Chapter 30 #2
“You’re welcome.” Dewey offered him a curt nod as Drucinda scanned the chamber.
“We should keep moving. There may be more of them here, and we haven’t found the Bronze Ring yet.”
“Ah, actually,” Paige said, holding a finger in the air as she unzipped her snowsuit’s pocket and fished around in the pocket. She tugged the glowing band from within and held it up triumphantly.
“You found it,” Drucinda exclaimed, her jaw dropping open before her lips curled at the corners.
Paige nodded. “Yep. After we accidentally sailed over a chasm, then skated down a steep slope, we found it.”
“Excellent work,” Drucinda answered. “Well, with that, we should make our getaway before we run into any other issues.”
Paige stood still, the ring still clutched in her hand. “Aren’t you going to take this?”
Drucinda shot her a glance and shook her head. “No. It’s your asset recovery. You take it.”
Paige pressed her lips together before she nodded and shoved the glowing band back into her pocket. “Let’s go.”
They skated back to the entrance, switched to boots, and grabbed their gear before heading out into the snowy weather.
After another grueling trip back to the plane, they climbed aboard and settled themselves for the flight. Paige rubbed her hands together, while Dewey used the RP to contact Ronnie.
“I’m so glad to be warm again.”
“I was never cold,” Dewey admitted as the line trilled.
Ronnie popped on the screen. “Paige, Dewey, any news?”
Paige grinned at her. “We got it!”
“Excellent work! Are you on your way home?”
Paige began to nod when Drucinda grabbed the RP from Dewey’s paws and spun it to face her. “No. Send a recovery team to meet us in Brussels. We have another stop that cannot wait.”
Drucinda smacked the end call button and tossed the device on the table as the engines roared to life.
“Why did you do that?” Paige asked.
“Because we have to follow up on the lead about your mother. And it can’t wait.”
Paige swallowed hard as the plane began to barrel down the makeshift runway. It lifted into the air, right along with her stomach, which twisted into knots. Would she find anything about her mom?
She spent the flight awake, despite everyone else sleeping soundly after the experience in the ice caves.
When they touched down in Brussels, she did her best to hide her building emotions.
After passing the Bronze Ring to the Shadow Harbor asset retrieval team, they climbed into a car and wound through the streets of Brussels.
She drummed her fingers against her thigh as buildings passed them by.
Dewey sat next to her, hidden from the car’s windows.
He patted her hand, offering her a reassuring smile.
They stopped outside of a stately townhome. After Dewey hopped into his carrier, Paige tugged the strap over her shoulder and stepped into the cool air. She stared up at the brick building, suppressing a shudder.
“Come on,” Drucinda said with a fleeting smile as she motioned toward the steps leading to the teal front door.
Paige climbed up behind her fellow librarian, followed by Devon. The woman took a quick peek up and down the street before she dropped to her knees and pulled a lock pick kit from her pocket.
“What are you doing?”
“Opening the door,” she said as she swung into the house’s foyer.
“But–”
Drucinda cut off any further words, grabbing Paige’s arm and dragging her inside. “We weren’t exactly invited.”
“What?” Paige exclaimed. Devon eased the door closed behind them, plunging the space into near darkness.
Drucinda pressed a finger to her lips and pulled Paige behind her as she climbed the stairs. They reached the top level, rounded the banister, and hurried down the hall to a partially closed door at the end.
The hinges protested as Drucinda pushed the carved wood open further.
“Wh-who is it? Who’s there?” a frail voice called.
Drucinda narrowed her eyes as she stormed into the room. Paige spotted a wisp of a man dwarfed in an oversized bed. With the covers nearly to his chin, he appeared to be only a head. Deep wrinkles covered his pale skin, surrounding his sunken eyes. A few tufts of white hair poked from the top.
“It’s Drucinda Sharpe.” Drucinda crossed the room and leaned closer to the man.
He gasped as she turned on the lamp next to his bed. “Wake up, old man, you’ve got some questions to answer.”
“Drucinda Sharpe?” he managed to hiss out. “No, it can’t be. You went to prison.”
“And now I’m out. And I’ve got a lot of questions for you, Higgins. And so does she.” Drucinda jabbed a finger in Paige’s direction.
Paige clutched the carrier strap tightly as she shuffled forward, her lower lip on the verge of trembling.
Higgins’s eyes went wide. “No. It can’t be.”
Drucinda straightened and crossed her arms. “That’s not Reed, idiot. It’s her daughter, Paige.”
“Paige? Reed’s child.” His glassy eyes flicked from Drucinda to Paige. “You look so much like her.”
“Where is Reed?”
“Come closer, child,” the old man said.
“Where is Reed?” Drucinda asked again, leaning closer to him.
Paige approached the bed, a lump forming in her throat. “Do you know where my mom is? Is she alive or dead?”
“You look so much like her,” he repeated. “Even still her hair is red.”
“Still?” Paige asked, her heart skipping a beat. “Is she alive? Tell me. Please, you have to tell me.”
“Her hair…” His eyes raised to the ceiling. “So red. Stiiiiilllll.” His last word slurred, and his breath hissed from his lips.
Paige’s eyes went wide as she stared at his unmoving form. “What’s wrong with him? What happened?”
Drucinda shook him. “Higgins?” She gave the man another shove before she pressed two fingers to his throat. “Damn it. He’s dead.”
“What? No!” Paige cried. Devon slipped his arm around her. “No, he can’t be. No! No, he said he saw her. Her hair is still red. She could still be alive.”
Drucinda sucked in a deep breath. “Yes. And now our last clue to her is dead.”
“No,” Paige said again. She rushed to the bed and shook the man as tears spilled down her cheeks. “No, you can’t be dead.”
Drucinda pulled her back and squeezed her in an embrace. “We’ll find another way.”
Paige’s shoulders shook with sobs. “What way?”
Drucinda leaned away from her and arched an eyebrow. “How well do you know Ronnie?”
Paige swallowed hard as the statement hung between them. Did Ronnie have something to do with her mother’s disappearance?
The End