The reply brought a crease to my brow. “Didn’t you rejoin him after the generator guys left?”
My grandfather frowned. “Didn’t realize I was supposed to and didn’t want to disturb him. I’ve been sticking my ear to his door every so often to see if I hear him.”
No way my dragon still slept. He’d usually have demanded a snack—or two—by now given the hours since lunch. “I’m going to check on him.”
“I’m sure he’s fine…” Even Tutu couldn’t hide a doubtful note.
With hurried steps, I made my way to Tigger’s room and entered without knocking. It took a second for my eyes to adjust. Light barely filtered through the curtains, the thick clouds outside bringing an early gloom.
“Tigger?” I headed for the bed and the lump under the covers.
The lack of response worried. Please let him be okay. A sick dragon might be difficult to explain to a veterinarian.
Fear had my fingers trembling as I grabbed the edge of the blanket. I yanked it back to see the hump was a decorative pillow and not an orange dragon.
Did the brat play a prank? “I know you’re hiding here somewhere,” I growled as I checked the entire room, bathroom, closet, balcony, only I didn’t find him. Tutu entered as I searched.
“What’s wrong?”
“Tigger’s missing.”
“Likely went looking for food.”
“How? He can’t open the door,” I reminded.
“Don’t be so sure of that. He’s smart,” my grandfather stated.
Indeed, he was. “I swear I’m going to kill him,” I grumbled as I headed to the main floor to search the kitchen.
Francine, who was putting the finishing touches on dinner, hadn’t seen him. The rooftop deck showed no signs he’d been by either, the fridge still fully stocked. As I rushed downstairs, trying to stem my panic, Apollo emerged from his office.
“What’s going on?”
“I can’t find Tigger,” I blurted out. “Which makes no sense. He’s still too short to open doors.”
Apollo’s jaw tightened. “Given all the people we had on the property today, it’s possible one of them snatched Tigger.”
I waved my hands. “How, though? We were watching everyone that came near the house. The guys who had to come in to do the electrical for the security system must have thought me some kind of control freak since I didn’t let them out of my sight.”
“And I walked my interviewees to and from the house. Even watched to make sure they left.” As Tutu neared, Apollo glanced at him. “What about those fellows who came to fix the generator?”
“They weren’t here for long since they brought the wrong part.”
“And you watched the pair the entire time they were here?”
Tutu’s quick nod turned to a frown. “Mostly. One guy did pop off to the truck to see if there was another box with the right piece in it. He was only gone for about twenty minutes. When he came back, he said he couldn’t find what they needed and would have to return another day.”
I clasped my hands so tight it hurt. “Twenty minutes is more than enough time for someone to have snatched Tigger.”
“That would be pretty ballsy of them to walk into the house and steal our dragon,” Tutu exclaimed.
“More like well planned. Excuse me for a second while I make a call.” Apollo pulled out his phone and dialed someone. When they answered, he explained who he was and asked if a crew had been sent out to fix his generator. At his grim expression, I knew the reply.
Apollo hung up his phone. “The company says not only did they not dispatch anyone, but one of their work trucks was stolen this morning. Police recovered it an hour ago by a coffee shop in town.”
“Oh my god, Tigger’s been kidnapped.” Cold dread filled me. My poor baby. He must be so scared.
“We’ll get him back,” Apollo promised.
