The Missing Item

Alastor after the wedding decided to keep his distance from everyone. The media could not do anything to him as he had his security threaten the media to not get close to him which worked.

He knew going to work would still have those daring reporters coming after him so he stayed away from work for the week and by the next week he was on his way to work.

The heat had not died down but it was still bearable to work with.

Entering his company with everyone showing before him, his assistant ran to bow before him with a tablet in her hand.

He looked over her gray suit with a subtle smile before looking away.

"Good morning sir," she said as she followed him into his office. He settled into his seat to open his laptop and tap on a button which powered it up.

Opening his drawer, there was a file there which he got out to read before noticing that she was still standing before his table.

"Is anything the matter?" he said without looking up at her.

"Actually yes," she said, getting him to look up. He was one who was a perfectionist and this meant that he made sure nothing was out of place, not even for a second.

For her to say to him that there was a problem meant something was up. 

"And what is it?" he asked, dropping the file to clasp his hands together.

"We checked the storage room sir. It's missing."

"You can't be serious," he smiled with conviction. "I fastened it myself. How could it be missing?"

"I don't know sir. All I can say is that it is missing and we can't find it."

This had the man mad for he stood up from his seat, rounding the table to go through the open door.

While he walked through the hallway everyone around bowed before him as he walked into an open elevator which was held open by a worker.

The assistant entered with him tapping on a button which had them going to the bottom of the building.

"Do we go…" she tried asking as he had his eyes focused on the door before him.

"Underground," his deep voice thundered in the little box they were in.

She tapped on the button which had them going underground and within seconds the box stopped moving. 

The door opened with the duo stepping out. He walked ahead with long serious strides while she ran after him.

They had entered a well lit warehouse which had more than fifty people going through each shelf while looking for something.

He walked to a security general who was shouting orders.

"General," he said behind the man who turned and bowed very low.

"Lord Alastor. I was not expecting…"

"Where is it?" the man said without looking at the general. His eyes moved around the warehouse looking for something.

"We are doing our best to find…"

"Who reported it missing? Who was in charge of keeping the warehouse safe? Who got in here last? I want everyone responsible brought before me now."

"Yes sir," the general said before running to round up the people needed for the interrogation.

Alastor walked to stand before a pitch black door with nothing but an empty space where something should be.

He put his hand lightly on the wall as he pushed against it, his hand making a stamp in the metal wall as it groaned under his weight.

"Sir," the general called behind him, getting his attention. "The people responsible are here."

Alastor immediately turned and walked to see the line of men and women.

"Now I hope you all know what is missing as I would not be listening to any tomfoolery," he said. "Who amongst you should not be here?"

None of them raised their hands as he decided to proceed.

"Then I know you all already know what is missing."

They all nodded which had him pacing around with his hand behind him.

"Now, who was in charge of keeping this place safe?"

Two security officers stepped forward.

"And you two did not see anyone getting in here?"

"No sir," one of them answered. "We had this place secured throughout the night. There was no one we let in here. They all stopped at the ground floor and not the underground floor."

"And who here made sure to check if the item was fastened in its stead?"

A woman stepped forward with a clipboard.

"It was me," she answered. "It went missing a few days ago but I made sure to report…"

"A few… days ago?" he asked, raising his eyebrows at her.

"Y-yes sir," she stuttered. "But I reported…"

"To me?"

"No sir, I reported…"

"To my assistant?"

"No sir," she answered, beginning to see how she had messed up.

"Then who?!" he thundered in rage. "Who did you talk to?"

"It was me, sir," the general stepped forward. "She reported to me and ever since then I have been searching for the item. I've even had so many people go to different shops asking around for it."

Alastor sighed before leaning against the wall with his arms folded. He was visibly mad.

"How could I leave you imbeciles in charge of something so important and you fuck it up?!" he yelled with everyone being silent. "I leave this place for a few days to come back and find it missing. What kind of stupid team do I have running this place?!"

"Sir," the assistant called his attention as she walked to whisper to him. "You need to see this."

She propped up an image on her tablet which had him frowning even deeper.

"Where is it?" 

"The antique shop the general's lacky is at."

"How far away is it?"

"Two miles up north."

"Let's go," he said walking to the elevator with his assistant. Before the doors closed he pointed to the general. "You better find it."

The elevator rose to the surface as the duo exited and headed for the car.