Page 48 of Investigation of a Quest

“I’m at Jack Samuel’s apartment with Eamon,” she said. “Neither he nor his contacts have ever heard of a temple built from yellow brick or an ancient evil that dwells in the Mexican jungles, so he wondered if the professor’s research offered any insights. We’re going to read through it before he locks it away.”

“He hasn’t heard of it?” Olivia repeated. “That’s concerning.”

“That’s what I said.”

“Has he found anything?”

Bel glanced at Eamon, but he shook his head in answer to her silent question. “He hasn’t found any mention of it yet,” she said. “He only just started, but it’s a long shot. Those men swore never to speak about what happened after they flew home.”

“I know, but we need something. Leo Craven is still missing. That’s why I called. Everyone’s out searching for him, but he’s yet to turn up… Be honest. We’re not going to find him alive, are we? If we’re dealing with an entity Eamon hasn’t even heard of, where could a man who never leaves his apartment hope to hide?”

“These four men evaded whatever happened in Mexico for twenty years,” Bel said. “Maybe we aren’t finding Leo because he isn’t here anymore. What if he had a contingency plan, and when he saw his trip buddies die, he bailed? He might not even be in the country. I mean, if I were him, I’d have multiple escape routes ready to go in case it found me. And the smartest plans would require me to leave everyone and everything behind.”

“Even if you were an agoraphobe?”

“Especially if I were an agoraphobe,” Bel said. “If I never left the house, no one would know where to look when I finally did.”

“It’s what I do,” Eamon said, his voice suddenly in her ear so Olivia could hear his words. “When I’ve overstayed my welcome in one place, I leave everything behind so no one can trace me. I vanish for an entirely different reason, but if Leo suspected he was being hunted, he probably walked out of his front door with literally just the clothes on his back. That’s the only way to be untraceable.”

“Is that what you’ll do after you’ve lived here for a few years?” Olivia asked.

“No.” Eamon kissed Bel’s head before returning to the research. “This town knows enough. There’s no need to hide. Plus, this girl I know swore to nail my hide to the wall if I ever stepped so much as one foot out of line. I don’t wish to risk what her wrath would do to me if I tried to up and vanish.”

“Nothing pretty, that’s for sure,” Olivia laughed. “So, is that what we’re thinking? That Leo Craven realized he was next, so he left everything behind to save himself?”

“It’s what I would do,” Bel said. “But I guess that depends on the severity of his agoraphobia. Did he lock himself inside his home to protect himself, or did he lock himself away because he physically couldn’t face the outside world?”

“We should check the airports,” Olivia said. “See if anyone matching his description left the country.”

“It’s worth a shot.” Bel paused. “Olivia, promise me something. If you find Leo and whatever’s hunting him follows, let it have him. You didn’t desecrate its holy ground. You didn’t disrupt its peace, so it doesn’t want you. It’ll kill you if you get in the way, though, so if you ever stand between it and Leo, please leave. Get out. Don’t give it a reason to take you.”

“Would it be a good idea… never mind,” Olivia said.

“What?” Bel asked.

“No, it would be weird.”

“What?” she pressed.

“Should I ask Ewan to act as my partner while you’re at Ozland?”

“Yes!” Eamon shouted from his seat across the room. “Keep him close and tell him I ordered it if it makes you feel more comfortable. But, yes. Actually, I’ll text him myself.”

“Well, I guess you have your answer,” Bel laughed. “Just be careful. I can’t lose you.”

“Only if you take your own advice.”

“I know, I know, but please. Don’t come between whatever this is and its prey.”

“I won’t,” Olivia said. “I’m not you. I don’t enjoy risking my life.”

“All right.” Bel rolled her eyes.

“Oh… hold on. Ewan’s calling. Eamon was fast.”

“I’ll let you go.”

“Call me if you find anything in the research,” Olivia said.