Chapter 249
Andrew sat in his home office, reviewing the latest report on vampiric incursions in the northern territories. The gravity of the issue had grown heavier, but no matter how hard he tried, he could not get his mind to focus on it. He knew that this problem needed his full attention—that was why he told Princess Aurora that he could not spend the evening with her—but something did not feel right.
It had been over a week and a half since Crystal had walked out of his life, and yet she was still on Andrew’s mind. He wondered if she had made it to the Crescent Moon Pack territories all right. He had contemplated contacting Serena and asking if she had any news on Crystal, but he didn’t want anyone to think that he was still stuck on her.
Andrew grabbed a couple balls in his Newton’s cradle, pulled back, and released them, watching as they tapped back and forth rhythmically. The clacking stroked his eardrums soothingly. For not the first time, he was glad to have this little distraction in his home office.
Suddenly, Andrew’s phone buzzed and broke his hypnotic state. He sighed softly and pulled his phone out of his pants.
The caller I.D. said, “Chief Callaghan.”
Concerned that something might have happened to Lisa or Princess Aurora, Andrew quickly answered the phone.
“Hello, Alpha King Andrew Dubois speaking,” he said.
“Good evening, Your Highness. It’s Chief Callaghan from down at the police station,” the voice on the other end of the line replied.
“Good evening, Chief Callaghan. To what do I owe the pleasure?”
“It’s not good news, I’m afraid.”
“What is it? Lisa? Princess Aurora?”
“No, Your Highness. It’s Crystal.”
Andrew’s eyes widened, but he did his best not to react in any way that Chief Callaghan could detect.
“What happened to Crystal?”
“She and Noah Bernard were in a car crash this past Saturday.”
“What? Is she okay?”
“Yes, both she and Mr. Bernard survived. They left the hospital earlier this week.”
Andrew let out a soft sigh.
“So, let me get this straight, this happened this past Saturday?”
“That is correct.”
“And why wasn’t I told sooner?”
“Crystal requested that you not be told.”
Andrew cringed. Crystal must truly be trying to move on with her life if she didn’t even want him to know when she got into a car accident.
“Then why are you telling me now?”
“Because this has turned into a criminal case, and we know that you have information on people who might want to hurt Crystal.”
Andrew nearly dropped the phone, but he maintained his grip.
“Why would you need to know that?”
“The accident happened because someone cut the brake line of the vehicle that she and Mr. Bernard were driving at the time.”
Andrew ran his hand over his face.
Bob.
It had to be Bob, but he couldn’t tell Chief Callaghan that. Even with Andrew’s influence, no one would believe that Bob had done something like that, not without Andrew’s own reputation taking a dive. He had to be smart about this.
“I’m sorry, Chief Callaghan,” Andrew said, mentally cursing himself as the words came out of his mouth. “I don’t have any promising leads on who could be after Crystal.”
Shortly after his call with Chief Callaghan, Andrew arranged for George Black—the head of his Special Guard—and Jeffrey to meet him in his home office immediately. Both arrived in less than fifteen minutes.
“Thank you both for arriving on such short notice,” Andrew said to the two men standing before his desk. “First of all, I want you to know that what we talk about here today is meant only for us and the Special Guard. Understood?”
“Yes, Your Highness,” Jeffrey said.
At the same time, George Black barked, “Sir, yes, sir!”
“Good.” Andrew took a deep breath before continuing. “Last Saturday, Crystal was in a car accident, but it was no accident.”
Jeffrey raised his brow at Andrew, but neither man interrupted him.
“Someone cut her brake line. I believe that it was Bob.”
Both men nodded, though Andrew could tell that Jeffrey wanted to say something.
“Yes, Jeffrey?”
“Did you tell the police of your suspicions, Your Highness?”
Andrew shook his head.
“No. I’m afraid that it will only make matters worse if I try and get him arrested again, especially with his newfound influence on the Werewolf Council.”
Jeffrey eyed Andrew for a moment but nodded regardless.
“Instead, I want to get ahead of Bob and make sure that he—or whoever he hires—cannot get to Crystal if he tries again.”
Andrew stood up and strolled to the other side of the desk, standing directly in front of George Black.
“That is where you and the Special Guard come in. I want the Special Guard to cover Crystal—and Noah Bernard—without either of them knowing. Do you think that you can handle that?”
George Black nodded firmly.
“Sir, yes, sir!”
“Here is the thumb drive with all the details necessary for this mission,” he said as he slipped a black thumb drive into George Black’s awaiting palm.
Andrew then stepped up to Jeffrey.
“Jeffrey, I want you to start guarding Princess Aurora.”
Jeffrey’s brows shot up almost to his hairline.
“Are you sure that you don’t want me to guard Crystal as well, Your Highness?” he asked.
“I’m certain. I don’t want Bob thinking that he can get a hold of anyone that I care about.”
“Please, Your Highness, I think that it would be better if I were to go Crystal and—”
“George, you are dismissed,” Andrew said. “I would like a word alone with Jeffrey.”
“Sir, yes, sir!”
George Black saluted Andrew, who returned the gesture, and then marched out of his home office. Once the Special Guard left, Andrew returned his attention to Jeffrey.
“Jeffrey, I need you to stay and protect Princess Aurora so that no one will get suspicious,” he said, his voice a whisper.
Jeffrey’s eyes darted about for a moment, searching for unseen threats.
“Suspicious about what?”
“Suspicious that I might still be stuck on Crystal. If word got out that you were on a mission in the Crescent Moon Pack territories, the same territories that Crystal moved to, then people might jump to conclusions about the state of my relationship with her.”
Jeffrey nodded solemnly.
“I see. You’re trying to make it seem as though all of your attention is actually on Princess Aurora—”
“Exactly where it should be.”
“I understand.”
“Thank you, Jeffrey.” Andrew patted Jeffrey on the shoulder. “I know that Crystal’s your friend, too, but I need you here right now.”
“Of course, Your Highness. Anything else?”
Andrew shook his head.
“No. Here’s a thumb drive with the details for Princess Aurora detail.”
Andrew handed over a red thumb drive to Jeffrey, who gripped it tightly.
“Thank you, Your Highness.”
“No, thank you, Jeffrey. Dismissed.”
Andrew waited for Jeffrey to leave before he slumped back behind his desk. He reopened the files on vampiric intrusion and started the tapping of the Newton’s cradle once again. He tried to focus on the words and figures in front of him, but he could not help his mind wandering to Crystal’s safety.
“I did everything that I could,” he assured himself.
That did not stop the bad feeling that gnawed at his gut every time he thought about her accident.
