Andi quickly locked down the house and hurried up the stairs to get Xavier. She did her very best to put on a brave face for her little brother. He was very observant, more so than her it sometimes seemed. She didn't want him to know how freaked out she was.

She went into his room, grabbed him, and hurried to the master bedroom. The bedroom had originally had two closets. But their parents had decided they only needed one closet, and Dad had insisted that the second one would make a great secret room. They closed in the wall and installed a sliding panel. Their dresser with the TV on top was placed in front of the sliding panel.

Pulling the dresser away from the wall just a bit, Andi slid the secret panel back. She pushed Xavier into the room before following after. She reached out and pulled the dresser back against the wall and slid the panel back into place. Xavier switched on one of the lanterns in the room. It was fairly well stocked, mostly by their dad who had insisted it would be much easier to hide from people breaking into your house if you had food, water, games, and comfortable pillows and blankets to sit on. Andi plopped down on one of the larger pillows and wrapped a blanket around her shoulders.

Xavier scooted over towards her, "What's going on?" he whispered. He knew they needed to be quiet, but Andi could see in his eyes that he found this at least a little exciting.

Andi shrugged, "Mom told us to wait in here."

Xavier looked at the ground for a minute before whispering, "Is this about Dad?"

Andi swallowed hard, holding back the tremors in her voice, "I don't know, but I'm sure Mom will call us if she finds out anything."

Almost as if on cue, Andi's phone started to vibrate. Andi quickly answered, "Hello?"

"Andi, it's Mom. Dad wasn't at the office, so Uncle Gus and I are heading to the police station. I want you two stay in the back room, ok?"

Andi nodded, "Ok. I love you."

"I love you too."

Andi hung up and stared up at the ceiling. Her dad and mom had been training her and Xavier to notice things. Andi knew from her mom's voice that she was more worried now than when she had left the house. Something they had found at the office had made her more concerned. Andi wasn't sure if her mom would approve, but she was really starting to freak out. So, she picked up her phone and dialed another number.

It rang only once before a gruff voice answered, "What?"

Andi smiled, "Hey Uncle Eliot."

Xavier's eyes widened, and he reached out to grab the phone. Andi glared at him and swatted his hands away, "This is Andi. I was wondering where you are right now?"

"Well, I'm actually driving through San Fransico right now."

"Really? Do you think you could maybe stop by our house?" Andi hoped her voice wasn't giving away her nervousness.

"I don't know. I need to get back to Portland. I've been gone for a while now."

Andi's brow furrowed, "Why aren't you flying back?"

Eliot ignored her question, "Why do you want me to stop by the house?"

Andi let her ignored question slide. She figured it must have something to do with Eliot's job, which no one would discuss. Xavier said that he must be some kind of spy since no one talked about what he did, and Xavier and Andi weren't allowed to talk about him at the police station.

"Dad's missing," Andi said.

"What do you mean he's missing?" Eliot asked. The sound of a blinker turning on could be heard in the background.

Andi smiled slightly at the sound, "He didn't come home tonight. Mom went to look for him at the office, but he wasn't there. She just called. She must have found something bad there because she sounded worried. She and Uncle Gus are heading to the police station."

"Where are you and Xavier?"

"We're in the secret room-"

"Pineapple Fortress!" Xavier shouted into the phone.

Andi shoved him away. Xavier and her dad may have insisted on using that name, but there was no way she was going to use it.

She heard Eliot chuckle, "Alright. I want you two to stay there. I'll be at your house in about ten minutes. Stay quiet. Don't make any noise. Don't come out, even if you think it's me."

"Ok, bye," Andi hung up the phone and slid it back into her pocket.

Xavier tilted his head and gave her an odd look, "Aren't you going to call Mom?"

Andi shook her head, "I don't know if Uncle Eliot wants anyone to know where he is. We'll ask him when he gets here."

Xavier frowned but didn't push the subject. They each curled up on a pillow with a blanket to wait for Eliot.

So, quick explanation of why the kids call Eliot their uncle. I call my mom's cousin Aunt. I decided to have the kids do the same thing mainly because it seems weird to have them call him Mr. or just Eliot. There you go. I hope you enjoy this chapter, even thought it's kind of short. Please leave a review and let me know what you thought, how I can improve, and any questions you have. Thanks.