The Enigma Wraith

“Petra, he did not crash. There is no way that happened. Do you hear me?” she admonished, then the tears filled her voice. She sobbed, “He wouldn’t leave me or our baby. He simply wouldn’t do that to me.”

“Oh, sweet Julie, he would not leave you, if he had a choice. I agree. I knew you guys were very close. I had no idea about a baby though,” Petra paused.

“I just found out this morning. I wasn’t even going to tell him until we met up at the shoot day after tomorrow or so. I was so ecstatic when the doctor told me this morning, I danced around. I wanted to call you and Mom and Dad, but I had to wait and tell him first. You understand, right?”

“Of course, I understand. I don’t think I could keep that kind of secret for days like you were planning. This is wonderful. I’m going to be an aunt. Wow! How are you feeling? Any morning sickness?”

“None. At least not yet. I feel great. Doctor Ingles did some blood work and gave me some horse pill vitamins. He also insisted that I maintain a very healthy diet, which I plan to. I am only five weeks along, so very early. I set up some future appointments and filled the prescription right away.

“I just want him to hold me,” Julie added with a whisper.

“That all sounds very good for my niece or nephew. Any idea which one?”

Julie laughed a bit. “No silly. It is too soon for that.”

“Okay, well you are going to have to give me all the details, because I have no clue on this. This is all new ground for me.”

“Me too! So I think I will fly back to Zurich and help out in the operations center on piecing the information together to locate him. I am sure it is something really easy.”

“Julie, I don’t think this is simple or easy. It seems to tie into all the incidents that Jacob and I have been working on. I think it ties back to Master Po and maybe even the school she ran. I also think that you are too close to help here, right now.”

“Petra, I have to do something. I won’t sit around just waiting and wondering. That is so not my style.”

“I agree. Do you want me to come home, or call the folks?”

“No, I want to be involved and contributing. I will come to Zurich. I can leave in the morning.”

Petra waited, then decided to be honest, as was her nature. “To be honest, Julie, I also spoke to Lara. She is devastated and worried about Carlos. Carlos is going to focus on Juan to the exclusion of all else. He wants to find him at least as much as you do. Lara has lost her friend, her pilot, and the love of her life is not going to turn to her until he finds his brother.

“Lara is worried about the shoot and getting the models on site. You know how easily that girl internalizes situations and blames herself. I am concerned she will ignore her responsibilities to Destiny Fashions. It is having great success, but is not to a point where Lara can ignore it.

“Could you perhaps help her? You know the business, she mentioned you planned to join the shoot, so I suspect you have some new designs to show off. She is also going to be in a bind transporting the models on commercial flights, unless maybe you could help with that. You are still current, right?”

“Hmm,” sighed Julie. Then warming a bit to the idea, she replied, “Of course I am current. I never know where or when our business will take me. That would be very irresponsible of me.

“I could go help her. Juan was going to share the flying with me anyway. So I can help. He would appreciate my holding onto his position rather than Lara hiring someone else.”

“As if Lara would do that without more evidence. What am I going to do with you, Julie?”