The Elixir of Life? Cassandra tried hard to remember ever hearing of something by that name, but she couldn't. Testing stages? At the hospital? What, was he sick?
She pulled out her cell phone and, with shaking fingers, typed it into the search bar. Her eyes skimmed over all of the results -- The elixir of life, also known as the "vaccine for death," is a mythical potion that supposedly grants the consumer eternal life...
"I'm not..." Don's voice trailed off as he stared at the silhouette of Mortimer Goth, black against the fire. He turned the glass around in his hands. Him? Get access to the Elixir of Life? He shook his head. "I'm just a medical technician."
"Then I believe congratulations are in order." Mortimer set his drink down on the mantel and pulled out his wallet. "You've been promoted... to 'private physician."
Cassandra stopped scrolling. Mythical potions? Eternal youth?
How many months had he chased aliens? And once that didn't work out, now this... Tears welled up in Cassandra's eyes. If he was going to keep the case from closing with his own two hands, well, the very least her father could do was start with the suspect standing in their study!
Mortimer took out whatever cash was in his wallet and tossed it at Don's feet. Don's expression hardened.
But Mortimer breezed right past him on his way out of the room, knocking shoulders.
Donald Lothario might not have had anything to do with his wife's disappearance - but he certainly hadn't done anything to help her that night, either.
If he had, she might still be here.
She listened for the study to be quiet. Once she was sure that it was, Cassandra peeled herself away from the wallpaper and turned the corner -- she stopped abruptly.
Don Lothario. His tall figure filled the doorway. What was he still doing here? He didn't move out of her way. Why wasn't he moving out of her way?
Cassandra smiled. Hard. Too hard. She knew it, but she couldn't stop. Her heart was beating so fast--
"Excuse me, sir. Just need to get a book to do some homework--"
Cassandra's smile dropped. Her face hardened and she crossed her arms. Last known contact of Bella Goth... What if this was the last face she saw? The last voice she heard? He'd said it himself, he and her mom were strangers. What if this stranger was the lasts person that her mother ever--
"I want a sample of the Elixir," she ordered.
But the tall man only smirked.
"Taking orders from one Goth is already pushing it," he said and brushed passed her. "Good night."
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