Chapter 39 So Much Better

Unable to sleep he messaged Trevor Lightfoot about the Cadence Staves case.

SEB123: Did you discuss it with her parents?

LIGHTFOOT: Yes. They knew nothing about the second account. They want to talk to you. I told them that your fiance was in the hospital and they seemed to understand.

SEB123: Did you talk to her friends?

LIGHTFOOT: I did. They all said they didn't know anything about the second account and I believe them with one exception. Miranda Cane knows something but she's lying.

SEB123: Tell her that her friend's life could be in danger and by keeping silent she's not helping her. Tell her everything about the mans account and what you found at the cafe.

LIGHTFOOT: I'll do it but I don't think she'll listen.

SEB123: Do it anyway. And if she still doesn't give up the information then have Jasmine hack her account. I'd bet they talked about the guy.

LIGHTFOOT: You sure? It's illegal.

SEB123: The kids life is more important. Get it done. She's been missing too long as it is. I want results today.

At 7:20 a nurse brought meals for both Sara and Sebastian. As soon as she entered the room she lifted an eyebrow at Sebastian who still sat on the bed beside Sara. He had his laptop open investigating the disappearance of the girl.

"Will you wake her?" the nurse asked as she pushed the tray beside the bed. She turned and wrote her name on the white board under ATN:Clair.

Sebastian ignored her as he stroked Sara's arm. "Wake up sleepy head." he coaxed. Sara snuggled closer to his hip. "None of that, now. It's time to eat. There's bacon." He said and heard her sniffle. He knew the moment she caught the scent of the bacon because she pulled back and started to sit up.

"OWE." she moaned.

"Slow, slow. Give me a minute." Sebastian said and scooted off the bed to give her more room. "Hold on, Sara. I'll sit the back up."

The nurse helped him lift the back of the bed, arrange Sara's covers and transfer the food to the bed trays. Sara wanted to tell them that she didn't need their help. For some reason she woke in a bad mood and even the thought of bacon didn't improve her outlook.

"Lunch will be at 11:30. Doctor Patton has ordered an MRI at 1. I'll be back in 30 minutes to change the dressing on your wounds. Do you have any questions, Ms. Allen?" the woman spoke as she lifted the domes from the covered plates.

"No." Sara whispered her gazed locked on the overladen tray. When she was at the Hide she never felt this hungry and she never ate this much. She tried to remember when she started to feel the need for more food. She remembered the night that she ate Chinese food with Sebastian. She had felt it then but not as intently. The day at the dinner. She had felt a surge of hunger and then lost her appetite. It had swiftly came back and she ate a lot more then she would have thought possible.

"Sara?" Sebastian called her name.

She blinked and looked up at him.

"Are you okay?" He smiled at her. He now sat in the chair beside the bed. He had his own tray in front of him. "You've been staring at the tray over two minutes now."

"No. I'm fine." she said. To prove it she picked up a slice of toast and took a bite. It was delicious. Someone had spread real butter over it and it had melted perfectly. She couldn't help the little moan of appreciation that escaped.

Sebastian chuckled. Evodine purred in her head, she loved the sound of his laughter. If she were honest Sara liked it too. Strangely as she ate her mood improved. By the time that the nurse came back to change her bandages she felt so much better that she smiled as the nurse entered the room pushing the cart of supplies.

"Good. Your finished eating." She greeted them. "It shouldn't take long to dress you up." she smiled as she set about arranging the items on the top of the cart. Sebastian stood and took her hand. The nurse looked up at him. "Would you mind laying the bed down flat?"

Sebastian looked at Sara as if seeking her permission. She nodded and he slowly lowered the bed. His phone started to ring but he ignored it. It stopped but then beeped that he had a voice-mail. As the nurse started to pull back Sara's bandages his phone made a new sound that signaled a text message.

"Answer it, It could be important." Sara said as the side of her face was exposed to the cool air of the room. Sebastian didn't seem at all interested in the phone. His eyes were on the newly exposed skin of her face. He looked up at the nurse then back at the wound. For the first time all of the bandages were removed at the same time.

"This will be a bit cool." the nurse warned just before she started to clean the area. Cool was an understatement. It was cold and the cloth/gauze she used was scratchy. Sara's skin tingled. Sara couldn't identify the smell of the cleaner.

Sebastians phone rang again and this time he pulled it from his pocket. He answered it gruffly. "What?"

"Miranda Cane knew the guys real name. She thought he was 18. She didn't know he was actually 28. According to her they were supposed to meet at Tindall Park. As far as she knew her friend intended on coming home. Miranda assumed she changed her mind. But get this... Cadence told Miranda that James lived in view of the park."

"So," Sebastian said getting excited by the news, "there are 15 city blocks facing the park from four side." he stroked Sara's fingers.

"Don't forget the side streets that still have a view of the park or houses that have vacant lots between the park and parallel roads." Trevor added.

"Some two story houses may offer views as well. So did the girl have any thing else? House color, porch swing? Any thing that could help up narrow the field?"

"The only thing she knew was that the house was old, white and had really tall oak trees." Trevor paused. "I searched online. The area is littered with old houses with oak trees."

"And our police contact?"

"Same opinion as the girl. They still think she decided to stay and since she'll be 18 in a month they wont waste resources."

"Same opinion as the girl." Lightfoot said disappointed. "They think she decided to stay and since she'll be 18 in a month they wont waste resources."

Sara felt a wave of anger and sadness. She understood what it was to be at the mercy of others.

"The incompetents of that city astounds me." Sebastian growled into the phone. "I'll have Jasmine hack his account and get me an IP address. At this point I don't care what we have to do to find her. Jasmine will call you as soon as she knows something." He disconnected the call without another word. He used his thumb to access his contacts and called Jasmine.

"Hey boss. What can I do for you?" Sara could hear the very feminine voice that answered the call. She growled in irritation. Clair paused. Her fingers froze as Sara growled her at Sebastian. Sebastian's eyes met Sara's. He had no problem seeing her anger. The cause took him a few seconds longer to figure out. "Boss? You there?" the question caused Sara to growl again. Sebastian didn't break eye contact with his mate.

"Hey Jas." he said into the phone, Sara growled, the sound low and dangerous. He decided the fastest way to defuse the situation was needed. "How is that mate of yours doing?"

"Wonderful of course. I cant imagine my life with out him." Jasmine said with a giggle. "But I doubt you called to ask about Rowan. Spill."

Sara no longer looked angry but intrigued. Sebastian smiled at her. Clair delicately went about cleaning the wound.

"I need you to hack James Callen. Find out every place he has logged on in the past year. If you can get access to his email accounts do it. I want everything and I mean everything that is connected to this guy."

"Boss, you know that's illegal." Jasmine said but she didn't sound worried.

"Then don't get caught." he said giving her the okay.

"I'll be all over the globe, Boss. No one will find me." Sebastian could hear the smile in her voice. The distinct sound of typing could be heard in the background. "I'll call you back when I have something."

Sebastian shook his head. "Call Lightfoot." Once again Sebastian thanked the creator for Jasmines talent. He didn't know what he had done to deserve her in his life but at that moment he didn't care. Finding Cadence Staves mattered more then learning the creators reasoning.

"Did you use her to find me?" Sara asked.

Sebastian smiled down at her. "No. You had already disconnected by the time I took the case. We tried but the last time to used your cards or logged into your email were from the same place. We didn't have a picture to show around but an employee said she thought she seen a girl that could be the one we were looking for. She pointed us to the direction of the mountain and said the girl walked that direction." Sebastian told her. He shook his head. "It wasn't that much to go on."

Sebastian's gaze shifted to look at the damaged skin. He smiled. It looked so much better. The comparison was astounding. The skin was no longer as red and angry as it had been. The lines of the wound were closed and the swelling had all but disappeared. The tiny holes where the stitches had been had completely vanished.

"Why are you smiling at it?" Sara demanded angrily.

"Because it looks so much better." he explained.

Clair started layering gauze over the wound. With tape she secured it in place. Soon she was gone and Sara sat back up in the bed. Sara blinked at him with her one uncovered eye. "What does it look like?" She asked softly. "Send me the picture. With that link thing."

Sebastian gathered the mental images in his mind and pressed out with his thoughts. He felt a slight resistance but then the shield fell. He felt Sara's mind connect with his.