Bigger Picture Chapter Two

Joe really didn't care where he was going,it didn't matter. The rain was relentless,wind shook the trees and he felt sick. Eventually he knew he'd stop but for now... "RADIOACTIVE! RADIOACTIVE!" Joe groaned loudly to himself,Iola he should have know not to let her near his phone, actually Iola was probably calling now. Stopping at a red light he grabbed his SmartPhone out of his pocket and scrolled down the list of missed calls. Yep, Iola, a sudden hand motion turned his attention to his right where the woman driving the mini-van gave him a frown and motioned for him to pocket the phone. Shrugging his shoulders he obeyed and turned to-wait no Frank wasn't here and he wasn't riding thrill riding either. The light turned green and as soon as possible he was speeding away. It was only a matter of time when he realized that he was that on the old dirt trail that led into the woods. Joe took a deep breath and stopped to run a hand through his blond hair,okay now he was regretting this. He really should have listened to Frank, time for a walk something in him decided and off he went.

Iola Morton was tapping against the glass-repeatedly.

"Should I call him again?"She asked in a worried tone the bubbly girl didn't use often.

"I don't know, do I have to solve ALL of your Joe related problems?" Chet Morton replied grumpily and rolled his eyes at the look his sister gave him.

"It would be nice, Chet!It's 4:00 he was supposed to be here half-an hour ago."Chet sighed and got off the floor where he was arranging his moon rock collection, silently he stood next to his sister.

"Actually this is kinda strange, even for Joe. I would go over to their house to see but with the hurricane warning and all..." Iola gave her brother a shove towards the door.

"Go Chet, c'mon remember that Johnny Thunder guy? The meteorologists are always wrong."

Chet looked skeptically at this "Iola, always?"

" Please Chet?" She pleaded giving him sad puppy eyes, Chet groaned.

"Fine,but I'm only checking the Hardy's house." Iola gave him a grateful smile and wrapped his jacket around his shoulders.

"Bye Chet!"she waved as he stepped outside and headed towards their 80's pick-up.

Sighing she turned away and headed upstairs,

"Iola!" Her mother called from the office and Iola groaned loudly as she turned around and made her way to her mother's cluttered office. gave her daughter a look and sorted through a stack of papers until she seemed to find what she was looking for,

"Iola honey, remember when you were talking about not having anything to write about in the school newspaper?"

Iola bit her lip,"Yeah mom,that's what Joe was supposed to help me with but-"

"no honey seriously look!"Mrs. Morton pointed and Iola leaned forward to read the article.

LEAD TERRIOSIST SUSPECTED TO BE IN BAYPORT

On December 30 2013 Federal Agents were in hot pursuit of an International Terrorist who was hiding in the state of New York. The Federal Agents linked *Aziz Saleem* to a string of murders in Iraq, Afghanistan, Romania,and Egypt. A recent sighting of him, in New York was Saleem's first time in America, the Agents believe. On January 12 the Federal Agents teamed up with the Baltimore Police Force, in the city of Baltimore, and were held up in a warehouse. Saleem evaded them. He is rumored to be searching for something but federal investigators can only guess what. Forces across the East Coast continue to search for him and urge anyone with information to contact the FBI tip line immediately. Arundhati is said to be a 5'5" middle-eastern male with black hair, brown eyes and the distinct feature of a black scorpion on his left forearm.

*Terrorists supposed name*

Iola stared in shock at the article until her mother gently shook her arm.

"Iola, Iola wouldn't that be a good topic?" Iola shook her head quickly then again,

"Mom,there's this new boy at school named Zain SALEEM could he-could he possibly be Arundhati Saleem's son?" Mrs. Morton gave her daughter another look,

"Iola do you have to be so suspicious of everyone? He's from England remember?"

Iola sighed and held the paper to her mother's face.

"Mom,seriously he looks just like this guy and-"

"He was raised in England by his grandmother after his parent's death." Mrs. Morton interrupted her daughter and Iola gave a look of surprise,

"How do you know some much about him?"Mrs. Morton rolled her eyes.

"He told me his whole life story the other day,he's a very resilient young man who has worked very hard for his education. I'm actually thinking you might want to do some sort of honorary student thing in your paper." Iola shrugged and muttered "I guess so" under her breath before making her way to the T.V to watch the weather.

Joe sat on the edge of the cliff and watched the Atlantic Sea rage against the rocks.

The rain hadn't stopped, in fact it had gotten worse, Joe was thinking about going back soon because of it . Shivering he wrapped his arms around himself and wished that he would have thought of bringing a jacket,if he didn't leave maybe he'd get pneumonia. Not that he wanted to get it, he just couldn't leave.

"Help!"A frightened voice broke through his train of thoughts, Joe leaped and peered over and his heart leaped up as well when he saw a small sailboat getting tossed repeatedly against the rocks. Not stopping to think he tossed off his shirt and dove in the frigid water.

It was dark when Frank came to,wait-that's because he had his eyes closed.

Hmm...his head hurt and his wrists too,someone was whispering above him. He tried to talk but no words came. Finally; "Ooof."He thought he should try again when;

"Oh my,Frank are you waking up?I think he's finally coming to Fenton!"His mother...sick of being incapable of anything, Frank forced his eyes and immediately wish he hadn't. Nausea and dizziness soon overtook him and he quickly closed them again.

"Sorry about that chap,I think Marko might have given you a concussion." What? A different voice this time, Frank decided to see who was talking. Slowly opening his eyes he had to blink to clear his vision and then he settled on a tall man lounging against the sofa, a stranger. Turning his head slowly he met the gaze of his father and his mother who were bound back to back...in their own house.

"Frank?Are you alright honey?"His mother asked in a worried tone. Frank nodded unsure of why him and his parents were tied up and why his head hurt so much.

"Umm...why-wait no,what happened?" Frank thought this would be a better question to ask especially with the strange man in the house. Fenton lowered his head almost like he was ashamed to answer,

"Well, my boss is looking for something and searching for answers." The tall stranger answered and instantly Frank started putting the pieces together in his head.

Tied-up, knocked out,answers...the tall stranger had to be a guard holding the Hardy family hostage in their own house!