xp_logs | Phone call to Jennie's father

As she promised Forge, Ororo makes a call to Jennie's father just to check up on her. The truth is less than reassuring, however.

The Rolodex was perhaps one of life's most useful inventions. At least, it was up there with coffeemakers and e-mail in the list of Things That Made Ororo's Life Easier. Thumbing through the cards, she eventually came up with the number for Jennie's father and dialed it, taking a seat in her office chair as she waited for the international number to connect.

Ari Niarchos was happily not in one of his meetings when his private cellphone began to buzz in his suit jacket. He place his pen back on the desk and fished around in his pocket. He checked the caller I.D., Jennie's school, before answering.

"This is Ari."

"Hello, Mr. Niarchos, this is Ororo Munroe, from Xavier's Institute for Gifted Children. I hope I am not interrupting anything."

"No, no, not at all Ms. Munroe." Ari sat back in his desk chair and stared out the window into the Singapore harbor. "For what do I owe the honor of this phonecall? Is Jennie alright?" His daughter had called him saying that she'd arrived back at the school, but hadn't returned the voicemail he'd left her a week ago when he'd been back in New York.

Ororo paused at this, a slight expression of concern crossing her features. "Actually, sir, I was calling because we have not seen or heard from Jennie in some time. We received a message from her in which she said she was staying with you longer, and I was just checking in to see if she would be back in time for the beginning of the term. Do you mean that she is no longer staying with you?"

Ari felt his heart drop into his stomach. "No, my wife put her on a plane at the end of July. I recieved a phonecall saying she arrived safely back in New York the next day. Are you telling me she's not with you?"

"No, she is not," Ororo replied grimly. "I do not know why she would lie to us both, or where she might have gone. Do you have any idea where she might be now?"

"Ms. Munroe," Ari said seriously, "You would know my daughter better than I, I am afraid. Is she in the habit of disapearing without telling anyone?" It hadn't seemed like it when she was with him for two weeks. Jennie had seemed like a trustworthy young girl.

"No, not at all. I never would've expected something like this from her." And so I let down my guard. Now she has disappeared. "Mr. Niarchos, if you would give us the flight information for Jennie's departure, I will see what we can do to track down her whereabouts."

"Yes, of course," he reached for his blackberry and began to go through it. "Shouldn't I also contact the authorities? What if-if she's been kidnapped?" Ari prayed that this wasn't true. It was something a man in his position was keenly aware of.

"It is a possibility," Ororo allowed, keeping her voice calm. "However, since we have not heard any demands, it is perhaps less likely." There are worse scenarios that are more likely... "If you would like to contact the authorities, that is of course your choice. Please rest assured we will do all we can to see that Jennie is found safely, as well."

Ari sighed, suddenly feeling about ten years older. "Please do all you can, Ms. Munroe. I will hold off on contacting the authorities as well. Since she contacted us both with conflicting messages, I'm hoping that there is not something seriously wrong here. I have only just begun to know my daughter, so I do not know what she is most likely to do."

"Do not worry, Mr. Niarchos. We will find her, I am sure of it. Please, stay in touch. I will contact you the moment I find out any news."

"Y-Yes of course. I have the flight information, shall I email it to you?"

"Yes, please." Ororo told him her email address, hoping that the information would help them turn up something, anything on Jennie. "Feel free to call me on this number any time."

"I will definitely be in contact, Ms. Munroe. I will also check with our family contacts, and see if they cannot turn something up." Ari was already paging through his blackberry in search of those contacts.

"Thank you, sir. Jennie is a very bright, resourceful young woman. Try not to worry too much for her."

"I am her parent, Ms. Munroe," Ari replied, "It is my responsibilty to worry after her."

"I apologize. I understand, Mr. Niarchos. Thank you."

"No appologies necessary Ms. Munroe. Just find my daughter." They both made their polite goodbyes, and Ari closed his phone with a snap. He leaned over to his desk and paged his secretary. He was canceling all of his meetings and flying home to New York as soon as possible.

Please take care of yourself, Jennie. Wherever you are.