“Maybe you should hire some help?”
“I don’t think that’s necessary because once your father gets home, I’m sure he’ll be able to sort it all out. In fact, I should call him and find out when he’s coming back.”
“Uh…Mom, about Dad…”
“What about him? Oh no, you didn’t tell him I told you we were moving to California, did you? He wanted to surprise you, and now he can’t, and it’s all my fault for letting it slip…I really should have been more careful, but when you told me how much my sweet little princess had grown and then asked me when we were going to come for a visit…well, I was so excited because I was just thinking how I wouldn’t miss any more of our grandpups’ milestones since we were moving out there to be close to them.”
“Dad doesn’t know we know, so please stop worrying,” Dylon said.
“Oh…well, that’s good because Cody did promise to act surprised when Frank gave you two the news.”
“And we will, Mom, but that’s not why I’m calling,” Dylon said. Then, taking a deep breath, continued, “Early this morning, a bunch of prisoners escaped, and they took Dad as a hostage. The High Council kept it quiet, hoping the ringleader would call them with their list of demands in return for Dad. But so far they haven’t heard anything, so the High Council decided to contact Jackson.”
“Are you sure?” Lizzie whispered into the phone, her fear rising as her son’s words sunk in. “My Frank…kidnapped…no one from the High Council called me…”
“I know…they didn’t call me either, Mom. But it’s true…I saw it myself when Zane found the recording from the prison security cameras,” Dylon said, softly.
“Do you know who took him?”
“Yes…and Jackson and I have a plan for getting him back, but I need you to be here.”
“Why? I don’t understand…what can I do there that I can’t do here?” asked Lizzie.
“I can’t tell you over the phone, but Mom, right now you’re the only hope we have of finding Dad. Will you come?”
“Of course…I’ll have to pack first and then get a ride to the airport…”
“There isn’t time for that, Mom. Jackson’s gonna send Brady and Lucius to transport you here.”
“Who are these people? Have I met them before? Are you sure I can’t fly?”
“No, Mom. It’s important we find Dad as soon as possible, and flying is gonna take too long.”
“Oooh,” Lizzie said softly, tears filling her eyes when she finally understood what her son was not telling her. “I’ll do whatever is necessary. When will they arrive?”
“I’ll call you back and let you know,” Dylon replied. “And Mom, I promise you I will get Dad back…safely.”
“I believe you,” Lizzie murmured before hanging up and collapsing into a nearby chair. It couldn’t be happening to them now, not when they would finally have the time to enjoy life without the burden of his job weighing them down. She knew Frank enjoyed his work, which was why she never complained, but lately he hadn’t seemed as eager to get to the office as he used to be.
When she’d finally asked him about it, he told her he was thinking of retiring. And though she never mentioned it to Frank until that moment, she’d gotten tired of waiting for the High Council to give him a new assignment; she really wasn’t looking forward to it, anyway. All it would mean was another move, more traveling, and having to make new friends. So, together they discussed what they wanted to do for the rest of their lives and, to her surprise, Frank told her he wanted to be close to the grandpups. She readily agreed with him and they began to make plans that night to move to California.
But now, their dream of a quieter life was in danger of vanishing…all because the High Council refused to listen to Frank about the need to upgrade their prison security protocols. Anger surged through her when she thought about the High Council not telling her about Frank’s abduction. It was just so typical of them to hide anything that might make them appear in a bad light.
She and Frank had discussed Council politics many times and she knew how hard he’d tried to change the mentality of some senior members who could not accept change. He was just tired of fighting the ‘old guard’ as he called it. Even now, that conversation was still fresh in her mind.
“Times have changed, Lizzie, and the High Council has to change with them, or otherwise, it will lose all the respect it has in our world. Already, I see cracks forming, and I fear that’s only the beginning of its eventual downfall. Then where are we? Back in a world filled with fighting and hatred.”
“If you really think that, Frank, shouldn’t you stay and try to save it…if not for us then certainly for Jessica and Jake.”
“There’s nothing I can do anymore working from the inside…that’s why I want to leave. Once I finish my term as Vice Chair, I’ll be free to tackle the problem from the outside.”
“How?”
“I don’t know yet, but I refuse to believe there aren’t others out there that feel as I do…that there can be a better High Council than what there is today.”
“Once we are in our new home, maybe you should talk to Dylon and see what he thinks...at least it’s a starting point.”
“Excellent idea, my love.”
