Summary: Set seven weeks after the end of Volume Four: Fugitives. Senator Nathan Petrelli goes missing, sparking a search by the authorities. Peter conducts a search of his own and learns the shocking truth about his brother's fate.
Warning: Computer generated battle violence in later chapters.
Missing Pieces
Chapter One: Disappearance
Peter Petrelli
I slumped down into the only chair in my apartment, and stared at the television screen. I could barely comprehend what primetime news was covering.
"The search for Senator Nathan Petrelli of New York is continuing. We understand that he was last seen two days ago, when he had dinner with his mother. Angela Petrelli is currently assisting police with their enquiries. Mr. Petrelli is 5 foot 10 inches tall, has brown eyes-"
I hit the "off" switch on the remote control. Angela Petrelli is currently assisting police with their enquiries. They made her out like she's a suspect. Well, I guess the police are only doing their job. She was the last person to see him before he vanished without warning.
For Nathan to just disappear without a trace was uncharacteristic and disturbing to say the least. I picked up my cell phone and speed dialled my Mom's number.
"Peter, is everything all right?"
Of course it wasn't all right.
"Yeah." I sighed. "How are you holding up?"
"I'm doing okay under the circumstances."
"I was wondering if you've heard anything."
"No, I haven't. The police are doing everything they can, dear."
"Well it's not enough, obviously. I have to do something."
The terrible notion that Nathan had met with foul play ran across my mind once again. I quickly pushed it away before I could burst into tears.
"No! Peter, you have to let the police do their job. I have one missing son already, and I cannot lose both of you. Promise me you won't do anything."
"Okay, I'm not going to do anything," I lied. "Please keep me posted."
"You know I will." There was a pause. "Are you going to be okay, Peter? If you need me to come around-"
"I'll be fine," I said, lying again as though it had become second nature to me. "I love you, Ma."
"I love you too, Peter. We're going to get through this. There is a perfectly reasonable explanation for all of this."
"I know. Good night."
"Good night, dear."
I sighed again as I hung up.
I thought my life had reached some resemblance of normality. I had made amends with Nathan. Sylar was dead. I went back to my day job as a paramedic.
Now, nothing seemed to make sense any more. Nathan was missing, and I had never felt so scared in my whole life. By contrast, Ma had kept her composure through all of this ordeal. There was no tearful, gut wrenching appeal that accompanied the typical parent-missing-her-son case. There was only the matriach appealing to the public for information, in a level voice. She had the slightly concerned expression which she had perfected, but she would never allow herself to break down in public. Typical Angela Petrelli. Was she holding back on me? She always knew more than she let on.
Stop it, Peter. Everything is going to be fine. Ma is coping with it because she knows that Nathan will show up alive. Oh ye of so little faith!
Where are you, Nathan?
Everything is going to be fine.
These were the thoughts I held on to, as I sunk my head into my pillow and slipped into an uneasy sleep. I knew I couldn't just wait for things to happen. Tomorrow, I would start searching for answers.
