Tobi (Male x Male)

Chapter 22 - The Errand

Tobi flashed me a small smile of encouragement as he resumed his position next to me on the sofa, just before acknowledging Dr Stone as the scientist thanked him with a gentle nod of his head.

The blond Katki had offered to wash up the crockery we'd used for our refreshments while Dr Stone had instructed me on the best way to assess an uncontaminated water sample in the hope that I might be able to test his theory. I'd listened to the older man carefully and had determined that the laboratory contained everything I'd need to carry out his suggested analysis. Now we just needed to convince Seren to obtain some water from within the protected walls of the Kinnisvara.

"Dr Stone," I said, turning our host's attention back to me. "If I'm not mistaken, you've been carrying this secret for twenty years. Why break your silence now?"

Inhaling deeply, he took a moment to contemplate his answer.

"Various reasons," he replied after his slight pause. "First, I'm not confiding in just anyone, Matthew. You're the son of someone for whom I hold a lot of respect, which helped make the decision to disclose this information to you. Elijah's a good man, if a little misguided in his loyalties, and I know he would bring up a child with integrity. Second, once you discovered Dominic was Katki, you sought the truth by coming to talk to me, and because of the way in which you've conducted yourself, I feel I can trust you. Third, you seem to be intent on helping the Katki, which I believe is a noble cause, and one I wholeheartedly support.

"Twenty years ago, I held my tongue to protect my wife and teenage daughter, not that I would have known what to do with the information I gathered back then anyway.

"Now, things have changed. My wife has passed away and Elizabeth isn't a vulnerable teenager anymore, as she frequently reminds me. Perhaps it's about time someone like you was involved, and this seems like a good opportunity for us to join forces." Pausing for a moment, he appeared to gather his thoughts before resuming his flow. "Actually, let me give you Elizabeth's address."

Dr Stone stood and opened a nearby drawer, pulling out a pen and a small notepad. Scrawling something on the first page before detaching it from the pad, he handed it to me when Tobi and I stood to join him.

"This is where you'll find her," he assured us, pointing to the address we could see on the paper. "Show her Tobi and tell her I sent you. I think you'll find her as passionate on this topic as you are. She'll know what to do."

After exchanging pleasantries and thanking Dr Stone for his help and hospitality, Tobi and I left the clifftop cottage and walked down the rugged path back to the village of Rannik below. Motivated by the idea of finding another person who might feel the same way about the Katki as we did, we wasted no time in seeking out Elizabeth using the address her father had given us.

We found her residence relatively easily, set back from the ocean and the main street on a quiet cul-de-sac that contained only a handful of pretty houses. After rapping loudly on the sturdy oak door, we waited patiently, but heard nothing.

"What if she's not home?" Tobi asked, but before I could respond, the door opened to reveal a lady with flaming ginger hair tied back in a high ponytail, who looked to be in her early forties. She wore simple clothes that looked appropriate for manual labour and an inquisitive expression.

"Hi," I greeted her in a friendly tone. "We're looking for Elizabeth?"

"That would be me," she responded, her green eyes narrowing slightly. "And who are you?"

"I'm Matthew and this is Tobi," I introduced us. "We're friends of your father. We have something confidential we'd like to talk to you about, assuming you have the time?"