Theodore (Xavier's Hatchlings #2) - Kathi S. Barton Page 0,34

another. I heard from one of my deputies just yesterday that the missus had been accosted when she was out in her yard bringing in their luggage. Someone had painted on their car too, some very nasty words.” Theo asked him if they’d had a cruiser in the area since that happened. “We tried, but she ran us off last night. We’d had trouble with the boys too, but the parents have been treated badly since they returned without them. I’ll send out a crew, Mr. Manning. If you could stay with Austin, I’d appreciate that.”

Theo helped Austin get up again, this time from the bed. He wasn’t helping him at all. Austin kept telling him that Caroline had left him behind. When Theo had enough, he slapped the man hard on the face. That got the desired effect.

“Are you listening to me now?” He nodded. “Say it, Austin. Tell me that you’re going to listen to me and that you’re going to get up off that lazy ass of yours and cooperate. The police are on their way to ask you some questions. First, I’m going to get you into the shower. All right? You stink.”

“Yes, all right. I don’t remember how long we’ve been home since we left your place.” He told him it had been four days. “I miss them, Theo. I do, then I don’t. They’re my children, and I’m not entirely sure how I feel about them being gone.”

“Understandable. Come on now. You’re going to get your ass in gear here and go down to the living room so you can talk to the police. No fucking around. I’m going to fix you something to eat. If you’re trying to kill yourself when I return, I’m going to help you along. But my way will be much more painful.” He stared at him. “You think I’m joking with you?”

“No. I, the people in your town, they told me you were a dragon. Are you?” Theo nodded as he turned the man in the direction of the stairs. “I don’t know what I’m going to do with myself. I’m all alone now, aren’t I?”

“You’ve never been alone, Austin. You have a mother and a niece that love you. They might not particularly like you, but they do love you. Go on in there and have a seat.” He watched as he went into the living room and took a seat on the couch. “I’m going to make you something lite to eat, and you’re not going to give me any shit about it.”

As he made a sandwich for the other man, Theo spoke to his aunt. Telling her what he’d seen in the bathroom, she asked him to hold on. Winnie was a good person to contact for matters such as this. She’d be able to tell him if Austin had had anything to do with her death. It was his mom who spoke to him next.

I’ve summoned Caroline to me. You might want to know she’s upset that Austin didn’t find her before she was dead. I guess this is some sort of game she plays when she wants him to do something for her. She’s also not at all happy that she’s not with her sons on this side. I’m not sure how that was supposed to work with Austin saving her since she’d not told him what her plan was. Anyway, she wants to tell Austin that he’d better be joining her on the other side. Don’t do that. I’ve been here talking to MaryBeth about what Austin told her, and she wants him to be all right. Even Pem wants him to come back here to start again. He asked her what she thought about that. I’m not sure. But then, I’m not the one that would have to be around him all the time. However, I do think it might well be good for him to be away from his wife—dead or alive. She’s a shrew and a big reason that the boys were never disciplined the way they should have been.

I’ve called the police. I’m going to tell them I was staying here for a few days to make sure they got everything squared away. Not staying here but in a hotel. Can you have someone fix that up for me? Also, that he’d called me when he found Caroline. I’m sure calling his mom might be frowned upon, what with his dead wife no more than a few feet