* Once everyone else had cleared out of the office, I faced Cole Ross. * Cole. I'm a little concerned that you might find my attitude about this situation callous. But I assure you it isn't. It's just, I came home to this nonsense. * I was stalling and it was pathetic of me. * Cole, I'm sure you know that Jordan took off. * He nodded. * It's not unlike her. She's always been a wild card. * I agreed with that statement. * I figure she's got a wild hair up her ass and wanted one last second of freedom. * I pulled out the folder that held all the information from Sheriff Anderson. * We received word while we were finishing up finding Bianca that Slade's truck had been found. It had been wrecked and burned. * Cole sat up straighter. * There was a body inside, and authorities believe it to be Jordan. * He was silent for a moment. * Believe it to be? * I nodded. * Slade doesn't believe it's his mate. We also smelled an accelerant inside the truck when we looked at it at the impound lot. * Cole sat back, stunned. * What are you doing about it? * I rubbed my jaw. * I don't know what to do about it. We took possession of the remains. I mean, Slade would know if his mate was dead. But then again, maybe he mistook it for something else. I don't know, unfortunately. I just don't know. I believe that we'll move forward with a service, but of course, that's between Slade as well as yourself and Rae. * We sat quietly together in my office, the news I had just shared lingering between us. *
* Once +Loretta Blackstone told me what she needed I got up and left. Julian handed me his car keys and +Takahiro Yanahi DPI followed me out of the conference room. I was on the verge of losing it, my baby sister was missing. Taken by a witch and I had no idea why they would even want her. The thought's going through my mind of what might be happening to her were dark. I feared for her. I hurried down the hall and burst through the front door of the police station. I needed fresh air and solitude, I knew I couldn't hold myself together much longer. * "Kimiko, yamero." {Kimiko, stop.} * I stopped, but refused to turn around, tears slid down my face and I was ashamed that I was so weak at this moment. Taka turned me gently and pulled me against his chest, slipping the car keys from my hand. Wrapping his arms around me, he let me cry. * "Watashitachiha kaiyo o mitsukerudeshou, watashi wa yakusoku shimasu." {We'll find Kaiyo, I promise."} * I wrapped my arms around his waist. His gentle voice, embrace and his scent helped to calm me. I looked into my mate's eyes. * Why would they want her, Taka? Do you think that Senichi could be behind this? * My mate seemed to think for a minute. * "You and I know Senichi best. We could guess his next move in any situation and act on it before he even had to say anything. He knows he's gonna have to do something that we would never consider. I'm not saying he is behind this, but I wouldn't be surprised if he is." * I nodded, I knew he was right. Taka kissed me. * "Let's get to the house and get what Miss Blackstone needs." * I slipped into the passenger side of Julian's car and tried to pull myself together as Taka drove us to the house. *
* Once +Loretta Blackstone told me what she needed I got up and left. Julian handed me his car keys and +Takahiro Yanahi DPI followed me out of the conference room. I was on the verge of losing it, my baby sister was missing. Taken by a witch and I had no idea why they would even want her. The thought's going through my mind of what might be happening to her were dark. I feared for her. I hurried down the hall and burst through the front door of the police station. I needed fresh air and solitude, I knew I couldn't hold myself together much longer. * "Kimiko, yamero." {Kimiko, stop.} * I stopped, but refused to turn around, tears slid down my face and I was ashamed that I was so weak at this moment. Taka turned me gently and pulled me against his chest, slipping the car keys from my hand. Wrapping his arms around me, he let me cry. * "Watashitachiha kaiyo o mitsukerudeshou, watashi wa yakusoku shimasu." {We'll find Kaiyo, I promise."} * I wrapped m...
* Vincent and I stood outside getting some fresh air while we waited for Beck to call us back in. We let the females spend time together while we met to take care of business. +Slade Michaels came around the back of the house, closing the gate to the fence behind him. * "Bye Uncle Slade! Thanks for hanging with me while mom got in trouble." * Slade high fived the kid over the fence and meandered over to us. He looked tired, about 5 days late for a shave and haunted. We shook hands and greeted each other like old friends. We didn't have to wait much longer before Beck was calling us in. The three of us walked inside his office, Slade and Cole embraced, a few quiet words passed between them before we all took a seat. Beck sat behind his desk and studied all of us for a minute before speaking. * "I know the last night was hard on everyone, including the females. That being said, I have some things we need to discuss and get handled." * The four of us sat quietly, waiting for Beck to continue. *
ReplyDeleteBeck sat back in his chair and looked at each of us like he was trying to get his thoughts in order before he looked at me. “I hope you don’t think I offered you a job to keep you here. I was going to talk to you before we left to find our niece. I’m not trying to mess in your mating. What the females did was bad and we will make sure they never do anything like that again.” I grinned because I knew I didn’t want to leave my mate even if I was still pissed. But she didn’t need to know it. I know you wouldn’t try to keep me here. Remember, I can see the truth and can read people. Beck nodded. “Good! Now that the building that houses the police, fire and ambulatory departments has been fully renovated and setup we have a central place to work from. Slade and I have an office there as well as a meeting room for all town business.” Everyone nodded and Beck continued. “Vincent, I’d like you and Ian to handle the police department. Cole, I’d like you to be in charge of getting the fire department up. You’ll need to find and train volunteers to work there. Slade will be on hand to help each of you. I’m going to speak with Julian later today about working on the ambulatory aspect as well as running it. Now I want to go over the punishment that was decided on for the females. Cole, who do you think should guard them when they have to go to the next town over?” Beck leaned forward and waited to hear what Cole had in mind.
ReplyDelete* Cole shrugged. * We could take turns, I suppose. It would give us the opportunity to gain some satisfaction over what they did to us. * I agreed. * Okay, we can do that. It's going to take time to get everything running smoothly at the police department, in addition to the fire and ambulatory center. I'm sure Julian will be more than happy to head that and we might can start interviewing and training candidates in the coming weeks. I plan to move my office there so I am more accessible to the pack. I think some don't come here and approach me because I am working out of my home. And honestly, I want to separate the two. * I looked at each of the men in front of me. * I can't run this pack without your help. Each of you bring something to the table that keeps this place running and I want to utilize it. I intend to meet with Reese at the bar to make sure he is aware of what needs to be done there. I'm trying to avoid a repeat of what happened with the females. * I decided then that I would have to tell them about Jordan. Immediate family had been notified and I needed to make sure they knew what was going on. * After going to search for Bianca, Slade and I were contacted by a sheriff in Bitterroot. * Vincent sat up. * And the girl, you found her? * I nodded. * We did. We also located Slade's missing truck. They found a body inside and at this time, they think it is Jordan. * Ian tilted his head. * They think? * I nodded. * Slade and I aren't so sure. The truck smelled of an accelerant used to light it on fire. The remains were charred and there wasn't much to go on for identification. * Vincent shook his head. * So, then how do we know? * Slade spoke up then. * We don't. * I looked to Vincent. * Can you reach out to some of your contacts, informants and see if you can figure anything out in that area? * Vincent agreed. * Sure. I can try. * I nodded. * That's all I ask. In the meantime, lets work on the punishment and getting our police department up and running. Also, Cole? Can you please accompany Mia to her place and give her two hours to clear out her things? I want her across pack lands and out at the two hour and one minute mark. She causes any issues, kill her. My patience has run dry with that one. * I looked at Ian. * Feel free to assist Cole, please. I need Vincent working on Jordan. * Everyone nodded their understanding and agreed. We shook hands and finally, I was alone in my office. I was tired. And I was fed up. I sat in my computer chair, looking out at the mountains in the distance. I just wanted ten minutes of silence and downtime. Then I'd get to work on all the other issues needing my attention. *
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