Marriage is Murder

Jess listened and nodded she knew what he meant “ I was told not to by Robert any way but yes by the sounds of it its not a good“ she said and turned to face Jack who had walked in. she listened longer and rubbed her chin “ sounds like some sort of cellar or dungeon”she said “ but that could be any place” she sighed as she moved to stand with Jack. “ well there’s your coffee, I guess it would be okay if you came down but don't over do it , okay?” she said with a smile “ ow Brian's took Khaat out for the night , don't worry its some place safe “ she took Jacks hand and moved to the door “not sure whose cooking to night if it was me it would be something French” she said and saw Jack smile, rolling his eyes she slapped his arm playfully as she chuckled.

After saying her piece she pulled Jack with her out the room and down to the living room again sitting down next to the fire as she suddenly felt a chill in the room and frowned. Jack saw this and just gave her hand a gentle squeeze.

“ stop over thinking” he said softly to her and she nodded.

“ can't help it dear everything we have been threw makes me suspicious.” she lent on Jack as she sighed.

Two days later found Angus back at his duties cooking again, but he was delighted to find that everyone was pitching in. That gave him time to go work out in the mornings and to actually have some leisure time.

What was bothering him, as he was putting some enormous cinnamon rolls in one of the ovens, with two huge breakfast casseroles in the other, was that no one had heard a word from Khaat or Brian. Their evening out had now gone into three nights away. They'd gone on a Tuesday night, been gone all day Wednesday, Wednesday night, Thursday, Thursday night, and now the sun was coming up on Friday.
Angus knew this wasn't like Brian. He wouldn't be gone this long and not say a syllable. Not this far over the time he had said he would return. Angus was now uneasy.

The only one who knew where Khaat and Brian had gone was Michael, and Michael had gone last night on some errand for Robert and hadn't returned yet. So simply going after Khaat and Brian wasn't an option.

Angus had thought everyone but Michael was in the house, but he was surprised to see Robert apparate in.

"I..didn't know you were out," Angus said, slightly startled.

"My apologies," Robert said. "I went out to Gringotts and to the muggle banks to check and see if there had been any activity on Khaat or Brian's accounts. I was hoping I could trace them through some financial activity. But outside of an initial large withdrawal that Brian made at Gringotts when they left, there's been nothing."

Jess came down after getting the kids ready for their breakfasts she was surprised they were awake so early but they were. “ I'm surprised the kids are up” she said walking down as she saw Robert “ you know were worried for them they haven't been gone this long before” she said walking past just as the kids ran past and into the dinning room Jack following being dragged by the two boys as they happily ran and sat down waiting. Jack looked at Angus and shrugged his shoulders at their request for food.

“ Don't blame me they just woke up and ran into our room but I think Abbeys missing her mum and dad “ he said and looked over at her as he lifted James into his seat and sat him down one by one. Cassidy walked down and nodded she agreed. Steven followed and sat Jaylen who had turned into a daddy’s girl as she clung to his neck a little before letting go when seated. Jim was next down pipe in hand but seeing the kids he slipped it unlit into his pocket and smiled at them all.

“ any sign?” he asked but seeing the look on Jess an d the others faces sighed “ they will return when ready Im sure Kate would have told us if anything was wrong” he said making a cup of tea float to him as he sat down.

"Ah, well, that's the thing," Robert said, going into the kitchen and getting himself a cup of tea. "Kate and I usually at least have some sort of general feeling of whether she's alright or not. Right now, neither of us feel anything. Its like she's just...gone. I'm not so sure that she is alright. Kate's been using any form of divination she knows to try to find something, and so far, nothing. Its like they both just...disappeared."

"Did you check for any trace of their magical signatures?" Angus asked.

"Yes," Robert said. "And there's nothing."

"Where did you send Michael?"

"I sent him to London. He should have been back about three hours ago," Robert sighed. "I don't need him missing too."

Kate came downstairs, nursing a migraine from using her energies all night long.

"Robert," Kate sighed, "I'm still not getting a damned thing. We need to face facts that they might well both be..gone...."

"My daughter is not dead!" Robert said abruptly, with impatience. "I'll find her, damnit."

"I suggest we start by finding Michael," Edward said coming downstairs. "Perhaps I should try to see if my seers abilities can turn over anything. Kate, stop pushing. You can't do anything more with a headache like that."

"I could if we had a healer who knew how to get rid of it," she was short tempered now with Robert, as short as he was feeling with her, and she glared at him, angry at him.

Jess walked over to Kate and placed her hands on her head as she drew off the headache or as much as she could. “ that better?” she asked softly as she moved back to the table.“ I'm getting a feeling things are not right and you'll be wanting the lads to help look for them” she said and sat back down giving James some toast as she did her thoughts also trying to find Khaat and Brian “ its not like them to drop off the face of the earth, they have to be some place that's protected “ she said softly so not to alarm the kids as they ate.

Jim nodded as he drank his tea feeling it wake him yet keep him relaxed as he sat listening. “Could it be the..you knows, that might have found them out some how?” he said deliberately not saying wears so not to scared the kids. He remembered Robert or someone saying the caretaker was a trusted man “ contact the caretaker, find out if they arrived or if they left if he so trusted” he said and looked at Robert and the others “ maybe its time to go back to the muggle gum shoes way of doing things” he added.

"Thank you, Jess," she said, appreciating the relief.

"I would go interview the caretaker, but do you know how many caretakers there are on this planet?" Robert sighed. "I don't even know what country they're in. I don't even know where to start."

Angus took the breakfast casseroles and the cinnamon rolls out of the oven and served them.

"You all should eat," he said. "Sooner or later we're going to get a lead and we're going to want to get on it."

Robert wasn't sure he could eat. He was pacing, instead. Thinking. He was pacing past the fireplace when a paper bird fluttered out of the fireplace and flew right into his face. He caught the bird quickly and unfolded it and read it.

"Its from Michael," Robert said. "'Robert--I have a lead. I'll be there to get you in the hour. Gear up because its damned hot here. Bring your bag, and consider perhaps a gun. Our 'skills' might well be frowned upon here. M.'" He read it again. "Where the hell did he send them?"

"Muggle territory, it sounds like," Edward said. "Do you need guns?"

"No. Guns I have. I have lots of those. This also sounds extremely dangerous. I want two of you to go with me. Whichever of you can deal with extreme heat. Michael tolerates climate well, so if he says its hot, its probably ridiculously hot. You lot should be able to decide that yourselves. I'm going to the farm. I'll be back in a few minutes." He apparate out immediately.

"Well, heat is August isn't particularly unusual," Angus said. "That doesn't tell me much of anything."

"We'll find out in less than an hour," Edward said.

Cassidy and Steven both stood up and looked at each other. "We'll go, we both come from hot countries so the heat won't bother us" Steven said as Cassidy nodded her head gently. Jess just sat down and dished up the food to every one.

"Come eat first, can't search on an empty stomach" she said and dished every one plates up walking over she handed Robert a plate " eat " she said softly as she placed the plate into his hands then gave Edward a plate. Jack took some food and began to eat give James Toast fingers to nibble on as he sat next to him.

"Thank you," Robert said. "Give me two minutes. I'll be right back. Save my plate." He apparated back to the farm, gathered up some pistols and some ammunition and apparated back. He had packed several pistols in his clothing, enough to give everyone that was going a primary and a backup gun.

"Better," he said. He accio'd his medical bag, just in case. He sat down at the table and joined everyone for breakfast.

"Would you like me to go with you, Robert?" Edward asked.

"I don't know yet. I don't know what I'm up against," Robert sighed. "I trust the rest of you to keep the house and everyone here safe. I don't know where we're going or what we'll find."

Michael ported in while they were finishing breakfast. Robert was immediately alert.

"Michael," Robert said. "I need a report. Now. Where did they go?"

"Morocco," Michael said. "Some of my friends and I share a villa there. A safe house of sorts, I suppose. I gave them the key. Looks like they spent at least one night there, from what I can tell. The car is gone from the garage, and the caretaker is gone as well. Looks like, as best I can tell, as if he was acting as a chauffer for them, and they never came home their second night there."

"Call the police," Kate said.

"Not in Morocco," Edward said. "There is, effectively, no reliable law enforcement and virtually no medical facilities that I'd trust. They are literally on their own. This will take reliable, strong force, speed, and the ability to get in and get out very quickly in some primitive conditions. Steven and Cassidy, you both still up for going?" Edward accio'd his own shoulder bag, fully intending to go along. Michael had his missions backpack on his shoulder.

"Edward, Cassidy, do you both know how to use a gun?" Robert asked.

Cassidy stood listening when Micheal spoke to them they both nodded " of course we are" Cassidy said as she moved to stand with Steven watching as Robert left then returned to ask if she knew how to shoot a gun. Cassidy thought then nodded " yes I do" she said taking one she checked the chamber then loaded it before siming but she didn't take ff the safty. " safty on so I don't shoot any one " she said and looked back to Steven with a smile as he nodded to her.


"Thats all good, but can you shoot it." he asked walking to the doors to the garden. Heading out he placed a can on a low fence . Cassidy walked out and took aim making sure nobody was walking past or close. " ONE SHOT!!" Steven called out. Cassidy smiled and took aim then with a squeeze of the trigger the bullet hit center.

"Good enough for you?" she said and Steven nodded but looked back to Robert.

" what do you think?" he asked

"It doesn't need target practice," Robert said. "I just need to know you won't shoot yourself or one of us. You know the butt from the barrel, so we're good."

He took out his own automatic and slammed a clip into it and put it into the shoulder holster he preferred. Michael loaded a similar automatic and tucked it into his belt and one into his bag. Robert loaded a smaller back up pistol and tucked it into an ankle holster. Edward loaded a revolver and an automatic and put them into holsters. Robert made sure everyone had ammunition as back up.

"Wands," Robert ordered. "Watch yourself, though. We're going into muggle territory. How are we getting around there?"

"I'm...uh...well, we'll be using a large SUV," Michael said. Robert looked at him. He didn't want to know who Michael was 'borrowing' the vehicle from.

"Let's go," Robert ordered.

A moment later, Michael ported them into the courtyard of a Moroccan villa. It was exotic and beautiful, and deceptively peaceful here. It reminded Robert of something out of the Arabian Nights.