"Joe, I.." Gertrude began, but Joe cut her off.

"Get out of here," Joe ordered her.  “I don’t want you here.”

“Of course you don’t,” Gertrude told him.  “You don’t even want to be here, but you are.  I want to know why?”

“I have to be,” Joe answered.

“No you don’t,” she insisted.  “Your father already has his lawyer working on that ridiculous adoption clause.  You know it won’t stand up.”

“It doesn’t matter,” Joe told her, his expression set.  “I am not leaving.”

“Then neither am I,” Gertrdue told him, planting her hands onher hips.  “I am not leaving here unless you go with me.”

“You don’t understand,” Joe said, his blue eyes pleading.  “You have to go.  You’re in danger if you stay here.  So is mom and dad and Frank.”

“How?” she demanded.  “How are we in danger?”

Joe shook his head.  “Just leave, please?”

“No,” she told him, then turned her attention to the stove as something began boiling over.  When she turned her attention back to Joe, he was gone.

***

When Sturgiss arrived later that evening, Joe was dressed and standing by his father's side in the living room when Charles announced him.  "Hello Carl," greeted Austin , shaking his hand.  "You remember my son, Joesph?"

"My, how you have grown," Sturgiss commented shaking Joe's hand.  "I understand you are ready to become involved in your father's financial ventures."

Austin laughed at Joe's discomfiture.  Charles entered the living room at this point and announced dinner was ready.  Ami took Sturgiss' arm.  "You men can discuss business after dinner," she commented.  "Let's go, shall we?"

The first course went smoothly.  Gertrude had prepared Waldorf Salad and Joe devoured every last bite whereas the others left a bit in anticipation of the next course.  Gertrude brought it in after first removing the salad plates.  Ami picked up her spoon and took a large sip of the soup placed in front of her.  Her face contorted with her lips puckering.  She shivered as the liquid went down her throat. 

"What's wrong?" Gertrude asked, alarmed at the woman's response. 

"Taste it," Ami ordered, wiping her mouth on a napkin. 

Gertrude did as ordered and forced herself not to look at Joe as she did so.  "Salt," she croaked. 

"I thought you were a professional," Ami stated.  "Do you always ruin business dinners?"

"No ma'am," Gertrude said.  "I don't know how it happened."

"Joseph?" Ami demanded looking at him.

Joe's face paled at the accusation in his mother's tone.  He knew he was in serious trouble but it would be worth it if his aunt were to be forced to leave.   "It couldn't have been him," Gertrude lied, knowing full well it was.  "He came in to help but I sent him away.  I dislike sharing my kitchen with anyone."

Gertrude thought Ami actually looked disappointed at the news.  "In that case, I am sorry but you simply won't do.  You have to gather your bags and Charles will drive you to a hotel."

"If I am being fired, I would prefer to take a taxi, thank you very much," Gertrude said stiffly.

"As you wish," Austin said.  "I will call for you one.  Joe, help her with her things."

Joe stood up at once and followed Gertrude from the room.  "Why did you do that?" she demanded when they were in her bedroom. 

"I don't want you here," Joe told her.  "But thank you for not turning me in."

"I would never do anything to hurt you," Gertrude told him, pulling him close and giving him a hug.  "But I don't understand why you won't leave.  It doesn't make any sense."

"I want to be my father's heir," Joe told her.

"Right.  The boy who would give the shirt off of his back in sub-zero weather wants to be abused just so he can inheirt a fortune," she responded sarcastically.  "How about the truth?"  Joe remained silent.  "You do know we aren't going to give up.  Until we get you back Fenton, Frank and the rest of us will do whatever it takes."

"You can't," Joe said in a strangled whisper.  "He...he'll..."

"He will what?" Gertrude demanded.  "He can't do anything.  You know he could never get away with doing anything.  Fenton is too famous for him to even try."

"He has this powder," Joe said.  "All one has to do is breathe it in and the person becomes infected.  It makes contact with any other person extremely painful."

"Nonsense," Gertrude insisted.  "No such powder exists."

"Remember the powder they used on Frank in Hiati to turn him into a zombie?" Joe asked.  Gertrude nodded. "Well, what you don't know is that I was given that powder too but the guy who gave it to me had the antidote.  Well, Austin had a team of researchers go down and work on a cure for autisim for his pharmacutical company.  The drug they developed from that antidote, when used on a normal person, makes it painful for them to hear noises of any kind.  Even their own heartbeat."

"Joe, honey, he's lying," Gertrude told him.  "He would say anything to make you stay with him."

Joe shook his head.  "I saw the video the scientist sent.  There isn't a cure for it, but the drug has been sold to the government as a biological weapon.  He showed me a photocopy of the check he received from the government for the purchase."