Page 21 of Two Hearts' Christmas Homecoming

Zane appeared surprised at the question. “Now that you mention it, no. There were flashing lights on an unmarked black car and the two guys were both wearing some kind of unfamiliar uniform. I took a quick look after I led Lex and Caleb away from the house.”

“Do you remember the color of the uniforms?”

“All gray, I think,” Zane replied.

“There’s a simple way of checking,” Gabe observed, picking up and entering something on the notepad computer resting on his desk. “They’re black for municipal police and I happen to know that the state police wear gray pants and dark shirts, so they probably weren’t legit.”

“Computers have sure come a long way since I’ve used one,” Zane observed, although he hadn’t meant to admit it, so he gave Gabe a side glance.

Sure enough, Gabe had noticed. “That’s alright. I’ve suspected that you might have dabbled in some electronic thefts when you were young. The same way I knew that Lex has never used a computer in his life.” Gabe turned to Lex. “But you sure seem eager to learn.”

“He does, doesn’t he?” Zane pursed his lips.

Lex rolled his eyes.

“Getting back to those cops. How soon was it that they found you after you escaped?”

“I’d say within a couple of weeks.”

Gabe looked thoughtful. “But no more later?”

“No, come to think of it,” Zane replied.

“I wonder…,” Gabe said, quickly opening a desk drawer and pulling out a long piece of metal. “Is Caleb nearby?”

“I think he’s with Amy in the solarium,” Zane replied. “Why?”

“It may be nothing,” Gabe said as he stood, heading toward the open doorway and through the hallway, apparently on his way to the solarium.

“Caleb? Are you around somewhere?” Lex heard him ask.

“He’s here, Daddy,” Amy called out.

“Hey, Caleb. Could you come into my office and take off your shirt? You can put it right back on in a minute. Hopefully, what I’m going to do won’t tickle too much,” Gabe said reassuringly while heading into the study with Caleb, who awkwardly tugged his shirt over his head.

“I can take that,” Zane said, grinning.

Gabe ran the large magnet slowly over Caleb’s chest as he giggled.

“That’scold,” Caleb said.

Gabe smiled, patting his shoulder.

“What’s up?” Lex asked.

“I’m not exactly sure yet,” Zane replied, still smiling in reassurance at Caleb.

“This is a heavy-duty magnet,” Gabe replied. “It will allow me to feel the slightest tug of anything metal that might be embedded under Caleb’s skin.”

Zane and Lex looked at each other in shock.

Gabe apparently found what he was looking for slightly below Caleb’s waist when he turned around to face Amy.

“There’s a small incision mark here,” Gabe said gruffly, touching it gently. “I’ll talk to Brian about removing it.”

“So, you think that’s how they found us?” Zane asked, glancing at Lex.

“You’ve got to be kidding,” Lex growled. “So, what is it under his skin? Some kind of tracker?”

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