Page 120 of Wicked Knight

We’re back at the cottage in half an hour but I head out again to get my stuff.

She falls asleep when I return and I use the time to investigate. I go through all of Eric’s records that I can find. And I come up with nothing.

He said he was in Switzerland at the time of the incident but I see no record of that. My assumptions are running wild, but I need something more concrete. Either evidence that he wasn’t in Switzerland or something to say he was in New York.

That’s probably where speaking to my father comes in.

I guess I’m going the extra mile to check things out because it’s Eric and I don’t want to believe he had something to do with Tommy’s death.

Mackenzie and I resume or usual schedule the next day.

When we split off I send my father a message asking to speak to him. But he doesn’t get back to me. No surprise there. That’s what he’s like.

I try to call several times through the day, but he's not answering.

By nightfall I still haven't heard from him, so I decide to head over to the cottage.

He can't avoid me if I just turn up on his doorstep, demanding to speak to him.

Yuliana opens the door for me, surprised at my presence. “Hey, Dmitri.” She gives me a kind smile.

“Hey is Father home, I’ve been trying to reach him all day.”

“No, he's not back yet. He's on Knights business. I'm sure he’ll be back soon though.”

Well, at least I know he wasn't ignoring me.

“Is everything okay?” She asks pulling our cardigan closer as the wind picks up and lifts her hair.

“Yeah, I just have something urgent to discuss.”

“Why don't you come in and have some dinner. He might be back by the time you finish.”

“Okay. Thanks. That sounds good.”

I follow her into the kitchen where she serves me some of her special lasagna and makes hot cocoa like she did when I was younger. She makes herself a cup and joins me at the table.

“I heard about the party on Saturday night,” she says in that cautious tone. “I heard Mackenzie was hurt and the elite dealt with it. Were you there?”

I allow my fork to dangle between my fingers. “Iwasthere. Did my father go crazy when he heard that?”

“Of course he did, but I guess it helped that you weren't alone.”

“Things like that are going to happen where the elite have to deal with a situation,” I explain.

“I know. I just thought I’d give you a heads up that he knows.”

“Thank you. I appreciate it.” The heads up will give me an idea of what mood he’ll be in.

“Is Mackenzie okay?”

“Yeah.”

“Something like that happened to me back in college. It was awful.” She bites the inside of her lip.

“I’m sorry that happened.”

“That's okay. I just know how she feels. The poor girl seems to have gone through so much. I’m still disgusted with the way your father behaved the other week. It was uncalled for.”

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