Page 89 of Healed
“Have you checked Vince’s?” Shaun asked.
“Twice,” Cristie said. “And his home repeatedly. The other bars in town, and even the restaurants that have bars in them. We’ve walked the property at both Kaid’s and Brandt’s, and moved up and down the river searching for any scent of him. There’s nothing fresh.”
“We even sat outside Olivia’s house for a while… nothing,” Daniel said.
“You check the liquor store? Or the grocery? They sell liquor, too,” Shaun said.
“Yeah. They both say they’ve seen him, but not in the last day or two.”
Shaun thought about it for a minute before raising his gaze to Daniel’s. “If he’s still drinking, maybe somebody else is buying it for him.”
“Who? And where is he going to drink it?” Daniel asked frustratedly. “I’ve tried to contact him,” Daniel tapped his temple, “ but he’s blocking me. So I’m pretty sure whatever he’s doing, he doesn’t want any interruptions. That and the fact that I read him the riot act last time I saw him.”
“I’m sure that helped,” Shaun quipped before he locked eyes with Daniel, horrified that he’d actually let that comment out where the Dragon shifter could hear it. “Sorry,” Shaun hurriedly said.
Cristie smothered a grin, but didn’t say anything.
“I’m sorry I couldn’t be of any help. I like Remi. I hope everything works out for him. And I’m thankful you’re here, Cristie. I hope it’s the catalyst that he needs to yank himself up,” Shaun said.
“Thank you, Shaun.”
“Y’all have a good day,” he said, taking his leave and heading back to join the line at the counter to talk to Bailey again, and get his customary breakfast sandwich and tea. Coffee was not his thing.
When it was finally his turn again, Bailey handed him a tray, complete with an extra-large hot tea already sugared the way he liked it, and two sausage and egg croissants.
“Well, that went well,” he said, keeping his voice low.
Bailey smiled sympathetically at him. “I heard.”
“I just wish I could help somehow,” Shaun said.
“Is there anywhere else you can think of that he might be?” Bailey asked.
Shaun shook his head. “I’m trying. I just, I don’t really know any of his friends or anything.”
“The clan are his friends. He always stayed close to family,” Bailey said.
“I know none of us have seen him. In fact, Brandt suggested that we don’t meddle and make things worse.”
“If I was on a binge, I’d go home and hide in my house,” Bailey said. “But he’s obviously not of the same mindset.”
“If I was on a binge, as deep as the one he’s on, I’d go surround myself with others of the same mindset and hide myself away there,” Shaun said. Almost as though he was aware of his own words once he heard them, his head canted slightly, and he handed her back his tray. “Hold on,” he said, walking quickly back over to Daniel and Cristie. “Excuse me, but I might have an idea.”
“We’ll consider anything,” Daniel said.
“There’s a group of people living out in the woods behind the warehouses in the industrial park.”
“And you think Remi’s there?” Daniel asked doubtfully.
“Maybe. I mean, they’re not the kind of people you really want to spend a lot of time with. Started out a safe place for homeless and the struggling regardless of whatever they were struggling with, but it’s been infiltrated with a few that are hiding out for one reason or another. It never occurred to me that Remi might go there, but if he’s really trying to disappear, it’s a good place to do just that. And he has no reason to fear anybody, so all the more reason for him to feel safe there.”
“That and maybe he just doesn’t care if he’s safe or not,” Cristie said.
“Exactly,” Shaun said.
“That’s a couple miles past the grocery, isn’t it?” Daniel asked.
“Yes, sir. It’s closer to the older end of the industrial section,” Shaun said.
