Chapter Nineteen

The caution she got on her phone made her think twice. As she glared at the windows of the house she grew up in, Sophia held her hand and said “We need to turn back,” 

Emily continuously glared at the building.It was clear that someone was inside the house. They are guessing if it is Elena Reed or someone entirely different.

Just as they were trying to figure it out, a security personnel from the team came to their car. “We can see someone moving.” He said as Emily's heart jumped. “Where exactly did you see the movement?”  Emily asked. “Upstairs,” as he points to the direction of the movement. They saw a shade moving across the room upstairs. Emily was familiar with that room. She remembered it because when she was growing up, her Dad was always in that room. The desk was always covered with various books and documents. Her father has always left her a stern warning never to enter the study without permission or supervision.

All of a sudden, the whole place was dark, and all the buildings were barely visible.

“Has the person left? Sophia said in a hush tone. The security officer did not reply because he was not sure what to say.

They looked out and saw another security personnel coming towards them. He had just gone around to check the whole area. “I did not find any other car parked outside. The person that went into the house, went in on foot.” He said. While they were there deliberating whether the person had a driver drop them off or they came in on foot, a text message entered Emily's phone.

“Your Dad kept the key where you would never assume it is." As Emily read the message, she was moody. “What key are they talking about?” Sophia asked, as she read the message.

“I think it is the key that Ryan talked about in the hospital.”  Emily told her as she thinks of the words that Ryan used. His father got a package immediately after Emiiy's parents passed on. There was a key inside the package and Margaret is in possession of it. “If Margaret is in possession of that key, it means that she is aware that it opens your father's study” Sophia said.

Then Emiiy thought of her childhood again. She has tried to repress the memories for several years. She lost both of her parents at the age of seven. She thought of how she had gone to live with her Mom's sister after the tragic accident that claimed their lives. She was living with Aunt Claire while the lawyers were sorting out the estate.

Emily wanted to leave Aunt Claire's house so badly that she cried every day asking when she would go home to her parents.

And then came Margaret. Who stepped in and fought to take over Emily's guardianship after the person who was initially assigned to assist was not equal to the task.

Margaret pretended to be a saint in the eyes of everybody and promised to act in Emily's best interest. But deep down Emily know that Margaret never liked her, for reasons unknown to her. Emily was just a kid. She could not ask any questions at that time. Margaret even tried to make sure that her son, Ryan did not marry Emily.

 She still cannot figure out what Margaret is trying to hide all these years. There is more to this than meets the eye.

“Wait! Margaret really controlled your inheritance at some point?” Sophia asked as she looked at Emily.

“Yes,” Emily said. She made you believe that the house had been destroyed all these years.” 

“I think somebody is about to come out of the house.” A security officer said as he pointed to the house.

They all looked towards the front door as a lady dressed in a black jacket walked out holding something closely against her chest. One part of her face was covered. “Is that Elena?” Sophia asked. “I do not know” Emiiy responded

When the woman turned and noticed the security car, she ran as fast as she could.

Emily and Sophia screamed, “Don’t let her escape.” Immediately the security personnel ran after her. They lost sight of her around the corner of the building.

Emily could no longer sit still in the car. When she tried to open the door, Sophia stopped her. “Sit still,” Sophia said as she tried to calm her.

A moment later, one of the security personnels came back and told them that she was able to escape.

“You saw her face right?” “Tell me that you recognized the woman.” Emily questioned him.

“I did not see her face clearly.” He said, as he showed them the small picture he picked up on the floor. Apparently, the woman had dropped it while he ran.

Emily took a look at the picture. It was another picture of her Mother and Father. They were at the front of the house. Someone was standing beside them. When she looked closely, it was someone who looked like her mother. A younger version of Elena Reed. She noticed that something was written on the back of it. When she turned to check what was written on it, she found out it was a date.

The exact date that Emiiy mother and father died. “These mysterious clues are getting too much. It is starting to confuse me.” Emiiy said. “Whose handwriting is this? Whose handwriting is this?” Sophia asked. Emiiy's phone beeped in reception of another message.”Look For Elena Before Margaret Finds Her.”