By the time I came downstairs, the boys were finished with breakfast and sitting with Cole in front of the television. Cartoon characters danced on the screen and from the look on Alik and Evan’s faces, it was the most remarkable thing they’d ever seen. Their jaws hung slack and their eyes were glassed over. Good grief! No wonder mom didn’t allow television. I could almost hear their brain cells shriveling up. They didn’t even notice me as I walked past the living room into the kitchen. Dr. and Mrs. Andrews were sitting at the breakfast table drinking coffee and talking in hushed voices. They stopped when they saw me.
“Well, hello Meg. I’m Michelle—so good to finally meet you.” Michelle smiled with her perfectly straight teeth and waited patiently for me to respond with like pleasantries. I supposed I ought to comply, though I didn’t feel her sincerity at all. Matter of fact, my hair was standing on the back of my neck.
“Hello, Michelle. Thank you for allowing my brothers and me to stay at your home while we find our mom.” No matter what I sensed, or what I overheard last night, I needed to keep the peace.
“Well, I understand it’s not just you and your brothers, but you have a pet coyote too? How unusual!” I remembered with clarity how disgusted she sounded last night when she found out about Maze.
“Yes, ma’am. Maze slept outside last night and is still there. I’m sure he won’t be any trouble to you. He’s harmless, really.” I made excuses for Maze not for my sake, but because I didn’t like how Michelle treated Dr. Andrews when she was angry and I didn’t want to be the cause of her venom.
“Well, we’ll give him a chance, won’t we,” she forced a smile and patted her husband on the arm in strangely controlling way.
“Are you hungry, Meg? Looks like you and your brothers worked up quite an appetite with all the—exercise this morning. That was amazing, by the way.” Dr. Andrews didn’t stop to wait for an answer before he put a plate of pancakes, bananas and a glass of milk in front of me. He motioned to the syrup as he waited for me to respond.
“Oh, you saw that, huh? Yeah, the boys and I practice like that all the time back at the ranch. Mom taught us.” My pancakes looked delicious so once they were properly covered in syrup, I dug in. With my mouth full of food, the adults got the hint that I was done talking about the fight club on the lawn.
After a big swig of milk, I changed the subject. “So, what’s the plan? Where are we going to start looking?”
“First, there is no ‘we.’ I will look for your mother myself and you’ll stay safely here. And second, the plan is for me to locate sources and see what they’ve found. I’ve had people working on this since you called me yesterday. When we get it narrowed down, I’ll fly to wherever the hottest tip leads me and take up the search myself.” He said all this with earnestness in his voice. I could truly feel the sincerity behind his words so I didn’t want to disrespect him with what I needed to say.
“With all due respect sir, Alik, Evan and I are no safer here than we were back at the ranch. The reason I agreed to come with you was because you have connections we don’t. Just the fact that you’re an adult opens doors behind which valuable information can be found. I understand your concern, but you have to believe me when I say there is no other way. The boys and I are a unit. We work together. Mom trained us to fight and defend. We won’t weigh you down; on the contrary, we may help you.”
The doctor stared into my eyes as if trying to read the depth of my resolve. I saw worry and uncertainty shadow his face. But after several moments, I also noticed his jaw tighten and set. He was decided.
“Margo taught you well. This morning’s demonstration outside proved that. She also taught you to have a mind of your own. She would want you to be safe, but you’re probably right about being in danger here, too. If she’s where I think she is, she didn’t go willingly and those people are even more interested in finding you and your brothers. Let me make those phone calls and see where we are. When I go, you three will come with me. Okay?”
“I’m coming too, dad.” Cole and the boys were standing at the far entrance to the kitchen. They had been listening to us.
“There is no way I’m going to allow you to come. On top of it being ridiculous to involve you, you can’t miss school.”
“I’m already involved dad, because you are involved. You’re all I’ve got left. Mom would understand. She would have wanted us to stick together.”
I glanced over at Michelle to take in her reaction at the mention of Cole’s mother. She was pursing her lips together like she had just licked a lemon. That just confirmed my thoughts. No wonder, Cole didn’t feel close to Michelle. She was a cold and uncompromising woman. How on earth did this sweet widowed doctor end up marrying her? I’ll never understand some people.