Ben was at home, enjoying a relaxing night without any interruptions,when the phone rang. He stared at it, surprised. It was past midnight.

"Hello?" He asked, muting the TV set.

"Is this Ben?" He recognized the voice of Riley's sister.

"Madison? Is that you?"

"Ben, oh thank God! Riley's been kidnapped. We went to the movies to see Transformers, and then we were gonna drive home, only these men chased us and they grabbed him, and i'm stranded. I'd have driven Ri's car home, but I don't have a license. Plus he'd kill me if I drove his car."

Ben was already on his way out the door at this point, and he quickly got directions from her as to where to pick her up.

"Just calm down, i'll be there in a few minutes."

After he picked her up, they drove to the police station, where they had to write out a report about what had happened.

While Madison was explaining to yet another officer about what she had seen, and pestering them with questions about how they were going to find her brother, Ben took out his cellphone, and dialed Riley's number.

There was no reply, as it went straight to his inbox. Ben left a message, on the offchance that Riley might be able to listen to it.

"Riley, Madison called me, so we know you are kidnapped. If you somehow get this, I want you to know that we are really worried about you, and your sister will be staying at my place until we find you. And believe me, we will. Be safe, Riley. Don't do anything stupid."

After he finished recording the message, he looked up and realized that both Madison and the officer were looking at him.

"Any luck?" The officer asked, but Ben shook his head. He stood up, and walked over to Madison.

"Are you ready to go?" He asked her, and she nodded quickly, before following him out the door. They stopped briefly at Riley's apartment so she could pick up some clothes, before going to the Gate's mansion.

Madison slept on the couch, and woke up early when the maid started vacuuming all the carpets. After her restless sleep, full of murders and dead brothers, she was glad that she was wide awake, even if it was only seven am. She got up, kicking the blankets off her, before wandering into the kitchen.

She was surprised when she found Ben, seated at the table looking exhuasted. "You're up," She told him, sitting across from him. He looked bleary-eyed, and he was drinking a large mug of coffee.

"So are you," he told her, smiling.

"Couldn't sleep,"

"Do you want to talk about it?"

She shook her head vigorisly. Then she changed her mind, and started to tell him exactly what was on her mind.

"Couldn't really sleep, my brain was on overload with murder, and kidnappings and what will happen to Riley, and dead Riley's and I kept replaying yesterday over in my mind. I should have tried to protect him, y'know?"

"It's not your fault."

"Yeah it is. I should have grabbed him. I was being such a chicken because the stupid guy had a gun. If only I could have just grabbed Riley, maybe he wouldnt be out there, but safe."

"What if they had shot you, then kidnapped Riley anyway? It's not your fault.

She shivered at the mention of being shot, before looking away.

They spent the next few hours hovering around the phone waiting for news from the police station, and Madison found herself getting impatient as she hated waiting. When the phone did ring, either Madison or Ben would snatch it up, hoping to hear some good news. The first time was Abigail, calling to say she would be home the next morning from Berlin. The second call was from Riley's mom, asking for an update from Madison.

Ben was engrossed in his research books, papers spread all over the dining room table, when Madison sat down across from him.l

"Did the police call at all? Do they have any leads?"

She shook her head, and they sat in silence for a few minutes.

"Why aren't you doing anything about trying to find him?" she asked him.

Ben looked at her, puzzled. "What?"

"Well? You have all these plans to kidnap presidents and steal ancient documents, but why aren't you making any plans to get Riley back?"

"The police are searching for him."

"He's your best friend. You should be out there trying to find him. He would be searching for you, you know."

"I know."

"So come on. Let's start thinking of how we're going to find him."

"Madison. He was kidnapped, not lost. We can't just walk around the neighbourhood all day, calling his name and hoping he hears us. He was taken at gunpoint, what do you expect me to do?"

"I expect you to help me find him." Madison told him, before getting up and walking away. If she wanted to find Riley, she decided, she would have to find him on her own.

That night, Madison slept on Ben's couch again, but she kept waking up every hour or so.

Around 6 am, she woke up to the phone ringing. Madison threw back the blankets, before picking up the phone. "Hello?" She asked, groggily. There was a dial tone.

The shrill ringing was still continuing, and Madison realized suddenly that it was her cellphone and not the house phone. She picked it up off the coffee table, and was about to open the cell, when the realization of seeing Riley's name on the call display hit her.

She gasped in surprise and hope, before quickly flipping the phone open and pressing it earnestly to her ear.

"Hello? Riley?" She asked. Instead of hearing her brother's voice, she heard the voice of an unknown stranger.

"I take it this is Madison," The man spoke, sounding menacing.

"Where's Riley?" She asked him.

"He's fine. For now."

"Can I talk to him?"

"No. I'm calling because we want something in exchange for Riley."

Madison bit her lip painfully, before answering.

"What, like money?"

"No. We want some information."

"Uh huh. On what,exactly?"

"There's a van outside of the Gates Mansion right now. Get in, and don't call the police. Everything will be explained to you." With that, the phone was dead.