“Dinna need to,” interjected Brian. “The spots are all near roads.”
“That’s interesting,” said Logan.
“Why?” asked David.
“Because it explains how Brian’s mate is getting to the loch each night,” answered Slate.
“Ohhh, I see. So we should look for a car parked near the loch?” David asked.
Grinning at his mate, Zane said, “Fucking brilliant, babe.”
“Good point, David,” agreed Logan. “Kieran and I will check that, too.”
Zane pulled up a map on the screen, then looked at Brian. “If you can show me where your mate has been, I can mark it so Logan can assign teams to those locations.”
Brian rose and, walking over to Zane, sat next to him. Looking at the map for a minute, he then pointed to the places his mate had exited the loch so Zane could tag them.
Once that’d been done, Logan asked Zane to send the map to everyone’s phone and began to assign teams to each location. “Take a look,” he said, “and if you have any questions, let’s hear them.”
After reviewing the map, Slate said, “The locations are far apart. Maybe we should go in separate cars; otherwise, half the night will be spent just getting everyone in place.”
“Good idea. I’ll make arrangements with Groose,” replied Logan. “Anything else? No? Then, let’s meet back here at five o’clock.”
~/~/~/~/~
Groaning at the early hour, Steel extricated himself from Jackson’s limbs, and rolled out of bed. Pulling on a pair of sweatpants, he padded softly out of their bedroom and down the hall to the nursery where he could hear Daniel babbling to himself. Quietly opening the door, his eyes widened. Backing up quietly, Steel hustled to his bedroom to wake Jackson, shaking him as he said, “Babe, get up! You gotta see this!”
Batting away Steel’s hand, Jackson murmured, “Stop it!”
“No babe, really, you have to see what Daniel’s doing!”
Opening his eyes, Jackson stared at his mate. “What’s he doing?”
“Babe, please, you’llwantto see this.”
Jackson slid out of bed, taking the pajama pants Steel held out to him. Slipping them on and tying the drawstring, he said, “Okay. I’m up. Show me what Daniel’s doing.” Following his mate out and down to their son’s room, his curiosity grew with each step.
Steel paused outside Daniel’s door and, raising his finger to his lips first, quietly opened it, stepping out of the way so his mate had a clear view.
Giving Steel a quick glance before looking into the room, Jackson saw Daniel on the floor…talking to a rabbit. Taking several steps toward his son, he realized it was the same rabbit Daniel had talked to when Maximus was demonstrating his grandpup’s unique ability. Looking back at Steel, Jackson whispered, “How did this rabbit get up here?”
Shrugging his shoulders, Steel went over to Daniel and, sitting down on the floor next to him, asked softly, “Hey, Danny, is this your new friend?”
Grinning, while petting the rabbit, Daniel babbled. “Baba!”
“His name is ‘Baba’?” asked Steel.
Giggling, Daniel shook his head.
“Babe, I think he means rabbit,” Jackson said.
Steel tried again, “Is your friend a rabbit?”
Daniel picked up his friend, hugging him as he said, “Baba, baba.”
Looking at Jackson, Steel said, “Yup, I think he’s saying ‘rabbit’ but how did this bunny get into our son’s room?”
“I don’t know but I think it’s time we have another talk with your father. Maybe Mystia, too. I think our son can do something more than just change his fur color and talk to animals,” Jackson said.
