One of the household staff answered the phone. I was promptly denied a conversation with Mrs. Camelot. I called again saying it was an urgent matter about her granddaughter. Again, promptly denied. The third time I called, I asked to speak to Bernard. It was not an easy thing for me to do, given our mutual disrespect. When the staffer asked me who was calling, I was tempted to give a fake name. Instead, I said,

“Mr. Krelig.”

There was a moment of emptiness while I was on hold. Bernard, was my last hope and the last person I wanted to be my last hope.

He picked up the phone. “Mr. Krelig, what is this urgent matter about Miss Avalon?”

I just needed to get through his screen.

“She’s in trouble, Bernard, a lot of trouble. I need to speak with Mrs. Camelot.”

“I’m afraid you’ll need to be a little more specific.”

The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

“She’s about to commit a terrible crime.”

“That is not specific, Mr. Krelig.”

“I don’t know the specifics of it; otherwise, I wouldn’t need to call for help. All I know is she’s on her way right now to abduct a child. I was pursuing her, and now I’m stuck in traffic. I need you to get me a helicopter.”

“A what?” he half laughed and half whined.

“You heard me. I need a helicopter to follow Avalon.”

“Tell me where she is and I will have someone stop her.”

“You can’t stop her!”

“I’m sorry. Did you say I can’t stop a child abduction?”

“This is her obligation to pay. Once it’s paid, the child needs to be rescued. But you cannot stop her.”

“Tell me where she is or whatever you know and I’ll do what I think is best. Understand?”

“Let me speak with Mrs. Camelot.”

“I am her fixer, and it is my job to fix this.”

“Bernard, there are consequences at stake. Other-worldly consequences.”

“You know how I feel about the subject, Mr. Krelig.”

Yes, he was in denial. “This won’t end well.”

“Not for you Mr. Krelig.” Then he ended the call.

I stared at my phone in disbelief, and then it buzzed with a missing child alert. I turned on the radio to listen for more information. The last reported sighting was forty minutes ago at department store. A place no where near the intersection where Avalon’s phone is.

Igraine called.

“Ya, I got the alert.” I said.

She didn’t acknowledge it, but said, “Avalon’s phone is off.”