The Returnee

Chapter 21

"Joey didn't get them to vanish Andy."

"I will hang up."

"He didn't and is panicking that you think that we have any control over who gets picked. There are all sorts of rules and regulations for who can get picked, and none of us get a say." Damain was travelling. There were plane announcements sounding in the background.

"He threatened to make it happen, and his eyes clicked."

"He doesn't have the power to make it happen," Damian repeated. "What are you doing tonight?"

"I don't know," Lee admitted, sitting in Andy's hotel room, lost. Day one of seven, he'd prepped the work needed for the following day. "I should eat, but." His stomach clenched.

"Please tell me you did eat today," Damian challenged. "You're in a high-stress situation. What are your core rules?" Because the Farm gave them guidelines and techniques to work with for this. Lee technically never finished the course, but they had started teaching him how to implement them.

"Schedule alarms to remind myself to eat. Eat three meals with two types of food minimum as a basic," Lee said sheepishly. "It's been a hard day."

"And it will get worse if you don't eat and drink properly. I have to go. Call Joey," Damian stressed.

"How do I find out where someone is going to be returned?"

"Technically, we don't. There will be a way. I'll talk soon. Love you." Damian hung up.

Lee didn't phone Joey. He phoned the Farm instead.

"Hilltop Farm and Wellness Centre," Matthew grunted, not bothering with any further greeting because he was not there the day they taught phone manners. Matt was a good man who cared about people. He didn't care about social niceties. 

"Good evening, it's Lee Rayson. Can I talk to Eldric?"

Matthew didn't answer, and Lee almost hit redial because he thought the man had hung up on him. "Anything you want to say to Eldric, you can say to me." It was a calm and measured response; it was reasonable. Matt could be reasonable if Lee didn't try to bullshit him. That didn't mean he could hear the low thrum of anger in Matt's voice. It hurt, but Lee made his bed with his decision. 

"Andrew Peck got taken above. Does Eldric's connection let him know when he'd be scheduled to be returned?"

"Can't you ask Joey?" The anger spilt through in a slap.

"Joey threatened to make Andy vanish hours before they came. Damian says they couldn't have made that happen, but I'm not in a state to believe that." No bullshit, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. 

"I'll go get Eldric," Matt said, flummoxed. "Don't hang up, please."

"I'll wait," Lee said, finding the room service menu. It had plenty of picky bits, and those would be easier to eat than a big dinner. He needed something to settle his stomach and stop the acid from eating through the lining. Potato was a good start with a salad, no sauce. They had edamame beans, which would be nice to snack on while he waited in the dark.

"Lee," Eldric greeted, equally with simmering anger, not pleased to talk to him. "Have you eaten today?"

"No, but I'm ordering food from room service. He got taken last night, and I couldn't do anything. I was in a state this morning," Lee answered, keeping to the truth. "I ate two meals yesterday, both substantial." That one was a fib, but they weren't here to see them, and he didn't want the lecture.

"Ok, I'll talk to Joey about that." Because by family rules, Eldric would turn to the local enforcer to get Lee back on track.

"I don't see why. Joey will be lucky if I ever talk to him again."