Page 74 of Dark Night Golden Dawn
“No,” Harlow said, drawing the syllables out, making eye contact with Finn, who sat on the floor, adding more wood to the fire. “No, I haven’t.”
“I haven’t heard from him in two weeks. Sixteen days. It’s like he’s disappeared.”
Harlow didn’t like the sound of that. “Have you called the Missing Person’s Unit?”
“Yes, yes. I’ve called. They say they’re doing something about it, but I don’t get any updates. You know how it is…” He trailed off. The MPU was not always diligent about following up on missing humans. “I wondered if you or your parents might… Well… If you might help me.”
“What are you worried about, Mr. Easton?” Harlow didn’t really have to ask. She knew.
“I think that should be obvious, Harlow. I’m worried he’s dead.”
Harlow swallowed hard. “Does anything suggest that he might be?”
“He’s dating a vampire, Harlow. I may not have approved of your relationship with Mark, but I wasn’t afraid you’d kill him. Can you help me or not?”
He reallywasworried. Alain Easton wasn’t a very good father. He’d neglected Mark as a child, in favor of his work and his many extramarital affairs, according to Mark, anyway. But he did love his son. If he was worried, it confirmed her own concerns.
“I’ll see what I can do. Let me get back to you.”
“Don’t sugarcoat anything, Harlow. I can handle whatever you find out.”
“I know, Mr. Easton. I’ll see what I can do.”
He hung up, and Harlow locked her phone, setting it on the low table next to her chair, made from a piece of perfectly petrified wood. She and Finn looked at each other for a long time before either of them spoke.
A prominent human like Mark Easton being killed by a vampire couldn’t be erased as easily as an altercation between the House of Remiel and the Illuminated. There were too many factors to control; the news would get out and upset the tentative balance between the Orders and the human world. And, as it had always been, the result would be dead humans, and dead immortals of the lower Orders. The Illuminated always came out of situations like this unscathed and seemingly more powerful than before.
“He’s either dead or turned. You know that right?” Finn said finally.
Harlow nodded. “Honestly, I figured as much.”
He got up. “I’m not on very good terms with the House of Remiel, obviously, but I’ll have Cian make some calls. They’re far more diplomatic than I am. Maybe they can get somewhere with Veronica Morova. She’s at least halfway reasonable.”
Harlow nodded, kissing his hand as he passed her. She knew he was going downstairs to lock himself in his office, and that he probably wouldn’t just call Cian, but his other contacts as well. Maybe even the mysterious Nox and Arebos, who she still hadn’t met. She listened as he walked downstairs.
When the door to his office shut, she picked up her phone and shot off two texts. One to Riley Quinn:Just heard from Alain Easton. Mark is missing. Any ideas?
Finn and Alaric had been wary of telling Riley much, because the Rogue Queen was such an unknown factor, but Harlow had argued time and again that the Rogue Order’s resources were untapped potential and that if Enzo trusted Riley, they should too. But this was important. They needed to find Mark and control the story before people got hurt.
She steeled herself and sent another text to Mark himself. It was worth a try to see if he’d respond.Your dad’s worried about you. He’s calling in the cavalry. If you don’t want shit-tons of people looking for you, text me back.
And then she waited. She waited so long, she fell asleep in her chair. When she woke, the sun was setting and her phone vibrated in her lap. From downstairs, she heard the soft sounds of Finn on the phone in his office. She picked up her phone and swiped the screen open.
The text was from Riley, not Mark.Have some feelers out. Nothing yet, but you should talk to Petra Velarius. Privately. Without Finn.
Now that was curious.Why?
Just ask her to have coffee with you at Cerberus, downtown, and ask her to help you.
Harlow started to explain all the reasons why that wouldn’t work. Why Petra Velarius was the last person in the world she wanted to help her, and how Petra certainly wouldn’t be seendowntown. But she stopped herself and simply wrote back,I doubt she’d help me.
If you ask her to meet you at Cerberus to talk about Mark, she will help you. I’ll be in touch if I hear anything. I can’t emphasize enough that you should not tell Finn. You can use me as a cover.
Now that was downright strange, but she trusted Riley.Okay, thanks.
She texted Meline to see if she had Petra’s number, which she did, and finally gave up prying when Harlow said she wanted to ask her where she got her hair done. Petra Velarius had enviable hair, and was notoriously secretive about where she got any of her beauty services.
When she had the number she hesitated. Was this a good idea? Petra hated her, and she hated Petra. She listened for Finn—yes, he was still on the phone. She bit her lip and typed out a text.It’s Harlow. Mark’s missing. Can you meet me at Cerberus in an hour to talk?
