In the Shadow of the Raven by Dan Padavona

Author:Dan Padavona [Padavona, Dan]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-10-19T16:00:00+00:00

30

The door clicked shut behind Raven as she left Wolf Lake Consulting. Her footsteps faded into the distance. LeVar slumped down in his chair, his eyes lingering on the space where Raven had been only moments before. The room felt colder, somehow empty without her presence.

"Y'all noticed it too, huh?" LeVar asked, breaking the silence. "Raven's been acting . . . different lately."

Scout adjusted her glasses. "I thought it was just me," she said, looking over at Chelsey. "But she seems off. Like she's not really here, you know?"

Chelsey sat on the edge of her desk, her arms folded. "Yeah, I've seen it too. It's like something's eating away at her. I hope it wasn’t what I told her about the taxes and energy bill."

“What about the taxes and energy bill?” LeVar asked.

“Uh . . . nothing. Don’t worry about it. We were talking about Raven, right?”

LeVar rubbed his chin. "Her focus ain't what it used to be. And she's still hung up on Phillip Space being innocent. Plus, she’s evasive. That’s not like her at all."

"It's like she's constantly distracted. I mean, have you seen her eyes lately? They look so tired."

As they spoke, images of his sister's recent behavior flashed through his mind—her once-vibrant smile strained, her eyes distant and unfocused.

"Something's definitely going on with her," Scout said. "We need to figure out what it is. We can't afford to have her off her game right now."

Their shared concern lent a dense quiet to the room. They all knew Raven's wellbeing was crucial, not only to the success of their investigations, but to the fabric of their tight-knit group.

"We need to keep an eye on her, make sure she's okay. And if that doesn’t work, a little intervention never hurt."

Chelsey cringed. “Be careful. She’s not the soft and cuddly type.”

“I can handle my sister.”

Chelsey’s fingers curled around the edge of the table as she rolled a shiver out of her body. "She's been distant lately, even in our personal moments. I keep thinking she’ll come around, but she never does."

The sound of the office door opening interrupted their conversation, and Darren stepped inside. He held an inquisitive expression that seemed to take in everything at once, and his timing, as always, was impeccable. As Chelsey, LeVar, and Scout exchanged glances, Darren closed the door behind him and crossed the room to join them.

"Am I interrupting something?" he asked, his eyes flicking from one to the other.

"Actually, we were just discussing Raven," Chelsey said, filling Darren in on their observations and concerns. He listened, his hands stuffed in his pockets, his expression unreadable.

When Chelsey finished, Darren nodded. "I see," he said, his voice low and measured. "She’s acting fine at home, but I trust your judgment. If you say something's wrong, then I’ll talk to her."

"Thanks, Darren," LeVar said. "We're just worried about her, is all."

"Any idea what’s bothering her?" Scout asked.

Darren hesitated for a moment before shaking his head. "I couldn’t tell you. But whatever it is, I'm sure we can help her through it.

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