Chapter 15
As the plane rolled to a stop, Oracle looked out her window and smiled as she spotted Maximus waiting for her next to a black car.
Gathering up her belongings, she walked to the front exit, thanked the pilot and steward and then descended the stairway to greet her husband.
“This is a pleasant surprise, darling,” she said, giving him a kiss.
“Yes, it was a last-minute thought,” Maximus said, helping his wife into the back seat of the car, then sliding in beside her.
“Indeed, you decided you had to meet the myth, hmmm?”
Startled, Maximus stared at his wife. “How did you know about that?”
“You left David’s folder open on the dining room table one night. Your search for him prompted many of Mystia’s trips, I would imagine.”
Maximus studied his wife, wondering if the Fates told her anything about David before saying, “Well, I’m happy about finally getting to see a myth come to life, after which we can enjoy ourselves on a much overdue vacation.”
“I would like that, but first I have work to do.”
“Of course,” agreed Maximus, “but when that’s over, the start of our official vacation will begin.”
“Sounds lovely, dear, it has been quite a while since we have been in Edinburgh.”
“It was for the opening of Steel’s club.”
Smiling at the memory, Oracle said, “Yes, that was quite a party. Have you seen Slate yet?”
“No. Mystia and I arrived a short time before your plane landed. Why? Is something wrong?”
“Not that I know of, but I must admit I am eager to see him and Dakota.”
“Ahh, so your trip had another purpose you didn’t tell me about.”
“I would like to believe it was a happy coincidence that my next assignment took me to Scotland.”
“You’re not alone in wanting to see our son. I was there when Cody and Dylon told Jackson the condition he was in when they found him. I was amazed he survived it.”
“He survived because of Dakota and I owe him a debt of gratitude.”
“As do I,” Maximus said as their car stopped in front of the hotel. “There’s Logan and Kieran. What a difference in Logan.”
“That was a perfect match the Fates made.”
“I should say so,” Maximus said, getting out of the car, followed by his mate.
“Hi, Oracle and Maximus, glad to see you,” Logan said, hugging Oracle and shaking Maximus’s hand.
“Hi guys,” Kieran said, grinning, “I made macushla pick the pink suite for you because it’ll be perfect for your complexion, Oracle.”
“Thank you so much,” replied Oracle, “I love the color of pink.”
“Did you hear that, macushla? Another pink lover,” Kieran exclaimed, clapping his hands in glee.
“Yes…and I was wondering if you would help me redo our suite back home. Since we will be staying there permanently, I wanted to warm it up, make it cozy and inviting,” Oracle said.
“Pink would be perfect for that! Don’t you agree, macushla?” exclaimed Kieran.
“It would indeed,” Logan agreed. “Now let’s get out of this cold wind before Colton has a shit fit about you standing out here,” he said, ushering everyone inside and over to the private elevator, nodding to the enforcers as they all squeezed in.
After showing Maximus and Oracle to their suite, Logan said, “When you’re ready, please come see me so we can talk about David.”
“We’ll be there in half an hour,” replied Maximus.
Kieran was deep in thought as he and his mate walked back to their suite. Finally breaking the silence, he said, “Macushla, we must find Zane and David soon.”
“I know,” said Logan. “After I meet with Oracle and Maximus, you and I are going to see Morgan and ask him if he knows where David might have gone.”
“David was supposed to call him today.”
“Yes,” Logan said, “and I’m betting David called him from where they were.”
Stopping in front of Theo and Norman’s door, Kieran said, “I’ll be with my friends while you meet with Maxie and Oracle. Theo and Norman are eager to show me something.”
“Is Fionn with them?”
“He went to visit his hoard, now that he doesn’t have to worry about his father finding it.”
“Right. By the way, Cody texted me about Penn helping to sort out his father’s estate. I gather there are some deadlines for filing the probate forms with the High Council for Fionn to claim it…that is, unless his father had a will and left it to someone else.”
“I’ll talk to Fionn when he gets back. Love you, macushla.”
“Ditto.”
~/~/~/~/~
Mystia joined Oracle and Maximus in Logan’s suite where he told them what he knew about David, including what his spirit had said about Zane’s mate. When he finished, he turned to Oracle and asked, “What did the Fates tell you about David?”
“Before I answer that question, I must speak to David,” Oracle replied.
“That’s not going to be easy,” said Logan, “because Zane took David to someplace safe and we don’t know where.” He looked at Oracle. “Do you know where Zane and David are?” he asked.
“No, I do not,” Oracle replied.
“Then my focus must be on locating them,” insisted Logan.
“The shifter who broke in was wearing a bio-tracker device so by now his group knows he has failed. I believe this attempt is related to the trouble David’s in…
Zane warned me others would try to get to his mate.
In the meantime, it would help if we knew exactly what threats David is facing.
” Turning to Mystia he asked, “Can you go to Tuscany and see if you can find out anything about him? Maybe friends, family, that kind of stuff. Kieran and I will be going to see Morgan at the Wolf Pack Pub as soon as we’re finished here.
He’s very close to David and might be able to tell us more.
Maximus, can you work with Slate and Dylon on identifying who the dead shifter is, and find out more about the bio-tracker? ”
“Has Slate sent it off to our lab?” asked Maximus.
“I think so, but please confirm that. Jackson will be briefing Dylon on everything so mention the bio-tracker to him and see what his thoughts are about it.”
“Will do,” Maximus said.
“Oracle, one more question,” said Logan. “Does the beam of energy that encased them when they shook hands have anything to do with the Fate’s gift to Zane?”
“Yes. It is important I speak with both of them as soon as possible because Zane received his gift when the light bound them together,” Oracle said.
“Does David know what the gift is?” Maximus asked.
“No,” replied Oracle.
“Okay, if there isn’t anything more, Kieran and I will be on our way,” Logan said. “We should be back soon.”
~/~/~/~/~
Giving a rap, then opening the door, Kieran spied Theo and Norman cuddling on the sofa in their living room watching a movie. Plopping down next to them, he said, “Hi guys, I’m ready to hear about your big surprise!”
Theo hit the pause button, then grinned at his friend. “Guess what?”
“What? You’re pregnant?” giggled Kieran.
“What?” Norman asked.
Swatting Kieran, Theo said, “No, of course not. Are you trying to give my pooh bear a heart attack, Ki?”
“Oh, my gods, did I ever tell you the time Logan nearly gave me a heart attack? Wait, can Ghost Bears have heart attacks?” asked Kieran.
Shrugging his shoulders, Norman said, “Maybe. I haven’t heard of it happening but then I wasn’t really paying attention when I lived with my parents.”
“C’mon, Ki, guess? I’ll give you a hint,” Theo said, holding up his left hand.
“OH! MY! FUCKING! GODS! NORMAN PROPOSED TO YOU!” screamed Kieran, grabbing Theo’s hand, scrutinizing the yellow diamond on his finger.
Grinning, Theo nodded. “When we got home from the Wolf Pack Pub, Norman had arranged for a champagne and strawberries night cap. It was set up in our bedroom…lighted candles everywhere, bouquets of red roses everywhere, rose petals strewn all over our bed and my favorite song, playing. He asked me for a dance and we swayed to the music. When it was over, he handed me a glass of champagne with a strawberry in it. When I fished out the strawberry, I discovered the ring pooh bear had placed around it. By the time I realized what it was, Norman was down on one knee, asking me to marry him.”
“You said yes, right?” asked Kieran, with an impish grin.
“Of course I did,” Theo said, “Then I fainted. Oh my, Ki, it was so romantic. I had no idea what pooh bear was planning, so it came as a total shock. I’m still on cloud nine!”
Launching himself at Theo, Ki hugged his friend, exclaiming, “This is so fantastic! Where are you going to have the wedding? What about caterers? Did you decide what you’re going to wear? What about colors? Did you discuss what flowers you want?”
“Whoa, Ki,” Norman said. “I think Theo has something else he wants to ask you.”
Sitting back, Ki looked at Theo. “What?”
“I was…well, we were hoping you’d help us plan our wedding…”
Whatever else Theo was going to say was drowned out by Kieran jumping up and yelling, “Yes. Yes, of course, I’ll do it. OMG! OMG! OMG! I can’t believe you guys are getting married.”
“Ki,” Norman said, “Calm down, there’s more.”
“Ki, come sit down. I have something else to ask you,” Theo said.
Kieran giggled, then sat back down. “Okay, shoot.”
“Will you officiate at our wedding?” asked Theo.
Tears of happiness gushed from Kieran’s eyes at his friend’s request. It would be the first time ever he’d officiate as a Shaman. “Absolutely!” he said, overwhelmed with joy.
~/~/~/~/~
It was afternoon when Logan and Kieran walked into the Wolf Pack Pub, where only a few diners lingered over their long lunches. Asking a passing waiter for Morgan, they were directed to his office and, after knocking on the door, they waited for permission before entering.
Looking up from his computer screen, Morgan nodded, then said, “Have a seat. I’ll just be a moment.” Resuming his task, he ignored Logan and Kieran until his review of the bar inventory was complete. Then settling back in his chair, Morgan asked, “What can I do for you today?”
“It’s about David…”
Snapping to attention, Morgan growled, “What happened to him?”
“As far as I know nothing…yet. But last night, someone broke into the suite David and Zane were in…”
“Was he hurt?” Morgan snapped.
“No,” Logan reassured him. “Our enforcers captured the shifter before he had a chance to do anything. But before they nabbed him, David had disappeared with Zane. This morning Zane called to tell me they were someplace safe, and he wasn’t coming back to the hotel until he knew it was safe for David. ”
“Who was the shifter who broke into their room?” asked Morgan.
“Antonio,” Logan said.
“Antonio who?” asked Morgan.
“I was hoping you could tell us,” Logan said.
“I don’t know any ‘Antonio’. Do you have a picture?” asked Morgan.
Pulling out his phone, Logan scrolled through pictures, looking for the one Groose had taken. After finding it, he handed the phone to Morgan.
Studying it, Morgan said, “I’ve never met him, but he’s been in here a number of times, talking to the bartender, I think.”
“Do you remember if he was watching David?” asked Logan.
“Hmm, don’t know, but maybe the cameras picked up something. Last time I remember seeing your ‘Antonio’ is about a week and a half ago,” Morgan recalled.
Macushla, that’s when Dakota and Slate were here, Kieran mind-messaged to Logan.
“Can you check the security videos for that night?” asked Logan.
“Just a second,” Morgan said, typing on his keyboard and bringing up the recordings on his monitor.
“The reason I remember is that my chef came to me complaining about some guy who wouldn’t leave.
Ahh, here it is.” Swiveling his monitor so Logan and Kieran could see it, he fast forwarded the video to eight p.m. Then, slowing the speed, he pointed to the screen. “There,” he said.
As the video moved slowly ahead, they watched as David entered the picture. Logan could clearly see Antonio’s eyes locked onto Zane’s mate all night until he paid his bill and left at closing time. “He was stalking David,” Logan growled.
“Let me check the receipts that night. He paid with a credit card, so I should have a copy of it,” said Morgan, locating the file for that night.
“Thanks. Did David have any friends?” asked Logan.
“Uhh, not that I know of…certainly none that visited him here. Ahh, here it is. Antonio Santorelli,” Morgan said, printing out a copy and passing it to Logan.
Logan examined the copy, then looked up, “I appreciate this. Did anyone else ever come in and ask for David?”
“Antonio never asked for him, but…” Morgan leaned back in his chair, staring at the ceiling for a few minutes before saying, “There was a woman who came in…after David had been working here for a while…and wanted to see him. It was his day off, so I told her he wasn’t here. She never came back, as far as I know.”
“Where did David go on his days off?” asked Logan.
“Usually nowhere. He always stayed in his room, but one time he left,” Morgan recalled.
“Any idea where he might have gone?” Logan asked, then seeing Morgan’s hesitation, he added, “This is important. Zane’s wolf said David is in danger and after what happened last night, and the information we found out today, it’s critical we find him. Any help you can give us would be valuable.”
“A good friend of mine picked him up and probably took him for a boat ride. David was back by evening, looking happier than I’d seen him since we first met,” answered Morgan.
Logan glanced at Kieran and saw his mate grin. “Would that friend be Captain Brian Crannach?” he asked.
“Yes,” said Morgan, surprised. “Do you know him?”
“We’ve met. Do you think David knew him well enough to show up on his boat in the middle of the night?” asked Logan.
“I don’t know, but Brian’s a good guy,” Morgan answered.
“One other question. Did David call you today?” asked Logan.
“Yes, asked for a few days off. Said he and Zane wanted to talk and sort out everything. I gave him the days off because I’m happy he found someone to protect him. I don’t know much about David, but I do know he is the kindest soul I’ve ever met,” Morgan said.
Nodding, Logan rose with Kieran. “I agree. Thanks for all your help. If you hear from David or Zane, tell them I need to hear from them right away and if you can think of anything else, I’d appreciate it if you call me,” Logan said, handing Morgan a card with his number.
“Will do, and please let me know when you find David,” Morgan said. “He’s like a son to me.”