I want to thank everyone for their reviews of Discovery. Please enjoy this next book.

'Do you really think they're still alive,' Honey asked from the warmth of Mart's embrace.

Matthew Wheeler gifted his daughter a welcome night out, away from the prying media eye. He planned an intimate dinner for two at an exclusive New York establishment to signal his approval of the relationship. Last evening, they'd celebrated the end of Columbia's exam period and a return to a more normal life.

The cartel responsible for the Jim and Trixie's abduction now defunct, the remaining Bob Whites became free to enjoy their lives without protective restrictions. Mart and Dan wished to round out their college experience by relocating to the dorms at Columbia for their sophomore year. Brian had no intention of joining his brother after his first horrendous experience. He understood the sanctuary Matthew Wheeler's accommodations offered.

In two weeks, Mart would recommence to his studies in English Literature and Journalism for the summer term. This weekend, Honey and Mart wanted to take some time out for themselves. It didn't take their minds off the significance of today's date as they lay together in the boys' apartment for perhaps the last time.

'Yes,' he answered simply, with so much conviction anyone hearing Martin Belden would believe as emphatically as he did.

'Why,' Honey questioned, turning in his arms to face her boyfriend. Watching his expressive face, she noted the complex series of emotions playing across his features. 'It's been a year,' she reminded, 'what continues to give you such faith?' she couldn't understand his determined stance. 'I want to believe, but every day that goes by without some clue, takes a little of my optimism away. Most people have given up hope. Only our efforts keep the story in the public eye. I'm so afraid…'

'Honey,' Mart allowed his fingers to gently caress the side of her face. Letting her know he'd counted each day, he responded in a low, mournful voice, 'it's been one year, twenty five days and twenty three hours since the abduction. I know my "almost twin" is still alive. I feel this connection to Trix. I can hear her in my head, like an echo reverberating off a distant wall. The words are indistinct but I'd know her voice anywhere. Honey I feel she's content and want's to come home but can't.'

'I believe,' Mart blue eyes blaze with determination, 'Smithy stashed Trixie and Jim somewhere as a bargaining chip for his own purpose. To that end he couldn't have them escape or die easily.' His research into the cartel had been far ranging. The sources he'd forged impeccable. Martin Belden had made a name, albeit a pseudonym, for himself in the syndicated press with his insightful and slightly sarcastic articles. 'I have faith,' he continued resolutely, 'in Jim's skills to keep them alive in any situation. He'd die before he let anyone hurt my sister. I'm as certain of Trixie's feelings for him as you, my brother, Dan and Di are. I can only hope, between the two of them, they've managed to bond and survive the situation they've been placed in.'

'I guess you're right,' Honey shivered at the thought. 'It's a long time to think about Trix and Jim held captive.'

'There have been several cases over the last couple of years,' Mart stated. 'Do you remember that young woman they found alive and living in an offenders back yard last August.' Nodding her agreement, he continued, 'she'd been held captive for seventeen years. Then the year before, the German woman emerged from confinement after more than twenty years?'

'But…' Honey stammered, 'but her father kept her locked in a cellar.'

'Trix and Jim were kidnapped for ransom and revenge,' Mart confirmed, working through his theory, 'not for depraved reasons like those young women. I know they'll do everything in their power to escape where ever they've been placed.'

'I always thought Trixie would be back for her eighteenth birthday,' Honey lamented. She'd become too strong to weep tears at the sadness she felt. Only here in Mart's arms could she let her guard down and allow her eyes to glisten.

'I can't tell you why,' Mart hesitated, understanding the bigger picture, 'but I never expected them back this early.'

'How long,' Honey's surprise rang in her shocked tone, 'do you think we'll have to live in this limbo?'

'Three maybe four years,' he guessed. 'I believe Smithy made contingency plans. If anything happened to him or his family, they'd be found by accident. Your father's wealth and position wouldn't allow either of them to be easily taken again. It's the perfect plan.'

Shivering uncontrollably, Honey finally allowed her tears free rein. 'I hope you're wrong,' she whispered.

'Me too,' Mart lamented without conviction, 'because I can't imagine us sleeping together without some form of repercussions for all that time.'

Gathering Honey tighter, Mart knew the moment his message hit home. Finally Honey lost the last of her innocents as she glimpsed the bigger picture Mart painted for her. In many ways, Martin Belden's intelligence had been overshadowed by his elder brother. While Brian used his brain in a conventional way, Mart hid behind a facade of humour, common sense and being the clown of a middle child. His wide ranging interests worked in his favour. Journalism had been the perfect choice of career, given his way with words. Trixie's abduction affected the young man forcing the development of his serious side, maturing him beyond his years.

'Smithy would have ensured they had no access to money, documents of identification or the information superhighway,' Mart spoke gently, explaining the realities he'd discovered. Honey hiccupped, attempting to assimilate the information. 'Keeping Jim and Trixie ignorant is a powerful tool. In a low technology situation, they're going to be too busy fighting for survival. You and I are their only hope. If someone comes across them, by continuing to saturate the media, they might be recognised and returned to us.'

At about the same time, Helen Belden entered an upstairs bedroom at Crab-apple Farm. It hadn't been touched in almost thirteen months, except the weekly dusting. A smile graced her lips at the thought of how much Trixie hated that chore.

'Well, my girl,' Helen let her tears drip down her face, 'this is the second birthday we've celebrated without you.'

The last year had been hard enough as they worked through the first four stages of the grief process. They'd been through denial, pain, anger and reactive depression. Every holiday or special occasion held such melancholy the entire house felt it. This year, Helen thought her emotions might have decreased as she learnt to accept her daughter's disappearance. She discovered they hadn't. Facing Trixie's eighteenth birthday brought out feelings of loss and sadness. The family were still learning to cope, to assimilate the changes. They awaited acceptance.

'Last year,' Helen spoke into the empty room. Imagining Trixie sat on the other twin bed made her conversation flow and gave her the opportunity to pretend for a while, 'I felt so angry with you. We fought so much about the way you wanted to express your feelings for Jim. I hated being at odds with my only daughter. Even with the arguments between us, I couldn't decide what to get you for your birthday present.'

Sighing heavily, Helen fingered the brightly wrapped box in her hand. It contained a silver heart charm to add to the bracelet Jim gifted Trixie on the return flight from Iowa. The moment Helen spied the jewellery on Trixie's wrist, she knew the instant attraction she'd felt for Peter at sixteen had been genetically passed on to the next generation. When she examined the bracelet, discovering the quality and expense of the piece, she'd been convinced of Jim's intentions toward her very young daughter.

'When I saw this charm in the window at Crimpers,' Helen continued, 'I knew it belonged to you. I bought it a week before your abduction. We'd argued so much that week, yet I knew it signalled my eventual capitulation and hated myself for it. I'd hoped you wouldn't make the same mistakes as your father and I, yet I've never seen anyone for you, Trixie, but Jim.'

Returning to the store a few days ago, Helen found another charm. Holding the crystal and silver angle between her thumb and index finger, it caught the early morning light. Sunbeams scattered through the prism body, causing small rainbows on the walls.

'I hope she keeps you safe,' Helen murmured, delicately placing the trinket back in its box. Moving over to the dresser, she began to wrap the package in bright, cheerful paper. 'Where ever you are, Mart is convinced you're still alive, so I have to believe too. Mart's always been the one to sense your moods and know when you're in trouble. So as long as my son has faith, I can only hope, one day, you'll be returned to us.'

Peter stood, leaning on the door jam. Wondering where his wife got too, he'd followed his instincts. Watching and waiting until Helen needed him, Peter padded across the room. A pair of strong arms engulfed her, pulling husband and wife into an intimate embrace.

'She will,' Peter kissed the top of his wife's head. Strangely, Trixie's abduction drew them closer, physically and emotionally. Peter recalled depths in his wife personality he'd neglected, aspects he'd forgotten in the daily grind of living. Looking up, Helen allowed her lips to caress Peter's in comfort and support.

'Thank you,' she mouthed.

Slipping form Peter's embrace, Helen finished wrapping the gift. She moved to place a second parcel on Trixie's night stand. Sighing deeply, she knew the time for tears had passed. They had to get ready for guests tonight.

After working all day at his summer position, Brian drove the hour to Sleepyside. His last exam ended Wednesday evening. Brian deliberately commenced his new employment Thursday morning. He'd found closure in keeping himself busy.

Pushing open the back door to Crab-apple Farm, he called, 'anyone home?'

'Hey,' Bobby yelled, barrelling in behind his eldest brother. 'It's good to see you home. Mart and Honey are here already. Dan's just finishing up at Mr Maypenny's.'

'Mom said you had a job,' Brian smiled, following the youngest Belden into the house.

'Well,' Bobby grinned, 'Mr Maypenny is eighty this year. You and all the other Bob Whites live in New York now. Who else around here is going to help him out?'

'I'm proud of you, Bob,' Brian started using the shortened form of his name the day Trixie disappeared. He'd grown up so much in the last year. Being the youngest, Bobby coped better with the situation than the rest of the family.

'Thanks,' he grinned. 'Did you hear about Di?'

'Hard not to in this community,' Brian lamented sadly. 'It's really no one's business if Di has a girlfriend.'

'Not that silly,' Bobby rolled his expressive blue eyes, 'Missy drove Di, Honey and Mart down this morning. Mom's made her stay for the celebration tonight.'

Suitably chastised, Brian kept his council knowing Bobby still couldn't keep a secret. 'Di got a late offer from Vassar,' he grinned.

Another Bob White leaving, Brian hated the idea of them being split up any more, even if she is staying in state to go to college, its hours from home. Then again, maybe that's the point in her case. A liberal arts school will suit Di perfectly.

'Brian!' Helen held out her arms as he entered the kitchen.

'Mom,' he allowed himself to be engulfed by the homeliness conveyed in the simple contact.

'You look tired,' she announced, scrutinising his face.

This child has suffered more than the others, she lamented, even if he pretends to be stoic, Brian is actually the most sensitive of my brood. How I wish I could help but he needs to find comfort in his own way.

Surrounded by her family, related and otherwise, Helen Belden finally felt complete. On the wall, photographs of Jim and Trixie joined in the party for the missing members eighteenth birthday. Looking up at the tall young man who resembled his father, Helen noticed the gleam in his eye. It hadn't been there since April last year.

'What is it Brian?' she asked.

'I'm not going to med school,' he proclaimed, a shy grin infusing his face. He hadn't meant to reveal his change in plans so suddenly.

'What!' Helen demanded. The tone caught the others, quelling their conversation. All eyes turned to Mother and son, slightly confused.

'As you know I almost flunked out last year,' Brian stated with a frown, facing his entire family at the same time, 'but that's not the reason I've reconsidered my future in Medicine. I can't see myself continuing on this tread mill for the next ten years. If I change my major now, I can pick up two units over the summer and still gradate in Forensics at the end of this academic year. I started an internship with the New York Police Department earlier this week.'

In the pandemonium that broke loose, the reason for the gathering became secondary. Brian's announcement signalled the start of a new phase in the grief cycle. Emotions of loss and sadness would visit each of them when they considered the ramifications of Jim and Trixie's absence. However, they'd come to accept the temporary loss with the realisation life had to continue.