268 The Meeting (1)

Private Investigator Hais sat at his desk, his mind racing with thoughts of the missing trio. Logan, Conal, and Orson had disappeared without a trace, and their families had hired Hais to find out what had happened to them. His investigation had led him to Erik, a student at the Red Palace, and today he was finally going to meet the man in question.

The investigator stood up from his desk and left the building. He had received permission from the Red Palace to interrogate Erik, and he knew he had to move quickly before any more time passed. He hailed a cab and got in, giving the driver the address of the Red Palace.

As the cab moved through the busy streets of New Alexandria, the scenery began to change. The towering skyscrapers gave way to more modest commercial buildings and offices until they eventually stopped in front of the Red Palace, the tallest building in the city.