Joe King looked at the clock. Another hour or so and he could start heading home. He promised his wife and son that he would actually make it home in time for dinner tonight. He was trying to make more of an effort. He didn't want to mess up yet another marriage because of his job.

Joe's phone rang. He picked it up. "Joe King, EAO."

The phone was crackling and a man who sounded young with a British accent spoke, "Hello Mr. King. I have a message from a Mr. Barnstorm. I need you to pass it on to your son Phillip King. If he's not available, please give the message to your other son Jamie King."

Joe was confused. "Barnstorm? Who is this?"

The man spoke, "There's trouble, Mr. King. Just tell your sons to gather the rebel forces at Hoth and protect the wokling. 9582482184. Also, the boy did he make it home? Is he alright?"

Joe was confused, "Which boy? What are you taking about?"

The man on the other end of the phone spoke, "Have you spoken with your son Phillip recently?"

What kind of craziness was Phillip getting him involved in. "I have no idea what you are talking about."

"He didn't make it home yet then? That's not good."

Then Joe thought about it. He hadn't spoken with Phillip since last week or was it the week before? Had Phillip gotten himself in some kind of trouble again? Joe didn't want any part of the spy world. He had told Amanda and Phillip that numerous times.

It was bad enough that Amanda had gotten herself involved in the spy world. But now she had gotten Phillip involved too. She had paid a very high price for it. Her second husband had been killed, and her youngest son was missing.

Joe didn't like that Phillip had become an agent. That he had followed in his mother's footsteps. Joe knew it was his own fault. He should have been around more when they were growing up. Phillip and him not barely talking for a couple years hadn't helped. This might be some sort of trick. He wasn't going to tell them where Phillip was. Joe was not going to give this strange man any information.

"I'll pass on your message. Thanks."

The man spoke, "Wait, don't hang up. I need to know if the boy made it home. It's important."

Joe sighed, "Look I have no idea which boy you are talking about. Even if I did, I don't know who you are. I wouldn't tell you."

The man on the other end of the phone spoke, "Please pass the message to your sons and let me know if he made it home. The line is not secure don't say names. When you pass the message on. Phillip or Jamie will know what it means. Call me back at +44 555 456789. Just let me know he's there. That he is alright. I understand if you don't trust me. I'm glad you don't. Just you'll understand why it's important after you speak with your sons."

Joe sighed, "Yeah alright. Goodbye."

Joe hung up. He was a little worried. Who was the boy he was talking about? Did he mean Phillip? Phillip wasn't a boy anymore, though. He was 26 years old. He dialed Phillip's cell phone and got his voicemail. "Hey Phillip, it's Dad. Call me back when you get this. I got a strange message. Guessing it probably has something to do with whatever case you are working on now."

Joe was going to call Amanda next, but he really was not in the mood to argue with her right now. It was easier if he just called Jamie. Jamie could tell Amanda. Joe knew he would most likely get into an argument with her especially if it involved Phillip. Phillip was a magnet for getting himself into trouble but Amanda didn't see it like that. In her eyes Phillip was perfect and could do no wrong. They would just end up fighting over it. Joe knew it.

He dialed Jamie's number and Jamie answered right away, "James King speaking."

Joe smiled his son sounded so professional on the phone, "Hi Jamie, it's Dad. How are you doing?"

"I'm good, Dad. Is something wrong? You never call me. Nothing is wrong with Phillip is there? Mom called me this morning. She had a bad feeling about one of us being in trouble."

Joe really should call him more often. He had just been so busy. He felt guilty. "I'm sorry, son. No as far as I know everyone is fine, but I did just get a weird phone call, and I can't get a hold of Phillip. They said to give it to you if Phillip wasn't available. It was from Mr. Barnstorm. That's Lee's network, right? I wrote it down it says gather the rebel forces at Hoth. Protect the wokling. 9582482184."

Jamie was silent for a second and said, "Oh my gosh. Have you talked to Mom? She needs to hear that message too if you can't get a hold of Phillip. You should call Francine Desmond at the Agency too. I'll start making arrangements to come home."

Joe spoke, "He asked me if the boy came home yet. Do you know who he's talking about? Do you think he meant you or your brother? Do you think Phillip is in some kind of trouble?"

Jamie sighed, "No, that message isn't about Phillip or me. If that message is real. It is about one of my brothers but not Phillip or Joey. I don't want to say exactly what it means over the phone in case the line isn't secure. But give that message to Mom and Phillip. If you can't get a hold of either one of them. Call the Agency. Tell Francine Desmond that message. This is crazy. I don't know who else would know that code if it's not Phillip except maybe Mom."

Joe felt his heart stop. "The man on the phone asked me if the boy had made it home safely yet. The boy he meant is Alex. Barnstorm had him this whole time?"

Jamie sighed, "Dad, it's not safe to talk about this on the phone. I'm sure your line isn't secure. Look give that message to Mom, Phillip, or Francine. Have Francine trace that call. I'm going to start making arrangements to come home. If my little brother is coming home even if it's some sort of trick. I need to be there for it. Especially if it is some kind trick. Mom's going to need all the support she can get. You remember what happened last time it turned out not to really be him."

Joe remembered. He had felt horrible for Amanda. She had lost her husband and her youngest son. He couldn't even imagine what that was like. Amanda had gone to a dark place after she lost Lee. Thank God, she had been pregnant. That little girl was what kept Amanda going. That and the possibility that her youngest son was still alive. She had not given up on him, but Joe could tell after the last time. She had come to some kind of terms that she may never find her youngest son.

Joe knew how much it hurt to almost lose Phillip. Especially because they had such a strained relationship which was all Joe's fault. Joe had done everything wrong with Phillip. But Phillip had not made it easy either. He was so stubborn like Amanda and had his ex-mother in law's mouth. Plus Phillip and his current wife were like oil and water. They couldn't stand each other.

Jamie was the easier of his two older children. Joe was a little disappointed he had chosen to go into the art world instead of medicine. Jamie was so smart. It seemed like kind of a waste that he went into photojournalism and art. If Joe had been around more, he might have gotten him to pursue medicine. Jamie had always liked science until Lee bought him that silly camera. Jamie had just gotten lucky that Lee had connections in the art world.

At least Joe had a second chance to do things right with his youngest son Joey. Joey was nowhere near as smart as his two older boys but that was alright. He was a good kid. At least he didn't have to worry about him becoming an artist or spy one day. He figured Joey would make a good paralegal.

"Well Carrie & I will be happy to take Leann for a few days again. If your mother gets like she did last time. Leann doesn't need to see that."

Jamie sighed, "Thanks Dad. Leann's visiting Aunt Lillian with Grandma in Vermont until Sunday, thankfully. Let's figure out what is going on first. Then we can worry about arrangements for her. If you can't get a hold of Mom or Phillip. Call Francine Desmond. I know she'll help."

"I think it might be better if you are the one that calls your mother.I don't want to say the wrong thing and get into another fight with her about Phillip. I'll try Phillip again and then call Francine if I can't get a hold of him."

Jamie spoke, "Yeah, sure I'll call Mom. I need to let her know to prepare my room for me anyway. Although she usually always has my room ready for me if I want to go home."

Joe was pretty sure that was a dig at him, but he ignored it. There had been a couple times when Phillip and Jamie were teenagers that Amanda had sent them over to his place and he hadn't been prepared for them.

Joe spoke, "Well you are more than welcome at our place too. I'm sure Carrie and Joey will be happy to see you."

Jamie spoke, "Well Joey will at least. Look tell Carrie not to worry. I'll stay at my house. Alright?"

Joe spoke, "Jamie, my house is your house too. You know you are always welcome there. Carrie never had a problem with you."

Jamie was silent for a second, "Yeah okay whatever, Dad. Look I am at work so I'm going to go. I'll call you later with the details and let you know if I get a hold of Mom. Alright? Talk to you later, Dad."

Joe spoke, "Ok, son. Love you. Talk to you later."

Joe grabbed his rolodex and dialed the number for Francine Desmond. She was unavailable. He left a message for her to call him back. Joe then decided to try Billy Melrose. He called the Agency again. He got Billy's voicemail as well. Where was everyone? Something must be going on. Joe just needed to finish up a couple of things and then he was going to head over to Amanda's house to see if he could find out what was going on. Carrie was going to kill him. He was going to miss dinner with her and Joey again.

Notes:

Oh Joe, you are not going to be happy with the profession I gave Joey in Prodigal Son III.

Next chapter - Back to the basement with Amanda. Amanda has a conversation with Jamie and Matty learns he has a sister.