The Silent Ones

Chapter Four: Research

Esme Carter

I haven't seen the dogs since I got here and Jeffery is gone plus I never asked him where they are. I've been just walking around looking for them. I saw their bowls and food list in the kitchen but no dogs. Not even while anyone was eating but maybe they have been trained.

I found they have dog beds in the living room, in the corner by the window. I continue walking around and eventually find in-wall dog houses. Each house has a name at the top. One is Zeus and the other is Artemis. I wonder what kind of dogs they are? And why are they named after Greek gods? They are still cool names though.

"I'm taking the dogs out!" Jace yells. Wait, he can't do that! I need to feed them. I run to the front entrance to see Jace putting a leash on both dogs. "I have to feed them." I say. "And that sounds like your problem." He rolls his eyes. "You can't take them if I need to feed them." I tell him, which I think maybe obvious. "You can't tell me what to do with my property. So I'll see you later." Jace starts walking to the door with one Doberman and one German Shepherd.

I don't understand why he is making this hard, I just need to feed the dogs and he can't even let me do that. "Hopefully I get back before mom." He smirks and I just know he won't be back in time for me to feed them. As he leaves I catch a glimpse of the meat box so, at least I can put that away.

The box is a lot heavier than expected so I have to push and drag the box to the kitchen where I can finally put all the meat away. Although I've never seen anyone order a whole box of steaks, maybe they eat steak often. Thankfully they all fit and I break the box down and put it in the recycle bin.

There is so much organization in this house and I love it. It makes everything so easy.

Now that I have completed everything for the night, well almost everything I can finally sit down and do something I want to. I go to the living room and take my computer out of my tote bag and begin to complete some math assignments. I should be taking the summer off but the easiest way to give my mother a break and get done faster is to take summer classes. I paid for the three classes I'm taking and finished one within two weeks when I held myself in my room through my depression stage. Now I only have math and one history class left for the summer.

I know I'm only in my second year of college but with the unexpectedness of Melaine, I need the burden of college to go away, because my parents have to pay off Melaine's college tuition for the year too because they pre-started ours.

I keep working on math, specifically geometry as I start to get curious. I wonder why they live on their own street and why they started going to the fancy private school before middle school was over. I'm not even sure any of them are in college. I'm usually not the person to get into people's business but I really want to know more about the secretiveness of the family. For rich people, you don't see them out a lot.

I pull up a Google search and type in the Sinn family in New England. Many results come up automatically. The first is just a basic result of who the family is. Conner Sinn was originally born to a family with two older siblings who did not inherit anything due to family problems. Conner Sinn married Jessica Folley who is now Mrs.Sinn and they had three children: Jace, Alicia, and Easton Sinn who are triplets.

So his name must be Easton.

"Doing research on us?" A girl's voice asks me in my ear and I turn around to see a blonde girl standing behind me, slightly leaning over me. "Something like that," I mumble. "I thought you'd know who we are." She comments. She must be Alicia. "No one really knows much about you." I tell her. "Or maybe it's just you. Nice to know you won't be trying to only use us for money although Jace plans on getting you out." Alicia says, walking around the couch. "We're all sick of our mom deeming us reckless and sending workers so hopefully you'll be the last." Alicia sits herself down on the other end of the sofa and grabs the tv remote.

"I hope you like scary movies."

I don't.

"Esme!" My name is called out and it shakes my attention. I slam my computer closed and stuff it in my bag and go to the entrance.

I notice Alicia is gone but the TV is still on a horror movie.

I enter the entrance and see Mrs.Sinn standing there. "Was everything done?" she asks, strictly. "Almost." She raises a brow. "Jace took the dogs and I couldn't feed them but everything else is done." I finish. "Typical. I don't care what my children try. I'm not getting rid of you." Mrs.Sinn digs into her purse and pulls out an envelope with my name on it. "I will see you on Tuesday. It will be shorter. Around four to nine." I nod. "I'll send a reminder. Have a good night for now darling." Mrs.Sinn pats my shoulder before progressing into her house.

I grab my things and put the money in my bag before going outside. "Nice to know, you still work here." Jace comments. I jerk my head to the left and find him leaning against the house with the dogs. "How do you know that?" I ask. "She wasn't yelling and you weren't crying." Jace shrugs and leans off the wall. "See you next time, babysitter." Jace smirks, leaving me only with the image of his dark eyes shining at me and him walking into the house.

Chills creep down my back as I go to my car. As I crank up I look to see all three of the Sinn children staring out an upstairs window.

What did I get myself into?