Chapter 29

FAMILY TIES

John’s Electronics Repair Shop, West Hollywood, California, United States

After the bizarre and unexpected conversation with the mysterious lynx, Gen was more than distracted. She found herself lost in thoughts of the past and confused by ones of the present as she strode to the electronic repair shop under where Liv and Clark lived in West Hollywood. She’d seen the shop on the first floor labeled John’s Electronics Repair Shop, but never paid it much notice.

When she entered the place crammed full of electronics, Gen felt an air of familiarity wash over her. Maybe it was because she’d been by the shop so many times without knowing it belonged to Beaufont family friends. Or maybe it was because on some level, it held great significance to her family. For whatever reason, she was drawn to the place upon stepping through the door, feeling instantly at ease.

An older man who Gen recognized looked up when the door chimed, marking her entry into the store. She squinted at the guy, trying to remember where she’d seen him. He smiled brightly, his blue eyes lighting up as he set down the electronic he was tinkering with. He had a head full of grayish-silver hair and although he was older, he had a timeless handsomeness about him.

“Gen,” the man said in a warm voice, waving her into the shop, welcoming her. “It’s great to have you here. I was hoping to meet you face to face soon. You know, when things settled down.”

Gen didn’t want to be rude, but she couldn’t place where she knew the man. “Ummm…yeah. It’s good to meet you too.”

He chuckled, standing. “I’m John Carraway. I don’t expect you to know me. But I’ve obviously heard all about you. And I’ve seen you around.” He looked over his shoulder. “Alicia, Gen is here.”

Gen gulped, still not piecing this all together. She wished now that Liv had filled her in more. Or if she did, then she’d lost the information with all the overload of details bouncing around in her head.

“Right, you’re John,” Gen said, slowly. “And I’m here to see Alicia.”

He chuckled good-naturedly. “You must be so confused. We all know of you but you’re just trying to piece it all together.”

She nodded, grateful for his easy, understanding nature. “Something like that.”

He pressed a hand to his chest. “I’m London’s father. The one married to Rose. But also, I was a Mortal Seven for the House of Fourteen, the first in the new generation after the great war. But more importantly than that, I was Liv’s friend. I sort of adopted her after her parents died and well, all of our worlds knitted together, as they tend to do.”

“I love that,” Gen said, smiling. “And thanks for the explanation. It helps. And explains why Liv lives up there.” She pointed to the ceiling.

He laughed. “Yeah, I can’t kick her out now, not even if she’s turned a one-bedroom studio apartment into a penthouse suite.”

Gen was about to laugh when she was interrupted by a woman rushing through the door to the back. The lady stopped, looking at Gen in surprise, a pleasant smile on her face. She pointed at Gen and looked at John.

“Is that?” she asked, the question trailing away.

He nodded eagerly.

The woman turned fully to Gen and strode forward, her arms wide and opening. Before Gen knew what was happening she was enveloped in the woman’s embrace. Gen didn’t fight it, although she was stiff and uncertain.

“Hi,” the woman said, peeling back. “I’m sorry. We know all about you and have been so anxious to meet you, although Liv said you needed time to adjust. Anyway, I’m Alicia DeLuca. I’m?—”

“The magitech scientist,” Gen said, stepping back.

The woman, who was younger than the man but well matched to him, nodded. “That’s right. I’m also London’s mother and a really bad golfer.” Alicia laughed. She had a thick Italian accent and was exceptionally beautiful with long brown hair and dark eyes.

“Well, it’s nice to meet you,” Gen said. “And it’s nice that you wanted to meet me.”

“Of course,” John replied. “But we realized you were dealing with a lot, so we were waiting until the time was right. I guess that’s now.”

Gen smiled, looking around the shop full of electronics. It was cluttered and then also full of character with so many oddities, much like the Fantastical Armory. “I’m actually here because I need some help with magitech. I’ve been accused of stealing some valuable technology from MystTech Creations.”

Alicia nodded at once. “We heard and it reeks of deceit. Whatever would you want with quantum-entangled silicon? That material is so advanced that only the top magitech scientists can use it. And even then, a third party would have difficulty trying to sell it on the black market.”

Gen sighed with instant relief. “That’s the kind of insight I need. I don’t even know what I’m up against. Someone is setting me up, but I’m obviously out of my element and don’t even know where to start. I don’t think that the owner of the company is behind it, but I think that he knows who is…”

“Chip,” Alicia said. “I know of him. And yes, he’s not a bad guy. But we need to know more about him and his company.”

“Do you think that you can help me?” Gen asked. “I don’t even know where to begin. Although, I have quite a lot to figure out. I need to know who is behind this and why and if the quantum-entangled silicon is important. My dragon seems to think that there’s something dangerous at MystTech Creations, like a device or something.”

“Very possibly,” Alicia said, her eyes off in thought. “I bet I could get a job there. My credentials allow me to move about in the magitech world easily.”

John nodded, a proud look on his face. “Few have the knowledge that my wife does on magitech. She was ahead of her time, paving the way for the industry early on. Since then, she’s stayed ahead, forging the path.”

“Thanks, John,” Alicia said fondly. “I think that I could get into the company and look around, see if I find anything suspicious and follow the leads, if there are any. But that may not be enough.”

Gen brightened. “Well, after this, I was planning on recruiting a detective team to help. I’ve worked with Sherlock Holmes and King Rudolf in the past. I know that magitech isn’t their specialty, but mysteries are. What if I have them help you?”

“That’s exactly what I need!” Alicia cheered. “I’m a bit narrow-focused, but they’ll be able to see outside the scope. Let me get into the company, get clearance and then I’ll have them help me sniff out what’s going on. How does that sound?”

Gen sighed with real relief. “Honestly, it’s the most hopeful I’ve been since this whole thing unfolded. Thank you so much for your help.”

Alicia smiled warmly. “Of course. That’s what family does. And I realize that you didn’t know we were family, well, family friends. But we are. And we always look out for the Beaufonts. Familia Est Sempiternum.”