Greta gasped as she looked at her phone. She found many missed calls from her mother, not to mention texts as well, asking if she was still at Rhénee's house. She must be worried sick about us, Greta thought.144Please respect copyright.PENANAzrwzSBGUad
144Please respect copyright.PENANA7ycVhQg8Xw
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Her eyes flew to the back of Malcom’s head, and she wondered how she was going to tell him. Instead, she heard him say:144Please respect copyright.PENANAsc0xmtZ5u1
144Please respect copyright.PENANAQcDTzOvAd9
144Please respect copyright.PENANA6PliKnkE5t
"What is it, Greta?"144Please respect copyright.PENANAEJeLK7EAJD
144Please respect copyright.PENANAFY8y0Iv2QW
144Please respect copyright.PENANANow2ud1Neq
Her mouth fell agape. "How did you know that I wanted to tell you something?"144Please respect copyright.PENANA6iDu2ctyhN
144Please respect copyright.PENANAVPZ4PFADgJ
144Please respect copyright.PENANAtvken7CSg8
"You're looking at your phone, and I can only imagine that our mother has been trying to get in contact with us."144Please respect copyright.PENANAykK0zmB3l7
144Please respect copyright.PENANABj06Fjt6mq
144Please respect copyright.PENANA3gFLY1SdHR
"Well, you guessed right."144Please respect copyright.PENANAg3oKMmBmNS
144Please respect copyright.PENANACeQ3m6507W
144Please respect copyright.PENANAuW72y4aDO3
"Oh, dear," said Miss Griselda, who sat in between Rhénee and Greta in the backseat. "She must be worried sick. And what if anything had happened to you with the stunt that you pulled back there?"144Please respect copyright.PENANAyRHAaFvFq1
144Please respect copyright.PENANAmhdQ1gvY4M
144Please respect copyright.PENANAQTlwI8FNIi
"We were going to figure something out," said Rhénee.144Please respect copyright.PENANAIm8XLaK3yz
144Please respect copyright.PENANAHvWMdXfdgH
144Please respect copyright.PENANA3gwA0KDDpL
Miss Griselda scoffed. "You sound just like your grandmother."144Please respect copyright.PENANAnEYDt8oceo
144Please respect copyright.PENANAPheRcXG786
144Please respect copyright.PENANADMlKmKZObb
Rhénee raised an eyebrow as she looked at Miss Griselda. The cat that sat on her lap raised its head.144Please respect copyright.PENANAqGgFwy2CFZ
144Please respect copyright.PENANAfAQztUVbYT
144Please respect copyright.PENANApnC4Idn49q
"Well, let's be grateful that everything worked according to plan," said Kevin.144Please respect copyright.PENANAe4PajYshiV
144Please respect copyright.PENANATf0JeYkv4J
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Miss Griselda didn't say anything as she folded her arms. Rhénee could only imagine how upset she is.144Please respect copyright.PENANAaInziQOZmP
144Please respect copyright.PENANAqWVGw5ixQf
144Please respect copyright.PENANAaSooskp43W
"You better give her a call, Greta," Malcom told his sister. "You come up with a lie that will convince her why you didn't pick up."144Please respect copyright.PENANAkgp1apj9Ml
144Please respect copyright.PENANA8MOX0aWyGj
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"Really? My lies aren't that convincing, you know?"144Please respect copyright.PENANAKpTqbpIHHw
144Please respect copyright.PENANA9H81VHs5go
144Please respect copyright.PENANAUOsvaSbV5f
"It was when you explained the reason why I had to have my shirt changed. Just do it, and quickly."144Please respect copyright.PENANAgmZ4Yrycrt
144Please respect copyright.PENANAnMCUy7HmDQ
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"Okay, okay. You're putting me under more pressure than she does."144Please respect copyright.PENANArdQs2N4ELF
144Please respect copyright.PENANAmU8MRLuE58
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Greta made a few taps on her phone and placed it close to her ear. The ringing tone came through, and immediately her mother picked up on the other end.144Please respect copyright.PENANA0TCw3pSGHW
144Please respect copyright.PENANAMaVjYIVd1k
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"Hello, Greta?" Mrs. Derrand's hurried voice came through the speaker. "Thank goodness. I was really worried about you."144Please respect copyright.PENANAEglcAEsGW3
144Please respect copyright.PENANAMrbQx4VQZz
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"I'm fine, mum. I had left the phone in the living room and went to Rhénee's room to check something out. You know, girl stuff."144Please respect copyright.PENANAsMfz9SnmJo
144Please respect copyright.PENANAHzVrJic7xx
144Please respect copyright.PENANA6mjRfvcc11
"And what of your brother? I've been trying to reach him too."144Please respect copyright.PENANA1hamEMktWI
144Please respect copyright.PENANAC66jsrOjr0
144Please respect copyright.PENANANkx7a4nLOW
"Uh... I left him to check out the study. Rhénee must be with him now since we came down from her room together."144Please respect copyright.PENANAQvb7t4NMje
144Please respect copyright.PENANAZs0NG6a09O
144Please respect copyright.PENANAyYaRIPRAXq
"I thought of the worst when you didn’t pick up my calls. I told you not to stay out too long."144Please respect copyright.PENANAqfg4sR9dOh
144Please respect copyright.PENANAtynyhkBmlF
144Please respect copyright.PENANAmtYplHCgiW
"We know. We got a little carried away. Sorry about that."144Please respect copyright.PENANAfDKTcu2dIQ
144Please respect copyright.PENANAdw3wJWHfJM
144Please respect copyright.PENANAmeSCdHxn8t
"Are you coming home now?"144Please respect copyright.PENANAps1ZQF3QNk
144Please respect copyright.PENANA6GH9KPEYyY
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Greta noticed her brother raise his hand to grab her attention while at the same time shaking his head. It looks like he heard.144Please respect copyright.PENANAGrLUUmklIi
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"Uh, we were wondering if we could stay for a little longer. You know, just to keep Rhénee company. And plus, she's really fun to be around."144Please respect copyright.PENANA9SA7FAvEtb
144Please respect copyright.PENANArIZEIy4RPx
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Greta heard her mother mutter in frustration. "Fine. Will you want us to save your supper for when you return?"144Please respect copyright.PENANAFKBxaIQfeI
144Please respect copyright.PENANAOaZonZLWkC
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"No, Miss Griselda already made us something, as she insisted that we stay for supper. I bet that's why we've taken so long."144Please respect copyright.PENANAKLLkKwjSH2
144Please respect copyright.PENANABtaxq3OlDs
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"Alright. But be safe. I'll wait up for you."144Please respect copyright.PENANAbsuoj52Wsl
144Please respect copyright.PENANAnzrZhqiJoS
144Please respect copyright.PENANABnwSgZlzwy
"No, mum, you don't need to..." Greta heard the cracking sound on the line and knew her mother had hung up. She let out a sigh of relief.144Please respect copyright.PENANAFTY5qAKini
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"You see. You've become a very good liar in just one day," said Malcom.144Please respect copyright.PENANAXCuw3GG8oa
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Greta rolled her eyes. "If only she knew what's really going on. Why can't we leave immediately after dropping off the others? Mum might start getting suspicious."144Please respect copyright.PENANAj6o88xCmZO
144Please respect copyright.PENANA7WfkpIL0jj
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"Have you already forgotten that we have someone in the trunk?"144Please respect copyright.PENANAI8ruXcDlWy
144Please respect copyright.PENANANHcCwo9oKR
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"There's someone in the trunk?" Miss Griselda asked because she couldn't believe what she was hearing.144Please respect copyright.PENANA8298Hg6dmW
144Please respect copyright.PENANAyH9u9PqeI9
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"I didn't forget," said Kevin as he smiled at Malcom.144Please respect copyright.PENANAW3vplHytBt
144Please respect copyright.PENANALf7An56c6P
144Please respect copyright.PENANA26GODK6LeF
"Who's in the trunk?" Miss Griselda asked as she gave Rhénee and Greta a stern look.144Please respect copyright.PENANA4yuEv61SOB
144Please respect copyright.PENANAIpJRnRRwHu
144Please respect copyright.PENANAWnt2hoHdtR
"Don't ask me. Rhénee said that we take him with us," said Greta.144Please respect copyright.PENANA4dHGT6cHqK
144Please respect copyright.PENANAv2Umx6APwj
144Please respect copyright.PENANA31QjvvdQEE
"He has the answers to who we faced on the bridge and why," said Rhénee. "Or do you mind telling us?"144Please respect copyright.PENANAgJg0YZyrIs
144Please respect copyright.PENANAYgjuRqJeLr
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"Me?" Miss Griselda asked, now looking cornered. "What makes you think I know?"144Please respect copyright.PENANAXipXRzSlFU
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"Because the same people we met at the bridge are the same people who left the finger in your bathroom with that note and set up a trap for us at Mr. Cowell's place. Something tells me you know who they are."144Please respect copyright.PENANAeWbCCoyBzj
144Please respect copyright.PENANAHL3H4lFiqP
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"I don't know what you're talking about, Rhénee," said Miss Griselda. "I can assure you that I don't know who was at that bridge. The only person I knew there was Mr. Cowell."144Please respect copyright.PENANAsaajaSvkfG
144Please respect copyright.PENANA34HoOeRUMO
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"Then it's a good thing that we've got someone in the trunk who can help us."144Please respect copyright.PENANAEjxtUfZ0Hw
144Please respect copyright.PENANAbENnCTn55R
144Please respect copyright.PENANACpD17DeJiR
"And where do you expect to keep him?" Miss Griselda asked, knowing fully well the answer to that question.144Please respect copyright.PENANAF77XBWJTVB
144Please respect copyright.PENANADy2tMo5pF7
144Please respect copyright.PENANAHqm516YflQ
"Our basement, of course," Rhénee answered without a care in the world.144Please respect copyright.PENANAaFBNb2QBHC
144Please respect copyright.PENANAD8R60LEOoI
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"If we do that, they might come to your place," said Kevin. "They will know we have him."144Please respect copyright.PENANA2pPtjXZTIc
144Please respect copyright.PENANAZ4n6D12grB
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"Well, why can't we just kill him after everything's done?" Greta asked.144Please respect copyright.PENANAdF7pzER0rv
144Please respect copyright.PENANA6pHE7PbbeB
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Miss Griselda shook her head. "You are all talking about killing like it's a game."144Please respect copyright.PENANANi8MuOrwtr
144Please respect copyright.PENANAiuAl40Ccnh
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"They started it," said Rhénee. "I just want to know what's going on. And the man in the boot holds some answers."144Please respect copyright.PENANAlGyDucrdls
144Please respect copyright.PENANAe5U1vB5vJ0
144Please respect copyright.PENANA7FB4IdkaK5
"And what if he doesn't give you what you want? What then?"144Please respect copyright.PENANAWTcmzlc3rc
144Please respect copyright.PENANAO0KqYLcHu8
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That's a good question, and everyone knew that. They have to find a way to make him talk. But then the hard part follows. What will they do to him afterwards?144Please respect copyright.PENANA4S3XVI8t8R
144Please respect copyright.PENANAI1K7gYIxsZ
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"We'll figure it out," said Malcom. "Rhénee isn't alone in this."144Please respect copyright.PENANA1Ds3nku80J
144Please respect copyright.PENANAicgAVGGZ9U
144Please respect copyright.PENANAwZ23gGMjPR
"You know, when Emelda told you to protect Rhénee, it didn't mean kidnapping people," Miss Griselda scorned.144Please respect copyright.PENANAqihj1Qhj3K
144Please respect copyright.PENANAyThOxXfR3l
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"Just like Rhénee put it, these people started it. And it's not like the late Emelda left us a list of people who might do Rhénee harm. I'll take care of the man in the trunk if that's okay with everyone."144Please respect copyright.PENANAsMgru4g6Xj
144Please respect copyright.PENANA0EeIlXDUro
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"Malcom, you don't have to-" Rhénee started to say something but was quickly interrupted.144Please respect copyright.PENANAcPTfCFF93s
144Please respect copyright.PENANAWldhZHu6AS
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"Don't try and convince me, Rhénee." Malcom looked at her through the corner of his eye. "Besides, I owe you for earlier. If it wasn't for you, I wouldn't be here."144Please respect copyright.PENANAsR3PorgbQr
144Please respect copyright.PENANAs6apbP5PjB
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Rhénee continued to look at Malcom and didn't know what to say. She felt terrible that she had to drag him into this mess.144Please respect copyright.PENANAhaUP1Eh7NJ
144Please respect copyright.PENANABmS0vQTwFK
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She looked out the window, and it was then that she realized that they were finally approaching her house. They had all been arguing with Miss Griselda that she had lost track of where they were.144Please respect copyright.PENANApKXSK89k8z
144Please respect copyright.PENANAxnHdcAQmQm
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"Home sweet home," she muttered to herself. She has had a long day.144Please respect copyright.PENANAqAStkOudiY
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144Please respect copyright.PENANAOQmfmJeVMp
Malcom drove the car to the front gate, and Kevin got out of the car to open it and got back into the car. The car drove to the front of the house, bypassing the fountain.144Please respect copyright.PENANAa6Hh0oMm3q
144Please respect copyright.PENANA6MZu2Ju2z4
144Please respect copyright.PENANA1GJM5pqCsr
Rhénee was the first to come out after Malcom killed the engine, and Miss Griselda followed after her. Greta and Kevin came out next. Rhénee had Sophie in her arms, and the cat jumped to the ground soon afterwards, heading to the front door of the house.144Please respect copyright.PENANABoI9PCwxl9
144Please respect copyright.PENANAH10GHL0LP4
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"Well, we need to get the man out," said Rhénee as she went to the trunk. Malcom had already opened it from inside the car.144Please respect copyright.PENANAwwMEgfzd9F
144Please respect copyright.PENANAHSZgtCzaRT
144Please respect copyright.PENANA8E6FcRsR89
Kevin joined her, and when Rhénee opened it, the man still lay there. She checked to see if he was breathing. He still is.144Please respect copyright.PENANAOP6repih3M
144Please respect copyright.PENANArn2vZXsFWV
144Please respect copyright.PENANAM2j8zl9BFh
"Malcom and I will carry him into the house," said Kevin. "You can open the door for us."144Please respect copyright.PENANAKTJXbIT7hH
144Please respect copyright.PENANA6HtnqLadXz
144Please respect copyright.PENANAbrYt0TfZCV
Rhénee gave him a nod and went towards the house. She found Sophie by the doorstep, looking eagerly up at the door as if waiting for someone to open it. Rhénee stopped as she noticed lights in the living room. Strange. She knows she left the place dark before leaving with Miss Griselda to Mr. Cowell's.144Please respect copyright.PENANA6UoMXpNHg9
144Please respect copyright.PENANAJm5MyXt2ml
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She quickly pulled out her gun, tucked behind her trousers. The others behind her saw.144Please respect copyright.PENANANIeRsyK03t
144Please respect copyright.PENANARF8Pv2bUOf
144Please respect copyright.PENANAovFNA554oX
"What is it, Rhénee?" Miss Griselda asked, sounding terrified.144Please respect copyright.PENANA6kT8B3ByDf
144Please respect copyright.PENANAaDVI7A967c
144Please respect copyright.PENANAou7Kptbyq4
"Stay here," Rhénee warned. "Someone is in the house."144Please respect copyright.PENANASDxOfLvgDu
144Please respect copyright.PENANAT8HIj9rP15
144Please respect copyright.PENANAtGP94PdI6X
Miss Griselda gasped, and Greta, who stood close to her, held her shoulder. Malcom quickly came to join Rhénee, also pulling out his gun.144Please respect copyright.PENANAmAHa4z4QpK
144Please respect copyright.PENANAuoyXqAqlCs
144Please respect copyright.PENANAMZiawZr4BK
"Are you sure someone is in there?" he asked.144Please respect copyright.PENANAXYON8cUZ4X
144Please respect copyright.PENANAPJZX0J2OPN
144Please respect copyright.PENANAi0eof6lYGY
"We left the lights off when we left," Rhénee replied, staring blankly at the front door. "Someone is in there. I'm sure of it."144Please respect copyright.PENANAERUF3z8MSw
144Please respect copyright.PENANAx6wtYPRarg
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"I'll lead the way."144Please respect copyright.PENANAT3BQnym5MR
144Please respect copyright.PENANARr6eHQn9Lr
144Please respect copyright.PENANAmChLQgWHMc
"No," Rhénee said, holding Malcom’s shoulder. "I'll go."144Please respect copyright.PENANAvaibIeYO92
144Please respect copyright.PENANAQOqn1banjx
144Please respect copyright.PENANACPQtSQgcm4
Before Malcom could protest, Rhénee silently and swiftly went for the front door, opening it without making much of a sound as she turned the door knob. She paused as she slowly opened the door to look into the foyer. Strange. She and Miss Griselda had left the door locked. The person in the house came in through the front. But how, and without breaking the door open?144Please respect copyright.PENANAs4xDUEFZZi
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She didn’t have time to think about that. Right now, she has whoever it is to take care of. Ask questions later. She swung the door open and silently stepped into the foyer, with Malcom coming in behind her.144Please respect copyright.PENANAyJwVItXUiJ
144Please respect copyright.PENANAFeLQNdH5Em
144Please respect copyright.PENANASwieSBTBHk
The hall is partially dark, except for the lights coming in through the living room to their left. Rhénee turned to Malcom and pointed towards the open entrance to the living room. She leaned against the wall, and with her gun raised, she slowly and quietly walked. Malcom slowly came behind her. So far, they heard no movement coming from the living room, but they had to be careful.144Please respect copyright.PENANAl8FR7DWHgG
144Please respect copyright.PENANABKFJ3aw9Va
144Please respect copyright.PENANA116hp1HmGB
As soon as they reached the entrance, they stopped. Rhénee turned to Malcom and jerked her head, signalling to him that she would go in first. Malcom didn't seem to like the idea, but in the position they were in, now wasn't the time to argue.144Please respect copyright.PENANAPQqgWJ9Hby
144Please respect copyright.PENANA71nucBmtQK
144Please respect copyright.PENANAWDKAB2YS2l
Rhénee took a deep breath and quickly swung herself with her arms outstretched, looking into the living room. Malcom was supposed to follow after her, but the expression on her face made him think otherwise.144Please respect copyright.PENANA2Naz6IdiHQ
144Please respect copyright.PENANAjsWO0OT46e
144Please respect copyright.PENANA900j6dH1b9
"What are you doing here?" Rhénee asked, still with her gun pointed at whoever it was in the room.144Please respect copyright.PENANACoFyFXIzGB
144Please respect copyright.PENANAnZyfnDVhXr
144Please respect copyright.PENANA9Mnc2pZqG6
"Well, that's a nice way to greet your lawyer," said Mr. Sinclair, seated on one of the chairs with his arms folded and his leg crossed over the other.144Please respect copyright.PENANA7ObLIHB4yg
144Please respect copyright.PENANAgjzW3n0Oon
144Please respect copyright.PENANAg8IQ8YMrtl
Malcom stepped out of the shadows and found Mr. Sinclair smiling at Rhénee. He didn't seem at all fazed that she was holding a gun and pointing it straight at him.144Please respect copyright.PENANAJ50Jggeu9B
144Please respect copyright.PENANA56Djg5wraL
144Please respect copyright.PENANAdOMGygQuuW
"What are you doing here, Mr. Sinclair?" Malcom asked this time around.144Please respect copyright.PENANAvPVr6pQlXd
144Please respect copyright.PENANAIJkVHjx9Co
144Please respect copyright.PENANAeEsytjeiEE
Sinclair looked at Malcom with an eyebrow raised. "I should be asking you the same question," he said. "Is your paranoid mother okay with you staying out so late?"144Please respect copyright.PENANAClqUgwTi5D
144Please respect copyright.PENANANfHtn5uXN8
144Please respect copyright.PENANAnCaUqNS9OH
Rhénee slowly dropped her arms. "You also have another set of keys to the house?" she asked.144Please respect copyright.PENANABWlzAcijvb
144Please respect copyright.PENANA2VICrVQ5Bo
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Sinclair smiled at her. "I do. I came to check up on you but found the place deserted. Tell me, did you guys go on some trip?"144Please respect copyright.PENANAWk2sXH7Myl
144Please respect copyright.PENANAnEUvfktHFF
144Please respect copyright.PENANALFR2EzsU9g
Rhénee couldn’t help but feel there was sarcasm in his voice. It was then that she realized that there was another person in the corner of the room.144Please respect copyright.PENANAc5WbUGOOQ1
144Please respect copyright.PENANAFoLqXAYPxp
144Please respect copyright.PENANASVz9yYGh2y
"Who is he?" Rhénee asked, her eyes looking straight at the stranger.144Please respect copyright.PENANAot1UnFFgRO
144Please respect copyright.PENANApex4RVKwqT
144Please respect copyright.PENANAQR3NiYFIsc
"A good friend of your late grandmother," Sinclair answered. "Please, bring the others in. They must be wondering what's going on."144Please respect copyright.PENANA9H9DWrtMkw
144Please respect copyright.PENANAphc3wFuPdb
144Please respect copyright.PENANAuQTAeRbdmG
Malcom turned to Rhénee. She gave a nod without looking at him, and he quickly stepped out of the living room. Sophie had finally appeared in the living room, behind Rhénee, and went behind one of the sofas.144Please respect copyright.PENANAFPasGoPBhv
144Please respect copyright.PENANAYjT5kuOVBx
144Please respect copyright.PENANAjBFuAqc6Nf
Sinclair and Rhénee continued to look at each other. He had an amused smile on his face, and she had a rather serious one. Rhénee couldn’t help but feel that after this encounter, their relationship was bound to take an unexpected turn.144Please respect copyright.PENANA6pRPG8cLMK
144Please respect copyright.PENANADgK4gu0ati
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"You don't seem surprised that I'm holding a gun, Mr. Sinclair," said Rhénee.144Please respect copyright.PENANApPhxd5AKxy
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Sinclair adjusted in his seat as he answered, "I'm not."144Please respect copyright.PENANAaFNxHvX5UR
144Please respect copyright.PENANATTQITcuTLk
144Please respect copyright.PENANAs531ZnnYcw
Rhénee furrowed her eyebrows, showing her displeasure. What is he really doing here? she wondered. Rhénee knew it was more than just checking up on her. Could he have known what's been going on?144Please respect copyright.PENANAXXZXs5yIHb
144Please respect copyright.PENANAb0vcQ8GbAw
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"Are you serious?" Rhénee could hear Miss Griselda in the foyer, along with a set of footsteps.144Please respect copyright.PENANA7EJrFNAzln
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"You can see for yourself," said Malcom.144Please respect copyright.PENANACMIdONXDpm
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144Please respect copyright.PENANAsGzYvbKdqK
Miss Griselda came into the living room with Greta beside her and gasped upon seeing Mr. Sinclair, who smiled at her. Her eyes soon turned to the person in the brown coat standing in the corner of the room. She looked at him as though she had seen a ghost.144Please respect copyright.PENANAahcCS6BIm1
144Please respect copyright.PENANAWzABhTG5X5
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"Long time no see, Griselda," came the breathy voice of the man in the corner.144Please respect copyright.PENANAJLULCrYdcK
144Please respect copyright.PENANAx4Z8yYkrFh
144Please respect copyright.PENANA3nOrVstfE7
Rhénee turned to look at Miss Griselda. "You know him?" she asked.144Please respect copyright.PENANA2lT1JntKVD
144Please respect copyright.PENANAYs9Qpvm8NW
144Please respect copyright.PENANAJHqshFwezi
"Yes," Miss Griselda answered as she briefly gave Rhénee a look before turning her eyes back to the man in the corner. "He was also a very good friend of your grandmother."144Please respect copyright.PENANA0S4OnkXZyx
144Please respect copyright.PENANAx3bzX2EUCT
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"So I've been told." Rhénee looked at Mr. Sinclair.144Please respect copyright.PENANA1cn334Ka4I
144Please respect copyright.PENANAtNLRjPJqO0
144Please respect copyright.PENANAzSsU4VNNqu
"Please sit down, all of you," said Mr. Sinclair.144Please respect copyright.PENANApA6vxtTGl1
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Miss Griselda and Greta looked at each other before complying. Kevin and Malcom, who still stood behind Rhénee, hesitated for a bit before making their way to the chairs. Rhénee, alongside the man in the corner, remained standing.144Please respect copyright.PENANAYAGLHoy5Vy
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"Aren't you going to sit, Rhénee?" Sinclair asked.144Please respect copyright.PENANAdHYoa8yZ3H
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"You already know what happened tonight, don't you?" Rhénee asked.144Please respect copyright.PENANAW0SOIF5NJ1
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Those who were seated looked at Mr. Sinclair, looking a little surprised. Greta's mouth fell open.144Please respect copyright.PENANAfWOjyKCgMs
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"Of course," he answered, giving a curt nod of his head.144Please respect copyright.PENANAJIZRXPoVaG
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"That means you've always known what's been going on?"144Please respect copyright.PENANAoEMOneHptS
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"I don't think so. It's why I'm here."144Please respect copyright.PENANARvYbBVqxyN
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Rhénee wasn’t going to give Sinclair the satisfaction of looking confused. Tucking her gun away behind her trousers, she walked over to where Miss Griselda sat alongside Greta. Opposite them sat Malcom and Kevin. All eyes were on Sinclair as the room fell into a moment of silence.144Please respect copyright.PENANAZb9TDCea8l
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Sinclair cleared his throat before asking, "Would anyone mind telling me where you all were?"144Please respect copyright.PENANA45wR0MWYLz
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"We aren’t children for you to be asking us such a question," Rhénee pointed out.144Please respect copyright.PENANAEkxh7KBy6K
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"No, you aren’t. But it’s now late, and I find it strange to find Greta, Kevin, and Malcom here."144Please respect copyright.PENANAoYTMdgkG1P
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Malcom is the first to speak after a moment of silence: "We were out in the woods."144Please respect copyright.PENANArVA9lR4Ygh
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Sinclair raised an eyebrow, but Rhénee could see right through him and sucked at her teeth loudly, grabbing everyone’s attention, including the man who stood in the corner.144Please respect copyright.PENANAGMQIumQhaN
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"Rhénee, please calm down," said Miss Griselda as she laid a hand on Rhénee’s knee.144Please respect copyright.PENANABMBIsrac1t
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"Let’s stop all of this nonsense," said Rhénee, throwing daggers at Sinclair with her eyes, completely ignoring Miss Griselda. "Don’t try to act like a concerned guardian when you already know what’s going on."144Please respect copyright.PENANAMKJ5p0FhAT
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"As much as I am your lawyer—you might not like to hear this—I am responsible for you."144Please respect copyright.PENANA1Fq9UNmAks
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"If you’re responsible for me, wouldn’t you at least have given me a heads-up before I came here that I was going to go through all this hell?"144Please respect copyright.PENANAvYkjEQJtQu
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Sinclair put up a smug smile. "What hell?"144Please respect copyright.PENANAlt6ATWoSoq
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Rhénee did her best not to roll her eyes. "If you aren't going to act like the ‘concerned guardian,’ I’ll be leaving."144Please respect copyright.PENANA09wGefXRFr
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Rhénee stood, and before she could even turn around, Sinclair asked, "Then how many more people are you going to kill?"144Please respect copyright.PENANAZsaaubYNM7
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"Then you do know," Rhénee said, throwing him a similar smug smile. "You do know who is doing this, don’t you?"144Please respect copyright.PENANARJrhPGE2s6
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"It depends."144Please respect copyright.PENANAoLUa05JjUh
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"On what?" Rhénee folded her arms.144Please respect copyright.PENANAZCVzurZGA7
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"On you telling me why you were out in the woods and whatever has been going on."144Please respect copyright.PENANA16XumFTs6A
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Rhénee scoffed, shaking her head. "You asked me how many more people I will have to kill. My answer is, until I get to the bottom of what’s going on. So until then, whoever points a gun at me or the people I care about will receive the same treatment."144Please respect copyright.PENANA2adHoCED2n
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Rhénee turned around, and before she could find herself in the hall, Sinclair muttered, "you’re just like your grandmother. Hold on, Rhénee."144Please respect copyright.PENANALt5Bu3mlBh
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Rhénee stopped. "Are we going to be serious about this or not?"144Please respect copyright.PENANA90DRaPw4Uu
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"I know there was a shootout by the bridge tonight that you and your whole crew here," Sinclair said, looking at the other three seated, "instigated. What I don’t know is what it was all about."144Please respect copyright.PENANApbsYuBkS6v
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"You know about that?" Greta asked, surprised.144Please respect copyright.PENANAKpMFCTUZ5w
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"I have eyes and ears." Sinclair smiled at her.144Please respect copyright.PENANAERjxGjecHX
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"I’m guessing he told you." Kevin’s eyes flew to the man in the coat.144Please respect copyright.PENANAqYH7dcqb7S
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"He just happened to be nearby when he heard the ruckus."144Please respect copyright.PENANAYkilrFOQnk
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"Wait, if he was there, how did he find himself here before us?" Rhénee asked.144Please respect copyright.PENANADlqn4vpWOf
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"Trust me, I have no idea how he does his magic tricks. It’s annoying at first, but you’ll get used to it. He has stayed here long enough to know all the shortest routes possible."144Please respect copyright.PENANAwOVfXtmIOJ
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Rhénee looked at the man in the corner, and she could feel his dark eyes on her. The heavy brown coat with its collar reaching up to his face and the hat over his head made his face impossible to see. There was no hiding that he’s African American. He also wore heavy black gumboots. Lucky for him, he didn’t leave dirt stains on the carpet. If he did, Miss Griselda was going to have a hard time cleaning them out.144Please respect copyright.PENANAzAkCfI1UTN
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"So are you going to tell me why there was a shootout?" Sinclair asked, bringing Rhénee back from her thoughts.144Please respect copyright.PENANAInDhRc56Mo
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"If we do, would you tell us why all this is happening and who is after me?" Rhénee asked, turning to face Sinclair.144Please respect copyright.PENANAPKzOuuezIF
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"Yes, but only what I think is relevant. Now, would you kindly sit down?" Sinclair gestured to the empty space she had occupied earlier beside Miss Griselda.144Please respect copyright.PENANABxAVsxpRpZ
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Rhénee clicked her tongue. Relevant isn’t good enough, but she knew this exchange of information might prove to be a little helpful. That is, if Sinclair complies.144Please respect copyright.PENANAc1pHU21Ubu
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She obliged slowly. As she went back to her seat, she felt uneasy. She now started to wonder what her lawyer could know. He was close to Emelda, and Rhénee felt he knew a lot more than she thought.144Please respect copyright.PENANAPym5zOJLj1
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"So, anyone mind telling me?" Sinclair asked as he looked at each one seated.144Please respect copyright.PENANA334giLBPSr
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Kevin went on to explain how he had passed by Mr. Cowell’s to check up on him since he didn’t show up for work. He also had to explain about the finger that they found in Miss Griselda’s bathroom and how they had thought it was Mr. Cowell’s. From there, Miss Griselda jumped in and explained the phone call she and Rhénee got from Kevin and how they got to Mr. Cowell’s house. As much as Rhénee didn’t want to pitch in, she explained what went on in the house and how she managed to take down the man they found there. She didn’t forget to mention that they still have him lying unconscious in the trunk. Sinclair couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow.144Please respect copyright.PENANARMOJl4R0QH
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"I did it so that I could get the truth out of him," Rhénee pointed out when she noticed the look he gave her.144Please respect copyright.PENANAsC6jA3vhtF
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"I’m not saying anything on that one," Sinclair said. "Please continue." Rhénee almost hissed at him.144Please respect copyright.PENANAuTHHCHBx2g
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Malcom and Greta took it from there, explaining what happened afterwards in the woods. Sinclair listened with a smile on his face. Rhénee furrowed her eyebrows as she felt he was taking all of this in for fun.144Please respect copyright.PENANAmTKEDQoP3V
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"We better take that man out of that trunk," Sinclair suggested.144Please respect copyright.PENANAGCEzhJOWq9
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"I agree," said Miss Griselda. Rhénee couldn’t help but wonder why she answered so quickly.144Please respect copyright.PENANAjFSTa04NlM
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"Kevin, let's go get him," said Malcom.144Please respect copyright.PENANAp9yCt3v7Aw
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"Once you get him out of there, put him in this man's car," said Sinclair, pointing to the man in the corner.144Please respect copyright.PENANAcjhxQz6iPZ
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"You came with a car?" Greta asked. "We saw no car in the driveway."144Please respect copyright.PENANAnRiVUgtW7z
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"And why put him in his car?" Rhénee asked. "I need to question him first."144Please respect copyright.PENANA2NkzJvthOm
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Sinclair turned to Greta and said, "to answer your question, I parked it outside the premises." Then he gave Rhénee a look. "I know that you need to question him."144Please respect copyright.PENANAk4ZEzb29by
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"Then why aren’t you letting me?"144Please respect copyright.PENANAQws7C7IHPB
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"Because you’ll be wasting your time, trust me," Sinclair said, turning to the man on his left. "You can do likewise."144Please respect copyright.PENANAB6h0JizZWX
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The man in the corner grunted in response and started to make his way out. Rhénee watched him go around the chairs to lead the way outside. Malcom and Kevin followed him.144Please respect copyright.PENANAlZFiFSPeYi
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"Aren’t you now going to tell me what’s going on?" Rhénee asked after the others had left.144Please respect copyright.PENANADhV1RDfcxx
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"I will. But not now." Sinclair quickly stood from his seat as he adjusted the glasses on his face.144Please respect copyright.PENANAKt5egCCNnz
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"No fair," Rhénee quickly said, standing in front of him. "We had a deal."144Please respect copyright.PENANAdww7C5m6Wl
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"A deal, yes. And I will deliver my part tomorrow."144Please respect copyright.PENANAGBjNnWcwqC
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"No. I want you to say it right here and now."144Please respect copyright.PENANAcjhqhQehqr
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Miss Griselda, with a worried look on her face, also stood and held Rhénee's shoulder. "Rhénee, calm down. Mr. Sinclair knows what he’s doing. Let’s wait for tomorrow."144Please respect copyright.PENANAGQqb25V6cJ
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"If you haven’t noticed, Rhénee, it’s pretty late, and your friends have to go back to their respective homes," said Sinclair. He turned to Greta. "I’m surprised your mother isn’t here yet."144Please respect copyright.PENANAJeQ6Lht3li
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"I called her and told her not to worry," Greta answered as she slowly stood, looking nervously at Sinclair.144Please respect copyright.PENANASAfVwP9p5N
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"Good." He turned to Rhénee. "Don’t worry, I’ll keep my end of the bargain and tell you all you need to know. After hearing your story, something tells me you’ve been through a lot already."144Please respect copyright.PENANABlEx1imxdX
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Rhénee didn’t argue there. And the worst part is that even if they hadn’t told him what happened during the daytime, Rhénee had a funny feeling he already knew.144Please respect copyright.PENANAdcbyedEeab
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"What are you going to do to the man in the trunk?" Rhénee asked.144Please respect copyright.PENANA0WzazyfR3N
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"He’ll be well taken care of. I also have to question him."144Please respect copyright.PENANAsGbYFaDvO7
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"And you think you’ll make him talk?"144Please respect copyright.PENANAkIZNJKzHll
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"The man I came with has mad skills at making people talk."144Please respect copyright.PENANAcQiu29YcfW
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"You aren’t talking to children, Mr. Sinclair." Rhénee folded her arms, annoyed. "Just say you’re going to torture him."144Please respect copyright.PENANAUaDDWYm7Kt
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Sinclair smiled. "No, you aren’t kids. Doing what you did today proves that."144Please respect copyright.PENANATvx3VAUl2l
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He started to make his way out of the living room when he stopped and said, "Oh, and we better talk about the cottage incident too."144Please respect copyright.PENANAgtSLAZUJnP
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Miss Griselda and Greta looked like they were about to faint as they looked at Sinclair, who hadn't even turned to face them. Rhénee wasn’t moved in the slightest.144Please respect copyright.PENANA59N4ePuKUB
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Sinclair smiled and continued his way out of the house. He knew he didn't manage to impress or frighten Rhénee. Not when she was a lot like someone he knew.144Please respect copyright.PENANAMpyQordbDL
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After Sinclair walked out through the front door, Rhénee turned to Greta.144Please respect copyright.PENANAE202yshBOD
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"I think it’s about time you and Malcom got back home," she said. "Your mum might have bought the story that you stayed here for too long, but we can’t make her more worried than she already is."144Please respect copyright.PENANAnRjv72ty4p
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"You’re right," said Greta. "But can I get a bite to eat first? I told her that we ate here, and after all that drama, I’m starving."144Please respect copyright.PENANArrCiIHTU8V
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"Of course, we had something left over from supper and some apple pie," said Miss Griselda as she took hold of Greta’s arm and started to lead her to the kitchen. "You all must be hungry. Oh, Rhénee, tell the boys to come over to the kitchen once they get back. They’re probably hungry too."144Please respect copyright.PENANAbWm3zJrFiA
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"Will do," said Rhénee.144Please respect copyright.PENANAhBHhTLDKvL
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Greta and Miss Griselda disappeared behind the door of the kitchen, while Rhénee stood in between the living room and the foyer. She turned to the open front door. Malcom and Kevin weren’t going to be back anytime soon. Carrying a dead body is a big deal.144Please respect copyright.PENANAhlJmZQJELn
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Turning and facing the living room, she went over to the seat Sinclair had sat on and sat down, replaying everything that had happened when they got into the house. She never expected to find her late grandmother’s lawyer here. Being one of Emelda’s closest allies, there’s no doubt that he knew what'd been going on. And he even mentioned the cottage. Could he really know where all this is coming from? Including the necklace?144Please respect copyright.PENANA9PtAHdczBe
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Speaking of the necklace, she started to wonder what connection it has to all this. Could it be that the man whom she speaks to over the phone is the one who gave it to her grandmother? If he did, why bother connecting it to the cottage?144Please respect copyright.PENANAWEqyLPKATv
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She sighed and rubbed her forehead, which started to ache. She thought that thinking would only make it worse. She has no choice but to trust Sinclair and hope that he will tell her what she needs to know.144Please respect copyright.PENANA7nyQRD3e8E
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"Hey, are you okay?" Kevin asked.144Please respect copyright.PENANAjB4TEAQs3C
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Rhénee looked up to see Kevin looking at her from the entrance of the living room. She hadn’t heard him come in, and she soon heard the sound of the front door closing and footsteps approaching. Malcom appeared behind Kevin, and just like his comrade, they all looked very tired.144Please respect copyright.PENANAWDYHh3vEZ2
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"It’s nothing," Rhénee said as she slowly stood. "Miss Griselda wants you in the kitchen. She fears that you might be hungry. Greta is there."144Please respect copyright.PENANAXw7alv0ssp
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"And what about you?" Malcom asked. 144Please respect copyright.PENANADvrrsQmTyF
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"I might grab a slice of apple pie," she said, putting up a smile. "I’m hungry all over again." She knew if she refused, the two of them would carry her to the kitchen if they had to.144Please respect copyright.PENANACS54EFT8Zd
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"Well, we did have quite a day," said Malcom. "I’m starving too."144Please respect copyright.PENANATsbXhODW2B
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Rhénee slowly made her way to the kitchen, with Kevin close behind her. It was then that she realized just how tired she's been, as she felt her legs about to give in. But she pushed herself forward nonetheless.144Please respect copyright.PENANAdiMUCO6PYe
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***144Please respect copyright.PENANAHE7U17ypgF
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Miguel fumbled with his keys as he tried to open the door. His head hurt like hell, and his vision blurred a little after the hard hit he took to the head. Whatever had happened tonight at the bridge was a disaster. When the whole fiasco had ended and the enemy had soon fled, his boss finally came through, and like anyone would expect, he was not happy to be waking up to see one of his cars being burned to a crisp.144Please respect copyright.PENANAjEKDgmjvW2
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After finding what he hoped might be the right key, Miguel slotted it into the keyhole and turned it. He heard the lock click and was thankful that the door opened. He entered the dark, quiet house, trying his best not to knock anything over in the small foyer as he closed the door behind him. Likewise, he turned on the lights and started to make his way to the stairs. Just as he was bypassing the living room, he stopped in his tracks. There was someone there, seated on the couch.144Please respect copyright.PENANAJTdai4c5et
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He stopped and went back up a little. The living room lights are off, but the lights from the foyer make out someone sitting on his grandmother’s seat. He reached for the switch on the wall of the living room and was surprised to see his grandmother staring back at him in her heavy brown coat.144Please respect copyright.PENANAVb5hjnNbPI
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"Why are you up this late, grandma?" Miguel asked, looking at her with a surprised look on his face. "You almost scared me there."144Please respect copyright.PENANA6uELH3YW8h
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"I couldn’t sleep," Miss Marie answered him, "we have a visitor."144Please respect copyright.PENANAhINTeOSb6c
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144Please respect copyright.PENANACr8ZsQU82U
"A visitor? Who?"144Please respect copyright.PENANA3KQK3kBA9z
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Miguel followed Miss Marie’s eyes, and his jaw dropped. Seated on the other side of the living room couch is his best friend, Eugene, looking at him with discontent.144Please respect copyright.PENANAJ5QwU2iWW0
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"Eugene, what are you doing here?" Miguel asked.144Please respect copyright.PENANA3fcq1Wt0IB
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"I came here to see you," Eugene answered, his stare now deadly. "But would you mind telling me where you have been?"144Please respect copyright.PENANAZKsIH8bX3Z
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***144Please respect copyright.PENANAnb4p60cLGH
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Sinclair looked down at the man tied up in the boot. He closed the lid afterwards and turned to the man in the heavy coat beside him. They stood outside the gates of Rhenee’s house. The trees and the darkness of the night hid them from sight. From afar, unless someone was approaching the car with headlights, you wouldn’t spot them until you came close enough.144Please respect copyright.PENANAlg7XlWo9y5
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"I thought you were going to introduce yourself to Rhénee back there," said Sinclair.144Please respect copyright.PENANAnGufBTBhbw
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"It wasn’t necessary," the man answered. "Besides, there will be time for that later."144Please respect copyright.PENANAP9daCCqyWZ
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Sinclair looked at the closed lid. "Or is it that she reminds you of Emelda?"144Please respect copyright.PENANAPLVjoSDcVb
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The man grunted. "Does it matter? The girl has spirit, that’s for sure. People might say she inherited her attitude from her father."144Please respect copyright.PENANAxIfaUMdzcF
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"Well, that’s because they never knew Emelda. Rhénee might be like her father, but she’s passionate and caring like her grandmother. The three of them all share one similar trait, though."144Please respect copyright.PENANA70irjBLxsH
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"Stubbornness?"144Please respect copyright.PENANAfnYJrqQKqB
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Sinclair smiled. You've got that right."144Please respect copyright.PENANAZzcVM9qWEu
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"What do you want me to do with him?" the man asked, looking at the closed trunk.144Please respect copyright.PENANAXvTqdMuRJ4
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"Get any information out of him, then dump him."144Please respect copyright.PENANAozG498gYk4
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"You weren't going to let Rhénee interrogate him, were you?" The man raised an eyebrow at Sinclair.144Please respect copyright.PENANAnGypoqGvNu
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Sinclair scoffed. "Not in a million years."144Please respect copyright.PENANAhXY0NcmJBC
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The man gave a nod of the head. "Good call. I wouldn't want her to find out too much. The less she knows, the better."144Please respect copyright.PENANAjlxFAKJXe5
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"We're only doing this for her protection. Once I find out what's going on, I'll contact you. We've got to deal with this mess quickly."144Please respect copyright.PENANADlMtaFe0SV
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"You got it."144Please respect copyright.PENANAU8v9EiYcJW
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Sinclair parted ways as he went to his black Lamborghini parked behind the man’s car. The man went over to the driver’s seat of his car and switched on the engine, bringing the headlights on. Sinclair also did the same behind him. The man drove away straight down the road, while Sinclair turned the car the other way around and drove in the opposite direction.