Warning: if you have not read Summer Shadows yet you will be mildly spoiled.
2
Stellan's pov
"I'm not the best at these sort of things, but shouldn't you be smiling in your little brothers wedding?" I asked standing next to Victor.
"I could never pull off the jokester act like you could" he said eyeing me "though you seemed to be a little more mellowed down these days" he pointed out.
"Growing up helplessly watching your sister running from a criminal group will do that to a person"
"I can see how it would" there was a pause, as we both looked at Raven joking around with Kurt and Will.
"She seems to be recovering quite well" Victor pointed out "one would think that running from a criminal organization would damage ones mental health a bit more" I could tell that he was looking throw upper levels of my sisters mind. The ones she left unguarded on purpose. They didn't show much and left a feeling like her mind was built up like other peoples.
"I'm sure your girl is just as strong willed as Raven" I said staring the conversation in the direction, which had me more intrigued, at that current moment.
"I hope that you are right" he said turning his head to face me.
I took out a memory card and handed it to him "I did some investigating based on the information that you provided me with." He took the card from me, eyeing it.
"I coded the information, nothing too hard, but difficult enough to keep any unwanted eyes from seeing the info" I answered his silent question.
"Mind giving me some of the details now? I'd like to book a plane as soon as possible" he said voice soft to keep anyone from hearing.
I sighed "you are aware that this is probably the worst idea you have had in your entire life right?" when he didn't budge I continued "in fact it's so bad that if anyone else had come to me with the same request I would have sent them backing long before they could finish telling their story"
"But you believe that I can pull it off" he prompted me to continue.
"Going by what Crystal has told you I'd say your best bet is Mazar-e-Sharif women's prison and your girl is most likely Atoosa Nawabi. She has a PhD from the National Museum Institute, New Delhi, in the art of Central Asia, and she is currently serving a ten year sentence she revised for stealing a Bactrian gold crown two years ago" I gave a brief summary to my guess of his solfinders identity.
"What did you base your theory on?" Victor asked after thinking for a minute.
"The Savant Net doesn't have many members in Afghanistan, but I did a background check on all the woman serving a sentence in the arias that matched the description of the landmarks in the surrounding areas. There were seven prisons in total, I discovered fourteen possible savants. Out of those fourteen only three were the right age, so I did a more thorough analysis on them. Miss Nawabi most likely has a gift for reading agent texts or something like that. It would explain her success in her field of work" I elaborated.
"What about the other two?" the mind reader pressed "why did you pick her?"
"Simple, I have observed many soulfinder bonds and taking into account your ability and personality, and her likely ability and personality it seem to be a reasonable fit." I looked at Victor. He looked desperate, the look not suiting him at all.
"Sorry if that didn't help you, but with the information given she's the only possible option. I include all the profiles in my report, but I'm not a miracle worker, only a detective"
He nodded "do be honest I didn't expect you to find that much, I was hoping for a prison address at best" he shook his head "I'm just on edge you know, she's my soulfinder, my other half" he sighed.
"Don't let your brothers hear you say anything that mushy or you'll lose your cool guy reputation" I smiled, the turned back to the serious side of the mater "but you to realize that your family is going to come after you"
"I know, there is no helping it. It is just the way we are, that's why I want to get this over with before they have a change to regroup and come after me" he eyed his father as he said that.
"That gives you about a week to get to your girl, get her out and clear her name" I said listing the thing he would have to do, before his father caught up. Because I'm a hundred present sure that Saul Benedict is going to be the first to go after his son.
"So you think she's innocent?"
"Of course she is" I thought over the girls case "the evidence is mediocre at best, and you would just have to get the crown back to prove that, maybe have a talk with her uncle, the one that dose deliveries. That last part is just a hunch though" I kept some of the information to myself so he could have a bigger part in saving his soulfinder and her honor. And if he can't figure it out with the clues I've given him then he can always ask.
"And what will you do? Will you help them get to me?" he asked still looking at his family.
"I seriously doubt they will ask for my help" I gave an honest opinion.
"You're one of the best detectives I know, why wouldn't they ask for your help?" Victor turned to me sincerely curious.
"They won't think of it, trust me" I paused to think of a way to explain the next part "my power is noticing details and making connections based on those same details. They will be in a hurry to find you so they will probably find a strong mind reader who is capable of tracking you. I'm positive that even if any of them remember seeing us talking, they won't put two and two together. It's not like your family is stupid, it's just that their emotions and trusting nature will get in the way" I paused to make sure I didn't offend the FBI agent "my guess is they will ask the Robinsons"
"It's not that easy as just asking" Victor intercepted.
"No, but you aren't the only one who has favorers to call in" I shrugged.
"They might actually be useful" Victor mused; I could see the plan formulating in his head.
Trouble is what they will be, based on my analysis of the brothers, but I opted to keep that part to myself as well.
I felt my phone buzz in my pocket. Looking at it I realized that we should get moving if we intended to make it to our plane. I sensed Victor's eyes on my phone so I held it up for him to see the alarm.
"Looks like I'll be leaving you now, Hiroshi said something about a serial killer louse in Kyoto and old man Saiku wants me to take a look at the crime scenes. I told them I'd be there first thing in the morning" I was starting to see the dark side of my promise. Needier; me nor Raven were morning people and planes aren't the best places to sleep. But I had been so boarded at the time when Hiroshi contacted me.
I sighed "why can't the police handle their own murders, it's not like its hard"
Victor's face lightened "even in death, you never change"
"What can I say there isn't much to do when your incinerated and sitting inside an urn" I said as I walked towards my sister who was now talking with Will's soulfinder Margot Derkx.
I felt his eyes on my back as I left "I'd wish you luck, but there is no such thing" I bid him farewell raising my hand.
"Guess who's coming over to our house in the near future" Raven said sporting her signature cat's grin.
"Would you like a detailed answer or just the facts?" I asked pulling on the aloof angle face as she called it.
"You were keeping tabs on me?" it was more of a statement than a question but I nodded anyway.
"Can't let you out of my sight, who knows you just might go and die on me again" making my tone a bit more dramatic then it needed to be was a nice touch because the face Margot made was priceless. She gave a small sigh and said "so I take that death jokes run in the family"
Raven grinned "only for those who have lived to tell the tale"
I could tell the band manager wanted to say something more but we really should start moving if we want to make it to that plane.
"If we want to drive according to the speed limit then we better get moving" I held up my phone so she could see the time.
"To think that your head is less in the clouds than mine, the world must be ending" she said mouth full of cake, which she had finished in one bite.
"Actually my head is always less in the clouds then yours, I analyze and think, you dream and wonder"
She smiled "got me there" and put down the plate poking Will's arm. The middle Benedict gave her his full attention "yes my little humming bee" for some reason the Benedicts had started referring to Raven with different nick names each time they saw her.
"Would you make sure that Xav opens our present and that everyone sees it" she asked using her honey coated voice that usually got her pretty much anything she wanted.
Will's smile turned evil "may I ask what's in there that you want everyone to see?" he inquired.
Ray obliged "two photo albums filled with all the embarrassing pictures we could find" she turned to me "and trust me between Stel and I we did a pretty decent job of finding them"
The corners of Will's mouth went even higher "I'll make sure that it's the spectacle of the evening" he solemnly swore.
"We will leave it to you then" Ran saluted the taller man who returned the chestier.
Moments later when we had said farewell to some more people and Raven had smuggled out a piece of cake for Jamie, we were about to get on my motor bike, when there was a deep voice "Nice bike you got there artist girl"
"It's rented actually" Raven said facing the voices owner "but you are right it is pretty nice"
The bike was nice, but nothing like the customized Kawasaki Ninja 250R I had back in Japan.
"So is this your brother?" the voice turned to me "I'm Kurt Voss, your sisters future client"
I looked over to the guy who's music I was vaguely acquainted with, thanks to Raven. "Technically you are already her client seeing as you have scheduled an appointment, and therefore are paying for a prearranged service" I effectively managed to temporarily stop the basic function of the man's brain. He recovered quite quickly though.
"I guess you could be right about that" he seemed to agree but not really understand.
I sighed "if you look up the meaning in the dictionary then you will come to the same conclusion" Raven was grinning at us for some reason.
"Stellan, meet Mr. Voss, the international music sensation, Mr. Voss meet Stellan, my big brother and the reason why Japanese prisons are overflowing with prisoners." she went through the motions of interactions.
I extended a hand "it's a pleasure Mr. Voss"
"And you, but just Kurt is fine" he had a firm handshake. I felt a spark of power go through me. Huh weird.
"From what I heard you're a savant to if I'm right" I asked him to confirm an already known fact "would you mind telling me what your gift is?" I went on after he nodded.
"Nothing special, I just have a strong gut feeling" he surged.
"A complete opposite of me then I guess that would explain it" I made sense of the little energy spice.
"Explain what?" Ray pried.
"I'll tell you on the way" I looked at my watch "we really should get going or we will have to use unconventional short cuts"
"The last time we did that I had leaves in my hair for day's" she wined.
"Which could have been avoided if you had tied it up" I pointed out.
"It wouldn't have fit under the helmet then" Ray pouted putting on her helmet and claiming on behind me.
"Until our next meeting then Mr. Voss" I started the bike and drove off, Raven giggling behind my back.