ROBERT’S POVI was confused. What did he mean? Was he the son of one of the workers in the house or what?“Your grandma and grandpa?” I asked him, feeling stupid.“Uh huh”, he said. “Who are they?” I asked, my heart beating erratically against my chest as I began to notice things that had failed to grab my attention instantly.His eyes, there was just something about it that was very familiar, the structure of his face, the shape of his nose. Everything about the boy reminded me of either Flora or myself. It made me uncomfortable. “Who are they?” I asked him now, my voice tight with emotions.“Oh there you are!” I heard Mrs Vanderbilt exclaim behind me and I turned to face her.She seemed out of breath and had a frightened look on her face.“I see you've met my nephew's child, Nate”, she said breezily.I was perplexed and could only nod my head.Nate ran into her arms as if he just sensed her presence.“I want some chocolate, Nana”, he said.She rubbed his head affectionately. “Su

ROBERT'S POV Yes! Now I knew what Emily was calling so desperately about. She wanted to tell me something about Flora but why couldn't she pick up the damn phone?!I had only succeeded in aggravating my feelings of unease because Emily was not picking up the phone.Angry and frustrated, I began to kick the chairs in the office and angrily swept off the many files and documents off the table. What was it about Flora I needed to know?What angered me the more was I didn't even know anything about Emily or where she lived.I sat alone in the dark office for what seemed like eternity lost in thoughts and stewing in anger when it suddenly dawned on me that the Vanderbilts had a close relationship with Emily. Had Margaret not mentioned that Emily worked for a friend of hers?Filled with sudden vigor, I leaped from the chair and headed for the parking lot. It was raining lightly as I entered my car and zoomed off. On my way, I decided to head home and put off the journey till tomorrow. Ho

ROBERT'S POV I waited for either of them to respond but there was none forthcoming. I could see that Ariana was terrified and Dr Josh was standing looking at me defiantly.“Please leave my house”, I said now authoritatively.He hesitated and I immediately lost my cool.“Leave my house this instant”, I yelled, “or I call the cops on you for trespassing”.He silently walked out of the house and minutes after he had gone, I stood there simmering with rage.I then turned to Ariana.“I will deal with you later”, I told her and ran up the stairs to get what I had returned for. I had actually forgotten something that was why I was back so soon.When I returned downstairs, Ariana was still standing in the living room shaken.I ignored her and exited the building and as I entered my car and started it, I saw her running towards me but I zoomed off and left her there stupefied.There was only one thing on my mind and it was to get to Emily. Nothing else really mattered. I needed to know what

ARIANA’S POVMy world was spinning. Everything was falling apart.“What evidence?” I screamed at Emily. “My sister shot herself in the head!”“But the gun, Ariana, the gun belonged to you!” My heart sank. I was feeling an irresistible urge to puke, I was sweating, panicking and practically losing my mind. How had Emily come by this information?“How do you know about any of this?” I asked now, trying to steady my voice and make sense of this new affront.“I am a fan of true crime, horror, detective fiction…all of those so years ago when I came across Flora'sdeath on the front page of the Chicago Daily, I was fascinated…” Emily began.“Fascinated?” My mother cut in. “You found my daughter's death fascinating? Dead by suicide on the same day as her older sister's wedding to Chicago's number one Bachelor?”Emily paused, unable to go on with her story. I could see why the story would be fascinating to Emily and it was for the very reasons my mother had pointed out but I said nothing, w

ARIANA’S POVRob and I drove back home in silence. The air in the car was thick with all the things we wanted to say but refused to say. We had silently and wordlessly agreed that my car would be left behind to be driven home later by a driver.For some reason, we both wanted to be together. The last few hours had seemed like a dream and I felt like I was hanging on a precipice. There were so many words I wanted to say to Rob. I wanted to yell at him and scream at him but another part of me just wanted to hug him for the way he had stood up for me to my father.He probably didn't believe Emily after all. But I was mad that he had even thought of it.By the time we entered the town, it had started to rain and as torrential rainfall tore at the sky, I was assaulted with flashes of memories of Rob and I created during thunderstorms. For some reason I could not yet explain, I needed him. In my arms. I relaxed on the passenger's seat and studied his profile now.He had always been hand