Chapter 14

Whilst on our way to the agency, I got a call from my father. He was asking me to call into the bookshop, before I started work.

I frowned at the now, disconnected phone in my hand. It was weird. I had never had a phone call from my father before. All phone conversations were between my mother, or Triss.

Ruby, seeing the look on my face, asked if I was ok. I explained about the call. Her response was to say, “of course. I will go to my office. Come and find me when you are ready to get your stuff. Ooo, I’m just so excited.”

I watched Ruby disappear into the crowd. I turned in the direction of the bookstore and started walking past the shops that lined the same street. It was such a familiar place to me. My parents had always run the bookstore. I had been raised as much there, as I was at home.

Playing along the pavement of this street, with my friends, was a happy memory for me. All the kids local to this area, played and hung out together. In a lot of ways, my childhood had been idyllic.

Right opposite the bookstore, at the end of the street stood the library. To this day, it was one of my favourite places to be. I was just about to push open the door, to go and see my parents, when William Smith, the head librarian, came hurtling through it.

Almost, but not quite, knocking me on my ass.

“Destiny, oh my goodness. I am so sorry. I didn’t see you there. Are you hurt?”

William sounded breathless, and looked extremely tense. Once I had assured him I was ok. He hurried away, back into the library. What was strange, though, was that he closed the door behind him. That made me stop and stare. I couldn’t remember the last time I had seen the library doors closed at this time of day.

Suddenly worried, I was about to walk over and see if there was anything I could do to help William, when I heard my name being called, from the bowels of the bookstore.

Hmphing out my frustration, I plastered a smile on my face, then entered the shop.

“Close and lock the door behind you, please love.” I raised my eyebrows at the instruction. My mind was whirling now. What the fuck was going on? First the library, and now the bookshop? I did as I was bid, of course. I’m not stupid enough to face my mothers sharp tongue at this time of the morning.

Walking farther into the shop I saw my mother come rushing out of the back room. She was holding a few books in her arms.

‘There must be a customer.’ I thought to myself. Deciding that the best thing I could do, is stay out of the way, I made my way to the large round table, in the centre of the bookshop. To my surprise, there was already people sitting at it. I got to the table just as my mother dumped the books she was carrying, on to the polished surface.

My mother looked up, blew her hair out of her face, and smiled in welcome, “Dess, so glad you could call in.” Although she didn’t say it patronisingly, I still detected a tone to her voice.

I pulled out the chair, next to where Jace was sitting. But was stopped from sitting in it by my father, who had just walked out of his man cave.

“Destiny, please sit at the head of the table.” He didn’t say another word, until I had changed my seat. Once I had sat, so did my mother and father.

I mouthed to Jace, “what the heck is going on?” Only to have Jace look away. Ok, I was getting a little pissed off. I looked toward my parents, who were sat opposite me. But no explanation came. “Okay, Dad. I’m here. What did you want to talk about?”

He looked slightly perplexed for a brief second. He said something in my mothers ear. She nodded. Then he spoke to me.

“Destiny, why are you here this morning? We heard from Jace, who of course, heard it from Remus, that you were moving in with a friend. I thought that would occupy your attention for a few days, at the very least?”

I just stared, open mouthed(I really have to stop doing this), I was to incredulous to speak. I looked around at them all, waiting for someone else to speak up. When no one else did, I did so, myself.

“You are joking me, yeah Dad? Remus was right, I am moving in with a fellow agency worker. We have become good friends, and she asked me to be her roommate. As she lives in a cottage, she had a spare room. I WOULD have been moving my stuff today, but I got that phone call from you. Asking me to call in here before going to the agency. So, here I am.”

My mini speech was met with a stunned silence from everyone sat around the table. Jace leaned towards me, a look of worry written all over his face.

“Are you feeling okay, Dess? I’m only asking, because I have been with your parents since 6am this morning. I know for a fact, your father hasn’t phoned you today.”

It was my turn to sit in stunned silence. Suspicion coursed through my veins, my senses had started to tingle. What the heck was going on?

“Destiny, sweetheart. I can assure you, that what Jace just said is quite true. Once we had confirmation from Gabe, we came together to make a start. We honestly were not expecting you, until at least Friday.”

Today, was Wednesday. Since when did my mother just accept that she wouldn’t get to see one of her children, for a number of days. It never happened. If I didn’t speak to her at least three times, daily, she would bombard me with phone calls and messages.

“Okay, enough. I accept what you are saying, mum. Dad did not make the phone call to get me here. But. Someone did. I did not imagine taking the call. So who phoned me?

Nonetheless, what I find a little more intriguing, is all of this!” I gestured to the whole shop. Making a big circle motion with my hand when it came to the locked door.

“Number one.” I said, with a snap to my words.

“Who made the call.”

“Number two. Why is there so much activity here this morning.”

“Number three. Why did William, nearly knock me on my ass, as he rushed out of the shop. Then, when he gets to the library, he LOCKS his door.

“And last, but not least, Number four. What has Gabe confirmed, and what do you need to set up.”

When I had finished speaking, I folded my arms across my chest, in a defensive manner.

I was breathing Harder than I usually did, and I could feel I was very close to tears. I needed answers. Thankfully, I got them, curtesy of my father.

“Destiny. I do not appreciate your tone. Please remember, that we are still your parents. Regardless of your new status. Let me answer all your questions for you.

One. I do not know who phoned you. But it was not me.

Two. We are busy here this morning, because Gabe contacted your mother and I, very late last night, telling me to gather your most trusted people. He wants us to form a group, of sorts, to assist you in the new cases that you will be dealing with, from this point on.

Three. William came over to report a problem. We were gathering information on it. So we would be ready for you. Whenever you would turn up.

I believe I have already answered your last question, regarding Gabe. Is there anything else you want to know?”

I blinked at my father, a few times, before I managed to croak out, “no, thank you. That was fine.” My father nodded, then enquired about my current case.

When I explained that I had no current cases, the atmosphere in the room changed to a less formal vibe.

“Well then.” My mother said, cheerfully. “You can help us do some research on; old mr Frogget. It seems he is no longer residing in the back stacks of the library. William is besides himself with worry. As you know, old man Frogget has been in the library longer than Williams been running it. The agency left him there, as he was no bother to anyone. He simply wanted to stay around his beloved books.”

When my mother had finished telling me, I looked at some of the books she had dumped onto the table, when I first arrived. I could see basic agency manuals. Plus, what looked like a self help guide, to track a spirit.

As I picked up the latter, my phone buzzed. I opened my messages, and read the brief text. It was a standard case number sent from Rosie. As the ‘office’ manager. It was her job to allocate cases to the appropriate agent.

I asked if I could use the old computer, in my fathers man cave. I didn’t have to ask twice. I was ushered into the back room, and virtually pushed into the seat. I thanked my father for his assistance, expecting him to leave. This was agency business after all. That’s when it hit me. Like. A baseball bat.

“Gabe has reinstated you. Hasn’t he? Does this mean you are back to being a full agent?”

My father nodded, in response to my question, adding; “I am not a field agent. It is strictly a desk job. Nevertheless, I have been granted access to the mainframe. But only for agency business that solely pertains to you.”

“Huh!” Was my response, to his response.  I turned my attention back to the ancient screen. I logged onto my workspace and saw the case number listed under active cases. What I found intriguing, was that it was indeed, about old man Frogget. But it didn’t say he was missing.

“Dad, look.” I pointed to the case. My father grunted, then called for the others.

Instead of me going to them, they came to me, in the back room. I looked at my father in complete puzzlement.

“I could have gone out to them, Dad. Why did you call everyone in here?”

My father was gesturing for Jace to come closer to his desk, then, he leant down and said in a low tone, “the bookstore has not been muted, not yet, anyway. Some agents were here very early this morning, but they could only do this room, in the allotted time they were given. As it was all so short notice, I agreed to let them do this room, and wait for the main seating area, out there, to be muted, within the next few days.”

Once again, my mind was whirling. So much had happened to me in the last few hours. I needed to speak with Ruby. She had quickly become my confidant, regardless of the station she held.

Until I could speak with her, however. I supposed I did have my band of groupies.

“Why not,” I thought. Then out loud, I said, “I have been given the Frogget case. It would seem that Frogget has not simply vanished. He has, in fact, been stolen, or forcibly removed from his resting place. It’s up to me. To us, I amended, to find him. And bring him back!”