One logical place

After Max had vented some of his anger and Noah calmed him down a bit, he told Noah about how and where he had managed to find James and Andrew. "I went to their houses myself and I found no one there, just like the person I sent over to check on them the first time. But where he had simply peered through the windows and rang the doorbell a few times, I actually let myself inside both houses. I started with James' house and saw there was no sign of life. Even that rat, which James calls a dog, was nowhere to be found nor was there any food or water for placed for it anywhere in or around the house. So, I left and headed over to Andrew's. In his house I pretty much found the same. The house was empty and all the closets had been cleared out. Not just his but also the ones in the rooms of his children. All the electronics were gone too. The only thing that had been left behind seemed to be the furniture, some toys and the food in the fridge and cupboards."

Noah wasn't surprised to find out that both of them were cowards who would run at the first sign of trouble, especially not when they were the ones to be partially responsible for said trouble. After all, without their involvement, Harold's henchman wouldn't have been able to enter the I.E. garage so easily. Nonetheless he remained quiet as he let Max continue to tell the rest of his story.

"Since neither of them are particularly smart, I figured they would have gone to a place they knew and were familiar with. In James' case, who practically burns his money faster than he makes it, I assumed there weren't very many places for him to hide. So, I went to search for him first and would use him to find the other rat. What other place does a guy in his early twenties, with zero experience or hardships in life, have other than his parents, girlfriend or stupid buddies. I know for a fact that he doesn't have a girlfriend. I mean who would date a putz like that?"

Noah chuckled as he indeed found it hard to imagine that any girl would want to date the type of guy his nephew was. Although he wasn't exactly ugly, he was arrogant yet insecure but refused to acknowledge that. This made him quite insufferable as a person. Needy, entitled behaviour, fits of anger and he wasn't a stranger to mansplaining things either. Combined with him lacking any form of maturity and stuck to his mother's hip, he had successfully negated any redeeming qualities that a woman might see in him. Or so at least both him and Max thought. While amused Noah continued to listen to what Max had to say.

"As for friends, from his social media I was able to conclude that he doesn't have that many friends to begin with and those he does have, aren't exactly in any position to help in a way that would fit his standards. They seem like the type of guys who live outside of their means and are just trying to live the lifestyle of the rich and the famous. The only reason I can think of for those people being his friend in the first place is, because he has money and a low enough self-esteem to want to buy their friendship." Again Noah couldn't really argue as he too had seen the pictures that Max was likely referring to and could understand how Max came to that conclusion.

"So, there was only one logical place left. His parents. Since he is a big momma's boy and she firmly believes he can do no wrong, while he seems to believe that his mom can help him get away with anything and everything, this was by far the most logical place for him to go hide. So, I went there and sure enough his dog ran up to the gate the moment I arrived with my car. I pressed the buzzer and spoke with you aunt, who let me in a bit reluctantly after questioning the reason for my visit and telling me that her son wasn't there."

Again Noah chuckled and asked, "So what did you say to make her let you inside? Because I assume that you went inside." Max nodded and said, "I did. I simply told her that it was okay for him to not be there because I hadn't come for him. That I was here to see her because I was a bit worried about James. Although she tried to fish for the reason of this concern, I insisted that it would be better for me to tell her face to face instead of over the intercom system. So, reluctantly she opened the gates and let me in."