Chapter 7

Date-December 12, 1:30 AM

Location- Mullberry Street

"Are you sure it was ok to just leave?" Trucy said nervously as they approached the house with the telescope.

"Oh yeah, it's fine. I shot him a text on the way so he knows where we are. Besides, I'm sure he'll appreciate us following a lead." To be honest, she'd forgotten about telling Phoenix what they were doing until they were already across the street. She'd just texted Phoenix not even a minute ago.

Trucy gave her a suspicious glance. "I saw you, you know." She grinned.

"Hush, I'm going to ring the doorbell." Athena reached out and pressed the button with her knuckle. They both took a step back in anticipation. Athena counted to 15 before she heard footsteps approaching from the other side of the door.

The woman who opened the door was just slightly taller than Athena, with chestnut hair clipped up on the side of her head. She had sweet looking eyes behind gold rimmed glasses and smiled at them when she saw them.

"May I help you ladies?" She asked, cocking her head slightly.

Trucy beat Athena to the answer. "Yes Ma'am. We're looking for someone, and we wondered if you'd help us?" She smiled cutely at the woman.

"We noticed a telescope in your window." Athena cut in, trying not to sound accusatory. "Is that yours?"

"Oh no, it's not mine. That belongs to my son." The woman wiped her hands on her apron in thought.

"Is he home? Can we speak with him?" Trucy leaned forwards on her toes and clenched her fists by her side. The woman looked slightly startled.

Slow down there kiddo, Athena thought. She put a hand on Trucy's shoulder and smiled at the woman calmly. "Ma'am, we don't mean to frighten you. It's just our friend is missing and we think your son might be able to help us find him." Athena held up her attorney's badge.

"Oh dear!" The woman raised her hand to her chest in shock. "Of course, of course. Please come in!"

She led them through a quaint, doily laden front room and stopped at the base of a staircase. "He's upstairs. Please, go ahead." She gestured up the staircase with a kind smile.

Athena and Trucy thanked the woman, and headed up the stairs.