Chapter 24

Chapter Twenty Four

Mia got into the carriage, and noticed that Alex was deep in thought. She had a feeling that he had sensed something he did not want to share with her. "Alex, is everything okay?" She asked him, and he ignored her. "Did you sense anything in the pantry? You have to let me know," she added.

Alex stared at her. "You do realize that every member of the pack ate the traditional dish," he said to her and she nodded wondering where he was heading. "And to my best knowledge, certain wolves were selected and killed on the red moon night," he added, and Mia nodded.

"There is a possibility that the dish could have be poisoned," he said to her, and she gasped in shock. "I will not be sure until we have also interrogated the cooks in my own pack," he added.

"But, why would someone poison the food served to the pack members? The cooks are strong suspects because they prepare the meals," Mia replied.

Alex leaned back in the carriage. "The cooks could be innocent. Someone else might be involved," he said, as he closed his eyes.

"How do we get to the bottom of this?" Mia asked him.

"Like I have said, we'll have to interrogate who served the meals in my pack, and from there, we would know what next step to take," he responded.

"Alright," she said with a sigh, as she looked out the window of the carriage, different thoughts running through her mind.

•

They returned to the pack house, and Hendrix was pacing the living room. He looked up as the door opened and he saw Alex walking into the house, followed casually by Mia.

"Hell, Alex. Where have you been? You got me worried all day," Hendrix said to him, worry still evident in his voice.

"I had an important issue to sort out," Alex replied him.

"You should have seen me pacing around the house like a mother waiting for her prodigal run away child," Hendrix said, frowning at Alex, and Mia stifled a laugh.

"You were not even present during breakfast. I did not get the opportunity to tell you I was leaving the house," Alex replied, shrugging his shoulders.

Hendrix walked closer to him. "Are you okay?" He asked, and leaned closer as he pretended to dust away imaginary dirt from Alex's shirt. "Did you lose your temper?" He added in a hush whisper.

Alex shook his head. "Everything went fine today," he replied, and Hendrix sighed in relief.

"Thank goodness. You must have had a rough day. We would talk tomorrow," Hendrix said to him, and Alex nodded.

"Goodnight," he replied and turned away, walking up the stairs.

Mia turned to Hendrix. "Goodnight, Hendrix," she said with a smile.

"Goodnight, Luna," Hendrix replied, returning her smile as he watched her walk up the stairs.

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"Good morning," Hendrix said to Alex as he approached the table.

"Morning, Hendrix," Alex replied as he took a bite from the creamy lemon horseradish dip in front of him.

Hendrix pulled his seat backwards, and sat down. "So, tell me. Where were you yesterday?" He asked as he sipped from the grape wine in front of him.

"The Diamond Shadow pack," Alex replied simply.

Hendrix raised a puzzled brow. "That's surprising. What for if I may ask?" He said as Alex picked up his glass of water.

"Mia and I are investigating the cases that forced us to be together," he said before gulping his glass of water. He placed the glass on the table, and continued. "We've spoken to the victims family and discovered that every had the traditional dish a day before the red moon appeared," Alex explained to him.

Hendrix nodded in understanding. "But the dish is a normal routine during festive season," he explained, saying the same thing Jayden said to Alex the previous day.

"Yes, but, I was not aware that it was served to the members despite the fact that the Moon festival did not take place in the altar platform just like past years," Alex stated.

"The cooks should be interrogated immediately then," Hendrix suggested Alex same thoughts to him.

He nodded. "I thought of it last night, and I intend to do so after breakfast," he said to him, and Hendrix nodded again as he began to eat.

Mia approached the table with a lovely smile on her face as usual. "Good morning everyone," she said cheerfully as she sat down.

"Morning," they both replied at the same time.

"So, when do we get to speak to the cooks?" She asked as she took a bite from her horseradish dip.

"After breakfast," Alex replied.

"Alright," Mia said as she focused on her meal.

After breakfast, the cooks were summoned up before Alex, Mia and Hendrix. "It has come to my knowledge that the traditional food of the wolf's packs was served a day before the red moon appeared in the sky. Is that true?" Alex asked, and they nodded.

"And what was used in preparing this meal?" He questioned.

"Horseradish condiments, spices and meat tenderloins," they answered exactly how the Diamond Shadow pack had answered.

"Show me these ingredients," Alex said, and they led him to the kitchen. Mia and Hendrix followed him.

The cooks opened the shelves and brought out the seasonings used in making the dish. Alex perceived all the spices, and just like at the Diamond Shadow pack, he could sense that something was wrong with one of the spices.

Perhaps he was hallucinating. Perhaps it was how the spice smelled. He heaved as he dropped the spice and turned towards the door. "Is anything wrong?" Mia asked as she went after him.

"No, not at all. I am just disappointed that we're not getting a lead," he responded.

"I'm sure you'll solve this mystery soon, Alex. There's no need to rush it," Hendrix said to him.

Alex ran his fingers in his hair. "Yeah, you're right," he replied.

"Excuse me. I have some work in the stables," Hendrix said, and Alex nodded, and Watched Hendrix leave the pack house.

"I do not think you're saying the truth, Alex. What is it?" Mia asked him.

"I just feel something is wrong with the spices. I have no idea if I am hallucinating," he replied to her.

"What do you mean? Should I perceive it too?" She asked him.

"Yeah, go ahead. Let's see if I'm losing it," he said, and Mia walked back to the kitchen. She took out all the spices and perceived them, but they all seemed normal to her.

She walked back to the living room, and Alex looked at her, hoping she would sense it too.

"They all seem fine," she said with a puzzled look on her face. He exhaled. What was he expecting? He had a heightened sense of smell that he was sure Mia did not have. There was no way she would have been able to detect a thing. But, could it be that he was wrong? Could it be that his heightened sense of smell was playing a trick on him this time around? He pondered deeply as he stared at Mia.