Apparently, Decker didn’t waste time asking questions, because after a pause and a grunt, Mortimer put his phone away and announced, “He was already on his way here to start his shift. He’ll be here in ten.”
“Is there enough room on the helicopter for everyone?” Magnus asked before anyone could say something else. The number of people making this trip was growing by the minute. They were now at eight by his count, and in his experience, most helicopters could only handle six passengers and the pilot. Of course, there were larger helicopters too, but he wasn’t sure how large Harper’s helicopter was.
Clucking with irritation, Lucian turned to Mortimer. “How quickly can we get a plane here?”
“I’ll call and find out,” Mortimer assured him, heading for the door.
“Tell them it is a top priority,” Lucian called after him.
“I did not know there was an airport in Port Henry,” Magnus commented as Lucian turned back.
“A small municipal one about four miles east of town,” Lucian said. “Teddy and Victor will have to arrange ground transportation to the bed and breakfast from there. Speaking of which, I had best go call them and inform them of the change of plans.”
Magnus watched him leave, then turned back to see Dani inserting a needle with a tube holder on the end into Allie’s arm. She popped a vial into the tube holder and then asked, “What does Abaddon want with this woman?”
“It is really her son he wants, I think,” Magnus admitted as he watched blood fill the vial. “Although he might take Allie to tend to the boy.”
“Why does he want the boy?” Dani asked, switching out the now almost full vial for an empty one.
“We believe he wants to turn little Liam into another Leonius,” Sam answered.
Dani gaped over her shoulder at them with dismay. “That sweet little boy I saw downstairs with Teddy?”
When they both nodded silently, her mouth tightened and she turned back to what she was doing with a muttered, “Another Leonius. God help us.”
“Lucian’s call sure put the fire under the women’s feet. Elvi and Mabel have been rushing around like chickens with their heads cut off trying to ready everything.”
Magnus tore his gaze from where Allie lay across his lap and looked at the man driving the police SUV that he, Allie, Dani, and Decker were in. Teddy Brunswick, police chief of Port Henry and Katricia’s husband, had been waiting at the airport when their plane landed. Victor Argeneau had been with him and was transporting Teddy Jr., Liam, Katricia, and Tybo in a second SUV, one that was unmarked.
“Are there enough beds for everyone?” Dani asked with concern.
“Oh, yes,” Teddy assured them. “It’ll be a bit crowded, but they worked out a way to fit everyone in nicely. Fortunately, they let the bed and breakfast bit slide when they had the babies. They were kept hopping with the newborns, and between that and the restaurant they were too tired and busy to keep up with guests too,” the man explained, and Magnus knew it was for his benefit. From the talk on the plane, he was aware that Dani and Decker visited Port Henry a couple of times a year at least, so probably knew all this.
“The girls are just getting to an age where Elvi and Mabel could probably manage guests again,” Teddy continued. “But they aren’t sure they want to be bothered.”
“Constantly having guests in the house would be a big intrusion on their family lives,” Magnus commented, brushing a tress of long light brown hair away from Allie’s face.
“Exactly,” Teddy agreed. “Elvi and Mabel didn’t mind so much when it was just the two of them. They made it their lives, I guess. But now that they’re both married and have kids . . .” He shrugged, and then added, “It’s not like they need the money. The restaurant is always crazy busy. And, of course, Victor and DJ both have money of their own.”
“How do DJ and Mabel like living in their own house?” Decker asked as Dani took Allie’s pulse.
“Love it,” Teddy assured them.
It was Decker who turned in his seat to explain. “Mabel and Elvi lived in Casey Cottage together when DJ and Victor met them, and the two couples lived there for a time after, but then the house behind Elvi’s came up for sale and DJ and Mabel bought it.”
“What a mess that was,” Teddy said with amusement. “They liked the position of it, being so close to Casey Cottage, but not the house itself. Did a big renovation. Gutted it from the studs out, knocked down walls here and there to make it more open concept, and refitted it all real nice. Then they took down the fence between the two properties. The backyards are just one big shared green space now and they’re all happy as can be.”
“That sounds nice.” Dani released Allie’s wrist with a satisfied nod and sat back in her seat.
“And real convenient in this situation too,” Teddy assured her. “The teams that guard Miss Chambers and her son at night will be sleeping at Mabel and DJ’s house during the day, and the day guards can sleep there at night. A good thing too since there are so many of you. Harper, Drina, and Stephanie are here as well,” he informed them. “When he heard so many were coming, Harper suggested that perhaps he should take the girls back to Toronto, but Lucian said no. Drina’s a good Enforcer, and Stephanie’s been training as one. He wanted them to stay just in case Abaddon managed to track Miss Chambers and her son here.”
“Is that likely?” Dani asked with concern. “Did Abaddon know she was at the Enforcer house? And even if he did, we flew down here. He can hardly track a plane. Can he?”
Decker’s voice was low and soothing as he assured her. “Lucian would hardly send Allie and Liam to Port Henry if he thought Abaddon could track them here. Not with all the immortal children presently living in the area. He is just being cautious.”
“Yes, sir. Better to be safe than sorry,” Teddy put in, and then added reassuringly, “I’m certain Lucian will track down Abaddon in Toronto. Meanwhile, we all get to enjoy a nice little visit down here. Kind of a family reunion for Stephanie, really, what with everyone she considers family being here at the same time for a change.”
“Yes,” Dani murmured, but Magnus noticed that she still looked worried. He got the feeling, though, that she was worried for Allie and not herself.
Frowning, he peered down at her still face. Even asleep, she looked exhausted and wrung out. Magnus suspected nothing short of a transfusion would fix that, and hoped there was word from the lab when they reached the house.
“Here we are,” Teddy announced suddenly, and turned off the road onto a cement driveway.
There wasn’t much to see when Magnus looked up. The road was blocked from view on one side of them by a line of evergreen bushes; a garage was in front of them, and a high wooden fence ran along their other side from the corner of the garage to back behind them and out of his line of vision.
“Right,” Teddy said as he shut off the engine. “Dani, why don’t you and Mr. Bjarnesen take Miss Chambers inside and out of the cold while Decker and I see to the luggage . . . such as it is,” he added dryly as he opened his door and got out.
Magnus smiled faintly at the police chief’s comment as he undid his seat belt. There wasn’t much luggage to bother with. Just his suitcase and Allie’s two backpacks that she called Go bags. Tybo, Decker, and Dani hadn’t had time to pack anything and planned to shop tomorrow for necessities to see them through for a couple of days. So he wasn’t surprised that the two men had the baggage in hand and the back of the SUV closed before he’d even finished getting Allie out of the SUV. Very aware that Allie was mortal, Magnus had moved slowly and carefully to ensure he didn’t bang her head, arms, or legs into anything as he maneuvered cautiously out of the vehicle.