Chapter 12 - The clue

where the hell do you think you're going?

Slowly, I turn around to find Warren standing directly behind me. His arms are crossed, and his glare is so sharp that it's burning a hole into my skin

it's pointless to lie to him

I sigh and let go of the doorknob

Look, I can't just sit around doing nothing. There might be clues that we don't know about - clues Eli didn't share with us. I think it'd be smart, to search his home office

So, that was your plan? You were going back? Alone?

I have to!

Are you out of your mind?

No! Look, my parents were right. I need to figure out a plan. I can't spend the rest of my life running or hiding who I am, and the only way for that to happen is if we figure out who's behind everything

Warren eyes me from head to toe

You were going to, what? Sneak in?

Maybe

what if you were recognised? And how would you even get there?

I'd take a bus

A bus

Look, you don't have to agree with me, but you aren't going to stop me. I'm an adult, and I can make my own decisions

Then, act like one

Excuse me?

instead of sneaking out behind my back, tell me what's going on. Instead of trying to do everything on your own. let me help you and protect you. In case you've forgotten, it's my JOB to do that

Looks, I'm sorry, okay?

No, it's not okay. Why wouldn't you tell me?

Because I thought you'd stop me...and I was right! But don't you see why I have to go back, Warren? We're missing something, and we're never going to figure it out by hiding

Warren lets out a frustrated sigh, then turns his back to me. He walks over to my closet and pulls out our bags

what are you doing?

what does it look like I'm doing? I'm packing

packing our bags?

we can't just leave everything behind. we're going to need some clothes and supplies

Too shocked for words, I numbly walk over to him and begin stuffing some of my belongings into the bag he hands me

Thank you

Don't ever do that again

When we have everything packed and ready to go, Warren glances at the notepad on the nightstand

Are you going to write your parents' notes?

I probably should

I reach the notepad and take out a pen from the first drawer.

"Dear Mom and Dad, I'm sorry to do this to you, but Waren and I have to leave immediately. There's some unfinished business we have to take care of, and sitting around waiting for something to happen just doesn't feel right. I just want to thank you for everything you've done for us. These last few days have reminded me of everything I've lost and am not willing to lose ever again. You are my family, and I'm so glad we found each other again after all these years. I'll be in touch soon. Please stay safe and don't worry too much about me. Warren will take care of me. Love, Kiara"

when I'm done. I turn to Warren

I've located a local rent-a-car with 24-hour service. We could take my bike, but it's a five-hour drive from here.....I'd rather leave it in the garage

okay

Warren quietly opens the bedroom door, and we slip out. I place the note for my parents on the kitchen counter before we leave the house. As soon as Warren walks out of the gas station shop, I glance at his hands. He's carrying candy bars and a bag of chips...and not much else

I can't eat candy for breakfast

it's all they had

I look around ruefully and notice a diner on one side of the road. My stomach growls in response, and I give Warren a sheepish smile

how about some proper breakfast at that diner?

Really? One look at my face convinces him

Fine, but we can't stay too long. I don't know this area very well, and you might be recognised

I doubt I'll be recognised. We've been out a few times already - even went to that amusement Park. No one recognised me yet!

Let's hope you didn't just jinx it

Before I can make a beeline for the diner, Warren stops me

what is it?

here

Warren hands me an I.D. card with my picture on it, and the name " Liz Garcia" written in big, bold print

So, if I'm Liz Gracia, who does that make me to you?

you could be my sister, aunt, mother...

Your MOTHER?

I make a face, and he laughs

when was this made?

Yesterday

Did my father help you?

No, a friend owed me a favour

when he doesn't elaborate, I decide to let it go

I've also got some clothes for you to wear that aren't your usual style. It would be best if you changed before we go in. I don't want to take any chances

I'm okay with that

Warren nods and reaches into the back of a car. Warren nods and reaches into the back of a car. He lifts a heavy-looking plastic bag that is sitting on the floor behind my seat, and he motions for me to pick out an outfit. I peer inside

Well, you're right about one thing. These aren't my usual style

I picked basic clothes, and it kinda looks like guy clothes, but at least I won't look like myself

After I change, he gives me a curt nod

Not exactly the reaction I was going for... Maybe I should change? Disguise or not, I still want Warren's eyes all on me...and I think I know how to achieve it. I'd rather not tease him this time

I pocket the I.D., and we head toward the dinner together. I take a bite of my food and make an appreciative noise

This is pretty good

I'm glad you're enjoying it

I still don't understand why you won't order anything. There are so many options here! You could get scrambled eggs with toast. or maybe a Belgium waffle

I'm not hungry

You have to eat something! We won't be getting here for a few more hours

I'll survive

Warren casually sips his black coffee as I take another bite of my food. He leans back against the seat, and his shrewd gaze surveys the diner

what are you looking for?

I always stay vigilant, no matter where we go

But no one knows us here, and you said we weren't followed

You can never be too careful. The minute you let your guard down is when mistakes happen

Your guard is never down, though

Exactly. I'm not taking any chances when it comes to your safety

Glancing around the diner, I noticed that it's become much more crowded compared to when we first got here. The tables surrounding us are filled with families noisily chatting amongst themselves while eating their breakfast. A string of waiters and waitresses emerge from the kitchen with trays of food propped up on their hands. There's also a line by the door that's begun to form as people wait for new tables to open up

I didn't realize it was so crowded

it's more than that

what do you mean?

Warren nods in the direction of a young-looking family a few tables over. The man is reading a newspaper while the woman is tending to the children's meals

what about them?

look closer

I do as he says. Searching the scene, I finally see what he's talking about, and my stomach drops in fear

I'm on the front cover of the newspaper.

it's big news when a senator's wife mysteriously dies

Nervously, I notice that he's not the only one reading through the newspaper. At least seven other people have the paper in their hands, two of which are murmuring to one another and pointing in our direction. I pale and whip my head back towards Warren

Warren, they know. They're looking right at us

I know

what do we do?!

just stay calm

Suddenly, an idea hits me. I call over our waitress and avoid Warren's questioning look

Hi there. so it's my brother's birthday today

I motion towards Warren, who is glaring at me across the table. she smiles

He's leaving on a business trip this afternoon, and we won't be able to celebrate it together. is there any way we can have the staff here sing Happy Birthday to him?

She nods and walks away

what the hell are you doing?

what? What better way to announce I'm NOT the dead wife of Eli Nelson than to celebrate my loving brother's birthday?

Before he can utter another word, a loud cheering sound coming from the kitchen suddenly erupts into the dinner. Waiters and waitresses storm over toward our table, loudly singing Happy Birthday while carrying a stack of pancakes with a candle in the middle. Warren closes his eyes and looks as if he's praying for patience. Laughing, I join in with the singing

Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday, dear brother! Happy birthday to you!

The diner explodes into applause while Warren's face turns an unnatural shade of red

Thank you so much!

I wave at our waitress. She laughs and places a lei over each of our heads before depositing the check on our table

I'm going to kill you

Well, that doesn't seem to go along with the job of being my bodyguard, now does it?

Warren lets out an actual growl. I glance over at the couple who had been pointing at me. earlier - their newspaper is now flat on the table, their bodies turned away from us. They don't seem to be paying us any mind

I think it worked

Great

They aren't even looking at us anymore. it's almost like they completely lost interest!

Yay

I giggle and place my hand on his

have a little fun once in a while. it wasn't that bad, was it?

He stares at me for a while before reluctantly smiling. He grabs his fork and, to my surprise, digs into the pancakes after blowing out the candles

Finding the key hidden behind a planter on the patio, I unlock the front door of my home and head into the living room

To my surprise, no alarm is set

That's strange. We always set the alarm when we leave the house. I would think Eli would be even more careful now because of the threats

Maybe he thinks no one will come after you now that you've been declared dead

Maybe

I wistfully look around the place I once called my dream home. The furnishings are pristine, and the rugs have been recently cleaned. My favourite books are still in their rightful places on the bookshelves, exactly where I left them. I take my fingers and trace along their bindings

I forgot how much I missed this place

Sighing, I turn to face Warren, watching me with a regretful expression

What's wrong?

it's nothing

I walk over to stand in front of him

Warren, tell me

I hate that you're in this situation. You've been forced out of your home that you love, forced to run and give up all the luxury. How is that fair?

I do love my home, but these are just material things. I'd rather be alive than live in a home where they can easily take pictures of me sleeping

Warren's face hardens

We'll find who's behind this. I won't stop until you're safe

I know

I reach down to his hand and interlock our fingers

Thank you for that

His face momentarily softens before he steps away and lets our hands drop

where would Eli keep information about the threats?

I'm not sure. Any important paperwork he has, he puts it in his folder, but he's already gone to work, so I'm sure he brought it with him

I can still search the kitchen. Maybe I'll find something

I'll deal with this room, then

Warren nods and walks away. Sighing, I turn and continue searching the living room. Half an hour later, Warren returns empty-handed

Did you find anything?

No, nothing at all. The folder wasn't even there

There wasn't anything here, either

where else can we check?

we can try his home office

he as an office?

Yes, but it's usually locked. I used to know where he kept the key, but he moved it a while back and never told me where

I might be able to get it open

I laugh, and he raises an eyebrow

if we break open the door, he's going to notice

who said anything about breaking it open?

I look at him quizzically

Do you know how to pick a lock?

The fact you're even asking me that is just insulting

I frown, and Warren grins

Where did you learn how to do that?

The SEALs

can you show me how to do it?

Warren regards me with humour

Do you want to learn how to pick a lock?

it's not that I necessarily want to learn... but it sounds like a useful skill to have

why would you need to know how to pick a lock?

I've locked myself out of the house so many times that you wouldn't even believe me. That's why I started hiding keys in the planters on the patio

Warren gazes at me sceptically

I doubt you lock yourself out of the house that often. You're one of the most organised people I know

You'd be surprised. It happens more often than you'd think. When my thoughts are racing a mile minute, grabbing my house keys is the last thing on my mind

with a chuckle, Warren gestures for me to lead the way. I smile excitedly

So, you'll teach me?

I'm so going to regret this

I watch with amazement as Warren easily pops the door open using a paperclip and a bent safety pin. it took a little manoeuvring, but he made the job look easy. Turning the handle, Warren pushes the door open, and we step into Eli's office

That was so cool!

So, do you think you understand how to do it now?

Maybe, but I'll need to practice

Warren smiles and straightens up. Our eyes rove over the office

Oh, wow. it's almost exactly how I remember it

Paperwork is scattered around the desk, and empty plates of food either idly in the armchair. Warren scrunches up his nose in disgust

it looks like no one's cleaned this place for weeks

That's because no one has

Warren's eyebrows raise in surprise

Really?

Unfortunately, Eli rarely allows anyone to go into his office

The rest of the house is so clean, though

I know, He kept the maid, I guess

I shrug and head for the desk. When I reach it, I notice a familiar stack of manilla folders

This is where he keeps our financial records

Lifting one, I pull out the paperwork inside

He keeps them in folders on his desk? what about the computer?

No, Eli doesn't trust computers. He says anyone could hack you nowadays if they had the means to do so

I start to flip through the pages when I come across a blue sticky note

"Pay the piper if the rats are gone, $15,000"? What does this even mean?

Warren takes the sticky note and flips it over

There's a phone number here on the back

we should write it down. I've never seen a note like this before. Why do you think it's written in a riddle

Warren doesn't answer. Instead, he takes out his phone and snaps a picture of the note. I try to memorise it in my head, repeating the numbers until I'm sure I'll remember. I reach down to open the drawers on Eli's desk. Two of them are filled with pens, notepaper, and tape, while another is full of chips and a snack pack

I was wondering where all of these disappeared to

When I try to pull open the fourth drawer, it doesn't budge. I pull harder, but nothing happens

is this locked?

it looks like it

I have no idea where he'd even keep a key for it

it might just be another snack drawer....but if that were the case, why would he lock it? There is something fishy about this. There's probably nothing important in there

we should just leave. Warren frowns but doesn't argue

I don't see any of the threatening messages on the desk, so he must be keeping them at his workplace

or the police took them

That is also a possibility. is there anything else you want to check before we leave?

The bedroom. I want to grab some clothes if that's alright.

Let's make it quick. We have no idea when he's going to be coming back

As soon as we walk through the door, my eyes go wide

what's going on?

Why would he do this? As we enter the bedroom, I see boxes upon boxes piled up against the wall

These are all my things: my clothing, my jewellery, and even some of the decor I picked out for the bedroom

Glancing over towards the walk-in closet, I notice that the painting by the door is still in place

Well, maybe not everything

Warren stands quietly by the door and watches me sort through the boxes

None of his things are in these boxes. Is he planning a divorce or something?

Maybe he was planning on shipping you some of your things? You have been gone for a while

All of my things, though?

I point to the boxes

Those boxes hold everything I own. Every shirt, every dress, even my shoes!

Warren's face is carefully blank as he contemplates the situation

I don't- -

All of a sudden, we hear a sound. Both Warren and I freeze as we stare at each other, alert. A familiar smarmy voice says, "It's right this way, sweetheart," and a feminine giggle followed by footsteps echoed up the stairs

it's Eli!

And he's not alone