Cecil gave a slight bow and went to the kitchen. Pearl bounced beside him, eager to get a dose of fresh air. Sawyer went ahead and opened the door, knowing she’d stick close when she heard the delivery guy approaching. Of course, they didn’t have to wait long. The familiar converted white jeep trudged up the driveway and parked at the top of the hill. Sawyer waved at the driver, excited to get his diploma in his hands and for the chance to say hi to his mailman. Mr. Bledsoe had been delivering his mail since Sawyer was a kid, and Sawyer always left him Christmas presents in his mailbox during the holidays like his foster parents had. He wanted to ask about Mrs. Bledsoe, too. She’d been one of Sawyer’s elementary school teachers and he hadn’t seen her in a while. It was always nice to catch up when they had a second to talk.
“Hello, Sawyer,” Mr. Bledsoe said with a smile. “I haven’t seen you around lately.”
“No, sir. I’ve been really busy finishing school.”
Pearl let out a low growl beside him, her hackles rising as she stared at the approaching man.
“Pearl!” Sawyer snagged her collar, right before she moved, holding her back. “I’m so sorry. She normally doesn’t…”
Mr. Bledsoe had a gun in his hand and it was pointed straight at him. Sawyer let Pearl go, instinctively raising his hands. She leapt forward as a shot rang out.
“Pearl!” Sawyer screamed again. She’d hit Mr. Bledsoe straight in the chest, knocking him to the ground. Before he could do anything else, Eduard appeared in front of him, along with two of the guards who’d been stationed around back.
“Get Sawyer inside,” Eduard demanded.
“Pearl, heel,” Sawyer yelled.
She growled but backed away from Mr. Bledsoe slowly, even as Eduard and one of the guards kept between Sawyer and the mailman.
“What… where am I?” Mr. Bledsoe blinked, clearly confused. “What happened?”
Eduard knelt beside him slowly, slipping the gun away and to the guard at his side. “I think you are a little over-heated. I’m going to call an ambulance for you, okay?”
“I… how did I get here?”
Eduard glanced over his shoulder at Sawyer, gesturing him toward the house. Pearl stayed beside him as he went inside. Andvari pulled open the door, dressed in nothing more than his sleep shorts with his sword drawn and ready. He pulled Sawyer inside before slamming it behind him. “What happened? I heard a gunshot.”
Sawyer couldn’t even think. “The mailman tried to kill me.”
Andvari growled.
“Sawyer!” Draco and Henry stumbled down the stairs next, both of them half asleep but clearly concerned. “What’s going on?”
Andvari pulled Sawyer against him even as Cecil bustled by. “I’ve called an ambulance, sir.”
“Sawyer, go with Draco and Henry. I’m going to go outside and wait with Eduard.”
“Andi, he didn’t know,” Sawyer explained. “He… he didn’t know what he was doing. He doesn’t know how he got here. I… I’ve known him forever.”
Andvari nodded, his expression grim. “I won’t hurt him.”
Draco pulled Sawyer against him and then checked him over.
“I’m fine. Just… Pearl saved me. She knew something was wrong.”
Henry pressed against his back, hugging him between them. “You’re fine,” he whispered.
Sawyer trembled, the shock of the moment catching up with him. He couldn’t stop thinking about the fear and confusion in Mr. Bledsoe’s face as he realized where he was. It was another clue as to who was trying to kill him and time to go back to the books to try and figure it out.
Eduard
Eduard knelt in the grass beside the confused and distressed mailman, trying to keep his temper under control. “What’s your name?” he asked quietly.
“Frank. Frank Bledsoe.” He looked around again, shaking his head. “I don’t remember how I got here.”
“What’s the last thing you do remember?” Eduard asked.
Frank frowned a bit then looked up at him. “I took a break. About eleven thirty. Listened to my audiobook while I ate my lunch. Then… nothing.”
