AN – I have a treat – two chapters in a very short space of time. My little one has been very sick. We've spent the last week in hospital. All better now so maybe I'll actually get to finish this soon.

'Senator,' the uniformed man saluted crisply, along with his entourage of five underlings. They'd been waiting for the military chopper to land, carrying its political cargo. Given the choice, the career soldier didn't want to be a part of this meeting, most especially under these circumstances and in such a crowded location.

'General,' the distinguished man replied after climbing down, the rotters stopped. Holding out his hand, the men shared a private moment of communication both wishing this consultation didn't need to take place. After shaking and sharing a look, they moved out of hearing range, keeping their voices low, just in case. 'I understand we have everything under control,' the senator stated lightly, unable and unwilling to elucidate.

'Yes, Sir,' The General replied, understanding the subtext, 'I've personally seen to it. We have been able to incorporate this new strategy without too many issues.'

'Good,' he smirked, 'last minute changes can be difficult to integrate into an annual event that's had a traditional time and place for over a decade.'

'Yes,' The General hissed, 'but not unexpected with the election of an unknown and untried Senator.'

'Who,' the political raised an eyebrow, 'has his own agenda and is not afraid to state it publicly. The man is deliberately transparent.'

'As is his strategy to use a military exercise to find his lost son in an area bordering the states of West Virginia and Virginia, which he's already searched several times at great expense,' added the uniformed man. 'I am confident discovery will be even less likely this year than in the past. The exercise will not take place until August at the very earliest. My staff need's the time to organise the new location. I cannot vouch for the new Senator's plans next year.'

'The next election will see yet another Senator for New York,' promised the politician, 'and you'll be able to maintain your usual timetable and strategy for the annual military exercised in and around Warm Springs. Then you can be assured of complete safety.'

'I have considered a smaller,' The General rubbed his chin, 'informal exercise at the regular time and location to see how the ground lays.'

'That won't be necessary,' declared the Senator. 'Sending a team might alert them to our annual covert surveillance.' Pausing, he considered his motivations carefully. 'No,' he stated with determination, 'they've equipped themselves well and I find them extremely resourceful under the circumstances. Besides, they may yet find a way out. Planting the trees – ingenious, although if it worked...'

'Yes,' agreed The General, 'it would have changed everything. Nature worked in our favour.'

'I'm not prepared to leave anything to chance again,' the well-dressed man avowed. 'Subtle enquires are being made, getting closer to the drop off point and discovery of the entire plan. We thought we'd removed the main issue,' sighing heavily he continued, 'but it seems the brother is as resourceful as the sister. His new profession protects him, as does his significant others father. Politically, they've played a very public game and it's worked well. I cannot go after the brother without causing a media outrage. Currently I'm incapable of stopping his enquiries through third and fourth parties. I'm sure he shares this information with is sponsor. Without an indiscretion, I'm incapable of removing New York's current Senator. We are, General, at an impasse.'

Two weeks later, Matthew Wheeler stormed around his home office. He'd remodelled the entire sub-penthouse floor, incorporating a suite of rooms enabling him to work from home when in New York. The apartment consisted of three separate bedroom zones, each with their own living space. Brian and Dan shared the "guest" area, Honey all but moved Mart into her private collection of rooms, Mr and Mrs Wheeler appropriated the master suite, leaving the office wing and a kitchen/formal/informal dining room connecting the four independent spaces.

'Well!' Matthew demanded of the two men standing stock still before his massive desk.

Tony looked imploringly towards Mart. Silently the younger man suggested the Head of Security start the conversation. He'd add the detail when needed and drop his bombshell.

'They've taken the bait,' Tony stood stock still, hands clasped behind his back. 'The major participants have shown themselves without realising what they've given away.

'So,' Matthew hissed, 'our plans in play.'

'Yes,' Tony agreed, 'all we can do now is wait for their next move, letting them tighten the noose with their own deeds.'

Dissatisfied, Matthew nodded, sighing heavily. 'Please,' he stated softly, turning to gaze out on the New York skyline from the picture window behind his ornate desk, 'refresh my memory once again.'

'Jonesy, recruited in jail, hired the truck which Smithy used to transport Jim and Trixie,' Tony started. 'Leaving Jonesy to take the fall after sending you the ransom e-mail, Smith drove the truck to the town of Wayne. We have Smithy's identity and his links to a drug cartel in South America. Sam lost his life discovering Smith changed trucks in Wayne, continued onto a private property outside of Cummings Maryland and used the privately owned helicopter to complete a three hundred mile journey the same day. Sam managed to get the information to us through a CIA contact whose been looking further without success.'

'As luck would have it,' Mart chimed in, 'we've managed to find the original truck locked up in a garage in Wayne. I've had a couple of sources looking for clues and they came up with this.' Walking over to Matthew, Mart handed him an envelope with three photographs.

'A picture of an ordinary pick up?' Matthew questioned.

'Notice the crate on the tray,' Mart suddenly sounded anger, 'well it most probably contained your son and my sister. Trixie's blood has been identified in the abandoned van. This frame came from a stoplight camera on the same block four hours after they were taken. Incidentally it's coming out of the same garage housing the abduction truck.'

'How can we be sure,' Matthew asked at the same time he looked at the second picture showing the same vehicle turning onto the private road leading to Senator Iraola's country residence. Glancing up to the younger man, his eyes asked the question his mouth couldn't.

'The final print,' Mart couldn't keep the fury from his tone, 'taken two weeks ago, shows The Senator and The General discussing the upcoming military activity. After re-evaluating the Mississippi Gun case, the FBI is certain the weapons are military issue, most probably stolen and the serial numbers removed.'

Eyeing the young man, Matthew dismissed Tony. 'Tell me the rest,' he demanded, 'I can see you believe this association between Senator Iraola and General Brooks is not as innocent as it seems.'

'They know were Jim and Trixie are,' rage coloured every word. 'I'm not sure how long they've known, but they do. Your plan to move the exercise to another area is utterly useless. My source believes they're being held somewhere around Warm Springs, Virginia.'

'We've been over that area several times,' Matthew paled, slumped into his chair and held his head in his hands. 'You're sure this information is completely accurate?'

'I have no reason to distrust,' Mart answered, 'they've been correct in every other instance. Where ever they have Jim and Trix, it's so well hidden the only way we'll find them is by accident. Besides, I know there still alive, I feel it.'

'The next election is only eighteen months away,' Matthew considered his options, the alterations he needed to make to his plans. Changing tactics, he glanced at Mart before stating, 'if we have any chance of finding Jim and Trixie, I have to be re-elected.'

'No,' Mart stated with venom rarely heard, 'I won't allow my personal life to be manipulated for anyone's gain. I love your daughter and one day we will be married, but not for you or anyone else.'

Nodding, Matthew couldn't help but be disappointed. The marriage of his daughter to Mart would give him an incredible amount of press leading up to the election in late November next year. Still he couldn't help the feeling proud at Mart's impenetrable stance.

'You'll win the next election,' Mart stood suddenly. Reaching for the door handle, he threw over his shoulder, 'because Trix and Jim will be home by then. Believe me, they'll create issues for you, for all of us,' he stated before stalking out.