"I’m sorry, Fenton." George DiSantos’ voice floated over his shoulder. "Their story made perfect sense if you didn’t know what was really going on."

Fenton leaned back in the chair and rubbed his eyes tiredly. "I know, George." He replied, still feeling slightly angry at the guard who had let the two mobsters leave the airport with Joe. ‘If only he had checked out their story a little more thoroughly, Joe would be safe now instead of God knows where, being subjected to...’

"Dad, here’s the file."

Opening his eyes, Fenton saw Frank standing there, copies of the file Joe had hidden in the trashcan in his outstretched hand. George stood slightly behind Frank leafing through the original.

"I called the Secret Service. They’re on their way." George said, not looking up from the file. Seconds later he let out a soft whistle. "Wow. A hit on Senator Hurley. Looks like Joe stumbled onto some pretty nasty business."

Frank had taken a seat next to his father and was now rewinding the tape of Joe and the two men. Watching as his unconscious brother was pulled through the throngs of people, Frank’s own words came back to haunt him.

Frank’s vision blurred from staring so intently at the screen as he cursed himself for the millionth time that night. ‘And where were you when he really needed you?!’

"Frank?"

Frank turned to look at his father and saw fear in his eyes. If his father were so afraid for Joe that he couldn’t keep it hidden, Frank knew his brother was in serious trouble.

"The Secret Service will be here soon. I’ll see if they’ll help in the search for Joe but I don’t hold out much hope. Their only concern will be for Hurley. Essentially we’ll be on our own."

"No, you won’t Fenton." George spoke up. "I feel somewhat responsible for this. I’ll give you whatever help I can."

"Thanks, George." Fenton smiled. "Can you get me anymore information on Rashman and Malick? And this syndicate they work for? Local headquarters? Safe houses? Anywhere they might have taken Joe? They wouldn’t have wasted time taking him too far away."

"They’ve got to have a location somewhere around here where they would take a hostage." Frank interjected. "Even just a general area would be helpful. We just need somewhere to start looking."

"A friend of mine works on the police department’s task force for organized crime. What he doesn’t know about the Chicago syndicate isn’t worth knowing." George said, reaching for the phone. "Let me give him a call and explain the situation. I’m sure he’d be happy to meet with you and give you any information he can."

As they waited for the officer to arrive, Frank and Fenton studied the file Joe had left, hoping for any clue as to his whereabouts. While it gave them very specific details about the planned assassination of Senator Hurley, it gave them no clue what so ever about where Joe could have been taken. About thirty minutes later, their task was interrupted by a flurry of activity as several Secret Service agents entered the small security office.

After introducing themselves to George DiSantos they were led to the Hardy’s where another round of introductions were made.

"Special Agent Justin Gray." A young man in his mid-thirties, with light brown hair and hazel eyes said, extending a hand to Fenton. "It’s an honor to meet you, Mr. Hardy. I’ve crossed paths with several people who’ve been lucky enough to work with you. They have nothing but good things to say."

"Thank you, Agent Gray. But to be honest I’d rather be home in Bayport right now." Fenton replied shaking the young man’s hand.

"I understand your son has some information for us." Gray said looking at Frank.

"I didn’t really get into it with him on the phone." George interrupted, explaining Agent Gray’s obvious confusion. "Why don’t we sit down."

After they all took a seat, Fenton and Frank took turns explaining what had happened from Vanessa’s phone call regarding Joe’s missed flight to the video of Joe being taken from the airport. Gray listened intently to the entire story before opening the file George had given him. As soon as he saw the instructions for the assassination of Hurley, he inhaled sharply, immediately arousing Fenton’s suspicions that things were not quite what they appeared to be.

"Is something wrong?" He asked the agent.

"A planned assassination attempt on the Senator is always a concern, Mr. Hardy." Gray replied vaguely.

"I’m sure it is, but I’m just as sure it’s something you routinely plan for. There was obviously something else in that file that raised your concerns to a much higher level." Fenton said evenly, staring at the agent.

"Senator Hurley isn’t the only high level official that’s going to appear at this dinner."

"Who else is scheduled to attend?" Fenton asked, not being familiar with the planned event.

"It was never publicly announced. It’s been a closely guarded secret. Sort of a surprise for the high rollers paying all that money to attend. Very few people know about it." It was apparent Gray did not want to divulge the mystery guest’s identity.

"I’d venture to say it’s not quite as closely guarded as you had thought." Fenton stated bluntly. "So who is this mystery guest?"

Agent Gray hesitated, obviously not wanting to answer.

"Gray, the bad guys apparently know who your mystery guest is and based on your reaction you think they are planning to kill him or her. Now why don’t you let the good guys in on your little secret, too." Fenton suggested, his patience wearing thin.

"The President." Gray said simply.

"The…President?" Frank asked, shocked. "The President of the United States is supposed to appear at this dinner, too?"

"Yes. And my guess is these guys are planning to assassinate both Hurley and the President."

Fenton sat back and rubbed a hand over his face. ‘How do you manage to get yourself into these things, Joe?’ He thought tiredly. "Ok, so thanks to Joe, you’re now aware of an attempted assassination plot against the President and the most powerful man in the Senate. What’s your next move?" Fenton asked.

"I’d love to cancel the whole thing but I’m not sure either one of them will agree to it." Gray replied.

"If you cancel, there will have to be a public announcement." Frank said, apprehension evident in his voice.

"Yes." Gray replied.

"As long as Rashman and Malick think the event is still on and no one has discovered their plans, they need Joe alive to tell them what he did with the file."

"So? I don’t follow where you’re going with this?"

"If you cancel the event and announce it, the file is no longer valuable to them…and neither is Joe." Frank replied as an uneasy silence befell the room.