Going Home.

Chapter 25

We get back to the compound and find everyone around the main table in the chapel.

Knuckles has already pulled out the maps and Stella is madly typing away on her computer, trying to find any trace of Ariel or David Cheung.

"I'm stumped" says Stella as she leans back in the chair "I've tried street cameras, building surveillance and ATM cameras and I've got nothing."

Stella rubs her temples and I start to feel hopeless. I have no idea how to read maps or check things on the computer. I just look around the room at all the people and wonder what can I do. I'm not a computer whizz like Stella, I don't have local knowledge like Knuckles, I don't even have Slaters contacts skills or Xaviers command knowledge.

I excuse myself from the room and make my way to the bar. I figure that I can at least get everyone a drink, I'm good at that.

As I'm digging around for all the drinks, Roo takes a seat at the bar. He sees me straight away and waves me over to him. He looks like their holiday had done them well but upon closer inspection I can see that he has bags under his eyes and a look that has me concerned.

"Honey, I think we need to have a talk." He says as he pulls beer from the group of drinks that I have on the tray.

I nod and take the drinks into church and put them on the table.

When I come out, he has moved to a table by the windows, so I grab a bottle of water and make my way over to him.

"Look, Mia, I know that a lot has happened since Kitty and I went away and that you probably have some questions about your parents after what happened with the Bandits."

He rubs his eyes and I can see that he is trying to hold off tears. "When Xavier told me what happened, I litterlly nearly died. Kitty all but wanted to tear into here but I told her that you an dI needed to have a talk and then afterwards you are fair game. She is in the kitchen, preparing some dinner." He smirked slightly at that last part but as quick as I saw it was as quick as it went away.

I wondered why Aunty Kitty was not here with us but I realised that it must be serious for her to be keeping her distance. I know that there are somethings that Roo has never told her, things about his time when he was younger with the Wanderers. He was one of the originals who started the club with Mickey Tanner and they weren't a 'good' bunch of bikers in the beginning.

"I am just so fucking sorry that I was not here when you were taken." Roo starts to tear up and I can't stand it anymore. I jump off my seat and pull him into my arms.

"Uncle Roo, I am OK, it was not as bad as it could have been and look, I am here, not a scratch on me." I say to him, trying to soothe his tears.

He signs and pulls out his hanky, wiping his eyes he beckons for me to sit down.

"I know that you have questions about your parents, your father, he is, was always my best friend as well as my brother. He never judged me when I came back from the Navy and became a Wanderer. He was actually the only member of our family who ever kept in touch with me."

He shuffles in his seat and takes a swig from his beer. "Your dad was always so good with numbers, a genius I remember our father saying. When he married your mother, he was determined to work hard so that your mum, and then you, would have everything that you ever needed."

It's like a funny memory has popped into his head and he seems to have been caught in it.

"After your parents were married, your dad wanted to stop working with the night flyer clients and took on more middle range clients so that he could dedicate more time at home. Your mum was very keen to start a family right after they got married but with your dad being away so much, it was hard to work on that dream. "