Lost Souls Found

"Let me guess. The contact is already dealing with them?" La.r.s.en sighed wearily. "I"m venturing to guess those two idiots are claiming knowledge of us…and perhaps kinship." He wasn"t surprised they"d try something like that.

Jethro shook his head. "Nope, they"re claiming we slipped into town during the night and committed a.s.sault and battery that ended in murder." His mouth tightened. "For some reason, they"ve got evidence to back it up."

No wonder they looked so smug earlier when Maisie spotted them. La.r.s.en frowned angrily. This wasn"t good at all. "So are we going to have to hightail it out of here." He didn"t care for complications.

"No." Jethro shook his head. "That is what they"re expecting us to do." He sighed angrily. "They"ve done this for the last time." He smiled coldly. "I"ve got airtight alibis for everyone, including the rebels that do sneak out." He shrugged. "Incidentally, my contact heard about what happened and contacted me just as I reached the scene. We"re to meet him at the store next to this one. An eatery where we can fill our stomachs." He sighed. "It seems they have a few new guests that aren"t comfortable with the present and need a.s.sistance adapting."

La.r.s.en froze. "You don"t say?" He wasn"t in the mood to become a mentor. The last time it happened, those fools decided to frame him for murder. They reminded far too much of Eleanor and her schemes. If he didn"t know any better, he"d say they were related to her in a distant fashion. Since he knew nothing about her ancestry, anything was possible, sadly enough, including other relatives who shared kin-blood with her.

Jethro grunted. "I refused to commit to anything such as mentorship." He shrugged. "I did have to explain to him why I wouldn"t do it. Once he heard the details about those troublemakers, he understood immediately." He frowned. "He said something strange. "aye well, I have two people here who might make sense of the two who"re causing the trouble once they set eyes upon the individuals in question." Afterwards, we set up a meeting place and time."

La.r.s.en thought about it. "Will the two guests be there?" He didn"t care for the idea since it wasn"t something, he wanted interfering with the first meeting.

Jethro shook his head. "No, but his granddaughters will be there." He shrugged. "For some reason, he wanted them there to ascertain our genuine willingness to become guardians of the mountainous area."

Well that made sense, especially if he wasn"t sure about them. "I don"t think he meant anything insulting by it." La.r.s.en decided. "He"s just hedging his bets is all." Worst comes to worse, they would find another area further inland to live. This wasn"t the only area they could live where they could access the ocean.

Jethro grunted. "Well, I see the others followed orders really well." He remarked sarcastically. "Go to the accessory area, huh?"

"Well, we saw you so didn"t bother going." Maisie shrugged.

Denise merely smiled and shrugged. She hadn"t spoken for as long as anyone knew here.

La.r.s.en knew she was mute from birth, so he didn"t take exception to her silence. At some point, she would break through the barrier stopping her from speech. He knew she could do it, he"d heard her in nightmares.

Jarl rubbed his neck. "I saw no reason to go there." He glanced at the girls. "If they"d actually gone over there then I would have if only to keep track of them." The fact he hadn"t immediately gone away meant he"d probably overheard the entire conversation.

Jethro frowned and rolled his eyes. "Whatever, we should go."

Jarl cleared his throat. "Should we all go with you?" He indicated Maisie and Denise. "There"s going to be five of us and four of them."

Hmm, a good point and one La.r.s.en hadn"t thought about before now.

Jethro smiled. "I told him there would be five of us, but he said not to worry about it." He shrugged. "Fellow is really good natured."

La.r.s.en wasn"t sure about this whole meeting thing. "What is his name anyway?"

"Ramon Fuego. His granddaughters…" Jethro frowned. "Come to think of it, he didn"t tell me their names."

Oh, wonderful that would be awkward. La.r.s.en threw his hands into the air. "Well, I guess we should head over there before the time gets any later." He decided mainly because if they stayed inside the big supermarket without buying anything they would be viewed as loiterers and potential thieves. Not something he wanted happening what with the other thing happening now.

Denise nudged Maisie, signing a question at her and the others. "Should we purchase something as a gift to show thanks?" Maisie glanced at La.r.s.en.

"Hmm, good question." An old-time custom, but it was also courtesy as well. "I suppose we have time to pick something." La.r.s.en glanced at Jethro. "Did he show any interest in exchanging pleasantries before getting down to business?"

"Ah," Jethro frowned. "He didn"t mention anything, but since we were somewhat embroiled in that mess outside there wasn"t much time to make full inquiries about something like that." He rubbed his jaw. "I could call him and ask."

Or they could just pick something up and hope for the best. La.r.s.en mulled over the dilemma. "We"ll just pick something up that will be useful, I think." He wasn"t sure that accessories would count as useful though.

Denise had something in mind though and she started walking with purpose. La.r.s.en grinned when Jethro shook his head. "I think we"ll just follow her lead this time." He suspected she"d snooped around the area ahead. Probably one of those midnight jaunts he wasn"t supposed to know about. He shrugged and followed her more out of curiosity than anything else.

He wasn"t looking forward to the meeting but knew it was necessary. The whole mess had fingerprints of something about to go horribly wrong. He just couldn"t figure out what bothered him more. The nebulous sensation of trouble looming, or the notion that they"d found something that could be wonderful. It was possibly too good to be true.

At last Denise stopped. She stood in the small fabric area and she looked around carefully before checking out the different materials. Jethro shook his head. "I"m so not good in a place like this." He grimaced. "I"ll wait near the measuring area and watch for trouble."

So, he wasn"t the only one who sensed unrest in the air. La.r.s.en was grateful that Jethro said what he had. "thanks. I don"t think this is going to take too long." No sooner than he said that than Denise, Jarl, and Maisie reappeared with bolts of cloth in their arms. La.r.s.en"s eyebrows rose in surprise. Each bolt of fabric had distinct patterns but were in good taste. "You think someone is going to be in need of these?" Now that he thought about it. It was almost time for the Faires to begin again.

Denise nodded. Jarl and Maisie shrugged. "Denise picked all three of these." She stated firmly. "I, for one, don"t think this is going to work, but she"s determined."

Since Denise rarely showed such raw interest in something, La.r.s.en decided he wouldn"t make a big deal of it. "All right. How many yards?"

Maisie frowned. She freed a hand and signed at Denise who blinked. She tucked the bolt beneath one arm and held up six fingers, indicating six yards. La.r.s.en"s eyebrows rose. "These suckers better come in handy later." He didn"t refuse the unspoken request. He figured they would keep at least three of the six yards from each bolt of fabric.

With his lack of refusal, he turned and rejoined Jethro who chatted with the person cutting material.

As he observed everything going on around them, La.r.s.en didn"t miss the fact that the material was indeed cut in segments of three yards. Good, there wouldn"t be any problems later. He paid for them up front and they walked out with bags in hand.

Jethro led the way to the meeting place. He spoke to the host who gestured for them to wait for a server. Even as that happened, La.r.s.en continued observing everything going on. He didn"t speak until they began walking behind the server who led them to a small alcove. Much to his surprise, an older gentleman sat in the sunlight, with two companions on either side of him. They appeared related to each other. He did recall Jethro saying something about granddaughters.

"Mr. Ramon?" Jethro inquired.

Ramon looked up at them. He shifted slightly, sliding out of the booth, and stood up to greet them properly. "Yes, I am Ramon." He studied them carefully. "You must be Jethro, La.r.s.en, Denise, Maisie, and Jarl?"

La.r.s.en bowed politely. "Yes, I am La.r.s.en." He didn"t offer his surname. It appeared unnecessary. Besides the fact, he sensed shock from the two young women sitting in the shadows. He didn"t question their uncustomary actions of remaining in their seats. There was limited s.p.a.ce.

This was going to be awkward.

"oh right, this is temporary." Ramon gestured for them to follow him. "If it isn"t too much to ask, Jarl, Denise, and Maisie can remain here with my granddaughters, while we talk elsewhere." Well that would take care of any awkwardness.

La.r.s.en didn"t have a problem, but he thought the girls and Jarl might take issue with Ramon"s suggestion.

Jarl smiled. "I"ll stay here." Maisie and Denise nodded their agreement.

After a moment of surprise, La.r.s.en shrugged. "All right, keep an eye out for trouble." It could appear without warning as they all knew from unfortunate experience.

Denise made a shooing motion at him.

He smiled and walked away, following Jethro and Ramon to another area where they could speak in better privacy. Hopefully this wouldn"t take too long.

As it turned out. They didn"t need to worry. Ramon was polite. He was amused upon hearing about the fabric. "As it turns out, one of my guests is a superb costume a.s.sembler." He shrugged. "It will come in handy, and will only require three out of six yards of each, I believe."

Relieved, La.r.s.en smiled. "I"m glad to hear that. We will take good care of the house and grounds." He studied Ramon, wondering if he"d met him in the past at some point.

Ramon nodded. "Would it be all right if my granddaughters came up to visit? They are artists and use the grounds for inspiration."

Hmmm, that would be awkward what with some of the foundlings not fond of humans. La.r.s.en exchanged glances with Jethro before he sighed. "As long as I know what they look like and they contact the house ahead of time." He didn"t want trouble occurring at such an important time of transition. "I"m raising some unruly youngsters and they are wary of people they don"t know." He offered the explanation despite how weak it sounded.

"Understandable, I"ll make it clear to the girls, and the guests, that surprise visits are not allowed." Ramon extended a hand.

La.r.s.en shook it without comment. He waited while Jethro shook his hand as well. "We were wondering about what do with the problem."

"Oh? Right about those rascals that"re trying to frame you." Ramon pondered the problem. "I"ll see what I can do to halt any further problems." His smile was chilling. "I"ve dealt with such juveniles before."

Hmm, La.r.s.en sensed there was much history behind that statement. He wasn"t going to test the theory that Ramon was very similar to him, Jethro and the rest of his foundlings. "Well, it is getting late and we should return before night falls."

Ramone smiled. "I think you"re right." His eyes glinted. "It"ll be interesting to keep an eye on the rogues stirring up trouble." The fact that he sensed they were up to no good rea.s.sured La.r.s.en.

"I shall count on you to help keep them at bay." La.r.s.en bowed in acknowledgment.

Now to leave without the authorities coming after them. He wasn"t of mind to spend time in the local jail because of those jerks. In fact, he had reason to believe they attempted to create holes in the security of the pack by creating such tension in the first place. Not acceptable.

Jethro also bowed to Ramon. "We shall retrieve the rest of our party. I hope your granddaughters weren"t too put out at setting eyes on us." He commented with a faint smile.

Ramon shook his head. "No, they were more shocked than anything else. He reminded them of an old friend from their childhood." He shrugged. "they"ve been searching for him for a very long time."

Chills ran down La.r.s.en"s back. "I hope they"re successful." He wasn"t entirely sure of that statement. In fact, he was increasingly uncomfortable and just wanted to leave. "My instinct says we"re about to have worse problems on our hands if we don"t depart now." He stated very abruptly. "I don"t mean to be rude, but…" He shrugged.

Ramon smiled. "All right, go." He waved a hand. "I"ll run interference if necessary, along with the girls to keep you all from being detained."

La.r.s.en sighed. On one hand he was grateful, on the other hand, the man seemed far too interested in him for his comfort. As for the granddaughters, he would have to see them another time when they weren"t caught in shadows. For now, he just wanted to retreat to safety and solitude. "Good day." He abruptly turned on his heel and headed out.