Chapter 30 Information

*Eric Lockwood*

"Where's Athena? I dropped by her office and her secretary said she was out." I barged into my son Chase's office at the Jersey Mansion. I was hoping to have coffee with Athena and ask her what her children wanted for Christmas. I know she wouldn't have coffee with me, but ever since Lucas went into hiding, I have been trying to make amends, hoping one day she would forgive her old man for being so ambitious.

"She went to Boston, Father. She left early this morning." Chase was surprisingly sober today. He was clean shaven and was wearing a clean dark blue knit sweater and a pair of jeans. He was sipping some coffee and reading something on his tablet, his eyeglasses reflecting some of the words of whatever he was reading.

"You're sober today and showered. This is new." I went to the minibar to pour myself some scotch. " Should I pour you a drink?" I wave a glass at him in the air.

" No, Father. I'm trying to keep sober. Athena asked me to go over some documents for her while she is gone. She said she'll be back either tonight or tomorrow. She's planning to open a branch of one of our banks there. She wanted me to see which locations are feasible." Chase took his glasses off and put them on his desk. "It's the first time she gave me something to do while she's away. So why do you need to see Athena?"

"I wanted to know what the kids want for Christmas." I took a seat on the sofa with the glass of scotch in my hand. I took a sip and placed my glass on the small table beside the sofa.

"That's easy. They all want new gadgets." Chase showed me his tablet.

"Okay. That won't be a problem. While I'm here, have you deposited the money into the accounts?" After I gave safe passageway to the rogues, they took over the criminal syndicate in New York City and technically all operations within the vicinity. I was then tasked to launder their money secretly, through Chase's men. Every other day of the week, they would deposit money into their accounts and every week wire the money into the various accounts of One and Second.

"Yes, Father, like clockwork. The accountants have already received your cut of the profits and will be wiring you the money any time now. I told them to do it today, since it's the last Friday before Christmas. Tomorrow, One will be sending another shipment of cash."

"Good. I'm planning to buy a yacht as a Christmas present to Athena. She likes to sail just like Lucas. Speaking of which, any word on Lucas?"

"No, Father. Every wolf under my employ is on high alert of his arrival. I will make sure he will not be able to enter the territory nor New York City." He leans back on his chair. "The annual Christmas Ball of the Association of Wolves is happening soon. I haven't received my invitation, Father. Thinking about it, I didn't receive one last year, although I was at the Carribean getting drunk to actually care."

"Have you checked your email? These things are done electronically now. All you have to do is save it on your smartphone and show the wolf at the door." He's never cared about the Christmas Ball. All his invitations sent by courier were used by Athena in the past. Now, I have my secretary send Athena an invitation through email knowing she didn't have access to Chase's.

Chase took his tablet and started looking for the invitation in his mailbox. He squinted his eyes scrolling through the long list of, I could only assume, unanswered emails.

"This year I will go. Athena says it is quite boring, but I would like to see if I could find a potential mate."

"Chase, it will be hard to convince anyone to mate with you given your, uhm, history. I don't think anyone would want a mate someone who loves to gamble. Athena puts up with it because you are her brother. I put up with it because the money I give you is dirty."

"I'm starting a whole new me, Father. I'm going to prove it to both of you. There. I found it." His eyes lit up, finally finding his invitation buried in all his mail.

"Fine. It's never too late." My phone starts ringing in my coat pocket. I take it out to check who it was. It read Edward Crowne on the screen.

"Edward, it's been a long time since I've heard from you. How can I help you?"

"Elder Lockwood, I'm so sorry to disturb you. I am in a bit of a dilemma and I was hoping you could help me." He called to ask me for a favor. This meant if I help him, he'll be indebted to me.

"Sure, what seems to be the problem?"

"My son is missing. I wanted to ask you to keep a look out for him. I know he visited New York recently, but since then, I have been unable to contact him." Shit. Maybe the rogues got to him.

"I will see if he is still here. If he is, I will call you. If he is not, I will find out everything there is to know." If One has him, I will make sure he pays dearly for this.

"Thank you, Elder Lockwood. I will be travelling to Maine for business. Then, I will proceed to New York City for the Christmas Ball. I hope you can find him or have any information about him then."

"Sure thing, Edward. I will call you once I do. Good day." I hang up and scroll furiously on my contact list. If the rogues have him, I am going to have someone's head for this. I find One's number and click on it. Chase had his eyebrows up, wondering what was happening. I put the phone to my ear and a finger on my lips to tell him to keep quiet.

"E.L., what a surprise! Are you calling for more money?" One was obviously in good spirits. He must have gotten all his money.

"I am looking for someone. Have you or any of your boys, by any chance, snatched a young Alpha by the name of Crowne?"

"No, usually a young Alpha in New York City means he or she wants to have a good time which means I earn more money unless that Alpha owes me money. Then, of course, we, uhm, intervene with their fun. E.L., you know us, we don't interfere with the rich wolves. The Association will put a price on my head. I don't want that. Second, do you want that?" He pauses and I hear Second utter a response. "See? Not even Second wants to mess with the rich wolves. We have a good thing going here. We have enough omegas and humans to keep our operations going." One lets out a mischievous chuckle. "You know, the last time I targetted an Alpha and his pack was under your instructions E.L."

"Stop reminding me. If you do not have him, find out any information on Crowne. I will reward you handsomely."

"I don't want money, E.L. I want power. I want to run as Mayor of this city."

"One, this is just for information on the location of Alpha Crowne. If you kill Lucas and his half-breed offspring, I, personally, will help you get to the White House."

"Information on an Alpha Crowne." He said it like he was writing it down. "By the way, I have some information for you. Your daughter, Athena, she went into Salty Moon Forest territory this morning. I have eyes on the pack we tried to exterminate years ago. For security purposes."

"And?"

"She stopped by the truck stop along the highway that passes through Salty Moon Forest and went into a bar. After about 20 minutes, she left. My scout said she went directly to the airport after."

"Do you know what she did inside the bar?"

"My informant couldn't get a good look inside, but the bar is owned by Alpha Connor, you know, the Alpha of the pack you sent me to exterminate. Seems like Athena is up to something. If I were you, you should keep a close watch on your daughter. Anyway, if I get any information on Crowne, I'll let you know. Later E.L.!"

I hang up and quick dial Athena's phone number. It keeps ringing, but no answer. Damn it!

"What's going on, Father?" Chase had a smile on his lips amused I was frustrated.

"Athena went into Salty Moon Forest territory this morning."

"So?"

"She went into a bar owned by that Alpha whose pack I had the rogues exterminate for helping Lucas and his half-breed offspring!" My son, hopelessly clueless.

"Maybe she wanted a beer?" Chase started laughing. I wanted to throw my glass of scotch at his head for poking fun.

"She went there for a reason. Maybe the Alpha has information or something!", I practically yell at him.

"Or maybe she gave him some financial aid as a Christmas gift to pay for her father killing off his pack? Father, Athena is in Boston. If you can't contact her it's because she's in a meeting. She'll be home later tonight. If you want, why don't you send someone to sniff around Salty Moon? For your peace of mind." My son still doesn't get it. Even without alcohol, he was an idiot.

"If Athena finds Lucas, you will no longer be able to sit at that desk, Chase. You will be thrown out of the mansion and banished from the pack or Lucas can just kill you. Get it together, Chase. We need to kill Lucas and his half-breed offspring. Especially now, before she turns 18. If not, the half-breed offspring will be the one to throw you out of the mansion and banish you from the pack or..."

"Or what, Father?"

"Or kill you. It's your choice, Chase."