The next morning the family reconvened. Rachel, Tirai Osdarin, and Daniel's wife Callista took care of the children while their parents dealt with the problems at hand.
Jenos, attempting to stay calm, started. "So, anything?"
"I met with Dark Angel last night," Tirai yawned. She obviously had been awake half the night.
"He give you any news?"
"He is looking into it for us, but he is not sure how quickly he can get the information."
Her brother looked up. "He wants more money?"
"He needs to see what he can find out. Time is what he needs."
Daniel raised an eyebrow. "He's not taking money for this?"
"Oh he's taking money, but something tells me whoever did this may have stepped on his toes too."
He looked at his twin sister. "Why do you say that?"
"Some of our other informants are saying that the Black Lady hasn't been seen in a while."
Jenos looked up. "Dark Lady?"
Tirai nodded. "She was a spy for us for years; some call Dark Angel her protégé. She was very loyal to us and helped out when things got a little hairy. If you needed to know something in this city, she could find it out for you, but there was always a hefty price."
Daniel shrugged. "You think she may be the one that did this?"
"Could be, but doesn't seem like her style." She wrapped her hands around the mug put in front of her by Claire. "She is an information broker. She doesn't do assassination or kidnappings. If you wanted something acquired, or needed some information on someone, she could find it. If she's found she might know what these people were up to."
Jenos sighed. "Where does that leave us?"
"A hair above bupkis." Daniel yawned.
About then Irina and Artie walked in the door. "Our reprieve may be up." Irina sighed.
Tirai rolled her eyebrows. "Why don't I like the sound of that?"
"Though our father is back, this doesn't mean the festival of the Guardians won't be held in a five days time. Like it or not, the military needs to secure the city and the festivities are beginning. All three of us are on active duty again."
Jenos began to stand up. "I'll talk to your commander to get you off duty."
Irina tried to soften the blow. "Poppa, you would be angry with us if we didn't do our job. At least this way we will have an excuse to mingle with the priests and other warriors. We may get a lead."
Daniel nodded. "Worth a shot."
"Tirai is going to stay here as extra security. I don't know what more we can do."
Author's Note: More is coming. I'm chopping my 26 page long chapters into easier to read bites.