The next day found Joe and his friends at Vanessa’s house. "Well, here’s the address" said Callie, pushing the screen around so her friends could also read the Bayport address.

"Finally, I feel we’re getting somewhere," remarked Joe.

"We’ve got something to go to the cops with now," pointed out Chet.

"Wrong again, Big Guy. A telephone number and an address do not make a man a criminal. We still have to I.D. him. So, although I hate to say this, it calls for a stakeout," said Joe.

"But I thought you hated stakeouts," protested Chet.

"I do, which is why I hated saying it - but I really want to make sure we nail this guy. I suggest we split this into two, six hour shifts, that way we can make sure that the building is covered throughout the day. Vanessa, Callie and myself will do the evening shift - if that’s okay with you two, of course?"

Vanessa and Callie looked at one another and nodded.

"Good, that leaves Biff and Chet the other shift," said Joe, looking to his friends for confirmation.

"Okay," they agreed.

"Mind if I use your phone, Vanessa?" asked Joe.

"No, go right ahead, who are you phoning."

"Guess!"

"The number you found on the notebook?"

"The very same - I’m playing a hunch," he punched the numbers in and listening to the ringing tone. Finally, it was answered after seven rings.

"Hello, Playbie’s Adoption Agency," said a female voice.

Joe was momentarily stunned and had to regain his composure before asking, "Erm, yes, sorry - can I speak to John, please?"

"Hold on a moment, I’ll see if he’s available." The phone went dead as Joe was put on hold, he looked at his friends and raised an eyebrow. After a long wait another male voice came on the line. "John speaking."

"Who am I talking to, please?"

"Who are you first?" asked the voice suspiciously.

"Never mind, wrong number, sorry to have troubled you," Joe replaced the receiver thoughtfully and turned to the others. "A woman answered with the introduction ‘Playbie’s Adoption Agency ‘.

"Wow," said Callie, after a pause.

"Do you think they’re taking children to sell for adoption purposes?" said Biff.

"It’s certainly a viable theory.

"There’re a lot of couples out their who can’t have children and are trying to adopt," said Vanessa. "It’s a well known fact that many of these couples are ineligible under the current system."

"But would they be desperate enough to pay for a child?" asked Callie doubtfully.

"I think you’re underestimating how desperate people can get when they find they can’t adopt. Some will grab onto any lifeline that is offered," said Joe. "Also, I can’t be one hundred percent certain, but John sounded like the man who tried to snatch Luke from Julie."

"Let’s go and have a look at this address now," said Biff, decisively rising to his feet.

***

They drove in the van to the Hooper residence so Biff could pick up his car and then travelled to the address and parked up across the street. The building was a small office complex, attached to the side of a car scrap yard.

Joe took his camera from a box in the back of the van and walked with Chet across to Biff’s car window. Biff wound down the window and took the camera from him. "It’s not my birthday for another month, but thanks anyway."

"No, you idiot, this is for you to photograph anyone entering or leaving the building."

"Okay. What do we do if we see anyone who looks either like Wayne Powers or John?"

"Give me a call on the cell phone," said Joe. "The three of us will come out and identify them."

"Okay, understood," said Chet.

"I’ll return in a few hours with some chow - can’t have you starving to death can we? Mind you," Joe began, patting Chet’s belly. "Chet would live much longer than you Biff, he has a larger fat reserve!"

"Funny guy!" retorted Chet climbing into the passenger seat.

"I want you guys to be careful, don’t take any chances. Any sign of trouble, bail out, understand?" they both nodded and Joe headed back to the van.

"I’ve got an idea," said Callie to Joe as he climbed back into the van. "Let’s go to the new Cyber-Café in the mall and I’ll use my previously unappreciated talent to access the internet and research the car wrecking company next and Playbie’s Adoption Agency".

"We we’re debating if there might be a connection between the two companies - seems they’re operating so closely together," suggested Vanessa.

"Good thinking girls. That should blow a few hours and give us an excuse to have a drink," said Joe, turning the key in the ignition.

***

They ordered coffees and settled down in front of a computer. Callie began to work her magic. "Well," she finally said. "The car wrecking company seems genuine enough, they’ve a website with accounts etc. Their figures show that the company seems to be doing okay and is taking a nice steady stream of money. All seems to be legitimate," she smiled suddenly and pressed the computer mouse. "This is kid of fun, look at this," they looked over her shoulder and watched the image of a BMW being crushed. "They’ve filmed all sorts of makes of cars and vehicles being destroyed for your viewing pleasure - you can select exactly which type you would like to see mangled," she turned to her friends dramatically. "I know I’ll be a regular visitor to the site, now that I realise how exciting this car crushing stuff is!" Vanessa and Joe laughed and she turned back to the screen. "Hey, this gets better and better - a web-cam!"

A web-cam is a camera that takes photographs at regular intervals and people are able to view them via the internet. She clicked on the icon and a photograph of the car crusher appeared with a view of the street beyond. Vanessa pointed at the screen excited and they laughed surprised when they saw she was pointing to Biff’s car. "They’re on candid camera!" she said.

"Hang on a second, Callie, does this site stock any archived, favourite web-cam images?"

Callie looked at the screen closely. "Yes, why?"

"Let me have a go with the mouse." Callie swapped seats with Joe and he began clicking on the images and studying each one. "There’s dozens of photographs on here," he observed. "Let’s narrow the search down a bit," he pulled his notebook from his pocket and turned his findings concerning the missing children. His records gave names, descriptions and dates of when the children disappeared. He began systematically working his way through the pictures taken on the days the children went missing. Image after image flashed in front of them, until finally, Joe stiffened in his seat suddenly and turned to at Callie and Vanessa in excitement. "Do you see what I see?"

They both leaned towards the screen. There in front of them was an unmistakable image of both Wayne Powers and John, walking hand-in-hand with a little girl.

"Joe," Breathed Vanessa. "She looks like Chelsie Silvers the little four year old who was the last child to go missing, she’s even wearing the same clothes."

"Print that off Joe. We have got to solve this case and get those children back to their folks," Callie said with determination.

"And we will," agreed Joe with equal determination. He collected the printed picture. "What you need to do now it research the adoption agency" said Joe.

Two coffee’s later and they still hadn’t found any information on Playbie’s Adoption Agency. "Well, I’ve run out of options. This adoption agency doesn’t seem legit. I can’t find any information on the internet, or via official channels. According to all the database’s I have accessed, the company doesn’t exist."

"Interesting," remarked Joe.

There was a thoughtful silence.

"Well, I don’t know about you guys, but I’m all coffee’d out," Vanessa said. "Shall we window shop for a bit and then take some food to the boys, Chet will be wilting by now!"

***

They left the Cyber-Café and proceeded across the mall, glancing into windows and making small talk. Vanessa happened to glance across, and saw a sight that made her eyes grow like saucers. Frank and Gillian were walking along, hand in hand, laughing together. She caught Joe’s eye across Callie’s head and jerked her head towards his brother.

"Erm…I’ve just remembered something I really have to buy urgently," Joe blurted out, grabbing Callie by an arm and hauling her into the nearest shop.

They stood in the entrance and Vanessa stared at Joe with a look that said ‘you idiot!’ Joe shot her a look back and mouthed ‘What?’. He looked around and suddenly realised what she meant - they were standing in a ladies lingerie store!

"And what it is you want to buy from here exactly?" asked Callie surprised.

"Well, mom asked me to buy her some stockings for her night out with dad later - isn’t that right Vanessa," replied Joe, desperately looking to his girlfriend for help. He was started to sweat.

"Yes, that’s right. It’s lucky you remembered Joe, she would have been really steamed if you’d forgotten!"

They walked to the hosiery section and Joe looked with confusion at the wide selection.

"What type of stockings did she ask you to get?" asked Callie, looking amused.

Joe’s mouth opened and closed like a goldfish. Vanessa was making furtive and strange movements with her hands behind Callie, it took him a few seconds to realise she was indicating to the black ones. "Black ones" he spluttered out.

"Here are some black one’s, Joe," said Vanessa. "This is your mother’s size isn’t it?"