?I?m sorry, Maddie.?
Maddie?s nostrils flared at the apology, her eyes narrowing even though she knew it wasn?t the fault of her business manager, Samuel K. Winters, that she was in her current predicament. With a puff of air, she released the expression and the tension that had squared her shoulders. Sympathy lined the features of the middle age man on the computer screen in her lap. Sympathy she could grudgingly accept but had it been pity there she would have been forced to fire him.
A slow nod confirmed she had heard him. ?I understand. So your sources think Greg took the backpack and disappeared into the wilderness?? Anger would do her no good. She had to think.
?Exactly. Northeast of RhyDin,? Samuel stated as he consulted the folder on his desk across several portals in a posh New York office. ?You?re already in RhyDin??
?Yeah. The Nausikaa Hotel in Seaside,? Maddie replied. The balcony doors stood open and a sea breeze rustled the white curtains. The gorgeous view of waves crashing against the shoreline as an afternoon thunderstorm rolled in off the coast didn?t soothe her at all. But, then again, she wasn?t here for the view nor the luxury accommodations. If Greg was paying attention to who was following him, he probably would have expected her to try to slink into town, staying in cheap hotels that rented by the hour. Instead, she?d chosen one of the swankier ones in a prominent, busy district.
The effort was probably not needed, however. Greg was probably running too fast to pay attention to who was following.
Samuel?s arms crossed on top of his desk over the folder to level a somber look through the webcam on his computer screen across the multiverse and onto Maddie?s screen. ?I don?t have to tell you how important it is that we recover that bookbag. I would suggest you find a local who can track him magically. He is not as familiar with RhyDin and otherworldly places like it. He?s probably just lying low until he can fence the item.?
?I get that, Samuel,? Maddie murmured unable to bleed the irritation from her voice. Her hands lifted so that fingertips rubbed at her temples. Even the methodical crash of waves against sand was not enough to cleanse her head of the ache that had settled in. Her hands dropped and she lifted her eyes to the screen once more. ?Do a search of this town through our database. Start listing off my contacts that we have confirmation are in town.?
After a couple keystrokes on the other end of the call, Samuel began reading off the list. ?Justin Davis, Kyle Brand, the Geoff gang, Hippo of the Pili tribe, Min Y, the Sunset sisters, Colt Daniels, Roxy and Chaz, Lil--?
?Wait, wait!? Excitement welled up in Maddie?s stomach as a glimmer of hope appeared. ?Colt Daniels is in town??
There was a pause as Samuel clicked on the link and read further. ?Yes, yes. There are some news clippings here about a security building collapse last fall. I?ve also got some documents listing him as co-owner of a business called Annie-Love?s Wilderness Expeditions. Oh, and some sports articles. It appears he is to report to football camp in a couple weeks.?
?Colt Daniels,? Maddie repeated slowly with a nod. ?That is perfect.?
Maddie?s nostrils flared at the apology, her eyes narrowing even though she knew it wasn?t the fault of her business manager, Samuel K. Winters, that she was in her current predicament. With a puff of air, she released the expression and the tension that had squared her shoulders. Sympathy lined the features of the middle age man on the computer screen in her lap. Sympathy she could grudgingly accept but had it been pity there she would have been forced to fire him.
A slow nod confirmed she had heard him. ?I understand. So your sources think Greg took the backpack and disappeared into the wilderness?? Anger would do her no good. She had to think.
?Exactly. Northeast of RhyDin,? Samuel stated as he consulted the folder on his desk across several portals in a posh New York office. ?You?re already in RhyDin??
?Yeah. The Nausikaa Hotel in Seaside,? Maddie replied. The balcony doors stood open and a sea breeze rustled the white curtains. The gorgeous view of waves crashing against the shoreline as an afternoon thunderstorm rolled in off the coast didn?t soothe her at all. But, then again, she wasn?t here for the view nor the luxury accommodations. If Greg was paying attention to who was following him, he probably would have expected her to try to slink into town, staying in cheap hotels that rented by the hour. Instead, she?d chosen one of the swankier ones in a prominent, busy district.
The effort was probably not needed, however. Greg was probably running too fast to pay attention to who was following.
Samuel?s arms crossed on top of his desk over the folder to level a somber look through the webcam on his computer screen across the multiverse and onto Maddie?s screen. ?I don?t have to tell you how important it is that we recover that bookbag. I would suggest you find a local who can track him magically. He is not as familiar with RhyDin and otherworldly places like it. He?s probably just lying low until he can fence the item.?
?I get that, Samuel,? Maddie murmured unable to bleed the irritation from her voice. Her hands lifted so that fingertips rubbed at her temples. Even the methodical crash of waves against sand was not enough to cleanse her head of the ache that had settled in. Her hands dropped and she lifted her eyes to the screen once more. ?Do a search of this town through our database. Start listing off my contacts that we have confirmation are in town.?
After a couple keystrokes on the other end of the call, Samuel began reading off the list. ?Justin Davis, Kyle Brand, the Geoff gang, Hippo of the Pili tribe, Min Y, the Sunset sisters, Colt Daniels, Roxy and Chaz, Lil--?
?Wait, wait!? Excitement welled up in Maddie?s stomach as a glimmer of hope appeared. ?Colt Daniels is in town??
There was a pause as Samuel clicked on the link and read further. ?Yes, yes. There are some news clippings here about a security building collapse last fall. I?ve also got some documents listing him as co-owner of a business called Annie-Love?s Wilderness Expeditions. Oh, and some sports articles. It appears he is to report to football camp in a couple weeks.?
?Colt Daniels,? Maddie repeated slowly with a nod. ?That is perfect.?