted to being a witch kind of quick."

"Maybe," said Phoebe. "But I think we can trust her. Family means a great deal to Paige mainly because she's rarely had one."

"I hope so," said Piper. "We have a lot riding on her."