Wargs: Outcast

By D. Allen Rutherford

Wargs: Outcast is the heart pounding and gripping conclusion to the Wargs Trilogy. It’s been three years since the bloody and gruesome battle in the remote wilderness near Misty Hollow. A battle Matt believed ended the harrowing threat against the peaceful residents of Misty Hollow. Since then, they have learned to maintain a peaceful co-existence with the wargs. Meanwhile, sinister forces have been working to resurrect a program to create the ultimate transgenic human-animal hybrid, bringing possible new threats to the valley’s residents.
After receiving a cryptic message, Matt is plagued with more questions unanswered and left with a bone-chilling fear; who’s behind this dark veil and what is their connection to Misty Hollow? With the new threat looming, one has to ask, are they ready to face a new adversary? Join Matt and the people of Misty Hollow as they struggle to unravel the new mystery and thwart the rising threat before it brings more misery and death back to the valley.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: May 17, 2016
• ISBN: 9781365027598

Book preview

Wargs: Outcast

Wargs

Outcast

D. Allen Rutherford

Copyright © 2016 D. Allen Rutherford

Cover by Collette J. Ellis

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored, or transmitted by any means -- whether auditory, graphic, mechanical, or electronic -- without written permission of both the publisher and author, except in the case of brief excerpts used in critical articles and reviews. Unauthorized reproduction of any part of this work is illegal and is punishable by law.

ISBN: 978-1-365-02957-4 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-365-02759-8 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2016905809

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

Lulu Publishing Services 1st Ed. 5/17/2016

Dedication

Success in life is, more often than not, encouraged by our parents and I’m blessed to have had parents who valued education and who encouraged their children to be successful far beyond what they themselves had accomplished. However, I sincerely believe that every successful person can look back over their life and credit much, if not all, of their success to one special person who inspired them to go above and beyond. My inspiration was, and still is, Mrs. Mary Lou Wilkerson Harris.

Mrs. Harris was a teacher and high school counselor in our small town, entering my life at a critical stage of my middle school education. She believed with all her heart, that education was the key that opened the doors of opportunity along whatever path you chose to follow in life.

God only knows what she saw in that gangly, raggedy ass kid, sitting in her seventh grade English class, but she reached out to that struggling child and made a difference in his life that echoed through the decades thereafter. She was not a lenient teacher, nor overly generous with false praise. Instead, she was firm and immutable in her expectations that all of her students held promise. She would be the first to tell you, success in life is not easy. However, she instilled in me, a belief that if you only applied yourself, were resolute in your commitment toward achieving your goals, and met your challenges head-on, you could achieve whatever you desired.

A couple years later, Mrs. Harris had the dutiful honor of serving as our high school counselor. In this role, she continued to provide encouragement and support to guide us in not only our academic pursuits, but tirelessly endeavoring to prepare us for life beyond the halls of our small town high school. But most importantly; she encouraged us to never, never, ever, give up on your dreams.

May God bless her and keep her, for she was truly an angel.

Acknowledgements

An author may claim bragging rights to the creation of a manuscript, but a published novel is truly a collaborative effort among a host of people. A Chorus of people behind the scenes; cover artist, beta readers, editors, proofreaders as well as critics, are essential to the success of the final product – A Novel. To this end, I would like to thank the many people who have willingly given of their time and expertise to produce the Wargs Trilogy. Although the list is too long to name everyone, I would like to acknowledge a few people who have hung with me, from beginning to the bitter end. My dear friends, Herman and Sandra Branton, Michael and Vera Taylor, Kim McGath, and Charles ‘Chuck’ Lowe. From the early drafts of the first book in the trilogy, Wargs: Curse of Misty Hollow, to the final editing and proof reading of book three Wargs: Outcast, these people endeavored to contribute honest, constructive critiques, offer ideas and proffer suggestions.

Above all, I would like to extend my heart-felt gratitude to Ms. Collette J. Ellis for the fabulous artwork she created for the covers of the Wargs Trilogy novels. Although Collette lives half a world away, in northern Wales, UK, working with her was as easy if she had lived next door. A talented and imaginative young artist, she tirelessly worked to create covers that are unique, dramatic, and well suited to the theme of the novels. Kudos for a superb job!

Prologue

It’s been three years since the nagual were virtually wiped out during the battle in the wilderness. Slowly the residents of Misty Hollow settled down to what some might regard as routine existence in their tiny corner of the world.

In the aftermath of the battle, Matt and Victor led several patrols to track down Primus and his rogue minions, that escaped the slaughter. In spite of their efforts, Primus and his minions were never found. Nor have they been heard from since that day of carnage. If they are still alive, they must have retreated deep into the wilderness, beyond our reach, Matt told Victor.

As life in the valley returned to normal, Matt and his cohorts soldiered on with the challenge originally put to them -- To rid the valley of the horrible curse that had come to symbolize all the fear, horror and carnage the residents of Misty Hollow have endured for generations.

After Dani recovered from her wounds received during the battle, she and Matt, aided by Sarah in the lab, worked hard to develop and manage a population control program among the surviving wargs. Their plan consisted of a sterilization program among the existing warg clans and a warg breeding reintegration program. The sterilization program was aimed at eventually eliminating, through natural attrition, the tainted warg population infected with the LTV virus. The breeding, reintegration program was aimed at breeding a new generation of pure-bred wargs free of the LTV virus. The goal was to eventually replace the infected population with a virus free population of wargs.

Meanwhile, Drs. Bertram and Hobart concentrated on developing a substantive program of their own to effectively eliminate the LTV virus from the human population within the valley. Building upon a couple of recent research advances by a notable pharmaceutical manufacturer, they were able to develop a gene blocker. They believed the gene blocker would effectively prevent the LTV virus from being passed on to future generations of valley residents. Coupled with precautionary prevention programs patterned after those employed to combat AIDS or HIV, they were confident that LTV could be totally eradicated within two generations.

Once a viable LTV eradication program was in place, Dr. Hobart sought to return to academia and resume teaching. With Matt’s help, he was able to get a couple of research papers published in notable professional journals which attracted the attention of more than one university who offered him teaching positions. True to their commitment, the powers-to-be, abrogated any adverse actions associated with his good name or professional reputation. Subsequently, Dr. Hobart returned home to reclaim a professional career interrupted years before.

Dr. Bertram and Allison, aside from treating the occasional patient in the clinic, focused on administering and monitoring the program to eradicate LTV from the valley. Allison spearheaded the education program primarily oriented around containing the spread of the LTV virus.

Sarah remained in Misty Hollow to manage the lab and supported Dr. Bertram’s efforts to administer and monitor the LTV eradication program. She also, worked with Matt and Dani to create warg embryos free of LTV. Once she assumed responsibility for the lab and settled into a routine she decided that she wanted to settle down in Graymere. Soon after Shikoba and Ninette were born, Sarah acquired a house that had been vacant for some years and arranged to have it remodeled. She moved in and immersed herself in setting up her new home which she proudly proclaimed as, ‘all her own.’

Once the ‘guest’ began to leave the inn and the kids were out of diapers, Nina decided it was time for her to return home. Her mother and uncle Charlie were aging rapidly and she was all the family they had upon whom they could depend on for care and support. However, each year during Thanksgiving and Christmas, Nina, Niz, and Uncle Charlie visited Graymere to spend time with Matt, Freya, and the kids. Uncle Charlie had begun an impromptu tradition of organizing and delivering Thanksgiving and Christmas worship services for the valley residents. Niz became an advocate for establishing a church in the valley so the residents would be brought ‘back into the fold’ as she would say.

After the patrols failed to locate Primus or any of his rogue minions, Victor disbanded the paramilitary defense force. The council of elders made good on their earlier commitment and transferred the Lancaster Homestead to Victor. With a homestead of his own, which he called ‘Shadowbourne’, Victor promptly began turning Shadowbourne into a small commercial sheep farm. He also persuaded Dani to remain at Shadowbourne as his wife. She happily agreed and they set about converting the old barn into a breeding kennel and set up a veterinarian hospital in the former onsite clinic.

Over the last three years Dani and Matt worked to create a pure-bred generation of wargs intended for reintegration. Dani brought four gray wolf from her sanctuary in Montana. She used them as surrogate mothers to birth the nextgen warg pups. Once Sarah processed the LTV free embryos in the lab, Dani implanted them into the surrogate mothers. While Dani focused on birthing and raising, what they referred to as, nextgen wargs, Matt managed the tainted warg population, to insure no more LTV infected wargs were born, particularly no new alpha primes. Other than monitoring the warg population, Matt, with the help of Alex and Frankie reestablished the natural food supply, principally elk and mule deer, in warg territory to sufficient levels to maintain a small population of wargs. Initially, Matt continued to provide the wargs with a supplemental supply of renderings obtained from meat processing plants. As the population of elk and mule deer began to thrive they gradually reduced the supplemental rations until the wargs were once again feeding wholly off their natural food supply.

Not every aspect of life in Misty Hollow was returning to normal. At home, Matt and Freya faced ever increasing parental challenges with their fraternal twins Shikoba and Ninette, now just more than three years old. Shikoba, born a true transgenic human-warg therianthrope, exhibited the most advanced and comprehensive lupine mutation ever known within the valley. Ninette, although fully therian, did not demonstrate the degree of lupine mutation as her twin brother. Almost from the moment of Ninette’s birth, six weeks after her brother, Shikoba began to harbor resentment and animosity toward his sister. At first Matt and Freya assumed it was a case of sibling rivalry, but as the children grew at an alarming rate so did Shikoba’s antagonistic attitude toward his sister.

Dr. Bertram tried to explain the children’s rapid growth in relation to the effects of Weaver Syndrome or Beckwith-Wiedemann Syndrome. He attributed this growth characteristic to the influence of inherited warg genes, wherein wargs, or wolves for that matter, typically reach sexual maturity at the age of two years. Thus, the chronological comparison between human and canines wherein canines mature seven years for every human year. Whereas humans would achieve sexual maturity around the age of fourteen, a canine reaches the same stage at the age of two.

Although Ninette’s transgenic mutations were much subtler in stark contrast to Shikoba, she possessed an above average intellectual capacity. She appeared to be evolving in a similar pattern of transgenic mutation as Keira.

The divergence of genetic inheritance and physical development between Shikoba and Ninette, in and of itself, seemed to lie at the heart of Shikoba’s animosity toward his sister. From an early age Shikoba seemed to be singled out and ridiculed by other children while adults appeared to harbor some degree of dread and apprehension when they were around him. Conversely, Ninette appeared to be the darling of the community, capturing the love and attention from all those around her.

Thus, was the life in Misty Hollow in the years following the battle in the wilderness. The defeat of Colonel Livingston’s nagual along with Livingston’s subsequent imprisonment thwarted his plan to establish dominion over the wargs and lead them to slaughter helpless human settlements. Believing the threat to the valley eliminated, the residents of Misty Hollow have been lulled into a sense of relative safety through isolation once again. Until!

Chapter 1

Looking out the front entrance of the United States Disciplinary Barracks, commonly referred to as Leavenworth Prison, one of the two soldiers manning the screening station just inside the main entrance observed two men in suits strolling up the walkway toward the front door. He could tell by their swagger and matching low-rent suits that they were not a pair of attorneys coming to meet with their clients. Hey Serge, here come a couple of spooks.

The sergeant behind the reception counter peered around the metal detector blocking his view, Na, just a couple of FBI weenies coming to interrogate a prisoner.

Skipper, to you, everyone who comes in here is a spook, said Pete, the other soldier manning the screening station.

Of the three prisons located on Fort Leavenworth, the U.S. Disciplinary Barracks, or USDB, is the military’s maximum security prison designated to house prisoners convicted of crimes related to national security and military personnel with sentences of ten year or more.

As the two suits stepped through the front door they flashed their IDs to Skipper and Pete while pulling back their coats to reveal their sidearm. After inspecting the IDs closely, Skipper gestured toward sergeant Pascoe at the front desk. Once the two men walked around the metal detector, Skipper mouthed silently to Pete, I told you so.

Good morning gentlemen, sergeant Pascoe greeted the two visitors as he pushed the clipboard across the counter and slapped a pen on top. Please sign in, and I need to see your IDs. Also, you will need to check in your weapons here with me and you can pick them back up on your way out.

Without saying anything, the two men patiently complied with the sergeant’s instructions and waited for him to log them in and lock up their weapons in the cabinet behind the desk.

Looking up from his computer monitor Sergeant Pascoe commented, I don’t see an appointment scheduled for you. Which prisoner are you here to interview?

We are here to see the commandant, one of them answered.

Sergeant Pascoe picked up the phone and called up to the commander’s office to clear the two men to proceed to the main office. He received an immediate reply to have them escorted directly to the commander’s office.

OK, gentlemen, Sergeant Pascoe said as he handed them each a visitor’s badge. Please wear these at all times while in the facility. Motioning for one of the soldiers in the lobby to approach his desk, the sergeant instructed him to escort the two visitors to the commander’s office.

* * *

Colonel Hanson got up from behind his desk to greet the two mysterious visitors. That will be all specialist, he said with a nod of his head ushering him out of the office. As the soldier exited, the colonel closed the door behind him. Good morning gentlemen, I’m Colonel Hanson the Commandant of the Disciplinary Barracks. Please have a seat. He walked around the desk to sit in his chair. The general called me first thing this morning to give me a heads up that you would be arriving, but he didn’t give me any details regarding the purpose of your visit. What is it, we can do for you?

We’re here to see one of your prisoners, Colonel Joshua Livingston. The older man replied while reaching across the desk to hand Colonel Hanson a sealed letter.

The letter was addressed to him personally from the National Security Advisor to the President. The letter instructed him, on authority from the President, to comply with any requests made by the person presenting this letter to him. Further, once he had read the letter, he was to return it to the person who presented it to him and not to discuss the nature of their visit with anyone. Colonel Hanson sat back in his chair and stared at the two men for a moment while he considered the nature of the instructions contained in the letter.

I assume you are aware of the contents of this letter and would agree that this situation is highly unusual, Colonel Hanson said rhetorically. With a sigh of frustration, he asked, I will arrange for Livingston to be taken to one of the interrogation rooms.

We would rather conduct the interview with Colonel Livingston in one of your offices instead of the interrogation room… Please, the older visitor said in a tone suggesting a command rather than a request.

Colonel Hanson looked across at the two men with scowl of indignation before handing the letter back to them. Hesitantly, the colonel picked up his phone, Sue, would you have Captain Hawkins come to my office?

Certainly Sir, I’ll page him right away.

Colonel Hanson and his visitors sat in silence for the next few minutes until they heard a knock on the door. Come in, the colonel called out.

Captain Hawkins stepped through the door, Yes Colonel; you asked for me?

Captain, I want you to arrange for detainee Joshua Livingston to be brought up to the corner office at the end of the hall. Arrange for the room to be secured and make sure these gentlemen are not interrupted while they interview the prisoner.

Sir? the captain replied in response to colonel’s unusual instruction.

You heard me.

But sir…

Colonel Hanson cut him off before he could finish his objection, Captain, I did not ask for a debate regarding my instructions, he snapped. Please see to it immediately.

Yes sir, Captain Hawkins replied smartly, casting a curious gaze at the two men sitting in front of the commander’s desk.

* * *

The office to be used for the meeting was completely empty except for a folding table and three chairs. The two men were seated on one side of the table when the guards delivered Colonel Livingston to the room.

Should I remove the shackles, the guard asked?

The older man shook his head, gesturing no. The guard moved Livingston in front of his chair, kicked the chair forward and with a shove, the guard forced Livingston to sit down. Can I get anything for you, sir, the guard asked?

Coffee, please.

I will have someone bring it up, the guard replied before doing an about-face and exiting the room.

In a classic scenario the younger man reached into his attaché case and retrieved a folder that he placed on the table in front of the older man. Livingston crossed his legs, folded his arms in his lap, in a stately manner, patiently waiting for the men to state the nature of their visit. A moment later a soldier arrived to deliver a tray with a carafe of coffee, cups and condiments.

Will there be anything else sir?

The older man shook his head and with a slight gesture of his hand, dismissed the soldier.

"Colonel Livingston, I’m agent Smith and this is agent Jones. We are with the Defense Intelligence Agency."

What do a couple of spooks want with me? Livingston replied.

Looking up from the file folder, agent Smith began, "We want to talk to you about a top secret program you managed dubbed the ‘Wendigo Project,’ that is, before you went rogue with it.

Keeping a straight face, demonstrating no emotion, Livingston replied, I’m not familiar with any such project, nor would I be at liberty to discuss it, even if I were.

Ignoring the colonel’s denial, Agent Smith continued, In exchange for your loyalty and cooperation, we are prepared to offer you amnesty for your crimes against this country.

With a stern scowl, Livingston shot back, What crimes? I haven’t been charged with any crimes. I’ve been held in this prison illegally for the last two years, four months, and six days, without being allowed to talk to an attorney or review any charges against me. I demand to be released immediately!

Again ignoring Livingston’s response, Smith continued, "Well Colonel, it seems you fell victim to your own blind arrogance. You mistakenly believed the moral majority would see the value of ‘Wendigo Project’ for its military application naively believing the ends would justify the means. Unfortunately for you, politicians who vote to fund various projects and programs do not want their names, even remotely, associated with a transgenic human-hybrid program, regardless of its value to the safety and security of our nation. Your second mistake was taking the program rogue instead of lobbying the right people to see the true potential for your program.

Livingston sat stoic as he listened to what agent Smith had to say.

There are factions within our military and intelligence community who recognize the value of such programs and are in a position to fund them without the burden of administrative oversight. Fortunately for you, the value of your program has been recognized by the right people who wish to utilize the product of such programs, shall we say, in unique situations in sensitive regions of the world. Your program offers a means to achieve desired objectives while providing plausible deniability."

I would have to believe, any and all information related to this ‘Wendigo Project’ would be contained in files, that the government already has in its possession. What could they possibly want with me? the colonel said in a dismissive tone.

"We have the files, and a team of scientist could conceivably duplicate the results you and your team achieved at Plum Island. However, a team of scientists not familiar with the program would take months, if not years to get the project back up and moving forward. Time is of the essence, and we believe you would be able to put together a team to fast-track a restart of the program, from where it was at when the Plum Island program was shut down."

Assuming for a moment, I could do what you are asking; what’s in it for me?

As I said earlier, we are prepared to grant you amnesty for any past crimes and misdemeanors. We will see that your record is expunged of any negative actions. Additionally, we will reinstate you to your former rank and restore your full retirement status.

What if I’m able to deliver the program results you are looking for; what guarantees do I have that someone won’t use me as an escape goat? I could just as easily end up right back here.

We’re prepared to grant you immunity from prosecution of any activities associated with the ‘Wendigo Project’. However, this will not extend to any crimes or misdemeanors not directly or indirectly associated with the project.

When do I get out of this shithole?

Agent Smith sorted through the pages in the folder, finding a particular document, he spun it around and slid it in front of Colonel Livingston and placed a pen on top. We have a plane standing by to take us back to Maryland. Sign it, and we will be out of here within the hour and on that plane.

Livingston leafed through the pages of the document, What is this?

Consider it as an employment agreement. As long as you do what we ask of you, you will be a free man with your life back in order with your good name restore. Sign it not, and you can languish in this ‘shithole’ as you call it, for the rest of your life.

I think I should have a JAG attorney review it before I sign it, Livingston replied, while scanning the pages.

Attorneys are not invited to this party, Smith said as he picked up the pen and held it out to Livingston.

Livingston’s face became solemn taking the pen from Smith’s hand; his mind flashed an image of himself signing a pact with the devil, selling his soul to escape the confines of purgatory, in exchange for a term in hell. Reluctantly, Livingston scribbled his signature and passed it back to Smith. Smith handed it over to Jones who placed it neatly in the file and then placed the folder into his attaché case.

Smith stood up and called for the guard outside. Please remove the shackles from the colonel.

The guard barked a command for Livingston to extend his hands so that he could remove the cuff. Quickly, Smith snapped at the guard, Careful young man, you’re addressing a Colonel in the US Army.

The guard took a more subservient and respectful persona.

Once the shackles were removed the guard was again dismissed from the room, closing the door behind himself. Smith pulled out his cell phone and pushed a speed dial button. When the party on the other end of the call answered, Smith muttered something softly into the phone which Livingston could not quite hear. After hanging up the phone, Smith asked Livingston, Do you have anything in your cell that you wish to take with you?

I have nothing?

Remain here with agent Jones and I’ll be back in a few minutes. I need to visit with Colonel Hanson and sign us out of here.

* * *

Colonel Hanson was in the outer office talking to one of his officers when agent Smith walked in. Have you concluded your interview so soon?

May we speak in private Colonel?

Certainly, Colonel Hanson said ushering Smith into his office, closing the door behind them.

Colonel, we will be leaving now and Colonel Livingston will be coming with us.

Colonel Hanson chuckled and with a sly grin on his face replied, I know I’ve been instructed to comply with your requests, but allowing a detainee to walk out of this facility is an entirely different matter.

I believe that Colonel Livingston has not been charged with or convicted of any crimes. Also, if you check your computer records, you will find that he’s not currently listed in the detainee roster of this facility.

Now that’s absurd, I can’t arbitrarily erase a detainee’s record.

I’m not asking you to erase anything. I’m simply asking you to check your records. I believe you’ll find that Colonel Livingston is not now, nor ever has he been, assigned to this facility. Smith gestured with a nod of his head for Colonel Hanson to verify what he just told him.

Colonel Hanson stared at agent Smith for a moment, before deciding to humor him by logging onto his computer and verifying his records. That’s impossible! the colonel said aloud. He frantically checked and cross-checked the prison records and found no record that Colonel Joshua Livingston had ever been assigned there.

If you would be so kind as to turn over any hardcopy records associated with detainee #6659895, we will be on our way and out of your hair.

Colonel Hanson fell back into his chair in utter disbelief. Slowly, he picked up the phone and instructed the clerk in the records room to bring him the complete file for detainee #6659895. A few minutes later a runner arrived with the file and placed it on Colonel Hanson’s desk.

Will that be all Colonel?

Yes, thank you, specialist, he said to the runner.

After the runner had left the room, Smith picked up the file and flipped through it. As a gentle reminder, the letter presented to you earlier instructs you never to discuss our visit with anyone.

Colonel Hanson nodded his head in acknowledgement, still in mild shock at the ability for someone to access the prison records and erase all traces of a detainee from their database.

Chapter 2

Matt put on his clean-room over garments before entering the lab. Walking over to where Sarah was working, he put his hand on her shoulder and leaned over slightly to get a closer look at the data on her computer monitor. Did you find anything?

No, the samples show negative for LTV, Sarah replied without looking up from the screen. These are the first year pups, these are year two pups and these are the newborns, she said, pointing at the data on the monitor.

Good morning Matt, Dr. Bertram said entering the lab.

Matt turned to greet Dr. Bertram, Good morning Doc. How are you today?

Doing well, thanks. What brings you to the lab today?

I’m just reviewing the LTV pathology screens with Sarah. Matt walked over to the coffee pot next to Dr. Bertram. We are hoping to begin breeding the first year pups this winter.

The telephone in the lab rang and Sarah answered it. As she listened, she looked up at Dr. Bertram. Ok, he is here in the lab, hold a sec, she said, then held the phone out to Dr. Bertram. It’s Dr. Hobart’s daughter. She wants to talk to you.

That’s odd, Doc said aloud, glancing at Matt. He took the phone from Sarah, This is Dr. Bertram.

"Oh thank God. Dr. Bertram; this is Laura Harris, Dr. Franklin Hobart’s daughter. I’m sorry to bother you but I was wondering if you have seen or heard from my father lately?"

Strangely, no. He phoned me about three months ago to tell me he was going to be teaching micro biology and molecular biology at the University of Pennsylvania in the fall semester. Since then I haven’t heard from him.

"It’s not unusual for us to go two or three weeks without talking on the telephone, but we normally text each other at least two or three times a week. However, I haven’t heard anything from him in several weeks now. The last text I received from him was more than four weeks ago."

Could he be on vacation before he has to start teaching in the fall? Maybe he’s on a cruise or somewhere he can’t get cell phone reception.

"That idea had crossed my mind, but he would never leave on a trip without saying something to me. The last few times we talked, the conversation was unusually short and the tone of his voice seemed to be more and more distant. I finally drove down to visit and check on him. But, when I arrived I found no trace of him. The house looks like it hasn’t been lived in for weeks."

That is odd. Have you talked to the police and filed a missing person report?

"I went to the sheriff’s office and tried to file a report but since he has not been diagnosed with dementia and there is no evidence of foul play they wouldn’t do anything. They offered to put out an all-points-bulletin, but that was the extent of their efforts to try and find him."

Give me your contact information. If we hear from him, we will get in touch with you. Keep us abreast of any new information. I’m sure he is alright. Otherwise, you would’ve heard from the authorities. Doc jotted down Laura’s information and read it back to her. Let’s hope he is basking on a tropical beach with a new lady friend, Doc concluded with a chuckle.

"Thank you Dr. Bertram, I’ll be in touch."

After hanging up the phone, Dr. Bertram told Matt and Sarah what Laura had told him.

Matt leaned back against the counter, That sounds very peculiar, does it not? Why would he just up and leave without saying anything to anyone, particularly his own daughter?

Even Sarah had a look of deep concern on her face. Dr. Hobart was always one to make sure people know where you are, and where you’re going. This doesn’t sound like something he would do. You don’t think something has happened to him do you?

Matt and Dr. Bertram exchanged curious glances with one another. Let’s hope not, Matt said aloud. Well, I need run. I have to stop by the inn before I head out to Shadowbourne. If you need me or if you hear anything from Laura give me a shout on the radio.

Sure thing, Doc acknowledged.

* * *

From the front porch, Matt could hear Freya screaming at the top of her lungs at Shikoba, You are so mean to your sister! As he stepped through the front door the tirade continued, I don’t understand why you want to destroy her things. Go to your room and wait until your father comes home. In the background he could hear Ninette crying.

Freya saw Matt in the lobby as she stormed down the stairs, Matthew, you’ve got to do something with that kid. Look what he’s done to Ninette’s teddy! Freya’s frustration was now spilling over to Matt as she held out the shredded remnants of what used to be Ninette’s teddy bear.

I’ll have a talk with him, Matt said calmly.

Talk! Talk! That’s all you do is talk! You’re the reason he is out of control. You coddle him when you should take him out back and beat him with a stick!

Matt knew Freya didn’t mean what she said literally, it was more to emphasis his need to be firmer with Shikoba when disciplining him. He understood her point but he always found it hard to take a harsh stance with the boy when it seemed that harsh words were all the kid got from everyone around him.

I know, and I promise to be firmer with him, Matt said to Freya as he embraced her trying to appease her wrath. Where is he now?

I sent him to his room until you got home.

Shikoba! Matt shouted.

Shikoba came out of his room and peered over the balcony. Yes Father.

Go to your sister and apologize… Nicely. Then grab your backpack and wait for me in the truck. Do it now and don’t make me repeat myself!

Yes father, Shikoba replied with a slight smile. He knew his father was going to take him with him to Shadowbourne. He loved to spend time at Shadowbourne, especially working with Dr. Martin and the warg pups.

Damn it Matthew, you’re doing it again!