Max's POV

"Earth to Fang?" Iggy grabbed the doughnut from Fang's hand.

"Hey!" Fang yelled I giggle a little bit.

"That's what you get for staring at Max," Iggy pointed out.

"I was not!" Fang shot back.

"You were too!" Nudge butted in, "wow that is the shortest thing you have said Nudge!" I clapped.

"Nope, let's not ruin it!" Iggy slapped his hand over her mouth.

The phone rang, Anne went to go grab it.

"Hello?" She asked, "so, Max, what is up between you and Fang? I see him looking at you like that," Nudge elbowed me in the side.

"Nothing, at all."

"Are you sure?" She raised her eyebrow.

"I promi-"

"Max, Ella you guys need to go home now," Anne told up hanging up the phone.

"You guys stay here." She pointed to all her kids.

"Well, I guess we will see you at school?" I questioned shrugging my shoulders.

Ella was quick and was out the door, "Ella wait up!" I demanded running after her.

I could see in front of our house cop cars, they saw us running up, "are you Dr. Martinez's children?" One asked.

We both nodded looking worried.

"We need to talk to you guys inside," another one said, as he started to walk inside.

Ella and I followed them in, we saw bloody handprints on the front door. That made chills go down my spine.

"Sit," the man said, gesturing to the chairs.

Once we all sat down the women spoke.

"Not too long ago, maybe a few minutes, your mother, was taken. There are some clues to solving this mystery and to get your mother back, although none of our detectives will help. We are asking you guys and you guys only to help us." 

Wait.. was she asking us?

"So you are asking Ella and me to find our mother?" I was stunned.

"Yes." The man confirmed.

"Here is the first clue that was left on her bed." He handed me a folded piece of paper.

'I am only one father, but at the same time I am two fathers.'

"What?" Ella was peering over my shoulder.

"This could mean many things." The man said. I didn't have a chance to look at his badge; 'Mark' was engraved on it.

The girl had one too, 'Beth' was on her's.

We sat there for a while staring at the paper, "could it be anyone of your fathers?" Beth suggested.

"Ella's father died, my father, we don't talk about him." It was a touchy subject for both of us, our fathers left us with just our mother.

"We need to know Max, if it is him, or if he is a part of this we need to get him.

I have a slow nod. "Dr. Hans Gunther-Hagen." I simply said. "That's how I'm related to Dylan."

"Wait that's it! Max! He is your father but at the same time he is also Dylan's!"

Beth seemed the be excited that we were on to something. "That must be. Mark. Get people on to finding where Dr. Hans Gunther-Hagen lives."

"On it." Mark stood up and pushed his glasses up his nose.

"Now we must wait for a little for him to get information. Just hang around in the house, okay?"

Ella and I nodded and just sat there. Could my father really have taken my mom? Although I don't call him much of 'father' he left a woman for my mom. Dylan came and my mom took him in later having me.

But he left after I was born. Dylan stayed and grew up here. "Max?" Ella looked at me with her big brown eyes.

"Yes?" I looked at her, she is my sister, I love her. "Do you think we will get mom back?"

"Of course!" I practically yelled. "Come here," I held out my arms, Ella hugged me back, nothing could break us apart. I know that for a fact.

"We need to talk with you guys." Beth interrupted our moment.

"In here," she motioned with her head.

She pulled out a chair and sat down with her hands folded, "Mark and I have found your father," she looked at the both of us.

"He does live far. Pack well, we will be staying there for a while."

Ella and I quickly sprinted up to our rooms, there I grabbed a bag and stuffed what I could think of in my bag. "Max, don't forget your toothbrush!" 

Ella tossed it to me, "thanks," I mumbled.

I can't believe that I am doing this, searching for my mother. Out of all the people who can do it, Ella and I were chosen.

Glancing around my room for the last time; I shut the door a headed downstairs. "You ready?" Beth asked. 

"Mhm." I gave a quick nod and sat down to wait for Ella.

"We told your brother, Dylan, that you would be at a friend's house. He won't be worried when you are not home this week." Ella had come down the stairs, 

"I'm ready!" She cheerfully smiled at everyone.

"Let's go." Mark stood up and pushed his chair in. "Beth is driving you guys and I will be driving a police car behind you guys."

"But first, we must go to the station to get the car." Beth opened the front door all three of us followed her out.

"Here," Mark open the trunk of the SUV we are using. "Put your bags in here." I carefully set my bag in the trunk of the car. "You guys can sit in the back seats there is room and also snacks." Mark opened the car door for me and Beth opened the other side for Ella.

"See you guys soon, we will meet halfway for food." Mark waved and got in his car. "Remember to buckle!' Beth called from the front seat.

"Max, look at this," Ella whispered to me. She grabbed my hand and placed something in it, closing my hand again.

Looking down at my balled up fist, I saw a photo of Ella, mom, and I. We were all at a playground. Ella and I were on the swings and mom were in the middle smiling at us. Dylan was the one taking the photo.

"I remember that. That was the day we learned how to swing on our own. Mom was so proud of us." Ella gave a nod 

"Yeah, she was." She sniffled a little. "We will get her. I promise."

"You girls doing okay back there?" Beth looked up in the mirror. "Yeah," I nodded, so did Ella. She looked down back at the road. I looked out the window and down at the passing trees. Road signs, car, and other things flew by one by one as we got close to our destination.

I felt something heavy in my pocket. My phone! Of course! Quickly I pulled my phone out of my pocket. I had 41 missed messages.

Fang: Max? Is everything okay? You left quickly.

Fang: Are you okay? You are not responding

Fang: Max?!

Fang: I swear Max don't make me come over there!

Fang: I just saw you leave in the police car... Are you alright?

Fang: Max answer the dang phone!

Iggy: Fang just told me you are not answering, are you hurt?

Gazzy: Man, did you blow up something and need to leave? Because if you did TELL ME HOW YOU DID IT!

I guess I didn't notice how much time passed because we were pulling into a restaurant on the side of the road.

"Hey guys," Mike walked up to us. "Anyone hungry?"

"Me!" Ella and I raised our hands. 

"Well, let's go eat!" Beth started to walk to the door. 

"Beth, I need to go to the bathroom." Ella mentioned, "I need to also, so let's go." Beth led Ella to the bathroom.

"Let's get a seat." Mike walked up a booth that would fit us four.

"Hello, my name is Jason, and I will be your waiter." Jason gave us some silverware.

Mark and I both ordered drinks, waiting to order food till Ella and Beth got back.

The restaurant was a little empty compared to a normal one. An elderly couple was eating and talking by the bar.

"What is taking them so long?" Mark wondered out loud.

"Should we go check?" I asked looking at the door. "Yeah, I think we should," Mark got up and started to walk to the restrooms.

"I will wait out here, come back and get me if anything is wrong." Mark leaned up against the door frame.

I gave a slight nod, pushing open the door; the room was empty. Not even the lights were on. "Hello?" I asked.

Nothing, no reply.

"Hello? Anyone in here?" I asked again.

Silence.

I was about to walk out when I felt a rough hand on my shoulder. "Don't leave."

A cruel voice spoke. "I'm glad you could make it."

I turned around to horror. "Y-you!" I stumbled backward. "I thought you were on our side!" I nearly yelled.

"Max? Everything okay in there?" Mark questioned through the door. 

"Don't you say anything!" She barked.

I could see Ella tied up against the bathroom sink. "Soon. Soon, she will be one."

I did the first thing I could think of, I knee Beth in the chest. "You will not get away with this!" I punched her flat in the face. "Ella!" I scurried over to her to get her free.

"Go!" I demanded as I kicked Beth again. "You will be sorry," I growled stealing her handcuffs around her belt.

Pulling her over to the sink I cuffed her hand behind her back and to the sink pipe. "Goodbye." I gritted my teeth as I knocked her out, knocked her out cold.

"Max? What happened?" Mark questioned looked to make sure I was not hurt.

Breathing heavily I asked, "you won't betray us, correct?"

"I promise." He put his hand over his heart.

"Let's eat. I am hungry." Ella licked her lips. "Come on!"

"I am going to call for two more police officers so we can have extra help because of Beth." He shoved another fry in his mouth.

I had ordered a simple meal. "Mark?"

"Hmm?"

"Can I tell my friends that Ella and I are okay? They are worried."

"Yes, just don't say what or where we are going or doing."

I pulled my phone out to text Fang.

Max: Hey

Fang: Max!

Fang: where have you been?

Max: Sorry I have been busy

Fang: are you okay?

Max: Yes, don't worry I am going to be fine.

Fang: If anything happens, tell me.

Max: I promise.

Max: Now I must go bye!

"Are you done?" Ella's eyes were full of worry. 

"I told Fang." I looked over at Mike, then back at her.

"Good. He cares about you do much." Ella patted my back.

"They will be here in a few hours," Mark came back in, "now let's go to that hotel over there and stay the night."

We paid for our meal and grabbed our bags. Mark pointed to our rooms, "you girls get that room, and I will get this room."

Our room overlooked the parking lot and the highway.

A black car pulled into the parking lot, it looked like Fang's new car he got for his latest birthday. A guy when black hair and clothes stepped out of the car. Ella came up from behind me, "wow! That dude looks like Fang.. no.. you wouldn't think?"

"No, I think it is," The man walked up to the hotel holding his phone. "We must go look without him knowing."

"Without out who knowing? Mark or that guy that looks like Fang?" Ella looked at me with curious eyes.

"Both!" I grabbed her wrist and ran out the door trying not to make much noise.

As we got down the lobby the man was at the front desk. "Oh wow, he looks so much like Fang." I cupped my hand over her mouth. 

"Shush!" I whispered to her.

I don't think it was quite enough because the man looked right at me. That moment I knew it was Fang. Right then and there. I stood up and walked over to him.

"Max! What are you doing?" Ella whispered yelled to me, ignoring her I kept walking to Fang.

Edited: 7.10.17