Ninovan (Hypernaturals 10)

Missing Morgan

The girls are in bed. Nakoma's homework is done, not that I am that big a help on it. She is smart in some very native, hard to explain ways. Maybe not raw intelligence, like my Dad, but common sense ways that exceed almost anyone I know other than Morgan.

Morgan, however, is not around, and that is bothering me. She was silent through dinner, and as soon as the dishes were done, she went missing.

I looked in the observatory, as she loves looking at the sky, but nothing. Outside it is too breezy to scent her unless I am downwind. That told me that if she is still here, she is upwind, and that meant the big garage.

Her Miata's are parked in the garage. She has two now. Identical to look at. The new one is her daily driver and has a set of hidden modifications. Her 'sleeper' Miata. Something about being chased down by a monster truck made her update the heck out of the new one. She and Jessica did a frame out update on it. It doesn't look like it, but according to Jessica they could take it to the track and be competitive except that they kept in drivability and that would hurt it at the edge of the competitive envelope.

When she told me that, I shrugged. "Not like you all go to the track."

Jessica looked a little bit reflective on that. "No. It's only about beating other cars on the street that are trying to kill you. That woman takes on more guilt than any two other people I know. Not that I mind the idea of you being safe."

The original car that she has had since forever she keeps mostly stock. It has the motor out on an engine stand. Another engine stand held the new motor that is going in. Her mostly pristine (and no longer radioactive) Miata is getting a mild update. That update is not about power and being able to outrun trucks, but about being smoother and more tractable. It will be the opposite of her sleeper Miata and turn in a few more MPG too.

No scent lingered in the garage that is recent. Morgan has not been in here in a while. My 124, her favorite car to drive when hers is unavailable, is parked in its usual spot, aligned with Nakoma's Subaru, Angel's Metro, Helen's Hyundai, and Jessica's Honda.

I considered checking the path out behind Danny and Lori's house, which wends it way north 4.5 kilometers to her parents' house, but her parents are traveling. They have no pets that need care up there. They get their cat and kid fix at our house.

I felt in some intuitive way what Morgan's issue is. I understand it. I have to find her and help her figure out what to do next.

There is a porch upstairs, along the back of the garage, and Morgan goes there to be alone and think. One time to seriously mope, although that is not her normal style. Thinking very much is. I am sure she is there, and when I went to the steps to go up them to the clinic level, I knew I was right. Her scent is fresh here.

Hah! try to hide from a Vampire, will you? I stalked my quarry to her lair.

The door to the porch opens on one end by the stairs and then requires walking the length of the porch to reach where Morgan is sitting, feet up, looking out at the night. There is no sense in which my stalking equals 'sneaking up on'. Morgan knew I was coming the moment my foot hit a stair tread. She and I have the same high-end Vampire auditory gear.

Morgan glanced at me, but as I said nothing, neither did she. I grokked the mood she is in, so I took the chair next to her, and sat there looking out at the night with her. I did one thing, which is text Jessica where I am and that I would be here for a while.

Jessica replied, "I figured. I love you."

"I love you more." I replied and put away the phone and then sat.

Finally, Morgan asked of my activity on the phone: "Telling on me?"

"Nope." I replied.

We sat quietly for another five or so minutes. Morgan finally said: "I was not sure who would find me. You, or Angel, but my money was on you."