Nate ran up the stairs and down the hall until he hit the east wing. He found Elise's room and knocked.
He stood waiting, hoping Brodi wasn't sleeping. He was about to knock again when the door opened. A very exhausted-looking Brodi appeared in the doorway, wearing nothing but his sweatpants.
"Nate, hi." Brodi yawned and rubbed his eyes. "What's up, dude? Elise stepped out for a few minutes but should be back soon."
"Nah, it's you I need to see. Brodi, my man, you need to throw on a shirt and some shoes, pal. Let me in and I'll fill you in while you get dressed."
Brodi stood out of the way and let Nate pass, then closed the door behind tem.
"So what's up?" Brodi said, as he pulled a t-shirt over his head.
"Lauryll."
Brodi froze. "I, uh, thought she'd been removed from the property."
"She slipped back in somehow. Brodi, she found Elise unlocking your door."
Brodi looked up from were he was tying his shoes. "What? What happened? Is she OK?"
"Elise isn't hurt. But Lauryll did manage to drug her. Brodi, she says she'll kill Elise if we don't let her talk to you. We don't want to put you in that position, but…"
"Well, what are you waiting for?" Brodi said as he finished his other shoe and stood. "Let's go—now!"
"Brodi, you don't have to…"
Nate stopped cold as Brodi shot him a look.
"Yes. I. Do. Now, I'd rather know you were backing me up, but I will go down there alone. Are you coming?"
The Zen Master looked very un-Zen as he looked at Nate's hand on his shoulder, then over at Nate. Nate gave Brodi's shoulder a squeeze then removed his hand.
"Right behind you, pal."