CHAPTER 7

Eddies POV

Before I knew it, my house was full of local officers, MI5 officials, people that worked for Mrs Williamson, and probably half the population of Switzerland. Patricia's mom had a good deal of leverage in the federal government since she was a member of the House of Lords.

I sat anxiously at our kitchen table watching over 2 dozen people scramble around the main floor of the house. Mrs. Williamson did not want the press to hear about this. This was not just a domestic threat, but a national security one as well. We couldn't rule out any possibilities. I had given the local officers my official statement already. I pushed my chair out and stood up silently. Everyone around me was buzzing. The room centered on Mrs Williamson. I strolled up the stairs, as I walked into my room, Fabian, KT, and Alfie sat on my bed, books thrown all over the place.

"There's nothing here that could help us Eddie," KT responded in anguish.

"I'm not surprised."

"Why is Vera showing her face now?" Fabian turned to me, huddled in a tight ball with his knees close to his chest.

"Does she know that Luna is the Osirian?" I couldn't stomach that thought. I didn't have the powers to protect them anymore. "I'm gonna go back downstairs, see if they've found anything more."

I headed down the creaky stairs once more. I glanced over to the officers in my house and shook my head. Turning to face the door, I opened it slowly and went out into the crisp afternoon air. I pulled my arms into my chest to conserve the little heat I had in my body. My head was full, unable to process the little information I had. My foot hit a large stone and I decided to sit for a moment.

My stomach was full with what felt like 20 rocks. How could I have let this happen. Sure I was mad at Patricia. Honestly I don't even remember why I was mad. It doesn't even matter anymore. At this moment, for the first time ever, I truly felt helpless.

I could hear the leaves above me begin to sway as I saw Fabian jogging towards me.

"Hey," he said as he made his way to me. He plopped on the grass in front of me.

"Look Eddie, we're gonna get them back. It's Patricia, she can take care of herself. She's one tough cookie. I say we go back in there and see what we can do. Right now we work above ground. If they give us nothing, we work underground and get that witch the mask. If we break the law, so be it."

I laughed at this. I would've never believed I'd be hearing those words come out of Fabian's mouth.

Fabian extended his hand to me as he rose to his feet. I grabbed his hand and we headed back to the house.

When we entered the house, everyone fell silent and I noticed a new lady was at the head of the table. She was maybe 5'6, dark curly brown hair, and a strong British accent. She approached me right when I came in and extended her hand.

"Inspector Cate Prichard, I'll be taking the lead on this case."

"Eddie Miller, it's nice to meet you."

"Look I know the circumstances aren't great but I promise we'll figure this out."

She motioned for me to follow her over to the living room to continue our discussion. Prichard pulled her laptop from her beige bag that laid to her side.

"I'm gonna take your phone and see if I can trace the location of where the call you received this morning took place. You said that you had a connection with the suspect?"

"Yes, she was my house mother for a short period of time back in secondary school."

My eyes were locked onto my hands in my lap. I couldn't make eye contact with the inspector. Fabian sat next to me on the coach and tried to comfort me the best he could but it was no use.

"How did you get assigned this case?" I asked Inspector Prichard.

"Well I worked for a long time in Scotland Yard but after my partner was murdered around 6 years ago, I took a job with MI5 shortly after. I've been working with Mrs Williamson for years so she requested I be put as head of this investigation."

She focused on her computer screen for a few moments as the room fell silent. Raising her eyes off of her computer, they fell on me like a hammer.

"Is your daughter an American citizen?"

"No, she was born here last year."

"Ok then I don't have to get my associate at the FBI involved." The computer dinged as she finished her sentence. "It looks like the call was made off of a burner cell so that gives us no leads." She slammed her computer shut and rose from her seat, frustrated with the results.

—-

As the hours passed, the people in the house began to dwindle away. Before I knew it, the clock in the main room struck midnight. Inspector Prichard had just left. Honestly, Prichard was the only person I feel like I could trust. I don't know why.

KT and Fabian decided to stay the night. They had already crashed for the night. I sat on the old leather coach in the great room staring out of the window. Any second now Patricia and Luna would walk through that door. I knew that wasn't the case though.

I rose from the coach and decided to go make myself a cup of tea. I needed something to do to occupy my brain. I put the kettle on the stove and gazed at the water beginning to steam. I hadn't eaten anything the entire day and I didn't think I'd be able to keep anything down if I tried. At this moment, I truly felt hopeless.

Once I came back to my seat on the couch my phone began to buzz. It was Prichard.

"Hello," I answered.

"Hi Eddie this is Inspector Prichard."

"I know."

She gave an awkward laugh.

"Right. Anyways I just got back from the scene of the car crash and I have some more info and questions for you in the morning."

"Are you leaving for the night?" I asked,

"No, I can't usually sleep when I have a case like this so I plan to work through the night."

"Would you want me to just come to your office now, I can't sleep and if there's anything I can do to get my girls home any quicker I'll do it."

There was a brief pause on the other line.

"I don't see why not, I'll see you in 20."