Chapter 71 CHAPTER 71
Michael's POV
A nine tailed fox?
They were highly controversial. Most people didn't consider them as part of the society.
“Is…Is she? Evelyn?”
She held my gaze. “I can't say so absolutely. Only her mother can tell.”
I heaved a deep sigh and leaned against my chair. I thought of the time when she had injured her ankle and it had healed overnight. I knew she was special, I just didn't imagine she was a nine tailed fox.
“Where can I start looking?” I asked. “I need answers.”
She pulled out a sheet from her sleeve. “It's hard to find them when they don't want to be found. But these are some of the places you could check. I've checked those ones crossed out.”
There was a list of about ten places. I had to do it myself.
“We should go looking together,” I said, leaning forward.
Her eyes darted outside. “I'm being watched,” she whispered. “The stories your family spun about dark magic… I'm being followed by my husband. We shouldn't be seen together at all.”
“I'm sorry, Maya,” I said.
She rose up and pulled a veil over her head. “My contact number is at the back of that slip. Let me know how it goes.” She paused. “I know you are a good person, Alpha Michael.”
I sat there long after she'd gone, thinking of all the things she'd said. There had been no trace of Evelyn's car or any signs of an accident. There was definitely some foul play.
I rose up and headed to my car. Jasper had woken up hung over and was too ill to drive with me, so I was driving around by myself. It gave me the opportunity to do things privately. I called my contact at the Police.
“I need to see some footage along the road on that day,” I said. “From 12pm.”
He entered the data into his system and the footage for the CCTV at the junction began to show. I watched carefully. Minutes later, I recognised Evelyn's car approaching.
“Pause.”
I peered into the black and white image. I could see another car tailing after her.
“Can you zoom in on that?”
The image got blurry as he did but I was able to make out the plate number of the car.
The next camera was a bit ahead and it didn't show Evelyn's car nor the second car passing by.
“Whatever had happened, happened between these two positions,” I said, noting it down.
While driving back home, I observed the road between the two points carefully and I saw tire marks. Signs of tires screeching on asphalt. That was the spot of the accident. I stopped and inspected the area. Xavier was smart. He had followed her in and bumped into her car in an area where there was no CCTV coverage. I inspected the area to see if I could find anything.
I found a broken piece of false nail. I recognised it as the colour Evelyn was wearing that week. I picked it up and wrapped it in my palm.
“I'll find you, Evelyn. I promise you,” I whispered.
Alpha Raymond and Rosaleen were chatting when I arrived. I'd expected she'd be gone for work by the time I returned. He beamed when he saw me.
“Well, I just heard the whole story.” He stood up and slapped my back affectionately. “Congratulations. You've done the right thing son.”
He smelt of alcohol when he leaned closer. “I can still read through you that you don't want this,” he whispered. “Don't make it obvious.”
I smiled and we both laughed loudly. “Thanks dad.”
“I went to look for you this morning,” Rosaleen said. “I brought breakfast for you.”
“I had important meeting this morning.” She was dressed very casually and it was obvious she had no plans of leaving to work or to her house. “I see my father is keeping you company?"
She held my arm and pouted. “It's yours I want. I miss you already.”
“I'm having a busy day. Make yourself at home,” I said, shrugging off her hand and walking away.
She started to protest but alpha Raymond hushed her. “Let's talk more about your stay in Milan.”
—
There were a couple of asylums in the city but the biggest and strictest was the one listed in Maya's list. It was located a bit away from town. The drive took almost an hour.
Members of the asylum were mostly criminals who could not serve their sentences in the usual prison because they had mental health problems. They were kept indoors,catered by the state.
“We don't take visitors,” one of the nurses, dressed in pristine white said to me. “Only family members visit. Once a month.”
I knew the rules, of course. But she didn't know who I was.
“I want to speak to your head,” I said. “Tell her we spoke on the phone.”
She seemed unwilling to budge. “There are due processes, sir.”
I slammed my fist against the counter. “Get me your superior, now!”
She scurried away, hugging a writing pad against her chest. I waited for a few minutes before she arrived.
“Alpha Michael,” she said, beaming. “It's been a while.”
She hugged me.
"You were half my height the last time I saw you.”
We walked towards one of the grey buildings in the compound.
“Thank you for agreeing to do this for me,” I said.
“It's nothing,” she said. “I'm sure when your father becomes Mayor, he'll give attention to this asylum. A lot of things haven't worked in ages.”
I nodded.
We entered an office that was half filled with files and the other half was almost filled with furniture. We were cramped into the little space left.
“Anna Moon,” she said, drumming on a stack of files. “Yes, she's here. But she's a peculiar case.
”
I sat down, happy that my journey had come to an end.
“What's the issue?”
“She's been in a coma.”