For The Love Of Chéri (CHAPTERS 1-112 REWRITTEN)

Chapter 178 : Getting The Bordello Back Online

Waiting at the baggage carousel for their bags, Travis put his arm around Monique's shoulders, "You've not heard anything from the foreign female have you?"

"No... nothing. I worry. I've not heard anything from my son, and the only consistent message from everyone is that he's in trouble and some kind of danger. All I get are... mysterious phone calls from eastern women." Monique said with a trembling voice.

"Eastern women?" Travis asked in his warm southern accent.

"Yes. Some of the time it's a Thai girl, or something like that, giving me warnings or strange updates. Other times it's a Chinese girl, rattling off instructions that I can barely understand before she hangs up." Monique said.

"What kind of instructions?" Travis asked as he turned to face Monique. Concern registering across his face.

Monique squeezed her eyes shut a moment, holding in her emotions, "Just, things."

Travis cupped her chin in his hand as he looked down on her, "Mon, are you not telling me somethin'?"

"No. But I was told by the Chinese girl not to go to the Spanish mansion under any circumstances." Monique said as she covered her forehead, "I don't even know if my son is still alive..."

"Listen! Lennon's a smart boy, and he's as decent as the day is long. He'll always do the right thing! And the next time you get one of these cryptic calls, why don't 'cha hand the phone to me?"

"I'd definitely like you to listen too to see if you can make more sense of the calls, but until Logan and Nathan fly home, I can't even ask them if it makes sense. They've spoken to these weird people and been inside the mansion....which they said was more like a prison. And, I've had to leave Merrick at home, and you know how ill he is..."

Travis cut in "My older brother is a fighter. I ain't never seen that man back down for nothin'. He fights for what he wants until he gets it. He's fought off cancer once already! And Dutch is by his side keepin' a close watch on him....to make sure he don't come up with some cockamayme plan, like usual. Uncle Rick was gonna go but Merrick wouldn't have him as things are still raw between them over his treatment of Lennon."

"I don't blame him one bit! If he hadn't chased Len away, then maybe he would be safe now!" Monique said.

Travis reached for the luggage, and then pulled their bags off before he turned to Monique, "Do you have a place to stay here, or should I book something for us?"

"I have booked a place, and its very central.." Monique said before she paused a moment, "Its funny. The next time I thought I would be here in Europe was for my ex-step sons wedding... but things fell through..." Monique said.

"Not that Merrick would approve. Unless... he wasn't going to know about it. I like to think that you can tell me anything.." Travis said as they walked to the exit.

"I always wanted to keep things civil with my ex-step children, as I loved them all dearly." Monique said.

"Then how did it fall through?" Travis asked.

"Well.. I called when his sister gave me a current mobile number for him. He sounded shocked to hear me after all these years. Most of the time we just e-mailed each other on holidays or anniversaries. It was just nice to hear his voice, even though he sounded very stressed and somewhat emotional. He told me that in over a year, he was getting married, and wanted me there." Monique said.

"Ahh.. I can see where the problem is." Travis said.

"Yes. He told me that his father was going to be there, and that we would be kept far apart. But... I just couldn't bring myself to be in the same room as his father." Monique said.