Pieces Come Falling Down

             Evan entered the office looking for James and he didn’t find him anywhere. He assumed James went for a morning run to check up on things around the territory. Which, by Emily’s notes, he often checked on things first thing in the morning.

             Evan decided he’d start the day by recovering the phone messages and checking email. The email went easily, and he’d got all the documents printed for the day. So, he started in on the phone messages. Nice, simple, call this person back about that. Nothing important or rushed. Until he found a message from James. His voice sounded distracted. What did Evan do now? Their guests were still here. They’d not concluded their business yet. This was a disaster in the making.

             He tried calling Emily, but she wasn’t answering her phone. So, who did he go to now? James mentioned the Luna. Did he risk it? He was desperate for help and a second opinion. Evan dialled the Luna’s number and prayed she didn’t blame him for losing James. “Luna Janine? I’m sorry for bothering you, but I have a few issues down in the office. Could you please come to see me? It’s rather urgent, and we need a rather high level of secrecy on this.”

             “I’ll be down in a few minutes. Is everything alright?”

             “No, but I’ll fill you in on it when you get here.” Evan hoped that would stir her curiosity and concern to come quickly. He’d assumed correctly, and she breezed through the door not long after hanging up with him.

             “Fine. What is so urgent that my son couldn’t come to me for once?”

             “I’m sorry to have done this. But it wasn’t your son. In fact, you need to hear the message he left for me, well for us, this morning. I only just found it.” He played the message to her and watched her carefully for her reaction.

             “To find himself. What a load of dung. He’s up to something, but it’s still odd that he didn’t take anyone with him. He’s not the time to go off alone.”

             “I don’t know of anyone that’s missing right now. So, where would he go alone?” Evan couldn’t believe this. It’s his second day, and he’d lost his boss, and everything would fall apart in a matter of hours. “What should I do?”

             “First, you did correctly and contacted me. Did you try contacting Emily?” Janine picked up the phone and dialled a number.

             “Yes, and she’s not answering. Maybe she’s driving to the airport?”

             “Far too early. She’s taking the red-eye out tonight. She’s still not answering. Perhaps she’s asleep and didn’t hear the phone. Send someone over to check on her.”

             “Good idea.”

             “I’ll see if I can get something from this cryptic message my son left us. He couldn’t have chosen a worse time for going MIA.” Janine sat down with the phone and began listening to the message again. Once Evan finished sending someone over to Emily’s home to ensure she was fine, Janine looked at him. “After I went to bed, did anything happen? I know Emily threw my son for a loop by leaving like that.”

             Evan wasn’t sure what to say to that. Did he tell his Luna that his Alpha and her son, drank himself to oblivion and back? Then went over to Emily’s home and accosted her. “You will not like it. There wasn’t anything I could do at the moment.”

             “I’m a grown woman. Just tell me. What happened?”

             “He drank with Alpha Haden after dinner, but when Alpha Haden went to bed, Alpha James didn’t. He sat up, drinking rather heavily. Then he left abruptly, saying he’s going for a run, and I shouldn’t stay up waiting for him. Several hours later, I got a call that they saw Alpha James out near the lake house on the shore of the lake, and he was drunk. Emily was the closest person to the lake house, and I begged her to make sure that Alpha James was okay. It took some persuading to get her to go. But maybe she’s up at the lake house right now with him?”

             “Get someone out there, then. Right now. Let’s find out what happened. Maybe they’ve come to their senses and mated instead of going their separate ways.” Luna Janine was always hoping for the outcome she believed everyone should have. James mating with Emily was what she’d always wanted. Sadly, she felt Rebecca wasn’t James’ mate. It wasn’t anything Rebecca did. Janine liked her well enough, but she didn’t feel their relationship would weather well.

             “If they’ve just mated, wouldn’t it be bad to… Uh… interrupt them?” Evan couldn’t see this as a possibility. Emily wasn’t happy with James and resisted going to check upon him. “Look, I’ll get someone to go up there next. But what are we going to do with Alpha Haden when he makes his appearance? Or his daughter?”

             “I don’t believe she came back last night. She’s with whoever it was Emily said gave her cupcakes.” Janine wasn’t a woman who suffered from those who were unpleasant. “Her father will need to track her down before he leaves, though. I don’t believe she belongs here.” What she meant was Annabelle caused far too many issues with people she encountered and last night’s dinner was just the icing on the cake. “I’ll deal with Alpha Haden and have him sign these papers. You find him. If you can’t find him, then figure out what happened after Emily went to look for him. I want to know that both are okay.” Janine snatched up the papers and stomped out of the office. As she left, she said. “I’ll find Alpha Haden and have him sign these. All you need to do is your job.” Then she’s gone, leaving him to get down to the truth. Gods, what would he find? No, he would have to go up to the lake house and look. If he found them newly mated, he’d leave them there.