Chapter Eleven
Wyatt
I didn't find Andrew. Now, the Pack is helping me search. Jericho has called Mason in from his time with his new mates. Ransom postponed his trip. Anyone not on a vital mission for the Coven is lending a hand.
Jagger and I got the assignment of searching the apartment in Staghorn for clues. Tavian says it's not uncommon for new vampires to seek out the familiar from their old life. Key acquired from the building manager, we let ourselves in.
"He's been here," I say, after scenting the air.
There's no sign of forced entry, so he must have a key hidden somewhere.
Vampires are stealthy, but they can't walk through solid walls, or doors for that matter.
Unless he's inherited a rare ability I've never heard of.
I shove that thought aside. There's no time to go down that weird rabbit hole of speculation.
"From the disturbance in the dust, it looks like there are some things missing from the roommate's bedroom," Jagger calls from down the short hallway. "But it appears as if nothing was taken from Andrew's room."
Why would he take his friend's things, but not his own?
My eyes move over the framed pictures on the TV stand in the main living space. There are several of Andrew with someone I assume is Arthur. And a couple of photos with them and an older man. The dad.
I rifle through the conversations Andrew and I have had. Richard. His name is Richard.
"What now?" Jagger asks, stepping into the living room.
"Look for some mail or files – anything with the name Richard on it."
We go through drawers, cabinets, trash, and even flip through some of the books to see if they used pieces of mail for random book marks. Nothing. Not unusual nowadays. A lot of people correspond through email rather than snail mail.
"Call Cordelia and ask her for any background info they have on Andrew and related parties," I say, while I continue searching the remaining areas.
"But Mason can get more detailed stuff from Cipher, and faster."
"Cordelia is in charge of Pack security and enforcement now. You can't go around her, Jag. It's disrespectful. If she wants to consult with Mason, that's her business."
As much as I want to find Andrew before anything happens to him… or any humans, I still have to consider Pack dynamics. Mason is no longer Pack enforcer because of how he handled things with Hex, his witch mate. Going around Cordelia to Mason would be a huge slight.
Besides, right now, I don't need Andrew or Arthur's life story, I need Richard's address. Andrew has taken Arthur's death hard. Probably has survivor's guilt. And he wanted to tell Richard. It's the most likely place I can think of for him to go at this point.
When Jagger gets off the phone, he has an address, so we wrap things up at the apartment and head out.
Richard's place isn't too far from Staghorn, which I'm grateful for.
My wolf is restless. He's waited patiently for us to claim our mate.
Being separated so soon after the exchange of mating bites is unsettling him.
The 90 minute drive from the apartment to Arrow Creek goes by in relative silence. By nature, I'm a quiet person. Jag is a strange blend of broody and caring. Today the brooding is in full force. He always seems like he carries the weight of the world on his shoulders.
After pulling up to the address and parking across the street, we sit in the car a few moments to observe. The neighborhood appears quiet, so Jag and I exit the vehicle and approach the front door. While I ring the bell, my cousin scents the air.
"I don't smell any vampires."
"No heartbeats either."
"You go left, I'll go right," Jag says.
Peering inside windows yields nothing. At least I don't smell blood.
When we meet back at the car, we agree to stake out the house to see if we can catch Richard when he comes home. I feel like he's the key to finding my mate.