Chapter 52

Chapter 52
“Mom, would you mind if I go and see Aaron’s mom on my own?” Annie watches her mother; they never have to complete a request as both trust the other.
“Are you sure?” Hanna looks briefly at Thom. He was silent making a point of saying nothing.
“I am,”
“Okay, but your father has to show you the entrance. You should be careful.”
“I will mom, Will you wait for Aaron? I am not sure when he might show.” Her expression worried. It starts to dawn on her that both their lives were in a complete mess. If she was honest with herself, what is really the truth and what is a lie?
“I will Annie” Hanna hugs her briefly.
“Thom, I am trusting you.” Her eyes held a warning.
He just nods his head.
Annie took a deep breath now looking at a waiting Thom. She watches him nods his head again looking at Hanna. He then starts walking out of the house. Outside, he took his time observing the length of the road. He has noticed the constantly present surveillance when was gone.
“What are you looking for?” Annie asked from behind him. She doesn’t trust him but trust her mom.
“I am looking for Gregor’s men.” He said softly over his shoulders.
“They are always around. I am use to them,” she said matter-of-fact.
“I hear you. But they can’t know where we are going. This woman has managed to elude them but each time she reached out, something happens. I don’t want to be the cause of that.” He answers clearly worried. Once he was certain there was no one, he took hold of her arm stepping into the road. He starts to walk with precision in a very specific direction while being very vigilant in his actions.
Aaron circles around in his newly discovered office. The tension keeps building in his body and the thirst won’t be settled. He reached for another bottle of water and gulps it empty. He keeps a watchful eye on the monitors. No matter how he tries he just can’t seem to remember why he has active surveillance on Annie. As he stood there looking at the monitors, he was now watching Annie leaving with Thom Black. The sudden truth in clarity, Annie never trusted him. He watches their furtive behavior very closely.
“What are you up too?” He just blinked a moment reaching for another bottle of water. When he looks again, they were gone. This instantly worries him. Moving to sit behind the desk he now reaches for the folder Mathew has left on the desk. He absently opened it. The instant shock rushes through his body. He keeps looking at the three photos. The first one was easily recognizable with him as a boy age twelve standing beside his mother. It was taken a year before her death.
“What the hell is this?” he quickly stood from behind his desk. He went in search of Mathew.
“Is something wrong, sir?” he comes closer quickly.
“Come inside,” Aaron firmly shut the office door. “Tell me about this photo?” he gestures with his hand towards the desk.
“You told me to keep a close eye on Hanna Black. As I followed her one day, she had a meeting with that woman. I did a trace but couldn’t find anything. I did a further background check on Hanna, and discovered Hanna knew her. They went to school together.”
“Hanna Black knew my mother?” he asked puzzled.
“You confirm the woman in the picture is your mother them?”
“Yes, Mathew. I don’t understand. She died when I was twelve.”
“Sir, I discovered her life was like a black dot. I can’t find anything.”
“Why did she look so frightened in the photo without me?”
Several mask men followed her. I took a photo of the tattoos.” Mathew reached for the folder and retrieve it. “You should recognize the ink-work.”
“Why would Gregor Damian follow my mother? What is his connection with a woman who was suppose to be dead but clearly alive.?”
“I don’t know sir. It was like her background was just wiped clean.”
“The third picture. She looks sick and very fragile. What’s wrong with her?”
“I really don’t know, sir.” Mathew removed another photo. “This man seemed to be her doctor. I can’t find any trace of him either. Whatever was going on here, sir. There is powerful people involved.”
“How did my life become this confused? What the hell is going on here?” As his temper flares, he realized his thirsts seemed to increase. He also feels the throbbing headache.
“Mathew, how long are you working for me?” He watches the other man who looks very worried.
“Almost twenty years, sir. We went through the foster system together. Once we age out, we lost track of time. You found me when I was being taunted eating out of the garbage cans. You hired me as your driver.” He smirks with the memory.
“What’s so funny?” Aaron listens carefully.
“You didn’t own a car but I was on your payroll.”
“Why did I consider Zac my bodyguard and friend?”
“I never asked, sir. You did once told me, keep your enemies very close.” Mathew answers honestly.
Aaron absorbs the information reaching for another bottle of water. He start to realize he should watch what he was drinking. The throbbing headache stays consistent. He now starts to wonder about those pills he always needed to drink on time. He was told it was to control his brain function. It was already a few hours past the last pills he drank. It now starts to feel like a heavy cloud was lifting from within his mind.
“Mathew, do a computerize back ground check on me. I want to know everything, where I was born, my father, their shared and individual family backgrounds. But start with the first time I was in hospital. I was married to Annie but suddenly divorced her.”
“Yes sir. Look at the monitors,” he suddenly advises. “What is Gregor Damian doing there?”
Aaron watches him knocking on Annie’s door. “Do we have surveillance inside the house?”
“No, it was risky since Gregor also watches the place.”
Both stood watching as Hanna opened the door but blocked his entrance.
“What place is this?” Annie has carefully followed her father as they actively sneaked onto the grounds of a rumbling mansion.
“This place belongs to Aaron’s mothers’ family.”
“It looks like they were rich once.” She starts to remember Aaron telling him they grew up poor and constantly hungry.
“Don’t talk so loud, Annie.”
Thom has already taken out the key to unlock the side door. He slipped inside with Annie right behind him. Once they both reach the second floor and first bedroom. He looks inside but found the bedroom empty.
“Dammit, we are too late.” He whispers before he noticed something on the floor. As he bends down to pick it up his blood runs cold. “Annie…”