LARSSEN'S LANE: Grey

Chapter 1.4 - Last Spring in Crimson Creek

It's been almost two months staying in Crimson Creek. Chester was packing his and Michelle's stuffs when Ralph knocked on his door and told him that he got a guest. Their stuffs weren't a lot, only two medium suitcases of clothes, toiletries, and some small things.

"Someone wants to talk to you. He said he's Marc's lawyer." Ralph walked toward a bed where a little red-haired girl was sleeping.

Chester stopped packing, paying attention to his uncle. "I don't have business with him. I don't even know him."

"I don't know. Just see him, maybe there's something important." Ralph paused and stared at Michelle. "How was she last night?"

Chester stood up and tidied his low pony tail. "She got bad dream again. I'm gonna see the man." Then left Michelle and Ralph in the bedroom.

In the living room, Chester found an unknown man in formal haircut and formal suit was sitting on a chair laid across the table in front of a couch in the room.

"Good afternoon," said the man while standing up.

"Good afternoon," Chester answered.

Both of the men hand shook then sat.

Chester sat in a couch.

"I'm Joseph Bradl, Marc Andrew's lawyer. I'm here to make sure about the adoption of Michelle. In case she's lost her parents, I need to know if her status as your adoptive sister will be reversed or not."

"I don't consider to reversing it." Chester answered surely.

"Well, I think you need to know that there are several families that would like to adopt Zoey, and ofcourse Michelle. There are one of Marc's colleagues, Zoey's friend's parents, and a family from Melissa's side. They want to adopt Zoey, and of course Michelle."

"But, I and my uncle have decided that Michelle will be with us. She's been my sister since she was born, so I think she'll be better with me. We've been so close. So ... I hope you understand, Michelle will keep her name as Henry."

"You said your uncle?"

"Yes, my father's brother."

"The man that opened the door? Well, I should talk to him. But before that, I'd like to give you something."

Joseph took his briefcase from his side, put it on the table, and opened it.

During the conversation Chester observed at the man. Chester guessed the man was around early-forties. Joseph has a wide face with firm jaw line, narrow eyes, and thick eyebrows. And there's a cut-marking on the man's right eyebrow.

"It's a copy of the families' profiles who want to do the adoption. Maybe you change your mind in the future, those can help you to decide which family Michelle will be good with."

Chester opened the folder carefully, but he didn't read it. He only turned the pages. "I think I'll read it later. I have to pack."

"You're going back to California? Driving your car?"

Chester was silent for a while. "Yes. But I'll be driving alone, while my uncle and sister will take a flight."

"Alright, then." Joseph took a card out of his case and gave it to Chester, then closed his case. "It's my card. Maybe you need assistance related to Marc, I'm still in charge to represent him until Zoey's adoption process is done."

At the moment, one question about the incident that took his family's life suddenly appeared in Chester's head. "Anyway, Mr. Bradl, do you really think it's just a random serial murder? Or there's something else hidden?"