Convalescence of Doctor A.J. Montmartre

Chapter 48 Part 3: Abducted by Umbral Cultists

[DuQuesne, Batroc, and Poroshenko Law Office, Monoceros Keep, 2nd of After Witching, Year 427, 11:58 AM]

Marie Svetlana Montmartre just finished the first half of her internship duty which she was waiting for her elven boyfriend to join her in the lunch break. She kept looking at the clock and wondered where Neil had been going. The longer hand slowly struck a minute before twelve. Yet, she deeply thought if he would be coming with her or not.

" Is he coming or not? " she anxiously pondered at the seconds hand was quickly ticking at the clock.

Just then, the blonde future lawyer heard some footsteps rushing on the ground and turned her head around. She sighed in relief and stood up from her seat, seeing her scarlet haired elven boyfriend coming towards her.

" I'm sorry for being late, " Neil said as he kissed Marie on the cheek. " I was busy with a gathering new evidence on the current Umbral activities. "

" It's okay, Neil! Bonjour! " she greeted and kissed him back. " Guess what, Madame DuQuesne and my brother allowed me to interview Monsieur Chirox Friedrich at the hospital for my final thesis defense. That's five days before his surgery. "

" That's great news. Perhaps the Umbral cultists could face justice now with Mr. Friedrich's help. But five days before his surgery? Wouldn't that give him stress? " Neil asked with concern.

" I talked to him and his wife over the hospital phone. They suggested me to come earlier before his surgery, " she answered. " Amnon decided to schedule my interview since he's on a joint therapy with Dr. Lestrade and Madame DuQuesne and a physical therapy session for his motor skills. Soon enough, he will undergo skin grafting surgery since the treatments were effectively healing the patient's skin. The healthier skin cells may patch up the dead ones. It could more or less than twelve hours. I'm thinking tomorrow or in two days. I'll give them a visit. How about you? Any developments? "

" I've been attempting to question Carolus Le Roy's activities. There budgets allotted for healthcare, education, and welfare being squandered. I also talked to the government office workers, state auditors, and accountants that I'm interviewing, " Neil explained to Marie.

" Mes Dieux! " she gasped in shock. " How much was missing?! "

" 30 million Creds in missing government funds, " Neil revealed.

" Sacrè Bleue! " Marie exclaimed in disbelief and asked. " Do you even Senator Le Roy could take them all by himself? "

" He probably has assistance from other corrupt government officials. But if Le Roy took these funds by himself, then he is quite resourceful and almost hard to trace, " Neil theorized.

" Odd..." she crossed her arms. " I guess I may take the interview from Monsieur Friedrich perhaps he knows of these corrupt government officials. "

A man dressed in black watched and overheard the two discussing things and heading to a restaurant within the vicinity. He was waiting for an opportunity to abduct the elven journalist from a distance like a wolf stalking over at his prey in broad daylight. Thirty minutes, he followed them upon reaching the venue and saw them eating and discussing a few things. Just like Cheshire did over a month ago, he was keenly listening and watching at the couple when he waited for them to finish the meal.

" How is your family doing? " Neil asked his girlfriend.

" Everything's getting better than before. Nirvana got reunited with Pierre. Glenda has given birth to my niece as Amnon is now declared as a 'proud papa'. Then, Ivo will start his first semester in the second week of Harvest Time, this year. I will graduate in the After Mystery. That's five days after Amnon's birthday on the 4th. Probably, we might have a double celebration before I take my bar licensure exam. Mama enjoyed her time with Dyadya Blokk. "