Chapter 7

Elias' POV

When I got home, I made myself some lunch and sat on the sofa to relax. I picked up the remote, turned on the TV, and watched the breaking news.

"Breaking News! Mr. Donald was found dead in his apartment yesterday at 2 p.m. He was stabbed by an unknown killer. If anyone has any information about the killer, please report it to the nearest police station."

As the news reporter kept talking, I saw Damon standing at the crime scene. He looked calm as he comforted a woman who was crying. I guessed the woman was Mr. Donald's wife.

I wondered, What is Damon doing at a crime scene?

I kept looking at Damon on the TV until I heard my toaster beep. My toast was ready.

After I finished my lunch, I walked down the street to the cemetery where my parents was buried.

When I got to my mother's grave, I knelt down and said, "Mom, I wish you were here to help me make your delicious toast. Mine never tastes as good as yours."

The only answer was silence, just like always.

Then I turned to my father's grave and said, "Dad, I have so many questions for you. I'm starting to understand why you acted the way you did."

I took out the piece of paper that fell from one of the ledgers at the auction house. Then I took out the other note I got from the police station. I looked at both papers carefully.

The handwriting was exactly the same.

I was almost sure the handwriting belonged to my father. But why were there so many clues? Something didn't feel right about my father's case.

I stood up and said softly, "I'll come back to see you another time."

As I turned to leave, my pocket watch slipped out of my pocket and fell to the ground. The back of the watch popped open.

 I bent down to pick it up, and that's when I noticed a small compass hidden inside.

When I looked closely, I saw that the compass had already been set by hand. It showed a pair of coordinates. 

They pointed to a place, but I had no idea where it was. I decided to go home and find out.

 Everything was starting to make sense, even the smallest clue.

When I got home, I opened my laptop and took out my phone. I typed the numbers from the compass into my phone. Then I searched the coordinates on my laptop to find the exact location.

When the search was finished, I stared at the screen in shock.

The coordinates pointed to Moretti Street, the same street named after the Moretti family. It was also where the rich and powerful Damon Moretti lived.

My heart started beating faster.

I couldn't understand why my father's compass was pointing to the Moretti estate. What connection did my father's death have with that place? Something was hidden there, and I knew I had to find out.

I closed my laptop and lay back on the couch. I let out a deep sigh as I held my father's old pocket watch in my hand. 

I rubbed it with my thumb while thinking about what I should do next.

Then I remembered that Damon had brought a ledger to the auction house. I had not finished checking it yet, and I was supposed to give him my report before it was returned to the archives.

I thought about taking a big risk.

Maybe I could visit the Moretti estate and see if I could find any clues. But Damon always looked at me in a strange way. 

I wanted to forget the idea, but after thinking about it again, I knew it was worth the risk.

The next morning, I ate my breakfast while listening to the news. Then I looked at the clock and realized I was already late.

I quickly finished my toast, grabbed my things, and rushed to work.

When I walked into the office,I saw Mrs. Holloway walking toward the restroom.

"Good morning, Mrs. Holloway," I said.

"Good morning, Elias. I hope you had a nice weekend," she replied.

"I sure did," I answered with a smile.

"By the way," she called as I started to walk away, "please make me some coffee. Yours always tastes better."

I smiled and nodded. "Sure, I will."

I went into the restoration room and started checking the ledgers again to make sure none of them were missing.

Just then, I heard someone shout my name.

"Elias!"

I turned around. "Why are you shouting?" I asked.

Vera gave me a playful smile and said, "The boss wants to see you in his office."

I took off my gloves, straightened my clothes, and walked to the boss's office.

When I got there, I knocked on the door.

"Come in," the boss said.

I opened the door, stepped inside, and said, "You wanted to see me, sir?”

Have you finished checking Damon Moretti's files?" my boss asked.

"Not yet, sir," I replied. "But I'll finish them very soon."

Just then, my boss's phone rang. He answered the call and listened quietly. He didn't say much. After a few moments, he ended the call.

Then he handed me a few files.

"Please check these," he said. "Mrs. Holloway usually does this job, but this is your first time."

I nodded and took the files.

My boss kept looking at his phone. Then he looked up at me, smiled, and said, "Leave the files here and you can go."

"Yes, sir," I said as I placed the files on his desk.

As I walked down the hallway, I noticed a man heading toward the exit. He was wearing a black cap, a white T-shirt, and black trousers.

 I had never seen him before, so I guessed he was just a visitor.

Outside, I watched him get into a black Ford and drive away.

I frowned for a moment, then turned around and went back to work.

I finished checking the ledger Damon had brought. Then I picked up my phone to call him. 

As I looked at his number, my heart started beating faster. I took a deep breath before making the call.

"Hello, who am I speaking with?" a voice asked.

"Hello, this is Elias. I work at the auction house," I replied. "I'm calling because I need to ask Mr. Damon a few questions about the ledger he brought earlier."

The person was quiet for a moment. Then they said, "Okay. I'll let Mr. Damon know and get back to you."

"Thank you," I said before ending the call.

I let out a long sigh of relief.

Even though I knew I had to visit the Moretti estate, I

couldn't stop feeling nervous. Going there felt very dangerous, but I also knew it might be the only way to uncover the truth.