Blueblood

Story: Blueblood: Red Alert

Chapter 1 Taken

Author: Eric McQueen (mcqueen.richarderic@gmail.com)

Adult Readers, Sexual Situations, Sex

Freedom of expression is precious. To do that Nifty needs help. Your donation is greatly desired. Give to http://donate.nifty.org/ or this story ends and all the others! That would be a crime!

The grand wedding concludes and the couples are off on their honeymoons. In the past Colin and Devon have been kidnapped. Devon has been taken twice!! Once again, someone is taken and the whole VUN is going to get who was taken back!!

Taken

The Wedding March was playing grandly as Mark and Stan headed down the aisle as a married couple and so forth as they'd come up, they were proceeding down. At last, I came to Colin who leaned in quickly, kissing me. We walked down, too.

I saw the many other guests that had shown up like Mitch McKenzie and his cousin David McKenzie and David's husband Sasha. Congresswoman Chance and her husband were there. There were others I didn't know but would probably be friends of one of the others at the wedding.

Then came the dreaded moment with every wedding. The pictures. Pictures with all of us. Pictures with each couple and the judge. The judge, couples with Colin and me. Pictures with individual couples and their children and family. Amasis and Wayne had the most with Amir, Katy, Sean, and the grandchildren. Then again, we were all family. Mark and Stan had their pictures taken with each of their parents and siblings. Mark's parents were very happy as was Marvin. Doris was still...well, she was just a little overwhelmed with all of it. Cindy was quiet but seemed fine with her brother's situation. Even happy that she was getting attention from Rica. Rica was a very handsome young man. Stan's mother was dressed well, but not fancy. Her reaction to Vlad and Gaius was surprise that she held back. Wayne and Amasis was also surprised which she tried to hide.

Mom came over as Colin and I wasn't needed. "What did you think?"

I smiled at her shaking my head. "Unbelievable! You and Gabriella put together the best weddings!"

Mom smiled at the praise. "Of course." She said simply. "If someone means something to you; you want it to be unbelievable." She looked at the family members were gathering and talking before going to the reception. "They all mean a lot to everyone."

"The music!" I said in amazement. "How did you come up with that?"

Mom chuckled. "Believe me, that was not too hard, but..." she held her finger up, "I searched for all kinds of music. The only thing I was sure of was the countries they came from. England was easy, the United States was simple, Romania...well...there isn't a lot of music for Wallachia and I had no idea what music from Egypt would have been two thousand years ago...I just...chose the anthems." She said simply.

I nodded. "It was great! And was that Big Ben?"

Mom chuckled. "Yes, it was."

Colin came walking over to stand next to me. "I know..." he muttered, "capturing memories and all that is important, but I'm hungry."

"You ate four hours ago," I said concerned knowing how it could affect him.

"Four hours ago!" Colin nodded pointing that out and grinned. "I'm fine." He assured slipping an arm around me and kissing me gently. "All the food going past me on those trays carried just was enticing me."

I hugged him slightly. "We'll have to do something about that."

The reception was housed in the ballroom, but even the ballroom as big as it was couldn't contain everyone to just stand around and eat. There was a live band in one corner, but there was a large portion of the ballroom cleared as all the grooms stood with their spouses. Another tradition that was kept, was the first dance being the ones that married.

Glancing around the ballroom, I saw that both Mom and Gabriella hadn't skimped on decorations. The decorations were...elegantly masculine! There was the large head of the pharaoh on display to one side, below were the tables where the food was going to be served. The swords and shields were also around on the walls. There were the suits of armor that differed in style and I knew to be from different times and also different European kingdoms both Western and Eastern. There was also two Buckingham Palace Guards with the tall black hats and red coats at the entrance of the ballroom near the wide door that led to the house's interior. Standing like statues as normal for them. It was only as I got closer did I realize they were statues. It was warm in this part of the world and it would have been cruel to have anyone wear that and stay cool. There were two male Egyptians in white kilts on either side of a large gong with the arms folded over their bare chests. There were people dressed as Egyptians in those white linen dresses and kilts that served along those dressed like English Tavern workers. The Wedding Waltz began with the live band, elegant and not quite pompous. Gaius and Vlad, of course, knew the right steps as they joined hands. They were about the same size, so who led they decided. John knew the steps, too, but George wasn't too sure where his feet were to go but was led by John. Wayne was leading Amasis. Kev and Ellis knew but Ellis led because he was taller.

Then Colin and I stepped into join them and we began to dance. Amir held his hand out to Shelly, Nicolae held his hand out for Helga and those four began to dance. Then Katy and Sean joined us. Mom and Willie, Gabriella, and Alex. Then I noticed Karen, Wayne's eldest granddaughter was dancing with Marvin Goddard. Rica, Gaius' eldest grandson was dancing with Kelly. I wasn't even guessing about any potential matches in the long run there. It wasn't that everybody knew what steps or how to even waltz, but we were out there. I wasn't that big a fan of this sort of dance before, but Colin holding me in his arms and his smile at me. Those emerald eyes looking into mine with such content and filled with love, I didn't want it to end. The tempo changed and so pace, but I chuckled as Ellis began to move...well, it wasn't a dance I knew. Ellis did.

"Time to kick and prance!" Ellis said spinning Kev rapidly bringing Kev to a waltzing step a lot faster and closer than most couples danced the waltz. As I said the ballroom was big but people were eating outside as well. Laughter and music made it nearly impossible to talk to anyone, so they went outside to do that.

As the day went on, the days were lengthening as the sun was sinking in the West. Gabriella went over and spoke to the musicians. The music stopped and Gabriella nodded and both men by the gong turned holding large padded...mallets? They swung the mallets and struck the gong, making the loud "bong!"

A large cake was rolled in the middle of the ballroom. There were...well there was the large wide, round cake at the bottom about three feet diameter. There were five pillars that held up five smaller cakes above the main one. All covered in light blue icing with white icing on the edges made to look like ribbons draped decoratively. On the top of the five smaller cakes were the familiar wedding toppers of grooms, standing side by side, one couple on each cake.

Gabriella walked toward the cake. "As you know, every reception the couple cuts the cake." She smiled at everyone, but a mystified look on Amasis' face told him apparently no one had told him about this part. She looked at Amasis and smiled. "It's to symbolize your first task as a couple."

I just knew we did it but never knew why. It was just a tradition. I knew there was an ancient tradition about breaking a cake over the bride's head in Rome. There were the superstitions about fertility, which...really? With these guys!? There were children for some, but not with the two of each couple. Knives were brought and given to each couple, plates for each couple.

"No smearing!" Stan said firmly to Mark pointing at him.

"Would I do that?" Mark asked with a smile.

"Yes!" Stan said quickly. "That's why I'm saying it!"

They each stood and together, each couple sliced the cake and fed each other the cake. No one smeared. That was a dumb tradition anyway.

Vlad and Gaius were happily munching cake when Vlad's eyebrows danced a little. "This is much better than those little buns or those little cakes we..." then he looked around realizing that some did not know, "eh, I heard was done in the past."

I looked over as Doris Martin was still having...well, she wasn't expecting what happened. She kept looking at the men and women around, none of which were having any problem with this whole situation. Again, it was my hearing. I was wondering what the problem was and so, I was concentrating on her when my mother came to her.

"Is there something wrong, Mrs. Martin?" My mother asked.

Doris shook her head but was looking at everyone around her. "I was just...surprised by all of this." She looked over toward me. Colin was right beside me as we watched our friends giving the cake to their spouses. "Your son is happily married to Colin Wentworth." It seemed she was still working it out in her mind.

"He is." Mom said looking at Colin and me.

Doris sighed. "When Stanley was a child..." her voice broke, "I'm sorry, but my brother...right after my Curtis died...Stanley's father. He came to...help he said." Tears came to her eyes. "It was about two years later Stanley told me about Darrell, my brother...was touching him." She shook her head. "I couldn't believe Darrell would do that, but I found out...he was doing a lot more to Stanley." She said sorrowfully.

Mom smiled a sad smile hearing that putting her hand on Doris' shoulder in comfort. "I am so sorry."

Doris nodded taking a handkerchief from her purse. "I had Darrell arrested, but...I was so afraid...Stanley was damaged." She dabbed her eyes. "That what happened made Stanley..." she waved to her son and Mark, "what he is."

My mother looked at Stan. "No one made Stan what he is." She said simply. "What I know is...Stan is a brilliant young man. He is kind and loving. He is a genius. He is a man of good character."

Doris nodded. "He is...I was so...worried. He brought home Mark and..." she waved at the other grooms, "they all look so happy. Not one is feminine or...I wouldn't have thought..."

"Would that make a difference?" Mom asked. "If one of them were, would it be less odd to you? Stan is not like that, but it wouldn't make him any different if he were."

"I was...expecting him to be." Doris justified. "He didn't go out for sports or do any of the things that boys normally do. He didn't date. He stayed in his room and read or got on his computer."

"So?" Mom asked. "Devon wasn't into competitive sports, preferring to run or do something that challenged himself. I think that's perfectly normal." Mom smiled again as Mark and Stan were enjoying something as Mark was saying something to Stan making Stan frown and shove him back a little with a laugh. "Stan is a good man. Mark is a good man. Together they are a wonderful couple." Mom looked at Doris again. "The only thing I was concerned about with Devon and Colin was the age differences."

I heard Colin give a little snorting laugh, which told me he was hearing the conversation, too. "If she only knew." Colin pulled me closer to him kissing the side of my head.

"Colin as a wonderful man." Mom said. "He loves Devon so much. I'm proud to have him as a son-in-law. He's my family." She waved at Stan and Mark. "They are also family. Stan made a good choice. So, did Mark! Try to see what you've gained."

Doris looked again at Stan. "I just didn't know what Stan would accomplish so...I never pushed."

Mom laughed. "I say Stan has accomplished a lot." Mom said. "He didn't need pushing."

The reception was still going, but the grooms had to go to the airport. They weren't taking the same planes as their destinations were different. Luggage had been sent ahead to be ready. This time, the limo was a super-stretch which was needed for the ten men. We all gathered and got our birdseed ready as they all headed for the front door. Five couples exited and were sent to the waiting limousine as we all did the traditional toss of the seed. Different flights on commercial airliners were happening, but only a few hours difference. Ellis, Kev, Gaius, and Vlad were taking the same flight, but going to different islands after getting there. Wayne and Amasis were taking a cruise. Mark and Stan were going to Key West. George and John were going somewhere in the Caribbean.

Colin and I were waving as the car drove off slowly.

"Well, five more happy couples," Colin said in my ear from his position behind me with his arms where they were always. Around me. "Anymore matchmaking?" He asked me.

I shook my head. "No. Amir and Shelly, if they marry will be about her. Chuck, if he decides to marry, it will be about her." I turned patting him on the chest. "They are on their own."

"I love you, baby." Colin grinned kissing me.

"I know. Never stop telling me." I returned the kiss. "I love you."

"I know." Colin smiled. "The rest of our lives, I will tell you often, every day. I do love you...so much."

The reception was winding down. Partiers were going home or one of the guesthouses. Dr. Hathaway did stay a night or two. Everyone did have to return home, though.

We flew back to Manhattan with the family that remained and were part of the VUN. It didn't seem the same without George, John, and the rest. It was...empty. Dr. William Canaday was resolved to work alone for now, with the knowledge George and Kev would be back.

We were all fine. We all missed them. It was almost at the end of the two weeks when Colin and I were awakened by a pounding on our door and the urgent, rapid ring of the doorbell.

"...wake up!" A voice called urgently. "Colin, Devon wake up!!"

Colin got up and had to go get the robe he would need as...we didn't use them normally. "Ruben?" Colin called back heading to the door followed by me.

The knocking continued. "He's gone!" Ruben said through the door.

Colin opened the door to see a frantic Ruben Chance. "Who is gone?"

"George!" Ruben came in. He had thrown on jeans and a shirt...barely. His hair was a mess. "I was called by John. I am on Buddy while Stan's gone. I was asleep as there were no teams out tonight..." he said breathlessly. "John called. George is gone!! He's been kidnapped!!!"

My heart missed a beat as I felt the cold icy fear grip it.

Colin and I didn't even bother to put anything else on as we hurried with Ruben to the control room. I felt odd as neither Colin nor I bothered to even put shoes on. Ruben looked rough as he went with two barefoot, robe-wearing men through the almost disserted corridors of the VUN.

"I'm not Stan," Ruben said as we came in quickly and he sat at the computer. He touched the recessed keyboard on the black glass surface and did a little hunt and peck as he typed, "I don't have his speed or..."

"What happened, Ruben?" Colin demanded a little heated. Not angry at Ruben, but what happened.

Ruben waved at the overhead screen. A map of the Caribbean came up and blinked a single red light and the only indicator said "John." I mean on the whole map, only one individual pinpoint was John. "Whoever took George, knew he had a tracker. It's being blocked. I can't locate George anywhere." He hit another command and the map shrank as the world grew on the screen. He pulled back and there were pinpoints that said Mark, Stan, Kev, Ellis, Gaius, Vlad, and the rest here and in Charleston. Every member of the VUN Internationally was there, but no George. Ruben even typed George's name and Buddy said "Searching." Then the letters in blinking red said: "Not Found."

"How is that possible?" I asked. "His PDTU should indicate where he is even if he were dead or even if his PDTU were destroyed there should be something. It's not a mechanical or computerized device. What did John say to you?"

"That he and George were...roughed up and John was knocked out," Ruben reported. "When he came to, George was gone." The phone was ringing again...or Buddy was ringing. Ruben touched a button and Stan's face appeared gigantic on the screen overhead. He clearly had just gotten out of bed like the rest of us.

"What's happening?" Stan instantly demanded worriedly. "The warning sounded. I read John, but not George at all anywhere."

"How did you..." Ruben began as his eyebrows rose.

"My Sentry Buddies!" Stan answered quickly. "Now, what happened?"

"George disappeared," I answered. "Obviously, you have a computer with you. What does Buddy say to you?"

"Nothing." Stan grimaced. "My sentries woke me up. They are programmed to alert me with a problem. What is the problem? The PDTUs should not just simply vanish. Even if it were removed, it would register somewhere. The PDTU doesn't do anything really mechanical. The elements in the PDTU make it so Buddy that can read the body...even if they are crushed. It's the person that tells Buddy who it's reading. There should be readings from those elements not in a person that Buddy reads."

"How long ago was it that George and John roughed up?" Colin asked Ruben.

Ruben shrugged. "Just a couple of hours ago. John came to not even an hour ago. He called us immediately. Buddy started alarming ten minutes before I woke you up, so thirty minutes ago George went dark."

"That's when Buddy woke me up, too," Stan said quickly as Mark could be seen moving into the screen behind Stan saying something to Stan quietly. "Mark is booking us a flight. We'll be on our way in a few minutes to head toward Miami."

"Guys..." Colin started with that tone that said it wasn't necessary.

"No!" Mark jumped in arguing quickly moving his face closer to the camera. "Don't say we don't have to. We do! How can we stay and enjoy this when George is gone? We're heading there as soon as possible." He said firmly.

Colin nodded. "Thanks." He looked at me. "I think the others should stay where they are." He shrugged with a smile. "Let them have their honeymoon."

I nodded agreeing. "Until we know where to look for George."

"Where were George and John?" Colin asked Ruben.

"In a private beach house in Barbados." Ruben was now a unit director. "Actually, Gentlemen." He looked at the screen. "Mark, can you make your flight to Barbados instead of here?"

Mark nodded. "Not a problem."

"Stan, can you use what you have of Buddy remotely, using that laptop?"

"No problem," Stan answered.

Ruben said to me. "They are FBI." He told Colin. "This is why they are here and what their trained to do. Not just hunt vampires but investigate."

"We're not concerned with the jurisdiction of the FBI," Colin said thinking. "It is another country."

"It is a Commonwealth of Great Brittan," I said simply. "Mr. Mattingly with MI5 will help."

"We can get Edwin, Matt and the others back...they will help. I need to talk to John." Colin sighed and got the phone attached to Buddy.

I sighed. "This was a very distinct possibility when we let the world know about us," I muttered to no one.

"John..." Colin said when John answered and immediately John was crying and begging us to do something and find George. "We are doing that, John. Mark, and Stan are on the next flight to Barbados. Stan will be calling soon. Have you called the Bajan Authorities?" Colin was nodding. "Well, do that...we don't want problems with them. Stan and Mark will be there shortly and help..." he hesitated, "to make sure nothing is missed or overlooked." He looked at me. "Devon and I will meet you there."

"You two are taking the VUN plane?" Stan asked. "I have equipment on her that will help."

"I'll make sure we do," I said to Stan.

Colin and I returned to our apartment and showered and changed quickly. He and I packed quickly, but we did not intend to really stay. We could if needed to. Colin called and asked the plane to be readied to leave for Barbados. I called Mom and Willie in Charleston informing them what happened. Both were willing to come back to New York, but I said until we knew what to do next to remain where they were but to be ready. The same with Gabriella and Alex in Charleston. Colin accessed the VUN portion of Holms' Laboratories and put a notice on the webpage what happened, but not to call or get involved until we knew what needed to be done. They would be updated when we knew something.

It was a short trip from the VUN by helicopter to the airport and we quickly were on the way. Talking to Mark and Stan, they would have to either fly to Miami International Airport from Key West or drive. So, we flew to the little airport in Key West.

Then we were to fly to Barbados. George and John had a nice villa on Mullins Beach.

"Who knew where George and John were going?" Mark asked. "I didn't even know."

Colin shook his head. "We didn't ask." He shrugged. "George made the arrangements. All I knew was they were going to the Caribbean. It wasn't until this morning when I found out where."

"George probably made contacts to make those arrangements." Stan ventured pulling his laptop out. "I did an initial search of Buddy's search engines. Buddy has a program running for everyone in the VUN."

"You go through their email," Colin said nodding.

Stan was tan, but I saw him pink up a little. "Well, yes..." he patted his laptop. "Not me personally, but Buddy here does. All the logins and whatever is done through Buddy." He typed quickly. "Even Gina's emails to Kelly are logged and scanned. I don't care what it says, but Buddy is programmed to search the content, not just keywords. Even Kelly, Karen, and the others are scanned. They aren't on Buddy's systems, but Buddy can access and scan their emails and searches." He sighed as he read the screen. "George contacted a woman in Barbados that he rented the villa from. Then, Buddy accessed her computer and scanned hers. Even phone calls are scanned. What is said and the content. The FBI has a program that does that. Buddy just does it..." Stan shrugged, "better."

"The only ones that knew were the people for the makings of this trip," Mark said thinking.

"Who George may have asked about where to go," I suggested.

"They won't hurt him," Mark said confidently as he worked the situation out in his mind. "Not much anyway. They didn't take anyone else. Just George. They could have taken or even killed John, but they didn't."

Stan was nodding as he studied his computer and what Buddy was telling him. "They need George for what George is. He's a vampire and scientist."

Mark nodded. "He discovered a serum for the venom. The venom, we now know, was also discovered by Kev. George is the one to find a way to make the venom not work as it is supposed to."

I sighed frustrated. "The possible suspects are countless. All the scientists from Europe, Scandinavia...China! Hell! The Australians!"

Mark nodded. "Or even someone else."

Colin's hand ran comforting on my back. "We'll find him."

Stan suddenly nodded. "Yes!" He nearly shouted as he turned his computer around so we could see the screen. "I ran through the archives. Searching the time that George's PDTU stopped giving Buddy his location and status." He pointed to a couple of dots. John and George in Mullins Beach together at 23:36. (That's 11:36 pm for you nonmilitary folks or who just don't know the twenty-four-hour clock.) Then they are separated. Ten minutes later, George's PDTU stopped giving Buddy anything. Just stopped giving Buddy someone to pick up. "It doesn't tell us who, but we know when."

"As sensitive as Buddy is...does it say if he was stressed?" Colin asked. "Heart rate, respiration is monitored...is there any trauma?"

Stan gave a nod. "Stress and trauma is..." he shrugged, "a normal part of a human's life. Heart rates increase when excited..." he blushed again, "...by emotion as well as physical trauma...or sex? Buddy can't tell by just the readings."

In normal circumstances, Stan's comments would have been funny, if not charming. These weren't normal circumstances.

We landed at the airport near Christ Church, just south of Bridgetown. What can I say, this was Barbados, it was warm! Everyone was dressed for that. We didn't take the time to change. We rented a car with GPS and rode to the address we now had for where George and John had stayed.

Pulling into the drive area I saw it was nice here. It was right on the beach. And pink. It wasn't the color that was appealing to me, but it was cozy. Not huge, but well maintained. We saw different cars and a van parked...and I don't care what the country...cars used by police or investigators were the same.

We entered the house and...well, it was a mess! It was pink on the outside, but white and blue on the inside. Stone floors covered in rugs of blue and white. There was a sofa, L shaped that was also white with blue. There were large glass doors that opened to a white patio with blue plush chairs to lounge on while enjoying the view. There was a white banister beyond which was the white beach sand and blue waters. Very nice, but the first thing was furniture in this room was overturned and broken. Broken glass everywhere. There was a glass table to eat on where the glass had been shattered.

The pillows that had been on the sofa were scattered and nothing was where it should be. John was sitting in a chair nearby as someone was speaking to him.

John looked up and his face suddenly looked relieved. "Colin! Devon!" John hurrying over to us. "He's gone!"

Colin hugged him as I joined the hug rubbing John's back. "We know," I said quietly.

"Can I help you?" A male voice asked.

Colin nodded. "Sure, find our friend George."

The man that spoke was of African descent. More than ninety percent of this island country were African descended. He was a handsome man in his forties. "You are friends of Dr. Holms?" He pointed to John as he was being comforted. "And of Mr. Burke's."

"I'm Colin Wentworth," Colin informed him shaking the man's hand. He brought me closer to him. "This is Devon Wentworth. Mark Goddard and Stan Martin. John and George are so important and good friends to us, they are our family. What do you know?"

The man nodded. "Ah, yes...our Prime Minister told us you were on the way." He smiled a little suspiciously. "Apparently, someone from England called and said you would be assisting with the investigation." He waved to the other people in the house who were doing things...dusting for prints? Taking photographs. Looking around. "The investigation is ongoing. How are you helping?" He challenged.

Colin smiled, but it was a little feral. "Well, my husband and I won't be investigating the crime scene." He pointed to Mark and Stan. "These two will. They are with the FBI."

"Your husband." The man said to confirm. "From the United States." The man said pointing out the problem without saying that was a problem.

"Does that matter?" Colin asked. "Our being from the United States or that we are married?"

"Barbados is not really gay-friendly," I said. "However, your own Attorney General said gays should be left alone."

"Yes, is that a problem?" Stan asked. "Mark and I are married."

The man shook his head. "Not for me."

"A man disappears and there are agents here that can help," Colin said.

Stan nodded. "Well, I was...Mark still is still with the FBI, but I am helping." He pointed to the others investigating. "Can I ask them what they have so far?"

Mark seemed to transform. The nice man Mark was still there, but he spoke firmly. "I don't care whose jurisdiction this is. How is having another few eyes a problem? We have the skills to help. I sense it is a problem for you."

The man nodded with a light chuckle. "I'm David Mason. I am in charge of this investigation. The concern is about those other eyes causing more problems than helping."

"We both know how to maneuver in a crime scene," Mark said simply.

"Can we speak with John now?" Colin asked.

Mr. Mason nodded. "Certainly." He was about to move off and smiled. "Of course, Mr. Burke, you know not to leave."

We took John outside on the patio and sat. He hadn't slept in a while but had cried and looked like it.

"Can you describe who took George?" Mark began touching John's knee. We all gathered with him, each making physical contact with John.

John nodded. "Yes, large men...five of them just came in the open doors." He waved to the patio doors that were still open. "They didn't speak much. They were white. When they did speak, there was an accent. We heard it in Romania. They spoke English with the accent that wasn't Romanian. It was very much like Iilya's."

"Russian?" I asked.

"Russian or Ukrainian." John nodded. "Some country like that. It was subtle. They spoke English well, but..." he chuckled. "After so many years...and with as many accents we heard recently, it was easier to detect." He let out a sorrowful sound and said in almost tears again. "They said George was coming with them. They never even asked. George said he wasn't going with anyone...that we were on our honeymoon." John started shaking. "They grabbed him. I fought them. George fought them." He leaned forward putting his hands over his face.

"Okay, John," Mark said softly. "He's alive. They want him for something. They will keep him alive."

"We'll find him," I added.

David Mason came out on the patio. "Well, we've covered most of the house."

We heard a woman scream inside. We all headed back in quickly. At the entrance of the living area, a blonde woman stood with a somewhat chunky dark-haired man, both looking horrified at the wreckage. The woman's well-manicured hands covered her mouth. She walked slowly in waving her hands at the inside.

"Wha...wha..." she began. "What on earth!?" She all but bellowed at the scene.

David Mason looked at her as he approached them. "And you are?"

The dark-haired man looked up. "We're the Lowensteins. We own this property. We were at our home in Florida when we got the call that a crime was committed here and there was damage. We came immediately."

The woman turned to her husband. "The only crime I see is this, Mortie!" She looked around more at the people here and the destruction. "Who did this!?"

David Mason smiled at her. "That's why we're here...to find out."

"Sylvia." The man said barely tolerant. He looked at the investigator. "What happened?"

"The place was wrecked!" Sylvia stated to her husband waving at the house. "We have the Fergusons coming next week!"

John was upset already and this woman's lack of understanding was pushing John to anger. "I'm sorry that my husband being forcibly taken from this lovely home inconvenienced you, Mrs. Lowenstein." He growled shocking her.

"Sylvia!" Her husband said sharper to her. "They are investigating."

"Well, couldn't they straighten things up as they went?" She went to pick something up.

"Stop!" David commanded quickly holding his hand up to her. "Don't touch anything until the investigation is done! Or I'll arrest you for interfering with a criminal investigation."

From the accent, I knew the two were from New York. He was a businessman. She was a woman probably in her fifties that had cosmetic surgery to look in her thirties. Her face was wrinkle free and taunt, but they forgot the neck. Why do they always forget the neck? I doubted she had done much physical labor in her life!

"I'm sure you have this place insured," Colin said sadly.

"Yes." Sylvia Lowenstein looked around. "But, we have other clients." She said weakly.

"It's all about you?" John asked walking closer to her which Colin held him back. "My husband was taken!! You...stupid cow. You're worried about your clients?" He tapped on his own chest. "What about this client?"

I took John by the shoulders and pulled him back against me. "We'll find George."

Stan walked to the middle of the room. "If I can, please?" He looked at Mark. "I have a case in the car. If I take a 3D scan of the area, I can use Buddy to see more if I do a scan." Stan looked at John. "Did they go anywhere else in the house?"

"No. Not that I saw," John answered. "Just here."

Stan nodded and walked over to David Mason. "I have equipment in the car to bring in."

Mark nodded. "I'll get it." He said going outside the front door again.

Stan looked around the room at the others working there. "These people wore gloves, but if I can get their fingerprints in my database, we can eliminate them."

David Mason frowned again. "You want to fingerprint us?"

Stan nodded. "I do."

"We have them on file at the office..."

Stan smiled. "That won't be necessary. If you all could?" He waved at his laptop. He went to the computer and typed quickly and the screen changed. "Simply press your hands here." He pointed to the white hand sized square.

David's eyes widened but did what Stan asked him to do. One by one each of them did what Stan asked while he opened the case and took out six little...things. They were round about the size of baseballs each and black.

Stan grinned at Colin, myself, and John...and David Mason. "Remember, Buddy has a 3D scanner? Well, these will do the same thing. Tied in with Buddy, my laptop will take a scan of the room making a three-dimensional scan of the room and all its contents."

David was the first to look amazed. "Then when we just did...?" He pointed to the room with his thumb over his shoulder.

Stan nodded. "Is a very important thing in an investigation, but my computer can do it and log all that is here...including the fingerprints, soil samples, and other items and will be in the memory to look at later."

David's eyes widened. "Wow, I don't think I've ever seen something like this." He thought and nodded. "No, I know I've never seen it. Not even on CSI or any other show! Star Trek maybe with those tricorders..."

Mark grinned with a slight bounce. "Now, do you think we might be able to help?"

Stan nodded. "They are just tools. We have them, so we might be able to help."

Sylvia Lowenstein had been listening. "What about my house? Can that fix this?"

I saw John was ready to pounce! Grabbing him I held him back, pulling him to me. "We'll find George, John," I assured again. Even Mortie Lowenstein rolled his eyes at his wife's comment.

We watched Stan place those little baseball sized...eyes around the room picking out places to put them to get the best results. "For the best results, we all need to step outside. The longer Buddy can scan the better the results."

"Then can we start cleaning up?" Sylvia asked.

David looked at her. "When we're done."

I looked at her shaking my head looking at Colin, Mark, and Stan. "I always wondered what happened to JAPs." Mark and Stan chuckled

"JAPs?" John asked. "I've heard people called that, but I don't think she's a person from Japan."

I chuckled. "No, she's a Jewish American Princess." I waved at Sylvia Lowenstein. "Here one now."

Like the other situations right now, it might have been more amusing. Getting Sylvia Lowenstein to leave was difficult. Finally, Mortimer Lowenstein insisted and was literally pulling her away to take them to a hotel...or wherever, just got her out of the way.

Mark shook his head. "She can't be for real."

"Of course, she's not for real," I growled. "She's had things handed to her probably her whole life and certainly by Mortie. Not even her looks are for real. She's had facelifts, nose jobs, tucks...probably tummy and fanny tucks and I know those thirty-eight D's are not real. They are more playthings for Mortie. She's what happens to JAPs when they get older."

Mark and Stan chuckled.

David Mason was watching as Stan was activating the scan. "So, this scan will pick up details about the scene? Even fingerprints?"

Stan nodded. "Yes. These..." he held up one of the black ball-like things, "eyes...I placed around will do a continuous scan and fingerprints leave a residue that can be picked up. A good scan will take time, a few hours, but nothing will be overlooked."

David grimaced. "So, we didn't have to...dust for prints."

Stan looked at Mark and then to us. "I didn't say that. How you conduct an investigation is standard procedure." He shrugged. "I just happen to have access to tools you might not. I am sure you are thorough."

David nodded suddenly smiling bigger. "Okay. Can I get something like that?"

Stan chuckled and waved at Colin. "You'll have to ask him. It is his and George's business that created this computer system."

Mark leaned in to Colin. "Perhaps you could create The Detective's Buddy!"

John was pacing. "Who would take George?" He asked no one and everyone as he was trying to figure things out.

"Someone wants to further someone's knowledge of the..." Colin looked at David who was still fascinated by Stan's computer, "formula and what it's used for."

"I figured that out," John said in a growl testily and waved at us. "You're all...joking! It's just another day on the job!"

No one would blame him for being frustrated. "We know this isn't just a day on the job." I walked over to him. "We know this is very serious. Humor just makes things easier to cope with this. We will find George." I assured John again. "They want him for what he knows. They need him. He is alive."

Mark came over hugging John. "I'm sorry, John. You're right. We shouldn't joke right now."

John nodded as he tightened his hold on Mark. "No, I know it's what you do." He sighed. "I just want to do something!" He said in that frustration.

"I know." Mark nodded. "We are doing something, John. We are trying to find out who so we can determine where. Do you remember any more? Were they wearing gloves or did they have a smell, tattoos, any jewelry?"

John shook his head returning to his pacing. "No gloves...they weren't vampires and they didn't have a serum smell. I don't remember tattoos."

Mark nodded again. "Stan here has that wonderful tool he knows how to use better than anyone. He will find something that will narrow down the world to get us to find out who and then where."

At the end of this day, we ended up staying at this wonderful house that Sylvia was worried about. John and George had rented this place for two weeks. There were three days left, so Colin and I moved into one of the bedrooms. Stan and Mark got the other.

The house was great! It was a beautiful location right on the beach. The distance from the house to the water was only a few dozen feet from the porch/patio. There were no waves here big or small on the short white beach. There was just the gentle lapping of the water on the sand softly in the air. There was just a gentle breeze through tropical trees and a lot of sunshine. It was in the eighties, but with the constant breeze, it was more than comfortable. Everything here said, relax, don't rush. In my somewhat odd mind, I could hear very softly from the Banana Boat Song "daylight come and me wanta go home" softly as a whisper. It was a paradise, except for the thing with George.

Stan was concentrating on the archive files. "The thing is..." he said out loud to everyone and no one, "I can tell when George's PTDU was when it was no longer able to be picked up by Buddy." He sighed. "When the time was...when it stopped being seen and when he was no longer in Barbados."

"Where exactly was he before when Buddy couldn't see him?" John asked.

"Over the Caribbean Sea," Stan reported as he thought. "He was heading Northwest. The speed at which he was going...he was on a plane and not on a boat, which would be the quickest way as we are on an island. I'll get more details." He said typing.

"Okay," Colin said as he was following Stan's train of thought. "Do you know the heading?"

"On a heading between St. Lucia and St. Vincent." He did more typing and studied what he saw. "He left Barbados just before John regained consciousness." He shook his head. "The thing is the ability for Buddy to detect George...just...faded." He looked up and saw some confused faces, including mine. "It didn't just stop...it was like...he was cloaked. He is still there; Buddy just couldn't see him. Whatever was activated, it took a while for Buddy to lose sight of George. That suggests a field and that means power...a computer program."

"Like a Klingon Bird of Prey when they raise the cloaking device!" I said smiling.

"Right!" Stan nodded as he grinned. "Just like that. It was like the scattering field I raised in Romania. That required power and a program. Unlike what I did when we rescued you from Germany. I made the systems in Germany not able to see you; blinding the system. They made it so George could not be seen by Buddy." He raised his finger. "There is a difference. That doesn't mean I can't find the plane."

"It may not be a registered flight. An unauthorized flight." Colin said.

Stan nodded. "It doesn't matter. Anything in the air will register on radar. Even if it is unknown. It may not be an unknown." He was typing again. "The time when George disappeared before he left the airspace of Barbados..." he smacked his laptop a little triumphantly with a quick clap. "Yes! I have it. There was a small plane on radar at that time." He typed again. "I need to access the recordings of the Grantley Adams Airport. Then locate the plane and track it. It was near St. Lucia, so the airport there should have it, too. It's sort of an airport relay race. I get the transponder frequency and track it to where it lands."

"The plane has to have a transponder?" Colin asked.

"Regulations say you do, or you risk being shot down as a potential enemy by other countries." Stan nodded. "I doubt they have stealth abilities. There is something there."

"It could have landed by now," John said. "Meaning they put him on another flight and went somewhere else! Or didn't fly at all."

Stan nodded again. "If they did like what I did, they are generating a field to block Buddy's ability to see George. That requires power." Stan explained. "Now that I have the plane, I'll use Buddy to scan the plane where it was to determine what odd frequencies are being generated. I might be able to determine the frequency and counter the field and see where George is and where he's gone!"

"How do you go back to get readings?" Colin asked.

"Simple." Stan shrugged. "I have the time stamp. Using satellite readings and recordings of conditions. I can compare and read the time of the plane to find what changes around the plane. Everything from defense satellites and even weather satellites to triangulate with the speed of the plane and see what happened right there at that time. They will be recorded on some computer somewhere. We will find it and get the information."

"Even military defense satellites and computers?" I asked smiling. "Aren't they classified?"

Stan looked up blinking. "And your point is?"

"I just don't want to get in trouble...you know...for spying or committing treason," I said.

Stan nodded with a slight shrug. "We can slip in and get the information and go. No harm and no treason. Buddy and I will get what we need." He waved us off. "This may take some doing...so...scoot." We watched as Stan began to work more focused on his computer.

Stan stayed at his computer. Mark, John, Colin, and I got ready for bed, but John was too upset to sleep. Colin insisted John rest if nothing else. Colin crawled in bed beside me. "I know how John feels." He gathered me up in his arms. "When you were kidnapped that one time without me, I couldn't sit still either." He sighed.

"No one could. I couldn't if it was you."

"We knew this might happen if we came out as vampires," Colin said sadly. "Should I have sent guards with George and John?"

I pulled Colin in for a gentle kiss. "Don't do that, Colin. Don't second guess yourself." I rolled over putting him beneath me as I looked down at him.

Colin sighed and looked away, not looking in my eyes. "I never wanted to hurt anyone." He said sadly. "When I first decided to come out as a vampire," he shook his head. "I meant it to be just me."

I nodded moving my head into his vision. "Right, which I insisted if you did, I would do it, too." I smiled at him. "George told everyone himself he was a vampire and John stood by his side just as I did with you. They were deeply connected even then. We all knew this would be dangerous. George especially dreaded it and he knew. You can't take the whole responsibility for this."

"I wish it had been me," Colin said looking at me with those emerald, green eyes.

"So, I would be suffering more?" I asked logically. "If it was you, that wouldn't make things better. For you, perhaps, but not for me. If you were taken and not me, I would be where John is now." I shook my head. "You do this." I tapped his chest lightly. "Don't be such a martyr. They want George for what he knows. As Mark said, they won't hurt him. He's alive and we will find him."

Colin was annoyed, but not angry. "I am not a martyr!"

I smiled nodding. "Yes, you are. You are willing to suffer to save someone else from having to do it to make your point. That's almost like a martyr."

Colin kissed me gently. "I love you." He cocked his head slightly. "What is it about us? You and me. I can't imagine anything better. It's like magic."

I smiled. "We want the same thing, Colin. All those stories about the magic of love. We devote music, literature even children's fairy tales and many things about love. It is magic. We create that magic. My focus is you. How you feel and what I can do to make you feel better."

Colin nodded as his arms wrapped around me more. "And my focus is you. I would do anything for you."

"I know that." I smiled. "As I would for you."

"Aha!!" We heard Stan cry out in triumph in the other room. "Guys! I got George!"

Colin and I were instantly up running into the other room.

"Where?" John asked hurrying in the room. He, like all of us, wasn't concerned with covering ourselves, we'd seen everything already. We had on shorts or underwear, but...

"He's flying over Europe now," Stan reported. "Once I got the frequency...it took a while, but Buddy and I punched a hole in it." He pointed to the red dot. "He's still on the move." He did again the typing thing and nodded. "From the size of the plane and the last stop...assuming they refueled fully..." he frowned. "They would most likely land...somewhere...most likely from their heading...in Russia."

"It's a very big country." I grimaced and sighed. "Well, the Delkenzie program works well translating Russian to English. I guess we need to be ready to go."

Colin walked over to John. "We have George now." He assured John. "We can track him again. We'll get him away. How long ago did George have his disc replaced?"

"About three days before the wedding," John said. "He has another two weeks."

"Anything from the scan?" Mark asked.

"Sure." Stan nodded typing quickly. "There were four different prints found. George's and John's and two sets of others unknown. Buddy is checking with all international databases to locate and find out who they are. These days, there are fingerprints filed everywhere...military and criminal. It depends on the computer system...not Buddy, but the speed and complexity of the computers in these countries, it could take a while."

I nodded. "Again, aren't they classified?"

Stan shrugged. "Maybe, but usually the records need to be available for public use. If its military, they need to be available, even if a password is needed to gain access." He grinned again. "Which Buddy will have no trouble finding."

"Shouldn't we go now?" John asked in a hurry. "We know where they're heading." He waved at the computer anxious to get going. "We can be on the way."

Mark nodded. "There is the investigation here that is ongoing." He saw John was about to say something and held his hand up. "I know...we will tell Investigator Mason what we found out. This is Barbados. I don't think they'd have the means to do this internationally. It needs to be resolved here."

"But..." John started to say.

"We'll leave as soon as possible," Mark assured.

"Is George reading as having any problems?" I asked Stan.

"Not that I can see. Blood pressure is a little elevated...heart rate normal." Stan reported. "Under some stressful moments, but fine physically." He said to John who let out a slow breath finally knowing George was alright.

"We need to resolve things here," Colin said thinking as he paced. He turned to John. "We'll leave as soon as we can." He took John by the shoulder. "I know it will be hard, but you need to relax...as much as possible. We will need your strength later when he does locate George and get him out of...wherever."

The next day we presented David Mason what we found out; the facts which were verified and the evidence.

"...so, these international...criminals came and took Dr. Holm." He said. "Why?"

"Without going into detail, because I don't even understand it all," Colin said truthfully. "He has some pretty ground-breaking treatments and cures." He motioned to the computer. "I can give you names and numbers of many scientists around the world that can verify this. Even our President knows. Not to mention Director Mattingly at MI5 and Dr. Hathaway of MI5."

David nodded as he listened. "Yes, we were called by Mr. Mattingly." He sighed. "I guess this investigation is pretty well at a standstill here. I can't go after those men that did this without cooperation from the government where he was taken." He said looking at the house.

"But we can," Mark said immediately. "You'll be kept in the loop."

That was when Mortimer and Sylvia Lowenstein came in the front door. Sylvia was dressed for the tropics, but hardly to do any housecleaning.

"Now, you can begin to get this place cleaned for your next clients," John said to Sylvia with the...not so veiled sound of annoyance. "We'll be leaving as soon as possible."

"Who is paying for the cleanup?" Sylvia asked.

Colin got a little closer to her. "If you think you should bill the victim, think again. If you try it, I'll sue you and win. I have some excellent lawyers at my company in Manhattan that would love this sort of case."

"New York!?" Sylvia repeated surprised. "But you sound like..."

"Yes, I know. If you do, I'll sue and win this house and have it torn down, then you really won't have to worry about this property or income from it! I suppose the Southern accent fooled you. Yes, Manhattan, New York. When we catch the men that did this, you can bill them." Colin growled at her. "In the meantime, your insurance will have to bear the cost." He walked past Mortimer Lowenstein who wasn't too happy with his wife's lack of compassion. "You might consider heart surgery for her. She doesn't seem to have one. Then maybe she will be able to empathize."

Mortimer's face wasn't angry. He understood she was all about her and was reluctantly resolved. "I gave up years ago."

Sylvia frowned and gave her husband a pretty good smack on the arm. "If it weren't for me...you wouldn't have a thing. My Daddy's money gave your business the start!"

Mortimer's eyes narrowed. "Yes, something you never let me forget," Mortimer said sadly.

I nodded. "And there it is. We have a clearer picture we see to understand things better." I muttered to Stan who was shaking his head. I moved closer to the two. "Your husband contributed nothing to the success of this business. It is all your Daddy's money keeping it going." I said to her.

Sylvia looked at me. "What? No, I didn't say that."

"Yes, you did." I walked toward her. "It was your Daddy's money that started the business, so your husband deserves no recognition. That's what you just said. You throw that in his face a lot, don't you?"

Mortimer was the one to answer that immediately. "Yes."

"You must have loved her to stay with her." I offered.

Mortimer nodded smiling fondly. "Oh, yes."

"That was very sincere." I smiled at him. "Do you tell her?" I asked.

Mortimer frowned. "There are times..." he shook his head. "Not as often as I should."

I looked at Sylvia. "Do you tell him your Daddy's money is the reason for his success? Not his achievements?"

"It gave him the start." Sylvia sputtered. "But...I..."

"The start, but Mortimer must have had success." I reasoned.

"Yes." Sylvia nodded.

"Don't demean your value in the marriage as being just because of your looks and your Daddy's money," I advised. "If all you are is looks and money it will make things rocky. He loves you." I smiled. "I hear it in his voice."

Sylvia looked at her husband. "I knew I attracted him once, but.." she waved over her body. "I'm getting older and...the magic just seemed to leave."

I grinned at her. "Colin and I were just talking about that last night." I smiled as Colin moved closer and took my hand. "There is a magic in love. You need to build him up, not tear him down and keep reminding him of what was done in the past and hold him to that." I turned to Mortimer. "And you need to tell her why you stayed with her. Make your own fairy tale."

"When we first began investing in these properties, Sylvia was so good at keeping things well organized and stressed on cleanliness and helped make this and the others a success," Mortimer confessed. "She just gets carried away."

I nodded. "Tell her that." I smiled. "You haven't lost it yet. Get the magic back. It takes work to keep it alive."

Sylvia shook her head. "Are you a Psychologist or something? Why are we talking to you like this?"

Colin chuckled taking my hand. "He has a gift; he counsels a lot of people." He hugged me. "He has a kind of magic touch." He motioned toward John, Stan, and Mark. "We'll be leaving within the next few hours."

"We need to get George," John said.

We helped John pack everything including George's things. Colin went to Stan. "Has George stopped moving?"

Stan shook his head as he looked at his screen. "No, he's still moving, but the speed suggests ground transportation. He landed in Yekaterinburg. He's in Western Siberia."

I shrugged. "We need to dust off our translators."

"And get the others from New York." Colin nodded. "Gabriella's, Alex's, and Ellis' ability to track will be greatly needed."

"If this group of people found out where George and John were, did they manage to hack in?" I asked Stan.

Stan shrugged and looked very irritated. "I suppose so. I've set up more Sentries and beefed up the firewalls. They will have a tougher time if they try it again."

"Then we can't signal anyone," I said. "We need to get everyone together. I mean in the United States, England, and Romania. We need to get George!"

John came in having put something else in the vehicle. "So, what are we waiting on? Let's go!"