When Secrets Surface (Book #1)

Chapter 23

Dorothy's POV

I sat at the beach bar drinking a Dragonfruit refresher as Ryan Rio continued to ramble about something I wasn't listening to.

I didn't feel like being here. I needed to be by Sophie's side helping her to get to Trillive's car where ever it may be.

"Ryan, I don't think this date is  working out. You know what I  mean?" I tried to let him down slowly.

"You think I didn't realize you kept zoning out," Ryan smirked.

"I was thinking about my Mom's car accident, okay. I didn't want to lose her," I started to fidget with my fingers. Why am I telling him this?

"Hey, I have a split family I haven't lost a parent but our situations are similar. My mom and Dad had a divorce, my dad has been trying to help me feel better with material things," Ryan explained.

"Why are you telling me this?" I already knew this but he didn't need to open up.

"Your dad died. Didn't he? I thought we would be able to relate," Ryan stated.

He just had to remind me that my Dad was still missing.

After months of serious investigation, still nothing.

Most of our leads were dead ends. My prime suspects are Ryan Trivillle and Alex.

It had to be one of them but which one of them?

"I have to go and drive my Mom to the hospital," I lied. I need to go help Sophie or else she'll do something stupid.

Sophie's POV

I was walking down the road to go to Trillive's house to see if his damaged car was there.

I heard a car honk and turned to see Theo in his Dad's car.

Theo rolled down the window. "Hey, Sophie,"

"Hi," I responded.

"Where are you going, we could take you there," Theo tried to convince me to enter the car.

"I'm sure she's alright. She has a car, doesn't she? Maybe she just wants to walk," Mr Brian retorted before I could respond.

Sus. Very sus. Extremely Suspicious.

"I'm good actually, I don't think my route is along your route. I don't want to be a burden, "I didn't feel like joining them anyway, to be honest.

"Are you sure? "Theo persisted.

"She said she's fine, Theo," Mr Brian said through gritted teeth.

"I'm good seriously. Thanks for the offer bye," when I replied Mr Brian sped off.

I'm convinced Mr Brian just doesn't like me because he was so excited to meet my mom and sister. Me not so much.

I was trapped in my thoughts when I crashed into Dorothy.

"What are you doing here, don't you have a date? " I was perplexed by her surprising arrival.

"We both decided that it wasn't going to work out so we decided to end it," Dorothy replied, "And do you know that you almost walked past Trillive's house."

I looked up and saw Trillive's house and I groaned making Dorothy smirk.

"His car is not here," I stated.

"But why would it be here it's probably smashed up so it's probably at the workshop," Dorothy reasoned.

Crap. I hadn't thought about that.

"But let's be real there are so many workshops his car could be at," I retorted.

"I have watched that car accident video so many times that I know which towing company towed the car. It was Mason's insurance company. I have their location on my phone," Dorothy gave me a run down.

I just blinked in confusion and joined her in her car.

Dorothy's POV

Maybe we were trespassing passing right now. There is a sign that reads 'Do not trespass'. But we were doing it to find Dad so it would be a good cause in the end.

I pried open the driver's door and placed my foot on the brake. Strange. It felt stuck. It shouldn't be this much of a struggle to brake a car.

"The brake's stuck," I looked up at Sophie.

"True. Wait what's that on the dashboard?" Sophie questioned me looking at the dashboard.

It was a receipt for brake fluid. I handed it to Sophie.

"You only buy this if your break has a problem," Sophie commented.

"We should check the hood," I suggested.

"But most of it's smashed up," Sophie said sounding fed up.

"Can we still check?" I ignored her, got out of the car and opened the hood.

There was a note on top of the engine.

You're stupid Sophie. Stop digging or else.

I handed her the note and saw her expression drop.

She huffed, looking completely disoriented.

"I... I was going to say. Someone tampered with his brake. Maybe the day of the car crash someone did something to the brake. The receipt for the brake fluid is two hours before I met Trillive," Sophie deduced.

"Are you okay?" I was concerned about her well-being.

"I don't know," Sophie mumbled.

I heard footsteps.

" Yess... We are sortin... Yes, " A voice said, over the phone and continued to talk. As if they were arguing.

Crap. We hid behind the car and ducked making sure we weren't seen.

The footsteps were drawing closer and closer until they stopped on the other side of the car. I held my breath.

Why weren't they moving? Move already. Why are you still standing here?

The person began to search the perimeter and we slowly began to move to the other side making sure to not alert the person.

We were now at the other side of the car trying not to be seen.

Sophie picked up a nearby stone and threw it into a far-off bush.

"Hey," The person cried.

Perfect. We sprinted off out of the car company at the speed of light.

Once we were outside, we finally  caught our breath.

I tried to slow down my racing pulse.

We almost got caught. We could have gone to jail. Our Mom wouldn't love that. Not one bit.

She would be so lonely.

But who had enough time and energy to destroy Trillive's break?

Which twisted person had such evil intentions to destroy someone's car break and cause a fatal life-threatening accident?

Who is responsible for destroying the car's brake?

Who's sending Sophie threats?

How did they know we would be here?