Page 93 of The Vampire and the Barista

Just then, Jamie’s phone pinged. He pulled it out of his pocket and looked at his message. “I’d forgotten about that,” he muttered.

“What?” Ivan asked.

“That I needed to collect the rest of my things. Apparently, everyone has left, and the landlord wants my things gone by tomorrow evening at the latest.”

“We can pick the rest up tonight,” Ivan said.

“Thanks, honey.” Jamie looked at the library counter. “You have a customer, Max.”

He turned to look. ‘Thanks, back in a bit.”

“You know what I don’t understand?” Jamie said, pulling a chair out and sitting down.

“What’s that, sweetheart?”

“I’m sure someone mentioned that Seth had people following Derrick. Why can’t they tell us where Derrick is, and how come they didn’t follow Derrick yesterday?”

“Crap,” Ivan said, looking troubled and pulling his phone out of his pocket and hitting a number. “Seth,” he said when the phone was answered. “Do you know where Creed and Bailey are. They were supposed to be following Derrick?”

“Now you mention it, no. Leave it with me.”

“Thanks, Seth,” he said, hanging up. “Seth is on the case.” He nodded to the counter. “You have customers.”

“Thanks, honey,” Jamie said, jumping up and rushing over to serve them.

Seth hung up and tried ringing Creed, then Bailey, but got no answer from either, and got a horrible feeling. He rushed out of his office looking for Gio. He found him training, with some of his guards, Jessamy and Rickon with him.

“Gio,” Seth called, rushing over.

Gio spun around just as Seth reached his side. “What’s wrong, my Seth?”

“Have any of you heard from Creed or Bailey?” he asked quickly.

“Not since he went off to follow Derrick,” Gio replied, pulling his phone out and looking to make sure.

“We’ve not heard from them either,” both Jessamy and Rickon added.

“What’s wrong?” Gio asked.

Seth explained Ivan’s phone call. “I need to phone Kevin.”

“Do it now, then if needed we can go and find them,” Gio suggested.

“I’ll phone him, can you message David for me?”

Gio nodded.

Seth dialled Kevin.

“Hey, vamp, what’s new?” Kevin said on answering.

“Kevin, have you heard from Creed lately?”

“No, why?” Kevin practically demanded.

“We’ve not heard from him since his last phone call, yesterday morning.”

“That’s when I last heard from him. He was following Derrick.”