Family Ties

Part 52

"Mr Terrence Hartly?" Raymond asked the man in front of him. He'd flown out the previous night to finally meet the man he'd been looking for, for so long. Now he was standing in front of Kevin's brother hoping to get to the end of his search.

"Yes, can I help you?" 

"I'm Johann Schmidt an attorney for a long-lost relative of yours. He had a few things that he wanted you to have. Do you have a few minutes for me?" He looked at the dark-haired man in front of him, with his pale skin, almost as if he had never left the house.  

"Sure." He stepped back to let Raymond into his small two-story house.

Raymond noticed the CCTV cameras that were pointed in all directions outside and the triple lock on the door. Sitting down, he quickly scanned over Terrence, noting the faint scars behind his hairline and running along his inner and outer ear. He'd guess that some other changes were made as well.

"So, how did you find me?" He asked suspiciously looking Raymond over.

"It wasn't easy at all." He laughed lightly trying to set him at ease. "But I have yet to find your brother. Unfortunately, the endowment was given to both of you, so I will also need to inform him." He watched as Terrence's guard went up at the mention of his brother.

"My brother died a long time ago." He said dismissively. 

"Oh dear, I'm so sorry for your loss. Losing a beloved brother can be so difficult." He watched as one corner of Terrence's mouth twitched at the mention of his brother. 

"We weren't that close." He said in a clipped tone.

Do you know what happened to him?" He pushed, already sure that his suspicions were right, he only needed to know how.

"He died in a kidnapping. That's all I know. So what happens with the inheritance now?"

"Oh yes, of course." He opened his briefcase and took out a photograph. "Your late uncle decided to leave this rare gem to you. Holding out the photograph, Raymond watched as the colour drained from his already pallid skin and his hands started shaking slightly.

"I'm not sure if you know it. It's called the Heaven's Tear." He held another photograph for Terrence to take, watching his expression closely. If he wasn't sure before, Terrence's reaction definitely gave him away.

"I'm sorry, I don't know what you're talking about. Why would someone leave it to me?" He asked having regained some of his composure, handing the photographs back.

"As I said, my employer has been searching for you for a long time and wanted to make sure that the two of you are taken care of." He smiled benignly. "With your permission, I'd like to start making arrangements for the transfer of the jewel. You would of course have to fly out to us to take ownership."

"Can't you just have it delivered to me?"

"Unfortunately not. The jewel is only to be taken out of the house by one of you. My employer was very... eccentric." He smiled to set Terrence at ease.

"Oh, okay. I eh, I suppose I could go out to get the jewel." He agreed, still looking a bit unsure.

"Excellent! I will be in touch with the travel arrangements. It was good to finally meet you, Terrence." He reached for his hand while getting up. Better to make a quick exit before Terrence came to his senses and started asking more questions.

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Driving his car once around the block, he parked just out of sight, but still where he could see the front porch. Turning on a listening device, he didn't have to wait long for what he was already certain of.