Chapter 6

“Grandma!” John shook his head. “Not there either, with or without her.” His shoulders sagged. “He’s just—gone.”

“And tomorrow he’ll show up with some fantastical tale about being kidnapped by aliens.”

“Hell, at this point, I’d almost believe it if he did.”

They both laughed, albeit without much humor, and then went on to talk about less pressing things while he finished eating.

He washed up the dishes and then they both decided it was time for bed. As he headed to the area of the mansion which had become what he considered his own apartment, for lack of a better description, Constance stopped him.

“You willfind him,” she said firmly.

“I hope so. And more to the point, I hope we find him alive.”

“As do we all.” She gave him a hug and kissed his cheek, before going upstairs, calling down when she got to the top, “Get some sleep.”