C28 Valuable information

James followed the smell of eggs and strong coffee to the kitchen. the place smelled like home. when he got to the hallway, he could see Rose in the kitchen cooking up a storm. the little woman busied herself in the massive kitchen, she had a pancake batter going and bacon sizzling on another pan. all the while keeping Grace in the loop about the happenings in Culmore.

Grace sat on one of the high stools eating scrambled eggs and drinking coffee while listening attentively. James had to admit, getting Rose involved was a good idea. Grace seemed to be getting better with the new company. the day Nicholas went into the basement, he didn't know how he was going to manage her all by himself with her episodes. he had no choice but to send a car to Culmore and request Rose to come to London.

On the outside things were falling into place at the mansion, Grace was off the heavy stuff that turned her into a zombie but she was still on her medication. but underneath the iceberg, James knew things were falling apart at the Mansion.

Luther made little progress about Niells whereabouts. he was now in Helsinki, he moved about every time he got a lead on where Susan was spotted.

But Susan was always one step ahead, she knew when they were on her tail, because every time he reached a place, he missed them just by a few hours, and sometimes he could still smell their departing scent. Susan's body soap smelled like burned spices and Niells baby powder.

"Good morning ladies" James nodded to the two ladies in the kitchen.

"I thought you were sleeping." Rose gave him one of her smiles

and Grace almost swallowed her spoon whole, when she saw Rose blush when James walked past her to get a clean cup.

'Now that was something interesting.'

"Who could sleep in with such smells whiffling around the house like this." James openly smiled at the little woman whose face seemed to be burning from the heat in the kitchen.

Rose was about to put a plate out for James when they heard the sound of a car in the driveway.

James went to check it out.

"His lady must be a lucky girl," Rose whispered as she winked at Grace who seemed not to catch her meaning.

"He certainly carries all before him, doesn't he?"

she said to Grace.

Finally, Grace caught on when she saw Rose looking at James retreating behind in his tight pants. she had been looking at James' crotch.

She couldn't help the laughter that escaped her lips.

James closed the door behind him and saw that it was the chief of police. properly on official police business

The chief of Police, Mark as he was known to his friends parked his car and looked up at the intimidating Mansion.

James stood outside the entrance of the mansion and eyed the other man.

Mark was a man in his early sixties, ready to retire. he was divorced, a dreadful man, even by James' standards. Mark was short and visibly bald under his hat, with a hanging stomach, that told a tale of many nights on a couch drinking beer from a can and had bad breath. It was a wonder to James how his breath managed to escape the mint gums he always seemed to be chewing.

James wondered how this man had managed to score himself a wife and settled down, but then again a lot of things in life were a wonder to James. he made it a habit of digging up people's past and having their information at his fingertips, over the years he learned the power of information, valuable information.

"I hope you are here to tell me you have a lead on little Neill," James said taking a few steps down

"We still working on it, I was hoping I could have a little chat with Mr. Meyer, and clarify a few things."

"I'm afraid that won't be possible, sir. Mr. Meyer is not at home at the moment, you can leave your message with me."

"Could I ask where Mr. Meyer went?" Mark looked at James with suspicion.

"I'm afraid im not at liberty to disclose my boss's whereabouts" his eyes focused on the other man's unkept fingernails as he toyed with the keys of his car.

"I see Miss Moon is feeling better" James' eyes followed his gaze to the big window, it showed Grace and Rose in the lounging area, Rose was having her tea and they were laughing at something Rose had said.

"I don't know what you mean, if there was nothing else officer, im afraid I have to get back to my duties."

"I wouldn't want to keep you from your work, please let Mr. Meyer know I was looking for him." he gave James a nod and put on his hat.

James thought the hat could use some dry cleaning as Mark got into his car and drove away.

Just then James' phone rang and Luther's name flashed on the screen. he watched the car's headlights disappearing into the distance, and looked over his shoulder at the mansion's entrance. he took the remaining steps down past the driveway to the lawn, there he found a chair that faced the tall trees.

"Have you got anything?" he asked Luther as soon as he picked up.

"Nothing. I'm trying to get hold of Mr. Meyer but his phone is off, Susan and the baby are not here" he took a deep breath, he was in an old shabby apartment holding one of Niells toys.

"from the looks of things, she left in a hurry, I don't know, but I think there is a mole there at the mansion. how does this woman slip through my fingers every time I think I have her pinned down?" he sounded frustrated at his failure.

James thought about it before he spoke again

"A mole you say?"

"I think so, given how well she's been getting away."

"I'l let Nickolas know and we will have to do a sweep this side,"

he was scratching the little hairs on his chin.

" Do you think the people helping her are dangerous people?" he asked Luther.

"I would say, they are powerful people."

"Then there were the notes she received that pushed her over the edge, some of those notes didn't mince their words. the implication was that they wanted her dead. now I don't know how this all ties up with the child's disappearance but it all seems too much of a coincidence."

"And the young man, who aided Susan to escape?"

James felt a tightening in his chest at the question.

"Harmless, I looked him over but nothing suggests he might be involved with anyone powerful, my theory on him is that Susan might have promised him money, large sums of it."

"James, I did want to ask you something though, off the record of course."

"Yes?"

"How much do you know about Mr. Meyers's past?"

"Not as much as I would like to," James blatantly lied. " Mr. Meyer is frustratingly a closed book. no known scandals and he likes it that way.

Luther also rubbed his chin thoughtfully

"I'm scared next time I might walk into a trap, not knowing what I am up against means any day now il step over a minefield."

"Hang in there, Man. I will find something."

He hung up the phone soon after and made his way back inside the house. The sky had turned dark, he could see a storm brewing over the treetops. it was going to be hellish of a day.