Chapter 244 - Family Ties (2/2)
[As long as it's nothing too s.e.n.s.i.t.i.v.e, for the moment, just have them screenshot or take pictures of anything they find and text it. I'll call Tri and have him on standby for more s.e.n.s.i.t.i.v.e information.] Poseidon advised. [Have you come up with any leads at all yet?]
Arei frowned, his father was anything but patient. ”Only Jos. She said that Cam was highly suspicious of Fern and would have most likely written about most of it. She said to search the diaries around the time of the queen's death leading up to Cam and Alesondro's marriage. There should be mention of possible secret passageways, especially in the room Cam stayed in. You may want to go as far as searching the room.”
[The only problem with that is, we don't know which room was hers. They all look the same now and Fern sure isn't going to divulge the information.] Ry replied.
”Jos also mentioned that there were some servants and guards that were loyal to the crown that had helped them retrieve Cam's belongings after the attack. If you could find some of those people, it could lead you to the information you're after.” Arei said as he poured himself a tumbler of his father's favorite scotch.
[We plan on talking to some of the townspeople, but we were hoping for leads before we started poking around too much in that area.] Ry said. [We don't want Fern finding out just yet.]
”Alright, well I'll go work with Peg and Jos and see if we can come up with a list of the people who were employed there during their reign.” Arei said as he took a long drink, enjoying the sweet taste of the aged liquor. He let out a pleased sigh.
[Hey, you better not be in my office drinking all my good scotch! Do you know how old that is?! You can't get aged scotch like that now!] Poseidon yelled toward the phone.
Arei's lips curved up into a wide smile. ”What was that, scruuurch... Oh, I think I'm losing phone reception, scruuurch...” He teased as he hung up the phone. He glanced down at the clock on the phone before looking out the office window and finding the small group below. He swirled the liquid in the glass as he thought over the tasks to come. Surely, it was going to be hard for Jos to go back over so many memories with one of her dearest friends. With a slight frown, he searched for her contact information and typed out a quick text.
Jos furrowed her brows as she glanced down at her phone. It was a message from Arei, reading simply 'meet me in the antiques room'. She sent a quick reply as she pushed up from the chair she had sat back down in. Her attention kept moving back to the phone as she began to move away from the table.
”What's up chicky?” Chary asked, reading the confusion on Jos's face.
She held out her phone. ”Arei, he said to meet him in the antiques room but didn't say why. I hope it's not bad news...”
Chary arched a brow as her lips curved up into a smile. She sent Peg and Andy a knowing glance before turning her attention back to the files in front of her. She caught the movement of the wolf's head moving in confusion from her, Peg, and Andy to Jos's back. Chary chuckled as she lowered her voice. Jos was already halfway across the bottom floor of the library, but she still didn't want to tip her off. ”You see, going to the antiques room has always been code for 'let's go mess around' in this palace.” She sent Shelly a wink as the wolf blushed and sent another surprised glance around to Jos's departing back.
Andy smiled brightly, ”You think they have finally gotten back together, together?” She watched as Jos disappeared into the room shortly before Arei was pulling it open and walking inside as well. Her smile widened. ”They do seem a lot more at ease than the last time I saw them.”
Chary rolled her eyes in amus.e.m.e.nt. ”Who knows with Arei. You know him. What his heart wants and what his mouth is saying are rarely the same. He says he doesn't want to move forward with her too fast, but I swear I've not experienced so much s.e.x.u.a.l tension in one room since dad accidentally invited Aphrodite, Ares, and Hephaestus to the same party.”
”Oh shit! Glad I missed that one!” Andy replied covering a giggle with her hand.
Chary arched a brow sending Peg a mischievous grin. ”Yeah, it was almost as bad as watching the two of you tiptoe around for so many years!
”Oh, you!” Andy set forward and playfully slapped Chary's arm. ”In my defense, I thought he was gay.”
”You were the only one!” Chary laughed. Her expression became serious as her gaze moved back to the door Jos and Arei had disappeared behind. ”He's still such a hard-headed fool...” Her eyes moved over to Peg. ”You should have a talk with him.”
Peg shrugged. ”I've tried... The disadvantage of being good at fighting wars is that you get so used to only planning for the worst-case scenario of any given situation that you often forget to even consider the best or even the most likely situation.”
”I hope he doesn't overthink himself into a corner again this time.” Chary said.
Andy's gaze moved to the door. ”Jos still seems a bit unsure of herself, but I don't think she's as blind and naive as last time. I don't think she'll let him go as easily this go around.”
”Are you two done gossiping? Dad's going to be on our asses to at least find some leads. He's probably already badgered Arei for them. You know the man has no patience at all!” Peg said as he gave his wife's hand an affectionate squeeze before turning his focus to the computer in front of him.
”Mehhhh, You're probably right...” Chary lifted the file and fingered through it, her face falling into a heavier frown with each page. ”Why do I always get stuck with finance...” She mumbled as she stared at the stack.
”Because it's what you're the best at.” Andy giggled as she took one of the diaries on the table and flipped it open.
Peg cracked his knuckles and began to type. ”Alright, you bastard, Let's see what you're hiding.”