Chapter 48 A Mistake

*Eric Lockwood*

"Sorry, Mr. Lockwood, but we can't land at Harbor View. The wind's picked up. I'll land us somewhere safe which isn't too far from where you need to be."

Damn, the weather had to act up just as we were about to land. I saw Athena's helicopter land at Harbor View and I could have caught up to her if it weren't for the damn wind. I just hope the men who were already in the area were able to catch her.

Athena's mate always wanted to please me. To be honest, I didn't approve of him because he was soft. By his appearance alone, he never commanded any respect. However, he was the nephew of a fellow Elder and thus, came from money, so I pushed the mating, hoping he could contribute to the family wealth.

Yet, he was just as lazy as Chase. I thought since he graduated accountancy, he would be as good as Michael when it came to numbers, but it wasn't his arithmetic that was a problem, it was his work ethic. He was never at the office. He was always busy playing golf thinking he was actually good at it. But just like his work ethic, he was also pathetic on the golf course.

He knew I didn't like him and he always, always tried so hard to please me. I usually ignored him when I was at their home and spent my time with my grandchildren. Athena's children had the Lockwood demeanor in them, something I truly missed since the time Lucas had screwed everything up.

While Chase and I were figuring out why Athena had gone to Salty Moon forest, an opportunity arose for Athena's mate, allowing him to somewhat enter in our good graces. He knocked on the door of Chase's study with a sinister grin on his face.

"It seems both of you are wondering where Athena is," he smirked.

"Actually we know she's in Boston. What do you want?" Chase didn't like him either. He was burning through our money just like Chase was. Chase didn't like having an extra freeloader.

"Well, I took a look at her messages on her phone while she was in the shower. She doesn't use biometrics and I know her passcode. It seems she sent a message to Alpha Connor, the one whose pack was almost exterminated for helping Lucas. It only means she went to find him." He had the gall to admit he was 'stalking' my daughter.

"You sneaky sonofabitch. You read her messages?!" Chase I knew loved his baby sister even if she treated him like shit.

"I'm her mate so I guess I have the right to read her messages. I just want to know what she does and where she goes. It's basically her fault, anyway. She never wants to talk to me unless she's in heat." Athena's mate chuckles.

"Spare me the details of your sex life with my daughter. You know she went to find Lucas. So why else are you here?" I asked.

"I have concocted a plan for you to find Lucas, Eric. I know none of you in this family likes me, but if I can help you get Lucas, I know I will become part of your inner circle."

"If your plan is successful, yes, but we are talking about Lockwoods here. Ruthless, cunning, formidable Lockwoods. Something you are clearly not." Athena's mate grunts at my words and turns to leave.

"I see. Well, if you have a better plan, Eric, then I shouldn't waste your time." He scoffs at me while opening the door, but Chase stops him.

"Wait. Father, let's listen to what he has to say. It might be good." Athena's mate quickly closes the door and seats himself on the couch.

"Before I begin, may I have a scotch please." Chase looks at him with murder in his eyes. He unwillingly gets a glass, pours Athena's mate some scotch and slams it on the coffee table in front of him.

"There you go, your Highness." Chase smirks.

"You forgot the ice." Chase opens the ice bucket, scoops the ice with his fingers and places the ice in the glass, some of the scotch splashing out onto the table.

"Enjoy." Chase wipes his fingers on his trousers.

"Why thank you, dear brother-in-law." Athena's mate takes a sip and leans back on the couch taking his sweet time before talking.

"Well? We don't have all day!" Chase growled at him impatiently.

"I'm sorry. Where was I? Ah, yes, plan." He puts down his glass on the table. "I propose, you Chase, take Athena's place as CEO without her knowing, while you father-in-law, head to Boston so Athena will have no choice, but to fly to Lockwood headquarters. Then Chase here makes it appear he wants to corner her at the office while I, the dutiful mate, will pass on her emergency bag to her assistant, who I know is quite loyal to her, and she will allow Athena to escape with her emergency bag in tow. Of course, with nowhere else to go, Athena will go to Lucas and we will be tracking her while she does. Through her emergency bag, that is. I have tracking devices in it already. Ready to go." Chase and I stared at him, surprised. It was actually a good plan.

"Hold on. How can we get to her in time? Knowing, Lucas, he will ask her to ditch the bag." Chase had a valid point, however Lucas wasn't who I was afraid of.

"No. It isn't Lucas we should be worried about, but Athena. All of a sudden, you would play the "dutiful mate" to her? She will be suspicious." I scoff at Athena's mate. We all knew he was anything, but dutiful.

"There. Father is right. She will be suspicious. You have never cared for her." Chase spoke the truth.

"But I have defended her against the both of you and I have never connived with either of you with regards to Lucas. Yes, she knows I would like to be treated with more respect by the both of you, but I have never betrayed her until today."

"Okay. So why are you betraying her so... unexpectedly?" I ask. Athena's mate's smug look turned sour.

"Because of what I hear from her when she speaks in her sleep. She talks of Lucas throwing me out of the mansion for being just like you, Chase. A MISTAKE!" Chase's face grew dark from the insult. He sat behind his desk and stared at Athena's mate.

"Once again, how do you propose we get to her in time? We need to be ahead of her not behind her if we want to catch Lucas." Chase starts drumming his fingers on his desk.

"That's easy. Predict where Lucas will be. I remember seeing a list of properties a while back. They were irregularities, however Athena became defensive when I asked about it. If I can remember, these were properties in Maine, Cape Cod, Providence and Martha's Vineyard. There's a high probability Athena will go to any one of those areas. Place some of your men within the vicinity of those areas." Athena's mate picks up his glass and drinks all of his scotch. "You can thank me later."

And here I am at Martha's Vineyard. I hope Chase sent more men here than any of the other places Athena's mate had spoken of. I could almost taste it...freedom from Lucas.

We land at another hotel which also had it's own helipad. I ask the hotel for a car to drive me at Harbor View and while I was waiting, I call Chase for an update.

"I'm here at Martha's Vineyard. I had to land a bit far from where Athena was dropped off because of the weather. Any update from the men? Have they found them?" The car that I had asked for parks in front of me.

"I'm waiting for their call, Father. I will inform you once they call me." Nothing yet. They're probably still tailing her.

"Alright. My car is here. I will call you when I find them." I hang up and enter the car.

The hotel I landed at was only several minutes away. When I saw the police cars and the myriad of people with their smartphones out amidst the heavy snow, I instantly knew there were problems. I told my driver to park across the street away from the crowd and to wait for me there. I got out, pulled my scarf to hide my face and walked to where the policemen were to get a better look.

I saw three of our men lying on the snowy pavement, all face down. Their black car was parked right beside them. I look up to see a sign of a cafe. Obviously, Athena waited here for Lucas to pick her up.

I walk to a bystander who looked like he was vlogging, talking flippantly to his ten viewers through his smartphone.

"What happened here? Do you know?" I asked the young man who was vlogging. He glanced sideways at me and excused himself from his viewers to answer my questions.

"The witnesses say it started as a hostage taking. That big man over there took a lady and held her by knife point." He pointed to the man who was closest to the cafe.

"What about those two men over there?" I nod my head to the two others who were closest to the car.

"The lady that man held hostage had friends with her. According to a witness, about four people. The witness thought they were just knocked out, but the police say their necks are broken." Michael! That was his signature.

"Did the police rescue the lady?" Maybe Athena was at the precinct or a hospital nearby. I could wait there for Lucas to pick her up if she was in one of those places.

"No. When police got here, the lady and her friends were gone. They drove away in a pickup. I think a witness was able to get the plate number." Damn. Now they were together and probably knew we were tracking Athena.

"You said the lady had four friends with her. Anyone get a good look at them?" If Michael and Lucas were here, who were the other two?

"They had their faces hidden in their scarves and their hair in beanies.  Based on the description of the witness, all four of them were tall. I think the witness said there were three men and a young woman." Young woman? Could it be my half-breed grandchild? I gave him my thanks and I turned back towards the car. It was snowing heavily and the wind was strong. I would think they would wait until the weather gets better before leaving the island.

I'll just have the men wait at all exit points off this island. I doubt if they would fly. Then again, I'll have some men wait at the airport just to make sure.

My men knew Athena, her scent and what she looked like. She wouldn't be difficult to find.

I'm getting sick and tired of this cat and mouse game. I needed a trap with cheese as bait.

It's time I used Athena's children.