Theodore (Xavier's Hatchlings #2) - Kathi S. Barton Page 0,35

away from him. Mom said she’d have someone do that for him now. Mom, he’s not bathed since he’s been here. And it looks like if there was any staff here when they returned, they’ve all left now. I’m going to have a few faeries out here to clean up the house and make sure nothing else happens to it while we take care of Austin.

Good idea. I’ll send a few of them along to get in touch with those that are there. If you can talk to him, see what he has to say about a few things. Carson gave me a list of things she can take care of on this end. After getting the list from her, he told her what he could about some of them. Suicide isn’t really anything that I know a great deal about, but I have to tell you, son, I think that if I lost one of you guys, I’d be hard pressed not to try it myself. I don’t know what I’d do if anything happened to one of you.

I’ve been thinking along those lines too. Trying to put myself in his place. I really don’t know what I’d do if something were to happen to any of you. Theo told his mom what he was doing here and to keep an eye on Pem. I didn’t think to even let her know I was leaving. I had a feeling that Austin was calling to tell his mom goodbye, so I had Winnie bring me here.

She knows where you are. It might be good for Austin to have her there as well. I’ll have Winnie pop her in there. Before he could tell her what a great idea that was, Pem was standing next to the couch like she’d been drinking something from a glass. I think she might be there now.

She is. I don’t think Winnie even told her what she was doing. I’ll talk to her. Theo laughed when Pem spoke to her uncle. I’d better go. Pem is having it out with her uncle. I don’t think it’s going to end well for him.

While they were on the couch talking, he let the police in. He asked them if they wanted to see the body first and took them there. Theo told them what he and his wife were doing there, as well as why he’d come over here before calling the police. He’d just not been sure about what Austin had told him about Caroline being gone.

“We came here to make sure they were all right. I know they’re not, but wanted to make sure the funerals were just the way they wanted. We were set to leave today. I think Caroline might have known that.” It was a lie, all of it, but the police didn’t seem to wonder at his reasons. “Is there anything I can help you with, gentlemen? I don’t want to leave Austin alone with my wife for too long. As you can well imagine, he’s not doing so well.”

After answering their question about whether he thought Austin might kill himself too, to which Theo said he thought he might, he went to the kitchen. The faeries had arrived with his own and were ready to take care of the home.

“There are officers here now, so avoid the upper floors until they say it’s okay to clean the room. The kitchen and the refrigerator are in need of some cleaning as well as some food brought in. I don’t know how long we’ll be here, but I’d like to make sure there are at least some sandwich fixings until we leave.” They were all right with that, telling him they’d stay for as long as he was there. “Good. Thank you so much. If you could perhaps keep an eye on the place too so that no vandalism occurs, even after we’re gone. I don’t know what is going to happen to this place, but I’d like to make sure it’s here whenever we decide.”

“We’ll keep the intruders out, Lord Manning.” He told him he was Theo. “Yes, my lord, we’re aware of which dragon you are. Your lovely wife is all anyone can speak about. We’ll make sure things are done to perfection.”

When he went back into the living room, one of the officers was sitting on the couch across from Pem and Austin. Austin was crying off and on, but not nearly as badly as he’d been when he