Marriage is Murder

"Papa," Robert said, getting up. Khaat was still upstairs by herself, so choosing Mama wasn't Robert's top option. He took Abbey from Jess and laid his hands on her knees making the scrapes go away. He preoccupied her by asking her what she had gone outside for.

"I see kitty," she said.

"What kitty?" Robert said, expecting her to tell him Max or Mo.

"Big kitty," she said.

"Mo's a big kitty," he said

"No....Bigger, bigger kitty," she shook her head.

"Are you sure?" he asked. She nodded. "What color was the kitty?" he asked. She took hold of Robert's tan shirt.

"Like this," she said.

"How big? As big as Otto?" he asked. She shook her head.

"Bigger, bigger, Papa," she said. "Like zoo kitties with stripeys. But no stripeys"

"Wait....the kitty was as big as a tiger? Are you sure he didnt just surprise you?"

"Noooo, Papa," she shook her head. "Like horsey."

"Jack. Jim. Steven," Robert said, "Do a head check. Make sure everyone who should be inside is indeed inside. Then someone alert the outdoor staff. Seems like we must have a mountain lion on the grounds somehow. Let's use a bit of caution here, shall we?"

"See, Papa?" Abbey pointed out the window. "Bigger bigger kitty."

"It certainly is," he agreed. "That's not a kitty you want to play with."

"It let me ride?" she asked. "If I ask?"

"No," he said. "Not that kitty. You can ride Otto or you can go with one of us when we ride the horseys. But you need to stay away from that kitty. That kitty might hurt you and not mean to. You need to not go outside unless you have a grownup with you."

"It my yard, Papa," she scowled.

"Yes," he laughed slightly. "It is. But we share the outdoors with animals that aren't as friendly as the animals your daddy has here."

"If they not nice, I make them go away," she said angrily.

"No, if they're not nice, you let Jim and Jack and Steven make them go away. That's their job."

"Job?"

"Work. That's their work."

"I'll go out and see if I can help," Brian said. "Abbey, you stay with Papa."

"Then we eat?" she asked, her stomach growling.

"Jess and Cassidy, please take the kids to the table to eat lunch. They'll be late or their afternoon naps if we don't try to keep them on schedule," Robert said as Brian went outside. He went towards Steven, and he noticed the large cat was on the defensive. She was ready to attack whoever went towards here.

"Shall I presume you have this under control?" Brian asked, feeling he needed to keep his distance.

"Well, mountain lions tend to live anywhere there is enough woods and natural habitat to support them,' Brian said, "We have acres and acres of woods here. There is no reason why she might not believe that her cubs were here. For all we know, that idiot might have put her cubs here simply to misdirect her and hope that it would cause enough bloodshed that it would attract hiim. I don't know. Maybe he was just drunk and being stupid. At any rate, I'm hungry. That seems handled for now, so lets go get some lunch. I like his Asian chicken salad." He headed inside. When they got inside, Brian noticed Khaat had not come down. He went upstairs to find her. He talked her into putting her book aside and coming down for lunch.
Despite the fact that Robert had not included Brian being around for Khaat when he did her surgery, Brian wanted that behind her so that she didn't feel so much like being by herself anymore.

"Its fine," Robert said. "Let's not get overly worked up about this business. The fact is that this property is large enough that its going to have wild animals on it, and not all of them friendly. Learning to co-exist with them as best we can is part of what we do when we agree to live to here." He finished his lunch and laid his napkin aside. "Now, if you will excuse me, I really do need to go out for a bit. Khaat, I really couldd use you to go with me. You won't have to be seen, but it would help me." He was hoping he could get her to go on errands with him where it would only be one or two people that they already trusted would be. He was specific in not wanting a parade of people with her. She looked at him, not sure she wanted to go. "Come with me," he smiled. "It'll be alright."

"I'll get your things," Brian said. He got her fall cloak and a matching veil for her and helped her dress to go out, reassuring her softly.

"We won't be long. Do try to not let that mountain lion eat any of the children while we're gone," Robert laughed. "Abbey does need to learn that not all kitties are friendly. And now that we know she knows how to open doors to get out, we need to be watchful of that. Perhaps a charm on the doors and the windows to only allow adults to open them, at least for now?" He offered Khaat his arm, and they apparated out together.

"I hope he knows what he's doing in taking her out by himself," Brian sighed after they left.

"Is that wise?" Angus asked. "Especially if we know now that the kids can get out? Especially Abbey since we know her love for animals? What if she goes to that wolf and it hurts her? Khaat and Brian will rip you and that wolf apart with their bare hands."

Robert took Khaat to Sparks in order to have a moment to sign paychecks and pay bills. He took over in the office and Lizzie brought her a slice of pumpkin cheesecake and a cup of french roast. Khaat was sitting in the office with her father when she heard a very soft noise outside the kitchen door. Believing it was perhaps a cat, she went outside. From the shadows she saw a figure. One she knew well. It was Escobar.

"What brings you?" she asked

"I knew," he said quietly, going to her. He raised his hand to draw the veil off her face. She went to raise her hand in protest. He paused but drew it away anyway. "Who did this to you? I will kill him. No one has the right to touch your face."

"He's a dangerous blend of a werewolf and a half giant," she sighed.

"Then he is stupid," Escobar said with distaste. "All giants, half or whole, are stupid."

"Not all," she said, remembering Hagrid.

"All," he maintained. "I never met a good one. He should be easy enough to find. I wil kill him. Do you have no guards?"

"Yes," she said. "I do. You know that."

"Where are they today?"

"Inside," she said. "Just inside the door. Don't hurt them."

"No. You need them. Go inside. Can anyone help you with the damage?"

"Presumably," she said. He kissed her forehead before drawing the veil around her face again. "Is that the only reason you came?"

"Did I need another reason? He deserves to die and he will," Escobar said. "Stay safe, Querida." He vanished. Khaat stood looking stunned for a moment before going back inside.

"I'm sorry," her father apologized, a bit preoccupied. "There is a mistake in this checking account. I want to get it resolved. Gringotts goblins have no compassion for that sort of thing. You alright waiting another moment or two?"

"I think" she said, her mind on Escobar.