I called Joshua and Tasha in the living room before I even took off my overcoat.
"Uncle Elroy's missing," Joshua snapped from the couch opposite me, the second I'd finished talking. "How can that be? I saw them take him."
I nodded. "It's as I said."
"So what are we going to do now? What about Darius?"
"We'll have to find Elroy first.
He stood and met my eyes, face twisted in rage. "Why can't you just take Darius to the hospital? He's getting worse each second!"
I shot him a look and jerked my chin toward the couch. "Sit,"
He slumped back on the couch, jaw tight with anger.
"Only Elroy can treat can treat Darius. Other than that, pray your brother fights through it."
"Bullshit!" he said, gritting his teeth. "Uncle Elroy is no doctor. Just take Darius to the hospital first, and then we can look for Uncle Elroy."
"Daddy," Tasha said from beside Joshua, voice low but sharp with concern. "What's going on?"
"We have to—"
"Don't you dare, lie to her!" Joshua said, clenching his fists.
"Fine," I said, "let me tell you this. Tomorrow noon we're all moving. Understand that if we don't find Elroy by then—we'll have no choice but to leave him."
"Dad." His voice trembled. "What did you just say?"
I didn't answer. The decision sat like lead in my gut. Leaving my brother made me sick. But if Elroy was dead, staying would bring harm to the children.
That was a real possibility with the people I assume took him.
I want to protect the children. I was sure Elroy would understand.
"What' going on, guys?"
I turned the archway leading to the hallway. I'd sensed his presence awhile ago. Now he finally showed himself.
Darius.
"Brother!" Tasha shouted, running for him. "Are you okay?"
She stopped short in front of him.
"I guess," Darius said voice faint. "Where's Kyra?"
Then it hit me. The last time I saw Kyra was in my office. I should've noticed the moment Joshua approached me. He never does that.
"Boy," I said to Darius. "What about Kyra?"
He turned to me. "The last time I saw she was talking about leaving. I just wanted to make sure."
…leaving?
"Um, father." He said. "You said something about leaving Uncle Elroy?"
I nodded.
"Does that mean… if you can't find Kyra as well… you're leaving her behind?"
"What of it?"
He lowered his head, oddly. "I was just curi—"
Just then he passed out, hitting his head on the archway.
Tasha began crying, "Big brother!"
Josh jumped over the couch, to Darius' side.
As they attended to him, I stayed in my seat, lost in thought.
If what Darius said was the true, Kyra had noticed them too. I had to stop her before something drastic happened.
I had to reach her before she could do anything reckless.