Chapter 31 Sinclair
“How was Jayne this morning?” my dad asked as we headed to the gym.
“You could tell she was preoccupied last night, huh?”
He nodded. “She wasn’t her usual self at dinner. I could see something was weighing on her. She’s worried, isn’t she?”
There was no point in denying it. “Yes.”
“No one could blame her or you for feeling that way. My offer stands. If there’s anything your mom or I can do to help with this, just say the word.”
“Thanks, Dad. I’m really hoping the visit to this Serja woman will clear some things up. Jayne confessed to me last night that she’s worried Delton might have been having an affair with this Serja, but I don’t know what that would have to do with his death.”
“Maybe he broke things off and Serja killed him in a jealous rage? If she couldn’t have him, no one could.”
I had to chuckle. “You’ve been watching too much TV.”
He grinned.
“The thing is, the way Delton was killed, it took a lot of power. Specifically, winter elf power. This woman doesn’t sound like a winter elf. She sounds like a transplant.”
“What do you mean?”
“When we went to see Elmira, Delton’s wife, she mentioned her son was involved with a group called True North.”
“The group this woman runs?”
“I don’t know that she runs it, but she’s at least involved with it.
And Elmira said they were mainly from an area in the North Pole known as Little Reykjavik.
It’s near the forest and where a lot of transplants live.
Elmira specifically said ice trolls, which is what Ezreal is, but also frost folk, some Slavic snowwalkers, and Nordic gnomes.
I don’t know anything about any of those, but doesn’t the name Serja Vintorf sound Slavic or Nordic? ”
My dad nodded. “I’d say so. Ezreal being an ice troll might mean he knows this Serja. If he knows that area of the North Pole, I mean.”
I gave him a quick, stern look. “There’s no way Ezreal had anything to do with this.” The man was solid. I had no doubts about him at all.
“I didn’t mean to imply that. Just that he might be able to find this Serja even if she’s not in the registry.”
“Oh, right. Good point.” I let go of one of my crutches to press the button as we arrived at the elevators. “What do you want to do first? Work out? Swim? Test your magic for the event?”
“If the pool is empty, I want to test my magic. If it’s occupied, then I can work out first.” He glanced at my boot. “Have you been cleared to do this?”
“I promise to stay away from the squat rack.” Grinning, I shook my head. “Just doing some upper body stuff. And I’d like to do some laps in the pool. Be nice to move without these blasted crutches.”
“I bet.”
The doors opened, and we got on. I pushed the button for the recreation level. “Doc said as long as I’m careful and don’t put any weight on it, exercising in the pool might even help recovery.”
We rode down to the recreation level, got off, and headed for the pool. Not a soul in sight.
“Perfect,” my dad said. He rubbed his hands together, and I could see he was eager to try out his new ideas.
“If you don’t mind, I’ll let you do your thing and get started on my workout. I want to be surprised by the show on Naming Day just like everyone else.”
“I don’t mind.”
I left my dad to it and headed to the gym.
Just like the pool area, there was no one else around.
As I approached the first machine, my thoughts went to Jayne.
I hoped Ezreal was able to help her. I had a feeling Serja might be the key to everything.
No real reason for that, just a hunch. But it often paid off to listen to those gut instincts.
My dad came into the gym about fifteen minutes later, smiling.
I looked up from the preacher curls I was doing. “You look happy.”
“It’s going to be spectacular.”
I finished up my workout while he got his in, then we headed for the pool. Still empty. I took off my boot, which felt great, then used my crutches to get to the steps and handrail.
The water felt great. Warm enough not to be a shock to the system but not so warm it was a bathtub. My dad dove into the deep end.
I did ten easy laps and called it quits when I started to feel it in my ankle. My dad had already moved to the large hot tub, where he was soaking up to his neck.
“I need to bring your mother down here. She’d love this.”
“What about Aunt Zinnia?”
“Don’t know if she brought a suit. Your mom told her to, but you know how Zee is.”
“I do.” Zinnia only did what she wanted. “I’m sure the palace could come up with one if she wanted.”
“I’ll mention it to her.”
We dried off, put our T-shirts back on, and headed up. I said goodbye to my dad at his door, then went into the apartment. “Jayne? I’m home.”
She came out of the nursery still in her pajamas and robe, a big grin on her face. JJ was in her arms, and Sugar and Spider were trailing her.
“What?” I smiled back even though I didn’t know why I was smiling.
“You sound like George Jetson when you say that.”
“Mama,” Spider said. “Who’s George Jetson?”
“Cartoon man from the future,” she answered without hesitation. She was going to be great when JJ turned two.
“How did it go with Ezreal? Did he find her?”
“He sure did. We can head there as soon as your mom and aunt come over to babysit. I’ve already called Joshua to drive us; I just need to text him the time we want to leave. Which will also require me to shower and get dressed.”
“Thanks for doing all of that. Ezreal is really on top of things, isn’t he?”
“He is.”
“Did you eat?”
“Just the last slice of peanut butter pie, a couple truffles and half a package of licorice.”
“You must be starving.” I winked at her. “How about you give JJ to me and go shower, do whatever you need to do, and when you’re done, you can take him and I’ll make breakfast. Whatever you want.”
“I appreciate the offer, but I can just have a bowl of cereal. I want to save my appetite, because on the way back from talking to Serja, I’d like to have lunch at Sweetie’s.”
We hadn’t been there since arriving at the North Pole, but the restaurant was a favorite. Great food and amazing desserts. We’d even taken Birdie there. It didn’t surprise me Jayne wanted to go back. “I’m totally down for that.”
“Mama, can Spider and Sugar go, too?”
She shook her head at him. “I’m sorry, baby, this is a trip for people only. But I’ll put George Jetson on for you in the bedroom, if you want.”
“M’kay.”
“Did you have a good workout? And a swim? Your hair is still damp.”
“It was great. Not a soul in there. And my dad is happy with the magic he’s going to do for Naming Day.”
“Awesome! Did you see it? What was it like?”
“I have no idea. I went to work out while he practiced. I want to be surprised with everyone else.”
“I can’t wait to see what he does. I already know it’s going to be spectacular.
All right, I’m off to shower.” She kissed me, handed JJ over, and grabbed a Dr Pepper before heading to the bedroom.
Spider and Sugar followed. I had no idea if the Jetsons would hold their attention, but with those two, it was hard to say what they’d find fascinating next.
I kissed JJ’s cheek, inhaling his baby scent. I wanted to remember it forever. “Hey, little man, how are you? Did you have a nice time with Mama?”
He looked sleepy. I laid his head against my shoulder and rubbed his back as I walked to the windows with him. Serja had to give us some answers. We needed to get to the bottom of this whole thing now.
This child was my life. The thought that someone might be willing to hurt him to keep him off the throne was unacceptable.
I made my mind up right then that if Serja had nothing to offer us in the way of clues or connections, I was going to the morgue.
I’d get Delton to tell us what happened, and if it took some time off my life, so be it.
Better that than anything happening to my son.