Hitched & Hitched Again: A Comedy of Marital Mayhem

Clayton groggily woke to the sound of his phone ringing. "What's going on?"

"Betty's gone!"

Clayton's eyes snapped open, instantly alert. He sat up in shock. "Gone? But wasn't she at the cabin in the woods? How could she just vanish?!"

"Late last night, a wildfire broke out. It wasn't until dawn that they managed to put it out, and that's when they realized Betty was missing."

Clayton's breathing grew heavy. "Missing, or...?"

"She's missing. They got her out of there when the fire started. She wasn't hurt."

Clayton let out a sigh of relief.

"That's good she's not hurt. First, let's call the authorities, then organize a search party!"

After hanging up, Clayton carefully slid out of bed, trying not to wake Pamela who was still asleep.

He took his phone to the bathroom to continue making calls.

He called his mother's personal assistant, the local church, and the security guard he had stationed at the cabin.

calls, there was still no word on

Carl, but

head out when his

close friend of Clayton's father. Clayton quickly

you have a moment? I need to talk to you about something. Could you come

to find her. Can we

to you because of your mother's situation. She was here

Clayton paused, "Recently? Today?"

when

call ended, leaving

not long after Irene disappeared, turning her back on worldly matters

been years since she last left the

suddenly go to the

changed into fresh clothes

later, Clayton arrived at the

Albert was there, but Florian Miller was

father, Randal Hawkins. Though they had no business dealings with the Hawkins Group,

look out for them. Though the Watson and Miller families hadn't been able to assist Clayton

Albert and Florian were advanced in age, with limited influence in high society's

elderly gentlemen,

for Clayton