Chapter 15
I spent the day working out the logistics of moving our entire household to Needles.
Keir had gone out with Nico to do more interviews.
At each location, they tried to pick up any clues, such as scents that might help, but the contact was too old.
Everything had dissipated. Gunnar stayed with us, though I tried to convince Keir that we’d be fine. He refused to budge.
Despite being over two hundred years old, Granddad wasn’t a complete packrat, though there were plenty that would need to be moved.
Not knowing how furnished Keir’s house was, or if he’d want a lot of my things in it, plus the desire to save some to outfit a separate residence for my family, I knew we’d take a lot of it with us.
Granddad didn’t want to impose on Keir by living with him, even for a short time. And since a house would take time to build, if he went that route, he began searching for a place to rent near Keir’s home. He’d store what wasn’t needed if necessary.
Gal seemed in a better frame of mind about Keir and me, now that he knew I wouldn’t be leaving him and our granddad behind.
He went to school as usual. Gunnar had dropped him off before Keir and Nico left.
When school was out, Gunnar, I, and Granddad had gone to pick him up.
Once at home, he got busy sorting through his room after his homework was finished.
His task was to pull anything that needed to be thrown out or given away.
Since I wasn’t working, I spent all day doing the same thing.
I purged my bedroom before moving to the kitchen.
Granddad worked on his room. The attic was where the biggest job was.
When boxes were filled with giveaway items or the trash needed to be taken out, Gunnar was our guy.
He even helped go through the kitchen cabinets, asking what I wanted to keep.
That was between his rounds outside, when he ensured everything was in order.
Keir was good about staying in touch via text, but I was still thrilled when he came back at the end of the day.
I hugged him as if I hadn’t seen him in a week.
His hug and kiss back suggested he felt the same.
Instead of cooking tonight, pizza was ordered.
I was thankful, because the work we did today was super tiring.
Now, I stared at the remnants of crusts that were all that was left of the pizza. And I knew those would disappear soon. It was a race to see who got them, though. All three Sentinels and my brother could pack the food away.
Nico and Keir had just finished updating us on what they’d done today when Keir’s phone chimed.
It was the ring that indicated he received a text message.
He took it out of his pocket and read it.
His eyebrows rose. It was hard not to demand he tell us what it said as he read it.
I wasn’t in a position to see it. His gaze met mine first when he put down his phone. The room was quiet.
“Fiona, your instincts with those questions you asked were spot on. Royal finished researching. In the cases where there were threatening letters, break-ins, or even beatings, but no disappearances, the girls and women in that age range ended up becoming unavailable or hard to get to.
“One got married and moved away. Another went abroad to study for a year. A third one, her family hired bodyguards. They had the money to do it. The final one has vanished. All women and children in that last family are gone, though most of the males are still around, at least for now. One of the men disappeared a week ago with his family. Their disappearance, Royal said, seems voluntary. They’re going underground or something.
They urged others they know to do the same. ”
“Well, that seems to support the theory that they were after the females. The questions are who and why. Is this some group we never heard of doing this, or could it be something the Knights of Pytho are up to?” Gunnar asked.
“I could be wrong, but I get the feeling that it’s not the Knights. Or at least they’re not primarily at fault. I know, sounds crazy, but it’s a gut feeling I have,” Nico insisted.
“I agree with Nico, but I can’t say exactly why.
If it were the Knights, why make them disappear?
Why not leave them slaughtered for others to find?
It would spread fear better than disappearances because with the latter, people can assume they’re still alive somewhere or that they hid themselves,” I told them.
“Damn it, I wish a clue would drop in our laps so we can figure out who’s doing this. How big is this operation? There’s been a rumor that it’s happening not just in Phoenix, but across Arizona. I hate feeling that our hands are tied,” Gunnar bitched.
“If only we could get to one of the families they recently targeted and be on hand after they’ve made the threats, but before things turn ugly. That way we could catch them in the act,” Nico muttered.
I inhaled deeply. Nico’s words triggered an idea.
But I knew if I mentioned it, they would say no, especially Keir.
But it was the only way to make sure it was feasible and could happen soon.
Movement to my left caught my eye. I shifted my gaze over and met Granddad’s piercing stare.
His expression was grim, but he gave me a subtle nod.
It was as if he knew what my notion was, and he was backing it. Then, he mouthed, Say it.
Crap, should I? Or wait and speak to Keir about it in private?
But if I did that, he’d be even more likely to shoot it down.
If I told everyone, there might be more support for the idea, and he could be persuaded.
I closed my eyes and let my mind mull it over for several moments, then I cleared my throat loudly, snagging their attention.
When I opened my eyelids, everyone was focused on me.
“I have an idea. I agree with Nico’s idea of getting there before they move things to the physical level, but that would be hard to do.
You’d have to find a family that's just been threatened. And then you could wait weeks or months before things got to the point you needed them to be. What if you could do it in a week?”
“How would they do that?” Gal asked.
I was seated next to Keir. Gal was on the floor, so Nico was in my brother’s usual spot. Gunnar was on the opposite side of me on the couch. Granddad was in his normal chair. I sensed Keir’s body stiffening. Before he had a chance to voice any objections, I continued.
“Keir, I know you’re going to say no, but it’s the only choice if we want this to end anytime soon.
We can’t move to Needles, have me take over the lab, or anything else until this is resolved.
I don’t want it to drag on for months. What if they get nervous?
Say they hear the men staying with us asking questions, are Sentinels, and run?
There’s no guarantee the culprits behind it aren’t other shifters or supernaturals.
They’ll disappear and show up elsewhere.
You cover the entire country. You and the rest of your guys would have to start the entire process over and be gone, who knows how long?
The only logical move is to use me as bait. ”
Keir came to his feet. He shook his head. His face was a mask of denial.
“No. No, there’s no damn way I’m allowing you to put yourself in harm’s way. Fiona, we have no idea what these people do to the ones who disappear. You could be raped, sold into slavery, tortured, or killed. There’s no fucking way I’ll expose you to any of that. We can find them another way.”
Gunnar and Nico were muttering, and my brother was scowling. Only Granddad kept silent.
“But you were essentially saying you would willingly risk someone else. I’m not different.
With the Sentinels here, the risk to me is minuscule.
And I’m not without my own abilities to protect myself.
We can set it up so there is the least chance of others becoming involved, such as humans and cops.
Plus, we’ll get this over with so we can move on with our lives,” I pointed out.
Keir was too far into denial to listen. As I spoke, I noticed Nico’s expression become more contemplative. Gunnar was still not a fan, nor was Gal. I focused my mind on Nico and tried something that might blow up in my face.
Nico, please. You know this is the best choice. You can’t stay away from your job and home forever. None of you can do that. Help me convince Keir. Granddad agrees with me. Look at him.
Nico’s momentary surprise made me almost sure he heard me. I got confirmation moments after I stopped. He replied the same way.
I’m not crazy about the idea, but it is the fastest avenue. And we could cover you the best if we pick the place where they make their move. But it’s not risk-free. And you’re his mate. I understand why he’s flipping out.
Nico was correct. Keir was shouting about how he wouldn’t permit it and that I couldn’t ask him to risk his mate.
“Keir, take it down a few notches. You need to listen. And do it before you stroke, man,” Nico told my mate.
Keir whipped around to glare at his friend. “Are you out of your mind!? I’m not risking her life!” he shouted.
“Keir, I need you to sit and calm yourself. Then, we may speak of this. Everyone needs to be permitted to express their viewpoints and why they believe in them.” Granddad’s voice wasn’t excessively loud.
It was calm, and his tone brooked no defiance.
I knew Keir wasn’t happy to do it, but he reluctantly came back to the couch, because he’d been pacing, and he sat.
I placed my hand on his arm, and he stiffened more.
It hurt when he pulled his arm away from me.
On the heels of my hurt came anger. I kept my mouth shut, but I had no clue how long I could do that.