But after searching for a while longer, Elliot still couldn''t find a single clue. It was as if the two old men had vanished into thin air.


    It made sense that Howard, a master hacker, would be hard to track. But he knew Gerald''s identity, so why couldn''t he find any trace of him?


    His great-grandmother had said Gerald had some family business to attend to and needed Howard''s help, so he''d taken Howard back into the city with him. But Elliot had checked on Gerald''s family and found nothing out of the ordinary. There wasn''t a single shred of evidence that Gerald had ever returned.


    Elliot knit his brow, sitting silently in front of theputer for a long time. It wasn''t until he heard noises outside his door that he let out a long sigh, closed hisptop, and got up to get ready for the day.


    ...


    Around eight in the morning, yton and Pam Patel arrived at Number One Mansion with the children. Their n was to head to the airport from there.


    Elysia was almost done packing and told the kids to go check their rooms onest time for anything else they wanted to bring. When they heard Tarquin wasn''ting with them, the little ones were surprised.


    "Why isn''t Daddying?"


    Elysia exined for him, "Your daddy''s busy with worktely. He also has a business trip to Border City, so he doesn''t have time toe to Oceanopolis with us."


    At the sudden mention of Border City, Elliot and Elijah''s eyes went wide. “!”


    Realizing something, the two boys frowned in unison.


    While everyone else was busy packing, the two brothers pulled Tarquin upstairs to


    the study.


    "Are you going to Border City?"


    "Yes."


    Elijah frowned. "Why didn''t you tell us?"


    Elliot''s brow furrowed. "You''re nning to go on this dangerous trip alone!”


    Tarquin paused. "...An opportunity to go to Border City just came up, so I thought I''d go check things out."


    "What opportunity?" Elliot asked.


    Tarquin exined, "Last night, I


    epted a challenge from Punikon''s grandfather.


    Coincidentally, there''s an old master in Border City who once fought him to a draw in the ring. Tean do Border City to learn a thing or two from him."


    Elliot and Elijah understood his meaning instantly. Going to Border City to ''learn''


    was a lie; finding the real 8th generation virus was the truth.


    The two brothers looked at Tarquin, displeased. "It''s a good excuse, but it''s too risky for you to go alone!"


    "We''re going with you!"


    "No," Tarquin refused. "You''re not. You''re going with your mom and grandparents to Oceanopolis."


    He had chosen to go to Border City during the holiday break precisely so Elysia and the kids would be away. The real 8th generation virus was far too dangerous. He would take the risk himself, but he couldn''t let his children join him.


    Back on the mountain, his grandmother had warned him that if he ever found a sample of the virus, he had to handle it with extreme care. Ifa sample were to leak, would immediately spread through the air and cause mass casualties in a short amount of time. Of course, those closest to the virus would die first, and their deaths would be certain. He didn''t want his children to take that risk with him.


    Elliot also knew the dangers of the 8th generation virus. He refused to let his father


    face it alone. "Let Evan, Emmett, and Baby go with Mom to Oceanopolis," he


    insisted. "I''m going with you to Border City!"


    "I''m going to Border City with you too, Dad!" Elijah added. “We can help!"


    Tarquin knew the boys were just worried about him. He patted Elliot''s head, then Elijah''s. "I''m going to find the us, not steal itrge group will only draw attention. Listen to me. Go with your mother to Oceanopolis. Taking care of her is the best way you can help me right now."