Omnipotent powers seemed to be possessed by Silas. His network of evil and deceit ran deeper than most would understand. The message had been delivered back to the United States and Floyd Parker that the mission was so far successful. However, in big circles like his there were bound to be leaks and or breakdowns. Anastasia Chamberlain was listed as missing within 24 hours by authorities in the U.S. and in Scotland. So when Silas' message made it to the U.S. three days later, the connection of this crime to Floyd Parker was revealed. The officer in Edinburgh did not relish the thought of detailing this bizarre development to the Chamberlain family.

Nola felt badly for Seamus. She sensed that he was uncomfortable meeting the family in this unfortunate way. Knowing it was what Stacey would want, she did everything to make Seamus feel as comfortable as possible under the tense circumstances. She prepared him a nice lunch and brought it to him on the porch while everyone else was being further questioned by the police inside.

“Mrs. Chamberlain, you really didn’t have to do that,” Seamus insisted. “I know how hard this has been on you, and I don’t want to burden you.”

“First of all, I want you to call me Nola, and second of all, it’s no burden at all,” Nola retorted. “And it helps keep my mind off of things I have no control over.”

“If you insist, and the sandwich does look delicious. Where is yours?”

“I ate something already. Don’t worry about me.” Nola reassured Seamus as she sat down on the porch swing. “It sure is surprisingly warm this afternoon.”

“Yes, it is. You know, Mrs. . . ” Seamus paused a bit awkwardly and then continued with a smile, “Nola, Anastasia really does remind me a lot of you.”

“She does? Really?” Nola asked proudly. “Everyone always says she’s like Quinton.”

“I see that too, especially since they are both scientists, but there is this kindness about her that is like you . . . and a spirit. And of course, you look so much alike.”

“Oh, I wish,” Nola humbly added, fending off the complement.

“I would easily be able to pick you out of a roomful of people as her mother or maybe an older sister,” Seamus stated with a twinkle in his eye.

“Now, I know you’re pulling my leg,” Nola blushed. “But it’s very nice of you to say it anyway.”

“I hope my being here isn’t upsetting Mr. Chamberlain,” Seamus intimated.

“He’ll be fine, Seamus. He’s just being protective, and he’s really not himself now. I’m sure you understand, considering the circumstances.”

“No, I understand completely. But I really want him to like me.” Seamus sincerely added, “Anastasia means the world to me. And I know she adores him and highly values her father’s opinion.”

“And she means the world to Quinton too, so you have a lot in common. He has always been over-protective of Stacey.”

“Anastasia told me you knew about our plans?” Seamus carefully alluded, taking a bite of his sandwich.

“About the apartment? Yes, she told me. Quinton is going to take that hard. I’m sure he wants to believe . . . Well, that isn’t his business anymore. He’ll get over it.”

“I just hope that we’re even able to move forward with our plans,” Seamus noted with sadness.

“We have to be positive, Seamus.” Nola said with assurance, “Stacey is coming back to us.”

Later that evening, the head officer investigating Stacey’s kidnapping visited the Renfield home and informed Nola and Quinton of the latest, strange news. "Mr. and Mrs. Chamberlain, we have received some very disturbing news from our contacts in the U.S. It appears there is a connection to this crime back in the United States."

"I don't understand," Quinton reacted. "Someone other than Silas Crocker is involved in this?"

"Yes, it’s very disturbing based on Anastasia's relationship to this person."

"Who is it?" Nola probed.

"The crime is apparently connected to Floyd Parker, an inmate of the state of Illinois."

"We know who Floyd Parker is,” Quinton noted in astonishment. “But we’ve not had contact with him in almost 20 years. He's Stacey's biological father."

"Yes, we had that information which is why this is so upsetting. So far what we know is that Mr. Parker has not gotten any specific information about the crime, only that it happened. Apparently, one of the prison guards had been involved and to protect himself he revealed what he knew.”

Stunned and barely absorbing what the officer was telling them, Nola asked, "Why would Floyd do this?"

"Mrs. Chamberlain, we have no idea. Mr. Parker claims he knows nothing about it."

"But you know he knows?" Nola contradicted.

"We have circumstantial evidence only, but we are pursuing it. The prison is pursuing it, but according to the information we do have, Mr. Parker is not a mentally well individual."

"I don't understand how someone like Floyd would be able to get in contact with Silas Crocker," Nola’s tone grew more stressed.

"That is being investigated, but the prisoners can and do talk."

"I have to go lie down," Nola got up from the table, holding back her tears and feeling sick to her stomach.

Stacey lay pale and exhausted, tied to the rickety bed that Silas had set up for her. She shivered until Silas got the fire going, and if he was asleep when the fire died out then she ironically had to hope for him to wake up. Silas had been in and out of consciousness during the last few hours. Much of the time, Silas would hallucinate that she was her mother, and Stacey never corrected him, fearful of how he would react. She thought often of her parents and hoped that they had figured out that Silas had taken her. Her mind often drifted to Seamus and how much she missed him, and at times, she even let herself wonder if she might never see him again. She had no idea what Silas planned to do with her. She felt hungry, but the low quality and sometimes borderline spoiled food he offered to her, turned her stomach.

During Silas' hallucinations, she was able to glean what her mother had been through when she had similarly been held by Silas over 20 years earlier. Her mother rarely spoke of what happened to her, and her father told her that Mom had blocked much of it out.

Stacey watched Silas in disgust as he slept, lustily snoring. When the snoring ceased, he quietly started to mumble. "Devon, Devon," he said almost imperceptibly.

Stacey could barely make out what Silas was saying. But she certainly did not imagine he was saying Devon, or that he was referring to Devon Wayne.

Quint gently knocked on the guest room door through which Nola disappeared, "Sweetheart, it's me. Are you all right?"

"Come in," Nola called out.

Quint entered the room to see Nola lying face down on the bed. He sat down on the bed next to her, "Honey?"

"I thought this whole thing was over with Floyd?” Nola turned to Quint. “And with Silas too? Now Stacey is all wrapped up in this mess, and we don't know anything about where she is."

"I know, baby. But we have to have faith that we will find our little girl."

"And on top of everything, I feel like shit."

"Maybe you should see a doctor here?" Quint suggested.

"No, I'm sure it's just more of this hormonal shit and all the stress," Nola replied in an exasperated voice. “The nausea is throwing me, but I checked it on the internet, and it’s a possible symptom as well.”

"You need to have a decent meal. You haven't since we got here." Quint stroked his wife's hair.

"To tell you the truth, I just don't feel like I could keep it down," Nola admitted. "I think I'm going to try to take a nap. Why don't you go spend some time with Seamus? He’s not doing well. And he wants you to like him.”

"Do you really think that Stacey loves him?" Quint cautiously asked.

"I know she does. She told me, and I can tell that he loves her too."

"All right, but is there anything I can get you?” Quinton offered, “Some soup? Anything?"

"No, I just need some rest, but thanks," Nola stated with a forced smile.

"OK, I'll go spend some time with Seamus and be nice." Quint softly kissed his wife on the forehead and went to make nice with Seamus.

Seamus, Vanessa and Mrs. Renfield were chatting in the parlor when Quinton entered the room.

"Is Nola feeling all right?" Violet inquired.

"She'll be fine," Quint answered. “She just needs some rest."

"Mr. Chamberlain, I’ve just been speaking with Vanessa and Mrs. Renfield and well, we are all very frustrated with how slowly this has all been going. I think that maybe you and I should do some searching on our own." Seamus explained, trying to hold back his emotion.

"I think that would be a wonderful idea,” Quint responded, “but how would we even know where to start?"

"I don't know, sir. But I just can't stand doing nothing anymore. We have to get Anastasia back."

When the phone rang, Vanessa went to answer it while everyone continued talking, until they heard the tense tone in her voice.

"This is Vanessa Chamberlain," she said into the phone, mouthing to the rest of the room that it was Silas. "Please tell us that Anastasia is okay," Vanessa firmly requested.

"Slow down, Ms. Chamberlain. You’ll get the information you need, but not until I let you know what I want."

"What do you want?" Vanessa queried.

"I want you to put Quinton on the phone, NOW!!" Silas demanded.

"Yes, certainly," then moving to give her brother the phone, "He insists on speaking with you."

Quinton took the phone abruptly from his sister and moved into the other room for privacy, "Crocker, if you have touched one hair on Stacey's head . . ."

"I think you better take a few steps back, McCord. I'm in control here. You'll get your proof that your adopted, little daughter is okay, but not until I get what I want."

"What do you want, Silas?" Quinton tried to contain his anger.

"It hurts to lose your child doesn't it, Quinton?"

"Of course it does, tell me what you want?"

"I need two things. First, I’m going to need some money and second, I need you to find my son."

"Your what?"

"You heard me, McCord. I need you to find my son. And I blame you that I lost him."

"Silas, I have no idea what you're talking about. I didn’t even know you had a son."

"Devon had him the semester that she left school. I'm sure when she came back she ran to tell the bleeding-hearted, love child Sean Ryan about it right away."

"Silas, this is madness. I have no idea what you’re talking about. I knew of no such thing."

"Keep lying, McCord. But it’s only going to make it harder on your lovely Anastasia."

"I don't know how you expect me to find your son." Quint whispered into the phone, "Devon never told me anything about having a child."

"I told you she had him the semester that she took a leave of absence when we were all graduate students at Oxford. I found out about him a few years ago from Devon's family."

"I had no idea, Silas. Of course I will try to get information, and I will give you whatever money you need, but I need to know Stacey is okay."

"You'll get your proof just as soon as I get some information."

Quint asked, "Tell me how Floyd Parker is involved in all of this?"

Silas cackled, "So you heard about that? That pathetic bastard must be one sicko. Not even I would suggest such a thing with my own child. But I don't care about him. Anastasia has a lot of value for me now. Kind of like a déjà vu from 20 years ago when I had your precious Nola, huh Quint? Her young daughter, though, now much more closely suits my taste in women. Bye Quint"

The line went dead just as Quint warned Silas again not to hurt Stacey. He couldn't believe his ears that Silas had a son, and that he actually had enough heart to want to find him. There had to be people who could help him get this sensitive information. But what child would want to know that Silas was his father? Although from Quint's calculations, the son would be far from a child. He would be in his 30s. He quietly wandered back into the room where Seamus, Violet and Vanessa patiently waited.

"What did he say?" Vanessa blurted out impatiently.

"He wants money," Quint stammered.

"How much? We can get it right away."

"He didn't say yet. He wants me to help him find his son. I didn't even know he had a son." Quint muttered, still confused.

Later that evening, Silas' was drinking more and more heavily. He untied Stacey from her bed so that she could eat something. He would force her, if she did not cooperate this time.

"I don't need you to die on me, now. I need to give your daddy dearest proof that his little illegitimate angel is still alive." Silas speech was becoming more and more slurred, and Stacey noticed that he wobbled when the stood up. He moved to remove the gag as he fell full on top of Stacey with his face buried into her hair. The heavy weight of his body against her small frame, and the bad smell coming from him almost overwhelmed Stacey. Within a few moments, he thankfully started coming to. As he sat up on the bed, he looked down at Stacey with a very confused expression. Then like something she had never before seen on him, an almost gentle expression spread across his craggy face.

"Devon? Is that you?" he groggily uttered. He hastily removed the gag from around Stacey's head and undid the last of the ropes that tied her to the bed. "Devon, you're all right!!" he gleefully proclaimed.

Stacey was speechless for a moment, not knowing quite what to say. How strange that he should call her Devon of all names. But she knew she had to play along, just as she had played along when he hallucinated that she was her mother.

"Yes," Stacey quietly squeaked, trying to regain her voice and afraid to say the wrong thing.

Silas wrapped his arms tightly around Stacey and cried, "Devon, Devon, Devon." He almost wailed her name. "I've missed you so much. I thought you died in that cave in Tanquir."

"I missed you too," Stacey said trying to sound convincing, but still very frightened.

"Devon, I know about our son." Silas continued to securely hold her.

"Our son?" Stacey's mind starting spinning as the pieces started fitting into place. Devon was dead, she and Silas had a son, Tanquir, but it just couldn't be. It would be too much of a coincidence.

Silas released Stacey a bit in order that he could look at her, "Your parents told me the truth that you had a son that semester you took off from Oxford."

"Oh yes, but that was so long ago," Stacey added in a panic, realizing that this information was almost exactly mirroring the information that Seamus had told her about his biological parents.

"I know, but we can still find him. We can still find our son.” Silas examined Stacey’s face, “Devon, you look so tired."

"No, I'm fine. You're the one who looks tired." Stacey's confidence grew to say more. "Why don't you lie down, Silas. I'll be here when you wake up."

"I don't feel very well,” Silas agreed. “Maybe I should." Silas reclined on the dirty bed and passed out almost immediately.

Stacey knew she had to act fast. She quickly went through Silas' coat to find any weapons that he might have. She found a knife, and she also found his cell phone. She didn't know if she should attempt to tie up Silas to give her more time to get away, or if tying him up would only wake him and bring him out of his hallucination. She opted to grab his coat, knife and cell phone and escape from the cabin. Her legs felt stiff and weak as she tried to quietly run out of the cabin, but even though her body wanted to fail her, she willed herself to continue on. She had to get as far away from the cabin as possible and then try to call her father. She imagined that everyone would be frantic by now. She did not quite know how to process the information that Silas was Seamus' father, and how that would devastate him to know his biological father was such a monster. And then how would her own father take it that she was in love with his arch enemy's son? As Stacey ran outside the cabin, dressed in Silas' oversized coat, she noticed the grey compact car that Silas had transported her in. The keys, she thought. If she had the keys she could get away in the car. She dumped out the contents of all the pockets in his coat, but found no car keys. She checked the lining fully, but there was nothing. In frustration, she realized the keys must be back in the cabin with Silas. She had no option, but to get as far away as she could and try to call for help. She had no idea where she was. It was dark and deserted. It didn't take long before the slight light from the fireplace in the cabin was completely out of range. She cautiously continued further until she felt that she was at a sufficient distance to slow down and try to make her call.

Nola, Quint, Seamus, Vanessa, Victoria and Mrs. Renfield somberly sat around the dinner table as they all quietly attempted to eat dinner. Nola picked, barely able to eat. Quint and Seamus quietly talked about their plans to venture out on their own early the next morning if there was no significant news.

“Nola darling, you really need to eat something,” Vanessa cautioned. “I have barely seen you touch anything since we arrived a few days ago.”

“I know; I just don’t think I could keep anything down,” Nola sedately disclosed.

“Are you nauseous?” Vanessa asked in confusion.

“A little bit, yes,” Nola responded. “I’m sure it’s just . . .” Nola was interrupted when the phone rang; Vanessa promptly jumped up and answered the phone, "Hello."

"Aunt Vanessa?" Stacey meekly said into the phone.

"Anastasia?" she loudly exclaimed, as everyone in the room gasped with relief. "Are you all right?"

Quint leapt up to take the phone from Vanessa, "Baby, where is Silas?"

"I got away, Daddy," Stacey explained breathlessly.

"She got away," Quint said out loud for all to hear. Victoria and Violet held onto each other. Vanessa walked over and put her arms warmly around Seamus and Nola. Nola cried as she got up to go over to Quint.

Stacey continued, "I don't know where I am. He took me to this cabin, and there are no other houses and no road signs, nothing."

"Where is Silas?" Quint asked, tenderly holding Nola. Meanwhile, Vanessa got on her cell phone and called the personal phone number of the head officer on the case to let them know about the recent development.

"He’s really crazy, Daddy. He thought I was someone else and untied me, and then he fell asleep or passed out. I don't know which. But I got pretty far away from the cabin, and I’m still walking in the woods. It's so dark. I can't go very fast because I can hardly see anything. It’s so deserted and dark out here that I don't think there is anyway he could find me at night."

"Baby, listen, if we can keep you on the line long enough they have installed a device on our phone that should be able to help us get an approximate location."

“Okay,” she continued, "He has a car and I would have taken that, but I couldn't find the keys."

"What kind of car was it? Perhaps if it is a rental we can track it that way. Lots of those cars have GPS security devices."

"It was a small grey car," Stacey explained.

"Do you know what make it was?"

"It was a small Corsa, I think." Then with more certainty, Stacey repeated, “Yes, a Corsa.”

Quint jotted down the details as Stacey explained them. “That is excellent, Stacey. Did you happen to get the plate number?"

"No, I didn't think of that, Daddy. I'm sorry."

Quint tried to be as calm as possible for his daughter. "That's ok, sweetheart. All of this information is really helpful. Just keep moving as far away from the cabin as you can. What is the weather like where you are?" Seamus moved over towards Quint and Nola.

"It's really cold. I took Silas' coat, but I'm still so cold." Stacey momentarily considered telling her father about the Seamus and Silas connection, but then decided to wait.

"Your mother wants to talk to you," Quint added, "I love you." He handed the phone to Nola.

Stacey and Nola emotionally spoke for a few minutes.

Realizing that Seamus was anxious to speak with Stacey, Nola kept their conversation short. "Seamus is here. He wants to talk to you."

"Mom, Seamus is there?" Stacey sweetly whispered.

"Of course he is, sweetie. He's been very worried." Nola handed the phone to Seamus and indicated for everyone to leave the room, so they could speak privately.

"Anastasia?"

"Seamus!" Stacey cried.

"It is so good to hear your voice. I have been crazy with worry, but we are going to find you and everything is going to be fine. I love you so much."

"I love you," Stacey exclaimed as the thoughts of what she had discovered about his parentage raced through her mind.

Through the cell phone they had been able to estimate that Stacey was about 150 kilometers northwest of Edinburgh. The information about the grey Corsa was also helpful, and it came up that several had been rented the day Stacey was abducted, but one had been rented in Perth by a renter named Jamie Loomis. The car was equipped with a GPS tracking device and within minutes of narrowing down all the grey Corsas rented they were able to locate almost the exact location of the car.

Silas finally woke up in the cabin to find Stacey gone. "God dammit, where did that little bitch go?" he cursed as he ran out the door to see nothing but darkness. He had all but forgotten the earlier incident, as if it was just a dream that was never to be remembered in consciousness. Now you have done it, Miss Chamberlain, Silas thought as he went to get the gun that his accomplice had stowed under the back seat for him.